Sunset rising
Though it’s dominated by McCarran International Airport at one end, the walled-off mystery of Wayne Newton’s estate at the other, and the vast acreage of Sunset Park in between, this stretch of Sunset Road still harbors a few surprises — fine coffee, boutique foodstuffs, offbeat shopping and, thankfully, Batman suits.
Antiques Mall
1. We know a guy who picked up a buffalo skull here. 6665 S. Eastern Ave., 307-3960
Plane Watching
2. From this free parking lot next to the airport runway you can imbibe the romance of travel and the thrill of big engineering as embodied in the surprisingly mesmeric spectacle of giant metal tubes lumbering down from the sky. Parking lot on westbound Sunset, a bit past Eastern.
PT’s Gold
3. With some 40 PT’s in the valley, why include this one? Its McCarran-adjacent location. Thanks to its large windows, you can watch the planes land as you wrap your mouth around a pretty decent burger. 1661 E. Sunset Road, pteglv.com
Artisanal Foods
4. It’s got truffles by the score — that’s what owner Brett Ottolenghi built his business on — but also carefully cultivated prosciutto from Italy, black garlic from Korea, a host of oils and spices and not a few sweets. 2275 E. Sunset Road, artisanalfoods.com
Las Vegas Cigar Company
5. If your healthy lifestyle allows for the occasional puff on a premium hand-rolled cigar, here’s a good place to know. You can restock your personal humidor, pick up any accessories and if you gotta smoke right away, the lounge includes a 65-inch TV. 2510 E. Sunset Road, lvcigar.com
Show Off! Las Vegas Costumes
6. Because sometimes you have to show up dressed like Cleopatra. Or a gangster. Or, if you’re joining Desert Companion for Thanksgiving, Napoleon. Here’s where you can make it happen. 6400 S. Eastern Ave. Suite 4, showofflasvegas.com
Sunset Park
7. Its 185 acres contain almost every imaginable recreational choice, from hoops to walking trails to a fishing pond — plus, acres of space to enjoy November’s lack of scorching heat and the first-ever Sunset Park’d food-truck shindig (Nov. 16). 2601 E. Sunset Road, clarkcountynv.gov
Sunrise Coffee
8. Creative types from around the valley drive to this intimate, locally owned place, and for good reason: The coffee — organic, free-trade, single-estate and, for all we know, nonconflict and raised by virgins — is terrific. The goodies? Vegan. The vibe? Relaxed. No better way to start the day. 3130 E. Sunset Road, sunrisecoffeelv.com
Nevada Climbing Centers
9 Okay, this is ever so slightly off of Sunset, but it offers a focused recreational experience that Sunset Park can’t: rock climbing, on what the company bills as the largest rock wall in the city. Affordable day rates and gear rentals for nonmembers, too. 3065 E. Patrick Lane Suite 4, 898-8192
Parsley
10 Remember the final scene from The Avengers, where they’re all sitting around eating schwarma? Well, they would have had a good experience here, too. Tip: Try the beef schwarma “nachos.” 6420 S. Pecos Road, parsleyfmg.com