Mid Century Magic Off the Strip

I certainly had a great time experiencing the luxury and  glitz of the Las Vegas strip with my recent Blog Tour Modenus adventure,  but there is another Las Vegas where regular people live, love, work and play.  I was fortunate enough to get a couple days of Vegas from a different perspective.  Big “thank you” shout out to Karen and Barry!Markers and Finders, Las Vegas, photo courtesy of Las Vegas Journal ReviewYou can find great food off “the strip”.  For example brunch at   Makers & Finders  was tasty, fresh and very creative.4e6d79a24c3f3f9637e56d9b9f6f9c50Another fun place to visit is the Downtown Container Park.  Comprised entirely of old shipping containers, you will find some fun bars, restaurants and a generally happy place to hang out and people watch. I can attest to the barbecue scrumptiousness at Big Ern's!  The park is located in "old" Vegas on Fremont Street which dates back to 1905 and was the first paved street in Las Vegas in 1925. Downtown Container Park located on Fremont Stree in "old" Las VegasMain Street, Las Vegas is a treasure trove of mid century magic!  This is no surprise as Vegas was ground zero for the “Rat Pack” of the 1950s,  nearby Palm Springs was a mid century mecca and let’s not forget Liberace!  Prices are reasonable to boot.  If you have a yen for this style I suggest you hook up a UHaul and head west!  Here are some of the shops I discovered.2015-01-23 13.28.12First stop after lunch was the fabulous fifties Stevotomic Store. Stevo is a mid century inspired metal artist creating wall art, clocks, bar decor, home accessories and aerial sculptures.  He also takes custom work on request.  His work is very inventive and reasonably priced.2015-01-23 13.27.57 Down the street from Stevotomic's you will find Retro Vegas, a treasure trove of fifties fab! Talking to owner, Bill Johnson, I learned that due to tax purposes many movies are filmed in Nevada and when producers are looking for mid century sets guess where they go?  That's right, Retro Vegas.  This pink kitchen has been in a few films.2015-01-23 16.39.07 The quintessential tiki bar at Retro Vegas!Before we leave Main Street I must tell you about Kate. Kate Aldrich is the proprietress of Patina Decor, a wonderland specializing in vintage home, lighting, accessories and even apparel.2015-01-23 14.43.57Little known fact, my degree is in Merchandising and I can tell  you this shop takes that concept to a new level.  At Patina I meandered through a series of perfectly appointed vignettes.  Products are combined to enhance each other which perfectly sets the mood.  All I needed was a smoldering cigarette and a martini to complete the experience!2015-01-23 14.25.492015-01-23 14.27.49If you take the time to explore Vegas off the strip you can find many mid century gems.  Some are well loved and taken care of and some are diamonds in the rough, yet to be recognized. This lovely example is where I had the pleasure of staying off the strip.  2015-01-23 15.16.58    2015-01-23 15.12.07 2015-01-23 15.13.17Fifties icon Tony Curtis once said, “If you know how to live in Vegas you can have the best time.” I think he's right.  Just remember to be intrepid in your travels.  Follow the paths not already trampled by the masses and you will find so much more!Continue the conversation on FaceBook...