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I have to make a confession.

This is very difficult for me to admit, so bear with me.

Okay, here goes …

I don’t really hate Downtown Las Vegas that much.

There, it felt good to get that off my chest.

Lest you think I have totally lost it, I’m still not in love with the place, but I actually hate it less than I did as recently as a year ago.

I used to go over there fairly infrequently, but lately I’m actually kind of digging it.

And I think I know why.

The Strip has lacked vibe lately. The tourists seem dead-eyed, the spark is gone, and it’s just not going off like it used to.

Yes, yes, I know it is temporary, but that is just my observation of the here and now.

At times, the difference between The Strip and Downtown can be like night and day.

Downtown is usually crowded, but not in a hostile way. People walk around, bands play, light shows happen … and dare I say it … there is a distinct lack of douchebags. Fine the douchebags are replaced by some rednecks and ghetto fabulous people here and there, but I can live with that. Hell, I shudder to think what these people think when they see me walking around.

Few people preen or pose. Everyone kind of just gets down in their own way, and they don’t seem to care what anyone thinks.

Now before I get the “I Told You So” shit from the Downtown snobs accusing me of being a Strip snob all along … you are wrong.

I’ve been giving Strip properties, and their corporate handlers shit for the better part of a year.

I’ve hung out in Downtown more times than I could possibly count (probably more than 99.999% of the people on the planet), watched many entertainers under the canopy, and stayed in Downtown hotels many times. One of my favorite gaming sessions of all time took place in the California Hotel back in the year 2000. I even have a fair amount of Downtown photos and videos already. I spent the entirety of Christmas Eve 2006 in Downtown (nothing says “Happy Birthday Jesus” like $3 Blackjack).

Hell, I can see the Downtown skyline from my back window only 3 miles into the distance, so the argument can be made that I pretty much live there.

But I will admit it, The Strip was always my first choice. There is no doubt about it. I liked all the big stuff they were doing. I like the free non-validated parking, and let’s face it … it’s an incredibly unique place. You won’t get properties like they have on The Strip anywhere but The Strip.

It’s a world unto itself, and it was different from anyplace I had ever been.

It still is.

During my first trip to Vegas, Downtown looked too familiar. It was like some of my old neighborhoods … only with casinos. It didn’t overwhelm me. It looked like a prop from the movie “Honey, I Shrunk The Strip”.

But after years of living adjacent to The Strip, I am starting to appreciate Downtown slightly more at this point in time.

Sure, shitting on Downtown and Henderson will still be one of the ways I blow off steam … but luckily for me, while Downtown is sucking less, Henderson is sucking more. So a balance will be achieved.

I’m still not going to be a cheerleader for the place. Downtown is still shit-worthy because it is smack in the middle of a pug fugly neighborhood. Anyplace not under the Fremont canopy is still not safe. If you stray two blocks from the action, your chances of getting shanked with a crack whore’s sharpened crusty tampon is still pretty high.

And you still have to pay for parking, or get it validated (only 3 hours are free), which in this town is completely and utterly asinine. It’s another thing I have always hated about Downtown. They need to get rid of that paid parking nonsense, because it’s a huge turnoff.

Nobody should have to pay to park in a self-park garage in Las Vegas. The Bellagio doesn’t even make the riff-raff pay to park. I find it to be one of those simple changes Downtown could easily do to make the place less of a hassle. There is plenty of parking in the garages, and I don’t think it is necessary to validate. Especially at night when the government buildings are closed (the only reason validated casino parking makes any sense is to keep people from parking there to go to the surrounding government buildings).

But under the Fremont canopy is where Vegas gets its groove back right now. At least for the time being, until City Center and Fontainebleau are up and running.

The Strip is in a transitional period right now. The corporate beancounters overplayed their hands. They’ll rectify the situation, but Downtown is in a position in which it can easily capitalize on this current situation.

They still have odds that The Strip had ten years ago. And the rooms aren’t hideously overpriced.

Of course, there is still random weirdness in Downtown. There are always people trying to save my soul. And who knows, maybe I need it.

If you are a Strip snob, maybe I can convince some of you to check it out as well.

I know that there are many of you reading this who don’t need any convincing at all, and I still think Downtown snobs have their own douchey “We’re too cool for The Strip” thing going on.

Yes, the pedestrian-friendly nature of the place is great, and there are some great deals to be had … but let’s face it, it’s never going to be the first choice for the majority of tourists.

For those who don’t make a point to head Downtown, the time is right to give it a shot in my opinion.

I can’t believe that I am actually encouraging people to give Downtown at least one night of their time on their next visit, but I guess that is exactly what I am doing.

However, if you get lost and/or killed, I take no responsibility. Stay under the canopy!

I’m still not down with the Gold Spike, and don’t think I ever will be. The El Cortez is nice given the location, but it is a two block walk from the canopy. If you go up “Fremont East”, it’s not that bad. There is nothing happening on Fremont East, but it is lit up.

I have videos of about 20 Fremont Street shows, but one of my favorite shows of all of them is the “Queen Tribute”.

I created a video of some street scenes from Downtown Las Vegas, and I made sure to include the entirety of the Queen Tribute Fremont Street Experience Show.

Hit “play” above, and you should get a better idea of what I am talking about.

Enjoy!

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