The 2005 "golden week" is from today through December 22, with our room-rate survey last month turning up 30 casinos with rooms for less than $40.
Here are a few ideas for a Las Vegas-specific shopping spree.
Gambler's General Store. Located at 800 S. Main St., just down the street from the Plaza, here you can shop for everything having to do with casino gambling: playing cards, poker chips, chuck-a-luck cages, crap tables, slot machines, whirlwind-of-cash booths; how about a nice plexiglas toilet seat inlaid with $100 bills? They also stock a bookstore’s worth of titles on gambling and Las Vegas.
Bonanza. Las Vegas's largest souvenir store is at the northwest corner of the Strip and Sahara. Claiming to be the "world’s largest gift shop," Bonanza stocks a warehouseful of Las Vegas keepsakes, from dice earrings to full-size Wayne Newton blow-up dolls, from snowy Las Vegas Strip glass paperweights to shot glasses.
Bell, Book, and Candle. Go to 1725 E. Charleston for a true Las Vegas landmark. BB&C sells all manner of lucky charms and talismans, herbs and oils, implements of black magic, and other spooky stuff. A similar store is Psychic Eye at 2250 E. Tropicana Ave.
Modify is Las Vegas' one and only solution to Mid-Century Modern. Located downtown in the heart of the Arts District, the store showcases an extensive selection of vintage furniture and home accessories, featuring Danish Modern, Space-Age, '50s-'60s-'70s, lighting, textiles, pottery, electronics, books, custom pillows from vintage fabrics, rugs, etc. # E. Charleston Blvd. #8a (at Main Street) Hours: Wed-Sun 1-7 pm.
Antique Mall of America. Formerly the "Antique Sampler Shoppes" on W. Tropicana, the Antique Mall of America is now located at 9151 S. Las Vegas Blvd, just north of the new South Coast casino. The venue has expanded to 43,000 square feet and, in addition to being full of stalls rented out by more than 200 collectors and dealers, is also in the process of adding three restaurants. You could spend an entire afternoon nosing around this one place for good deals on antiques, memorabilia, collectibles, even furniture. For further information tel: 702/933-2791.
The Attic. Vintage clothes at 1018 S. Main St. (combine the Attic with your stop at The Gambler's General Store). Also good are Halloween Experience at 5800 S. Valley View and Valentino’s Zoot Suit Collection, 906 S. 6th St.
Serge's Showgirl Wigs. This fun store is in the Commercial Center at 953 E. Sahara Ave. Serge's Wig Outlet next door has cheaper and goofier hairpieces.
Chinatown Plaza. The only master-planned Chinatown in the U.S., this open-air off-Strip mall, on W. Spring Mountain Road, about two miles from the Strip, sells jade, herbs, books, furniture, arts, and crafts. There are also nine restaurants and a large Asian supermarket -- all unified by Tong Dynasty architecture.
Paradise Electro Stimulations. Finally, just before you head back to your cheap hotel room, you might stop off at this shop, selling devices that can only be described as a cross between physical therapeutics and adult playthings. Fade to black ...
