News and Cleavage from the Golden Gate and Downtown

There’s never a dull moment in downtown Las Vegas!

The Golden Gate has dropped the construction wall around its new outdoors bar.

Plenty of room for the dispensing of the hooch.
Plenty of room for the dispensing of the hooch.

The new bar is still in the permit process, but once it opens, that’ll be three (count ’em, three) outside bars at the Golden Gate alone. We love you, Las Vegas.

We love us some dark wood, and we mean that in a completely appropriate context.
We love us some dark wood, and we mean that in a completely appropriate context.

Things move fast in Las Vegas! Mere days ago, we captured this shot of the bar under construction.

This would be the "before" photo.
This would be the “before” photo.

Atop the bar, there are 39 video monitors, which should give the Fremont Street Experience light show a run for its money.

It's going to be rough keeping track of 39 remotes.
It’s going to be rough keeping track of 39 remotes.

If all goes as planned, the new bar should begin dispensing liquid awesome in the next couple of weeks.

There's already a line forming.
There’s already a line forming. Sort of.

Meanwhile, nearby, the Golden Gate’s new entrance has re-opened, after ingeniously solving its one-step problem.

As previously reported, the step was apparently difficult to navigate for certain distracted (wasted) patrons, so two hand rails have been installed. These rails catch the eye as customers go in and out of the Golden Gate, thus avoiding the possibility of face plants.

An elegant solution to an unexpected dilemma.
An elegant solution to an unexpected dilemma.

At this juncture, it’s probably time for a gratuitous photo of a Golden Gate gogo dealer.

This is Brennan, and we badgered her into posing with a commemorative chip with her face on it. Some of the dancer/dealers on the Golden Gate’s chips have moved on since the chips were released, but it’s still fun to discover your dealer is also on your chip!

It's lucky to bet with a chip with your dealer's face on it.
It’s lucky to bet with a chip with your dealer’s face on it.

In other Golden Gate bar news, see below.

And please bear in mind that some things which would be considered “gratuitous” in other cities are, in fact, “vital” in Las Vegas. And that’s the story we’re sticking to.

Everyone, Valeria. Valeria, everyone.
Everyone, Valeria. Valeria, everyone.

Down the Fremont Street Experience a bit, on the Third Street stage, a new band called Sam Riddle has been added to the entertainment line-up.

Sam Riddle plays contemporary country music and will perform free, of course, Sunday nights, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Sam Riddle is already winning over the crowds at Fremont Street Experience.
Sam Riddle is already winning over the crowds at Fremont Street Experience.

An interesting aspect of Sam Riddle being booked on the Fremont Street Experience is it mixes things up not only in adding variety to the musical genres being presented, but it may also help shift the make-up of the crowds. There have been some isolated incidents of young, urban thugs causing problems downtown recently, but we expect young, urban thugs are going to want nothing to do with contemporary country music, so two birds, as they say.

A block over, serious progress is being made at Downtown Grand. The privately-owned street at Triple George and Mob Bar is still closed, but has been repaved and should be open again soon.

Where valet used to be. Where outdoors gambling will soon be.
Where valet used to be. Where outdoors gambling will soon be.

We’re pleased to report slot machines are already being installed in the project’s new casino area, and you can even see chandeliers have been put up. This ain’t your grandpa’s Lady Luck!

This is us champing at the bit.
This is us champing at the bit.

With each new day, more of Downtown Grand’s old-timey facade is being revealed.

Downtown Grand is expected to debut in October, 2013. Chop-chop!
Downtown Grand is expected to debut in October, 2013. Chop-chop!

Downtown Grand will have two hotel towers, joined by a walkway. There will be a metric ass-ton of new restaurants, including a bistro (Stewart+Ogden), a deli (The Spread) and a food court experience (The Commissary). We’re also looking forward to Ninth Island, a shaved ice and daiquiri bar from Hawaii.

This Las Vegas blog loves it some downtown, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store next.