Five Things We’re Hating About Las Vegas Right Now

By Scott Roeben, on November 06 2013

2 min read 4 comments

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As a Las Vegas blog, it’s no surprise we love Las Vegas. A lot. But no city’s perfect, and here are five things that consistently elicit our irk in Sin City.

1. Less Dick, More Wizard

Somewhere along the line, a genius (probably wearing a suit) at Excalibur thought it would be wise to replace the hotel’s wizard with an ad for Dick’s Last Resort, a restaurant and bar no one has actually visited since it opened in 2007. The wizard was always a little cheesy, but this is much worse. It’s never too late for do-overs.

2. Playing Statue Dress-Up

There’s some point where even statues should be allowed some dignity. Las Vegas hotels are constantly dressing up their statues in costumes to pander to whatever group is in town at the moment (sports fans, EDC, chefs, whatever), and this practice needs to stop.

It gets awkwarder.

3. The Lobster Torture Game

Of all the asinine marketing gimmicks in Las Vegas, and there are many, this one is easily the most irksome. At Mickie Finnz Fish House & Bar, downtown, a Lobster Zone machine allows patrons to catch live lobsters with a claw, akin to an arcade “game.” We invite the management to get a clue and remove this machine immediately, or in lieu of that, to go F themselves.

4. Marketing B.S.

Sadly, there are so many instances of marketing B.S. in Las Vegas, the mind reels. From over-retouched advertising photos to outrageous claims (“World’s Greatest Whatever”), Las Vegas marketers have no shame. Today’s random example, the Second Street Grill at the Fremont Hotel, downtown. The hotel cafe bills itself as “award-winning.” Which awards, we asked. “We’re Zagat-rated,” we were told. This, friends, is not an award. Being included in a restaurant directory isn’t an award. Please don’t treat us like we’re idiots. We have Hollywood filmmakers for that.

5. Buskers That Make Noise

We’ve kind of gotten used to “buskers” in Las Vegas, those street performers or characters who pose or entertain for tips, but our patience ends when loud noises begin. The use of amplifiers have become more common recently, and guys drumming on plastic tubs gets on our last nerve. Your rights to beg for tips ends at our ear canal, thanks.

So, as much as you love Las Vegas, let’s hear some of the things that bug you most. Think of it as therapy, but without all the “having to learn something about yourself and possibly even make a change for the better.”