Living in Las Vegas

The results are in! Here’s a quick run down of the staff and reader picks for Best of Las Vegas 2009.  To get the complete list, head on over to the Las Vegas Review Journal and click on the Best of Las Vegas.

Best Nightclubs: Pure and Prive

Best Family Attractions: Adventuredome and Bonnie Springs Old Nevada

Best Local Rock Bands:  The Killers and The Black Jets

Best Steakhouses: Outback and Capital Grille

Best Performers: Danny Gans and Bette Midler

Best Comedians: Rita Rudner and Craig Ferguson

Best Magicians:  Lance Burton and Keith Barry

Best Singers: Bette Midler and Rick Faugno

Best Strip Hotels: Bellagio and Paris

Best Downtown Hotels: Golden Nugget and El Cortez

Best Locals Hotels: Red Rock Resort and Eastside Cannery

Best Buffets: Bellagio and Wynn

Best Malls: Fashion Show and Town Square

Best Places to take out-of-town guests: Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston

Best Celebrity Residents: Andre Agassi and Vince Neil

Best Local TV Anchors: Paula Francis (KLAS-8) and Jim Snyder (KVBC-3)

Best Local Radio Personalities: Mark & Mercedes (KMXB-94.1) and Dave Berns (KNPR-88.9)

Best Local Politicians: Mayor Oscar Goodman and Senator Steven Horsford

Attorney Glen Lerner won the most annoying local TV commercial, beating out John Barr from last year. I have to disagree with this because John Barr’s commercials are beyond annoying, but at least Glen Lerner’s are somewhat catchy, and effective. 

And a special congrats to Paris Hilton who uniquely managed to win top pick as both best and worst celebrity tourist!

Buffets in Las Vegas are still a good deal.  They aren’t as cheap as they used to be, but hey, what is? You get your drink, appetizer, entree and dessert all in one price. Of course, the serve yourself aspect makes for it to be a somewhat disrupting and not really a super relaxing dining experience.  But sometimes a buffet is exactly what you need. Suprisingly, there is no buffet open 24/7 that I know of.  The only one used to be at the Boardwalk Casino on the Strip, but that placed closed a couple years ago.  I ate there once, and there is a reason it was only once.

 I’ve been to a couple buffets this month.  Tonight, we went to the Main Street Station buffet. I have actually heard good things about it for years, but just never went.  The ambiance was a little different than the average Strip buffet. It just has more of an older, downtown vibe.  It was seafood night, so that meant shrimp and lots of snow crab legs.  The food was good and there were all the standard buffet choices.  If you’re downtown and looking for a good old-fashioned Las Vegas buffet, this would be the one to pick.

Last week, I played hooky from work and we headed over the Boulder Station buffet and had breakfast.  They recently remodeled and it looked good.  Very modern.  The breakfast buffet it a great deal. $5 with your player card and they serve breakfast until 11am. First thing, I always head over to the omelet station where you can get a freshly made omelet with your choice of toppings. Yum!