Part of Vegas Week, where we skip the slots and find the actual jackpot.
By Matthew Wexler
While most eyes turn to Las Vegas to seek out bigger, better, and more indulgent (and there’s plenty of that), if you know where to look, you’ll discover a Las Vegas hidden gem rooted in culture and community. To kick off 1 Minute Critic’s inaugural destination week series, we chose Sin City—not just for the wow factor, but to discover the real people creating cool stuff.
Our first stop is Fergusons Downtown, a 1940s motel that’s been converted into a community hub for creativity, experiences, and gathering. It’s hard to miss the venue, marked by artist Mike Ross’s 42-foot-high sculpture, “Big Rig Jig,” comprised of two 18-wheeler tanker trucks welded together, curved, and standing upright. Ross built the towering display in 2007 for Burning Man, which found its way to Ferguson’s front lawn as a beacon for the project’s 2019 opening.
Our favorite hidden gems at Fergusons Downtown
We sent a morning meandering among the locally owned shops and discovered a few favorites for analog-minded travelers:
Nikdreamer — Local silversmith and jewelrymaker Nicole Rosano’s studio showcases the artist’s meticulous attention to detail and interest in gemstones. More than a retail store, Rosano regularly hosts workshops as part of Fergusons Downtown’s monthly lineup of immersive programming.
Tofu Tees — Youth activist and entrepreneur Kumei Norwood started her T-shirt business when she was eight years old. Now a full-fledged teenager, she runs a brick-and-mortar store that showcases and celebrates BIPOC voices, with products ranging from graphic Ts, books, zines, and stickers to mystery boxes that appeal to Gen Z.
Electric Rabbit — Not your average bookstore, this vintage find features curated used books and special editions. Quirky finds include a first edition print of J.W. von Goethe’s Faust, the illustrated League of Lady Poisoners, and a selection of quirky writing journals (our favorite being “Jittery Scribblings of the Overly Caffeinated Introvert”
Of course, no stop in Vegas is complete without access to a proper cocktail (or zero-proof option). F the Bar offers custom cocktails through a unique libation request slip that harkens back to the motel’s original room receipts that were found during its renovation.
Las Vegas, known for its reinvention, has found a hidden gem at Ferguson’s Downtown, which nods to the past while reimagining authentic experiences for locals and visitors alike.
It wants better content.
