Track #5: Around Town Medley:
Don’t pass up this attractively priced prime rib special. (Image: Vegas 411)
Out of town friends who haven’t been to Vegas in years always ask me: does “old Vegas” still exist? Happy to say that it’s alive and well at the old-school-cool 24/7 restaurant Siegel’s 1941 inside El Cortez Hotel and Casino.
Seeking comfort from these weighty modern times, I finally tried their “world famous” (as noted on the hotel’s marquee) and easy-on-the-wallet $19.95 prime rib special.
The meal delivered on all counts. I asked for my prime rib—hailed as the “undeniable king of meats” by Bon Appetit—to be cooked between rare and medium rare. It was succulent and juicy, amped up by the burning sensation of the creamy horseradish sauce and served with mashed potatoes and perfectly sautéed vegetables.
Bugsy Siegel’s cigar smoke enhances the vintage vibes. (Image: Vegas 411)
As a bonus, I enjoyed it at my table that was situated right under a giant vintage black and white photo of that sharp-dressed, cigar-smoking mobster Bugsy Siegel.
Springs Preserve is one of Vegas’ crown jewels. (Image: Vegas 411)
Feel the need to “Zen out”? A good place to do it is at the Springs Preserve, just minutes from The Strip. Wander through the four walking trails, a botanical garden, and a collection of museums, including The Nevada State Museum, and galleries that illuminate “the birthplace of Las Vegas.”
I stopped in recently to explore the seasonal Butterfly Habitat. It’s a magical, outdoor-but-enclosed space to walk around in, with beautiful butterflies flying all around you and the plants that sustain them. The habitat reopens again on October 4 after the summer heat subsides.
You better run when a flash flood rushes through a canyon. (Image: Vegas 411)
In the Origen Museum, I enjoyed an exciting recreation of a desert-style, run-for-your-life flash flood, plus the “Brick Planet” art-and-science exhibit, with wondrous LEGO® brick sculptures created by artist Sean Kinney. See it before it wraps up on September 8. There’s a lot to absorb at Springs Preserve, both indoors and outdoors, so I missed dining at Springs Café which closes at 3:30pm. Its healthy fare is brought to you by the same folks who oversee the Bronze Café, a favorite of mine that’s located adjacent to Desert Shores.
