pad Thai. Pick up some knife skills. Learn a few pointers on the art and science of cooking. Also, make new friends, impress your date, and enjoy a well-cooked meal — provided you followed the chef’s instructions. TRW 1980 Festival Plaza Drive #155, surlatable.com BEST PLACE TO TEACH KIDS SOME HISTORY
MOB MUSEUM
Ancient history? World history? U.S. history? Eh, the Clark County School District has those subjects covered. But if you want your kids (preteens and older) to get a true glimpse of what life was like in their hometown “back in the day,” take them to the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, a.k.a. the Mob Museum. Through dozens of artifacts and interactive exhibits (including a crime lab and firearms training simulator),
the Mob Museum fascinates as it educates. As history lessons go, this one is certain to hold a youngster’s attention. MJ themobmuseum.org BEST FAMILY PHOTO BACKDROP
3-D TRICK ART MUSEUM
Located alongside the escape rooms and ax-throwing joint in the HeadzUp complex at the Boulevard Mall, the 3-D Trick Art Museum is 28,000 square feet of eye-popping visual illusions — all designed to make it look, in photos, as if you’re part of the 3-D action. Sixty backdrops in all. Cheesy? As hell. But a lot of silly fun, too, which makes it ideal for kids and adults to cut loose. SD 3542 S. Maryland Parkway, $25 adults, $13 kids, headzup vegas.com
Social Poll! BEST PUBLIC ART OFF THE STRIP
a. B ig Rig Jig, by Mike Ross b. Seven Magic Mountains, by Ugo Rondinone c. Spirit Tower, by Rita Deanin Abbey d. R adial Symmetry, by Luis Valera-Rico e. Dream Machine,byWayne Littlejohn f. M onument to the Simulacrum, by Stephen Hendee
BEST PLACES FOR A SELFIE
easy. So grab your phone, skip the Strip, and go find a mural Downtown. There are dozens of stunning works to choose from; they’re sure to up your style points. TRW BEST STAYCATION SPOT
DOWNTOWN MURALS
THE COSMOPOLITAN
Look, if you’re into selfies, you gotta go someplace cool. Because selfies are all about showing to the world that you got It, that indelible grace of being in the right spot at the right time while making it all look
This place built its reputation on being the ultimate urban, millennial kickback spot on the Strip. But it’s also the best place to do your holiday in town, which everyone really should once a year. Why the Cosmo? Proximity. It’s a pedestrian-friendly, (relatively) human-scaled stroll to the Bellagio Fountains, CityCenter, Eataly and the revamped Park MGM, and the pleasing pedestrian ramble of The Park, plus all the beautiful shops, restaurants, spas, and clubs you need. TRW
thecosmopolitanlasvegas.com
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BEST SPORTS VENUE
LAS VEGAS BALLPARK We’re still on the fence about the Aviators’ name and logo. But one thing we all agree on is that our longest-standing professional sports team knocked it out of the park with its new Downtown Summerlin stadium. From the mesh seats to the posh suites, from the party zones to the kids’ zone, from the outfield swimming pool to the insanely huge video board, Las Vegas Ballpark was a huge hit with baseball fans during its inaugural season. In fact, the season-long attendance figure of 650,934 not only led all of Minor League Baseball, but it shattered the 37-year-old franchise’s previous
AHEM! “Why do you hate Jesse Smigel’s ‘Snowball’?” — Laura Herbert
D E S E R T C O M P A N I O N .V E G A S