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EDITORIAL Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Managing Editor/News DAVE MONDT (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) Deputy Editor GENEVIE DURANO (genevie.durano@gmgvegas.com) Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writers HILLARY DAVIS, JUSTIN EMERSON, MIKE GRIMALA, BRYAN HORWATH, SARA MACNEIL, C. MOON REED, JOHN SADLER, RICARDO TORRES-CORTEZ, LESLIE VENTURA Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JOHN FRITZ, CASE KEEFER, WADE MCAFERTY, KEN MILLER, JOHN TAYLOR Office Coordinator NADINE GUY
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
LEGISLATURE PUSHES TO MAKE NEVADA FIRST PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY A legislative committee on April 8 took the first step in setting up Nevada to host the firstin-the-nation presidential primaries by approving a bill that would push the Silver State to the front of the political line. Assembly Bill 126 would change Nevada’s caucus to a primary and set the date as the first Tuesday in February. The bill now goes to the full Assembly for consideration. Speaker Jason Frierson, D-Las Vegas, who introduced the bill, said Nevada was the best pick to be the first nominating state due to its size, population and connection to large national issues such as climate change and immigration. “As Nevadans, we know how unique our state is,” Frierson said. “Our diverse population better represents that of the rest of the country, yet our state is small enough for more of our voices to be heard behind the highest elected office in the land.” The bill, if it becomes law, would likely set up a showdown with Iowa and New Hampshire, states that now hold their presidential contests before Nevada, and states that have been protective of their early-nominating status over the years. The proposed change comes on the heels of chaos surrounding the 2020 Iowa caucuses, in which results were delayed for days. Since the 1970s, presidential candidates have flocked to Iowa in an effort to garner attention from voters nationwide with a successful showing in the first-in-the nation presidential caucuses. –John Sadler
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WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD N EWS YO U S H O U L D K N OW A B O U T
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IN THIS ISSUE
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Cover story: A cannabis tour to celebrate 420 Nights: Splashing down at Circa's Stadium Swim Food & Drink: Meeting up on Ada's patio Sports: The Knights' hot goalie prospect Vegas Inc: Cannabis industry leaders and trends
Cars line up April 9 at the LVCC Central Station during a tour of the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop, Elon Musk’s underground transportation system beneath the convention center. The loop is the first commercial endeavor for Musk’s Boring Company. The free service will be available to convention attendees. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
STORIES FROM LAST WEEK GRASS REMOVAL Las Vegas-area water officials have spent two decades trying to get people to replace thirsty greenery with desert plants, and now they’re asking the Nevada Legislature to outlaw roughly 40% of the turf that’s left by the end of 2026. They say this ornamental grass requires four times as much water as drought-tolerant landscaping.
VACCINATED OR TESTED Wynn Resorts employees are being asked to show proof of having received the COVID-19 vaccine by April 25. If employees do not get vaccinated, they must produce weekly negative coronavirus test results—at their own expense—to remain on the job, according to a memo sent April 8 to employees.
BACK IN SILVER AND BLACK
DMX DIES
SHE SAID IT
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The Las Vegas Raiders signed safety Karl Joseph—who was drafted by the team in the first round in 2016 but left for a year to play in Cleveland—to a one-year contract April 9. He played 49 games at both strong and free safety during his four seasons with the Raiders, intercepting four passes, with 15 passes defensed, three sacks, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
“My job is to carry out the duties of my office as enacted by the Nevada Legislature, not carry water for the state GOP or put my thumb on the scale of democracy. Unfortunately, members of my own party continue to believe the 2020 general election was wrought with fraud—and that somehow I had a part in it—despite a complete lack of evidence to support that belief.” –Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, in a statement issued April 11 after she was censured by the state Republican Party
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
DMX, the raspy-voiced hip-hop artist who produced the songs “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here),” died at age 50 on April 9, a week after being rushed to a hospital in White Plains, New York. He had suffered a “catastrophic cardiac arrest,” according to the hospital.
CAITLYN FOR GOVERNOR? Caitlyn Jenner, 71, has been consulting with GOP advisers as she considers joining the field of candidates hoping to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in a likely recall election this year. If the recall qualifies for the ballot, voters would be asked whether Newsom should be removed from office, and then who should replace him.
Aaron Whitehead poses in the dugout during opening day for Las Vegas' Bolden Little League at Kianga Isoke Palacio Park, formerly Doolittle Park, on April 10. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league is sponsored by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
EDC MOVES FORWARD FOR MAY 21-23 Electric Daisy Carnival, one of the largest annual entertainment events in Las Vegas, announced April 8 it has not shifted its plans, even though the Nevada State Department of Business & Industry has denied an event plan submitted for full festival capacity. Pasquale Rotella, founder of the dance music megafestival, said on social media that EDC will be held May 21-23 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Rotella’s company, Insomniac, had submitted a plan to the state for approval to hold the festival at full capacity, estimating daily attendance at 200,000 and detailing safety protocols built around the creation of a regulated “clean zone” where every guest, staff member and performer would be verified by a health pass mobile application to be fully vaccinated or confirmed to have tested negative for COVID-19. But the plan was denied because it did not comply with capacity and social distancing requirements. –Brock Radke
GIFT WILL HELP TOURO UNIVERSITY
EXPAND ITS AUTISM SERVICES
A $3 million gift to Touro University Nevada’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities could bring it back to its pre-pandemic service levels and beyond. The gift comes from the country of Qatar and could make behavioral and other therapies free to families through 2027. Before the pandemic, 10 staff therapists worked with more than 50 children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years old. But the events of the past year, including a three-month closure, have brought staffing down to three therapists working with 11 children, center director Lisa Kunz said. According to a 2019 study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the prevalence of autism among school-age children in Qatar is 1.14%, roughly on par with the worldwide average. But little epidemiological data exists on autism spectrum disorders in Arabic countries. The survey was the first of its kind in Qatar, leading government officials to increase its focus on programs and funding to address autism spectrum disorder in Qatar and globally. Touro University Nevada CEO and Senior Provost Shelley Berkley said the gift is one of the most meaningful the school has received. It could be used to extend patient eligibility up to age 20 and hire an in-house pediatric neuropsychiatrist, she said. –Hillary Davis
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(Photo Illustration)
Democrats seek to expand automatic voter registration in Nevada
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BY JOHN SADLER
emocratic lawmakers in Nevada want more state agencies to be able to automatically register people to vote, the same as the Department of Motor Vehicles does. Under a proposed Assembly bill, the state Department of Health and Human Services, the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange and Medicaid offices could automatically register voters. People doing business with the agencies would also be able to opt out. Agencies would not be allowed to transmit voter registration data to election officials without ensuring a person is eligible to vote under Nevada law. “The overall objective of Assembly Bill 432 is to expand upon our proven and successful automatic voter registration system. By implementing this system in other state agencies, we can help eligible voters register to vote and maintain
up-to-date name and address information,” said Assemblyman Howard Watts, D-Las Vegas, who introduced the bill. The governor would be able to designate additional agencies to automatically register voters if they routinely collect information such as proof of identity, citizenship status and date of birth. Agencies on Native American tribal land could also participate. “Automatic voter registration increases access to the polls by registering eligible Nevadans to vote and improves the quality of our voter rolls,” said Emily Persaud-Zamora, the executive director of Silver State Voices. “By expanding the list of agencies, we are able to capture a larger constituency, such as lower-income and working-class communities that might not do this with the DMV.” The bill’s opt-out provision, however, drew concerns from some officials, who said it would
create extra work for election departments, which would have to mail people opt-out forms. Clark County Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria said clerks and registrars would support “anything related to improving voting registration,” but “we are concerned about the ability to support these new programs.” Mark Wlaschin, deputy secretary of state for elections, also questioned whether the secretary of state’s office could set up the system by the bill’s proposed January 1 implementation date. “It may be an obstacle too great to overcome between now and the 1st of January to do so in a manner that supports exactly what 1.8 million Nevadans need and deserve—a safe and secure automatic voter registration system,” Wlaschin said. The bill got a hearing April 6 in the Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections, but no vote was taken on the measure.
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
HOME
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MAKE IT YOURSELF Save money and stay healthy with DIY self-care solutions BY GENEVIE DURANO
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f you’ve ever worried about the chemicals that go into products you use every day, there’s good news: You can make most goods using common ingredients you might already have on hand. With just a little time and effort, you’ll be able to control exactly what you put on your hair and skin, and you’ll also feel good knowing you’re not dumping harsh chemicals down the drain or sending nonbiodegradable plastic containers to a landfill. The one thing you’ll need are reusable glass containers, which you can find on Amazon or SpecialtyBottle.com. You can also use bottles you have from previous products; just wash with mild detergent and hot water to sterilize.
SHAMPOO
Have you ever read the ingredients in the back of a shampoo bottle? Half the words are unpronounceable. For homemade shampoo, a little castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s, made of pure plant oils, is liquid magic) will do the trick. INGREDIENTS • 1/4 cup liquid castile soap • 1/4 cup water • 1 tsp. olive oil (for dry or frizzy hair) or 1 tsp. baking soda (for oily hair) • 4-5 drops essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus or wild orange are good choices) METHOD: Combine all ingredients in a jar or bottle with an easy-pour spout. Shake before each use. Pour on your hand and lather your hair until it feels clean. Expect some trial-and-error as you determine whether you have dry or oily hair, and experiment with the amount of olive oil or baking soda added to the solution.
TEETH WHITENER
LOTION
Who couldn’t use more moisturizing in our desert climate? This body lotion is easy to make and costs a fraction of the store-bought version. It’s also lighter, absorbs quickly and works for all skin types. INGREDIENTS • 1 cup aloe vera gel • 4 tbsp. fractionated coconut oil • 1 tsp. vitamin E oil • 10-20 drops essential oil of choice (lavender for calming, citrus for invigorating, peppermint or eucalyptus for cooling)
METHOD: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat until it reaches a smooth, lotion-like consistency, after about a minute or two. Transfer to glass jars to store and use within three months.
Everyone is obsessed with white teeth, but having it done professionally can be costly and time-consuming— and excessive use of whitening strips can damage the tooth enamel. This recipe uses three simple ingredients, which you can easily find in a drugstore.
INGREDIENTS • 1 tsp. aluminum-free baking soda • 2 tsp. 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide • 1 drop peppermint essential oil METHOD: Mix baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and essential oil into a smooth paste. Coat toothbrush with paste and brush gently for about 2 minutes before brushing with regular toothpaste. Use no more than once a week, as baking soda can be hard on enamel.
CONDITIONER
Similar to DIY shampoo, homemade conditioner is easy to make. This one uses avocado, which, it turns out, is good beyond toast.
• • •
INGREDIENTS • 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 tbsp. honey 2-3 drops essential oil (match the type with your DIY shampoo)
METHOD: Blend all ingredients in a food processor or beat in a stand mixer until smooth. Work mixture into washed, damp hair, focusing on the ends. Pull hair up into a bun and put in shower cap. Activate ingredients by blow-drying hair for a few minutes or sitting in the sun. Leave cap on for half an hour, then rinse and wash.
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
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FACE MASK
Forget those expensive face masks you buy at the drugstore. This one leaves your face feeling clean and cool, thanks to peppermint and eucalyptus oils. INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp. bentonite clay • 3 capsules activated charcoal, split open • 3-4 tsp. aloe vera • 1-2 tsp. shea butter • 1.5 oz. chamomile tea • 1 drop peppermint essential oil • 1 drop eucalyptus essential oil METHOD: Brew tea and melt shea butter in a double boiler or by placing a small bowl on top of a small saucepan. Mix brewed tea and melted shea butter. In a separate bowl, mix bentonite clay and activated charcoal. Add clay/charcoal mix to shea/tea mix, and stir. Add aloe vera and essential oils, and mix well. Store in an airtight container. When ready to use, apply all over your face and leave on for about 15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.
LIP SCRUB
Another drawback to living in a dry climate? Pesky chapped lips. Scrub those puckers with this concoction to reveal soft, plump kissers.
DEODORANT
The aluminum contained in commercial deodorants, while great at stopping perspiration, can also be harmful if too much builds up in your body. It’s easy enough to make your own deodorant, though one word of caution: DIY deodorants can stop odor, not perspiration, which is a good thing. Your body needs to sweat it out. INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp. shea butter • 3 tbsp. coconut oil • 3 tbsp. baking soda • 2 tbsp. arrowroot powder (or organic cornstarch) • Few drops essential oil of choice
METHOD: Melt shea butter and coconut oil over a double boiler or in a bowl over a small pot. Remove from heat and add baking soda and arrowroot. Mix well and add essential oil. Pour into a small glass container for storage. To use, scoop a little on your fingertips and go to town on those pits.
INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp. coconut oil • 4 tbsp. sugar • 1 tsp. honey • 8 drops grapefruit essential oil • 8 drops lemon essential oil • 1 oz. glass balm jars METHOD: In a small mixing bowl, combine coconut oil, sugar, honey and essential oil. Mix until smooth. Transfer scrub into balm jars. When ready to use, scoop a little out with your fingertips and rub on lips to remove dry skin. Store scrub for up to six months, or share with friends.
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
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HOT CANNABIS PRODUCTS, TIPS, TRENDS AN
GROW GALS
Talking cannabis with Alex Unruh and Morgan Martin of ShowGrow Dispensary
BY GENEVIE DURANO
S
howGrow Las Vegas Dispensary, at Tropicana and Fort Apache, is in a unique position. As the closest dispensary to Summerlin—where dispensaries are prohibited—it gets a sizable share of that community’s business. It’s run by Alex Unruh and Morgan Martin, two former budtenders who hold the distinction of being the rare female bosses in a male-dominated industry. The Weekly chatted up Unruh and Martin about life in the cannabis biz during a pandemic. What are some trends that you’re noticing in the industry? Alex: Flower, I would say has been, and continues to be, our No. 1 seller
ShowGrow interior (Christoper DeVargas/Staff) Morgan Martin (left) and Alex Unruh (Courtesy)
in store. We get the oldies who have been smoking it for years, and then that’s just the safest option for new users as well. Vapes are huge in the market, especially in Las Vegas. It’s a very discreet way to enjoy cannabis in public, if that’s what you want to do. And then edibles, I would say, are very popular among our older crowds. They don’t really want to be smoking; they’re more concerned about health benefits and whatnot. Sleeping is also a huge thing, and edibles are a great option for that.
Did you see a big uptick in business during the pandemic? Alex: Absolutely. We have never worked more in our lives. We were working 14hour days probably the first month. Morgan: It was the same scenario as the toilet paper. Everyone was just stocking up, because I think they were under the assumption that we were going to close—because we weren’t, in their eyes, essential. Then we were deemed essential, so we had to switch over to delivery. The day before the [closure] announce-
ment was made, we probably had the biggest numbers we’ve ever done. People were just coming in to clear out the store. And then we went fully delivery. Now those are staples of our operation— we have in-store shopping, curbside and delivery. What do you recommend for a cannabis novice? Morgan: Edibles would be the best thing, but it’s totally based off of what you’ve come in looking for. A lot of people are still not comfortable with smoking, like Alex said, but I would probably direct the people who are toward a pre-roll or something like that, because you don’t have to have any equipment to use those. Disposable pens and vape pens are always great, because they don’t emit odors, so you can be really discreet with those. Newer smokers don’t have a tolerance yet, so they can look for stuff that is lower-testing and more cost-effective, because they haven’t developed a tolerance like all the rest of us have (laughs). What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered in this industry? Alex: When we first went rec, [other dispensaries were] buying everything, because they want to just be compet-
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
SAME PLANT, NEW TRICKS
ND MORE itive. And then a lot of the cultivators last year, with the pandemic hitting, thought it was a good opportunity to remodel their facilities, but actually, the demand was way, way higher … Morgan: … because people were sitting at home, smoking, and not at work … Alex: … so it was a struggle to even get a good amount of flower and variety in our store. But probably in the last three months after the holidays, things have kind of normalized. As more states legalize recreation marijuana across the country, what would you say the culture is like now locally? Morgan: I think the culture ranges far and wide, from the person who wants to try every product—they fit them together and smoke them together and film them together and all of that. Then there’s the Life Time Fitness mom who wants to smoke in her car but doesn’t want it to smell, so she’s vaping. It just appeals to truly every type of person. You see people that come in here that you are, at first glance, like, “What are you doing here? This does not seem like the place you should be.” But I think it really brings people together, and there’s so many microcosms of different people who enjoy it. Alex: It’s much more normalized. I think the cannabis community has really come together, especially during this pandemic. We’re the best part of everyone’s day.
Fresh cannabis products drawing rave reviews BY LESLIE VENTURA 1:1 CBD:THC unflavored tincture, by Select. With 500 mg of CBD and 500 mg of THC per vial, Select’s 1:1 tincture is a quick and easy way to pain relief. Great for alleviating muscle aches and pains, headaches, tension and more, a dropper of this oil can get you on the path to feeling better, fast. Available at Essence. 3:1 Sparkling Pear Camino Gummies, by Kiva Confections. Perfect for those who like the soothing effects of CBD and only a little THC to take the edge off, these fruity sparkling pear gummies offer mild relaxation without rendering you functionless. Available at Planet 13. CBD Ghee, by Cannabella. Also known as clarified butter, ghee is a staple in Indian cuisine, and it’s a keto-friendly alternative to butter, since it doesn’t contain milk solids but includes all the fat. Cannabella’s is infused with 100 mg of pain-relieving CBD, so you can use it in place of butter when cooking any of your favorite foods, from Brussels sprouts to eggs and everything in between. Available at Planet 13.
Celebration Macarons, by Hervé. Everyone loves macarons, the delicate, beautiful French sandwich cookies that come in an assortment of colors and flavors. Hervé combines the art of patisserie with cannabis, infusing each macaron with 10 mg of sensory-stimulating sativa-hybrid distillate. Eat just half if this is your first rodeo. Available at Planet 13.
Mango Pate de Fruits Gummies, by Binske. Pate de what? Don’t worry, it’s just a fancy name for gummies, and these traditional French jellied candies burst with juiciness, since each flavor uses real fruit harvested at the peak of ripeness. Bonus: The tin is a work of art, which you can keep after your edibles are long gone. Available at Planet 13.
Chocolate Stroopwafel, by Dutch Girl. The stroopwafel is one of Belgium’s greatest treats. Not quite a cookie and too thin to be a waffle, the sweet, carmel-rich confections are truly one-ofa-kind—and they’re even better with THC inside. Available at Oasis. Ginger Lemongrass Hi Boy, by Cann. This bubbly, effervescent canned soda contains 5 mg of THC for a mild buzz, perfect when you want to drink, not smoke, your way to an easy-breezy state of calm. Available at Essence.
Marionberry Indica Gummies, by Wyld. One of the most delicious brands of gummies around, these Marionberry gems take the cake. Sweet and bursting with berry flavor, the tasty treats make the hour before bedtime that much more relaxing—and giggly. Available at Oasis. Mystical Milk bar, by Dreamland Chocolates. The luxury chocolatier infuses its bars with cannabis oil, but flavor is the focus when it comes to this single-origin bar. With none of that bitter, weedy aftertaste, Dreamland’s confections are both potent and delicious. Available at Planet 13. Red Velvet cookie square, by Vert Edibles. Tread lightly, as one of these delectable desserts packs 100 mg of THC. (A typical serving is only 10 mg). One bite of this sweet sponge—topped with light cream cheese frosting—and you might need to hide the rest … from yourself. Available at Planet 13. (Product images courtesy)
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
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5-MINUTE EXPERT
HOW TO BE A BUDTENDER Advice on getting the job and learning your terpenes BY GEOFF CARTER
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ost of Southern Nevada’s recreational cannabis dispensaries are scarcely four years old. To put that into perspective, cocktails have been around since the early 1800s, which means the profession of bartending has enjoyed some 200 years to develop recipes, tools and schools. Budtending, by comparison, is in its infancy, so its practitioners are in the process of creating the sort of institutional knowledge bartenders can take for granted. When customers report that a new strain helped their sleep, eased their anxiety or simply made Godzilla vs. Kong more rad, budtenders take careful note. They’re writing up that knowledge base as fast as we can smoke it. Budtending, with its notes of mixology, medicine and math-rock bassist, might seem like a difficult profession to jump into. Conor Mitts, a budtender at Curaleaf’s Las Vegas Boulevard location, says he had mild reservations about it before last year’s financial downturn inspired him to take a chance. “I didn’t think of it as an actual career path that I could follow,” he says. “But I wanted to pursue something that I was passionate about, and I’ve been passionate about the marijuana industry since … well, probably before I should have been.” Here are a few of his tips on how to become a budtender yourself.
GET YOUR CARDS If you’re working in a hospitality position, you might already have a Sheriff’s Card. If so, that’s great; you’ll need it. If not, you should see about getting one, though Mitts notes one can’t get a Sheriff’s Card until they’ve landed a job that requires one. (See the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s work card page: bit.ly/2OjxooA.) To get a job in a cannabis dispensary you’ll need an agent card from the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (ccb.nv.gov). Mitts strongly suggests not waiting until someone asks you for it. “Every marijuana worker in the state is required to get an agent card,” he says. “You have to go on to the Nevada Compliance Board website to apply for it. … They actually have to run your background check; you give them a ton of information.” Once you’ve secured an agent card, Mitts says, the path to a dispensary job becomes considerably clearer. “One of the managers over here [at Curaleaf] said, ‘Anytime I see someone who already has their agent card, I pretty much push their résumé right through to corporate,” Mitts says.
DITCH YOUR PRECONCEPTIONS Everybody knows sativa causes paranoia and indica causes “couch lock,” right? (A popular mnemonic device from my formative years: “Indica = in da couch.”) That’s one of the false assumptions about weed you’ll need to let go of if you become a budtender, along with the seemingly plausible belief that more THC content equals a better high. “When I first came in here, a lot of people were like, ‘What’s the highest [THC percentage] in the store?’ I mean, that’s how
I shopped at first,” Mitts says. “I came to realize that’s wrong.” Mitts says that in addition to considering how much THC a strain has, he looks at its terpenes—the aromatic compounds that give a strain its particular scent and subtly influence its effects. For example: myrcene is known for its relaxing effect; terpinolene produces an uplifting boost; and pinene, which Mitts calls “one of the most feared terpenes out there” for its potential to cause anxiety, enhances alertness and focus. (“I personally love it,” Mitts
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CONOR MITTS’ CURRENT FAVORITE STRAINS “My favorite flower right now is Miracle Alien Cookies, and Strawberry Banana just has a really nice flavor. For concentrates, I like Skywalker, and a straight indica called Grimmdica that I smoke before I go to bed.”
adds.) The presence of one or another of these can easily blur that line of what a sativa or indica feels like. “You have to realize what the terpenes themselves are saying,” Mitts says. “A lot of things are mislabeled to me—like Blue Dream, which is historically a sativa. However, we get it in all the time, and it will have absurd amounts of myrcene. And I try to warn people that even though the label says it’s a sativa, they’re going to get a very heavy, relaxing high because of all the myrcene that’s in it.”
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MEET THE GROWERS, WATCH THE PRESENTATIONS “I’ve gotten to see one or two cultivation sites, [one of them being] Acres, which Curaleaf owns. But with COVID, there’s not as many tours,” Mitts says. “But I can definitely say that going and seeing the stuff is beneficial. And sometimes, in place of that, what they’ve been doing are essentially slide shows, where they send a representative and they’ll train a group of us on their product. That’s extremely beneficial, getting the selling points on each company that you sell.” Representatives also provide samples, which can sometimes surprise even the most knowledgeable of budtenders. Once, Mitts received a promotional sample of a half-gram infused pre-roll, which he initially dismissed: “What the hell is that gonna do for me?” But to his surprise, “It was amazing. I couldn’t believe it, but this tiny little joint got me super high,” Mitts says. Since then, he has recommended it to customers who want a small add-on to their purchase.
TAKE YOUR WORK HOME WITH YOU … SOMETIMES Mitts tries out Curaleaf’s products often—“We do get a good number of samples from the store,” he says—but he’s not required to smoke every new product that comes in. “If the terpenes are very similar to another weed that I’ve smoked before, then I pretty much know how to describe what a person is going to get.” Still, he says that while two strains might have similar numbers and profiles, they’ll have completely different smells and flavors, and Mitts won’t tell a customer he’s tried something if he hasn’t. “I do smoke a good amount,” he says. “That definitely helps with my job.” By the way: Mitts recommends that you “switch up the ways that you’re smoking” every now and again to keep enjoying weed’s full effect. For example, if you’re using a vape pen, try smoking flower from a hand pipe. “I’m a firm believer that you build up a tolerance to what you’re smoking out of,” he says.
Budtender Conor Mitts inside Curaleaf (Christoper DeVargas/Staff)
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PERFECT PAIRINGS Housewares, paraphernalia and more
Best Buds trio votive candles, by Boy Smells. Cult-favorite candle brand Boy Smells first launched its signature bestselling Kush candle years ago, but it has expanded the line to include the leathery Cowboy Kush and the woody Cashmere Kush. Cherry grinder, by Burning Love. Name a cuter weed accessory—we’ll wait. This convenient metallic red grinder is functional and aesthetic. What more could you want? Hashish ceramic candle, by Jonathan Adler. This statement candle isn’t for the faint of heart. A natural conversation starter, this deep, woodsy and masculine scent lasts for hours and creates an adorable stash jar long after the wax is gone.
(Isabella Behravan/Courtesy)
BY LESLIE VENTURA
Purple Kush candle, by Boy Smells. The final addition to the Kush line, Purple Kush carries the same green, herbaceous scent of weed but adds lilac, tulip and purple cassis for that extra va-va-voom. Strawberry-flavored rolling papers, by Burning Love. These vintage-looking papers boast the sweet flavor of strawberries, so you won’t just look cute using them—your spliffs will taste great, too.
Venus candle, by Stevie. One of best-smelling candles ever made comes from Stevie, a CBD line from LA model, fashion icon and author of the Always Judging blog, Courtney Trop. With vetiver, bergamot and sandalwood, this earthy vessel is a gorgeous statement piece for your home and pairs perfectly with a preroll of your choosing. Weed canister, by Jonathan Adler. The whimsical “druggist” line from luxury furniture and pop-art designer Jonathan Adler puts your passion for all things psychedelic on display in the chicest way possible. Weed tray, by Jonathan Adler. Pair it with your weed canister, or, if you’re on a budget, simply buy this little cutie for some extra magic when you’re rolling your Js.
Heart stash jar, by Burning Love. An affordable and adorable neon pink jar to store everything your heart desires. Well, almost. Midnight Toker, by Heretic Parfum. Infused with CBD, this patchouli- and vanilla-scented perfume combines notes of amber, nutmeg and black pepper for an intoxicating and indulgent fragrance that’s as delicious as it is calming.
(Courtesy)
Chef Daniel Stramm (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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CHEF DANIEL STRAMM USES HIS CULINARY SKILLS TO INCORPORATE CBD IN THE KITCHEN BY GENEVIE DURANO
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t’s only been about a decade since Daniel Stramm graduated from the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school, but the 28-year-old chef has already hit some high points in his career, starting with his first cook job at Mac Shack. He left Vegas briefly for an externship at Zion National Park, then found himself back in town at Akira Back’s Yellowtail at Bellagio, where he learned invaluable knife skills. “I tell myself that I was French-trained and then refined in Japanese cuisine,” Stramm says. From there, Stramm honed his craft at Bacchanal Buffet, before moving to Seattle for a couple of years. But the food scene in Las Vegas proved irresistible. He came back for stints at Spago’s at the Forum Shops, Sparrow + Wolf, Lupo and
Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill in Downtown Summerlin. The restaurant industry can be a high-pressure environment, and for Stramm, knowing when to step away from it was just as important as gaining the experience he needed to cook in some of the most prestigious kitchens in town. Last summer, in the middle of the pandemic, he founded Hemp Fortress, a boutique CBD manufacturing company. “Cannabis has kind of always been something that’s helped me,” says Stramm, who found relief from cannabis for his own ADHD. “So instead of opening a restaurant or trying to do something along those lines, I opened a CBD manufacturing company. … The things I learned as a chef, without that knowledge, I would not be able to do and execute the cannabis in my opinion. Because pharmaceutical is one thing, but, you know, plants are another thing, and chefs cook with plants.” The intersection of food and cannabis continues gaining momentum. On April 20, Stramm will appear on the premiere episode of Chopped 420, a spinoff of the Food Network’s popular Chopped food competi-
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STAR STRAINS
tion. Contestants will be tasked with creating a full-course meal composed of an appetizer, main course and dessert, all incorporating cannabis. “With the legality and stuff like that, they couldn’t actually put it on television, so they were able to get it onto the Discovery+ app,” Stramm says. “Last year, [the app] picked up Growing Belushi, which is all about Jim Belushi and his marijuana farm in southern Oregon. So just trying to advocate and spread awareness, which is a lot of what was spoken about during the show from each person, how it helped us in one way, incorporating it into our everyday lives,” Stramm says. With his CBD business thriving, Stramm keeps an eye toward the future and hopes to eventually incorporate his culinary training into creating products that would allow consumers to get the benefits of cannabinoids while dining out. Though restaurants can’t legally serve food with CBD in them yet, a little ingenuity could be the ticket. Stramm says he’s currently in the R&D phase, trying to reverse-engineer products that could reach the plates of customers soon. “If the restaurant had a tincture or something that they could put on the food, and the patron can put it on the food themselves, then they would be able to achieve the exact same thing,” Stramm says. “My personal focus is to try to bring that to life, because I am a chef and I have worked for some amazing people and I’ve learned a lot. It would be cool to bring something new to the industry.”
Did you know these celebs had their own brands? Khalifa Kush by Wiz Khalifa. The rapper’s premier cannabis brand first launched in the early 2010s, when the Khalifa Kush strain was made and kept in his private stash.
Willie’s Reserve by Willie Nelson. The country legend has always had marijuana on his mind, so much so that he was also one of the first big-time musicians to launch a cannabis brand. Mendi by Megan Rapinoe. The professional American soccer player, Olympian and two-time FIFA World Cup winner’s CBD brand of body care products caters to athletes and anyone with sore, tired muscles. Houseplant by Seth Rogen. The actor, producer and unabashed cannabis enthusiast—you saw Pineapple Express, right?—launched his line of flower, pre-rolls, seltzers and soft gels in Canada, where it’s sold out almost everywhere. Monogram by Jay Z. With a sleek line of flower and pre-rolls, Hova’s Monogram cannabis aims to bring a flavorful and refined approach to getting high. Cheech’s Private Stash & Tommy Chong’s Cannabis by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. The trailblazing stoners each have their own cannabis lines, which carry the distinction of being headed up by two of the scene’s founding fathers. 22Red by Shavo Odadjian. The System of a Down bassist has always been a cannabis connoisseur, and now he’s sharing his love for bud with his heavy, rock-inspired line of flower. Happy Dance by Kristen Bell. The Good Place actress has launched a bright and sunny CBD-infused skin care line, which includes a body butter, coconut balm and a stress-relieving bath bomb. Gas Cannabis Co, by 2 Chainz. Rapper and bona fide pothead 2 Chainz recently launched his line of gasoline-themed flowers and pre-rolls, which include Octane 93, 89 and 87 strains—all designed to get you, well, gassed.
(Celebrity Photos/AP)
NEW COURSE
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Dodi Blunts by Marshawn Lynch. Made with THC “diamonds” for that Beast Mode high, the NFL running back’s luxury cannabis line also works to expunge cannabis-related criminal records, raise money and awareness for causes local to Oakland and support arts and culture in underrepresented cities. –Leslie Ventura
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WHAT’S THE LATES Catching up on cannabis developments, from lounges to laws BY C. MOON REED
C
onsumption lounges and other public spaces. We might have forgotten what it feels like to get together, but cannabis advocates haven’t. Two new bills have been introduced to the Nevada Assembly that would legalize social consumption in public places. Assembly Bill 341, introduced by Rep. Steve Yeager, would legalize (and regulate) cannabis consumption lounges. Additionally, AB322 would allow for the sale and consumption of cannabis at live events. This one has three primary sponsors and five co-sponsors, so it seems to be popular. Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom would like to see even more permissive public consumption laws. “I think we’re ready to really blow the doors off this thing,” Segerblom says. “If we do soon, we can be the marijuana capital of the world.”
Legal consumption lounges could also help curb the flood of tourists smoking outdoors on the Strip and on Fremont Street. Since they can’t smoke in hotels, they have no choice but to smoke outside. “I get complaints all the time … about marijuana smoke on the Strip,” says Segerblom, whose district contains that resort corridor. “The truth is, the hotels really force it, because they prohibited lounges in the last session.” Segerblom says he would like to see the county create outdoor spaces on the Strip where tourists could consume cannabis. DUI Laws. Unlike with alcohol, there’s no technology to detect marijuana impairment. So law enforcement has been working with an ad hoc solution: Whether or not they’re impaired, a driver
whose blood tests positive for marijuana will be convicted of a DUI. The problem is that marijuana can remain in the blood for longer than it affects the brain. Nevada Judiciary Committee Chair Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) presented a solution on March 29 with Nevada Assembly Bill 400. This legislation would remove the prohibition against having marijuana (or marijuana metabolites) in a driver’s blood. You still have to drive sober, of course. Law enforcement would determine impairment via oldschool means, such as driving behavior and field sobriety tests. “Nothing in this bill would prevent prosecutors from charging and securing convictions against drivers who are actually impaired by cannabis,” Yeager says, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
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T? New conveniences. During the pandemic, the state of Nevada allowed for curbside cannabis pickup as a safety measure. “It’s become a really popular feature with both dispensaries and, especially, the customers,” Nevada Dispensary Association executive director Layke Martin told the Las Vegas Sun. Expect this convenience to become permanent, thanks to Nevada bill SB168. Additionally, Clark County greenlit drive-thru windows at dispensaries. And the City of Las Vegas is considering following the County’s lead. Tax dollars. It might seem like all those cannabis tax dollars are going up in smoke, but they’re actually helping our community. In Clark County, the first $12 million in cannabis taxes annually goes to homeless programs. Some money goes to Nevada’s Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB), along with enforcement in local jurisdictions, then the rest goes
(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)
to Nevada’s K-12 education. “For fiscal year 2020, the cannabis industry brought in $105 million in excise tax revenue,” says Nevada Dispensary Association’s Martin. “That was up $6 million from the year prior.” Cannabis lobbyist Scot Rutledge says the industry would like to see sales taxes removed from medical cannabis, just as other medicines are not taxed. “Otherwise, the tax structure is generally fair and equitable,” he says. “The industry wants to play a part in providing revenue to the state.” Criminal justice. Segerblom would like to dedicate a portion of Clark County’s cannabis tax revenue to help people who have been adversely affected by marijuana laws. Segerblom says that even though Gov. Steve Sisolak issued pardons, marijuana charges were not
automatically removed from criminal records. “One of the things we’re looking at is trying to get a computer program that could just go through and pull those things off people’s records,” Segerblom says. Equity and diversity. Over the years, marijuana prohibition has mostly harmed vulnerable populations, while those with the most resources—say, investors wealthy enough to start a cash-only business—have generally benefited from legalization. The latest round of legislation works to balance the scales. Rutledge says both public consumption bills have language that includes social equity applicants in the licensing process. “We’re trying to fix the unintended consequences of how these original laws were passed,” Rutledge says. (Continued on Page 20)
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(Continued from Page 19) Banking. Due to the mismatch between state and federal laws, banking has been a tricky issue for the cannabis industry in Nevada. Consumers still have to pay with cash rather than credit or debit cards, while the industry must deal with all that cash. Rutledge, a lobbyist for the Chamber of Cannabis, says the industry has been able to do some banking, albeit very carefully. “There’s nothing in federal law that prohibits [banking],” Rutledge says. “It’s just a very expensive proposition for the banks because of the reporting requirements, etc.” Banks often apply limits to cannabis banking that they don’t apply to other industries. It will likely take federal legislation to smooth out the issue. Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen are co-sponsors of the SAFE Banking Act, which was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate last month. That bill would go a long way toward granting the cannabis industry access to traditional banking, Martin says. Cannabis for canines. We couldn’t resist the alliteration, but NV AB101 actually applies to all animals, not just dogs. The legislation would allow veterinarians to administer products “containing hemp or CBD which contains not more than 0.3 percent THC.” Federal legalization. After a failed war on drugs, it seems our country is finally inching toward the end of prohibition. Eighteen states have fully legalized cannabis, according to Politico, and many others have legalized its medical use. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants countrywide reform. “The legalization of states worked out remarkably well,“ he told Politico on April 3. “They were a great success. The parade of horribles never came about, and people got more freedom.” Brandon Wiegand, regional general manager for local dispensary The Source and a Nevada Dispensary Association board member, says wide-scale decriminalization is more likely than full legalization. On the other hand, Segerblom predicts President Joe Biden will legalize marijuana, and casino resorts will rush to build consumption lounges.
(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)
The whole crew.
at yo u r lo c a l d i s p e n s a ry
C H E E B AC H E WS .CO M
# C H E W S W I S E LY
Keep out of reach of children, for use only by adults 21 years of age and older. © 2021 deep roots harvest
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BIG THIS WEEK SHOW
VIN & JIMMY’S HOOTENANNY AT NOTORIETY LIVE Two Strip stars who can manage the spotlight on their own are teaming up once again for a no-holds-barred musical melee at blossoming Neonopolis venue Notoriety Live. The last time Vin A. from The Bronx Wanderers and Jimmy Denning from Tenors of Rock joined forces, they sold out this cabaret-style space and brought a slew of surprise guests to the stage. Expect more fun and frivolity this time around. April 20, 7:30 p.m., $35, notorietylive.com. –Brock Radke
WIND OF CHANGE Was “Wind of Change,” The Scorpions’ 1990 power ballad about perestroika, actually written by the CIA as a means to fight communism? Writer Patrick Radden Keefe unpacks the scenario in this 8-part podcast, soon to be a Hulu series. bit.ly/325cfBY
TASTING
TV
LIQUOR LEGENDS AT THE MOB MUSEUM
BRASSIC
The Mob Museum’s speakeasy bar, the Underground, celebrates its third anniversary this month. Honor the occasion by attending Liquor Legends: A Night of Moonshine Tasting and Storytelling. You’ll hear historic tales of bootleggers and Colonial-era moonshiners from a Mob Museum distillery presenter—stories that’ll come to life as you sample a moonshine flight from the Mob Museum’s own distillery. The liquid journey will include “popular infusions and an exclusive barrel-aged expression.” April 20, 8 p.m., $30, call 702-228-2713 to RSVP. –C. Moon Reed
British comedy/drama series Brassic is a tricky thing. At first, this story of a group of young thieves scraping by in northern England (“brassic” is Cockney slang for “broke”) feels like a skilled Guy Ritchie pastiche, down to the artful profanity, in-camera tricks and incredible needle-drop soundtrack. (If nothing else, find the Brassic Spotify playlist.) Gradually, however, show creator and star Joe Gilgun allows other elements to emerge—in particular, his own battles with bipolar disorder—and in so doing, Brassic steals its way into greatness. Hulu. –Geoff Carter
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VINTAGE STAR WARS It ain’t the Holiday Special, but Lucasfilm is streaming a bit more Star Wars TV nostalgia from its vault. Most of it’s Ewok-heavy and awful, but Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky’s early Clone Wars shorts are here, too, and they’re terrific. Disney+
Vin (left) and Jimmy host their latest Hootenanny on April 20. (Courtesy)
MUSIC
OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
PODCAST
SIDEWAYS If you’re a fan of Radiolab and Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History, add Sideways to your podcast playlist. Hosted by British journalist and broadcaster Matthew Syed, the BBC creation delves into recent historical events and turns them, well, sideways to give you a fresh perspective. Example: Recent episode “A Recipe for Happiness” delves into Tony Hsieh’s idealistic (and ultimately tragic) attempt at dismantling social hierarchy. Give Sideways a spin—your inner skeptic will thank you. Apple Podcasts. –Genevie Durano
GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR: G_D’S PEE AT STATE’S END It’s odd to consider, but Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s second life has now out-album’d its first. And though critical consensus holds that the Montreal post-rock giants’ 1997-2003 output towers over that which came later, the group’s fourth “reunion” LP succeeds at recapturing that original sense of thrilling discovery. “First of the Last Glaciers” and “Ashes to Sea or Nearer to Thee”—sections within majestic sidelong compositions “A Military Alphabet” and “Government Came,” respectively—are specific hair-raising highlights, one swooning at the buildup to Armageddon and the other pumping a fist in its face. But all of G_d’s Pee at State’s End! comes as a revelation, and serves as a reminder of Godspeed’s ongoing relevancy. –Spencer Patterson
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SLAM DUNK
NIGHTS
Circa’s Stadium Swim brings a winning party vibe Downtown BY BROCK RADKE We were expecting to be blown away by the fresh experience of watching a Vegas Golden Knights game on a mega-giant outdoor screen at a brand-new pool club in Las Vegas on a recent Saturday night. But our hometown hockey heroes turned out be an afterthought. Instead, we watched one of the all-time great NCAA Final Four games as UCLA valiantly went blowfor-blow with tourney favorite Gonzaga, only to fall at the buzzer thanks to a half-court shot by Jalen Suggs. It was an exhilarating sports moment, made even more special at this exciting sports-based venue, and a reminder of why Circa owner Derek Stevens decided to build what he calls “the best pool in history.” Las Vegas is a great place to celebrate and participate in events that aren’t happening in Las Vegas, and Stadium Swim is the sun-drenched epitome of that concept. It packs its own punch and layers the ultimate watch party as the cherry on top. The scary part is that this place hasn’t even been able to be its full self yet. It opened in late October,
when pools and dayclubs traditionally pack it up for the season, but operating 365 days a year was always the plan for Stadium Swim. It serves hotel guests and pool party-ready visitors with daybed reservations, but those are secondary priorities. This is an event destination, billed as a pool amphitheater, and that event could be anything from a big game (or several big games at the same time) on the 143-foot screen to a private event, or a concert, or a pool party, or something else. It’s a 4,000-capacity venue now operating at 50%, but because of pandemic social distancing restrictions, those numbers fall well below 2,000 people. When Stadium Swim can truly max out its 30 cabanas, 38 daybeds and six pools spread spaciously across the multilevel rooftop location, that will be a party for the ages, over and over again. And it will demonstrate a much broader appeal than the typical Vegas pool party crowd. Until then, it does feel like the newest Vegas pool
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party that just happens to have those monumental screens framing a small central DJ booth—except when surreal vibes hit and you realize you’re on Fremont Street. Classic Downtown hotel towers spike up around you, and the back of the Viva Vision canopy stretches out behind the video screens. Big daylife hasn’t come Downtown before, because it didn’t exist 40 years ago when the last new casino opened down here. It’s fantastically weird, or weirdly fantastic, to have this experience in this location. Our experience included a cabana, bottle service (starting at $300), a mountainous platter of vegetarian nachos ($60) and several dips in several pools. The menu also offers 32-ounce cocktails ($27) like the Golden Hour Margarita with Espolon Reposado and the Adult Beverage with pink strawber-
ry gin and prosecco, plus Sonoran-style hot dogs ($16) and Impossible sliders ($18). And, you guys, swim-up bars. Honestly, we were highly apprehensive about our first Vegas pool club visit since 2019. We might be getting up there in years. We might be lost on the dadbod spectrum. We might have gotten too comfortable staying home for a year. We were hoping Stadium Swim’s casual vibes would snap us back into gear, and that’s exactly what happened.
(Photograph Courtesy/Photo Illustration)
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ART
WHAT IS FOREVER? Test Site Projects hosts a graduate student show that questions our very existence
BY C. MOON REED | PHOTOGRAPHS BY WADE VANDERVORT
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n the sound sculpture “Gnaw,” a demented stuffed animal shakes while making weird chewing noises. In “Cradle,” plastic fingers are hot-glued together to form an organic tower that’s equal parts disturbing and comforting. In “Soap,” a rainbow of soap baseballs questions the masculine tradition of sports. And in “Bunting for Babylon II (Coke & Crystals),” a patriotic decoration is reimagined as a critique of runaway capitalism. These pieces—by John McVay, Emily Sarten, Aaron Cowan and Erin Drew, respectively—are just
a selection of the mind-bending art on display in What Seems Like Forever at Test Site Projects. Along with photography by Keeva Lough and textile collage by Laurence Myers Reese, Forever features work exclusively by UNLV students pursuing an MFA in art. Test Site Projects is a fine art printmaking and publishing house run by Las Vegas artist Erik Beehn, who also teaches art at UNLV. Located just beyond the action of Main Street and the Arts District, its unassuming facade (the former location of Blackbird
Studios) hides a paradise of creation. In addition to studios for him and his assistants, Beehn’s space contains a dizzying array of equipment and machines to make the highest quality prints in a variety of methods, such as screen printing and lithography. The products of past collaborations, with artists such as Justin Favela, Rodrigo Lara, Ayanah Moor, Amanda Browder and more, line the hallways. Beehn works with clients on a national level, but his front gallery allows for connection with the local community.
The inspiration behind curating Forever stemmed from Beehn’s interest in learning more about this cohort of students in the graduate program. Due to COVID-19, the gallery had gone dark for a year. And planning a reentry show had Beehn thinking about “making work in a time of crisis.” Of course, these artists have endured the challenges of making art and going to school during the pandemic. But Beehn says it’s more than that for the six artists featured in Forever. “They’re all in the midway of
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WHAT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER
Through April 30, MondaySaturday by appointment. Test Site Projects, 1551 S. Commerce St., 702-706-8512, testsite projects.com
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“Cradle” by Emily Sarten
“Walk It Off” by Aaron Cowan
their MFA,” Beehn says. “And I feel like in graduate school, people go through multiple crises over that time.” Beehn says he selected artists he felt were at a turning point or were experiencing that critical moment of growth when things are finally starting to change. The title, What Seems Like Forever, could refer to the pandemic lockdown or the feeling of school or perhaps life or even the span of a civilization. “It seems like it goes on forever while you’re in [graduate school],” Beehn says. “Then it seems like it’s over before you know it.”
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The artists explore ideas that seem both eternal and fleeting. Gender expectations, for example, once seemed to be set in stone. No longer. For example, Reese’s “New Hanky Code” consists of jean pockets carrying different styles of handkerchiefs. It hearkens back to the gay community’s secret mode of communication, necessitated by an intolerant society. With the emergence of internet communication, the need for a complex set of secret signals was replaced by the ease of dating apps, which now also seem like they’ll exist forever, until the next thing comes
to replace it. Following a similar path, Lough plays with the idea of permanence. Everybody assumes a photo lasts forever, especially if it’s online, but in “Optical Plastic Surgery (Vaseline),” portraits are faded, ghostly and all but destroyed. The subjects are barely visible, perfected into oblivion. It’s as if an Instagrammer filtered them out of existence. “In a weird way, I felt that the work tied together, although they’re searching on very different points of the conversation,” Beehn says of the artist-students in Forever. “I think it’s an interesting show.”
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Cheese and charcuterie plates at Ada's Wine Bar in Tivoli Village (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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FOOD & DRINK
SHARING IS CARING Catch up with old friends at Ada’s Wine Bar BY GENEVIE DURANO
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reconnected with a friend recently, someone I haven’t seen much during the pandemic, the sort of mini reunion many locals are sure to experience in the coming weeks and months. My friend and I met up at Ada’s Wine Bar in Tivoli Village, chef James Trees’ recently reopened—and reimagined—spot, which now specializes in wines from around the world and small shareable plates. Ada’s turned out to be a perfect place to catch up. The space has a cozy, intimate vibe that invites long conversations. The wine list is presided over by top-notch sommeliers, all of whom have serious bona fides on the Strip and elsewhere and can wax poetic about the 100-plus-bottles and two dozen by-the-glass options. The emphasis is on global grapes, making Ada’s a fun jaunt for both novice imbibers and oenophiles. (And seriously, you are in good hands if you know nothing at all about wine. The somms can give you spot-on recommendations simply by sussing out your taste preferences or by pairing with your food choices.) Rather than classified by region or varietal, wines are filed by descrip-
tive quality: reds are “crunchy, juicy and elegant” or “bold, spicy and rich,” while whites are “zesty, bright and aromatic” or possess “precision, power and detail.” Wines by the glass range from $10-$18, and bottles from about $30 to $250. Sparkling wines, sherrys, amaros and a beer list round out the beverage menu. Sommelier Sarah Pamatat, a veteran of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants and Bellagio’s wine program, recommended a light and dry French Gamay, along with a juicy red blend from Alentejo, Portugal. Both were fantastic. The menu at Ada’s Wine Bar has been reimagined from its original seasonal Italian offerings to Spanish and Mediterranean small plates, inspired by Trees’ travels in the region. Jackson Stamper, formerly of the Kitchen at Atomic, collaborated with the chef on the menu. It’s a short and sweet list meant to accompany the wines without overshadowing them, and no detail has been spared. Start with the charcuterie plate ($15), which brings Jamon Serrano, Iberico chorizo and lomo, and/or the cheese plate ($15), a sheep’s milk allstar assemblage starring aged man-
Octopus patatas bravas (Christopher DeVargas/ Staff)
ADA’S WINE BAR
410 S. Rampart Blvd. #120, 702.463.7433. WednesdaySunday: 2-9 p.m.
chego, the sweet and savory Secret de Compostelle and Idiazabal. All are accompanied by Trees’ indispensable sourdough bread. The Iberico chorizo croquetas ($9), with aged manchego and smoked paprika aioli, is a grown-up’s fried cheese sticks, while the salmon rillette ($13) is an elegant, creamy concoction of smoked salmon, shallot and tarragon aioli, topped with chives. Pair with the wild mushrooms ($13) prepared with Taleggio cream, sherry vinegar and herbs, and topped with a sunny-side egg you’ll scoop up with toasted sourdough slices. All are served tapas style and meant to be shared. If you stay longer, items on the menu can stand in for dinner, like the octopus potatas bravas ($15), a duck confit panini ($13) or the skirt steak ($24), prepared with chimichurri marinade, roasted sweet peppers and a spicy pepper jam. That one calls for another hearty glass of red. That’s just how Ada’s Wine Bar is, a place where your evening can be as long as that wine list. The staff will never rush you out the door, even after the official closing time. After the year we’ve all had, it’s a good place to start catching up again.
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DRIVE TO SUCCEED Silver Knights goalie Logan Thompson works his way from unknown to AHL star
BY JUSTIN EMERSON
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ogan Thompson knew he might be sacrificing the potential of a professional hockey career when he signed with Brock University in St. Catharines, Canada, out of high school. Few players who attend college in Canada reach the NHL, and as an undrafted goalie with an unspectacular junior career, Thompson was already a long shot. He has officially beaten the odds. Thompson has emerged as the best goalie in the American Hockey League this season for the Henderson Silver Knights, and he’s even had a taste of action with the Vegas Golden Knights. “I always thought I had the potential and thought I was good enough,” Thompson says. “When teams were telling me I wasn’t good enough … and that I wasn’t going to sign an NHL contract, it was definitely disappointing and frustrating. [Brock University] gave me a second chance, and I fell in love with the game again.” The Calgary native played his junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League—a team with strong VGK connections. Mark Stone and Ryan Reaves played their junior hockey for the Wheat Kings, a franchise formerly coached and owned by Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon. Thompson didn’t exactly thrive there;
in four seasons, his save percentage didn’t rise above .908. When he aged out of juniors in 2018, he didn’t receive any professional offers, so he signed with Brock, which competes in the U Sports classification in Canada. His game then began ascending. After one season of college hockey, he garnered a pro offer and joined the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL. “To see a guy go through the ranks and play major-junior like myself and [U Sports] and work his way through the pro ranks, it’s great to see,” says Silver Knights assistant coach Joel Ward, who played for the University of Prince Edward Island prior to 11 seasons in the NHL. “We’re fellow [U Sports] members, so I have a soft spot for him.” Thompson turned in a strong 2019-2020 ECHL season in before the pandemic wrecked the minor leagues in 2020, leaving him unsure what might come next. Thompson retreated to Brandon, wondering if his pro dreams might have been extinguished. The phone eventually rang—it was McCrimmon, his former junior coach, offering him
“As far as the success and how dominant he’s been, you’re taken a little bit by surprise,” Silver Knights head coach Manny Viveiros says. “It’s not just one game or a couple of games. He’s been good all the way through. There’s a pattern there, and hopefully he’ll continue having that pattern of playing really strongly.” Thompson’s play also earned him a call-up to the Golden Knights, albeit briefly. Thompson dressed as an NHL backup February 27 in Anaheim and again March 10 against the Wild. When the Golden Knights went down 4-1 in the third period at Minnesota, Thompson’s journey hit its ultimate destination: He entered the game and played the final 8:15. A player just two years removed from the Canadian college ranks was officially playing in the National Hockey League. “Walking into the game and seeing that jersey in your stall was an amazing feeling,” Thompson says. “Getting to put it on for the first time is something you always dream about, something I’ve been working for my whole life. Being able to skate and look at the Minnesota Wild at the other end of the ice, I was very nervous and emotional. It was exciting for me.” Thompson says he was “shaking” for the first five minutes, hoping to make a good first impression on the Golden Knights and coach Pete DeBoer. He succeeded, turning away both of the Wild’s shots on goal during his time on the ice. Still, despite Thompson’s strong year, it’s tough to gauge where he fits in the organization’s long-term plans. Goalies typically take more time to develop than skaters, and Thompson has only played 15 games this year and 57 total since leaving college. Though he’s been successful throughout that span, it’s likely not a large enough sample for Vegas to consider him a long-term backup goalie option—yet. But Thompson’s level of play in the AHL certainly bodes well for his future. He’ll likely be back with the NHL club as the regular season winds down and could receive more playing time if Marc-André Fleury or Robin Lehner needs rest or gets injured. But that’s a discussion for later. Right now he’s content being with the Silver Knights after his long journey getting this far.
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
a job. McCrimmon asked Thompson how soon he could be here; he responded 22 hours, the length of the drive from Brandon to Las Vegas. “I always wanted to be a Vegas Golden Knight, so I took it without hesitating,” Thompson says. “When you sign that NHL contract, you’d do anything to get there. It could have been 30 hours, 40 hours, I still would have done it.” Thompson’s signing barely registered around the league. He was a 24-year-old goalie who had never played in a league as strong as the American League Hockey, and he’d have to compete for playing time there. But Thompson seized the opportunity, earning the starting job with Henderson, which he hasn’t let go. Through his first 15 games with the Silver Knights, he has registered a .948 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against average. He was named AHL Goalie of the Month for February and March. And he’s the biggest reason Henderson has started out 18-6-0, the best record in the Pacific Division.
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(NHLI via Getty Images)
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PLAYER OF THE WEEKLY: JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT The forward contributed two goals and two assists as he continued putting together one of the most consistent seasons among all Golden Knights. At press time, Marchessault stood tied for third on the team in points; he has not gone more than two games without one in 2021.
Report THIS WEEK’S VOTE 1. Jonathan Marchessault 2. William Carrier 3. Marc-André Fleury 4. Tomas Nosek/Reilly Smith (tie) As voted by Las Vegas Weekly’s panel, based on games played April 5-11. SEASON STANDINGS 1. Mark Stone (31 points) 2. Max Pacioretty (25) 3. Marc-André Fleury (22) 4. Jonathan Marchessault (20) 5. William Karlsson (16) 5 points for 1st place in a week, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th, 1 for 5th. UPCOMING GAMES April 16 at Anaheim Ducks, 7 p.m. April 18 at Anaheim Ducks, 1 p.m. April 19 vs. San Jose Sharks, 7 p.m. April 21 vs. San Jose Sharks, 6:30 p.m. Games air on AT&T SportsNet and 98.9-FM/1340-AM unless noted STANLEY CUP ODDS: 7-TO-1 at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook PROSPECT WATCH: JACK DUGAN The 22-year old forward, playing his first year of pro hockey, posted three points in Henderson’s three games, including two goals April 9 against Bakersfield. At press time, he led the Silver Knights with 17 assists and 22 points.
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
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Cannabis company expects growth surge for itself and industry as a whole
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BY BRYAN HORWATH he growth strategy for Deep Roots Harvest, a cannabis company based 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, has been similar to the growth trajectory of the plants it cultivates. “Slow and steady growth,” marketing manager Sam Steinborn said. “That’s what we’ve been building here.” That steady growth, though, is about to kick into high gear. The company has dispensary locations at its headquarters on the outskirts of Mesquite and in Elko County, and it plans to open four more in the coming months, including one in North Las Vegas. It’s part of an expansion strategy that had been in place for over two years, but has been delayed not only by the pandemic but also over industry uncertainty regarding a lawsuit. In 2019, a number of cannabis companies that failed to secure the state licenses required to open a dispensary location sued. “We were awarded five licenses in 2018,” said Jon Marshall, chief operating officer for Deep Roots. “Things were a little delayed, so you could say we’re finally getting the opportunity to open those locations.” If all goes according to plan, the North Las Vegas dispensary location, which is along Craig Road near the Cannery, could open before May 1, Marshall said. Deep Roots also has plans for a dispensary in northwest Las Vegas near Jones Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue. Construction on that property is expected to begin in July, Marshall said. The other three dispensary locations are slated for the Clark County jurisdiction, near the Silverton; in Reno; and in Henderson, though city officials there still need to grant regulatory approval. Some dispensaries depend largely on business from tourists. Deep Roots, Marshall said, will be more focused on locals at its new stores. “It’s been a challenging year for the Las Vegas mar-
ket with the pandemic,” Marshall said. “There’s been a pinch on that market, but everything is starting to open up now. We know that places like Planet 13 and Essence do a great job with the tourism market; we’re going to focus more on the repeat local customer. We want to get into the community.” Except for April and May last year—when the state was in the middle of the coronavirus crisis and numerous business shutdowns were ordered—Deep Roots has seen steady sales growth, Marshall said. “We recovered nicely last summer and into the fall,”
he said. “This spring, it’s been kind of off to the races.” Partly an effort to ramp up production ahead of its multiple openings, Steinborn said Deep Roots has tentative plans to pour more than $1 million into renovations of its lab and “kitchen” spaces in Mesquite. David Franco, who oversees the company’s grow operation in Mesquite, said he’s more than ready for the planned ramp-up. A 12-year veteran of the cannabis industry, Franco took a flyer on a position with Deep Roots five years ago, because the cost of living was too high in Colorado and also since he had family in Mesquite. Today, he oversees nearly three dozen employees. It’s not uncommon to find Franco moving along the rows of plants with a pruner in one of the company’s “flower rooms” on a Sunday. “I think the industry is better regulated here in Nevada than in Colorado,” Franco said. “I’ve noticed that, and it’s a good thing.” In addition to the traditional smokable cannabis strains, Deep Roots also manufactures and sells edibles like gummies, lozenges and even taffy products, along with CBD offerings. Some of the company’s brands—like Helix Gummies and Cheeba Chews—are sold wholesale at nonDeep Roots dispensaries. “The cannabis industry in general is seeing a lot more exposure,” Marshall said. “You’re seeing a lot of new markets come online. Legislation recently passed in New York, so there was a lot of exposure there. We’re going to see a lot more growth in the industry.”
The “dry room” at Deep Roots Harvest Dispensary (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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4 .1 5 . 2 1 Nevada, what would it be? We need mental health services that are free and affordable to everyone. There’s very little help in Nevada for people who struggle with their mental health.
Staffing agency specializing in cannabis industry learned to succeed on the fly
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BY VEGAS INC STAFF
hen recreational cannabis became legal in Nevada, Holly Cowden was a recruiter for the agricultural industry. “I remember thinking, ‘How will they staff an industry that really doesn’t exist yet?’ ” she said. “That was when I decided to focus our staffing efforts on the cannabis industry, as I could use my years of experience to help.” Cowden is the founder and managing partner of Trim Force, the first staffing agency for the cannabis industry in Clark County. What challenges do you face in staffing the cannabis industry? Why focus on that industry? One of the biggest challenges is the lack of people who hold agent cards. Agent cards require a background check and fingerprints, and provide workers with access to different areas in marijuana business facilities. Without these cards, you cannot work in the business. This is made even more challenging by the state making that process difficult and expensive. Since cannabis is illegal on the federal level, banking is another challenge. It took me a year to figure out a banking structure that worked for us. On another note, the fact that there can be a stigma attached to working in the cannabis industry can be a personal challenge. You really can’t take it personally. Just focus on your goals and surround yourself with people who encourage you and want you to succeed. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business and the cannabis industry overall? We had to get creative quickly to survive the shutdowns. Dispensaries were able to function more efficiently with the addition of curbside pick-up and drive-thru service, so that got us thinking of ways we could adapt to the situation. We ended up adopting a similar strategy of curbside services for recruiting. We also created a drive-thru process for job fairs. In many ways, the pandemic made Trim Force a better company. It gave us time to refine our business practices and shore up areas that never included a plan for a pandemic.
What is the best business advice you’ve received? Drew Gennuso, founder of Trim Ready, ran a cannabis school and gave me loads of advice. It wasn’t one specific thing he said, but rather the help and time he gave. He spent hours with me sharing information and ideas. My staff even attended his educational courses to help gain hands-on experience trimming cannabis. I was grateful for the experience, as it helped me understand the jobs my agency was going to be filling. Tell us about a success story you’ve had that makes you proud of the work you do. In the beginning, we were fortunate to partner with one of the largest growers in Nevada. This was an enormous amount of pressure, and we decided to recruit on location at the client’s facility. With no experience, the job seekers we placed found themselves training for jobs that had never existed before. Training a workforce that didn’t exist showed we could compete and succeed in the industry. If you could change one thing about Southern
Where do you see your company in 10 years? With cannabis becoming legal in many other states over the past few years, getting people ready to work in the industry is vital to its survival. I want to be a part of that effort to build a nationwide industry. What is your dream job, outside of your current field, and why? When I was a kid, I thought about becoming a seismologist. I know, not typical, but growing up in California, earthquakes fascinated me, and I thought it would be cool to study them. Obviously, that did not happen, but I still think it would have been cool. Whom do you admire and why? My grandmother. She was a prisoner of war during World War II and experienced the worst of humanity, but you would never know it. She lived her life with so much joy and kindness. I wish I was a lot more like her. She passed away in 2008, but I think of her all the time. What is something that people might not know about you? I’m Guamanian, and I love to geek out watching storm-chaser live cams, and You Tube videos on earthquakes and volcanoes. Anything else you’d like to add? As we start coming out of this pandemic, there are going to be so many people who will not get their jobs back. This is expected to disproportionately affect women. I hope everyone reading this will keep that in mind when they are hiring. I know I will.
Holly Cowden, founder and managing partner at Trim Force, inside the facility of one of her clients, GSM LV, cultivator of Viva La Buds (Christopher DeVargas)
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
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(Photo Illustration)
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Can cryptocurrency solve cannabis’ financial needs?
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BY VEGAS INC STAFF
he conflict between state and federal laws has caused issues in the cannabis industry for decades—especially for companies needing to secure their cash. Because federally, cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance, banking institutions cannot insure— and will not accept funds—from the multibillion-dollar industry, forcing cannabis companies to operate outside of insured banking systems. As an increasing number of states legalize both medical and recreational marijuana, the problems associated with this legal discrepancy continue to grow, and the cannabis industry is seeking financial solutions. One being experimented with is cryptocurrency. There are several marijuana-specific token exchanges that offer dispensaries, cultivators and consumers
an alternative to cash transactions. Cryptocurrency is a buzzy option in tech circles, but the legality of crypto exchanges and the technology used remains murky for many consumers—including potential users within the cannabis industry. Fortunately for those in Nevada, the state has partnered with a crypto company to provide a cashless payment system for licensed marijuana businesses using tokenized credits. In January, Multichain Ventures Inc., a blockchain cryptocurrency company, announced its contract with the state to fulfill the requirements of Assembly Bill 466. The bill requires the State Treasurer to create a pilot program establishing a closed-loop payment processing system that safely and efficiently enables financial transactions for marijuana companies. Aimed to provide a secure and convenient method to pay state and local taxes, the bill also offers an alternative to banking for eligible cannabis providers. Once
implemented, it could deliver a significant boon to the industry by offering a first-of-its-kind option. Beyond the state-endorsed program being built, there are other blockchain cryptocurrencies centered on marijuana business. As with many coin exchanges, they are considered volatile investments. PotCoin. One of the first cryptocurrencies created for the marijuana industry, PotCoin was launched in 2014. It reports that it has more than 408,000 network participants with more than 224 million coins in circulation. CannabisCoin: Launched a few months after PotCoin, CannabisCoin is a peer-topeer cryptocurrency that has experienced many dips in value over the years. There are 77 million coins in circulation. HempCoin: HempCoin was designed to be used specifically by farmers and is one of the first 30 coins created in 2014. There are 253 million coins in circulation.
When will federal law catch up to the states?
n In February, United States Senate leader Chuck Schumer vowed to reform federal law and end prohibition of cannabis on the federal level. This announcement provided hope for many in the cannabis industry who are hindered by the inability to bank safely. Working with senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden, advocates are anticipating that the comprehensive reform bill will be introduced soon.
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VegasInc Notes Cure 4 The Kids Foundation announced Jennifer Buitrago as its chief nursing officer. Buitrago had previously been serving as in the position on an interim basis since 2018, and is one of the original Buitrago members of the clinic staff and a founding board member. Basic Management Inc. announced changes to its board of directors and leadership team: Richard Kellogg retired as chairperson after 28 years and will remain on the board of directors; Mark Paris, currently president and CEO of BMI and its affiliates, is chairman of the board of directors and CEO; Stephanne Zimmerman was named president of BMI and its affiliated companies, and also continues her duties as chief financial officer; and Lee Farris was named president of the LandWell Company, the real estate development company of BMI. Other board members include Andrew Nace, vice chairman of the board; Kristen McCoy, Amy Samford and Michael Simmons serving as executive vice presidents; Stephen Rice serving as vice president of Basic
Environmental Company; and Colen Watts serving as vice president of Basic Water Company SPE 1, Basic Water Company and Basic Power Company. Lage Design, a landscape architecture firm based in Henderson, announced the addition of Jon Marenfeld and Marcantonio Fodera to its team of design professionals. Fodera and Marenfeld serve as Marenfeld landscape designers with Lage, bringing ample experience and expertise to their new positions. Dr. David Richards joined Southwest Medical’s Banburry Cross Healthcare Center location. Richards specializ- Fodera es in internal medicine. Jewish Nevada welcomed nine new board members, including Anthony Spiegel, Brad Howard, Darcy Silver, Jeffrey Fine, Doug Eisner, Jessica Marshall, Jason Schifrin, Royi Moas and Elliot Malin.
LwIitGh HPoTrtEoNf SuUbsP!
The Source+ announced Jesse Rabb as its new director of retail operations for the company’s two dispensaries in the Las Vegas Valley and new dispensary in Reno. An experienced retail professional, Rabb has worked with nation- Rabb al brands including Starbucks, Chipotle and Whole Foods. Goodwill of Southern Nevada announced the addition of Christopher White and Lauren Westerfield to its board of directors. White, the chief operating officer for Brooklyn Bowl, has extensive experience in business operations and White will offer vital insight to the board. Westerfield, a seasoned marketing, entertainment and hospitality executive, brings 15 years of experience in marketing and branding to her new role and will help guide the nonprofit organization’s commu- Westerfield nication efforts. Advanced Hemp, Boxabl and Nuro were approved for state incentives to relocate to or expand in Southern Nevada with the assistance of Las Vegas Global
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
Economic Alliance. Combined, they are expected to bring an estimated 560 regional jobs in the next five years. The Las Vegas City Council unanimously ratified Seth Floyd as the city’s director of community development. He was selected for the position by City Manager Jorge Cervantes. In this role, Floyd will oversee the city’s planning functions, including master planning, zoning, code enforcement and business licensing. Intermountain Healthcare named Dr. Paul Krakovitz the interim Nevada region president. This is a new position for Intermountain Nevada since HealthCare Partners Nevada joined Intermountain Healthcare in 2019. Aristocrat Gaming repeated its win of Best Overall Supplier of Slot Content, one of nine awards Aristocrat won in the annual EKG Slot Awards. Aristocrat won the following additional awards: Most Improved Supplier – Premium; Top Social Casino Company; Top Performing Premium Game: Dragon Link Happy & Prosperous; Top Performing Proprietary Branded Game: Dragon Link Happy & Prosperous; Top Performing Core Video – Reel Game: Buffalo Gold Revolution; Top Performing New Cabinet – Premium: MarsX; Top Performing New Premium Game: Cash Express™ Luxury Line Buffalo; and Top Performing New Video Reel Core Game: Buffalo Chief.
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PREMIER CROSSWORD
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“BITE PREVENTION” BY FRANK LONGO
HOROSCOPES
WEEK OF APRIL 15 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): 13th-century Zen master Wumen Huikai observed, “The whole world is a door of liberation, but people are unwilling to enter it.” There will be times in the coming weeks when the whole world will feel like a door to you. Open it and be led to potential opportunities for interesting changes that offer you liberation. Be alert and brave enough to take advantage. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, “How hard it is to see what is right in front of my eyes!” That won’t be a problem for you in the coming weeks. You will see a whole range of things that were previously hidden, even though some of them had been right in front of your eyes. Everyone whose life you touch will benefit because of this breakthrough. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to the U.S. Geological Survey, no river moves in a linear trajectory for a distance of more than 10 times its width. The place where a river changes direction is called a “meander.” Let this serve as a metaphor for your life in the coming weeks. Your regular flow is due for a course change—a meander. Any intuitive ideas about which way to go? In which direction will the scenery be best? CANCER (June 21-July 22): For celebrated poet Denis Johnson, life was rough in his 20s. Because of his addictions to drugs and alcohol, he neglected his writing. Later, he expressed appreciation to people who supported him earlier on. “You saw me when I was invisible,” he wrote, “you spoke to me when I was deaf, you thanked me when I was a secret.” Honor such helpers in your own life and repay the favors. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The coming weeks will be a fine time to take an inventory of your beliefs—and then divest yourself of any that no longer serve you, excite you or fit your changing understanding of how life works. For extra credit, dream up some fun new beliefs that lighten your heart and stimulate your playfulness. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Charles Wright testifies, “I write poems to untie myself, to do penance and disappear through the upper right-hand corner of things, to say grace.” What do you do to untie yourself, do penance and invoke grace? The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to use all the tricks at your disposal to accomplish such useful transformations.
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Bases for hair plugs 7 Makes out incorrectly, as text 15 Acronym for a PC character set 20 Without breaking a sweat 21 Radio-signal rods 22 Flowerless office plants 23 Start of a riddle 25 Police actions 26 Serpent 27 Foam at the top of an espresso 28 Low-carb kind of diet 29 Highway with a no. 31 Riddle, part 2 37 In a new way 41 Mornings, for short 42 Rub away 43 To and — 44 Boorish sort 45 Be incorrect 47 Pigs’ places 48 Merit badge earner 50 Riddle, part 3 55 “Silence!” 56 Altar vow 57 Hoover product, in brief 58 Second-largest city in Algeria 59 Wears a grin 61 Lawn pests 63 Automated PC program that may generate pop-ups 65 Aviating guy, informally 68 Riddle, part 4 74 Equine, to kids 75 Piccolo, e.g. 76 Comaneci of gymnastics 77 Neighbor of Tanzania
80 James who played Brian Piccolo 81 Letter before upsilon 83 Two, in Peru 84 As neat as — 85 Riddle, part 5 91 Rattan artisan 93 Iraqi money 94 —War (William Shatner novel) 95 Big name in frozen drinks 96 Noshed 97 Puts in office 99 Ending for Taiwan 101 Ones running 5,280 feet 103 End of the riddle 106 Party for Biden: Abbr. 107 Arab bigwigs 108 Maine university city 110 Texas river to the Rio Grande 115 Shorthand whiz 116 Riddle’s answer 121 Group dialect 122 Outperformed 123 Online brokerage 124 Eight-item set 125 People feeling hate 126 Got closer to DOWN 1 Constructs clothes 2 “All the Way” lyricist Sammy 3 On a cruise 4 Connection 5 Common toolbox item 6 DOS part: Abbr. 7 Bryn — 8 Line down a pant leg 9 Steps loudly
10 Make a new chart of 11 Suffix with acetyl 12 Year, in Lisbon 13 Actor Aykroyd 14 Atlanta-to Tampa dir. 15 Many ski chalets 16 Rival of Serta 17 Protested about an injustice 18 What spinning bikes are intended for 19 Mag. edition 24 Killer serve 28 Third deg., often 30 Letter before iota 32 Boca — 33 Somber paper notice 34 Territory 35 Wine barrel 36 Invaders of ancient Rome 37 Actor Marc of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 38 Sweet on 39 Nureyev of ballet 40 Guess at JFK or LGA 41 Ulna locale 46 Summarizes 47 Big annual Minnesota event 49 Novelist Achebe 51 Sitcom, e.g. 52 New Orleans sub 53 Quick pace 54 Title girl in a Salinger story 60 — opus (great work) 62 Gas in fuel mixtures 64 “Dr.” of hip-hop 65 Attacked like a wasp 66 Model-building set
67 Mimieux of The Reward 69 Children’s author Carle 70 Family group 71 Bring forward as evidence 72 Violent insurgent 73 Fast races 77 Big parrot 78 Uninterested 79 Distinctive facial contour 80 Smash-up 82 Help desk message 86 Had way too much, for short 87 End of Caesar’s boast 88 Strep-studying docs 89 Ending with Harlem 90 Grease 92 North American plant that’s a dye source 98 Fleur-de- — 99 Poland is part of it 100 Russell — (chocolatier) 102 Ascribe 104 Bit of color 105 Gusto 106 — good deed 109 Rorem and Beatty 111 Poet Pound 112 Peter the Great, e.g. 113 Aged, quaintly 114 Bird feeder tidbit 115 — -mo 116 100 cents: Abbr. 117 Yoko of music and art 118 Three R’s gp. 119 “Tsk!” 120 Guys
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Storms bring refreshing rain and keep the planet in electrical balance. Lightning from storms creates ozone, a vital part of our atmosphere, and it converts nitrogen in the air into nitrogen in the ground, making the soil more fertile. Metaphorical storms often generate necessary and welcome transformations, as well—as they will for you in the coming weeks. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Unexpressed emotions will never die,” declared trailblazing psychologist Sigmund Freud. “They are buried alive and they will come forth, later, in uglier ways.” So don’t bury your emotions—especially now, when they urgently need to be aired. Find the courage to express them soon— in the most loving ways possible, hopefully, and with respect for people who may not be entirely receptive to them. Communicate with compassionate clarity. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Author Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz wrote a poem titled “Not Doing Something Wrong Isn’t the Same as Doing Something Right.” Make that one of your guiding themes during the next two weeks. Avoid doing the wrong things and give your generous energy to carrying out the right things. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Hopefully you’ve been treating yourself like a royal child the past few weeks, showering yourself with nurturing and therapeutic treatments. If not, make up for lost time in the coming days. Your success during the rest of 2021 depends on your devout devotion to self-care right now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sometimes when a disheartening kind of darkness encroaches, we’re right to be afraid. But on other occasions, the darkness isn’t real, or is less threatening than we imagine. This is the nature of the darkness you’re currently worried about. Can you find a way to banish or diminish your fear? PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Some people, if they didn’t make it hard for themselves, might fall asleep,” wrote novelist Saul Bellow. Some of us act as if it’s entertaining, even exciting, to attract difficulties and cause problems for ourselves. If that describes you, tone down that bad habit—maybe even see if you can at least partially eliminate it. The cosmic rhythms will be on your side whenever you take measures to drown out the little voices in your head that try to undermine and sabotage you.
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