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Venues give residents a spectrum of spots to go after dark

Downtown Las Vegas has long been known for its appeal to tourists, notably with nightly light shows and live concerts along the Fremont Street Experience. Beyond the historic street's neon lights, however, are venues and nighttime activities often lesser-known to tourists and frequented by locals.

The Fremont East Entertainment District, established in 2002, is one area to which residents flock. From Las Vegas Boulevard to Eighth Street, bars and restaurants line Fremont Street just east of the tourist attraction. The Downtown Cocktail Room, The Griffin, Insert Coin(s), The Azul Tequila Beauty Bar, Don't Tell Mama and the Vanguard Lounge are among the bars in the district, accompanied by lounge Maharaja Hookah Café and restaurant Le Thai, to name a few. Commonwealth, 525 Fremont St., and the Fremont Country Club, 610 Fremont St., are undergoing construction and slated to open later this year in the district.

At the corner of Fremont and Sixth streets is Emergency Arts, a collaborative space that opened in a former medical building in 2010. Emergency Arts houses The Beat coffeehouse, art galleries and technology library /usr/lib.

Jennifer Cornthwaite, co-owner of Emergency Arts, said the space brings something different to the district.

"I think that Emergency Arts and The Beat is what we needed here, because it's not just a bar," Cornthwaite said. "Not everyone wants to hear a live band or sing show tunes. Sometimes, you just want to sit with a friend and not be pressured to go out and do that."

By day, The Beat is a traditional coffeehouse, serving food and caffeinated beverages to a crowd of mostly locals. By night, it turns into a coffeehouse-meets-bar, taking on a different kind of setting each evening. From 7 to 11 p.m. Mondays, the Las Vegas Poets Organization hosts The Human Experience, an open mic event. Trivia nights at 7 p.m. every other Tuesday - including today - have become a staple at The Beat. Upstairs, tech hot spot /usr/lib is home to weekly Jelly meetings, where enthusiasts of technology, the environment and other interests gather to share ideas.

Cornthwaite said the creative space has become something that appeals to people of various tastes.

"I think the interesting thing about The Beat and Emergency Arts is ... there's always something different for everyone," Cornthwaite said. "If you're not into technology, there's open mic night. If you're not into poetry, there's something else. I think it's really about having so much diversity, and (Emergency Arts) provides all these different alternatives that aren't always alcohol-induced."

Another downtown area with a variety of nighttime activity offerings is the 18b Arts District, which is typically packed with crowds for First Friday each month. The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., is home to dozens of galleries and restaurant Bar + Bistro, which is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Artifice Bar, 1025 First St., is open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily and features signature cocktails, live entertainment and pieces from local artists.

Nightlife opportunities, however, don't stop at adult-only venues and spots downtown. In Paradise, opportunities for family-friendly entertainment may be found at the Pinball Hall of Fame, 1610 E. Tropicana Ave., which features more than 200 games ranging from 25 cents to a dollar for each turn. It's open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Tim Arnold, founder of the nonprofit Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club, which operates the Pinball Hall of Fame, said the venue is ideal for families - especially children - because the games "teach lessons."

"Some of these pizza restaurants and other places are nothing but kiddie casinos," Arnold said. "(It's) encouraging them to become gamblers. Our idea of winning something is not to win tickets. You win the right to play again. These are games of skill - ones you might win four or five times."

Arnold said 80 cents of every dollar customers spend at the Pinball Hall of Fame is donated to The Salvation Army and other local charities. He said the inexpensive cost to play games combined with the contributions to charity make for an ideal combination.

"With the economy being rough and people unemployed, we're like the dollar theater for people," Arnold said. "If you want low-cost entertainment and no frills, you can come here and have lots of fun for under $5. There aren't a lot of places you can go and do that while helping charities, too."

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-4686.

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