There’s more to Las Vegas than the Strip, convention halls and regret.
Next week Liberty Fairs and Agenda will make their debut in downtown Las Vegas at the World Market Center located near the city’s up-and-coming Arts District and nostalgic casino hotels like the Golden Nugget.
The move boldly takes the shows off the Strip and away from UBM Fashion’s shows at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Liberty announced its plan to relocate to the Rat Pack’s old stomping grounds in October, describing the new location as “the ultimate gathering spot to conduct business, be inspired and discover expanded options for dining, lodging and entertainment.”
Along with standing show features like the conference series Assembly and Indigo, the denim-focused showcase, new show perks will include a gourmet food truck promenade, a creative direct-to-consumer hybrid show experience and nightly entertainment with performances. Liberty will also have on-site amenities that play into the charm of its new location like casino games, buyers lounges and a bodega-style convenience store.
And there is plenty to discover outside the show. From a neon sign graveyard and nostalgic casino hotels, to the city’s oldest bar with an explosive past, downtown Las Vegas is a reminder of how the city became the world’s playground.
Here’s are Rivet staff’s top picks downtown Las Vegas.
Zappos Tours
From its open floor plan and emphasis on creativity, to its self-management business model, the non-traditional corporate culture of online footwear retail Zappos is almost as famous as its wide array of footwear. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s zany office located in downtown Las Vegas during one of the daily 90-minute tours.
Las Vegas Murals
Street art is revitalizing downtown Las Vegas. Join one of the numerous street art walking tours sprouting up on Airbnb Experiences, or discover Las Vegas’ bourgeoning art scene independently.
Atomic Liquors
Established in 1952, Atomic Liquors is the oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas, and it has the receipts to prove it. The liquor license reads #00001.
The business became a watering hole for locals to watch mushroom clouds erupt from the nearby atomic test site, and a place for celebrities to escape the Stripe. The Rat Pack, Clint Eastwood and Barbara Streisand were reportedly regulars. Today, the restored spot offers a trip down memory lane with a modern touch, including a rotating list of craft beers and a kitchen that serves weekend brunch.
The Neon Museum Las Vegas
Get up close and personal with Las Vegas icons at the Neon Museum. The non-profit museum is dedicated to collecting and preserving iconic Las Vegas signage, while its outdoor exhibition space allows visitors to walk through a “neon boneyard” filled with relics of old Sin City. The museum offers several types of guided and unguided tours, including an illuminated night tour. And come with a fully-charged phone—the museum is jammed pack with Instagram photo opportunities.
Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum
Paranormal aficionado and star of the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures,” Zak Bagans recently transformed a Las Vegas (reportedly haunted) mansion into a 30-plus room house of horrors filled with artifacts and possessions believed to be connected with spirits—good and bad. After signing a waiver stating they understand the risks before entering, visitors will encounter possessed dolls, the VW death van in which Dr. Jack Kevorkian ended the lives terminally ill patients and the Dybbuk Box, known as the world’s most haunted object and the real-life inspiration for film “The Possession.”
SlotZilla
Get your adrenaline running at SlotZilla, the 11-story “zoomline” that stretches the length of the Freemont Street Experience, downtown’s entertainment district. The ride whisks fliers 1,750 feet to a landing platform at the one of the city’s most historic casino, Golden Gate. A shorter (closer to the ground) zip line is also available.