City Cast Las Vegas

Ethel M Chocolates is probably our valley’s sweetest fixture: Since 1981, the chocolate maker has been crafting premium sweets from their factory in Henderson. So who was Ethel M., anyhow? Why did a chocolatier choose the nation’s hottest state to set up shop, and what goes on inside their Willy Wonka test kitchen? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Ethel M’s chief chocolatier, Mark Mackey...

Las Vegas has been anticipating hosting Super Bowl LVIII for the past few years and the time is finally here. This Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers face off against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium. Bryan Salmond, the main sports anchor for News 3 Las Vegas, sits down with co-host Sarah Lohman to explain how we landed the big game, what our city offers as hosts, and how locals feel about...

Is there a prize for the most confusing primary process this year? Nevada Republicans might have just won it. GOP voters can cast their vote in both the state primary AND the caucus, but only one will decide who wins Nevada’s delegates at the Republican nominating convention. So what’s behind this split, and how does that affect Nevada’s national standing in the presidential election cycle? Nevada...

February is going to be a wild time in Las Vegas (we’ve got the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, plus all of these new residencies) — but lucky you, City Cast Las Vegas is going to help you make the most of this month. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler and executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson sit down with lifelong local and radio DJ Heather Collins to get the inside scoop on the best way to spend your mon...

This week’s biggest news is probably CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara’s resignation announcement, with one condition: Pay out his contract and he’ll go. But this doesn’t come without controversy. Today, executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by contributor Vogue Robinson and Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to talk about the resignation and what comes next. Also, the team discusses...

Convention season is in full swing in Las Vegas. You might’ve heard of the really big ones like CES and the World of Concrete, but the newer Fancy Food Show is taking a bite out of the convention center crowd too. City Cast co-host and food writer Sarah Lohman worked there as an official trend spotter this month. She shares the craziest creations she saw at The Fancy Food Show, and what she predic...

Have you ever driven past Coyote Springs, that never-built development 45 minutes into the desert? They’ve been tied up in legal battles over water for 20 years. And last week, the Nevada Supreme Court issued a ruling with major implications for Coyote Springs, but more importantly, for how our state uses water. Environmental reporter Daniel Rothberg just wrote about it for the Nevada Independent,...

We are blessed in Las Vegas to be surrounded by diverse beautiful landscapes, but not everyone has a good time exploring our natural wonders. Executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson returns for round 2 of challenging co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler to guess which natural wonders received 1-star reviews. Play along and check out our episode about iconic Vegas attractions! We’re on social media...

For the thousands of Las Vegans who work in entertainment, while most of us are tucked into bed, midnight signals the end of the workday — and the start of playtime. So where do industry folks go after hours… and are late-night venues a dying breed? Co-host Dayvid Figler chats with Jacob Smith, podcast producer and head of audio for Absinthe. Jacob produces two excellent podcasts (and both their h...

At the Oakland A’s “fireside chat” this Wednesday, owner John Fisher’s light-on-substance responses were overshadowed by a mortifying moment: When the emcee attempted to elicit cheers for “the Las Vegas A’s,” she was met with crickets. So what does this event tell us about the A’s efforts, and how successful their community inroads have been? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with N...

Sure, we all fantasize about living on Mt. Charleston in summertime — but what’s life like for year-rounders, those intrepid few who decide to live there when snow drifts block roads and you have to (shudder) shovel the driveway? After this week’s massive snow dump on the mountain, we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with year-rounder Jimmy Alderson, AKA “Mt. Charleston Mo...

The housing market in Las Vegas just saw its lowest year in sales since the crash in 2007. That may be confusing to some who are feeling the effects of our growing population and seeing new housing developments creep into the desert. It's hard to tell if it's the right time for a move or not, whether you are from out of state or a longtime Vegas resident. Professor Nicholas Irwin teaches real esta...

Las Vegans love to hate on many things (tourists, traffic, the entire month of July), but no tree has earned more of our ire than the iconic palm. It’s been decried as a water guzzler, a landscape destroyer, and an all-around, no-good tree that gives us zero shade in a hot, dry desert town. But … are we maybe thinking about this all wrong? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with tree expert an...

Live in Las Vegas long enough, and you’ll hear about the Green Door, our valley’s most famous (or infamous) sex club. But what really goes on inside? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Gemini Stevens, a former kink educator, food podcast co-host, and all-around hedonist, for the 101 on how Vegas sex clubs work, the written and unwritten rules, and why they matter for our city. We’re on social med...

It’s been a good and bad week for transparency in Las Vegas so we are talking about which legislators got money from the Oakland A’s, the Clark County Education Association suing the school district over a “vile” tweet allegedly sent by Superintendent Jesus Jara, and what New Year resolutions the city should keep even though today, January 19th, is when most people give up. Executive producer Sonj...

While Vegas media loves to highlight the latest food trends, hottest new restaurants, or the next big celebrity chef coming to town, one tried and true dining option gets overlooked in all the chatter: grocery stores. Even though we get most of our food in grocery stores, only a few consider sitting in and having a meal there. Surprisingly, Las Vegas has plenty of great local options so you can tr...

Las Vegas’s long-awaited new state park finally opens this weekend to the public on January 20th. Ice Age Fossils State Park is a unique attraction that delves into the history of Las Vegas during the Ice Age through fossils and historic trails. Park supervisor Garrett Fehner joins co-host Dayvid Figler to explain what visitors will see, why you can’t take the fossils home, and how the site is imp...

Despite CES, the world’s largest in-person tech event, happening right here in Las Vegas, most locals haven’t ever been inside. It’s kind of a black box of mystery exclusive to the tech industry insiders and media who arrive in droves. Lucky for us, producer Layla Muhammad got a peek inside and sat down with co-host Sarah Lohman to talk about all about the coolest tech she saw and how it could aff...

Now that the tire dust has settled, Las Vegas is taking stock of F1’s impact — and some local businesses are asking the city to recoup the millions of dollars they lost. But would the city pay — and not F1? In today’s Friday news roundup, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with contributor Andrew Kiraly, founder of TheList. Vegas, to talk about the winners, losers, and who pays when...

There’s a new trend sweeping Mexican cuisine, and you can find it right here in Las Vegas. Unlike the mass-produced grocery store tortillas you’ll find at most taco trucks and restaurants, tortillas made by nixtamalization are more pliable, fragrant, and nutritious. Today, we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with Masazul chef Mariana Alvarado about she’s dedicating her lif...

The Las Vegas Monorail is, at best, a side-eyed 90s relic for convention-goers; at worst, the butt of jokes and a symbol of our crushed public transit dreams. So how did it even get here, and what derailed our mono-future? Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with writer and monorail enthusiast Eric Duran-Valle about the system’s surprising Disney connection, the issues that plagued it, and why locals shoul...

Las Vegas headliner magicians like David Copperfield, Shin Lim, and Criss Angel have all become household names across the U.S. — and just in terms of the number of ticketed shows, Vegas is arguably the magic capital of the world. That’s according to comedian, magician, and podcaster Matt Donnelly, who sits down with co-host Dayvid Figler to talk about the hidden gems in the Vegas magic scene (hav...

During one of their last meetings of 2023, city council members voted to purchase The Animal Foundation’s building to increase oversight of the non-profit. This comes after years of complaints over conditions at the overcrowded shelter from residents, animal advocates, and officials. Could this be the year The Animal Foundation turns around, or is the city priming the space for a takeover? Nevada...

The horrible attack on a judge in a Las Vegas courtroom has made headlines around the world — but have you seen the whole video? It tells a slightly different story, and co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with contributor and Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to talk about it. They also discuss the new ban on stopping on Strip pedestrian bridges, and the food trends that “nee...

Now that the holiday season has passed, some people are looking for ways to help their minds and bodies recover from the festivities (and maybe even their wallets). One method people try to start their year off right is participating in "dry January". Taking a break from alcohol — or the vice of your choice — can be difficult in a party-forward city like Las Vegas. That’s why our co-hosts Dayvid F...