When you think of Las Vegas, yarn isn’t what comes to mind first. But where people are, knitters are, and there are fiber finds even in Sin City. So when a book event called me to Vegas this spring, I went. Okay, the chance to see Penn & Teller may have added a bit of motivation, but hey, can you blame me?
Lots of people I know go to Vegas frequently, but I’m not a casino person. Still, I can appreciate the drama and theater that the strip offers. So while you’ll see a bit of casino attractions that are my favorites listed, this post is like every other DestiKNITions adventure: just fun things to do, eat, and knit.
We always start with the coffee, so head down off the strip for a little local java fix:
Grouchy John’s
8520 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89123
702-778-7553
Most of us can find the chain establishments in many large hotels, but I always seek out the indie spots. This place serves up good coffee with a funky, geeky vibe that I really enjoyed. Let’s face it, we’re living in the golden age of the geek—why shouldn’t our coffee come along for the ride? Lots of art decorates the wall, with most of it for sale. If you’re a StarWars fan, this is definitely the spot to grab your java (or should I say Java the Hut??—sorry, couldn’t resist).
Onto the fiber:
Sin City Knit Shop
2165 E Windmill Ln
Ste 200
Las Vegas, NV 89123
702-641-0210
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| Debbi McCarty and yours truly |
Owner Debbi McCarty is a tiny woman with a king-size personality. She opened the store four years ago in another location, shifting here after two years to accommodate “the crowd that packed in from day one.”
It was packed the day I got there, too, with lots of lively conversation and yarny friendship. Debbi recognizes her tourism-based clientele with lots of different kinds of yarn and a big selection of chairs to sit down and make new friends. “Pilots even come here to knit on layovers,” Debbi says. She specializes in one- or two-skein projects that make excellent gifts or prime travel knitting.
Like most great yarn shops, Sin City boasts several elements beyond just retail. I love that they keep a “Knit Doctor” on site several days a week to help you with your problems. Got a group of 10 knitters or more? Debbi will host a “field trip” for you, with meals and discounts to make your visit a full-scale event. The shop produced an anniversary pattern book with some of their staff and customer favorites. Best of all, you don’t just get a discount on your birthday, you get a discount your whole birthday month! It’s worth noting that fiber became a family affair as Debbi’s daughter Laci launched TINK hand-dyed yarns.
Here are a few projects worth your exploration:
Maria’s Bracelet Class
Ideal for gift-giving, this lovely loop combines yarn, beads, and a button in any variety of ways. This Christmas you could make a dozen different bracelets a dozen different ways. I thought it would make a clever personalized bridesmaid gift as well (if any upcoming bride actually has time to knit…or just needs time to knit to calm down.)
Christmas Machine & Hand-Knit Scarves
Speaking of Christmas, here’s one of the most unique holiday items I’ve come across. Sin City has an on-site knitting machine that can help you get a leg up on your holiday project. Save your fingers for the decorative elements and get all that stockinette mechanized by booking time on the knitting machine. Ingenious. Plus, how adorable are these for the kiddo in your life (or someone who just acts like one)?
Double Down Hat and Cowl
This store exclusive pattern takes 2 skeins of Cascade Pure Alpaca and swaps base and trim colors to create a pair of hats and cowls. “Double down” is a gambling term for a Black Jack player’s chance to increase their odds of winning on a hand by doubling their bet in exchange for one additional card. So this pattern set is thematic: You double your bliss by getting two items with a variety of style choices to get just the pieces you want.
Knit A Long: Willow Cowl
This well-designed Ravelry pattern by Amelia Lyon tackles one of my pet peeves of cowls: how they flop aimlessly around your neck. Clever edging and ridges enable this accessory to lie in elegant rings around your neck and shoulders. I’ll be using merino-nylon-stellina glam sock yarn by local firm Downtown Dye Works, but 350-420 yards of any sock yarn will do the trick. With just a bit of sparkle in my “Red Rock” colorway, this one promises to be a pleasure to stitch.
If you’re ready for lunch, here’s a local favorite you won’t find in any guide book:
Boulevard Bar and Grille
9860 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89183
(702) 939-2583
The gaming restaurant is a Vegas staple. This unassuming eatery is a favorite of Sin City locals, boasting super-friendly servers and a huge, diverse menu. Not much snazzy decor or bright lights here, just good food served up nice 24 hours a day. They’re famous for their eggplant parmigiana appetizer and “real” New York style (i.e. super thin) pizza. I opted for a spinach salad with truly splendid dressing while watching the Chicago cubs play baseball on the huge wall of televisions that lines one side of the restaurant. Tons of homemade desserts can round out your meal, including huge chocolate and carrot cakes, but I can also recommend the Kahlua cheesecake.
For dinner, here’s another place that locals favor:
Sicilian Ristorante
3520 E Tropicana Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89121
702-458-2004
There’s something so engaging about “old school” Italian restaurants. Our server, Louie—really, that was his name—struck me as what Al Pacino would be like waiting on your table. A total character who made our meal a memorable experience complete with running commentary and wise-cracks. I kept waiting for Dean Martin to hoist a cocktail from the next table. My dining companion, who really knew her Italian cuisine, said the food was top notch, and my bruschetta bore that out. Photos of Italian scenes fill the walls. This is as authentic as it gets! The desserts are good, but save yourself for one of our next stops.
Now we’ll default to the strip. I like early evening—dark enough to let the lights work their magic, early enough that the crowd’s most colorful elements aren’t quite in play. If you’re not staying at one of the strip properties, then the good (and free) parking at here makes it an excellent launching point:
Talking Statues at Caesars Palace Forum Shops
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
866-227-5938
The walk through the Forum Shops shopping mall to get to the fountain is entertainment enough (the overhead painted sky changes!), but the over-the-top drama of “The Fall of Atlantis” played out by the 9-foot animatronic statues is not to be missed. Is it cheesy? Absolutely, but that’s part of the charm. Plus, there’s a 20-foot winged dragon, so there’s that. The show plays every hour on the hour, but get there a few minutes early before the crowds thicken and have your camera ready.
Erupting Volcano at The Mirage
3400 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-791-7111
I give credit to the guy who can make lights and water look like erupting lava. This outside show sends fireballs and “lava” so high into the sky you can feel the heat even if you’re standing at a good distance (so stand at a good distance, okay?). While spectacular to watch, the event’s mesmerizing score takes everything to the next level. If you want to get up close and feel everything, sources say the best spot is right in front of the hotel. Eruptions take place at 8pm and 9pm nightly, with a 10pm addition on weekends. Seriously, you’ll be tempted to bring your marshmallows.
Fountains at the Bellagio
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-693-7111
I’m torn if this attraction is better at sundown or full night. Both are surprisingly peaceful and entrancing. The shows start at 3pm and run every 30 minutes until midnight, with different songs for each presentation. The sheer numbers are impressive: 8.5 acres of lake, over 1,200 jets shooting up to 24 feet high maintained by a staff of 30 working 24/7 to keep the aquatic ballet going. This, in my view, is a can’t-miss. While you’re at the Bellagio, however, walk through the exquisitely decorated Conservatory as well.
For me, there’s only one place to end the night (and you’ll be back near your car if you parked at Caesar’s Palace):
Serendipity 3
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Yes, you can eat actual food here, and I’ve heard it’s good, but for me, this place is all about the dessert. No, DESSERT—this selection deserves all caps. My mom took me to the original Serendipity in New York City as a child, and I have fond memories of the place. I’ll tell you, I loved it just as much as a grown-up. There are a selection of I-dare-you-to-finish-it size sundaes in decadent flavors, but the signature sweet is their frozen hot chocolate. Nothing else tastes like it in the world. Go ahead, you’ve maxed out your FitBit pedometer steps today anyway. And it is the perfect—if sinfully hypoglycemic—end to a fun day in Sin City.
Next up, we’ll cast on the Willow Cowl.
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