When the two-year anniversary of the High Roller’s March 31, 2014, public opening arrives, the 550-foot tall main attraction at The Linq Promenade will have made nearly 26,000 360-degree rotations. It never stops, much like the evolution of the people-watching strip within The Strip. Returning visitors and locals keep coming back to sample the huge beer selection at Yardhouse, seasonal cupcake flavors at Sprinkles, and Flour and Barley’s brick-oven pizza slices, but new tenants are on the way. By this summer a visit to The Linq Promenade may involve NYC-style ribs at Virgil’s Real Barbecue or on-the-go serving of Britain’s favorite comfort food via Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips, followed by artisanal gelato by Amorino for dessert.
What will be familiar to returnees among the newer elements will be the atmosphere established from Day One. The Linq Promenade runs like an inlet between The Linq Hotel and Casino and The Flamingo, providing a casual pedestrian harbor a few degrees less frenetic than the bustle of the Strip. Although the first paying customer would not ride the High Roller before the end of March 2014, patrons had been exploring The Linq since the giant wheel was first illuminated on Feb. 28 of that year. Boutiques such as Ruby Blue, and hip-hop star Nas’ 12A.M. Run shoe store were already capturing the imagination of the public.
The Brooklyn Bowl was key to building excitement, with a March 14-15 official opening weekend of sold-out concerts featuring The Roots, joined by Elvis Costello on the second night. The state-of-the-art venue was expected to be a game-changer on the musical landscape, due in part to the reputation of the Blue Ribbon fried chicken on the dining menu. The strength of the shows proved predictions right as the Bowl threw strike after strike, from the A-list jam bands making it their Vegas home to Jane’s Addiction performing its ground-breaking Nothing’s Shocking album for three concerts that May to Jack White’s sold-out solo show in January of last year. Recent gigs by Matisyahu, Ace Frehley and Beck assured the music will play on at The Linq.
Of course, music can be heard just about any night from the sidewalk troubadours that perform in the open air nightly, or from inside the Tilted Kilt, where singer Cali Tucker is often featured. Live music is also regularly heard in O’Sheas, the casino-pub legacy to the original space that made way for The Linq and was once a frequent gig for Imagine Dragons. O’Sheas was also the launchpad for St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans on the Promenade, which is transformed thematically for major holidays. The Linq went zombie for Halloween, became Winter Parq in December, and proudly boasts one of the most enviable options for witnessing July 4 and New Years’ fireworks—the High Roller cabins timed to be at the top during the explosive climaxes.
The Linq is also one of the best places to be during sports tournaments, with more than 250 screens and more beer choices than time to sample them. The Yard House alone boasts some 160 drafts, while recently opened AmeriCAN Beer & Cocktails has nearly 70 canned beers on its menu and a “Bring Your Own Grub” policy that welcomes indulging in Ramsay’s fried cod or gourmet foot-longs from The Haute Doggery on the premises. But being out on the promenade may bring surprises, such as a “Linq Love” offering of a free High Roller ride or the discovery of Vegas artist Kat Tatz’ freshly painted mural “Vegas Wonderland.”
For a day of exploration, The Linq Promenade is the place to be.
