The Culture of Las Vegas
Start talking about the culture of Las Vegas to most people and they will think that is just about the biggest oxymoron going. It may be known as the entertainment capital of the world, but Vegas is not regarded by many as a cultural hotspot. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? Even the Vegas betting online sites exude the feel of the place.
But there has always been more to Sin City than just, well, sin. Take a trip to any desert town and you will discover strange art and music being produced by groups of outsiders that call the wilderness their home. Las Vegas may have come a long way from being a desert town, but there is still that attraction for artists to explore outside the mainstream.
Neon Lights
Obviously, Las Vegas is home to much more than desert oddballs these days. This is a city that went from having a population of fewer than 30,000 in 1950, to being the 25th most populous city in the entire country today. The casinos – and the jobs that come with them – have attracted many of those newcomers. But there are other things to do in Las Vegas.
As bigger and brighter casinos are built at an increasingly expensive cost on The Strip, there has also been a change in direction for architecture. Any place that has replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty is never not going to be considered kitsch. But there are other examples of new innovative architecture that is given the chance of being almost experimental because of the extravagance of the city.
The Attractions of Old Vegas
There is a feeling that nothing last forever in Las Vegas. Even the most beloved casinos and gambling institutions make way for new, larger buildings. Vegas does love a demolition, after all. But it is away from The Strip that visitors can get a taste of the old Las Vegas – one made famous by the films and music of the 1950s and 60s.
If you want an idea of what the Las Vegas of the Rat Pack was like then you should journey just north of the four-mile cluster of multi-billion costing casino resorts and take in Fremont Street and surrounding area. The neon lights are possibly even more tacky – or kitsch, if you prefer – than those of the MGM or Aria, but this is the kind of place that drew many people here in the first place.
This sense of history, albeit only 50 to 60 years of it, is a cultural attraction in its own right. If you don’t fancy the commercial nightclubs and bars of the new Las Vegas, this is where you can come for a taste of retro. There is still gambling and garish lights of casinos like The Golden Nugget, but this area emits an almost bohemian vibe that isn’t always associated with the city.
Downtown Culture
If you are travelling back south to the new neon cathedrals of The Strip from the Fremont area, you should really take in the Las Vegas Arts District on the way. This new vision of downtown is inspired by the cool, European cities more than the usual idea of Vegas and has a lot to offer culture-seekers.
It seems unlikely that a city as new as Las Vegas would even be able to go through a gentrification period yet. But a lot of money has been invested in this area to help shine a light on another side of the city and the people that call this place home all the time – not just for two debauched weeks of the year.
Elements of more progressive cities, such as Portland, can be found in the food truck culture of the area. But there are also plenty of fine dining options too for the foodie connoisseurs. Live music is a constant backdrop, as less commercial art is highlighted. A strong local scene is encouraged, allowing visitors to discover more experimental art and culture more commonly found in those smaller desert towns we spoke of earlier.
There is no getting away from it, Vegas will always be a loud and brash city, catering for those in search of excess. But there is another side to the place too – a more cultural side that is well worth checking out.