Still Flying
Most artists will tell you that, aside from making a living, their primary goal is to create works that arouse emotion in others. Most will also tell you they’d prefer that emotion to be intense passion. In this regard, Starship hit the bull’s eye with their 1985 hit song “We Built This City.” Not only did the catchy pop tune spent two weeks on the top of the charts —two strong indicators of a track’s quality and popularity. And yet today, “We Built This City” regularly sits atop some entirely different charts: “Worst Songs of All Time” lists. In fact, in 2016, GQ published an oral history about the creation of “We Built This City,” calling it “the most detested song in human history.” Now that’s passion. Thankfully for members of the band currently known as Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas, there’s still plenty of passion for “We Built This City” on the opposite end of the spectrum. “I do 60 to 75 shows a year,” frontman Thomas said in that GQ article, “and it’s probably the most popular song in the show.” As it surely will be this week when Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas lands in Las Vegas. –Matt Jacob
Golden Nugget, 8 p.m. Nov. 9-10, starting at $39 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000
Retro Retreat
On the grounds of the newly remodeled Thunderbird Boutique Hotel & Lounge is a real hidden gem of the city, the Tree of Love Chapel. Bathed in florals and heavenly white décor, the gem of the chapel is the living tree rooted at the alter. When remodeling the grounds the owners wanted to keep the almost 100-year-old tree in its place, so they built the chapel around it, and now you can say your “I do’s” in one of the coolest spots in Vegas.
And, it’s not just Thunderbird’s new chapel—the whole hotel grounds offers a cool, Palm Springs-meets-Las Vegas escape, located near the eclectic Arts District and flourishing downtown scene. The 100-room boutique property offers an intimate pool area, and a spacious one-bedroom pool suite that overlooks all the action. There’s also a new lounge and entertainment space with a full menu of eats and drinks.
Delicious food items include a filling hangover breakfast burrito, huge and fluffy pancakes, steak and eggs, pork belly sliders, flatbreads, veggie burger, shrimp po’boy and a seriously delicious dessert—a made-in-house brownie topped with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream. Classic cocktails include the Hemingway daiquiri, Moscow Mule and Rum Runner. In the lounge, there are also beer pong and pool tables, plus bar-top gaming, as well as a stage for live musical performances. Connected to the lounge is a spacious outdoor patio right along the boulevard with fire pits that are sure to keep patrons toasty as the fall season gets into full swing. –Kiko Miyasato
1215 Las Vegas Boulevard S. 702.489.7500
Booze & Browse
What’s better than a bar where you can get extremely affordable drinks? One where you can buy everything you see. ReBar features draft beers starting at $3 and wine, well drinks and cocktails starting at $4. After you’ve enjoyed yourself, do a little browsing for that perfect souvenir—perhaps a beer stein? –Ken Miller
1225 S. Main St., 1 p.m.-close Mon.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-close Fri.-Sun. 702.349.2283
