2010 Vegas' Best - This & That
Best Strip Malls
Thu, May 27, 2010 (midnight)
Pacific Asian Plaza
Photo: Justin Massongill
Pacific Asian Plaza Chinatown as a whole offers plenty to explore, but the Pacific Asian Plaza on Spring Mountain Road at Decatur Boulevard is the standout of Spring Mountain. SF Marketplace, the strip mall’s anchor, offers the types of head-turning products only foreign markets can offer, while the adjacent three-story complex provides the downright delicious (Shuseki, Swish, Shabu Shabu) and some amusingly straightforward businesses (International Bank, Chicken & Beer). The requisite massage parlor and bakery are also there. If all that isn’t enough to win you over, the cherry on top is Pacific Asian Plaza’s attached garage, which assures you there will always be a parking space waiting for you. –April Corbin
Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road This mid-sized shopping center is right in the middle of the action, close to the university district, the Hard Rock and the Strip. It boasts all the basics you need in a strip mall, including a CVS store, a tanning salon, and a wonderfully named manicure/pedicure spot: Get Nailed 24/7. It’s got style, thanks to a Stussy store and the cool sneaker shop Undefeated (for when you’re feeling like Turtle from Entourage). Most importantly, it’s got great grub: solid pizza from Joe’s NY, burgers at Johnny Rockets, sushi at Kaizen and Mexican at Paradise Cantina. And the heavy hitters: maybe our city’s best Indian food at Origin India, and maybe our city’s best Italian wine bar at Ferraro’s. What more do you need? –Brock Radke
Best in the West/ Rainbow Promenade I can’t pick between the two. In part, it’s because I don’t want to offend, but it’s also because the two are right across the street from each other on Rainbow Boulevard and virtually identical. Best in the West has a Borders; Rainbow Promenade has a Barnes & Noble. Best in the West has Sweet Tomatoes all-you-can-eat salad bar; Rainbow Promenade has Souper Salad all-you-can-eat salad bar. BW has PetSmart; RP has Petco. BW has Tony Roma’s; RP has Macaroni Grill. Aaaargh! Let’s call it a tie before my head starts to hurt. –Rick Lax
Vegas' 2010
Food »
- New Chef: Shawn McClain
- Off-Strip Atmosphere: Firefly
- Chef: Akira Back
- On-Strip Atmosphere: Dick's Last Resort
- Soup: Society Cafe's Roasted Tomato Bisque
- Old Time Restaurant: Battista's Hole in the Wall
- Tapas: Julian Serrano
- New Restaurant: Julian Serrano
- Wine List: Guy Savoy
- Lunch Specials: The Palm
- Condiment: Athens fries dipping sauce at Paymon's Mediterranean Cafe
- Late-Night Eats Off the Strip: Tofu Hut
- Place to Overeat: Hash House a Go Go
- Sandwich: Tie! Eddie D's and Capriotti's
- Burger
- Dinner with a View
- Coffee Shop: Sunrise Coffee Co.
- Place to Dine Alone: First Food and Bar
- Home-Style Desserts: The pie at Du-par's Restaurant & Bakery
- Offbeat Dessert: The Pucker Up cupcake at Retro Bakery
- Dim Sum: Ping Pang Pong
- Wines by the Glass: Sage
- Pho: Pho Saigon 8
- Power Breakfast Spot: MOzen
- Mac and Cheese: Firefly
- Steak: Carnevino
- Beer on tap (RC): Yardhouse
- Bottled beer (RC): Freaking Frog
- BBQ (RC): Lucille’s; runner-up: Famous Dave’s
- Brunch: Country Club at Wynn
- Eat under $10 (RC): In-N-Out
- Healthy eating (RC): Whole Foods
- Salad (RC): Sweet Tomatoes
- Buffet: M Resort
- Late-night eats on Strip: Munch Bar
- Pancakes (RC): IHOP; runner-up: Original Pancake House
- Late-night eats off Strip: Tofu Hut
- Pizza (south): Settebello
- Pizza (north): Grimaldi’s
- Frozen Yogurt: Golden Spoon
- Japanese: Ichiza
- Specialty foods (RC): Whole Foods
- Bakery (RC): Freed’s
- Tacos (RC): Roberto’s
- Seafood (RC): RM Seafood
A&E »
- Supporting Cast: 'Believe' Dancers
- Live Band: Holding on to Sound
- Local Singer-songwriter: Kristina Antuna
- Local Heavy Band: A Grand Omen
- Local Hip-Hop Act: Passed Up
- Artist (Established): Stephen Hendee
- Artist (Up and Coming): John Bissonette
- Art Gallery: Trifecta Gallery
- New Local Album: Dreaming of Lions' 'A Lovers Vow'
- Venue sound: The Pearl
- Venue sightlines: The Joint
- Venue balcony: House of Blues
- Outdoor stage: Beauty Bar
- Place to discover your favorite band: Bunkhouse
- Venue seat: Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts
- New venue: Hard Rock Cafe (Strip)
- Costumes: The Lion King
- New Strip show: Garth Brooks
- Bang for your buck (RC): Barry Manilow
- Strip show we forgot was great (RC): Mystere
- Enduring Strip show: Jubilee!
- Arts effort: Emergency Arts
- Established arts organization: CAC
- Local electronic-music act (RC): Afghan Raiders
- Local country act (RC): The Clydesdale
- Local indie band (RC): Imagine Dragons
- Band name: Kid Meets Cougar
- Theater (production show): Jersey Boys
- Comfy seating: Couches at Viva Elvis
- Lounge act (RC): Matt Goss
Nightlife »
- Happy Hour: Firefly
- Party Patio: Pure
- Strip Club: Spearmint Rhino
- Dive Joints
- Party (one-off): The Cat’s Meow
- Nightlife Figure: Cory McCormack
- Nightlife Cheerleader: Abbigail Peltier Garcia
- Sweetest Ongoing Deal: Vanity Thursdays for Godskitchen
- Staff Uniform: Bang! Tuesdays at Moon
- Sports Bar: Lagasse’s Stadium
- Gay/lesbian club: Krave
- Hotel bar : Todd English P.U.B. at Aria
- Mega nightclub (RC): Pure
- Bartender (RC): Taveya Montero at Haze
- Resident DJ (RC): DJ Hollywood
- New gimmick: Mario Barth’s Tattoo Parlor
- Nightclub alternative: Fremont East District
- Overall cocktail menu: Downtown Cocktail Room
- Low-brow cocktail offering: PBR served in a brown bag at Revolver
- Rising star DJ (RC): DJ Mike Remedy
- Newcomer (venue) (RC): Haze
- Bottle service (RC): Pure
- Ladies night (RC): Blue Martini
- Pool party (RC): Wet Republic
- Nightlife’s best-kept secret (RC): Noir Bar
- Afterhours club (RC): Drai’s
- Place to Dine and Dance: Tao
- Friendliest face: David Schnitzer from Encore Beach club
- Go-go dancers: Cathouse
- Party (recurring): Daylife Sundays at Wet Republic
- Non-hotel bar (RC): Sidebar
- Ultralounge (RC): Noir
- Intimate boutique nightclub (RC): Blush
- Escape: V Bar
Buying & Selling »
- Place to Sell Your Own Clothes: Buffalo Exchange
- Place to Sell Gold: Vegas Goldmine
- Place to Pick Up a Good Party Dress: Patty's Closet
- Used Clothing Store: The Gypsy Den
- Clothing Store: H&M
- Wine Shop: Marche Bacchus
- Tattoo Piercing Shop: Pussykat Tattoo Parlor
- Bike Shop: McGhie's
- Salon: Amp
- Tattoo Removal: Tie! Sabrina Kelly and Julio Garcia, MD
- Pawn Shop (RC): Gold & Silver Pawn
- Place to get ready for a girl’s night out (RC): Patty’s Closet
- Place to buy gadgets (RC): Fry’s
- Used-book store: Plaza Books
- Place to get pet-pampering supplies: Flea Bag’s Barkery & Bow-tique
People »
- Someone who still gives us hope
- Politician (Right): Brian Sandoval
- Politician (Left): Rory Reid
- Investigative Reporter: George Knapp
- Music Fan: Donald Hickey
- Entrepreneur: Stephen Siegel
- Innovator: Dr. Florence Jameson
- Stripper (RC): Justice
- Local hero (RC): Oscar Goodman
- Las Vegan you love to hate (RC): Oscar Goodman
- Crazy dreamer (RC): Oscar Goodman
- Only-in-Vegas personality: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Sports figure (RC): Floyd Mayweather
- Innovator: Larry Beard, creator of the Strippermobible
This & That »
- Quote from Jim Gibbons
- Quote from Harry Reid
- Quote from Oscar Goodman
- Place To Find Intelligent Conversation
- Sign the Apocalypse is Near
- Signs of Hope
- Charity: Communities in Schools
- Twitterer: @tinch
- Blogger: thelasvegascourtesan.com
- Strip Malls
- Park: Lorenzi Park
- Vegas' Readers' Choices You Almost Didn't See
- Natural Outdoor Adventure: Kayaking the Black Canyon
- Urban outdoor adventure: Sky Jump at Stratosphere
- Parking Garage: Palazzo
- Recent book about Vegas (RC): Blue Vegas, by P Moss
- Budget spa (RC): Massage Envy
- Place for a cheap date (RC): Pinball Museum
- Project most in need of bailout (RC): Education
- Radio station (RC): 98.5 KLUC
- Place to take kids 5-10 (RC): Las Vegas Natural History Museum
- Place to take kids 11-17 (RC): Las Vegas Natural History Museum
- Local advertisement: Glen Lerner
- Way to resuscitate Las Vegas: Film all competitive reality shows here in casino showrooms
- Local gay and lesbian resource: Las Vegas Gay and Lesbian Community Center
- New building: Lou Ruvo Center
- People watching, on-Strip: Forum Shops
- People-watching, off-Strip: Town Square
- People-watching, Downtown: The adjacent patios at Mickie Finnz and Hennesseys
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