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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
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VELVETEEN RABBIT REOPENS WITH NEW FOOD, MUSIC-THEMED COCKTAILS After closing in March and again in July due to state COVID-19 restrictions, the Downtown cocktail bar Velveteen Rabbit reopened September 14. The quirky Arts District favorite has debuted a new food menu consisting of quiches and a hummus platter. All food costs $3. The addition of a food menu and the removal of the stage to make room for socially distanced seating are key measures that allow the bar to return to life. The new cocktail menu is themed to music and presented in a zine-style format featuring photography by Peter McDeal and Shahab Zargari, visual art by Daniel Ayala, Narble Art and Lauren Ashley and excerpts from old Colombian radio plays translated into English by Gigi Guizado. The cocktails themselves are named with a wink to different songs. A cucumber, lavender and black pepper gin cocktail is called Pictures of You. For an extra $3, the drink comes with a Polaroid photo. The rum cocktail Miserlou (an ode to the Dick Dale instrumental of the same name) includes jalapeño aguardiente and coconut milk. Good Chai-brations (a la the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”) has a chai tea-infused rye and apple brandy. All cocktails are $14, except for the Lovers Rock (shout-out to Sade). The mixture of rums, golden Falernum and smoked blackberry agave costs $80 and serves four to six people. Velveteen Rabbit is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. until midnight and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. –C. Moon Reed
WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD EV E N TS T O F O L L OW A N D N EWS YO U M I SS E D
Dallas’ Corey Perry (10) reacts as the puck goes into the net past Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner during the third period of the NHL Western Conference Final September 14 in Edmonton, Alberta. The Golden Knights lost the game 3-2 in overtime, and the series 4-1, ending their season. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)
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IN THIS ISSUE
10 20 28 34 36
Cover story: The Allegiant Stadium era kicks off Home: Tips for elevating your home bar Scene: A kaleidoscopic tour through Area15 Food & Drink: New (square) pizza alert! Sports: The Aces are primed for the playoffs
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
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STORIES FROM LAST WEEK LOUISVILLE WILL PAY MILLIONS TO BREONNA TAYLOR’S FAMILY The city of Louisville, Kentucky, will pay millions to the mother of Breonna Taylor, and reform police practices as part of a lawsuit settlement months after Taylor’s slaying by police thrust the Black woman’s name to the forefront of a national reckoning on race. Taylor’s death sparked months of protests in Louisville and calls nationwide for the officers to be criminally charged.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) is surrounded by Carolina Panthers defenders Jeremy Chinn (21), Stephen Weatherly (91) and Tahir Whitehead (52) during a September 13 NFL game in Charlotte, N.C. Jacobs rushed for 93 yards on 25 carries, including three touchdown runs, and added four receptions for 46 yards to lead the Raiders to a 34-30 victory in their first game since moving to Las Vegas. Las Vegas opens Allegiant Stadium September 21 against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. (Brian Westerholt/Associated Press)
PARK MGM WILL BE SMOKE-FREE One of the last Strip resorts to reopen after coronavirus closures will be the first to go smoke-free, MGM Resorts International announced September 14. Park MGM will prohibit tobacco smoke inside when it opens September 30. Carpeting and wall coverings have been replaced.
TRUMP RALLY VENUE FINED $3,000 Henderson officials told Xtreme Manufacturing owner Donald Ahern that an indoor campaign rally for President Donald Trump that drew thousands of people to a warehouse near the 215 Beltway-Interstate 515 interchange violated Gov. Steve Sisolak’s coronavirus emergency directives. As a result, Ahern is being fined $3,000.
WYNN RESORTS FILES LAWSUIT OVER MELEE
HE SAID IT
“To put it bluntly, he didn’t have the guts to make tough choices—he left that to governors and the states. Now he’s decided he doesn’t have to respect our state’s laws. As usual, he doesn’t believe the rules apply to him.” –Gov. Steve Sisolak, referring to President Donald Trump’s having staged an indoor rally September 13 in Henderson
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Wynn Resorts is suing 15 to 20 unnamed people involved in a fight in the lobby at Encore over Labor Day weekend. It’s seeking at least $15,000 in damages, along with attorney fees and court costs. According to the complaint, just after 12:30 a.m., a man threw cash into the air near the lobby bar. A crowd began to form, and as security escorted a group of people out, a man punched another person, the complaint says. A melee ensued, in which a man swung a liquor bottle and hit several people, according to the complaint.
UNLV AGAIN NAMED ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST DIVERSE CAMPUSES UNLV continues to be ranked near the top of U.S. News & World Report’s annual listing of the nation’s most diverse campuses. In an examination of the student body at 389 universities, UNLV’s diversity score tied for second best, along with Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and behind only the University of Hawaii. The listing, based on 2019 enrollment, was released September 14. The formula produces a diversity index that ranges from 0 to 1. The closer a school’s number is to 1, the more diverse the student population. UNLV’s score was 0.76; Hawaii came in at 0.77. –Sara MacNeil
KIT CARSON ELEMENTARY TO BE RENAMED AFTER FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRINCIPAL The Clark County School Board voted to rename Kit Carson Elementary School due to Carson’s role in the death of hundreds of Native Americans during the colonization of the West. The West Las Vegas school will be renamed after Helen Anderson Toland, the first Black female principal in the Clark County School District. Toland was principal of Kit Carson during the 1960s, when Las Vegas schools were still segregated. School board members congratulated the 94-year-old Toland, who attended the meeting virtually via video conference call. Carson led the Long Walk of the Navajo in 1864, forcing Navajo people to walk from modern-day Arizona to New Mexico in the middle of winter. At least 200 Navajo people died of starvation and exposure. Five school board members voted in support of renaming the school. Chris Garvey voted against it, citing financial concerns. CCSD estimates the name change will cost $29,000 to $40,500, officials said. –Sara MacNeil
5-MINUTE EXPERT
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PURLS OF WISDOM
These textile arts can do wonders for your mood BY GENEVIE DURANO
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t’s been a long year cooped up indoors. Why not learn a new hobby that doesn’t involve burning your retinas with blue light? These textile arts have a low barrier to entry—just some basic supplies and a little patience—and you’ll end up with something useful and beautiful. Also, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that working with your hands and making something is good for your mental health. Just ask any knitter who swears by the therapeutic benefits of the craft. And the best part? Once you get past the learning curve, you can practice one of these arts while guiltlessly binge-watching Netflix.
Knitting
Few things are as satisfying and soothing as the rhythmic clacking of knitting needles. Depending on who teaches you or which videos you watch on YouTube, you can learn to knit in one of two styles: English or continental. Both produce the same stitches; the difference is whether you hold the yarn on your left or right hand. From there, there are really only two basic stitches to learn—knit and purl, which are basically reverse images of each other. Every stitch pattern, from stockinette, garter and lace to cables and ribbing, is just a combination of purls and knits. Master those two stitches and you can make something as simple as a scarf or a dishcloth, or more complex articles of clothing like cabled socks and sweaters. ■ Basic tools: Knitting needles (size varies depending on yarn weight), a ball of yarn ■ Further reading: Stitch ’n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook by Debbie Stoller
Crocheting
Is there anything more homey than a crocheted blanket thrown over the sofa or the foot of the bed? No wonder the most iconic motif in crochet is the granny square. These squares—which come in an endless variety of colors and styles—are crocheted individually and put together like patchwork to form a large blanket. If you were lucky enough to have been given one by your mom or grandma, you know how comforting they are. Crocheting has more stitch patterns to learn than knitting, but only uses one hook—and thus requires less hand coordination—so some find it easier to pick up. Regardless, learning how to crochet can provide a lifetime of enjoyment for yourself and the happy recipients of that blanket (or sweater, or dishcloth, or just about anything else you can think of). ■ Basic tools: A crochet hook (size varies depending on yarn weight), yarn ■ Further reading: Stitch ’n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller
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5-MINUTE EXPERT
Macramé
You probably did macramé as a kid but didn’t realize it. Remember those friendship bracelets you made in grade school? That’s a variation of this textile art, which uses knotting techniques to create geometric and free-form patterns. Macramé came into vogue in American pop culture during the 1970s, lending fringes to crop tops and jeans, wall hangings and necklaces, but the art form actually dates back centuries, to the time of the Babylonians. Millennials, never afraid to dip into the well of historical fads, have wholeheartedly revived macramé as an essential element of their boho-chic aesthetic. ■ Basic tools: Mounting cords and rings, pins, cotton twine, jute, hemp or yarn ■ Further reading: Year of Knots: Modern Projects, Inspiration, and Creative Reinvention by Windy Chien
Embroidery
Watch any period drama adapted from a Jane Austen novel and someone is bound to be embroidering in the background. This art form goes back centuries and was confined to the realm of female domesticity. But pulling needle and thread through a hoop is actually very nuanced, according to Rozsika Parker, author of The Subversive Stitch: Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine. Embroidery, seen as a symbol of female subservience, was also a source of creativity and bonding between women in centuries past. Today, the craft has been widely embraced by hipsters of all genders. ■ Basic tools: Embroidery hoop, embroidery floss in a variety of colors, needle ■ Further reading: Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To by Jenny Hart and Alexandra Grablewski
Sashiko
Here’s a craft that serves double duty. Sashiko is a Japanese mending technique that uses basic geometric stitches and a running stitch to fix holes and tears in clothing, creating a beautiful and entirely unique patch of fabric. It’s the most free-form of all textile arts—there’s no pattern to follow; just let self-expression be your muse. And sashiko is the antidote to fast fashion: Instead of tossing your clothing after a handful of uses when it shows a little wear, give it new life with just a few stitches. Check out #sashiko on Instagram for inspiration, and you’ll begin looking at what’s in your closet in a whole new light. ■ Basic tools: Needle and sashiko thread, a 100% matte cotton thread that comes in many colors ■ Further reading: Make and Mend: Sashiko-Inspired Embroidery Projects to Customize and Repair Textiles and Decorate Your Home by Jessica Marquez
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
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READY FOR
A L L E G I A N T
S T A D I U M
The versatile Allegiant Stadium will lead Las Vegas into its next events phase
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
TAKEOFF
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BY BROCK RADKE as Vegas is Las Vegas because of its venues. How did a dusty desert outpost become a regional tourist destination in the first place? Las Vegas built exciting casinos and comfortable places to stay. Then it became a top international destination by continuing to grow, building bigger, more luxurious casinos and hotels with convention centers and meeting spaces, showrooms and theaters, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Then it built arenas, and now it has a modern stadium. The coronavirus pandemic might temporarily prevent fans from filling Allegiant Stadium to watch Raiders and Rebels football games, but the momentum created by the construction of this next-level venue can only be paused, not halted. This place is truly a game-changer for Las Vegas, and its ultimate impact should be even greater than the previously inconceivable arrival of the NFL here. “It was certainly designed to be a multifaceted entertainment facility,” says Jeremy Aguero, principal at Applied Analysis. “Clearly, its primary purpose is the home of the Raiders and Rebel football, but the facility itself has the ability to host any number of private or public events.” Aguero’s firm serves as staff for the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, the owner and supervisor of the stadium project created by the Nevada State Legislature. “If you look at the lease agreement the stadium has, I believe it’s the only stadium that has the provision that its operator, in this case the Raiders, has an affirmative obligation to maximize the utility of the stadium. It has to find ways to put other events in the facility, and the reason the authority insisted on that was that the economic impact goes beyond football games. It’s huge for the Raiders and huge for UNLV, too, but it brings the ability to put additional heads in beds thanks to any number of concerts, other sporting events or other things.”
If you’re only looking forward to visiting Allegiant Stadium for a football game or something like the Garth Brooks concert scheduled for February 27, that’s perfectly fine. But in tourism talk, “heads in beds” means constantly creating bigger events and venues that will bring more visitors to Las Vegas more frequently for longer stays, and that’s how Southern Nevada’s economy works. When it can operate at full intended capacity, the stadium is projected to generate an economic benefit of $620 million annually while creating 6,000 permanent jobs. New entertainment venues have always generated additional excitement around the Las Vegas brand and contributed to boosts in visitation, especially if you consider brand-new casino resorts as venues themselves. Retracing the history of larger, more impactful entertainment venues on and off the Strip leads you through Sam Boyd Stadium, the Thomas & Mack Center, the Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts (now Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood), MGM Grand Garden Arena, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and T-Mobile Arena. Allegiant Stadium is bigger, of course, but also just as versatile a venue as any of those. Aguero notes that initial discussions and models assumed 46 events was the “mid-case scenario” for the stadium, including Raiders and Rebels home games, the annual Las Vegas Bowl and other pro and college football contests, concert tours that might have previously skipped the market and other private and public events. It appears likely that COVID will delay that many events from happening until 2022 at the earliest, but the expectation hasn’t changed. And while it’s fun to fantasize about Super Bowls and Final Fours and other events Vegas can now accommodate, it’s even more intriguing to consider things we haven’t even considered yet. “There are always different things that are going to develop,” Aguero says. “One that tends to come up is esports. Will that develop into something very large? There are always conversations about political conventions. Overall, I think we can look at what activities haven’t happened previously and know any of those are now possible in Southern Nevada. And do I think the Raiders and their contractors are getting creative in thinking about ways to do things not only better, but differently?
“Allegiant Stadium will not only reinforce the destination’s growing reputation as the sports capital of the world, it will also play a central role in the economic recovery of our city. We look forward to the day it debuts to locals and tourists to offer what will certainly be an Only Vegas experience.” –Steve Hill, president and CEO, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
“Welcome to the Death Star, where our opponents’ dreams come to die.” –Mark Davis, Las Vegas Raiders owner
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Yes, and I look forward to seeing how that manifests.” The stadium now joins a unique event and entertainment industry infrastructure ready to handle any of those creative new ideas. No city does private and corporate events like Las Vegas, and the stadium elevates that capability further with a multitude of adjustable spaces and options. “The field is one of Allegiant Stadium’s most versatile spaces because of its ability to be utilized as a concrete floor, Raiders artificial turf, UNLV artificial turf, a combination of turf and concrete, or Raiders grass field, which is their NFL playing surface,” says sales director Sam Johnson. “These variations in surfaces allow for trade shows and private concerts to be set on concrete while a reception can be held directly on the artificial turf. “Other spaces within the building have similar abilities to be customized based on the type of event hosted,” Johnson continues. “In the VIP clubs, the spaces can be preset with existing furniture ideal for networking or can be completely cleared, and the space will be a blank canvas to set up chairs and stages for a keynote.” The venue’s exterior has been well-received by Las Vegans, even though they won’t be able to explore the stadium yet. By all accounts, the interior is even more striking and impressive, just waiting to thrill locals and visitors with the biggest Vegas entertainment experience yet. “We love the public’s positivity of the stadium’s exterior, along with the creative nicknames they’ve assigned it,” says Lara Gladstone, director of marketing. “We really feel their pride of having this stadium in their hometown. “The interior is truly one of a kind. An exciting part of the stadium we can’t wait to debut is the peristyle, which offers one of the best views of the Las Vegas skyline, and where the Al Davis Memorial Torch sits. Additionally, there’s a very intimate vibe in the bowl. Fans will have a great view no matter where they sit. The architecture inside feels futuristic and matches the sleekness of the exterior, which we know the fans will be really excited about.”
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S T A D I U M
A LOOK AROUND A virtual tour of Allegiant Stadium’s many interesting aspects
BY BRYAN HORWATH As we’ve driven past the 62-acre Allegiant Stadium construction site these past few years, we’ve marveled at the way it all came together—and how quickly. Ground was broken in September 2017, and here we are three years later, preparing for the Las Vegas Raiders’ first game there on September 21. Due to pandemic restrictions, the public won’t be allowed inside this NFL season, or for any other events for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, here’s our look around the place, piece by eye-popping piece …
65,000
Seating capacity
PLAYING SURFACE The venue’s retractable field system allows for either natural grass or turf. It’s stored on a movable tray operated by 540 electrically powered wheels, and takes about an hour to move in or out of the stadium. The tray features a built-in irrigation system.
ETERNAL FLAME One of the most unique aspects of the stadium is an 85-foot, 3D-printed torch, which pays tribute to the late Al Davis, father of team owner Mark Davis. After Al Davis died in 2011, the Raiders began having former players and other celebrities light a large torch at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in California, the team’s former home stadium. The Al Davis Memorial Torch on Allegiant Stadium’s north side will carry on that tradition—with a bigger version. ¶ Mortenson Construction’s Eric Grenz said the torch is likely to be classified as the largest 3D-printed structure in the world. “We’ve put in an application to get it put in the Guinness Book of World Records,” he said.
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OPEN-AIR VIEWING The facility’s north side features four sliding doors, which will allow the stadium to be opened for fresh air and sunlight—and will provide a breathtaking view of the Strip. The 80-foot by 215-foot opening are said to create a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. “The sliding doors are pretty unique,” said lead stadium builder Eric Grenz of Mortenson Construction. The domed stadium is topped by a 7-acre ethylene tetrafluoroethylene cable net roof system suspended by 100 stainless steel cables—creating the sleek, gradual curves of a futuristic luxury vehicle. “The inspiration behind that was for it to look like a sports car, kind of like a Tesla,” Grenz said.
INSTANT REPLAY If you want to see that touchdown again on game days, simply look south. Allegiant’s south end will feature a massive, 254-by-49-foot interior video board. When the Raiders tested it in late June, officials said the test displayed the most pixels that had been seen on a screen at one time. At the north end of the stadium, you’ll find twin 122-by-49-foot screens near the Al Davis Memorial Torch.
Total weight, in pounds, of rolling natural turf
CHOWING DOWN Raiders owner Mark Davis has become a regular at Ferraro’s while the team has transitioned to Las Vegas, so it’s only fitting the Italian favorite will be part of the new stadium, with both a restaurant and quick-serve kiosk on site. ¶ Additional food options include Cosmo burger and shake hub Holsteins; loaded hot dogs from Neon Dogs; wine, cocktails and beer from The 1960; tequila everything from Casamigos; quick-serve southof-the-border flavors from Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger’s BBQ Mexicana; Southern-style cue favorites from Rollin’ Smoke Barbeque; beverages from Area 41; square pies from P2izza; and fusion food truck favorites from FukuBurger.
127 8,000 33 12,000 $1.97 billion Number of club seats
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Stadium Courtesy; Eternal Flame AP Photo
19 million
Number of suites
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Months to build stadium
Construction workforce
Total stadium cost
CLUB LIFE MGM Resorts International, the official gaming partner of the stadium, will bring the luxury MGM Resort Club to the venue, complete with full-service bars, a luxury lounge and upgraded stadium seating for game viewing. You’ll find MGM branding throughout the stadium, as an agreement grants the resort giant prominent signage at all events and naming to the west VIP entry and drop-off zone. NO CASH Allegiant will be a cashless venue, at least for NFL games. Team officials say going cashless will allow for faster service and shorter lines inside the stadium. Cash also won’t be accepted at any stadium-controlled parking location. Season ticket holders “overwhelmingly” agreed, through a survey, that going cashless was the best payment option. The decision was also made to follow recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urging businesses to use contactless payment systems to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
PARK IT Since fans won’t be attending Raiders games at Allegiant Stadium this NFL season, there’s more time to shore up—and possibly alter— plans for parking near the venue. Heading into the summer, stadium operators identified some 25,000 available parking spaces near Allegiant Stadium, about 15,000 of which were considered to be within walking distance. Around 7,000 spaces were identified for those who wish to tailgate before and after games. That includes a designated lot with room for about 1,800 vehicles near Valley View Boulevard and Reno Avenue. Local leaders have agreed to close the bridge on Hacienda Avenue to vehicle traffic five hours prior to kickoff on game days, which should allow fans to park along the south end of the Strip and walk to the stadium. The Raiders have said they’ve identified about 11,000 available parking spaces at resort properties near the stadium, which could serve as parking options for many. A lot at Warm Springs Road and Interstate 15, not within walking distance, will have room for about 1,700 vehicles, and there will be shuttle service to and from that lot to the stadium. Depending on location and proximity to Allegiant Stadium, most parking spaces are expected to cost between $10 to $100.
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A L L E G I A N T
MAIDEN VOYAGES WHEN WILL EACH NFL TEAM FIRST VISIT ALLEGIANT STADIUM? The NFL hasn’t changed its scheduling format in 18 years. That doesn’t mean the league couldn’t make any tweaks in the near future, but assuming it sticks with what has been a reliable and relatively fair setup, it’s easy to project when each franchise will visit Allegiant Stadium for the first time. Seven of eight home games for every team are predetermined by an annual divisional rotation, with the final slot dependent on finishing position the prior year. It’s therefore important to note that some of the AFC teams could come to Las Vegas sooner than scheduled, but here’s when each team is currently slated to play here. –Case Keefer
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S T A D I U M
10 of the top NFL stars coming to Allegiant Stadium this year
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Arizona Cardinals: 2022 season Atlanta Falcons: 2024 season Baltimore Ravens: 2021 season Buffalo Bills: October 4, 2020 Carolina Panthers: 2024 season Chicago Bears: 2027 season Cincinnati Bengals: 2021 season Cleveland Browns: 2024 season Dallas Cowboys: 2025 season Denver Broncos: November 15, 2020 Detroit Lions: 2027 season
Green Bay Packers: 2023 season Houston Texans: 2022 season Indianapolis Colts: December 13, 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars: 2025 season Kansas City Chiefs: November 22, 2020 Los Angeles Chargers: December 17, 2020 Los Angeles Rams: 2026 season Miami Dolphins: December 27, 2020 Minnesota Vikings: 2023 season New England Patriots: 2023 season New Orleans Saints: September 21, 2020
New York Giants: 2025 season New York Jets: 2023 season Philadelphia Eagles: 2021 season Pittsburgh Steelers: 2023 season San Francisco 49ers: 2022 season Seattle Seahawks: 2026 season Tampa Bay Buccaneers: October 25, 2020 Tennessee Titans: 2025 season Washington Football Team: 2021 season
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“It’s the coolest place I’ve seen. It’s got everything you could imagine, and I can’t wait to share it with our fans.” –Jon Gruden, Las Vegas Raiders head coach
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1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints quarterback (Week 2, September 21) Welcoming the NFL’s all-time leader in career pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns should be quite the way for the Raiders to christen their new building. 2. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints running back (Week 2, September 21) In fantasy football terms, no one will make a more anticipated Allegiant Stadium debut this season than Kamara. The Raiders will face a tall task trying to slow down the versatile fourth-year pro out of Tennessee, a consensus top-five pick in fantasy drafts. 3. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback (Week 7, October 25) The six-time Super Bowl champion will visit the Pacific time zone outside a New England Patriots jersey for the first time in his career when Las Vegas makes its maiden Sunday Night Football appearance. 4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback (Week 11, November 22) Fresh off of winning a Super Bowl—and signing the largest contract in American professional sports history (a 10-year deal worth up to $503 million)—Mahomes will try for a fifth straight victory against the rival Raiders. 5. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs tight end (Week 11, November 22) Mahomes aside, this eighth-year pro has become the face of the Chiefs and one of the top tight ends in NFL history. Last year, he became the first at the position to ever register 1,000 receiving yards for four straight seasons, earning his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
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WHICH SPORTING EVENTS COULD BE HEADED TO ALLEGIANT STADIUM?
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6. Von Miller, Denver Broncos linebacker (Week 10, November 15) Derek Carr was one of the first players to wish the former Super Bowl MVP well when he went down in training camp with an ankle injury. There’s a chance Miller could return in time for the trip to Las Vegas, and he’s been at his best when playing against the Raiders, racking up 64 tackles and nine sacks in 16 career games against the divisional rival. 7. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos wide receiver (Week 10, November 15) Expect Jeudy and the Raiders’ Henry Ruggs III— college teammates at Alabama, selected two picks apart as the top receivers in April’s NFL Draft—to be linked and compared for years to come. 8. Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts quarterback (Week 14, December 13) On the heels of Brees and Brady, a third future Hall of Fame quarterback visits Allegiant Stadium. Barring injury, the 38-year-old Rivers should be making his 237th consecutive start—second-most all-time behind Brett Favre. 9. Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers defensive end (Week 15, December 17) Edge-rushing has never been more important in the NFL, and with 40 sacks in his first four seasons, few players are better at it than this Ohio State product, who could helm one of the NFL’s better defenses. 10. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins quarterback (Week 16, December 26 or 27) The rookie, former Alabama star won’t start for the Dolphins at the beginning of the season, but he should have supplant journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick by the time the Raiders play their final home game. The No. 5 overall pick from last year’s draft has the upside to become one of the league’s best players.
Ever since construction began on Allegiant Stadium, the NFL pledged to bring all of its marquee events to the venue. The league has already started to live up to that promise, as it will host this season’s Pro Bowl locally on January 31, 2021. There’s been some speculation that the event, now held annually a week before the Super Bowl, could relocate to Las Vegas permanently. ¶ Allegiant Stadium is also expected to get into a regular Super Bowl rotation. Super Bowl sites are scheduled through 2024, but Las Vegas is considered a big favorite to host the game for the first time in 2025. Other annual football events at Allegiant Stadium include the Pac-12 Championship Game (though the conference isn’t planning to compete this season because of the coronavirus) and the Las Vegas Bowl. –Case Keefer
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A L L E G I A N T
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BY MIKE GRIMALA
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ow long will it take before Las Vegas begins to feel like “home” for the Raiders? For a franchise that has been defined by transiency throughout its 60-year history, it may have already happened. And owner Mark Davis understands that could very well end up being his lasting legacy. His father, Al Davis, was a groundbreaking coach, general manager and owner. He stewarded the franchise to three Super Bowl championships, drafted and signed dozens of Pro Bowl players and hired Hall of Fame coaches. It would have been impossible for Mark to live up to those kinds of achievements, because his dad had truly done it all. Except for one thing, that is. The Oakland Raiders were founded in 1960 and immediately had trouble finding a satisfactory home stadium. Al Davis moved the franchise to LA in 1982 in search of greener pastures and a better venue, but was once again forced to fit a square peg (his beloved team) into a round hole (Los Angeles Coliseum). He moved the team back to Oakland in 1995 but still found the stadium situation untenable, as he watched the Raiders play another decade-plus on the infield dirt of the Oakland Coliseum. When Al Davis died in 2011 and Mark assumed control of the team, there was really only
Mark Davis and (right) his father, Al Davis (AP Photo/ Photo Illustration)
DAVIS DREAM After decades of wandering, the Raiders have found a home in Las Vegas one thing he could do to leave his imprint on the organization in a way his father hadn’t—build a true home stadium. It wasn’t easy. Davis had to outmaneuver NFL owners, government officials from other hopeful cities (sorry, San Antonio) and Sheldon Adelson in order to secure a commitment from Las Vegas and gain league approval to move the Raiders once again. Now, after a journey that took more than three years, the Raiders are home, and Davis should feel like he did right by his dad. After the owners’ meeting in 2017, during which the league voted 31-1 in favor of the team’s
relocation, Davis expressed as much. “He would be proud of the fact that two kids who started as ball boys in the organization, me and [team president Marc Badain], were able to do something that we weren’t able to do for a long time: get our own stadium,” Davis told ESPN. “I think he’d be very proud of that.” That’s why it pained Davis to announce the team would not allow fans inside Allegiant Stadium this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of a much-deserved celebratory atmosphere, the Raiders will play their eight home games inside an empty, quiet stadium. The franchise and Las Vegas deserved better. But there will always be next year … or whenever football returns to normalcy. Allegiant Stadium will be there, as will the team. That’s how it works when you have a true home. It’s always there, waiting for you. Allegiant Stadium will feature an eternal flame in memory of Al Davis, fitting considering the longstanding, continual watch he kept over the Raiders franchise. At a ceremony in January, Mark Davis stood on a stage outside the stadium as the team officially changed its name to the Las Vegas Raiders. In that moment, he reflected on his father’s legacy, and how happy it would have made Al Davis to see the team in its home. “My father always said that the greatness of the Raiders is in its future,” Davis said. “Well, today that future truly starts.”
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“The arrival of Allegiant Stadium is an important landmark in the history of Las Vegas. The stadium will play a key role in helping restore the city to its former glory.” –Derek Stevens, CEO, Circa, the D and Golden Gate
(Right) UNLV football coach Marcus Arroyo (AP Photo/ Photo Illustration)
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE D
esiree Reed-Francois, UNLV’s director of athletics, frequently talks about striving to make the college experience memorable for the university’s student-athletes. The game day experience at new Allegiant Stadium should now meet that expectation. The football program will go from having one of the worst home-field situations in the nation—the outdated, remote Sam Boyd Stadium—to one of the best. Allegiant Stadium should provide UNLV with one of the best home college venues in the nation, with access to their own state-of-the-art locker room. Not to mention, playing in a domed stadium sure beats hot August and September nights playing outdoors. “There simply is no equal to our new stadium, and we are working hard now so that we build a lasting legacy of success worthy of our new home,” UNLV coach Marcus Arroyo says. When Las Vegas’ Triple-A baseball franchise
UNLV’s new home provides its football program with bright opportunities BY RAY BREWER
moved from Downtown’s Cashman Field to shiny new Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin, its attendance skyrocketed as a result. The franchise had the biggest crowds in Triple-A—9,299 per game across a 72-game home schedule. UNLV officials are likewise counting on Allegiant to increase its attendance, which typically hovers around the 15,000 threshold required for Division I status. Students, in particular, are expected to turn out in higher numbers, since Allegiant sits closer to campus and the Strip. “We look forward with excitement to giving our players, our fans and entire UNLV family the opportunity to enjoy a first-class college football experience,” Arroyo said. The coach has delivered a similar message to high school recruits, and they seem to be listening. According to 247Sports, UNLV has assembled the top recruiting class in the Mountain West for the class of 2020, with more than 20
verbal commitments. Many recruits can’t wait to get to Allegiant, saying the new stadium is a significant reason why they picked UNLV. “It’s a great opportunity to play in an NFL stadium,” said Aaron Holloway, a committed wide receiver from Legacy High in North Las Vegas. “You never know who is looking at you from the NFL.” The hope is the new stadium and better players can help transform the program into a consistent winner. UNLV has just four all-time bowl appearances to its name, none in the past six seasons. University officials have longed eyed leaving the mid-major Mountain West for a lucrative bigger conference like the Pac-12 or Big 12. The Pac-12, which will hold its annual championship game at Allegiant, likely would never have considered UNLV playing at Sam Boyd. But as with all things in the new Allegiant era, there’s new opportunity on the horizon for UNLV.
“To have our hometown company be a partner in the most distinctive stadium in sports—in one of the world’s most famous and iconic cities—is both exciting and moving. The stadium is a transformational project at an important moment for our community.” –Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., chairman and CEO, Allegiant
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Wine glass There’s a large enough variety for this to be its own genre. Go with something simple yet elegant.
How to assemble a home bar, from carts to pro-level setups
GLASSWARE More than just presentation, glassware changes the shape, experience and sometimes even taste of a drink. “I love collecting glassware,” Dylag says. She and her Downtown bar share a love for mixing and matching thrifted and vintage finds. If you follow that aesthetic, Dylag says to aim for a consistency in style rather than a full set of glasses.
BY C. MOON REED
B
ars have been largely closed since the arrival of COVID-19. Yet at the same time, alcohol use has been on the rise across the United States. As with so many other human activities, happy hour has been happening at home. That means it’s a good time build a home bar that has both style and substance.
WHERE TO START
With so many spirits, glassware options, furniture pieces and mysterious tools out there, it’s easy to feel intimidated by the prospect of a home bar. Remember that the process is supposed to be fun, and know that it’s OK to start small. Pamela Dylag is the co-owner of Velveteen Rabbit, an Arts District bar in Downtown Las Vegas that’s famous for its elaborate cocktails. But at home, Dylag likes to keep her bar simple. She recommends picking two to three favorite spirits (she stocks gin, Mezcal and whiskey) and then adding a few modifiers, like tonic, lavender bitters and the elderflower liqueur, St. Germain.
In terms of display and storage, Dylag recommends cruising the vintage stores on Main Street to find a cool and unique bar cart. She uses a 1920s-era hospital cart she bought at Las Vegas boutique Patina. “It doesn’t have to be a traditional bar cart,” Dylag says. She recommends searching for something cute and interesting that “fits into your home decor.” A corner or countertop will also work if you’re short on space. “I used to have that perfectionist energy,” Dylag says. “But [your home bar] should be relaxing, fun and ultimately a reflection of you. If you wanna go all the way, that’s fine, but you don’t have to.”
Copper mug A must for those who want an authentic Moscow Mule.
Cocktail glass Perfect for martinis.
Old Fashioned glass Also known as a rocks glass, this holds simple spirit-based cocktails served over ice, aka “on the rocks.”
TOOLS
A full set of bar tools can be a beautiful addition to any bar. but they aren’t necessary, at least in the beginning. You can use a mason jar to mix drinks, a metal straw for a barspoon and so on. Beyond that …
Barspoon. Use its extra-long handle to stir drinks. Cutting board. Dedicate one to cocktails, so your drinks don’t have the essence of dinner.
Tiki mug Sometimes you just need something fun. Buy some unique mugs from local bar Frankie’s Tiki Room (frankies tikiroom.com/ merch-hut).
Jigger. A two-sided measuring container. Juicer. Hand-held is great for making fresh lime juice. Muddler. Necessary for mint juleps!
Shaker. The Boston shaker consists of a tin and a glass, while the Cobbler shaker comes with a built-in strainer. Boston is best, according to Tony Abou-Ganim’s book The Modern Mixologist. Strainer. The Hawthorne strainer is preferred by professionals.
Mason jar Though not officially glassware, this handy jar can double as a shaker and a glass. It can also seal with a lid, so it’s great for storing mixed drinks and infusing liquors.
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DECOR
Bars are fun, so you can be a little more creative and outlandish than in designing, say a kitchen. This is a great place to experiment with a different style, such as tiki, Wild West or Old Vegas. Dylag uses her bar to reflect her interest in spirituality, turning it into a “sacred space. I treat my bar like an altar,” she says. “I’ll always have fresh flowers at home. … I’ll light candles.” Dylag recommends the local florist Fragile Boxer Flower House, which provides fresh flowers for Velveteen Rabbit. The florist also offers dried arrangements or “forever bouquets.” Dylag completes her bar space with family photos, crystals and random objects that she finds beautiful, like a copper mug with a swan handle. She also recommends purchasing bar tools that are pretty enough to double as decor.
Shot glass Bonus points if it’s a souvenir glass from an imploded casino.
Cocktail coupe Also known as a champagne saucer, this glass is great for juice cocktails.
Champagne flute The most elegant of bubbly wines deserves its own glass.
Collins glass Like a highball glass but a little taller and narrower. If you like the gin-based Tom Collins, this one’s for you. Whiskey nosing glass Its unique shape helps you best enjoy whiskey, bourbon or scotch.
Goblet A general-purpose glass that will hold a margarita as well as a beer.
Highball glass The tall, narrow shape keeps carbonated drinks fizzy longer.
Absinthe glass Harkening back to the Belle Epoque, this elegant glass is made specifically to measure and serve absinthe. You don’t need it, but you’ll want it.
STOCKING UP ON SPIRITS No matter your design choices, every bar lives and dies by its libations. Begin with the basics: “For most starting out, you can’t go wrong with a bottle each of our favorite vodka, Cointreau, London dry gin, French dry vermouth and 100% agave tequila,” cocktail expert Abou-Ganim says in a press statement from the publisher of his book, The Modern Mixologist. Though they often don’t have the same shelf life as a liquor, it’s important to keep your favorite mixers on hand, such as juice or soda water. If you’re hosting guests (perhaps in 2022), make sure to stock up on nonalcoholic beverages. GO LOCAL “Source as much locally as you possibly can, because that’s going to support your community,” says Wyndee Forrest, co-owner of CraftHaus Brewery. “Whether it’s spirits, mixers, juices or glassware, we have great artisans in our town.” While it’s impossible to buy regional-specific alcohol—Champagne is, by definition, from France—you can purchase the booze from local, independently owned liquor stores. Forrest recommends Khoury’s Fine Wine & Spirits. FURTHER READING • The Modern Mixologist by Tony About-Ganim • Liquid Vacation: 77 Refreshing Tropical Drinks From Frankie’s Tiki Room in Las Vegas by P Moss • The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender’s Craft by Gary Regan • The Aviary Cocktail Book by Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas, Micah Melton, and Allen and Sarah Hemberger • The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by David Embury
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BINGE THIS WEEK PODCAST
Drunk History Derek Waters and Jeremy Konner’s ingenious Comedy Central series might have been canceled, but its legacy will live on: six seasons of drunk comedians and actors relating great historical events before they pass out. Hulu.
FILM
LAND OF THE GIANTS: THE NETFLIX EFFECT
MULAN
The nearly 200 million subscriber-strong Netflix is so ubiquitous that it has even inspired its own dating term: “Netflix and chill.” Ever wondered how the movie and television streaming service came out on top? Or whatever happened to Blockbuster video? Or what it means for Hollywood to be “disrupted”? The Vox Media podcast Land of the Giants explores how tech giants are changing our lives. Season 1 delved into Amazon. Season 2, out now, peeks inside the proverbial little red envelope that used to deliver DVDs. Using insider interviews, the podcast sheds light on Netflix’s corporate culture, its recommendation algorithms and how it helped make Breaking Bad a hit. Vox.com/land-of-thegiants-podcast. –C. Moon Reed
Disney has been churning out live-action remakes of its animated films for years now. Some are inventive (Jon Favreau’s Jungle Book) and others so slavishly faithful to their source that you wonder why they bothered (Favreau’s The Lion King). But Niki Caro’s live-action Mulan, now streaming on Disney+ as a $30 add-on, is a strange case: Not only does it strip away the slapstick, animal sidekicks and musical numbers from the 1989 original, but also its campy drag humor. What remains is a somber, sumptuously-shot action drama that’s arguably a better film—it bears more than a passing resemblance to Zhang Yimou’s splendid 2002 film Hero—though kids may squirm through it. Luckily for parents, the original is a few clicks away. Disney+. –Geoff Carter
TV
STREET FOOD: LATIN AMERICA This mini doc series journeys through a region that spans 26 countries and territories, spotlighting some of the area’s best street food cooks. The show begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with chef Pato Rodriguez, who runs the popular food stall Las Chicas de la Tres with her girlfriend in the city’s bustling Central Market. Rodriguez has perfected the cheesy, delectable tortilla espanola. From there, Oaxaca, Mexico; Bogotá, Colombia; and La Paz, Bolivia, await, scratching our itch to travel and taste all the beautiful and delicious things Latin America has to offer. Netflix. –Leslie Ventura
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Gorillaz, “Strange Timez” The latest installment of the Song Machine project—in which Gorillaz’s Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett release new songs and videos a little at a time—features vocals by The Cure’s Robert Smith. It’s an absolute joy. bit.ly/35BgZC8
Street Food: Latin America (Netflix/Courtesy)
OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
TV
MUSIC
THE VOW
THROWING MUSES: SUN RACKET
Cults are a peculiar thing. What makes seemingly rational people blindly follow a leader to do things so outside the bounds of society and personal safety? This nine-part docuseries explores the psychology behind the cult Nxvim, which was exposed as a pyramid scheme and sex ring a couple years back. Nxvim was sold to its adherents as a self-help organization by leader Keith Rainiere, but darker paths awaited its members, which included celebrities and heiresses. It’s a cautionary tale for those who think they can’t be taken in. It turns out, anyone can. HBO. –Genevie Durano
Throwing Muses’ first album in seven years— the onetime college rock anchors’ third LP since 1996—picks up where leader Kristin Hersh’s recent solo recordings have led: down a hypnotic path paved with effortless melodies, growling guitars and lyrical delights conveyed in her know-it-anywhere vocal rasp. The only bummer about the addictive Sun Racket? Its brief 34-minute run time, which seems to fly by even faster than that. –Spencer Patterson
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RIDING AND REFOCUSING Las Vegas musician Franky Perez discovers a new form of touring
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ranky Perez doesn’t do well sitting still. The born and raised Las Vegas musician has spent the majority of the past 20 years touring the globe with different bands and rock acts, and when he’s not on the road, he’s usually electrifying audiences at different local bars, lounges and showrooms. Perez was supposed to rejoin Finnish symphonic metal band Apocalyptica for a tour of North and South America this year. He also recently inked a new deal with Station Casinos that would see him continue to play the Rocks Lounge at Red Rock Resort. Perez lives for the stage, so when the pandemic struck, he had to figure out a way to keep on living pretty quickly. “It’s tough for a guy like me. I love, love, love being onstage,” he says. “It sounds corny, but it’s where I feel most at home. I had to adjust.” Like many other musicians, Perez went back to the basics, setting up a makeshift studio in his bedroom and writing a series of songs that became his self-released album, Suddenly 44. “Every single word, every line sung, it’s all very honest and timely,” he says. “I was never thinking about putting out an album. I just thought I’d have this little body of music to send to friends, which I did as I was making it. And that [feedback] helped me see when I was finished that I had something special. And then when this new opportunity came up, I had a soundtrack for the whole thing.” Thinking about all the shuttered music venues in Las Vegas and across the country inspired Perez to figure out a way to connect with audiences during this vast shutdown of live entertainment. Armed with a fresh acoustic album that could be performed with little setup, he contacted friends at motorcycle maker Ducati to kick around ideas for some sort of tour. Officials at the company officials joined in the brainstorming session, and the result found Perez riding across the country for two weeks with a guitar case strapped to his bike, stopping for spontaneous (and some scheduled) performances at some of those closed venues, health care facil-
ities, landmarks and places in between. “We had to route it somewhat but also leave time for spontaneity. I can plan to leave Vegas and be in San Francisco at a certain time, but on a motorcycle, you have to leave room for changes,” he says. “Being on a motorcycle and crossing the country is so different from being on a bus. You can smell the road. You can literally taste the road. And motorcycle riders have that stigma of being a little unapproachable, but when I’d roll up with a carbon-fiber guitar case, it just opens things up.” Perez found himself singing some of the most emotional songs he’s ever written, for hospital patients and health care workers that had been separated from their families for weeks and small groups of strangers on the streets of major cities and small roadside towns. For an artist who has had plenty of ups and downs during his long career, it was a life-changing experience. “It put my career back into perspective,” he says. “Why did I start doing this? When I first picked up a microphone, it came from a place of necessity. I had to do it, had to get it out. And little by little, things happen and it turns into life and work and making money. I’ve always loved it, but when you peel all that back, you’re left with art and how you share that and what it means to you. No matter what happens now, I will always do these types of trips and tours.” The Crossing the Great Divide tour, as it became known, isn’t over. The first run was captured on film and turned into eight webisodes available at Ducati.com, and Perez says he’s planning to hit the road again next month, riding through the lower half of the country starting in Florida. There’s a possibility of playing actual shows along the way depending on the circumstances, but he says safety is the top priority. “What was really cool about the entire thing is how it was so organic; it wasn’t forced,” he says. “It came out of a place of being of service, in a sense. And it’s probably one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done creatively.”
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ROAD TRIP
Vegas DJs Ikon and Silver team to release RoadHouse’s debut album BY LESLIE VENTURA
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J Ikon and Dee Jay Silver have been wellknown names in Las Vegas for the past decade, and now they’re joining forces as the DJ duo RoadHouse to shake up the musical landscape once again. With a self-titled debut album out September 18, Ikon (Aaron White) and Silver (John Perdue) talked to Las Vegas Weekly about what it’s like being best friends and music mates, and how they can’t wait to get back on the big stage. Silver, who’s based in Nashville and has been Jason Aldean’s touring DJ for years, said he formed RoadHouse because he was ready to make original music. “I’ve always been known as the guy that’s opened up for Jason Aldean or Kane Brown,” Silver says. “I’m thankful for where I’m at, but I want to do more. I did some soul searching and came up with RoadHouse, called Ikon and that’s how it went down.” The first DJ duo ever to sign to a Nashville label, RoadHouse found a permanent home on the new-country imprint BBR Music Group, along-
side labelmates like Kid Rock, Jason Aldean and Parmalee. For their debut album, Silver and Ikon say they worked with some of Nashville’s biggest songwriters, along with singers like RaeLynn (The Voice Season 2) singer-songwriter Jimmie Allen and another Voice contestant, Trey O’Dell. “I contacted [O’Dell] and said, ‘Dude, you have something special. Do you want to work together?’” Silver says. “He sent me over a few records, and [the song] “Reckless Kids” was one of them.” A BBR press release proclaims that RoadHouse “mixes elements of country, pop, EDM, hip-hop and all other genres.” For a preview, Ikon and Silver recently dropped a remix of LoCash’s “One Big Country Song.” Silver calls Chris Lucas and Preston Brust of LoCash, who are also on BBR Music, two of his “very best friends.” In terms of timing, the RoadHouse guys made the entire LP during quarantine. “It’s good we live in a time now where it’s easy to bounce ideas back and forth online,” says the Vegas-based Ikon. “It actually provided a pretty efficient way to work.” Adds Silver: “If I was on the road for 320 days like
I usually am, I can’t tell you this record would be done. … The team’s fired up about it. It feels so good to have a whole record label behind you.” While the guys are excited for their first fulllength, they’re also navigating uncharted territory, releasing a debut record during a pandemic. “It’s really weird,” Ikon says, “almost surreal.” During a normal year, Silver and Ikon would both still be playing dayclubs and nightclubs all over Las Vegas. “Vegas is home to us,” Silver says. “The people that work in those clubs are family to us. To see those people struggling, I hurt for them. People who aren’t in this business don’t understand the sledgehammer this has hit them with. We can’t wait to see the lines at the clubs again, and people hugging you when you walk in the door.” Until then, Ikon and Silver hope RoadHouse can help people get through this difficult time—and encourage them to think more positively about the future. “As soon as they open up the world,” Silver says, “[We’ll] give the world a taste of the party they’ve been missing.”
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The time has come to experience interactive hub Area15 BY C. MOON REED
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fter watching the mysterious black warehouse known as Area15 rise from the desert, the wait to explore its interior, a veritable cave of wonders, is finally over. On September 17, the experiential playground opens its doors. Inside you’ll find a neon-black-lit paradise of art, food, drink and interactive opportunities. It’s free to enter, but you’ll need to register at area15.com as a COVID-19 safety precaution. Here’s what to expect once you do … Authentic experiences Imagine if you could bottle up the feeling of Burning Man, Blue Man Group and a cyberpunk nightclub and set all that free inside an all-ages venue. That might begin to describe Area15. Art Island is the first thing you’ll see upon arriving at Area15. Featuring a variety of large-scale sculptures, the outdoor courtyard could be a destination in and of itself. The pieces act as a palate cleanser from the ordinary world, inviting visitors to embrace a more colorful reality full of infinity mirrors, rainbow-winged owls, fire-breathing dragons and historic robots. Expect those sculptures to be featured in a thousand selfies and social media posts. “Everything here is shareable, because it’s awesome, right? Like, it’s not staged,” says Winston Fisher, CEO of Area15. “Authenticity is a word that so many people use. We are psychotic about authenticity. It must be real. We’re storytelling. We have to be true to who we are.” After entering the building through a giant, glowing-orange A, guests find themselves inside a tricked-out entryway that feels like a spaceship or time machine. Beyond that, a 12-foot-tall psychedelic human skull greets guests. It’s a 3D projection-mapped art piece with synchronous music called “Shogyo Mujo,” designed by Bart Kresa Studio and Joshua Harker. Walking through the space, visitors will delight in the random caches of artistic inspiration, tucked into different areas of Area15. Fisher points to circular neon-colored designs on the wall that resemble futuristic mandalas. He explains that it’s part of an upcoming “augmented reality experience” called Particle Quest, for which guests don special masks, look at “trigger”
By the numbers 200,000
Total square feet of space
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Area15 (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
points and discover the “secret story” of Area15. It’s slated to open in October. “We’re not a themed place,” Fisher says. “But if you search hard enough, you can find out the origins.” In addition to an indoor electric zip line called Haley’s Comet, you’ll discover these experiences at Area15 … Birdly, a virtual reality ride, in which you fly like a bird. Wild Muse Boutique, a boutique selling souvenirs and Burning Man-style gear, located in a gorgeous metal bunker at the center of Area15. Wink, Wink World: Portals to the Infinite, an artsy fun house created by Blue Man Group co-founder Chris Wink. Gallerie 360 inside the Portal, a “360-degree projection mapped room” and event space, which feels somewhat like Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Holodeck.
Sanctuary, a restful, plant-filled gathering place under a bamboo and fabric dome. Brainstorm, a colorful, interactive experience coming in October. Valyrian Steel, a dazzling art car created by Henry Chang Design. Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, a rotating, immersive art experience, set to open early in 2021. “There’s always something more to do here,” Fisher says. That includes chowing down. While the Beast food hall, curated by Todd English, is still being developed, guests can enjoy the celebrity chef’s Beast Pop-up. The culinary program is “approachable yet elevated menu,” per a press statement, and will be served socially distanced in the outdoor event space and inside the Portal. Peckish guests can also nosh on ice cream from Emack & Bolios and candy from Rocket Fizz. The can-
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LED lights on Oddwood Bar tree
dy store has yet to open, but its ever-moving neon-style sign is already drawing attention. Another eye-catcher is Oddwood Bar, with its nearly 23-foot-tall Japanese maple tree created by Color + Light (formerly Symmetry Labs). Its leaves sparkle and change color. Only in Las Vegas The creativity and bombast of Area15 harkens back to Las Vegas’ early visionaries. “At the end of the day, it’s two little boys who just have big eyes and wonder that designed this place,” Fisher says of himself and co-creator Michael Beneville, Area15’s chief creative officer. “We’re just excitable kids. We’re not scared of creativity. We didn’t check with people about what’s cool. We just built something that we thought people would love, and it’s from who we are.” Fisher seems equally comfortable embarking on
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Speed, in mph, of Haley’s Comet zip line ride
monumental athletic expeditions—like running seven “Malls were dying, but people [still] wanted to congremarathons in seven days on seven continents—and gate together for really cool things.” nerding out on Dungeons & Dragons (his character is When Fisher originally acquired the land prean Elf warrior). Great Recession, he says he had visions The developer, who bought the land in of “building big,” And then, “the world AREA15 3215 S. Rancho Drive, 2005, looks to none other than Renaisblew up.” But the New Yorker, who 702-846-1900. sance genius Leonardo da Vinci for inspispends half his time in Nevada, says, Free admission, ration. “[Da Vinci] looked at the world “We never gave up on Vegas. So he set registration required at area15.com. differently and put stuff out there that was out to build a “place that couldn’t exist transformative and timeless at the same anyplace else” and doesn’t try to comtime. I love that, and so I put that right on pete with the Strip. there,” Fisher says, pointing to upper arm tattoos of da When the time came to reimagine the space, Vinci’s sketches, including a flying machine. Fisher and his partner spent two and a half years In a way, Fisher and Beneville have built their own “just dreaming.” Fisher says that these “best-in-class flying machine in Area15, and we don’t mean the experiences have always been “sort of scattered … but decommissioned airplane on display in the parking if you put it all together, and then curate it with great lot. Area15 is more of a vessel to a new way of thinking. art, cool food, great events, you’re creating a district. “We saw that the world was changing,” Fisher says. That’s what we’ve done.”
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EXPLOSION OF SILENCE Through November 17; Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.8 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Whitney Library, 702-507-4010.
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CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Emily Matview’s photography translates front-row punk show mayhem into visual poetry
BY LESLIE VENTURA
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mily Matview has been taking photos of bands as long as she’s been going to punk shows, and that’s nearly her whole life. In 2011, Matview founded the local website Punks in Vegas, a community resource dedicated to everything happening in the Valley’s punk music scene. As Matview began writing about shows, she started photographing them, too, turning a hobby into a full-time commitment. Matview has been capturing the essence of the punk scene—from its unbridled energy to its deep-seated camaraderie—ever since. Opening September 17 at the Whitney Library Gallery, Explosion of Silence marks Matview’s first solo exhibition and features her own music photography over the nine-year lifetime of Punks in Vegas. “I’ve always been interested in music,” Matview says. “I can’t play an instrument, I can’t sing, but I’ve always had all this creative energy, so combining those things made sense to me.” To say that Matview has been the punk scene’s biggest proponent would be an understatement. Whether she’s conducting interviews, writing stories, filming live sessions or archiving oral histories of local bands, Matview has created an environment where fellow music fans feel at home. Explosion of Silence captures that passion and enthusiasm. “We have a lot more community and culture than people from outside of the state give us credit for,” Matview says. “[Explo-
The Wonder Years at Warped Tour (Emily Matview/Courtesy)
sion] shows there’s a lot more going on here.” Featured in Explosion of Silence are photos of singer/songwriter Jeff Rosenstock from PIV’s three-year anniversary show, Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace during a solo performance at Punk Rock Bowling, The Wonder Years at Warped Tour and My Chemical Romance from a 2011 concert—plus snaps of local bands like TheCore from the past decade. A librarian by day, Matview says her decision to present the show under her own name rather than the Punks in
Vegas moniker came after a PIV group show at ReBar. (Though she works for the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, she clarifies that she went through the same application process as everyone else). “I was trying to think about what my next move was going to be, and I thought it would be more of a challenge for me to do something solo,” she says. “I didn’t feel like I needed to do this behind a pseudonym. Punks in Vegas started out as something that was just my blog, but I feel like it’s grown into a bigger community thing. I’m
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not Punks in Vegas anymore; everyone that contributes is Punks in Vegas. So it was a combination of being comfortable with myself and being able to do something.” With music venues closed during the pandemic, Matview adds that she wants the exhibit to offer some reprieve for music fans who haven’t been able to see a show in months. “I really hope that music lovers come and reminisce about all the good times and connect with other people like you would at a show,” Matview says. “You can meet and have that human connection, which is really rare right now. I also hope that it’s not like, ‘Remember how things used to be?’ but instead getting that excitement, like, ‘We’re going to get through this eventually, and we’re going to be back doing what we love to do, sooner than later.” Ultimately, she says, “I hope people leave hopeful.”
Emily Matview (Aaron Mattern/Courtesy)
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SQUARE GEMMA GEMMA’S SQUARE PIES At Graffiti Bao, 7355 S. Buffalo Drive, 702-323-6033. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Vodka Pep, the Ol’ Sausage and the Bianco from Gemma Gemma’s Square Pies (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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Pizza from a Chinese restaurant? Meet Gemma Gemma’s Square Pies BY BROCK RADKE
W
hile he’s busy with his wildly successful Graffiti Bao restaurant and consulting and working on two more thriving local eateries in Locale and Egg Sammie, Marc Marrone has found the time and energy to launch a new pizza passion project. Gemma Gemma’s Square Pies is definitely a labor of love, but it was also a necessary mission for the chef and restaurateur. “I’ve really been fighting this entire time not to have to lay anybody off,” Marrone says of operating during the pandemic. “I
had a deal to go into the Raiders’ stadium [with a concession stand], and then they made the announcement that they’d be playing games without fans, and that put a serious hang-up in our plans.” Marrone had already hired a team to run his Allegiant Stadium food spot, so in order to keep his staff together—and to try out a concept with which he’d been toying—he launched the new pizza operation from his Graffiti Bao kitchen. The quirky name and the style and shape of the pies are inspired by family. “I’m the worst Catholic
SOLUTION
in my family, but I do know that when you are confirmed, you take a confirmation name,” Marrone says. “My grandmother’s middle name is Gemma. The joke is she loved her middle name so much she took it twice, because when she was confirmed, it was registered as Anita Gemma Gemma Marrone.” The 6-by-6-inch Sicilian slices he’s making are inspired by a New York City hole in the wall his father loved when Marrone was growing up. He didn’t like square pizza— and particularly hated the middle piece “with no crust or edge”—but it was Dad’s favorite. This unique style of pizza is also born from the restrictions of cooking in a Chinese restaurant kitchen without a traditional pizza oven. Marrone crafted a dough recipe that ferments for three days, developing memorable flavor and texture, and he bakes the slices in individual pans to create a crispy bottom, an airy bite in the
The Roast Pork Italian Torpedo Sandwich (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
middle and the extra corner edges he wanted as a kid. The signature vodka sauce and pepperoni slice ($5.88) is a great intro, and you can customize your slice or each square in a four-slice pie ($19) with separate toppings. Gemma Gemma’s also serves two Italian torpedo sandwiches Marrone used to share with his father—roasted and sliced pork with sharp provolone picante, broccolini, pickled peppers and au jus; and a sub with slow-roasted beef, peppers, arugula, pickled onion and herb mayo (both $8). “They’re super nostalgic, real New York, East Coast sandwiches,” Marrone says. “Even the bags the sandwiches come in are literally the same bags from the ’80s and ’90s. That pork with provolone, I hated that sandwich as a kid, but my dad thought it was the best. Now I love it. He used to say, ‘Listen, kid, you don’t like Scotch now either, but you’re gonna love it one day.” Rounding out the menu are garlic-Parmesan chicken wings ($8.88), fresh mozzarella sticks ($6.88), a chopped salad with roasted peppers and spicy capicola ($7.88), and garlic cheese bread ($6.88). Gemma Gemma has been garnering early attention, possibly because nearby neighborhoods like Mountain’s Edge aren’t flush with non-franchise pizza options. Marrone thinks the concept has legs and could quickly outgrow the shared kitchen, and he’ll add items like baked pasta dishes and more sandwiches if expansion occurs. For now, it’s all about perfecting the pizza, holding prices down and keeping people on the job. “It had to be cost-effective. Unemployment is a problem. [At] Graffiti Bao, we made sure to keep the price point where people could afford it,” he says. “People still want to eat out. We want to take care of the community more and offer something unique.”
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DEARICA HAMBY
A’JA WILSON (AP/Photo Illustration)
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COMING UP T
LV W S P O R T S
BY BROCK RADKE
ACES
If Las Vegans aren’t tuned in to their WNBA team right now, they should be
he Las Vegas Aces wrapped up the regular season September 13 with an 86-84 victory against Seattle, the team that spent the most time atop the standings during the abbreviated 2020 WNBA campaign played. Having already locked up a top seed and a two-round bye for the playoffs, the Aces didn’t have much on the line in Sunday’s finale; the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage doesn’t mean much when you’re playing in a pandemic bubble in Bradenton, Florida, instead of at the House, aka Mandalay Bay Events Center. But they persisted. Led by 23 points apiece from forwards A’ja Wilson and Dearica Hamby, the Aces took advantage of the absence of Storm stars Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart and offset a 30-point effort from Jewell Loyd to notch their sixth consecutive win. It was a perfect demonstration of the resilience of this team, the focus and determination that has turned the Aces from an exciting squad with potential into a legitimate championship contender. This was unexpected. Las Vegas set up in the “Wubble” without two of its top players, dominant center Liz Cambage (who sat out the season with a medical exemption) and backcourt staple Kelsey Plum (recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon). All-stars Wilson—named the AP’s WNBA Player of the Year on September 15— and Kayla McBride carried the load with help from Hamby, the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year two years running, and veteran wing Angel McCoughtry, a five-time all-star who spent her last season in Atlanta rehabbing a knee injury. It was assumed the Aces would snag one of eight playoff spots, but few figured they’d finish in first place. “A lot of people weren’t expecting us to even be where we are,” Wilson said after Sunday’s win. “We kind of use that as fuel and just keep going. We are who we are. We’re not going to change up. We have our system, and we’re going to continue to do that.” Even without Cambage and Plum,
depth has made the difference for the Vegas squad. Hamby and second-year guard Jackie Young have thrived, center Carolyn Swords came out of retirement to provide stability in the middle, and first-year Aces Lindsay Allen and Danielle Robinson contribute energy on both ends of the floor. When MVP candidate Wilson needs a break, McCoughtry takes over and imposes her will on the opposition. There’s a lot of talent in the playoffs, especially on the rosters of teams from LA, Minnesota and Phoenix, but most observers are predicting Vegas versus Seattle for the title. The Aces will wait to see who advances and play the first in a five-game semifinal series starting September 20. The WNBA Finals begin October 2. Vegas fans have embraced the team since it relocated from San Antonio and began playing on the Strip in 2018, but attendance at the House was down 12% in the Aces’ second season. MGM Resorts owns the team and hosted the WNBA All-Star Game at Mandalay Bay on July 27, 2019. Every professional sports league is promoting social justice awareness in its own way in 2020, but new WNBA fans in Las Vegas and beyond might not be aware of the league’s longstanding commitment to the cause, which starts with the players—professional athletes whose compensation and media coverage fall far below their male counterparts in the NBA. The WNBA and its players union have dedicated this season to women who have died in connection with police action and racial violence. The Aces’ McCoughtry came up with the idea to put Breonna Taylor’s name on the back of every player’s jersey, and Wilson is a member of the league’s newly formed Social Justice Council. The W is full of heroes and role models, and these two just might help bring Las Vegas its first professional sports championship. You won’t know if you don’t watch.
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WSOP’s move to online events continues paying off
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BY BRYAN HORWATH
yan Depaulo was so determined to play in this year’s World Series of Poker, he drove from his home in New York to a Burger King in New Jersey. The series is annually contested each summer in Las Vegas at the Rio. But with the pandemic forcing the WSOP events online, players in the United States had to get creative to participate. Federal online gambling regulations stipulate that players must physically be in Nevada or New Jersey, meaning Depaulo played from his car in parking lots or by the side of the road. Other U.S. residents traveled abroad, where the restrictions are looser. From a Whole Foods parking lot in mid-July, Depaulo won his first WSOP bracelet and a $159,563 payout by capturing the Big 500 NHLE—a $500 buy-in event featuring 1,600 players and 803 rebuys. “Players can play from anywhere, as we saw with Ryan Depaulo,” said Ty Stewart, WSOP executive director. Stewart said a pair of domestic and international online events this summer—which ran from late July until September 6—surpassed expectations by drawing more than 280,000 entries and generating nearly $175 million in prize pool money. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to large in-person events earlier this year, WSOP officials had to alter course, moving to a safer all-online format, which Stewart said could end up helping to grow interest the game—and possibly Southern Nevada visitation—in the future. “We hope this summer has changed the future of the WSOP in terms of getting the brand in front of new customers in their homes, people who might now think about playing in future events,” Stewart said. “The play-from-home option is something that consumers are going to demand, but in terms of future event scheduling, we’re taking it one day
at a time to service the demand.” The WSOP, around since 1970, was scheduled to take place at the still-shuttered Rio. In 2019, the slate of tournaments, together considered the premier poker event in the world, attracted more than 187,000 entrants. Players from 118 different countries participated last year, and that number grew to 166 for this year’s online format. WSOP is owned by Caesars Entertainment, which also owns the Rio. “We are very bullish about the future of online poker and regulations opening up in additional states,” Stewart said. “However, we still look forward to, one day soon, safely welcoming tens of thousands of guests once again to Las Vegas for the signature WSOP tournament experience.”
In order to make the combined online event work, WSOP officials broke the tournament into international and domestic flights. The portion for domestic players took place throughout July; the international competition—administered via GGPoker (U.S. players are prohibited from playing on the GGPoker platform)—ran from July 19 through the first week of September. “It was amazing,” Brazil’s Bruno Albuquerque, one of five international players to make three separate final tables, said in an email. “The record prize shows the success of this edition, and it becomes more democratic because some people don’t have money or a visa to go to Vegas.” The most notable difference, according to Albuquerque, was not being able to read your opponents’ body language during a hand. And, he wrote, “when you are face-to-face with the villain, when you try to bluff or when you go all in.” The U.S. portion of the online event paid out more than $26 million across 31 events, an average prize pool of $865,000. Six of the nearly three dozen events had prize pools above $1 million. The average buy-in was just over $800. “This brand has stood the test of time, and we’re confident we’ll be back bigger than ever,” Stewart said. “But our goal is to be the place where dreams are dealt, even if that’s right to your phone.”
Hossein Ensan’s winning cards from the 2019 World Series of Poker Main Event (Steve Marcus/Staff)
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VegasInc Notes Legacy Traditional Schools, a public, tuition-free network of K-8 charter schools, announced Wadsworth Candida Wadsworth as principal of the North Valley campus. Wadsworth previously served as assistant principal of Coral Academy of Science Nellis AFB Campus, where she created and implemented a schoolwide achievement plan for student success and growth on standardized tests. Prior to relocating to Las Vegas, Wadsworth was an eighth-grade science and biology teacher at Renaissance Charter in Florida.
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Daniel Mathis, CEO of PureCare Living, a health care management company, announced that the UNLV School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics will lead medical services and programs for Southern Nevada’s newest pediatric skilled nursing facility, Silver State Pediatric. Currently under construction near the Las Vegas Medical District, Silver State Pediatric is a 22,442-square-foot skilled nursing facility that will specialize in pulmonary and post-acute care for children with traumatic injuries as well as cognitive and physical disabilities. Dr. David Parks, a UNLV associate professor and pediatric pulmonologist, will serve as medical director and provider overseeing patient service, student clinicals and residencies. The Nevada Donor Network Foundation appointed David Marlon as its new foundation chair. Marlon Marlon brings over 30 years of health care experience in both substance abuse treatment and insurance. As chair, Marlon will help advance the founda-
tion’s vision to drive growth in the health care sector and expand transplantation services by establishing a transplant institute as well as support the mission to maximize the gift of life and health through organ, eye and tissue donation. Boulder City received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The recognition is for the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019. This is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and Vegas Chamber added workforce development professionals to McClelland their teams to help businesses access skilled employees. Jake McClelland is serving as director of workforce Hempe development at the LVGEA, and George Hempe is serving as director of workforce development based at chamber. As part of the LVGEA and chamber teams, they are working to strategically connect with businesses to address their workforce needs and provide employers streamlined access to resources available through the Nevada public workforce development system. The hires are part of a continued partnership between the two organizations and Workforce Connections, Southern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board. The board of the Nevada Conservation League announced Paul Selberg as executive director, and
Verna Mandez as deputy director. Selberg has an extensive work history in Nevada, most recently serving as the state director for Pete Buttiegieg’s presidential campaign. As an activist and community leader, Mandez has focused her work and studies on the disproportional impacts environmental degradation has on communities of color and low-income communities. The Nevada Bankers Association announced its newly elected 2020-21 board of directors, Sullivan which will oversee the association’s strategic direction, legislative advocacy efforts, professional development offerings and member services. With 23 years of commercial banking experience, Ryan Sullivan, president and CEO of Bank of George, was installed as chairman. Other officers include: Craig Kirkland, chair-elect, Nevada State Bank; Ken Mundt, vice chair, Town & Country Bank; BJ North, treasurer, Plumas Bank; and Joyce Smith, secretary, Bank of Nevada. The directors are: Brian Cook, Charles Schwab Trust Company; H. Scott Johnson, Valley Bank of Nevada; David Navarro, Pacific Premier Bank; and Janus Nelson, Wells Fargo. The six hospitals of the Valley Health System have all received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Quality Achievement Awards, along with Mission: Lifeline awards for heart attack diagnosis, intervention and treatment. The awards recognize the hospitals’ commitment to ensuring stroke and heart patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. Each hospital earned its awards by meeting quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular patients at a set level for a designated period. J. Brin Gibson joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
as a shareholder. Gibson previously served as general counsel for Gov. Steve Sisolak and the Nevada executive branch agency directors who relied on him as the chief legal counselor regarding ethics, transactional and legislative matters, as well as protection of state interests in the gaming and cannabis industries. He also worked as head of the gaming division in the Nevada Attorney General’s Office and served as commissioner of the Colorado River Commission of Nevada. Las Vegas achieved LEED Gold certification in recognition of its work to build a sustainable community. The city achieved the certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability and the standard of living for residents. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was created by the U.S. Green Building Council and is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. Joy Gunn was promoted to assistant director of Henderson Libraries, In her new role, Gunn, who has 18 Gunn years of experience with Henderson Libraries, will be responsible for working with public services, information technology, and acquisitions and bibliographic services to coordinate quality library services for the community. Newmark Knight Frank announced that senior managing director Christopher Crooks Crooks has been appointed market leader of the Las Vegas office. He will lead strategic growth initiatives for the office—aligning the goals and objectives of local brokerage with the firm’s overall direction, working to strengthen the company’s brand and elevating client value. Crooks will manage local brokerage profitability, business line growth, development, strategic planning, recruiting and retention.
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HOROSCOPES
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): All the powers and aptitudes you perfected in past lives could prove helpful as you cultivate your genius in the coming weeks. Just kidding. Past achievements are often of secondary importance as you create your future. In fact, your mandate is usually to transcend the old days and old ways. It may be better not to imitate or rely on old stories, no matter how dazzling. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “There are no ordinary feelings,” says poet Dean Young. “Just as there are no ordinary spring days or kicked-over cans of paint.” That will be especially true for you in the coming weeks. You will be host to a wealth of interesting and profound feelings. They might be a bit overwhelming, but they will provide rich opportunities for your soul to grow stronger and more resilient. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “There should be a science of discontent,” said novelist Frank Herbert. “People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles.” Our culture is under the spell of a mass delusion that tempts us to believe “no pain, no gain” is the supreme learning principle. But let’s see how fascination and freedom and generosity can build psychic muscles. CANCER (June 21-July 22): One key to songwriter M.I.A.’s success is the fact that she formulated a clear master plan many years ago, and has used it to guide her decisions. In her song “Matangi,” she refers to it: “If you’re gonna be me, you need a manifesto/If you ain’t got one, you better get one presto.” The coming weeks will be an excellent time to formulate your life’s master plan. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “If you’re not invited to the party, throw your own,” declares singer and actress Diahann Carroll. Use that advice as a metaphor in every way you can imagine. If you’re not getting the love you want from a certain someone, give it to yourself. If no one hands you the opportunity you need, hand it to yourself. Be self-gratifying, self-rewarding, self-acknowledging. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “At the necessary moment, going naked will be your most convincing disguise,” writes poet Dobby Gibson. You can gain key advantages by shifting the image you present to the world—by expressing a part of your identity that is not usually obvious. “Go naked”—i.e., be candid and transparent and vulnerable about your core truths.
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Tea and ale 6 Brunch menu items 13 Difficult to pin down 20 Newswoman Shriver 21 Ancient Italian region 22 Like adoptees and swindle victims 23 Start of a riddle 25 French scholar Peter 26 Buddy 27 Sly-fox link 28 Passenger-screening org. 29 Shallowest Great Lake 30 Crocheted coverlet 33 Mess up 36 Retina spot that might degenerate 38 Chou En- — 39 Riddle, part 2 42 Running herd 45 Marked with stripes 46 Alfie actress Long 47 Ghana’s capital 51 Whiz 52 Printing proof, informally 56 Riddle, part 3 61 Jinx 62 Whim 63 A single time 64 Eastern “way” 65 Shirt tag information 66 Andre of tennis 67 Application to thinning hair 69 Give a job to 71 Zip 72 Abbr. on military mail
74 Lip 75 Almond confection 76 Food fish 77 Riddle, part 4 80 Very little, in recipes 82 — -mo 83 Syrian president since 2000 84 Scottish seaport 85 Skin art 88 Carts away 92 End of the riddle 98 Prefix with lingual 99 Novelist or dramatist 100 Professors’ privileges 101 Provo or Orem native 104 Doily material 105 Belly muscles 107 Old Russian space station 108 Trinity novelist Leon 109 Barge in 111 Riddle’s answer 117 Cleaned thoroughly 118 Runs in 119 Gads about 120 Draft horse’s gear 121 Person icing a cake 122 Fashion flair DOWN 1 X6 carmaker 2 “Go, team!” 3 Distinctive time 4 Coven member 5 Comic — Baron Cohen 6 Female gamete 7 Gibson of Gallipoli 8 Ultimate goal
9 Eases 10 Natural gas component 11 Knotted neckwear 12 Declare 13 Approx. airport stats 14 Ritchie Valens hit 15 Small guitar, for short 16 One drafted for service 17 Trapped by habit 18 Manly 19 Win the affection of 24 Pound fraction 28 Shorten 30 Capone and Pacino 31 Pudgy 32 Big black-andwhite mammal 33 “Yuck!” 34 Football’s Cowboys, on scoreboards 35 Big 1940s computer 37 Crooning cowboy Gene 40 Set — (start wedding plans) 41 R&B singer — Marie 43 Operate wrongly 44 Ratchet wheel engagers 48 When doubled, tot’s train 49 Versatile stoves 50 Peaceful, simple place 53 Goodbye, Columbus author 54 Divide into different districts 55 Some daisies
56 Activist Jagger 57 “No more for me, thanks” 58 NBA Hall of Famer Thomas 59 Stoops (to) 60 Go-getters 65 Spreads apart 67 Public unveilings of products 68 Fishing tools 70 Agra’s Taj — 73 Basil-based green sauce 75 Propel a bike 77 Allowance 78 Unconfined 79 Big laughs 81 Like some lotteries and liquor stores 86 Diatribes 87 Part of SFPD 89 Take forcibly 90 Monkly title 91 Fish part 92 Like a wise bird 93 Lingua — 94 One who triumphs 95 Uno or dos 96 Spring blooms 97 Most minimal 102 Wedding cake layers 103 Knotted neckwear 106 Mattresses’ places 108 Pre-’91 superpower 110 Suffix with script 111 U.K. military fliers 112 Mess up 113 Beatified Fr. woman 114 Wall-climbing plant 115 Food fish 116 Dir. from Fresno to LA
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Playwright Wendy Wasserstein wrote, “Every year I resolve to be a little less the me I know and leave a little room for the me I could be. Every year I make a note not to feel left behind by my friends and family who have managed to change far more than I.” The coming weeks will be an excellent time to launch this ritual as an annual tradition. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I may not lead the most dramatic life,” confesses singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, “but in my brain it’s War and Peace every day.” Your fantasy life may also be filled with epic fairy tales, heroic sagas and tear-jerking myths. It could be quite entertaining and educational. Keep your actual life a little calmer and saner, though. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!” said Helen Keller (1880–1968), who derived excitement and vigor from critiquing injustice. Her lust for life soared as she lent her considerable energy to making life on earth more enjoyable for more people. Consider adopting her attitude in the coming weeks. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Imperfectionists understand that a ferocious drive for utter purity can make things sterile and ugly. They resolve to cultivate excellence while at the same time understanding that irregularities and eccentricities may infuse their work with beauty. Act like an imperfectionist in the coming weeks. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Everything good I’ve ever gotten in life, I only got because I gave something else up,” writes author Elizabeth Gilbert. On some occasions, the most effective strategy for bringing good new influences into our lives is to sacrifice an influence or habit or pattern we’re attached to. And often the thing that needs to be sacrificed is comfortable, consoling or mildly pleasurable. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I and me are always too deeply in conversation,” confessed philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Did he mean his dialogues with himself distracted him from important matters in the world outside of his imagination? Dive into an intense but spacious communion with yourself, but make this a delightful and illuminating conference, not a debilitating argument.
There is no turning back now. Enter Curious. Leave Diierent. It Begins 9
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