New 2014 Las Vegas Strip Attractions

New attractions for the 2014 Las Vegas Strip include The High Roller Observation Wheel, The Quad, The LinQ, the Brooklyn Bowl and the Voodoo Zip-line add for more fun times for tourists and locals.

 

The High Roller Wheel is a new feature attraction at The LinQ. It is a giant observation wheel with enclosed glass air conditioned cabins that offer a day or nighttime view from 550 feet above the Las Vegas Strip. The cost for tourists is $19.95 for a day ride and $34.95 for an evening ride. The ride lasts 30 minutes for it to make it one revolution. Locals only receive a $5 discount and kids under 12 years of age ride for free with an adult ticket purchase. There is a bar to buy drinks near where you board and drinks can be taken on the ride as well. Fashioned off the London Eye, it has 2,000 LEDs at night make it the new centerpiece overlooking the Las Vegas Strip.

 

The LinQ was a massive renovation project undertaken to transform the Imperial Palace hotel and O'Sheas into a 200,000 square foot open air entertainment center. It cost over $500 million dollars to complete and is absolutely amazing. With many places to eat that encompasses every cuisine and budget, The LinQ is sure to thrill every tourist.

 

The Brooklyn Bowl at The LinQ is modeled after the famous Brooklyn Bowl in downtown Brooklyn, New York, but BIGGER. The Vegas Brooklyn Bowl a he LinQ will be a massive 78,000 square feet and house a restaurant, bar, bowling alley and a concert venue. The concert hall seas 2,000 so every seat is a great one and provides for an intimate setting A entertainment menu that will run 7 days a year and be centered around all major holidays. An events calendar makes it easy to plan your next Vegas Vacation months in advance.

 

Voodoo zipline at Rio Hotel and Casino is a brand new attraction that sends a rider on a zip line at over 30MPH between the two towers of the Rio Hotel at almost 500 feet off the ground. The attraction is open from 12 noon to Midnight, seven days a week. You can choose a solo or tandem ride so you can have your BFF there for support and a shoulder to scream on. For safety reason, you must be at least 4 foot tall. One person weight limit must be below 300 pounds and the tandem weight limit is 450 pounds to ride. Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster and the cost is $27.49 each

Downtown Container Park in Las Vegas on Fremont Street

An Eco-friendly Outdoor Mall of Locally Owned Businesses with Free Children's Park and Entertainment.

 

Downtown Container Park

• 707 E. Fremont Street


• Las Vegas NV 89101


• (702) 869-9848


• Directions


• Admission: Free


• Hours: Mon-Sat. 10AM to 9PM, Sun. 10AM to 8PM


• Food and Beverage Hours: Sun. to Thurs 11AM to 11PM, Fri and Sat. 11AM to 1AM

 

Downtown Container Park is two blocks east of the Fremont Experience in Las Vegas. It was conceived to be a neighborhood improvement project dreamed up by Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos online shoe store. Tony is the visionary who oversaw this endeavor to build an eco-friendly, self-sustaining community of businesses run by locals and built using recycled materials and 250 square foot shipping containers as the store fronts. These containers are stacked two high in most places to a three story height in others and surround the perimeter of the park. Even an elevator is made from these shipping containers stacked vertically. Quite ingenious use of materials that would otherwise be decaying in some landfill for the next 100 years.

 

Park Design

The entrance is on Fremont street and is guarded by a 55 foot tall steel praying mantis built on the carcass of a dump truck. Some evenings marking holidays and special events, you may see the mantis shooting flames out of it's antennae. Next to the mantis is another sculpture that changes colors and is called the Catalyst Dome for its igloo shape. Not sure on the meaning of the structure but I am sure there is one. Anyone find out, please let me know.

 

Entrance

You enter Downtown Container Park and immediately see a giant jungle gym set up for children on a recycled sand base. An amazing assortment of slides, swings, climbing nets, and tunnel slides to keep any child happy. A shipping container was also used to construct a 30 foot tall treehouse in the middle. There is also an electronic game, called NEOS where the children have to race around extinguishing buttons that light up. It's a race against the clock sure to leave any child giddy and breathless.

 

Shops and Food

The east side of the park is dedicated to shops selling fashion items and accessories such as hats and shoes. The west side of the park is dedicated to the "arts," such as art galleries, leather crafting stores and jewelry makers. Really neat shops with neat people. Food shops are sprinkled throughout the park. Check my article below on the best Mexican food in Las Vegas which is located in Downtown Container Park. My favorite is Pinches Tacos.

 

Entertainment

Downtown Container Park has an amazing assortment of free entertainment such as childrens programs, Magic acts, and music by top talent ranging from classic rock to bluegrass country. For further details on entertainment offerings check the event schedule.  Bring the kids and enjoy an entertainment filled night under the stars or during the day. Frequent a local business and feel good about leaving no footprint on Mother Earth. Las Vegas has surprisingly mild temperatures in the winter evenings so dress appropriate and in the summer, wear loose casual clothing and bring sunscreen.

Best Karaoke Bars and Private Rooms in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has many venues for late night entertainment and has Karaoke bars scattered across the valley. Some cater to the tourists on Las Vegas Blvd. but the best ones pamper the locals and surround the Strip. Knowing where to go can be a vacation saver. Go to the wrong Karaoke place and you will have a wasted evening filled with experiences that approach the surreal. Let a Las Vegas local guide you to the best Karaoke bars in town. Save yourself some time and money and enjoy your night out.


Best Las Vegas Karaoke Bars

Dino's

• 1516 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, 89104


• Directions


• Phone: (702) 382-3894


• Karaoke hours: Thurs-Sat. 10PM-???


• Host: KJ Danny G.


• Facebook


• Website

Easily the best place to do Karaoke in Las Vegas and the last of the neighborhood bars in existence. It is a bit of a dive joint in a shady part of town in Naked City, a few blocks north of the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino. Popcorn on the bar, buckets of beer and a monthly contest for "Drunk of the month" make this place a must visit for any one visiting Las Vegas who loves Karaoke. Video gaming on the bars and a pool table room highlight why Dino's has been around for over 50 years. Danny G., the KJ, is what makes this venue special with the small stage facing a crowd of 50 people sitting at small round tables and high bar stools adding charm with it's intimate atmosphere. Rating 10/10.

 

Hot Shots Bar

• 3430 E Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89121


• Directions


• Phone: (702) 547-6600


• Karaoke hours: Call for details


• Host: KJ Frankie


• Facebook


• Website

Another "Dive bar" so don't think it's a palace. Dark and smoky but has a cool vibe with Cheez-its on the bar to compliment the cheap priced drinks. Two pool tables, a Jukebox and a Golden tee arcade system gives the non-singer gives alternative ways to have fun. KJ Frankie has a huge book of songs to choose from it's charming set-up that most singers will enjoy. The bartenders are super friendly, so bring a group of friends and I guarantee you an awesome night that won't break the budget and will be a nice vacation from the Strip and it;s over priced commercialism. Rating 8/10


XO Karaoke Room

• 4550 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas NV 89119


• Directions


• (702) 739-9011


• Karaoke hours: Call for details


• Host: Rotating


• Facebook


• No website

Near University of Nevada Las Vegas main campus does attract a younger crowd but it is very affordable and has a great selection of drinks and food. It is a private Karaoke place with your own rooms so ideal for the publicly shy or the person working on their routine for the next Karaoke contest. A huge book of songs and a great place to come and make your own party. Free water to keep those vocal cords in good shape. These also offer an option to record your songs and take home your own CD of top hits. Awesome!! Rating 9/10 because of the inadequate air conditioning.

The Last Las Vegas Drive-in Movie Theater

West Wind Las Vegas 5 Drive-IN
Location: 4150 West Carey Avenue
(702) 646-3565
Facebook (no website)
Hours of Operation
M-TH 7:30-Midnight
Friday and Sat. 6:30 to 1:00am
Sunday Closed

The days of the Drive-In movie theater have come to an end...almost. The curtain will be drawn soon. The eulogy has been written but it is still unspoken. The price of real estate and the advent of movie theater upgrades like Dolby sound, stadium seating, and digital cinema have made the days of packing the family into the car and watching a flick under the stars a relic of days past. Soon a generation won't understand the nights when you cranked down the window, hung a speaker on the window and watched a movie from the comfort of your vehicle. In Las Vegas, there is ONE drive-in remaining.

 

Showtimes and Admission

Yahoo movie showtimes lists showtimes much like any movie theater. West Wind Drive-in is an amazing value with it's offerings and pricing. Adults are $6.50 each and children, ages 11 and under, are $1. Most nights, they run a double feature, that's right, two new release movies for $6.50!! They also have a concession stand with the usual offerings of hot dogs, soft drinks, popcorn, nachos, etc. at reasonable prices. Tuesday nights are "Family Night" and that already ridiculous low price drops to $5 per adult.

Your Car

The best part of a drive-in is it's your car and you can do as you like, within reason. You can bring whatever food you like and have a "picnic at the movies". If you smoke cigarettes or anything else, no one is going to object as long as you aren't a fire bug and dispose responsibly. No more hanging the speaker from the window as the movie plays over a dedicated channel on your FM car stereo. So if you have that awesome upgraded audio system, enjoy the soundtrack and special effects like you are in a state of the art theater. If you have a bit of a hearing problem, you can raise the volume and not disturb others. You can even fall asleep and no one is gonna care if you snore.

Starry Night

If the weather is nice, you can bring a couple of beach chairs and sit in front of you car and use ear buds on your smart phone to dial in the sound. Another fun way is if you have a minivan, u can open the back, reverse park it and the kids can watch from the cargo area. But, to me, a drive-in brings back memories of date night. A nice evening with my girlfriend cuddling in the "front seat" watching a movie. Not sure how much of the movie we saw, but the memories will last a lifetime.

So before, the last theater is torn down in your area. Make sure you include it as a great date night or a wonderful time for some family bonding and a cheap night out amongst the stars. You will look back on this time fondly as I do.