2017-12-07 - Las Vegas Weekly by Greenspun Media Group

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ON THE COVER Piff the Magic Dragon and Nevada Ballet Theatre dancer Emma McGirr in the role of Clara. Photo by Wade Vandervort

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06 las vegas weekly 1 2 . 0 7. 17

Trust Us everything you absolutely, positively must get out and do this week

& December 12

Every Christmas Story Ever Told at Majestic Repertory Theatre

Art talks by Dave Hickey & Candice Lin AT BARRICK MUSEUM OF ART “The body is a troubled thing,” sculptor and installation artist Candice Lin writes in an essay for Frieze.com. Based in LA and with a CV of solo shows around the world, Lin is a post-colonial artist who explores the complex relations of power, history and humanity. She speaks December 7 at 7 p.m. as part of the Visiting Artist Lecture Series. The “bad boy of art criticism” returns to town for “On Writing” on December 12 at 7 p.m. Former UNLV prof Dave Hickey—author, art critic, essayist and MacArthur “genius”— gives lectures that are equal parts inspiring, elucidating and cranky. A must see. Free/suggested $5 contributions. –C. Moon Reed

thru dec. 23

Majestic takes the bones of A Christmas Carol and hangs them with all manner of popculture tinsel—including Frosty the Snowman, Charlie Brown and “a slightly tipsy Santa”—in this fun holiday farce. Odds are you need this about now. Days & times vary, $20. –Geoff Carter

saturday, 6 p.m.

BOOTS, BUCKLES, BEERS AT RM SEAFOOD The Mandalay Place favorite marks NFR week with a special menu—rock shrimp po’ boys, shrimp hush puppies and more— plus cornhole and the rodeo up on the big screens. A new, unwrapped toy (for Help of Southern Nevada) gets you a free glass of beer or wine. Register at 702-632-9300. –Spencer Patterson

FRIDAY, 8 P.M.

DARK BLACK RECORD RELEASE AT 11TH STREET RECORDS The local post-punk outfit—yes, Las Vegas has one, and it’s quite good—celebrates its new, self-titled 7-inch with a performance in the very National Southwestern Recording studio Downtown where its two moody, angular tracks (“New Lows” and “My Window,” both streamable at wearedarkblack.bandcamp.com) were laid down. Dark Black’s Running in Place Records labelmates—Brett Vee, Moon Blood and Oversight— are also set to play a few tunes each. It’s an all-ages event, and it’s free; vinyl copies cost $6 and come in several colors. –Spencer Patterson

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1 2 . 0 7. 17

d esert-dwelling art exhibits

THURSDAY, 7 P.M.

CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD AT BROOKLYN BOWL The name of the band is both a tease and a jab. Chris Robinson famously co-founded The Black Crowes with his younger brother, Rich. But in 2015, the two acrimoniously ended the band, with the elder Robinson already having established another musical project. Naturally, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood doesn’t include Rich, but features four other musicians—including former Crowes keyboardist Adam MacDougall—who have bonded with Chris over their love of soulful and psychedelic roots music. The CRB overlaps with the Crowes’ bluesy reverie, yet wanders in different directions, whether favoring jam-like explorations or a shorter, folkier aesthetic—like on this year’s Barefoot in the Head. During opener “Behold the Seer,” Chris all but offers another sly broadside against his brother and former band, disguised as a life lesson: “If you want to keep your engine humming, keep your eyes wide ahead and don’t look back.” $23-$25. –Mike Prevatt (Amy Harris/AP Photo)

In Mojave: Transcendent Desert at Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, artist Montana Black curates a multi-media exhibition exploring our desert backyard. “The desert landscape of the Mojave with its vast open space and seemingly endless sky has inspired deep mental, emotional and spiritual journeys of reflection and revelation for many through the centuries,” Black writes in a statement. Her own oil painting, a juxtaposition of a classic diner and a desert highway titled “Coffee Cup Mojave,” is featured in the show. Other artists include Suzanne Hackett-Morgan, Anne Hoff, Bobbie Ann Howell, Jeanne Voltura and Kathleen Nathan, along with poets Angela Brommel, Lisa Brown and Joan Robinson. Through January 25; workshop December 20, 1-5 p.m. Artist Nancy Good digitally alters her photographs of Black Rock City into kaleidoscope visions of Burning Man. She then prints the bright, abstract images onto fabric. The result resembles mandalas or crop circles—both familiar and wholly new. Good’s show, See, Touch and Go Dream: The Burning Tapestries, runs through January 1 at Winchester Cultural Center. Artist reception December 12, 5:30 p.m. You’ve seen her colorful murals outside Vesta Coffee Roasters and the Plaza Downtown. You’ve seen her plexiglass sculpture at the Windmill and Rainbow road intersection. Now, artist Holly Rae Vaughn fills the Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery with a plexiglass and wood sculpture in her new show, Collide. Through January 19; artist talk December 14, 6 p.m. –C. Moon Reed

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the inter W H E R E

SNEAK PREVIEW

I D E A S

Las Vegas looks to gain three new movie theaters in 2018 BY MIKE PREVATT

as Vegans currently have 25 theater facilities in the Valley at which to watch movies. That number looks to grow by three in 2018—two of them previously announced, and one now confirmed by its host property. The latter cineplex is Regal Cinemas’ latest entry in both the Vegas market and Station Casinos, whose Palace Station has long been the lone holdout in the theater department. No longer—Red Rock Resorts spokesperson Lori Nelson confirms that the original Station property will feature “a boutique nine-screen movieplex ... as part of our company’s $191 million reinvestment to completely modernize this property.” The new theater will boast premium amenities such as reclining seats and food and beverages served to patrons at their seats, much like Regal’s Downtown Summerlin 5 and the very-nearby Eclipse Theaters in Downtown. But Regal Palace Station, set to open by the end of next year, won’t be Eclipse’s only high-end competitor. Construction on another center-Valley cineplex has begun at Boulevard Mall: Galaxy Theatres’ third local Luxury+ establishment, where moviegoers will be able to select their reclining seats ahead of arrival and purchase beer and wine. The project won’t meet its original goal of opening in time for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, however. While messages left with Galaxy went unreturned, and the Boulevard declined to reveal the new targeted opening over the phone, the mall recently told a commenter on its Facebook page that the theater would open sometime during “the first half of next year.” Finally, two underserved populations—North Las Vegas and Spanish-speaking moviegoers—will benefit from Maya Cinemas’ first local theater, which broke ground in early November across from Jerry’s Nugget casino and North Las Vegas City Hall. Set to open in 2018’s fourth quarter, the 14-screen movie house will anchor a 22-acre entertainment center geared toward the predominantly Latino neighborhood—a business model Maya has established with its other regional cineplexes.

A COFFEE AND A CAT TO GO Rhi Gladney loves cats so much she wants adopting one to be as easy as ordering a cappuccino. Okay, maybe not that easy. But the idea—a café where you can adopt a cat—came to her after visiting Purringtons Cat Lounge in Portland, Oregon. “They’ve drastically reduced euthanasia rates in Portland by getting so many cats adopted through the café,” she says. Inspired, she

returned hoping to bring that model to Vegas with her own cat-and-coffee shop, Meow or Never. Living in one of the only major metropolitan cities in the country without a cat café, Gladney is currently raising money through generosity.com to help Meow or Never land on its feet. Ultimately, Gladney says she just wants to help Vegas’ nearly 200,000 stray and homeless cats find forever homes. For more information, visit meowornever.cafe. –Leslie Ventura

rsection

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A ND L IF E M E ET

MAIN ATTRACTIONS The Arts District prepares to welcome new bar stars BY GEOFF CARTER

1 BIG PHOTO

(Photo Illustration)

GETTING A CHARGE OUT OF IT (AND WHERE WE SHOULD) As part of its renovations, Palace Station became the seventh casino in town to provide Sit N Charge phone chargers at all of its table games. You’d think that charging apparatus (and free wifi) would be ubiquitous by now, considering a dead phone means game over for the evening (and that free wifi encourages social media shoutouts). But a night on the town still offers dead zones, unflattering lighting for selfies and only a patchwork of charging options. Here are five places that need more of the latter, stat:

Rideshare vehicles. Lyft drivers could earn a five-star ratings by offering backseat chargers. T-Mobile Arena. The venue—named for a cellphone carrier—ought to have chargers at every seat. (Thanks for the free wifi, though.) The gym. Because workouts take way longer after your phone dies and you have to listen to that crappy overhead music. Bars. When the convo gets boring, scroll endlessly without fear. Grocery carts. Ditch the child’s seat in favor of a charger and phone stand right where you need it most. –C. Moon Reed

Fremont East has seen the opening of so many bars and restaurants over the past six years, it’s easy to forget that neighborhoods redevelop at a deliberate pace when there’s not a huge bag of Zappos cash sitting on the accelerator. But in the next year, the Arts District could catch up to and even surpass its northern neighbor, as several long-term projects come to fruition at once. Roadwork on Main is sprinting ahead—just check out those freshly set, 20-foot-wide sidewalks in front of Velveteen Rabbit—and two businesses will open within a block of each other early next year. The first should be Jammyland, a restaurant and bar run by erstwhile New Yorkers Danielle Crouch and Allan Katz. Located in a cavernous garage between Inside Style and Retro Vegas, Jammyland will serve up Jamaica-inspired dishes, cocktails and vibe, its name inspired by a now-closed East Village reggae record shop that Katz loved. “They never lorded their expertise over their customers,” Katz says of the original Jammyland. “When people start to get an attitude about mixology, I say, ‘You don’t know as much about liquor as they know about reggae at Jammyland, and they’re not [jerks] to anybody.’” His and Crouch’s Jammyland, will feel like that, he says—and it will deliver “the best daiquiri you’ve ever had,” which you can enjoy inside or at one of the bar’s two giant patios. A short walk to the south, ReBar owner Derek Stonebarger is building his Nevada Taste Site, a taproom and restaurant featuring local beers and lots of Nevada history. (Fun fact: NTS was designed by architect Rob Gurdison, also responsible for Hop Nuts, Makers & Finders and Jammyland’s “shanty chic” interior.) Stonebarger proudly shows off a bartop made of hardwood the Palms tossed during its recent remodeling, and wainscoting panels he repurposed from a jury box acquired from Lonnie Hammargren’s collection. Like ReBar, NTS will feel familiar from the minute it opens. “We’ll have over 20 Nevada beers,” Stonebarger says. “The breweries are all excited—with the opening of this place, they all get their own tasting room on Main Street … where everyone is going to want to be in the immediate future.”

RT? E S E D E H T TO G N I R B R E T S WA W H AT D O E

A little water can bring life to the community. Which is why we’re working hard to make sure that Southern Nevada has a reliable water supply for families, neighborhoods and businesses. Over the years, the community has conserved billions of gallons of water and is still continuing to flourish, proving you don’t need a lot of water to grow a city. So let’s stay water smart, Southern Nevada. Learn more at snwa.com. SNWA is a not-for-profi t water agency

DECEMBER 20-24 F R E E FA M I LY F U N

RIDES | GAMES | MUSIC | FOOD | THEME DAYS & MORE FOUR VALLEY LOCATIONS • TONS OF TIMES TO CHOOSE FROM

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12 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.07.17

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Tis season the

Celebrate the holidays by going to a show

13 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.07.17

30-foot-tall Christmas tree. The ballet follows young Clara, who receives a lifelike nutcracker for Christmas. At the stroke of midnight, he turns into a prince and leads her on a magical journey to the Land of Sweets. There, snowflakes waltz and candies from around the globe dance for her delight. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful production,” says Emma McGirr, who dances in the lead role of Clara. “The scale is so magnificent. It’s so familyfriendly and such a production. Everybody leaves so happy, which is why we do it. It’s part of the holidays.” December 9-24, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall, $29-$179, 702-749-2000. –C. Moon Reed

All I Want for Christmas Is You Mariah kind of owns Christmas. “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” the 1994 track she co-wrote for her first holiday album, isn’t just her biggest-selling song; it’s one of the best-selling songs of all time, having moved than 16 million copies and counting. U.K. site The Independent recently reported Carey makes more than half a million bucks every year from the song’s royalties. Considering she released a second holiday album in 2010 that included “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “O Holy Night,” it makes total sense that the Colosseum at Caesars Palace has coaxed the diva to return to the Strip for five epic holiday concerts after Carey wrapped her #1 to Infinity residency this past summer. The Vegas shows are the finale to Carey’s annual Christmas-themed tour, which kicked off December 2 at New York City’s Beacon Theatre and continues into Europe this week. Recent rumors have the record-breaking vocalist looking for a new home in Las Vegas, and there are several Strip venues that would likely vie for her services and star power. Carey also recently signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation management, so a surge of some sort in 2018 wouldn’t be unexpected. December 14, 16, 17, 20 & 22, 8 p.m., $95-$250, the Colosseum, 866-2275938. –Brock Radke

The Nutcracker by Virginia Trudeau/Courtesy; Mariah Careyby Michael Zorn/AP Photo

Sugar plum fairies will dance in your head to an unforgettable score by Tchaikovsky. It’s a beloved tradition for those who never otherwise see a ballet. Since 1981, Nevada Ballet Theatre has presented The Nutcracker for Christmas. The company continues the tradition with expanded dates and amenities. Before each show, live choirs will sing in the lobby, and guests can explore a “bonus experience” at the Nutcracker Wonderland. Select performances feature a live orchestra. The classic ballet is choreographed by NBT’s former artistic director, James Canfield. The set features a life-size four-story dollhouse and a

14 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.07.17

The Piffmas Piff-tacular

Four reasons dragons love Christmas in Vegas

Because they can do a special holiday show here. “When I first came to Las Vegas, I did a show at Cosmopolitan, at Rose.Rabbit.Lie., and I was supposed to be doing two sets of 10 minutes. I was used to doing hour-long shows, so I was bored out of my mind. I thought, how about we do a secret midnight show in the private bar? It was called Breakfast at Piffany’s, and it was based on this thing I’d been doing in London where I would host brunch and do magic tracks and people would compete for points and prizes. I did it for seven months at Rose.Rabbit.Lie., and it started getting some buzz—Shania Twain came, and Brad Garrett and David Copperfield. But I’ve never done a big version of that show in Vegas, so we’re doing it for the holidays. It’s like a big game show—I divide the audience into teams, and they compete against each other by doing magic with me.”

Because sandwiches! “The whole Breakfast at Piffany’s thing ends with the sale of a sandwich. At Cosmo, I auctioned off day-old croissants I bought from Walgreen’s every week. Now Rose.Rabbit.Lie. is a very high-end dining experience, and they wanted to make the croissants super fancy, but that’s not the point. Have you ever eaten a stale croissant? Delicious. We raised $15,000 in three months for Communities in Schools by auctioning off stale pastries, and the winning bidder would go into a secret-secret room and have this whole crazy croissant-dance thing that no one would ever speak of. This year there will be fresh peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I’m making myself. But I’m making them at the beginning of the show, so come around December 29, you’ll be taking your lives into your own hands.” Because you can have a traditional Christmas in Vegas, no matter where you’re from. “I’m doing Christmas in Las Vegas. I love it. It’s home now. I’ve lived here almost four years, and I just bought a twobedroom cave in Henderson, so I’m fully ensconced in Vegas life. And I still have the whole traditional British thing with turkey and mint pies and all that stuff. Two years ago I was living in the Flamingo during Christmas, so it was not quite as traditional.” –Brock Radke

Through December 30, 8 p.m., $63, Bugsy’s Cabaret at Flamingo, 702-777-2782.

(Wade Vandervort/Special to Weekly)

Because Christmas brings gifts, like Piff’s recent Flamingo residency extension. “Not only has the show been extended [through 2018] but we’re actually doing five days a week all through 2018. For the last two years we’ve done three days in Vegas and had four to go on the road, so now we’ll be doing a lot more shows in Vegas. I love being a part of the Flamingo, and it was definitely time to have a little bit of rest and [stay in town] before going out on the road even harder in [2019].”

(Human Nature by Denise Truscello/Courtesy)

COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.07.17

Warmer in the Winter Christmas Tour The Las Vegas Strip has more than its share of America’s Got Talent alumni, but Lindsey Stirling is different—and AGT wasn’t even her most recent appearance on a well-known talent competition show. The 31-year-old violinist and composer took second place on the most recent season of Dancing With the Stars, and there’s a good chance she would have won had she not been pulling double-duty, rehearsing for her current tour behind October album Warmer in the Winter during Dancing’s final three weeks. “It was exhausting, to say the least,” Stirling told Tulsa World. “Touring seems so easy now. It’s almost relaxing because, all of a sudden, I have all these hours in a day to fill up. I almost feel lazy.”

Lazy is hardly the word to describe an ambitious artist who incorporates classical, pop, rock and electronic influences into her sound. She won her second Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/ Electronic Album this year for Brave Enough. Winter marks her first foray into Christmas music, highlighted by a cover of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” with 18-year-old singer/songwriter Sabrina Carpenter, and the original title track featuring Trombone Shorty. Expect some unique twists to traditional holiday music when Stirling’s tour lands at the Cosmopolitan this month. December 22, 8 p.m., $30-$300, the Chelsea, 702698-7778. –Brock Radke (Courtesy Photo)

A few more seasonal stocking stuffers THE BRONX WANDERERS HOLIDAY SHOW

A live action Grinch and falling snow are part of the rocking trio’s special show through December 30 at Bally’s Windows Showroom.

Christmas at the Opera

Get in the holiday spirit with Sin City Opera’s 90-minute program of Christmas scenes from beloved operas at Charleston Heights Arts Center on December 16.

HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Las Vegas mainstay Clint Holmes just picked up two Grammy nominations, and you can catch him December 8 and 9 performing a holiday program inside the Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz.

HUMAN NATURE’S HOLIDAY JUKEBOX

The Aussie pop vocal favorites are infusing holiday tunes into the new, interactive “Juke Joint” section of their show December 5-9 and 19-23 at the Sands Showroom at Venetian.

The North Pole variety show

Town Square’s Baobab Stage hosts this one-off “holiday cabaret circus comedy dance show,” which benefits the Shade Tree shelter (December 14).

POSITIVELY ARTS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

Cast members from Baz: A Musical Mash-Up perform seasonal favorites with more than 60 students from the Positively Arts Foundation December 17 at the Palazzo Theatre, with proceeds going to the foundation.

Snow Child

Theatre in the Valley’s holiday play—adapted from a Russian folktale—tells the story of a magical fairy Babushka and a toymaker named Dimitri (December 1-17).

The Sweets’ Spot Holiday Spectacular

Burlesque chanteuse Melody Sweets belts out seasonal standards with a big band at the Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz on December 19.

Ink Spots Christmas Concert

TOURNAMENT OF KINGS HOLIDAY DINNER SHOW

LEGENDS IN CONCERT

frankie moreno: WITH PLENTY OF MISTLETOE

Though none of the original members from the 1930s group remain, the Ink Spots’ tradition continues with a special holiday performance at the West Las Vegas Library on December 16.

The longest-running show on the Strip celebrates the season with holiday classics performed by Whitney Houston, George Michael, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley impersonators in Flamingo’s Donny & Marie Showroom through December 30.

Through December 28, the Excalibur’s 900-seat medieval arena turns into a snowcapped wonderland—but the battles and jousting must go on.

Local lounge stalwart Frankie Moreno spices up the season with three shows at the Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz theater December 15 and 16.

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Don’t be a Scrooge and skip this holiday tradition. UNLV updates Charles Dickens’ classic tale with a new adaptation by Barbara Field and contemporary themes. Expect a diverse cast, a take on immigration and even mariachi music. Actor Wesley Mann (Back to the Future Part II) stars as the miserly Ebenezer whose life changes after seeing visions of Christmas past, present and future. “Although it was written 174 years ago, it really is a comment on where we are as a culture and a society right now,” director Chris Edwards says in a promotional video. “It’s a story of finding empathy, finding redemption.” Through December 17, times vary, $27.50-$33, UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theater, 702-895-2787. –C. Moon Reed (Courtesy Photo)

Polar Express yourself at the Excalibur. (Courtesy Photo)

Make time for these longtime (and new) holiday traditions Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden

See hundreds of catci and succulents strung with more than 1 million lights, now through January 1.

Glittering Lights AT Las Vegas MotoR Speedway

Pack up the family sleigh and cruise past—and under—more than 3 million holiday lights arranged around the Speedway’s two-and-a-half-mile perimeter (through January 7).

Hanukkah menorah lightings

The festival of lights begins December 12 with a celebration at Downtown’s Fremont Street Experience, then continues on nights two (Downtown Summerlin) and three (the District at Green Valley Ranch) in the suburbs.

Kwanzaa Celebration

The weeklong appreciation of AfricanAmerican culture affirms “African values, culture and community with purpose” with a December 30 gathering at the West Las Vegas Library Theatre.

Little Christmas Town AT Wet ’n’ Wild

Slide down sledding hills instead of water slides during the park’s holiday overlay, which also features a skating rink, train rides, Santa and more (through December 31).

Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland

The water and laser show inside Sam’s Town’s massive atrium gets a holiday makeover, through December 23.

Opportunity Village Magical Forest

This family-friendly local tradition has something for everyone, from sparkling lights to Santa himself (through December 31).

Polar Express 4-D Experience

Travel to the North Pole in this immersive attraction at the Excalibur (through January 2).

Santa Train

Go joyriding with Santa on Boulder City’s Nevada Southern Railway through December 17.

SEASONAL Skating rinks

Besides Wet ’n’ Wild, Valley residents can ice skate during December at the Cosmopolitan, Green Valley Ranch, Downtown Summerlin, the Park and Ethel M Chocolates’ Holiday Cactus Garden.

17 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.07.17

Hours for setup

Marc Savard goes next-level for Christmas If you haven’t seen the House on Robindale in person, you’ve likely seen videos of the vibrant holiday spectacle circulating on social media. Every year, V Theater comedian and hypnotist Marc Savard decks his 1420 E. Robindale Road residence out with thousands of lights, syncing them to a curated list of songs (Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” for example) that play every evening through New Year’s Eve. Savard launched his holiday display in 2010, because he missed the big holiday celebrations of his native Canada, he says. “When we moved here, Christmas was, ‘See Santa at the mall.’ So we thought we’d do something to make it more fun for our children.” That, and “I’m clinically insane,” he laughs. To create the custom display, a music designer breaks down the songs, and Savard engineers all the lighting effects—which takes hours to program. And while it started out as something for his family, Savard sounds thrilled that people throughout the community look forward to it every year. “It really extended the whole holiday” he says. “Now it’s become a tradition.” –Leslie Ventura

Songs in the holiday playlist

Watch it dance!

Light bulbs

Visit lasvegasweekly.com to see the light show up close

(Wade Vandervort/Special to Weekly)

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D UKE D UMO NT

INTRIGUE

Duke’s December sees him moving from Brooklyn to Tampa to Seattle to LA, but first up is Wynn Las Vegas.

DJ ME T RO

DJ KO NFLIKT

fri

hyde

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intrigue

hyde

10 sun

marquee

S U LTAN & S H E PARD FE DDE LE G R AND

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LOST K ING S

drai’s

DJ FRANZ E N

E RIC DLUX

11 mon

tao

ENFER NO

NI CKY R OMER O

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DJ FI VE

duke dumont courtesy; rl grime courtesy; dj esco by Tony Tran Photography/Courtesy; Chuckie Courtesy

big this week

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DJ E SCO

Having just wrapped his blockbuster Nova Tour, the trap-bass DJ and producer returns to Vegas for his last XS date of the year.

DRAI’S

His main man Future will be back on the Drai’s stage for NYE weekend, but until then the coolest DJ will hold it down.

CH U CK IE

sat

RL GR I ME

MARQUEE

Expect to hear Chuckie’s funky fall carnival track “Kumbaza” when he pops up at Marquee at Cosmo Saturday.

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V e g a s m u s i c a l c h a m p i o n s T h e K i l l e r s t o t h e

p l a y P e a r l

hether or not you witnessed the band cutting their teeth in Las Vegas’ cafés and dive bars in the early aughts, you still know The Killers have long been this city’s musical heroes. Since their first big break on BBC Radio in 2003 with “Mr. Brightside,” it seemed as though Brandon Flowers and company became one of the world’s most popular rock ’n’ roll bands almost overnight. Melding pop and New Wave elements with an indie rock sensibility, The Killers managed to take over airwaves with each consecutive single—“Somebody

Told Me,” “All These Things That I’ve Done” and so many more. In 2005, they won an MTV Music Video Award and garnered three Grammy nominations—and that was just the beginning. The Killers tightened that hometown connection with album titles like Sam’s Town and Battle Born, tipping their hats to their Nevada roots. Now, with the arrival of Wonderful Wonderful, the group’s first studio album in five years, The Killers have achieved their first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 and their fifth No. 1 on the U.K. albums chart.

If you didn’t catch them at the recent Vegas Strong concert at T-Mobile Arena, you have another chance to catch The Killers in all their Battle Born glory. Holiday Havoc featuring The Killers at the Pearl at the Palms, December 11. –Leslie Ventura

RO B l o u d / c o u r t e s y

B A C K

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A m b e r ’ s a r r i v a l A m b e r

R o s e

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e all have memories, some blurry, of crazy nights in Las Vegas. Amber Rose is no different. “This is really cliché, but I had the worst hangover I’ve ever had in my life in Vegas,” she says. “It was so bad. I think I was arguing with my boyfriend that night, young and stupid and thinking, I’m gonna get drunk. All the food I ate for the next week tasted like tequila. It was horrible.” The model and activist is planning on some very different Vegas nights very soon. Rose is collaborating with the new Sugar Factory at the Fashion Show mall to create Chocolate Rose in the swanky upstairs Chocolate Lounge, a sexy weekend party designed for women. “It’s been a long time coming,” she says during a visit to supervise auditions for the all-male waitstaff. “We definitely want to have a very romantic, seductive ambiance,

and very sexy guys of all different shades for all different kinds of women. We just want to cater to the ladies and make them feel beautiful and special.” Rose, who recently collaborated with Reebok for a new Freestyle Hi sneaker, is riding high on the growing success of her LA Slutwalk, a sexual-injustice awareness demonstration that brought out 18,000 people for its thirdannual event two months ago. “This year was amazing,” she says. “The first year we had no sponsors and no help, and I dealt with a lot of scrutiny for even putting it on. But 2,500 people showed up, and it felt like a success because it was extremely grassroots. I didn’t shut up about it for a whole year, and 11,000 showed up the next year. This year we had some huge brands that came in and helped.” Considering the current climate in which

high-profile sexual harassment reports seem to emerge almost daily, the mission of education and awareness to which Rose has been dedicated resonates more than ever. “I believe every single woman and man out there that says they have been sexually harassed—100 percent,” Rose says. “You only ask for it when you actually ask for it, and anything other than that is rape and sexual assault.” –Brock Radke

P h o t o b y A n t h o n y M a i r / S p e c i a l t o IN D U S TRY W e e k l y S t y l e d b y S e t h C h e r n o f f @ s e t h c h e r n o f f , Ha i r b y P h i l l i p R i i a n @ p h i l o n h a i r , M a k e up b y B r y a n M e n d e z @ b r y a n m e n d e z

supernova

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LAST FRI DAY WAT E R ST R E E T

nov 24

Photographs by Wade Vandervort

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C R O S S

H E A R T G e o r g e S t r a i t r e m a i n s t h e

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i n

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V e g a s

nce upon a time, the man who would be king declared: “I want to reach the point where people hear my name and immediately think of real country music.” Since then, that goal has been checked off his bucket list, because George Strait—widely acknowledged as the “king of country” and the genre’s foremost neo-traditionalist—has far exceeded that goal. He has recorded the most No. 1 songs—60 of them—and top-5 songs in the history of music of any kind; he’s the only artist in any genre to have had a top-10 hit every year for 30 years; in 2010, he

was named the top country music artist of the past 25 years by Billboard magazine; and as a touring performer in 2013, he earned Billboard’s Legend of Live accolade, honoring the concert industry’s most bankable star based on chart and box-office numbers. All that from a Texas native weaned on The Beatles who first awakened to musical passions as a high school kid by performing in a rock garage band. You can’t keep a country man down, and Strait’s tastes soon migrated to Nashville legends like Merle Haggard, Lefty Frizzell, George Jones and Hank Williams. Oh, and Frank Sinatra—because some influences transcend genre.

Even his relative failures yield success, like his starring role in the 1992 film Pure Country, which barely dented the box office but featured a Strait soundtrack that included several more hits. The movie told the cautionary tale of a country singer who wanders too far from his musical roots—a mistake the man himself hasn’t made. “Traditional country music is something that’s going to be around forever,” Strait once said. You couldn’t get that from a more reliable source. George Strait at T-Mobile Arena, December 8-9.

B r e n t o n Ho , P o w e r s I m a g e r y / Co u r t e s y

H I S

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i was there

V e g a s s t r o n g e r T T h e

T - M o b i l e A r e n a

b e n e f i t

c o n c e r t w a s

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here were a few slightly somber moments during the epic Vegas Strong Benefit Concert at T-Mobile Arena on December 1, like when Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds took a break from one of the most emotional performances of his career to preside over a moment of silence to recognize the victims of the October 1 shooting. But only a few. Overall, this Strip spectacle was a celebration of Las Vegas’ ongoing recovery—a starpacked production with festive flair that the thousands in the audience will surely remember forever.

Video greetings of love and support came from Celine Dion, Jason Aldean, Elton John and others, and Vegas entertainment institutions like Carrot Top, Blue Man Group, David Copperfield and Penn & Teller wowed the crowd with flash performances inducing smiles and warmth. The three main musical acts—Boyz II Men, Imagine Dragons and The Killers—powered their hit songs with extra enthusiasm. In an accidentally symbolic moment, the talented acrobats of Cirque du Soleil’s landmark Mystère show missed

the mark, ever so slightly, during their awe-inspiring performance. As one performer vaulted from a teeter-totter, flipping into the air to land atop two others, there was a bit of a slip and the landing was missed. Without missing a beat, the entire team returned to the routine, swiftly correcting the stunt, making the impossible possible. It’s the Vegas way. –Brock Radke

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ncore Theater was originally built at Wynn Las Vegas to accommodate the Tony Award-winning production Avenue Q. When that show’s run ended, it stayed on track by hosting musical comedy Spamalot, although the resort added three rows to the balcony and reseated the entire theater, boosting its capacity from 1,200 to 1,500 seats.

E r i k K a b i k / C o u r te s y

That remains the only major renovation to Encore Theater, a lavish space that has morphed into one of the top headliner rooms on the Strip. It recently hosted concerts from Harry Connick Jr. and Tony Bennett; John Fogerty, Diana Ross and Mel Brooks will return in 2018 after acclaimed performances this year; and Alabama, The Moody Blues and Elvis Costello are also on the upcoming calendar. Wynn’s General Manager of Entertainment Operations Rick Gray says the new direction is a true collaboration with AEG Worldwide. “I think we started the headliner idea with Garth [Brooks in 2009], and that was mutually successful,” Gray says. “When [Steve Wynn’s] Showstoppers ended, the guys from AEG came over, and it was just fortuitous. We all saw the entertainment world in Vegas swinging again more toward headliners than production shows, and we thought, ‘Let’s try this out.’”

Intimacy sets the venue apart: Showgoers get to see huge artists that could easily fill a much larger space in Encore Theater’s luxurious and cozy confines. “We had Diana Ross at the Colosseum [at Caesars Palace] a couple years ago, but she couldn’t do a nine-show run there,” says Bobby Reynolds, VP of Booking for AEG Las Vegas. “We did that at Encore and practically sold out every night, and it was great enough to bring her back in February. And what the artists like the most is calling Wynn home. Walking into that theater is unlike any other in town. It becomes more about their lifestyle and how they want to spend their time here.” The audience gets a unique experience and the resort gains performances it hasn’t consistently offered in the past. “The great thing about Wynn is, the man whose name is on the building is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about entertainment, and he’s always on the lookout for something unique, surprising and wonderful,” Gray says. –Brock Radke

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XS DJ S Nak e

dec 1 Photographs courtesy Wynn Nightlife

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D E T R O T O V E G A S S T A Y I N G S T Y L E â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S

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etroit-born, rock ’n’ roll-inspired menswear designer John Varvatos launched his own line in 2000 after years as a creative, innovative force at Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. He opened his first store in Las Vegas at the Forum Shops at Caesars three years later, but found a Vegas home closer to his heart with a “bowery” store opening at the Hard Rock Hotel. Downtown’s the newest place to find Varvatos’ signature refined yet casual, tailored yet raw styles, at the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets. Industry Weekly caught up with Varvatos by email to check in on the evolution of the brand.

JEFF GREEN PHOTOGRAPHY/COURTESY

Why is the Hard Rock such a great fit for you in Las Vegas? We opened at the Forum Shops in 2003 and the Hard Rock in 2009. Hard Rock has a different vibe and is merchandised with a more casual, rock ’n’ roll feeling. When you started your brand, there wasn’t a considerable online industry. How do you keep the store experience alive and kicking in the digital age? Our stores continue to perform and grow. We are planning a number of new stores in the coming months in both the U.S. and around the world. Creating unique shopping experiences with great service is the key. You’ve said music is your biggest design influence. Are there new artists that are changing the way you think about music or design, or are you focused more on classic artists and inspiration? Machine Gun Kelly was the face of our brand this fall. We have always crossed between classic and modern artists. It is the young artists that get the most excited about our brand! –Brock Radke

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ith all the brunch options on the Strip, it can be an overwhelming task to choose the right spot for your weekend remedy. For mornings with a late start, consider nostalgic comfort over fancy fine dining and take your crew to Holsteins Shakes and Buns. The burger haven’s new Gameday Brunch concept, unveiled in October, feels like it’s based on the diners of yore, with enough swag to make it worthy of the always-hip Cosmopolitan. Classic Americana meets Las Vegas with the Billionaire Steak—a New York steak served atop of a pile of

golden fingerling potatoes, bits of fried foie gras nuggets, two eggs any style and a velvety, delectable truffle Hollandaise—it’s so good you’ll want to put it on everything. It isn’t brunch without French toast, and Holsteins doesn’t disappoint with its simple spin on the morning staple. Topped with candied peanuts, bacon bits, bourbon maple syrup and whipped cream, this dish is big enough to share, but you don’t have to. This brunch really stands out with its egg sandwich. How dare we order one of these bad boys when Eggslut is directly across the way? Well, you could wait in

line for an hour, or you could come to Holsteins and order this fully-loaded ’wich, jam-packed with eggs, bacon, chunks of potato, melted American cheese, tomato confit, grilled onions and mayo. Somehow Holsteins has managed to make this burger-less sandwich taste like a burger, and that’s a game-day victory. Holsteins at the Cosmopolitan, 702698-7940; Gameday Brunch Saturday & Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. –Leslie Ventura

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f you’ve been looking for that one special bottle to gift that most special Scotch connoisseur on your list, consider one of the most ambitious experiments in the 130-year history of the world’s most-awarded and best-selling single-malt Scotch. Glenfiddich’s Experimental Series continued this year with the March release of Project XX, the result of a complex collaboration between malt master Brian Kinsman and 20 whisky experts from 16 different

countries around the world. Each selected a cask from the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, Scotland, with the goal of combining their expertise and knowledge into one single malt. Traditional malt whisky is chosen and vatted by a single malt master; Project XX has been characterized as having “multiple personalities.” The deep gold elixir—available locally in limited quantities at Lee’s Liquors (call your neighborhood store first)—offers the fragrance of classic Glenfiddich fruitiness

JO HANLEY/COURTESY

first sip

balanced with oak and vanilla. Initial mellow-sweet flavors are followed by vanilla and oak, toasted almonds and cinnamon. Simply put, Project XX tastes like no other Scotch you’ve ever experienced, and it will never be duplicated again.

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HOLIDAY AT th e park TOS H I B A P L A ZA

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Photographs courtesy MGM Resorts International

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tao de vin lu c i en

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Photographs by Brandon Pearson

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nless you’re a born-andraised native, you might not truly understand what it means for our city to get its first major league pro sports team. For Green Valley High graduate Joe Green, it meant learning all about hockey and being persistent. The result is a dream gig of sorts: Green is the official DJ of the Vegas Golden Knights. He first learned of the unorthodox DJ job while spinning at the Venetian’s V Bar and bumping into San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. When the NHL announced it would expand to Las Vegas, Green dedicated himself to getting involved. “Every week, all week for a year I was re-

searching everything, searching for any info I could find about who was getting hired and reaching out to them,” he says. He also logged plenty of hours watching hockey games and getting a feel for the game and the league. “I didn’t know anything about hockey except you can fight until somebody hits the ground, and that’s pretty much it.” Green, who has been DJing for 12 years and can also be heard on local radio at 104.3 NOW FM and hosts Saturdaynight party the Rapture at Downtown’s Vanguard Lounge, finally broke through and scored an audition with the Knights at the 2017 NHL Awards. He got the gig and started meeting with the team’s production crew to put together in-game playlists, when he’s spinning from the Fortress high in T-Mobile Arena.

“I had to abandon my first list, because I got some different vibes during the preseason,” Green says. “When you’re DJing at a club or a bar, you have to build up while you feel out the crowd, but with this you have to know what direction you want to go. If it doesn’t work, you have to have a plan to go in a different direction.” He says most hockey arenas rely heavily on rock music, but he’s mixing in EDM, remixes and mashups. “It’s surreal. I don’t even feel like I’m doing it. There have been so many moments where I’m like, wow, it’s a sold-out arena and the first time we’ve had a team of our own to root for. This is crazy. This is our thing.” –Brock Radke

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CH ATEAU 12/8 DJ Ted Morris. 12/9 DJ ShadowRed. 12/15 DJ ShadowRed. 12/16 DJ Blanco. Paris, WedSat, 702-776-7770. DRAI’ S 12/8 DJ Politik. 12/9 DJ Esco. 12/10 DJ Franzen. 12/16 G-Eazy. 12/17 DJ Franzen. 12/24 Sami Beigi. Cromwell, Tue, Thu-Sun, 702-7773800. EM BASSY 12/7 Jesse Saunders. 12/8 DJ Animation. 12/9 DJ Fuzion. 3355 Procyon St., Thu-Sat, 702609-6666. FO U NDATIO N

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12/8 DJ Sam I Am. 12/9 DJ Greg Lopez. 12/15 Phatal. 12/16 DJ Seany Mac. 12/22 DJ Seany Mac. 12/23 DJ Mark Mac. Mandalay Bay, nightly, 702-632-7631.

F OX TAIL SLS, Fri-Sat, 702-761-7621.

H Y DE 12/8 DJ Metro. 12/9 DJ Konflikt. 12/12 CAPTN20. 12/13 DJ D-Miles. 12/15 DJ Ikon. 12/16 Derrick Anthony. 12/17 XIV Sessions: Mistletoe Mayhem. 12/19 DJ Konflikt. 12/20 DJ D-Miles. 12/22 DJ Karma. 12/23 DJ Gordo. Bellagio, nightly, 702-693-8700. INTRIG U E 12/7 Duke Dumont. 12/8 Sultan & Shepard. 12/9 Lost Kings. 12/14 RL Grime. Wynn, ThuSat, 702-770-7300.

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12/8 Jerzy. 12/9 Warren G. 12/13 DJ Neva. 12/15 Kid Funk. 12/16 DJ E-Rock. 12/16 DJ Seany Mac. 12/20 Blackout Artists Holiday Party. Mandalay Bay, Wed, Fri-Sat, 702-632-4700.

12/7 DJ Five. 12/8 Enferno. 12/9 Eric DLux. 12/14 DJ Five. 12/15 Enferno. 12/16 Eric DLux. 12/21 Justin Credible. 12/23 Enferno. Venetian, Thu-Sat, 702-388-8588.

MARQUEE

12/8 Fedde Le Grand. 12/9 Chuckie. 12/11 DJ Five. 12/15 Vice. 12/16 Deorro. 12/18 Ruckus. 12/22 Ruckus. 12/23 Andrew Rayel. Cosmopolitan, Mon, Fri-Sat, 702-333-9000.

12/8 RL Grime. 12/9 Nicky Romero. 12/15 DJ Snake. 12/16 The Chainsmokers. 12/29 Marshmello. 12/30 Diplo. 12/31 The Chainsmokers. 1/1 Diplo. Encore, Fri-Mon, 702-770-0097.

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12/15-12/16 All-4-One. Aliante Casino, 702692-7777.

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12/8-12/16 Lionel Richie. 12/19-12/31 Britney Spears. 1/17-1/27 Pitbull. 1/31-2/17 Backstreet Boys. 2/21-3/3 Jennifer Lopez. 3/9-3/17 Lionel Richie. 3/24-4/21 Jennifer Lopez. Planet Hollywood, 702-777-6737. B R O O K LY N

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12/8-12/10 Reba, Brooks & Dunn. 12/14-12/22 Mariah Carey. 12/15 Bill O’Reilly & Dennis Miller. 12/30-1/20 Celine Dion. 1/31-2/3 Van Morrison. 2/9-3/2 Elton John. 3/9-3/10 Jerry Seinfeld. 3/14-/3/24 Reba, Brooks & Dunn. 3/27-4/18 Celine Dion. Caesars Palace, 866227-5938. DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS EVENTS CENTER 12/29-12/30 Boys Noize & Gorgon City. 200 S. Third St., 800-745-3000.

H OU S E

12/7 Chris Robinson Brotherhood. 12/9 Corey Smith. 12/14 The Drums. 12/16 Descendents. 12/21 Lil Pump. 12/29 Dizzy Wright. 12/30 3LAU. 12/31 Ja Rule & Ashanti. 1/16 K. Flay. 1/17 G3. 2/1 Rebel Souljahz. 2/9 Stick Figure & Twiddle. 2/13 Lettuce. 2/16 Tribal Seeds. 2/22 Dark Star Orchestra. 2/27 Celebrating David Bowie. 3/14 Donavon Frankenreiter. 3/15 Hippie Sabotage. 3/30 The Darkness. Linq Promenade, 702-862-2695.

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12/8-12/9 Cole Swindell. 12/10 Dustin Lynch. 12/13 Dwight Yoakam. 12/15-12/16 Dierks Bentley. 12/22 Lindsey Stirling. 12/24 Louis Yan. 12/29 Zac Brown Band. 12/30 Duran Duran. 12/31 Foo Fighters. 1/12-1/13 Willie Nelson & Family. 1/20 Spoon. 1/27 Adam Sandler. 2/16 Queens of the Stone Age. 2/17 Cake. 3/9 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-6797. CH R O M E

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12/15-12/16 Dave Koz. 12/10 Parmalee. 1/12 Dylan Scott. SLS, 702-761-7617.

12/8-12/9 Gary Allan. 12/18 Mondays Dark 4th Anniversary Show. 1/7 Markiplier. 1/12 Tracy Morgan. 1/20 The National. 1/27 AVN Awards Show. 2/2-2/3 Incubus. 2/23-3/3 Nickelback. 2/28 A Day to Remember. 3/8 Datsik. 3/163/17 Kenny Chesney. 3/30-3/31 Incubus. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000. M A N D A L AY B AY EVENTS CENTER

GOLDEN N UGGET SHOW ROOM

12/30-12/31 Maroon 5. 2/16 Lana Del Rey. 3/24 Kid Rock. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7777.

12/7 John Michael Montgomery. 12/8 Brenda Lee. 12/9 Pam Tillis & Lorrie Morgan. 12/10 Charlie Daniels Band. 12/11 Ronnie Milsap. 12/12 Tanya Tucker. 12/13 Lonestar. 12/14 Clint Black. 12/15 Jamey Johnson. 12/29 Loverboy. Golden Nugget, 866-946-5336.

MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA

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12/9 UNLV vs. Illinois. 12/28 The Original Misfits. 2/3 The Killers. 2/10 Shakira. 3/3 Demi Lovato. MGM Grand, 702-521-3826.

C EN T ER OR L E AN S

1/20 John Waite. 1/27 Dennis Wise. Santa Fe Station, 702-658-4900.

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12/13-12/16 Alabama. 1/10-1/20 John Fogerty. 1/26-1/31 The Moody Blues. 2/7-2/24 Diana Ross. 2/28-3/10 Elvis Costello. Wynn, 702770-9966. T HE

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12/15 Steel Panther. 12/16 Brian Newman. 12/17 Rocky Horror Picture Show Live. 12/19 DJ Quik & Scarface. 12/22 A Drag Queen Christmas. 12/30 The Dan Band. 12/31 Pennywise. 1/12-1/13 Marilyn Manson. 1/14 The Minimalists. 1/24-2/3 Santana. 1/25 Gilberto Santa Rosa. 2/10 Judah & The Lion. 2/17 Beth Hart. 2/23 Black Label Society. 2/25 Josh Turner. 3/1 Machine Head. 3/2 Black Veil Brides & Asking Alexandria. 3/3 Walk Off the Earth. 3/9 Stone Temple Pilots. 3/10 PVRS. 3/24 J Boog. 3/27 Michael Schenker Fest. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. T H E

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1/6 The King Symphonic. Green Valley Ranch Resort, 702-617-7777.

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12/22-12/23 Under the Streetlamp. Orleans, 702-365-7111.

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12/30-12/31 Bruno Mars. 1/12-1/13 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. 2/14-2/19 Bruno Mars. 3/10-3/11 311. Monte Carlo, 844-600-7275.

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12/8 Taylor Hicks. 12/11 Alice: A Steampunk Rock Opera Fantasy. 1/20 My Favorite Murder. Red Rock Resort, 702-797-7777. SOUT H

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TOPGOL F 12/28 Dead Winter Carpenters. 4627 Koval Lane, 702-933-8458. VEN E T I AN

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12/11 Holiday Havoc with The Killers & more. Palms, 702-944-3200.

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12/7 Coco Montoya. 12/16 Keiko Matsui & Euge Groove. 12/22 Christmas with the Celts. 1/4 Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. 1/18 Tommy Castro. Boulder Station, 702-432-7777.

12/12 Sierra Black. 12/13-12/16 Cody Johnson. 12/21-12/23 Tony Orlando. 12/28 Frankie Moreno. 1/19-1/20 Norm Macdonald. 1/26-1/28 Capitol Steps. 2/9-2/11 Atlantic City Boys. 2/16-2/18 Hermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hermits. 2/23-2/24 Dennis DeYoung. South Point, 702-796-7111. T ERRY

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12/8-12/16 Ron White. 12/22-12/24 Boyz II Men. 12/29 Joe Rogan. 12/30 Jay Leno. 1/191/21 John Mulaney. Mirage, 702-792-7777.

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12/8-12/9 George Strait. 12/16 Lady Gaga. 1/51/6 Ice Vegas Invitational. 1/20 Katy Perry. 3780 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-692-1600.

1/24-1/25 Jeff Foxworthy. 1/26-2/3 Styx & Don Felder. 2/7-2/24 Chicago. Venetian, 702-4149000.

VI N Y L 12/7 Daryle Singletary. 12/8-12/9 Mark Wills. 12/10-12/11 David Ball. 12/12-12/13 Andy Griggs. 12/14 Daryle Singletary. 12/22 Sonny Digital. 2/3 Tonight Alive & Silverstein. 2/9 Lights. 3/4 Of Mice & Men. 3/16 Fortunate Youth. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ê

PRESENT YOUR MILITARY, VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDER OR GOVERNMENT I.D. AND RECEIVE 50% OFF A REGULAR PRICE TICKET.

TRAVIS TRITT D E CEMB ER 8 & 9, 2 01 7

ALL AGES I 10 PM I TICKETS $50++ T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E AT T H E W E S T G AT E B O X O F F I C E

Valid only with your official Military, Veteran, First Responder or Government I.D. Tickets available at the Westgate Las Vegas Box Office, westgatelasvegas.com or by calling 702.732.5755. Management reserves all rights. Code: MilBGTT

(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 1 2 . 0 7. 17

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OUT-OF-THE-BOX TOY SHOPS

THE WEEKLY 5

1. KAPPA TOYS

2. THE LEGO STORE

3. ROGUE TOYS

4. THE TOY BOX

5. TOY SHACK

With an inventory stressing the timeless and classic, Kappa’s a great source for stocking stuffers, from music boxes to yo-yos. Downtown Container Park, 702-302-9363; Linq Promenade, 702-832-9504.

It all fits together, from the giant Millennium Falcon set to the smallest mini-figure. If you like, you can buy loose bricks by the cup. Fashion Show Mall, 702-734-0290.

Star Wars action figures, My Little Pony dolls, rare lunch boxes … Rogue is the place for sentimental gifts for kids who grew up against their will. Multiple locations, roguetoys.com.

There’s something for all your friends and relations: Play-Doh sets for toddlers, Nerf shooters for preteens and Pokémon goodies for everybody. Downtown Summerlin, 702-776-8690.

A treasury of collectible toys, from the mainstream to the obscure. You’ll find Hot Wheels cars, Funko bobbleheads and anime figures you never knew existed. Neonopolis, 702538-8600. –Geoff Carter

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From left, McEntire, Bentley and Johnson will all be in town this month. (AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

Country cavalcade Delving into the many Concert options during the National Finals Rodeo By Josh Bell ountry-music stars with local residencies know that NFR time is ideal for them to schedule shows, so superstar George Strait will be in town for his latest doubleheader at T-Mobile Arena (December 8-9), playing his dozens of hits. He’ll be joined this time by opener Cam, whose new single “Diane” takes on the Dolly Parton classic “Jolene” from a different perspective. Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn will also play the latest round of shows in their team-up residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace this week (December 8-10). The Golden Nugget has been at the forefront of NFR country shows for quite a while now, and this year the Downtown property has booked more artists than ever. New to the Nugget is outlaw country/Americana singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson (December 15), whose shows can be unpredictable and varied, full of covers and obscurities from his career as a solo artist and Nashville songwriter. Harmonizing duo Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan

(December 9) will support their recent second duets album, Come See Me and Come Lonely. Big-time ’90s hitmaker Clint Black (December 14) might not be packing them in like his hat-act contemporaries Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson anymore, but he’s still just as solid a performer. Other Nugget shows include John Michael Montgomery (December 7), Brenda Lee (December 8), Charlie Daniels Band (December 10), Ronnie Milsap (December 11), Tanya Tucker (December 12) and Lonestar (December 13). The Cosmopolitan is stepping up its country game this year for the latest edition of its Boots on the Boulevard series at the Chelsea, with big mainstream country stars Cole Swindell (December 8-9), Dustin Lynch (December 10) and Dierks Bentley (December 15-16), all of whom offer variations on party-friendly bro country. They’ll be joined by perennial NFR favorite Dwight Yoakam (December 13), whose unpretentious country-rock is always a welcome counterpoint to slick modern

Nashville sounds. For more alternatives to the country mainstream, Brooklyn Bowl is getting on board with three shows this year: throwback country outlaw Cody Jinks (December 8), who has been compared to fellow iconoclasts Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson; veteran country-folk singersongwriter Corey Smith (December 9); and longrunning red dirt country group the Randy Rogers Band (December 15), which straddles the line between gritty and radio-friendly. Elsewhere around town, Vegas favorite Gary Allan, a frequent country chart-topper, will be back at the Joint (December 8-9). Country lifer Travis Tritt, who has had a long and varied career, will be at the Westgate (December 8-9). And legendary country group Alabama will be joined by founding guitarist Jeff Cook in one of his few live appearances of the year (since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease) for three shows at the Encore Theater (December 13 & 15-16).

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Fifteen years after the release of post-hardcore totem Worship and Tribute, the Long Island rabble-rousers of Glassjaw are finally back with a new LP. And the mighty Material Control shows no signs of rust: Corrosive guitars and molten basslines push one another on the throttling, discordant “New White Extremity” and the Deftones-esque “Shira;” “Closer” hews toward thrashing hardcore with metallic edges; and smears of distortion mar the doomladen “Golgotha.” The record’s sequencing adds to those abrasive moments, with Material Control building strategic breathing room into its shuddering aggression. The languid “Strange Hours” hypnotizes with straw-dry dub beats; “Bastille Day” is a droning, Indian-influenced instrumental with clattering percussion and handclaps; and the sub90-second title track combines bursts of distorted math-rock with ominous drums. Vocalist Daryl Palumbo, meanwhile, alternates between conspiratorial, melodic wails and throatshredding bursts of anguish. Brutal and uncompromising—in very deliberate ways—Material Control plays like a soundtrack to existential dread and clawing anxiety. –Annie Zaleski

Stark contrasts often yield sweet results: peanut butter and jelly, high- and low-brow art, “Ebony and Ivory”—the list goes on. And it’s true for LA crooner Miguel. The soul soldier’s fourth full-length, War & Leisure, is an exploration with two objectives: exploring the ripe emotional battleground between pleasure and pain and expanding the singer’s vast sonic palette. Booty-call banger “Come Through and Chill” is a shining example of that clash. The song juxtaposes Miguel’s smooth, jazz-tinged psychedelic funk with sharp cadences from North Carolina rapper J. Cole. The two get political, with lines like “Know you’ve been on my mind like Kaepernick kneelin’/ Or police killings, or Trump sayin’ slick sh*t.” You can practically hear an arena singalong erupt during the climax of the mantra-like chant in “Pineapple Skies”—“Everything gonna be all right”—resounding in anthemic songwriting glory. Unfortunately, Miguel’s ambition sometimes gets the best of him, and songs that follow his triedand-true formula of sexually-charged R&B/soul can feel odd filtered through a political lens. War & Leisure flaunts Miguel’s dexterity, which only works part of the time. –Ian Caramanzana

Released just a few months after Volume 1, singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton’s From a Room: Volume 2 continues right where its predecessor left off, with sparse, evocative Americana, encompassing country, blues and Southern rock and soul. Stapleton has taken advantage of his newfound fame to dust off songs he’s had in his repertoire for quite a while, and Volume 2’s nine tracks include a couple of covers along with a reworked song from Stapleton’s old bluegrass band The SteelDrivers. That gives the album a bit of an odds-and-sods feel, and there’s nothing as catchy and memorable here as Volume 1’s singles “Broken Halos” and “Either Way.” But songs like bluesy rocker “Hard Livin’,” twangy country-folk ballad “A Simple Song” and soulful Pops Staples cover “Friendship” still capture Stapleton’s mix of musical prowess and personal reflection, sung in his gritty but powerful voice (with lovely harmonies from his wife Morgane). “This hard livin’ ain’t as easy as it used to be,” he sings on “Hard Livin’,” but after three solo albums, he can still make it sound effortless. –Josh Bell

It was once unimaginable that U2 could forsake the restlessness and bravery that made it one of the world’s most exciting bands, yet Songs of Experience is the group’s third dud in a row. It’s now distressingly easy to believe in this new U2— the one that no longer takes creative risks, can’t win over a younger audience even when it provides an album gratis and makes bland festival fodder like “The Blackout” and “You’re the Best Thing About Me”— songs that don’t evoke fin de siècle U2 as much as they do other bands that were inspired by U2’s early, good stuff. When you’re making U2 music that’s only as good as Snow Patrol, it’s time to reassess. Songs of Experience has some moments. With its rolling bass and soft-sung vocal,“13 (There Is a Light)” is transportive yet personal, like a dream about flying. But the rest of Experience is buried in lyrical muck and unfortunate attempts to get current. (Hate to see Kendrick Lamar go to waste.) Three listless LPs in, it’s no longer a question of “can U2 be good again,” but whether U2 even cares. –Geoff Carter

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WEEKLY | 12.07.17

Girl power A student discovers terrifying abilities in Thelma

James Franco as Tommy Wiseau as Johnny. (A24/Courtesy)

Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier’s previous films have been subdued dramas focused mostly on internal conflicts, and sometimes a little too understated for their own good. Maybe what those movies were missing was a dose of the supernatural—Trier’s fourth feature, Thelma, is his best, a mesmerizing story about a teenage girl whose repressed sexuality manifests itself in dangerous telekinetic and telepathic powers. It’s a bit like Carrie reimagined as a Scandinavian art film, but the constant threat of otherworldly peril gives even the slower moments a sense of the unpredictable and unsettling. The title character (Eili Harboe) is in her first year at a big-city university after growing up in an isolated rural area with her strict Christian parents, and she’s overwhelmed by everything from parties to studies to the widespread availability of alcohol. Most overwhelming, however, are her romantic feelings for classmate Anja (Kaya Wilkins), often accompanied by violent seizures and flickering lights. The movie is slow to reveal the source of Thelma’s powers, and their exact nature is never entirely clear, but the performances and Trier’s chilly, aloof visual style make the movie consistently creepy, whether Thelma is shattering windows or just trying to communicate with another human being. –Josh Bell

aaabc THELMA Eili Harboe, Kaya Wilkins, Henrik Rafaelsen. Directed by Joachim Trier. Not rated. Opens Friday at Village Square.

best worst movie James Franco celebrates a famous failure in The Disaster Artist By Josh Bell ommy Wiseau’s only feature film, 2003’s moving together to LA, where they decide to The Room, is notoriously one of the worst take control of their careers by making a movie movies ever made (or one of the best bad of their own (financed by Tommy’s mysterious, movies ever made, depending on how seemingly endless personal fortune). you look at it), while James Franco is a celebrity James Franco gives a deeply committed with starring roles in mainstream performance as Tommy, nailing the Hollywood movies and numerous accent, mannerisms and almost alien aaacc award nominations. But Wiseau and demeanor, and the movie plays like THE DISASTER Franco are kindred spirits in their an extended remix, meticulously reARTIST willingness to put themselves out creating some of the most famously James Franco, there, to look foolish in the pursuit of awkward and ridiculous moments Dave Franco, art, and Franco’s film about the makfrom The Room. It’s hard to say Alison Brie. Directed by ing of The Room is more of a loving what value Disaster has for people James Franco. tribute than an exposé. unfamiliar with The Room, who may Rated R. Based on the memoir by Wiseau’s wonder what the big deal is about this Opens Friday citywide. friend and The Room star Greg Sesmildly affecting story of friendship tero, The Disaster Artist stars Franco among misfits, but Franco packs the as Tommy and his brother Dave Francast with enough comedy ringers co as Greg, who meets Tommy in an acting class (including Seth Rogen, Paul Scheer, June Diane in San Francisco in 1998. Greg is a 19-year-old Raphael and many more) to make the movie with all-American good looks, while Tommy consistently amusing. It might not be as amusis a craggy-looking weirdo of indeterminate ing as discovering the mind-boggling awfulness age and national origin, but they connect over of The Room for the first time, but it’s a decent their mutual dreams of stardom. Soon they’re intro to the madness.

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AWA R D S F O R C L A R K C O U N T Y S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

THE SMITH CENTER AND THE ROGERS FOUNDATION ARE PROUD TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON GREAT TEACHERS IN THE CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2018

Visit

TheHeartOfEducation.org

Anyone can nominate a teacher who goes above and beyond. Tell us a compelling story!

nominated teachers will receive an invitation to complete a short application

800 finalists will be invited with a guest to a special evening at The Smith Center in their honor. For details and sponsorship information: TheHeartOfEducation.org

TOP 20 finalists will receive

$5,000 and a Heart of Education Award

PLUS $1,000 FOR THEIR SCHOOL

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks work on Saving Private Ryan. (HBO/Courtesy)

pop culture

WEEKLY | 12.07.17

Henderson Events Plaza 200 S. Water St.

Friday, December 8 6pm-9pm Mayor March and Santa Light the Tree Fireworks

Saturday, December 9 Noon-8pm Toboggan run Santa visits Action-lighted tree Craft and gift show Carolers Ferris Wheel Make and take crafts

Evening Light Parade at 5pm

cityofhenderson.com 702-267-4849 Schedule is subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. Management reserves all rights. Some activities require paid admission.

What’s up? Docs From Spielberg to Voyeur , there’s new documentary gold to mine his year I’ve watched my share of documentaries whose subjects are either boring and overblown (Gaga: Five Foot Two) or fascinating yet stretched too thin (78/52, about the shower scene in Psycho), but thankfully fall has welcomed a slew of docs that involve subjects both worthy and well-handled. Given that HBO’s Spielberg centers on the world’s most successful film director, you’d think it would be chock-full of ego and hot air. But what’s so wonderful about the Spielberg in Spielberg is what a likable dork he is. One might eye-roll at the idea of Spielberg having struggles, but the man’s demons—his parents’ divorce, his critics, his relationship with religion—are Cultural attachment relatable. Things do get a tad gassy in the final half hour (“Spielberg is great!” barks by smith everyone in Hollywood ever), but that’s galtney more than compensated by all the vintage home movies: Spielberg goofing off with Scorsese and De Palma, Spielberg doing a really bad impression of Julia Child, etc. Jim Carrey is a master impressionist, but when Miloš Foreman cast him as Andy Kaufman in 1999’s Man on the Moon, Carrey took things one step further and actually became Kaufman. Netflix’s Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond documents the craziness Carrey instigated on set and off, and the results are deeply strange and often excruciating to watch. What seems like a prank at first—Carrey insists on being called “Andy”—soon gives way to something more tormented: the need to get it right. When an exhausted

Foreman questions the insanity, Carrey says, “Well, we can fire Andy, and I can just do an impression.” Both men knew that was in no way an option. In Netflix’s Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, the writer discusses “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” her 1967 essay about the hippies of Haight-Ashbury in which she meets a 5-year-old named Susan, whose mother dosed her with LSD. When asked what it was like to encounter something like that, Didion says, “Well, it was …” and pauses. When she finds the right words, they’re not what you expect: “Let me tell you, it was gold.” Joan Didion was in the business of creating great copy, not saving children, and that’s what makes her and this documentary so endlessly riveting. Those lines between observer and participant, morality and indecency get blurred in Netflix’s Voyeur, which charts the relationship between journalist Gay Talese and Gerald Foos, a motel owner who spied on his guests for decades before Talese published a New Yorker article and book about him. Lots of table-turning ensues as Foos reveals himself to be an unreliable source, Talese disowns his book and the camera crew’s presence reminds both men what little control they have over their respective legacies. Speaking of soiled legacies, the two-part HBO docuseries Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge has one primary purpose: restore dignity to the once-mighty publication. What could’ve been a total whitewash is actually a pretty gritty account of the magazine’s history. But then the culture deteriorates, the editors publish a bogus story about rape on campus that undermines Rolling Stone’s impressive reportorial record and Trump ascends to the Oval Office. As endings go, it’s pretty sad and depressing.

N E VA D A B A L L E T T H E AT R E ’ S

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Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography by James Canfield

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The Psychic Hillbilly already knows he’ll see you at the Space. (Chris DeVargas/Staff)

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Yee-haw! Hill Bill isn’t just your cousin. He can also read your mind By C. Moon Reed e wears a rope belt and overalls, a goofy smile and The result is a wacky comedy magic show with a downan Appalachian drawl. Hill Bill, The Psychic Hillhome twist. Expect roadkill jokes, a chorus of dancing billy and self-proclaimed “mind noodler,” is a far kinfolk and baseball cards in place of the usual playing cry from your usual debonair Strip magicians— cards. While Donnelly isn’t actually Appalachian (he’s from unless you count a Bowie knife as a typical choice for a New Jersey), the show is indeed a family affair. The show magic wand. But then again, Bill isn’t your usual magichoreographer is Donnelly’s wife, Sarah Lowe, whose chocian. In fact, he’s not a magician at all—he’s a character reography credits include TV’s Crazy-Ex Girlfriend. Doncreated by actor and podcaster Matt Donnelly. nelly’s longtime comedy partner Paul Mattingly Donnelly himself is no magician. He’s the performs as a sock puppet named The Sock-ic The Psychic head writer for television’s Penn & Teller: Fool Heel Billy. Together, they host the podcast Matt Hillbilly Us and co-host of the podcast Penn’s Sunday & Mattingly’s Ice Cream Social, which Donnelly December School. As a jack of all jokes, Donnelly saw an says tallies more than 100,000 downloads each 7-10, 10 p.m., opportunity in the association. All it took was a month. In fact, Donnelly chose a hillbilly perso$25-$50. The Space, dare from Penn Jillette to “actually learn some na to make fun of the Kentucky-bred Mattingly. 702-903-1070. damn magic,” and Hill Bill was born. At a recent dress rehearsal, Donnelly was busy “I am embarrassed by how many connections adapting the trick bestowed upon him by the I have to the titans of the magic world,” Donfamously mute magician Teller. He had to create nelly said in his show’s Indiegogo campaign, which has words to go along with the routine, which wasn’t too hard raised $16,601 dollars (180 percent of its goal). “Respectfor the improv performer and consummate talker. fully, I approached Penn, Teller, Johnny Thompson, Piff This show never goes the same way twice,” director RJ and more, and asked them, ‘Will you teach me one trick?’ Owens says. “That’s the best thing about working with They all said yes.” Matt. His improv skills are the best.”

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64 las vegas weekly 1 2 . 0 7. 17

sports

welcome to the big time Some hard-earned wisdom from a Canadian hockey lifer By Sean McIndoe as Vegas, can we talk? On behalf of Canadian hockey fans everywhere, I’d like to offer you a belated welcome to the National Hockey League. Now that the Golden Knights are officially the league’s 31st team, we wanted to reach out and make sure you feel at home. We’ll send along a poutine and maple syrup basket later. And yes, I realize it’s a bit of a belated welcome. As Canadians are fond of saying, sorry about that. The thing is, we thought we had more time. See, the way it usually works in the NHL is that you get a team and then you spend the first few years being terrible. You show up, you lose and you keep losing—and you’re fine with it because you’re just happy to be here. The rest of us don’t have to really get to know you until you’re ready to be competitive a few seasons down the line. You guys have apparently decided to skip that part and go straight to being a real team. Just over a quarter of the way into your first season, you’ve beaten plenty of the more established teams while holding down a playoff spot. At first, we figured it was a phase you were going through, but you seem to be sticking with it. So we’d better get your orientation done now. I’m here to help. Being an NHL fan really is all sorts of fun, as long as you stick to certain rules that will help you get the most out of the experience. Here are some tips to get you started.

Learn to love the game (but only the right parts). This is important. Here’s what you like now: fast action, crazy stickhandling, highlight-reel goals and big saves. In time, you’ll be expected to like everyone who plays on the fourth line, good news for you since expansion teams usually start with three of them. Also, Marc-Andre Fleury, if you happen to have one handy. You do? That’s a solid start.

Here’s what you Don’t like. Commissioner Gary Bettman, the referees, the replay review war room, the Department of Player Safety, Gary Bettman, anyone who seems to be having fun, every fan of every other team, Sidney Crosby (for reasons nobody’s quite clear on), and Gary Bettman. Yes, I know he just handed you a team and you feel like you should show some gratitude, but trust me: Nothing will get you accepted into the hockey fan fellowship faster than hating on Gary Bettman. Think of him as Roger Goodell … without the charisma.

65 las vegas weekly 1 2 . 0 7. 17

The Golden Knights have started out stronger than most anyone expected. (L.E. Baskow/Staff)

Appreciate the small stuff. Hockey’s known for the speed and skill on display every night, and you’ll occasionally get to see big plays that bring you out of your seat. But as you get to know the game, learn to value the smaller skills. The way Crosby shields the puck from the defender, how Connor McDavid somehow gets faster when he has possession, Erik Karlsson picking pucks out of midair with almost impossible hand-eye coordination. At first the game might seem too fast to pick up on any of that, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll start to see it.

Study the way the goaltenders play. It’s the most important position in the game, and playing it well goes beyond making highlight-reel saves. Watch how goalies come out to cut down the angle, how they keep their heads steady while trying to look around all the bodies in front of them and the subtle way they cushion shots to prevent rebounds. (Study this stuff extra closely. At the rate the Knights are going through goalies, you’re going to be playing net by the weekend.)

Learn to handle losing.

Pace yourself.

Sure, you haven’t done much of it yet, but those days are bound to come. And when they do, don’t abandon hope, because losing isn’t all bad. For one, it’s how you get the best odds for the draft lottery, which in turn is pretty much the only way to get an elite, franchise player. More importantly, the NHL gives out points for losing. No, really. You think I’m joking, but I promise you I’m not. Losing is a rite of passage for new teams and lays the groundwork for better days ahead. Learn to love the game now, even if the early winning fades.

Being a hockey fan can get kind of intense, and you’ll want to take the occasional break. Luckily, Bettman recognizes this, and shuts the entire league down for a half-season or so every few years. They told you about that part, right? You’ll want to find yourself a temporary hobby for when the league disappears in 2020. You know, right around the time you were supposed to get good. See? None of that’s too hard. You’re practically half-Canadian already. Follow these steps, and it will be the start of a beautiful friendship.

66 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 1 2 . 0 7. 17

GO AHEAD, ORDER MORE DIG IN DOWNTOWN WITH 7TH & CARSON’S SMALL-PLATES MENU BY LESLIE VENTURA

rom his first foray into the local dining scene at Roy’s to his latest venture as chef at Inyo Asian Variety, chef Gregg Fortunato has been part of the Las Vegas restaurant galaxy for more than a decade. The New York native—who also worked at the Palms’ Little Buddha and the Cosmopolitan’s original Blue Ribbon—has embarked on a new chapter, heading up Downtown’s 7th & Carson, the small plates-focused restaurant that replaced Glutton this past summer. The menu is divided into quarters—“oven,” “earth,” “sea” and “land”—but that doesn’t make choosing any easier. Just about everything’s worth trying and sharing, making it perfect for dates or larger groups. The cocktail program, helmed by Oscar Takahashi, also demands exploring. Order from the list or have him create something unique before you dive into the braised oxtail toast ($11)—tender, juicy oxtail slathered in a dark and savory beer gravy and topped with cheese curds and sea salt. The menu also borrows from a number of different cuisines. For a light but savory option, try the lamb sausage pizzetta ($14), which finds the Greek flavors of a traditional gyro—lamb, feta, pickled red onion, yogurt and dill—mingling on grilled flatbread. The lemonfish ceviche ($13), tossed in a green tomato gazpacho and served with crispy sweet potato chips, is a light and refreshing choice, which sets up the octopus ($13), grilled to perfection with the perfect amount of char and served with white beans, serrano peppers and a smoked paprika vinaigrette. Heavier, rib-sticking dishes are peppered throughout the creative menu, including smoked pork belly ($13)—thick chunks of fatty and juicy meat crisped on the outside and paired with an intense truffle honey, Bay Blue cheese crumbles and chicharrons. Whatever route you take, don’t skip the C.F.C. wings ($11), golden-brown fried chicken sprinkled in a spicy “house dust” and served with honey and hot sauce. It’s one dish you can’t miss, no matter how many times you’ve visited or how many of these fun small plates you’ve tried.

7TH & CARSON 616 E. Carson Ave., 702-868-3355. Thursday-Monday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Duckling pot pies are just some of the tasty treats at 7th & Carson. (Mikayla Whitmore/Staff)

food & drink

las vegas weekly 1 2 . 0 7. 17

Contento’s namesake pizza features three cheeses, sausage, rapini and white bean puree. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

From New Orleans to Mexico, Fish King Grill treats seafood right

North star Contento comes out of nowhere to liven up a classic casino

It’s time to go back to eat at Jerry’s Nugget. Contento’s eponymous offering ($12) is a hearty, If you didn’t know Jerry’s Famous Coffee satisfying treasure with white bean puree, mozzaShop is a Vegas diner institution—beloved rella, mascarpone, ricotta, sausage and rapini. The for its stellar onion rings, prime rib, cheesecake and Margherita ($9) is a simple classic, while the Aneclairs—you’ve got some catching up to gelo ($13) pairs three cheeses with fried do. And there’s a new reason to dine at the eggplant and nduja, a sort of spreadable Contento 50-year-old North Las Vegas casino, one so salami. No one dreamed of eating this Pizzeria & Bar unexpectedly delicious. food at this casino. Jerry’s Nugget, 702-399-3000; Doug Taylor, former executive pastry Contento has garnered attention for its Sunday-Thursday, chef for Mario Batali’s Las Vegas operahappy-hour deals (Monday-Friday from 3 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; tions, recently snagged a similar post at to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. until closing time), inFriday & Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. cluding $6 cocktails and glasses of wine and Jerry’s Nugget. While he’s been upgrading Jerry’s in-house bakery, he has also snacks and pizzas ranging from $6 to $10. pitched in at the new Contento Pizzeria But the food is so tasty, the value is high at & Bar, where Sicilian-born executive chef Ismaele any hour. There’s no restaurant anywhere near here Romano—whose Pizzeria Sapori in Newport Beach when you can get branzino with salsa verde and tomato was named Orange County’s best pizza by the Orange couscous ($26) or orecchiette with sausage, cannellini County Register—is firing beautifully bubbly pies bean puree and Calabrian chiles ($14). Check it out with excellent crust and interesting toppings. before it becomes an all-out hit. –Brock Radke

Las Vegas has high-end seafood restaurants putting out the freshest product available, and it also has casual and fastfood joints that fry into oblivion whatever they can get. But what about the in-between? What if you’re looking for a nice piece of fish but don’t want to break the bank? Industry veteran Miguel Mercado is showcasing varied influences—at $10-$20 a meal—at Fish King Grill, two miles east of the Silverton. The restaurant’s website touts the chef’s “passion for New Orleans,” and that’s evident in much of his food. The po’ boys ($9.50-$13) are as good as any in the city and feature several different seafood options. Blackened catfish might not have the crunch of its fried counterpart, but the flavor more than makes up for it. The Paul Prudhomme-invented technique creates a spicy exterior and juicy interior for the fish, a perfect match for the crusty roll, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. All the different fish options here can be grilled with garlic butter, blackened or prepared Veracruz-style with a tomato-based sauce and garlic, olives, olive oil, peppers and capers. Look out for specials, like a top-notch fish and chips featuring flaky, beerbattered cod. With its large menu, friendly price point and excellent, well-prepared product, Fish King Grill has filled the seafood void. –Jason Harris

FISH KING GRILL 500 E. Windmill Lane #145, 702-844-1786. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

CALENDAR

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 1 2 . 0 7. 17

MUSIC

Nerdcore rapper MC Chris pops into Beauty Bar on December 11. (Courtesy)

BACKSTAGE BAR & BILLIARDS Johnny Cash Tribute 12/7, 8 pm. The Spill Canvas, Wild, Super Whatevr, Kat Kalling 12/9, 8 pm, $15-$17. 601 E. Fremont St., 702-382-2227. BEAUTY BAR Little Miss Nasty, Bullets and Octane, Gina & The Eastern Block, Black Rhino 12/8, 8 pm, $15. MC Chris, Mega Ran, Late for Dinner, Time Crashers 12/11, 8 pm, $15. Wvrm, Funeral Chic, Casket Raider 12/13, 8 pm, $10. 517 Fremont St., 702-598-3757. BUNKHOUSE SALOON Moving Units, The Von Kin, DJ Hektor Rawkerz 12/8, 10 pm, $12-$14. Home Cookin’, The Soul Joos Band 12/9, 9 pm $10. Karaoke 12/11, 9 pm, free. The Steel Benders 12/13, 9 pm, free. 124 S. 11th St., 702-854-1414. COUNT’S VAMP’D The Hellenbacks, The Saints of Las Vegas 12/7, 9:30 pm, free. Electric Radio Kings, Queens of Noise 12/8, 9:30 pm, free. Puppet, For the Fight, Bipolar 12/9, 9 pm, free. John Zito Electric Jam 12/13, 9 pm, free. 750 W. Sahara Ave., 702-220-8849. THE DISPENSARY LOUNGE JoBelle Yonley 12/8. Scott Whitfield, Ginger Berglund 12/9. Shows 10 pm, free unless noted. 2451 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-458-6343. DIVE BAR The Creepshow, Dead at Midnite 12/7, 8 pm, $10-$12. The Rifleman, Box Cutters, The Wreckless, Lambs to Lions, Infested, Analog Law 11/8, 6 pm, $10. Sector 7-G, The Negative Nancys, Whiskey Breath, Barnyard Stompers, Franks & Deans 12/9, 6 pm, $10. The Pluralses, Queens of Noise, The People’s Whiskey, The Scoundrels 12/10, 8 pm, free. 4110 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-586-3483. DOUBLE DOWN SALOON Pin-Ups on Tour 12/7. Chainsaw Fight, Geezus Cryst & Free Beer, Decaying TIgers, 24 Beers Later 12/9. The Bargain DJ Collective 12/11. Unique Massive 12/12, midnight. Shows 10 pm, free unless noted. 4640 Paradise Road, 702-791-5775.

PERFORMING ARTS & CULTURE BAOBAB STAGE THEATRE Tribal Night 12/7, 7:30 pm, $20-$35. Glowing Fashion Show 12/9, 9 pm. Town Square, 702-369-6649. CHARLESTON HEIGHTS ARTS CENTER Rainbow Company: The Wizard of Oz Thru 12/10, days & times vary, $6. 800 Brush St., 702-229-2787.

CLARK COUNTY LIBRARY Las Vegas Stories: Boomtown 1905 12/7, 7 pm, free. Christmas Angels dance recital 12/8, 6:30 pm., $16EAGLE AERIE HALL A Fight at Daybreak, The $20. Las Vegas Brass Band 12/10, 2 Lesser Evil, Silence Speaks, Dredge pm. Aloha Nui Loa dancers 12/11, 2 the Lake, Victimless, Set Your pm, free. Moses Hazan: Marilyn Anchor, Shinebright 12/13, 5 pm, Uncovered 12/13, 6 pm, $15. $11. 310 W. Pacific Ave., 702THE UNLV Jazz Vocal Ensemble 568-8927 RESOURCE w/Jazzmin 12/13, 7 pm. 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-50711TH STREET RECORDS For comprehensive 3400. Dark Black, Brett Vee, casino venue Moonblood, Oversight 12/8, listings, look inside CSN PERFORMING ARTS 8 pm, free. 1023 Fremont St., Industry Weekly. CENTER (Horn Theatre) CSN 702-527-7990. Winter Choral Concert 12/7, 7 pm, $5-$8. (Backstage Theatre) GILLEY’S SALOON Rob Staley CSN Big Band Concert 12/12, 7 pm, Band 12/7-12/8, 10 pm. Chauncey $5-$8. CSN Calypso Coyote Steel Drum Williams & The Younger Brothers Band & Percussion Ensemble 12/13, 7 pm, Band 12/9-12/11, 10 pm. Trick Pony 12/12-12/13, $5-$8. 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., 702-651-5483. 11 pm. Shows $10-$20. Treasure Island, 702-894-7722. HENDERSON EVENTS PLAZA WinterFest 12/8, 6-9 pm; 12/9, noon-8 pm; free. 200 S. Water St., SAND DOLLAR LOUNGE Sin City 4 12/7. 702-267-2171 Chris Tofield 12/8. The Rayford Brothers 12/9. Jimmy Powers & The Hang Dynasty 12/10. THE MOB MUSEUM David Howard: Jimmy McIntosh 12/12. Harpdog Brown & Chasing Phil 12/2, 2 pm, free w/admission. The Travelin’ Blues Show 12/13. Shows 10 pm, 300 Stewart Ave., themobmuseum.org. free unless noted. 3355 Spring Mountain Road, 702-485-5401. RAINBOW LIBRARY Duo Mystique Flute & Harp: Holiday Concert 12/9, noon, free. STONEY’S ROCKIN’ COUNTRY Brodie Stewart, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive, 702-507-3710. CJ Solar 12/8, 9 pm, $5-$20. Morgan Wallen 12/9, 10 pm, $10-$20. Troy Cartwright, Kenton Bryant SAHARA WEST LIBRARY Benedict Kloeckner 12/10, 9 pm $5-$20. Town Square, 702-435-2855.

12/8, 2 pm, free. CSN Big Band Holiday Concert 12/10, 2 pm, free. 9600 W. Sahara Ave., 702507-3630. THE SMITH CENTER (Reynolds Hall) Nevada Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker 12/9-12/24, days & times vary, $29-$179. (Cabaret Jazz) Clint Holmes: Holmes for the Holidays 12/8, 7 pm; 12/9, 2:30 & 6 pm; $37-$59. Frankie Moreno: With Plenty of Mistletoe 12/15, 8 pm; 12/16, 5 & 8 pm; $30-$42. 702-749-2000.

LOCAL THEATER LAS VEGAS LITTLE THEATRE (Mainstage) What the Butler Saw Thru 12/17, days & times vary, $21-$24. 3920 Schiff Drive, 702-362-7996. MAJESTIC REPERTORY THEATRE Every Christmas Story Every Told 12/8-12/23, days & times vary, $20. Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs 12/9-12/23, days & times vary, $5-$10. Alios 1217 S. Main St., 702-478-9636.

THE SPACE The Psychic Hillbilly 12/7-12/10, 10 pm, $25-$50. John Lloyd Young 12/8-12/9, 8 pm, $45-$85. Jonathan Karrant 12/12, 9 pm, $10. The Moonshiners 12/13, 10 pm, $15. 460 Cavaretta Court, 702-903-1070.

NEVADA CONSERVATORY THEATER A Christmas Carol Thru 12/17, days & times vary, $28-$33. UNLV’s Alta Ham Fine Arts, 702-895-2787.

SUMMERLIN LIBRARY Las Vegas Classic Guitar Ensemble Holiday Concert 12/10, 2 pm, free. 1771 Inner Circle Drive, 702-507-3860.

SIGNATURE PRODUCTIONS A Signature Christmas 12/7-12/9, 7:30 pm; 12/9, 2 pm; $15$25. Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, 702-507-3860.

UNLV (Artemus W. Ham Hall) Las Vegas Youth Orchestra: Winter Concert 12/9, 2 pm, $11-$16. (Beam Music Center) UNLV Choral Ensembles: The Flattened Earth 12/7, 7:30 pm, $8-$10. Musical Arts Chorus: Christmas With the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society 12/9, 3 pm, $12-$15. (Barrick Museum) Dave Hickey: On Writing lecture 12/12, 7 pm, $2-$5 suggested donation. 702-895-2787. WHITNEY LIBRARY Benedict Kloeckner 12/7, 6 pm, free. 5175 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-507-4010.

THEATRE IN THE VALLEY Snow Child Thru 12/17; Fri, 7:30 pm; Sat, 3 & 7:30 pm; Sun 2 pm; $10-$15. 10 W. Pacific Ave., 702-558-7275.

GALLERIES & MUSEUMS CLARK COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER ROTUNDA GALLERY Holly Rae Vaughn: Collide Thru 1/19. Reception 12/14. Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm. 500 Grand Central Parkway, 702-455-7030.

WINCHESTER CULTURAL CENTER The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon 11/30-12/2, 6 pm, $8; 12/2, 2 pm, $7. Star Catchers Dance Winter Recital 12/8, 7 pm, $8. American Not So Idle 12/13, 2 pm, $5. 3130 S. McLeod Drive, 702-455-7340.

WEST CHARLESTON LIBRARY AIDS Memorial Quilt Thru 12/12. Mon-Thu, 10 am-8 pm; Fri-Sun, 10 am-6 pm. 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-507-3940.

THE WRITER’S BLOCK Wayne Avrashow reading & signing 12/7, 7 pm. EXPO ft. Vegas authors 12/8, 7 pm. Local Author Showcase 12/9, 5 pm. All events free unless noted. 1020 Fremont St., 702-550-6399.

WINCHESTER CULTURAL CENTER GALLERY Nancy Good: See, Touch and Go Dream: The Burning Man Tapestries Thru 1/1. Artist reception 12/12, 5:30 pm, free. Tue-Fri, 10 am-8 pm; Sat, 9 am-6 pm. 3130 S. McLeod Drive, 702-455-7340.

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