This week, Ira spoke with Abingdon Mullin, founder and CEO of the Abingdon Company, based in Las Vegas and the city’s only independent watch brand. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Abingdon talks about why she started the company - getting her pilot’s license and not being about to find a female pilot’s watch; getting together with other women to design such a watch; how she ended up in Las Vegas; why manufacturing and assembly is based in Las Vegas; her philosophy of starting with function; why decent water resistance, high quality materials and durability are the top three things her female customers look for in watches; why she wears two watches; her strategy of slow and steady growth; the creation of the Abingdon Foundation; and analog vs digital. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week, Ira spoke with mentalist Colin Cloud, headlining the world premiere of “Colin Cloud: Mastermind” in Harrah’s Cabaret at Harrah’s Las Vegas (starting July 2). In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Colin, known as the “closest thing to a real-life Sherlock Holmes,” talks about his decision to headline his own show rather than continue performing with magician Shin Lim (as he had at the Mirage); his background performing solo shows that prepared him for this new show on the Las Vegas Strip; why location is key; being part of a magic show instead of just watching a magic show; why he didn’t enjoy magic as a kid; how his job as a performer is to make the audience members he works with into co-stars; his background as a criminal profiler; why mentalism, like come-dy, is just you and the audience; performing at the Magic Castle at age 21; why the show starts the minute you buy your ticket; the element of fun and play; performing in the mo-ment; and what he says to himself after each performance. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week, Ira spoke with comedian ventriloquist Mark Merchant, headlining in the A Stars Comedy Show at the Ahern Hotel June 27-29. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Mark talks about how he got the moniker of “the comedy of two voices in one”; how he developed an interest in ventriloquism as a kid in Atlanta, Georgia; getting a Danny O’Day dummy and record from his parents; the funny story about meeting his wife in 1986; getting married on stage at a convention where he was performing; memories of the godfather of ventriloquism, Jimmy Nelson; his “characters,” Baby Big Ears and Zelda Rose; his prized Johnny Carson possession; and the fulfilling of one of his two dreams. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week, Ira spoke with Miss Melanie Moore, performing at the Maxan Jazz Club June 21. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Melanie talks about growing up in Dayton, Ohio and being influenced by The Supremes; finding every opportunity to sing as a child; studying nightclub singers while attending college; moved to New York and get-ting a job based on her business studies; how she began to perform with The Tymes and first toured Europe; her history with Luther Vandross; why she decided to move to Las Vegas; why she developed her own style and continues to study voice to this day; why the Las Vegas “scene” changes every six months; and her new album, Melanie Moore, Anything You Need. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week, Ira spoke with Geno Munari, author of "The Dunes Hotel and Casino: The Mob, the connections, the stories," who will participate in the “Meet & Greet Gaming Education Series” at the Casino Collectibles Association's 31st annual Casino Chip and Collectibles Show, June 13-15, at South Point Hotel and Casino. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Geno talks about moving to Las Vegas in 1964; how he ended up working at the Dunes; why he got into magic and ownership of the Houdini Magic shops; the most interesting character (most memorable guy) at the Dunes; who was the real Las Vegas godfather; the significance of the Dunes; “a city within a city”; and what he will talk about at the Meet & Greet (including the true story of the “chip cup”).

This week, Ira spoke with Al Mancini, co-host of the popular “Food and Loathing” podcast, creator of the Las Vegas dining guide app, “Neon Feast,” and a special guest on "Milk Street Radio" at the Beverly Theater (June 10). In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Al talks about how he started writing about food after moving to Las Vegas; what he discovered about the culinary community; how chefs support each other, both in good times and bad; his famous mohawk; his podcast, which is a “passion project” and no pressure zone; why he started “Neon Feast” as a unique guide; the generational approach to taking pictures of your food at a restaurant; how he got involved in “Milk Street Live”; his neon news.vegas food blog, which also includes the interviews from his podcast ; and how COVID helped develop the local dining scene. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week, Ira spoke with Award-winning chefs Susan Feniger & Mary Sue Milliken, who just opened their first stand alone and drive-thru concept of their BBQ Mexicana in the Las Vegas valley. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Susan and Mary Sue talk about their long careers in the culinary world; how they first met in a restaurant kitchen and realized how both of them were dedicated to their careers; how they developed their idea for BBQ Mexicana, which blends Mexican and traditional southern flavors, crafted with organic, seasonal, and fresh ingredients; how the first stand alone and drive-thru concept included quick and casual food made to order; why people look at restaurants as entertainment; how executive chef Mike Minor came up with the idea of fusing Mexican and BBQ and introducing the BBQ Smoker; and therir plans for the future. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week, Ira spoke with Dana Manacher, CEO of Shrtlst, a groundbreaking platform that curates city exploration for travelers by connecting users with locals who know the scene. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Dana talks about growing up in the hospitality industry; how her family started the Guestbook, a platform aimed at enhancing guest experiences at boutique hotels; why she decided to create Shrtlst; why the website uses an intense vetting process for its local experts; how it curates the best of the best (which is not necessarily just luxury experiences or venues); how it’s a resource for locals as well; personalizing the features; her plans to go international by the end of the year; the importance of the “vibe”; her hands-on approach; her roots in Las Vegas (even though her family is from Germany); her short-term and long-term goals, including becoming the global provider for travel and experiences.

This week, Ira spoke with Kenny Shedd, former (Oakland) Raider and current filmmaker, working on “The Next Dana White.” In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Kenny talks about why he decided to become a filmmaker; how he spent 20 years with the San Leandro Police Department; his thoughts on the Raiders moving to Las Vegas; how he came up with the idea for “The Next Dana White,” his first feature film; how he scripted the film to emphasize the characters’ father-daughter relationship more than fight scenes; his development of Las Vegas investors; why he moved his production from the Bay area to Las Vegas; and why attention to detail is important in making movies.

This week, Ira spoke with writer, photographer, artist and philanthropist Michael Shulman. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Michael talks about writing a compre-hensive history of Las Vegas entertainment residency for his website -https://www.shulmansays.com - (a version of this article was published in Business Traveler, August 2023); who the first residency headliner was (and this is going back to 1944); how it was originally an amenity to bring in the high roller; how the Rat Pack played a part; Elvis and his residency; why he (Michael) almost got kicked out of the Liberace Museum; the importance of the resident artist; how Celine Dion changed everything in the world of residencies; why Las Vegas is the residency capital of the world; how a residency is a win-win for both the casino and the entertainer; the audience comes to the entertainer rather than the other way around; what performer might have had “the most wonderful” connection with an audience; the most surprising thing he found in his research (and it has to do with Elvis); how strong country has become; the importance of production designers; the criteria for a residency; and the future of residencies.