Customer Reviews

The Underground Guide To Las Vegas

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are a visitor or new Las Vegas resident this sensationally sleazy and cleverly-written book clues you into many hidden treasures of Sin City, from peep shows and pawn shops to thrift stores and topless transvestites. But it doesn't stop there, even lifetime residents seeking an out-of-the-ordinary experience will likely be intrigued by places they haven't visited yet.

Our oasis in the desert is flowing with an ocean of booze and the extensive dive bar chapter includes a tutorial on drinking for free and a Bar Etiquette guide before plunging into the depths of alcoholism. Long-term denizens of the darkside will likely laugh out loud when they encounter the establishment that "will earn you a 'Tom Waits/Charles Bukowski Citation for Daring While in Pursuit of Drunkenness.'" Buy the book if you want to know more.

The music section succinctly details venues ranging from The Aristocrat to Tailspin before launching into the best local acts of all genres, along with helpful hints and contacts for touring bands hoping to book a show in Vegas.

Sure, the guide isn't perfect; Alonzo the horse hasn't been in the Double Down Saloon for years, the Lied Children's Museum is curiously unmentioned, as is my favorite neighborhood watering hole The Dispensary, but I have to admit I'm slightly biased due to the lavish praise bestowed on my own efforts to promote the indie music scene via SinCitySounds.

I went to Vegas twice and was very frustrated trying to find the real fun hidden beneath all the tourist ugliness. I wanted someone to write exactly this book, and that's exactly what I got. It's well-written, funny, sharp and perceptive. Now I actually want to go back, and do it right the next time. This book is worth every penny and many more.

I grew up in Vegas and still find this book useful. Keene did his homework. And more than that, he gathered an amazing roster of contributors. I mean, who better to guide the traveling drunkard through the liquor-lined streets of Vegas than the city's top boozer himself, Seth Barkan.

Not only is this book useful, it's smart, witty and fun to read.

This book could what finish what the tiger started: Wipe Siegfried and Roy's Vegas off the map.

This book is well written from one person's perspective. There are things in this book that the "typical visitor" from Las Vegas will not be interested in. They can use Fodors or Idiots Guide. This guide is for people who have done the Strip and now want to see the "other side" of Las Vegas. It's very funny, too. I have actually gone to some of the places listed in the book.

I love this book. I'm a new arrival in Vegas and I'm looking for the 'Underground' things to do. Everyone knows of the major hotels on the strip but what else is there to do? Thanks to this book in my hands, I now have ideas on where to go.

Things I love about this book.

I like the snark and the descriptive writing. eg. "Strippers with breasts the size of Thanksgiving Turkeys."

There seems to be something for everyone. There's a gay section of course but it's not a totally gay themed production like someone suggested. There are plenty of sections on outdoor activities, things for kids, bars, tips on getting comped and upcoming conventions.

Things I didn't like about the book.

Nothing really. It's about 3 years or so out of date which means entries on the Fronter are outdated since the hotel has been demolished. Can't blame the author for that.

It you want a book to give you information that only the locals (and professional tourists) will know then this is the book for you.

Was very objective and interesting to read. A lot of information in a small book.

This book is more like an expanded, cheaply produced pamphlet than a real guidebook. It's small, insubstantial, poorly produced, and has little useful information compared to the other guidebooks I consulted. It has the feel of amateurish reviews from underground or college newspapers. This book would probably be rather useful if you want to connect with the Las Vegas gay community, or if you're moving to L.V. to attend college, or if you wish to pick up prostitutes, or if you are into binge drinking on a budget.
I did appreciate the information on coffee shops and bookstores. Other than that, there is little here for the tourist who just prefers to stay off the beaten track.