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5.20.21
MIXED REACTIONS TO CANCELLATION OF BURNING MAN FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR The cancellation of Burning Man for the second year is drawing mixed reaction in Northern Nevada, where some businesses and tourism officials say they’ll miss the economic boost from festivalgoers but health officials are glad they won’t contribute to increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19. The counterculture festival in the Black Rock Desert about 100 miles north of Reno typically attracts nearly 80,000 people, who spend an estimated $63 million. Officials at Reno-Tahoe International Airport are among those who were hoping the event would return at the end of August after last year’s cancellation due to the pandemic. “Let’s face it, our world needs Burning Man right now," airport spokesman Brian Kulpin said. "If you want to celebrate coming out of a pandemic, Burning Man is perfect." Health officials’ concerns were based in part on the fact that the event attracts people from all over the world in places with wide varieties of COVID-19 cases, vaccination rates and virus variants. “I’m sure it was a difficult decision to cancel Burning Man this year, but I do feel that in terms of safety of the general public and lowering the risk of COVID-19 transmission, that the right call was made,” said Kevin Dick, district health officer for Washoe County. Dick said health officials are seeing outbreaks of COVID-19 in a number of countries, “areas where very contagious COVID-19 variants of concern are prevalent and where low rates of vaccination are occurring.” –Associated Press
WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD N EWS YO U S H O U L D K N OW A B O U T
Sabrina Atterbom, a nutrition science major, waves to family members during a UNLV commencement ceremony for 2020 graduates at Sam Boyd Stadium on Friday, May 14, 2021. The ceremony was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
5.20.21
IN THIS ISSUE
10 14 26 32 26
Fitness: Outdoor bootcamp provides a fresh workout Cover story: Can the Aces make a title push in 2021? Nights: Gatsby’s Cocktail Lounge at Resorts World Food & Drink: Chicago favorites and Filipino finds Sports: Are the A's really considering Las Vegas?
STORIES FROM LAST WEEK ROE V. WADE SHOWDOWN The Supreme Court agreed May 17 to consider a major rollback of abortion rights, saying it will decide whether states can ban abortions before a fetus can survive outside the womb. The court’s order sets up a showdown over abortion, probably in the fall, with a more conservative court seemingly ready to dramatically alter nearly 50 years of rulings on abortion rights. Andrea Meza of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe on May 16. Meza, who has a software engineering degree, beat out Miss Brazil at the end of the night, screaming when the announcer shouted “Viva Mexico!” The pageant spent months planning a safe competition that followed similar guidelines as last November’s 2020 Miss USA competition held in Memphis, Tennessee.
CRISS ANGEL RETURNING TO STAGE Longtime Las Vegas headliner Criss Angel is set to reopen his resident show Mindfreak at the Criss Angel Theater at the Planet Hollywood Resort on July 7. The show has been shuttered since March 2020. Its reopening schedule calls for five performances weekly, at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and tickets are on sale now on Ticketmaster or at crissangel.com.
EUROVISION IS BACK
HE SAID IT
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MISS UNIVERSE CROWNED
“Enough with the defamation. Enough with the unfounded allegations. I came to this office to competently, fairly, and lawfully administer the duties of the office. Not to be accused by own party of shredding ballots and deleting files for an election I didn’t run. Enough.” –Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican, in a May 13 tweet
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
After last year's Eurovision Song Contest was canceled amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, it has roared back to life this year with coronavirus bubbles added to its heady mix of music and melodrama. National delegations traveling to the Dutch city of Rotterdam are abiding by strict measures to reduce the risk of infections, while the thousands of fans allowed to attend dress rehearsals, two semifinals and the grand finale on May 22 will have to undergo testing to ensure they do not bring the virus into the cavernous venue.
Maisie Hunt, 13, holds her father’s hand as she gets vaccinated by Domonique Cubillo on May 13 at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children ages 12 to 15. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
NLV MAYOR WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee is running for governor of Nevada as a Republican. He formally announced his candidacy May 16 to challenge Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak. Lee said he plans to focus his campaign on “embracing small government, defending free speech, protecting unborn life, and supporting the right to bear arms.” Lee’s run in the 2022 election was widely expected after a heavily publicized switch in political parties early this year. Lee has been mayor of North Las Vegas since 2013, running for and winning the seat after serving in the state Assembly from 1997-2001 and in the state Senate from 2004-12. He is the first Republican to announce his 2022 plans. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo has previously indicated that he’s considering running, while Rep. Mark Amodei, D-Nev., and former Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchinson have also been floated as potential candidates. The official filing dates are not until March 2022. –John Sadler
DONATIONS TO THREE SQUARE
BEING MATCHED THROUGHOUT MAY With unemployment up in many sectors during the pandemic, food insecurity has risen significantly during the past year. According to Feeding America, a nationwide nonprofit organization of more than 200 food banks, a record high of one in three children experienced food insecurity during last spring. Locally, Three Square Food Bank continues its fight against food insecurity with the return of its annual Bag Childhood Hunger Campaign. Through May 31, donations made to the Bag Childhood Hunger Campaign will be matched by sponsors Nevada Gold Mines operated by Barrick and NV Energy Foundation, providing up to six meals for every dollar donated. “Currently, one in four children in Southern Nevada is living in a food-insecure household—that’s more than 131,000 kids who don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” says Brian Burton, president and CEO of Three Square. “This is one of the many reasons why our annual Bag Childhood Hunger Campaign is so important. It raises funds that support vital programs and provides wholesome and nutritious meals to young ones in need.” To make a donation or to learn more about Three Square’s childhood nutrition programs, visit threesquare.org. –Genevie Durano
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TOOLS YOU’LL NEED Clean, sterilized jars large enough to hold your produce plus the brine.
LET IT FERMENT BY GENEVIE DURANO
Fermenting food can be good for your insides (and easier than you think)
F
ermentation—the metabolic process by which molecules such as glucose are broken down anaerobically (without oxygen) by natural microbes—has many benefits when we incorporate it into our diet. Fermented foods contain probiotics (good bacteria) and provide enzymes that keep our digestive tract balanced, promoting regular bowel movements and keeping our weight in check. In addition, the good bacteria found in fermented foods also aid in
the efficient absorption of other nutrients like vitamins B and C, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin and biotin. On the more practical side, fermentation allows for long-lasting food preservation without the use of chemicals. This works by essentially overgrowing a specific type of good bacteria and not allowing harmful organisms that cause spoilage to reproduce and grow. The high-acid, low-oxygen environment, along with the addition of salt for brining, is hostile to harmful organisms like fungi, mold and other pathogens, thereby boosting the immune system in the process. Fermenting fruits and vegetables at their peak provides year-round benefits, and it’s economical, too, as you’ll be buying produce at its most plentiful and cheapest. We eat fermented food every day without even thinking about it. Wine, tea, cheese, bread, chocolate, pickles, yogurt and kombucha, for example, all go through fermentation. Once you understand that process, the possibilities are endless when it comes to making your own fermented foods at home.
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A cover that doesn’t allow in oxygen but lets carbon dioxide out during the fermentation process. That can be as simple as silicon tops that go on top of mason jars (W), or special lids like the Easy Fermenter (nourishedessentials.com).
A glass weight for submerging your vegetables into the brine.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
5-MINUTE EXPERT
Clean, Sterilized bottles for kombucha, kefir and beer.
A clean lid for your jar, for when it’s done fermenting and ready to move to cold storage.
(Shutterstock)
BASIC TYPES OF FERMENTATION LACTIC ACID FERMENTATION n Lactic acid bacteria is all around us—in milk, fruits, grains, vegetables and meat—and it’s simple enough to harness in order to ferment food. The simplest method is to take food that contains the bacteria and submerge it into a brine of water and salt. Place it in a container (a ceramic crock or a glass jar are good options) that doesn’t let in oxygen, so the microbes can break down the sugars anaerobically and form lactic acid and carbon dioxide. The fermentation period can range from days to months. Sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi, yogurt, kefir and sourdough bread are just some of the things you can make through lactic acid fermentation.
ALL ABOUT STARTERS ETHANOL/ALCOHOL FERMENTATION n This type of fermentation occurs when yeast converts glucose to energy and is released as carbon dioxide, resulting in a byproduct called ethanol (or simply, alcohol). This is the process that produces wine, beer and spirits. ACETIC ACID FERMENTATION n Kombucha has been all the rage the past few years, and there’s a good reason why. It’s a powerhouse of a beverage, containing antioxidants and antibacterial properties. Kombucha is made through acetic acid fermentation, in which starches and sugars from grains and fruit ferment into sour-tasting vinegar and other condiments. You can make apple cider vinegar and wine vinegar in the same manner.
At the start of the pandemic, making sourdough bread was the activity of choice, and we heard much social media chatter about keeping one’s starter alive. What exactly is the starter’s role in the fermentation process? While microbes and yeast are naturally present in the air and can be harnessed with a little work and patience, sometimes a specific starter set is required to jump-start the fermentation process. For sourdough bread, it’s traditional to leave out a jar of flour and water and let the natural yeast in the air do its work to create a starter. But if you don’t have the time or the patience to do so, you can always snag some starter from a friend or buy dehydrated starter online, which you can then rehydrate with a little water. Online vendors like Cultures for Health (culturesforhealth.com) have taken the guesswork out of starters. If you’re into making your own milk or water kefir, you can buy kefir starter grains here, as well as dehydrated SCOBY for kombucha. (SCOBY, which stands for “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast,” is the mother culture required to make the tea.) As for making your own yogurt, one simple trick is to take your favorite store brand (use plain, not flavored), set a tablespoon aside and mix it in warm milk. The bacteria from the commercial yogurt will proliferate, and you’ll have a fresh batch in no time. Just remember to set aside another tablespoon for the batch after that.
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HARDWORK FITNESS BOOTCAMP
WEEKLY WORKOUT
Saturdays, Pioneer Park, tinyurl.com/ 4djebwwe; Sundays, Huckleberry Park, tinyurl.com/ j96pbs68; $15.
Outdoor bootcamp offers a fresh-air alternative to the gym BY LESLIE VENTURA Summer is almost here, and that means it’s time to get back in shape. Given pandemic concerns, however, the gym remains a non-starter for some. Never fear. Outdoor bootcamps are an excellent way to get exercise while social distancing in the open air. We caught up with Hardwork Fitness coach Hannah Pringle to discuss the benefits of exercising outside and more.
What does a typical session look like? “I enjoy circuit-style workouts,” similar to high-intensity interval training, otherwise known as HIIT, Pringle says. “I love timed movements, so anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute for a certain movement, and a combination of body weight and weights, as well as cardio. One round, you might have a squat that’s weighted, the next movement in the circuit is going to be ropes and in between you’ll have a cardio movement, so burpees or jumping jacks, things to keep your heart rate going.” “I try to change [workouts] weekly,” Pringle continues. “There’s often a lot of movements that are repeated. I try to keep it pretty mixed up, as far as how they’re done or in what order, so it stays interesting. A lot of people get bored in the gym doing the same thing over and over, so bootcamp is a great way to get a variety of things going.”
Who should try bootcamp? “With any physical activity, when you’re getting ready to do it, you want to make sure you’ve been to the doctor recently and you’re cleared to work out and don’t have any injuries or health conditions,” Pringle says. “For my bootcamp, anyone can be involved and work out. I try to keep mine small, just 10 or 12 people, so we’re able to watch everybody and make modifications if they’re needed. There are certain bootcamps tailored toward specific things for advanced levels, but I think overall, group fitness is a great way to get your feet wet. You’re able to do a lot of things at your own pace.”
INDOOR BOOTCAMP-STYLE CLASSES Camp Rhino, camprhino.com Real Results, realresultsfitness.com Go 2 U Fitness, go2ufitness.co Sin City Crossfit, sincitycrossfit.com
Personal fitness trainers Heather Pringle and Diesel (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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FITNESS
BOOTCAMP BENEFITS The sun. “Anytime you can be outside and in the sun is just a whole-benefit experience,” says Pringle, who has been a personal trainer in Las Vegas for eight years. “Vitamin D and the fresh air can breathe a whole new life into you, and it’s a nice change-up.” The scenery. “No matter what gym you go to, they kind of all look the same. [Being outside,] it’s different scenery; there’s always something going on,” Pringle says. “If it’s hot, there’s extra sweat for you.” It’s safe. “It’s nice to still be able to work out and feel safe during the pandemic, to be able to get outside and be active.” The world is your gym. “The sky’s the limit; it just depends on availability to equipment,” Pringle says. “You can go outside and get a great workout with just body weight and using park equipment, whether it’s a bench or a step or the hills. It can be amplified if you’re able to bring dumbbells or other things outside as well.” It’s less intimidating. “It’s still guided, so you’re not just in the gym trying to figure out what to do,” Pringle says. “You can have a friend or two go with you or meet people for moral support. Bootcamp is something people of all levels and experiences can do.” No commitment. Bootcamps typically offer a drop-in fee option, so there’s no contract or membership. “If people are unsure, you’re able to come in and try it out and take it from there,” Pringle says.
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
5.20.21
ACES It’s championship or bust for a loaded Las Vegas roster built around the WNBA’s reigning MVP BY MIKE GRIMALA
T
he Las Vegas Aces came so close to winning the WNBA championship last year that A’ja Wilson, the player who did more than anyone to bring them to the brink of the title, could almost feel it. They came so close it hurt. Now, as the Aces prepare to take the court for the upcoming season, Wilson understands that after three years of near misses in Las Vegas, “close” won’t cut it in 2021. This team should win the championship, and it’s Wilson’s job to make sure it happens. The Aces finished tied for the league’s best regular-season record last season in a bubble environment held in Bradenton, Florida, but were swept by the Seattle Storm in a best-of-five WNBA Finals series. This year, Las Vegas’ team returns home to Michelob Ultra Arena (formerly Mandalay Bay Events Center), raring to start another title quest. “I’ve never been this eager before to play,” Wilson says. “I’ve been working so hard this offseason just to get my mind right, my body right. I feel great. I feel very good within myself, and that’s what it’s really all about; I think I lost that in the bubble, and now that I’ve found it, I’ve got the confidence going.” The 6-foot-4 Wilson earned MVP honors last year with her best professional campaign yet, including career highs in rebounds (8.5 per game), blocks (2.0 per game) and shooting percentage (48.0%) while averaging 20.5 points per game. Wilson then upped her production in the postseason, putting up 20.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
LIZ CAMBAGE
A’ja Wilson, Liz Cambage, Bill Laimbeer (David Becker, Scott Cunningham, NBA Photos/Courtesy); Kelsey Plum (AP/Photo Illustration)
KELSEY PLUM
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HIGH A’JA WILSON
BILL LAIMBEER
Taking Las Vegas so far was a heroic task. The Aces were without two of their most important players, as former league scoring leader Liz Cambage opted out of the season and former No. 1 pick Kelsey Plum missed the entire year with an injury. With Cambage and Plum back in action and some key free-agent additions rounding out the league’s most talented roster, Wilson will have more help this season. But she’s also facing higher expectations. Runner-up is not an option anymore. This is a championship-or-bust season. It’s on Wilson to ultimately take the Aces there, and she knows it. “We can’t have the, ‘Oh, we don’t have the whole team’ excuse anymore, because now we do,” Wilson says. In one of the slickest transactions of the offseason, the Aces inked veteran guard Chelsea Gray, a three-time WNBA All-Star who helped pilot the Los Angeles Sparks to a championship in 2016. Gray averaged 14.0 points and 5.3
UPCOMING ACES SCHEDULE Friday, May 21 vs. Los Angeles Sparks 7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) Sunday, May 23 vs. Connecticut Sun 3:30 p.m. (Facebook streaming) Wednesday, May 26 at Phoenix Mercury 7 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Friday, May 28 vs. Indiana Fever 7:30 p.m. (Twitter streaming) Sunday, May 30 vs. Indiana Fever 3 p.m. (no TV or streaming announced)
Tickets to home games were not available to the public at press time. A total of 2,000 fans will be allowed to attend each game, but they will be exclusively for season-ticket holders.
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assists per game last year. It was a move designed to give Wilson everything she needs in order to lead the team across the finish line. All of a sudden, Wilson is working with an embarrassment of riches; the Aces have few discernible weaknesses, including on the sideline, where Bill Laimbeer is back in pursuit of his fourth WNBA championship as a head coach. Wilson realizes there will be immediate pressure on this “super team” to succeed. “I know the media and everyone is expecting us to be this super team, because we look really, really good on paper,” Wilson says, “but at the end of the day we have to bring it within ourselves, within our locker room. That’s what makes the super team. Like Bill said, you earn that. It doesn’t matter what we look like on paper; if we can’t produce on the court, then it means nothing.” Perhaps the only negative that has affected the Aces coming into the season is the loss of veteran wing Angel McCoughtry, who tore her ACL in a preseason game. The 34-year-old former No. 1 overall pick averaged 14.4 points per game to emerge as the Aces’ second-leading scorer last season, her first with the franchise. It’s a hit, but not a big enough one to knock the Aces out of pole position in the championship race. Not as long as Wilson keeps the same approach as the team’s unquestioned leader. After finding her footing in her first two seasons, she really emerged in Cambage’s absence last year, taking full control of the squad on and off the court. She’s not going to take a step back in that regard this year. This is now Wilson’s team. “I don’t see my role changing at all,” Wilson says. “I’m still going to be who I am, the player that I am. I’m also going to contribute and produce for my team as I always do, and I hope I can be an even more vocal leader in the locker room. Bill always says internal leadership is what we need, so I’m going to continue to do that.” Will it all add up to a championship celebration in October? If Wilson can replicate her MVP effort, it looks likely. And that’s exactly what she intends to do. “When you have that ‘reigning MVP’ title attached to your name, because I’m pretty sure every announcer is going to be like, ‘reigning MVP.’ It’s just like, OK, it’s over; I had my time, now let me try to go get it again.”
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5.20.21
ALL BUSINESS Liz Cambage returns with a ‘hunger within’
W
hen Liz Cambage joined the Las Vegas Aces for the 2019 season, the all-star center from Australia instantly pushed the team into contender status. She opted out of last year’s COVID bubble season but returned to the court to win another WNBL title in her home country with the Southside Flyers in December. The outspoken star remained a force of nature off the court as well, breaking boundaries as the first professional athlete ambassador for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty brand while also speaking up and raising awareness of mental health and race issues. Earlier this month, Cambage criticized an Australian Olympic promotional photo shoot for its lack of diversity and indicated that she might skip the Summer Games. She later backtracked and announced she would still “ball out for all those young brown kids back in Australia watching me,” in an Instagram post. Cambage has proven in her lone season with the Aces that nothing else matters once she steps on the court, and she’s already focused on taking the team back to the finals this year. The Weekly caught up with her to chat about the 2021 season and more. How does it feel to be back? Last year was crazy, and it threw everyone’s plans out of line. I’m just happy to be back in Vegas with the whole team working toward that goal we’ve been chasing for a minute now. Were you able to stay in touch with your Aces teammates during the WNBA bubble season last year? I was dealing with a lot of stuff back
home, so I kind of just removed myself from everything and anything that was going on last year. But I kept an eye on the girls, I watched the games and I watched the finals. It was hard, watching the girls get swept. But I think everyone learned a lot and grew a lot and developed a real hunger within as well. It’s hard to watch your team win or lose when you’re not playing, but the bubble wasn’t for me and that’s God’s plan and now we’re back together working toward that goal. There have been quite a few changes on the roster since the last time you put on an Aces jersey. Does it feel more like a fresh start than a return to something familiar? I think there are changes within the team every year, but the key group is still here. A’ja [Wilson] is still the big dog. You’ve got [Kelsey] Plum and Jackie [Young] who is a beast, and Ji-Su [Park] has come back from Korea, all grown and strong and blocking my shots in practice. And then you bring in Chelsea Gray, a point guard I’ve wanted to play with for years. I’ve been in her ear since the Minnesota All-Star Game [in 2018]. What do you think about the Aces being considered a championship favorite this season? There’s always a lot of talk about everything. All I care about is what my coaches are saying, my GM, my agent, my teammates and what my mother is saying. They are the only people I listen to. This is the league’s 25th anniversary season, and the WNBA is coming off a very important season with
heightened awareness and exposure for a variety of reasons. Players in this league seem to have a bigger platform right now. How do you feel about the opportunities and responsibilities that come with that? I think when a person is a public figure, you have a responsibility to be a decent human. But at the end of the day, I play basketball; I’m not a superhero. I don’t look at myself as a role model. Maybe young girls look up to me for confidence, but I’m a human and I’m just doing my job and staying true to myself, and if you’re into that and you follow me, thank you, I love you. If you’re not into that, good for you, have a good day. Some athletes have a platform, and they don’t use it and some people do have a platform and they use it for good. Do what you want. That’s on you. I’m not really one to care about what others are doing.
(Michael J. LeBrecht NBA Photos/Courtesy)
BY BROCK RADKE
Do you feel like you’ve spent enough time in Las Vegas to really connect with the city? Oh, I’ve connected. I spent a whole summer out here two years ago, I just wasn’t with the team last year. It’s really good to be back. I love this city, and I love how much love and support they give us. There definitely have not been enough DJ gigs for you in Vegas yet. Definitely not, and it’s probably not going to happen this year because the WNBA has us locked down. I don’t know when I’ll have another opportunity to DJ out here, but it will happen soon, don’t you worry.
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LIZ CAMBAGE, C 6-foot-8, 5th year Cambage opted out of last season but has a long track record as one of the most dominant players in the world. In her lone season in Las Vegas (2019), she averaged 15.9 points and 8.2 rebounds. In order for the Aces to reach their full potential, Cambage will have to buy into the team concept. “She’s a physically dominant person, so she always plays 1-on-5,” head coach Bill Laimbeer says. “Well, this is 5-on-5 to win a championship. She understands that. She’ll have her moments when she goes off by herself, but overall, she has made a commitment to being a team player.”
EMMA CANNON, F 6-foot-2, 3rd year Cannon was a remarkable addition last year, as she signed with the Aces for the last regular-season game and eventually became an unlikely playoff contributor.
CHELSEA GRAY, G 5-foot-11, 7th year A three-time All-Star and a WNBA champion with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016, Gray is a standout long-distance shooter in the backcourt. She is also an excellent passer, and A’ja Wilson is excited to work
with a guard who sees the floor the way Gray does. “Her basketball IQ is through the roof,” Wilson says of Gray. “It’s crazy what she sees. She sees things that we might not even see until you watch film. When you have someone that’s in control and that’s your point guard that’s handling everything, it kind of puts you at ease.”
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Zooming in on Las Vegas’ 2021 roster BY MIKE GRIMALA
ANGEL MCCOUGHTRY, F 6-foot-1, 12th year McCoughtry gave the Aces a terrific presence on the wing last year, but she tore her ACL in the final preseason game last week and will be lost for the season.
DESTINY SLOCUM, G 5-foot-7, rookie A second-round pick in the 2021 draft, Slocum is fighting for a spot in the Aces’ loaded backcourt. She averaged 15.0 points and 3.9 assists per game at Arkansas.
JISU PARK, C 6-foot-5, 3rd year Park has given the Aces a reliable third-string center for the past couple years. In a limited role, she gives the team a presence under the basket.
SHAKAYLA THOMAS, F 5-foot-11, rookie An explosive athlete, Thomas is looking to latch on with the Aces after spending the past two years overseas.
DEARICA HAMBY, F 6-foot-3, 7th year Hamby has mastered her reserve role, claiming backto-back Sixth Woman of the Year awards in each of the last two years. She figures to lead the bench unit again in 2021.
LAUREN MANIS, F 6-foot-1, rookie The Aces drafted Manis last year but waived her before heading into the bubble. After a productive season in Europe, she’s now looking to make a mark in the WNBA. Laimbeer thinks Manis needs to get stronger physically, but there’s a chance she could make an impact. “She’s longer, a little quicker than we thought,” Laimbeer says. “She’s one of those players that is going to scrap and fight to get the last spot on the team.”
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KELSEY PLUM, G 5-foot-8, 4th year An Achilles injury kept Plum sidelined last year, but as a career 38.9% 3-point shooter, she will provide valuable spacing for the Aces’ high-scoring forwards.
RIQUNA WILLIAMS, G 5-foot-7, 9th year Williams was a doublefigure scorer for the Los Angeles Sparks in each of the past two seasons, and she knocked down a career-high 42.2% from 3-point range in 2020.
A’JA WILSON, F 6-foot-4, 4th year Wilson came into her own in the bubble, earning the league’s MVP award while leading Las Vegas to the WNBA Finals. On a team full of superstars and former No. 1 overall picks, Wilson is queen bee.
JACKIE YOUNG, G 6-foot, 3rd year One of those aforementioned No. 1 picks, Young came off the bench last year and gave the team 11.0 points and 3.0 assists per game. She could be in line for a breakout campaign if there are enough shots to go around, but Laimbeer cautions against judging Young solely by her scoring numbers. “Last year she learned what she could do,” Laimbeer says of Young. “She can handle the ball if she needs to; she can do multiple things. She’s the glue player.”
Headshots (David Becker NBA Photos/Courtesy)
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OBSTACLE ASSESSMENT Looking around the league for the Aces’ toughest challenges BY MIKE GRIMALA
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he Aces have their eyes set on a WNBA championship, but winning it all is never easy. Here are five things that could stand in the way of Las Vegas’ title quest.
Las Vegas’ Liz Cambage (8) tips-off against Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart during the two teams’ season opener on May 15, 2021. (AP/Photo Illustration)
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STORMY FORECAST
HERALDED HOMECOMING
3-POINT ARMS RACE
The Aces’ No. 1 hurdle in 2021 could prove to be their top hurdle from 2020: the Seattle Storm. When the two teams met in the WNBA Finals in the bubble, the Storm emerged victorious, and it wasn’t particularly close. Seattle swept the series, 3-0, and Las Vegas was beaten by double figures in all three contests, including a 33-point blowout in the clinching game. The Aces’ biggest problem was that they had absolutely no answer for Seattle forward Breanna Stewart, who averaged 28.3 points in the series on 62.7% shooting. Seattle lost three starters to free agency in the offseason but still has Stewart, who scored 28 points in the Storm’s 97-83 win over Las Vegas in the two teams’ season opener on May 15. If they meet again in the playoffs, will the Aces have a better plan for defending Stewart?
After spending the first 13 years of her professional career with Los Angeles—where she won a championship (2016), two MVP awards (2008, 2013) and a Defensive Player of the Year award (2020)—league icon Candace Parker is heading home. Parker signed with the Chicago Sky as a free agent to vault them into contender status and erect another potential roadblock for the Aces. The Sky has a good team around Parker, with Courtney Vandersloot running the point and Kahleah Copper and Diamond DeShields providing reinforcements on the perimeter. It’s a deep team, and with Parker now providing some star power, Chicago could present a formidable challenge for Las Vegas.
The Aces have plenty of capable long-distance shooters—that’s not an issue. It’s a matter of opportunity. Las Vegas runs a post-heavy offensive scheme that earmarks a majority of shots for A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage, which leads to the team mostly shooting 2-pointers. Last year, the Aces finished dead last in 3-point attempts at just 11.5 per game; the next-lowest team attempted 16.9 per game. The league leader launched 27.6. So while the Aces were the fourthbest shooting team in terms of accuracy (36.6%), they didn’t reap the full benefits due to a scarcity of attempts. Will they be able to keep up with some of the league’s more modern offenses in 2021? Wilson and Cambage are certainly equipped to wreak havoc on the interior, but basic math still dictates that three points are greater than two.
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JISU PARK
A’JA WILSON DEARICA HAMBY JiSu Park (Kris Lumague/Courtesy); Dearica Hamby, A’ja Wilson (AP/Photo Illustration)
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(Continued on From 19)
INJURY SITUATION The Aces are excited to get point guard Kelsey Plum back this season after she missed the entire 2020 campaign due to an Achilles tear. But an Achilles is one of the most difficult injuries from which to return, so it’s no guarantee Plum will be back to her old self right out of the gate. Slowing Plum back into her role might have been easier to do before the Aces suffered a potentially disastrous blow in their final preseason scrimmage. Angel McCoughtry landed awkwardly after grabbing a rebound and suffered a knee injury that will keep her out for the entire season. With Plum working her way back and McCoughtry lost, the Aces are among the most injury-affected teams coming into the season. It will be necessary to monitor the situation as the season progresses.
MCVENGEANCE The Minnesota Lynx lost in the WNBA semifinals to Seattle last year but put up a slightly better fight than Las Vegas managed. They’ve now added to their roster with a familiar face: former Las Vegas All-Star Kayla McBride. McBride was a warrior for the Aces (12.5 points, 2.4 assists in 2020), and Minnesota will benefit greatly from her toughness and shot-making ability. If Las Vegas matches up with the Lynx in the playoffs, McBride is capable of making the Aces regret letting her get away.
Kayla McBride, Kelsey Plum (AP/Photo Illustration)
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Mark Davis (LVAces/Courtesy)
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE The Aces are now a part of the ‘Raiders’ family’ BY CASE KEEFER
F
rom a relocation and rebranding of the San Antonio Stars to a renovation of Michelob Ultra Arena, MGM Resorts poured a lot of resources into the Las Vegas Aces during its three-season span as ownership group. That strong financial commitment likely won’t change with Raiders owner Mark Davis stepping in. He went from Aces season-ticket-holding superfan to owner earlier this year, purchasing the franchise from MGM. At a news conference announcing his purchase in February, Davis stressed that he viewed the acquisition as an opportunity to take the Aces to another level. Examples of his vision are already evident. The Aces’ days renting practice and locker room space at UNLV are numbered, as Davis has broken ground on an all-encompassing team headquarters in Henderson alongside the Raiders’ own space off St. Rose Parkway. Las Vegas
will continue to play at the former Mandalay Bay Events Center for the time being, but everything from the practice courts to the team offices will be located next to the Raiders. Davis told ESPN he views the Aces as part of “the Raiders family” going forward. That atmosphere already seems visible in his first major Aces front-office hire. Four days before the team’s season-opener— May 15 at the Seattle Storm—Davis announced former LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Fargas as the team’s new president. Davis has known Fargas, who stepped down after a decade coaching the Tigers to join the Aces, for nearly 20 years. Her husband, Justin Fargas, was a Raiders running back from 2003-2009. Bill Laimbeer previously served as both the team’s coach and president but will be focusing exclusively on the former position this season. Having a highly respected talent evaluator like Fargas to deal with personnel matters could pay
dividends and help the Aces reach an organizational goal of becoming a perennial championship contender. But Davis has even higher aims. He’s been an outspoken supporter of women’s basketball for years, a passion he says hearkens back to his father Al Davis’ fandom and relationship with famed University of Connecticut women’s coach Geno Auriemma. More than just the Aces, Mark Davis has pledged a commitment to growing the game as a whole and says increasing player salaries should be a route to do so. The WNBA is headed in an upward direction with the minimum salary growing from $41,000 three years ago, when the Aces moved to Las Vegas, to $58,000 this season, according to spotrac.com. But there’s still a long way to go. Davis wants to help bridge the gap, and he’s committed to doing it in Las Vegas. The Aces are here to stay.
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(Caroline Driehorst/Courtesy)
COLORFUL CONFIDENCE
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WEEKLY Q&A
BY LESLIE VENTURA
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alanya Vongsvirates is the corporate marketing manager for Full House Resorts, a casino and hospitality management company that operates out of five states. But when she isn’t working in her company’s corporate office, Vongsvirates, 27, is an artist and jewelry designer who runs her feel-good business, Love, Hand and Heart (lovehandandheart.com), putting her penchant for bold styles and bright, vivid colors on display. Born in Massachusetts, Vongsvirates grew up in Las Vegas and graduated from UNR, where she majored in journalism and minored in psychology. Her background in media helps her to navigate the world of marketing and to run her own business and define her brand. The Weekly caught up with Vongsvirates to talk about her roles in both the corporate and art worlds, and how she balances the two.
How did you end up in marketing? I’ve always been a
multipassionate kind of person, and going into college, I was trying to figure out a direction that combines my skills. I wanted
(Courtesy)
From her jewelry line to her day job, Walanya Vongsvirates works to boost the human spirit to spread positivity and use my creative skills as much as possible but in a meaningful way, so I chose journalism. Originally, I wanted to be a news anchor, but [media] can be very heavy and negative, so I pivoted toward marketing, to use those skills in a different way. How do you balance your fulltime job with your work as an independent business owner?
It’s seemingly very different, but I feel like I’m better at what I do in both areas by having those two to bounce off of. At Full House Resorts, I started as a social media manager and slowly expanded into marketing with a focus on branding. It’s a very fulfilling job, and even though I was able to do certain creative things, I started playing around with craft stitching and embroidery. One day, I was like, I really miss playing with Play-Doh. I used to do that as a kid a bunch and did ceramics when I was younger. So I was like, what’s a good adult equivalent? I discovered polymer clay and started making [earrings] for fun. It was hands-on and therapeutic, and I started making them because they’re my favorite piece of
jewelry. They’re a great conversation starter, they bring attention to a person’s face and that’s really ingrained in the brand I’ve created. It can boost your confidence and help you show up as your best and truest self. I fell in love with it. I had accumulated too many for myself and my friends didn’t want new earrings every week (laughs), so I was like, maybe I can get this going as a business. You first sold your earrings at Fergusons Downtown. How did that come about? Fergusons had
just opened, and I had gone to Market in the Alley. I always like to be involved in the communities, and I love to see the joy [my earrings] bring to people. Popping up in Market in the Alley was a fun way to connect with people and see what they’re drawn to. You incorporate big, bright colors into your jewelry. Why is that part of Love, Hand and Heart’s signature style? I really
do love color. It’s a simple way to put a smile on your face, and color and fashion is an easy way to change your mood or boost your confidence. I’m very purposeful
with my color use. [If I’m speaking in public] I will specifically put on a color that makes me feel confident and happy. I think there’s psychological benefits to that, especially with the year that we’ve had. We just need to embrace all the simple pleasures, and to me, adding color is a really simple way to achieve that. You recently hosted a digital event called Not Asian Enough, Not American Enough, which discussed the Asian American experience, including the recent increase in hate crimes. Why was it important to you to do that? For so long, these struggles
have been diminished—being told, that it’s no big deal, it’s just a joke, that it doesn’t matter. … As a community, that bubble kind of burst, and all at once it seems a lot of us were having these realizations of how it’s impacted us and how much pain it’s caused us. Whether it’s physical or emotional pain, it’s real. It’s really helped me to take that and let it empower me to create conversations and make real change with that—that’s what inspired me to be vocal about those things.
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THE CLASH, COMBAT ROCK Released 39 years ago this month, this Clash classic is best known for hits “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” but its stealth weapon is “Straight to Hell”—an angry broadside against those who prey on immigrants. Sadly, it still rings true.
BIG THIS WEEK ART
CONCERT
COMEDY
JOSEPH WATSON: STORIES WITHOUT WORDS AT SAHARA WEST LIBRARY
DEADMAU5 AT DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS EVENTS CENTER
DON’T TELL COMEDY AT FERGUSONS DOWNTOWN
As a visual storyteller, artist and illustrator Joseph Watson is a beloved figure in the Downtown art scene. His diverse résumé includes illustrating the Go, Go, Greta children’s book series, along with murals, gallery exhibits, philanthropy and more. See his distinctive, lively style in solo show Stories Without Words. Watson’s figurative art is evocative and inspirational, a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit. This show draws from a variety of work he has completed throughout his accomplished career. Through May 22; Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6p.m.; free; 9600 W. Sahara Ave. –C. Moon Reed
Instead of launching the 25th anniversary edition of the Electric Daisy Carnival on May 21—the festival was postponed to October 22-24—Insomniac will bring one of the most recognizable names in electronic music Downtown that night. Deadmau5, who last played Vegas at the short-lived KAOS at the Palms, will take over the outdoor events center behind the D with support from Nero and No Mana, and it’s just the beginning. Insomniac’s Dreamstate hits the same venue on May 28 with Paul Oakenfold, Cosmic Gate, Gabriel & Dresden, Gareth Emery and more. May 21, 8 p.m., $45, insomniac.com/dlvec. –Brock Radke
One of the things we’ve missed most during a locked-down year is live comedy. But things are definitely looking up: The funny crew from Don’t Tell Comedy, a network of comedians and comedy lovers, is taking over the stage at the Yard inside Fergusons Downtown for much-needed laughs, with the resident chefs from Vegas Test Kitchen providing beers and bites. It promises to be an evening that gets us one step closer to “normal.” May 20, 8 p.m., $25, donttellcomedy.com/las-vegas. –Genevie Durano
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HACKS Las Vegas plays a small but pivotal role in this HBO Max series about a Strip headliner comic (Jean Smart, brilliant as always) whose star is falling, and the young writer (Hannah Einbinder) who takes a job writing more contemporary jokes for her act after writing a career-ending tweet. HBO Max.
(Courtesy)
(Photograph by Wade Vandervort/Staff/Photo Illustration)
OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
ATTRACTION SHOW
MEDUZA’S “HEADRUSH” AT MUSEUM FIASCO
THE JAM LV AT THE SPACE
This has to be a first: Grammy-nominated deep house production trio Meduza is dropping its latest banger through a Las Vegas art installation. “Audiovisual research studio” Playmodes, creators of “Cluster” at Area15’s Museum Fiasco, have programmed a visual presentation of Meduza’s new single “Headrush,” using that immersive installation’s LED hardware. If you’re feeling the effects of EDC withdrawal, this hypnotic visual spectacular may help to soothe them. 10 p.m.-midnight nightly, $20, museumfiasco.com. –Geoff Carter
Local singer-songwriter Beverly Chillz and Vegas-based artist JAM Poet are back with their live talent-show platform, now at its new home base, the Space. Hoping to serve as a “pipeline for local artists to transition into the mainstream” and to prepare them for bigger stages, the Jam can be experienced both as a livestream or in person as a way to network with like-minded, passionate creatives, Chillz says. May 24, 8 p.m., $20, thejamlv.com. –Leslie Ventura
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GREAT GATSBY’S
Fox Trot
Clique Hospitality’s lounge should pair perfectly with Resorts World’s nightlife
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
NIGHTS
BY BROCK RADKE
T
he Singapore-based Zouk Group’s first splash into the Las Vegas nightlife scene is creating a lot of buzz on the Strip, but its big-name resident DJs—Tiësto, Zedd and Disclosure, among others—and diverse venues are just the start of the offerings at Resorts World, which opens on June 24. Restaurants, bars and lounges like the 66th-floor Starlight, the casino’s Crystal Bar and the Dawg House Saloon and sportsbook will bring new options for before and after the clubs. One of the most familiar and ambitious hospitality companies in Las Vegas has created another innovation for Resorts World—an upscale, Champagne-fueled spot called Gatsby’s Cocktail Lounge. Clique Hospitality, founded
by Andy Masi after he sold the legendary Light Group in 2014, operates a multitude of restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges in Las Vegas, Southern California, Chicago and Florida, and maintains a solid Strip presence at Mandalay Bay, the Mirage and the Cosmopolitan. “We’re really excited about partnering with Resorts World. The whole hotel and casino is amazing, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it. It’s going to be an absolute game-changer,” says John Pettei, Clique managing partner, who also runs the show at Light and Daylight at Mandalay Bay. “Gatsby’s is in a fantastic location right off the casino. It has two entrances, one [that] opens to the casino and the other to what they’re calling ‘the spine,’ sort of a restaurant district. We’re going to open early,
Clique’s niche is creating new experiences , and Gatsby’s is another move in that direction. at 11 a.m., so it’s going to be a great place to hang out during the day, have a great cocktail and relax. And as the day goes on and night steps in, it’s more of a destination.” The 4,000-square-foot lounge, designed by the Kudos Design Collaboratory, will feature a signature “congregation of illuminated orbs” fixture that nods to the menu’s expansive selection of bubbles. Featured Champagnes by the glass or bottle will be hard to
find elsewhere, and the craft cocktail program seeks to expand on what the company has established at Clique Lounge at Cosmo. “The only place you would see some of these Champagnes or wines would be at a high-end French restaurant like Guy Savoy,” Pettei says. “To order that bottle, you’d also have to have a 12-course dinner. Now you can have it at Gatsby’s, and that makes it kind of cool and different. Or you just might want to dabble a bit and try different cocktails.” Clique’s recent Vegas venues include the Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails—an actual barbershop with a hidden speakeasy featuring live music—and the massive sports bar and watch party restaurant Tailgate Social. The company also opened Greene St. Kitchen and Side Piece Pizza at the Palms during the property-wide renovation, and it has expanded beyond Vegas in a big way in recent years with the acclaimed Delray Beach Market in southeast Florida, among other enterprises. Clique’s niche is clearly creating new experiences and finding the right fit for the market, and Gatsby’s sounds like another sharp move in that direction. “I think Clique can add to overall programming at [Resorts World], from the restaurants to the nightlife to the headliner entertainment, and complement it in a great way,” Pettei says. “Once you’re there, whether you’re staying at the hotel or not, you’re not going to want to leave.”
(Courtesy)
Champagne Bubble Bath
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HAPPY HOUR MOJAVE MARGARITA
DAILY 3PM - 5PM & 8PM - 9PM LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Friday & saturday
2535 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.761.7000 | saharalasvegas.com
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TITILLATING TRASH Two Las Vegans team up to produce a throwback peep show at Majestic Repertory Theatre
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
BY C. MOON REED
S
howgirl Video, the last peep show in Las Vegas, closed in 2019 to make way for a cannabis dispensary. But before it shuttered, comedian and director Grace Lusk made a pilgrimage to the now-defunct Las Vegas Boulevard smut shop to witness a piece of performance history. “It left me mentally scarred, but in a really good way,” says Lusk, who performs in Spiegelworld’s Opium. “The intimacy of it—being crowded in this little booth with a friend … and just feeling like you’re seeing something that you maybe shouldn’t be allowed to see. It’s all very fun.” When the pandemic paused live entertainment, Lusk’s mind returned to the concept of the peep show. With its enclosed viewing booths and walled separation between audience and performer, the peep show was naturally socially distanced. She searched for discarded sets from old peep shows, came up empty-handed and endeavored to rebuild the genre, literally. Lusk partnered with Majestic Repertory Theatre’s Troy Heard, who has his own memories of discovering a New York City peep show while on a high school trip. “I completely forgot about the spectacle [of watching a Broadway show],” Heard recalls, “because that spectacle was really life-altering.” Together, Lusk and Heard created Hot Trash, a throwback Times Square peep show. The sexy cabaret variety show opened in May and is being extended through June due to popular demand. The COVID-19safe theater-in-the-round set has
the feel of an underground punk Lusk’s friend Sophia Urista. bar crossed with an MMA octagon. Lusk hosts the show’s competiEchoing Hot Trash’s hardcore tion format, in which the performancestors, plexiglass windows ers vie for the title of “Reigning separate the performers from the Dumpster Fire Supreme.” By audience, who sit in four-person tipping dollar bills through the private boxes. stage’s “glory holes” (Venmo is Heard says Hot Trash’s rotating also available for the cashless), the cast features some of the “best audience votes on the winner. As f*cking talent in the world, not show host, Lusk also squeezes in a just Vegas—world-class performcomedic bit she has been develers from Spiegelworld, from oping during the pandemic. She Cirque [du Soleil], from Puppetry cleans up after one of the comof the Penis.” peting acts, and she says it “There’s just been so much “devolves into this clown HOT TRASH new and so much fresh,” Lusk Through June 19. piece with a vacuum.” Tuesday-Thurssays of the show, which purBoth co-producers say day, 7 & 9 p.m. posefully offers a safe space their biggest challenge $250 for a for creative risk-taking. and greatest accomplishprivate booth seating up to Lusk says the show combines ment has been putting on four guests vaudeville, burlesque and a production during the (includes a comedy. She calls it “the most bottle of cham- pandemic. Lusk says: “The pagne), 21+. avant-garde that this town element of the plexiglass Majestic Rephas to offer.” is taking a bad situation ertory Theatre, So just how raunchy is Hot and being like, how can we 702-423-6366. Trash? Perhaps it’s not necmake it art?” essary to clarify, but Heard Hot Trash was the does: “This is not porn. It’s answer, and many jumped performance art. There is nudity, at the opportunity to particibut it’s theater.” pate. “Everybody involved in the With weekly lineup changes, it’s entertainment industry has been impossible to predict exactly what’s twiddling their thumbs for a year, in store for the intimate 28-person so when people found out we were audience. “As the director of the doing something new, they were show, Grace really curates a rollerbeyond helpful,” Lusk says. coaster ride,” says Heard, who The show has even attracted serves as co-producer. “If you’re a other performers, some of whom fan of shows like Absinthe and OpiLusk hopes to cast in upcoming um, this is the next evolution.” performances. Variety-show acts have included: “Now that more and more artists an artistic take on hot-dog eating, are reaching out to me, I don’t a sword-swallower, a hilariously know what the next week is gonna sacrilegious puppet show, a comebring,” Lusk says of Hot Trash. dy-dog act; contemporary dance, “It’s just always new, fresh talent singers and a freak show. Hot Trash with an undercurrent of raunchy, also features two songs written by ridiculous peep show.”
(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
SCENE
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Deep dish pizza with sausage, mushrooms and basil at Amore Taste of Chicago (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
AMORE TASTE OF CHICAGO 4330 E. Sunset Road, 702-463-9163. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday- Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
THAT’S AMORE
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FOOD & DRINK Chicago dogs and fries (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
Get a big pizza pie and so much more at this Chicago-to-Vegas mainstay BY BROCK RADKE
C
hicago’s culinary contributions go far beyond deep-dish pizza, and everybody knows it. I just returned from my first trip to the Windy City in more than a year, and while I was there, I finally satiated a craving for Portillo’s, the nearly 60-year-old street food icon. I feasted on a jumbo Vienna beef hot dog with those familiar, colorful veggies and toppings, a grilled Polish sausage smothered in onions and mustard and an Italian beef sandwich with giardiniera. As soon as I returned to Vegas, I got this text from my mom: “Have you ever had Portillo’s hot dogs? Your brother sent me some for Mother’s Day. They’re from Chicago.” The photo of the Chicago dog she sent looked just as good as the one I ate days earlier. A full range of favorite Chicago foods has always been offered at Amore Taste of Chicago, a family-friendly joint that has been serving the western part of the Valley for years. Last summer, it opened a second location in Henderson in a former TGI Friday’s along Sunset Road
while temporarily closing the original Durango Drive spot for an extensive renovation. The new version of the old restaurant is expected to reopen this month with new projection screens for sports and an open, airy feel, plus an expanded menu with burgers, pastrami sandwiches and more. The Henderson location brings the same Chicago vibes, with images of the city’s skyline and landmarks like Navy Pier, plus all the obligatory sports paraphernalia. There’s a bit of Vegas sports creeping in as well, emblematic of the life of a Chicago transplant living in Las Vegas. Whether you’re rooting for the Bears or the Raiders, this will be the place to do it while sharing some of the city’s best deep-dish or stuffed pizza. Amore also serves stellar Chicago-style Vienna beef hot dogs ($5 for one or $8 for two with fries), grilled Polish sausage ($7), gyros ($7) and Italian beef sandwiches ($8), and all are among the most popular items on the menu. Amore is also known for its barbecue ribs, which started as a Wednesday special, often selling out before dinnertime. During
the pandemic, regulars began preordering Wednesday ribs for takeout, and now the restaurant serves a full rack with fries, cornbread, coleslaw and baked beans daily for $20. Whether you’re heading east or west, or plan to watch a game or reunite with friends, plan on a big meal when you hit Amore, where there are so many comfort-food favorites from which to choose. Customizable pasta dinners can be smothered in marinara, meat sauce, vodka sauce or Alfredo, and the baked penne ($15) and lasagna ($16.50) are standouts. Chicken is done seven ways in this kitchen, including Amore-style ($18)—sauteed with bell peppers, pepperoncini and olive oil and served over cottage potatoes. Thin-crust pizza is just as buttery and delicious as the more robust pies, but first you have to get past appetizers like fried cheese ravioli ($8), breaded mushrooms ($8.50) and jumbo shrimp scampi ($13). With two restaurants on opposite sides of the Valley, Amore is becoming a local institution while continuing to bring a true taste of Chicago to Vegas.
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NICE & EASY Boulder City’s new coffee shop/bookstore encourages the slow life
DAM ROAST HOUSE & BROWDER BOOKSTORE
554 Nevada Way, Boulder City, 702-803-7332. Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m.6 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
Vegan smorgas (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
BY LESLIE VENTURA
I
f I lived in Boulder City, I, too, would want to come up with an idea for a business, slap the name Dam in front of it and voila!—open up shop. The Dam Short Film Festival. The Boulder Dam Hotel. Boulder Dam Brewing. The Dam Bistro. BC Dam Tacos. And there’s a new Dam business in town making a name for itself. Enter the Dam Roast House & Browder Bookstore, an independent coffee shop co-owned by Boulder City residents Amber Stephens, Misty Magruder and Travis Wallgren. With a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, Stephens decided to incorporate her knowledge about nutrition into the menu. “Food can be good for you and taste delicious,” Stephens explains on the company website. “Our goal is to have something on our menu for everyone.” Inspired by the Swedish word fika (pronounced fee-ka), the Dam Roast House encourages guests to slow down, relax and enjoy a cup of joe and a bite while leisurely reading or catching up with friends. When it comes to the coffee, DRH uses local Colorado River Roasters beans and has a handful of specialty drinks on offer, including the Turbine ($5.25), a coffee with a shot of espresso—named after the Hoover Dam turbines that produce energy—the S’mores latte ($5.50), topped with graham cracker crumblings and
a toaster marshmallow, and the Day Dreamer ($5.25), a peaceful latte with notes of vanilla and lavender. For quick bites, DRH’s menu includes strips of uncured bacon dipped in pancake batter for an on-thego treat ($5), egg bites ($5) with bacon and cheddar or spinach, tomato and feta—plus a vegan option with Just Egg, spinach and tomato. Savory and sweet toasts are served on freshbaked bread and include choices like smashed avocado, balsamic glaze and cherry tomatoes, or avocado with strawberries and mint for a refreshing spin on snacking. And following in the Scandinavian tradition, DRH also offers an assortment of smorgas, a traditional open-faced sandwich, along with Scandi favorites like kringla cookies. Inside, Dam Roast House is a calm and modern oasis with some serious Ikea vibes, plus a little bookstore to add even more Wes Anderson-esque charm. Named after Ida Browder and her Browder Cafe—the original restaurant in which DRH now sits—the Browder Bookstore at the roast house pays homage to the businesswoman and her café, which just so happened to be Boulder City’s first restaurant. Whether you stop in for a coffee on the way to work or take time to engage in the leisurely allure of the fika, rest assured that Ida would be Dam proud.
5.20.21
CHIPPY
Every kid in the Philippines grew up eating Chippy, the Filipino version of Frito’s, which comes in a variety of flavors. (BBQ is the best.) Be warned: The smoky, salty snack is so addictive you’ll find yourself at the bottom of the bag in no time.
FIVE FINDS Filipino grocer Seafood City offers a taste of the island life BY GENEVIE DURANO
DRIED MANGOES
Among islands in the Philippines (of which there are more than 7,000), there’s much competition (and bragging rights) as to where the best mangoes are grown. Nothing compares to eating the tropical fruit the moment it’s plucked at the peak of ripeness, of course, but these dried versions give you a good idea what you’re missing.
One of the best things about Las Vegas is the sheer diversity of ethnic markets available here. Seafood City (multiple locations; seafoodcity.com) is one such example. The Asian market specializing in Filipino groceries has some of the freshest seafood you’ll find anywhere—from whole fish to shrimp, clams and mussels—along with several eateries and bakeries in-store specializing in Filipino cuisine. The store is chock-full of fun snacks, too. Here are a few to check out.
KOPIKO 3-IN-1
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FOOD & DRINK
ST. MICHAEL’S SALT AND VINEGAR CHICHARONS
Though the Philippines comprises a series of islands, the most popular protein there is pork, not fish, and one of its most beloved snacks are pork rinds (chicharons). At street markets in the island nation, you’ll find stalls selling freshly made versions, hot off the fryer. This bagged version makes for a salty, umami-laden snack that’s hard to resist.
LUCKY ME INSTANT NOODLES
You’re probably familiar with Japanese Cup o’ Noodles, but there’s a whole other world of noodles that can be found here, in distinctly Filipino flavors like Batchoy and Bulalo (beef flavors), as well as chicken-flavor varieties like Mami. The Lucky Me brand is as portable as its ramen counterpart; just add hot water and wait three minutes for a quick, satisfying meal.
Visit any Filipino household and you’ll likely see 3-in-1 in the cupboard. The instant coffee pack is a staple, mostly for its ease of use. Just throw the coffee, cream and sugar combo into hot water and you’ll have a hot beverage in no time. Slip a few packets in your bag when traveling or camping for an instant caffeine jolt.
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SPORTS
Another Oakland pro sports franchise might be eyeing Las Vegas as its future home
LAS VEGAS A’S BY CASE KEEFER
On May 11, the Oakland Athletics announced that they would begin exploring other markets at the instruction of Major League Baseball as a result of a long-stalled new stadium project. Las Vegas immediately emerged as the most likely landing spot, topping the relocation odds over Nashville and Portland at DraftKings sportsbooks. These things take time, of course, so nothing is imminent, but the mere possibility translates into lots of speculation about how Major League Baseball might work locally. Here are six of the most pressing questions, and how they could be answered.
1. IS THIS FOR REAL? It’s far from a guarantee that the A’s will relocate at all, but if they do, Las Vegas is the favorite for a reason. The probability of the A’s coming here seems better than when previous teams flirted with the idea of relocating to the Valley, from the Montreal Expos 20 years ago to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019. There’s already precedent for a team leaving Oakland for Las Vegas due to a new-stadium dispute, in the form of the Raiders, so this really could happen.
2. WHERE WOULD THEY PLAY? Four locations are dominating the early, speculative conversation: Downtown; in Henderson near the Raiders’ headquarters; near the Strip (specifically where the Rio now sits); and Downtown Summerlin in an expansion of Las Vegas Ballpark. Throw out the Las Vegas Ballpark option—the 10,000-seat venue is neither big enough nor built with the possibility to grow. The Rio site is the long-running rumor that won’t go away, though Caesars Entertainment recently sold the resort to Imperial Companies real estate investment firm. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and her husband, who preceded her in the position, have openly expressed their desire to bring a Major League Baseball team Downtown for years. Henderson, which was a front-runner when the Diamondbacks were linked to the Las Vegas Valley, could also emerge as a strong option to lure the A’s.
3. WHO WOULD PAY FOR A NEW STADIUM? It’s uncertain whether public financing would be used for the stadium, but also unlikely that it would balloon into a sum like the $750 million the Raiders raised to build Allegiant Stadium, which cost roughly $2 billion overall. The plan for a new venue in Oakland called for a $1 billion privately funded stadium. The Athletics’ gripe with Oakland isn’t about an inability to secure funds, but rather over the city’s reluctance to greenlight a stadium in the team’s preferred location. It would seem Las Vegas or Henderson would be more amenable to meeting the franchise’s specific wants.
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(NHLI via Getty Images)
5.20.21
n PLAYER OF THE WEEKLY SEASON CHAMP: MARK STONE The Golden Knights’ captain was the best player on the ice for Vegas this season, leading the team in assists (40) and points (61) and finishing second in goals (21). Prorated over a non-pandemic 82-game season, those assist and points numbers would have set career-highs, with goals not far behind. Stone was also terrific defensively, and will surely garner consideration for the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward. Accordingly, he dominated the Weekly’s Player of the Week standings all year, ultimately finishing more than 10 points clear of the rest of the field. Congratulations, Captain Stone.
The Oakland Athletics (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)
4. COULD WE SUPPORT IT?
5. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE AVIATORS?
Major League Baseball has made no secret of its interest in having a team in Las Vegas, and that might be all that matters here. This same question persisted for the Golden Knights and Raiders, and now looks trivial in hindsight. The Golden Knights have sold out every game for four years, and though the Raiders haven’t been permitted to host fans yet due to the pandemic, their tickets are among the most in-demand in the NFL. Baseball is a far different beast, however, with 81 home games on each team’s annual schedule, predominantly during the summer months. The desert heat means the A’s would almost certainly desire a retractable-roof or domed stadium, which could add to the aforementioned $1 billion price tag.
A Major League team coming to town would almost certainly spell the end for Las Vegas’ longtime Minor League franchise. Major League Baseball’s “Rule 52” states that a club relocating within 15 miles of an existing franchise can either acquire the territorial rights by compensating the Minor League team or consent for them to continue. The former has typically been the case lately—during the past 30 years, the Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks all forced out minor league teams when they arrived on the scene. The thought is that there’s not enough sponsorship money or ticket sales to support two franchises—even in bigger markets.
6. WOULD IT BE BETTER TO WAIT FOR AN EXPANSION TEAM? After the success of the Golden Knights, this has been a common refrain among locals any time an MLB or NBA team threatens relocation to Las Vegas. There are advantages, to be sure, in getting a team from its inception and therefore crafting its identity instead of inheriting one. An expansion franchise might be preferable to landing mediocre clubs, but the A’s aren’t mediocre. They’ve carved out a niche as one of the smartest organizations in baseball and are consistently successful, having made the postseason for three straight years and in six of the past 10 seasons. In the A’s, Las Vegas would be getting a competitive team right away. Bring them on.
Report FINAL SEASON STANDINGS 1. Mark Stone (44 points) 2. Max Pacioretty (30) 3. Jonathan Marchessault (25) 4. Marc-André Fleury (24) 5. Alex Tuch (21) 5 points for 1st place in a week, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th, 1 for 5th. THIS WEEK’S VOTE 1. Alex Pietrangelo 2. William Carrier 3. Nicolas Hague 4. Dylan Sikura 5. Alex Tuch As voted by Las Vegas Weekly’s panel, based on games played May 10-12. STANLEY CUP ODDS: 5-TO-1 at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook PROSPECT WATCH: DANNY O’REGAN The 27-year-old forward led the Silver Knights in goals (15) and points (36) at press time, helping Henderson claim the top seed in the Pacific Division playoffs.
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Housing market expected to remain hot through end of the year, at least
A
BY BRYAN HORWATH s the real estate agent walked the first floor of the three-bedroom home in Henderson, he pondered the events of the past year, which have led to an ultratight Las Vegas Valley housing market. “It’s insane,” said Aldo Martinez, president of the Las Vegas Realtors trade organization and an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “By all indications, we don’t see things slowing down until at least the end of the year.” The home, on the far south side of the Valley near Henderson’s Sunridge Park, was purchased recently by a California buyer for just under $380,000. About six months ago, Martinez said, it would have likely sold for a price much closer to $340,000. It was recently listed on Zillow for $360,000. Welcome to the 2021 Las Vegas housing market. “The lack of inventory right now is driving prices up,” Martinez said. “Prices are moving by leaps and bounds. That’s the scary thing. The last time we saw property values rising by double digits like this yearover-year was in 2011 and 2012. Today, houses are on the market for three or four days, or less.” Partly because of the pandemic, some homeowners who likely would have sold instead stood in place last year and early in 2021, helping lead to a lack of inventory in Southern Nevada, which had a tightening supply of existing homes even before COVID-19 hit. According to Las Vegas Realtors, there’s now less than a one-month supply of homes on the market. A balanced market is generally seen as being in the sixmonth range. With interest rates low—for the last week in April, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., the average rate for a fixed 30-year mortgage came in at 2.98%—consumers are borrowing, understanding that money won’t always be this cheap. For April, according to the Realtors trade group, the
median sale price of an existing home in Southern Nevada settled at $375,000, an all-time high. The figure represented a 21% increase from April 2020. A total of 3,528 single-family homes were sold in the Las Vegas area in April, a jump of 79% from the same month in 2020. A whopping 89% of all homes sold in April were on the market for 60 days or less, an increase of 7% from April of last year. “Buyers’ agents are having to get on the phone and call homeowners in areas where buyers want to be to see who might be looking to sell,” Martinez said. “Sometimes it’s hard getting people to believe there are
buyers for them. They sometimes think it’s a gimmick, but there are more buyers than we have inventory.” In Nevada, according to home services marketplace Porch Group, the typical price for a 2,000-square-foot home is now more than $403,000, about $60,000 higher than the national average. Out of 40 states studied by Porch Group, Nevada’s existing homes are the 13th-most expensive. The elephant in the room when it comes to the Las Vegas housing market, according to Vivek Sah, director of UNLV’s Lied Center for Real Estate, is that some homeowners still have their mortgages frozen in forbearance periods. Mortgage forbearance, which temporarily removes a borrower’s obligation to pay a monthly mortgage because of a financial hardship, peaked in May 2020 with over 4 million U.S. mortgages—about 8% of all outstanding mortgages at the time—falling into the category, according to Freddie Mac statistics. “If mortgage forbearances continue to be extended, that will be an important factor,” Sah said. “More and more hiring is happening in our core sector here, which is hospitality. I would say the market will remain strong at least until the end of this year, when we might start to see some pressure on inflation.” For now, said Henderson agent Brian Frias of Realty One Group, multiple offers on most Valley homes priced up to $400,000—and beyond—is a reality. “That’s almost guaranteed,” Frias said. “The seller has the leverage. You could see the price go up $10,000 or $20,000 from the asking price. It all depends on the home.”
Realtor Aldo Martinez at a house he recently sold (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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VegasInc Giving Notes Touro University Nevada received a $3 million endowment gift from Qatar. The gift, known as the Qatar Patient Care Fund, will support and expand Touro’s Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities through 2027 and is being facilitated by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, D.C. The Las Vegas Rescue Mission received a $38,000 donation from Cox Charities, the philanthropic arm of Cox Las Vegas. The nonprofit will use the donation, generated by Cox employee participation in a virtual 5k, to help furnish its newly refurbished Shelter of Hope. Grant Frailich, a Las Vegas teacher, founded The Pride Tree to create safe environments where LGBTQ+ youth and allies can explore their own identity. The organization is hosting its first 30 Days of Pride with several events throughout June. Register for events at thepridetreelv.com. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s fourth annual Students of the Year campaign exceeded expectations, with 17 candidate teams, comprising 24 high school students, raising $431,380.83 to help find cancer cures. Team Cure-Sad-
ers, led by Caroline Edgeworth and Maddie Eberwein from Bishop Gorman High School, were named Students of the Year, with more than $170,000 raised. Team Answer For Cancer, led by Ari deLeon of Adelson Educational Campus and Macy Litt of the Meadows School raised more than $55,000 and was named first runner-up. Second runner-up was Team Kids Crushing Cancer, led by Megan Dwyer from Elko High School. Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada celebrated its 80th year of serving the Las Vegas Valley. Through the generosity of foundations, grants, organizations and individual donors, Catholic Charities operates 16 programs providing support to more than 4,200 people daily and encompassing four core areas: family services, food services, immigration and refugee services, and homeless and housing services. Children’s Heart Foundation will host its 18th annual Walk with the Heart of a Child in-person on May 22 at Craig Ranch Regional Park, giving walkers a true outdoor space to lace up their sneakers, socially distance and get those steps in to support the 1 in 100
(or 40,000) children in the United States who are born with a congenital heart defect each year. Online registration is available at chfn.org/walk. The Baller Dream Foundation, in partnership with Blue Heron, and presenting sponsor Kamran Zand of Luxury Estates International, will honor two local “Ballers,” 6-year-old Makenna Lai and 16-year-old Tanner Levi Greer, who are being treated for cancer, on May 27. An evening mixer and fundraiser will be held in a new Blue Heron show homes. Details and tickets are available at ballerdream.org/lasvegas. GOLO, a wellness solutions company, donated $20,000 to support local health and wellness initiatives, including $10,000 each to the Special Olympics Nevada and Three Square Food Bank. The funding reflects the company’s commitment to supporting community-based health and wellness initiatives throughout the United States. The Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, a vehicle for corporate and philanthropic partners to support programs that improve quality of life for Las Vegas residents, received a $10,000 donation from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to fund new scoreboards at Doolittle Field. The fund also received $40,000 from the Howard Hughes Corporation to fund the completion and installation of two iconic community sculp-
tures at West Las Vegas Arts Center. In addition, the fund received three donations totaling $20,000 from three local companies. An unrestricted gift of $10,000 was received from the Molasky Group of Companies. A gift of $5,000 was received from AT&T to support the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center. And a grant of $5,000 was received from Toyota Financial Savings Bank and Toyota Financial Services to support the Strong Start GO! Mobile Pre-K. Walker Furniture resumed its Project Firehouse: Rested & Ready program with the delivery of a mattress to Firehouse 21. This delivery, delayed due to the pandemic, marks the 15th, which is the halfway mark to all 30 Clark County firehouses. Jersey Mike’s Subs donated $77,000 to Special Olympics Nevada. As part of the restaurant chain’s annual Month of Giving campaign, 12 Jersey Mike’s locations donated 100% of sales, not just profits, to SONV. Hearts Alive Village animal rescue reached a major milestone with 5,000 animals saved since it opened its doors eight years ago. The rescue will celebrate with a socially distanced event at its Adoption Center and Pet Supply Store on June 13, and will work to raise $50,000 to continue its lifesaving work.
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