Scenes from the Campaign Trail: Old Henderson

Often when we think about Henderson today, our minds immediately ascend to well manicured, white-collar suburban enclaves like Green Valley and Anthem. However, we often forget about the history of Henderson, especially the living history still standing in Old Henderson.

Old Henderson definitely has a different vibe to it. Walking the streets, one can observe how the neighborhoods have matured since being built 50-70 years ago as housing for industrial workers. It's still very much a blue-collar area, and the older, less uniform houses and apartment complexes stand in stark contrast to the master plans and HOA drama of newer, more glamorous parts of town.

Yesterday, Sam Bateman knocked doors in Old Henderson after marching in the local Heritage Parade. And of course, I joined along, as I was curious to see what voters here were thinking. There were complaints about the police not doing their job here, concerns about rude neighbors throwing loud parties at night, and mistrust of certain politicians that have long neglected this part of the city.

You see, we have our own inner city problems to tackle here in Henderson. It's not all "Real Housewives" style drama in gated McMansion communities here. We also have an urban core in need of attention, and really in need of some old fashioned TLC. I must admit I was glad to see Sam knocking on doors here and listening to the residents, especially as someone running in Ward 4, an area better known for our culture of white-collar suburbia.

Hopefully Sam and other local Henderson leaders remember that we really are a diverse city full of neighborhoods with their own unique needs. Old Henderson doesn't end at Water Street and Lake Mead Parkway. There's more work to be done, and locals there are hoping for the city and local businesses to work alongside them.

More Controversy on Old Vegas v. New Vegas

It seems like the controversy that exploded in the comments on the latest "Ask Mr. Sun" piece on theme casinos, and really the value of tacky "Old Vegas", has just kept raging on. Steve Friess weighed in with his take on Vegas' latest cultural setbacks/throwbacks. But possibly even more controversial, Mr. ELV joked about demolishing Fremont Street altogether over its seedy casinos and criminally awful food offerings.

Just like Wednesday, I feel like I'm caught in the middle of this struggle between the sophisticated critics and the "unwashed masses" all over again. While I actually agree with John Curtas and Steve Friess that much of the “Old Vegas” nostalgia, as embodied Downtown, is overrated tackiness, it seems that the hoi polloi prefer their Vegas old and tacky. And really, is it wrong that they like their Vegas experience cheap and trashy?

Honestly, I must admit that I liked my last visit to Fremont Street Downtown. Sometimes it just feels good to let my hair down and enjoy the simpler things in life, like walking by stripper clubs and actually putting nickels into a 5 cent slot machine. While I always have fun dressing up to go out to dinner at Ago or enjoy a bite or three at Society after seeing Le Reve, sometimes it’s nice to shake up the old routine (and save some dinero) with a good ol’ video show and footlong margarita at Fremont Street.

And besides, it’s isn’t a complete cultural wasteland Downtown. Fremont East does have some hip indie clubs, and there are a handful of culinary diamonds in the rough. Firefly's a great tapas bar at The Plaza, and Grotto is an underrated gem of an Italian spot at The Golden Nugget.

So shouldn't folks have the choice of going to gamble somewhere tacky Downtown if that's what they want to do? Contrary to what some may think, a lot of folks would probably be furious if Fremont Street bites the dust. And as I suggested earlier this week, I do think there’s a “happy medium” balance between the old Kitschy Vegas and the new Haute Vegas to be found. I like the new glamour of The Strip, but Downtown will never be like The Strip so Fremont might as well keep its kitsch and hokeyness going for all the old timers and cheapo gamblers who appreciate it.

I think one of the biggest mistakes the casinos made was in oversaturating the high-end market. It’s good for discerning travelers to have such a glut of 4 and 5-star hotel rooms available here for $100-200 per night (or even LESS if you know where to look), but it doesn't help the casino giants’ bottom lines and it’s still too costly for those traveling on limited budgets.

Same goes for food. I appreciate gourmet dining. I appreciate quality ingredients, great technique, and beautiful presentation. However, there really are tourists and locals out there that just see the restaurants as pit stops for “cheap fuel”. Believe it or not, there are people out there that like those 99 cent shrimp cocktails.

I think that’s the key here. We need variety. While we may not like the tacky offerings downtown, I do think there’s a role for Downtown as the “Old Vegas” alternative for visitors that don’t like the “New Vegas” offerings on The Strip.

Come on, this town is big enough to handle both the discerning gourmands and the cheapo fanny-packers. Let them enjoy that $7.77 buffet special and Rat Pack tribute show at The Plaza while I take in a dinner at Border Grill or Sinatra before I see Bette Midler or the new Cirque show.

Variety is the spice of life, so there's no reason why Old Vegas can't coexist with New Vegas. There's enough room to keep the kitschy themes and cheapo experience alive Downtown as The Strip keeps it classy with a continual upscale transformation. So can we all just get along and be free to experience whatever Vegas fantasies we want? ;-)

Vegas Is Losing Its "Theme". Should We Mourn Its Loss?

Today's Sun article really got me thinking about just that. The "theme casinos" now look to be a thing of a past, or at least on The Strip. Downtown's still as kitschy as ever, and some see it as a good thing.

So are the "theme casinos" just distant trashy memories of the past that should be left there? Or are we losing some genuine parts of Vegas with every Strip casino that's renovated and "de-themed"?

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle here. On one hand, I LOVE the design of Wynn & Encore. Hands down, they're my favorite Strip casinos. The gardens inside relax me, and the gaming "rooms" give the casino a nice, intimate feel.

I'm also excited about CityCenter. A number of the buildings were just awarded LEED Gold for their eco-friendly design, and the architecture really proves that Vegas has "grown up" and become a truly sophisticated destination.

But on the other hand, I'll also admit that I have a special place in my heart for Fremont Street and the old "grande dame" casinos downtown. Yes, they're mostly kitschy and trashy... But they're also Vegas history and it would be a shame to ever lose them.

Maybe I'm being too Goldilocks here, but I do think there's a "just right" balance between the old and the new for Vegas that I hope we can achieve and sustain. I personally don't miss the cheap buffets and lousy hotel accomodations at all, but there's some redeeming value in downtown that I'd never want to lose. I also sometimes feel that MGM Mirage and Harrah's have gone too far at times in redefining The Strip and making way too many Strip casinos just generic, but at the same time I hope more residents and "old timer" visitors also open their minds to the new "Haute Vegas" of The Strip at the casinos that have done it right (like Wynn/Encore, Caesar's, and Mandalay Bay).

So do you agree with me? Or am I missing something here? Go ahead, let me have it. ;-)