Downtown Las Vegas is one of the most culturally and historically rich areas in the entire city. One of the many reasons both tourists and locals alike love this area of the city is the Downtown Arts District. This eclectic area, officially known as 18b Arts District is well known as the hub of the art scene in Las Vegas. The area is full of art and working galleries, antique and other unique shops and restaurants and unique lounges. Only a short walk from Fremont Street, the 18b Arts District is the perfect place to go for a different side of Vegas.

History

The area originally gained its reputation as an art location when a family owned and operated business, Desert Art Supplies was established. Several more art based businesses and museums opened in the area throughout the years, including The Arts Factory, Enigma Garden Café and The Contemporary Arts Center. The area was officially created in 1998 and was named for the 18 block zone set aside for the district. Although the area is larger today, it was initially bounded by Hoover Avenue, Colorado Avenue, Las Vegas Boulevard, Commerce Street and 4^th Street.

Goals

The initial goal of the area was to provide the otherwise dull area with a unique identity apart from what you would find on the Strip and Fremont Street. The ideal mission was to inspire creativity in everyone who visited and lived in the area. Today the area is managed by the 18b Las Vegas Arts District Neighborhood Association and strives to encourage art in general. They also make large efforts to enhance current and new businesses in the district by creating growth and promoting enhanced pedestrian traffic.

First Friday

Now well known as the premier art event in the city, First Friday was first established in October 2002 and was attended by around 300 people. First Friday is the largest arts and culture event in the city, held on the first Friday of every month and hosting up to 20,000 visitors. The uniquely fun event brings in a substantial amount of foot traffic, allowing visitors to mingle the galleries, shops, restaurants and food trucks in the area. This is great for many local and upcoming artists and other vendors to gain recognition and sell some of their original artwork.

Preview Thursday

Held the first Thursday of every month, Preview Thursday was established as a scaled down version of First Friday. The reasoning behind this, is to allow more serious art buyers with the chance to beat the large crowds and potentially buy anything they are interested in. Preview Thursday is a great, more upscale way to enjoy the offerings of the Art District.

Must Visit Places

If you find yourself in need of a great meal while exploring the Art District, stroll over to Casa Don Juan for the best authentic Mexican food you will find anywhere. This family owned restaurant offers all of your favorites including carnitas, tortas, tacos, fajitas and much more. For anyone in need of an afternoon pick me up, or smaller food offerings will love everything at Makers & Finders Coffee. This coffee house serves up one-of-a-kind hand brewed favorites such as lavender infused lattes and small tapa like dishes including arepas, empanadas and shrimp ceviche. Head over to the Velveteen Rabbit for unique handcrafted cocktails in an atmosphere that perfectly embodies the spirit of the Art District. One of the best places to visit if you find yourself in the Arts District is the Arts Factory. Started in 1997, it is a warehouse full of a wide variety of different kinds of art including contemporary and traditional. Also make sure to find some of the many different street art murals in the area for a unique look at some of the ever-changing community art pieces. Finally, be sure to take a stroll down the First Street Art Trail as a way experience a unique variety of public art.

The transformation of Downtown Las Vegas over the past couple of years has made the area more family friendly than ever. Today, there are plenty of different attractions and activities to keep every member of the family happy. The eccentric atmosphere of Downtown Las Vegas means you are also sure to find truly unique activities while enjoying the area. If you are in town with younger family members, make your way Downtown for a day the whole family can enjoy.

Container Park

  This open air shopping area is made up entirely of shipping containers is one of the best places to go to entertain the entire family. The complex features an interactive kid’s play area, known as the Treehouse, unique shopping opportunities for both kids and adults, and enough food options for even the pickiest eaters in the family. Don’t forget to check the events calendar before heading to Container Park, as they host family movie nights, live music and much more.

Slotzilla

This one-of-a-kind zip line attraction lets visitors experience Fremont Street from unexpected heights. This attraction offers two different experiences, one from 77 feet up and the other from 114 feet up. This attraction is sure to get your adrenaline pumping with speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Although there is no age requirement, flyers under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult and meet weight requirements. Slotzilla is perfect for all members of the family and is an experience you are not soon to forget.  

Segway Las Vegas

  If you are looking for a new and exciting way to explore Las Vegas, look no further than Segway Las Vegas. This unique tour company specializes in tours of Segway Personal Transporters throughout the city. These tours give you the opportunity to operate your own Segway while cruising around different parts of the city, presenting unparalleled photo opportunities. The age limit for these tours is 12 year of age and are sure to be the most exciting tour you will ever take.

Museums

Discovery Children’s

Perfect for kids of any age, the Discovery Children’s Museum, located in Symphony Park, is both fun and educational. The three story, 58,000 square-foot facility features nine award-winning interactive exhibits including toddler town, eco city and water world. Each exhibit and interactive activity in the museum is geared toward teaching children more about how certain things work. Discovery Children’s Museum provides hours of fun and exploration for the whole family.  

Natural History

  Created in an effort to foster understand and appreciation for global life forms, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, located in the Cultural Corridor of Downtown Las Vegas, offers a truly unique experience. As a Smithsonian affiliate the museum features exhibits with treasures you can’t see anywhere else. Explore everything from Egyptian relics to displays on diverse African wildlife and much more. These are only a few of the exciting family friendly activities Downtown Las Vegas has to offer. So the next time you are in town with your family, remember that Las Vegas is fun for both adults and kids!

Made entirely out of empty shipping crates, Container Park is one of the most unique shopping and entertainment centers in the city. With a distinctly downtown Las Vegas feel, Container park is full of fun stuff to see along with one-of-a-kind shopping opportunities. The shops located inside the 3 story open-air retail center give visitors a chance to find boutique apparel, jewelry, art and more while supporting small, local businesses. Here are 5 of the most unique shops to check out next time you are exploring Container Park.

Blumarble

Blumarble offers unique, handcrafted glassware, jewelry, gifts, home décor pieces and much more that you can feel good about. This is because Blumarble collects as many glass bottles from the Las Vegas Strip as possible, and then upcycles them into unexpected products that can add variety into your everyday life. They partner with businesses on the Strip and currently collect over 15,000 bottles of month to keep up with the high demand for these amazing products.

IndianSoulArt

Founded in 2004 with the goal of sharing Native American Arts and Crafts with others, IndianSoulArt not only sells art, but provides a space for display as well. Offering and expansive collection of paintings, pottery, totems, dreamcatchers, jewelry, traditional baskets and much more IndianSoulArt also offers documentation of authenticity for all pieces of art. No matter what kind of original Native American products you are looking for, this is the place to go.

San Miguel Trading Company

Featuring an eclectic mix of authentic home décor, furniture, art, jewelry and apparel offerings, San Miguel Trading Company strives provide customers with only the most unique offerings. The company was founded in an effort to bring the rare and one-of-a-kind artisanal goods from Mexico to share with more people. All of the good in the shop are handmade with lots of love and pride and are sure to bring you joy.

Max Luxx

Max Luxx is the perfect place for anyone looking for great prices on authentic designer handbags, wallets, belts, travel gear, sunglasses and much more. This unique resale boutique that combines the best aspects of luxury and affordability. With amazing products from some of the most well-known designers in the world, you are sure to find exactly what you want at Max Luxx.

Kappa Toys

This one-of-a-kind toy store is carefully designed and well-stocked to instill a heavy dose of nostalgia to everyone who enters. The store is sure to provide hours of discovery for both adults and children. With never before seen toys from all over the world to classics sure to remind you of your childhood, Kappa toys is a great place to find something fun for both you and the kids.

It’s no secret that the mob was linked with the establishment of the city of Las Vegas as it is today. The history of both the city and some of the better known hotels in Las Vegas is strewn with some of the most recognizable mob names imaginable. Although this was previously considered to be a weak point in the evolution of the city, it has been embraced in recent years. This is in large part due to the opening of the Mob Museum in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas. This uniquely Vegas museum breathes history, including everything inside, along with the building in which it is houses.

The Building

One of the most exciting aspects of the Mob Museum is the corresponding history of the building where it is located. Falling perfectly in line with the rich history of the entire Downtown area, The Mob Museum was originally both the U.S. Post Office and courthouse and was opened in 1933. Although it was not primarily used as a courthouse for several years after opening, in 1950 the building gained notoriety for holding one of the Kefauver Committee Hearings.   The famed hearings, led by Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver, were to investigate organized crime in interstate commerce. Although these hearings took place across the country and were intended to investigate organized crime in general, it became clear the mob connections in Las Vegas were front and center. The courtroom on the second floor of the museum, where testimony was heard for these hearings, has been restored to its original glory. The building was sold to the city in 2002 with the agreement that it be preserved and used as a museum.

The Museum

The idea of the museum was proposed by the Mayor of Las Vegas, and well-known mafia criminal defense lawyer, Oscar Goodman, as a way to tell the complicated story of organized crime in society. Officially known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement the museum is an interactive journey using a vast collection of exhibits to tell true stories. The underlying theme of the museum is how mobsters led to the rise of the city and how law enforcement led to their eventual downfall.

Exciting Exhibits & Artifacts

One of the most anticipated exhibits in the museum is the restored second floor courtroom where visitors can see video clips of the actual Kefauver hearings that were broadcast to Americans during the time. There are also plenty more interactive exhibits to visit including a wiretapping display, a firearms simulator and an audio visual panel where you can see FBI testimonies. The most valuable and exciting artifact in the entire museum, however, is the blood stained and bullet battered brick wall where the infamous Chicago Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre took place. Some of the other notable artifacts include the sunglasses worn by Bugsy Siegel on the day of his death, the white suit famously worn by John Gotti during court appearances and a 1919 World Series ticket showing the game has been fixed.

Notable Names

  Those who curated the amazing artifacts for this one-of-a-kind museum clearly spared no expense in securing artifacts from some of the most well-known names in organized crime. There are rare items from Al Capone, Charlie Luciano, Tony Spilotro, George Moran, John Gotti, Bugsy Siegel, Carlo Gambino, Edgar Hoover, Estes Kefauver, Eliot Ness, Rudy Giuliani and many more. This unique museum is a must visit next time you find yourself looking for something interesting to do in Downtown Las Vegas. You are sure to leave the museum with a great understanding of how organized crime infiltrated American culture and society during these times.

The exciting transformation of Downtown Las Vegas continues as more retailers and restaurants come to the area. As the community continues to grow, we are able to experience some of the most amazing new food the entire city has to offer. No matter what you are looking for, you are likely to find it right here in Downtown Las Vegas. So come down today to check out some of these great restaurants.

VegeNation

As one of the few truly vegan restaurants in the city, VegeNation is sure to get you excited about healthy eating. Featuring a wide variety of different types of cuisine, you can get everything from Vietnamese pho to Mexican and Italian dishes all made with 100 percent plant-based products. Don’t forget to also check out their signature “juicetails” featuring local distilled liquor and cold-pressed juice while you are there!

Carson Kitchen

This Downtown favorite, located at Sixth and Carson streets features a perfectly crafted menu of new American food with a unique twist. The restaurant also has a garden-style rooftop patio for an outdoor dining option. Designed for sharing with your party, the menu features favorite items including crispy chicken skins, bacon jam, sandwiches, flatbreads and much more. The restaurant also features a wised variety of beer, wine and stiff specialty drinks.

Le Thai

Frequently lauded as one of the best restaurants in Las Vegas, Le Thai is a small restaurant that delivers big flavor. Located across the street from the El Cortez, the restaurant features a large outdoor dining space complete with a misting system for those warm Vegas nights. Le Thai is best known for its delicious three color curry complete with strips of fresh daikon, carrot and basil. Other must-try dishes include the short rib fried rice, awesome noodles and fried bananas.

La Comida

La Comida, located on Sixth street, is a rustic yet chic interpretation on a traditional Mexican cantina. The vast restaurant features a large indoor dining area complete with interesting furniture and light fixtures along with a comfortable outdoor dining area as well. The menu features plenty of tasty Mexican classics such as Pozole, Mexican street corn, ceviche, tacos and much more. Take some time to sample one of the over 100 tequilas on the menu or one of their famous fruit margaritas.

Therapy

This hip new restaurant, located in the Fremont East District, touted as a “gastro-lounge” gives a whole new outlook on American cuisine.  The restaurant features both tapas-style dishes that are meant for sharing, along with individual entrees, and something called cast iron s’mores, which sounds worthy of a trip on its own. The restaurant caters to everyone with offerings like a wagyu beef burger, charred kale salad, steak tartar, Scottish salmon and much more.

Monta Japanese Noodle House

Monta Japanese Noodle House serves “KURUME” style Tonkotsu Ramen, with a broth made from selected pork bones and the unique soy sauce imported from Japan. The prices are great and the portions are large, pick up any of their delicious Ramen bowls downtown. Downtown Las Vegas is quickly becoming the place to be if you are looking for uniquely delicious food offerings. Make sure to stop and check out one of these new restaurants next time you are looking to try out something new.