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Pizza Underground Brings Together Rock and Cheese

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Some people like pizza more than others. Surprisingly, one of those pizza fiends also happens to be a former child actor turned musician, who is focusing all his creative energy on creating songs with titles like “Take a Bite of the Wild Slice.” Find out why the music world is buzzing about the Pizza Underground.

pizza underground culkin

Cheesy covers about cheese

Following his work in movies like Home Alone and Saved!, Macaulay Culkin decided to step away from the camera and take some time away from the entertainment business. Once he was ready to return to cultural prominence, Culkin recruited some of his friends and created a Velvet Underground and Lou Reed cover band called the Pizza Underground. While it may be one of the most ridiculous ideas in rock n roll history, we can’t help but laugh at songs with names like “Pizza Gal” and “Pizza, It Hurts.”

Culkin and his pizza pals have taken their band across the country, singing songs about pepperonis and sausage to a willing (and hungry) audience. Often giving out pizza to fans in attendance, the Pizza Underground offers a concert experience unlike any other band on the scene.

So where does the Pizza Underground go from here? It remains to be seen whether or not Culkin will turn another band’s tunes into odes to pizza, but we are optimistic that his group will continue parodying classic rock songs. Here’s to hoping for Blue Oyster Crust signing “Don’t Fear the Pizza” in the near future. For more information on Fremont Street pizza in Las Vegas, contact Pop Up Pizza today at (702) 366-0049.

Photo by Roberta

Pop Up Pizza & New Years Eve in Downtown Las Vegas

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The Las Vegas Strip hosts one of the most recognizable New Years Eve celebrations across the globe. Thousands of people fill the streets for a chance to take part in the festivities and big name performers fill every nightclub slot possible. If this is not really your scene, or if you are looking for something a little different to do on your New Years Eve, check out Downtown Las Vegas! No matter what you decide to do, Pop Up Pizza is the best choice for a late night slice in Downtown after the party! Here are a few things that will be happening in the iconic Downtown area.

Party or pizza

Tributepalooza

This event will take place in the classic setting of the Fremont Street Experience. Cover bands will be taking over New Years Eve in Downtown. The event feature 13 of the world’s best tribute bands on three stages for nine hours on Dec. 31, 2014. If you can’t make it on New Years Eve, this lineup will be playing for a few days before and after the event. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Here are a few of the performers you can expect to see at this event.

  • Fan Halen (Van Halen)
  • Queen Nation (Queen)
  • Led Zepagain (Led Zeppelin)
  • Rio (Duran Duran)
  • Generation Idol (Billy Idol)
  • No Duh (No Doubt)
  • Red Not Chili Peppers (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
  • Doobies Inc. (The Doobie Brothers)
  • Many more!

Downtown countdown

After your massive dose of rock ‘n’ roll, stick around to say goodbye to 2014 the Downtown way! This event will include a year-in-review to be played on the iconic Viva Vision above Fremont Street. A few words and the midnight countdown will be held by the City of Las Vegas Mayor, Carolyn G. Goodman. After the start of 2015, the event will feature an unforgettable live fireworks show which will be synched to the amazing virtual fireworks on the Viva Vision. This along with all of the other amazing attractions Fremont Street has to offer. Tickets (including admission to tributepalooza) can be purchased for $30 in advance or $40 at the door. This is the only night of the year where the Fremont Street is ticketed admission only.

Commonwealth Pity Party

Another great option for those of your seeking something out of the ordinary. One of Downtown’s favorite bars, Commonwealth, will be hosting Puddles Pity Party to ring in 2015. If you are unfamiliar with the cult comedy/lounge performer, fret not. The giant performer, who has been popular in the Atlanta entertainment scene for years, is seven-foot-tall and dressed like a clown. The “sad clown with a golden voice” gained popularity after covering a well known song by Lorde. The unpredictable show is singing, intertwined with bits of comedy and improv to keep the audience guessing. He has performed to rave reviews in Las Vegas twice before and the New Years Eve lineup will show three times throughout the night. Tickets are $20 for men, $10 for women and $50 for the all-you-can-drink pass.

pizza boxes

No matter what you decide to do for New Years Eve, don’t forget to grab a slice of Pop Up Pizza before or after your celebrations. Pop Up Pizza, the best downtown pizza in Las Vegas, will offer delivery and catering services if you are hosting a  New Years Eve party of your own. Pop Up Pizza offers a variety of specialty pizzas and toppings to build your own.

Pizza Topping Choices Could Provide Personality Insight

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Most of us know the choices we make in life say a lot about who we are. The friends and romantic interests we choose to surround ourselves with can say a lot about the kind of people we are. Is it possible our food choices, pizza toppings in particular, could also provide insight into who we are and who we should love? According to a new study, the answer might be “yes”.

Study provides new ideas about tastes and smells

The study conducted by Dr. Alan Hirsch at The Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago surveyed 500 British adults living in or visiting the U.S. The participants, aged 18 to 65, completed several standardized psychiatric evaluations to determine different personality aspects. The participants, as well as their spouses, also provided information about pizza and topping preferences. The results of the personality evaluations were then cross-referenced with food preference data, revealing some interesting correlations. Researchers said that taste preferences develop at the same time as our personality. This is why food preferences are representative of our inner personality.

What your favorite Pop Up Pizza says about you

pepperoni pizza

The Main St. Pizza

The Main St. Our classic mozzarella and pepperoni pizza is preferred by extroverts who have a tendency to get bored easily. The study found that pepperoni pizza fans are romantically compatible with those who love our Newport pizza.

ricotta, artichoke, peppers, eggplant, spinach, and mushroom pizza

The Newport Pizza

The Newport. Our version of a veggie pizza includes roasted artichokes, peppers, eggplant, spinach, mushrooms and a garlic infused-olive oil. Preferred by those who are flirtatious, self-interested, sometimes naive and very charming. Newport Pizza-lovers will find they are most romantically compatible with those who love our Main St. pizza.

mozzarella, ricotta, and spinach pizza

The White Chapel Pizza

The White Chapel. This is our version of a white pizza with a blend of mozzarella and ricotta cheeses topped with sautéed spinach and roasted garlic olive oil. Preferred by those who are good with finances, cautious, cynical and who love to argue. If your favorite pizza is our White Chapel pizza, then study results suggest you will be romantically compatible with those who love our Fremont Pizza.

mozzarella, sausage, bacon, pepperoni, peppers, and eggplant pizza

The Fremont Pizza

The Fremont. Our version of meat pizza with mozzarella cheese, Italian sausage, bacon, pepperoni, roasted peppers and eggplant. Preferred by supportive people who enjoy spending time at home. They also tend to be followers who shy away from leadership roles. Researchers found these types are best suited with those who love our White Chapel pizza.

Whatever your personality type, if you love pizza, then you’ll love PopUp!. Grab a slice of the best Fremont pizza in Las Vegas and see what your choice says about you!

7 Reasons Pizza is the Best Friend You Have

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Throughout the course of our lives, we make many friends. Some are close, some are distant. Some are with us for years, and some for only a short time. We care about some as much as you can for another human being, while we consider others “frenemies”. No matter what the case is, you will never have a friend that is as awesome as pizza. Here’s why!

1) Pizza is always there for you

Remember that time you needed pizza at 11 p.m. and it didn’t show up? Neither do we. Pizza always heads over to your house when you call.

 

2) Pizza is looking out for your health

The marinara sauce that is spread all over the dough is loaded with tomatoes. Those tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that has been shown to have a hand in preventing heart disease. Your intestines better absorb lycopene when it’s consumed with small amounts of oil or fat, all of which pizza has provided for you. You’re welcome.

3) Only pizza can pull off being so cheesy

Most of your other friends tend to get on your nerves with their corny jokes.

 

4) Pizza has been to space

How many of your friends can say that they have made it off of Earth’s surface? Unless you work for NASA, I’m willing to bet that the answer is zero. Pizza has already been to the final frontier.

5) Pizza wants you to be happy

Plain cheese, pepperoni, taco pizza, breakfast pizza, vegetarian, meat-lovers, half mushroom and half bell pepper, desert pizza— it doesn’t matter. Pizza will do whatever it takes to make you happy

6) Pizza understands when you’re broke

Sometimes, we get a little down on our luck, and pizza understands. Not many of your other friends will provide you dinner (and most likely tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch) for only $5.

 

7) Pizza has been there since the beginning

Whether is was a pizza lunchable or pizza day in the cafeteria of your grade school, pizza was always able to put a smile on your face as a child.

Are you missing pizza yet? It’s okay, pizza would never abandon you! Head over to Pop Up Pizza in the Plaza Hotel to satiate your pizza cravings, and get your cheese, bread, tomato, and topping fix. The friendly staff will take care of you, and get you a taste of exactly what you’re searching for. You shouldn’t expect anything less from the best downtown pizza in Las Vegas!

Running in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon This Weekend?

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Grab a Slice of Pizza at Pop Up Pizza!

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon takes place this weekend and what is a better way to fuel your run than with a delicious slice of pizza.

Las Vegas marathon logodowntown las vegas pizza sign

Everyone knows that carb loading is a tradition of long distance runners but who says it has to be a boring pasta dish? Popup Pizza, which provides Fremont street pizza in Las Vegas to locals and tourists alike,  is the perfect place to stop by before or after the big race to load up on cheesy goodness.

Stick with a classic cheese or pepperoni or explore one of Popup Pizza’s specialties such as The Newport which features ricotta, artichokes, peppers, eggplant, spinach, mushrooms and garlic infused olives. The Newport would be a perfect pre-run meal with all those plant based proteins on top. Conveniently located on Main Street in Downtown Las Vegas, the proximity to the run couldn’t be more perfect for runners looking to fuel up for the big race. Here are the top 5 reasons you should consider pizza pre and post marathon.

The Top 5 Reasons You Should Consider Eating Pizza Pre and Post Marathon

5. Pizza is just the right amount of carbohydrates to keep you going whether you are running the full 26.2 miles, the half 13.1 miles, the half of the 1/2 6.5 miles or the 3.1 mile 5k.

vegan pizza las vegas

4. Pizza is way more customizable than pasta. Think of the endless topping combinations!

A row of various Pop Up pizzas

3. Pizza can feature a number of different protein sources. You could go with the veggie loaded Newport or if you’re more of an animal based protein lover try The Harris Meatball Pie.

Vegetarian pizza Las Vegas The Newport meat pizza   The Harris Meatball Pie

2. Pizza can be as healthy or as unhealthy as you desire. Before the race, you will probably want to go with the healthier option loaded with veggies and light on cheese. After the race you can indulge yourself with extra and different kinds of cheeses and meats.

vegan pizza There’s even vegan pizza!

1. Pizza is awesome and delicious. Obviously, this is the number one reason to choose pizza any time, not just when you’re racing.

funny pizza meme

If you’re planning on racing this weekend, we hope to see you! Be sure to stop by and say ‘hi’!

 

 

Ooey Gooey Goodness: 23 Interesting Facts About Pizza

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Crispy crust, flavor-filled marinara sauce, melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella cheese, and a mountain of toppings— do you need any other reason to be interested in pizza? I doubt it. Pizza’s divine allure is enough to tempt even the the strongest into taking a taste of its ooey gooey goodness. But, in case you’re still having doubts about the power of the pie, here are 23 facts to pique your interest yet again.

 

1) Although popularized in Italy, pizza originated in Greece.

2) One of the first online purchases ever made was a pepperoni and mushroom pizza from dominos.

3) A pizza was delivered to the international space station in 2001.

4) The largest pizza ever made was 122 feet long.

 

5) October is national pizza month in the United States.

6) It’s good for your health! Tomato sauce contains Lycopene, a cancer fighting antioxidant, and olive oil helps lower bad cholesterol.

7) The most popular pizza topping in the U.S. is pepperoni.

 

8) About 93 percent of Americans eat pizza at least once per month.

9) The first known pizzeria opened in 1738 in Italy.

10) The first U.S. pizzeria opened in 1895.

11) The Chicago deep dish was created in 1943.

12) The average adult eats about 750 calories of pizza at a time.

 

13) The Super Bowl is the most popular time of year for pizza deliveries.

14) Men are more likely to order meat-based pizzas.

15) Women tend to prefer vegetarian options.

16) The U.S. pizza industry is worth about $30 billion.

 

17) Americans eat around 350 slices of pizza every second.

18) The most expensive pizza you can buy costs $1000. It’s topped with caviar, lobster, crème fraîche, and chives.

19) Pizzerias account for almost 20 percent of restaurants in the United States.

20) Women tip delivery drivers better than men.

 

21) Nicknamed the “Pizza Principle”, subway fairs and pizza prices have risen at the same rate in New York City for over 50 years.

22) Pizza was originally spelled “pitsa” (it all makes so much sense now).

23) There are over 61,000 pizzerias in the U.S.

Hungry yet? Head over to Pop Up Pizza in the Plaza Hotel to satiate your pizza cravings, and get your cheese, bread, tomato, and topping fix. The friendly staff will take care of you, and get you a taste of exactly what you’re searching for. You shouldn’t expect anything less from the best downtown pizza in Las Vegas!

5 Strange Pizza Toppings From Around The Globe

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Food is a major part of most cultures around the world, with unique ingredients only found in certain areas helping to define the people that come from that region. Since food differs greatly from country to country, it is to be expected that the pizza we enjoy in America is far different from the pies found in other regions of the world. While pepperoni and sausage are great, these unique toppings from around the globe will create a pizza experience that you’ve likely never seen (or tasted) before. Here are some of the strangest pizza toppings from around the world.

Fried Egg (France)

fried egg on a pizza

Fried eggs can commonly be found on breakfast plates and gourmet burgers in the US, but in France, they can be seen alongside black olives and mushrooms on the topping list at local pizzerias. With a runny yolk that soaks into the crust, fried eggs can either be baked directly on top of the pie or fried in a pan and added to the pizza after baking.

Curry Powder (Sweden)

In a land where it’s completely normal to eat thin crust pizza with a knife and fork, it’s no wonder the Swedish have strange toppings on their pies. One of the most bizarre toppings that can be found on pizzas in Sweden is a pie loaded with curry powder. These spicy pies can pack quite the punch, which is why many curry pizzas also contain pineapple to help curb the burn.

Tuna (Germany)

While American pizzas don’t get much fishier than anchovies, Germans like their pies full of seafood. Canned tuna is one of the most popular toppings on pizzas found in Germany, providing protein and strange smells to pizza boxes across the country.

Pickles, Grapes & Port (New Zealand)

Since pickles and grapes on a pizza aren’t enough to make our list, New Zealanders complete their strange topping trio with port wine on their pies. With a sweet taste that is rarely found on American pizzas, this New Zealand treat can eliminate hunger, satisfy your sweet tooth and get you a little tipsy.

The Mayo Jaga (Japan)

Since one weird topping isn’t enough, the Japanese have taken toppings to a new level with the mayo jaga. Topped with mayonnaise, potatoes, corn, bacon, pimento and onion, this monstrosity of a pie features enough toppings for multiple meals piled high on one pizza.

Whether slathering on the sausage or topping pies with tuna, toppings are only part of what makes a great pizza. If you are hungry and looking for the best downtown pizza in Las Vegas, give us a call today at (702) 366-0049.

Photo by John

5 Beers That Go Well With Pizza

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After a long week at work, your idea of a crazy Friday night might go something like this: You’ve got a beer in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other. Whether you’re eating in, ordering take-out or hitting your favorite pizza shack, an ice-cold ale and and a slice of your favorite pie make the perfect pair. But don’t get stuck in a routine with the same beverage weekend after weekend! Switch it up, and enhance your pizza-filled exploits. Here, find the five best beers for your delicious, cheesy, pepperoni adventures.

1. Blue Moon’s Belgian White

Need a not-so-expensive option without the cheap taste? Try this belgian white beer from Blue Moon. The flavors of the light beer go great with the heavy richness of pizza.

A hand holding a bottle of Blue Moon beer.

Photo by Viewminder

2. Liefmans Goudenband

As an acidic malt, this beer will give your pizza that extra punch of flavor you’ve been looking for. The complex flavors (which has been noted to lend itself to raisins) brew up a dark concoction that pleasantly complements any pizza party.

3. Stella Artois Belgian Lager 

As the best-selling belgian beer in the world, this ale will give you the right amount of refreshment for those doughier, crispier pizza slices.

4. Redd’s Apple Ale

Want a sweeter option? This sugary, apple-flavored beer could double as a dessert. The sour undertones of apple deliciously mesh with pizza’s tomatoey, acidic sauce.

A bottle of Redd's Apple Ale.

Photo by Denise Mattox

5. New Glarus Abt

Or maybe you’re looking for something rich, dark and sweet. In that case, this beer has all three. If you’re on the hunt for a beverage that brings out the taste of your pizza’s crusty foundation, look no further.

After this post, it’s hard to say no to a night of beer, pizza and all things delectable. For a taste of the best pizza in downtown Las Vegas, head out to Pop Up Pizza in the Plaza Hotel to get your cheese, bread and tomato fix. Downtown is also home to some of the best bars in Las Vegas!

The Surprisingly American History of Pizza

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When you think of pizza, you might think of delicious, melted cheese stretched and pulled with every passing bite. Or maybe you think of piles of pepperoni, stacked on top of fluffy, warm, rising dough. But you probably also think of Italy and the tossing of circular, doughy pies into the air, fittingly accompanied by a thick accent straight from the heart of Rome. Although pizza truthfully got its start in Italy, the history of pizza is largely interlinked with the western hemisphere.

 

The beginning of pizza: Did you know pizza dates back to 600 BC?! The ancient Egyptians used to eat pizza!

Traced back to 600 B.C., pizza was eaten by the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. Typically made as more of a flatbread dish, pizza was a legendary staple known for its convenience and easy consumption by the working class. Although mostly eaten by the lower classes, there are rumors that Kings and Queens of Italy ate it regularly! Despite its popularity and a royal blessing, pizza didn’t really take off until immigrants made it a must-have on New World soil.

The rise of pizza: Pizza didn’t become popular until it was brought to New York in the 1940s

Those establishing lives in New England (specifically settlers from Naples) founded pizzerias up and down the East Coast in big cities like New York—cities that saw a large spike in working class populations due to the concentration of urban factories. Soon, the easy-to-eat pie became a common dish, but it didn’t take off until the 1940s. After World War II, people began perceiving pizza as an “American” creation, rather than a foreign concoction; its popularity soared. Now, pizza has become a usual suspect on Americans’ plates. From Chicago-style pizza to the thin slices of New York, pizza varies by region and has a different meaning across the United States.

Whether you’re looking for deep dish in Chicago or simply wishing to get some Fremont street pizza in Las Vegas, don’t forget pizza’s roots. Head on out to Pop Up Pizza in the Plaza Hotel for a slice.

7 Scientific Reasons Pizza Is Awesome

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Precious pepperoni, melt-in-your-mouth cheese and delectable crusts already make pizza a heavenly treat. If there weren’t enough reasons to stuff your face with the pie of your dreams, get ready for a couple more. There are actually legitimate, scientifically backed arguments behind pizza’s goodness. Check out these seven things that make pizza even better than before.

A row of various Pop Up pizzas

1. Pizza can predict economic trends.

A New York lawyer proposed the “Pizza Principle” back in the 1980s, citing the relation between pizza prices and New York subway fares. According to the lawyer, as pizza prices rise, subway fares rise at a similar rate, writes The New York Observer. Even if it doesn’t hold true always, it held true then and could again.

2. It’s printable: You read right!A colorful pizza from Pop Up.

NASA is trying to make pizza appear through a 3-D printer in space. Using technology that made its debut at SXSW Eco in Austin this past year, the pizza is constructed using different ingredients through the printer. Hard to believe? Well, the company behind the printer completed a demonstration at the conference, and Popular Science reports that it’s true!

3. Pizza is cheaper the bigger it gets.

According to a study conducted by NPR that evaluated costs of thousands of pizza sizes, you generally pay less for more pizza. So, when it comes to pizza, less is more!

4. It could kill cancer cells.

Cancer contains oregano oil, which contains carvacrol. This component has the potential to kill prostate-cancer cells by reprogramming the cell to commit suicide. Cool, right?

5. Pizza-tossing is medically revolutionary.

The art of pizza-tossing is being studied by scientists to create tiny motors for brain surgery. Scientists have researched pizza-tossers’ throws and applied the physicality of tossing a pizza into the air to the design of the motors. This should help doctors make more precise incisions during a brain surgery.

Pizza

6. When it comes to pizza and beer, they’re a match made in science.

According to an interview with certified cicerone Michael Agnew with BuzzFeed, pizza and beer taste good together for more than one reason. Because pizza is so rich, the carbonation in beer actually helps you digest all of that cheese and crust.

7. Pizza could be good for your heart!

That sauce in your pizza contains tomatoes, which in turn contain lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked to preventing heart disease. Your intestines better absorb lycopene when it’s consumed with small amounts of oil or fat (cough, pizza, cough). Looking to take your pizza research to the field? Visit Pop Up Pizza in Las Vegas’ Plaza Hotel.