A Spot in History
His name may not be as instantly recognizable as many of his contemporaries who are known the world over by a single surname—Lennon, McCartney, Jagger and Daltrey. But that hardly diminishes Eric Burdon’s status as one of the most influential and revered singers of the past 60 years. Case in point: Like that aforementioned quartet of artists, Burdon—the onetime front man for The Animals and the California funk-rock band War, and who currently performs as Eric Burdon & The Animals—made Rolling Stone’s 2010 list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, checking in at No. 57 (four spots better than Daltrey). Of course, lists are subjective, so perhaps a better way to gauge Burdon’s impact is to mention that he influenced Bruce Springsteen (among others). He’s shared a stage with Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix (among others). He’s a member of both the Rock and Roll and Grammy Halls of Fame. And at the ripe young age of 77, Burdon continues to belt out such hits as “House of the Rising Sun,” “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” with the power and virtuosity of a singer half his age. –Matt Jacob
Golden Nugget, 8 p.m. Nov. 23, starting at $69 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
Old School Cool
Top Of Binions
One of the best things about downtown is its mix of new cool and old school. You can pretend you’re in an episode of Entourage one minute and are a Rat Packer the next. Whatever vibe you’re going for, you can’t visit downtown without checking out Top of Binion’s Steakhouse, one of the most well-established restaurants in Las Vegas and a bastion of the way the town used to be.
On the 24th floor of Binion’s Gambling Hall, Binion’s immediately distinguishes itself with its romantic atmosphere, ultra-friendly staff and vintage decor, not to mention its great views of downtown. Start your culinary journey with oysters Rockefeller, escargots Bourguignon and lobster bisque, and one of Binion’s signature dishes, chicken fried lobster, then work your way to aged Black Angus beef. This is straight-up surf and turf, old-school fun with no formality. And you’ll love every second of it. –Las Vegas Magazine Staff
128 E. Fremont St., 5-10 p.m. daily. 702.382.1600
True Throwback
The Classic Jewel is disguised as an urban lounge, but really it’s a bridge—one that tips its hat to our Rat Pack past with Sinatra & Co. memorabilia gin drinks like the Blinker (rye whiskey, grapefruit and grenadine) and the Hotel Nacional (white rum apricot brandy and pineapple and lime), followed by several locally produced, high-quality beers. –Las Vegas Magazine Staff
353 Bonneville Ave., opens 1 p.m. Sun., 4 p.m. Tues.-Sat. 702.722.6750
