I've Lived in Las Vegas for 3 Years, and This Is the Neighborhood Tourists Often Miss-and Why You Shouldn't

"The neighborhood, in what's sometimes thought of as the "no man's land" between the Strip and Fremont, is filled with independent art galleries, vintage shops, locally owned restaurants, and breweries, all housed in repurposed buildings (which in itself is a bit of a unicorn in Vegas). Its boundaries officially run from Hoover Avenue in the north and Commerce Street in the west, down past Colorado Avenue to the south, and along 4th Street and South Las Vegas Boulevard on the east."

"But as businesses flock to the area, it has expanded, bleeding into other streets downtown. The idea for the neighborhood was conceived in 1997 by photographer Wes Myles, who opened The Arts Factory, a former industrial warehouse now home to galleries, studios, and creative businesses. It didn't catch on until around 2002, in part thanks to the First Friday event, and with help from the Las Vegas City Council to further revitalize the area."

The Arts District is a compact, walkable corridor in downtown Las Vegas that feels distinct from the Strip's opulence and frenzy. The area contains independent art galleries, vintage shops, locally owned restaurants, and breweries housed in repurposed industrial buildings. Official boundaries run from Hoover Avenue and Commerce Street down past Colorado Avenue to 4th Street and South Las Vegas Boulevard, though the district has spilled into adjacent streets. The district began in 1997 when photographer Wes Myles opened The Arts Factory, and it grew after the introduction of First Friday and municipal revitalization efforts around 2002.

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