Shopping A-Z

Antiques

Antiques in Vegas? You mean really old slot machines, or the people playing the really old slot machines?

Actually, Vegas has quite a few antiques stores -- nearly two dozen -- of consistent quality and price, nearly all located within a few blocks of each other. We have one friend, someone who takes interior design very seriously, who comes straight to Vegas for most of her best finds. (You should see her antique chandelier collection!)

To get to this antiquing mecca, start in the middle of the 1600 block of East Charleston Boulevard and keep driving east. The little stores, nearly all in old houses dating from the '30s, line each side of the street. Or you can stop in at Silver Horse Antiques, 1651 E. Charleston Blvd. (tel. 702/385-2700), and pick up a map to almost all of the locations, with phone numbers and hours of operation.

Candy & Food

The Chocolate Swan and Jean Phillipe Patisserie sells chocolates in addition to pastries and more.

Factory Outlets

Las Vegas has a big factory-outlet center just a few miles past the southern end of the Strip . If you don't have a car, you can take a no. 301 CAT bus from anywhere on the Strip and change at Vacation Village to a no. 303. You can see from the review that it doesn't do much for us, which is why we usually head to Primm to drop more money than we do at the tables (Williams-Sonoma outlet, how we love you).

Fashion & Beauty

There are any number of clothing shops in Vegas, though most are of the name brand chain variety, from high to low end. Here are a couple of more interesting standouts. In addition to those listed, Miracle Mile has an H&M, where the clothes are cheap and fashionable and the lines to try them on are very long. Go as soon they open to avoid the crowds.

Souvenirs

The Arts Factory Complex, 103 E. Charleston Blvd. (tel. 702/382-3886), is full of galleries of local artists working in a variety of different mediums, and one of their works would make for an original souvenir.

If you prefer your souvenirs to be a little less class and a little more kitsch, head over to the Bonanza Gift and Souvenir Shop, 2460 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tel. 702/384-0005). It's the self-proclaimed "World's Largest Gift Shop," and it certainly is big. T-shirts, Native American "handicrafts," all kinds of playing cards, both new and used (casinos have to change decks frequently, so this is where used packs go), dice, things covered in rhinestones, snowglobes -- in short, something for everyone, provided "everyone" has a certain sensibility. We looked, and we felt the tackiest item available was the pair of earrings made out of poker chips. The coolest? Some inexpensive, old-fashioned-style dice.

For reverent camp, encrusted with sequins, take a peek at the Liberace Museum gift store, 1775 E. Tropicana Ave. (tel. 702/798-5595). Encourage them to get even more out there (don't you think they should add Liberace mouse pads and screen savers?). For mixed emotions, little can beat items emblazoned with vintage images of bomb tests and other glories to the good old days of atomic blasts, at the Atomic Testing Museum gift store, 755 E. Flamingo Rd. (tel. 702/794-5161).