Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/126443
VEGAS DEPARTMENT HEADER PHOTO: ANTHONY MAIR Commonwealth is "a common playground" for Las Vegas bar lovers. Commonwealth 120 / the tasting panel / may 2013 The Laundry Room PHOTO: ANTHONY MAIR As Las Vegas's only Downtown venue to host a rooftop bar, Commonwealth's interior blends raw artistic vision with an ode to repurposed antiques. An aged compressed air tank doubles as a DJ booth, paisley-print ottomans lank short wooden tables and intentionally derelict artwork ensures no evidence of uncovered wall space. "'Commonwealth' itself means 'for the greater good,'" says Commonwealth Mixologist Juyoung Kang. "This can be a common playground." Commonwealth's bar captures this spirit through its unique tap handles, which obscure labels to instead feature iconic objects, like a vintage boxing glove and an athletic trophy. Upstairs, the rooftop maintains a progressively urban setting. At night, nearby neon lights illuminate its patio and cocktail bar, laden with 2012 Lincoln coins. "It's almost that New York feel," Kang observes. "You see all the Vegas signs, but it doesn't feel like Vegas." Nestled within Commonwealth's building, The Laundry Room denies big brother's social scene for a decidedly more elite environment. It's a 1920s-inspired speakeasy, complete with period pieces like an antique piano, traditional nugget chairs and hanging pendant lights with Edison bulbs. "It's kind of like your own little living room, where the adults play," Kang says. "They have their drinks, chat and talk about business." To protect the hushed atmosphere, The Laundry Room with its 28 seats is hidden. To enter, guests must receive The Laundry Room has a 1920s speakeasy vibe. a clothespin with the code—a printed phone number to text message for access—and wait streetside by a sticker-ridden wall for the secret door to open from within. Once inside, guests are instructed on house rules, including "Don't be creepy." At the bar, mixologists create labor-intensive libations with menureferenced roots in era-specific cocktails. In The Laundry Room, "every drink, no matter what you make, is a variation of a classic," Kang explains. "Everything has a history. Everything has a past."