If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you , with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Las Vegas community. Our pre-summer weather is really kicking in so while you clean out the meltable items from your car, you can plan to make the most out of your month in Las Vegas with our May guide. From a cactus oasis to how to enjoy the Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival, tune in for activity recommendations and tips that you’ll only hear from locals. If you...
Apr 30, 2024•25 min
Even though only a third of the valley can vote for the Las Vegas mayor ( here’s why ), the role has become a bully pulpit on the global stage. So who should be our city’s next spokesperson? In our second installment of Mayoral Mondays , our special series on the 2024 Las Vegas mayoral race, we sit down with candidate Shelley Berkley . Shelley enters the race after serving in the Nevada Assembly, on the Board of Regents, and in the United States Congress as Las Vegas’s representative for seven t...
Apr 29, 2024•36 min
Now that Mojave Max has finally emerged , we can officially welcome you to spring on this week’s Friday News Roundup. After a local restaurant owner discovered ghost kitchens posing as popular established restaurants on UberEats, four local restaurants filed a class-action lawsuit against Uber and related parties. Uber paused applications for virtual kitchens on the app on Tuesday, but the affected businesses want more. Also this week, the Supreme Court of the United States is weighing in on a c...
Apr 26, 2024•36 min
American restaurateur and writer David Chang almost broke the foodie internet when he declared “ the best Chinese food in America is in Las Vegas ” on his Instagram earlier this year. While we are inclined to accept any food flattery towards Las Vegas, we needed some proof. Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Review-Journal restaurant reporter Johnathan L. Wright, a major Chinese food fan, to ask what makes Las Vegas the Chinese food destination in America and where to find the best bites. Rest...
Apr 25, 2024•24 min
How well do you really know the Strip? Today, our resident Vegas insiders, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman, along with newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess, spill their favorite hidden gems from around the Strip: From little-known historical oddities and quiet places for reflection to the best food and drink surprises they’ve discovered. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram . You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719 . Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure...
Apr 24, 2024•24 min
Myths about Las Vegas go all the way back to our city’s earliest days. Today, journalist Corey Levitan, creator of the Vegas Myths Busted series at Casino.org, quizzes our two hosts, Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman, about how well they know old Vegas history. Play along and let us know how you did! We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram . You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719 . Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here ....
Apr 23, 2024•17 min
This June, for the first time in 25 years, Las Vegas voters will face a mayoral ballot without a single Goodman on it. But given our valley’s odd jurisdictional boundaries, less than half of Southern Nevadans actually live within the city and can vote for the Las Vegas mayor. So why does this election matter to the whole Vegas Valley? How did the Mayors Goodman transform the role for a global stage — and what’s next for our city? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Channel 13 senior political re...
Apr 22, 2024•23 min
On this week’s Friday News Roundup, we lay out all the details from a Henderson police barricade situation that resulted in the suspect deceased and the front of a home ripped away. Also, Assemblywoman Danielle Gallant gets a policy she voted for wrong and issues an apology after receiving backlash in videos posted to social media . Lastly, National park rangers are asking the public to help identify two men videoed pushing over ancient rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Dayv...
Apr 19, 2024•35 min
The Kroger-Albertsons merger proposed in 2022 is still in the works, but the FTC has raised alarm bells about the consequences a merger of this magnitude would have on consumers. And about a month ago, the Nevada Attorney General’s office announced it was joining the FTC and seven other states in a lawsuit to block the proposal. So today, we’re revisiting a conversation co-host David Figler had in September with food justice writer Kim Foster and Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus about t...
Apr 18, 2024•20 min
Most people know a little about the mob and their part in building the Las Vegas we know today, but what you might not realize is how integral burlesque was in cementing Vegas’ sinful status. As new burlesque shows pop up left and right in the city, co-host Sarah Lohman takes a look back on the history of the American art form with burlesque stars Dirty Martini from DITA Las Vegas and Buttercup from the Burlesque Hall of Fame. They discuss why we are seeing a revival and how Las Vegas can help f...
Apr 17, 2024•25 min
We’re only four months into 2024, but we’ve already heard some infuriating, hilarious, or, honestly, kinda out-there quotes on Vegas issues in the news. So today, Executive Producer Sonja Cho Swanson invites co-hosts David Figler and Sarah Lohman to a game of “Guess Who Said It” to reflect on all the shenanigans our city finds itself in and, of course, win some bragging rights!
Apr 16, 2024•19 min
O.J. Simpson died at his home in Las Vegas on Thursday at age 76; the cause was cancer. He’s arguably one of our city’s most controversial celebrities, trailed by the specter of that notorious 1995 murder trial, and then later, his 2008 conviction for armed robbery at Palace Station right here in Vegas. Co-host Dayvid Figler, who is also a lawyer, was there in 2008 as an expert commentator for Court TV — he and executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson discuss the stakes of that trial (and what made ...
Apr 15, 2024•19 min
New details have emerged about the acrimonious child custody case at the heart of the Summerlin law firm shooting — but it also raises the question, how did things get this bad in the first place, and are we talking about this all wrong? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with contributor Andrew Kiraly, creator of thelist.vegas , to discuss. Next up, we break down just why the monorail is feuding with media outlets over reports of its eventual demise, and wrap up with the curious c...
Apr 12, 2024•35 min
As we emerge from winter hibernation of our comfy, cozy regular haunts, spring and summer invite us to venture further afield when trying new bars and eateries. Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Neon News editor-in-chief Gemini Stevens to talk about the hottest new bars in Las Vegas right now — and what our drink scene is still missing. Bars mentioned in the episode: Wineaux at the UnCommons Crush Pad Wine Bar Garagiste The Silver Stamp Ser Veh Zah Cin Cin Brewhouse Hola Habibi Todo Bien at th...
Apr 11, 2024•24 min
No one expected much when the Vegas Golden Knights played their first season in 2017. Now, since the team’s success in their first season and winning the Stanley Cup in their 6th, it’s hard to find a Las Vegan who doesn’t rep VGK merch. And key to their success in the community? The spectacular entertainment at every home game. The energy they create in the arena during their pregame shows is unlike any other team in the league — and today, VGK entertainment is legendary (c’mon, they even droppe...
Apr 10, 2024•24 min
Ah, spring in Vegas: That golden season of hikes, picnics, and… allergies. But how did a desert town get so pollen-y, and is allergy season getting worse? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with UNLV Pollen Monitoring Program Supervisor Asma Tahir to learn more about the rooftop gadgets that measure our pollen counts, and how we can (and can’t) fight back. Vegas residents, heads up! We’re starting a series on the mayoral race, and we want to know what your questions are. What would you like us to as...
Apr 09, 2024•20 min
For a city that stays up late, we sure don’t have too many coffee shops open past 4 p.m. But it wasn’t always this way: Lifelong Las Vegan and co-host Dayvid Figler remembers the 90s as a golden era of late-night coffee shops that hosted poetry readings and musical performances. So where did they go? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Dayvid and writer Kim Foster to talk about why late-night coffee shops are so important, and what’s filling this “third space” gap in Las Vegas today. We’re on so...
Apr 08, 2024•24 min
Las Vegans are sharing an outpouring of support for Enzo, the police dog who was stabbed in a recent encounter downtown. Happily, he is on the road to recovery and heading home . But what really went down in that encounter, and how should we be thinking about the use of K-9 units with mentally unstable people? Today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with comedian-magician Matt Donnelly from the podcast Matt and Mattingly’s Ice Cream Social to discuss. Next, they tackle the new st...
Apr 05, 2024•36 min
The shrimp cocktail might just be the most iconic dish in Las Vegas. But why? Where did it come from, why’s it called a “cocktail,” and can you still find a good 99-center anywhere in town? Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman (a culinary historian) break down the history of the shrimp cocktail, its surprising Cajun and Jewish origins, and the story behind that special red sauce. If you haven’t yet joined the City Cast Las Vegas membership program , now would be a great time: We’ve got a spec...
Apr 04, 2024•24 min
As our population grows in Vegas and major events become a regular occurrence, sweeps of the storm tunnels under Las Vegas seem to be in the news more than ever. Not to mention the rain we’ve already experienced this year that can put people living down there in danger. It makes for titillating urban folklore — a subterranean quasi-community shuffling through the darkness beneath the bright city. But what’s the reality? We are revisiting a conversation with Nevada Current reporter Michael Lyle, ...
Apr 03, 2024•25 min
Today, almost exactly 67 years after opening, the Tropicana Casino and Hotel closes its doors for good. Old-timers with deep connections to the property have shared their special memories from the Trop’s heyday… but most Las Vegans of today will admit it’s been years since they stepped foot inside the Trop. So when did the Tropicana start to lose its relevance and why? Should we care about its closure — and when does a casino become worthy of preservation? Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman...
Apr 02, 2024•21 min
Whether you know the difference between the Sunrise and Frenchman Mountains or not, they’re home to some extraordinary views and natural wonders — including rare plants, Indigenous sites, and a world-class geological feature called the Great Unconformity. But you might be surprised to hear that this land isn’t federally protected. You’ll often see broken glass bottles and graffiti here. City Cast co-host Sarah Lohman took a trip out to see the site, and meet with community leaders who are advoca...
Apr 01, 2024•27 min
Starting in August, CCSD middle and high schools will enact a new policy: During classes, students will be required to place their phones into signal-blocking pouches . Unsurprisingly, the move is deeply controversial. So what’s the upside (and the possible fallout)? Co-host Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to discuss. Next up, the team looks at new polling numbers that have just come out on Nevada ballot measures and how that could affect th...
Mar 29, 2024•32 min
There’s a lot that’s edible in the parks, walking paths, and backyards of urban Las Vegas, if you just know where to look. Today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman (a culinary historian) sit down to talk about the edible greens, flowers, and fruits coming into season this spring — all of which you can find growing right here in our city. Resources mentioned: Indian Uses of Desert Plants by James W. Cornett Southwest Foraging by John Slattery Portico by Leah Koenig Nevada Grown: A Year in L...
Mar 28, 2024•21 min
Renewable energy is a pillar in the fight against climate change — Nevada’s tackling that with giant solar farms out in the desert. But solar farms here aren’t without controversy. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Nevada Current reporter Jeniffer Solis, who wrote about the fight brewing over the Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project 40 miles outside of Vegas. This project could provide our growing city with urgently-needed clean energy, but conservationists warn it could also kill hundreds...
Mar 27, 2024•18 min
Arguably the best month in Las Vegas is approaching, and we’ve got the guide to what you can’t miss this April. Contributor and artist Brent Holmes joins co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler to recommend where to eat, what to do, and how to get out of your comfort zone this month. Mentioned this episode: Red Rock Canyon Lone Mountain Park and Trail “Jones Ranch Egypt” Brent Holmes curated by Sydney Galindo at ASAP Gallery (end of April) Listen to our episode with Brent on Black cowboys here !...
Mar 26, 2024•23 min
Sooo… Circus Circus doesn’t have the best reputation. It’s one of the oldest still-standing casinos in town and occupies the quieter, dustier north end of the Strip. It frequently tops lists of the “ worst casinos in Las Vegas ,” and the murder-clown vibes (and rumors of hauntings) don’t help, either. But co-host Dayvid Figler is on a mission to convince you otherwise. He and co-host Sarah Lohman recently took a field trip to Circus Circus, and they sit down to talk about the casino’s unique pla...
Mar 25, 2024•23 min
Things heated up in the Fontainebleau v. Wynn non-compete feud this week: Not only did the Fontainebleau come back with a countersuit to the Wynn’s claims of executive “poaching,” they also dropped some fiery text messages between the Wynn and Fontainebleau CEOs. So today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman, along with contributor Vogue Robinson, break down the drama (along with a dramatic reading of said texts). Next up, the team takes on Lombardo’s shots at Biden over affordable housing ,...
Mar 22, 2024•32 min
On Tuesday, March 19, the Clark Commission received a long-awaited debriefing on the economic impact of the F1 race. Well, it’s a real mixed bag with the list of challenges being pretty dense (one commissioner says we all “suffered”) and a host of fixes unlikely to be all in place by the time the race rolls around again in November, 2024. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler speaks with Clark County Commission Chair Tick Segerblom, who is not only concerned about the amount of county worker hours redire...
Mar 21, 2024•22 min
The largest electronic dance music festival in North America, Electronic Daisy Carnival (EDC), returns to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for its 13th year in May. As the city gears up to host the 500,000+ attendees, we look at what makes the massive festival thrive in Las Vegas and the local rave community that keeps it alive. Mary Michaud, who has been raving in Vegas since 2008, explains what brought EDC here, the ups and downs of the Vegas rave scene, and gives us insider tips for how to join t...
Mar 20, 2024•23 min
