fun things to do in Las Vegas this weekend

vegas is two cities, the strip and everything else, and everything else is where locals spend their saturday.

the strip does what the strip does. residencies, sphere nights, pool parties and dinners that need a reservation weeks out, all worth doing at least once a trip. we rank the shows and openings that justify the walk rather than every marquee on the boulevard.

off strip is the other half of the city. fremont east and the arts district run first friday, dive bars, small venues and taco counters, and red rock canyon is twenty minutes from the tables when you want a morning that does not smell like a casino floor. it all lands in one list so the group can argue about it in one place.