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MOUNTAIN WEST MOVES FOOTBALL TO SPRING The Mountain West announced August 10 that it is canceling the fall sports season, which means no football for UNLV in 2020. The conference had already taken drastic action to try to finagle a season despite the COVID-19 pandemic, announcing that nonconference games would be cut from four to two games per team and that the start of the season would be pushed back to September 26. But facing overwhelming logistical challenges, the league put a halt to the entire season. It will now try to play football and other fall sports in the spring. In a statement, UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois expressed her preference to keep the spring option alive. “We look forward to working with our colleagues and exploring fall sport competitions occurring later in the academic year,” she said. The move to shut down seemed inevitable once Power 5 conferences began discussing the reality of a year without football. The Big Ten and Pac-12 canceled their fall seasons the next day. Last year, UNLV, which was set to move into Allegiant Stadium, reported $2.9 million in revenue generated by the football program. “We were hopeful we could carefully and responsibly conduct competition as originally scheduled with essential protocols in place,” Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said. “However, numerous external factors and unknowns outside our control made this difficult decision necessary.” –Mike Grimala
AT LEAST 100 CCSD STAFF HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
THEY SAID IT ■ “Congratulations to @KamalaHarris, who will make history as our next Vice President. She understands what it takes to stand up for working people, fight for health care for all, and take down the most corrupt administration in history. Let’s get to work and win.” –Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., August 11 on Twitter
The Vegas Golden Knights celebrate during an NHL round-robin win over the St. Louis Blues August 6 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
GOLDEN KNIGHTS CAPTURE WEST’S TOP SEED FOR NHL PLAYOFFS
■ “Because I wanted a good laugh, I just watched the first few minutes of @TuckerCarlson. All I can tell you is that Tucker is really, really angry Kamala Harris is the VP pick, and he’s really, really scared to death of her.” –Joe Walsh, August 11, on Twitter
The new NHL postseason format has suited the Vegas Golden Knights well so far in Edmonton’s Western Conference bubble. Vegas took a step forward in its quest to reach a second Stanley Cup Final in three years by sweeping all three games of a qualifying ■ “There’s so much round robin against the conference’s other top three regular-season at stake here. They’re teams. going to make D.C. and The Golden Knights are the No. 1 overall seed throughout the Puerto Rico a state and Western Conference playoffs, a position that comes with a number get four new Democrat of perks. For starters, the Golden Knights get the No. 12 seed Chicasenators. We’d never get go Blackhawks in the quarterfinals. The Blackhawks have struggled the Senate back again.” mightily in each of the past three seasons and only saw their season –Sen. Martha McSally, extended when the NHL opted to expand the postseason after the R-Ariz., on August 11 coronavirus pause. to The Hill Another change the league implemented: re-seeding in every round, which means the Golden Knights will play the lowest-seeded team remaining in the conference semifinals. Although all games are being contested at Rogers Place, the Golden Knights will also technically have home-ice advantage as long as they last in the Western Conference playoffs. That means their own in-arena videos and recorded chants will be played in the majority of games, and more importantly, it gives coach Peter DeBoer last change, allowing him to match opponents’ lines during stoppages in play. Vegas, which beat Chicago in the first game of their series 4-1 on August 11, will next play August 13 at 2:30 p.m., August 15 at 5 p.m. and August 16 at 3:30 p.m. –Case Keefer
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1 THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK
ACES ON A WINNING STREAK The Las Vegas Aces have won five games in a row entering their August 13 tip-off against the Minnesota Lynx. The team pushed its record to 6-2 with a decisive win against the Indiana Fever. A’ja Wilson has scored 108 points and pulled down 42 rebounds during the stretch.
At least 100 adults employed by the Clark County School District have tested positive for COVID-19 at some point since the pandemic broke out in mid-March, officials said August 10. They didn’t indicate when the positive tests occurred or if the employees have recovered to produce negative tests. And they didn’t indicate how data was gathered on positive tests, meaning there could have been more cases that are unknown, especially considering there have been more than 57,000 positive tests statewide. At least one employee—a food service worker—died of complications from the virus in the spring. In the case of a positive test impacting a CCSD facility, the district will “initiate a disinfectant cleaning protocol’’ for the facility in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, officials said. Teachers aren’t required to be tested to return to work, as learning will be conducted remotely starting August 24 and some won’t be on campus. –Sara MacNeil
2 TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? Russia on August 11 became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine for use in tens of thousands of its citizens despite international skepticism about injections that have not completed clinical trials and were studied in only dozens of people for less than two months.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
IN THIS ISSUE
WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD Recognizing the people, places, moments and more that have helped define Las Vegas through the years.
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EVENTS TO FOLLOW AND NEWS YOU MISSED
Joe Biden, left, and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., shake hands September 12, 2019, after a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted at Texas Southern University in Houston. Biden on August 11 chose Harris as his running mate for the presidential election. (David J. Phillip/Associated Press file)
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR VACCINE STUDY Roughly 135 Las Vegas-area volunteers are participating in an experimental coronavirus vaccine study in late stages of development by Moderna, a pharmaceutical company. The goal is to get 300-500 volunteers to participate. Those interested in participating in the Las Vegas trials can apply at covidstudies.org or call 702-893-8968.
3 $10 MILLION DOLLAR The owner of a 1794 U.S. silver dollar said to be among the first-ever minted is preparing to put the coin up for public auction in Las Vegas. Experts say the piece might again fetch the $10 million that Bruce Morelan paid for it in 2013. The auction will take place October 3 at the Venetian.
4 LAYOFFS ON THE HORIZON? More than 200 Frontier Airlines employees could be laid off at McCarran International Airport in October. The moves would be due to “business disruption caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a letter sent by the airline to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
5 ONIONS RECALLED A limited quantity of red onions sold at Trader Joe’s in Nevada are being recalled in relation to an ongoing salmonella outbreak, Progressive Produce said August 10. There have been no deaths linked to the outbreak, which was identified July 10 and has since grown.
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THIS YEAR, LAS VEGAS WEEKLY ’S BEST OF VEGAS HONORS THE GREATEST EVER
Each year, Las Vegas Weekly honors the people, places and things that make our city both a dynamic destination and a fantastic place to live, with our annual Best of Vegas awards. Because 2020 has been a year like no other, it felt right to alter our approach this time. So, for the first time ever, we’ve put together a special, all-time edition of Best of Vegas, reflecting that which has made the Las Vegas Valley legendary through the years. And you, our readers, helped us do it. Every single winner was chosen by the voting public, which selected among our staff-picked nominees in each category and wrote in yet more suggestions of its own. So thank you for your help, and enjoy digging through the results. They paint a vibrant picture of Las Vegas’ past and present—and the spirit and excitement sure to guide our Valley into a bright future.
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Food & Drink
Best Chinese Restaurant Ping Pang Pong On a typical day, there’s a line of locals snaking around the velvet ropes at this Gold Coast hangout. They’re there for the best Chinese food in town, clearly. From artful dim sum dishes to heaping noodle plates, the menu’s full of favorites and delectable discoveries. Gold Coast, 702-247-8136. Runner-up: Wing Lei
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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Best Pizzeria Metro Pizza As local culinary culture has blossomed, so has the Vegas pizza scene. And for 40 years, Metro has been the foundation for that delicious development. Cousins John Arena and Sam Facchini left New York City to make pizza in the desert and ended up building a legacy around craftsmanship and collaboration. You can taste it in every slice. Metropizza.com. Runner-up: Pizza Rock
Best Buffet Bacchanal Buffet People come from all over the world to worship at the altar of the Vegas buffet, and Bacchanal is its highest expression. The food stations, spanning every type of cuisine, boggle the imagination. We’re eagerly awaiting the day it reopens, so we can feast like gods again. Caesars Palace, 702-731-7928. Runner-up: The Buffet at Wynn
Best Sandwich Shop Capriotti’s The Bobbie, Capastrami, Cheese Steak, Grilled Italian, Cole Turkey, Meatball … no matter how many times we’ve been to Capriotti’s (and we’ve been a lot), we still have trouble choosing just one … or two … or three … That’s the mark of a truly legendary sandwich shop. Capriottis.com. Runner-up: Pop’s Philly Steaks Best Strip Brunch Mon Ami Gabi Sophistication, affordability and ambiance—this Paris Las Vegas favorite steakhouse has all that and more. Score a spot on the patio, with prime views of the Fountains at Bellagio and some of the best people watching on the planet. Whether it’s a first date or an anniversary, Mon Ami Gabi has that je ne sais quoi. Monamigabi.com. Runner-up: Wynn Country Club
Best Sushi Spot I Love Sushi By the closest margin in any category, this longtime Henderson hot spot squeaked past AYCE stalwart Sushi Mon for the Valley’s raw fish crown. We love I Love’s boisterous bar, semi-private side booths and its extensive roll menu, which practically dares you to try every single one. 11041 S. Eastern Ave., 702-990-4055. Runner-up: Sushi Mon Best French Restaurant Le Cirque Le Cirque’s provenance is the stuff of culinary legend. And when Sirio Maccioni’s famed New York eatery came to Las Vegas, it could only really be at home lakeside at Bellagio, to match its opulent haute cuisine. Count on a meal at Le Cirque to meet your bucketlist expectations. Bellagio, 702-693-8100. Runner-up: Andre’s
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(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Best Taco Shop Roberto’s Taco Shop The late-night taco fave, which won a nail-biter versus runner-up Tacos El Gordo, has always been there when we’ve needed it, soaking up booze in the wee hours with carne asada fries or satisfying our breakfast burrito and crunchy taco cravings any time of day. Vegas simply wouldn’t be the same without Roberto’s. Robertostacoshop.com Runner-up: Tacos El Gordo
Best Bakery Freed’s Bakery From wedding cakes to sweet treats to spectacular sculptural creations, this third-generation family-owned bakery has been delighting fans since 1959, even showing up on the Food Network. Recently, it furthered the tradition by expanding to new locations by way of its Dessert Shop. 9815 S. Eastern Ave., 702-456-7762. Runner-up: Jean Philippe Patisserie
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Best Burger Joint In-N-Out Burger Is there a greater joy than the aroma of a juicy double-double and fries, animal style, filling up your car as you pull away from an In-N-Out drive-thru? Let’s all celebrate the West Coast burger chain’s all-time crown by indulging yet again. Our East Coast friends can hardly contain their jealousy. In-n-out.com. Runner-up: Fukuburger
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Best Italian Restaurant Nora’s This family-owned restaurant has been welcoming diners since 1992, for recipes that taste like they’ve been passed down through generations. The pastas are a warm hug from your nonna, and the pizzas are just as good. There are no airs at Nora’s, just comfort. 5780 W. Flamingo Road, 702-873-8990. Runner-up: Ferraro’s Best Steakhouse The Steak House at Circus Circus Don’t let the neon clown or the midway acts distract you; this beloved Strip steakhouse stands as a prime destination for carnivores everywhere. For more than 30 years, it has served up some of the finest dry-aged beef in town, straight from a mesquite charcoal broiler. Circus Circus, 702-794-3767. Runner-up: Prime Steakhouse
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Best Japanese Restaurant Nobu You’ll find fresh fish expertly prepared, exotic delicacies and elegant ambiance at Nobu Matsuhisa’s high-end sushi palace—the former Hard Rock Hotel location and the ongoing Caesars spot—along with enough star wattage to light up all the Strip marquees. When it comes to Japanese cuisine, it simply sets the standard. Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace, 702-785-6628. Runner-up: Osaka Best Wine Bar Grape Street Beginning in the late ’90s, the center bar at this northwest Valley mainstay became the place to be for wine lovers, made great by the outpost’s lovingly curated selection and reasonable prices. It has since moved operations to Downtown Summerlin, where its wall of bottles suggests more of the same. 2120 Festival Plaza Drive #160, 702-478-5030. Runner-up: La Cave Best Seafood Restaurant Other Mama Chef Dan Krohmer is a local wonder. The James Beard Award finalist has given us three outstanding restaurants, and for the best seafood this side of any ocean, his flagship Other Mama is the port of call, featuring a raw bar so fresh, you’ll swear you can feel the snap of a sea breeze on your face. 3655 S. Durango Drive #6, 702-463-8382. Runner-up: RM Seafood
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Best Breakfast Spot Omelet House Several Valley restaurants have featured similar names, but only the original on Rancho and Charleston has been serving up memorably huge portions of breakfast favorites to a wide array of the city’s movers and shakers since 1979. Did you know: Frequent visitor Jerry Lewis was a fan of the extracrispy bacon. 2160 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-384-6868. Runner-up: The Bagel Cafe
Best Celebrity Chef Restaurant Hell’s Kitchen The preopening hype was deafening, followed by the deluge of reservations, when the world’s first Hell’s Kitchen restaurant opened at Caesars Palace in 2018. And justifiably so: Gordon Ramsay, who now has five restaurants on the Strip, earns all the accolades showered upon him. His dishes are bold, innovative and ready for their close-up, whether on TV or your Insta feed. Caesars Palace, 702731-7373. Runner-up: Spago Best Local Brunch Hash House A Go Go Brunch is the most convivial meal of the week, best shared with several pals, and Hash House clearly gets that. From the waffle fried chicken tower to the stuffed burger, the menu at the Midwestinspired joint is meant to be shared, so bring a friend … or four. Hashhouseagogo.com. Runner-up: Honey Salt Best Doughnuts Pinkbox Doughnuts The inventors of the “Pooh” doughnut are the champs, naturally. Since 2012, this local shop has combined outlandish creativity with a preservativefree, fresh-daily cooking ethos. And with that winning combination, the addictive Pinkbox has expanded, to multiple locations around the Valley and beyond. Pinkboxdoughnuts.com. Runner-up: Carl’s Donuts
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Food & Drink
Best Thai Restaurant Lotus of Siam Before Lotus’ 1999 launch at Commercial Center, Las Vegas diners had no idea what they’d been missing. Once we got a taste of its northern style Thai cooking, there was no going back. The recipes have been handed down for 100 years in Chef Saipin Chutima’s family, and thankfully, we get to be a part of it, too. 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-735-3033. Runner-up: Pin Kaow
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Best Coffeehouse Sunrise Coffee The appeal of this 12-year-old, earthtoned coffeehouse begins where it should: with great coffee. Founders Juanny Romero and Joshua Walter roast beans from fair trade producers, and they serve their Mothership java with tasty vegan and vegetarian pastries and sandwiches. Sunrise draws a hip, bookish crowd, as did our runner-up, defunct Maryland Parkway hangout Café Espresso Roma. 3130 E. Sunset Road, 702-433-3304. Runner-up: Café Espresso Roma
Best Strip Chef Michael Mina Michael Mina has won many awards—including a Michelin star and a James Beard nod—and boasts a culinary empire spanning dozens of restaurants. Drop in for brunch at Bardot Brasserie, a meat-fest at Stripsteak, a seafood dinner at Michael Mina at Bellagio or modern barbecue at International Smoke at MGM Grand. You’ll know why the crown is his. Michaelmina.net. Runner-up: Kerry Simon
Best Vintage Vegas Experience Golden Steer From the Rat Pack to Joe DiMaggio, it seems everyone has wined and dined at this longtime Vegas diningscene anchor. The historic steakhouse has thrived since 1958, and some staff members have worked there for more than 35 years. Bravo! 308 W. Sahara Ave., 702-384-4470. Runner-up: Top of the World
Best Local Chef Saipin Chutima For a chef to garner national fame (a James Beard Foundation award) and international clientele is quite special, and that’s just one reason Las Vegas considers Saipin Chutima a local treasure. Lotus of Siam—both its reopened original location at Commercial Center and its temporarily closed second spot on Flamingo—has been one of the brightest spots in our city’s culinary history, and we’re fortunate for it. 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-735-3033. Runner-up: André Rochat
Best Late-Night Eats The Peppermill The hearty food and colorful cocktails are memorable, but it’s the forever-’70s atmosphere that keeps people coming back round-theclock to the Peppermill. If you’ve never visited the Fireside Lounge or shared a meal with friends after a night on the Strip, you haven’t truly done Vegas. 2985 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-735-4177. Runner-up: Pho Kim Long
Best Brewery Big Dog’s Brewing Bark if you love Big Dog’s. Woof! Since Nevada’s first brewery opened in 1992, its beers have won multiple awards at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. And as Vegas drinking musts go, the Draft House’s seasonal festivals are can’t-miss traditions. 4543 N. Rancho Drive, 702-940-2739. Runner-up: Tenaya Creek Brewery
Best Mexican Restaurant Lindo Michoacan We love neighborhood restaurants, and Lindo Michoacan, with three locations across the Valley, has been a beloved mainstay since the original Desert Inn version opened its doors in 1990. The menu is homey and massive, and the chips and salsa are addictive. Plus, you won’t find a better patio on which to sip margaritas than the one in Henderson. Lindo michoacan.com. Runner-up: Casa Don Juan
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Food & Drink
Best Cocktail Bar Frankie’s Tiki Room When you want your drink to remind you of the beach, Frankie’s hard-hitting cocktails will transport you. Owner P Moss and famed tiki connoisseur Bamboo Ben outfitted the kitschy interior, which includes pufferfish lanterns, a “viceo-meter” and racy pinups. Knock a few back to the sound of classic surf punk, and take a souvenir mug home after. 1712 W. Charleston Blvd. 702-385-3110. Runner-up: Herbs & Rye
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(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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Best Lounge Act [historic] The Rat Pack True fact: The original Rat Pack was actor Humphrey Bogart’s crew. Lauren Bacall bestowed the “Rat Pack” name on them after a wild Vegas trip. But the version of the Pack we now know best—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop—not only defined Vegas lounge entertainment with its music and comedy but had a hand in desegregating our town. Runner-up: Louis Prima & Keely Smith
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Best Music Venue [casino] House of Blues For more than two decades, HOB has been Las Vegas’ hub for intimate live performances. From Bob Dylan on opening night to OutKast, The Strokes, James Brown, The Beastie Boys, Aretha Franklin, Animal Collective and thousands more in the years since, the House has kept our ears fully entertained. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. Runner-up: The Joint Best Music Venue [non-casino] Brooklyn Bowl In just six years, the Bowl has changed the live-music game in Las Vegas by bringing waves of new—and rarely seen older—faces to town, and serving them up with sides of fried chicken and bowling. We can’t wait to see you again, Brooklyn Bowl. Linq Promenade, 702-862-2695. Runner-up: Fremont Street Reggae & Blues
(UNLV Special Collections/Courtesy)
Best Solo Act Ne-Yo Shaffer Chimere Smith, better known as NeYo, was born in Arkansas but moved here as a kid and attended Las Vegas Academy, where he joined the R&B group Envy. Eventually, he struck gold with his solo career and as a songwriter, churning out singles not just for himself but for Mary J. Blige, B2K, Faith Evans, Mario and others. Neyothe gentleman.com. Runner-up: Toni Basil
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Best Comedian Carrot Top During more than 15 years in Las Vegas, Scott Thompson has grown into one of the Strip’s favorite all-around entertainers, having long ago proven he’s far more than a prop comic. He began 2020 with a five-year extension of his wildly popular comedy show at Luxor, so audiences will have many more chances to catch his stage antics. Carrottop.com. Runner-up: George Carlin
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Best Resident Musician [historic] Frank Sinatra Yep, the Sands regular squeaked past the International’s Elvis Presley here. Either has a legit claim to the title, because both actively made their identities synonymous with this town, plus both starred in iconic Vegas movies. But in the end, nothing’s more Vegas than Ol’ Blue Eyes belting out “Come Fly With Me” in the Copa Room, backed by the Count Basie Orchestra. Runner-up: Elvis Presley
Best Resident Musician [modern era] Lady Gaga The Chromatica queen went bigger than ever with her Vegas residency, bringing two completely different shows to the Strip. All eyes were on Park MGM when Lady Gaga debuted Enigma there in the winter of 2018, and she has continued to pack seats with both that and Jazz & Piano (not to mention her occasional appearances inside NoMad bar). Ladygaga.com. Runner-up: Prince
Best Lounge Act [modern era] Matt Goss From his Vegas breakthrough at the Palms to a vibrant run that helped put Cleopatra’s Barge back on the entertainment map, the London-born pop star has maintained his own style while making this city his second home. The glamour and versatility of Goss’ timeless show is exactly what casinos need right now. Mattgoss.la. Runner-up: The Scintas
Best Variety Show Absinthe Part circus, part cabaret and altogether outrageous, Spiegelworld’s Absinthe isn’t so much a Vegas must-see as a must-do; the nearly 20-year-old show has become a rite of passage. Being insulted by the Gazillionaire, seduced by the Green Fairy and dazzled by Absinthe’s contortion and acrobatic acts are experiences every Vegas visitor should have. Caesars Palace, 702-534-3419. Runner-up: Viva Las Vegas
Best Band [independent] Rhyme N Rhythm If you ever witnessed RNR onstage, you know why they came out on top in this competitive category. Their lineup was immaculate—four quality rappers backed by a badass live crew— and their energy was infectious. Once you caught them, you couldn’t wait to do so again … and again. Facebook.com/RnR702. Runner-up: The Clydesdale
Best Band [punk] M.I.A. The punk scene respects its elders, so it makes sense that the first punk band to make noise coming out of Vegas topped a loaded category that also included Curl Up and Die, Faded Grey, Holding Onto Sound and Mercy Music. Too young to know M.I.A.? Begin your history lesson with 1984’s walloping “Boredom Is the Reason.” Miaband.com. Runner-up: Faded Grey
Best Cirque Show The Beatles Love Since 2006, Love has been one of the most beloved musical experiences on the planet, artfully blending The Beatles’ iconic catalog with eye-popping visuals and kinetic movement in a one-of-a-kind venue. It epitomizes the way Vegas entertainment can be greater than the sum of its parts. Cirquedusoleil.com. Runner-up: O
(Courtesy)
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(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
Best Band [mainstream] The Killers Toppling Imagine Dragons in this battle royale for Vegas supremacy, The Killers have affirmed their status as the kings of our scene. New album Imploding the Mirage drops August 21, sure to bolster playlists already filled with “Mr. Brightside,” “When You Were Young,” “Human,” “The Man” and more. Thekillersmusic.com. Runner-up: Imagine Dragons
Best Production Show Tournament of Kings Opened 30 years ago this summer (as the largest hotel in the world at the time), Excalibur epitomizes Las Vegas’ family-friendly, themed-casino era, and its unique and rowdy dinner show—featuring knights battling with swords and jousting on horseback—remains the castle’s quintessential experience. It’s also a helluva lot of fun. Excalibur.com. Runner-up: Le Rêve
(Erik Weiss/Courtesy)
Best Music Festival Life Is Beautiful Since 2015, LIB has grown into one of the country’s best-known festivals, and its list of past headliners proves it. From Kanye West to Kendrick Lamar, The Foo Fighters to Florence + The Machine, Arcade Fire to Gorillaz, the modern-pop festival has brought some of the world’s most sought-after acts to the streets of Downtown, along with memorable art installations, food offerings and more. Lifeisbeautiful.com. Runner-up: Electric Daisy Carnival
Best Tribute Show Purple Reign Celebrity impersonations and musical tribute acts have been a consistent presence in Vegas entertainment, so it means a lot that Jason Tenner’s award-winning performance and production celebrating Prince was the top vote-getter here. Tenner has been singing these songs since 1997, and nobody does purple better. Purplereign.net. Runner-up: Legends in Concert
Best Magic Show Penn & Teller Las Vegas remains the magic capital of the world and the place to be for the art form’s legendary performers. Penn Jillette and Raymond Joseph Teller are unlike like any of their peers, having spent some 45 years together, crafting an act all their own—a blend of magic, comedy and mischief only they can pull off. Caesars. com/rio-las-vegas/ shows/penn-and-teller Runner-up: Siegfried & Roy
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Best Female Revue Fantasy TV producer and choreographer Anita Mann wanted to celebrate the history of showgirls in Las Vegas and shine the spotlight on each lady’s personality when she created Fantasy in 1999. By constantly updating the show and adding comedy and some of the Strip’s best vocalists to the mix, that fantasy has become reality—and a Vegas institution. Fantasy luxor.com. Runner-up: X Burlesque
Best Public Art Piece “Seven Magic Mountains” Amid a beige desert landscape 10 miles south of town, seven candy-colored boulder towers rise 30 feet into the air. The premise is so ridiculously absurd that the result is pure joy. Is it a metaphor for Las Vegas, or simply a fabulous sculpture by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone? We say both. Sevenmagic mountains.com. Runner-up: “Bliss Dance”
Best Performing Arts Space The Smith Center for the Performing Arts It was a cultural game-changer when it opened in 2012—a world-class performing arts center boasting three stages—and it remains so nearly a decade later. Among its many accomplishments, it has brought resident companies Nevada Ballet Theatre and the Las Vegas Philharmonic to wider audiences, and its Broadway series has hosted blockbusters like Hamilton, The Book of Mormon and Wicked. 361 Symphony Park Ave., 702-749-2012. Runner-up: Onyx Theatre Best Theater Company Las Vegas Little Theatre The venerable community theater— Southern Nevada’s oldest—has been breaking a leg since way back in 1978. Located in an unassuming Strip mall in Chinatown, it’s a versatile delight, featuring both a main stage and a black box venue. In addition to its own excellent productions, LVLT hosts the annual New Works Competition and Vegas Fringe Festival. 3920 Schiff Drive, 702-362-7996. Runner-up: Nevada Conservatory Theatre
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Best Visual Artist Wendy Kveck This beloved Las Vegas artist is known for drawings, paintings, performances, sculptures and collages, questioning the traditional roles and expectations of women. But her work goes deeper than her solo creations. In addition to founding the collaborative project Settlers + Nomads, Kveck is an educator, an organizer and, importantly, an arts advocate. Wendykveck.com. Runner-up: Justin Favela
Best Art Gallery Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Over the course of 20-plus years, this small but mighty gallery has displayed works by Monet, Picasso, Titian and Warhol, along with Samurai armor, Fabergé eggs and Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room. “There are museums with more pictures, but none with higher-quality pictures,” Steve Wynn explained to the Las Vegas Sun in 1999. Bellagio, 702-693-7871. Runner-up: Sahara West Library
(Yasmina Chavez/Staff)
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Best Museum Neon Museum Like Las Vegas, the white-hot appeal of this Downtown attraction comes from light itself. Originally a “neon boneyard” for Vegas’ decommissioned casino signs, the Neon Museum has evolved into one of the city’s star attractions. It’s a sort of threedimensional mixtape, compiling decades of Vegas iconography into something educational and entertaining. 770 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-387-6366. Runner-up: The Mob Museum
Best Author Sally Denton This bestselling author, investigative reporter and historian exposes dark secrets. The native Nevadan’s eight nonfiction books—No. 9’s in the works—tell the stories of gangsters, drug runners, politicians, pioneer women and corporate behemoths. Don’t miss her tales of Las Vegas’ history, the Fremont Street namesake and the builders of the Hoover Dam. Sallydenton.com. Runner-up: Dave Hickey
Best Movie Theater Red Rock 11 Theatres Not to be confused with the cinema megaplex at the luxurious Red Rock Resort, the bygone Red Rock Theatres started with one screen in 1966 and grew to six during the ’70s, its old-school snack bars, arcades and themed areas creating fond memories for generations of locals. It was demolished in 2002 to make way for a standard Vegas strip mall, of course. Runner-up: West Wind Drive-In
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Nightlife Best Nightclub [modern era] Tao As the beating heart of the first and only Vegas venue to include a lounge, restaurant, nightclub and dayclub at one site, NYC transplant Tao set the pace for Strip hot spots and pioneered celebrity hosting and “open format” programming. September will mark 15 years of nightlife success. Venetian, taolasvegas.com. Runner-up: XS
Best Nightclub [historic] Studio 54 The onetime NYC nightclub might be the most iconic nightclub in all of U.S. history, and from 1997-2012, the Las Vegas version, set inside MGM Grand, helped pave the way for the Strip’s nightlife explosion to come. Also: Prince dropped in to jam(!). Runner-up: Shark Club
Best Afterhours Drai’s Victor Drai’s club has been the destination for late-night revelers since its inception in 1999, and in its new Cromwell location, the hot spot carries forth that nightlife legacy. Hours after everyone else has turned off the lights, Drai’s keeps the party going. Cromwell, draisgroup.com. Runner-up: Artisan Hotel Boutique
Best Industry Night Party Nightswim at XS It’s the best of both worlds—a pool party fit for a dayclub, with the luxe vibes of a nightclub. No electronic dance night goes harder than Nightswim, which has featured some of the biggest names in the genre, including XS residents Kygo and The Chainsmokers. Encore, xslasvegas.com. Runner-up: Ditch Fridays at the Palms
(Las Vegas News Bureau/Courtesy)
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Best Dayclub Encore Beach Club It wasn’t the first pool party in Las Vegas, but it has always been the most sublimely designed dayclub experience on the Strip, elevating a relatively young form of Vegas entertainment to greater, more luxurious heights in typical Wynn fashion. Of course, booking the biggest DJs on the planet helps, too. Encore, encorebeachclub.com. Runner-up: Rehab
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Best Strip DJ Calvin Harris Is anyone surprised? He’s the biggest name in the industry, and he’s been a Las Vegas staple ever since he became an Omnia resident. Whether you know him from his indie-leaning early days or fell in love with his fiery Rihanna collab, Harris is one DJ nearly everyone can agree on. Calvinharris.com. Runner-up: Tiësto
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(Tony Tran/Courtesy)
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Best LGBT Bar The Phoenix Cheap drinks, friendly bartenders, good food and a solid dancefloor make this bar a staple. Add pool tables, karaoke and the occasional underwear contest, and it’s no wonder why the Phoenix continues to be Las Vegas’ most popular LGBT nightspot. 4213 W. Sahara Ave., 702-826-2422. Runner-up: The Gipsy
Best Dive Bar Double Down Saloon Not many off-Strip Vegas establishments earn the title “legendary” and live to drink about it. Yet this punk rock dive bar—with its tattooed walls, epic jukebox, “Ass Juice” shots and a crowd that could charitably be called excessively weird—has been both making Vegas history and thumbing its nose at it for nearly 30 years. 4640 Paradise Road, 702-791-5775. Runner-up: The Sand Dollar Lounge (Megan Blair/Courtesy)
Best Local DJ DJ Franzen The Bay Area transplant has been putting hip-hop front and center in the club and on the radio throughout his career, and his residency at Drai’s has helped make the Cromwell’s rooftop club one of the most prominent destinations in the country. Franzen knows the music never stops, demonstrated by his ongoing quarantine sets on Instagram and Twitch. Instagram.com/ frandalaybay. Runner-up: Rex Dart
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(Steve Marcus/Staff)
Best Beer Bar Atomic Liquors It’s got liquor in its name, but boozewise, Las Vegas’ oldest freestanding bar is best known for its fantastic beer program. Over the years, the Fremont East hangout has featured an extensive and always-changing craft list, and it hosts mini-fests for dedicated fans, such as the annual Sour Saturday. 917 Fremont St., 702-982-3000. Runner-up: Aces & Ales
Best Downtown Spot Velveteen Rabbit The first bar to open on Main Street ushered in a wave of Downtown nightlife cool, setting a vibe that remains unparalleled. A handcrafted cocktail and moodsetting jams—from house to French disco—are just the beginning. 1218 S. Main St., 702-685-9642. Runner-up: The Griffin
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Best Lounge Cleopatra’s Barge The breathtakingly kitschy bar-ona-boat at the center of Caesars Palace has been a home for live music and afterhours cocktail-fueled fun for five decades. It has survived through Las Vegas’ different eras behind not only nostalgia, but a renewed commitment to create exciting, new versions of lounge-style entertainment. Caesars Palace, caesarspalace. com. Runner-up: The Copa Room
Best Sports Bar Crown & Anchor Vegas might have fancier bars, but when comfort’s the goal, this 25-year-old British pub—with its dark woods, cozy decor and, at the original location, dog-friendly patio—hits the spot like none other. The soccer hub stays open 24/7, so fans can watch games, drink imported beers and devour great fish and chips any time they want. 1350 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-739-8676; 4755 W. Spring Mountain Road, 702-876-4733. Runner-up: Lagasse’s Stadium
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Best Happy Hour PT’s Pub Nothing’s better than half price. Indulge in fancy wines, craft brews and premium spirits for 50% off— along with great food specials—every day from 5-7 p.m. at the Valley’s many PT’s Pub (along with sister venues PT’s Gold, Sierra Gold and more). Some locations even offer a second reverse happy hour. Pteglv.com. Runner-up: Blue Martini
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(Sun File)
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Best Fight Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield I (November 9, 1996) The rematch eight months later might have been more memorable—with Tyson infamously bitting off part of Holyfield’s ear—but the actual fight between the heavyweight legends was much better the first time. Holyfield, as high as a 10-to-1 underdog, absorbed an early Tyson attack before methodically picking him apart the rest of the way and earning an 11th round TKO at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Runner-up: Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns (September 16, 1981)
(Sun File)
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Best Team 2017-2018 Vegas Golden Knights If it seemed unfair for us to split UNLV men’s basketball votes among three teams—’76-’77, ’89’90,’ 90-’91—consider this: The Stanley Cup Final-reaching Golden Misfits drew more votes than that trio combined. The inaugural Golden Knights went from an expansion team listed at 500-to-1 title odds to within a few games of capturing the Cup, while helping bring the city together in the aftermath of the October 1 shootings. Nhl. com/goldenknights. Runner-up: 19891990 UNLV men’s basketball
Best High School Legend Steven Jackson In three seasons at Eldorado, the imposing tailback rushed for 6,396 yards and 81 touchdowns, leading the Sundevils into the state tournament as a senior and capturing the Las Vegas Sun’s 2000 State Offensive Player of the Year award. Jackson’s subsequent success at Oregon State, which included five touchdowns in the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl, helped pave the way for locals to play in college as coaches began recruiting Southern Nevada more heavily. Snshf. com/hall-of-famers/ steven-jackson. Runner-up: Italee Lucas
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Best Coach Jerry Tarkanian When “Tark” arrived at UNLV in 1973, its men’s basketball squad was a relative unknown playing in the 6,500-seat Las Vegas Convention Center. Nearly 20 years later, he’d won 80% of his games, led the Rebels to the 1990 national championship and four Final Four appearances and moved the program into the 18,500-seat Thomas & Mack Center, building his program into the hottest ticket in town. Hoophall.com/ hall-of-famers/jerrytarkanian. Runner-up: Gerard Gallant
(AP Photo)
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Best Sports Venue T-Mobile Arena Already, NHL teams are trying to emulate the raucous and theatrical game-day experience T-Mobile has built around the Golden Knights. The arena has also become the top combat sports venue in the world, hosting most of the biggest fights, including Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor in August 2017. T-Mobile.com. Runner-up: Thomas & Mack Center
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Best Male Athlete Andre Agassi The tennis great scored yet another win here, overcoming a field of local luminaries that also included boxer Floyd Mayweather, pitcher Greg Maddux, slugger Bryce Harper and driver Kyle Busch. On top of his eight Grand Slam trophies and an Olympic gold medal, Agassi maintains a strong connection to his hometown that continues to this day. Tennisfame.com/hallof-famers/inductees/ andre-agassi, agassi foundation.org. Runner-up: Floyd Mayweather
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(AP Photo)
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(Christopher DeVargas/Staff) (UNLV Creative Service Collection/Courtesy)
Best Sports Moment Vegas Golden Knights win first home game (October 10, 2017) It might not have brought Las Vegas a championship trophy the way UNLV’s April 2, 1990 win over Duke did, but this victory— which came nine days after the horrific October 1 Strip shooting— meant so much in a far different way, helping a community begin to heal in the wake of unthinkable tragedy. Runner-up: UNLV wins 1990 NCAA men’s basketball championship against Duke (April 2, 1990)
Best MMA Fighter Randy Couture Winning championships in two different weight classes has become a focus of the UFC’s biggest stars in recent years, but Couture did it before anyone. The notoriously tough wrestler used pressure and perseverance to win the heavyweight title in 2000, then added a light heavyweight belt in 2003, emerging as one of the UFC’s first stars and helping keep the company afloat while it struggled through its early days. Ufc.com/honors/ufchall-of-fame. Runner-up: Forrest Griffin
Best Poker Player Phil Ivey Debates rage over the criteria that should be used to determine the greatest poker player. Is it tournament success or a winning reputation in the world’s largest cash games? Should it mean more to win live or online? Ivey might be the sole player in the conversation regardless, and though he’s been conspicuously absent in recent years, he still strikes fear in anyone who happens to wind up at the same table. Wsop.com/players/ profile/?playerid=273. Runner-up: Daniel Negreanu
Best College Legend Larry Johnson Without “LJ,” there’d likely have been no national championship—or consecutive Final Four appearances—for UNLV’s men’s basketball program. Johnson, the 1991 Naismith College Player of the Year and the first pick in that year’s NBA Draft, averaged 21.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game over two UNLV seasons. College basketballexperience. com/members/ larry-johnson. Runner-up: Randall Cunningham
Best Female Athlete A’ja Wilson The Las Vegas Aces have brought in several big-name players and proven veterans over the past couple years, but they’re all meant as complementary pieces to Wilson. A budding WNBA superstar, the 23-yearold has averaged 18.8 points and 7.3 rebounds since the Aces snagged her with the first overall draft pick ahead of their move to Las Vegas three years ago. Wnba.com/ player/aja-wilson. Runner-up: Miesha Tate
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Best Sportsbook Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook Rightfully hailed as “the world’s largest sports book” for nearly 30 years, the SuperBook has never rested on its laurels. It has been frequently renovated in recent years—the latest upgrading one of the world’s largest indoor LED screens during the pandemic shutdown—and it continues to offer one of the most diverse betting menus in town under Executive Director Jay Kornegay. Westgate, 888-796-3564. Runner-up: South Point
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Best Strip Casino [historic] Caesars Palace Founded in 1966 by Jay Sarno and Stanley Mallin, Caesars Palace established a kind of playful elegance other properties would soon emulate, and, remarkably, which it maintains to this day. A great deal of Vegas’ history—boxing matches, daredevil stunts, legendary musical residencies—was written within these Roman walls. 702-7317110, caesars.com/ caesars-palace. Runner-up: Flamingo
(Las Vegas News Bureau/Courtesy)
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This & That Best Strip Casino [modern era] The Cosmopolitan With its dazzling second- and thirdfloor restaurant array, stunning visuals such as the three-story chandelier and lobby screen displays, and inviting venues like the Chelsea and Marquee, the Cosmo took our breath away from the outset and hasn’t let up since. 702-6987000, cosmopolitan lasvegas.com. Runner-up: Bellagio
Best Downtown Casino Golden Nugget A Fremont Street fixture since 1947, the Nugget has remained one of Downtown’s storied establishments. It’s the first Vegas resort Steve Wynn owned; he constructed its first three towers and roped in Frank Sinatra to appear in its commercials. It’s home to the world’s largest gold nugget, the world’s most exciting pool slide (through a shark aquarium) and a number of the city’s favorite restaurants. And it maintains an air of old-Vegas elegance to this day. 702-385-7111, goldennugget.com. Runner-up: El Cortez
Best Locals Casino Red Rock Resort Neighborhood gaming has come a long way— to Summerlin—from the original Bingo Palace that became Palace Station. With its expansive, comfortable casino and acclaimed collection of restaurants and attractions, Red Rock has always been a place for locals that could easily compete on the Strip. 702-797-7777, redrockresort.com. Runner-up: Hard Rock Hotel
Best Attraction Fountains of Bellagio This attraction debuted 21 years ago, at the cresting of a wave that saw all manner of tourist eye candy manifesting on the Strip—an erupting volcano, a swashbuckling pirate battle. But Bellagio’s immense water show, with its 1,200-plus jets and 4,500 lights, immediately established itself as a landmark. (It even served as the backdrop for the finale of 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven.) Today, it’s impossible to imagine the Strip without it. 702-693-7111, bellagio. mgmresorts.com. Runner-up: “ Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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Best Mall Fashion Show It’s hard to believe Fashion Show has been a Las Vegas Strip fixture since 1981. In an age when most malls are battling obsolescence, Fashion Show feels so modern that it could have opened yesterday. And yet, there are two things about this place that have remained constant for close to 40 years: You’re likely to catch a runway show, and there’s something in this mall’s charged, vital air that will make you wanna shop. 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-784-7000. Runner-up: The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. Best Park Sunset Park Sunset Park is a sprawling oasis in the desert, complete with running trails, man-made lake (and geese!), tennis courts, disc golf course, basketball and volleyball courts and more. It also plays annual host to a variety of events, like the community favorite Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival. Pack up the picnic basket and head out for the day. 2601 E. Sunset Road, 702-455-8200. Runner-up: Floyd Lamb Park (Miranda Alam/Special to the Weekly)
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(Steve Marcus/Staff)
Best Bookstore The Writer’s Block Over the years, the Valley has been home to a number of well-stocked used bookstores, among them this category’s beloved runner-up, Amber Unicorn. But the Writer’s Block arrived with more than a brilliantly curated selection of new titles and an “artificial bird sanctuary.” It has formed communities, hosted school field trips, created book clubs for every taste and brought a kind of wonderment to local Valley retail. 519 S. 6th Street #100, 702-550-6399. Runner-up: Amber Unicorn Books
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Best Dispensary Planet 13 While most cannabis dispensaries are content to blend in with their surroundings, Planet 13 presents an eye-popping alien landscape, replete with selfie spots and interactive art elements. Inside, the fun continues with a vast selection of recreational products, a staff of attentive budtenders and a vibe unlike any other dispensary you’ve known. 2548 W. Desert Inn Road #100, 702-815-1313. Runner-up: The Source
Best Outdoor Escape Red Rock Canyon This one was close. But Red Rock—with its 13-mile scenic loop, gorgeous views and Strip proximity—beat out snowy Mount Charleston by a nose. Nevada’s first National Conservation Area draws more than 2 million annual visitors; they come to hike, bike, climb, picnic and ride horses at this desert dreamscape. 1000 Scenic Loop Drive, 702-515-5350. Runner-up: Mount Charleston
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COUNTING VOTES
This & That
Vegas’ all-time film and song took different paths to victory
Best Vegas Movie Casino What makes this 1995 crime drama, directed by Martin Scorcese and drawn from Nicholas Pileggi’s book of the same name, a nearperfect Vegas movie isn’t merely its subject matter (a thinly veiled account of the Vegas reign of organized crime associate Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal) or its setting (the now-defunct Riviera, standing in for the fictional Tangiers). It’s a matter of the whole movie being steeped in Vegas—our city’s history, mythology and everlasting allure. IMDb. com/title/tt0112641. Runner-up: The Hangover
(Courtesy)
Best Gentlemen’s Club Sapphire The massive Sapphire— all 70,000 square feet of it—might seem a like shoo-in for Best Gentleman’s Club. After all, more space means more gentlemen (and dancers, too; sometimes up to 400 a night). But the “world’s largest gentlemen’s club” offers more than epic scale; it features a wealth of extras, from a topless pool to meetand-greet packages with the adult stars who visit regularly. 3025 S. Sammy Davis Jr. Drive, 702-869-0003. Runner-up: Crazy Horse Too Best Independent Record Store Record City Music buying has experienced huge ups and downs over the past 20 years, and Record City has weathered it all. To this day, it’s easy to lose yourself among the vinyl racks and CD and DVD stacks of the two remaining Vegas locations—and emerge with low-priced gems. 300 E. Sahara Ave., 702-735-1126; 4555 E. Charleston Blvd. #102, 702-457-8626. Runner-up: The Underground
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2% Wr
Casino (1995)
ite-in
24%
The Hangover (2009)
11%
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
13%
Vegas Vacation (1997)
21%
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
83%
8%
Best Vegas Song “Viva Las Vegas” (Elvis Presley) Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman wrote “Viva Las Vegas” for Elvis’ 1964 movie of the same name. It was a footnote in the King’s catalog— he never performed it live, and it didn’t receive gold certification until 1992. But after the song was extensively used in movies and ads (and covered by everyone from Dead Kennedys to The Killers), a curious thing happened: It went from being Elvis’ song to our song, a tonic for Vegas’ bad days and recessions. Viva, indeed. Runner-up: “Leaving Las Vegas” (Sheryl Crow)
29%
“Leaving Las Vegas” (Sheryl Crow)
“Viva Las Vegas” (Elvis Presley)
4%
“Heaven or Las Vegas” (Cocteau Twins)
1%
3%
“Ooh Las Vegas” (Gram Parsons)
Write-in
2%
“Big in Vegas” (Buck Owens)
Elvis Presley (AP Photo)
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Best Community Ours Las Vegas has been hit hard by the pandemic, on health and economic fronts. Yet through it all, we’ve seen people at their best, everywhere we’ve looked. From the countless doctors, nurses and other medical personnel on the front lines helping us fight against the virus, to the many local businesses supplying those less fortunate with food and other key necessities; from the tireless nonprofits dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable among us, to the everyday folks who keep donating whatever they can—time, energy, blood and more. You are the heroes in our midst, and more than any all-time winner recognized in this magazine, you’re what makes Las Vegas remarkable right now. Wade Vandervort/Staff
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The true Best of Vegas is yet to come
By Brock Radke his was going to be our year. An astonishing series of dynamic projects was set to roll out in 2020, finally marking our full recovery from the recession, further diversifying our tourism economy and elevating the destination of Las Vegas to new heights. If you weren’t excited about 2020, you weren’t paying attention. Then this all happened, and now here we are. We’ve been dealt some bad hands in this new millennium, but this is clearly the worst. A pandemic can be an existential threat, but this one hit Vegas in a uniquely devastating way. But the magnificent future that was going to begin in 2020 has so far only been paused, not destroyed. Las Vegans and Nevadans are working hard to make sure of that. We have a lot to look forward to, even if we’re not sure how far ahead we’ll need to look. Allegiant Stadium is real, and it’s fantastic. Garth Brooks sold more than 65,000 tickets in 75 minutes for his tour stop there, now set for February 27, and the Raiders are set to take their new field for the first time on September 21 for a Week 2 game against New Orleans. But even if those events don’t come to pass—or they continue on without a live audience— this huge step forward for sports and entertainment in Las Vegas cannot be undone. When stadium-sized fun returns, we’ll have the best and newest version sitting just off the Strip. New hotel towers have risen: Circa will be the first brand-new Downtown resort in four decades when Wade Vandervort/Staff
it opens ahead of schedule in October, featuring the world’s largest sportsbook and a year-round pool amphitheater on the fifth floor. And the long-awaited Resorts World Las Vegas is set to debut on the Strip next summer. Like its cross-Boulevard neighbor Wynn Las Vegas, the new luxury property recently announced intentions to build a station and a tunnel to connect it to the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion and its underground transportation system created by Elon Musk’s Boring Company. That first-of-its-kind development should generate extra buzz and could help spark a transit evolution throughout the tourist corridor. Adding 1.4 million square feet of space to one of the country’s biggest and best meeting facilities is without question a game-changer, and the convention center’s expansion is on course to welcome events in the first quarter. The relationship between the city’s growth as a business destination, the addition of thousands of hotel rooms (Virgin Las Vegas is also scheduled to open later this year at the former Hard Rock Hotel) and big, new special events is something that only happens here. (Yeah, that’s where they got that slogan.) Our bright future has already started to arrive. It’s temporarily and unfairly out of reach, but it’s there. And while it’s difficult in these trying times to summon a strong sense of hope, or even to decide where and how to spend that hope, it’s quietly reassuring to realize this stuff doesn’t require it. The pieces are in place. We’ll be ready to have our big year as soon as it can happen again.
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Coronavirus pandemic is pushing players toward electronic table games
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BY BRYAN HORWATH
emand for electronic table games has spiked during the coronavirus pandemic, as some players want to sit by themselves and casinos seek a cheaper way to offer games like blackjack and roulette, an industry executive said. From March through July, Las Vegas-based game manufacturer Scientific Games saw demand nearly triple from normal levels, said Rob Bone, a company executive who specializes in electronic table games. With the number of players at live tables limited by social distancing guidelines, “You can’t run an efficient, profitable table game with the labor that’s needed to do that, especially with the extra labor related to cleaning and wiping areas down,” Bone said. Electronic tables games, or ETGs, have become “a huge solution to this problem,” he said. When COVID-19 hit the United States, leading to a temporary shutdown of Nevada casinos, it became apparent to Station Casinos officials that they would need to try some new things to bring back casino patrons, many of whom were concerned about the highly contagious virus. “We had to think of everything we could mitigate in a totally pandemic-inspired world,” said David Horn, vice president of table games for Station and general manager of Palace Station. “The increased ETG footprint was one of the first things we discussed.” With casinos closed in mid-March, Station moved to place new electronic tables in six of its properties that reopened in early June. “Of the six, only Palace had an existing ETG product,” Horn said. “We had tried it before at Red Rock [Resort], but it was not very successful. Local blackjack and roulette players are very fickle. People are worried now [about COVID-19] and wearing masks and gloves, that’s part of the process. We thought that
might push some people to ETGs.” Most of the backlog of orders Scientific Games is working to fill consist of what the company calls “dealer assist” electronic tables, where a live dealer serves multiple players at their own gaming stations. “One dealer can deal up to 250 individual terminals, all of them socially distanced,” Bone said. “Players can bet at their own pace and at their own price point. It’s about giving an authentic experience while also allowing them to not have to worry about the player to their left or their right.”
Bone said ETG makers are in a bit of an arms race— International Game Technology and Interblock, which are both Las Vegas-based, are two main competitors—as they try to put products out and secure business with gaming operators. “I think domestic operators like Station and Boyd Gaming are quickly seeing the benefits that these products have to offer,” he said. “Right now, I think there’s kind of a taste test going on.” When casino operators break down the habits of players, they group them into three categories—majority slot players, majority table game players and people new to the casino. “All three are playing ETGs,” Bone said. “When we design these games, we have to contemplate each of those categories. Slot players largely have never played table games. Either they’re intimidated by them, or they don’t want to make a mistake. We need to make games that are simple and exciting for that player, but we also need to make them authentic, so people coming from a live table know they’re playing a game that functions the same way as what they find at a table.” One aspect that’s difficult for ETGs to overcome is the “social element” of the live game, “the high-fiving around a blackjack table that is hard to re-create,” Bone said. Horn said a lot of table games players still want that “interaction, and they want that live card in their hand. They want to feel the dice.” “Until ETGs can give that near-perfect experience, I think demand for live games will be in effect,” he said.
Rob Bone, vice president of tables, utilities and electronic table games at Scientific Games (Steve Marcus/Staff)
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