Cherish the Sound

The Association has been going strong almost as long as rock ’n’ roll itself has been around. Founding members Jules Alexander and Terry Kirkman first met and started playing music together in 1962, and 50-plus years later, Alexander is still leading The Association. The band officially formed in 1965, when the original lineup started gigging around L.A., and The Association quickly went on to become one of the biggest hitmakers in ’60s rock, with songs like “Along Comes Mary,” “Cherish,” “Windy,” “Never My Love” and “Everything That Touches You.” They even gave the opening performance at the landmark Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

The band’s bright, catchy riffs and intricate harmonies have been performed by numerous lineups since those ’60s-era hits, and these days the band includes Alexander along with fellow original member Jim Yester. The legacy of The Association has lasted long enough to embrace further generations, and the current version of the group features family members of departed early members, with the late Brian Cole’s son Jordan on keyboards and guitar, and the late Larry Ramos’ brother Del on bass. The group is a living embodiment of rock history, carrying on a tradition that shows no signs of stopping. –Josh Bell

Golden Nugget, 8 p.m. Sept. 28, starting at $29 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster

A Good Start

MTO Cafe

MTO Cafe

Although the menu at breakfast and lunch restaurant MTO Cafe is concise, choosing can be a Herculean task. On the breakfast front, pancakes are practically their own food group here. The chefs get creative with the bacon pancake dippers—fluffy, elongated flapjacks with crispy bacon innards served with a peppercorn maple syrup. The lemon poppy seed pancakes with blueberry-ginger compote may have you rethinking pancakes forever.

Looking for salty over sweet? Don’t overlook the mash browns, mashed potato-stuffed hash browns. Crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside, they’re a novel take on the ubiquitous breakfast side, so good you might find yourself ordering them for lunch. In our opinion, they go best with the deep-fried chicken, smothered with country gravy.

Lunchwise, MTO’s Hangover Burger is not only one of Downtown’s best, but maybe one of the entire Las Vegas Valley’s top burgers. Eggs may be the burger accoutrement du jour, but the Hangover Burgers are not to be missed, cooked over-medium, providing flavor without undue messiness along with bacon and an addictive special sauce.

If you’re not in a burger mood, dive into MTO’s great sandwich selection. Strong selections include The Bob, a flavorful combo of arugula, roasted tomatoes, jack and cheddar cheese, and honey pecan mustard on top of grilled chicken, and the B.L.T.A.E., a wonderful twist on the BLT which adds two sunny side up eggs, avocado and basil pesto. Come for breakfast. Stay for lunch. –Las Vegas Magazine Staff

500 S. Main St., 8 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. 702.380.8229

Local Favorite

Huntridge

Huntridge

Much like a certain famous Boston Bar, Huntridge Tavern is one of those establishments where everyone seems to know everyone else. It’s one of the city’s longest-standing bars, and serves up some of the cheapest beers and shots of Jameson around. It’s a quintessential part of the Downtown experience, and by the time you leave, you’ll probably feel just like a local yourself. –Ken Miller

1116 E. Charleston Blvd. 702.384.7377