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NEW GROUP AIMS TO ADVANCE WOMEN IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY Restaurateur Elizabeth Blau and MGM Resorts International executive Mary Choi Kelly unveiled their new organization, the Women’s Hospitality Initiative (WHI), on January 8. The organization is geared at helping women achieve greater leadership skills in the food and beverage sector. Created to accelerate “the development and advancement of women in the restaurant and hospitality industry,” WHI recognizes “the gender disparity that exists at every level of the restaurant community” and “will focus on building a pipeline to place and promote women in leadership through programs that provide training, advocacy ... and management skills,” according to a news release. “While many graduating culinary students are women, females represent just a small portion of executive chefs or restaurant owners, especially in Las Vegas,” Blau said in the same release. “Our goal is to achieve gender equity here.” Other WHI members include Philippa Fryman, vice president of food and beverage at Venetian and Palazzo; Secret Burger founder Jolene Mannina and Border Grill chefs/owners Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. WHI will screen A Fine Line, a documentary by Joanna James that examines the culinary industry’s gender gap, February 18 at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre. –Leslie Ventura
WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD EV E N T S T O F O L L OW A N D N EWS YO U M I SS E D
A visitor interacts with “Wishing Well,” a live sculpture by Jennifer Henry, during the opening reception of My Two Cents, a pop-up art show at Core Contemporary gallery in collaboration with Nevada for Warren on January 10. The show’s mission statement was to “explore free speech and how artists express their cultural, societal or political observations through their art.” (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
IN THIS ISSUE
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Developer J Dapper puts his stamp on Downtown
CULTURE
Tool at T-Mobile, Majordomo and foodie Kim Foster
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Sports: Uncertainty surrounds McGregor’s return Politics: Sisolak had a busy first year as governor Vegas Inc: City’s evolution attracts California business
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STORIES FROM LAST WEEK PROHIBITION ANNIVERSARY January 17 marked the 100-year anniversary of the beginning of Prohibition, which lasted until December 1933 and is now viewed as a failed experiment that glamorized illegal drinking. Today, Americans consume more alcohol per capita now than in the time leading up to Prohibition, when alcohol opponents successfully made the case that excessive drinking was ruining family life. BIG SALE ON THE STRIP MGM Resorts International is selling the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay resorts to a joint venture for about $2.5 billion, it was announced January 14. The joint venture includes privateequity and real estate company Blackstone Group and MGM Growth Properties LLC. The joint venture will be owned 50.1% by MGM Growth Properties and 49.9% by Blackstone. WNBA PLAYERS GET A RAISE A new collective bargaining agreement announced January 14 will pay the WNBA’s top players in excess of $500,000, more than tripling their earnings potential under the previous deal. For the first time in league history, the average compensation for players will surpass $100,000.
HE SAID WHAT?
“We have a very good relationship with Saudi Arabia—I said, ‘Listen, you’re a very rich country. You want more troops? I’m going to send them to you, but you’ve got to pay us.’ They’re paying us. They’ve already deposited $1B in the bank.” –President Donald Trump, in an interview January 11 on Fox News
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LGBTQ SPORTS FESTIVAL The world’s largest annual LGBTQ sporting event returns to Southern Nevada this weekend for its 13th year this week, with over 8,000 participants competing in 24 sports. This year’s festival adds four new sports: basketball, indoor rowing, spikeball and steel tip darts. The festival also includes nightly social events, including an openingnight registration party January 17 and closing-night celebration January 19 at the Linq Promenade’s Brooklyn Bowl. MARIJUANA TAX REVENUE The Nevada Department of Taxation reported January 13 that a state-best $9.8 million in marijuana tax revenue was collected by the state in October, the largest total since recreational sales became legal in July 2017.
The Vegas Golden Knights made a stunning move January 15, relieving head coach Gerard Gallant (above) and assistant coach Mike Kelly of their duties and hiring Peter DeBoer (inset) as head coach. DeBoer, 51, coached the San Jose Sharks to a 198-129-34 record over parts of five seasons before he was dismissed December 11. At 24-19-6 the day Gallant was fired, the Knights were outside of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, though by some statistical measures, the Golden Knights should have been faring much better. The Golden Knights had the second-best expected-goals percentage in the NHL at 54.8% and the second-best share of scoring chances (55.4%) and were third-best in Corsi (53.6), which measures the shot-attempt differential while at evenstrength play. This is the second time in three years Gallant has been fired by a team, having been dismissed as coach of the Florida Panthers in January 2017. He led the Knights to a 118-75-20 record over parts of three seasons, including a Stanley Cup Finals appearance and third-place Pacific Division finish. In Florida, he amassed a record of 96-65-25, finishing first in the Atlantic Division in his second year with the team. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION LOOKS TO CURB CLIMATE CHANGE’S IMPACTS The larger the problem, the more people are usually needed to help solve it. To address one of the biggest problems in the world—climate change—a variety of Nevada environmental and social justice groups have combined to create the Nevada Climate Justice Coalition (NCJC). “We’re really worried about the future of our state, especially Southern Nevada being a desert and one of the fastest-warming cities in the country,” says Laura Martin, executive director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Her group is part of the new coalition, along with the Sierra Club, 350.org, Mi Familia Vota, Ecomadres and Sunrise Movement. “We have to take bold action; we can’t just keep doing the same and hoping somehow it’ll all come together and it’ll be OK.” For its first order of business, the coalition is focusing on challenging the proposed Clark County lands bill. Instead of more sprawl, it would like to promote “climate-friendly, sustainable development,” according to a news release. It’s promoting policies for in-fill development, housing equity, increased public transit, the elimination of food deserts and the mitigation of the urban heat island effect. “We have to worry about our water, our electricity and what development means other than just having new things,” Martin says. “We have a chance to build a lands bill that is a model for the rest of the country and is responsible.” For more information, follow the group on Twitter at @NCJCoalition. –C. Moon Reed
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5-MINUTE EXPERT
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Post as little information as possible on social media
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO CYBERSECURITY BY KELCIE GREGA
o matter who you are, the private information you have stored online is valuable, and cybercriminals want to access it. In the first half of 2019, data breaches exposed more than 4.1 million private records, according to Risk Based Security, a cybersecurity company specializing in data breach research. ¶ “People may think, ‘I’m not that important, and I don’t have billions of dollars, why are they interested in me?’ ” says Vito Rocco, senior information security analyst and supervisor at the UNLV Office of Information Technology. “But it’s far easier to steal a small amount of money and information from people who aren’t concerned with cybersecurity than it is to steal from companies that are largely concerned about cybersecurity.” ¶ Cybersecurity terms like encryption, two-step authentication and VPN can mystify the technology-averse and discourage them from taking necessary protective actions. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your personal information stays personal.
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QUICK FACTS In the first half of 2019, data breaches exposed more than 4.1 million private records. Source: Risk Based Security
Almost 90% of leaked information is caused by human error. Source: Willis Towers Watson, Insurance Consulting and Technology
More than 40% of companies have unprotected sensitive files open to every employee. Source: TechRepublic
Nearly 60 million Americans had their identity stolen last year, an increase from 15 million in 2017. Source: The Harris Poll
Social media is a major culprit when it comes to sabotaging your cybersecurity, Rocco says. He advises users to limit what they post and update your security settings to ensure you know who is viewing your content. Rocco adds that posting something as simple as a vacation or night out can be dangerous, as it might alert home invaders of when you aren’t home. “If you’re careful not to accept random invitations, you can open up more if you know everyone who is looking at your information,” Rocco says.
Update and back up your devices Those pesky software update alerts that pop up on your phone or computer are a lot like your morning alarm: a necessity you want to ignore. But don’t click “remind me later” if you don’t have to. The sooner you update, the better. “When those updates are released, it’s in response to a security flaw,” Rocco says. A software vulnerability means there’s a hole or weakness in the program that hackers can exploit. Software updates include things called “software patches” that cover up these holes. Always make sure to back up important files and information elsewhere, on an external hard drive or to a cloud server.
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5-MINUTE EXPERT
WHEN YOU NEED TO SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION For information you don’t want seen by your internet service provider or used against you in a court of law, you probably should be using encrypted messaging or end-to-end encryption. Through these methods, text-based communication and attachments are scrambled between users, making them unreadable to anyone outside the conversation.
Be wary of public Wi-Fi Next time you jump onto an unprotected network or public Wi-Fi, think about what you’re using that free internet for, Rocco says. Hackers can often find vulnerabilities in these networks and code in malicious software. Some will even set up fake hot spots to lure in unsuspecting internet browsers, making their devices an easy target for malware attacks. “Connecting to an open Wi-Fi that doesn’t require a password is usually not a great idea,” Rocco said. He did say that general browsing on public networks is usually OK; he just wouldn’t recommend someone do their personal banking in public.
Encrypted messaging apps ■ Signal ■ WhatsApp ■ Wickr ■ Wire
PASSWORDS THAT ARE EASY TO CRACK ■ Common sequences and phrases like “123456” “qwerty” or “password” ■ Any personal information like your date or place of birth ■ Your pet’s name ■ Single dictionary words ■ Your name or username ■ Anything relevant to your interests
You’re only as strong as your password A good place to start when securing private information is using strong passwords, Rocco says. When used correctly, passwords are a simple and effective way to protect data from unauthorized access. Rocco says every password should be long, unique and unpredictable. And the same password should not be used for multiple accounts. He has seen a lot of issues with compromised passwords. “Just because sites like Google or your bank account may have great security, doesn’t mean every account has great security,” he says. Cybercriminals can crack passwords through a variety of ways, from physically stealing them (when they are written down and close to a device) to the automated guessing of millions of passwords. That’s why Rocco advises the use of a password manager (such as Dashlane, Keeper or LastPass), which can help a user generate and retrieve complex passwords. Rocco also suggests setting up two-step authentication, also known as two-factor authentication or simply 2FA. With 2FA, you’re required to provide two methods of identification before utilizing a service. For example, a passcode would be sent to a mobile phone or email. Users can also use a hardware device known as a Yubikey for their second form of authentication. “I’m a big proponent of [2FA],” Rocco says. “It’s like locking your front door and then setting up the burglar alarm.”
MORE PASSWORD TIPS ■ Always set up a password on your device or phone. Even a simple, fourdigit code is better than nothing. ■ Don’t reuse a password, even if it’s been a while since you’ve used it. ■ Never share passwords or leave them written down near your devices. ■ Never send passwords through email. ■ If entering a password in a public place, make sure no one is watching. ■ Only use “remember password” browser features on personal computers.
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
BY GEOFF CARTER
J Dapper stands in front of his renovated property, Huntridge Center. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
“What’s your favorite new development in Downtown?” J Dapper asks. “Please don’t say one of mine.” It’s a fair question. There are a number of developers that have literally and figuratively staked out ground in Downtown Las Vegas. I like Sam Cherry’s residential hi-rises (the Newport and Soho Lofts), and I’m excited to see the micro-apartments he’s currently building at Casino Center Boulevard and Colorado Avenue. Brett Wesley Sperry’s smart-looking buildings on Charleston Boulevard— the former gallery building that now serves as the Iron Yard coding school, and a recently opened multistory building that houses a pastry-making academy—are the architectural equivalent of parentheses, modernizing the Arts District between them. And numerous developers are steadily remaking Main Street as the dining and retail destination Downtown has long deserved. But I’m here in Dapper’s office because I like what he’s doing, and the way he’s doing it. And I’m not alone. “Meeting with J is totally different,” says multidisciplinary artist Robin Slonina, who’s working with Dapper on an experiential entertainment concept that we’ll talk about shortly. “Everyone else just sent their representatives to meet with us. J not only showed up in person, but with a few members of his staff and even his sister.”
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D O W N T O W N
A Las Vegas native (he went to Clark High) and an aficionado of midcentury design, Dapper not only remembers what Downtown looked like before the boom, he wants to hold onto as much of that lost vibe as he possibly can. And although his Downtown holdings comprise a relatively small part of his total operation (he owns about 20 properties throughout the Valley) and he no longer lives in the area (he and his family decamped for Summerlin sometime back, largely for its schools), he really lights up when he talks about Downtown Vegas. He’s a believer. “I don’t fault somebody for saying this, but I think that a lot of people look at Downtown and say, ‘It’s kind of rough,’ or, ‘It’s a great neighborhood, but there’s not a lot of great places to shop,’” Dapper says. “When a neighborhood is up-and-coming, there’s always a point in time when things start to change. But you have to make some big statements in order to actually show that things are changing.” He started with a trio of projects on the corner of Charleston Boulevard and Maryland Parkway: the former Gambler’s Book Club, the former Mahoney’s Drum Shop and a 60-plus-year-old, 62,000-squarefoot shopping center without so much as a streetfacing sign. Dapper began what automotive people call a “sympathetic restoration” of the properties, almost immediately commissioning a Googie-style neon sign from YESCO with the shopping plaza’s name prominently featured: Huntridge Center. I live in the Huntridge neighborhood, so it probably
(Photographs by Wade Vandervort/Staff)
goes without saying that I like the new sign. In the days before Google Maps, it could have proven a valuable wayfinding tool: “Turn right after Huntridge Center. If you get into the Charleston Street Taco District, you’ve gone too far.” But even in a post-directions world, the sign makes me feel better about my neighborhood. There’s a 50/50 chance you don’t know the name of the Valley neighborhood you live in, much less have a big retro-style neon sign anchoring it to the map. Dapper isn’t just revitalizing old retail and industrial buildings in the city core. Yes, that’s a big part of what he’s doing, but more importantly—and I’m not sure Dapper himself realizes he’s doing this, or maybe he’s too modest to say it—he’s reinforcing Downtown’s sense of civic identity. During the Fremont Street bar-building spree several years back, numerous developers called Downtown Vegas “a blank slate”—a sprawling insignificance, ready to be wiped clean and remade. Dapper not only remembers the names and places on that slate, but he’s willing to put them in giant neon lights. And consdering one of Dapper’s recent acquisitions is the Huntridge Theater—the 75-year-old historic property that helped shape the identity of an entire generation of Las Vegans—it might be time to begin appreciating J Dapper’s “big statements.”
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BUILDING OUT FROM THE CENTURY “It has to start off with residential [density],” Dapper says. “When I bought the Huntridge Center, I knew that ingredient existed behind it. That was probably the biggest reason that I took the chance … and at that point in time, it really was a chance. People asked me, ‘Are you sure you want to buy this old, crappy place?’” Huntridge Center wasn’t without its charms when he purchased the property in 2016. Its tenant mix was a bit idiosyncratic—a Savers, a neighborhood pharmacy, a Circle K gas station, a rockabilly-fueled barbershop and a classic Downtown dive bar called Huntridge Tavern—but it also had a lot of dead and underused space. A former supermarket sat vacant; an abandoned Farm Basket stood on the property’s east side, drawing squatters. By day, the parking lot offered little in the way of shade, and at night it was dimly illuminated by a handful of floodlights. Some of the fixes were quick and obvious. The former Farm Basket was torn down, and security began patrolling the property around the clock. The pharmacy moved into a smaller space so that a much-needed new tenant, Wing Stop, could begin drawing new customers to the plaza. Around the time the sign went up, Dapper began reconfiguring the parking lot to add landscaping and improved lighting. Shortly after
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
that, the Savers was remodeled—new front windows, new cash-wrap stations, polished concrete floors—and the Circle K was completely overhauled, with Atomic Age chevron-shaped neon awnings over its gas pumps and a snazzy new sign. “The Circle K used to be a place where nobody felt safe going late at night, and maybe not even in the daytime. That’s no longer the case,” Dapper says. Other changes were more subtle. The Huntridge Tavern’s old restrooms were demolished and new, larger ones built. (But that’s the only change Dapper made to the venerable bar; its smoky, marinated vibe remains intact.) Floor-to-ceiling windows were added to the center’s eastern face, which was previously solid, forbidding plaster. And beginning in late 2018, the walls surrounding the center—the ones that
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border the Huntridge neighborhood itself—have been steadily covered with murals by JW Caldwell, Sierra Slentz, Lance Smith and other local artists. What was formerly a no man’s land of broken glass is now an increasingly popular destination for Instagrammers—that is, when they’re not out front, taking pictures with the gas station. Work on Huntridge Center continues even now. The standalone building that has replaced the Farm Basket—a soon-to-open home for Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Roberto’s Taco Shop, with an elegant swooping roof and towering glass walls—is designed by the local architectural firm Bunnyfish, whose
D O W N T O W N
offices are just up the street from Huntridge Center. A “diner/delicatessen concept” is currently being planned out by Golden Tiki/Evel Pie owner Brandon Powers, Capriotti’s CEO Ashley Morris and Great Greek Mediterranean Grill co-founders Trent Jones and Nick A. Della Penna. And the supermarket space is currently earmarked for that aforementioned entertainment concept. (We’re getting there; hold tight.) Nearby, the former Gambler’s
Book Club—originally the Valley’s first Safeway—has been transformed from an anonymous barrel-roofed box into a thoroughly modern office for upscale interior design firm Henriksen Butler. (“It almost looks like it was done by Frank Lloyd Wright; it’s such a beautiful rehab,” says Brad Jerbic, Las Vegas’ City Attorney.) The Mahoney’s Drum Shop space is on the verge of pulling a “refreshed” building permit, Dapper having resolved a number of issues related
to rehabilitating old buildings. Work has begun on revamping the threestory U.S. Postal Service building at 201 Las Vegas Boulevard S. (just a block south of Fremont Street). Once completed, the 48-year-old building will offer 30,000 square feet of brand-new office space; a renewed post office branch (the existing branch, currently relegated to a portable building in the parking lot, is being “right-sized” and restored to its original 1970s look); and food
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RENDERING CREDITS Capriotti’s/Roberto’s courtesy Archipicture Inc. 201 Las Vegas Blvd. S. rooftop space courtesy Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects The Herbert courtesy Stantec (U.S. Postal Service Building and Western Cab building photographs by Wade Vandervort/Staff)
and beverage operations at ground level and in a new rooftop space. When it’s complete, this scrubby old office building will look like a jewel. Dapper also recently closed on an building at 801 S. Main St., one with some sentimental meaning for him: “That was the Western Cab building for 30 years, and my wife’s grandfather, Herb Tobman, started off Western Cab.” (The family still owns the company, though they no longer run daily operations.) “I remember when my wife came home sad because the cab company was moving out of the building and putting it up for sale. … And I said, ‘Well, maybe we should buy it.’ And she asked, ‘What are you going to do
with the cab company building?’ ‘I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out.’” Dapper named the building the Herbert, after Tobman. Once refurbished, the two-story complex will feature creative office space, a second-floor patio and a giant Great Greek location. Dapper says that would have appealed to Tobman, who loved dining out. “He was a bigger-than-life character,” he says. “It’s really cool to be able to name the building after him.” NOW, ABOUT THE THEATER (AND THE PARK, AND THE TIME MACHINE) I should have known better than to ask Dapper if he’d ever seen
shows at the Huntridge Theater. This is a man with a state-of-theart turntable and a sprawling vinyl collection prominently displayed in his office. (We listened to Coltrane while we chatted.) He listed No Doubt/Sublime (May 1996) and Smashing Pumpkins (February 2000) as two of his favorites, then printed out a list for me of nearly every touring live act that ever appeared on the Huntridge stage, beginning with Pantera in 1991. The drama surrounding the Huntridge Theater—its openings and closings, its current state, previous offers for the property that fell through—could fill its own feature piece; for the sake of brev-
ity, I won’t rehash it here. (Nor will I list the venue’s virtues—that it was the first integrated movie theater in Las Vegas, for one, or that it was designed by distinguished motion picture theater architect S. Charles Lee.) Suffice it to say that Dapper has been circling the theater for a while, angling for a favorable price. (He also wanted to make sure he wasn’t shelling out money for anything that had already been paid for: “We’re paying a price for a building that has a fixed roof,” he says.) Now, with help from the City of Las Vegas—particularly City Attorney Jerbic—Dapper has entered an agreement to purchase the theater for $4 million. Jerbic applauds Dapper’s tenacity in pursuing a deal for a property that many people considered to be doomed. “It’s been sitting vacant for so long,” Jerbic says, acknowledging the property’s structural and aesthetic issues. “It’s got a lot of hair on it.” But Dapper is like, Long hair, don’t care. And assuming the next six to eight months of “structural and environmental due diligence” go smoothly, he’ll begin to renovate the property into—grab on to something!—a music and performing arts venue. “There’s a great example of the direction we’d like to go,” he says. “It’s called the Belly Up, and there’s one in Solana Beach [California] and one in Aspen, Colorado. It’s a very popular concert venue that’s been around for a long time, and it’s got a food and beverage component. The Belly Up embraces the local music community. You can go there regularly, let’s say 20 to 25 nights a month, and see great local bands— but they also have the Rolling Stones or Snoop Dogg coming there to play [private parties]. There’s a lot of pride in playing the Belly Up.”
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The current state of the interior and exterior of the Huntridge Theater (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
“When you look at the long list of amazing performers that have been at the Huntridge, from the Beastie Boys to the Foo Fighters, you realize the provenance in that building is just huge,” Dapper continues. “I’ve seen a lot of developers take an old theater like the Huntridge and renovate it, but they haven’t just renovated a theater. They built a multifamily or office component around the theater, which is what helps it to pencil out. “The goal is to also have a really good food and beverage component attached to the Huntridge, open to the public seven days a week. It’ll be a great place where everybody loves to go for lunch or dinner, or to have a drink. … It’s going to be a place where people can get together and socialize. And when a concert starts, that same company is going to be doing the concessions for the Huntridge Theater.” These wonderful, blue-sky plans are, of course, still taking shape; Dapper likely won’t know what kind of ground plan he’s dealing with until summer at the earliest. In the meantime, he’s got another Huntridge-area project to develop: Time Machine, an experiential entertainment concept. Its website (timemachinelv.com) describes it as an interactive art experience with “aspects of a science exploratorium, an escape room and a playground”; Robin Slonina, a partner on the project with Sean Pasinsky and Sarah Larsen, simply calls it a “ticketed immersive attraction” with “a lobby café, gift shop and small art gallery in the front that’s free and open to the public.” Think along the lines of Meow Wolf, only with all local artists. Time Machine is set to move into Huntridge Center’s vacant supermarket space. And though Dapper is mildly disappointed he couldn’t get
a grocery store to move in (Trader Joe’s nibbled but ultimately passed), he likes the energy the project is bringing to the center. “I truly believe in what they’re doing,” he says. “There are a lot of people that just don’t care about sitting in front of a slot machine that still want to come to Vegas. That’s the kind of person that we’re interested in.” For her own part, Slonina was somewhat surprised by how quickly Dapper warmed to the idea. “Immediately, I thought, ‘He’s taking this
seriously,’” she says. “I felt that he was going to be more than a landlord. He was going to be a supporter, a development partner.” In fact, Dapper and the Time Machine crew are getting on so well they’re partnering on yet another project: the rehabilitation of nearby Huntridge Circle Park. Dapper has committed to redoing the children’s playground portion; the Time Machine crew wants to create an interactive sculpture park in the other half of the park. Dapper says that an
announcement of the project will be made as soon as they can “get everything buttoned up” with the City. “He’s a local, and he loves Las Vegas,” Jerbic says. “When you meet people who have the same passion that some of us do that have lived here our whole lives, it’s a great partnership.” It’s altogether fitting that one of Dapper’s projects is a neighborhood gathering place. When he’s asked about the most rewarding parts of his job, he talks about other people: the architects, engineers and tradespeople who build out his spaces, and the families and workers who use them. To him, there’s nothing more satisfying than employing people to build a better city, and then watching his neighbors live in it. “It’s pretty rewarding when you go to a shopping center or an office building that was once kind of desolate and lingering, and then you make it full of activity,” Dapper says. “And you know that that little slice of the world got better because of your efforts. That really makes me happy.”
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BIG THIS WEEK (Courtesy)
SAT, JAN 18
PARK THEATER TIFFANY HADDISH Much has happened since we last saw Tiffany Haddish on the Strip. She starred in The Kitchen; voiced a whole lot of animation (notably Netflix’s Tuca & Bertie); and even had a Bat Mitzvah. She might expand on some of these topics, or not. No one tells a queen what to do. 8 p.m., $44-$137. –Geoff Carter
SAT, JAN 18
TAO CHASE B The OG Chase B has been “putting in more work than ever,” at least that’s what the “Mayday” rapper tweeted just before 2019 ended. What’s he got in store for the next decade? Head to one of his two Vegas appearances this week (he’ll be at Marquee Monday) for a taste. 10:30 p.m., $15-$20. –Leslie Ventura
(Courtesy)
FRI, JAN 17 SPREAD THE WORD NEVADA LAS VEGAS VOICE WRITER SHOWCASE Every third Friday, the local literary scene has a new destination. Las Vegas Voice is a showcase for wordy creatives: authors, writers, poets, comedians, storytellers and singers. Clark County Poet Emerita Vogue Robinson hosts the event, which has featured a rotating cast of five pre-selected performers since debuting in November. This is no open mic; expect quality entertainment. “There is a staggering amount of talent and artistic expertise in the Valley, and we want to participate and facilitate a series of events that foster and showcase some of that richness,” Mark Sedenquist says. He and Megan Edwards, both of Imbrifex Books, co-launched the series. The January showcase spotlights poet Rodney Lee, writers Drew Cohen and Veronica Klash, novelist AD Hopkins and author/storyteller Holly McKinnis. The February 21 edition will feature authors Amanda Skenandore and Brian Rouff, singer Erica Raley, comic Shirley Cina and storyteller Diane Taylor. Though the event is free and open to the public, attendees are encouraged to bring books to donate to the book drive Spread the Word Nevada, a children’s literacy nonprofit organization. 5 p.m., free, 1065 American Pacific Drive #160. –C. Moon Reed
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SUN, JAN 19 |
THE CHELSEA THE BLACK KEYS
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are bona fide festival headliners (see: Life Is Beautiful 2019, Shaky Knees 2020, etc.), but Vegas gets them in a 2,500-cap room with climate controls and real bathrooms. Kinda like the time the Keys played the same Cosmo venue in 2014, but with a new album—June’s Let’s Rock—thrown in. With Peanut Butter Wolf. 8 p.m., $49-$225. –Spencer Patterson
JAN 17FEB 2
SAT, JAN 18
LAS VEGAS LITTLE THEATRE BUS STOP
Big Dog’s Draft House WINTERFEST
This comedic drama by William Inge was nominated for four Tony awards. Local theater maven Sean Critchfield directs the story of four bus passengers stranded in a blizzard whose lives collide. Dates & times vary, $22-$25. –C. Moon Reed
A delicious tradition continues, featuring 50-plus taps, chile verde and gumbo, and live music from Super Lemon and The Roxy Gunn Project, with some proceeds going to the Pink Boots Society. 3-9 p.m., free admission/$1 tokens, 4543 N. Rancho Drive. –Spencer Patterson
JAN 18-19 JIMMY KIMMEL’S COMEDY CLUB KENAN THOMPSON’S ROAD TO NYC The Saturday Night Live star brings his stand-up comic search to Vegas. Expect to see a bunch of young, hungry talents delivering their best five minutes with Thompson possibly in attendance, his SNL schedule permitting. 4:30 p.m., $15-$40. –Geoff Carter
SUN, JAN 19 WEST LAS VEGAS LIBRARY MLK PEACE WEEK This Black History Month event honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with “Extending the Dream,” an art, dance and spoken word performance from Las Vegas’ Trinity Conservatory of Performing Arts. 3 p.m., free. –Leslie Ventura
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DJ Mel DeBarge teams up with Rev Run for On the Record’s one-year anniversary By Leslie Ventura el DeBarge is known for being a DJ to the stars. If there’s a swanky party or fashion show, he’s often the one setting the vibe. So it makes sense that the New York native would supply the grooves during On the Record’s one-year anniversary week. The Weekly caught up with DeBarge to talk about his DJ partnership with the legendary Rev Run and which classic tracks never go out of style.
Vegas is more of a party destination where people just really want to have fun. You go to Vegas with the mentality that the energy has to be at a level the whole time. The DJ has to tell a story, and it has to be a fun story, not ‘Let me play an obscure 1984 hip-hop record.’ That’s the way I look at it. But On the Record, I think, is a little different. It gives you a little wider platform. It’s a place where you can run a little more wild with your music selection, and the crowd accepts it.
How does playing a set in New York differ from spinning in Vegas? New York is also a destination like Vegas. Sometimes it’s touristy, but depending on the night you’ll have both locals and industry people. Right now, it’s very New York hip-hop. There’s a lot of new hip-hop coming out, and New York tends to like the new stuff, so if the song came out yesterday, it’ll probably be a hit in the clubs and people will already know it before it becomes super-mainstream.
What’s been really resonating in your sets? Aside from hip-hop, reggaeton. It’s been around for a while, but the growth in it has been immense. And also other rhythms from Africa, like Afrobeat and Brazilian funk.
Mel Debarge with Rev Run. January 17, 10:30 p.m., $20-$30. On the Record, 702-730-6773.
What’s a classic track or artist you wish more people knew about? There’s this duo from the ’80s called The System, and they have a [song] called “You Are in My System.” It has a really good beat, and usually people come up and ask what it is. Another one is The Crusaders’ “Street Life.” It’s been in so many songs and commercials throughout eras, so people have heard it but they don’t know what it is. When they hear it in the club, it usually gets a huge reaction.
How did your partnership with Rev Run come together? We share a manager, and we’ve been doing this together for probably seven years now. He has such a live spirit, and I get to play all these songs that normally I wouldn’t play. The crowd he brings out tends to be more reflective of things that are classic. Who does what during your sets? I play the records because he’s on the microphone, but it’s a set we put together mutually. It usually changes depending on the crowd, but he trusts me with where to go. He does some scratching, but he’s mostly on the mic, and I’m controlling the music. Style is a big part of a night out. What’s your advice for getting ready for a club? I think people need to be more comfortable. These days, everyone takes it so seriously. Everyone wants to look good and be their best when they’re out, but they don’t think about comfort. They wear the wrong shoes, or a dress that might be too long. As a DJ, I see a lot of no-shoe-wearing people, and I don’t think that’s good (laughs). You should always keep your shoes on.
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Ludacris drops by Drai’s on January 18. (Courtesy)
CLUB GUIDE
ludacris
By Brock Radke
1 OAK DJ D-Miles 1/17. DJ Nova 1/18. DJ Direct 1/22. Wed, Fri-Sat, Mirage, 702-693-8300.
APEX Thu-Sun, Palms, 702-953-7665.
For more upcoming events, visit Culture Weekly Page 32.
Luda offered a glimpse of what’s in store for his new Vegas shows last week during a CES performance hosted by Spotify. Also: Rich the Kid 1/17. Fabolous 1/19. Thu-Sun, Cromwell, 702-777-3800.
DRAI’S AFTERHOURS
1/18. Desiigner 1/19. Thu-Sun, MGM Grand, 702-891-3838.
JEWEL Eric DLux 1/17. Justin Credible 1/18. Murda Beatz 1/20. Mon, Fri-Sat, Aria, 702-590-8000.
Nightly, Cosmopolitan, 702-632-4700.
Nightly, Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7939.
Bay Area-born DJ Dan Griffith, aka Gryffin, is the newest resident at Wynn Nightlife after spinning at Hakkasan Group clubs over the past few years. Known for high-energy, multi-instrumental live shows, Gryffin kicks things off January 22 at EBC at Night. Wed, Encore, 702-770-7300.
CLUB 101
FOUNDATION ROOM
Fri-Sat, Sahara, 702-761-7618.
DJ Seany Mac 1/16. DJ Sam I Am 1/17. DJ Crooked 1/18. DJ Sam I Am 1/20. Kay the Riot 1/21. DJ Jimmy Lite 1/22. Nightly, Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7631.
CHATEAU Casanova & Bayati 1/16. DJ ShadowRed 1/17. DJ Sev One 1/18. DJ ShadowRed 1/22. Wed-Sat, Paris, 702-776-7777.
CLIQUE
DOWNTOWN COCKTAIL ROOM Mon-Sat, 111 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-880-3696.
DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB On January 18, Ludacris opens his 2020 Drai’s residency, an obvious fit considering he has collaborated with many of the club’s other regulars, including Jeremih, Wiz Khalifa, TIP and Trey Songz.
MARQUEE
TAO
Vice 1/17. Mustard 1/18. Chase B 1/20. Mon, Fri-Sat, Cosmopolitan, 702-333-9000.
DJ Five 1/16. Four Color Zack 1/17. Chase B 1/18. Thu-Sat, Venetian, 702-388-8588.
MAYFAIR SUPPER CLUB
VOODOO
Nightly, Bellagio, 702-693-8561.
Nightly, Rio, 702-777-7800.
ODDFELLOWS
XS
Tue-Sun, 150 Las Vegas Blvd. N. #190, 702-333-5831.
RL Grime 1/17. The Chainsmokers 1/18. Fri-Sun, Encore, 702-770-7300.
Two big hip-hop names who emerged as Light’s headlining stars in 2019 are both lined up for the Mandalay Bay club this weekend. Saweetie brings it on January 17 and Rick Ross returns January 18. Also: Kid Funk 1/22. Wed, Fri-Sat, Mandalay Bay, 702-632-4700.
MAMA RABBIT
GOLD SPIKE DJ Dilemma 1/17. DJ Wizdumb 1/18. DJ Teenwolf 1/19. Wed-Sun, 217 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-476-1082.
HAKKASAN 4B 1/16. Steve Aoki 1/17. Loud Luxury
ON THE RECORD
Chuck Fader 1/16. Tue-Sat, Park MGM, 702-730-7777.
LIGHT ENCORE BEACH CLUB
Cash Cash 1/17. Tiësto 1/18. Fergie DJ 1/21. Tue, Thu-Sun, Caesars Palace, 702-785-6200. It’ll be hard to decide which night to hit OTR this week, so you might want to camp out. The UFC post-fight party with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone features Mighty Mi in the Main Room and Shalvoy in the Living Room on January 18, and the second-annual Most Valuable Cocktail Server Awards party storms the club on January 22 with music by CEO and G-Squared plus Mr. Coco’s Dario Doimo pouring in the Vinyl Parlour. Also: Rev Run & Mel DeBarge 1/17. Wed, Fri-Sat, Park MGM, 702-730-6773.
Thu-Sun, Cromwell, 702-777-3800.
THE BARBERSHOP
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THE SHOWS THAT REDEFINED ENTERTAINMENT
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O n t he R e co r d Ande rs o n . PAAK
Courtesy On the Record
jan 8
THIS WEEK UPCOMING SHOWS
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS
DRAG DIVA BRUNCH: IT’S BRITNEY BRUNCH
JAN 17
JAN 18 10:30 AM
AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH SANTANA
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JAN 22-FEB 1 (SELECT DATES)
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CAIFANES
JAN 30
FEB 10
FEB 14
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TAO Be n n y Be nass i
jan 9
Photographs courtesy of Global Media Group
TANT IS S S A R E V R E MODEL S R E V R ENTICE E R S P P IL A A T R K E C D O N L BARTE ION IN SWIMWEAR ATTIRE MODEL C E D O M R D AUDIT ENDE MODEL BAARNTTS MUST BE 21 YEARS OR OLDER AN E COOK IN L R E IC F IC L *MODEL APP CURITY OF E S D R A U IFEG CASHIER L RY 24 A U N A J , Y A & FRID AND HOTEL & CASINO 3 2 Y R A U N GR JA THURSDAY, THE COMMISSARY AT DOWNTOWN CALL G N I . IN T .M S P A 4 C . / .M P 12 A N D.C O M R G N W O T N W W W. D OW
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j a n 11
Photographs courtesy Drai’s Nightclub
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FOOD & DRINK
Explore the menu at Majordomo. (Andrew Bezek/Courtesy)
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Somm day
David Chang’s Majordomo amplifies his sudden Vegas impact By Jim Begley hef David Chang first arrived in Las pasta ($48) is welcomingly subtle, rife with Vegas with the late-2017 opening of one sweet Dungeness crab and tinged with ginger. of the Strip’s most exciting new venues, Stuffed peppers ($16) aren’t the bell peppers Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan. The typical of Eastern European fare but rather follow-up Majordomo Meat & Fish—an battered shishitos filled with Benton’s sack sauoffshoot of Chang’s first (and wildly successful) sage and served with creamy buttermilk ranch LA outpost—strikes a similar note but in a more for dipping. subdued manner. And for local diners, it offers Chang’s flair for pageantry is evident in a chance to score one the country’s hottest seats Mojordomo’s large tableside presentations, here in our own backyard. including a smoked prime rib at the Majordomo takes one of the few menu’s center. The major double cut rooms in the city capable of accommo($75) arrives on a massive serving Majordomo Meat & Fish dating its grandiose vision—the forcart reminiscent of a backyard grill, Palazzo, mer Carnevino space at the Palazzo. its two 8-ounce slices wading in au jus 702-607-3060. If you ever visited that Mario Batali and accompanied by mashed potatoes Daily, 5:30-10:30 p.m. steakhouse before its 2018 demise, and creamed spinach. The forkMajordomo should be somewhat tender meat hints of smoke without familiar. Beyond the reworked bar— being overpowering, the potatoes are smartly converted into a semicircle (thankfully) more butter than spud, raw bar—the main rooms remain similar. (One and the spinach is entrancing—a delicious comsignificant new addition has yet to open: Moon bination with portion sizes that justify the cost. Palace, Chang’s upscale slider joint, which will For those wise enough to save some bing, now’s sling burgers in a former Carnevino dining room the time to use it for sopping up excess jus. across the concourse.) But while this might Like Momofuku before it, Mojordomo has seem like one steakhouse converting to another, arrived as a joy for Strip-going diners. It will Chang’s vision is undoubtedly different. be interesting to watch how one of 2020’s most The menu begins with seven preparations of significant Vegas openings continues to evolve bing, a Chinese flatbread somewhere between in the years to a pita and a pancake. Chang’s grilled-to-order come. versions are a play on Korean hotteok, toasty and spongy while hinting of sweet. They’re made even better with accoutrements such as umami-rich shaved foie gras ($24) served atop ricotta cheese or a silky soft-boiled egg decorated with smoky roe ($18) and perched upon onion soubise. An ingredient doesn’t get more hipster than 40-day aged butter from a Brooklyn cave, a Chang bing exclusive that’s funky like a mild Roquefort. It’s interesting, but the accompanying dollop of Kaluga caviar gets lost in the mix, disappointing given its $36 tariff. In comparison, the $13 Tingly Lamb bing is an absolute steal. Highlighted by scattered chiles and balanced by a cooling swath of labneh (yogurt), it’s a Sichuan-inspired must-try. Some dishes surprise. As in-your-face as much of Chang’s cooking can be, the mafaldine
C
Majordomo’s prime rib (Andrw Bezek/Courtesy)
Garagiste looks to elevate the Downtown wine scene
+
It isn’t every day that two young sommeliers open a wine bar in Downtown Las Vegas, one reason Garagiste should be on your radar. “A big complaint was that there was no great place [in Las Vegas] to go enjoy the wines that we wanted to drink, let alone buy them retail,” co-founder Mario Enriquez explains. So he and partner Eric Prato began mapping out their dream after years of working on the Strip. Located next to CraftHaus’ new outpost just off Main Street, Garagiste sprung up seemingly overnight. The only thing revealing its existence: a simple black sign that reads “Wine Room | Merchant.” The interior feels relaxed and modern, intimate yet approachable, with an extensive wine list and petite charcuterie offerings. “[Wine] can be a superintimidating product,” Prato says. “If you have a conversation with us, we can guide you in the right direction. We’ll take you down a rabbit hole, or we’ll just brush the surface if you want.” Many of Garagiste’s wines have never been in the Las Vegas market before, like Cruse Wine Co.’s “Monkey Jacket” red blend and Commune of Buttons’ naturally sparkling Pet Nat Pinot Gris. Enriquez and Prato say they hope to elevate Las Vegas wine culture, offer lesser-known bottles from smaller wineries at affordable prices and inspire folks to learn more about low-intervention—or natural—wines. “There’s never a point where you’ll know everything about wine,” Prato says. “That’s what’s great about it. There’s always something new to learn.” –Leslie Ventura
Garagiste Wine Room | MERCHANT 197 E. California Ave. # 140, 702-954-3658. Monday, 3 p.m-1 a.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 3-11 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 1-11 p.m.
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TOOL with Author & Punisher. January 17, 8 p.m., $55-$150. T-Mobile Arena, 702-692-1600.
TOOL KIT
1 .1 6 . 2 0 Tool’s back in town, armed with new material. (Travis Shinn/Courtesy)
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Noise Five reasons to Catch the alt-metal icons’ Vegas return By Josh Bell It’s been nearly six years since Tool last played Las Vegas. Here are five reasons you should be there for the band’s return to town.
1
New songs. It took 13 years for the alt-metal legends of Tool to put out their most recent album—Fear Inoculum, released in August 2019— so this tour marks the first chance to catch those long-gestating tracks in concert. Although the songs can be a bit unwieldy (aside from the instrumental interludes, they all run 10 minutes or longer), they still have plenty of visceral impact, and songs like “Pneuma” and “Invincible,” with their driving hooks, should gain extra power when performed live.
2
Older gems. Tool songs weren’t always 10-plus minutes long, and the band’s more concise older material still sounds as heavy and intense as when it was first released. On this tour, Tool has been reaching back to 1992 debut EP Opiate for the punchy, angry “Part of Me,” which hadn’t been played live since 1998. That’s the most obscure song in the set, but older tunes including radio hits “Aenema” and “Stinkfist” and Tool concert staple “Forty Six & 2” are also always welcome, and you never know when the band might reach back even further for an unlikely addition.
3
Amazing musicianship. One of the reasons it took 13 years for a new Tool album to come out is that all four members are brilliant, accomplished perfectionists, and seeing them showcase their talents in person can be a profound experience. From singer Maynard James Keenan’s still-soaring voice to drummer Danny Carey’s complex beats (beautifully highlighted on Fear Inoculum instrumental “Chocolate
Chip Trip,” which has been part of this tour’s set) to guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Justin Chancellor’s intricate riffs, every element of Tool’s music is polished and precise.
4
You never know … Another reason it took 13 years for Fear Inoculum to be released is that each of the four band members has his own, very clear vision of what Tool’s music should be, and those visions often clash. Although Tool has toured pretty consistently in the years between album releases, the musicians all have solo projects and side ventures (most notably Keenan’s bands A Perfect Circle and Puscifer), and they don’t hold back in interviews when expressing their skepticism about the future of Tool. For now, a new album has rejuvenated the band, but the members could walk away at any time.
5
Proof that rock isn’t dead. Guitar-driven rock (and especially hard rock) has pretty much disappeared from mainstream popular music, and while Tool isn’t chasing hit singles, it’s one of the few rock bands whose new releases remain a major event, and which can still reliably draw arena-size crowds. At just over 10 minutes, the title track from Fear Inoculum became the longest song ever to hit Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, demonstrating the band’s continued draw for rock radio and longstanding fans. Tool’s legacy is secure, and the band members certainly don’t care about chart placement, but it’s still worth supporting one of the primary acts keeping rock alive.
S U N D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 2
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The Strip
The north will rise again What kind of entertainment will the big Strip projects deliver? hen is the north Strip going to be a thing? We’ve been asking this question since 2006, when Boyd Gaming announced it would build Echelon Las Vegas to replace the Stardust. Several other resort projects have been planned for this portion of the Strip since then, but the results haven’t been nearly as exciting as the speculation. SLS opened, didn’t work out and turned back into the Sahara. The Lucky Dragon opened and closed. Echelon, Fontainebleau and Alon never came to be. The Riviera and the New Frontier were demolished. But construction is moving right along these days on several projects that will have a tremendous impact, including the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion that will open a year from now. That’s great for business, but when is the north Strip going to be a fun thing? We don’t know yet, but the entertainment picture is starting to come together. Here are the key pieces.
W
MSG Sphere Resorts World Technically I’d consider the Venetian The Genting Group’s plans for its to be center Strip, but since it’s close, we first Las Vegas project (at the former should probably count the MSG Sphere, Echelon site) have seen constant under construction behind the resort change, and Resorts World—set to open and its Sands Expo Convention in summer 2021—recently anCenter. Scheduled to open somenounced it has moved away from time in 2021, the first-of-its-kind the Asian themes that characterMadison Square Garden Compaized its earliest renderings. It ny venue has been making progalso dropped a bit of a surprise ress in vertical construction, and in November: The plans for the its 875,000-square-foot spherical $4.3 billion luxury resort now building is starting to take shape. include a 5,000-seat theater and It will feature seven seating levels a 75,000-square-foot nightlife the with approximately 17,500 seats and daylife concept. Reports incidental and a capacity of just over 20,000 in December indicated Resorts tourist mixing seats and standing room. World President Scott Sibella is by brock radke Much has been made of the techpursuing both Garth Brooks and nology planned for the Sphere Carrie Underwood for country and how that will translate into shows music residencies that would compete and events like Vegas has never seen, with the big-room headliners at Caesars and the other three arena-sized venues Palace, Park MGM and Planet Hollyon Las Vegas Boulevard are all on the wood. And if it maintains these plans, south end. Resorts World would replace the Palms’
recently shuttered KAOS as the biggest daylife venue in Las Vegas. The Drew Maybe you’ve forgotten, but Fontainebleau was going to be the Cosmopolitan before the Cosmopolitan. Hakkasan was going to make its Vegas debut there before it landed at MGM Grand with a restaurant and nightclub complex. Now that New York developer Steven Witkoff has purchased the mothballed blue behemoth and started to transform it into
the Drew, set to open in late 2022, expect the project to capitalize on the initial design plans and produce all the bells and whistles. In November, Witkoff named former CityCenter and MGM Resorts executive Bobby Baldwin as CEO of the Drew, which has yet to reveal specifics on its collection of restaurants, nightlife, shops and pools. Sahara Las Vegas Renovations are far from finished, but the Sahara has already
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From left: Resorts World (Richard Brian/Sun File), Circus Circus (Shutterstock) and the pool area at the Sahara. (Steve Marcus/Staff); Photo Illustration
shape-shifted from SLS. The casino is bright and bold, there’s a legit bar and lounge and the new lobby area looks like a Vegas hotel lobby area (which is an improvement). But last year’s quick arrival and departure of Blanc de Blanc in the former Foundry theater/music hall leaves the refreshed property without a significant entertainment draw. In August, owner Alex Meruelo announced the resort pool will be overhauled and expanded with a two-
story, 18,500-square-foot nightclub, lounge and theatrical space, which could be complete by the end of the year. But before that, the Sahara gets the smash male revue Magic Mike Live, in exodus from the exiting Hard Rock Hotel, opening in the springtime. Circus Circus and the former Las Vegas Festival Grounds Certainly the most interesting new development in north Strip
entertainment is Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin’s purchase of Circus Circus from MGM Resorts, a transaction that includes the 37-acre parcel at the corner of the Strip and Sahara (aka the Las Vegas Festival Grounds) that recently hosted the hip-hop Day N Vegas Festival and Amazon’s Intersect music fest. Ruffin has already said he won’t be selling that valuable chunk of Vegas real estate. He has stated his intentions to build a Mandalay Bay Beach-esque
pool complex on the site of the current Circus Circus RV park and construct a 2,000-seat theater that he hopes will host The Illusionists, a magic show created by the Cirque du Soleil-owned Works Entertainment that has toured the country and played Broadway. And he’s keeping the Adventuredome. Translation: Circus Circus will likely become the ultimate family fun destination on the Strip. Expect renovations to start soon.
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Kim Foster and her ratatouille (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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SCENE PLEASE SEND NOODLES Writer’s Block Book Shop, facebook. com/groups/ PleaseSendNoodles.
WHAT SHE’S COOKIN’ WHAT INSPIRES WRITER AND PLEASE SEND NOODLES HOST KIM FOSTER? BY GEOFF CARTER ull disclosure: Kim Foster is my neighbor. That means that any time I want to hang out with this James Beard Award-nominated writer (for 2017’s “The Meth Lunches: The Care and Feeding of a Drug Addict,” published locally in Desert Companion), I can just walk over to her house, say hello to her husband David Foster (president of Absinthe production company Spiegelworld) and her cluster of cool kids, and get to chatting in the kitchen, where Kim is a regular fixture. Last week, we talked about food, culture and her monthly Writer’s Block cookbook club, Please Send Noodles.
F
What inspired you to start Please Send Noodles? I started it because I believe in community eating. I think that bringing people together in one spot with food they made with their own hands and sharing that food—getting to know one another, breaking down barriers and stereotypes and expectations—is healthy for a community. How did you get into cooking? I used to write about restaurants. Then David and I got married and had our daughter Lucy, and we decided that we would go to restaurants and that our life would not change just because we had a child. We were pretty good for a while; we’d take her to restaurants and she would just sleep. But one time, she got up and ran across the restaurant and into the kitchen, and the chef carried her back out. So we decided we would have to change our lives a little bit and make restaurant-quality food at home if we ever wanted to eat good food again. We just took it upon ourselves. We’ve often talked about Vegas’ home chefs. What about them fascinates you? The food world isn’t just restaurants. I recently went to a Samoan feast at a Lutheran church. The church ladies
made some pretty spectacular food to honor a pastor who was flying in. The ladies cooked all night, and the food was just ridiculously good. The lady in charge of cooking for the event was stirring a huge pot of chop suey, made with canned corned beef. Others were making lau lau, folding pork and butter fish into taro leaves and steaming them. There were little cups of fish cooked in coconut milk with onions and carrots, fried whole fish and banana. … It was just really extraordinary. And the ladies were so welcoming, letting me come to the event, shoot pictures and ask about their food. When I think of food culture in Las Vegas, it’s not about whether this restaurant or that restaurant is good; somebody else is writing about that. To me, the real beauty is those Samoan women, cooking away. I wouldn’t say writing about things like that is a calling, but it is a place where I can add my voice, because there isn’t one there now. Meanwhile, in your other world: Who do you like among Vegas’ local writers? I’m reading a lot of young writers. Our young writers are really, really good. I think we’re going to see some brilliant stuff coming from them. When I see Summer Thomad writing about and photographing the things that she cooks, or when I read Sonja Swanson writing about catching grasshoppers, or [Las Vegas Weekly’s] Leslie Ventura, when I read her or listen to her podcast ... I see these young women who aren’t just talking about food; they’re talking about the culture. They have a real sensibility for the work; they come at it from an entirely different place than you or I would. They grew up in an era when cultural identity is really important. I just love seeing what they do. And every time one of them comes out with something really great, I get really excited to see these young women just killing it. Read an extended version of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.
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LEARNING DESERT SMART NOW IN ITS 60TH YEAR, NEVADA’S DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUTE CONTINUES EXPANDING ITS SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION BY C. MOON REED n a sunny afternoon last autumn, the Boulder City location of Desert Research Institute opened its doors to the public. For a few hours, community members nibbled on snacks as they explored a sort of science fair on steroids. DRI faculty and researchers displayed and explained their projects. Children and adults oohed and ahhed. “We just want to remind people that DRI is a big part of the community, even though we don’t grant degrees [and] we don’t have a football team,” says spokesperson Justin Broglio. Often misunderstood, DRI is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. It facilitates environmental research, and faculty members must secure their own funding. At the event, an archaeology team explained how it’s helping to preserve Southern Nevada’s Lost City using drones. An eco-hydrology expert spotlighted efforts to find water in desert soils, while an environmental chemist discussed issues related to the Southern Nevada watershed. A rosy boa snake slithered on its handler. Visitors flocked to the Science Alive program’s virtual reality glasses demo, viewing an educational and experiential video about NASA space training. The biggest draw at the open house was
O
the chance to tour the underground lysimeter. Soil physicist Markus Berli led tour groups to a seemingly unremarkable spot of desert just beyond the DRI facility, and then into a metal-lined tunnel that went about one-story underground. There, vast metal tanks—somewhat resembling giant tanks for brewing beer— measure the desert soil from below. They’re part of the SEPHAS Program (Scaling Environmental Processes in Heterogeneous Arid Soils), which studies what happens naturally with soil that receives fewer than 10 inches of rain per year. According to a handout, “The SEPHAS program gives Nevada the extraordinary capacity to address basic scientific questions and practical problems unique to Nevada and other arid regions worldwide.” Right now, research is being conducted on how to restore arid soil, how water evaporates and/or infiltrates arid soils and more. In March, DRI will conclude its 60th anniversary year. Public events like this one have been part of a year’s worth of outreach, which have included STEM events with the Girl Scouts, a Science Distilled podcast, a Day at the Nevada State Legislature and more. As some Americans become skeptical of science, DRI keeps the flame of knowledge burning.
DRI BY THE NUMBERS 7
Continents where DRI research is conducted
40
Specialized labs
100
Ph.D. faculty members
300
Ongoing research projects
MAKING AN INSTITUTION 1959
The Nevada State Legislature creates a research division for the University of Nevada, and the Desert Research Institute is born.
1961
DRI begins studying groundwater in Nevada.
1967
DRI creates a Basque Studies Program for the preservation of Basque culture and history. The program is now part of UNR.
1977
In response to drought, DRI leads Nevada’s first Emergency Cloud Seeding Project.
1986
758
Nevada K-12 science teachers trained
$31 million
Total sponsored research
$6
million Shared grant money from a National Science Foundation 2018 award for genetic research
The Western Regional Climate Center, run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, makes its home at DRI.
1988
To put Nevada on the map in the scientific community, DRI begins giving out the Nevada Medal, an annual, national science award.
1 .1 6 . 2 0 A child looks at seedlings through a microscope at the Desert Research Institute. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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Key projects DRI researchers are at work on a vast array of projects all around the world. Here’s a sampling. ■ Rooting out microplastics. Tiny pieces of plastic trash are polluting the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Tahoe. DRI researchers are investigating and working to reduce microplastics in aquatic ecosystems. ■ Treating tumors with math. How can cancer drugs reach their destination if blood vessels are impaired by cancerous tumors? DRI researchers are using mathematical models to find the best solution. ■ Learning about early Nevadans. DRI archaeologists and microbiologists have teamed up to study the remains of plants consumed by indigenous Nevadans who lived 350-980 years ago and sequence their DNA. ■ Calculating the impact of fire on soils. When managing nature, prescribed burns are a common tool to prevent more harmful wildfires. But DRI research has found that these “low-severity fires” still damage the soil. ■ Revealing traces of ancient civilizations. A team that included DRI researchers measured lead pollution in the Greenland ice sheet to gain insight into Iron and Middle Age European economies, ancient Rome and more. Discover magazine named it one of 2018’s top discoveries. ■ Helping prevent wildfires. Fire managers in the desert Southwest will be better able to predict periods of likely wildfire thanks to DRI scientists’ research into monsoon weather patterns.
1999
1992
The Southern Nevada Science Center, at 755 E. Flamingo Road, becomes home to the Las Vegas faculty of DRI.
1997
The Science Box Traveling Kits Program launches, helping to educate more than 23,000 Nevada students annually.
DRI takes over program operations at the Community Environmental Monitoring Program—which measures the conditions downwind from the Nevada National Security Site—after nearly 20 years supporting the operation.
2005
DRI helps to monitor Nevada’s desert tortoises.
2016
DRI launches the Science Distilled lecture series, which stages six annual community talks.
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calendar LIVE music 172 Greyson Chance 1/17. Ready Set Gig! Winter Showcase 1/25. Rio, 702-513-3356.
Vegas band Leather Bound Crooks plays the House of Blues on January 18. (Courtesy)
ACCESS SHOWROOM Special EFX All-Stars 2/16. Arrested Development 2/29. Aliante Casino, 702-692-7777. AMERICAN LEGION POST 8 Creeping Death, Sanguisugabogg 1/20. Higher Power, Take Offense, Drain, Life’s Question 1/21. Sanction, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Vamachara, Typecaste, Dying Wish 2/27. 733 N. Veterans Memorial Drive, 702-382-8533. ArtificE Darker (Cure tribute) 1/25. 1025 S. 1st St. #A, 702-489-6339. Backstage Bar & Billiards N.E. Last Words, Vegas Odds, Ill Patientz, We Predict a Riot, Huc Finn 1/25. The Toasters 1/29. Los Kung Fu Money, Monkey, Hans & Gruber 2/1. Soulfly, Toxic Holocaust, X Method, Madzilla, Mynas 2/6. Blacktop Mojo 2/7. GayC/DC (AC/ DC tribute), Spice Pistols (Spice Girls tribute) 2/14. Horrorpops 2/16. Hot Snakes, Spanish Love Songs, Free Throw 2/29. 601 Fremont St., 702-382-2227. THE BARBERSHOP Stanley Ave. 1/16. Super Lemon 1/17. The Fun Raisers 1/18. Jonny Hazzard & Co. 1/19. Commonwealth 1/20. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7434. BOOTLEGGER BISTRO Joni Janek, Joe Lano Trio, Tom Hall 1/19. 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-736-4939. Brooklyn Bowl Raphael Saadiq, Jamila Woods, DJ Duggz 1/24. Let’s Dance: The Music of David Bowie for Kids 1/25. Emo Night Brooklyn 1/25. The Marcus King Band, Early James 1/30. Black Tiger Sex Machine 1/31. Periphery, Plini, Covet 2/1. The Green, Ka’ikena Scanlan 2/8. Black Uhuru, Etana, Onesty 2/9. The Joe Kay Experience 2/15. Steel Pulse 2/18. Dweezil Zappa: Hot Rats Live! + Other Hot Stuff 1969 2/20. The Purple Party: The Music of Prince for Kids 2/22. Thrice, mewithoutYou, Drug Church, Holy Fawn 2/26. Donavon Frankenreiter 3/5. Dance Gavin Dance, Animals as Leaders, Veil of Maya, Royal Coda 3/13. Rebel Souljahz, Kelandy, Vana Liya 3/15. Ween 3/19-3/21. Silverstein, I the Mighty, Four Year Strong 3/24. Galactic ft. Anjelika Jelly Joseph, Anders Osborne, Jackie Greene, Chali 2na 3/25. Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio 3/27. Wilco 4/4. Carnifex, 3teeth 4/18. Cypress Hill 4/19. Linq Promenade, 702-862-2695. Bunkhouse Saloon Merkules 1/19. Scott Henderson 1/21. …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Acid Sisters, Suryacandra 1/25. Fog Lake, Dude York, Foxes in Fiction 1/26. Electric Guest 1/28. Cursive, Cloud Nothings, Criteria 1/29. Baynk 1/30. Wildermiss 2/1. Spirit in the Room, Elephant Rifle, Blast Flashes, Mucky Boys 2/5. Lawn Mower Death Riders, Jesse Pino, The Rifleman, Illicitor, Hassan Hamilton 2/6. Homeboy Sandman 2/9. Chastity Belt 2/11. Miniature Tigers, Katsu Ozo 2/12. Tacocat 2/13. Big Business 2/17. Lord Dying, Sonolith, Plague Doctor 2/23. The Frogs 2/24. Part Time, Gary Wilson 2/24. Saintseneca 2/26. White Reaper, The Aquadolls 2/28. 124 S. 11th St., 702-982-1764. The Chelsea The Black Keys, Peanut Butter Wolf 1/19. Dierks Bentley, Caylee Hammack, Hot Country Knights 2/14-2/15. Dave Matthews Band 2/28. Brantley Gilbert, Dylan
Scott, Brandon Lay 3/28. NF 5/15. AJR 6/12. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-6797. Chrome Showroom Will Downing 1/18. Cornell Gunter’s Coasters 2/1. Bobby Caldwell 2/15. Blue String Theory 2/22. Santa Fe Station, 702-658-4900. CLEOPATRA’S BARGE Dionne Warwick 1/16-1/19, 1/23-1/26, 2/6-2/9, 2/13-2/16, 2/20-2/23, 2/27-3/1. IE&Y 1/24. Caesars Palace, 866-227-5938. THE CLUB Brett Rigby, The B.A.R. Band 1/17, 1/24. The 5th Dimension 1/18. Arch Allies (classic rock tribute) 1/25. Cannery, 702-507-5700. CLUB MADRID Zowie Bowie 1/17, 1/24, 1/31. Sunset Station, 702-547-7777. The Colosseum Keith Urban 1/10-1/11, 1/17-1/18, 4/24-4/25, 7/10-7/11, 8/7-8/8, 11/20-11/21. Van Morrison 1/31-2/1, 2/5, 2/7-2/8. Mariah Carey 2/14-2/15, 2/19, 2/21-2/22, 2/26, 2/28-2/29. Rod Stewart 3/6-3/7, 3/11, 3/13-3/15, 3/18, 3/20-3/21. Reba, Brooks & Dunn 4/8, 4/10-4/11, 4/15, 4/174/18, 6/10, 6/12-6/13, 6/16, 6/19-6/20. Little Big Town 4/26. The Who 5/5, 5/7, 5/9, 5/12, 5/14, 5/16. Sting 5/22-5/23, 5/27, 5/29-5/30, 6/3, 6/56/6. Caesars Palace, 866-227-5938. Count’s VAMP’D B.Y.O.B. (System of a Down tribute), Under 1/17. Sin City Kiss & Friends (Kiss tribute) 1/18. Y&T 1/24-1/25. Reverend Jack, John Zito Band 1/30. Kingdom Come, Crash Midnight 1/31. 750 W. Sahara Ave., 702-220-8849. DALLAS EVENTS CENTER Cookie Watkins (Tina
Turner Tribute) 1/31. Texas Station, 702-631-1000. THE Dispensary Lounge Toscha Comeaux 1/17. Karen Jones 1/18. Summer Konoma Quartet 1/22. Habaka 1/24. Indra Jones 1/25. 2451 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-458-6343. Dive Bar Raskahuele, Muertos Heist, Stop on Green, Los Ataskados 1/17. Mismiths, No Que No, If They Love You They’ll Kill You, Dan Sperry 1/18. 4110 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-586-3483. DOUBLE DOWN SALOON The Dead Dolls, F*ckFace, Stagnetti’s Cock, Skeleton Crew 1/17. The Holy Smokes, The Swamp Gospel, The Psyatics 1/18. Bargain DJ Collective 1/20. Dash 1/22. Lambs to Lions, Scotty Dub & the Jellyfish, Cardboard Boxer, Worry Corner 1/23. Societies Infection, Lean 13, Gob Patrol, The Jagoffs 1/25. 4640 Paradise Road, 702-791-5775. DOWNTOWN CONTAINER PARK Jazz Session Sunday 1/26, 2/23. 707 Fremont St., 702-359-9982. DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS EVENTS CENTER Zoology 1/18, 1/25. 200 S. 3rd St., 800-745-3000. Eagle Aerie Hall Glee Club, Dead by Breakfast, Monochromatic Black, Mastiv, Symptom, Model Citzen, Headgore 1/19. Higher Power, Take Offenses, Drain, Life’s Question 1/21. 310 W. Pacific Ave., 702-568-8927. Encore Theater Sarah McLachlan 2/19, 2/21-2/22. Harry Connick Jr. 2/26, 2/28-2/29. Dwight Yoakam & The Bakersfield Beat 3/4, 3/6-3/7. Lionel Richie 3/11, 3/13-3/14. Robbie
Williams 3/24-3/25, 3/27-3/28, 3/31-4/1, 4/3-4/4. Diana Ross 4/8, 4/10-4/11, 5/15, 4/17-4/18. Bryan Adams 4/22, 4/24-4/25. Wynn, 702-770-6696. Fremont Country Club Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Secrets, Push Over, Navarre, Guilty by Design 1/18. 601 E. Fremont St., 702-382-6601. Gilley’s Saloon Ryan Whyte Maloney 1/171/18. Chad Freeman, Redline 1/22-1/23. Tyson Hanes 1/24-1/25. Brett Rigby 1/29. Chase & The Pursuit 1/30. Scotty Alexander 1/31-2/1. Treasure Island, 702-894-7722. GOLD MINE TAVERN Local Singer-Songwriter Showcase 1/17. Randy Williams’ American Acoustic 1/22, 1/29. Callie J & Friends 1/24. Cowboy Vision 1/25. Friction 1/31. 23 S. Water St., 702-478-8289. Golden Nugget Showroom. Ambrosia 1/17. The Cowsills 1/24. 866-946-5336. Hard Rock Live Doctor P & Cookie Monsta 1/19. ARMNHMR 1/24. Lucky Devils Band 1/27. Bless the Rains (Toto Tribute) 1/30. 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-733-7625. House of Blues Sleeping With Sirens, Set It Off, Belmont, Point North 1/17. Leather Bound Crooks, Le Dominiki, Feigns, Trvlrs, Sleep Eater, Not a Robot 1/18. Judas Priestess (Judas Priest tribute) 1/19. Santana 1/22, 1/24-1/26, 1/28-1/29, 1/312/1. Hayley Kiyoko 1/30. The People’s Whiskey, The Heroine 2/6. One Drop Redemption (Bob Marley tribute) 2/7. Red Not Chili Peppers (RHCP tribute) 2/8. Silversun Pickups, Eliza &
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The Delusionals 2/10. Caifanes 2/14. Gasolina Party 2/15. The Motels, Bow Wow Wow, When in Rome 2/19. Alter Bridge, Deepfall, Clint Lowery 2/20. Phora 2/22. Overkill, Exhorder, Hydraform 2/28. David Lee Roth 3/18, 3/203/21, 3/25, 3/27-3/28. Leslie Odom Jr. 3/20. Tech N9ne 4/12. Circa Survive, Gouge Away 5/25. (B Side) Sound the Groove 2/10. Art Alexakis 1/24. The Lique 2/7. Devon Baldwin 2/16. Year of the Cobra 2/20. The Red Pears 2/21. Evol Walks, Mother Mercury 2/29. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. Mandalay Bay Events Center Los Temerarios 2/15. Ana Gabriel 3/21. Pepe Aguilar 5/2. 702-632-7777. MGM Grand Garden Arena Post Malone, Swae Lee, Tyla Yaweh 3/14. Academy of Country Music Awards 4/5. Billboard Music Awards 4/29. Omarion, Bow Wow, Ashanti, Pretty Ricky, Ying Yang Twins, Soulja Boy, Lloyd, Sammie 5/9. Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi, Fletcher 5/16. 702-531-3826. Orleans Arena Zapp, Atlantic Starr, Rose Royce, GQ, Deniece Williams, Delfonics, The Moments, The Deele 2/8. 702-365-7469. Orleans Showroom Little River Band 1/18. 702-365-7111. Park Theater Aerosmith 1/29, 1/31, 2/3, 2/5, 2/8, 2/10, 2/13, 2/15, 5/20, 5/23, 5/25, 5/28, 5/30, 6/2, 6/4. Cher 2/19, 2/21-2/22, 2/26, 2/282/29. Bruno Mars 3/6-3/7, 4/20, 4/24-4/25. 311 3/11-3/13. Lady Gaga (Enigma) 4/30, 5/2, 5/9, 5/13, 5/15; (Jazz & Piano) 5/3, 5/7, 5/10, 5/16. Park MGM, 844-600-7275. Pearl CONCERT THEATER Styx 1/19. Dermot Kennedy 2/7. Billy Idol 3/6-3/7, 3/11, 3/133/14. Il Volo 3/15. Melanie Martinez 3/20. Prince Royce 3/21. Kesha 5/1. Earth, Wind & Fire 5/6, 5/8-5/9, 5/15-5/16. Die Antwoord 5/16. Shinedown 5/19. Awolnation, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, The Beaches, Bleeker 6/20. Palms, 702-944-3200.
VEIL PAVILION Kuh Ledesma 1/25. Silverton, 702-263-7777.
LAUGH FACTORY John Caponera, Sunda Croonquist, Paul Farahvar 1/16-1/19. Rich Hall, Dennis Regan, Harry Peet 1/20-1/26. Tropicana, 702-739-2411.
Vinyl The Growlers 1/30-2/1. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000.
Park Theater Tiffany Haddish 1/18. Park MGM, 844-600-7275.
WESTGATE INTERNATIONAl THEATER Barry Manilow 2/13-2/15, 2/20-2/22. 800-222-5361.
South Point Showroom Christopher Titus 1/19-1/20. 702-696-7111.
ZAPPOS THEATER Gwen Stefani 2/7-2/8, 2/12, 2/14-2/15, 2/21-2/22, 5/1-5/2, 5/6, 5/8-5/9, 5/13, 5/15-5/16. Christina Aguilera 2/26, 2/28-2/29, 3/4-3/6. Shania Twain 3/18, 3/20-3/21, 3/25, 3/27-3/28, 5/20, 5/33-5/23, 5/27, 5/29-5/30, 6/3, 6/5-6/6. Kelly Clarkson 4/1, 4/3-4/4, 4/10-4/11. Planet Hollywood, 702-777-6737.
The Space Fear and LOLing 1/17. ComedySportz 1/18. 3460 Cavaretta Court, 702-903-1070.
ZIA RECORD EXCHANGE AJJ 1/19. 4225 S. Eastern Ave., 702-735-4942.
Comedy BONKERZ COMEDY CLUB Warren Durso 1/16. Rampart Casino, 702-507-5900. BONKERZ COMEDY CLUB HENDERSON Steven Pearl 1/18. Klondike Sunset Casino, 444 W. Sunset Road, 702-507-5900. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club Eddie Ifft, Dave Burleigh, Jay Hollingsworth 1/16-1/19. Kristen Key, Joe Bronzi, Omid Singh 1/201/26. MGM Grand, 866-740-7711. COMEDY CELLAR Dean Delray, Ty Barnett, Nicole Aimee, Quinn Dahle, Mark Cohen 1/16-1/19. Tom Thakkar, Leo Flowers, Jackie Fabulous, Sean Patton, Mark Cohen 1/201/26. Rio, 702-777-2782. The COMEDY WORKS Augie T 1/16-1/18. Plaza, 702-386-2110.
Rí Rá The Black Donnellys 1/16-1/19. John Windsor 1/20. Shoppes at Mandalay Place, 702-632-7771.
Encore Theater Chris Tucker 1/19. Wynn, 702-770-6696.
South Point Showroom Frankie Moreno 1/17-1/18. 702-696-7111. STAR OF THE DESERT ARENA The Isley Brothers 1/18. Primm, 702-386-7867. Stoney’s Rockin’ Country Stevie Monce 1/17. Scott Stevens 1/24. Canaan Cox 1/31. Town Square, 702-435-2855. SUNCOAST SHOWROOM The Long Run (Eagles tribute) 1/18. Heart of Rock & Roll (Huey Lewis tribute) 1/25. 800-745-3000. The TAVERN Friction 1/17. Classic Chaos 1/24. Gravel Band 1/31. 1113 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-804-1113. Terry Fator TheatRE Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds 1/17-1/19. Mirage, 702-792-7777. T-Mobile Arena Tool 1/17. Dia Nacional de la Banda 1/24. Calibash 1/25. George Strait, Gone West 1/31-2/1. André Rieu and His Johann Strauss Orchestra 3/20. Zac Brown Band 3/27. Axel 4/3-4/5. Michael Bublė 5/9. 702-692-1600. TopGolF The Wailers 1/17. 4627 Koval Lane, 702-933-8458.
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JIMMY KIMMEL’S COMEDY CLUB Ian Bagg 1/16. Steve Treviño 1/16-1/19. Kenan Thompson’s Road to NYC comic search 1/181/19. Linq Promenade, 702-777-2782.
Venetian Theatre Foreigner 1/24-1/25, 1/29, 1/31-2/1, 4/17-4/18, 4/22, 4/24-4/25. The Doobie Brothers 2/7-2/8, 2/12, 2/14-2/15, 2/19, 2/21-2/22. Chicago 2/28-2/29, 3/4, 3/6-3/7, 3/11, 3/13-3/14. ZZ Top 3/20-3/21, 3/25, 3/27-3/28. 702-414-9000.
THE Railhead Uncle Kracker 1/18. Boulder Station, 702-432-7777.
Rocks Lounge The Wind Jammers 1/16. The Dirty 1/17. Phoenix 1/18. Red Rock Resort, 702-797-7777.
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THE SPARE ROOM Slade Ham 1/16-1/19. Downtown Grand, 702-719-5100. Terry Fator TheatrE David Spade, Ray Romano 1/17-1/18. Mirage, 702-792-7777.
Performing Arts & Culture CLEOPATRA’S BARGE Thomas John 1/16-1/20. Caesars Palace, 866-227-5938. CSN Performing Arts Center (Horn Theatre) Beijing Opera: Madame White Snake 1/16. 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., 702-651-5483. THE Mob Museum Community Safety Forum: Teen Driving 1/19. 300 Stewart Ave., themobmuseum.org. THE Smith Center (Reynolds Hall) Las Vegas Philharmonic: Dvořák, Brahms & Smetana 1/18. The Piano Guys 1/25. Driving Miss Daisy 1/31. (Cabaret Jazz) Megan Hilty 1/17-1/18. Frankie Moreno 1/21. Keola Beamer, Henry Kapono, Moanalani Beamer 1/241/25. (Troesh Studio Theater) Spotlight on Debussy 1/30. Spotlight on Beethoven, Mozart & Friends 3/26. 702-749-2000. SPREAD THE WORD NEVADA Las Vegas Voice
Comedian Chris Tucker performs two sets at Encore Theater on January 19. (Elijah Nouvelage/AP)
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calendar Canadian rapper Merkules hits the Bunkhouse on January 19. (Brendan Meadows/Courtesy)
Nevada State Museum Eclectic Nevada Thru 5/31. 309 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-486-5205. Sahara West Library Javier Estrada: Dreams of Ink + Flowers Thru 3/21. Jenny Naham: Promised Land Thru 3/29. Clay Arts Vegas: Awaiting the Flowers Thru 3/21. 9600 W. Sahara Ave., 702-507-3630. Spring Valley Library Ronaldo Dizon: Images Left Behind Thru 2/18. 4280 S. Jones Blvd., 702-507-3820. Summerlin Library Darlene Hutchinson: Your Garden, Your Art Thru 3/1. 1771 Inner Circle Drive, 702-507-3860. wentworth GALLERY Michael Godard: Godard 1/18. Planet Hollywood, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-895-4449. West Charleston Library Elizabeth Casper: Arboreal Reflections Thru 2/23. 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-507-3940. West Las Vegas Library Las Vegas News Bureau: Vintage Vegas Thru 1/26. 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-507-3980. Whitney Library Krystal Ramirez: I Was Happy Then Thru 2/2. 5175 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-507-4010. Windmill Library Cheng Yajie Thru 2/11. 7060 W. Windmill Lane, 702-507-6030.
FOOD & DRINK Writer Showcase 1/17. 1065 American Pacific Drive #160, 702-564-7809. UNLV (Artemus W. Ham Hall) Clark County School District: High School Honor Band Concert 1/18. 702-895-2787. West Las Vegas ARTS CENTER The Poets’ Corner 1/17. MLK Peace Week ft. Trinity Conservatory of Performing Arts 1/19. 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-507-3989.
LOCAL THEATER Las Vegas Little Theatre (Mainstage) Bus Stop 1/17-2/2. 3920 Schiff Drive, 702-362-7996. Majestic Repertory Theatre Sweeney Todd 1/16-2/9. 1217 S. Main St., 702-478-9636. TSTMRKT Tstmrkt x Las Vegas 1/17. 705 Las Vegas Blvd. N., tstmrkt.com.
Exhibits ALPHA VOYAGE GALLERY Jim Kuehne: Here, There and Everywhere Thru 2/8. 3105 W. Tompkins Ave., 888-831-4844. Barrick Museum of Art (East Gallery) Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya: Connective Tissue Thru 2/22. (Window Gallery) Zet Gold: On My Mountain Thru 2/22. UNLV, 4505 S.
Maryland Parkway, 702-895-3381. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Material Existence: Japanese Art From Jōmon Period to Present Thru 4/26. (Artist Studio) Sisyu Thru 1/30. 702-693-7871. Centennial Hills Library Vija Hamilton: Serendipity Thru 1/28. 6711 N. Buffalo Drive, 702-507-6100. Charleston HeightS Arts CenteR GALLERY Celebrating Life! Masters Exhibition 1/16-4/28. Reception 1/16. 800 Brush St., 702-229-2787. Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery Imagine a World Without Hate Thru 1/16. Grand Central Parkway, 702-455-7030. Clark County LIBRARY Armand Thomas: Etcetera Thru 1/21. 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3400. CORE CONTEMPORARY My Two Cents Thru 1/18. 900 E. Karen Ave. #D222, 702-805-1166. CSN (Fine Arts Gallery) Miya Hannan: Buried Relations Thru 2/22. (Artspace Gallery) Christopher McNulty: Days Thru 1/25. 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., 702-651-4146. DISTRCT ARTS Jan Mc Intyre-Creager: Transitions Thru 1/26. 9710 W. Tropicana Ave. Donna Beam Fine Art Paper Works: Works
on Paper From the Collection of the Donna Beam Gallery and the Barrick Museum 1/212/21. UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-895-3893. East Las Vegas Community Center Zully Mejia: Women and Politics Thru 2/9. 250 N. Eastern Ave., 702-229-2787. East Las Vegas Library Zully Mejia: Self Portraits Thru 2/9. 2851 E. Bonanza Road, 702-507-3500. Enterprise Library Las Vegas Polymer Clay Guild: The Art of Polymer Clay Thru 2/25. 25 E. Shelbourne Ave., 702-507-3760.
Winterfest 1/18. Big Dog’s Brewing Company, 4543 N. Rancho Drive, bit.ly/2QMZbLt.
SPORTS UFC 246 McGregor vs. Cerrone 1/18. T-Mobile Arena, 702-692-1600. UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL New Mexico 1/18. San Diego State 1/25. Fresno State 2/8. UNR 2/12. Colorado State 2/19. Boise State 2/26. Thomas & Mack Center, 702-739-3267.
IMMERSION VEGAS Banksy: Genius or Vandal? Thru 4/5. Fashion Show, immersion.vegas.
UNLV MEN’S Hockey Arizona 2/7, 2/8. Arizona State 2/14, 2/15. Oakland 2/21, 2/22. T-Mobile Arena, 702-692-1600.
Las Vegas City Hall (Grand Gallery) Nevada Clay Guild: Southwest Teapots Thru 2/6. (Windows on First) Sierra Slentz: Under the Sky—Ceramic Landscape Wall Series Thru 5/1. 495 S. Main St., 702-229-1012.
UNLV WOMEN’s BASKETBALL UNR 1/22. Colorado State 2/1. Utah State 2/5. New Mexico 2/15. San Diego State 2/22. San Jose State 2/27. Cox Pavilion, 702-739-3267.
Left of Center ART GALLERY Wade Hampton: Passages: Faces, Street and Land Thru 3/7. 2207 W. Gowan Road, 702-647-7378.
UNLV MEN’S TENNIS Freeman Memorial 1/171/19. Fertitiia Tennis Complex, 702-739-3267.
Neon Museum Tim Burton: Lost Vegas Thru 4/12. 770 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-387-6366. Nevada Humanities Program Gallery Snapshot: Culling Our History From the Family Album Thru 1/23. 1017 S. 1st St. #190, nevada humanities.org.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS Carolina 2/8. St. Louis 2/13. New York Islanders 2/15. Washington 2/17. Tampa Bay 2/20. Florida 2/22. Edmonton 2/26. Buffalo 2/28. Los Angeles 3/1. New Jersey 3/3. Dallas 3/17. Detroit 3/21. Vancouver 3/23. Arizona 3/25. T-Mobile Arena, 702-692-1600.
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MYSTERY MAN
IT’S HARD TO PREDICT HOW CONOR M C GREGOR WILL PERFORM AGAINST DONALD CERRONE AT UFC 246
BY CASE KEEFER he only punch fans have seen Conor McGregor throw over the past 14 months was a cheap shot against an elderly man in a Dublin pub. In August, TMZ released video of the assault, for which the 31-year-old UFC superstar eventually pleaded guilty. During McGregor’s extended hiatus from the octagon, the former two-division champion’s fights have been confined to court rooms (he was also arrested in March for stealing and smashing a Miami man’s cellphone). More than three years have passed since McGregor’s last win, a dry spell he’ll look to end during the main event at UFC 246 against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, on January 18 at T-Mobile Arena. It’s another mega-bout in a career full of megabouts for the Irishman, who has spent the past halfdecade as the most popular fighter in the world. It’s been widely reported that McGregor has headlined five of the six best-selling UFC pay-per-view cards of all time, though the locally based promotion doesn’t publicly disclose sales numbers. The long-brewing showdown with Cerrone, a
T
draw in his own right, will likely join that group, but it feels quite different from its predecessors. Never has there been so much uncertainty surrounding a fight this big, even in a sport as renowned for volatility as mixed martial arts. No one knows what to expect from McGregor, who was thoroughly outclassed in a fourth-round submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in his last fight in October 2018. That followed an equally lopsided defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an August 2017 boxing match, for which McGregor reportedly earned close to $100 million. Considering that McGregor has already secured more wealth and fame than any other MMA fighter, along with his place in combat-sports history, it’s natural to wonder if he can regain the drive that
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UFC 246 When: January 18, 3:15 p.m. early preliminary card on ESPN+, 5 p.m. preliminary card on ESPN, 7 p.m. main card on pay-per-view Where: T-Mobile Arena Tickets: $250-$8,000, ufc.com/tickets Pay-per-view: $65-$85, exclusively on ESPN+ plus.espn.com/ufc/ppv Main event betting line: McGregor minus-300; Cerrone plus-250
powered his initial run. McGregor captured the UFC featherweight title less than three years after joining the promotion, winning seven straight fights, with all but one coming by knockout inside of two rounds. And McGregor won’t be the only variable at UFC 246. Judging from their careers as a whole, Cerrone has been far more erratic. The 36-year-old ranks as the UFC’s all-time leader in wins with 23, but that’s largely because of the volume he has continually sought. When he faces McGregor, Cerrone will move into sole possession of first place for most overall UFC fights with 34. Cerrone’s performances have been wide-ranging. He’s had a plethora of highlight-reel finishes
but also a handful of baffling no-shows. By his own admission, when he was younger Cerrone struggled mentally in the most important moments. Dating back to his run in the WEC, a major promotion later absorbed by the UFC, Cerrone is 0-4 in title fights. Though no belt will be on the line at UFC 246, he’ll fight McGregor under a brighter spotlight than during his four championship bouts combined. The stakes for McGregor vs. Cerrone are also murky. UFC President Dana White has said that if McGregor wins, he’d like to book him for a rematch with Nurmagomedov for the lightweight championship. That doesn’t make much sense, however, considering McGregor vs. Cerrone is being contested at welterweight. Nurmagomedov also seems uninterested, explaining that he needed to win at least nine straight fights before getting the nod to face McGregor and demanding that McGregor do the same before a rematch. There’s been virtually no discussion about what a victory might mean for Cerrone, who enters the bout on a two-fight losing streak. Perhaps no such clarity is needed, since Cerrone has long cited money as his primary motivator. Win or lose, Cerrone will make a whole lot of it on what will surely be the largest payday of his career to date. Even with so many unknowns heading into UFC 246, there’s nothing in combat sports as big as a Conor McGregor fight right now. Conor McGregor (Steve Marcus/Staff); Donald Cerrone (Isaac Brekken/AP); Photo Illustration
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Bacteria need zero seconds to contaminate food. Sorry, no five-second rule. (But maybe eat it anyway. Some germs are good for you.)
CLEAN LIVING BRUSH UP ON SOME SIMPLE ADVICE FOR OPTIMAL HUMAN HYGIENE BY MEREDITH S. JENSEN | SPECIAL TO LAS VEGAS WEEKLY
ow often should you brush your teeth? Change your linens or towels? Is bathing every day even necessary? Here are a few hygiene tips worth sharing with family and friends. Nothing says “love” like stopping bad breath and communicable diseases in their tracks.
H
The human body is home to more than 1,000 species of bacteria.
In the 14th century, medical professionals at the Sorbonne in Paris decided washing was bad for your health. The thinking was that warm water opens pores, which would increase a person’s risk of contracting the bubonic plague. People avoided hot water and washing for the next 500 years.
One in five people don’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom. Among those who do, only 30% use soap. The CDC recommends 15-20 seconds of vigorous hand washing with soap and water to remove germs effectively.
OUR DAILY BATH According to Dr. Robert Shmerling of Harvard Medical School, approximately two-thirds of Americans bathe or shower daily. This habit usually starts around puberty and continues into old age, but is it necessary? While it might be a good way for Big Bathroom to sell you more products in order to conform to social norms, showering daily might do more harm than good. You can dry out your skin, scrub away good bacteria and weaken your immune system, not to mention come into
contact with more chemicals and additives from scrubs and sprays, Shmerling notes. If you’re typically dirty, sweaty or have other health reasons to shower daily, go for it. But you might want to consider backing down to a few times a week. Keep it as brief as possible to avoid drying out your skin with hot water. Try short showers lasting three to four minutes where you concentrate on high-humidity areas like skin folds and your “pits-n-bits” (armpits, groin and rear end.)
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CH-CH-CHANGES TOOTHBRUSH: Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
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Not surprisingly, the stuff we use to get clean gets dirty. Here’s how often to change your … LOOFAH: Replace your natural sponge loofah every three to four weeks, and a plastic one every two to three months.
BATH TOWEL: Switch out or launder your bath towel once a week. Replace your washcloth several times a week. Always be sure to hang up wet towels to allow them to dry thoroughly.
BEDSHEETS: Change your sheets every other week, at least, more if you’re prone to night sweats. Wash your pillowcase every few days if you have oily skin and/or hair.
UNDERWEAR: Come on. Daily, at least. SOCKS: See above.
HAIRBRUSH: Surprise! You should be cleaning your hairbrush every week or so, more often if you can see product buildup.
SCRUBBA WUBBA LUB DUB Loathed by toddlers everywhere, bath time is a simple process that humans, unsurprisingly, tend to overcomplicate. For some, cleanliness may be next to godliness, while others may rely on Axe in the hopes of masking their musk. (Spoiler alert: This rarely works.) So, what works?
“Hygiene” comes from Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health and cleanliness.
LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT? You can thank Big Shampoo for this “recommendation.” According to experts at Columbia University, washing twice in the week might be unnecessary, let alone washing twice in the same shower. Your hair needs the natural oils that can be stripped with frequent washings. Advice from stylists and other experts varies, but it mostly breaks down like this:
■ Thick, curly, coarse, or dry hair: Shampoo once a week, condition in between, concentrating on the ends.
■ Afro, mixed-textured, very curly or extremely dry: Try co-washing— washing your hair solely with conditioner.
■ Straight or fine hair: Shampoo every two or three days; use a dry shampoo between if needed.
■ Chemically processed hair: Shampoo a few times a week with a gentle shampoo to avoid stripping color or adding dryness.
■ Natural black hair: For tight curls, shampoo every two weeks; for looser curls once or twice a week; use conditioner in between.
■ If you have an itchy scalp, think your hair smells, finished a sweaty workout or look or feel greasy, by all means, feel free to shampoo.
SO MOUTHY
Television To maintain good oral health, the remotes are the American Dental Association recomgermiest things mends brushing your teeth for two minin hospitals and utes at least twice a day with a softhotel rooms, even bristle brush and an ADA-approved worse than toilet fluoride toothpaste. Floss once a day. handles. (Bonus points if you use mouthwash and a tongue scraper.) Don’t brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking something highly acidic. (Coffee drinkers, we’re looking at you!) The acid weakens enamel and immediate brushing can actually damage your teeth. Either wait an hour to brush or rinse your mouth thoroughly with Sources: Allure magazine, water before brushing. American Dental Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cleveland Clinic, Columbia University, Discover magazine, Elle magazine, Good Housekeeping Institute, Harvard Medical School, Lush Cosmetics, Time magazine
MAKEUP: In general, replace mascara after three months, blushes and eye shadows every one to two years, liquid eyeliner after three months, pencil eyeliner after two years. Replace foundations and concealers every year.
MAKEUP BRUSHES: Clean sponges and blenders after every use, replacing them completely every three months. Wash brushes every week or so, then replace after one to five years depending on brush quality.
King James VI of Scotland, I of England, refused to bathe. He wore the same clothes for months, sometimes sleeping in them.
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Worrisome NEVADA WORKERS’ INFLATION-ADJUSTED SALARIES HAVE ACTUALLY DECREASED SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION
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BY MIRANDA WILLSON
nemployment is low. The housing market has bounced back. But since the Great Recession devastated Nevada’s economy more than 10 years ago, one thing hasn’t changed: wages for the average Nevadan. Mean annual pay in Nevada stood at $42,984 in 2008, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2018, it had climbed to just $50,041. Adjusted for inflation, that’s a 1.9% decrease in salary for the average worker in the state during that time frame. While average wages have risen slightly nationwide over the past decade, just two other states—Connecticut and Wyoming—saw inflation-adjusted wages similarly decrease between 2008 and 2018, BLS data shows. All other states experienced an inflation-adjusted pay boost, ranging from very modest to
substantial, for the average worker.
Experts and advocates offer a number of possible explanations for why wages in Nevada haven’t kept up with inflation: the nature of the dominant gaming and tourism industry, pro-business state policies that some claim deprioritize workers, the lingering effects of the Great Recession and more. But, especially given the looming potential for another recession, there’s a larger and more complicated question: What could be done to elevate the state’s stagnant wages? Meredith Levine, director of economic policy at the Nevada-based Guinn Center for Policy Priorities, hypothesizes that the high prevalence of service sector jobs in Nevada has held back wage growth to an extent. According to a 2019 Guinn Center report on post-Great Recession economic trends in Nevada, gaming, tourism, accommodations and food services account for nearly half of all jobs in the state.
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wages Workers in these industries are more likely to earn hourly wages at or close to the minimum wage than workers in any other industry, according to Levine. “Wages in these sectors tend to remain flat, and the concentration in Nevada likely depresses wages relative to other states in the nation,” she said. Even though 13.9% of workers in the state—many in the relatively low-wage service sector—belonged to unions as of 2018, Laura Martin, executive director of Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, described the state as more pro-business than pro-worker. Nevada’s is considered one of the fastest-growing state economies, but that growth hasn’t necessarily translated into benefits for workers, Martin said. “I really think we have to examine the way we do politics, the way we govern and what we’ve convinced ourselves is the way forward,” she said. Lawmakers appear to be doing that to some extent as of late. On July 1, the minimum wage in Nevada will increase above the federal minimum wage, which itself hasn’t gone up since 2009. Under a bill passed during the 2019 legislative session, employers will be required to pay workers at least $8 per hour if they’re also offering them
health care or at least $9 per hour if they don’t. The minimum wage will continue to rise incrementally for the next four years until it reaches $11 per hour for workers with health care and $12 per hour for workers without it. That will bring Nevada to the “middle of the pack” compared with other states, said David Cooper, a senior economic analyst at the nonprofit, liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute. Nonetheless, the increase will help only those at the bottom of the economic spectrum, even though the slowest wage growth in the country has been observed among the middle class, he said. Middle-class Nevadans are likely still feeling the impacts of the 2007-09 Great Recession when it comes to their wages, according to Cooper. Nevada was arguably hit harder than any other state by the burst of the U.S. housing bubble leading up to the recession, resulting in soaring unemployment. It had the highest unemployment rate of any state for 50 months between January 1, 2009, and December 1, 2018, according to Cooper. And those lucky enough to keep their jobs were probably less likely to get raises during that time. “Whenever employers see that there’s a line of
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people wrapped around the block for every job opening, there’s no incentive for them to raise wages,” Cooper said. While the Nevada unemployment rate has decreased to about 4.1% from its recession peak of 13.7%, the jobs that returned to the state might not pay as well as the ones that left. One good example: the construction industry. As of November 2019, Nevada had 22,000 fewer construction jobs—which tend to be relatively high-paying and accessible— than it did in December 2007, Cooper said. Given that the Great Recession and resulting layoffs likely contributed to the state’s stagnant wages, another recession could have a similar effect on the workforce, dropping wages further relative to inflation, Cooper said. To prevent that, state and local leaders could adopt some new policies before another recession hits. Geoconda Arguello-Kline, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Union, suggested state leaders should support unions, which lift wages for all workers, unionized or not. Most of the service industry workers employed by non-union hotel-casinos— properties owned by Station Casinos and the Las Vegas Sands Company—are making well above minimum wage because those employers have to compete with unionized jobs on the Strip, she said. (She pointed out that unionized jobs deliver other benefits, though, such as job security.) Nevada could adopt policy tools that have proven successful in other states, like expanding eligibility for overtime pay so that more workers are compensated for extra hours, Cooper said. In addition, the state could outlaw or better regulate noncompete agreements imposed on workers, which reduce pressure to raise wages. And local leaders could pledge to contract with companies that pay a living wage. “State lawmakers don’t need to wait for federal action on some of these other things,” Cooper said. Nonetheless, additional research is needed to better understand and find ways to lift Nevada’s flat wages, according to Levine. The Guinn Center plans to investigate the issue in more depth later this year.
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The bridge builder
Gov. Steve Sisolak (Steve Marcus/Staff)
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In his first year as governor, Steve Sisolak brokered major deals out of stagnant negotiations. What’s next?
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By John Sadler ov. Steve Sisolak was annoyed. It was clear in his voice. The Clark County School District and the Clark County Education Association had been locked in a stalemate regarding teacher pay and compensation for months. A teacher strike seemed likely. Then, Nevada’s first-year Democratic governor spoke up, forcefully instructing both sides to “get in a room, lock the door and figure it out.” Almost instantly, they came to a compromise. The teachers got a 3% pay increase, a 2% step increase, a 4% increase in CCSD’s contributions to monthly health insurance premiums and a $5,400 salary advancement for teachers who complete three years of professional development. “The effort collectively, especially leadership at the state level, was critical to get this done for our 320,000 children,” School District Superintendent Jesus Jara said at the time. Yes, Sisolak seems to have a penchant for dealmaking. Previously, tensions between the UNLV donor community and Nevada System of Higher Education leadership had prevented a deal from getting done, with then-university President Len Jessup’s resignation—which came amidst pressure from the Board of Regents—causing particular strife between some once-committed donors and leadership. But Sisolak, the former Clark County Commissioner and longtime Las Vegan, brokered an agreement between UNLV and donors to fund the construction of a new medical school building. He recently celebrated his first anniversary in office after a busy year of lawmaking. Accomplishments Sisolak is Nevada’s first Democratic governor in 20 years, overseeing a legislative session in which multiple Democratic landmark goals were passed. Those include raising the minimum wage from $8.25 to $12 an hour by 2024; passing legislation to make Nevada the fifth state to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to patients due to pre-existing conditions; and overhauling the state’s 52-year-old school funding formula to give the Department of Education a larger say in where monies are distributed.
In his initial days in office, Sisolak he also helped pass the “red flag” gun law, allowing authorities to seize firearms from those determined to be a threat to themselves or others. He also helped pass a separate bill requiring most private gun transfers to go through a state-run background check. “To be able to come into a legislative session almost immediately after an election and say, ‘OK, here’s some priorities of things that we should get done’ and for us to be able to execute that, I think speaks to his leadership,” state Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, said. Sisolak also stood in vocal opposition to the Department of Energy’s plans to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, speaking out when weapons-grade plutonium was secretly shipped from South Carolina to Nevada. And yet, he says, “There’s still a lot of work to do.” What’s next? Sisolak stresses the need for states to step in to tackle climate change. Under President Donald Trump, an uninterested federal government has rolled back many actions taken by the Obama administration to mitigate climate change’s effects. That includes such measures as reducing pollution at national parks and rescinding a proposal to establish guidelines to modernize public housing complexes, according to The Washington Post, which lists 70 environmental policies Trump has overturned or attempted to eliminate. Nevada will do its share, Sisolak says. “Would it be nice if we had a federal administration that was as supportive as I think our governors are? But that’s not the case, and [we] have to work with what we have,” Sisolak says. “We can’t wait for the president to change or for his opinion to change.” Another issue on Sisolak’s agenda is education, where his focus will go beyond the classroom, toward ensuring children are ready to learn when they arrive at school. “I want to make sure that these kids get fed, that their parents have a job if they’re looking for a job, that we have housing available [so] that people aren’t living … on the street, then going to school,” he says. He also lists tackling criminal justice reform,
finding a more permanent solution to school funding and environmental issues as priorities. The presidential race Democratic presidential candidates have flooded the state on the campaign trail over the past year ahead of the February 22 caucuses. So, who will Sisolak endorse? Right now, he says, he’s not planning on endorsing any particular candidate. That decision aligns with other Nevada leaders like Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who have pledged neutrality heading into the caucuses. “I can tell you this: Whoever the nominee is, I’m going to work as hard as I can to help them get elected, because I think it is important to us,” Sisolak said. “I really hope that this energy stays with the candidate who is ultimately chosen.”
What’s Steve Sisolak deal-making secret? State Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, said Sisolak’s approach is simple: He takes time to hear all sides of an argument. More importantly, he’s fair. It seems to have worked. “Sometimes, in this job it can be very easy to see only one side of things. I think it can be easy to think that if your idea is the right way to go, then that’s where we should go,” she said. “I think that he’s taken a very measured approach in saying, ‘Hey, if there’s an issue, let’s bring everybody together and let’s actually sit them all down and let’s talk about what we’re trying to accomplish and where those roadblocks are.’”
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Las Vegas’ evolution and incentives attract California’s Premier Displays and Exhibits
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BY BRYAN HORWATH en years ago, Premier Displays and Exhibits founder and CEO Chris Bullard concedes, he wouldn’t have considered moving his company’s headquarters to Las Vegas. But he says he has been impressed with the “can-do” attitude throughout this community, a critical asset for a business owner. “I think a lot of people have the wrong impression of what Las Vegas is all about,” Bullard said. “There are so many opportunities in Las Vegas other than gambling. I think Las Vegas has really stepped up in the last 10 years. The city is clean, there’s some amazing new developments going up, and I think it’s a kinder environment.” Bullard purchased land just north of Blue Diamond Road and South Jones Boulevard, and recently broke ground on a 100,000-square-foot office, production and storage facility. He said he hopes to have his company’s operations, now based in Cypress, California, up and running in Las Vegas before the end of the year. Along with creating exhibits for conventions and trade shows, Premier Displays designs storefronts, corporate showrooms and exhibits for private events. The company already has a contract with the Vegas Golden Knights to create a broadcast space at City National Arena in Summerlin. Bullard said the move to Las Vegas will put the company’s headquarters in position to host some of the biggest conventions and trade shows in
the world such as CES, which draws more than 170,000 annually. Las Vegas also offers a better tax environment and a good quality of life for employees, he said. “The people in Las Vegas are incredible, and the opportunities are incredible,” Bullard said. “With all the regulations and taxes in California,
it’s causing me to not be competitive, and it’s a very competitive business that I’m in. The tax environment in Nevada is much, much better.” Bullard has had a home in the Las Vegas Valley for the past five years and has been traveling back and forth between here and Orange County, California, he said. “Living in Las Vegas, you’re 30 minutes from [Lake Mead] and you’re 30 minutes from skiing at Mount Charleston. You can go hiking or biking at Red Rock Canyon. There’s so much to do; it’s an incredible place to live,” he said. The new headquarters will employ about 50 people at an average wage of about $30 an hour, Bullard said. He plans to bring about a dozen workers to Las Vegas from Southern California, but says the rest of the positions will be filled here. The company received incentives to relocate from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Premier Displays—which has worked on projects for such companies as Skechers, Under Armour and Nike—will keep a presence in California during a transition period but will eventually house all headquarters operations in Las Vegas. The general contractor for the new Premier Displays headquarters will be local firm Modern Elements Construction.
Premier Displays and Exhibits creates trade show spaces for companies to share their brand. (Courtesy)
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VegasInc Notes
Stahl
DiVecchio
Rubin
Coffey
Opatik
Tina
Barbee
Puhl
The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors announced its 2019 award winners, including Robert Andy Stahl, Realtor of the year; Norma Jean Opatik, Ronn Reiss Award for educational excellence and leadership; GLVAR CEO Wendy DiVecchio, Gene Nebeker Memorial Award for professionalism and service to the GLVAR and the community; David Tina,
Frank Sala/Marv Rubin Award recognizing long-term commitment to grassroots political action and to protecting private property rights; Marv Rubin, Jack Woodcock Distinguished Service Award; Forrest Barbee, Walt Coffey and Dale Puhl, GLVAR hall of fame inductees. Jennifer Shydler, CFP, was named to Working Mother/Shook Research’s 2019 Top Wealth Advisor Moms List. Shydler is a wealth manage- Shydler ment adviser at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She provides financial planning and asset management for clients’ banking and investment needs. Cliff Cole, director of virtual design and construction at Penta Building Group, was named to Autodesk Construction Cloud’s Cole 40 Under 40 Construction Champions of 2019. The list highlights leading professionals emerging from the architecture, engineering and construction industry. Under Cole’s leadership, Penta has implemented innovative technologies and processes that increase efficiency, save time and money and improve overall jobsite safety. Penta Building Group announced the promotion of Marsha Carroll, a Penta employee since 2007, to senior safety manager. Additionally, Andrea
Pollack was promoted to senior project engineer and Rhea Shoemaker was promoted to contract administrator.
management group in Nevada. Luckett joins City National from Wells Fargo Bank with over nine years of banking.
Laura Gracia joined Summit Mental Health as a licensed marriage and family therapist intern. Gracia also will continue her work with private Gracia clients as well as take on new Medicaid and insured clients working to improve their mental health.
Vegas PBS hired Jennifer Shell as its educational technology utilization and project management coordinator. She will manage the implementation Shell and reporting of multiple grants and promote the use of instructional television and other distance education technologies provided through Vegas PBS for the Clark County School District.
Joyce Smith, Bank of Nevada’s senior director, commercial banking, was elected to the Nevada Bankers Association board of directors Smith by unanimous vote. Smith oversees a portfolio of highly valued clients and manages the operations and employees of Bank of Nevada’s Hualapai and Centennial locations. City National Bank hired Isabel Alvarado as vice president and branch manager of its Green Valley banking office located at 8475 S. Eastern Ave. Alvarado She replaces Scott Sellers who was promoted to Nevada’s Field Sales Manager. Alvarado joins City National from Valley Bank of Nevada Luckett with over 16 years of banking experience. City National also appointed Dierra Luckett as sales officer in its treasury
The Downtown Vegas Alliance, a member-driven nonprofit organization committed to creating a vibrant and sustainable downtown Las Vegas, appointed Carolyn Wheeler as executive director. Wheeler comes to the role with an extensive leadership background from a 30-year career where she most recently served as director of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility marketing at Caesars Entertainment and director of the Caesars Foundation. Intermountain Healthcare and the Raiders announced their naming rights partnership for the Raiders’ Performance Center and Corporate Headquarters under construction in Henderson. Intermountain Healthcare will also become the official health care partner of the Raiders and a founding partner of Allegiant Stadium. Nevada State College was recognized as a top-ranked institution offering the best online RN to BSN degree programs by Intelligent.com. The college was listed among 60 other competing public and private institutions across the nation. Advantage Capital, a venture capital firm and small business lender, expanded its Nevada
team with the addition of Al Alvarez as director. Alvarez brings over 35 years of experience in the commercial banking and lending sector, most recently as director and principal market manager at the Bank of the West.
Bisht
Grim
Credit One Bank added five vice presidents to further expand its corporate leadership team. The newly appointed executives are: Sonika Bisht, Hayes vice president of data analytics and reporting; Dan Grim, vice president of reporting and analytics; Timothy Hayes, vice president of prime market Nair expansion and credit underwriting; Rajeev Nair, vice president of data sciences and risk management; and Terence Yu, vice president of campaign management. Yu UNLV named Dr. Marc J. Kahn the new dean of the School of Medicine. Kahn is currently a senior associate dean at Tulane University School of Medicine and was selected following a national search for the position. He takes his post at UNLV on April 1.
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Conventions NAHB International Builders Show Las Vegas Convention Center January 21-23 68,000 attendees Kitchen and Bath Industry Show Las Vegas Convention Center January 21-23 33,000 attendees Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show Sands Expo & Convention Center January 21-24 61,000 attendees Adult Entertainment Expo— AVN Adult Expo Hard Rock Hotel January 22-25 25,000 attendees Las Vegas Market—Winter 2020 World Market Center January 26-30 50,000 attendees International Surface Event Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Resort January 27-30 25,000 attendees Off-Price Specialist Show— Spring 2020
Sands Expo & Convention Center February 3-6 11,500 attendees
and Resort February 16-19 15,000 attendees
World of Concrete 2020 Las Vegas Convention Center February 4-7 60,000 attendees
International Limousine Charter & Tour Show 2020 Venetian February 16-20 3,000 attendees
MAGIC Marketplace Spring Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Resort February 5-7 78,000 attendees USA CBD Expo 2020 Las Vegas Convention Center February 13-15 5,000 attendees National Automobile Dealers Association Annual Winter National Convention 2020 Las Vegas Convention Center February 14-17 30,000 attendees Vacuum and Sewing Dealers Trade Association 2020 Las Vegas Convention Center February 16-18 2,600 attendees Western Veterinary Annual 2020 Conference Mandalay Bay Convention Center
WPPI Wedding & Portrait Photographers Conference Expo Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Resort February 23-27 10,000 attendees Firehouse World Conference & Expo 2020 Las Vegas Convention Center February 24-27 4,500 attendees CHAMPS Trade Show Spring Gage Enterprises Las Vegas Convention Center February 25-28 5,000 attendees White Label World Expo 2020 Las Vegas Convention Center February 26-27 6,000 attendees ATA International—ATA Spring National Tournament 2020
January 16 Spring Mountain Youth Camp: Water Tank Restoration Clark County, 605452 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@clarkcountynv.gov January 23 2:15 p.m. Traffic Signal Systems at Various Locations No. 102
Las Vegas Convention Center February 28-29 3,500 attendees American Frozen Food Institute AFFI-Con 2020 Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas February 28-March 3 1,000 attendees Medtrade Spring Conference & Expo 2020 Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Resort March 3-5 2,500 attendees Channel Partners—Conference & Expo 2020 Sands Expo & Convention Center March 9-12 6,000 attendees
Clark County, 605535 Adleen Stidhum at abs@clarkcountynv.gov January 24 2:15 p.m. Clark County, 605536 Russell Road Cimmaron Road to Rainbow Boulevard Adleen Stidhum at abs@clarkcountynv.gov
ConExpo—Con/Agg 2020 Las Vegas Convention Center March 10-14 129,000 attendees International Security Conference—ISC West Sands Expo & Convention Center March 17-20 29,000 attendees ASD Market Week Winter Las Vegas Convention Center March 22-25 46,000 attendees 15th Annual World Game Protection Conference (WGPC) Tropicana Las Vegas March 23-26 700 attendees
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Tuesday, January 28, 2020 7:30 p.m. Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall The public is invited to this FREE annual series. Admission is by ticket only on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are limited to two (2) per customer. Tickets ONLY available at the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office: Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. For information, call (702) 895-ARTS, but tickets cannot be reserved by phone. UNLV faculty, staff and students may obtain tickets beginning at 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 8, 2020. The general public may obtain tickets beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 11, 2020.
www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099
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THE EDWARD BARRICK Endowment Fund was established at UNLV in 1980 and makes possible the Lecture Series and the Barrick Graduate Fellowships, Barrick Faculty Development and Travel Fund, and the Barrick Research Scholars Fund. AA/EEO
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LV W p u z z l e & h o r o s c o p e s
Premier Crossword
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horoscopes week of JANUARY 16 by rob brezsny
“Turnabout” by frank Longo
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Comedian John Cleese says, “It’s easier to do trivial things that are urgent than it is to do important things that are not urgent. It’s also easier to do little things we know we can do than to start on big things that we’re not so sure about.” Make this advice a priority. Prioritize important tasks and de-emphasize trivial matters. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Author Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850) wrote more than 80 novels that displayed a profound and nuanced understanding of the human comedy. This year, you could make dramatic progress in cultivating a de Balzac-like approach in your own sphere. But as you hone your drive for success, be impeccable in tending to your health. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Before he was 21 years old, William Shakespeare and his wife had birthed three kids. When he was 25, he started churning out literary masterpieces. By the time he became a grandfather at 43, he had written many of the works that made him one of history’s most illustrious authors. What role will commitment, duty and devotion play in your life? CANCER (June 21-July 22): Painter Stanley Spencer (1891–1959) didn’t align himself with any artistic movement. Early on, his work was an odd blend of French Post-Impressionism and 14th-century Italian painting. Another aspect of his art was its mix of eroticism and religiosity. Explore that blend yourself in the coming months. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1440s. Suddenly, people who worked as scribes found it harder to get work. In our era, big culture-wide shifts are affecting our personal lives. Climate change, smartphones, automation and the internet are a few examples. What are doing to adjust to the many innovations? Meditate on these issues. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’re skilled at the art of self-editing. When bright new ideas well up in you, you know they are not yet ready for prime time, but need to be honed and finessed. It’s also true that sometimes you go too far to refine your imagination’s breakthroughs; you over-think and overpolish. Find the sweet spot, self-editing with just the right touch.
2018 King features syndicate
ACROSS 1 Cries noisily 5 Stuff in steel 9 Horse cousin 12 Often-smoked food 15 U.K. neighbor 18 “As above,” in citations 19 Extremely deep sleep 20 Pavarotti of opera 22 U.S. neighbor 23 Make every effort to be obliging 26 Vivacity 27 Mosaic work 28 — -TURN (road sign) 29 — Mason (asset management firm) 30 BLT offerer 31 To any extent 32 Revolution of Triton with respect to Neptune 36 Author Anaïs 37 Twosome 39 Not tidy 40 Two-pip card 41 Pressing it moves a cursor to the previous character 46 Shorelines 47 Off the shore 48 Justice Sotomayor 49 Program using “.doc” files, for short 52 Mu — pork 54 Horace Greeley’s advice for American expansion 60 Huge aid 64 In base eight 65 She’s a star aria singer 66 Palme — (Cannes film award) 67 Bus driver’s order
73 Ship like Capt. Nemo’s 74 To — (exactly) 76 Marisa with an Oscar 77 Cadences 79 Irritate 85 Suffix with hell 86 More pasty 87 Horse opera 89 Arthur of tennis 93 Singers Idol and Ocean 96 Sticker message on a rented VCR tape 99 At full speed, oldstyle 100 A deadly sin 103 “Patience — virtue” 104 Pro vote 105 Do a 180, say 110 Rapper with the album Press Play 112 Old Italian stage actress Eleonora 113 1953 Leslie Caron film 114 “— always say ...” 115 Jeopardy 116 “— my fault” 117 Parent’s mind game with a child (or what you have to use to solve this puzzle?) 122 Even score 123 Guys rowing 124 Smartphone downloads 125 Suffix with well 126 States, informally 127 Singular of “Mmes.” 128 Beltway VIP 129 Watery castle protector 130 Once, in olden days DOWN 1 Bro’s kin 2 Strange things
3 Former Fed head Ben 4 Little 5 “Ugh”-worthy 6 Bird of myth 7 Muscat resident 8 Honcho 9 Lager cousin 10 Nissan Rogue, e.g. 11 Bawls out 12 Irritable from being ravenous, slangily 13 Lay — (really fail) 14 Wild crowd 15 Stimulus 16 Vote in for a another term 17 Lapses 21 Notions 24 Ralph — Emerson 25 1921 Karel Capek play 30 Feared a lot 31 Author Seton 32 Bull in a ring 33 Cockney’s residence 34 Often-smoked food 35 Stenches 38 Actress Andress 42 Do laundry 43 Jillian of TV 44 Spanish aunt 45 Relatives, informally 46 Light bed 49 Mixed breed 50 Zest or Ivory 51 Ben-Hur director William 53 The woman 55 “Understood” 56 S.Sgt., e.g. 57 Yearn (for) 58 Female cell 59 Talks idly 60 Yrly. gift-giving time 61 Greek “I” 62 Heightened 63 — dish (bio lab item)
68 T. — Price 69 The “E” of EMT: Abbr. 70 Snide snicker 71 Sixths doubled 72 Method: Abbr. 75 “Liberté, —, fraternité” (France’s motto) 78 Bangkok citizen 80 “Bye Bye Bye” band 81 Exclamations of surprise 82 “Sk8er —” (2002 hit) 83 Assembly line labor org. 84 Tpk., e.g. 88 Actor Idle 90 Parachute user 91 Unmindful 92 Online bidding site 93 Roving robbers 94 “Gotta go” 95 — faire 96 ’50s prez 97 Not pos. 98 “Raider” Ralph 100 Previous convictions 101 Little brooks 102 Tough-to-translate phrases 106 Composer Edward 107 Opposite of 104-Across 108 Tea-growing Indian state 109 River giant, for short 111 Dunne of film 115 Covert “Hey!” 117 — Kippur War 118 Half of a bray 119 Wolf Blitzer’s channel 120 Clean air gp. 121 Q-U linkup
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Author Thomas Love Peacock’s specialty was writing satirical novels that featured people sitting around tables arguing about opinions and ideas. Yet he did appreciate sheer beauty. “There is nothing perfect in this world,” he said, “except Mozart.” Make a list of your own perfect things—and spend extra time communing with them in the coming weeks. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Jean-Michel Basquiat started his career as a graffiti artist. When he evolved into being a full-time painter, he incorporated words into his images. Often, he’d draw lines through the words. “I cross out words so you will see them more,” he said. “The fact that they are obscured makes you want to read them.” Draw attention to the things you want to emphasize by downplaying them. Reverse psychology can be an asset for you. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Because of the onslaught of the internet and social media, lots of people no longer read books. But in 2020, you need more of the slow, deep wisdom that comes from reading books. You will also benefit from other acts of rebellion against the Short Attention Span Era. Blessings will flow as you honor the incremental approach to everything. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “I love to be surprised by something I have never thought of,” declares actor Ralph Fiennes. You’d be wise to make that one of your top mottoes in 2020. Life is likely to bring to your attention a steady stream of things you’ve never imagined. And your ability to make good use of surprises will be at an all-time high. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “I love fools’ experiments. I am always making them.” So said one of the most famous and influential scientists who ever lived, Charles Darwin. Draw inspiration from his approach. Allow yourself to explore playfully as you conduct fun research. Assume you have a mandate to drum up educational experiences, and that a good way to do that is to amuse yourself with improvisational adventures. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “How do you get your main pleasure in life?” That question was posed to author Evelyn Waugh and social reformer William Beveridge. Waugh said, “I get mine spreading alarm and despondency.” Beveridge said, “I get mine trying to leave the world a better place than I found it.” Favor Beveridge’s approach over Waugh’s in 2020. The world already has plenty of alarm and despondency.