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WAIT ALMOST OVER FOR CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S VEGAS RESTART Cirque du Soleil has announced that its two longest-running Las Vegas Strip shows will be the Canadian company’s first resident productions to return their respective stages. Mystère, originally opened in 1993, will come alive again at Treasure Island on June 28, while O at Bellagio, which first arrived in 1998, reopens on July 1. Most larger-scale Vegas shows have not been able to reopen yet as casinos, theaters and arenas navigate pandemic restrictions and protocols, but that is expected to change soon under Clark County’s safety plan when it’s approved by the state and capacity limits and social distancing requirements fade. And that means Cirque du Soleil will likely bring back its other Strip shows later this year. “We will know in a few weeks how ticket sales are going for the first two shows,” said Daniel Lamarre, president and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. “When I look to our crystal ball, Vegas is catching up much faster than we expected, and if that’s the case, we might look at opening up The Beatles Love [at Mirage] in July, Michael Jackson One [at Mandalay Bay] sometime near the end of August and then KÁ [at MGM Grand] in September or October.” The reopenings of O and Mystère are being planned for full capacity without social distancing in their theaters of 1,800 and 1,600 seats, respectively. Cirque also owns the Blue Man Group’s show at Luxor after an acquisition in 2017, and that highly successful production will reopen in its 850-seat second-level theater June 24. The athleticism and choreography of the shows require time and hard work to return to form. Performers have been staying in shape and are now returning to training and rehearsals. –Brock Radke
BRUNO MARS BACK ON THE STRIP IN JULY
THEY SAID IT
Anaheim’s Troy Terry, center right, jumps out of the way of the puck as Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner guards the net during the second period of a game April 24 in Anaheim, California. Chandler Stephenson scored two goals in the first period as the Golden Knights cruised to their franchise-record ninth consecutive victory, 5-1 over the last-place Ducks. Lehner made 23 saves in his second win at Honda Center in nine days, as Vegas pushed toward a possible West Division title and a league-high points total entering the postseason. (Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
ALLEGIANT STADIUM TO HIRE 2,200 WORKERS FOR RAIDERS GAME DAYS
n “I could unpin it and let it run its course. It’s already out there. It’s not an apology. I’m not embarrassed by what I said, but I did learn something now.” –Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis, April 20 to The Athletic, responding to criticism of his having tweeted the message “I can breathe” after Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd n “I got messages from all over the world—Ghana, London—saying we can’t breathe until you can breathe. Well, today we are able to breathe again. Justice for George means freedom for all.” -George Floyd’s brother Philonise, April 20 n “I want to pay tribute to
Allegiant Stadium will hire 2,200 new part-time workers Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early. I in positions such as ticketing, custodial and food services really did not expect this, so I for the initial Raiders season with fans at the $2 billion feel very privileged and honfacility near the Strip. ored.” –Anthony Hopkins, on The jobs are in addition to those previously filled ahead April 25, in a belated speech of last season, which was played without fans—and many accepting his Oscar for Best game-day staffers—because of the pandemic. Actor for his performance Other positions include hospitality, security, customer in The Father service and more, officials announced this morning. “We are excited to recruit a diverse and winning team to help make the experience at Allegiant Stadium the best it can be,” Las Vegas Raiders President Marc Badain said in a news release. “These additional jobs will help support economic growth in our local community, while providing exciting and unique job opportunities for individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds.” Officials intend to “work closely with those who received job offers during last season’s virtual recruitment efforts to fill previously secured positions.” The announcement didn’t indicate what the positions will pay. The process will be conducted virtually. Visit the application site at allegiant-stadium-careers.com. –Staff
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1 THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK
On April 26 Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Bruno Mars became the first Strip resident headliner to announce a comeback. He will return for Fourth of July weekend at Park Theater at Park MGM, set to host concerts July 3, 4, 9, 10, 23 and 24. Tickets go on sale April 30. Mars began his residency at the 5,300seat Park Theater in December 2016 and last performed there in early March 2020, just before the pandemic shut down the Strip. He donated $1 million last year to an emergency relief fund for MGM Resorts employees. Mars returned to the pop charts in recent weeks with “Leave the Door Open,” a song from his new Silk Sonic side project with rapper, singer and musician Anderson .Paak. July is shaping up to be a blockbuster month on the Strip as Usher is set to debut his new residency show at the Colosseum on Caesars Palace on July 16. Barry Manilow is set to return June 10 at the 1,600-seat Westgate International Theater,. –Brock Radke
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R.I.P. TEMPEST STORM
TRAVEL UPDATE
Annie Blanche Banks, better known as the burlesque legend Tempest Storm, who was linked offstage to the likes of Elvis Presley and President John F. Kennedy, died April 20 in her Las Vegas home. She was 93. Funds are being collected at burlycares.com to have Banks interred in LA.
The European Union is finalizing plans to allow tourists from the United States to travel to the 27-nation bloc this summer, officials said April 26. The European Commission didn’t say when exactly tourists would be allowed back, and if a reciprocal approach will apply to European tourists.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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The Weekly Q&A: Zoe Thrall on switching local recording studios Cover story: Will these summer movies draw you back to theaters? Big This Week: Where to go, what to watch and more Nights: The Sahara's Azilo Ultra joins the Vegas pool party Food & Drink: Circa's steakhouse and a hot Downtown bar
WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD N EWS YO U S H O U L D K N OW A B O U T
Sports: The Lights return for season No. 4 Vegas Inc: Shining a spotlight on local small businesses
NFL DRAFT The Las Vegas Raiders are slated to pick 17th in the first round of the NFL draft on April 29. On the draft's second day, which will include the second and third rounds, the Raiders own picks 48, 79 and 80. On the third and final day, they have the 121st, 162nd, 167th and 200th picks. Since coach Jon Gruden rejoined the club in 2018, however, the team has made 13 draft-day trades, so it's unlikely the Raiders will stay put.
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80% CAPACITY
J&J VACCINE RETURNS
DRIVE-THRU VACCINATION
Casinos in Clark County will be allowed to move to an 80% capacity limit beginning May 1, according to Nevada regulators. Casinos, along with other businesses in Clark County, will also be allowed to relax social distancing guidelines to 3 feet.
Nevada's COVID-19 immunization program is telling health care providers to resume use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine now that the federal government has lifted an 11-day pause. Scientists said the benefits of the one-dose shot outweigh the rare risk of blood clots.
Soon, getting your COVID-19 vaccine won’t require leaving the comfort of your vehicle. The first local drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic will open May 11 in the parking lot of Texas Station. Organizers are planning to administer about 1,000 shots a day at the clinic.
The Gamboa Trio performs in a Las Vegas Convention Center COVID-19 vaccination clinic on April 24. The entertainment is part of the “Create Our Recovery” concert series. (Steve Marcus/ Staff)
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SKIN SENSE (Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)
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First, do no harm
BY LESLIE VENTURA
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’ve had acne nearly all my life, and I still deal with it in my early 30s. I know firsthand the less-discussed side effects that come with the skin issue, including depression, depleted mental health and a lack of self-confidence. Fortunately, the acne-positive movement has been working to destigmatize skin conditions and talk openly about harmful side effects that affect our self-worth. The focus is on healing acne safely, debunking myths and stereotypes about the condition and providing a community where people can discuss their own concerns, share product recommendations and more. According to a 2019 article from Business Insider, skin care is a $532 billion industry … and that was three years ago! With so many skin products and brands selling the false promise of perfect skin, it can feel overwhelming trying to navigate the waters of this giant industry. A simple search pulls up thousands of blogs, influencers, Instagram pages and TikTok videos talking about or selling various products, but finding actual dermatological or medical advice can be a lot more difficult. Medical aesthetician Courtney Stewart of Las Vegas’ Advanced Aesthetics med spa says treating acne isn’t a “one-size-fits-all thing,” and that if it’s within someone’s budget, consulting a dermatologist or a medical aesthetician can lead to a comprehensive solution to the problem. At Advanced Aesthetics, Stewart says, “We’re trying to go at it a little slower and fix [the problem] gradually,” all while addressing other things like aging or hyperpigmentation. A dermatologist, however, can address more major skin concerns, like severe acne, eczema, dermatitis and more. It’s up to the individual to decide what kind of professional to see, if not both.
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Helpful tips for treating acne safely
If medical treatment isn’t an option, there are other avenues to combat acne. Science has come a long way, and there are plenty of ingredients to treat whatever skin condition you’re facing. First, pay attention to your skin barrier. If your skin is dry, red, itchy or flaky—even with acne—chances are your skin barrier has been compromised. This can happen when you use too many products at once, or overexfoliate with harsh chemicals or abrasives. “Keep it very minimal,” Stewart says. And remember that 10-step skin care regiments aren’t backed up by science—that’s simply marketing. Stewart goes on to say that layering too many products can “strip the barrier of your skin and cause other problems”—and probably won’t help reduce acne. “Keep it very basic. Cleanse, use something that isn’t abrasive. I wouldn’t layer a ton. Stick with one thing,” she says. That can be difficult given the industry’s appealing packaging and promises to cure skin concerns, but remember, there isn’t a universal miracle product on the market. Invest in skin care with nourishing, healing ingredients like ceramides and lipids (which naturally occur in skin but get depleted as we age), peptides, niacinamide, azelaic acid and hyaluronic acid.
Listen to your skin Retinols and vitamin C are two often-hyped ingredients that can do wonders for the skin, but people with sensitive skin should be extra cautious with them. Retinol can cause irritation before skin gets better (that means more redness, dryness and, possibly, more breakouts at first). And Vitamin C, while great for some, simply can’t be tolerated by others’ bodies. “Acne is so different for everyone,” says Stewart, who typically recommends something lighter for someone with “very oily skin” and something heavier if a patient is on the drier side. No matter what, remember that even if you have oily skin, your face needs moisture. As for exfoliating at home, Stewart says she doesn’t love it. Even though there are countless exfoliating products in the market, “for the most part, you’re probably going to wreck a lot more than you’re going to fix,” she says. If you really want to incorporate an exfoliant into your routine, Stewart recommends starting with one type of exfoliant, like an AHA or BHA chemical exfoliant. Be careful, though. Salicylic acid is a common chemical exfoliant found in many products, so you could be layering multiple exfoliating products without knowing it. When in doubt, check the label. If you’re still not sure what products to purchase or what treatments will help with your acne or skin concerns, that’s what experts are for. Stewart advises making an appointment with a licensed dermatologist or a trained medical aesthetician to help create a tailored plan unique to you, so you don’t have to do the guesswork yourself.
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(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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WEEKLY Q&A
ENGINEERING SUCCESS After more than 15 years heading up the Palms’ recording studio, Zoe Thrall has moved over to the Hideout BY BROCK RADKE She’d probably disagree, but Zoe Thrall is something of a legend. When she came to Las Vegas in 2005 to oversee the opening and operations of the Studio at the Palms, Thrall had spent years as an engineer and studio manager at the famed Power Station Studios and Hit Factory Studios in New York City. She’d also toured with Steven Van Zandt and his band, The Disciples of Soul, so Thrall brought a uniquely robust perspective to the entertainment capital of the world. ¶ The Palms is still shuttered after closing last year when the pandemic struck, and the future of its studio is uncertain. Thrall has moved on, joining fast-growing Henderson studio operation the Hideout in March as director of studio operations. The family-run facility has hosted artists from Carlos Santana to Kendrick Lamar, and Thrall says she settled in quickly and comfortably.
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hat was it like to join the team at the Hideout after being friendly competitors for years?
I had known [owner] Kevin Churko for many years, from when they first moved to Vegas and had a studio behind the Bootlegger. I got to know them a little more over the last five years when they bought this place, and I’ve always respected the work he’s done. And then it was getting to know his son Kane, who’s also a producer and engineer, and his daughter Khloe, who has been managing the studio. So that just made it all really natural. How has the past year impacted the Hideout? Maybe it’s because
it was the only place open, but after it closed for about six weeks into last April and then opened up again with a lot of conditions and protocols, they had a really good year last year. This year, March was a record month. It’s definitely changed, and
things are different, but the business moves on. It makes sense that a lot of musicians have been working and recording from home, and we know music retailers and gear shops did well during the pandemic. You know, when the re-
cording-at-home thing happened maybe 10 years ago, everyone thought commercial studios were done. I always looked at it like it would only help us. Anything that would get a musician or songwriter to continue the creative process would be [good], and at some point they are going to have to come to us, either because they want to put what they recorded through some really high-end gear or because they need a really well-designed critical-listening environment. Now more than ever, it’s more of a hybrid experience when you’re making records. It seems like Las Vegas has
grown a lot in recent years as a place for artists from all over to come and record. Why do you think that is? Las Vegas is
so much fun, a true 24-hour city. What other city in the United States is really awake at the hours people make records? Where can you work 12 to 14 hours a day, finish at three in the morning and go get a cocktail or a nice meal and feel the energy of a city before you wind down and go to sleep and start all over again? What was it like playing with Little Steven, and how did that happen? The very first door that
got opened was because I play the oboe. I was working at a studio as an assistant engineer on a bunch of records he was producing, and on his first solo album, he was looking for this very specific sound. His guitar tech said, “You know, Zoe plays oboe, and that kind of sounds like what you’re looking for,” and I ended up playing on
the record. So we finished that, and I was thinking I would stay at this big New York studio and get mentored by these great engineers and producers and become a record producer. But after the record, he asked me to go on the road and be part of the band. I was 22 years old at the time, and that was not something I ever considered. Long story short, I worked for him for 10 and a half years, playing and engineering a bunch of records. I learned everything about the business from Steven, about music and contracts and publishing, not to mention exposure to a number of political things he was involved in. I got to see that side of the world and meet Nelson Mandela. It was a whirlwind of 10 years and something I never dreamed of doing in terms of touring and being a member of a band. Is every studio engineer secretly a musician? The best engineers
are musicians, for sure.
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The Summer 2021 film season could signal a reawakening for moviegoing itself BY GEOFF CARTER
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arlier this month, LA’s ArcLight and Cinerama Dome theaters closed down for good. The moviegoing communities of Twitter and Facebook reverberated with shock and disbelief that such cinematic institutions could be felled by the COVID-19 shutdown, but at the same time, those self-proclaimed film geeks shrugged in resignation: That’s the world we live in now. COVID-19 is just the latest thing set to destroy moviegoing as we’ve known it, right behind high-definition televisions, streaming services, studio consolidation and 20-screen multiplexes programmed with just five films. Moviegoing was headed downhill long before the pandemic slammed its foot on the gas. Now, vaccines are beginning to arrest the spread of the virus, and as a result, movie theaters are slowly reopening across the Las Vegas Valley. (As of this writing, at least a dozen local theaters—including Century’s casino screens, North Las Vegas’ Maya Cinemas and AMC Town Square—are already open.) Within
a month or so, we should have a pretty complete idea of which theaters are returning and which ones are going the way of the ArcLight and Cinedome. And if we can—if enough of us are inoculated that we can sit in an enclosed space for two hours with some degree of confidence—we should turn off our TVs and return to those theaters, rescuing moviegoing one more time. If the past year has impressed anything upon me, it’s that I spend too much time at home looking at screens. As great as TV is now—and make no mistake, the storytelling and visual appeal of shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, I May Destroy You and Stranger Things are every bit as strong as their cinematic counterparts—watching it is altogether different than the experience of moviegoing, where distractions are removed (if you follow the rules of the house and put your damn phone away), and plot twists, character moments and visual wows can be communally shared. If you cheer on the Avengers and no one else hears it, doesn’t it mean that Thanos has already won? This summer movie season is something of an inflection point. Studios like Disney and Warner Brothers are playing hardball with the national chains, trying to whittle down theatrical release windows so films can jump to their streaming services faster—or they’re bypassing that window entirely,
releasing films on Disney+ and HBO Max the same day they debut in theaters. (Warner intends to release its entire 2021 slate this way; Disney is being somewhat more cautious.) But even though the option is available to me, I can’t imagine watching In The Heights or Black Widow without the presence of an audience. As it is, I regret having watched Wonder Woman 1984 and Soul that way; the former felt somewhat airless and flat without a crowd to cheer it on, and the dreamy landscapes of the latter needed the biggest screen they could get. Movies aren’t movies because they’re two hours long and expensive to make. They’re movies because they aspire to the biggest screen—and the biggest roomful of people—they can get. So, for your consideration, here’s the class of Summer 2021. There’s a strong chance some release dates might slip and slide as we play whack-a-mole with COVID-19 outbreaks, and an equally valid chance that some of these films could debut only on Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix or Prime Video. (Some of these are already there, but I hold out hope for theatrical releases after the fact. And while we’re here, if any theater chains are listening, it’d be fun to watch full seasons of The Mandalorian on one of your 20 screens.) But if theaters can reopen and stay open, there will be mustsee movies on their screens. Will you be there?
Those Who Wish Me Dead (May 14; also debuting on HBO Max) Directed by Taylor Sheridan. Starring Angelina Jolie, Jon Bernthal and Nicholas Hoult. Rated R. Plot: A wilderness fire warden (Jolie), haunted by past losses, finds a teenage boy who witnessed the murder of his father and protects him from assassins and the elements. Why go: Sicario writer Sheridan knows his way around tense, Western-style standoffs.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw (May 14) Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. Starring Chris Rock, Max Minghella and Samuel L. Jackson. Rated R. Plot: A police detective (Rock) investigates a series of twisted, brutal murders that resemble the work of a killer long believed dead. Why go: Chris Rock loves the Saw franchise, and with his recent embrace of dramatic work in addition to comedy, he could be the perfect star to reinvigorate it.
(Left) Army of the Dead (Netflix/Courtesy). Right: Chris Rock in Spiral (Lions Gate/Courtesy)
Riders of Justice (May 21) Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen. Starring Mads Mikkelsen and Andrea Heick Gadeberg. Not yet rated. Plot: A former military man sets out to avenge the death of his wife, killed by a biker gang in
an assassination attempt on someone else. Why go: Hannibal/Another Round star Mikkelsen does a Taken flex in this Danish film, which balances hard-hitting action with black comedy.
Army of the Dead (May 21; exclusively on Netflix) Directed by Zack Snyder. Starring Dave Bautista, Tig Notaro, Ella Purnell and Hiroyuki Sanada. Rated R. Plot: A team of mercenaries attempt to heist a fortune from a zombie-infested Las Vegas. Why go: Snyder’s an old hand with zombies, and it looks like he had some fun with this Dawn of the Dead/Ocean’s Eleven hybrid. And we can tell out-oftown friends it’s a documentary.
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A Quiet Place Part II (May 28) Directed by John Krasinski. Starring Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Djimon Hounsou and Cillian Murphy. Rated PG-13. Plot: Shell-shocked by loss, a family struggles to survive in a world infested by deadly creatures that hunt with a hyperacute sense of hearing. Why go: Krasinski did such an excellent job of world-building the first time out, further Quiet Place adventures were a given. This franchise may well leg out into multiple installments. Cruella (May 28; also on Disney+ for an additional $30) Directed by Craig Gillespie. Starring Emma Stone, Mark Strong and Emma Thompson. Rated PG-13. Plot: The dognapping villain of 101 Dalmatians, Cruella de Vil (Stone), gets a Devil Wears Prada-like origin story. Why go: I, Tonya director Gillespie laces the film with Vivienne Westwood-inspired style and attitude—and the Emma vs. Emma showdown should be memorable. Fatherhood (June 18; exclusively on Netflix) Directed by Paul Weitz. Starring Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard and Anthony Carrigan. Not yet rated. Plot: A widowed father (Hart) struggles with his wife’s death
In the Heights (Warner Brothers/Courtesy)
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and the raising of his infant daughter. Why go: Hart takes a strong dramatic turn in this adaptation of Matt Logelin’s Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love. The Obamas’ Higher Ground company produces. In the Heights (June 11; also on HBO Max) Directed by Jon M. Chu. Starring Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera, Stephanie Beatriz and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Rated PG-13. Plot: A bodega owner (Ramos) aspires to a life beyond New York’s largely Dominican Washington Heights neighborhood. Why go: You couldn’t ask for a better team than Crazy Rich Asians director Chu and Hamilton creator Miranda to deliver a bright, energetic bigscreen musical, an adaptation of Miranda’s (first) multiple Tony-winning hit.
Luca (June 18; exclusively on Disney+) Directed by Enrico Casarosa. Starring Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan. Not yet rated. Plot: Two boys embark on adventures in an Italian seaside town while concealing a fantastical secret. Why go: Cars 2 aside, Pixar’s track record is near perfect. And director Casarosa says his film pays homage to the works of both Hayao Miyazaki and Ennio Morricone—two excellent touchstones.
F9 (June 25) Directed by Justin Lin. Starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Sung Kang, John Cena and Charlize Theron. Not yet rated. Plot: Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and his street-racing famiglia face off with Toretto’s estranged brother (Cena)—with the help of a friend once thought dead (Kang). Why go: Because you’ve seen the previous eight? Also, word has it the crew somehow launches into orbit this time. Future installments will need underwater races or people who actually turn into cars to maintain the franchise’s exhilarating absurdity. The Tomorrow War (July 2; exclusively on Prime Video) Directed by Chris McKay. Starring Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski and J.K. Simmons. Not yet rated. Plot: Mired in a fight against alien invaders, Earth scientists develop the means to recruit soldiers from the past. Why go: The Chris Pratt-starring sci-fi epic is itself a soldier from the past: It was supposed to appear in theaters last December, but the virus scuttled the release.
Black Widow (Disney/Courtesy)
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Black Widow (July 9; also on Disney+ Prime for an additional $30) Directed by Cate Shortland. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour. Rated PG-13. Plot: On the run following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Avenger Natasha Romanoff (Johansson) confronts a deadly adversary from her past life as an assassin. Why go: Following a wildly successful entry into streaming TV, the Marvel Cinematic Universe returns to cinemas with a long-deserved stand-alone story for Johansson’s Black Widow—and the probable introduction of a new Avenger (Midsommar’s Pugh).
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The Night House (July 16) Directed by David Bruckner. Starring Rebecca Hall, Sarah Goldberg and Vondie Curtis-Hall. Rated R. Plot: A widowed wife (Hall), left alone in the lake house she built with her husband, gets visited by a frightening, mysterious presence. Why go: This psychological horror movie debuted to strong acclaim at Sundance— and it’s one of too few scary movies screening this summer that isn’t a sequel. Space Jam: A New Legacy (July 16; also on HBO Max) Directed by Malcolm D. Lee. Starring LeBron James, Zendaya and Don Cheadle. Not yet rated. Plot: Once again, a sports legend (James) and the Looney Tunes characters save the world in an epic game of hoops. Why go: It’s been long enough since the original Space Jam (1996) for nostalgia to take root in a past generation—and for them to bring their kids, and grandkids, to see this one. Old (July 23) Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Starring Gael García Bernal, Rufus Sewell and Ken Leung. Not yet rated. Plot: A vacationing family visits a secluded beach that causes them to age rapidly. Why go: You never know what you’re getting with Shyamalan, both in terms of storytelling and quality. But the recent output by the Sixth Sense director has been relatively solid, and as psychological horror goes, it’s not his worst premise. (That would be The Happening.) Old (Universal Pictures/Courtesy)
LeBron James and Bugs Bunny in Space Jam: A New Legacy (Warner Brothers/Courtesy)
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Jungle Cruise (July 30) Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez and Jesse Plemons. Not yet rated. Plot: In the early 19th century, a steamboat captain (Johnson) and a scientist (Blunt) search the Amazon for a tree with healing powers. Why go: Pirates of the Caribbean notwithstanding, Disney usually stumbles in bringing its theme park properties to the screen. But this film’s steampunk vibe, coupled with Johnson’s easy charm, could put it over. Stillwater (July 30) Directed by Tom McCarthy. Starring Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin. Not yet rated. Plot: A father struggles to clear his daughter of murder charges. Why go: This is director McCarthy’s first dramatic picture since 2015’s best picture Oscar-winning Spotlight. Free Guy (August 13) Directed by Shawn Levy. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer and Taika Waititi. Not yet rated. Plot: An unassuming bank teller (Reynolds) discovers he’s a character in a video game, and strives to become its hero and savior. Why go: It ain’t Deadpool 3, but watching Reynolds crack wise always makes for a fun evening. Respect (August 13) Directed by Liesl Tommy. Starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker and Marlon Wayans. Rated PG-13. Plot: Young singer Aretha Franklin takes her first steps onto the path that will make her a legend. Why go: Franklin herself consulted on the film until her 2018 death. And it’s hard to imagine a more perfect showcase for powerhouse singer and actor Hudson.
Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin (United Artists Releasing/Courtesy)
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The Suicide Squad (Warner Brothers/Courtesy)
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Reminiscence (August 27; also on HBO Max) Directed by Lisa Joy. Starring Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson and Thandiwe Newton. Not yet rated. Plot: Set in a Miami submerged by rising seas, a specialist (Jackman) who can help humans relive any memory they choose is caught up in a dangerous romance. Why go: Joy, co-creator of HBO’s Westworld, excels at world-building and psychological intrigue (for about a seasonand-a-half, anyway). This could be a leveling-up for her.
Candyman (August 27) Directed by Nia Da Costa. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris and Tony Todd. Not yet rated. Plot: A struggling artist begins to explore what he thinks is an urban legend—and reawakens an inexplicable, terrifying entity. Why go: A “spiritual sequel” to the 1992 horror classic of the same name, this Candyman comes to life thanks to Jordan Peele, who co-wrote the script, and ascending director Da Costa, whose next film is the follow-up to Captain Marvel.
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(Lionsgate/Courtesy)
■ The Mitchells vs. The Machines (April 30; Netflix) A family fights against a robot uprising in this animated comedy. Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride and Maya Rudolph provide voices. ■ Vivo (Release date TBA; Netflix) The first musical from Sony Pictures Animation features songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a look designed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins. ■ The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (June 4) Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return to star in the franchise’s third film.
The Suicide Squad (August 6; also on HBO Max) Directed by James Gunn. Starring Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, John Cena and Joel Kinnaman. Rated R. Plot: A group of superpowered convicts are forced by a shadowy government agency to destroy a Nazi stronghold in South America. Why go: Guardians of the Galaxy director Gunn should bring all the humor and bat-guano lunacy that the DC Cinematic Universe has been sorely lacking. And Harley Quinn cosplayers will likely get a few new outfits out of it.
The Beatles: Get Back (August 27) Directed by Peter Jackson. Starring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Not yet rated. Plot: After a series of experimental records, the Beatles look to rediscover their musical roots. Why go: Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s listless 1970 documentary Let It Be painted the band as constantly bickering or simply checked out. Jackson dug into the 55 hours of footage that Lindsay-Hogg shot, restored it and produced a film that shows the musicians not only happily interacting, but excited by the work.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 3) Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Starring Simu Liu, Awkafina and Tony Leung. Not Yet Rated. Plot: The world’s greatest martial artist, trying to live a quiet life, is forced to battle with a shadowy criminal organization and its boss, The Mandarin. Why go: Marvel’s first Asian-American superhero has a powerhouse of a production around him—an outstanding cast, a hot up-and-coming director and the cinematographer (Bill Pope) who shot the stylized action of The Matrix series and Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
■ The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (June 16) Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek shoot things and swear profusely in this action-comedy sequel. ■ The Sparks Brothers (June 18) Ron and Russell Mael of the influential group Sparks get the documentary treatment from Shawn of the Dead/Baby Driver’s Edgar Wright. ■ Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (June 18) The Beatrix Potter animated universe grows. Voice actors include James Corden, Elizabeth Debicki and Margot Robbie. ■ Blue Bayou (June 25; Hulu) Justin Chon wrote, directed and stars in this drama about a Korean American man confronted with the threat of deportation. Alicia Vikander co-stars. ■ False Positive (June 25; Hulu) Justin Theroux, Pierce Brosnan and Charlize Theron star with Broad City’s Ilana Glazer in a fresh take on Rosemary’s Baby. ■ The Forever Purge (July 2) Ana de la Reguera and Tenoch Huerta star in the fifth (and supposedly last) installment of the Purge franchise. ■ Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (July 2; Hulu) This Questlove-directed documentary revisits the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. ■ Cinderella (July 16) A modern retelling of the classic story, starring Camila Cabello, Billy Porter, Pierce Brosnan, Minnie Driver and Wicked/Frozen’s Idina Menzel. ■ Snake Eyes (July 23) A spinoff from the G.I. Joe film series, starring Henry Golding. ■ Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (July 23) Adam Sandler opted out of the last installment of this animated franchise, but Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez and Kathryn Hahn didn’t. ■ Don’t Breathe 2 (August 13) Sam Raimi and Fede Álvarez co-produced this sequel to Álvarez’s 2016 suspense thriller, with Stephen Lang returning as the murderous Blind Man. ■ The Green Knight (July 30) Director David Lowery and star Dev Patel revisit the King Arthur legend. ■ Bios (August 20) The last man on Earth (Tom Hanks) builds himself a robot buddy for a road trip. Game of Thrones vet Miguel Sapochnik directs.
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Gauging superhero-movie excitement at local comic stores BY BROCK RADKE
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he Marvel Cinematic Universe’s popularity has been fueled by an excessively consistent release schedule over the past 15 years. The expectations and excitement generated by those movies has bled into DC Films under the Warner Brothers banner and other comic-book and superhero-inspired movies, pushing the genre to the top of the box office. The pandemic temporarily derailed that trend, but things are getting back on track with the upcoming Black Widow (July 9), The Suicide Squad (August 5), ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 3) and others. A quick survey of local comic book shops reinforces what you’re already thinking—fans of these stories and characters can’t wait to get back to theaters and see the latest contributions to this universe. “When you’re watching these movies, you want to see them on the big screen with the sound and the graphics and everything,” says Kanon Bene, manager at Torpedo Comics (7300 Arroyo Crossing Parkway #105, 702-444-4432). “Marvel especially is always the weekly buzz, with people talking about what happened in the last episode of WandaVision or The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. [Marvel] is doing an excellent job of introducing different characters.” Those streaming series on Disney+, along with watch-at-home releases like Wonder Woman 1984 and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, have kept comic book fans eagerly awaiting delayed films like Black Widow. “I think the [buzz on Black Wid-
Ralph Mathieu at his store, Alternate Reality Comics (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
ow] has slowed down a bit, but I’m cautiously optimistic, and I hope the same thing doesn’t happen to that one as with the second Wonder Woman movie, which was not as strong as the first,” says Ralph Mathieu, owner of Alternate Reality Comics near UNLV (4110 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-736-3673). “At times the constant delays make me worry that expectations have gotten too high and people have moved on to something else, but Marvel usually makes good movies. And with the vaccines out there, it looks encouraging; people want to go out.” Steven Riddle, owner of the oldest shop in the state in Velvet Ground (825 S. Decatur Blvd., 702-2582689), points out that while the explosion of superhero movies has impacted the comic book biz, movie fans and comic collectors aren’t necessarily the same people, so the film industry’s struggles haven’t hurt stores like his. “When they come into the store with no movies for a year, there hasn’t been any buzz at all [about movies]. Most of the time they’re conversing strictly about the comics,” Riddle says. “People are going to be passionate about going back to theaters, but the comics themselves have hung in there. “Here’s what happens with the movies: When we find out they are introducing new characters, collectors try to look for the first appearance of those characters in comic books, which we call key issues. That’s what brings a lot of hype. If comic book collectors know characters are going to be in a new movie or a [streaming] show based on those comics, they go cuckoo.”
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MORTAL KOMBAT Will this latest attempt at transforming a successful video game franchise into an equally successful film franchise finally catch? Will this Mortal Kombat be as much cheesy fun as the 1995 adaptation, a minor cult hit? The answer is streaming on HBO Max, now through May 23.
BIG THIS WEEK FILM
SHOW OPERA
NOBODY
SUR LA TABLE
It’s 2021, and our top action stars are Keanu Reeves, Michael B. Jordan, Carey Mulligan (true, she didn’t throw punches in Promising Young Woman, but she didn’t have to), and now 58-year-old Bob Odenkirk. The Better Call Saul star kicks some major—and convincing!—ass in this John Wick-style thriller about a former government assassin who’s disappeared a bit too thoroughly into the role of a suburban dad. His violent resurrection is shocking, and honestly, all kinds of big, dumb fun. Connie Nielsen, RZA and Christopher Lloyd co-star. Rentable through iTunes, Amazon and Google. –Geoff Carter
Enjoy the talents of UNLV Opera Theater, Nevada Conservatory Theatre and the UNLV Film Department from the comfort of your living room couch. A $15 ticket gets you a onetime stream of this self-described “pastiche production,” featuring the female-centered Royal Flush, a new one-act opera about a familial poker game by Frank Pesci. Scenes from beloved operas Carmen, Manon Lescaut, Manon and Le Cid round out Sur la Table. The title refers to the exciting results of women finally taking their well-deserved seat at the proverbial table. Through April 30, 11 p.m. (tickets must be purchased by April 29 at 8 p.m.), unlv.edu/event/ unlv-opera-theater-sur-la-table. –C. Moon Reed
JOHN LLOYD YOUNG AT THE SPACE A funny thing happened when Tony-winning Jersey Boys star John Lloyd Young decided to focus his next Las Vegas show—streaming live from the Space—solely on songs requested by fans. “There will be some surprises, but I was more surprised by what didn’t end up on the request list,” he says. “It’s like someone let me out of jail.” Instead of all the big Frankie Valli hits, he’ll be singing gems from the Bee Gees and Little Anthony and the Imperials, and he’ll be having tons of fun improvising with pianist and composer Tommy Faragher and interacting with a live audience. May 1, 6 p.m., $100 in person or $30 livestream. The Space, thespacelv.com. –Brock Radke
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A John Lloyd Young with (left) Tommy Faragher (Steve Marcus/Staff)
OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
MUSIC
SHARON VAN ETTEN: EPIC TEN To commemorate the 10-year anniversary of her sophomore album, 2010’s Epic, somber singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten reached out to friends in the industry to re-create her indelible breakout record. With covers from powerhouses like Fiona Apple, Lucinda Williams, Courtney Barnett, IDLES and even Las Vegas’ own Shamir, Van Etten’s songs are given new weight, reinvisioned as modern classics across genres and generations. –Leslie Ventura
(Pau
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TV
MARE OF EASTTOWN A gruff detective solving a small-town murder mystery is a well-worn series premise (see: Broadchurch, The Sinner, Happy Valley). This seven-episode HBO limited series stars Kate Winslet as Mare Sheehan, a detective in a working-class town in Pennsylvania whose ties to the community, where she has lived her entire life, are in turns complicated and prosaic. Winslet’s weary, lived-in performance—complete with an on-the-nose Philadelphia accent—is reason enough to tune in as you wait for the mystery to play out. HBO. –Genevie Durano
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(Rendering Courtesy)
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NIGHTS
The Sahara’s Azilo Ultra joins the Vegas pool party BY BROCK RADKE
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UNTAPPED OASIS
hen Resorts World Las Vegas arrives on the Strip on June 24, it will become the third new major casino property to open in just eight months, following the Circa Resort on Fremont Street Downtown and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas at the former Hard Rock Hotel site. But Vegas is actually getting a fourth new resort this year. Later this summer, when new restaurants and a new theater for Magic Mike Live open at Sahara Las Vegas, most of its striking, $150 million renovation will be complete. And the last big piece of the puzzle—the amenity that will really drive home just how new the Sahara feels—will likely be its Azilo Ultra Pool. When the 35,000-square-foot outdoor events venue was announced, along with the new Shawn McClain Italian restaurant Ballo, on April 8, Sahara Senior Vice President and General Manager Paul Hobson expressed how essential these new experiences will be in finalizing the refined image of the iconic north Strip property: “These additions, like our other newly enhanced amenities, have been designed to create a crafted, boutique experience that our guests can customize to suit their tastes and truly make their Las Vegas experience their own.” Azilo marks a full renovation of the Sahara’s resort pool just off the casino floor, a space that was sometimes known as Foxtail when the property was rebranded as SLS Las Vegas from 2014 to 2019. But it’s designed to be much more than a day-and-night poolclub with VIP cabanas, multiple pools
and bars. Massive LED walls wrapping around the pool perimeter—totaling more than 10,000 square feet of surface area—will help create a versatile and customizable environment for private events, sports watch parties, concerts and corporate gigs. Yannick Mugnier, former executive director of nightlife operations at Wynn Resorts and VP of operations at KAOS at the Palms, heads up the new project, and he says the scale of Azilo compared to the size of the hotel makes it something very different on the Strip. “It’s a boutique hotel in Las Vegas, and with the ownership remaining bullish on the market and getting ready for the uptick of fully coming back this summer, this project can really make an impact,” he says. “When we designed this pool, we really thought about what is needed in order to organize the best type of event, and being able to give that customer the best exposure. “That LED screen is about 226 feetby-40 feet tall, almost three stories, so that’s an extremely immersive environment. It’s perfect in terms of branding and broadcasting needs for that private event, but we’re also going to be doing some of the best sports broadcasting in the city on one of the largest screens.” The pool will also boast a DJ booth and a stage for live performances for up to 1,700 guests, and since the Sahara has two other pools, it will be able to specialize each spot for different audiences. The vibe at Azilo will be desert sanctuary, shaped by Moroccan décor and splashes of lush greenery. “We’re dedicated to doing some full, major concerts at the pool this year, and we will do DJs but creating an immersive experience where you’re transported to a space that feels like the south of France or Spain or Greece; that’s more of the driver for us,” Mugnier says. “The pool sits at the center of the property, and [we] are really committed to making it the crown jewel of the property.”
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NOISE
NEXT GEN
(Kessler Photos/Courtesy)
From her School of Rock students to her own music, Rhaina Yasmin impacts the Vegas scene
BY LESLIE VENTURA
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hen Rhaina Yasmin moved to Las Vegas six years ago, she was just a teenager trying to figure out her next passion in life. Shortly after her move, the singer enrolled as a student at School of Rock, an extracurricular music program for children and teens in the Valley. “That got my foot in the door, and I met a lot of people there I play with now,” she says. These days, the 20-year-old Yasmin teaches at School of Rock, and sings and writes music for her own band. “At first, writing didn’t come as easily to me,” she says. “I wrote poetry, but writing songs was a bit tougher. I would overthink lyrics and melodies. And then I just started to write what felt organic to me.” With newfound confidence in her
writing abilities, Yasmin began performing at open mics, playing her own shows and booking solo gigs beyond school-related functions. With a full band backing her, Yasmin released her first EP, Wither, last August, and she’s at work on new singles with an eye toward a late-spring release. Originally from the suburbs of New York City, Yasmin grew up listening to ’90s alternative music—staples like The Cranberries, Elliott Smith and Radiohead. As a singer-songwriter, Yasmin blends her indie sensibilities and nostalgic flair into lo-fi rock ballads, with the soulful prowess of other inspirations like Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell. The result recalls Japanese Breakfast and Mazzy Star, with a panache that’s uniquely Rhaina Yasmin.
As for live music, Yasmin adjusted to playing livestreams during the pandemic, but says she misses in-person shows. “It’s one of my favorite things to do,” she says. Currently enrolled in the Musicians Institute in LA, Yasmin says she’s learning more about the business side of the music industry, from production to marketing. “But as a musician, my favorite thing to do still is perform,” she says. “It makes me so happy.” Yasmin adds that she wouldn’t be where she is without the guidance of her former vocal teacher—local R&B singer Brittany Rose—or two other prominent Vegas musicians, Sonia Seelinger and Cameron Calloway, who also cut their teeth in the open mic scene. “A lot of local artists have guided me,” Yasmin says. “I really love Las Vegas
now. It was a hard adjustment at first, because I was a teenager and I didn’t know anybody, but the opportunities I’ve had here in the local music scene have been unreal.” Her most impressive feat might be that she’s done it all without playing a single 21-and-over venue. “That aspect is tough,” she concedes, but it hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her dream. “There are places that have a lot of opportunities,” Yasmin says. As venues begin to open back up, some will surely welcome in this talented musician.
RHAINA YASMIN Rhainayasmin.com Rhainayasmin.bandcamp.com Linktr.ee/rhainayasmin
casting call
may 13-15
Join the team for our inaugural year at AZILO Ultra Pool located at SAHARA Las Vegas. We will be holding casting calls for all available positions.
AZILOLASVEGAS.COM
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CORK AND THORN
Wednesday, 5-10 p.m.; Thursday, 5 p.m.-midnight; Friday & Saturday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 3-10 p.m. 70 W. Imperial Ave., 702-823-2678.
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SCENE Through live music, flower arranging and good wine, Cork and Thorn wants to draw you in BY LESLIE VENTURA
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Skye Dee Miles performs at Cork and Thorn. (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)
ork and Thorn originally opened in the Summerlin-adjacent Tivoli Village in 2016, but the wine-and-flower bar has made a new home in Downtown Las Vegas. After two and a half years in the original location, owner Randi Garrett moved her business into the Arts District with a full liquor license (the old location only served beer and wine). The doors reopened six months before the onset of the pandemic. Garrett, who originally launched her own floral design and decor company, Naakiti Floral Designs, 20 years ago, said she wanted to do something that embraced her other passion. “I love wine,” Garrett says with a laugh. “Like, I love it. If I could drink that instead of eat, I’d be happy.” The flower and wine enthusiast says she wanted to teach people about both of her hobbies at the same time—thus, the idea for Cork and Thorn was born. Similar to a paint-and-sip class, Garrett can use the venue to teach people how to make floral bouquets and instruct guests about different varietals, grapes and tannins. In addition to the classes, Garrett began booking live music, making Cork and Thorn a place not just to imbibe but to hear the sounds of talented local musicians, too. Her concept was off to a good start when COVID-19 swept through the United States. “Up until about a month or two ago it was pretty rough,” Garrett says. “You can only have 25 people in here, and you can
only do so much.” Ironically, despite the downturn in business, Garrett says Cork and Thorn might ultimately benefit from the past year’s strangeness. Because the venue also has a restaurant license, it stayed open while many businesses in the area shuttered. Eventually, Garrett started booking events again, with Bourbon and Blues night on Wednesdays featuring Skye Dee Miles (formerly of Rose. Rabbit. Lie.), R&B with the M.O.B Band and Black Rayn on Thursdays, an open-mic poetry night on Fridays, R&B nights with Alli Starr on Saturdays and neo-soul on Sundays. “I have people who walk by and are like, ‘We heard the music outside. We didn’t know what this was, but when you walk in, it’s so cool’,” Garrett says. “I like that we’re kind of hidden. People had a lot of doubts about [the location], but I was like, ‘They’ll find me.’ And they have.” The venue also hosts Sunday cigar-day parties in tandem with Badd Ash, featuring a mobile cigar lounge. “When you go in, it’s like a man cave in there,” Garrett says. “It’s so cool.” Garrett is now at work planning additional music events, which could soon include jazz and open-mic singer nights. Flower classes can be booked online. “I want Cork and Thorn to be a place where everyone wants to come,” Garrett says. “Not a club scene, but a safe vibe with good energy. I want them to say, ‘When you walk in here, it’s a little gem.”
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Barry’s bone-in rib eye (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
BARRY’S DOWNTOWN PRIME Circa, 702-726-5504. Daily, 5-11 p.m.
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FOOD & DRINK
Barry’s Downtown Prime resets the steakhouse standard BY BROCK RADKE
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ow that we’ve had about six months to explore Circa, the first new casino resort built in Downtown Las Vegas in four decades, it’s easy to see the parts and pieces that fulfill its creator’s promise of something new inspired by bygone Vegas eras. The majority of the resort feels entirely new. The scale of the sportsbook and rooftop pool club and the exciting casino spaces mark innovations to classic Las Vegas experiences; there are only a few Circa venues that intentionally push toward nostalgia. The 60th-floor Legacy Club puts casino legends front and center, and Vegas Vickie’s cocktail lounge has the ultimate showpiece—Vickie herself— to kick up the vintage vibes. But make no mistake, Barry’s Downtown Prime is the nostalgic heart of this place. It’s also the first true destination restaurant to land Downtown since cool food stuff started happening outside casinos at hot spots like Le Thai, Carson Kitchen and Esther’s Kitchen. And while there are plenty of throwback steakhouses around the Valley, Barry’s looks and feels like it could only exist in the ’60s or ’70s. Its parquet floors, deep jewel tones, tall circular booths and golden marble reflect its mission of meshing vintage glamour with modern allure. And if you haven’t been out to a big Vegas dinner in a year, all of that feels amazing. Sometimes it’s nice to step into a time machine
when everything around you only wants to move forward. Located just downstairs from Vickie’s off the resort’s lobby, Barry’s is a huge space that will (hopefully) soon be able to seat its normal capacity of 350. But since it’s a circular collection of intricately designed rooms with low ceilings and plenty of personality, you’ll never feel like you’re in a gigantic restaurant. It will be a top spot in Vegas for private dinners and special events if it isn’t already, and it will no doubt be a tough table to book after pandemic restrictions are lifted. The current soundtrack of hip-hop and other bottle-popping tracks makes for an interesting juxtaposition to the environment. Chef Barry Dakake is doing what he’s been doing for more than 20
years at some of the most prominent restaurants in this city: creating timeless, celebratory cuisine and sneaking out of the kitchen to touch tables and make sure everyone’s having a blast. If you’re finding it tough deciding on a cut, go with his favorite, the richly flavored 12-ounce rib cap ($69), which just happens to be the only steak on the menu that gets marinated before it’s perfectly charred over assorted fruit woods and Mexican charcoal at 900 degrees. Other choice steaks include a bone-in 16-ounce filet ($79) or a dry-aged boneless rib eye ($67), unless you’re going real big on someone else’s credit card with the party pleaser, a 40-ounce tomahawk rib-eye ($179). Be sure to get the curiously tangy au poivre sauce
on the side. All the steakhouse greatest hits are here, but the standouts from my first visit include a brilliant tomato panzanella salad ($18) with fresh mozzarella, avocado, jalapeño and basil with red wine vinaigrette; braised beef short ribs ($59) with a dash of harissa; tater tots in poutine gravy ($15); and banana cream pie ($16) bookended with espresso and Averna. Next time I’ll try the “real” garbage salad ($18), a kitchen-sinker with shrimp and blue cheese and crispy shallots, and the egg noodle bone marrow luge appetizer ($28) with pancetta, sherry, lots of cheese and lots of butter. It’s time to party again in Las Vegas, and this is the place for that welcome-back dinner.
Dover sole (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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FOOD
The Silver Stamp and (right) co-owners Rose Signor and Andrew Smith (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
The Silver Stamp gains a quick following among beer lovers
TRUE BREW
BY LESLIE VENTURA
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on’t let the nondescript exterior fool you—owners Rose Signor and Andrew Smith have curated a cozy, basement den-like feel inside the new Silver Stamp bar in Las Vegas’ Downtown Arts District. Its wood paneling, vintage beer signs and senior-age bones—it inhabits the former site of art studio Photo Bang Bang— instantly convey a worn-in feel that’s not unlike your Midwestern grandpa’s favorite Milwaukee watering hole. Smith says the bar was intended to open before the pandemic, but COVID-19 stalled the launch. After more than a year of waiting, the couple launched the Silver Stamp on February 22 without so much as a word of advanced notice. And yet, Smith says, the Silver Stamp has become unexpectedly busy, and the owners say they’re humbled by the positive community response.
Signor and Smith are known for their expertise in the beverage industry—they’ve held management positions at Atomic Liquors and Velveteen Rabbit, respectively—and in Silver Stamp, they’ve created a beer lover’s bar minus the smug attitude you might expect from such bona fide brew aficionados. It’s friendly and accessible, a neighborhood spot for unpretentious folks with discerning palates. Among current attractions is the Popfuji, an unfiltered pilsner from Brouwerij West, smooth and crisp with a slightly sweet finish. Also consider the Blueberry Spaceship Box, a juicy-sweet cider that boasts a 99-point score on ratebeer.com. With 20 taps from breweries around the world, the focus is on great beer Smith says the owners themselves like to drink and want to share with the rest of us. We’ll toast to that.
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THE SILVER STAMP
222 E. Imperial Ave., 702-527-1784. MondayFriday, 5 p.m.midnight; SaturdaySunday, 1 p.m.midnight.
BRINGING THE HEAT
Two Vegas chefs compete to be ‘Best Baker in America’ BY GENEVIE DURANO
(Courtesy)
Season 4 of Best Baker in America, hosted by Carla Hall, premieres May 3 on the Food Network, and two local bakers will be part of the competition to win $25,000 plus bragging rights. Miranda Prince, executive pastry at Hexx Kitchen + Bar, and Katrina Tayo, executive pastry chef at SushiSamba, went to Tucson, Arizona, to compete with eight other bakers and create their versions of classic American desserts. Though Prince and Tayo couldn’t divulge details from the show, which runs for seven episodes, they agree that the experience was a memorable one. “I don’t know that I would do another one, because I’m not a competitive person, so this was more of a growth experience for me,” Prince says. “I was trying to test my limits and get out of my comfort zone and trying to experience something that I knew I wouldn’t be entirely comfortable with.” Tayo says she was nervous about being in the competition but also saw it as a great opportunity. For her, the best part was meeting the other contestants and making new friends in the industry. “It’s hard to find good chefs—and good people, in general—that you can confide in about work stuff or even consult with recipes. All the competitors, all the chefs, they’re all so very kind that I think that was already a winner for me,” she says. While you savor the episodes on TV, check out these talented chefs in real life at their Las Vegas restaurants. Prince is partial to mousse-based desserts, the first things she learned to make in culinary school, while Tayo loves creating anything with chocolate from around the world.
A towering tribute to beer at the Silver Stamp (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Katrina Tayo
Miranda Prince
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BRIGHTER LIGHTS
A new parternship could bring fresh success to Las Vegas’ professional soccer team BY RAY BREWER
T
he Las Vegas Lights begin their fourth United Soccer League season May 5 with a different—and likely better—on-the-field product. The club has entered into a player-affiliation agreement with Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), one of the top teams in Major League Soccer. That means Las Vegas’ lineup could feature players who have previously suited up for the big club and/or players on rehab assignments. Imagine if Mexican star Carlos Vela, arguably the best player in MLS, made his way to Las Vegas for a few games. It could happen. Either way, the agreement should lead to a massive player upgrade and an improvement over last season’s 2-9-5 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. As for making the playoffs for the first time in Lights history, owner Brett Lashbrook says, “I absolutely believe so. I have believed that before and have been wrong, so I hate to say it. But partnering with LAFC, one of the premier MLS [clubs], is going to make a difference.” Here are some other Lights updates heading into the 2021 campaign.
LIGHTS’ FIRST FIVE HOME GAMES
IN THE BUBBLE The Lights’ players are now living and training in LA with LAFC, which pays their salaries and housing expenses. The Lights’ ownership was previously shouldered with that duty. Players and staff travel the day before a game, whether it’s in Las Vegas or on the road. In a typical season, players would also come to town for community events, but during the pandemic, they’ll remain within the LAFC bubble, games aside. The two teams will train together, in case LAFC needs to populate its game-day roster with Lights players.
Saturday, June 5 vs. Tacoma Friday, June 11 vs. San Antonio Saturday, June 19 vs. Orange County Friday, June 25 vs. San Diego Saturday, July 3 vs. Tacoma
All home games start at 7:30 p.m. single-game tickets start at $10, season tickets start at $200, las vegaslightsfc.com/tickets.
AT THE HELM Steve Cherundolo, who has playing and coaching experience in Bundesliga—the top league in Germany—enters his first season as Lights coach, the fifth in the franchise’s history. He’s considered to have had one of the most successful European careers for an American player in 16 seasons with Germany’s Hannover 96. He also participated in multiple World Cups for the United States. “We want to be a difficult team to play against,” Cherundolo says. “Our style will be brave. We want to play an attractive style and move the ball forward to win games.”
RETURN OF FANS The Lights don’t play at home until June 5 against the Tacoma Defiance, but that could end up being an advantage. Local pandemic restrictions could be fully lifted June 1, allowing a capacity crowd at Cashman Field. In 2019, Las Vegas averaged about 7,700 fans per game, and the organization expects a similar crowd this season. Even if the stadium stays at 80% capacity—the approved limit beginning May 1— it would allow for 8,000 fans per game.
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PROMOTIONS GALORE Lashbrook still proudly touts the Lights’ gameday experience as the best value in Las Vegas sports, with tickets starting at $10. “We aren’t trying to out-Golden Knights the Golden Knights, or out-Raiders the Raiders,” he says. “But there is absolutely a niche in this community as we evolve into the sports and entertainment capital of the world for soccer at an affordable price point in the summer months.” The entertainment isn’t limited to the soccer pitch. Dollie and Dottie, the official llamas of the franchise in partnership with Zappos, will again make appearances during player introductions. The Lights’ most infamous promotion— the helicopter cash-drop, during which $5,000 in small bills gets dropped to the ground during halftime of a game—is also expected to make a comeback. This year, however, Lashbrook is eyeing a hot-air balloon to deliver the money after the FAA filed a complaint following the 2019 promotion. “Everyone laughs. Everyone smiles. Everyone giggles. And it got us 52 seconds on SportsCenter,” Lashbrook says. Another promotion in the works is a collaboration with the Raiders for the Lights to wear jerseys themed after the NFL team. They’ve employed a similar promotion with the Golden Knights in previous seasons. The match promotion schedule will be released closer to the first home game.
STARS ON THE RISE
DOWN A RIVAL Reno 1868 FC ceased operations after the 2020 season due to the economic hardships brought on by the pandemic. That squad was considered the Lights’ main rival, with the two annually playing for the Silver State trophy. Reno was a playoff qualifier in each of its four seasons.
Look for Cal Jennings to be one of the Lights’ most notable roster additions in 2021. The 23-year-old striker scored nine goals in 14 games with Memphis last year after being selected as the 17th overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Dallas. The Lights’ goalkeeper will be Philip Ejimadu, who hails from Minneapolis and played at a highly touted youth academy in Brazil. Ejimadu’s father is Brazilian and his mother is Nigerian, providing him with eligibility to represent the United States, Brazil and Nigeria on the international level. The 21-yearold made three appearances with the U.S. under-20 team. Due to the LAFC agreement, the Lights roster won’t feature a local player for the first time in franchise history, but two Las Vegans could eventually dress for the Lights on rehab stints. Defender Tristan Blackmon is a starter on the LAFC backline, and UNLV product Danny Musovski scored five goals in 16 games for LAFC last year.
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(NHL via Getty Images)
Yamikani Chester (Steve Marcus/Staff/ Photo Illustration)
LV W S P O R T S
PLAYER OF THE WEEKLY: SHEA THEODORE Theodore picked up six points in three games last week, giving him 40 in his first 44 games this year. At press time, that ranked tops among Vegas defensemen and fourth among all NHL blue-liners.
Report THIS WEEK’S VOTE 1. Shea Theodore 2. Mark Stone 3. Chandler Stephenson 4. Robin Lehner 5. Jonathan Marchessault As voted by Las Vegas Weekly’s panel, based on games played April 19-25. SEASON STANDINGS 1. Mark Stone (40 points) 2. Max Pacioretty (27) 3. Marc-André Fleury (22) 4. Jonathan Marchessault (21) 5. Alex Tuch (20) 5 points for 1st place in a week, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th, 1 for 5th. UPCOMING GAMES April 30 at Arizona Coyotes, 7 p.m. May 1 at Arizona Coyotes, 7 p.m. May 3 at Minnesota Wild, 5 p.m. May 5 at Minnesota Wild, 5 p.m. Games air on AT&T SportsNet and 98.9-FM/ 1340-AM unless noted. STANLEY CUP ODDS: 6-TO-1 at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook PROSPECT WATCH: LUCAS ELVENES The 21-year-old forward had a goal, three points and was a plus-4 in the Silver Knights’ overtime victory against San Diego on April 25. At press time he had seven goals and 20 points in 30 games with Henderson for the season.
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
4.29.21
Las Vegas businesswoman helps extend her family’s local legacy
G
BY BRYAN HORWATH
rowing up in Las Vegas, Sunshine Ray watched as her father ran their small, family-owned plumbing business from home. Bob Ray was constantly on the move from one job to the next—often with help from his young children. “He would take us with him, and I would be bringing him a wrench or something like that,” Sunshine Ray said. Still, as much fun as it was going on calls, Sunshine Ray never envisioned the family business as her future career. Yet today, she’s the co-owner of Atlas Plumbing with her brother, Rod Ray. And that’s not the only business with which Sunshine Ray, now 45, is involved. She’s also part owner of a diner in southwest Las Vegas with her husband. “It’s OK to fail,” Ray said. “You have to be willing to take that risk. For me, it was a gnawing feeling when I was working for someone else. I know I wanted more, and I knew I could do more.” That mentality pushed Atlas’ recent expansion of its offerings to provide full-service bathroom renovations. It partnered with Illinois-based BCI Acrylic, which produces tubs, showers and other bathroom-centric products. Atlas can get the job done in a few days, when many remodels take weeks. Ray said that branch of the business has been so busy during the pandemic, Atlas is primed to move into a more spacious building later this year. “There’s a big craze now with one- or two-day bathroom remodels; it’s just bonkers,” Sunshine Ray said. “With people sitting around at home so much during the pandemic, they started looking at different projects they wanted to get done.” After graduating from Rancho High School, Ray earned a business marketing degree from UNLV before becoming a real estate broker. When the Great Recession hit in 2008, however,
business began to dry up, so she turned full-time to the hospitality industry. It was at the old AJ’s Steakhouse, inside what is now the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, that Ray met her husband, Johnny Church. She was a bartender; he was the restaurant’s head chef. “At the time, I thought all chefs were crazy,” she said with a laugh. “He came to the bar one night after work, and we started talking. We were friends for a while. That was 13 years ago now, and we’ve had a great time together. I married well.”
Church, 45, has worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Charlie Palmer at RM Seafood, Aureole and Eiffel Tower Restaurant, among others, over the years. He also served as a corporate executive chef for Golden Entertainment. Last year, Church opened his own spot, Johnny C’s Diner. There’s plenty of crossover. Ray helps out at the restaurant, often on catering orders, and Church has been asked to dig a ditch or two for Atlas. “It’s happened before,” Church said. “I’m a blue-collar guy, so I don’t mind.” They push each other to accomplish their goals in the business world. Ray, in fact, credits her husband with pushing her to become an owner of her father’s business. “I knew she was unhappy as a bartender and that she wanted more,” Church said. “Financially, she was able to take a step back, and I picked up some of that slack.” Though Ray was familiar with Atlas, a few years ago she started to dive into the inner workings of the company, specializing on the business and marketing side while her brother ran the day-to-day plumbing calls. She became part owner in 2018. When Church’s corporate job was eliminated in 2018, he leaned on Ray for financial and emotional support as he readied Johnny C’s. “He had come to me with some other ideas [before Johnny C’s], but I wasn’t high on them,” Ray said. “When he told me about this one, I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ It was right. When you come into Johnny C’s, there’s just a good feeling. People tell us that all the time.”
Atlas Plumbing co-owner Sunshine Ray and her husband, chef Johnny Church, inside Johnny C’s Diner (Steve Marcus/Staff)
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
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Business horizon looks ‘busy and prosperous’ to head of landscape design firm
A
BY VEGAS INC STAFF s Southern Nevada continues to struggle in the grip of an ongoing drought, water officials have asked the state Legislature to consider banning ornamental grass. Such a move would create a lot of business for landscape architects such as Cecilia Schafler, president of Lage Design Inc., a downtown Henderson-based firm that has served the community for 14 years. Schafler has 23 years of experience in the field and serves as an adjunct instructor at the UNLV School of Architecture. We caught up with her to see how her small business has been affected by the pandemic, find out how she feels about the idea of banning nonfunctional turf and get a feel for what it’s like to be a foster mom for bees. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your business? The pandemic has actually enhanced our way of working and capacity to get things done. We all now have the ability and flexibility to work from home. We use just about every platform out there to communicate and stay connected with each other, clients, consultants, etc. However, I think we are all looking forward to being back together in the office.
hold due to COVID-19 moving forward now. The next six to 12 months look busy and prosperous. What is the best business advice you’ve received? I have had the pleasure of working for and with Jack Zunino, a true leader and innovator in our profession. I am so grateful for everything he has taught me and his mentorship over the years. He has always said, “Everyone in an office is responsible for marketing. We should always be marketing.” I have found this to be so true in many ways. Whenever I realize I do not have business cards with me, I am reminded of this wisdom. What has been your most exciting professional project to date? Every project has its individual nuances and exciting qualities. Having the freedom to stretch and try new things is what I find to be the most exciting in a project.
What do you do after work or on weekends? I enjoy spending time with family, working in my yard and tending to my beehive. A friend got me interested in bees and beekeeping. As landscape architects, we consider ourselves stewards of the environment. With the decline of bees and other pollinators so significant today, it is important that we recognize and protect their roles in our world. I am simply fostering this hive. The hive is like a single organism and has a definite personality. I have learned so much, and it is has been an incredible and rewarding experience. They really don’t even need me. I am a novice beekeeper and have learned mostly by simple trial and error. They are self-regulating and great housekeepers. My job is to make sure they have everything they need, watch out for potential predators and invaders, and let them do their thing. I rarely wear the beekeeper gear anymore and have not yet been stung. Whom do you admire? I so admire my parents. They came to this country from Cuba with only three sets of clothes and what turned out to be worthless college degrees here. But they figured it out and lived the American dream. They taught me the value of hard work and education, and they showed me what character and integrity really mean. What is your biggest pet peeve? Not being able to find the right parking spot in a parking lot. My Type A personality will not allow me to settle for anything less than the perfect parking spot, and I will drive around and around until I get it.
What are your thoughts on the legislative bill being considered that would ban ornamental grass? For the most part, my colleagues and I believe that our profession inherently strives to fulfill the intent of the proposed legislative bill. On every project that involves turf areas, we work diligently to help ensure that those areas are functional and are watered using the latest irrigation technology for efficiency and conservation. When nonfunctional turf areas are requested, we respond with creative and aesthetically pleasing solutions in lieu of turf that not only save water but save on maintenance costs as well. What do you see happening in the industry over the next six months? We are already seeing projects that were put on
Cecilia Schafler, founder and president of Lage Design, in front of the company’s Henderson offices (Steve Marcus/Staff)
2021
Congratulations 2021 BOMA Nevada
T H E O U T S TA N D I N G B U I L D I N G O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S
TOBY AND MEMBERSHIP AWARD WINNERS The TOBY Awards is in its 35th year and is commonly recognized as the most prestigious and comprehensive program in the commercial real estate industry.
BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR AND EMERGING LEADER AWARD TERI STEUART – CBRE
“MARK ANDERSON” ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR
LEADERSHIP AWARD
CHRISTOPHER MCGAREY, CCIM, CPM – BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY NEVADA PROPERTIES Honoree Chris McGarey with TOBY Director Amber Claunch
PRINCIPAL MEMBER OF THE YEAR TENA CAMERON – EQ OFFICE
PRESIDENT’S AWARD OWEN CALVIN, LANDCARE
FARA KARR – ATI RESTORATION
PIONEER AWARD ALLEGIANT STADIUM
OUTSTANDING BUILDING OF THE YEAR – “RENOVATED BUILDING” TECH PARK 6, MARY KAPPEL
For more information on this prestigious award and to enter your building please visit BomaNevada.org or email bomanevada@bomanevada.org.
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
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SMALL BUSINESSES
Lenders List — provided by SBA
ABOUT THE LIST Here is a sampling of Small Business Administration lenders in Nevada. For more visit the Nevada SBA resource guide at sba.gov/ sites/default/ files/2020-10/ NVresource guide_2020.pdf.
PHONE NUMBER
COMPANY
ADDRESS
1
Lexicon Bank
320 S. Rampart Blvd. #150, Las Vegas, NV 89145
702-780-7700
2
Bank of Nevada
2700 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89102
702-248-4200
3
Meadows Bank
8912 Spanish Ridge Ave. #100, Las Vegas, NV 89148
702-471-2040
4
America First Credit Union
2699 N. Tenaya Way, Las Vegas, NV 89128
800-999-3961
5
Clark County Credit Union
2625 N. Tenaya Way, Las Vegas, NV 89128
702-228-2228
6
Kirkwood Bank of Nevada
4730 S. Fort Apache Road #180, Las Vegas, NV 89147
702-912-0700
7
Bank of George
9115 W. Russell Road #110, Las Vegas, NV 89148
702-851-4300
8
Prestamos
4070 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89032
702-207-1614
9
DreamSpring
1951 Stella Lake St. #30, Las Vegas, NV 89106
702-467-1072
Nevada State Bank
750 E. Warm Springs Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119
800-727-4743
10
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4.29.21
VegasInc Notes The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department welcomed former broadcast news executive Jamie Ioos as its new director of the Office of Public Information. Ioos has 30 years of experience in broadcast media, both television and radio. She has worked in cities such as Boston and Phoenix, as well as at the local NBC affiliate for seven years. Trosper Public Relations announced the addition of Dylan Kendrick as an account executive. Kendrick will assist with the public relations and media relations efforts for the agency’s growing roster of clients across a Kendrick variety of industries. Southwest Medical, part of OptumCare added seven new health care providers to help meet the growing need for health services in the Las Vegas community including Kelly Roberts, PA, endocrinology; Lauren Belove, PA, neurology; and Spencer Fleek, PA, Justin Madriaga, PA, Jacob Parks, PA, Laveena Sullhan, PA, and Vickie McPherson, APRN, all specializing in adult medicine. For the 22nd consecutive year, the Clark County School District Music Education Program was honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants. The designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The Abbi Agency, an integrated marketing agency with offices in Reno and Las Vegas, was announced as the agency of record for the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange and its consumer-facing online health insurance exchange, Nevada Health Link. In partnership with Marketing for Change and Ericka Aviles Consulting, the Abbi Agency is working with Nevada Health Link to execute its mission to reduce the number of unin-
sured Nevadans throughout the state. G.C. Garcia Inc., a land planning and development services firm celebrating 25 years in business, announced the promotion of Melissa Eure to president. In addition to day-to-day operations, Eure assists Eure clients and project teams with navigating local government agency requirements, public outreach, as well as with representation at public hearings. The Neon Museum welcomed Nicole Hudock as its new guest experience director. Hudock comes to the museum from the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where she most recently served as front-office operations Hudock manager. The Las Vegas Business Academy appointed three new board members to assist students through its mentorship program, including Laura Lee, chief human resources officer for MGM Resorts International, Steve Flynn, senior vice president of national publicity at Allied Global Marketing and Kurt Hanson, financial adviser with Cornerstone Wealth Management. Gaming Laboratories International promoted several local team members, including multiple engineers, as well as Kevin Mullally to senior vice president, government relations and general counsel and Sangeeta Reddy to vice president, engineering. Maverick Helicopters received the Federal Aviation Administration’s 2020 Award of Excellence “Diamond Award.” The honor is a result of the company’s ongoing dedication to maintenance training and aircraft safety. This is Maverick’s 10th consecutive year earning
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the award for its Las Vegas and Grand Canyon South Rim locations. Sahara Las Vegas announced the promotion of Lyle Kaku to executive chef, where he will oversee all culinary operations for the resort. Kaku has served as executive sous chef for Sahara since 2018, manKaku aging multiple restaurant openings and leading the development and implementation of new menus for the resort’s restaurants, in-room dining and banquets departments. Veteran gaming attorney A.C. Ansani joined Howard & Howard. Ansani has been a fixture in the gaming industry since 1998. Prior to joining Howard & Howard, he served as vice presidentlegal and chief gaming counsel for the gaming division of Scientific Games Corporation. Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, UNLV research professor and a leading expert on Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials, garnered a first-of-its-kind leadership award from the National Institute on Aging to support and expand the world’s only research observatory devoted exclusively to Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials and drug development. The competitive $3 million award will enable Cummings and a multidisciplinary team of UNLV students and researchers to broaden efforts dedicated to studying Alzheimer’s drug mechanisms, trial designs and outcomes to find ways to get new treatments to patients faster. NAIOP Southern Nevada, an organization representing commercial real estate developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate, held its 24th annual Spotlight Awards. The following received Southern Nevada’s 2021 project awards: n Retail Tenant Improvement: Majordomo Meat & Fish Restaurant n Retail Building: Commercial Tavern Shell n Healthcare Tenant Improvement: Henderson Hospital Observation and Emergency Department Expansion n Healthcare Building: Steinberg Diag-
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
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nostic Medical Imaging n Redevelopment Project: Lifeguard Arena n Multifamily Project: KAKTUSlife @dean martin n Special Use-Under 100,000 square feet: Lee Canyon Hillside Lodge n Special Use-Over 100,000 square feet: The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas n Special use–Academic: UNLV Fertitta Football Complex n Office Tenant Improvement-Under 20,000 square feet: Wilson ElserLas Vegas n Office Tenant Improvement-Over 20,000 square feet: Black Fire Innovation at UNLV Tech Park Building One n Office Building: Durango 215 Point n Industrial Building Build-to-Suit: PACCAR Parts Distribution Center n Industrial Building Spec: Prologis I-15 Speedway Logistics Center 3 n Industrial Park Under 100,000 square feet: PSi Commerce Center n Industrial Park Over 100,000 square feet: Prologis I-15 Speedway Logistics Center 1-4. In addition, industry award recipients included: n Financial Firm of the Year: CommCap Advisors n Engineering Firm of the Year: Kimley-Horn n Brokerage Firm of the Year: CBRE n Property Management Firm of the Year: CBRE n Architecture Firm of the Year: Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects n General Contracting Firm of the Year: Martin-Harris Construction n Broker Team of the Year – Industrial: CBRE - Higgins Toft Team n Broker Team of the Year – Office: Colliers International - Thill, Dillon & McInerney Office Team n Broker Team of the Year – Retail: Colliers International - CNR Retail - Chris Clifford, Steve Neiger, Brett Rather n Developing Leader of the Year: Marianna Hunnicutt, P.E., ENV SP n Development Firm of the Year: LaPour. Special recognition was given to Jake Higgins and Sean Zaher for a 2020 Virtual Bus Tour. Cassie Catania-Hsu was named Associate Member of the Year and Julie Cleaver was named Principal Member of the Year.
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LV W P U Z Z L E & H O R O S C O P E S
PREMIER CROSSWORD
4.29.21
“TAKE IT BACK” BY FRANK LONGO
HOROSCOPES
WEEK OF APRIL 29 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Poet Allen Ginsberg despairingly noted that many people want more more more life, but they go awry because they allow their desire for it to fixate on material things. Ginsberg revered longings for good feelings, meaningful experiences, soulful breakthroughs, deep awareness and all kinds of love. Be extra greedy for the stuff in the second category. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In her poem “Mirror,” poet Halina Poświatowska wrote, “I am dazed by the beauty of my body.” More of us should genuinely feel that same adoration for our own bodies. Find a way to do just that. It’s time to upgrade your excitement about being in such a magnificent vessel. Even if it’s not in perfect health, it performs amazing marvels every minute. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Poet Buddy Wakefield writes that after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004, “the only structure still standing in the wiped-out village of Malacca [in Malaysia] was a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. I wanna be able to stand like that.” You, too, may have to stand strong through a blustery brouhaha or swirling turbulence. The best approach is not to be stiff and unmoving like a statue, but rather flexible and willing to sway. CANCER (June 21-July 22): No educator had ever offered a class in psychology until trailblazing philosopher William James did so in 1875. He knew a lot about human behavior. “Most people live in a very restricted circle of their potential being,” he wrote. In the coming months you will be primed to expand your access to your consciousness, your resources and your potentials. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Someone in me is suffering and struggling toward freedom,” wrote Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. He was willing to put himself through misery and despair to escape misery and despair. There are other viable approaches to the quest for liberation. For example, having fun can be effective in that holy work. The latter approach will accomplish far more for you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Growing up, Agatha Christie had few other kids to associate with, so she created a host of imaginary friends to fill the void. They eventually became key players in her work as an author, helping her dream up stories. Even in her old age, she still consorted with them. Now is a great time for you to acquire new imaginary friends or resurrect old ones.
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Reid and Lipinski 6 Born Free lioness 10 Really bothered 15 Refer to as an example 19 Beethoven’s “Für —” 20 The Wizard of Oz actor Bert 21 Abu — (Persian Gulf emirate) 22 Over again 23 Ailey of choreography 24 Mild Dutch cheese 25 Tricky billiards shot 26 Fare- — -well 27 Start of instructions for making sense of 67-Across 31 “— Haw” 32 A Wrinkle in Time director DuVernay 33 Aleve may relieve it 34 Got in a trap 37 Rowing blades 39 Be present 41 Renoir’s skill 42 Vent views 43 Part 2 of instructions 45 Appear to be 47 Goulash, e.g. 48 Fetal homes 49 Cooing park scavenger 51 Genre of serious films 54 Kissing and caressing 58 Greek god of the sun 63 Huge Brit. lexicon 64 Pedicured body part 66 “Ay, —!” (cry on “The Simpsons”) 67 Message
to congratulate solvers who figure out this answer 72 Northeast African nation 73 Decorator 74 Suffix with Gabon 75 Welding alloy 76 Jihad 78 Capri and Aruba 80 Plant lice 82 Disconnected 85 Units of work 89 Locale 90 Part 3 of instructions 96 Ballet moves 98 Planet Money airer 99 Misspends 100 Spout off 101 Calif. volcano 103 Basic idea 104 “We need assistance!” 106 Onetime Pan Am rival 107 End of instructions 111 Heath 113 Former congressman Mo 114 For — (not gratis) 115 Acoustic 116 Push along 117 Gymnastics legend Comaneci 118 — a soul (no one) 119 Headstone locale 120 Disarray 121 Artery-opening tube 122 Portuguese for “years” 123 More rational DOWN 1 Cousin of a coffeehouse 2 Curative plant
3 Monte Carlo setting 4 “Yeah, right!” 5 Actress Berger of De Sade 6 Brits call it a “lift” 7 Put freight on 8 Make pointy, as a pencil 9 Hostile insect in a swarm 10 Guys writing slogans, maybe 11 This and — 12 Item dyed for a spring holiday 13 One who fails to show up 14 Stadium rows 15 Sleeps lightly 16 Get via will 17 Simple shirt 18 Baaing “ma” 28 Dodge 29 Venetian beach resort 30 “Fifth Beatle” Yoko 35 Indy-to-Cleveland dir. 36 Dawn droplets 38 Pond gunk 40 Coiled like ivy 41 Speller’s clarification 44 Zeta follower 46 Fine goat coat 49 What a head rests on in bed 50 Brand of spongy balls 51 Sleeps lightly 52 Printing proof, for short 53 Aleve alternative 55 Naval acad. grad’s rank 56 Groups devising plots 57 Tyke 59 Tyke
60 Push along 61 Like Santa, weight-wise 62 Strongboxes for valuables 64 Pipsqueaks 65 Three — kind 66 Pool stick 68 “— be my pleasure!” 69 La — Tar Pits 70 Title for a monk 71 Mesmerized 76 List of currently popular songs 77 Polish river 78 Hip-hop mogul Gotti 79 Mix together 81 Suggested subtly 83 Elvis and Priscilla 84 Fable writer 85 Tree infested by bark beetles 86 No longer active: Abbr. 87 Fake hearth items 88 Balls, geometrically 90 Taunt in fun 91 Rosh — 92 “Here We Are” singer Gloria 93 Fiber source in some muffins 94 Disentangle 95 Country music’s — Brothers 97 Used a chair 102 Shell-shocks 103 Note a half step above F 105 Thick rugs 108 Actress Lena of Chocolat 109 Streamlined, informally 110 Ambience 111 Not saying a word 112 Metal in rocks
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “To hurry pain is to leave a classroom still in session,” notes aphorist Yahia Lababidi. On the other hand, he observes, “To prolong pain is to miss the next lesson.” The goal is to dwell with your pain for just the right amount of time—until you’ve learned its lessons and figured out how not to experience it again. Such a turning point will soon be arriving for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ve entered a phase when the sheer abundance of interesting input may at times be overwhelming, though enriching. You’ll hear—and hopefully be receptive to—lots of provocative stories, dynamic revelations and unexpected truths. Be grateful for this bounty! Use it to transform whatever might be stuck, whatever needs a catalytic nudge. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): There has been pressure on you to adjust more than maybe you’d like. But the good news is it’s all in a good cause. Read the wise words of author Dan Millman: “Every positive change, every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness, involves a rite of passage. Each time we ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception.” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Anais Nin was a connoisseur of eros and sensuality. According to her, “sex must be mixed with tears, laughter, words, promises, jealousy, envy, all the spices of fear, foreign travel, new faces, stories, dreams, fantasies, music.” You won’t need such a big array of stuff in your quest for satisfaction. Your instinct for rapture will be finely tuned. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “One is always at home in one’s past,” wrote author Vladimir Nabokov. Sometimes that’s not a good thing. It may lead us to flee from the challenges of the present moment and go hide and cower and wallow in nostalgia. But on other occasions, the fact that we are always at home in the past might generate brilliant healing strategies. The latter case is likely to be true for you in the coming weeks. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Not everything is supposed to become something beautiful and long-lasting,” writes author Emery Allen. “Not everyone is going to stay forever.” Her message is a good one for you to keep in mind right now. You’re in a phase when transitory boosts and temporary help may be exactly what you need most. I suspect your main task in the coming weeks is to get maximum benefit from influences that are just passing through your life. The catalysts that work best could be those that work only once and then disappear.
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