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DTP COMPANIES INVITES PARTNERSHIP PROPOSALS So you think you can run Downtown Container Park? Or maybe Fergusons Downtown, the Gold Spike or the Bunkhouse? DTP Companies has set up a link on its official website inviting “partnership inquiries” (dtplv.com/ partnership-inquiry). Accompanying the form—which asks such questions as “What is your vision for Downtown Las Vegas?,” “What is your vision for the selected properties?” and “What is your vision for a parternship with DTP Companies moving forward?”—is a map listing 35 DTPowned entities, including Inspire theater, Zappos headquarters and restaurants such as Nacho Daddy and the Smashed Pig. Last month, nearly three months after the death of former DTP founder and benefactor Tony Hsieh, published reports indicated that his father, Richard, and brother Andrew intended to sell off all of his former Downtown Las Vegas holdings. In the days that followed, however, the local attorney representing the estate disputed that notion. “The properties are not being listed for sale at this time,” the lawyer, Dara Goldsmith, emailed the Weekly. “The notices of sale are simply being filed and published to allow for a possible future sale. ... These filings do not mean that any of the properties will be sold. The estate may retain certain properties and sell others, or it may retain all of the properties. Once the publication process is complete, the estate will consider reviewing serious, written offers.” That statement has also been posted in full on the DTP website. –LVW Staff

MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN LAS VEGAS HITS RECORD HIGH

THEY SAID IT

Bubba Wallace, left, NASCAR’s only Black full-time driver, congratulates Kyle Larson after the latter's March 7 Cup Series race win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The victory was Larson's first since bring reinstated from a nearly yearlong suspension for his use of a racial slur. (John Locher/AP)

PANDEMIC DEALS ANOTHER BLOW TO POKER IN LAS VEGAS

■ “In those months when I was pregnant … we have in tandem the conversation of, ‘He won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title,’ and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.” –Meghan Markle, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired March 7, recounting alleged conversations with members of the royal family about her son, Archie

When casinos reopened in June after the coronavirus shutdown, a number of poker rooms in Las Vegas remained dark, and it seems likely some will never return to action. The pandemic has wiped out about a third of an ■ “The filibuster should be already dwindling number of poker tables in Clark County, painful, it really should be painful and we’ve made it mostly in Las Vegas. more comfortable over the In January 2020, just before the pandemic hit, 35 cayears. Maybe it has to be sinos in Clark County reported revenue from 418 poker more painful. If you want tables, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. to make it a little bit more This January, 21 casinos reported earnings from 282 tables, painful, make him stand there a drop of about 33%. and talk. I’m willing to look The closures are part of a continuing trend further hasat any way we can, but I’m tened by the pandemic, which has drastically cut into Las not willing to take away the Vegas tourism. In the summer of 2010, Las Vegas had more involvement of the minority.” than 1,000 poker tables. –Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., The 28-table poker room at the Encore has reopened on March 7 but has been temporarily moved to the casino floor at the adjacent Wynn Las Vegas with half the number of tables. Ryan Beauregard, Wynn's executive director of poker operations, said the company plans to reopen the Encore poker room, but no timetable has been established. “Demand is slowly starting to creep back up,” Beauregard said. “We’re just now seeing poker play about to outgrow what we’re offering now.” Poker rooms at Strip casinos like the Mirage—once the center of the poker universe—Mandalay Bay and Excalibur remain closed. All three are MGM Resorts International properties. Off the Strip, locals card rooms at places like Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station and Sam’s Town are also still closed. –Bryan Horwath

1 THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK

The Las Vegas Valley existing home market continues to be unflinchingly in seller’s territory. February’s median sale price of $355,000 set a new record for Las Vegas, eclipsing the previous mark of $345,000, which remained unchanged from November through January. That’s up $43,000 from February 2020. Aldo Martinez, president of the Las Vegas Realtors trade group, said there was less than a one-month supply of preowned homes on the market at the end of February. A six-month supply is generally considered a balanced market. The Las Vegas housing market bottomed out in 2012 after the Great Recession, when the median price of an existing home dipped to $118,000. At the time, the market was one of the most depressed in the country. During the pandemic, the Las Vegas market has been much more in line with national trends, which have been influenced by historically low interest rates and a shortage of homes for sale, Las Vegas Realtors said. –Bryan Horwath

VACCINATION PROGRESS

GATHERINGS UPDATE

Nevada health officials reported March 8 that about one in six people statewide have received at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 18.1% of the population has received at least one vaccine dose and 9.4% have gotten two.

Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from the CDC. It also says vaccinated people can come together in the same way with people considered at low-risk for severe disease.

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IN THIS ISSUE

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Cover story: Solved and unsolved Vegas mob mysteries 5ME: Wanna get crafting? Here's how to start Weekly Q&A: Chris Wink talks Blue Man Group, Area15 and more Noise: Who's playing Life Is Beautiful's 2021 festival? The Strip: David Saxe pushes forward with his two theaters

WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD N EWS YO U S H O U L D K N OW A B O U T

Food & Drink: Italian classics and Mexican market discoveries Sports: How should the Raiders address their many needs?

BROWN OUT Offensive tackle Trent Brown, who signed the richest contract in league history for an offensive lineman two years ago but played in just half the team’s games the past two seasons, was traded March 9 to the New England Patriots. The Raiders included a 2022 seventh-round draft pick in the deal, picking up a fifth-rounder from the Patriots. For more Raiders coverage, turn to Page 38.

Jamila Wimberly, aka Jam Poet, performs during a March 8 livestream event from the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip to benefit the Cupcake Girls and celebrate International Women's Day. (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)

TRUMP NAME DISPUTE

RELIEF BILL PASSES

DISNEYLAND REOPENING

The Republican National Committee is defending its right to use former President Donald Trump’s name in fundraising appeals after he demanded they put an end to the practice. “No more money for RINOS,” Trump responded, urging his supporters to instead donate directly to his Save America PAC.

After laboring all night March 6 on a mountain of amendments, bleary-eyed senators approved the sprawling $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package on a 5049 party-line vote. The next step: approval by the House so it could be sent to President Joe Biden to become law.

California on March 5 cleared a path for fans to hit the stands at opening-day baseball games and return to Disneyland nearly a year after coronavirus restrictions shuttered major entertainment spots. The new public health rules will take effect April 1.

LV W H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

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GUT INSTINCT There’s a whole universe in your digestive system. Learn to be its master

(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

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he theme song of an ’80s sitcom goes, “You take the good, you take the bad/You take them both and there you have/The facts of life.” The same can be said of our gut microbiome, the complex system— comprising 300 to 500 species of good and bad bacteria—that affects not just our digestive system but also has links to mental health, autoimmune diseases, endocrine disorders, cancer and more. Over the past couple of decades, scientists have amassed a wealth of knowledge about the gut, beyond that one long input/output tube that we think of as our digestive system. It turns out, there’s a whole lot going on in there, and paying attention to what we put in our bodies can greatly affect all of our other systems, from our ability to fight off disease to our moods. “So in our guts, we grow bacteria, good and bad,” says Samantha Coogan, director of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at UNLV. “That bacteria affects bloating or digestion, proper digestion, indigestion, things of that nature. So when we overconsume foods that promote bad bacterial growth, we start to see infections arise, some longer-term complications and then just overall GI [gastrointestinal] discomfort in general.” The kind of flora that proliferates in our gut is tied directly to our diet. Fiber promotes the colonization of good bacteria, while excessive sugar and processed foods wreak havoc on the microbiome (see sidebar). And while there are long-term health implications to poor gut health, there are also immediate repercussions to an imbalance of bacteria. The most obvious and noticeable, Coogan says, is excessive flatulence and burping. An occasional occurrence is normal, but if it’s a persistent condition, it might be an indication that you should get your GI tract examined. Another clue is your bowel movement. “It’s the one part of dietetics that nobody ever wants to talk about,

but our feces and our urine tell us a lot about our health,” Coogan says. “So [don’t be] afraid to look into the toilet to see what your feces actually looks like, because the different colors and shapes will also give you an indication as to what your gut is actually performing like.” Also, Coogan says, “How often you actually have a bowel movement is another indicator. It’s most common for people to have at least one to two bowel movements per day. There are anomalies in between—traveling, stress and the like. But if you’re going days without a bowel movement, that could also be a cause for concern.” The long-term health implications of poor gut health and bacterial overgrowth can be serious, according to Coogan. It can potentially lead

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GOOD GUT FOODS UNLV nutritionist Samantha Coogan has come up with an easy way to remember which foods are good for the gut: the three Fs and the three Ps. Fiber-rich. These foods tend to promote bifidobacteria, good bacteria that aid the gut lining. So incorporate more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds in your diet.

O EF

Fermented. Foods full of lactobacilli bacteria, beneficial for promoting gut health. These include yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi and pickles.

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to short bowel syndrome, as well as diverticulitis, in which small, bulging pouches develop in the digestive tract, causing a lot of pain. Constant inflammation in the gut could also exacerbate autoimmune disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. But the good news is that you can be proactive in creating a welcoming environment in your gut for probiotic (live bacteria found in certain foods such as yogurt) and prebiotic bacteria (beneficial bacteria that digest fibrous elements from certain types of carbs) by being discerning about the food you eat. “They’re two different types of bacteria that work best in conjunction with each other and have a synergistic effect,” Coogan says. “Basically, they come in and try to fight off as many foreign bodies as they’re able to.”

Limiting fake foods. Artificial sweeteners and processed sugars are culprits for bloating and poor bacterial health. They promote infection and overgrowth in certain areas over a long period of time. So yes, give up that Diet Coke. Prebiotics. Types of dietary fiber the healthy bacteria in your gut love to eat. Examples include dandelion greens, asparagus, bananas, apples and flaxseeds. Probiotic. Though you can add probi-

otic supplements (available in health food stores) to your diet, Coogan says it’s easy enough to get it from a regular diet. The fermented foods mentioned above contain plenty of probiotics for your daily needs. Polyphenols. Another great way to promote gut health, Coogan says. Find them in green tea, cocoa, grape skins, almonds, berries, broccoli and other fruits and vegetables that also fall into the fiber category.

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HEALTHY OR HARMFUL? Debate rages about whether essential oils are safe for cats

BY LESLIE VENTURA

f you’re a cat person, there’s nothing better than the company of your feline friends. But cats are notoriously finicky creatures, and they’re sensitive and moody, just like us. If you’re trying to keep an anxious kitty calm—or treat more serious health conditions—there’s lots of information online that can help, but it’s often contradictory. Take the case of essential oils: Some claim those plant extracts can help to keep kitties happy and healthy, while others insist they’re hazardous to cats’ well-being.

(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

“It’s very controversial, even within the rescue world,” explains Carrie Lu, a volunteer and foster at Vegas Cat Rescue. “A lot of people say essential oils are not good for animals. You have to be extremely careful.” Lu first began experimenting with essential oils when nine of her foster kittens contracted ringworm. “I was extremely frustrated—I had ringworm in my house for nine months, and nothing would work. I went to the vet’s office and received a lot of prescriptions, but those didn’t work, and it didn’t go away. So I started to look for other alternatives.” Lu clarifies that not all essential oils are safe for use on cats. In fact, many are harmful, if not toxic and potentially deadly, especially when applied directly to a cat’s fur. According to petpoisonhelpline.org, droplets dispersed by essential oil diffusers, though small, “pose a risk to cats.” Essential oil microdroplets can collect on a cat’s coat, then be absorbed

directly through the skin or ingested during grooming. The Pet Poison Helpline website reads: “Drooling, vomiting, tremors, ataxia [wobbliness], respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure can potentially develop, depending on the type of essential oil that was used and the dose that the cat was exposed to. “Like oil and water, essential oils and cats really do not mix. Owners should be cautious using essential oils and diffusers in their homes in order

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PETS to protect their cat(s) from a toxic risk. Most importantly, concentrated essential oils should never be directly applied to cats.” For that reason, the founder of AnimalEO, a company that makes essential oils for cats, began researching these potent chemicals in search of a safer way for both animals and humans to enjoy their benefits. “Essential oils continue to be a controversial subject in the world of veterinary medicine,” reads the veterinary website of AnimalEO founder Dr. Melissa Shelton. “After meeting many successful essential oil users, [the] holistic veterinarian became dedicated to uncovering the truth behind the toxicity reports in animals.”

And from the Animal EO website, animaleo.info: “Most of what you read on the internet, and even in the veterinary community, is a huge warning about using essential oils around animals. Danger [is] the theme, especially where cats and birds were concerned. “I could not understand why there could be so much bad press out there on essential oil use and animals,” the website continues. “However, there were still some people who clearly had some pretty amazing results.” The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends erring on the side of caution. “In their concentrated form, essential oils can absolutely be a danger for pets,” the group explains. But “using an oil diffuser for a short time period in a secured area, one that your dog or cat cannot access, is not likely to be an issue.” Because the research on essential oils and pets isn’t clear, Shelton decided to take the matter into her own hands. “I drew blood and urine samples prior to introducing essential oils into our home, and continued to monitor them afterward.” On her site, Shelton reports that she recorded her cat’s behaviors, respiratory rates and responses when they had a health concern. Now, she creates essential oil blends made specifically for pets at concentrations that should be safe for animals. “Being able to provide a product that will actually carry the proper use recommendations for cats, dogs, horses, cows, exotics or any animal is of huge importance,” Shelton says on her site, adding that her products are specifically designed for animals rather than humans. Lu, like many other cat parents, continues to use essential oils in moderation on her pets, but it’s important

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to know the risk factors involved, and what signs to look out for if your pet experiences a toxic reaction like essential oil poisoning. After Lu’s foster kittens’ ringworm resolved, her oldest cat also got very sick. “She was losing weight. I could feel the bones in her spine, and I could tell she was deteriorating,” Lu says. After vets repeatedly told her there wasn’t much they could do, she took her pet to her own holistic doctor. And, she says, the results were surprising. “She gained her weight back, and she’s more active today than she was three years ago,” Lu says. Lu’s doctor gave her cat a treatment involving liquid oxygen—a tincture composed of multiple holistic remedies, including essential oils. Her cat’s recovery was so impressive that Lu partnered with her doctor to start selling the remedy through the Vegas Cat Rescue website. “Now, everywhere I go, I tell people about liquid oxygen,” she says. Even if you opt to avoid essential oils, there are other ways to provide comfort to cats through diffusion. Calming aids, like Feliway, plug into electrical outlets and approximate the pheromones released by the mother when kittens begin to nurse. “By mimicking this bonding pheromone, Feliway creates a state of calmness and comfort to alleviate tension and conflict between cats,” the product description reads. While undetectable by humans, the plug-ins can reportedly be beneficial to highly anxious cats. While the topic of essential oils for animals might be contested for a long time, there are a multitude of safe and effective treatments for cats. If you’re considering trying a product but don’t know if it’s feline-friendly, consult your veterinarian for the most up-to-date guidance and information.

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MOB TALES MO (AP Photo)

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UNSOLVED

GUS GREENBAUM ■ The December 4, 1958, Arizona Republic front-page headline reads, “Phoenix Couple Murdered: Greenbaums Gang Victims?” A photo shows Bess Greenbaum’s body, facedown on the couch with her hands tied behind her back. Though it’s black and white, the image is disturbing. Viewers can see the bottoms of her dress shoes and just make out the butcher knife that cut her and her husband Gus’ throats. (Both also suffered head trauma.) A plastic bag, likely used by the killer, is left at her feet. The newspaper describes how housekeeper Pearl Ray found Bess’ body when arriving for work in the morning. Ray told the Republic she ran to the neighbors upon discovering the scene. The quick departure spared her from the sight of Gus’ corpse in the bedroom, “clad in beige silk pajamas” and “almost decapitated,” according to the article. Ray was briefly hospitalized due to shock. From the first reports, the double homicide was controversial. Was it mob-related? In that first article, Arizona Republic journalist Gene McLain wrote, “Despite the unwillingness of Phoenix police immediately to blame gangland vengeance, and Las Vegas officers’ disclaimer of it, there were these trademarks: There was no break-in, the killers apparently having the site and time well-planned.” Later, McLain shared one of the few tangible clues: “Two men, perhaps hired killers, are believed to have done the job. Police found shoeprints and cigarette ashes in an areaway beside the garage, where the killers may have waited.” UNLV history professor Michael Green says the messiness of the murder scene points away from the mob. “If the mob is going to kill you, they have a pro. It isn’t amateur hour, and it looks kind of amateurish.” Then again, the way the killers got away points to the mob’s ability to cover its tracks, Green posits, as does the very fact that the murder took place in Phoenix. “There was an old saying that they would never take some-

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1893-1958 body out here,” Green says. “They didn’t want the Las Vegas dateline on a mob murder.” So who could have done it, and why? By many definitions, Gus Greenbaum was a paragon of Vegas success. Nicknamed the “Mayor of Paradise,” the business whiz helped lead the El Cortez; he made the Flamingo profitable after Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s death; and he was called in from retirement to save the Riviera from debt. “Greenbaum understood the usefulness of the showroom. … He understood gaming,” says Vegas author John L. Smith, “but the flaws of his character really took over.” As time went on, Greenbaum’s problems with opioid addiction, heavy drinking, gambling and womanizing became an issue. Smith says that in today’s world, a character like Greenbaum would never have been given a gaming license. “But of course, back then, they didn’t look too closely at people’s backgrounds,” he says. Greenbaum’s personal issues made him erratic, and thus a threat to the mob. He also upset the mob by hiring onetime mob rat Willie Bioff to lead entertainment (Bioff would himself be murdered in 1955). And rumor had it Greenbaum was taking money from the hotel to fund his lifestyle. “It would make sense that the mob would want to discourage that,” Green says. “It’s OK to skim for the mob. It’s not OK to skim from the mob.” As to whom might have ordered or carried out the Greenbaum hit … there was a suspicious meeting of mob bosses in Tucson five days before the double murder. There are rumors that some known thieves could have done it, and others involving the Miami mob. But ultimately, nothing was ever proven and no one was ever charged. “That’s an unsolved murder,” Smith says, “but as Frank Rosenthal said after he got blown up and survived, it wasn’t the Boy Scouts, right?” Further reading: bit.ly/3ca3HOU.

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BILL COULTHARD

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1916-1972

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Bill Coulthard (Sun File)

n Gaming attorney and board chair of the Mob Museum Jeffrey Silver had his own brush with Las Vegas mob history on the afternoon of July 25, 1972. “I was working across the street at the Clark County Courthouse,” Silver recalls by email. “I was leaving the building to go to my car when I heard a loud BOOM! Smoke then came billowing out of the third floor of [the] garage facing Bridger Street. I figured that it was a car fire that blew up the gas tank of a car, but learned later it was an explosive device that had detonated, killing [Bill] Coulthard.” Coulthard had been a pillar of Las Vegas law enforcement. He was the first to head the FBI’s local office and went on to become a respected attorney. He was a popular figure in the Democratic Party and a resident of the exclusive Rancho Circle neighborhood. “The idea that he would be blown up so audaciously—in a bank garage in Downtown—stunned the whole community,” author John L. Smith says. The brazen murder went against the mob’s preference for preserving the appearance of safety in Las Vegas. So who did it, and why? A prevailing theory points to a dispute between casino magnate Benny Binion and Coulthard. Through family connections, the attorney owned the land beneath Binion’s Horseshoe Casino. The lease was up for renewal and Coulthard was playing hardball. After he died, a 100-year lease was signed. “It was hotter than an oven. You turned to water when you walked up the ramp to where the explosion took place. It was a terrible, horrible scene,” retired homicide detective Beecher Avants told the Las Vegas Sun in 2000 of his experience responding to the explosion. The article discussed a new lead that promised to solve the cold case. But 21 years later, it remains unsolved. Many believe bomb-loving mob hit men Tom Hanley and his son Gramby were the perpetrators, hired by Binion. “It’s interesting that America’s great law enforcement investigators were unable to investigate the murder of one of their own people,” Smith says. (Sun File)

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SOLVED AL BRAMLET 1917-1977

■ A flamboyant dresser and bon vivant, Elmer “Al” Bramlet was the old Vegas kind of labor leader. When a restaurant refused to unionize, legend has it, the Culinary Union secretary-treasurer simply had them bombed. “It was pretty well known that Bramlet took the curves on the accelerator instead of the brake,” says UNLV history professor Michael Green. The story goes, Bramlet hired union organizer and muscle Tom Hanley (and possibly his son Gramby) to hit a string of non-union Las Vegas spots—Alpine Village Restaurant, David’s Place, the Village Pub and Starboard Tack— and when bombs didn’t go off at the latter two locations, Bramlet refused to pay the Hanleys $10,000. “Bramlet may have suffered from something that frankly a lot of mobsters suffer from, that a lot of politicians suffer from … they’re convinced of their invul-

nerability,” Green says. “I think Bramlet trusted [the Hanleys] to stick with him. They picked him up at the airport, and I don’t know that he went unwillingly.” As they were driving out of McCarran on February 24, 1977, the elder Hanley proposed that they go for a ride. “I don’t think it was hard for Al to figure out they were not there to hang out and look at the scenery,” Green says. The controversial labor leader was missing for three weeks before a pair of hikers stumbled upon his corpse buried under some rocks near Mount Potosi, about 30 miles southwest of Las Vegas. It was a striking, high-profile death. “There were plenty of people who didn’t like Al Bramlet,” Green says. “But the Hanleys were the ones who [confessed]. It wasn’t even a matter of even really investigating.” Father and son Hanley both received life sentences. The elder died in prison in 1979. (Sun File)

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UNSOLVED BUGSY SIEGEL, 1906-1947

■ Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel—Prohibition-era bootlegger-turned-co-founder of Murder Inc.-turned-casino manager—benefits from the most gruesome sort of fame: The handsome man was violently murdered at a (relatively) young age (41). He’s buried at the Hollywood Forever cemetery, he’s been the subject of books and movies, and he’s still getting attention. Siegel’s hooded eyes stare out from the letter ‘E’ in the Arts District’s “Greetings From Las Vegas” postcard mural, painted only last December. Who’d want to shoot the gangster in the head while he sat in the Beverly Hills home of his girlfriend Virginia Hill? “That’s the $24,000 question,” says University of Missouri history professor Larry D. Gragg, author of the 2015 book Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel: The Gangster, the Flamingo and the Making of Modern Las Vegas. “There are so many possible explanations. It’s like watching a complex murder mystery where the author identifies a dozen possible culprits.” Possible reasons for his hit: conflict over the race wire, a pre-internet method of facilitating sports betting; LA-based mafia don Jack Dragna might have wanted him dead; Las Vegas mob/casino boss Moe Dalitz could have ordered the hit because Siegel was abusing his ex-girlfriend Hill; the list goes on. Gragg says that the most likely explanation is that organized crime wanted to eliminate Siegel because it was believed he was mismanaging or skimming money from the Flamingo. Nearly 75 years later, the case remains open, which, ironically, might be preventing sleuths from helping to solve it. “We would know a lot more if researchers could look at the investigation file in the Beverly Hills Police Department archives,” Gragg says. “I’ve tried two different police chiefs to get access, and they’ve both rejected my request, saying that they don’t let anyone look at the files of open cases.”

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(AP Photo)

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UNSOLVED(?) SONNY LISTON C.1930-1970 ■ According to the Clark County Coroner’s Office, former heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston died of natural causes. Did the strapping athlete—who was past his prime but still a world-ranked boxer—simply drop dead due to lung congestion and heart failure? Or was it something more sinister? Some say the man who famously feared needles died of a heroin overdose. Others say that he was murdered by way of purposeful overdose. The Paradise Palms home where he was found days dead and decomposing by his wife, Geraldine, offered conflicting clues. Liston rose from an impoverished upbringing to become a boxing champion, but he never quite escaped his past. The mob managed Liston’s boxing career. And as that wound down, he lived a life of danger: dealing and using drugs, womanizing, collecting for loan sharks. “He was a hoodlum,” says author John L. Smith. Did the underworld finally come for him? The world might never know, but everybody has a theory. In 2019, the BBC even called Liston’s cause of death “one of sport’s most enduring mysteries.” Because his death was never ruled a homicide, “leads surfaced that haven’t been followed, suspects died with their secrets and stories haven’t been told,” Shaun Assael wrote in his 2016 book, The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights. “This was a death that was sped into the shadows by local officials who did not want the scrutiny on boxing,” Smith says. “Did the mob kill him? It certainly could have.” Friends and sparring partners, including Vegas boxing gym namesake Johnny Tocco, felt he was murdered. “All of them had a certain amount of information that led them to believe,” Smith says. “The mob, that’s who did it,” Ben “Big Ben” Skelton, a Summerlin-based sparring partner of Liston’s, told the Las Vegas Sun in 2008. “They shot him up. He owned those people a lot of money.”

(Sun File)

MOB TALES

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(Courtesy/Mob Museum)

FRANK CULLOTTA “He became a better person. It’s like Frank Cullotta gets to be happy, gets to have a life.” –author John L. Smith

■ If anybody was destined for a life of crime, it was Frank Cullotta. Born in Chicago to a getaway driver, Cullotta was childhood friends with Tony “the Ant” Spilotro, who would grow up to be an infamous Las Vegas mob boss. Indeed, Cullotta went on to become a convicted burglar, an admitted murderer, a member of Las Vegas’ infamous “Hole in the Wall Gang” and later, an FBI informant. Yet through it all, Cullotta somehow managed to avoid getting killed. “Frank was very perceptive,” says Dennis Griffin, a law enforcement officer-turned-true crime author who co-wrote several books with Cullotta. “What Cullotta lacked in formal education, he made up for in street

1938-2020 smarts. He could sense danger; he could read people; he could figure motivations; and he was very savvy. He knew that if he got whacked, it would be by somebody he knew.” Over time, he matured. “He did evolve over the years, substantially from what he was back in the mob days,” Griffin says. Cullotta found God and made peace with his past. He co-wrote books, went on TV, did speaking appearances, served as a tour guide and, in the final year of his life, created a “Coffee With Cullotta” YouTube channel. “He became a better person,” author John L. Smith says. “It’s weird. It’s like Frank Cullotta gets to be happy, gets to have a life.

There were people in his life who really cared for him, and they weren’t guys who owed him money and they weren’t guys who were afraid he might kill them.” Cullotta might have outlived his enemies, but he couldn’t escape the hand of time. On August 20, 2020, Cullotta died of COVID-19 at age 81. His last book, Frank Cullotta’s Greatest (Kitchen) Hits, was co-written with Griffin and published posthumously. “We became not just a business relationship, we became close friends,” Griffin says. “When he passed away last August, he was one of my closest friends … if not the closest friend.”

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MOB TALES A VITAL RESOURCE

(Sun File)

Peeking inside the Mob Museum

FACT OR FICTION? BURIED IN THE DESERT Legend has it that mobsters buried their victims in the desert. The phrase “86’d” is said to refer to dumping a body 8 miles out of town and 6 feet under. But how often did it really happen? Geoff Schumacher, the Mob Museum’s vice president of exhibits and programs, says the practice occurs more often in movies than it actually did throughout history. “When you look at actual cases of mob murders or missing persons related to the mob, you don’t find that many bodies buried out in the desert,” Schumacher says. While there were certainly instances of desert burials, Schumacher says the mob purposefully avoided doing its dirty work in and around Las Vegas. “They didn’t want to hurt the golden goose,” Schumacher says. “If there were the kind of mob murders that you would see in New York or Chicago going on in Las Vegas, it might scare [tourists] away.” That’s why famous Vegas mobsters were mur-

dered elsewhere. Tony “The Ant” Spilotro and his brother were killed in Illinois. Riviera casino manager Gus Greenbaum and his associate Willie Bioff were assassinated, on separate occasions, in Arizona. And Bugsy Siegel was shot in Beverly Hills. The list also likely includes anonymous mob underlings who simply disappeared. On the other hand, the desert is “a pretty convenient place to throw someone,” says author John L. Smith. “That was always a good threat, an ominous threat: ‘I’m gonna throw you down a mine shaft.’” Smith points to one gruesome tale as an example: The disembodied head of Las Vegas mobster and nightclub entrepreneur Tony Albanese was found in the desert near Needles, California, in June 1981. Then again, desert burials might just be a thing when you live in … a desert. “I think the idea of burying people in the desert predates the mob,” says UNLV history professor Michael Green. “There are stories of fur trappers who left some people to die.”

As cities go, Las Vegas keeps more secrets than most—from simple “what happens here, stays here” infidelities to unsolved murders. But we also have a not-so-secret weapon in the search for truth: the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, aka Downtown’s Mob Museum. “Really, in the entire United States, there’s really only one place that is a repository for the entire nation’s history of organized crime and law enforcement,” says Geoff Schumacher, the Mob Museum’s vice president of exhibits and programs. The museum opened in 2012, so it’s relatively new as institutions go, but it arrived preloaded with some mob history of its own: The building hosted the 1950-51 Kefauver Hearings on organized crime. Schumacher says the museum is still growing and actively seeking artifacts of both Old Vegas and the mob, so if you have something in your attic, reach out. “We want this material to help tell these stories at the Mob Museum, where 400,000 people a year from all walks of life can see it,” Schumacher says. 300 Stewart Ave., 702-229-2734, themobmuseum.org. Daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m., $17+.

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5-MINUTE EXPERT

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CRAFT SERVICES These classes and supplies will get your creativity flowing BY C. MOON REED

s your social media feed full of other people’s amazing crafts creations? Do you have the inspiration but not the knowhow? Getting crafty can be intimidating, but with the help of these resources, you can stop dreaming and begin creating.

ONLINE LEARNING

Remember when you had to go to an in-person class to learn from a teacher? Now you can learn in the comfort of your pajamas, thanks to the magic of the internet. And if you’re willing to pay a few bucks, your opportunities grow even more. ■ 21-Draw.com: These online classes focus on visual art and are taught by Disney, Pixar and Marvel creators. Learn character design, figure drawing, shading, Photoshop and more from industry professionals. $17/month or $199/year. ■ Domestika.org: From classes in DIY pop-up books to crochet creatures to animation and graphic design, this San Francisco-based spot is the self-proclaimed “largest community for creative professionals.” Purchase classes individually or in bundles, starting at about $9. ■ MasterClass.com: If you must learn from the masters, then MasterClass is for you. Learn about creativity from St. Vincent, design from Frank Gehry, photography from Annie Leibovitz and more. $180/year. ■ SkillShare.com: A premium membership unlocks unlimited access to thousands of classes in all sorts of enriching pursuits, including sewing, leatherworking, origami, block printing and art therapy. Starts around $8 per month, with some free classes available. ■ YouTube.com: This is the biggest resource of all, and it’s free. If you can dream it, there’s surely a YouTube tutorial on how to do it.

Other online resources • ArtClassesForKids.com • Craftsy.com • CreativeBug.com • CreativeLive.com/craft • DrawBotanical.com • Lynda.com • Michaels.com/onlineclasses • SketchbookSkool.com • TheSpruceCrafts.com

CRAFT SUBSCRIPTION BOXES

Meal prep kit delivery subscriptions are all the rage. So why not try the same for crafting? A craft subscription box will provide you with the instructions, tools and supplies for a fun, new monthly creation. Talent doesn’t come in the box, but you generally don’t need specific skills to have a super fun time. ■ The Adults & Crafts Crate: These monthly projects follow the latest craft trends, like wood burning, candlemaking, embossing and epoxy resin crafting. $30+/month, cratejoy. com/subscription-box/theadultsandcraftscrate. ■ The Crafter’s Box: Gorgeous, high-quality craft kit with artist-led workshops and an emphasis on “slow crafting.” $65/month, thecraftersbox.com.

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5-MINUTE EXPERT

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West Charleston Library (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)

■ Home Made Luxe Craft Kit: Make Pinterest-inspired crafts that will decorate your home. $40/month, homemadeluxe.com. ■ Maker Crate: KiwiCo offers creative boxes for all ages, including some for adults. Sample craft projects include macramé planters, punch-needle pillows, wire sculpting and more. $25+, kiwico.com. ■ SketchBox: Rather than a specific project, each SketchBox comes with a themed collection of basic or premium art supplies. A how-to video accompanies each box, but you do you. $25-$35/month plus $5 shipping, getsketchbox.com. ■ We Craft Box: This art subscription box is for kids up to age 9ish. Each box contains a story and materials for two kids to make two or three crafts. $25+ per, wecraftbox.com.

LOCAL RESOURCES

■ Clay Arts Vegas Pottery: Classes, wheel-throwing workshops, ceramic supplies, gallery and more. 1353 Arville St., 702-375-4147, clayartsvegas.com. ■ Corks ’n Crafts: Make crafts and drink? Yes, please! Downtown Summerlin, 702-684-7223, corksncrafts.com. ■ Desert Art Supplies: This family-owned art shop has been serving Las Vegans since 1957. In addition to fine art supplies, it carries how-to books, origami paper, paint-by-number kits, spray paint and more. The Henderson location offers art classes, currently limited to six students apiece. 2003 E. Charleston Blvd, 702-382-5404; 2750 N. Green Valley Parkway, 702-451-8040; desertartsupplies.com. ■ Dick Blick: It’s a joy to wander through this art and craft supply store and dream up all your fun future projects. 6300 W. Charleston Blvd. #130, 702-368-0209, dickblick.com. ■ Left of Center Gallery: Artist Marylou Parker teaches drawing on Wednesdays, and artist Harold Bradford teaches painting on Thursdays. 2207 W. Gowan Road, 702-647-7378, leftofcenterart.org. ■ The Paper Bunny: The self-proclaimed “largest scrapbook store in Las Vegas” also offers classes and events. 6811 S. Eastern Ave. #101A, 702-7782424, thepaperbunnyvegas.com. ■ Your local library: Don’t overlook this bastion of free knowledge, served through books, videos, online workshops and more. Lvccld.org, hendersonlibraries.com.

Other local resources Cottage, 1326 Wyoming St., Ann’s Craft Cottage Boulder City, 702-294-4465, annscraftcottage.com. Board & Brush Creative Studio, 4790 S. Fort Apache Road, 702-545-6517, boardandbrush.com. Color Me Mine, 9350 W. Sahara Ave. #120, 702-522-7119, lasvegas.colormemine.com. Legendary’s Art Supply, 1000 S. 3rd St., Suite E, 702-904-1519, legendarys702.com. (Shutterstock/Photo Illustrations)

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ENDLESS

Blue Man Group co-founder Chris Wink collaborates with Area15—and the possibilities are infinite BY GEOFF CARTER

ou might not immediately recognize Chris Wink’s name or face, but you know his hue. A co-founder (with Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton) of Blue Man Group, Wink has been steadily expanding Las Vegas’ feel for the surreal since BMG arrived at the Luxor in 1997. Though Wink stepped away from the BMG organization in 2017, he’s not done bringing the unexpected to our city’s entertainment scene. As Area15’s Director of Content and Cool Sh*t, he’s bringing all his theatrical know-how to that entertainment, dining, retail and experience complex. With Area15’s Wink World: Portals Into the Infinite, a gallery of strikingly kinetic infinity rooms, Wink has widened his palette to include every point of the color spectrum. He spoke to the Weekly about the liberating feeling he gets from working with Area15, and what it takes to corner the Slinky market.

What convinced you it was time to step away from Blue Man Group? Was it just time to go? Yeah, and looking back, it was such a good choice. For many years I woke up every day thinking I had the best job in the world. But it got to a point where I was in a bit of a rut—I kept repeating myself. I had a desire to keep the organization going: How do we market it? And I looked at myself and said, “When did I stop being an artist and become a corporate guy? I gotta get out of here.” So, I started working on Wink World on my own. I went from having this whole organization at my disposal to just myself and my trusty tech guy, down in my living room. And when [Area15 Chief Creative Officer] Michael

Beneville invited me to meet [Chief Executive Officer] Winston Fisher and see what they were up to, I was like, “Oh, man, this feels like the old days.” I got into this amazing situation where I got my little playground, and a bigger playground, too. I love collaborating with large teams, and that’s my job as Area15’s Director of Cool Sh*t. But I also like having [Wink World], where I really feel like an artist. I can make choices based on my own stupid impulses. I mean, for this I bought all the neon translucent Slinkys in North America. During COVID-induced shortages, no less. That’s a real accomplishment. I had it cornered! I’m quite confident that I got all of them.

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

THE WEEKLY Q&A

NEW WORLD I don’t want to tell readers too much about Wink World; it needs to be experienced firsthand. But can you say a bit about how you conceived it? I was playing in my bathroom. I’d put some black lights in there … and I happened to have a couple of bags of leftover toys from one of my kids’ birthday parties—cheap Slinkys, things that glow. I started hanging them obsessively from the ceiling, and then I got some mirrors and put them on the wall. … [I’m not] like those people who can see a finished result in their brain, like a painter or architect. My process is iterative, and it’s based on play. I was literally playing. I tried this, I tried that, and it just kept going until it spilled out into my living room. Then I got a little bit of help and motorized the

Slinkys. I just gave myself permission to follow this muse, follow this game to wherever. And it just didn’t stop. It really doesn’t. You get completely lost in Wink World’s pieces. That’s the thing about every infinity room I’ve been in… The only thing I didn’t like about the Yayoi Kusama exhibit that I went to is that there was me all over it. I was reflecting in the mirror; I was in the way. And I wanted to see her stuff! In some ways, the infinity mirror experience is almost a psychedelic experience. It’s not psychedelic in that you feel like you’re on drugs necessarily, but it’s psychedelic in the sense that you can have an experience of flipping from kind of an ego or a self-conscious presence to sort of the opposite of that.

WINK WORLD: PORTALS INTO THE INFINITE Monday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m.; Friday, 3 p.m.-midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; $20. Area15, 3215 S. Rancho Drive, winkworld.com.

(Left) Chris Wink; (above) Wink World at Area15 (Laurent Velazquez/Courtesy)

Any kind of mirror increases your self-consciousness: There I am, oh, my God. But the funny thing about an infinity mirror room is that you have the opposite feeling. You can’t pay attention to yourself, because you’re repeated and there’s other patterns and you just become kind of color in this long fractal. But at the same time, I do get a little frustrated when I want to look around. … [Wink World uses] two-way mirrors, so instead of seeing yourself, except in the few times when I want you to see yourself, you sort of get out of the way. The Strip’s take on art has evolved over the years, from paintings hung in low-traffic casino hallways to the huge reception that greeted Yayoi Kusama’s Bellagio exhibition in 2019. Could something as art-focused as Area15 have existed in Vegas’ tourist corridor 20 years ago? I couldn’t even see Blue Man going to Vegas 20 years ago. When we came in, we said, “This is either going to be the worst idea ever or it’s going to be really interesting.” And the fact that we weren’t like everything else made it interesting for people. People really do have a desire to see something new. Another difference between then and now is that many of the Blue Man and Cirque employees are residents. Here we are in a pandemic, Area15 opens, and it’s basically the locals coming in. There’s a giant community here of people that either are in the arts or value the arts. I’m thinking that it’s actually lucky for us that Wink World and Area15 have opened without many tourists in town. We’re developing a relationship with this very diverse, very sophisticated community. They’re hungry to try things; they’re curious. It’s very exciting.

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BIG THIS WEEK

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON In theaters and streaming on Disney+ (for an additional $30), this sumptously animated film is also a first-rate buddy comedy, with characters voiced by Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina teaming up to save the world. Disney+.

TV FILM PODCAST

THE GAMBLERS

THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY

A rebellious bookie, a last-of-his-kind pool hustler, a mom who leads a double life as a blackjack whiz and even an amateur investor who won at GameStop stocks—these are some of the life stories explored in this anthology series on the Ringer podcast network, hosted by writer and self-proclaimed gambler David Hill. Each episode is about an hour, allowing space for the listener to get lost in the cinematic storytelling. Theringer.com/gamblers-podcast. –C. Moon

Director Lee Daniels focuses on the most tragic aspects of the jazz vocalist’s short history, particularly the way the United States government used Holiday’s addictions to paint her as a criminal and silence her efforts toward social justice for Black people. Starring Golden Globe winner Andra Day in the lead role, it’s a must-watch, whether or not you already know some of Holiday’s heartbreaking story. Hulu. –Leslie Ventura

FAST FOODIES If you’ve ever wondered what happens at your favorite neighborhood restaurant when the kitchen closes and the staff starts to unwind, it might look a little like this new series starring Top Chef alums Kristen Kish, Justin Sutherland and Jeremy Ford. There’s a little booze, a lot of trash talk and a celebrity guest each week, inspiring these creative culinarians to mimic and renovate fast food favorites. They’ve already seduced comedian Bobby Lee with Egg McMuffin upgrades and blown away actor Joel McHale with optimal Chicago dogs. It’ll make you hungry and happy. Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., TruTV. –Brock Radke

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HOW TO SAVE THE PLANET This weekly podcast, hosted by Alex Blumberg and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, is a sobering (but friendly) dissection of our climate crisis, over topics ranging from recycling to electric cars. Spotify.

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Andra Day as Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu/Courtesy)

OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

AUDIOBOOK

tra

G at

MUSIC

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH

ARAB STRAP: AS DAYS GET DARK

I grew up with Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer’s 1961 fantasy adventure The Phantom Tollbooth. (The 2011 annotated edition, with its crisply rendered versions of Feiffer’s illustrations, is worth owning.) Initially I doubted that the 2019 audiobook, read by The Office’s Rainn Wilson, would capture the nuances of its clever wordplay; happily, I was wrong. Wilson performs the story with a warmth and humor that fills the heart. Juster died March 8 at age 91, but his memory endures in Milo’s timeless adventures. Available on Audible, Play Books, Libby. –Geoff Carter

Arab Strap’s albums always sounded as if they were written for end times, so it’s fitting that the Scottish duo—vocalist Aidan Moffat and instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton—just released its first record in 16 years. As Days Get Dark lives up to its harrowing title, as Moffat’s familiar brogue speaks of romances wrecked and lives lost. Yet amid the lyrical anguish there’s musical uplift, as songs like “Here Comes Comus!” and “The Turning of Our Bones” stir the heart and compel the listener to, as Moffat suggests on the latter track, “live now, before we’re back below.” –Spencer Patterson

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NOISE

O T K C A B

Downtown fest Life Is Beautiful announces its 2021 lineup, topped by Billie Eilish, Green Day and Tame Impala BY SPENCER PATTERSON

magine planning a massive music festival, canceling it and then planning it all over again, not knowing if you’d just have to cancel it again. That’s been the routine for Life Is Beautiful organizers during the past year, as the pandemic halted live entertainment across the world. “We installed a mentality within the team, this mantra of, ‘Make a plan, break a plan, make a new plan,’” LIB Partner Justin Weniger tells the Weekly. “We felt a heightened sense of responsibility to our community, knowing how

important this would be in a city that relies so heavily on entertainment and live events to drive household income,” Weniger continues. “So we always wanted to be ready for the moment when COVID was starting to break and the timing was looking right, so that we’d be in a position to send a signal to the rest of the world that Las Vegas is back and open for business, and that you can start planning travel to Vegas again.” For those considering attending Life Is Beautiful in 2021, March 10 brought big news, in the form of a 60-plus-act

music lineup, set to perform on the festival’s Downtown Las Vegas street stages September 17-19. Following a sold-out early-bird ticket offering, the remainder of the passes for LIB’s eighth edition—and first since 2019—will go on sale March 12 at 10 a.m. Vegas time at lifeisbeautiful.com, with prices starting at $330, plus taxes and fees. The top of this year’s bill is eye-catching and diverse: singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, who swept the major awards at the 2020 Grammys (Song, Record, Album and New Artist); pop-punk favorite

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L U F I T U A

Green Day, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015; ever-ascending Aussie group Tame Impala, which fuses psychedelic rock and dancey pop; and rapper A$AP Rocky, whose three albums have charted in Billboard’s top 5 and who averages 17 million monthly listeners on Spotify. From there, the lineup veers all over the musical map, scooping up popular electronic artists like Illenium, Fisher and Dillon Francis; enduring rock-oriented acts like St. Vincent, Modest Mouse, Haim and Death From Above 1979; and celebrated hip-hop names like EarthGang, Young Thug and Ludacris. Also on the poster: Glass Animals, 6lack, Don Toliver, Lany, Brittany Howard, San Holo, JID, Surfaces, Gorgon City, All Time Low, Ekali, Purity Ring, Ashnikko, Shaed, Trevor Daniel, Drama, Cash Cash, Surf Mesa, Still Woozy, Noah Cyrus, Caamp, Yaeji, CloZee, Shiba San, Lost Frequencies, Emotional Oranges, Joel Corry, Remi Wolf, Celeste, Half Alive, Jamila Woods, White Reaper, Slenderbodies, BIA, Lsdream, Notd, Ant Clemons, Mob Rich, Amy Allen, Evan Giia, Ford., The Backseat Lovers, Sir Chloe, Teddy Swims, Brijean, Poorstacy, Ekoh, Midnight Kids and Monoky. Weniger says roughly 75% of the bill has changed since LIB booked its never-revealed 2020 lineup, allowing the festival to better reflect not only evolving tastes, but the different ways the public has absorbed music since the pandemic began.

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“We wanted to make sure we were doing something relevant to the time,” he says. “Artists started to build much more of a one-to-one relationship with their fans through things like Instagram Live and, more recently, bigger, scaled-up livestream productions. So we were looking at that to see what’s been trending.” Participants for LIB’s other prongs— food, art, comedy and ideas—will be revealed in the coming months. As for concerns that COVID-19 numbers, which have been trending down in recent weeks, could rise again and scuttle the festival for a second year, Weniger says his team will continue thinking positively but planning for all eventualities. “It’s looking more likely that by the time we get to fall, anyone who wants to get the vaccine will be able to get it, so we’re pretty optimistic that we’ll be in a much more open environment,” Weniger says. “But we’re also being very diligent about safety practices while planning for multiple scenarios. And of course, if we ever couldn’t guarantee that we could produce a safe environment, we would refund all tickets immediately. We would never risk the safety of our guests.” In addition to whatever pandemic-era protocols are in place, Life Is Beautiful’s 2021 edition will feel different for another reason: the absence of longtime supporter Tony Hsieh, who died in November. Weniger says attendees should expect this year’s fest to honor Hsieh’s legacy. “The best gifts that Tony gave us were the belief to think audaciously and a strong desire to shift the perspective from the problems within a community to the possibilities of that community,” Weniger says. “That has guided us from a small local festival to something that’s internationally recognized and successful on its own.”

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‘ALL-NEW EVERYTHING’ David Saxe at V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

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THE STRIP

Show producer David Saxe prepares to raise the curtain again BY BROCK RADKE

he Las Vegas entertainment landscape is powered by a broad collection of unique artists and creatives. But even among so much specialized talent, there are a few true outliers. David Saxe is one of them. “I wear several hats,” he says, wildly understating his reality. First and foremost, Saxe considers himself a Vegas show producer, having cut his teeth helping out with his sister’s landmark Melinda: The First Lady of Magic during the late 1980s and later breaking through with his own V – The Ultimate Variety Show at Venetian. A native who grew up

with a showgirl mom and a bandleader dad constantly working on the Strip, Saxe has a singular perspective on the industry and a rebellious, DIY approach toward creating Vegas entertainment. He’s a guy who just wants to put on a show, but that seemingly simple pursuit has evolved into a one-stopshop company that creates original productions and owns and operates two of the busiest venues on the Strip. Before the pandemic put a halt to everything, the V Theater and Saxe Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood were hosting multiple daily performances by more than a dozen different shows in every genre imaginable, from V and the big-band nostalgic spectacular Vegas! The Show to the quirky Zombie Burlesque and family-friendly Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. There were musical tributes like Hitzville and All Shook Up; magic and mentalism from Nathan Burton, Marc Savard and Gerry McCambridge; and a new concert residency from ’80s pop group The Jets. Saxe never envisioned this kind of entertainment empire, and he certainly didn’t plan to become a theater operator collaborating with so many other producers. He just kept making moves and rolling with the punches in that same simple pursuit. “I am a creative guy, and it’s always been, well, now I have to run a business, and now I have to learn all about sales, and then I have to buy a theater,” he says. “And now, of course, I have to become a COVID expert, and there are guidelines and restrictions, but it’s really put in your lap as a business owner to figure out all aspects and everything. And yeah, I just want to put on a show.” It’s something he hasn’t been able to do for a year now. “In this

timespan, one of the showgirls from Vegas! The Show met a guy, got married, had a baby and moved away,” Saxe marvels. “People’s lives have changed significantly.” When state officials updated restrictions last week and reduced the required distance between showroom stages and the audience from 25 feet to 12—or just 6 if performers are masked—it removed one of the greatest obstacles preventing shows like Saxe’s from reopening. “Although we’re elated to see this step in the right direction, a 12-foot moat plus the natural setback of at least 2 to 6 feet still seems to be overkill,” he says. “Entertainment has continually received the most unfair restrictions. That said, the show must go on, even if we can only perform for 20% of our normal occupancy.” Saxe says he’s planning to open three shows on March 26 and three more on April 2 in two separate spaces at the V Theater. Saxe has stayed busy during the downtime and has essentially been rebuilding his company for a fresh start, streamlining everything, changing policies and personnel, and updating the theaters and box office operations. He has been renovating Saxe Theater in preparation for a summer comeback, while also writing and developing new shows. “It has been exciting to fix all the problems we’ve had in the past, because you never get a year off to fix those issues,” Saxe says. “But it does feel like starting a whole new company. You can’t just shut down shows overnight and then come right back and start again. It’s all-new everything.”

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Pasha Rafat curates a virtual class reunion at Summerlin Library

“The Protectress” by Jennifer Henry (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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ART BY GEOFF CARTER

hat I know about abstraction in art is not much. Sure, I get the bare-bones idea of it—the freedom to create something that’s not representative, to allow the creative mind to wander where it will— but the why of abstraction sometimes eludes me. (I blame the editor in me; if something doesn’t make sense to me, it needs to be rewritten and revised until it does.) But in curating Two or 3 Things I Know About Abstraction—a 12-artist group show now at the Summerlin Library gallery—UNLV fine arts professor Pasha Rafat has anchored abstraction to a value I can get my head around: connection. “I wanted to bring these artists together, the younger artists who I worked with in the art department and my graduate program,” Rafat says. “Some of them graduated two years ago; some I worked with for maybe five, six, seven years.” That list of artists is chockablock with prominent local names, including Nima Abkenar, Scott Grow, Christopher Jones and Cory McMahon. When

“Tenuous at Best” by Maureen Halligan (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

asked to curate the show, Rafat began with a couple of ideas: bringing this group of artists together, if only in a distanced, COVID-y sense of the word, and creating a group show within the current specifications of the Summerlin Library gallery space, whose administrators requested that holes in the walls be kept to a minimum. It didn’t take long for Rafat to decide that the show should comprise primarily sculpture and three-dimensional art (a practical consideration, so that most of the work could be placed on pedestals in the center of the room), and that the artists should stay clear of creating figures. “We call it abstraction, which basically means nonfigurative objects,” Rafat says. “The idea of figurative and nonfigurative kind of goes back and forth every five years in the art world.” The most unexpected thing about Two or 3 Things I Know About Abstraction is that, for a collection of pieces that aren’t supposed to be representative of anything other than the artist’s mind—and were created independent-

TWO OR 3 THINGS I KNOW ABOUT ABSTRACTION Through March 23; Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; FridaySunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, 702-507-3860.

ly of each other—some of the works are closely aligned. One of the wood planks in Homero Hidalgo’s “Untitled” is painted with a lattice-like hatch pattern that’s seemingly in conversation in Maureen Halligan’s flashe-on-wood piece “Tenuous at Best.” Holly Lay’s “Pink Dragon’s Den,” a pink-andred yarn piece that spills across the floor like a topography of connected waterways, is paired with Lisa Rock’s “Untitled (collage quilt),” a medieval flag-like fabric collage whose brilliant pink and orange stripes could well have dripped onto the floor. Taking it a step further, there are two actual couples represented in the show. Fabric artist Jennifer Henry’s “The Protectress” embodies the pure fun of her aesthetic—a glass mannequin head peering out from among huge chunks of raw glass, her “hair” a cascade of aquamarine gift ribbon. Meanwhile, her husband, Brian Henry, best known for his vivid, multidimensional video art, offers the cheeky “Deep Sky Blue”—a notebook containing the HTML code necessary to generate that color on a monitor. And Ali Fathollahi and Nanda Sharif-pour’s “Ten57-Vol. 2” is a QR code linking to a vintage home movie, with overlapping modern-day footage (bit.ly/3qnGspv); it’s a tantalizing look at Fathollahi and Sharif-pour’s ongoing “Ten57” project, an exploration of the unique architectural and cultural aspects of their vintage Downtown home. “They’re really interesting artists, all of them. And some of this stuff is very offbeat, I mean, the way the mind works,” Rafat says. “I don’t even understand it, and I really don’t want to, you know what I mean? You just feel it, like going to the opera. You feel the musical sound, even if you don’t understand [the language]. And that’s the way I’ve tried to look at this show—to respond to it, as opposed to trying to intellectualize it.”

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MAGIC HOUR Brera Osteria celebrates the aperitivo with authentic offerings BY GENEVIE DURANO

talians know how to enjoy the good life. Take the tradition of the aperitivo, which goes back to ancient Roman times. It’s the time in the day marking the end of work and the beginning of leisure. You spend it with friends and family, having drinks and light bites before diving into your dinner plans. That daily ritual is a treasured part of the culture, one Chef Angelo Auriana, of the newly opened Brera Osteria at the Grand Canal Shoppes, wants to bring to America. “I came into the United States when I was 23 years old, and the first thing that I realized was that there was no aperitivo. It’s been missing for me ever since I lived here,” he says. “And now with the Venetian, with the beautiful St. Mark’s Square, we are able to implement something that we really love that is part of our culture.” An offshoot of Brera Ristorante in LA’s Arts District—recently selected as one of the world’s top Italian restaurants not in Italy by online guide 50 Top Italy—Las Vegas’ Brera Osteria marks another collaboration between Auriana and Matteo Ferdinandi (the two also partner on Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano at the Venetian). It’s also important to know that Brera is a fashionable neighborhood in Milan, the unofficial capital of the aperitivo. When visiting Brera, start with the Aperitivo Hour menu, perhaps with a refreshing Campari Spritz ($16), made with Campari, Prosecco Borgoluce and lemon soda, or a classic Negroni ($18),

Pizza, pasta, beef tartare and more at Brera Osteria (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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FOOD & DRINK

Tiramisu (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

BRERA OSTERIA Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian, 702-414-1227. Monday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, noon9:30 p.m.

with Citadelle gin, Campari and Carpano Antica. Light bites like bruschetta ($9)—with tomatoes, shallots, basil and white bean puree on ciabatta—or the beef tartare ($20)—diced American Wagyu beef, anchovies, capers, shallots and egg—are perfect for tiding you over till your actual meal. The beauty of the dinner menu is its length, easily handled in one read and offering a few selections in each category: starters; pizza; pasta and risotto; seafood, meat and poultry; and daily special. Triedand-true classics like amatriciana ($23)—with fresh extruded bucatini pasta, shaved grana and sage—and the Margherita pizza ($20), made with San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte and oregano, are here, done in a way authentic to their provenance. That’s by design, Auriana says, and speaks to the way Italians approach their food. “An Italian will come in because of memories. He will find a dish that will remind him of his mother or his favorite restaurant. They come in with a clear idea of what they want. They will say, ‘I’m here to have the cacio e pepe, because that’s the pasta that I like the most. And then they will say, ‘Yes, this is good, as good as home,’ which is the ultimate compliment for us.” In contrast, Auriana says, an American will say, “So chef, what should I eat? Give me a recommendation. What is it that I will try?’ Restaurants are a white canvas to me. You just have to pick the colors that you like, and then we have to exceed your expectations.” The menu at Brera Osteria is also anchored in seasonality, an ethos the chef says is baked into the culture. “As an Italian, I eat Italian food every day, and versatility is what dictates what I like,” he says. “So today, I see the mozzarella, which came in super fresh with the burrata, and I want a salad. … White asparagus are coming next week from France and Italy, so we will have pizza with white asparagus. As a chef, I look at ingredients and get inspired.”

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SkinnyFats’ Caes’ the Day wrap and (below) Blaze of Thunder chicken sandwich (Yasmina Chavez/Staff))

DEEP DIVE Both sides of SkinnyFats’ menu deserve exploration BY BROCK RADKE

ith five strategically scattered Las Vegas locations and expansion continuing in Dallas and Salt Lake City, SkinnyFats is on a roll. The original creative concept—which splits the menu into “healthy” and “happy” options—has evolved into a truly tasty and welcoming neighborhood eatery, instrumental in the company’s success and growth. I’ll admit that I haven’t been a SkinnyFats regular since my first taste in 2013, mostly because I know I’ll always choose a naughty dish instead of the healthier alternative. Now that the pandemic has most of us rethinking our eating habits, I’ve rediscovered this fun fast-casual destination and developed an appreciation for its menu. In my mind, this was a place for salads and bowls. But the current roster is stacked with sandwiches, and even the less-caloric choices pack plenty of flavor. Caes’ the Day ($11)—essentially a grilled chicken Caesar wrap in a spinach tortilla—is my go-to, thanks to crisp greens, plenty of creamy avocado, a terrific vegan dressing and pickled red onions. On the naughty side, the Blaze of Thunder chicken sandwich ($13)—which arrived in November at the Henderson location to kick

SKINNYFATS Hours vary, multiple locations, skinnyfats.com.

off SkinnyFats’ new collaboration with Graffiti Hospitality chef Marc Marrone—is one of the most decadent bites I’ve had in years. The crunchy, spicy, Nashville-style fried chicken breast is layered with coleslaw and pickles on a super-sweet Hawaiian roll, and we don’t deserve the richness. That same roll houses the Wake n’ Bacon breakfast sandwich ($11), another indulgence with bacon, egg, pepper Jack cheese, avocado and sriracha cream cheese, but the lighter AvocaToast ($10), on nine-grain toast with pesto, feta and roasted tomato, is equally delicious. If you don’t feel like a sandwich, check out the crunchy Corn Identity ($9), an arugula salad with roasted corn and pumpkin seeds, mint, queso fresco, cilantro-lime dressing and Corn Nuts, or the Smoke in a Bowl ($11) with barbecued chicken, roasted veggies and black bean pico de gallo.

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FOOD & DRINK

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MARKET FINDS Discover fresh tortillas, chiles and more at your local Mexican grocery BY LESLIE VENTURA

as Vegas’ diversity is one of its strengths, with different cultures reflected throughout the fabric of the city, including in its restaurants and grocery stores. The Mexican market is one of those treasures—part grocery store, part bakery and part grab-and-go takeout spot. Below are just a few items to consider next time you’re at Cardenas, Marketon, Marianas, La Bonita or another Mexican grocer in town.

Breads and sweets Most Mexican markets house dedicated panaderías (bakeries), where the breads and pastries (dulces and pan), are made fresh daily. Grab a concha de canela (cinnamon shell), an assortment of bolillos (Mexican-style French breads), plus tres leches (three milks) cake and more. In addition to baked goods, most markets also include a tortilleria (tortilla factory), where fresh tortillas are made.

Prepared foods Mexican markets are often known for their grab-andgo foods, including dishes like ceviche or shrimp salad, carnitas, tamales, pozole and bionicos (fruit salad). Let your eyes do the shopping and grab whatever looks good—it’s tough to go wrong.

Produce Many vegetables and fruits native to Mexico aren’t available in your run-ofthe-mill grocery store. At a Mexican market, you can find tomatillos (green tomatoes), guanabana (also known as soursop), along with great prices on onions, tomatoes, fresh avocados, mangoes and more.

Dairy Mexican sour cream, or crema, is different from American sour cream in that it tastes fresher, bolder and saltier. There are also variations of crema, including Crema Centroamericana, which is preferred in Central American countries. Queso (cheese) is a staple in Mexican food, including cotija, that crumbly, white cheese you get at Mexican restaurants; queso fresco, a must atop refried beans and tacos; and quessilla, also known as Oaxacan cheese, for quesadillas.

Dried chiles and spices Ancho, guajillo, pasilla, arbol and chipotle are some of the chiles used in an assortment of dishes. Search for a recipe on YouTube, or simply experiment in the kitchen with different chiles. To use, boil the chiles until they become soft, then put them in a blender with onions, garlic, Mexican oregano and other spices. Of course, if you don’t have that kind of time, a little bit of Sazón Goya goes a long way, especially if you’re making chicken or Spanish-style rice.

(Shutterstock)

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NICHOLAS MORROW

SHOPPING

How should the Raiders address their roster needs as free agency begins? BY CASE KEEFER

ike several NFL teams, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves in a crunch as free agency begins Wednesday, March 17. After the NFL played last season mostly without fans in attendance, its salary cap is declining from $198 million to $182.5 million. That means the Raiders will have restricted flexibility to overhaul or fine-tune a roster that fell just short of the playoffs last season. Las Vegas has to get creative in dealing with its own free agents, attacking the open market and landing the right players in the NFL Draft, scheduled for April 29-May 1 in Cleveland. “It’s kind of a big jigsaw puzzle, and there’s no one, finite answer,” Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said. “But congruently, you’ve got to put it all together and make it make sense both economically and [in terms of ] putting the best and most competitive football team on the field.” The Raiders have obvious personnel needs at seven positions. Here’s a look at each and the primary method the team should use address it—internally, through free agency or in the draft.

OFFENSIVE LINE STARTERS The situation: The Raiders have fielded one of the better offensive lines in the league the past few years, but it’s now aging and expensive. Three of five starters from the beginning of last season are now departed. Las Vegas agreed to trade right tackle

NELSON AGHOLOR JOHNATHAN HANKINS

Trent Brown, who was set to be the team’s second-highest-paid player, to New England and reportedly notified guards Richie Incognito and Gabe Jackson that they will be released. How to address: Free agency. The Raiders will be tempted to re-sign Incognito to a restructured deal, but he’ll be 38 going into next season— and coming off an Achilles injury. It would be wiser to cut ties and bring in all new faces. The Raiders held up well along the offensive front last year despite a cavalcade of injuries. It’s an area where they can remain strong enough while cutting costs to allocate resources elsewhere.

BIG-PLAY WIDE RECEIVER The situation: Nelson Agholor, last year’s top receiver, is an unrestricted free agent. Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards and Hunter Renfrow will all return on their rookie

deals, but none of them are proven, consistent gamebreakers, and the Raiders would like to have someone next to tight end Darren Waller who fits the bill. How to address: Internally. Resign Agholor, who was every bit good enough to be a No. 1 receiver last year, and hope Ruggs and/or Edwards can break out and move past a relatively disappointing rookie season. Renfrow is a valuable short-yardage slot target.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE STARTERS The situation: Rotational player Maurice Hurst is back, but starters Maliek Collins and Johnathan Hankins are both free agents. Clelin Ferrell put on weight and excelled playing inside at times last year, but he remains a more natural defensive end. How to address: Internally. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to re-up with Collins and/or Hankins. Collins had

a disastrous first season with the Raiders but could be available at a discount and might fit better in new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s system. Hankins has been one of the Raiders’ most consistent and underrated defensive players in each of the past three years.

EDGE RUSHER The situation: The Raiders desperately need to increase their ability to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks—it has been a major issue for more than a decade. Thirdyear defensive ends Ferrell and Maxx

LIST

signing them in free agency last year, but the question is who will play next to them in Bradley’s 4-3 scheme. Last year’s answers, Nicholas Morrow and Raekwon McMillan, are both free agents. How to address: Internally. The Raiders developed Morrow, an undrafted free agent in 2018, into a useful player and beloved teammate. As long as he doesn’t pull in an inflated offer elsewhere, he should return.

COMPLEMENTARY LINEBACKER The situation: The Raiders are married to Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski for two more seasons after

FREE SAFETY STARTER The situation: Mayock specifically mentioned the importance of finding the right player to pair next to strong safety Jonathan Abram in Bradley’s scheme. It seems pretty clear that player isn’t Erik Harris, the starter the past four years—and the target of much criticism from the Raiders’ fanbase. It could be Jeff Heath, a more natural strong safety who played well when healthy last season. How to address: Free agency. The pool of available safeties is reasonably deep, with the Rams’ John Johnson the headliner and Las Vegas’ potential target. The Raiders should take their pick to solve their free safety need before the draft.

Football players (AP); Allegiant Stadium (Shutterstock) (Photo Illustration)

CORNERBACK DEPTH The situation: Las Vegas’ secondary was even worse than its pass rush last year, as Trayvon Mullen, Damon Arnette, Isaiah Johnson and Amik Robertson struggled through growing pains and injuries at cornerback. All four will be back, but unless Mullen plays his best consistently and one or two of the others break out, the Raiders will need more help. How to address: NFL Draft. For better or worse, the Raiders are all-in with a youth movement at cornerback. They believe in starters Mullen and Arnette, both of whom deserve at least one more year to develop. They should bring in one more high-upside prospect—perhaps a second-round pick—to push Arnette and create competition for playing time.

7 Crosby are both solid players overall, but Las Vegas needs someone more explosive after ranking 30th in the NFL in sack rate last year. How to address: NFL Draft. Everything points to the Raiders using their first-round pick (No. 17 overall) on an edge rusher, a wise strategy. If they can hit on the right player, having him on a rookie contract would be a massive advantage for years to come.

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■ PLAYER OF THE WEEKLY: MARK STONE The Golden Knights’ captain had an eye-popping 10 points in four games last week—including a franchise-record five assists (all primary) in a March 1 overtime win against the Wild—to earn the NHL’s First Star of the Week. At press time, he led the Golden Knights with 27 points and ranked seventh in the NHL with 21 assists.

6 MALIEK COLLINS

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(NHLI via Getty Images)

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JOHN JOHNSON

Report THIS WEEK’S VOTE 1. Mark Stone 2. Alex Tuch 3. Max Pacioretty 4. Marc-André Fleury 5. Chandler Stephenson As voted by Las Vegas Weekly’s panel, based on games March 1-7. SEASON STANDINGS 1. Marc-André Fleury/Mark Stone (tie, 19 points) 3. Max Pacioretty (18 points) 4. Alex Tuch (15 points) 5. Jonathan Marchessault (13 points) 5 points for 1st place in a week, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th, 1 for 5th. UPCOMING GAMES March 12 at St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. March 13 at St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. March 15 vs. San Jose Sharks, 7 p.m. March 17 vs. San Jose Sharks, 7 p.m. Games air on AT&T SportsNet and 98.9-FM/ 1340-AM unless noted. STANLEY CUP ODDS: 6-TO-1 at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook PROSPECT WATCH: LOGAN THOMPSON The netminder’s strong season continued, as he stopped 62 of 65 shots to help Henderson win both of its games last week. The Silver Knights got off to an AHL-best 10-1 start, and Thompson’s save percentage (.946) and goals-against average (1.72) led the league among goalies with at least 11 starts.

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‘No days off’ for owners who launched luxury rental car business amid pandemic

BY BRYAN HORWATH

hen the COVID-19 pandemic hit Las Vegas last year, Cory McCormack’s job with one of the major Strip resort companies became a casualty. Like so many others, McCormack—who worked in customer development for MGM Resorts International—was let go once people stopped coming to Las Vegas. During that whirlwind period, McCormack said he went from helping to run the popular Mayfair Supper Club at the Bellagio to being a man without an industry as the Strip went dark. Along with a few friends and business partners— most of whom have also spent extensive time working in hospitality—McCormack decided to go into business for himself. “The only thing I’ve ever done in Vegas is restaurants, bars, nightclubs, lounges … then it’s all gone in an instant,” McCormack said. “When we were furloughed over the summer, we figured we had to do something. I wasn’t going to sit around waiting for a job to come back that’s probably not coming back.” In October, McCormack and Joseph Cuellar, a former general manager at Park MGM, filed the paperwork for All Star Cars, which opened in February. “One of my partners had some experience renting cars in Miami,” McCormack said. “I was just trying to think of something we could do that would still be in the service industry. With this, we’re renting cars instead of selling bottles and tables, but it’s basically the same principle.” Headquartered just west of the Strip between Tropicana and Hacienda avenues, All Star Cars has a fleet of about 20 vehicles. The Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan costs about $900 per day, while the Lamborghini Huracan Spyder—a sporty two-seater that can reach more than 200 mph—goes for about $1,000 per day. Those wanting to really go big can rent the white

Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which can seat up to five and has a daily rate of $1,999. The powerful SUV, which retails for about $325,000 in the United States, features an engine that can produce close to 600 horsepower and lambswool floor mats that cost about $10,000 each. McCormack said about half of All Star’s business has come from locals, as the city continues to feel the tourism pinch from COVID-19. “It’s certainly not easy to open a business during a pandemic,” he said. “There have been many, many

sleepless nights. We’ve been going seven days per week and up to 12 hours per day for three months. There are no days off, but I think we’re at the doorstep of it paying off.” Kevin Raiford, a development adviser for the Nevada Small Business Development Center, said the type of networking that McCormack has done for years, especially in Las Vegas, often comes in handy when starting a business. “Normally, you’d figure there are six degrees of separation, but in Vegas, it’s about two and a half,” said Raiford, who’s also a business professor at the College of Southern Nevada. “Someone like [McCormack] would definitely come into contact with clients, suppliers and people to collaborate with. That’s part of what makes Las Vegas an easier place to pivot from.” For now, the business has six employees, but McCormack sees a lot of growth potential. He envisions branches in cities like Miami, Dallas and Chicago. “What we provide fits right into the Vegas experience,” McCormack said. “Essentially, the nightclub crowd is also the bulk of what our clientele will be here. And Vegas will be fine because Vegas will always be fine. People want to have fun.” No matter how successful All Star might become, however, don’t expect McCormack to be in the market for a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, even if he has the means to swing it. “I can’t imagine paying that much for a car,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not a car guy. I drive a pickup truck.”

Cory McCormack, owner of All Star Cars, next to a Bentley Flying Spur W12 (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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VegasInc Notes Kelly Beard joined Southwest Medical Hospice as executive director. Beard has worked in health care for over 20 years in a variety of roles and settings, but has spent most of her time in hospice care.

Grand Canyon Development Partners appointed Karim Jabal as director of technology services. He brings more than two decades of experience spanning various areas of technology, engineering and construction to his new role.

Beard

Mike Longi joined Meruelo Gaming as executive vice president and chief financial officer providing financial assistance for Sahara Las Vegas and Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. Prior to joining Meruelo Gaming, Longi served in a number of senior-level positions at MGM Resorts International.

Jabal

Cassie Catania-Hsu, managing director of CBRE’s Las Vegas office, was accepted into the NAIOP Research Foundation Visionaries program, which is designed to provide mentoring, high-level Catania-Hsu relationship building and research-related experiences to industry leaders.

Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing announced Laura Rymut as vice president of customer experience, a new executive position. She will focus on elevating the quality of customer experience Rymut throughout all Goettl markets in Nevada, California, Texas and Arizona.

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Bringing over 20 years of culinary acclaim to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Chef David Werly has been tapped as the executive chef. Werly will oversee the Virgin Hotels concepts, including The Kitchen at Commons Club, Funny Library Coffee Shop, The Juice Bar, and the food

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Nevada Donor Network appointed Dr. Phillip Ruiz as associate laboratory medical director. Ruiz is an internationally recognized expert in transplantation-pathology, histocompatibility, immunology and Ruiz immunopathology, bringing more than three decades of experience in the medical field to his new role. In addition, Nevada Donor Network Foundation appointed Kelly LeGrow, vice president of Brown & Brown Insurance, as a LeGrow founding foundation board member. UNLV’s Lee Business School announced its new members of the Alumni Board of Directors. Incoming president Erica Suciu of Nevada State Bank is joined by new board members Charles Gianelloni, Snell & Wilmer; and Bryan Viellion, Kaempfer Crowell. Additionally, new executive board members include Andrew Kerzmann (vice president); Ray O’Campo (treasurer); Aerielle Smith (secretary); D.J. Allen (immediate past president); and Rick Arpin (member-at-large).

VEGAS INC BUSINESS TSK Architects announced that Jeni Panars is now a managing principal and Chris Lujan is a design principal for the firm’s Henderson office. Panars, formerly an associate principal, brings to her new role Panars 13 years of experience in designing and managing complex projects. Lujan, who has worked for TSK for the past 13 years and held the title of associate principal for over two years, will guide staff through all design phases for each project. Lujan

Broadbent & Associates, an environmental, water resource and civil engineering firm, hired Michael Beach as director of engineering. Formerly, Beach served as a civil engineering officer for the Air Force for 27 years, achieving the rank of colonel, and overseeing the execution of engineering and environmental solutions to ensure facilities and utilities across the world ran effectively. Donna DiMaggio, of counsel attorney, rejoined the Holley Driggs Law Firm. DiMaggio advises clients including contractors, design professionals and retail and restaurant establishments on complex litigation and corporate matters.

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“ALLOW TO BE ADDED” BY FRANK LONGO

HOROSCOPES

WEEK OF MARCH 11 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Artist Richard Kehl tells this traditional Jewish story: God said to Abraham, “But for me, you would not be here.” Abraham answered, “I know that, Lord, but were I not here there would be no one to think about you.” The coming weeks will be a favorable time to summon a comparable cheekiness with authorities. Risk being an articulate maverick with a point of view that the honchos and experts should entertain. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Unfortunately, many people regard imagination as mostly just a source of fanciful daydreaming. And when our imaginations conjure delusional fears and worries, they can be debilitating. Harness the highest powers of your imagination as you visualize all the wonderful and interesting things you want to do with your life in the next nine months. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I’m always waiting for a door to open in a wall without doors,” wrote author Fernando Pessoa. Pessoa was consistently eccentric in his many writings, and this statement was especially odd. Here’s your motto for the coming weeks: “I’m always ready to figure out how to make a new door in a wall without doors, and call on all necessary help to make it.” CANCER (June 21-July 22): Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is surrounded by volcanoes. If you want to travel there, you must arrive by plane or ship. And yet it has long had a thriving tourist industry. Like that land, people sometimes find it a challenge to reach you. And yet when they do, you can be quite welcoming. Is this a problem? What do you think? Now is a good time to reevaluate. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Biting midges, also known as no-see-ums, are bloodsucking flies that spread various diseases. But the bugs are the primary pollinators for several crops grown in the topics, including cacao. So if we got rid of the no-see-ums, there’d probably be no more chocolate. You may also be dealing with an influence that has a downside and an upside. Can you be all you want to be without it in your life? Ponder the best way to shape your future relationship. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are or will soon be floating and whirling and churning along on an ocean of emotion. You will be experiencing more feelings and stronger feelings than you have in quite some time. This doesn’t have to be a problem as long as you 1) are proud and appreciative about being able to feel so much, 2) don’t take your feelings too seriously and 3) enjoy the ride.

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 “Sch.” for “school,” e.g. 5 “My stars!” 11 Source of poi 15 Baseballer Ty 19 “Don’t stop!” 20 Foray 21 State firmly 22 Voiced 23 Put on some wrist jewelry? 26 Actress Foch 27 Connect for use, to Brits 28 With 86-Across, China’s place 29 Haunting 30 Mike Brady’s three kids, e.g. 31 Greek fabulist 32 Pair of poetic lines about the army? 35 — Valley, San Francisco 36 Disney frame 37 FedEx rival 38 Layers 39 Healed a fictional prince of Denmark? 44 Striped feline 47 “And others,” in footnotes 48 Mineo of Dino 49 Steer snarer 51 Re 55 Home of Taj Mahal 57 Extra wrestling garment in case the main one gets lost? 60 Heifer’s home 63 Hulk director Lee 65 Blind as — 66 Earp of the O.K. Corral 67 Sound of wonderment 68 Bright red Kleenex? 73 Foot part

74 Cause, as havoc 76 City in Kansas 77 Time on end 78 Bison group 79 Secondhand apartment rental in Rome? 84 — gin fizz 86 See 28-Across 87 Gamma follower 88 Just so-so 90 Warship fleet 94 Test, as ore 96 Coated pill produced in Antarctica? 98 Oak nut 101 Letter before dee 103 “— got it!” 104 Partner of 67-Across 105 Parents-to-be expecting three babies at once? 111 “The — come out tomorrow” (start of an Annie song) 113 Mystic Pizza actress Taylor 114 Turkish coins 115 Out-of-date 116 How cats ask for Meow Mix, per a slogan 117 Lady friend, in France 118 Pleasing answer when actress Kate asks her agent “Who wants me next?” 121 Job detail 122 “Huh-uh!” 123 Cyclops’ odd feature 124 Actress Falco 125 Car roller, to Brits 126 Secy., e.g. 127 Less wordy

128 Also- — (race losers) DOWN 1 Tone of an environment 2 Validated, as a claim 3 Period of Model T’s 4 Right-hand book page 5 Pickle choice 6 Ending with ethyl 7 Many indie movies 8 Like queens 9 New Zealand native 10 Univ. URL ending 11 Gunlike stunners 12 Animator Tex 13 Saintly article 14 — ed Euridice (Gluck opera) 15 Nefarious group plot 16 Bobolink’s kin 17 Big headline 18 Explosions 24 “The Raven” poet’s inits. 25 Gather in 32 “— culpa!” 33 Boy pharaoh 34 4x4, in brief 36 Jacques of France 40 Panache 41 Use a shovel 42 Vegas lead-in 43 Wallach of Firepower 44 African fly 45 Suffix with organ 46 Mass of mayo, say 49 Pride parade letters 50 Jai — 52 Glide on ice 53 Teach privately 54 Decided (to) 56 Actress Ortiz 58 Of birth

59 Astonishment 60 Fame vocalist David 61 Major artery 62 Ostrichlike birds 64 Horrific 68 Glide on snow 69 Uncouth guy 70 Napoleon’s exile isle 71 “He-e-elp!” 72 Loosen, as a shoe 75 Decorative church screen 78 Cannabis fiber 80 Paid promos 81 Tchr.’s org. 82 Comic Philips 83 Phone no. 85 “... man — mouse?” 89 Clairol products 91 M*A*S*H co-star 92 Request for a poker hand 93 Olympics participants 95 NBC show since ’75 96 Writer’s tool 97 Trailer park campers, for short 98 “Finally!” 99 Like pie crusts with pressed-in ridges 100 Greasier 101 Dry red wine 102 Simple 106 Kagan of the court 107 Some DVR systems 108 Sets up, informally 109 Herman’s Hermits frontman Peter 110 Senior 111 Wd. of similar meaning 112 Auto racer Al 116 Funeral platform 119 Net automaton 120 Letter before zee

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Poet Wendell Berry says “it’s the immemorial feelings” he likes best: “hunger and thirst and their satisfaction; work-weariness and earned rest; the falling again from loneliness to love.” Notice that he doesn’t merely love the gratification that comes from quenching his hunger and thirst. The hunger and thirst are themselves essential components of his joy. His way of thinking is especially worthy of your imitation in the next three weeks. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Famous and influential science-fiction novelist Philip K. Dick relied on amphetamines to fuel his first 43 novels. Beginning with A Scanner Darkly, his 44th, he did without his favorite drug. It wasn’t his best book, but it was far from his worst. Try doing without one of your addictions or compulsions or obsessions as you work on your labor of love. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The flavor of Kazakhstan’s apples may be tinged with hints of roses, strawberries, anise, pineapples, coconuts, lemon peels, pears, potatoes or popcorn. Experiment with arousing metaphorically similar experiences. In what old familiar persons, places or things could you find a surprising wealth of previously unexplored depth and variety? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Andrew Tilin testified that he sometimes had the feeling that his life was in pieces—but then realized that most of the pieces were good and interesting. So his sense of being a mess of unassembled puzzle parts gave way to a deeper contentment—an understanding that the jumble was just fine the way it was. Cultivate and enjoy an experience like that. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Indian poet Meena Alexander (1951–2018) wrote, “Mama beat me when I was a child for stealing honey from a honey pot.” She wasn’t committing a crime. The honey belonged to her family, and her family had plenty of money to buy more honey. Carry out your personal version of “stealing the honey from the honeypot.” Take what’s rightfully yours. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The narrow buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea is laced with land mines. Anyone who walks there is at risk for getting blown up. But because people avoid the place, it has become an unprecedented nature preserve—a wildlife refuge where endangered species like the red-crowned crane and Korean fox can thrive. In the coming months, engage in a comparable project: finding a benevolent use for a previously taboo or wasted part of your life.

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