Gothy sounds from two bands-in-one. Terrific edamame dumplings courtesy of NYC’s Chinatown. And eye-catching felt marker illustrations at a downtown Vegas gallery. Now add in some heavenly shrimp and grits at an Arts District eatery and New York steak at an under-the-radar Peruvian restaurant--and you will discover that life in Vegas is good, especially when it’s wildly eclectic.
Track #1: The Cult and Death Cult @Pearl Theater
Ian Astbury is arguably the best tambourine player in rock. (Image: Vegas 411)
“You’re a boisterous lot,” Ian Astbury of The Cult playfully told the audience onstage at The Pearl Theaterinside the Palms Casino Resort.
The show was a sonic feast for followers of the guitar-anchored band who began as the cheerily named Death Cult in the early ‘80s before soon transforming into The Cult. They would eventually move beyond their original post-punk and gothic rock stylings to embrace hard rock while still retaining their mystical and spiritual musings.
Tonight, The Cult opened for themselves with a set by Death Cult, reminding everyone that this was where the band’s swirling and foreboding sound took root. At the end, Astbury told the crowd: “That’s Death Cult. You may never see that again. Let that sink in.”
The Cult’s “headlining” set was a strong career summation. It included the gothy “Rain” and “She Sells Sanctuary”; the crisp, hard rocking “Lil Devil” and “Love Removal Machine”; their anthemic smashes “Fire Woman” and “Edie (Caio Baby)”; and later period songs like “Rise” and “Lucifer.” The latter tune's heady lyrics like “In the hall of the crimson king/In the height of the poison pig" eloquently describe what life is like for many in 2025.
Count on Billy Duffy for serious riffage via his signature white Gretsch. (Image: Vegas 411)
Astbury’s rich baritone voice and unique phrasings, along with guitarist Billy Duffy’s atmospheric and serrated guitar lines, were as magnificent as ever, anchored by a potent rhythm section thanks to bassist Charlie Jones and drummer John Tempesta. It was thrilling to see both Astbury and Duffy, many years into their career, still finding ecstasy in their “Sonic Temple,” to borrow the title of their biggest album back in 1989. They are rock gods who remain proudly left of center.
Track #2: Nom Wah @JW Marriott/Rampart Casino, Summerlin North
There's a good reason people are flocking here. (Image: Vegas 411)
I grew up in the Bronx so I’m especially delighted that NYC Chinatown import Nom Wah has opened as an intimate fast casual spot at the Neighborhood Food Hall inside JW Marriott/Rampart Casino in Summerlin. The original Nom Wah has been around for 105 years (!!!) and is described as the city’s “first and oldest dim sum restaurant.” In its west coast debut, Nom Wah is offering up its signature Cantonese-style dim sum, noodles, and soup.
All the way from Chinatown in NYC. (Image: Vegas 411)
Slide onto a vintage-inspired red barstool at the counter and prepare to be wowed. I began with their masterfully folded edamame dumplings (order them steamed or fried) and took it up a notch with the crispy chicken buns (the chicken is brined for 24 hours, I was told), nicely enhanced with a subtle cream sauce. I am fearing these buns can become a serious addiction, especially because the eatery is only a few miles from where I live.
Similarly impressive was the lo mein. Prepared with mushrooms, bean sprouts, onions, and carrots (add your choice of meat), it has a fresh, light touch that reeled me in.
Multiple pleasures like this soft and crunchy one abound here. (Image: Vegas 411)
Wilson Tang heads Nom Wah and took over the brand from his uncle. Tang says the restaurant was created to feature a “curated collection of our greatest hits—flavors shaped by my own memories and experiences growing up in New York’s Chinatown.” His mission? “Honoring our past and pushing dim sum forward.” It wouldn’t surprise me if Nom Wah at Rampart Casino becomes a huge success and opens a proper restaurant here in Chinatown.
Track #3: Neal Portnoy Gallery @Downtown Vegas
The master at work. (Image: Vegas 411)
I always love to explore parts of town that are easy to get lost in. Consider the industrial (and hardly picturesque) area downtown south of Charleston and just east of the 15 where the streets have names like S Highland Ave, Western Ave, and Industrial Rd. This is where you’ll find the Punk Rock Museum, Hard Hat Lounge, the gentlemen’s club Little Darlings, and a truly hidden gem known as the Neal Portnoy Gallery. Open since 2016, it’s a 3200-square foot space with multiple theme rooms including ones named “Las Vegas Entertainment” and “Endangered Species.”
They built this city—the Las Vegas Mob. (Image: Vegas 411)
Here you’ll see what the Worcester, MA-born Neal Portnoy is well-regarded for: eye-popping illustrations and caricatures of mainly entertainers and sports figures, many associated with Vegas. Thanks to his felt marker virtuosity and buoyant personality, Portnoy impressively gets to the heart of his subjects.
Portnoy was also a former illustrator for the Las Vegas Review Journal (2016-2018) where his caricatures regularly brought smiles to readers’ faces. You can view that collection here, along with his original illustration of his 28’ x 40’ “Greatest Raiders of All Time” mural that's inside Allegiant Stadium. His work—canvas, acrylic, and metal prints—is available for purchase. The gallery is open from 10am-3pm Monday-Saturday and by appointment.
I got “Portnoyed.” (Image: Vegas 411)
Meanwhile, Neal and his wife Dorothy recently attended my "People Need People” mixer. In 60 seconds flat, he drew a spot-on portrait of me and a few days later, emailed me a proper caricature of myself. Honored and thrilled to be "Portnoyed," as the saying goes, I went to the gallery to pick up the illustration and I'm having it framed pronto.
Track #4: Fin & Feathers @Arts District
Looking for comfort, southern-style? (Image: Vegas 411)
For me, the Arts District is a sprawling wonderland with many different sections. If you only stick to the central and always lively Main St, you’ll sadly be missing out on the area where Colorado St and Casino Center Blvd meet.
The ultra-distinctive shops here include Glam Factory Vintage (coolest threads in town), Analog Dope (Black culture-centered books and vinyl records), Rockin’ Bettie (retro and modern clothing for the rockabilly and pin-up crowd), and StyleHouse (sexy costumes and clubwear) where the naughty mocks the mundane.
Achieve nirvana by ordering the shrimp and grits. (Image: Vegas 411)
You’re going to get hungry, and the food and waitstaff at the Georgia-originated, multi-room Fin & Feathersaim to please. They serve southern comfort food, with menu highlights like grilled blackened catfish, southern fried chicken, and honey bourbon salmon.
These southern egg rolls will satisfy your soul and palate. (Image: Vegas 411)
On a recent beautiful Saturday afternoon, I grabbed a table on their outdoor deck and started with their “Jerk Chicken Egg Rolls,” enhanced with sweet chili pineapple sauce. It was a perfectly seductive lead-in to their creamy (and colorful) shrimp and grits. A side of jalapeño roasted corn took me even higher. What to order for my next visit to this restaurant that’s appealingly open to 2am on Friday and Saturday nights? Probably the fried pickles and deep-fried catfish nuggets. No way around it, life tastes so much better fried despite the medical community’s advice.
Track #5: Around Town Medley
Take this food adventure in Chinatown. (Image: Vegas 411)
I dropped in on a recent Sunday night for dinner atKROKin Chinatown—and was glad to see that it was buzzing. On my second visit to this relatively new Thai eatery with a colorful, sexy, celebratory ambience, I went for the “splurge.” That’s the American rib eye Wagyu (thinly sliced), crab meat, egg noodle, and khao-soi curry (a coconut curry soup). This magical creation from Chef TK from Thailand dazzlingly holds multiple flavors, textures, and taste sensations. Bonus point: the tableside presentation of the dish is impressive. I’m all for food-as-burlesque, particularly when it tastes so damn good.
A trip to Peru may not be in your budget, but this dish will do just fine for now. (Image: Vegas 411)
One of my favorite Peruvian dishes is New York steak served with pesto pasta which pairs well. It’s simple, but effective—and gets the job done. I’ve enjoyed it at Lima Limonand its spin-off Moia, both owned by the same family in Vegas. Here’s a photo of “Churrasco Con Tallarin Verde,” as it’s known, that I snapped recently at Lima Limon on Decatur just off the 95. It's off the beaten path, wherereal life is more interesting.
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