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06 las vegas weekly 02.02.17
Cher’s new show debuts February 8 at Park Theater. (Photograph by Machado Cicala Morassut/Courtesy)
03 Fri., 6 p.m.
Rebecca Kubla at Skin City Gallery The Vegas native’s first solo art show, An Uncomfortably Close Self-Examination, explores self-awareness through psychologically charged images. The deeply personal—often sinewexposing—works reflect her knowledge of anatomy, gained through a fascination with taxidermy. Throughout February, free. –Rosalie Spear
07
07 TuE., 9 P.M.
Bleep Boop at Beauty Bar The American producer—who got his first break on DJ Shadow’s Liquid Amber label— brings bassheavy beats Downtown for Nickel F*cking Beer Night. He’ll perform a live Ableton set of mostly original tunes, with some hip-hop thrown in. Read our interview at lasvegasweekly. com. $10. –Deanna Rilling
THRU February 11
Dam Short Film Festival at Boulder Theatre In its 13th year, the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City once again showcases more than 100 short films from around the world, shining a spotlight on an underappreciated art form. This year’s fest begins with a feature film, but local production Dealer (February 7, 6 p.m.) actually fits in nicely among the shorts. It’s an anthology of connected but mostly self-contained mini-movies from various Vegas filmmakers, held together by star and co-writer Lundon Boyd as a hapless slacker drawn into underworld intrigue. Dealer will be paired with a program of local music videos (February 7, 8:30 p.m.), and the traditional Nevada Filmmakers program (February 10, 7:45 p.m.) will feature work from both new and veteran local talent. Elsewhere, the festival highlights a range of genres, with multiple programs dedicated to drama, documentaries and international films (including a focus on movies from Spain on February 8 at noon). Some of the most interesting movies at the festival come in the more adventurous programs, from horror (February 9, 10 p.m.) and sci-fi (February 9, 8:15 p.m.) to experimental films (February 10, 1:45 p.m.), animation (February 11, noon) and the always surprising underground block (February 10, 9:30 p.m.), billed as “the naughty side of DSFF.” If that all sounds like too much, the festival wraps up with the best-of program (February 11, 7:30 p.m.), collecting all of the audience favorites in one super-sized block. Times vary; $9 per screening, $35-$100 passes; damshortfilm.org. –Josh Bell
FOUR DIVAS ON THE STRIP It’s amazing to have megastars like Cher, Diana Ross, Elton John and Jennifer Lopez performing extended engagements on the Strip. It’s something else to have that foursome playing the Strip at the same exact time. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas. Elton brings his Million Dollar Piano show back to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace February 7-20. J.Lo (at Planet Hollywood’s Axis) and Diana (at the Venetian Theatre) have identical dates, February 8-25. But it’s Cher who gets top billing this month—the one-time Colosseum resident brings her new production, Classic Cher, to the shiny new Park Theater at the Monte Carlo for a February 8 debut. After this new Vegas run, she’ll head to Washington, D.C., to break in the Theater at MGM National Harbor. –Brock Radke
07 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 02.02.17
Trust Us E V E R Y T H I N G Y O U A B S O L U T E LY, P O S I T I V E LY MUST GET OUT AND DO THIS WEEK
“IT’S A SHAME TO BE DISCARDED BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY. OLD IS LIKE AN ENEMY YOU HAVE TO MAKE PEACE WITH BEFORE YOU GET THERE.” – CHER
03 FRIDAY, 7:30 P.M.
08 WEDNESDAY, 6 P.M.
ALI WONG AT MGM GRAND
MEXICO VS. ICELAND SOCCER AT SAM BOYD STADIUM
You might recognize her as the pregnant, bespectacled star of Baby Cobra, one of the most sidesplitting comedy specials of 2016. From feminism to conning her husband into marrying her, no topic is out of bounds for the Fresh Off the Boat writer. KÀ Theatre, $54-$89. –Leslie Ventura
The last time Sam Boyd hosted a futbol match, the opposing teams’ fans brawled both on the field and off. The stadium is playing it safe this time with a non-rival match between two national teams—with Mexico’s playing in Las Vegas for the first time. $29-$154. –Mike Prevatt
Ali Wong by Chris Pizzello/AP Photo; Team Mexico by Arnulfo Franco/AP Photo
08 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 02.02.17
THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW
the inter W H E R E
I D E A S
We’ve got a wish list for the 2017 Nevada Legislature BY GEOFF CARTER
T
he 79th session of Nevada’s Legislature begins February 6. State lawmakers have a packed 120-day schedule ahead of them, introducing new bills, reviewing Governor Brian Sandoval’s 2017-2019 budget and discussing how shifting national politics will affect Nevada—and presumably, they’ll discuss the latter often, considering our national politics are shifting by the hour. Many of the pre-filed bills—which you can see for yourself at leg.state.nv.us—appear to be revisions to current law. That’s fine; we know that what worked for us yesterday might not work for us tomorrow unless we make some tweaks. But following an election that completely upended the political order, we can’t help but wish that the Legislature had more of a radical agenda this year. Here’s what the Weekly staff wishes, perhaps naively, Nevada’s lawmakers would take action on. A higher minimum wage. Our current minimum wage of $8.25 per hour, enacted in 2014, pales in comparison to those in Colorado (currently $9.30, increasing to $12 by 2020), Arizona ($10, increasing to $12 by 2020) and California ($10.50, increasing to $15 by 2022). Speed up implementation of recreational marijuana sales. Not because we want the weed, but because we could use the money to shore up our despairing educational system. The sooner marijuana can start paying for our schools, the better. And yeah, some of us kinda want the weed. Begin a phase-out of lightweight plastic supermarket bags. A number of American cities have taken steps to eliminate these wind-borne ecological disasters, and California has banned them entirely. Protections for Nevada’s immigrants and Parent Parenthood, and safeguards for voter registration. Things are getting ugly. It’s time for Nevada to double down on the safety of its citizens.
TRICK EYE EXPERIENCE OFFERS UP SELFIE-FRIENDLY ART Thanks to LA-based street art company We Talk Chalk, you can now snap a selfie near an attacking shark, inside a scorpion terrarium or in a colorful, macaroonfilled cookie jar. The paintings in the new, interactive Trick Eye Experience at Monte Carlo use visual illusions to appear 3D; the distorted images become clear after you “step inside.” The hand-painted pieces, which range from 150 to 350 square feet, took artists
Melanie Stimmell, Lyndsey Ann Morel and assistant Jarred Mendoza three days to complete, using acrylic paint and an exterior UV varnish. “At first, observers are unsure of what they’re looking at,” Stimmell says, “but as soon as someone joins the piece, each work of art comes alive.” Discover the murals at BLVD Plaza, the Sambalatte patio and outside the casino’s west entrance (closest to T-Mobile Arena). They’ll be on display until 2018, with two 3D murals set to be added this year, including a vertical Koi pond with floating fish. –Rosalie Spear
rsection A ND L IF E M E ET
09 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 02.02.17
CLASSROOMS FOR ALL CCSD vows to keep immigrant students from being thrown under the bus BY LESLIE VENTURA
+
Just when you thought it was safe to go back on the Strip. (L.E. Baskow/Staff)
ARTISAN KICK-STARTS A NEW LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM Former Rumor general manager Dillon Sweeney had a good thing going with his After Dark local music showcase. Now that owner the Siegel Group has sold the property, he’s producing a ramped-up, indie-centric version of that night called Amplified, which debuted last Saturday night inside the lounge at Artisan. Turns out it’s just the start for the boutique property. “One of our goals is to make Artisan where you can see live entertainment regularly, like places Downtown where touring talent come through,” Sweeney says. An open-mic night is slated to begin on February 27—shortly before the lounge undergoes renovations for two months— and Sweeney hopes to fill the weekly calendar with different kinds of acts. “I think we need more places for these bands to play, more local showcases that support these bands and help them grow.” –Mike Prevatt
Last week, the Clark County School District Board of Trustees voted in favor of cementing its commitment to all students regardless of their immigrant status. The motion came one day after President Trump signed an executive order mandating the construction of a wall across the country’s southern border, along with a weekly public report on crimes committed by immigrants—the latter of which empowers “state and local law enforcement agencies across the country to perform the functions of an immigration officer … in relation to the investigation, apprehension or detention of aliens in the United States.” “Given the high level of anxiety that has occurred among our families and in the nation, I think it is really important for us to reaffirm where we are with this,” Trustee Carolyn Edwards said, adding that she hopes the resolution calms anxiety in the district, especially among Latino students. Michael Shea, a 10th-grade world history teacher, expressed his support for the resolution, stating that a student’s “ability to go to school without any fear or threat is paramount,” and that “it’s easy to see how school officials could be pressured to divulge more information” given the recent ramping up of antiimmigrant dialog. “[If] my students feel like we might release their info, they won’t come to school.” Statements were read on behalf of the ACLU of Nevada and Dina Titus, and public figures—including immigrant activist Astrid Silva and former Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid—also made comments. The “sanctuary” resolution doesn’t actually change current CCSD policy, Edwards stated, but simply reaffirms the district’s stance. “We are attempting to reassure that our students will be protected in the privacy of their situation. We won’t divulge information about our students,” Edwards said. The resolution passed 6-1, the dissenting vote cast by trustee Chris Garvey. CCSD graduates also shared stories. Francisco Morales came to the United States at age 8 and recently graduated in the top 1 percent of his class at UNLV. “Right now the morale among our students is very low … the media and our new president is amplifying that fear, and I think that you all have a responsibility today to send them a message that while [students are] in school, they’re safe,” he said. “That’s the moral thing to do.”
10 cover story WEEKLY | 02.02.17
Brianna Robinson, left, and Jo Ellen Petrichor. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
11 cover story WEEKLY | 02.02.17
For the transgender community, maintaining physical and mental health can be a complex but life-affirming process By Leslie Ventura thought I could fix it, but there’s no fixing what isn’t broken,” Jo Ellen “Ruby” Petrichor says. “It’s like throwing paint on the ‘Mona Lisa.’ What’s the point? I’m not improving it. It’s a masterpiece by itself. And I was throwing paint on me everywhere I could.” That’s how the 60-year-old Petrichor describes her life before she began to transition into the woman she is now. Sitting before me at a neighborhood Starbucks—piercing blue eyes, perfect cheekbones and a soft, welcoming smile—the Air Force veteran is the epitome of grace and elegance. Her last name, the word for the liquid that runs through veins of gods in Greek mythology, is also the name of the smell after rainfall. The calm after the storm. “I was so afraid to come out. I made a huge mess of my life,” Petrichor says. For most of her adult years, Petrichor stayed in the closet, hiding her true identity from her partner, family and friends. Her relationships suffered, she sank into an ongoing depression and she took antidepressants and mood stabilizers to cope. But nothing could change how she felt inside. It wasn’t until a near-fatal suicide attempt in 2014 that Petrichor accepted that she was transgender and came out to her family and the VA. With years of suffering behind her, she finally began her journey to happiness. ***** For many trans people, that journey is a difficult one, made harder by the limitations and complexities of trans health care.
The medical needs of those who are cisgenwhat are typically cheaper or medically unsafe der (when one’s gender identity corresponds procedures—or go without care completely. with their birth sex) are deep and differential According to a 2016 report by the Williams enough; for trans folks, they’re even more comInstitute, transgender Nevadans make up less plicated and varied. than 1 percent of the state’s population (0.61 Typically, the first step is having a supportpercent). In a 2014 report, the WI also found ive therapist. Because trans people experience that only 0.6 percent of American adults— different and unique levels of gender dys1.4 million total—identify as transgender. With phoria, they require individualized care. An these numbers, many argue trans health care endocrinologist is often required if a person exclusions aren’t an issue of cost but of stigma, desires to undergo hormone replacement one that stems from a lack of understandtherapy (HRT). ing from and even prejudice by the Many, but not all, trans people regeneral public, employers and the quire gender confirmation surgery medical industry. There are about (GCS), which refers to any surgical And yet, a report conducted by 12,700 transgender procedure that a trans person the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg people living might require to more closely School of Public Health found reflect their gender identity. that it is cost-effective to cover in Nevada. Walter Bockting, a clinical psytrans-related expenses. “Health chologist, says “being transgender insurance coverage for the U.S. is not a disorder,” and that surgery is transgender population is affordable contingent on an individual’s needs. and cost-effective, and has a low budget Petrichor, for example, receives HRT impact on U.S. society,” researchers reported, through the VA and was able to finance her and would only cost “approximately $0.016 per facial reconstructive surgery—something not member per month.” Meanwhile, GCS procovered by her health care plan. “I’ll be digging cedures commonly cost trans people without myself out of debt for the rest of my life,” Petrihealth care coverage anywhere from $10,000 chor says, “but it was worth it.” and $100,000, while hormones can range from $70 to $120 per month. ***** For many trans people in the United States, The Affordable Care Act of 2010 made it ilaccess to financially viable health care isn’t an legal for federally funded programs to discrimioption, and those who have access might be nate against individuals based on race, national denied GCS by insurance providers. Many trans origin, age, disability and sex. people must travel long distances to receive Nevada’s Public Employee Benefits Program
12
Las Vegas Weekly WEEKLY | 02.02.17
board voted in 2015 to cover medically necessary transition-related procedures including mental health treatment, hormone therapy and genital reconstruction surgery for all trans state employees, but excluded procedures deemed to be “cosmetic.” Non-state employees would still have to fund trans-related procedures out of pocket. In 2016, then-President Barack Obama announced new ACA regulations that would prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against transgender people. There is still no federal requirement for insurance companies and employers to include trans health coverage. Under the new administration, a federal requirement isn’t likely to be introduced anytime soon. ***** Given that federal law does not provide protections for trans workers, the lack of affordable health care is extremely problematic for trans people. Next to homelessness, it’s one of the biggest issues the trans community—nationwide and in Nevada—faces. Informed consent is also an issue in Nevada. Many local health providers require trans people to provide two letters from mental health professionals before granting surgery, a rule widely considered outdated. “We’re our own best advocates when it comes to healthcare,” says Blue Montana, transgender programs manager at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that trans people are almost four times more likely to have a yearly household income under $10,000, and that the unemployment rate for trans workers is twice the rate of that for cis-gender workers. With such high instances of poverty and unemployment, many trans people are simply forced to go without the care they need to survive. Before she transitioned, Petrichor
Owen Miller, left, and Blue Montana. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
13
las vegas weekly WEEKLY | 02.02.17
spent years of her life in and out of hospitals, sometimes for 30 to 60 days at a time. “Look at what it cost to have me [in] inpatient [care]. Every year, I was in there like clockwork, and that was usually after a medical stay—a gunshot, a poisoning, an overdose. I had electroconvulsive therapy treatments.” Years of depression and traumatic, expensive treatments could have been avoided had Petrichor had access to trans health care, she says. “Being trans is not an issue. Not being trans was my issue. What I did to circumvent [and] delay this created such a drain on the health-care system, so I find it kind of ironic I ask for something simple [and am not granted care]. What it costs is so small for the benefits.” Montana echoes Petrichor’s statement. “It’s probably one of the leading causes, besides family issues, of trans suicide. It’s so difficult to not be able to get your body conform to what you need it to be, so when you look in the mirror it doesn’t make you want to just keel over and die,” he says. ***** In 2015, the American Medical Student Association reported that one in five transgender people did not attempt to secure health care in the past year out of fear of discrimination, something with which Montana has dealt. “Every time I go in the emergency room, I’m a little bit terrified because I don’t know how they’re going to treat me.” His husband, Owen Miller, has had a mixed experience. “Right now, the doctors that I have are phenomenal, but it wasn’t always like that.” In the same AMSA report, 29 percent of transgender people
reported having to teach their health-care provider about transgender health issues. Brianna Robinson, a 47-year-old disabled veteran from Punta Gorda, Florida, is one of those statistics. She moved to Las Vegas partly because she couldn’t find an endocrinologist in her small coastal town. Robinson located one and started HRT within three months of arriving in Las Vegas, but her transition hasn’t been without roadblocks. Like many trans people, she has continually had to negotiate her care. Robinson, like Petrichor and many other trans women of postmenopausal age, worries that she is being underdosed. Rob Phoenix, nurse practitioner and founder of the Huntridge Family Clinic, says his clinic follows the World Professional Association for Transgender Health guidelines, which recommends keeping hormones in a cisgender range. “That’s where physiologically it’s safest,” he says, adding that much of his time is spent devoted to educating and discussing safe levels for hormones. “A lot of [patients] come in with the misconception that higher [is better]. That’s not true. … We’re trying to prevent complications,” including high-risk diseases like cancer. The dosage, he maintains, should not
cidedly more conservative presidential administration. “Health-care providers are more willing to treat and learn about transgender health care, and large segments of the population are learning to be more accepting in gender issues,” Robinson says. “But [given] the current political climate, it’s hard knowing if that forward way of thinking is going to continue. There is a bulk of data out there on transgender health, change with age. “Whether they’re [but] because of people’s own 11 or 60 years old, we’re generally goprejudices, that ball is moving so ing to put them into the same range.” slowly. Is the ball going to stop? Is Robinson still hopes to be on a it going to roll backwards? That’s more effective dosage, though she where we’re at.” acknowledges that, “[The VA is] Despite strides in the medical really trying. Where they fall short is community, trans people continue not allowing gender [confirmation] to be some of the most marginalized surgery.” and victimized in the country Another issue, Phoenix says, and world. From workplace is finding surgeons. “For discrimination and [lower-body] surgerTrans Health violence to increased ies for trans females, Resources: rates of homelessness, nobody in Vegas Huntridge Family Clinic trans issues are part of that does it, so they 702-979-1111 a broader fight toward all have to go out of Gender Justice Nevada justice and equality. It 702-425-7288 state.” Trans males, on only makes sense that The Center the other hand, have 702-733-9800 the fight for better trans a few Nevada options health care begins with when seeking upper-body education and the acceptance surgery or a hysterectomy. and visibility of transgender people. Finding a provider that is gender More importantly, for folks like sensitive, knowledgeable about trans Robinson and Petrichor, transitioncare and respectful of a patient’s ing wasn’t a choice—it was essential preferred gender pronouns is also for their survival. “The public just paramount, he says. “Patients will doesn’t understand,” Robinson says. come in and be like, ‘They refused “Most people’s perceptions are to call me by my preferred name,’ skewed by Saturday Night Live skits or ‘They would call me ‘mister’ or … people don’t just uproot their life ‘he’ and refer to me in the wrong over a whim.” pronouns.’ It’s disrespectful. Some Petrichor agrees wholeheartplaces do it intentionally.” Others edly. “Why would someone be upset simply “are not knowledgeable.” with me being happy? The benefits ***** of treating this instead of shoving The state of trans health care is it under the rug far exceed …,” she slowly improving, but any progress trails off. “I wouldn’t be here.” could be derailed under the new, de-
14 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 02.02.17
[info box] SUPER BOWL 51 February 5, 3:30 p.m., Fox.
Super Bowl 51 pits a perennial favorite against an all-time long shot
15 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 02.02.17
and BY CASE KEEFER —
As Atlanta Falcons players emerge from a Minute Maid Park tunnel—through a field of smoke-machine fog—most point phones or GoPro cameras toward the crowd and nearby
media. Hours later, when the New England Patriots make a similar entrance, they hold far fewer devices aloft. The Super Bowl spectacle is hardly novel for that franchise, which has now reached the NFL’s championship game seven times in the past 15 years, and three in the past six. Back in September, most everyone expected the Patriots to be here—and almost no one saw the Falcons coming. Nowhere were those trends more visible than in Las Vegas sports books. New England entered the season at the top of the futures betting board, a 6-to-1 pick to win the Super Bowl at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. With a win on Sunday, the Patriots—favored by three points over the Falcons—will become the first team in a decade to live up to its status as preseason favorites (the 2006-’07 Indianapolis Colts did it most recently). A Falcons’ victory, conversely, would make Atlanta the longest-shot champion in at least 20 years—as far back as reliable futures information exists—with an upset. Bettors ignored Atlanta so much before the season began, the Falcons went from a 40-to-1 choice to 80-to-1, tied for the fifth-highest odds in the league. “They’ve never paid much attention to the Falcons,” South Point oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro says. “Lately, it felt like the Falcons had a thing over there where they screwed it up at some point, whether that was after starting well or in the playoffs.” This season, that collapse never came. Atlanta rode its offense—which scored 109 more points than any other team in football—into a new realm. The Falcons especially ignited after their Week 11 bye, winning seven of their final eight games while averaging 37.5 points. It took that run for the betting public to notice. Vaccaro says South Point only attracted substantial volume on Atlanta to win the Super Bowl once the Falcons had built a 10-to-1 record heading into the playoffs. Atlanta’s 36-20 victory over Seattle—as 6.5-point favorites—in the divisional round proved to be one of the worst results of the 2016 postseason for MGM Resorts International. “They caught on to the Falcons,” MGM sports book director Jay Rood says. “It just wasn’t until late.” On the other side, support for the Pa-
triots arrived early. And perhaps no team futures,” Rood says. “It’s a good Super contributed to a rare down year by sports Bowl matchup in that regard.” books more than the Patriots. ***** New England sits at 15-3 against the Mirroring betting trends, the split of spread, the best record going into a Super fans feels even as Super Bowl festivities Bowl since its own 2003-2004 team had get underway here in Houston. There’s an identical mark versus the number bean expectation that more New England fore beating the Carolina Panthers, 32-29, fans will travel to the game, but Falcons’ in the finale. Bettors have largely stayed jerseys might have outnumbered Patriots’ behind the Patriots since their first Super jerseys on Monday night. Bowl victory, in 2002, when they downed The largest contingent of media flocks the Rams, 20-17, as 14-point underdogs— to Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, the and have been rewarded for their loyalty. presumed NFL MVP, with the rows of Since taking the helm for the Patricameras clinging to his riser noticeots in 2000—quarterback Tom ably deeper than those for Brady’s rookie season—coach Brady. Bill Belichick is a remark“It’s unlike anything able 174-124-5 against the I’ve ever been a part spread. “You keep making of,” Ryan says. “To see February 5, 3:30 p.m., everyone bet a bad price, the number of people Fox. Betting line: and soon enough it’s going out here, the number Patriots -3. to even out,” Vaccaro says. of different media Total: 59. “It just hasn’t with them. outlets, to have this opIt’s all Tom Brady and Bill portunity, it’s special for Belichick. It’s very obvious that all of us.” they’re unique by what they’ve done Ryan chuckles at the suryear after year.” rounding madness—a man dressed in The Patriots have drawn a slim edge —54 a Cinderella costume, and actor Kel percent of the money wagered on the Super Mitchell reprising his role as Ed from Bowl—over the first week and a half at Good Burger. Brady, predictably, remains William Hill sports books. That near-thepoker-faced as reporters climb ladders middle split—plus the preponderance of to ask about his supermodel wife Gisele proposition wagers, which have a higher Bündchen’s twin sister, generally ignorhold percentage for the house—should help ing the sideshow aspects all together. sports books bounce back from a rough Brady says he’s enjoying the moment but year in the season’s final game. Sports is ready to settle into a routine. books have profited from the Super Bowl 25 Routine. Like the Patriots reaching the times in the 27 years since tracking began. Super Bowl yet again. Clockwork. There’s also no liability in the futures. Long gone are the memories of Brady’s Lots of bettors took New England, but the second season, when the Patriots overPatriots never sat at high enough odds to came 60-to-1 odds to win their first-ever be a danger to bookmakers. The Falcons Super Bowl. That team is often regarded did, but no one bet on them. “We’re as the longest shot to ever win the Super certainly sitting in a good position in the Bowl. The Falcons hope to change that.
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“Good football, good times. Who wouldn’t want to go to a game in Las Vegas?” –Patriots cornerback Brandon King
COVER STORY WEEKLY | 02.02.17
“Casinos and gambling. That’s all anyone thinks of.” –Falcons linebacker Philip Wheeler
Case Keefer fights through a sea of reporters to ask players one question: “When you hear the words ‘Las Vegas,’ what comes to mind?” “I know they call it Sin City, but I think it would be great for fans if a team came out that way.” –Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley Beasley. “The Hangover Hangover—the movie.” –Patriots guard Joe Thuney “A place I’ve always wanted to visit that I haven’t gotten to.” –Falcons cornerback Robert Alford
Will Lady Gaga’s halftime show rank among these memorable performances?
(1993) College marching bands and Up With People were halftime traditions until Super Bowl XXVII brought the King of Pop to Pasadena and changed the game forever.
“There’s just so much to do—a 24/7 town.” –Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy “‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.’” –Patriots running back Dion Lewis “Mountain West Conference, UNLV. I’ve been there twice; we won both games. It was great.” –Falcons guard (and San Jose State grad) Wes Schweitzer
(2004) MJ’s little sister had the whole world talking “wardrobe malfunction” after Justin Timberlake (accidentally?) exposed part of her right breast for less than a second at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston.
“Oakland Raiders? Las Vegas Raiders. They’re coming, perfect fit.” –Falcons defensive end Tyson Jackson “A weekend trip in the offseason.” –Falcons backup quarterback Matt Schaub “Gambling in the hot desert.” –Patriots kick returner Cyrus Jones
(2005) Looking for a safe choice after the previous year’s slipup, Super Bowl XXXIX turned to an ex-Beatle and his “Hey Jude” sing-along in Jacksonville, Florida, paving the way for a slew of veteran rock acts (The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, The Who) in the years to come.
(2007) The musical gold standard among halftime shows found the Purple One covering Hendrix and the Foos, playing “Purple Rain” in the rain and schooling the world on his guitar greatness from atop his Super Bowl XLI symbol, er, stage, in Miami.
(2015) Guest performers Missy Elliott and Lenny Kravitz—and even Perry herself— had nothing on Left Shark, an out-of-sync dancer who put a silly spin on Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona. –Spencer Patterson
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With new song “Paris” joining monster track “Closer,” The Chainsmokers have the top two hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance chart. The duo returns to its Wynn residency Friday.
intrigue
MAR S H ME L LO
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T RAVIS S COT T omnia
CALVIN H ARRIS
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DJ MU STA R D surrender
ALIS ON WONDER LAND
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The Chainsmokers and Chuckie by Karl Larson; French Montana and Future by Tony Tran
big this week
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CHUCKI E
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INTRIGUE
Kick off 2017’s biggest party weekend so far with the Dirty Dutch DJ at Intrigue Thursday night.
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F RENC H M O NTANA
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F OX TA I L
The East Coast hip-hop favorites know anytime’s a good time to reunite in Vegas— this time at the SLS nightclub.
MARQUEE
Montana, who rang in the new year in Las Vegas, will prime Marquee for Sunday’s game with a Saturday set.
FU T U RE
sun
METHOD MAN & REDMAN
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DRAI’S
Nayvadius Wilburn performed at Drai’s on Super Bowl Sunday in 2016. If you were there, you know it’s time to go back to the Future this year.
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Vanilla ice and Young MC courtesy
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ip-hop, R&B and pop stars from more than 20 years ago have returned, their hits revisited and appreciated once again. Similarly circular, the I Love the ’90s Tour circles back to Las Vegas for a second round, having visited Mandalay Bay Beach last spring. This time it hits the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel with a new lineup: infamous pop-rap phenom Vanilla Ice; East Orange, New Jersey, rap crew Naughty by Nature; pop-rock band Sugar Ray’s frontman, Mark McGrath; “I Swear” cover crooners All-4-One; West Coast rapper/actor Tone Loc; and Queens, New York, rapper Young MC.
How to explain renewed interest in classic tracks like “O.P.P.,” “Funky Cold Medina” and “Bust a Move?” As Vanilla Ice told us last year, “Pop culture has a weird way of having things tattooed to it. Everybody on this tour kinda owns their little space in time, magical moments where they captured their own crowd. People want to come and relive that music and those good times.” I Love the ’90s Tour at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, February 3.
T H E B I G G E S T T A I L G AT E PART Y IN LAS VEGAS IS F REE!
supernova
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fter unleashing five legit hits from 2014 breakthrough album My Everything, Ariana Grande is keeping her momentum going with Dangerous Woman, released last May. Her third studio album has already yielded memorable smashes “Dangerous Woman,” “Into You” and “Side to Side,” the last of which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Chart, with an assist from Nicki Minaj. Next up: slinky single “Everyday” with Future, which allows the ponytailed singer to show off her capable range and some wellearned confidence. Perhaps most importantly, Grande’s latest music is helping distinguish her from other pop starlets to whom she’s been compared in the past. Her voice is now recognizable as her own from the first note. The 23-year-old Florida native launches her biggest endeavor to date this month when the Dangerous Woman Tour kicks off in Phoenix Friday before landing at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night. The North American leg continues into April before Grande ships off to Europe in May for stops in Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Barcelona, Rome and more. We could soon have a five-foot-tall ruler in the pop-music universe. Ariana Grande at MGM Grand Garden Arena, February 4.
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owntown Las Vegas has seen great change over the last decade, and while much of the buzz has focused on entertainment and cultural development along Fremont East and in the Arts District, the city’s original epicenter has been evolving, too. And no single developer has made a bigger impact on the Downtown casino district in recent years than Derek Stevens.
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Photograph by Christopher Devargas
The Michigan transplant made his first move in Las Vegas in 2006, when his company acquired a 50 percent stake in the historic Golden Gate casino, which it now owns outright. In 2011 he purchased the dilapidated Fitzgeralds farther east on Fremont Street and a year later rechristened it as the D, a lively party spot with some Detroit flavor. “I can’t believe that was 10 years ago, and the D was five. Time flies,” Stevens says inside Andiamo, the D’s acclaimed Italian steakhouse. How has he generated the fun energy that permeates his casino floor? “One great advantage is, we don’t have a lot of committees. We hang out at the Long Bar and come up with ideas and try a lot of different things, and most of them don’t work,” he laughs. “But the ones that do, we run with.” Stevens is just getting started. His outdoor Downtown Las Vegas Events Center is entering its third year, having hosted everything from electronic dance music events to boxing matches. On Sunday, it’ll be the
site of one of the largest Super Bowl parties in Las Vegas, with the space becoming a replica football field lined with food trucks. Next up: a major expansion of the Golden Gate’s casino space; construction just began last week and should wrap in August. After that comes Stevens’ biggest project yet: Building a Downtown casino resort from the ground up in the city block encompassing the Las Vegas Club, at Fremont and Main. “We just finished our 46th design meeting, with many more to go,” he says. “This is a really interesting and fun project, because every time we have a meeting and it gets molded in one direction, something else doesn’t fit, so we keep making many small adjustments. We’re moving forward at a pretty good clip right now.” It’s easy for Stevens to keep pushing ahead, since he’s having as much fun as his customers. “When you see Downtown going through this renaissance, it’s important to recognize there are a lot of people involved. There’s a lot of economic momentum right now, and it’s been a lot of fun to be a part of.” –Brock Radke
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in trigue c e dr i c ge rvais
Photographs by Karl Larson
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he Super Bowl isn’t coming to Las Vegas—yet— but that doesn’t mean Vegas can’t go to the game. Tao Group will take over Houston this weekend, collaborating with nightclubs Clé and Spire there for huge parties in Super Bowl 51’s host city.
Flo Rida Courtesy
“We’ve been doing pop-ups for over 15 years,” says Tao Group partner Jason Strauss, noting his recently completed Sundance Film Festival parties and the VIP stages at mega music fests Ultra and EDC. “It’s not only a great way to get our brand out there in multiple markets without having to make a full commitment to a venue, it also allows us to take care of our audience at particular festivals and events. It’s a great opportunity to take care of our VIPs and bring awareness to our business.” Marquee Las Vegas resident DJ Carnage will perform at Spire Thursday to get the sports party weekend started, and on Saturday night, the Playboy brand—including the iconic bunnies—will take center stage, capped by a performance by Flo Rida.
“We brought Playboy to one of our pop-ups [last year], and it was one of the biggest and most soughtafter events at the [Super Bowl],” Strauss says. At Clé, the Tao takeover includes DJ Vice on Thursday, Tiësto on Friday, Skrillex on Saturday and DJ Snake leading the party after the game Sunday—plus an afterhours event with Nghtmre. With such top level talent, athletes and celebrities are a lock to make these parties their prime destination before and after football’s main event. “We’re lucky to have relationships with owners at other venues,” Strauss says. “They know us for who we are, we know them for who they are and it’s a great experience learning from each other.” –Brock Radke
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Photographs by Stacey Torma
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he Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center March 27-29, an opportunity for hospitality industry professionals and leaders to discover new products and trends, acquire new skills and learn innovative techniques to improve their business.
The F&B Innovation Center will hit the expo floor for the first time this year, offering product demonstrations, samples of new food and a chance to mix it up with wine suppliers and chefs. “The industry is constantly changing, especially in light of our millennials’ lifestyle and social marketing,” Greco says.
“Nightclub & Bar Show has continually grown each year and we expect the same for 2017,” says Thom Greco, chairman of the advisory board for the event. “In 2016 we had a 17 percent increase in expo-only attendees, more than 36,000 visitors.”
Behind-the-scenes education experiences at some of the Strip’s leading hotels, nightclubs and restaurants will showcase the Las Vegas industry in an exclusive way. “The back-of-house tours and boot camps are a unique opportunity for our attendees to see how it all works,” Greco says. “Our industry is a stage, and if you want to see how everything is pulled together, these tours give that insight. We’ve
Programming is also growing every year, with Greco noting a more concentrated food component at this year’s edition.
really expanded the education programs specifically through offsite trainings to provide industry professionals one-onone connections with our experts and hands-on experiences you really can’t get anywhere else.” Of course, Nightclub & Bar Show parties and networking events are always at the top of everyone’s mustdo list, and this year there are three Platinum Parties at Marquee, Omnia and Surrender, along with a welcome kickoff party at Foxtail Pool Club. Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show, March 27-29, ncbshow.com. –Brock Radke
AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH SANTANA 7PM • NOW - FEB 4 *SELECT DATES • 18+
BIG GAME CELEBRATIONS FEB 5
02.09
TOM SEGURA
3.3 & 3.4
SOCIAL DISTORTION
04.07
BADFISH – A TRIBUTE TO SUBLIME
02.10
ENVY SHOWCASE FEAT. SMASHING ALICE
3.8-3.25
BILLY IDOL FOREVER
04.09
THE DAMNED
02.11
WILD CHILD – A TRIBUTE TO THE DOORS
03.16
JASON ISBELL
04.14
NF
02.17
ATMOSPHERE
03.19
UFO WITH SAXON
04.15
TIGER ARMY
02.21
DARK STAR ORCHESTRA
03.23
THE WORSHIP TOUR
04.19
TECH N9NE
02.24
THE SET LIST SERIES FEAT. MUSIC OF QUEEN
03.31
LOCASH
04.22
BIZ MARKIE 80’S VS. 90’S PARTY
02.25
APPETITE 4 DESTRUCTION
04.06
MOCKSTROCITY TOUR FEAT. MAC SABBATH
04.23
NEW FOUND GLORY
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industry beyond
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H o l l y w o o d s t y l e H y d e
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hen the original Hyde Lounge opened in West Hollywood, exclusivity was the theme. The space had capacity for about 100 guests, and getting through the door if you weren’t a regular on TMZ was notoriously difficult—less velvet rope than steel curtain.
Today, however, there are seven different locations of SBE’s Hyde across the country, from the day-to-night Hyde Beach pool club at SLS South Beach to Hyde Bellagio with its fountain views to Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails, an expansive LA venue that sashays across the line between restaurant and lounge.
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Much the way Hyde Bellagio transitions from swank happy hour to bumping nightclub, Hyde Sunset also undergoes a nightly transformation. “The transition itself is kind of fun,” says general manager Ismail Saleem, who recently returned to LA after managing Hyde Bellagio for several years. “You go from having a nice, quiet dinner, and then the DJ comes on at 11.” As the clock ticks toward party hour, the mood shifts from low-key hang to see-and-be-seen hot spot, where the soundtrack is crowd-pleasing open format and you might spot an up-andcoming actress/model/multi-hyphen-
ate whatever at the next table. “It’s definitely a more Hollywood crowd,” Saleem says. Think young, beautiful people decked out in their Saturday-night best, and bottles of Champagne or high-end tequila. “When you’re in an environment like Hyde Sunset, the table service is where you want to be. You never know who you’re going to be rubbing elbows with.” Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails, 323-940-1650. –Sarah Feldberg
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jan 28 Photographs by Andrew Dang
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night bites
T O p O f
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H E A P J e a n
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St e a k h o u s e a n c h o r s u p s t a i r s
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he restaurants on the promenade level of the Aria resort are some of the newest, hottest dining destinations on the Strip— Carbone for Italian, Bardot Brasserie for French, Herringbone for seafood ... even the excellent buffet has been updated in recent years. But the one restaurant up here that hasn’t changed since Aria opened in 2009 is the one that hasn’t needed any adjustment. World-conquering chef JeanGeorges Vongerichten’s first Vegas endeavor was Prime at Bellagio, still one of the most successful restaurants in the Strip’s history, so it only made sense to have him create a more modern concept at Aria. Just as its sleek, dark design offers something different, Jean Georges Steakhouse applies thoughtful twists and turns to a classic cuisine: black truffle fritters and lime salt decorat-
s t i l l A r i a ’ s a r r a y
ing the steak tartare; a dash of chile in the Caesar; Dungeness dumplings instead of crab cakes. The beef program rivals any on the Boulevard, with creatively sourced cuts spending time on a woodburning grill before landing on your plate with a choice of hot sauce, soy-miso butter, bernaise or classic tangy steak sauce. Get them all. In fact, grab some of the steak accompaniments, too, from bone marrow to foie gras. You won’t want to short yourself on this quintessential experience. Jean Georges Steakhouse at Aria, 702-590-8660; daily 5-10:30 p.m.
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M PHO T OGR A PH B Y J I M D EC K ER
ichael and Jenna Morton’s Crush restaurant and lounge at MGM Grand feels more like a stylish living room than a Las Vegas Strip nightlife venue. The crisp yet rustic design affords an ideal setting for group dining and drinking, offering bottles of wine to share and pair with filet mignon tartare, woodfired pizzas and ricotta gnocchi with braised shortribs. But you won’t want to share Crush’s hand-crafted cocktails, which can skew adventurous. Are you up for something a bit more offbeat? We recommend the Curious George—don’t worry, there are no bananas involved, but it’s a pretty playful concoction anyway. The foundation is St. George green chile vodka, a spirit with layers of flavor created with
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California-grown jalapeños, serranos, habaneros and sweet red and yellow peppers. Crush adds fresh lime and pineapple juices to add some bright notes to the sweet and spicy vodka, and the results are bold and refreshing—and a great match for some of the restaurant’s more decadent dishes. You’ve never had a cocktail like this in your own living room. Crush at MGM Grand, 702-8913222; Sunday-Thursday 5:3010:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday 5:30-11:30 p.m.
BIG GAME
SUNDAY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5
GAME WITH US EARLY BIRD MATCH PLAY BONUS Noon-Kickoff $
100 • Royal Elite | $50 • Royal
20 • Gold & Silver | $10 • Bronze
10x points Kickoff-8pm
FOOTBALL SPECIALS
$
drinks 2 $ 3 $ 4 $ 5 $
BUD & BUD LIGHT Pints Casa Noble Shots BUD & BUD LIGHT Mugs Stella Pints
food 5 5 $ 5 $ 5 $ $
Chicken Fries Beer Battered Shrimp Breaded Pickle Chip Garlic Parm Pizza Bites
Must be 21. Must be a Golden Rewards Member. Management reserves all rights. See bar host for complete rules.
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et’s take a moment to savor the splendor of the slider. And not just any slider, but the most perfect version: the “lil BRGs” at STK. It begins with a rich, juicy, mini Wagyu beef patty. It’s topped with tomato, sautéed onions and gouda cheese, plus magical sauce that’s actually a house-made truffle Thousand Island dressing. The black sesame seed crown finishes this beautiful bite. You’ve had them, and you know you could eat them all day.
That’ll be the objective at STK’s Super Bowl party on Sunday. The hot spot on the third floor of the Cosmopolitan will offer a prix fixe menu including all-you-can-eat appetizers, and miraculously, the lil BRGs count as appetizers. Multiple hi-def 70-inch screens will join the STK environment for the big bash, and further food and drink offerings will include shrimp and grits, truffle popcorn, the End Zone burger and create-your-own Bloody
Marys. You can indulge in the sliders any time, but if you plan on attending one of the most delicious Super Bowl parties on the Strip, act now and make your reservations. Big Game Viewing Party at STK at the Cosmopolitan, February 5 at 2 p.m., 702-698-7990.
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XS di mit r i v e gas & L i k e mi k e Photographs by Karl Larson
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ith so many gyms and fitness groups to choose from, it takes a lot for a program to stand out from the crowd. But Boca Park indoor cycling studio XCycle isn’t just about breaking a sweat, it’s about creating a community. Founder and instructor Jen Barnet wants everyone who takes her class to leave feeling like a better person. “We want you to feel as if you are on the Strip in a club, but you’re partying in the most healthy, amazing way,” Barnet says. “You’re not walking out with a hangover. You’re feeling more powerful, more inspired than when you walked in.” The LA-to-Vegas transplant fell in love with rhythm- and music-based cycle classes years ago when SoulCycle swept through California. When Barnet decided to move to Vegas three years ago, she noticed the absence of her favorite cycling classes. “I said, ‘I need to do this on my own, to build this out here.’” A “community of indoor cycling lovers in a low attitude environment,” XCycle opened its doors in 2016. Inside, the
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beautiful boutique-style studio mimics a club environment—there’s even a giant glowing wall that changes colors along with the music. The goal, Barnet says, is to create emotion in the room. “If it’s a heavy hill, we want to pick songs that are going to have lyrics that uplift you. Our job is to keep you inspired and motivated.” Attend one of Barnet’s classes and you might even hear her drop one of her personal favorites, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Growing Up (Sloane’s Song).” “It’s a song I like to play in the beginning of my ride just to set the tone, or I like to play it in a hill because the song’s lyrics are so powerful,” she says. “It just really gets you thinking and you end up pushing.” XCycle at 750 S. Rampart Blvd., 702-489-6099, xcyclelv.com. –Leslie Ventura
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orking as a bartender at Hyde Bellagio isn’t like working as a bartender in any other nightclub, because Hyde isn’t just a nightclub.
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Mark Evans feels equally comfortable in both of the Bellagio venue’s atmospheres. “The lounge and nightclub are separate staff, except for the bar. We work everything, from lounge to nightclub to private events,” says Evans, who paid his dues at Surrender before moving to Hyde three years ago. “We do have a midshift, where you’ll be in the lounge for a few hours and it transitions into the nightclub, so you can get both. It can get interesting. You’ve got to be ready for everything.” That can mean dabbling in new flavors or sitting down and getting to know new customers. It can also mean fueling one of Hyde’s notorious XIV Sessions, which just happened to be one of Evans’ favorite parties before he joined
the team here. “Those can get a crazy and are always a lot of fun,” he says. “There’s always that house-party vibe here, because it’s a boutique club, more intimate, and I think that’s what people like most about it.” The Providence, Rhode Island, native says he has enjoyed working in Vegas since arriving about five years ago, and quickly developed an appreciation for how close the industry community can be. (“Everybody knows everybody.”) He began his hospitality career back home after four years active duty in the Air Force stationed in Tampa, and though he worked all types of venues—from bars to restaurants to clubs—nothing could really prepare him for Vegas life. “My favorite was probably the college bar I worked right out of the military, because I was a 22-year-old kid working with my friends and having fun in a very busy place,” he says. “But it’s absolutely the same here. I love the staff. We’re all friends outside of work and we have a great rapport.” –Brock Radke
Photograph by Mona ShIEld Payne
Sure, when things heat up on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, these guys need to crank out the vodka sodas at a furious pace. But Hyde is open every night as a lounge first, and that requires finesse and serious craft cocktail capabilities.
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2/3 DJ Ikon. 2/4 2 Chainz. 2/8 DJ D-Miles. 2/10 J-Fresh. 2/11 DJ Gusto. 2/15 DJ Wellman. Mirage, Wed, Fri-Sat, 702-693-8300. TH E
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Bellagio, Thu-Sun, 702-693-8300. CH ATEAU 2/3 DJ Spair. 2/4 DJ Darkerdaze. 2/5 Big Game Viewing Party. 2/8 Bayati. 2/10 ShadowRed. 2/11 Yo Yolie. 2/17 ShadowRed. 2/18 Brett Bodley. Paris, Wed, Fri-Sat, 702776-7770.
Palms, nightly, 702-942-6832. HAK KASAN 2/2 Jauz. 2/3 Party Favor. 2/4 Tiësto. 2/5 Borgeous. 2/9 Cash Cash. 2/10 Lil Jon. 2/11 GTA. 2/12 Nghtmre. 2/16 Steve Aoki. 2/17 Cash Cash. 2/18 Zedd. 2/19 Party Favor. MGM Grand, Wed-Sun, 702-891-3838. HYDE 2/5 Big Game Viewing Party. 2/12 XIV Sessions. Bellagio, nightly, 702-693-8700.
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M AR QU E E 2/3 DJ Mustard. 2/4 Dayclub Dome with Jermaine Dupri. 2/4 French Montana. 2/5 Q Bowl Big Game Pool Party. 2/6 M!KEATTACK. 2/10 Ruckus. 2/11 Dayclub Dome with Ghastly. 2/11 Tritonal. 2/12 Dayclub Dome with Lema. 2/13 Tritonal. 2/18-2/19 Halfway to EDC. Mon, Fri-Sat, Cosmopolitan, 702-333-9000. OM N I A 2/3 Calvin Harris. 2/4 Afrojack. 2/7 Julian Jordan. 2/10 Martin Garrix. 2/11 Armin van Buuren. 2/14 Burns. 2/17 Kaskade. 2/18 Jauz. Caesars Palace, Tue, Thu-Sun, 702-785-6200. S U R R EN D ER
IN T RIGUE DRAI’ S 2/2 DJ Sour Milk. 2/3 Fabolous. 2/4 Big Sean. 2/5 Future. 2/9 DJ Shift. 2/10 DJ Esco. 2/11 Nelly. 2/12 Rob Stone. 2/16 Eric DLux. 2/17 Rev Run & Ruckus. 2/19 DJ Franzen. Cromwell, Tue, Thu-Sun, 702-777-3800.
2/2 Chuckie. 2/3 Marshmello. 2/4 Laidback Luke. 2/9 Sultan & Shepard. 2/10 A-Trak. 2/11 Cedric Gervais. 2/16 A-Trak. 2/17 Laidback Luke. 2/18 Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. Wynn, Thu-Sat, 702-770-7300.
2/3 Alison Wonderland. 2/4 RL Grime. 2/5 Big Game Viewing Party. 2/8 Walshy Fire. 2/10 Ookay. 2/11 Dillon Francis. 2/15 EDX. 2/17 Stafford Brothers. 2/18 RL Grime. Encore, Wed, Fri-Sat, 702-770-7300. TAO
JEW EL EM BASSY 2/10 Karol G. 2/12 Hussein El Deek. 3355 Procyon St, Thu-Sun, 702-609-6666. F O U NDATIO N
2/3 Travis Scott. 2/4 Steve Aoki. 2/6 DJ Shift. 2/10 LA Leakers. 2/11 BRYKLN. 2/13 FAED. 2/17 Lil Jon. 2/18 WeAreTreo. Aria, Mon, ThuSat, 702-590-8000.
2/2 DJ Five. 2/3 Jermaine Dupri. 2/4 Ty Dolla $ign. 2/5 Tao Bowl. 2/9 DJ Five. 2/10 Enferno. 2/11 Politik. 2/16 Justin Credible. 2/17 Jerzy. 2/18 DJ Five. Venetian, Thu-Sat, 702-388-8588. XS
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2/3 DJ C-L.A. 2/4 DJ Excel. 2/10 Graham Funke. 2/11 DJ D-Miles. 2/17 DJ Baby Yu. 2/18 Dee Jay Silver. Mandalay Bay, nightly, 702632-7631.
2/2 DJ R.O.B. 2/3 Eric Forbes. 2/4 Aybsent Mynded. 2/9 2 Live Crew. 2/10 Eric Forbes. 2/11 DJ Scooter. 2/16 Sisqo. 2/17 Eric Forbes. 2/18 DJ Quik. Luxor, Thu-Sat, 702-262-4529.
F OX TAIL LIGHT 2/3 Kid Conrad. 2/4 Method Man & Redman. 2/10 DJ Wellman. 2/11 DJ Ikon. 2/17-2/18 DJ Hollywood. SLS, Fri-Sat, 702-761-7621.
2/3 Tropic Beauty. 2/4 Metro Boomin. 2/8 Blackout Artists Takeover. 2/10 Clinton Sparks. 2/11 DJ E-Rock. 2/15 Music Artist Connection Launch Party. 2/18 Justin Credible. Mandalay Bay, Wed, Fri-Sat, 702-632-4700.
2/3 The Chainsmokers. 2/4 Alesso. 2/6 Politik. 2/10 DJ Snake. 2/11 Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. 2/13 Slander. 2/17 Diplo. 2/18 Dillon Francis. Encore, Fri-Mon, 702-770-0097.
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3/16 Flogging Molly. Cosmopolitan, 702-6986797. B R O O K LY N
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2/2 Ace Frehley & Lita Ford. 2/10 Adam Ant. 2/14 Galactic. 2/16 Alter Bridge. 2/17-2/19 Ween. 2/20 The Infamous Stringdusters. 2/25 Circa Survive. 2/27 The Grateful Ball. 2/28 Railroad Earth. 3/2 Adelita’s Way. 3/4 Gov’t Mule. 3/5 William Singe. 3/9 Tchami. 3/12 Tribal Seeds. 3/17 Umphrey’s McGee. 3/23 Donavon Frankenreiter. 3/28 Robert Randolph and the Family Band. 3/31-4/1 STS9. 4/8 Sammy J. 4/9 Rebel Souljahz. 4/11 The Head and the Heart. 4/12 Oh Wonder. 4/20 Kehlani. 5/20 Testament. Linq Promenade, 702-862-2695.
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2/3-2/4 Jon Lovitz & Dana Carvey. 3/17-3/18 Jon Lovitz & Dana Carvey. 3/31-4/1 Jon Lovitz & Dana Carvey. 4/8 Phil Vassar. 5/5-5/6 Jon Lovitz & Dana Carvey. 6/2 Bush. SLS, 702-7617617. HOUSE
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2/2-2/4 Santana. 2/9 Tom Segura. 2/11 Wild Child. 2/17 Atmosphere. 2/21 Dark Star Orchestra. 2/25 Appetite 4 Destruction. 3/33/4 Social Distortion. 3/8-3/25 Billy Idol. 3/16 Jason Isbell. 3/19 UFO & Saxon. 3/23 Worship Tour. 3/31 Locash. 4/6 Mockstrocity Tour. 4/7 Badfish. 4/9 The Damned. 4/14 NF. 4/15 Tiger Army. 4/22 Biz Markie. 4/23 New Found Glory. 5/3-5/13 Billy Idol. 5/17-5/28 Santana. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. T HE
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2/3 I Love the ’90s Tour. 2/10 Iration. 2/17 R. Kelly. 2/18 AFI. 2/25 Better Than Ezra. 3/25 Martin Nievera. 4/8 Bring Me the Horizon. 5/35/20 Journey. 7/22 Third Eye Blind & Silversun Pickups. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000.
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2/8-2/25 Cher. 3/11-3/12 Bruno Mars. 3/25 Il Volo. 4/5-4/15 Ricky Martin. 4/21 Hans Zimmer. 5/3-5/20 Cher. 6/9 Chicago & The Doobie Brothers. 6/23-7/2 Ricky Martin. Monte Carlo, 844-600-7275. T H E
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2/17 Bonnie Raitt. 2/18 Frankie Valli. 3/11 George Thorogood & The Destroyers. 3/24 Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. 3/30 Chris Stapleton. 4/7-4/8 A Perfect Circle. 5/5 Carlos Vives. Palms, 702-944-3200. T- M OBI L E
2/9 Harlem Globetrotters World Tour. 2/13 WWE Monday Night Raw. 2/17-2/18 George Strait. 2/25 Bon Jovi. 3/4 UFC 209. 3/8-3/11 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament. 4/7-4/8 George Strait. 4/12 ACM Awards. 4/22 John Mayer. 5/28 New Kids on the Block. 6/16 Roger Waters. 7/3 Iron Maiden. 7/15 Bruno Mars. 3780 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-6921600. VEN E T I AN
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2/3-2/4 Celine Dion. 2/7-2/20 Elton John. 2/223/4 Reba, Brooks & Dunn. 3/8 Jeff Dunham. 3/15-4/1 Rod Stewart. 4/4-4/22 Celine Dion. 4/9 Steve Martin & Martin Short. 4/25-5/5 Elton John. 5/6-5/7 Jim Gaffigan. 5/9-6/3 Celine Dion. 6/16 Jeff Dunham. 6/17-6/18 Jerry Seinfeld. Caesars Palace, 866-227-5938. TH E
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3/3-3/4 Dierks Bentley. 3/17 Death Cab for Cutie. 3/24 Maluma. 4/14 Bastille. 5/26 Band of Horses. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-6797.
M A N DA L AY B AY EV EN TS C EN T ER 2/18 Twenty One Pilots. 3/24 Panic! At the Disco. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7777.
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2/3-2/4 Willie Nelson. 2/8-2/25 Diana Ross. 4/12-4/29 Steely Dan (at Opaline Theatre). Venetian, 702-414-9000. VI N Y L
MGM GRAN D GARDEN AREN A 2/4 Ariana Grande. 2/18-2/19 Dreamhack Masters. 3/4 Blake Shelton. 3/25 Game of Thrones Live Experience. 4/7 Green Day. 5/12 Train. 5/27 Dead & Company. 6/17 Def Leppard. MGM Grand, 702-521-3826.
2/9 Max & Iggor Cavalera. 2/7 The Tuesday Blend. 2/10 Distinguisher. 2/11 Dumbfounded. 2/16 The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. 2/18 Amaranthe. 2/25 Almost Normal. 3/2 Sin City Sinners. 3/3 Isaiah Rashad. 3/5 Ekoh. 3/7 The Tuesday Blend. 3/10 Master of Puppets. 3/11 Raiding the Rock Vault. 3/16 Emo Night Las Vegas. 3/21 We the Kings. 3/23 Otep. 3/24 Biffy Clyro. 3/31 Mayday Parade. 4/1 Fortunate Youth. 4/2 Old 97s. 4/24 Bayside & Say Anything. 4/25 State Champs. 5/5 The Growlers. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000.
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notebook
A new pool party is headed for the Las Vegas Strip, and you won’t have to wait until spring to check it out. Drenched After Dark debuts under the Marquee dome on February 26 with Audien providing the soundtrack and continues Sunday nights into March. ... Speaking of Marquee, the lineup is set for the annual Presidents’ Day Halfway to EDC weekend at the Cosmopolitan club, February 18 and 19. Day- and nighttime performers include Gareth Emery, Andrew Rayel, CID, Carnage, Ghastly, W&W and Sander van Doorn. ... Two new rock music festivals arrive in Las Vegas this spring and start selling tickets this week. Las Rageous (lasrageous.com) arrives at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center April 21-22, highlighted by Avenged Sevenfold, Godsmack, Anthrax, Coheed and Cambria, Mastodon, Eagles of Death Metal and more. Meanwhile, south of the Strip, Rock Into Spring (rockintospring.com) is set for April 28-30 at the M Resort pool, featuring around 20 bands including Sick Puppies, Trapt, DJ Lethal and more.
The radical new way to buy and sell cars, all online.
Beepi reinvented car buying by eliminating the dealership, saving you time and money. All cars pass a 240-point inspection and come with a 10-day money-back guarantee.
Beepi.com
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Hunting and Gathering Deerhunter drew a sold-out crowd Downtown to the Bunkhouse Saloon Sunday night, and the Atlanta indie outfit didn’t let up until it had unleashed one of the wildest encores of all time. Without giving everything away, let’s just say frontman Bradford Cox—that’s him to the right—finished up on drums ... more than an hour after his band’s main set ended. For the rest of the story, head to lasvegasweekly.com. (Photograph by Spencer Burton)
Arts & entertainment Great sports bars that aren’t really sports bars
The Weekly 5
1. TOPGOLF
2. THE GARAGE
3. UMAMI BURGER
4. PIZZA ROCK (GVR)
5. GOLD SPIKE
Along with great food and booze, MGM’s “driving range” has the biggest screens around, even if you’re hitting balls at them. 4627 Koval Lane, 702-933-8458.
RiRi and Gaga might be playing on this gay bar’s juke, but there’s umpteen screens showing the day’s games—and they’ll change one to yours if you ask nicely. 1487 E. Flamingo Road, 702-440-6333.
The sports book at SLS doubles as the sole Vegas location of this LAbased gourmet burger chain. Dozens of screens plus truffle fries plus local craft beers equals a solid win. 702-761-7614.
Saddle up to the bar for the best view of the big screens—and the most efficient route to addictive pies and apps (the meatballs are a must!) and lots of beers on tap. 702-616-2997.
Downtown’s “living room” fills lots of roles: nightclub, music venue. It’s also a place to take in a game from deep chairs, while swigging down booze-filled milkshakes. 702-476-1082.
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pop culture
Streep learning curve It’s long past time for an Academy intervention ook, I adore Meryl Streep. Aside from being a monumental actress, she’s the only person in Hollywood who can make a long, topical speech during an awards show without boring me to sleep or making me throw up in my mouth. When she stepped to the mic at the Golden Globes last month, going on at length about immigrants and arts funding and bullying and a certain orange-hued man, I was utterly enchanted. Had that moment belonged to Halle Berry or (God help us) Lady Gaga, there would have been crocodile gulps and glycerin tears and the well-timed clutching of clavicles galore. But Meryl never ceases to amaze in her bizarre ability to come off like, you know, a normal person. She’s always that cool aunt, telling you all the right things in just the right way, even when she’s saying it to millions and millions of us. So, having said that, I’d like to implore the Academy to PLEASE STOP GIVING HER OSCAR NOMINATIONS. This year’s nod—her 20th, for those who can
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count that high—is particularly maddening since could they overlook Taraji P. Henson’s star turn it’s for Florence Foster Jenkins, a highly mediocre in Hidden Figures? Henson’s co-star, Octavia flick about a awful opera singer who, thanks to her Spencer, barely had anything to do in that movie, scheming husband, makes it all the way to but she got Best Supporting Actress nom Carnegie Hall. Streep is wonderful, of course. because you-know-who only took on When is she not? But like Into the Woods starring roles last year. and Music of the Heart and The Bridges of Immediately after the Golden Globes, Madison County and One True Thing (I’ll our current president tweeted that Streep give you a moment to recall if that last movie was “one of the most overrated actresses even existed), it’s yet another performance in Hollywood.” I hate to admit this, but that’d be deserving of multiple accolades if it’s actually somewhat true. We might played by another actress. But for an artist of not praise her too highly (is that even Cultural Streep’s singular standard, it only feels like possible?), but we do honor her too often, so attachment often that I bet Meryl herself is more than another day on the lot. by smith There’s not an actress working today who a little embarrassed by it. It’s time for an galtney hasn’t been inspired by her, and surely all intervention. I’d like each member of the of them woke up last Tuesday, when the Academy to stand and repeat after me: “My nominations were announced, and shouted, name is [state your first name] and I am “Not her again! And not for that pile of crap!” addicted to nominating Meryl Streep for Academy What about poor Annette Bening, so perfect Awards.” The first step is admitting you have a in 20th Century Women and who seemed like a problem, after all. The second step is making sure shoo-in? Why not Amy Adams in Arrival? How Isabelle Huppert wins and not Emma Stone.
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VEGAS’ MOST FUN CASINO
WANTS
YOU! NOW HIRING PARTY PIT DANCING DEALERS AND BARTENDERS Break into the hospitality industry in a young, dynamic work environment with FREE on-the-job training! AUDITIONS AT 5:30PM TUESDAY-SATURDAY GOLDEN GATE HOTEL & CASINO
Applicants must audition in dance-wear, GoGo attire or swimwear.
comedy
Five thoughts: Ralphie May January 27, Harrah’s Showroom By Jason Harris May drew big numbers at the start of his new Harrah’s residency, which runs ThursdaySaturday most weekends through July. Though the third-floor venue isn’t the easiest to find, it’s ready for a comedian to own. May, as likeable as he is large, has a real chance to re-energize comics’ Strip residencies. May addressed our new president and his policies early, and the comedian’s material on current events was some of his best. On his first encounter with a Mexican in his hometown of Clarksville, Arkansas: “He said he’d mow my yard for $10. I’m like, ‘You’re goddamn right you will, Tito.’ My momma paid me $20 to do it. F*ck it. He’s gainfully
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employed. And I’m now management. You understand? It took a Mexican to teach me the American way.” On Trump supporters jumping to Trump’s aid: “He doesn’t really need you to protect him, guys. He’s a billionaire with nuclear weapons. He’s got spaceships. He’s got control of all the gold in Fort Knox. He’s literally a Bond villain. But instead of a cat, he just combs his hair.” On the flipside, while May has always been known for his colorful language, it’s time to let go of the racial and homophobic slurs. Those words, which he once argued were essential to punch up points, do more harm than good. I once saw a YouTube video of May giving a lecture to rising comics. It was enthralling and substantial—a contrast to the last half hour of his Harrah’s show, during which he joked extensively about fingerbanging and big dicks. Not to say a good portion wasn’t funny, but he has so much more to offer. It’ll be interesting to see how much of that remains in his act come July.
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A different kind of hero Legion and Powerless shake up the superhero narrative By Josh Bell uperheroes have become so prevalent in movies and TV series, it’s hard to get excited about yet another comics adaptation. But two new shows based on Marvel and DC characters are working to set themselves apart in both tone and continuity. On the DC side, where films and shows already exist in separate universes, the NBC sitcom Powerless puts ordinary people in the shadow of heroes like Superman and Batman, just trying to survive as superpowered beings battle around them. The idea of a company providing equipment to protect average people from superhero collateral damage is a funny throwaway joke, but it’s a questionable premise for an entire series, and the first episode of Powerless doesn’t indicate much ongoing potential. Already heavily retooled before its premiere, Powerless has a likable cast that includes Alan Tudyk as Van Wayne, the vain cousin of Bruce Wayne and head of Wayne
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Security, along with Vanessa Hudgens as his fresh-faced new head of research and development and Community’s Danny Pudi as one of her cynical product engineers. But even their enthusiasm can’t give life to the stale workplace humor and the half-hearted comic-book references. There’s plenty to make fun of in the world of comics and superheroes (as Deadpool proved last year), but Powerless finds almost none of it. From Marvel, which generally keeps a tight rein on its movie/TV continuity, comes the FX drama Legion, produced via the company’s licensing arrangement with 20th Century Fox. Fox is also responsible for the X-Men movies (including Deadpool), which take a much looser approach to continuity, and Legion is the kind of bold show Marvel probably wouldn’t produce on its own. Created by Fargo’s Noah Hawley, it’s a trippy, complicated and sometimes incomprehensible sci-fi series about a young man with a combination of schizophrenia and telekinetic/telepathic
powers. David Haller (Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens) begins the show in a mental institution, but he’s soon broken out by a team of misfits with superpowers, who gather together in a secret location, honing their powers with the help of a stern but nurturing mentor. They’re not the X-Men, though: The word “mutant” is mentioned only twice in the first three episodes, and the supporting characters are all original to the series. Hawley is less interested in superheroics than he is in the mysteries and depths of the mind, and the show’s narrative trickery is a reflection of David’s fractured psyche. That can be more frustrating than illuminating, but the dazzling visual style makes the deliberately confusing narrative easier to embrace, and Stevens is fantastic as the conflicted but eager title character. While Powerless recycles musty sitcom clichés in its efforts to add something different to the superhero genre, Legion takes much more daring artistic leaps.
AAACC LEGION Wednesdays, 10 p.m., FX. Premieres February 8.
aaccc powerless Thursdays, 8:30 p.m., NBC. Premieres February 2
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THE ZOMBURBS SANTA CLARITA DIET HAS ITS GORE AND EATS IT, TOO
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The staff of Wayne Security in Powerless. (NBC/Courtesy)
agent Jack Bauer is gone, replaced by Eric Carter (Corey Hawkins), a former Army Ranger targeted by terrorists after he led a CTU mission to kill their 24: LEGACY REPEATS leader. Like Jack in the later seasons of the original FAMILIAR PATTERNS series, Eric is haunted by some of the things he’s Middle Eastern terrorists are planning an attack seen and done for his country, and he’s distrustful of on America, and only one rogue CTU agent can stop the people giving out orders. them. Unfortunately, CTU has an internal leak, Mostly, though, he’s a badass action hero and a hapless member of the hero’s just like his predecessor, and the show family is in danger elsewhere. AABCC (written and produced largely by the This could be the introduction to 24: LEGACY original creative team) takes him Mondays, almost any of the eight original through very familiar territory, with 8 p.m., Fox. seasons of Fox’s little innovation or variation. The plot Premieres real-time unfolds at breakneck speed as characters February 5, 7:30 p.m. espionage recklessly place themselves in ridiculous drama 24, situations that are then resolved just and it also as abruptly, with the ultimate goal applies to the constantly shifting. Seeing Jack go sequel 24: Legacy, even through the old motions in 2014 revival season with an entirely new cast Live Another Day had a certain nostalgic of characters. Kiefer appeal, but without him Legacy is mostly just a Sutherland’s hardened CTU pointless retread. –Josh Bell
SAME STUFF, DIFFERENT DAY
Some critics are insisting viewers should go into Santa Clarita Diet not knowing a thing about it, so here’s a spoiler-free synopsis: Sheila (Drew Barrymore) and Joel (Timothy Olyphant) are a married pair of real estate agents who live in the suburbs with their daughter Abby (Liv Hewson). One day, Shiela buys a new car without consulting Joel. Difficulties ensue. Oh, yeah: One fine day, Sheila spews an “insane amount” of vomit and coughs up an unidentified organ, and her blood turns to dark sludge. “I feel like a bus station sh*t in my mouth,” she tells Joel matter-of-factly. Soon after that, she develops a taste for raw meat and, subsequently, human flesh. More difficulties ensue, especially after they realize they can’t return the car. Santa Clarita Diet has a rock-solid pedigree; showrunner Victor Fresco also created the acclaimed comedies Andy Richter Controls the Universe and Better Off Ted, and Zombieland’s Ruben Fleischer directs the first two episodes. And yet, the only thing holding together this mess—a wackadoo assortment of stock sitcom characters and scenarios, liberally drenched in blood and entrails—are Barrymore and Olyphant, both of whom look like they’re having the time of their lives. Their charming, flirty interaction—Barrymore reaping bloody chaos, Olyphant doing his best to put a sunny face on it—makes Santa Clarita Diet worthwhile. Otherwise, its taste is all too familiar. –Geoff Carter
AABCC SANTA CLARITA DIET Season 1 available February 3 on Netflix.
60 las vegas weekly
Everyday poetry Paterson celebrates the artistry of the mundane
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For Paterson (Adam Driver), a bus driver who lives and works in Paterson, New Jersey, every day is much the same. Jim Jarmusch’s latest structural gem observes a week in Paterson’s life, as he eavesdrops on his passengers over the course of his route; shares loving banter with his wife, Laura (Golshifteh Farahani), an aspiring artist, musician and baker; and walks their bulldog to and from his favorite bar every night. The film is virtually plotless and deliberately repetitive, focused on tiny variations in Paterson’s routine—though there’s plenty of amusing detail, from Laura’s black-andwhite craft projects to a lovelorn bar regular (The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper) who won’t stop pestering his ex (Chasten Harmon). But Paterson—like his idol, William Carlos Williams, another Paterson, New Jersey, native—is also a poet, jotting free verse (actually written by Ron Padgett) into a notebook during lunch breaks and off hours. And Paterson, for all its apparent slightness, serves as a lovely portrait of the inspiration that artists take from daily life, insisting that creativity lies within all of us and that its raw materials lie all around us. It’s as sweetly optimistic a movie as anyone’s made in ages. Perfect timing. –Mike D’Angelo
aaaac Paterson Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Barry Shabaka Henley. Directed by Jim Jarmusch. Rated R. Opens Friday at Century Suncoast.
screen Sango plays the Bunkhouse February 2. (Courtesy)
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02.02.17
unfunny business
Robert De Niro bombs as a stand-up in The Comedian
by josh bell or many years now, Robert De Niro has Jackie Burke tells scatological jokes that are meant to demonstrated a willingness to appear in pretty be shocking and subversive, but sound like they were much any movie that can meet his quote, written by giggly 12-year-olds (late in the film, Jackie from straight-to-video thrillers goes viral with a song parody called “Makin’ abccc Poopie”). Decades ago, Jackie was the star of a to lowbrow comedies. At first glance, The the Comedian broad family sitcom, and he’s been trying to match Comedian looks like another one of those Robert De Niro, projects, a chance for De Niro to shamble that fame ever since. After attacking a heckler, he’s Leslie Mann, through a half-hearted performance in a sentenced to community service, where he meets Danny DeVito. Directed by poorly constructed movie. But this dramedy fellow convict Harmony (Leslie Mann), with Taylor Hackford. about a formerly famous comedian looking whom he strikes up an unlikely romance. Rated R. Opens for a comeback is actually a De Niro passion De Niro and Mann have no chemistry, and their Friday in select theaters. project, a movie he has been attached to relationship proceeds in fits and starts, as the since 2011, as various directors came and overlong movie takes long detours to show Jackie’s went. It’s hard to imagine what sparked stand-up work. De Niro never looks comfortable De Niro’s excitement about the script, though, and his onstage, and Jackie’s supposedly hilarious, scathing performance doesn’t indicate a level of engagement material is painfully dated and unfunny. It’s one thing above his work in a movie like Dirty Grandpa. to let De Niro off the hook for appearing in a terrible Even more distressing, the humor in The Comedian movie for the paycheck; in The Comedian, he has no is often at the same level as Dirty Grandpa, as De Niro’s such excuse.
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NOISE
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LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 02.02.17
LASVEGAS WEEKLY.COM
Get to know local Vegan hardcore band Iron Palm.
OF THE MOMENT SANGO BRINGS INNOVATIVE URBAN SOUND TO THE BUNKHOUSE BY MIKE PREVATT
The drum beats, breaking slow and strolling or uptempo and skittering. The prominent but hardly oppressive bass throb. The layered, atmospheric synths, often hummed out in minor chords but always evocative. The complement of sonic accessories—chimes, sampled (or live) vocals, various otherworldly digitalia that would impress Flying Lotus. And an abundance of baile funk and Brazilian musical touches, giving a signature sound even more dimension and character. Those interested in of-the-moment urban music would be foolish to miss Thursday’s headlining performance of scenescaling producer Sango. The past four years has seen the 25-yearold Michigan-based beatmaker rightfully gain in-demand status—he lent his skills to two Tinashe tracks last year—and seems poised to break through with a new studio album due this year, his first since 2013 underground discovery North. He has released plenty to hold admirers and curious onlookers over, including last year’s Hours Spent Loving You collaboration with also-hot San Antonio crooner Xavier Omär, and an impressive trio of Brazil-inspired EPs called Da Rocinha. Sango’s rise coincides with that of his imprint, Soulection, the LAbased artist collective/label that has established a considerable presence on the Internet with its embrace of digital platforms and, most especially, its highly regarded weekly program. The Soulection Radio Show lacks a traditional format; “Future beats, eclectic soul, forgotten gems, timeless sounds…” is how each show begins. But there’s an underlying and unifying aesthetic that blends R&B, hip-hop, chillout and the experimental low-end style LA has all but owned over the past decade. The groove-laden mix is both introverted and alluring, subtle but beckoning. While Sango’s headlining performance at the Bunkhouse Saloon isn’t part of a Soulection party, it’ll nonetheless serve as one representation of the label’s trademark sound. And with Thursday’s show marking Sango’s Las Vegas debut, we finally get an up-close glimpse of a musical movement.
SANGO with Monte Booker, February 2, 9 p.m., $20. Bunkhouse Saloon, 702-854-1414.
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Peer inside the re-creation of an early Las Vegas train station at Springs Preserve’s Boomtown 1905. (Mikalya Whitmore/Staff)
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WEEKLY | 02.02.17
A walk down Boomtown 1905 Springs Preserve’s new attraction re-creates an early Las Vegas streetscape By Mike Prevatt s Las Vegas getting better with its history? Seems like for every Strip implosion, there’s a Downtown building preserved. For every Davy’s Locker sign destroyed, another gets saved for the growing Neon Boneyard. Now, Springs Preserve has not only preserved precious cottages from the city’s early railroad-town days, it has re-created that era to impressive—if more compact—effect with its new, $6.5-million Boomtown 1905 attraction, opening to the public February 4. And here’s what you’ll encounter after you exit your train (visitors may opt to take a quarter-mile walk on the still-developing Exploration Loop Trail instead) and stroll down the streetscape … Disembark the 40-passenger choo-choo ($2; free for members) and explore the mission-style train depot, which includes info boards on legendary Old West badasses like folk hero Nat Love and an
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interactive steam whistle and telegraph machine. scene and spin a real roulette wheel. Mercantile is Upon exiting the station, walk toward the four the next stop, a general store complete with a fittingpreserved and landscaped cottages from 1910, room area and an interactive scale and old-school among the first commercially available homes in Las cash register. Finally, First State Bank features a Vegas. You can enter the second one, filled teller’s cage, along with a scale and assay slips with antique furnishings and old-timey BOOMTOWN one can fill and take to the Nature Exchange for music played on a real Victrola. a hunk of iron pyrite. 1905 TuesdayCross the street for Boomtown’s This weekend kicks off what looks to Sunday, commercial side, which starts with the be a momentous year for the educational/ 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Lincoln Hotel, exhibiting a bachelor room, cultural campus. Also debuting is a new parrot $5-$19. Springs a guest water pitcher and not much more. show; next weekend sees the opening of The Preserve, “It’s sparse, but that’s the point,” says Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not touring 702-822-7700. Springs Preserve curator of exhibits Aaron exhibit. An updated children’s playground Micallef. Just south is the outdoor Majestic is forthcoming. And come summertime, Theater, which will screen old movies and Springs Preserve will both open its new includes entertainment-poster recreations painted Waterworks exhibit—which details how we get, by local artist JW Caldwell. Next door: the Arizona treat and conserve water in Southern Nevada—and Club, a Westworld-ish gaming saloon and brothel celebrate its 10th anniversary, marking another where you can learn about the first Vegas nightlife boom for the old Las Vegas Springs.
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Hoo? Feiler, that’s who. (Andrew Feiler/Courtesy)
Worth the wait Patience pays off for wildlife photographer Andrew Feiler By Rosalie Spear What you see at Las Vegas Natural History Museum’s new photography exhibit are closeup shots of elegant owls, lively hummingbirds and stoic bears. What you don’t see are what local photographer Andrew Feiler overcame to share nature’s beauty with the rest of us. Naturally Nevada and The Wild World, on display through March 31, are Feiler’s first public exhibits. The former showcases hummingbirds in the Valley of Fire, big horn sheep in Boulder City, great horned owls in Summerlin, burrowing owls in North Las Vegas and more; the latter includes bears from Alaska, the Japanese macaque and the bristlecone pine. Feiler has traveled all over the U.S., to Canada and Japan, and will embark on a two-week, African safari in November. While home, he enjoys shooting nightscapes, moon rises, rock structures and his favorite subject—owls. There’s a nest behind his Summerlin home to which he’s been returning since last spring. That type of dedication makes his photography possible. While shooting in Canada the past few weeks, some of his days were spent in freezing snow from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m., others attempting to brave 44-mph winds, his 15-pound tripod blowing down the street, often with no resulting photographs.
“Sitting around takes a lot of patience; I don’t enjoy it. But once you know what it feels like to get that shot, you just do it. Some people like to go skydiving or ride motorcycles, but for me, this is my adrenaline rush,” Feiler says. Although the New York native’s career path has taken him in several directions, from working with Hollywood producer/director Brett Ratner (The Revenant, Horrible Bosses) to serving as assistant producer for several boxing shows on ESPN Classic, the lens has remained his passion. “For the last week, I’ve woken up every day at 5 in the morning to be out there for sunrise, and it didn’t bother me at all. I was excited to pop out of bed and find owls,” he says. “It’s exhilarating to be rewarded with something so amazing, beautiful and elegant. That’s what keeps me coming back.” View more of Feiler’s work at andrewfeilerstudio.com.
Naturally Nevada & The Wild World Through March 31; daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; $5-$10. Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 702-384-3466.
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FOOD & DRINK
AUREOLE
Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7401. Monday-Saturday, 5:30-10:30 p.m.
Aureole’s Veta La Palma Sea Bass. (Mikayla Whitmore/Staff)
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A NEW AUREOLE THE MANDALAY BAY MAINSTAY IS A MUST-EAT UNDER CHEF JOHNNY CHURCH BY JIM BEGLEY harlie Palmer’s Aureole is a flagship Mandalay Bay venue, have operated since the property’s 1999 opening. Late last year, the restaurant underwent some cosmetic changes—don’t worry, the grand wine tower and its iconic “wine angels” remain, though they’re more angelic now in new silver outfits—while revamping the menu under new executive chef Johnny Church. The results are nothing short of fantastic. Church has a storied history in Vegas, having spent time in the well-regarded kitchens of Andre’s, RM Seafood, Downtown’s MTO Café and the wildly innovative, now shuttered experiment known as Artisanal Foods Café. At the helm of Aureole, he returns to a venue where he served as sous chef in the early aughts. His menu is diverse and eclectic. The appetizer trio of dips ($18)—hummus, baba ganoush and tzatziki—are as good as any in the Valley. The black garlic Caesar ($14) is rife with funk from a steady helping of anchovies and Worcestershire sauce and adorned with a poppyseed tuille. I’ll forgive him for using house-made vegan truffle cheese on the roasted spaghetti squash ($21), because it’s such a good dish. Raclette fondue ($18) might not be the
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WINTER IN CARACAS presentation you’re expecting, because this ain’t the Melting Pot. Instead, it’s served as a topping for a plate of crudité, good but messy. Beef and octopus carpaccio ($23) is a holdover dish from Artisanal given the spotlight it deserves. The “ranch menu” section contains a murderer’s row of memorable dishes. Fried chicken “oysters” ($19) highlight the lesser-utilized pieces of dark meat found on the back of the fowl. The meatiness of the beef cheek potato raviolo ($24) is balanced by its robust smoked tomato cream sauce. And the turkey, ham and swiss meatballs ($25) are playful, with gruyere-stuffed morsels wading in a sharp, creamy peppercorn sauce and gilded with jamón ibérico. The best dish of all might be the 4x seared bone-in ribeye ($54)—4x representing the layers of seasoning applied to the ribeye cap: sea salt, soy sauce, mirin rice wine and uni. The result is one of the Strip’s best—and most complex—steaks. Lest you think Church doesn’t wander off the land, the Veta la Palma sea bass ($110) is extraordinary, the fish’s smokiness offset by chimichurri. Don’t let the price scare you—the dish is more than ample for two. And the lionfish ceviche ($25) is another steal from the Artisanal menu, with the invasive species of fish—famous for destroying ecosystems—dressed with the heat of aji amarillo. With its recent changes, the stalwart Aureole has been elevated to a must-visit destination once again. Charlie Palmer’s name might be on the marquee, but this is Johnny Church’s restaurant now, and we’re all the better for it.
1 1/2 oz. Diplomatico Añejo Rum 1/2 oz. Yellow Chartreuse 1/2 oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao 2 oz. cranberry juice Rosemary sprig, cranberries and powdered sugar for garnish
METHOD Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a glass with crushed ice. Garnish and dust with powdered sugar using a sifter.
Diplomatico Añejo Rum is a smooth, awardwinning Venezuelan spirit with slightly spicy notes of nutty caramel and molasses. The liqueurs—Yellow Chartreuse, an herbal, honey-sweetened liqueur, and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, a French “triple sec” created with orange peels and cognac—are perfect complements to the mix. When they’re combined with sweet, slightly sour cranberry juice, you get a rich, comforting cocktail sure to sustain you through winter’s end.
HOW TO EAT DIRT DOG
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1. Definitely get the dirty corn ($2.95). This elaborately topped version of traditional Mexican street food elotes is not only delicious— slathered in crema, cotija, chili powder, bacon and cilantro—it also references Dirt Dog’s origins. The LA transplant stems from the owner’s childhood memories of eating bacon-wrapped hot dogs served from a makeshift shopping cart. 2. The Vegas Dirt Dog offers a choice of three different buns: white bread, lobster roll-style or slightly sweet Portuguese-style. Go with the latter. The soft texture and flavor provide the ideal vessel for these messy dogs. 3. The red dog ($5.95) is the one you want. The spicy tomato chile relish, sautéed onions and smoky chipotle aioli create layers of deep flavors to contrast the rich, crispy-grilled frank. Dirt Dog offers some interesting topping combo, but this is the most intense and memorable. –Brock Radke
INGREDIENTS
Cocktail created by Francesco Lafranconi, Executive Director of Mixology and Spirits Education at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits.
DIRT DOG 8390 S. Rainbow Blvd. #100, 702-550-4682. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m
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Blackjack Collective
1860 Western Ave., 89102
(702) 545-0026
5
Euphoria Wellness
7780 S. Jones Blvd. #105, 89139
(702) 960-7200
2
Essence
2307 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 89104
(702) 978-7591
6
The Dispensary
5347 S. Decatur Blvd., 89118
(702) 476-0420
3
Essence
5765 W. Tropicana Ave., 89103
(702) 500-1714
7
The Dispensary
50 N. Gibson Road, 89014
(702) 476-0420
4
Essence
4300 E. Sunset Road #A3, 89014
(702) 978-7687
L E A F LY M E D I C A L M A R I J U A N A G U I D E
34 Valley Locations At participating shops. Tax not included. Valid through 2/6/17. Management reserves all rights. Š 2017 Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, Inc.
NEW YEAR NEW YOU! WEIGHTLOSS PROGRAM
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Initial Medical Consultation Full Body Composition Analysis EKG (if required) RX for (3) month Appetite Suppressants (12) Weekly B12 Injections Bi-Weekly Body Composition Analysis Medication for (3) month treatment
395
$
New patients only, cannot be combined with other offers.
Call or Visit 702-457-3888 3365 E. Flamingo Road, Ste 2 | Las Vegas, NV 89121
VivacityClinics.com
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las vegas weekly 02.02.17
Live Music
Vegas improv foursome Moksha tees it up February 4 at Topgolf. (Erik Kabik/Courtesy)
THe Strip & Nearby Brooklyn Bowl Ace Frehley, Lita Ford, Enuff Z’nuff 2/2, 7 pm, $35-$60. Petty or Not 2/3, 8 pm, free. New Doubt, Doin Time 2/4, 7 pm, free. Linq, 702-862-2695. Caesars Palace (Colosseum) Celine Dion 2/32/4, 7:30 pm, $55-$500. Elton John 2/7-2/8, 7:30 pm, $55-$500. 702-731-7333. Flamingo (Showroom) Keith Sweat, Aries Spears 2/2-2/4, 7:30 pm, $59-$225. 702-733-3333. Hard Rock Hotel (The Joint) Vanilla Ice, Mark McGrath, Naughty by Nature, All-4-One, Tone Loc, Young MC 2/3, 8 pm, $45-$200. (Vinyl) Max & Iggor Cavalera, Immolation, Full of Hell 2/9, 7 pm, $25-$45. 702-693-5000. Hard Rock Live The Expanders, Lady Reiko, Sin City Prophets, ST1 2/3, 8:30 pm, free. Hard Rock Cafe (Strip), 702-733-7625. House of Blues Carlos Santana 2/2-2/4, 7 pm, $90-$350. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. MGM Grand (Garden Arena) Ariana Grande, Little Mix, Victoria Monet 2/4, 7:30 pm, $30$200. 702-891-1111. Monte Carlo (Park Theater) Cher 2/8, 8 pm, $55$436. 844-600-7275. Planet Hollywood (Axis) Britney Spears 2/3-2/4, 9 pm, $69-$500. Jennifer Lopez 2/8, 9 pm, $79-$416. 702-777-2782. Stoney’s Rockin’ Country Stephanie Quayle 2/3, 9 pm, $5-$10. Town Square, 702-435-2855. Topgolf One Drop Redemption 2/3, 8 pm, free. Moksha 2/4, 8 pm, free. 4627 Koval Lane, 702-933-8458. Venetian (Venetian Theatre) Willie Nelson & Family 2/3-2/4, 8 pm, $60-$200. Diana Ross 2/8, 8 pm, $61-$226. 702-414-9000.
Downtown Backstage Bar & Billiards Almost Normal, Avalon Landing, Smoke Season, Ray Little, Cameron Dettman, Zach Kibbee 2/2, 8 pm, $10. Code Red Riot, We Gave It Hell, Jesse Pino & The Vital Signs, Almost Awake, A Poison Alibi, Nations 2/3, 8 pm, $10. Teddi & The Northern Lights, Electric West Band, Pet Tigers 2/4, 8 pm, $5. 601 E. Fremont St., 702-382-2227. Beauty Bar Assuming We Survive, Twin Cities, Tonight We Fight, Midnight Clover 2/3, 8 pm, $8-$10. Demon Lung, Dinner Music for the Gods, Spiritual Shepherd 2/4, 8 pm, free. Bleep Bloop, Grom Zuks, Byra Tanks, Lion Eyes B2B Plain James 2/7, 9 pm, $10. 517 Fremont St., 702-598-3757. Bunkhouse Saloon Sango 2/2, 9 pm, $17-$20. Rah Digga, Lyric Jones, Maxwell Fresh, Ronnie Foster, Brother Mister, LeRoy Chops, Mzphit 2/3, 8 pm, $5-$10. K. Flay, Paper Route, Daye Jack 2/4, 8 pm, $20. Camden West, O Wildly, Leather Bound Crooks, LaRochelle Trio 2/9, 8 pm, free. 124 S. 11th St., 702-854-1414. Golden Nugget (Gordie Brown Showroom) Tommy James & The Shondells 2/3, 8 pm, $43$162. 866-946-5336. Griffin After Hours, Free LSD’s Badtrip, Haunted Summer, Avid Dancer, De La Cuesta, Walk, The Family Doom, Brendan Eder Ensemble 2/8, 10 pm, free. 511 Fremont St., 702-382-0577. Hard Hat Lounge Snailmate, Erasole James, Art Saenz, Sic the Black Falcon, Priscilla P, B. Dailey & more 2/3, 10 pm, $3. Greg Rekus, Steven Cole Smith, Brock Frabbiele 2/4, 9 pm, free. 1675 Industrial Road, 702-384-8987. Smith Center (Reynolds Hall) Cabrera Conducts
Dvořák 2/4, 7:30 pm, $30-$109. (Cabaret Jazz) Bruce Harper Big Band, Elisa Fiorillo 2/6, 7 pm, $20-$35. 702-749-2000.
Everywhere Else Boulder Dam Brewing Marty Feick 2/3. Rick Berthod Band 2/4. Madelyn Feller 2/10. Out of the Desert 2/11. Shows 7 pm, free. 453 Nevada Way, Boulder City, 702-243-2739. CasaBlanca Resort & Casino Pink Floyd Tribute 2/4, 8:30 pm, $15-$35. 897 W. Mesquite Blvd., 877-438-2929. Dive Bar Hed PE, Motograter, NE Last Words, For the Fight, Andrew Boss, Quantum 2/3, 8 pm, $15-$17. King vs. Cash 2/4, 9 pm free. The Punknecks, Melanie and the Midnight Marauders, The Sin Eaters 2/8, 9 pm. 4110 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-586-3483. The Golden Tiki Omar the Kid, Professor Rex Dart 2/3, 9 pm, free. 3939 Spring Mountain Road, 702-222-3196. Red Rock Resort (Rocks Lounge) Us the Duo 2/3, 8 pm, $29. Richard Cheese 2/4, 8 pm, $39$64. 702-797-7777. Suncoast (Showroom) Frankie Moreno 2/4, 8:30 pm, $20-$40. 702-636-7075.
Comedy
Harrah’s (Main Showroom) Ralphie May 2/2-2/4, 2/9-2/11, 10 pm, $35-$99. 702-369-5000. MGM Grand (KÀ Theatre) Ali Wong 2/3, 7:30 pm, $45-$80. 702-891-1111. Mirage (Terry Fator Theatre) Daniel Tosh 2/3, 10 pm; 2/4, 7:30 pm, $65-$105. 702-792-7777. Orleans (Showroom) Sinbad 2/3-2/4, 8 pm, $40$70. 702-284-7777. SLS (The Foundry) Jon Lovitz, Dana Carvey 2/32/4, 8:30 pm, $49-$89. 702-761-7000. South Point (Showroom) Jim Breuer and the Loud Rowdy 2/3-2/4, 7:30 pm, $35-$45. 702-796-7111.
Performing Arts
Art Square Theatre Cockroach Theatre’s HIR 2/2, 2/4, 8 pm; 2/5, 2 pm, $16-$20. 1025 S. 1st St., #110, 702-818-3422. Baobab Stage Theatre Flamenco Arabe 2/4, 8:30 pm, $35. Town Square, 702-369-6649. Las Vegas Little Theatre (Black Box) Sex With Strangers 2/3-2/4, 2/9-2/11, 8 pm; 2/5, 2 pm, $15. 3920 Schiff Drive, 702-362-7996. Majestic Repertory Anton Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard of the Living Dead 2/2-2/4, 2/9-2/11, 8 pm; 2/5, 5 pm, $25. 1217 S. Main St., 702-478-9636. Smith Center (Troesh Studio Theater) One Woman Sex and the City: A Parody on Love, Friendship and Shoes 2/2-2/4, 7 pm, $25-$37. (Cabaret Jazz) Broadway in the Hood’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ 2/3, 7 pm; 2/4, 2 & 7 pm; 2/5, 3 pm, $34. The Sweets’ Spot w/Melody Sweets 2/7, 10 pm, $25-$40. 702-749-2000. Theatre in the Valley Tribute 2/3-2/4, 8 pm; 2/5, 2 pm, $12-$15. 10 W. Pacific Ave., 702-558-7275. UNLV (Paul Harris Theatre) NCT Organic + Homegrown Playwrights Festival 2/4, 10 am, free. (Rando-Grillot Recital Hall) UNLV Chamber Music Series: Hungarian Masterworks 2/9, 7:30 pm, $25. 702-895-3332.
Special Events
Dam Short Film Festival 2/8-2/11, times vary, $9-$100. Boulder Theatre, 1225 Arizona St., Boulder City, damshortfilm.org. First Friday 2/3, 6-11 pm, free. Downtown Las Vegas, ffflv.org. Harlem Globetrotters 2/9, 7 pm, $18-$357. T-Mobile Arena, 702-692-1600. Kendall-Jackson Wine Dinner 2/2, 6 pm, $55. Charcoal Room at Palace Station, 702-221-6678. Russian Imperial Stout Release 2/4, 4-10 pm, $8. CraftHaus Brewery, 7350 Eastgate Road #110, 702-462-5934. Ultraman 50th Anniversary Double Feature
2/5, 5:30 pm, $20. Eclipse Theaters, 814 S. 3rd St., 702-816-4300. Vegas Music Summit 2/2-2/3, 11 am, $49-$99. Downtown Las Vegas, vegasmusicsummit.com. Writer’s Block BOOKKO 2/3, 7 pm. Slam Poetry Workshop 2/4, 3 pm. Events free. 1020 Fremont St., 702-550-6399.
Sports
Lion Fight 34 2/3, 4 pm, $55-$150. Tropicana Theatre at Tropicana, 702-739-2222. Major League Soccer: Mexico vs. Iceland 2/8, 6:30 pm, $29-$154. Sam Boyd Stadium, 702-739-3267. UNLV Men’s Basketball Colorado State 2/4, 3 pm, $15-$130. Thomas & Mack Center, 702-739-3267. UNLV Women’s Basketball Nevada, Reno 2/8, 6 pm, $5. Cox Pavilion, 702-739-3267.
Galleries
Arts Factory 107 E. Charleston Blvd., 702-383-3133. Obsidian Fine Art First Friday; live music by Dia Asberry 2/3, 6-10 pm, free. #240, 702-540-9331. Wonderland Gallery Mel Balatbat: Ikonic Arts 2/2-2/24. #110, 702-686-4010. Downtown Spaces 1800 S. Industrial Road. Bubblegum Gallery Sublime Group Art Show 2/3, 6-9 pm, free. Metallic Owl Paint Class 2/4, 1 pm, $20. Alice in Wonderland Paint Class 2/5, noon, $25. #207D, 702-806-0930. Skin City Body Painting Rebecca Kubla: An Uncomfortably Close Self-Examination 2/3, 6-10 pm, free. #130, 702-431-7546. Las Vegas Natural History Museum Andrew Feiler dual collection: Naturally Nevada; The Wild World Thru 3/31. Daily, 9 am-4 pm, $5-$10. 900 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-384-3466. UNLV Grant Hall Gallery Laura Brennan: If, Then Thru 2/10. Artist Reception 2/10, 6-9 pm, free. 702-895-3011.
Village Pub
BIG GAME
BIG SCREEN GIVEAWAY
55
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TVS
Earn entries when you play between now and February 5th
DRAWINGS HELD DURING THE BIG GAME WATCH THE GAME WITH US - MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN! PLUS! EARN ONE TICKET FOR EVERY MODELO OR CORONA YOU BUY DURING THE BIG GAME ON FEBRUARY 5TH
Win TVs, shirts, mechandise and other great prizes all throughout the game!
DRAWINGS HELD AT: Village Pub Gibson Village Pub Green Valley Village Pub Rainbow Village Pub Summerlin Village Pub Wigwam
BIG GAME MENU
Jumbo Hot Dog $1.50 Chili Cheese Fries Meatball or Angus $4.75 Sliders $5.50 5 Chicken Wings $3.50 Beer & Brat $5.00 Management reserves all rights. Must be 21 years or older. Menu may change between locations. TVs only available at select Village Pubs. Must be in good standing with Village Pubs.