JOHN-O's Las Vegas (& Honolulu pg 8) Thread

On 2013-05-13 22:16, JOHN-O wrote:

...I promise my next post will be Tiki though. Kinda. :)

When it comes to first rate Tiki-style in Las Vegas you can't do better than Frankie's Tiki Room, every TC regular knows that. But what about Smuggler-style ? Where is Sin City's version of Smuggler's Cove ?

Look no further than the Smuggle Inn...

While not as nautically rich as Smuggler's Cove (consider it Smuggler's Lite), it does pre-date Martin Cate's temple of high-end rum mixology by a good quarter century !!

The base elements of rum barrels, skeletons, and bamboo are all there...

Ok so maybe you're not going to be able to get a classic 1934 Zombie but the Smuggle Inn is not without its merits. For one thing it caters to very exclusive clientele. At SC, they pretty much let anyone in through the front door. Not the case at the Smuggle Inn...

Also the Men's restroom provides various convenient sundries saving you that extra trip to the local drug store or sex shop...

And in a city of increasing tourist douchebaggery, the Smuggle Inn provides a dark and quiet place to chat up long time locals. Was Las Vegas really a better place when it was run by organized crime? This is a good place to get first hand accounts.

:)

So what's the latest status on the soon to be reopened Atomic Liquors?. I stopped by recently to take a peek through the window.

It was hard to see inside with a mid day's desert sun reflecting off the dark glass but it did still appear pretty stark inside.

Even with the revamp I think it's going to be challenging to attract the targeted demographic of big spending hipsters. For one thing even though it's only several blocks from the booming Fremont East bar district, the immediate area still seems pretty grim. The razed Ambassador East motel lot across the street is a reminder when LA Street gangs controlled the block to peddle dope.

And the nearby shuttered Western Casino makes the general desolation seem even more apparent.

Still I wish the new owners well, I just hope some of the old historic dumpy character is retained.

For anyone who cares (some here do)...

Atomic Liquors has re-opened:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/historic-atomic-liquors-reopens-fremont-street-prayer

On 2013-06-21 12:55, ThreeTikis wrote:
Atomic Liquors has re-opened:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/historic-atomic-liquors-reopens-fremont-street-prayer

Excellent news!

John-O...thank you for posting all the info on Sin City. Too much stuff going on at work this year, so I am hoping I can get Corona Contessa to go to Las Vegas next year. I am looking forward to Frankies and now the men's bathroom at the Smuggle Inn.

Here is a bit more on the re-opening of Atomic Liquors:

http://www.ktnv.com/news/actionnewsthismorningweekendedition/212626981.html

So, has anyone taken the place in since the re-opening?

I visited during a power blackout caused by flash flood thunderstorms. The place was lit only by candlelight but as far as I could tell it still seemed to feel like the old joint (only really really cleaned up). The old Runyonesque regulars have been replaced by a younger Downtown locals crowd though (but not too hipster). In an homage to the former $1 cans of Busch beer they are serving $3 glasses of Busch on tap. :)

This is still one of the top "dive" bars in town, here's my Top 10...

1. Hard Hat Lounge (Frank Bowers mural !! but possibly endangered)
2. Smuggle Inn (see above)
3. Atomic Liquors (formerly #1)
4. Dino's Lounge
5. Double Down Saloon
6. Dispensary Lounge
7. Champagnes
8. Frankie's Tiki Room
9. Huntridge Tavern
10. Moon Doggies (for the Naked City pizza)

On 2013-07-21 21:38, JOHN-O wrote:

This is still one of the top "dive" bars in town, here's my Top 10...

1. Hard Hat Lounge (Frank Bowers mural !! but possibly endangered)
2. Smuggle Inn (see above)
3. Atomic Liquors (formerly #1)
4. Dino's Lounge
5. Double Down Saloon
6. Dispensary Lounge
7. Champagnes
8. Frankie's Tiki Room
9. Huntridge Tavern
10. Moon Doggies (for the Naked City pizza)

Thanks, John-O. I have not been to six of these and just added them to my to-do list.

Good list.
Dino's FB page has a nice vibe:
https://www.facebook.com/DinosLV

Damn...the Dispensary is one of my favorite bars in ANY city...

It looks like the Hard Hat Lounge is slated for a remodel, so if you want to enjoy the Bowers mural in its original dive bar environs, go now.

Cool, the Neon Museum/Boneyard has the original Stardust sign reassembled. And it lights up !!

I think it needs to be paired up with the Aku Aku moai...

Just like old times...

Yes, as much as I like being able to see the Moai to or from McClarran airport, it is a very ignoble existence to be relegated to a bird stand.

The owner of Zappos.com, Tony Heish, plans on investing $350 million to transform the area around Atomic Liquors.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-las-vegas-downtown-20140228,0,2615745.story#axzz2ucsL6zOW

With so much $$$ being thrown around, it would be great if one of the Tiki designers could catch some of it.

Another angle of the original Stardust sign:

The Neon Museum is awesome BTW, definitely worth a trip to see when you're in town.