We really enjoyed our stay downtown a few weeks ago. I would recommend everyone save a little time during the convention to go downtown and see how Mayor Oscar "Bombay Sapphire Martini please" Goodman has worked hard with the casino owners to clean and brighten up Fremont St.
At night time, the new neon is gorgeous! Several new "trendy" bars have opened with in the past few months (bottom right of the picture, The Griffin, etc). I believe this neon project was started about convention time last year, but is now complete and something to see.
The blue in the middle of the picture is a giant martini glass...a tribute the locals say to Oscar.
Further down is a silver slipper and a showgirl neon. All are beautiful at night.
The new neon stretches from the edge of the Fremont Experience to the El Cortez and is called the "Fremont East District". New street lights, an increased police presence, and a security guard stationed outside on the corner of the El Cortez made the walk very enjoyable.

Heck, I even walked down to the Western to get new $1 chips...heck, I went twice! Don't know why folks say this place is "scary"...the Spike (IMHO) is dumpier and everyone in the Western was really friendly. The pit boss even gently moved into the poker dealer's spot between hands and looked through the chips to find me nice, new ones. I had politely asked him to help me (as I didn't want to disturb a game and the cage had none at that hour). I was flat floored at how nice and laid-back everyone at the Western was.
I returned to my hotel after getting the chips, and realized I didn't have a picture of the Western, so I walked back down there again the next day!

I can't wait to go back!!