Page 16 - Experience Magazine Summer 2023

In recent years, The Arts District – or the 18b as statue. The entire area serves as a small cultural
it’s also known (a reference to it occupying 18 exhibit, and signs scattered throughout contain
blocks of Downtown Las Vegas, loosely outlined by information about Chinese art and history. The
Commerce Street, Colorado Ave, Fourth Street and real attraction in this section of Las Vegas, however,
Hoover Avenue) – has been growing in popularity. are the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and
Its monthly “First Friday” block party and art walk other ethnic eateries (not just Asian) serving up what
features food trucks and live music, serving as a many have deemed some of the most compelling
backdrop for artists showing their works off at food in Las Vegas. Case in point: Among the 2023
a variety of open-air and indoor galleries. These James Beard Award finalists is Kaoru Azeuchi, chef
include The Arts Factory, home to over 30 artists and at Chinatown’s acclaimed Kaiseki Yuzu Japanese
art galleries, and ArtSquare, a hip establishment that restaurant. If you’re craving Chinese, a great option
houses design stores, designer’s studios, wellness is Noodlehead, featuring authentic hand-made
spots, and food and drink outlets. Behind The Arts Chinese noodle and rice dishes with broths on a
Factory sits one of many great dining choices in The continuous simmer of close to 24 hours.
Arts District: Taverna Costera, serving up delicious Be sure to carve out some time while you’re in town
Coastal Mediterranean fusion that draws inspiration for the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction to explore
from coastal Spanish, French, Italian and Greek these lesser-known but well-worth-visiting gems in
cuisines and beyond. the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Just a couple of miles east of the Strip, along
Spring Mountain Road (roughly between Rainbow GO BEYOND THE BUFFET
Boulevard and Interstate 15), lies the city’s amazing
Chinatown, which has grown in leaps and bounds THE EVOLUTION OF THE LAS VEGAS
over the past two decades. Here you’ll find the largest FOOD SCENE
collection of Asian businesses in Southern Nevada, It didn’t take long for Las Vegas to grow from its
including a multitude of authentic Asian restaurants, early gambling-town roots on Fremont Street in the
gift shops, a hair stylist, a reflexologist, home 1930s. By 1941, the first casino resort had opened on
decor, an Asian supermarket and the only Chinese what would become the Las Vegas Strip: El Rancho
bookstore in Nevada. Vegas. The financier who owned El Rancho realized
that if guests could get food in the wee hours of the
At Chinatown’s heart is the enormous and ornate morning, it would give them the stamina to gamble
Chinatown Plaza, featuring a colorful, dragon- longer, and the first late-night culinary enterprise in
adorned, Tang Dynasty-inspired gate and gleaming
the city was born. Referred to as the “chuck wagon”

16 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE SUMMER 2023