In just a few short weeks (like a week and half to be exact) I will be leaving still cold Toronto for the warmth of Las Vegas for the “Viva Rockabilly Weekender“! I’m so excited! I have started my “what to bring list, wear list, bands too see list” etc. etc. etc. and I’m currently in the process of driving my husband nuts with non stop talk of all the fun we are going to have 🙂 I really can’t wait to go.

So in the spirit of the fun that is about to happen, I wanted to share some of the highlights from last years VIVA adventure with you. So grab your viva souvenir glass and let’s go!

My husband and I meeting the head chef at Gordon Ramsey’s English pub on our first day in Vegas.

We are here!

All the gang is together and already the shenanigans have started 🙂

Finally learned how to stroll last year so there I am in the middle of the action.

At the car show, in front of my dream car.

Got to meet one of my favourite vintage ladies “Amanda Lee of The call of the Jitterbugdoll“.

Pool time with my ladies!

Meeting new friends, who we get to see again this year!

Checking out one of our favourite Toronto bands that played-Tennessee Voodoo Coupe.

My husband being silly with this gorgeous ladies hat, that she made herself!

Looking good ladies!

Ultimate photobomb lol!

This is late late night fun on Sunday. I think we have lost it by now lol!

After Viva finished a few friends stayed for a few extra days so we hit up old school Vegas-Fremont St. Here we are doing our best James Bond pose 🙂

Lol you can fill in the blank 🙂

Then we won a million dollars!! I wish :p

Then we thought it was a good idea to weigh ourselves. I contributed 20 lbs to that number lol!

This year we are adding an edition to our group and I’m so excited! My friend Steph is coming too!!

Excited faces looking forward to this year!

Are you going to VIVA? Looking forward to it too? If you see me, please say hi! Would love to meet you 🙂

OH P.S. If you are going and want to see an amazing Toronto band then check out at 1pm on Sunday the “Millwinders” in the Bienville room! You seriously will not be disappointed.

Liz

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I’m off to Las Vegas again for an event this weekend…yay! I’m only spending 3 nights in Vegas and then back to cold cold Canada I go. Got to save up those vacation days for VIVA Rockabilly weekend. While we are there we are staying at one of my favorite hotels, the “Golden Nugget“. I adore this hotel so very very much, it just screams old school Vegas. I also love Fremont Street that the hotel is on, so much fun to just wander from casino to casino, bar to bar exploring everything.

I thought for this post it might be fun to explore a bit about the Golden Nugget and see what we can unearth about one of my favorite hotels.

Golden Nugget Las Vegas Vintage Photo of Fremont Street.

Vintage Vegas-Golden Nugget Casino Hotel

Brief History of the Golden Nugget

The Golden Nugget was originally built-in 1946, making it one of the oldest casinos in the city. It was designed as a casino only as opposed to a combination casino and hotel. It’s original bullnose and signage was designed by Young Electric sign designers Kermit Wayne and Hermon Boernge. The 1905 on the sign (under the small Golden Nugget name) led many to believe that the Golden Nugget had been part of the original development of Fremont Street but that was a myth. Because of its bullnose and signage, the Golden Nugget became one of the most photographed buildings on Fremont Street. “Everyone knew the Golden Nugget sign” said the late president of the LVCVA, Manny Cortez (Source: Classic Las Vegas).

When the casino opened it was the largest and most luxurious casino in downtown Las Vegas. It had mahogany bars, imported marble floors and crystal chandeliers (seen below).

Vintage Ad for the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas

(Image source)

1950s Golden Nugget postcard showcasing what the caino and hotel looked like inside.

In the 1960s more properties beside the Nugget were purchased but no expansion ever happened and it continued to remain as just a casino. That all changed though in the 70s when Steve Wynn purchased the casino and turned it into the hotel/casino we know it as today (note: it is no longer owned by Wynn and has gone thru some dramatic face-lifts but it’s still a hotel/casino and very beautiful inside).

Some fun facts about the Golden Nugget

In keeping with its name the Golden Nugget is home to the worlds largest gold nugget-“The hand of Faith” weighing 61 lbs., 11oz.

Frank Sinatra in 1984 at the twilight of his career performed at the Nuggets theater ballroom, a room that he actually inaugurated along with Willie Nelson. It was also rumored that he nicknamed the ballroom-” the dungeon” because it was so small but it must have not been too bad because it was his home for 3 years.

Vintage poster for Frank Sinatra performing at the Golden Nugget hotel and casino in las vegas. Frank Sinatra in 1984 at the twilight of his career performed at the Nuggets theater ballroom, a room that he actually inaugurated along with Willie Nelson. It was also rumored that he nicknamed the ballroom-" the dungeon" because it was so small but it must have not been too bad because it was his home for 3 years.

Negotiations to build the Golden Nugget took 30 minutes.
From 1946 until 1950, poker players dealt their own cards in no-limit games. The Golden Nugget was the first casino to introduce the center deal (a dealer who deals the cards to players).
The bar was a reproduction of an actual Carson Street bar during the Comstock boom, and each piece was hand fitted and carved.
The Golden Nugget was designed to replicate the original Golden Nugget built on San Francisco’s Barbary Coast.
20,000 guests were invited to the opening.
A ribbon was wrapped around the Spa Tower for its 1984 Grand Opening (Source: Golden Nugget website).

Such fun facts!

I hope you enjoyed my little post on the Golden Nugget and now I’m off to pack and head off to enjoy my own Vintage Vegas experience just like the below picture.

Vintage Vegas slot machines as seen by two women and one man playing them.

Have you been to Las Vegas and enjoyed the Golden Nugget? Any tips on some great Vintage Vegas places to check out?

Further Reading about Vintage Las Vegas:

Liz 🙂

Tag: Las Vegas

Dreaming of Viva Las Vegas