Lake Las Vegas Specialty Shopping
Unusual Toys, Fine Art, Folk Crafts Are Sold in an Idyllic Setting.
Not only are the shops at Lake Las Vegas inviting, their décor and merchandise create a shoppers' paradise and browsers' delight.
A large part of Lake Las Vegas’ appeal comes from the quality and variety of unusual items for sale in its specialty shops.
Behind the storefronts reminiscent of a Tuscan hill town, the shops’ owners are a different breed than the norm – an engineer and scientist transplanted from Chicago; a former tuna fisherman from southern California. And the merchandise they have chosen to sell reflects that difference.
Anything that Flies
There’s no cookie-cutter sameness about the kites, wind chimes, papier mache parrots and other wind-related items at Flights of Fancy. From floor to high ceiling you’ll find whirligigs, mobiles, pirate flags, bells, hot-air balloons, kites of all sizes and dozens of other eye-catchers as well as windforms fashioned as cooks, fishermen, mermaids and gardeners.
Mexican Folk and International Fine Art
At Tesoro, the emphasis is on folk art from Mexico – hand carved santos, Day of the Dead figures and lavishly embellished crosses. The shop also features fine jewelry made by Mexican artist Gloria Higuera and local artisans including Chele Steelsmith and Jamie Ann.
Cote d’Azur Fine Arts ranks as one of the finest galleries in Nevada and features works by an international array of artists. Among them are Spanish painter Didier Lourenco, German sculptor Tolla and Emilija Pasagic, a Yugoslavian sculptor who now lives in Toronto. The artists’ styles and the media with which they create are as varied as their national origins -- one of the reasons that the gallery appeals to art enthusiasts. Another gallery, Collectors Fine Art, carries a large selection of glass objects and paintings by celebrity artists such as Walt Disney.
Childhood Delights
Best sellers at Mishegoss Toys include sticky stones (shiny black squares containing magnets that are almost impossible to pull apart), wooden 3-D puzzles and chess sets with animal heads on the pieces. Among other favorites with the youngsters are swimming pool games such as Shark Darts and Squirt/Splat Balls as well as model kits for building miniature castles, Godzilla and bi-planes. There’s also a selection of popular games from the 1930s, such as Pick-Up Sticks and Chinese Checkers.
Bedecking the Body
The clothing stores are definitely not run-of-the-mall. Although the items for sale at Pink aren’t all that color, enough of them are to justify the name. Other high-end clothing stores include Movement and J. Ryan. Alexander Perfumes and Cosmetics, Scruples Eyewear and Da Minnci Jewelers provide the finishing body bedecking touches.
Market News
If you like food, its preparation and presentation, Casamar’s Market may well be your favorite shop. A sophisticated version of the general store, the shop’s high-ceiling and wall decor reflect its eclectic contents. The selection of books about food is surprisingly varied, with titles reflecting everything from picnic fare to dinner at Buckingham Palace. Kitchen equipment includes Mario Batali cookware and imported Italian serving plates. Casamar’s is also the place to find bring-home gifts for gourmet friends, such as Wisconsin cheeses, wild strawberry jam made in France and Chiver’s gooseberry preserves, imported from Ireland.
A complete listing of the shops can be found on the montelagovillage website.
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