2020-02-20 - Las Vegas Weekly by Greenspun Media Group

UPCOMING

SO LD

O U

Pearl Concert Theater Shows

Billy Idol

Il Volo

Melanie Martinez

Prince Royce

Tracy Morgan

Volbeat

Kesha

Earth, Wind & Fire

Incubus

AWOLNATION

Gary Owen

Beach Boys

MARCH 6, 7, 11, 13 & 14

MARCH 28

MAY 22 & 23

MARCH 15

APRIL 5

JUNE 20

For Full Schedule Visit Palms.com/Pearl-Theater Unstatus Quo

MARCH 20

MAY 1

JULY 11

Purchase tickets at the Rewards Center, Pearl Box Office or Ticketmaster.com. Ticket information and purchasing available also at stationcasinoslive.com and at any Station Casinos Rewards Center or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Management Reserves All Rights. Â© 2020 Station Casinos, LLC.

March 21

MAY 6, 8, 9, 15 & 16

NOVEMBER 7

IT’S SHOWTIME! T O P N A M E E N T E R TA I N M E N T

AMANDA Y DIEGO TEXAS ★ FEBRUARY 28

SURVIVOR BOULDER ★ MARCH 28

KEIKO MATSUI SANTA FE ★ APRIL 18

NEAL MCCOY BOULDER ★ APRIL 25

BRETT YOUNG RED ROCK ★ APRIL 25

REO SPEEDWAGON RED ROCK ★ MAY 2

HOSTED BY LANCE BASS OF *NSYNC

POP 2000

RED ROCK ★ JUNE 20

SINBAD GREEN VALLEY ★ JULY 3

JUSTIN MOORE SUNSET ★ AUGUST 15

WISHBONE ASH BOULDER ★ FEBRUARY 27

TINSLEY ELLIS BOULDER ★ MARCH 12

TOMMY CASTRO BOULDER ★ MARCH 26

TRACE ADKINS

SUNSET ★ JULY 17

BOULDER BLUES IN THE RAILHEAD

PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE REWARDS CENTER OR STATIONCASINOSLIVE.COM TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT ANY STATION CASINOS OR FIESTA REWARDS CENTER, BY LOGGING ON TO STATIONCASINOSLIVE.COM OR BY CALLING 1-800-745-3000. UNDER 21 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AT ALL VENUES. MANAGEMENT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS. © 2020 STATION CASINOS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

LAS VEGAS PAIUTE OR SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP

PER CARTON* (CIGARETTES ONLY) *Must be 21 years of age or older. NO LIMIT on any brand of carton purchased. Excludes filtered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit 1 discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. EXPIRES 2/29/2020. LVW

2 OFF

3 OFF

SENECA

TIMELESS

$36.89*

$40.89*

FREE LIGHTE R!

FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON

*WITH CARTON PURCHASE - WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

LEAP Y SALEEAR !

EAGLE 20’S

$41.19*

FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON

PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER KATIE DIXON katie.dixon@gmgvegas.com EDITOR SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Managing Editor/News DAVE MONDT (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) Deputy Editor GENEVIE DURANO (genevie.durano@gmgvegas.com) Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writers JUSTIN EMERSON, KELCIE GREGA, MIKE GRIMALA, BRYAN HORWATH, C. MOON REED, JOHN SADLER, RICARDO TORRES-CORTEZ, LESLIE VENTURA, MIRANDA WILLSON Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JOHN FRITZ, CASE KEEFER, WADE MCAFERTY, KEN MILLER, JOHN TAYLOR Library Services Specialist/Permissions REBECCA CLIFFORD-CRUZ Office Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Designer IAN RACOMA Multimedia Manager YASMINA CHAVEZ Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER Digital Marketing Coordinator CASSIDY BOWMAN Digital Marketing Intern EMILY JURBALA

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

T H E U LT I M AT E

WEIGHT

LOSS

P R O G R A M ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Initial Medical Consultation Full Body Composition Analysis EKG (if required) RX for (3) month Appetite Suppressants (12) Weekly B12 Injections Bi-Weekly Body Composition Analysis Medication for (3) month treatment

395

$ $

External Content Manager EMMA CAUTHORN Special Publications Manager JENNIFER INABA Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD Publication Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA Account Manager DAWN MANGUM Senior Advertising Managers BRIANNA KOURETAS, SUE SRAN Account Executives BRITTANY BURRIDGE, MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, RICHELLE SHAW, ALEX TEEL, BRITTANY WALZ Events Manager SAMANTHA PETSCH Sales Assistant LEXIE ARANCIBIA Marketing Coordinator KIMBERLY ALVAREZ

PRODUCTION Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Marketing Art Director DANY HANIFF Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS Traffic Coordinator JEANNE GLEESON

CIRCULATION Director of Circulation RON GANNON Route Manager RANDY CARLSON Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN Editorial Page Editor RIC ANDERSON

NEW PATIENTS ONLY, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS.

www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

3365 E FLAMINGO ROAD STE 2, LAS VEGAS, NV 89121 4966 S RAINBOW BLVD STE 100, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 2275 Corporate Circle Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 (702) 990-2550 www.lasvegasweekly.com www.facebook.com/lasvegasweekly www.twitter.com/lasvegasweekly

ON THE COVER Photographs by Wade Vandevort and Shutterstock Photo Illustration

All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3. ADVERTISING DEADLINE EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

2.20.20

HUNTRIDGE CENTER CELEBRATES ITS REBIRTH When developer J Dapper purchased the Huntridge Center in 2016, it wasn’t much to look at—a 60-year-old strip mall with faded paint, a boarded-up Farm Basket, an underlit parking lot and the Huntridge Tavern, one of this city’s best-preserved smoky dive bars. Immediately Dapper went to work punching it up, revamping the structures into mid-century charmers, adding new tenants to underused spaces, commissioning a 1960s-style neon sign from Yesco and replacing the demolished Farm Basket with a 4,000-square-foot, Googie-styled building with a distinctive swooping roof, designed by local architectural firm Bunnyfish. That addition—now occupied by Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Roberto’s Tacos—spearheads the February 20 “Grand Reopening” of Huntridge Center, 1122 S. Maryland Parkway, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Dapper, Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Rep. Dina Titus and City Councilwoman Olivia Diaz will preside over a neighborhood bash featuring the Rock ’n’ Roll Mariachis, a live DJ, a photo bus, a peek at the new Garrison barbershop and more. Caprotti’s will provide free Bobbie subs; Roberto’s is offering free chicken tacos (limit of 3) or one free bean and cheese burrito; Wingstop will give you five free boneless wings with any wing purchase; and Huntridge Tavern, the reason for the season, is serving up $1 beers. Viva Huntridge! –Geoff Carter

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

Democratic voters line up outside the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada on February 15 during the first day of early voting for the Nevada 2020 caucus. Nevada’s Democratic Party said more than 26,000 people cast votes during the first two days of early voting, and more than half of those voting on February 15 were first-time caucusgoers. In 2016, about 84,000 people participated in the state’s caucuses. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

IN THIS ISSUE

22 30 34 44 58

Nights: Burnt Karaoke at the Bunkhouse 5-Minute Expert: How to shop responsibly Cover Story: Your guide to North Las Vegas Food & Drink: International Smoke at MGM Grand Vegas Inc: How AAA awards its highest rating

STORIES FROM LAST WEEK BEZOS PUTS BILLIONS TO USE IN FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said February 17 that he plans to spend $10 billion of his own fortune to help fight climate change. Amazon has an enormous carbon footprint. Last year, Amazon officials said the company would work to have 100% of its energy use come from solar panels and other renewable energy by 2030. CRUISE QUARANTINE More than 300 American cruise ship passengers, including 14 who tested positive for coronavirus, are being quarantined at military bases in California and Texas after arriving from Japan on charter flights overnight February 17. They already had been quarantined since February 5 aboard the ship, and now must go through another 14 days of quarantine at the military facilities. NOT A KNOCKOFF AFTER ALL Thanks to modern technology and some expert detective work, a nearly 400-year-old painting that had long been attributed to an unknown artist in Rembrandt’s workshop has now been judged to have been a work of the Dutch master himself. The Allentown Art Museum has not had “Portrait of a Young Woman” appraised—and has no intention of selling it—but authenticated works by Rembrandt have fetched tens of millions of dollars.

HE SAID IT

“It’s sad for baseball. It’s tough. They cheated. I don’t agree with the punishments, the players not getting anything. It was a player-driven thing. It sucks, too, because guys’ careers have been affected, a lot of people lost jobs.” –Three-time American League MVP Mike Trout on the punishments meted out to the Houston Astros in the wake of a sign-stealing scandal

TRUMP TARGET WILL NOT BE CHARGED Federal prosecutors declined to charge former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, closing an investigation into whether the longtime target of President Donald Trump’s ire lied to federal officials about his involvement in a news media disclosure, McCabe’s legal team said February 14. The action resolves a criminal investigation that began nearly two years ago with a referral from the Justice Department’s inspector general’s office, which concluded that McCabe had lied about having authorized a subordinate to share information with a reporter for an article about an FBI investigation into the Clinton Foundation.

All eyes are on Derrick Jones Jr., a former UNLV basketball player, as he approaches the rim on the way to a long-awaited dunk contest title February 15. He and Aaron Gordon needed two extra dunks apiece in the final round before a winner was decided, with Jones of the Miami Heat prevailing 48-47. Gordon, the Orlando forward, finished second to Zach LaVine in an unforgettable dunk contest at Toronto four years ago. This time, Gordon wanted to jump over Shaquille O’Neal for his final dunk but got his invitation declined, so he turned to 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall, needing a 49 to win. Gordon didn’t totally clear Fall, however, and the judges gave him a 47. Just like that, Jones was the champion. (David Banks/AP Photo)

GAMING INDUSTRY JOLTED BY MURREN’S DECISION TO STEP DOWN When Jim Murren arrived in Las Vegas in 1998 to become chief financial officer of the MGM Grand, the world was a different place. Social media wasn’t yet a thing, the thought of a pro sports franchise in Las Vegas was almost laughable, and MGM had just one property on the Strip. Over the past two decades, Murren, now chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, has been integral in molding a company that today employs more than 80,000 people worldwide and about 53,000 in Las Vegas. On February 12, Murren, who took over as MGM’s top executive in 2008, jolted the gaming community by announcing plans to step down. He will continue to serve in his current leadership roles until a successor is appointed, the company said. “I think the company, honestly, has never been in a better position than it is right now,” he said during an earnings call the same day. “When I thought through how I could best serve MGM going forward, I thought it was pretty clear that a leader should help lead a company into the next decade or two. I wanted to make sure the board had the time to do a robust search to find my successor.” Murren will receive nearly $32 million as part of an exit package, a Securities and Exchange Commission filing indicates. –Bryan Horwath

NYAM (nee·yom) verb 1. Jamaican for “eat” 2. Not Your Average Morning

SAT + SUN 10AM - 3PM STARTING FEBRUARY 29

2.20.20

Berning Love: LA-based acts Starcrawler and How to Dress Well will team with locals Indigo Kidd, Hassan and Peachole for a freeto-the-public show in support of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, February 20, at 7 p.m. at the Bunkhouse.

LV W C U LT U R E

CULTURE

YOUR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

FIRE IT UP The “Burnt Babes”— aka Reina Hohener (left) and Nicole Camacho—have been selling trendy wares inside their boutique trailer for years. Learn about them on Page 22, then head to their eccentric karaoke night, which lights up the Bunkhouse every Monday.

12 16 18

THE STRIP

Could we see Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake or Beyoncé in residence?

NOISE

Thrice and Dweezil Zappa, playing full albums onstage (but not together)

Scene

Nevada Ballet Theatre’s Krista Baker debuts an original piece on the Smith Center’s big stage

(Krystal Ramirez/Special to Weekly)

LV W C U LT U R E

2.20.20

CALENDAR on Page 64

ALBERT PYUN The Las Vegas Film Critics Society will present its Cinema Heritage Award to the prolific B-movie director behind Cyborg and 1990’s Captain America, February 22 at the Boulevard Mall’s Galaxy Theatres.

Coretta Scott King (AP/Photo Illustration)

THIS

FRIDAY, FEB

( Co

u r te

sy )

WEEK SATURDAY, FEB

SATURDAY, FEB

JIMMY KIMMEL’S COMEDY CLUB

BUNKHOUSE SALOON

DRAI’S

Nick Thune is a modern-day troubadour who quips about life using worldplay and a droll delivery. Sometimes he’s onstage with a guitar, strumming it for effect more than anything, but often he simply riffs about his experiences, like the time he was in Vegas years ago and did all the drugs. Find out what he’s up to now. 10 p.m., $20-$45. –Genevie Durano

The satirical Milwaukee lo-fi band had a relatively small cult of fans in its heyday, but that cult included such notables as Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder and Billy Corgan. Co-founder Dennis Flemion died in 2012, but his brother— vocalist and lead guitarist Jimmy Flemion—carries on The Frogs’ irreverent tradition, with Lemonheads leader Evan Dando on drums for this West Coast tour. With Mark Huff, Hamell on Trial. 8:30 p.m., $20-$25. –Spencer Patterson

We know you’ve had a long week, reader, but thankfully Migos just teamed up with Young Thug and Travis Scott to drop your new weekend theme song, “Give No Fxk.” Channel that laissez-faire attitude when you head to Drai’s to see Quavo, Offset and Takeoff live. It’s a mood, for sure. $40-$60, 10:30 p.m. –Leslie Ventura

NICK THUNE

THE FROGS

MIGOS

2.20.20

LV W C U LT U R E

CLUB GUIDE on Page 24

(J e

rry

Met

te l u s

/Courtesy)

RELIVE THE MIRACLE Members of the United States’ “Miracle on Ice” team— which captured the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics— will appear at the Thomas & Mack Center (along with associated memorabilia), on February 22.

FEB

20-29

VARIOUS LOCATIONS

THREE BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

OUR PICKS FOR THE

WEEK AHEAD

At West Las Vegas Library, Black Weekend 2020: Kemet in the Desert Series provides three days of free cultural festivities (February 20-22, times vary). Enjoy music, dancing, spoken word, book signings and more. Author, professor and Kushite-Kemetic priest Jabari Osaze will speak about the mysteries of ancient Kemet, and Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu will give a lecture on the topic of educating the black child. More than just the wife of Martin Luther King Jr., the late Coretta Scott King was an author and activist in her own right. Along with a cast of performers, actress and opera singer Carmen Artis uses oral history and music to tell the life story of this amazing woman. The free event Coretta Scott King: Let Freedom Sing! takes place at 3 p.m. on February 23 at Summerlin Library. And on February 29, the Henderson Pavilion will host the free Heart & Soul Festival. The day of live music, food, dance and vendors kicks off at noon. –C. Moon Reed

FEB

22-23

REYNOLDS HALL

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: BOLERO Fun fact: The melodic repetition of Maurice Ravel’s Bolero might have been a result of the French composer’s aphasia. No matter. Its simmering, almost mechanical buildup is ideally suited to dance works, like the Nicolo Fontechoreographed piece that NBT will perform at the Smith Center. Also on the program: an original composition by NBT dancer Krista Baker (see Page 18). Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; $33-$141. –Geoff Carter

C U LT U R E W E E K LY

2.20.20

THE STRIP

POP POWER WHICH MODERN CHART-TOPPERS MIGHT FOLLOW LADY GAGA, BRUNO MARS AND THE JONAS BROTHERS TO THE STRIP? BY BROCK RADKE

hether or not you think nine shows in one month constitutes a Las Vegas Strip residency, you have to admit the Jonas Brothers setting up shop this spring at Park Theater is a really big deal. Announced last month in cooperation with Live Nation, the concerts are set for April 1-18 at Park MGM’s 5,300-seat space, which also hosts residency productions from Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Aerosmith and—unless she adds shows beyond this week’s run—the final performances from Cher. Even if they don’t return for additional Vegas dates along their reunion Happiness Begins tour, the Jonas Brothers will go down as having played a Strip residency at Park Theater, but more importantly, they’ll join Bruno and Gaga in the ultraexclu-

sive category of modern pop artists who did so at the It’s been said that Britney Spears—who was suppeak of their careers. posed to start her second Strip residency They certainly achieved monumental sucat Park Theater last year but canceled that cess as a Disney-backed pop-rock boy band show for personal reasons—is the pop star until taking a break in 2013, but it wasn’t who made it cool for younger, contempountil the brothers reunited last year that rary artists to headline Vegas, but her Piece they achieved their first Billboard Hot 100 of Me residency at Planet Hollywood Resort chart-topper with “Sucker” and captivated from 2013 to 2017 ended up bolstering her a broader audience. Mars had just swept the career when album sales had been sagging Grammys with “Uptown Funk” and released and clearly paved the way for Spears to tour THE 24K Magic when he started playing regular again in 2017 and 2018. Mars (34) and the INCIDENTAL gigs at Park Theater in December 2016. Gaga Jonas Brothers (ages 27-32) have essentially TOURIST opened her Vegas run in the same room two incorporated their residencies into their BY BROCK RADKE years later, riding high on the success of A tours, a significant innovation. Star Is Born, a project that earned her an What’s happening at Park Theater could Academy Award, four Grammys and a Golden Globe. and should lead to more current chart-topping pop

c u lt u r e w e e k ly

From left: Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake (AP/Photo Illustration)

2.20.20

artists signing on for recurring duty in Vegas, especially considering two new residency-ready venues are under construction right now. It’s time for big names that might not have made sense in previous years to step to the Strip. These are the big pop residencies we want to see next. Justin Timberlake at the Colosseum His country-tinged 2018 album, Man of the Woods, was his least successful effort to date, but his 2018-2019 tour was another blockbuster. That’s because Timberlake is an exceptional all-around entertainer and would crush the Vegas stage, as evidenced by the 2016 Netflix concert film Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids, shot at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Now 39 years old and a dad,

JT has a multigenerational audience, and that’s why he’s a better fit at the Caesars Palace stronghold, which needs its next Celine. Justin Bieber at Zappos Theater Just 25 years old and already positioned for a Britneyesque comeback, Bieber is poised for a big year behind his Changes album and tour, which will touch down at T-Mobile Arena on June 2. If he takes a chapter from the book of Bruno and mixes in more Vegas gigs, Planet Hollywood’s Zappos Theater would be the perfect place. Residencies from Spears and Jennifer Lopez turned that room into a club-style party and drew diverse, younger crowds. Bieber’s sound, which has evolved from pop R&B to tropical house and hip-hop-influenced dance music, could do the same.

Taylor Swift at Resorts World Looks like Allegiant Stadium wasn’t ready in time to get a Lover Fest tour stop. Resorts World won’t open until next summer, but it’s looking to make a big splash on the Strip with its 5,000-seat theater. Rumors have been flying about big names that could put this place on the map. Swift hasn’t been mentioned yet, but her presence could tip the balance of entertainment excitement on the Strip. Beyoncé at MSG Sphere Think about Bey’s most epic live performances, from the Super Bowl halftime show to Coachella 2018. Then think about what she could do with the crazy tech that will power the potentially game-changing MSG Sphere, set to open in 2021 behind the Venetian.

ON SALE FRIDAY AT 10 AM PT

OPENING THIS WEEK

ON SALE NOW

OPENING THIS WEEK

JOEY DIAZ FEBRUARY 28 UPCOMING

• 3.4 Michael Bolton • 3.13 - 3.28 Shania Twain • 3.27 Zac Brown Band • 3.28 Aventura • 3.20 - 3.28 ZZ Top• 5.16 Niall Horan • 9.5 Harry Styles • 9.11 The Black Crowes

BUY TICKETS AT LIVENATION.COM

9PM • TRE ASURE I SL AND THE ATRE TICKE TS 702 .894.772 2

C U LT U R E W E E K LY

2.20.20

TIPPING POINT THRICE REVISITS THE ALBUM DRUMMER RILEY BRECKENRIDGE SAYS CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR THE BAND BY ANNIE ZALESKI

hrice is coming to Las Vegas with a special tour—one celebrating the 15th anniversary of its 2005 post-hardcore triumph Vheissu. The Orange County band will play the album in full, along with its B-sides. Drummer Riley Breckenridge reminisced about the making of Vheissu, how it feels playing those songs now and weird Vegas stopovers. Beyond the 15th anniversary, why were you interested in doing a full-album tour? Vheissu was a really important record for this band. It was our second on a major label, and it was following up our most commercially successful record [2003’s The Artist in the Ambulance]. We were at that point where we could either play the major label game, go with a big-time producer that the label recommended, and try to make The Artist in the Ambu-

lance, Part 2. Or we could take the creative route and use somebody as a producer who’s a little outside of the box. And we put our feet down and [chose] creativity over commerce. That’s why this record’s super-important to us. You worked with British producer Steve Osborne, who’s known for harnessing really atmospheric music, and you can really hear that on Vheissu. He was a huge contributor to the way that record sounds. We had ideas of the atmospheric stuff that we wanted to do and the instruments that we wanted to incorporate, but his knowledge of capturing that stuff—and then creating atmosphere with all these cool vintage pedals and tape delay machines—really took the sound to a different level. There’s no way we would’ve gotten it there without him.

Beyond that, with the meat and bones of the rock songs on that record, he comes from such a different place. He doesn’t really work with heavy bands, so his sense of rhythm and groove is way more subdued and almost sexy. It’s less abrasive and more groove-based. That was a big thing that he stressed with us, and it’s something we still talk about when we’re writing and recording. We always refer to what Steve would do. As you’ve been revisiting Vheissu, has anything about the music surprised you? I’m pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy playing every song on this record, including the B-sides. There were only three or four songs on that record that have been in pretty constant rotation in our setlists over the past decade or so, so a lot of it feels really fresh. Some of it is brand-new:

Riley Breckinridge (far left) and his Thrice bandmates hit Brooklyn Bowl on February 27. (Dan Monick/Courtesy)

2.20.20

C U LT U R E W E E K LY

NOISE OH, RATS! DWEEZIL ZAPPA BRINGS ONE OF HIS FATHER’S CLASSIC RECORDS TO LIFE ONSTAGE BY SPENCER PATTERSON ot Rats has been called the Selico and uncredited second Frank Zappa album for guitarist Lowell George. Oh, people who don’t actually and that’s Don Van Vliet, better like Frank Zappa. The known as Captain Beefheart, composer, bandleader, guitarist spitting out the menacing, sleazy and singer spent most his career lyrics to “Willie the Pimp.” answering his own question, Zappa dedicated the “Does humor belong in music?” original album, in part, to his in the affirmative through a then-newborn son Dweezil, catalog loaded with quirky and so perhaps it’s fitting that, irreverent tracks. But on some 26 years after his his sixth album he got father’s death at age serious, focusing on 52, the 50-yearmusicianship and old Dweezil has mood on the taken Hot Rats largely instruout for a tour mental 1969 that includes project, which a February he termed a 20 stop at “movie for your Las Vegas’ sy ears” in the liner Brooklyn Bowl. ) notes. “Everybody seems Hot Rats has also to have high regard been called the Frank for this album, and I DWEEZIL ZAPPA Zappa album for jam think it comes down February 20, 7 p.m., band fans, and not to it being something $35-$75. Brooklyn Bowl, 702-862-2695. just because Phish has that was different been covering leadoff compared to the rest cut “Peaches en Regaof my dad’s records,” lia” in concert semi-regularly for Dweezil recently told Austramore than three decades. Four of lia’s Musicfeeds.com. “It was the record’s other five songs clock the first one that jumped out in past the five-minute mark, and where he really was featured as several—”Willie the Pimp” (9:21), a guitar player.” “Son of Mr. Green Genes” (8:58) The shows find Dweezil and and “The Gumbo Variations” his band performing Hot Rats (16:55), in particular—feature in its entirety, followed by cuts significant jazz-rock improvisaspotlighting—but not limited tion from a group that included to—the era in which the album Mothers of Invention holdover was released. “There’s been Ian Underwood on piano and some real emphasis on some of woodwinds, plus violinists Don the earlier stuff … but we really “Sugarcane” Harris and Jean-Luc do just jump around. … We dig Ponty, bassists Max Bennett and through a huge list of 500-600 Shuggie Otis, drummers John songs and say, “OK, what do we Guerin, Paul Humphrey and Ron want to focus on?”

(Dan Boshart

/Co

THRICE with mewithoutYou, Drug Church, Holy Fawn. February 27, 6 p.m., $28-$32. Brooklyn Bowl, 702-862-2695.

There’s one album track and one B-side that we’ve never played. It’s been going over well, and it feels good to play. Do any previous Vegas visits stand out to you? Back in the day we used to play with Curl Up and Die all the time. They’d come play Orange County, or we’d come out to Vegas and play Vegas with them and our buddies in a band called Taken. There was a tiny record shop [Balcony Lights] that we used to play, where after hours they’d just slide all the record shelves off the store floor. We played another venue I can’t remember [the Castle]

with Curl Up and Die and a band called 7 Foot Midget. There was an annual underwear show where everybody would play in their underwear, and some of us partook in that (laughs). And we also played in some casino with a cover band. What I’m saying is, Vegas shows are always weird—whether you’re playing in an empty record store or in your underwear or in a casino with some, like, off-duty Guitar Center employees that are covering Stryper or something. it’s always a weird one in Vegas (laughs). For more of this interview, visit lasvegasweekly.com.

C U LT U R E W E E K LY

2.20.20

SCENE

CREATIVE CHOREOGRAPHER Choreographer Krista Baker (bottom right) works with NBT dancers. (Virginia Trudeau/Courtesy)

2.20.20

Vegas dancer Krista BaKer’s new ballet gets a Smith Center debut By C. Moon Reed ou might know her as the terask them all the time, does that feel rifyingly tyrannical Queen of OK? [If not], how can we fix it? Do Hearts in Nevada Ballet Theyou want to do it on the other foot? I atre’s recent production of always want it to feel like it’s part of Alice in Wonderland. But in real life, them, instead of them trying to fight dancer and choreographer Krista the steps that I give them. In the end, Baker is a kind and creative soul who it’s just my idea; they’re the ones that leads through collaboration. have to execute it. In addition to dancing in her 15th season with the company, Your mom owned a dance studio, Baker has choreographed 11 short and you were already choreographworks for NBT, either for A Choreing recitals by age 14. When did ographers Showcase or the Studio you first become interested in Series. Next up: the world premiere choreography? Probably around 5. I of her latest creation, The Curstarted dancing at 3 years old. I have rent, set to debut February 22 on memories of sneaking into my parthe Smith Center’s huge Reynolds ents’ room where the CD player was; Hall stage as part of Nevada Ballet I would start choreographing dances Theatre’s regular season. to probably Disney music. At 24 minutes, it’s the longest piece she has ever made for NBT. In How does the experience of choreoan interview with the Weekly, Baker graphing compare to the experidescribed the abstract, ence of dancing? It’s really THE Current beneficial for dancers to nature-inspired work as “a February 22, little bit classical ballet, a experience what it’s like to 7:30 p.m.; little bit contemporary.” be in the front of the room February 23, 2 p.m., $33-$141. and running a rehearsal or Smith Center’s How did you develop the creating [for] your peers. It Reynolds Hall, concept for this new piece? makes you a better dancer, 702-749-2000. I always start with music. I makes you more wellfound the music [by Italian rounded. … I love dancing, composer Ezio Bosso] last February and I love choreographing, and it’s [and] listened to it for months. Then really nice to be able to balance both around summertime, I was sitting within the same program. outside listening to the music, and it was windy. At one point, the leaves What are your favorite types of looked like they were dancing to the dances? My favorite pieces to watch music. … So I held onto that. Each are the ones that have very limited movement has a very different feel to stories. They only have emotional it. So it resembles different types of influences within the music or the wind storms, like a breeze or a fullmovement. I like the audience to on tornado. think for themselves and experience something that could affect them How do you decide which dancers personally, but [that] they could do what? I have movement ideas in interpret differently. my head, but I never choreograph steps before I’m in the studio with How do you see your career evolving the dancers. As a dancer, if you’re from here? You can dance for as long going to have something created as your body will let you. I would love [for] you, it should feel like it was for my career to continue the way it is made for you. You can see right away and then to hang up my pointe shoes if it feels good on their body or not. I and choreograph full time.

c u lt u r e w e e k ly

HARD ROCK PLAYERS! SIGN UP FOR A PLAYERS CARD AT SILVER SEVENS HOTEL AND CASINO AND

WE WILL MATCH YOUR TIER STATUS! WE WILL MATCH YOUR FREE PLAY OFFER!

RECEIVE A SIGN-UP BONUS + A GIFT! EARN 777 POINTS AND RECEIVE A

COMPLIMENTARY STEAK OR CRAB LEG BUFFET! WITH A GLASS OF WINE OR BEER!

AC R O S S F R O M H A R D R O C K C A S I N O AT T H E C O R N E R O F F L A M I N G O & PA R A D I S E .

See Players Club for details. Must be 21 years of age or older.

silversevenscasino.com

HAPPY HOUR

SUSHI ROLLS SU N DAY - T H U R SDAY â&#x20AC;¢ 5 P M - 7 P M

LV W N I G H T S

2.20.20

NIGHTS BURNT KARAOKE Mondays, 10 p.m., free. Bunkhouse Saloon, 702-982-1764.

Burnt Babes Reina Hohener (left) and Nicole Camacho (Krystal Ramirez/Special to Weekly)

2.20.20

‘Sister’ act Burnt Karaoke keeps the Bunkhouse vibe chill on Monday nights

LV W N I G H T S

By Leslie Ventura he year was 2013 and Nicole Camacho and Reina Hohener were about to become inseparable. They just didn’t know it yet. Both worked at the now-shuttered Coterie clothing store, sandwiched between the Griffin and Beauty Bar Downtown. After the East Fremont venture closed, Camacho bought a trailer and transformed it into a mobile clothing and jewelry boutique. “From Day One the community supported it,” Camacho says. From renovating the trailer to helping with the electrical wiring and even acquiring funding, getting Burnt Boutique off the ground was a Vegas-wide effort. At Life Is Beautiful’s 2016 edition, Camacho and Hohener found a kindred spirit in the Bunkhouse Saloon, where they set up shop just outside the festival’s footprint. The Burnt Boutique has called the Bunkhouse lawn home ever since. “They’re so good to us,” Camacho says of the Downtown bar and music venue. “All the bartenders shop here,” Hohener says. “It’s almost like we work there.” They kind of do. Casually referred to as the “Burnt Babes,” Camacho and Hohener landed a Mondaynight gig at the Bunkhouse, taking over the saloon for Burnt Karaoke every week. “Karaoke is my therapy,” says Camacho, who attended karaoke at the Bunkhouse long before she and Hohener began hosting their night there. “It was our girl time,” Hohener adds. Now, Burnt Karaoke has a regular crowd, which turns up to sing with the Burnt babes weekly. Some nights, folks are still singing when the sun comes up. “I think we’ve been doing it a whole year, bro!” Hohener exclaims, almost jumping from her seated position on the counter inside the Burnt Boutique trailer. But that year hasn’t been without setbacks. In June, someone broke into the trailer, forcing the shop to close temporarily. The store has “hibernated” most of the winter, allowing the duo to focus on running karaoke. Hohener and Camacho have an ever-growing list of songs they love to sing—Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita” is definitely one of them—and they have some tips if you’re new to the stage. “Have fun and be nice,” Hohener says. “Even if it sucks, people will respect you more because you f*cking stuck to it and tried.” That chill vibe reflects the Burnt Babes’ original ethos. “We were burnt out on doing things everyone else’s way,” Camacho says of how they got their name. So they carved out their own path instead, and built a lasting friendship in the process. “I mean,” Hohener says, “We’re basically soul sisters.”

LV W N I G H T S

2.20.20

For more upcoming events, turn to our Calendar on Page 64.

1 OAK DJ Dash 2/21. DJ Wellman 2/22. DJ Direct 2/26. Wed, Fri-Sat, Mirage, 702-693-8300. (Christian Astorga/Courtesy)

APEX Thu-Sun, Palms, 702-953-7665. THE BARBERSHOP Nightly, Cosmopolitan, 702-6324700. CHATEAU Eric Forbes 2/20. DJ ShadowRed 2/21. DJ Sev One 2/22. DJ ShadowRed 2/26. Wed-Sat, Paris, 702776-7777. CLIQUE Nightly, Cosmopolitan, 702-6987939. CLUB 101 Fri-Sat, Sahara, 702-761-7618. DOWNTOWN COCKTAIL ROOM Mon-Sat, 111 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-880-3696.

DJ TECHNICOLOR

DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB Fabolous 2/21. Migos 2/22. DJ Franzen 2/23. Thu-Sun, Cromwell, 702-777-3800. DRAI’S AFTERHOURS Thu-Sun, Cromwell, 702-777-3800. EMBASSY Fri-Sat, 3355 Procyon St., 702-6096666. ENCORE BEACH CLUB Hot on the heels of the release of his House Party remix collection— including work from Tchami, Drezo, Schade and Born Dirty—Valentino Khan returns to his Wynn Nightlife residency in 2020 with an EBC show on February 26. Wed, Encore, 702-770-7300. FOUNDATION ROOM DJ Sam I Am 2/21. DJ Kittie 2/22. Nightly, Mandalay Bay, 702-6327631.

CLUB GUIDE By Brock Radke

GOLD SPIKE DJ Dilemma 2/21. DJ Wizdumb 2/22. Teenwolf 2/23. Wed-Sun, 217 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-476-1082. HAKKASAN 4B 2/20. Party Favor 2/21. Steve Aoki 2/22. DJ Spider 2/23. ThuSun, MGM Grand, 702-891-3838. JEWEL DJ Scooter 2/21. DJ Drama 2/22. DJ Shift 2/24. Mon, Fri-Sat, Aria, 702-590-8000. LIGHT Paul Wall remains an essential part

of the Houston hip-hop scene, as evidenced by his co-signing appearance at the December homecoming concert by the city’s latest breakout star, Megan Thee Stallion. Wall returns to Las Vegas with a club show on February 22. Also: E-40 2/21. DJ J-Nice 2/26. Wed, Fri-Sat, Mandalay Bay, 702632-4700. MAMA RABBIT Vegas native DJ Technicolor has curated music for the Jabbawockeez and worked with Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records. He’ll heat up the burgeoning entertainment offerings at Mama Rabbit with a set on February 21. Also: DJ Zo 2/20. TueSat, Park MGM, 702-730-7777. MARQUEE Benny Benassi 2/21. Mustard 2/22, 2/24. Mon, Fri-Sat, Cosmopolitan, 702-333-9000. MAYFAIR SUPPER CLUB Nightly, Bellagio, 702-693-8561. ODDFELLOWS Tue-Sun, 150 Las Vegas Blvd. N. #190, 702-333-5831. OMNIA Zedd 2/21. Loud Luxury 2/22. Party Favor 2/25. Tue, Thu-Sun, Caesars Palace, 702-785-6200. ON THE RECORD Tony Tone 2/21. DJ Zo 2/22. Sean Perry 2/26. Wed, Fri-Sat, Park MGM, 702-730-6773. PHOENIX Nightly, 4213 W. Sahara Ave., 702826-2422. PIRANHA Chris Tavi 2/20. DJ Virus 2/232/24. DJ Vago 2/25. Nightly, 4633 Paradise Road, 702-791-0100. TAO Ruckus 2/20. Four Color Zack 2/21. Justin Credible 2/22. Thu-Sat, Venetian, 702-388-8588. VOODOO Nightly, Rio, 702-777-7800. XS Poppy anthem “Chameleon” is the new result of a long-simmering collaboration between singersongwriter Alex Seaver, aka Mako, and Wynn Nightlife resident DJ and versatile producer Tim Wu, better known as Elephante. Maybe Wu will work a bit of the emotional track into his XS set on February 23. Also: Dillon Francis 2/21. The Chainsmokers 2/22. Fri-Sun, Encore, 702-770-7300.

2020

VIEWING PACKAGES INCLUDE: • VIP Admission for Entire Day • Unlimited Bud Product Beer, Absolut Elyx, Jameson, and Avion Tequila • William Hill Betting Stations

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW

LV W N i g h t s

2.20.20

Marquee O live r H e ldens

feb 14

Photographs courtesy Global Media Group

THIS WEEK

ALTER BRIDGE

PHORA FEB 22

FEB 20

LOW TICKETS

BUSH FEB 28

JUST ANNOUNCED

HELLYEAH

UPCOMING SHOWS

APRIL 18

ON SALE 2/21

UPCOMING SHOWS

LOW TICKETS

STEPHEN LYNCH

DAVID LEE ROTH ROCKS VEGAS

FEB 29

MAR 18 - 28 (SELECT DATES)

2.21 SOFIA NIÑO DE RIVERA • 3.1 WAKEN METAL BATTLE • 3.5 AZUCAR 3.6 LINKIN PARK VS RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 3.7 THE SMITHS VS THE STROKES • 3.8 LESLIE ODOM JR. • 3.9 DAVIDO 3.11 FOO FIGHTERS VS NIRVANA • 3.13 TRIPPIE REDD 3.14 THE WINEHOUSE EXPERIENCE • 3.15 IVY QUEEN 3.22 A SELENA CELEBRATION • 3.24 NOCHE DE ROCK 3.26 SAY MY NAME R&B PARTY • 4.4 THE EMO NIGHT TOUR • 4.5 RILEY GREEN 4.9 MONSTER MAGNET • 4.11 TIGER ARMY • 4.12 TECH N9NE • 4.17 TESLA 4.23 KOLOHE KAI • 4.25 JINJER • 5.1 IN THIS MOMENT 5.19 LA OREJA DE VAN GOGH • 5.25 CIRCA SURVIVE • 5.27 STARSET MAY, SEP, NOV AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH SANTANA 6.6 UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS • 6.20 BAYSIDE 6.25 BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY

FOR FULL CONCERT & EVENT LISTINGS, VISIT HOUSEOFBLUES.COM/LASVEGAS | 702.632.7600 |

@HOBLASVEGAS

LV W N i g h t s

2.20.20

Drai’ s Je f f ree Star

feb 16

Photographs courtesy Drai’s Nightclub

T E B RH A E L S C I M E E R F

T R E C N O C

SAT.

S UEEN Q R FOU GGET U D N E TH EN N A GOLD I AT I O N T R S O E F T E AT CALI EN G STRE D N L I S ’ O A N G M BINIO NT O M FRE

m p 9 • d n 2 2 . B FE

xp e s a eg

e.c c n e i

5-MINUTE EXPERT

2.20.20

FASHIONABLY SUSTAINABLE FAST FASHION WRECKS LIVES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT THERE ARE SMART AND STYLISH ALTERNATIVES BY LESLIE VENTURA

hanks to fast fashion, people can now afford garments that look as though they were bought straight off the runway at a fraction of the cost. But fast fashion—clothing sold at large chain stores— can come at a price, sometimes subjugating overseas factory workers to unsafe working conditions for just dollars a day. Fast fashion can also have a negative environmental impact, too, as garments get tossed in landfills, chemicals end up in wastewater and dangerous emissions are released into the air. And while hundreds of new garments are delivered to brick-and-mortar storefronts weekly, online retailers can churn out close to a thousand new clothing items a week. Clothing has never been so cheap and readily available, and our desire to be on trend has never been so great—but it isn’t sustainable. “Fast fashion is a big reason I run my shop,” says Negar Hosseini, owner of Vegas-based Neon Cactus Vintage. “We’re minimal waste in every regard. We don’t even have business cards, because I don’t want to create any waste if I don’t have to. Other than getting something that’s better for the environment, buying vintage and buying secondhand is adding a story to something with an already rich history. You’re getting an item that’s already unique, and you’re adding your story to it.”

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The fashion industry, as we know it, isn’t sustainable. The New York Times reported that more than 60% of fabric fibers used in fast fashion are synthetic and derived from fossil fuels, and that 85% of textile waste in the U.S. winds up in landfills or gets incinerated. Synthetic microfibers—undetectable by the human eye—also end up in our oceans and seas.

CREATING WASTE

Fast fashion places an emphasis on quickly produced, cheaply made garments, which are then offered at affordable prices. According to The Wall Street Journal, Americans purchase 68 clothing items a year, roughly five times more than they did during the 1980s. And the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that American garment manufacturing has dropped 85% over the past 25 years. That spike in outsourcing labor has allowed fast fashion companies like H&M and Zara to produce and ship hundreds of new styles to their stores on a weekly basis. But the average consumer wears each garment only seven times, according to the WSJ, and that piece of clothing ultimately ends up in the garbage.

2.20.20

5-MINUTE EXPERT

SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES ■ Your local thrift store. Scoping out Savers, Goodwill and the like is a great way to avoid fast fashion, and secondhand clothing can often be found in near-new condition. Stores such as these are especially useful for finding basics like turtlenecks, tank tops, sweaters and tees.

■ Vintage retailers. Neon Cactus Vintage and Buffalo Exchange are two strong local options in Downtown Las Vegas. These handcurated shops are perfect for the fashion-forward shopper—Neon Cactus focuses on vintage, while Buffalo Exchange carries both current and older brands.

■ Online markets. Poshmark, Depop, Etsy and eBay are online and mobile platforms you can use to buy and sell clothing. They’re all focused on secondhand, vintage and handmade items, but each site has its own look and feel. Be wary of people selling new merchandise—some retailers will buy cheap wholesale products and sell them at a lower price, defeating the purpose of shopping secondhand. Neon Cactus’ Hosseini recommends buying from sellers who practice environmentally friendly policies, like using biodegradable packing peanuts and envelopes.

CHEAP LABOR

Fast fashion is often synonymous with outsourcing, cheap labor costs and unsafe working conditions. In April 2013, an eight-story building in Bangladesh known as Rana Plaza—home to a shopping center and multiple garment factories—collapsed. It was the deadliest garment industry disaster in history, killing 1,100 people and injuring more than 2,000. Due to cheap labor costs, clothing manufacturing is commonly outsourced to Bangladesh, which trails only China as the world’s largest producer of apparel. According to The New York Times, more than 4.4 million people—most of Times them women—work in Bangladesh’s 3,000 factories. There, “The minimum wage is currently 32 cents an hour, or $68 a month,” the Times reported. What’s worse is that Rana Plaza wasn’t an isolated incident. More than 500 people died in factory electrical fires between 2006 and 2012, according to the Times. And while two agreements were signed into action following the Rana Plaza collapse, improving safety conditions for millions of Bangladeshi garment workers, both agreements have since expired. A compensation fund for injured workers was set up, but few have reportedly received money from it.

LV W N AT I V E C O N T E N T

CONSERVE WATER. REMOVE USELESS GRASS IN+ THE COMMUNITY Removing nonfunctional turf—such as grassy medians, street edges and grassy spaces in front of businesses—can drastically improve water conservation. “All grass is not created equal. We want to see grass in parks, schools, sports fields and other places where it can be enjoyed,” said Bronson Mack of Southern Nevada Water Authority. “Putting grass underneath a sign in a business park, for instance, isn’t functional; it’s purely aesthetic.” It’s estimated that Southern Nevada can save 12 billion gallons of water per year by removing useless grass and replacing it with water-smart landscaping.

REBATE PROGRAM For those who have grass but are interested in replacing it with water-smart landscaping, SNWA offers rebate programs to help make the transition. Whether you do it yourself or hire a landscaper or contractor, the rebate is $3 per square foot of grass removed and replaced with desert landscaping, up to the first 10,000 square feet converted (per property, per year). After the first 10,000 square feet, the rebate is $1.50 per additional square foot. The maximum total rebate for any property is $500,000 a year. The Water Smart Landscapes rebate program has helped the community upgrade more than 193 million square feet of grass to water-efficient, desert landscaping, and saved billions of gallons of water.

GET YOUR HOA WATER SMART Local neighborhoods and homeowners associations have hundreds of acres of unused grass that are ideal to convert to drip-irrigated plants and shrubs. This is grass that homeowners do not use, as it is found in small patches along the roadways, between sidewalks and curbs, or in medians, roundabouts and other locations where it never gets used by the residents.

Homeowners play a key role in keeping their community water smart. If you have useless grass in your neighborhood, talk to your HOA about converting that water-thirsty grass to drip-irrigated trees, plants and shrubs. You’ll save water and money by doing your part in contributing to Southern Nevada’s water conservation efforts. Need a little help? SNWA’s conservation experts can work with you and your HOA. SNWA representatives can attend HOA meetings and help your community association upgrade all its useless grass, while also receiving a hefty financial rebate in the process. Visit snwa.com to get started.

2 . 2 0 . 2 0 33

C R E AT E D A N D P R E S E N T E D B Y

S O U T H E R N N E VA DA WAT E R AU T H O R I T Y

WHAT ABOUT GOLF COURSES? Golf courses can get a lot of flak for water consumption, but they’re more efficient irrigators than many people realize. “Golf courses have redefined the functional turf areas of the course to ensure both water efficiency and a quality golf experience,” Mack said. In Southern Nevada, golf courses are allotted an annual water budget of 6.3 acre-feet of water per irrigated acre. Surcharges and additional fines may be imposed for water use that surpasses the allotment. “Because of this, golf courses tend to make water efficiency a priority,” Mack said.

S CA

T BA

S EA

LANDSCAPING PAYS

CLARK COUNTY GRASS GUIDELINES In an effort to prevent new nonfunctional areas of turf, local development codes prohibit and restrict the use of grass in residential and commercial developments: Single-family homes: No new turf is allowed in front yards. Turf in side and rear yards may not exceed 50%, or 100 square feet, whichever is greater. Turf area may not be less than 100 square feet or more than 5,000 square feet. Multifamily homes (apartments, condos): New turf with an area greater than 100 square feet is prohibited in common areas or front yards (except for privately owned parks). Non-residential developments: New turf is prohibited except for major schools, parks or cemeteries.

What is useless grass? “Useless grass” describes any grassy area that cannot be used in a practical way and is only for appearances. SNWA notes that if the grass is only touched by a lawn mower, borders a street or is hard to get to, then it’s considered useless and a waste of water.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority is now offering $3 per square foot of grass you replace with water-smart landscaping. Your home will not only look beautiful, you’ll be doing your part to save water. Using less means more. Restrictions apply. To learn more, visit snwa.com or call 702-258-SAVE.

SNWA is a not-for-profit water agency

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

2.20.20

I T ’ S T I M E YO U C H E C K E D O U T D I V E R S E , C U LT U R A L LY R I C H A N D C O N S TA N T LY E VO LV I N G NORTH LAS VEGAS

mong the different parts of the Las Vegas Valley—Downtown, Henderson, Summerlin, even unincorporated Clark County—North Las Vegas tends to get overlooked most. The city of 252,000 Nevadans is often brushed aside or forgotten in favor of flashier municipalities. But the place sometimes known as Northtown is coming into its own. Founded in 1919 and incorporated in 1946, North Las Vegas has long been known for its manufacturing and warehouse sectors. Those industries are growing with the recent additions of Apex Industrial Park and Amazon’s fulfillment and sortation centers. But North Las Vegas is also evolving into something more. “The city is no longer a bedroom community,” says City of North Las Vegas spokeswoman Sandy Lopez. “It is a rapidly growing, family-friendly community known for its parks and trails, cultural amenities, job opportunities and diversity.” Located north of the City of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas stretches over 100 square miles. Decatur Boulevard marks the western boundary. Nellis Air Force Base lies to the east. The northern por-

tion includes the VA Medical Center, Tule Springs and the 215 Beltway. As rising housing prices across the Valley threaten to put homeownership out of reach for all but the wealthiest residents, North Las Vegas might be becoming a last local bastion for the American Dream. “We have huge swaths of affordable land and a diverse housing stock, which makes the city a top destination for both residential homeowners and commercial developers,” Lopez says. “We really pride ourselves on our city’s diversity and embrace and encourage the wonderful melting pot of cultures that have come to define our city.” Spend some time in North Las Vegas to see for yourself. You’ll find unique destinations such as the Broadacres Marketplace, the West Wind

Drive-In and 33 city parks. A new Restaurant Row is emerging on Craig Road. Giant neighborhood casinos—including Aliante, the Cannery, Fiesta Rancho and Texas Station—offer entertainment ranging from gaming to concerts to first-run films. And CSN’s Cheyenne Campus anchors both North Las Vegas’ educational offerings and the city’s commitment to the visual and performing arts. There’s much to see and enjoy. All you need to do is head north. –C. Moon Reed

2.20.20

lv w c ov e r s t o r y

West Wind Drive-In

Should we call it Northtown? Nobody can quite say when or how North Las Vegas picked up the nickname Northtown. According to Urban Dictionary, the name “most likely began as a derogatory term.” A 2002 Las Vegas Sun article titled “Shedding the Northtown image” described new residents leaving the “North” off their North Las Vegas address because they were embarrassed to admit their locale.

A lot has changed since then. These days, residents refer to “Northtown” with a sense of affection and pride—kind of like if your kid brother made the honor roll. Local product Shamir titled his first EP Northtown in 2014. And that Urban Dictionary definition goes on to say that the nickname is so common, it “no longer carries the negative connotation it once did.” Even the city knows the score. “While we

don’t love the negative connotations associated with ‘Northtown,’ we hope people will reassociate ‘Northtown’ with all of the success we’re having right now,” says City of North Las Vegas spokeswoman Sandy Lopez. So should you use it? If you’re from there, feel free. If not … tough call. One thing we do know: It’s a lot less insulting nickname than “Hendertucky.” –C. Moon Reed

(Sun File/Photo Illustration)

LV W c ov e r s t o r y

2.20.20

Beaumont’s Southern Kitchen Slow-smoked meats are the specialty at this Texas Station joint, made by chefs who learned the art of the ’cue at spots like Mabel’s BBQ in Cleveland and the Granary ’Cue & Brew in San Antonio. Brisket, sausages, ribs and pulled pork are piled high, complemented by sides like mac and cheese, grits, coleslaw and beans. Texas Station, 702-631-1000.

A f e w f o o d - s c e n e fav o r i t e s

2.20.20

lv w c ov e r s t o r y

Kapuna Cafe Southern Nevada is heralded as the ninth island, in part for its proliferation of quality Hawaiian restaurants. Kapuna Cafe is one such place. Here you’ll find loco moco and Spam musubi, but the net is cast wide to include pan Asian favorites like chicken katsu, shrimp tempura and kalbi barbecue. 3231 N. Decatur Blvd. #122, 702-395-1400. John Mull’s Meats & Road Kill Grill This locals favorite— technically just west of being in North Las Vegas proper—is a meat market offering up top-quality beef, pork and poultry, plus all the sauces, seasonings and rubs you’ll need for a great backyard barbecue. But it’s also a grill serving up Guy Fieri-approved grub, including delicious ribs, pulled pork and brisket, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 3730 Thom Blvd., 702-645-1200.

MRKT Sea & Land When an evening of fine dining is in order, there’s no need to deal with the hassle of Strip traffic. MRKT at Aliante Casino offers some of the freshest land and sea specialties around, from prime rib and porterhouse to Hoshigaki scallops and Alaskan king crab. The elegant space also has an impressive wine list perfect for date night. Aliante Casino, 702-692-7777. Viva Zapata’s Craving delicious Mexican food? You’ll certainly find it among Zapata’s Michoacáninspired fare. The extensive menu features favorites done memorably like pollo mole poblano and chile Colorado, along with dishes you might not have encountered before, including our favorite, the carnitas Cuartel (pork marinated with oranges and spices). Happy hour runs 3-6 p.m. every day, featuring 2-for-1 beers and house margaritas. 3826 E. Craig Road, 702-643-8888. –Genevie Durano

(Beaumont’s Southern Kitchen by Wade Vandervort/Staff)

LV W c ov e r s t o r y

2.20.20

From the drive-in to the duck pond

(Craig Ranch Park by Wade Vandervort/Staff)

2.20.20

ou can have North Las Vegas fun without even being there: Just fire up Spotify and listen to Shamir, the indie-music icon who used to call North Las Vegas home and even named his first EP for it (2014’s Northtown). His music also makes a good soundtrack for the trek to Craig Ranch Regional Park (628 W. Craig Road, 702-633-2418), a 170-acre multiuse park that includes an 8,000-capacity amphitheater, a dog run, a community garden, a variety of lighted sports courts and lots more cool stuff. Craig Ranch hosts dozens of community events annually, from barbecues to paintball tournaments to car shows. And it’s here that you’ll find the largest skate park in Southern Nevada, designed by award-winning SoCal firm Wally Hollyday Skateparks. This 65,000-square-foot concrete jungle of rails, pyramids and bowls is both visually striking and a terrific proving ground for human-powered antigravity. Also of outdoor note: Aliante Nature Discovery Park (2627 Nature Park Drive, 866-874-6393) is a kid-friendly spot with a dinosaur-themed playground and a large duck pond. North Las Vegas boasts two municipal golf courses: Aliante Golf Club (3100 Elkhorn Road, 702-399-4888) and Par 3 (324 E. Brooks Ave.,

702-633-1833), the latter of which also hosts disc golf. And if you want to simply park somewhere and look at something cool, you can hardly do better than West Wind Drive-In (4150 W. Carey Ave., 702-646-3565), a Las Vegas tradition since 1966. Load up a pickup truck with friends, family and snacks, park in front of one of West Wind’s five screens and enjoy a first-run double feature. And if you prefer a more traditional moviegoing experience, try Maya Cinemas (2195 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-382-3829), a stylish, Latinx-owned multiplex with state-ofthe-art everything: DBOX, MPX, Dolby Atmos, you name it. For the visual and performing arts, visit the north campus of the College of Southern Nevada (3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., 702-651-4000). It’s home to the 519-seat Nicolas J. Horn Theatre; to the Fine Arts and Artspace galleries; and to Southern Nevada’s only planetarium, a 30-foot dome with a high-definition hemispheric projector. And on the subject of spherical objects: If you want a good old-fashioned casino bowling experience, visit Texas Station (2101 Texas Star Lane, 702-631-1000) or Aliante Casino (7300 N. Aliante Parkway, 702692-7777)—both of which also have nice movie theaters and kids’ play zones. –Geoff Carter

lv w c ov e r s t o r y

TOP The arcade at Maya Cinemas (Christopher DeVargas/Staff) MIDDLE West Wind Drive-In (Sun File) BOTTOM An installation view of Yoshiko Shimano’s printmaking exhibit Engraving on Land at CSN’s Fine Arts Gallery.(Yasmina Chavez/Staff)

LV W c ov e r s t o r y

2.20.20

(Broadacres Marketplace by Wade Vandervort/Staff)

2.20.20 Access Showroom at Aliante Casino Arrested Development (February 29); Chase Bryant (March 13); L.A. Guns (April 4); Great White (April 17); April Wine (April 25); Eve 6 (May 1); High Valley (May 9); Brian Culbertson (May 22-23)

Upcoming events in North Las Vegas

North Las Vegas is home to Broadacres Marketplace (2930 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-6423777), a flea market and retail experience unlike any other. You can find everything you want—and everything you didn’t know you wanted—at this outdoor bazaar and swap meet. Clothing? Check. Toiletries? Check. Clamato? Yeah, there’s that, too. Consider it your one-stop-shop for creative outfits, home furnishings and more. There’s also a plethora of fresh fruit, coconuts, beer and more for when you get parched from all that shopping. North Las Vegas is also something of a destination for thrifters. Thrift stores in the area include two Goodwill stores (2575 E. Lake Mead Blvd., 702214-2087; 1280 W. Cheyenne Ave., 702-214-2008), two Salvation Army outlets (35 W. Owens Ave., 702-649-2867; 675 W. Craig Road, 702-342-9297),

The Club at the Cannery War (March 14); Lit & Marcy’s Playground (March 28); The Whispers (April 18); Village People (May 9)

Dallas Events Center at Texas Station Amanda Miguel & Diego Verdaguer (February 28)

Craig Ranch Regional Park Las Vegas BBQ and Beer Fest (February 29); NXL Paintball Championship (March 6-8); Beat the Heat Bullies and Car Show (March 14); Out of the Darkness Walk (April 4); Friends of Parkinson’s Funny Bunny Race (April 11)

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

The Amp at Craig Ranch Las Vegas Spirit Festival (March 2021); Memorial Day Festival Concert (May 23-24)

CSN Mayuko Ono Gray: The Rose Is Always Redder Next Door (through March 28, Artspace Gallery); Waiting for Lefty (March 27-April 5, Backstage Theatre); Jazz Solo Night (April 3, Recital Hall); Student Dance Concert (April 17, Horn Theatre); Vocal Jazz Festival (May 1, Recital Hall); Spring Dance Concert (May 1-2, Horn Theatre); Spring Jazz Combo Concert (May 3, Recital Hall); Concert Band (May 5, Horn Theatre); Mariachi Concert (May 6, Horn Theatre); Choral Concert (May 7, Horn Theatre); Orchestra Concert (May 10, Horn Theatre); Big Band Concert (May 12, Horn Theatre)

and Deseret Industries (3750 W. Craig Road, 702649-8191), along with as Bargain Pawn (1901 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-399-9950), which appeared in the Imagine Dragons’ music video for “Next to Me.” City of North Las Vegas spokeswoman Sandy Lopez also recommends Lighthouse Charities (3435 W. Cheyenne Avenue #103, 702-275-0197), which runs the Nafasi Designs program. The platform allows refugees living in Las Vegas to become selfreliant by making handmade items that are then sold on site. North Las Vegas also features a number of quinceañera dress shops, including Alondra’s Boutique (1310 E. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-712-2368). The store offers wedding gowns and bridal wear, quinceañera dresses, tuxedos and men’s formal wear. –Leslie Ventura

ORIGINAL MUSIC SERIES

2.22

FEATURING:

MIKE XAVIER MAEJOY DOTDOT, ELMER ABAPO

5 – 8 PM • LINQ PROMENADE ADDITIONAL SHOWS: MARCH 14, MARCH 21, APRIL 11 MORE DATES TO COME

@LINQPromenade

LV W F O O D & D R I N K

2.20.20 International Smoke does meat right. (Courtesy)

FIRED UP INTERNATIONAL SMOKE GIVES BARBECUE A GLOBAL SPIN BY GENEVIE DURANO pening a restaurant with marquee names brings enormous expectations, but the fourth U.S. location of chefs Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry’s International Smoke lives up to the hype. The predominant element here is meat—specifically, smoked meat—but there’s plenty of seafood, too. It’s surf-and-turf with an international flair, an homage to the chefs’ global family customs and cooking techniques. The flavors are layered and bold, at times unfamiliar, but they always land on the palate with newfound delight. Every meal at the MGM Grand spot should begin with Ayesha’s Fresh Baked Cornbread ($3), spiced with curry and frosted with Thai red curry butter. Pair that with the Whole Cauliflower ($16)—a roasted and smoked behemoth with a sake-mirin glaze and toasted sesame seeds, sprinkled with togarashi and garnished with raisins and pomegranate seeds. While the size is massive, remember that everything here is meant to be shared family-style. Don’t skip the crab & Thai coconut soup ($15), a concoction of tofu, cilantro, fried shallots and chunks of crab. After a few bites the spice kicks in, so keep the sweet cornbread on hand to temper the heat. There are six entrées from which to choose, each so intriguing that you’ll be momentarily stumped. The whole Mediterranean branzino ($39) comes with lemon potatoes, rainbow Swiss chard and a tomato vinaigrette. Our server, Will, recommended the braised Jamaican oxtail ($38). Served with red beans, white rice, Scotch bonnet and roasted carrots, it’s a dish so rich and complex in flavor you’ll be thinking about it long after the last morsel of meat falls off the bone. That goes for the smoker offerings, too: The ribs ($22-$55), which come in American, Vietnamese and Korean flavor profiles, are well-seasoned and perfectly tender, never tipping into mushy-meat territory. And the sides also deserve center-stage billing, particularly the rib tip mac and cheese ($16) and crab fried rice ($17). A meal so savory should end on a sweet note. Opt for the Palette of Pudding Trio ($14), with crème brûlee, chocolate custard and butterscotch pudding. Like everything else, it’s perfect for sharing.

INTERNATIONAL SMOKE MGM Grand, 702-891-3922. Daily, 5-10 p.m.

lv w f o o d & D R I N K

2.20.20

FOOD & DRINK Origin story

Founders traces coffee’s history while serving up a good cup

Màs Por Favor’s Muy Caliente tacos (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Fresh flavor

Mexican joint Más Por Favor brings new tastes to Chinatown By Leslie Ventura

Clique Hospitality’s Ryan Labbe and Jason mushroom asada. The menu might be a little overzealous, “JRoc” Craig know how to take a simple nightlife but the signature tacos ($4.50-$5) are a must. The Pullin’ or dining concept and turn it on its Out piles crispy carnitas, beans and kimchi atop head, and that’s exactly what they’ve done with Más POR FAVOR a Hawaiian roll for a fusion of flavors. Consider Más Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila, a new Mexithe F-Bomb (loaded nachos with Fritos instead Taqueria can restaurant and speakeasy that combines two of chips), a late-night must, especially if you have Y TEQUILA ideas under one roof. the munchies. 3879 Spring The Spring Mountain Road taqueria has a noPast the taqueria and down a long, winding Mountain Road, 702-201-1133. frills warehouse feel with millennial-friendly Inscorridor reminiscent of Disneyland’s Pirates Taqueria: daily, tagram touches like neon-pink signage and giant of the Caribbean ride is the flower- and skull11-2 a.m. Parlor: chalkboard menus. In keeping with its décor, the adorned tequila parlor. The cocktail program is daily, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. food is fun—think tacos covered in Flamin’ Hot impressive, with cheeky offerings like the Sweet Cheetos or named after sex moves. Pick a style of Melons Dude ($16), Cornhub.com ($15) and street taco ($3.50)—the Muy Caliente brings the Great Balls of Fire ($14). The libations are as heat with a sweet and spicy chipotle sauce and hot Cheeto delicious—if not more so—than the food. crumbles—then pick a protein, from barbacoa, carne It’s business in the front, party in the back—and you’ll asada and al pastor to Cajun white fish, vegan jackfruit and want más in no time.

We’re loving this trend of fifth-wave coffee joints all over the Valley. One of the newest spots to join the brew crew is Founders Coffee, conveniently located across the street from IKEA in the southwest. The concept is from one of founders of MTO Cafe, the popular comfort food eatery with locations Downtown and in Summerlin. Founders is a spacious, industrial-chic space that invites lingering over handcrafted caffeinated drinks like cappuccinos, espressos and nitros. (For the non-lingering types, there’s a full-service drive-thru.) The walls of Founders Coffee feature a chalkboard mural that speaks of the beloved beverage’s origins. It’s a nice summation of how that latte in your hand, with its Insta-ready art, came to be. The lattes ($4-$5) come in a variety of flavors, including vanilla, mocha, white mocha, cafe coco colada, lavender white chocolate, salted caramel and matcha. There’s also a latte of the month—February’s was a rose tea latte—paired up with a local charity that receives a portion of the sales. Eye rolling be damned, avocado toast ($6.25) is a solid choice among seven kinds of toasts— both savory and sweet—on offer. Served on multigrain bread, slices of avocado are topped with sundried tomato, red onion, chive and garlic aioli, with an option to add a boiled egg or bacon for $1 each. Other standouts include the Deluxe Lox ($6.75), with smoked lox, smoked lox cream cheese, red onion, chopped boiled egg, capers and chives; and the Ferrero Rocher ($6.25), with Nutella, chocolate crispy rice, candied pecans and chocolate sauce. Portions are generous, perfect for a pre- or post-IKEA fuel-up. –Genevie Durano

FOUNDERS COFFEE 6410 S. Durango Drive #100, 702-916-4442. Daily, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

lv w s p o r t s 2 . 2 0 . 2 0

Tale of the tape Sizing up the boxers in Las Vegas’ biggest heavyweight fight in years By Case Keefer eavyweight megafights have eluded Las Vegas for more than two decades, since a golden period that stretched from the 1990s into the early 2000s. The dry spell ends February 22, when undefeated fighters Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury meet in a pick’em championship bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena. “I can’t remember a bigger heavyweight fight in a long time,” Fury said at a recent press conference in LA. “Maybe Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson [2002] was the last big one like this.” Wilder described the matchup as “two giants and two champions putting it all on the line for everyone’s entertainment. We’re leaving it all in the ring to see who is king.” Top Rank CEO and Fury’s promoter Bob Arum predicted the fight would outdo Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao’s 4.6 million pay-per-view sales in 2015. That’s surely hyperbole, but there’s no exaggerating the stakes in this rematch. The first fight between Fury and Wilder, in December 2018 at the Staples Center in LA, ended in controversy on both sides after a split-decision draw. Here’s a breakdown of both fighters going into showdown No. 2.

Strengths Power, speed and cardio. Wilder has one-punch knockout ability, as almost every opponent he’s ever faced has learned. But it takes more than heavy hands to land the perfect shot at the pinnacle of the sport. Some rely on trickery and combinations to set up the haymaker, but that’s not always necessary for Wilder. He’s so fast that even the slightest opening can be the end for an opponent. Wilder is also known as one of the hardest-working boxers in the world, which has shone through in his past few fights, where he’s looked fresh for the full 12 rounds. Weaknesses Dealing with pressure and stiffening up. Wilder looks unbeatable when he stays fluid with his punches and movements, but he hasn’t always been able to maintain such calm. Two of his past four opponents—Fury and Luis Ortiz—frustrated him by coming forward and utilizing unorthodox tactics. Wilder’s power bailed him out of both situations, but it’s been made clear that if he’s to be beaten, it will be by making him one-dimensional, to the point where his sole focus is swinging for the stoppage. First fight vs. Fury Most everyone thought Wilder had won the bout in the 12th round. That’s when he scored his second knockdown, dropping Fury with a combination that looked lethal. Fury rose to his feet just before the conclusion of the referee’s 10-count to survive. Wilder and his followers dispute that Fury got up in time, however, alleging a slow count. Planned changes Breathe. It might sound simple, but Wilder feels that if there’s anything he needs to do differently, it’s maintaining his cool. He admitted to slight panic against both Fury and Ortiz as he drifted from his game plan when things began going against him. He says that won’t happen this time, as he’s sharpening his mindset in case a round or two get away from him. Trash talk “I knocked him out the first time we fought. I told him two years ago I was going to baptize him. Rising up is part of the baptism, but this is a different story. This is unfinished business. Because he’s in the WWE, I’m going to make sure he gets knocked out of the ring. I might even come down with a flying elbow from the top rope.”

2 . 2 0 . 2 0 LV W s p o r t s

WILDER VS. FURY II DEONTAY WILDER

When: Saturday, February 22; doors 2 p.m., undercard 4 p.m., main card 6 p.m. Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena Tickets: $154-$2,504 at axs.com or 866-740-7711 Watch: $79.99 on Fox pay-per-view or ESPN+ streaming Odds: Wilder minus-115; Fury minus-105 (at Circa)

The Bronze Bomber Age: 34 Out of: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Height: 6-foot-7 Weight: 212.5 pounds Reach: 83 inches Record: 42-0-1 (41 knockouts) Title: Current WBC champion

Strengths Technique, size and fighting instincts. Fury hulks over practically every opponent he’s ever faced, and for a man of his stature, he moves rather smoothly. He’s renowned for switching up stances and attack angles to frustrate opponents, strategies he has honed since childhood. Fighting is an important part of Fury’s Roma (or Gypsy) culture, as he often reiterates, and he follows in line with several generations of boxers and bare-knuckle brawlers. Weaknesses Inconsistency and relative lack of power. Fury has a glaringly low number of finishes for a fighter of his stature. It’s been seven years since he’s had a clean knockout. That’s partly because of a reliance on his jab and partly because he’s admittedly lost focus at different points of his career. Fury was notoriously stripped of his major titles in 2015 and 2016 after failing a drug test for cocaine and ballooning up to 400 pounds. He’s even occasionally looked disinterested in fights, building uneventful leads and then milking the clock. First fight vs. Wilder Most everyone thought Fury had won the bout once it reached the judges’ scorecards. Apart from suffering a pair of knockdowns, Fury outworked Wilder. Fury typically fights out of an orthodox stance but switched to southpaw midway through the fight to bewilder Wilder. He landed 84 of 327 attempted punches, according to CompuBox, as opposed to Wilder’s rate of 71-for-430. When the scores were read—115-111 for Wilder, 114-112 for Fury and 113-113—the Staples Center crowd booed and went on to cheer Fury as he exited the arena. Planned changes Fury says he’s sick of fans saying he’ll have to outpoint Wilder to win, so he’s focusing on his power and going all-in to secure a knockout. Fury has switched his entire coaching staff in what he says is a move to maximize his chances at a finish. He’s predicting a second-round knockout victory.

TYSON FURY

Gypsy King Age: 31 Out of: Manchester, England Height: 6-foot-9 Weight: 256.5 Reach: 85 inches Record: 29-0-1 (20 knockouts) Titles: Former WBA, WBF, WBO, IBO and lineal champion

Trash talk “What’s going to happen in this fight is that I’m going to get what I rightfully won last time. I’m going to get the green belt and keep my lineal title. And if he wants to rematch me after, I’ll beat him again. I’ve already beat him once, and I know I can beat him three times in a row.” (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

LV W h e a lt h & W e l l n e s s

2.20.20

Let’s talk About HIV

An open discussion with health care providers can go a long way toward treatment and prevention By Leslie Ventura

hat would you do if you needed a potentially lifesaving medication within 72 hours, but your doctor didn’t know where to get it? When it comes to HIV prevention in

Southern Nevada, there’s a gap in education and communication among medical providers, and it’s having a direct effect on the lives of patients. According to AIDSVu, a project by Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, there are nearly 10,000 people living with HIV in Las Vegas. The state’s Division of Public and Behavioral Health reported 507 new infections in Nevada in 2018 alone. “The epidemic is not over,” says Antioco Carrillo, executive director of Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN). “If you look at the Clark County infection rate, you’ll find an average of 430 to 450 people that are newly diagnosed on a yearly basis. That’s more than one a day. People can still suffer tremendously; we still have people that die.” For those at high risk of contracting HIV, there’s a drug that has proven successful at reducing infection rates. PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a daily medication that HIV-negative individuals can take to reduce the risk of transmission if they’re exposed to the virus. According to HIV.gov, the pill is 90% effective, even more so when combined with other measures, such as condoms. While most insurance companies cover Truvada and Descovy, the two FDA-approved

drugs from Gilead Sciences, there are medication assistance programs like Ready, Set, PrEP that can help with PrEP’s costs. Similar to PrEP, PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, is a 28-day course of HIV medicines that can be taken up to 72 hours after exposure to the HIV virus. The problem is, some health care providers don’t prescribe it. The Huntridge Family Clinic, a medical provider in Downtown Las Vegas, is conducting a study on 35 patients who sought out and used PEP. Many reported a number of barriers that prevented access to the timesensitive medication. “What we identified previously was, people were going to emergency rooms and urgent cares and primary care providers [requesting PEP], and were being told, ‘No, we don’t do that;

we don’t know what that is,’ ” says John “Rob” Phoenix, founder of the Huntridge Family Clinic. Las Vegas Weekly called 11 Valley emergency rooms; seven said they do not provide PEP. One recommended calling the Southern Nevada Health Department, one suggested calling a primary care doctor and four recommended calling a different ER. “Generally speaking, most patients access at least two, sometimes three or four places before they find us,” Phoenix says. “They’ll go to an urgent care and they’ll be told things like, ‘Well, that’s what you get for having sex like that,’ or ‘You’re going to get infected anyway.’ Those are some of the comments that patients have told us they’ve been told by providers at other agencies.” Phoenix has been prescribing PEP

since 2014, when a patient who had been exposed to HIV requested it. The patient’s primary care provider sent the man to an infectious disease provider, which told him it only helped people who have already been infected. The specialist referred him to a local ER, which referred him to the health department, which then referred him to the Huntridge Clinic. “I’d never [prescribed] PEP before,” Phoenix says. “Now we provide more PEP in Clark County than any other provider.” The sex talk Why, in 2020, is lifesaving medication so difficult to obtain? Phoenix says it’s because most medical providers aren’t comfortable talking about sex. “It’s an HIV-related medication,” Phoenix says, “and there’s a whole lot

2.20.20

Vials for blood draws at the Huntridge Family Clinic (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

John “Rob” Phoenix, founder of the Huntridge Family Clinic (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

of fear and stigma around HIV. It’s been so pigeonholed for 35-plus years of the epidemic.” But PrEP and PEP have been approved by the FDA since 2012, and PEP has been used by first responders and medical practitioners in accidental exposure cases since the ’90s. “If a nurse or doctor got stuck with a needle in a hospital, this is exactly the same thing we would do for them,” Phoenix continues. “What’s different? This is about sex, and we don’t want to ask questions about sex.” Phoenix says that an estimated 75-80 patients come to Huntridge Clinic requesting PEP each year, many of whom have primary care doctors elsewhere who don’t provide the drug. While most private insurance companies cover PEP, according to aidschicago.org, if a person ends up going to the ER for PEP, it can cost up to $1,000 for the visit. Prior to finding the Huntridge Clinic, one patient received only a week’s dose of PEP at the ER without follow-up instructions on how to obtain the other 21 days of medication. “We need to work with the schools— nursing schools, medical schools, residency programs—and we need to teach new providers right from the beginning what this is and how easy it is and how important it is,” Phoenix says. The Huntridge Clinic staffs nurse practitioner students from UNLV and elsewhere, “and we make this part of their education,” Phoenix says. He adds that sexual history questions should be just as routine as questions like “Do you smoke?” and “When was your last pap smear?” “Questions like, ‘What types of partners do you have?’ and, ‘Do you use condoms?’ should be just as common,” Phoenix says. Not asking these sometimes uncomfortable questions means that doctors aren’t getting all the information on a patient’s medical history, which can result in missed diagnoses. “If primary care providers haven’t seen syphilis in their practice in the last year, it’s because they’re not looking,” Phoenix continues. “We have an epidemic of syphilis in the United States. Nevada is No. 1 in the country right now for syphilis, and it’s a huge risk factor for HIV infection.” Changing the way the medical community views sex is an uphill battle, Phoenix says. “There’s a study that

lv w h e a lt h & w e l l n e s s

looked at medical students’ comfort level of taking a sexual health history, and most medical students were uncomfortable,” he says. “When you added questions about LGBTQ issues, that number went down even further.” By the time students at the Huntridge Clinic have finished their rotation, Phoenix says, those questions are just part of the routine. One student who works in a local hospital found a patient with rectal gonorrhea who had previously been admitted to the hospital three times. “Nobody had ever asked him about sex,” Phoenix says. Regardless of the type of practice, Phoenix adds that all medical practitioners should gather a patient’s sexual history. “If [you’re] a neurologist, you could be seeing somebody for neurosyphilis because they’re complaining of memory loss and they’re falling. They should be asking questions to protect you,” Phoenix says. Eradicating the stigma A lot of the stigma is judgmentbased, AFAN’s Carrillo says. Even when it comes to PrEP, many primary care providers don’t prescribe it. “When we start looking at prevention, we want to be able to look at layers,” Carrillo says. PrEP is beneficial for people engaging in high-risk activity, but it’s also a lifesaver for serodiscordant couples, where one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative. The arguments against PrEP are similar to those women have heard for years against birth control—that you can “just do whatever you want and be irresponsible,” Carrillo says. “[But] nobody has ever stopped people from doing whatever they wanted.” PrEP is still a relatively new drug in the public sphere—approved by the FDA just eight years ago—and societal acceptance has been somewhat slow. “The first year [PrEP] was OK’ed, there was still a lot of controversy. But about a year ago, that started subsiding, and people are not as opposed to it as they once were,” Carrillo says, adding that it’s going to take more momentum to normalize access. “If you want to be safe as much as you can knowing that once in a while you may be exposed to HIV, take the meds. Work with your health care provider, talk about the side effects,” Carrillo says. “It’s another layer of prevention.”

YOU’RE BACK, BABY. The Joint Chiropractic helps keep you moving. Find your relief today.

NEW PATIENT SPECIAL

Consultation, Exam, and Adjustment

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM: • Low Sex Drive

Blue Diamond 4150 Blue Diamond Rd Suite 107

North Decatur & 215 6171 N. Decatur Blvd Suite 150

Boca Park 8820 W. Charleston Blvd Suite 103

Tropicana Beltway 5060 S. Fort Apache Rd Suite 100

Montecito Marketplace 7120 N. Durango Dr Suite 170

Rocksprings Plaza 7175 W. Lake Mead Blvd Suite 180

Eastern and Richmar 9500 S. Eastern Ave Suite 120

Rainbow & Warm Springs 7385 S. Rainbow Blvd. #140

Henderson Sunset 1311 W. Sunset Road

Pebble Marketplace 1000 N. Green Valley Marketplace

• Muscle Loss • Fatigue • Irritability • Hot Flashes • Sleep Disturbance • Unexplained Weight Gain

A LITTLE HELP FOR A BETTER, HEALTHIER YOU! Men and women are aﬀected by changing levels in their hormones. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, then it’s worth having your levels checked. Our Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is designed to restore your depleted hormone levels, which can help you feel revitalized and regain your ZEST for life!

(702) 710-5077

199

No Appointments | Open Evenings & Weekends | No Insurance Needed *Restrictions apply, see clinic for details. Initial visit includes consultation, exam and adjustment. NC: IF YOU DECIDE TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TREATMENT, YOU HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND WITHIN THREE DAYS AND RECEIVE A REFUND. (N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-154.1). FL: THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT OR BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT WHICH IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED OR REDUCED FEE SERVICES, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT. (FLA. STAT. 456.02). Subject to additional state statutes and regulations. See clinic for chiropractor(s)’ name and license info. Clinics managed and/ or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual results may vary. © 2020 The Joint Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Special Oﬀer

INCLUDES:

www.iuventusmedcenter.com

(702) 919-1099

thejoint.com

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

Medical Consultation, Full Body Composition Analysis, and LabWork to Determine Base Levels.

3365 E. Flamingo Road, STE 2 Las Vegas, NV 89121 4966 S Rainbow Blvd STE 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118

FEBRUARY 29

MARCH 13

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

CHASE BRYANT

From $25 plus tax & fees

FEBRUARY 22

FEBRUARY 29

VEGAS MCGRAW

ROCKIN' THE PARADISE

TRIBUTE TO TIM MCGRAW

TRIBUTE TO STYX

From $1995 plus tax & fees

FEBRUARY 29

MARCH 7

LOVERBOY

FIRST LADIES OF DISCO

MARTHA WASH, LINDA CRAWFORD & NORMA JEAN WRIGHT FORMERLY OF CHIC

From $4995 plus tax & fees

From $2495 plus tax & fees

FEBRUARY 22

FEBRUARY 29

MIRAGE

EVIL WAZE

From $1995 plus tax & fees

Tropicana & Arville OrleansCasino.com

Alta & Rampart SuncoastCasino.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 DOORS 7:00PM | SHOW 8:00PM NO MARS

E TO BRU

A TRIBUT

Craig Road & Losee CanneryCasino.com

TRIBUTE TO SANTANA

TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAC

ONE SIX SKY LOUNGE presents

215 & Aliante Parkway AlianteGaming.com

TICKETS FROM ONLY 19 $

For information and tickets call 800-745-3000 B ENTERTAINED

BoydGaming.com

Boulder & Harmon EastsideCannery.com

LV W N E W S

2.20.20

ALL BETS ARE OFF You can’t wager on the Nevada caucus … unless you’re overseas

BY JOHN SADLER

n 2016, a British businessman risked about $6,200 on the chance that Donald Trump would become president of the United States. He won $124,000. The presidency isn’t the only political contest where odds can be found. Oddsmakers with William Hill in the United Kingdom have drilled all the way down to the state level, setting odds on candidates to prevail in the Nevada Democratic caucuses on February 22. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is listed as a minus-300 favorite (betting $300 to win $100). Pete Buttigieg, the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, sits at +500 (betting $100 to win $500) and former Vice President Joe Biden is at +800 (betting $100 to win $800). Though those in Nevada might want a piece of the action, they’ll have to be content observing. Some countries allow betting on our elections, but gamblers in U.S. are limited on what they can bet on, even here in the center of the gaming universe. By law, Nevada bars betting on “the outcome of any election for any public office both within and without the state of Nevada.” You also can’t wager on events such as the Academy Awards or Miss America pageant.

(AP/Photo Illustration)

2 . 2 0 . 2 0 LV W N E W S

“I think it’s silly. It’s long overdue,” South Point bookmaker Jimmy Vaccaro said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, and I believe if they’d do it once, they’d say, ‘This isn’t as bad [as we thought].’” Professional, collegiate and Olympic sports are the only options on the betting menu in Nevada. Other events must be approved by the Gaming Control Board on a single-use basis with the requirement that bettors don’t have inside knowledge on the outcome. For example, the Academy Awards have never been made available for wagering, because there are at least a few people who know the results ahead of time. Vaccaro said he thinks any concerns about “fixing” an election are overblown, as there’s too much security and too many eyes on the process for that to be a feasible goal from anyone taking bets on the process. “I think that’s ludicrous to even consider anymore, with today’s technology,” he explained. Michael Lawton, a senior research analyst with the Gaming Control Board, said there hasn’t been an attempt to allow betting on elections in seven years. That’s when a measure heard by the Nevada Legislature didn’t pass, and Lawton said a similar bill has not been introduced since. If this issue is again brought to the Legislature, Vaccaro has a solid argument: Being able to wager on an election would boost voter turnout. After all, if you bet on a candidate, you’ve got an incentive to make sure that candidate wins. “I’d like to bet you that if you bet $100 on Elizabeth Warren, you’d go to the polls and you’d be sure your vote was counted,” he said. Even if it didn’t significantly affect voter turnout, it would definitely be a draw for sportsbooks, Vaccaro said. It could even dwarf one of the country’s largest annual cultural events. “It would make the Super Bowl look like a little dance party if we could take bets on it,” Vaccaro said. Jennifer Roberts, a former UNLV adjunct professor who now serves as director of sports gaming regulation at the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation, said there’s little national appetite to legalize betting on elections. She said recent federal law changes allowing sports betting nationwide have taken up much of the political bandwidth on the issue. “I don’t see a lot of politicians wanting to advocate for that position,” she said. That means all wagering has to be done outside the country, where Sanders is the favorite at minus-150 (betting $100 to win $150), Buttigieg is 6-1 (betting $100 to win $600) and Biden is 12-1 (betting $100 to win $1,200).

LV W N E W S 2 . 2 0 . 2 0

Lost culture A new state museum tells the story of Native American tribes being assimilated in a Nevada school

Stewart Indian Festival (Courtesy)

BY KELCIE GREGA ative American children were kidnapped from their families and packed into wagons, trucks and trains to be taken off their reservation. At the Stewart Indian School, their hair was cut, they were forced to wear military-style uniforms and relinquish their cultural heritage, and they were punished for speaking their native language. The 240-acre boarding school in Northern Nevada was large and unfamiliar; the dorms cold and sterile. As one Western Shoshone tribe member described it, “We lost communication with our families at home. Half of them didn’t expect us to come home anyway.” That story’s just one of hundreds being told at the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum, which opened in December a few miles southeast of Carson City. Founded in 1890, the school was operated by the federal government for 90 years as part of an assimilation effort to erase indigenous culture. These “Americanization” policies stemmed from the mindset that Native people who adopted western customs and values would have an easier time fitting in with the rest of society. By 1919, the school’s enrollment stood at 400 students. “We really worked hard to make it an educational exhibit,” museum director Bobbi Rahder says. “We want people to know that what happened at these board-

ing schools was a cruel federal policy that still affects families. We also wanted to show that everyone had a different experience. Some good, some bad.” The effort to transform the school into the museum has been years in the making, says Stacey Montooth, executive director of the Nevada Indian Commission. After the government shuttered the school in 1980, the state took over the property, housing state agencies on the 110-acre campus. During the 2019 legislative session, lawmakers allocated $4.5 million to restore the buildings and create the museum and welcome center. Montooth, who took the helm of the commission in early September, says the heavy lifting was done long before she came onboard, and credits work in preserving the site and rallying for state funding to her predecessor, Sherry Rupert. “This really was a huge undertaking for her,” Montooth says. “She did everything from working with engineers to the people who did the art installations. It’s been an idea for at least a decade.”

The exhibits

Museum visitors will encounter a storytelling exhibit featuring the four main Native language groups spoken by 27 federally recognized tribes, bands and colonies in Nevada—Wa She Shu (Washoe); Numu (Northern Paiute); Nuwu or Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute); and Newe (Western Shoshones). The display includes a class photo and art by students

STEWART INDIAN SCHOOL CULTURAL CENTER AND MUSEUM 1 Jacobsen Way, Carson City, 775-687-7606. Monday-Friday Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Grand reopening May 9.

2 . 2 0 . 2 0 LV W n e w s

SIS main school building with students (Courtesy)

from the time. Museum organizers collected hundreds of oral history interviews to tell stories from the school’s 90-year history. A research room will showcase the work of Superintendent Frederick Snyder, who tried to beautify the Stewart campus in the 1920s with landscaping done by students and stone structures built by Hopi stonemasons. Also, the Wa-Pai-Shone Gallery—named after the Washoe, Paiute and Shoshone tribes— features artwork from the Great Basin Native Artists. “We have all kinds of art done by former students and even family members of alumni that represent the experience at Stewart,” Montooth says. “We believe the uniqueness of the Stewart Indian School is having these firsthand accounts from the people.” The museum also offers an “Our Home, Our Relations” exhibit, documenting the school’s evolution from federal assimilation to establishing the campus as an off-reservation boarding school.

Healing from intergenerational trauma

Montooth says the negative ramifications of Indian boarding schools are still being felt, as descendants of past alumni carry on the trauma their parents and grandparents had to endure. In the oral histories collected by museum organizers, former students described instances of losing all contact with their families, having their heads shaved after being bathed in kerosene and even enduring beatings simply for speaking their native languages. In one story retold by Washoe tribe member Herman Fillmore, an elder was at his mother’s deathbed. He asked her in tears of anger, “Why didn’t you teach me the language and culture? She simply replied, ‘Because if you didn’t know it, they couldn’t beat it out of you.’ ” Montooth says such experiences have contributed to distrust of the American education system by Native families. “Even today, the expectation and value they put on public education is not what

it would be had it not been for the boarding school era,” she says. “It’s completely disheartening.” Montooth says she hopes confronting trauma in the exhibit will be the first step in a healing process for generations to come. “I wish I had money for every time my grandmother told me, ‘They can cut your hair, they can take our land, they can take our language, but they can’t take our mind,’ ” she says.

‘A second home’

While Stewart Indian School represented a prison for some, it was seen as a refuge and “second home” for others. That was the case for Ron Lewis, who graduated in 1978. A member of the Gila Indian Reservation in Arizona, Lewis says he remembers begging his mother to let him attend Stewart when he reached high school age. At the time, Stewart had already undergone the changes that followed the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, which permitted Native self-determination and self-government. By the 1960s, the Bureau of Indian Affairs encouraged schools like Stewart to allow students speak their native languages and emphasize liberal arts courses over the vocational training that had been mainly taught in the past. For Lewis, the prospect of leaving his home on the reservation to attend school in Nevada was exciting. “I just wanted to get away from home,” he says. “When I arrived there, I didn’t realize there were other tribes than the one I knew. It was interesting to me. I enjoyed being there and never got homesick.” Lewis, 60, still gets emotional when he thinks about the bonds he formed and friends he made as a member of the football, baseball and boxing teams. He says he still talks to his roommate, whom he met on his first day of school. Another friend he made at school is now his boss at Gila River Sand & Gravel in Pinal County, Arizona. “When I left, I was pretty sad,” he says. “To this day, there are times when I start talking to someone about my school days, and it starts choking me up. I’m really proud of the school.”

LV W N AT I V E C O N T E N T

DID YOU KNOW CBD MAY IMPROVE YOUR SKIN? +

Cannabidiol has quickly become one of the beauty industry’s most talked about ingredients and can be found in body cream, face serum, bath salts and more. One of many cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, CBD boasts a wide range of alleged benefits for your complexion. “When it comes to skin, there are few things CBD can’t do,” said Ryan Lewis, owner and CEO of Global Cannabinoids. “It’s a great natural remedy for different skin issues, and the results we’re seeing are so promising, particularly in combination with other botanicals and active chemicals like vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.” An option for all skin types, CBD won’t get you high but will make your skin glow. Here’s a look at its purported beauty benefits.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Typically, CBD is extracted from the hemp plant as a powder. It’s then mixed with a host oil, such as hemp or coconut, to allow for an effective application on the skin. Because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, its benefits are far reaching. “As far as active ingredients go, CBD checks a lot of boxes. It’s relevant to a wide variety of customers. Whether you’re dealing with acne, wrinkles or even just inflammatory skin responses, CBD can help,” Lewis said.

Other powerful antioxidants that can be applied topically include vitamin C, vitamin A (retinol), vitamin E and resveratrol. Many products combine a cocktail of different antioxidants to address free-radical damage on multiple fronts. “CBD works best in formulation with other botanicals to achieve maximum benefits,” Lewis said.

Choosing the right product All the advantages of CBD become meaningless when found in the wrong product. To be sure you’re getting a quality product, look for labels that include “cannabidiol” in the ingredients list and boast “full spectrum,” “isolate” or “whole plant CBD.” Be thoughtful about the other ingredients as well and shop around until you find something that works for you.

2 . 2 0 . 2 0 57

C R E AT E D A N D P R E S E N T E D B Y

G LO B A L C A N N A B I N O I D S

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN ANTI-AGING PRODUCT… Free-radical damage is one of the main culprits of premature aging, and using antioxidant-rich products can help counteract its effects. CBD can fulfill this need while also deeply hydrating. “Because oxidative stress can cause wrinkles, dullness and skin tone issues, it’s important to use antioxidants such as CBD in your skin care routine,” Lewis said. “Hydrated skin is also more youthful in appearance, so a high level of hydration combined with antioxidants can help with the visual effects of aging.”

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN ACNE SOLUTION… CBD is an established anti-inflammatory, which is important when battling breakouts. “For people dealing with acne, finding the right product to soothe and calm the skin is paramount. CBD is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, and we know it can lessen acnerelated redness and swelling for people with reactive skin types,” Lewis said. CBD may also help reduce sebum production on the skin, leading to a more balanced, healthy complexion.

IF YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN… CBD can deliver powerful results without overpowering your skin, making it suitable for sensitive skin types. “The reasons why CBD can be beneficial to acne-prone skin are why it benefits sensitive skin as well. It helps soothe and regulate,” Lewis said. As a plant-derived ingredient, many products containing CBD are also found in the clean beauty aisle and are free of harsh, chemical-based ingredients.

It’s not just topical application—consuming antioxidants in food and supplements is helpful in combating oxidative stress as well. Try a few drops of food-grade CBD oil in your fruit smoothie for an extra boost.

VEGAS INC BUSINESS 2.20.20

How does a hotel inspector award a AAA Five Diamond rating?

BY BRYAN HORWATH

rawling around toilets to make sure they’re clean and working properly might not sound like much fun, but no detail is too small for AAA hotel inspectors like Adam Smith. If a hotel wants the association’s coveted Five Diamond rating, everything in a room or suite must be perfect. “You want to take in the smells, the temperature, all of that stuff,” said Smith, who didn’t use his real name for this story since inspectors often check into hotels incognito to ensure they have the same experience as any other guest. “It all goes together. You’re looking in drawers, making sure there’s no crumbs, looking in magazines and making sure kids haven’t drawn in them,” he said. “People have their own pet peeves. For me, it’s the TV remote not working. Another one for me is unplugged lamps.” Smith, who has worked as a AAA inspector for 15 years, recently demonstrated the inspection process at a 30th-floor suite at the upscale Aria Sky Suites hotel on the Strip. He checked for dust, searched the room for trash, looked into closets (and counted the number of hangers), and, yes, inspected around and behind the toilet. Technology is also important, with guests expecting fast, reliable Wi-Fi and USB plug-ins for their cellphones and tablets, Smith said. Of the thousands of hotels the motor and travel club reviews each year, less than 1% are awarded Five Diamond status. AAA also hands out Four Diamond, Three Diamond and “approved” distinctions. Las Vegas is home to six Five Diamond proper-

ties on AAA’s just-released 2020 list: Aria, Aria Sky Suites, Bellagio, Four Seasons, Wynn Tower Suites and Waldorf Astoria. “AAA has more than 60 million members, so it’s huge for any property to say they achieved the Five Diamond designation,” said Sergio Avila, a AAA spokesman for Nevada, Northern California and Utah. “These are people who go into branches or go on the AAA website to look up travel guides

and hotels.” Shannon McCallum, vice president of hotel operations for Aria, said the Five Diamond distinction “is a frame of reference for guests. When they’re looking at where to stay, it’s an assurance of quality,” she said. Aria has been a Five Diamond property every year since it opened in late 2009, but “it doesn’t happen by accident,” McCallum said. “It’s difficult to get, and it’s difficult to maintain.” AAA inspectors typically make two annual visits to a property—one scheduled and one unannounced. “When the inspector comes unannounced, they’ll be staying overnight and checking on service and everything that comes with a stay,” McCallum said. “On the scheduled visit, we’ll walk through the property, go to all the public areas and the casino floor and check on any new restaurants that may have opened.” One of about three dozen AAA inspectors, Smith is responsible for Southern Nevada and parts of three other states, along with Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. In a typical year, he spends as many as half his working days on the road. “Over the years, I’ve stayed at just about every Las Vegas property,” Smith said. “Believe it or not, it’s a lot of work. It’s not like you’re on vacation. You’re taking notes and talking to people and checking everything.” Smith doesn’t take the job lightly. “When I give a property a diamond designation, I’m basically putting my name on that property,” he said.

Shannon McCallum, vice president of hotel operations for Aria (Ronda Churchill/Special to the Weekly)

W E STG AT E

LOCALS JOIN THE FUN EVERY THURSDAY

JOIN THE FUN EVERY THURSDAY!

MORE POINTS! MORE REWARDS! MORE FUN! • 25% OFF ALL DINING • 2-FOR-1 BUFFET • 5X POINTS ON REELS & VIDEO POKER • WOW GIFT GIVEAWAY* • ENTRY INTO THE $2,000 SLOT TOURNAMENT* • HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS 5 PM - 7 PM AT THE INTERNATIONAL BAR

LUCKY

LOCAL

FREE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT STARTING AT 7 PM VISIT THE WOW REWARDS CENTER TO PICK UP YOUR SIR WINSTON LOCALS STICKER TODAY! *Earn 10 tier credits between 8 AM and 10 PM each Thursday. Visit the WOW Rewards Center for official rules and details. Must be 21 years or older to participate. One gift per account. Maximum of five earned tournament entries. Management reserves all rights. The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino encourages you to gamble responsibly. For problem gambling information and assistance, call the 24-hour confidential Problem Gamblers Helpline at 800.522.4700 or visit WhenTheFunStops.org.

Vegas inc business 2.20.20

VegasInc Notes Adam’s Place founder and executive director Kelly ThomasBoyers joined the 2020 Jameson Fellowship Leadership Cohort Program. Thomas-Boyers Thomas-Boyers was selected out of 53 applicants. Acoustic Design Systems, a commercial and residential automation and security solutions company, launched an acoustic panel division to accommodate client and consumer demand, and expanded its executive team with the hiring of Amanda Crigar as director of marketing. Las Vegas became the 100th partner to join the acclaimed National Fitness Campaign with the unveiling of the city’s first Fitness Court at Bill Briare Family Park. The installation marks a major milestone as part of a nationwide movement to shape healthy outdoor infrastructure and support healthy

lifestyles in cities across the U.S. Wet ’n’ Wild appointed industry veteran Patrick White as the water park’s director of food, beverage and retail. White has been working in the food and White beverage industry locally for 12 years, most recently at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Nevada State College promoted Edith Fernández to vice president of college and community engagement. She previously Fernández served as the associate vice president of community engagement and diversity initiatives for the college. In her new position, Fernández will oversee

the Career Services Center, campus police and safety, Gear Up and the Office of Marketing and Events in addition to community engagement and diversity initiatives. UNR Extension welcomed Sheila Bray to the Extension office in Clark County as the community partnerships coordinator. Bray has an extensive Bray background in engagement and outreach for higher education in Nevada, having spent the past 10 years with UNLV. Bray’s new role will involve organizing outreach efforts to inform the community of the educational resources and services the Extension provides, as well as working with the Nevada Legislature to increase awareness of the Extension’s activity and impact in Clark County and beyond. Steak ’n Shake at South Point received the 2019 Franchise of the Year Award from Steak ’n Shake Corporate. The award is a result of the restaurant’s ongoing dedication to ensuring a one-of-a-kind experience for its guests.

Greg Brower, a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, was named to the International Association of Gaming Advisors board of trustees and will serve a threeyear term. Patricia Krenos, a financial advisor in Sun City Summerlin, was selected to attend Edward Jones’ fifth-annual Women’s Conference in St. Louis. The conference recognizes top female Edward Jones financial advisers. Caesars Entertainment was named among the “Most Responsible” companies in America by Newsweek. Caesars ranked No. 146 on the 300-member list and was the only gaming entity to make the cut. To land on its top 300, the magazine looked at the 2,000 largest U.S. companies (based on revenues), analyzing publicly available data spanning the environmental, social and corporate governance categories. The Las Vegas City Council ratified Tammy Malich as the city’s new youth development and social innovation director. Malich is a native Las Vegan who comes to the city with more than 20 years of experience in educational leadership and 29 years of experience in the Clark

County School District. Spring Valley Hospital has been reaccredited by the Joint Commission for its Gold Seal of Approval for total hip and total knee replacement. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organizations’ commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. The program was reaccredited after earning its core certification in December 2017. Maverick Helicopters received the Federal Aviation Administration’s 2019 Diamond Award of Excellence. The honor is a result of Maverick’s dedication to maintenance training and aircraft safety. This is Maverick’s ninth consecutive Diamond Award. SR Construction achieved platinum in the Associated Builders and Contractors’ STEP safety management system. Founded in 1989, STEP participation demonstrates safety leadership and a cultural commitment to safety performance. With safety at top of mind, SR Construction strives to equip each staff member with the knowledge and tools necessary to ensure a safe work environment. In the past five years, SR Construction has been the recipient of eight safety awards.

KEEP IT REAL Using a realtor can earn you up to 30% more on your transaction. that’s MONEY well spent.

L A S

V E G A S

R E A L T O R S®

L A S V E G A S R E A LT O R . c o m

The Rebel

ROOM

Never can get enough UNLV analysis and chatter? Then this is the stop for you. Join the Las Vegas Sun sports staff in The Rebel ROOM for your fix.

P O D C A S T Listen weekly on Apple Podcasts or

LasVegasSun.com/podcasts

BRUNCH SATURDAYS + SUNDAYS, 9AM - 2PM ELLISISLANDCASINO.COM

@ELLISCASINOLV

Vegas inc business 2.20.20

Bid opportunities

Conventions

February 20 2:15 p.m. Horseman’s Park: announcer, and covered arena and entrance road replacement Clark County, 605546 Adleen Stidhum at abs@clarkcountynv.gov

WPPI Wedding & Portrait Photographers Conference Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Resort February 23-27 10,000 attendees

Sunset Park: Area A well improvements Clark County, 605547 Adleen Stidhum at abs@clarkcountynv.gov February 27 2:15 p.m. Sunset Park: ADA improvements Clark County, 605548 Adleen Stidhum at abs@clarkcountynv.gov Clark Place generator and automatic transfer switch replacement Clark County, 605549 Adleen Stidhum at abs@clarkcountynv.gov

March 12 2:15 p.m. Park improvements at Lewis Family Park: splash pad installation Clark County, 605584 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@clarkcountynv. gov March 13 2:15 p.m. Cesar Chavez Park and Whitney Park: playground shade structures Clark County, 605589 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@clarkcountynv. gov March 19 2:15 p.m. Buffalo and Russell Neighborhood Park Clark County, 605588 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@clarkcountynv. gov

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 Las Vegas Convention Center February 26-27 6,000 attendees ATA International— ATA Spring National Tournament 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 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 NCRMA Meeting 2020 Bally’s Las Vegas March 23-24 600 attendees Exhibitor Live Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Resort March 29-April 4 5,000 attendees National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO)— CinemaCon Caesars Palace March 30-April 2 5,000 attendees Adobe Systems Inc.— Summit Venetian March 31-April 2 10,000 attendees

Nightclub and Bar Show Las Vegas Convention Center March 31-April 1 39,000 attendees Digital Signage Expo Las Vegas Convention Center April 1-2 6,000 attendees International Wireless Communications Expo Las Vegas Convention Center April 1-2 12,000 attendees Collaborate 2020 April 19-20 Mandalay Bay Convention Center and resort 6,000 attendees American Poolplayers Association Inc.-National Singles Championships Westgate Las Vegas April 21-26 1,000 attendees

CONTEST THEME

“What Earth Day Means to Me.”

ith 0 W 02 es , iz $ 2 pr

International Pizza Expo Las Vegas Convention Center

March 31-April 2 12,000 attendees

ac E c M eptentri ar d t es ch hro 19 ugh

February 28 3 p.m. Annual requirements contract for janitorial services at Hollywood

Recreation Center Clark County, 605559 Cherry Cruz at cherryc@clarkcountynv. gov

Residents of Clark County, Nevada of all ages are invited to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2020.

& t y r a A Ess test n o C

To commemorate this special occasion, the Sierra Club – Southern Nevada Group is sponsoring a county-wide art and essay contest, with cash prizes and awards for winners in four categories. To enter go to (https://tinyurl.com/2020earthday) or email earthday50@toiyabe.sierraclub.org for entry form and contest rules. Contest starts 12:01 a.m. PT on 2/2/20 and ends 11:59 p.m. PT on 3/19/20. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

LV W C a l e n da r

2.20.20

calendar LIVE music ACCESS SHOWROOM Arrested Development 2/29. Aliante Casino, 702-692-7777. AMERICAN LEGION POST 8 Sanction, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Vamachara, Typecaste, Dying Wish 2/27. 733 N. Veterans Memorial Drive, 702-382-8533.

Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan returns to Wynn’s Encore Theater February 21 and 22. For our interview, visit lasvegasweekly.com. (Caras iPhoto/Courtesy)

Backstage Bar & Billiards GoldBoot, Crooked Teeth 2/21. Hot Snakes, Kills Birds, Free Throw 2/29. 601 Fremont St., 702-382-2227. THE BARBERSHOP American Riviera 2/20. Heavy Petting Zoo 2/21. Every Woman Band 2/22. Thrillbilly Hicks 2/23. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7434. THE BOXX Marcin & Mythodical 2/22. 1000 N. Nellis Blvd., 702-824-5281. Brooklyn Bowl Dweezil Zappa: 2/20. The Music of Prince for Kids 2/22. Thrice, mewithoutYou, Drug Church, Holy Fawn 2/26. Overkill, Exhorder, Hydraform 2/28. Linq Promenade, 702-862-2695. Bunkhouse Saloon Starcrawler, How to Dress Well, Indigo Kidd, Hassan, Peachole 2/20. Dream Phases, Hooveriii, The Acid Sisters, BYSTS 2/21. The Frogs, Mark Huff, Hammell on Trial 2/22. Lord Dying, Sonolith, Plague Doctor 2/23. Part Time, Gary Wilson 2/24. Saintseneca, Magmana 2/26. White Reaper, The Aquadolls 2/28. 124 S. 11th St., 702-982-1764. CHEBA HUT Standards, Floral 2/26. 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-685-0692. The Chelsea Dave Matthews Band 2/28. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-6797. Chrome Showroom Blue String Theory 2/22. Santa Fe Station, 702-658-4900. CLEOPATRA’S BARGE Dionne Warwick 2/202/23, 2/27-3/1. Wayne Newton 2/24-2/26. Caesars Palace, 866-227-5938. THE CLUB Brett Rigby & The B.A.R. Band 2/21. Vegas McGraw (Tim McGraw tribute) 2/22. Cannery, 702-507-5700. The Colosseum Mariah Carey 2/21-2/22, 2/26, 2/28-2/29. Caesars Palace, 866-227-5938. Count’s VAMP’D Not Your Kind, Cure the Curse, The Scorched, Second Echo 2/20. The Bootleggers (Aerosmith tribute), John Zito Band 2/21. Mojave Sun, Big Rig Dollhouse, Suryacandra, Damaris 2/22. 750 W. Sahara Ave., 702-220-8849. THE Dillinger Jase Wills 2/21. Casey Stickley 2/22. 1224 Arizona St., Boulder City, 702-293-4001. Dispensary Lounge Ryan Baker 2/21. Toscha Comeaux 2/22. Joe Darro 2/23. Extreme Measures 2/26. 2451 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-458-6343. Dive Bar Through the Oculus, Bone Maggot, Mondo Silicone 2/22. 4110 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-586-3483. DOUBLE DOWN SALOON Jesse & the Hogg Bros. 2/20. No Que No, The Hideaway, Can U Not Talk, Tarah Who? 2/22. 4640 Paradise Road, 702-791-5775. DOWNTOWN CONTAINER PARK Jaron Brown 2/21. 707 Fremont St., 702-359-9982.

Encore Theater Sarah McLachlan 2/212/22. Harry Connick Jr. 2/26, 2/28-2/29. Wynn, 702-770-6696. Fremont Country Club Red, Royal Bliss, Joyous Wolf, The Raven Age, Quor 2/27. 601 E. Fremont St., 702-382-6601. Fremont STREET EXPERIENCE Bret Michaels 2/22. vegasexperience.com. Gilley’s Saloon Arnie Newman’s Country Club Band 2/20-2/22. Chase & The Pursuit 2/23, 2/26. Treasure Island, 702-894-7722. GOLD MINE TAVERN Cletus & Mexican Sweat, Mark Huff 2/21. CJ Rock, Velvet Chairs 2/22. Randy Williams’ American Acoustic 2/26. 23 S. Water St., 702-478-8289. Golden Nugget Showroom. Grand Funk Railroad 2/21. FireHouse 2/28. 866-946-5336. Hard Rock Live Blunts & Blondes, Bawldy 2/21. Slumberland, Serious Damage, Monster Zero, Vetivs, Decaying Tigers 2/22. 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-733-7625. House of Blues Alter Bridge, Deepfall, Clint Lowery 2/20. Sofia Niño de Rivers 2/21. Phora 2/22. Bush 2/28. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600.

THE Railhead Wishbone Ash 2/27. Boulder Station, 702-432-7777. Sand Dollar Lounge The Who Invasion (Who tribute) 2/21. Rayford Bros., Cherry Rat 2/22. 3355 Spring Mountain Road, 702-485-5401. South Point Showroom Frankie Moreno 2/20. Herman’s Hermits 2/21-2/23. 702-696-7111. Stoney’s Rockin’ Country Kalie Shorr 2/21. Cory Marks 2/28. Town Square, 702-435-2855. SUNCOAST SHOWROOM Mirage (Fleetwood Mac tribute) 2/22. 800-745-3000. TopGolF Kbong, Sensi Trails 2/20. Eric Hutchinson, Casey 2/22. MarchFourth 2/25. 4627 Koval Lane, 702-933-8458. Venetian Theatre The Doobie Brothers 2/212/22. Dudu Aharon 2/25. Chicago 2/28-2/29. 702-414-9000. WESTGATE INTERNATIONAl THEATER Barry Manilow 2/20-2/22. 800-222-5361. ZAPPOS THEATER Gwen Stefani 2/21-2/22. Christina Aguilera 2/26, 2/28-2/29. Planet Hollywood, 702-777-6737.

Orleans Showroom Loverboy 2/29. 702-365-7111.

LOCAL THEATER

Park Theater Cher 2/21-2/22, 2/26, 2/28-2/29. Park MGM, 844-600-7275.

NEVADA CONSERVATORY THEATRE (Black Box Theatre) Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet Thru

2/23. UNLV, 702-895-2787. A Public Fit A Steady Rain Thru 2/23. 100 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-735-2114. VEGAS THEATRE COMPANY Men on Boats Thru 3/15. Art Square Theatre, 1025 S. 1st St., #110, 725-222-9661.

Performing Arts & Culture GALAXY LUXURY+ BOULEVARD MALL An Evening With Albert Pyun 2/22. 3680 S. Maryland Parkway #385, 702-997-4177. Henderson EVENTS PLAZA Heart & Soul Festival 2/23. 200 S. Water St., 702-267-2171. Historic FiftH STREET SCHOOL Davina & the Vagabonds, The Hot Club of Cowtown 2/20. 401 S. 4th St., 702-229-6469. THE Smith Center (Reynolds Hall) Nevada Ballet Theatre: Bolero 2/22-2/23. Travis Tritt 2/25. Shen Yun 2/26-3/1. (Cabaret Jazz) Sheila E 2/20-2/21. Michelle Johnson: Sankofa 2/23. Frankie Moreno 2/25. The Doo Wop Project 2/28-2/29. 702-749-2000. The Space The Vagina Monologues 2/21-2/22. 3460 Cavaretta Court, 702-903-1070. Summerlin Library Tour De Force: An Anti-

2.20.20

TEMPLE SINAI Yiddish Las Vegas music & culture festival 2/21-2/23. 9001 Hillpointe Road, 702-254-5110.

Terry Fator TheatrE Tim Allen 2/21-2/22. Mirage, 702-792-7777. TICKLE ME COMEDY CLUB Rick D’Elia, Isaac Israel 2/20-2/22. Eclipse Theaters, 702-816-4300.

UNLV (Artemus W. Ham Hall) Russian National Ballet: Cinderella 2/25. 702-895-2787.

Exhibits

VERSAILLES BALLROOM Opera Las Vegas’ 20th Anniversary Gala 2/22. Paris Las Vegas, 855-234-7469.

Barrick Museum of Art (East Gallery) Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya: Connective Tissue Thru 2/22. UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-895-3381.

West Las Vegas LIBRARY Kemet in the Desert Series 2/20-2/22. 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-229-2787. Whitney Library Pizza & Poetry w/ Heather Lang-Cassera 2/21. 5175 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-507-4010.

SAT

Bullying Cirque Performance 2/21-2/22. Coretta Scott King: Let Freedom Sing 2/23. 1771 Inner Circle Drive, 702-507-3860.

LV W C a l e n da r

CSN (Fine Arts Gallery) Miya Hannan: Buried Relations Thru 2/22. Closing reception 2/20. 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., 702-651-4146.

COMEDY CELLAR Emma Willmann, Eagle Witt, Nikki Car, Tom Rhodes, Mark Cohen 2/20-2/23. Jon Fisch, Mia Jackson, Dan Naturman, Trenton Davis, Mark Cohen 2/24-3/1. Rio, 702-777-2782. The COMEDY WORKS Jade Catta-Preta 2/20-2/22. Plaza, 702-386-2110. House of Blues Sofía Niño de Rivera 2/21. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600.

SPORTS

FRI

BOXING Deantay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury 2/22. MGM Grand Garden Arena, 702-891-7777. PENNZOIL 400 WEEKEND 2/21-2/23. Las Vegas Motor Speedway, lvms.com. Relive the Miracle Ft. 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey team 2/22. Thomas & Mack Center, relivethemiracle2020.com.

SAT

Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club Jay Black, Chas Elstner, D.J. Demers 2/20-2/23. Karen Rontowski, Francisco Ramos, Jimmy Burns 2/24-3/1. MGM Grand, 866-740-7711.

West Charleston Library Elizabeth Casper: Arboreal Reflections Thru 2/23. 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-507-3940.

FRI

BONKERZ COMEDY CLUB Marc Patrick 2/20. Rampart Casino, 702-507-5900.

SAT

Historic Fifth Street School (Mayor’s Gallery) Aesthetics Primary II Exhibition 2/21-5/30 401 S. 4th St., 702-229-6469.

FRI

Comedy

FRI

Enterprise Library Las Vegas Polymer Clay Guild: The Art of Polymer Clay Thru 2/25. 25 E. Shelbourne Ave., 702-507-3760.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS Tampa Bay 2/20. Florida 2/22. Edmonton 2/26. T-Mobile Arena, 702-692-1600.

SAT

FRI

SAT

THE SPARE ROOM Don Barnhart 2/20-2/23. Downtown Grand, 702-719-5100.

UNLV WOMEN’s BASKETBALL San Diego State 2/22. Cox Pavilion, 702-739-3267.

FRI

LAUGH FACTORY Bill Dawes, Matt Rife, Katie Cazorla 2/20-2/23. Harry Basil, Kathlene Dunbar, Alan Bursky 2/24-3/1. Tropicana, 702-739-2411.

THU

UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL Boise State 2/26. Thomas & Mack Center, 702-739-3267.

SAT

UNLV BASEBALL Alabama 2/21-2/23. Earl E. Wilson Stadium, 702-739-3267.

JIMMY KIMMEL’S COMEDY CLUB Ian Bagg 2/20. Nick Thune 2/20-2/23. Linq Promenade, 702-777-2782.

WHITNEY PEYTON

Donna Beam Fine Art Paper Works Thru 2/21. 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-895-3893.

The Writer’s Block Brandon Taylor 2/24. 519 S. 6th St., 702-550-6399.

FEB

RVLTN PRESENTS: BLUNTS & BLONDES

ROCK N VGM PARTY FEATURING GHOST LV

FEB

ELATION LV PRESENTS: MANDRAGORA AND CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE

MAR

SHOW CITY PRESENTS: 112

28 6

MAR

UFC 248 WATCH PARTY

MAR

RVLTN PRESENTS: MARIAH

MAR

LORDS OF ACID WITH PRAGA KHAN, AESTHETIC PERFECTION, AND MXMS

MAR

RVLTN PRESENTS: BLUNTS & BLONDES

MAR

THU MAR 19–SAT MAR 21 HOOPS MADNESS

APR

RVLTN PRESENTS: YULTRON

APR

ADELITAS WAY WITH BLACKLITE DISTRICT, ANOTHER DAY DAWNS, AND TAKING DAWN

APR

EPIC RAVES PRESENTS: FUNTCASE, SWEETTOOTH & MASS PANIC

MAY

ELATION LV PRESENTS: GABRIEL & DRESDEN

14 14 19 4

17 2

TICKETS AVAILABLE VIA TICKETWEB.COM Portland sludge metal band Lord Dying plays the Bunkhouse on February 23. (Courtesy)

HARDROCK.COM/CAFES/LAS-VEGAS OR 702-733-7625

Case Keefer and Justin Emerson talk all things Vegas Golden Knights and the NHL.

cheese steaks for all

Order online or through the CAPAddicts app for delivery or pickup.

Presented by

P O D C A S T Listen weekly on Apple Podcasts or

LasVegasSun.com/podcasts