2021-08-12- Las Vegas Weekly by Greenspun Media Group

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PANDEMIC OR NOT, STUDENTS HAVE GONE BACK TO SCHOOL IN SOUTHERN NEVADA When school bells rang August 9 across the Clark County School District, students returned with the coronavirus pandemic again raging. Students, teachers and staff were required to wear face masks. Social distancing protocols were in place, making scheduling activities like lunch a slight challenge for officials. Logistical challenges aside, the majority of the district’s roughly 315,000 students and 40,000 employees were to be back in-person—full-time, five days a week. “Students want to see their friends again,” said Anthony Nunez, principal of Orr Middle School in Las Vegas. “Students want to learn and make sure that they’re continuing to grow and develop.” After a year and a half of distance learning and some hybrid schedules that saw students spending some days on campus and some days logging into classes from home, educators are aware of the challenges of shaking the rust off kids’ social and emotional capabilities and making up for lost time academically. The first challenge is keeping children safe from COVID-19, which was the cause of about 1,100 hospitalizations statewide the week before the school year started, or more than the peak last summer before the vaccine was available and state officials shelved in-person learning out of safety concerns. The 2020-21 school year, when most students attended school remotely for all but the last few weeks, was the hardest ever for educators, CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara said at his annual back-toschool address. –Hillary Davis

WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD News you should know about

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IN THIS ISSUE

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Cover story: Restaurateur extraordinaire Elizabeth Blau Screen: A pair of indie film houses are coming to town Food & Drink: Breakfast tacos and vegan dim sum Sports: College football futures to consider now Vegas Inc: A small business report from area barbershops

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STORIES FROM LAST WEEK TROOPS MUST BE VACCINATED The Pentagon will require members of the U.S. military to get the COVID-19 vaccine by September 15, according to a memo obtained by the Associated Press. That deadline could be pushed up if the vaccine receives final FDA approval or infection rates continue to rise.

FRANCE’S VIRUS PASS France took a big step into a post-pandemic future August 9 by requiring citizens and tourists to show a QR code proving they have a special virus pass before they can enjoy restaurants and cafés or travel across the country. The pass is issued to people who are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have proof of a recent recovery from the virus or who have a recent negative test.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom walks over debris at the Greenville Post Office, which was destroyed August 7 by the Dixie Fire in Plumas County, California. The Dixie Fire, named for the road where it started in early July, grew to an area of 765 square miles by August 8 and was just 21% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It had scorched an area more than twice the size of New York City. The blaze became the largest single fire in California’s recorded history, surpassing last year’s Creek Fire in the the state’s central valley agricultural region. (Noah Berger/Associated Press)

CANADA OPENS ITS DOORS On August 9, Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit. U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days to get across one of the world’s longest and busiest land borders.

10.1 MILLION JOB OPENINGS

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, left, and starting quarterback Derek Carr look on as the team practices August 8 at Allegiant Stadium, where fans with personal seat licenses were permitted to observe a session of training camp. The Raiders’ first preseason game with fans will be played August 14 against the Seattle Seahawks. (Matt Aguirre/Las Vegas Raiders)

U.S. employers posted a record 10.1 million job openings in June, another sign that the job market and economy are bouncing back briskly from last year’s coronavirus shutdowns. Job openings rose from 9.5 million in May, the Labor Department reported August 9. Employers hired 6.7 million workers in June.

$3.5 TRILLION PACKAGE Senate Democrats unveiled a budget resolution August 9 that maps $3.5 trillion in spending boosts and tax breaks aimed at strengthening social and environmental programs, setting up an autumn battle over President Joe Biden’s domestic policy ambitions.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS COACH ADDED TO TEAM CANADA Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer will serve as an assistant coach for Team Canada’s men’s hockey team at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, Hockey Canada announced August 9. DeBoer, a Dunnville, Ontario native, will work under head coach Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning) and alongside fellow assistants Bruce Cassidy (Boston Bruins) and Barry Trotz (New York Islanders). This will be DeBoer’s first stint as an Olympic coach, but he has represented Canada on the world’s stage numerous times. He was on the coaching staff for Canada’s 2015 World Championship gold medal, as well as in 2014 and 2010. He also helped coach the 2005 World Junior Championship squad that won gold. DeBoer could be taking a few Vegas players with him to Beijing. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was on the 2014 team in Sochi, and Mark Stone and Shea Theodore are considered strong possibilities for this year’s team. It’s also possible former goalie Marc-André Fleury, traded to Chicago this offseason, will suit up for Canada. –Justin Emerson

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

TANNING TIPS How to bronze your skin without damaging it

People with darker skin can’t get sun damage. Skin tones that are naturally darker might be less susceptible to damage from the sun, but they aren’t immune, according to the Mayo Clinic. Possible damage can include uneven pigmentation, wrinkles and melasma (dark patches on the face). And yes, even skin cancer.

BY C. MOON REED

as Vegas gets about 300 days of sunshine a year, so there’s no shortage of opportunities to tan. But just because you can tan doesn’t mean you should tan. Unfortunately, that golden gleam is your body’s protective response to skin damage. “Any change in skin color from tanning is a sign of damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation,” Dr. Lawrence E. Gibson, a dermatology professor at Mayo Medical School, writes on the Mayo Clinic’s website. “Repeated exposure to UV radiation—whether from the sun or a tanning bed—increases your risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer.” Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that tanned skin has a certain allure. “Tanning is kind of like airbrush makeup for your body,” says Kari Comrov, founder and CEO of luxury airbrush tanning salon Summer House. So how does one get that perfected look without risking skin damage? The safest way to get that bronze glow is through sunless tanning sprays, creams, lotions or mousses. You can DIY with a drug store tanning cream or you can opt for the luxury experience a la Summer House. Just stay out of the actual sun.

TANNING MYTHS

A “base tan” can prevent a sunburn. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says you can still burn, even if you have a base tan. The best way to protect your skin is through sunscreen and by wearing a hat.

Tanning without burning is safe. Certainly, a sunburn is worse than a suntan. But any amount of tanning is a sign of DNA damage to the skin, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Tanning improves your appearance. Consider long-term costs versus shortterm benefits. A tan might glow for a few days, but tanning will make your skin age more quickly, giving you wrinkles, age spots, loss of firmness and even leathery skin, according to the AAD. Tanning also makes stretch marks look more prominent. (Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

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(Michael Spain Smith/Courtesy)

PREVENTING SKIN CANCER Too much sun exposure can cause DNA damage to your skin, which in turn can cause skin cancer. The best way to prevent the harmful effects of our nearest star is to protect yourself from the sun. The American Academy of Dermatology offers these tips:

 Stay in the shade during the hottest hours of the day.

Wear sunscreen and protective clothing.  Watch out for the sun-doubling, reflective effects of water, snow and sand. Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds are a safe alternative to sunlight. “Tanning beds are just as, if not more, harmful than the sun,” says Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Jennifer Lucas. “And there is no such thing as a safe tan.” Even scarier, the AAD says that one indoor tanning session can increase the risk of skin cancer.

Tanning is a healthy way to get vitamin D. The best way to get more vitamin D is through supplements or food. According to skincancer.org, tanning is caused by UVA radiation, while vitamin D production is caused by UVB radiation.

DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN’S SUMMER HOUSE BRINGS LUXURY TO AIRBRUSH TANNING Health and beauty executive Kari Comrov has always loved spa treatments. They gave the busy mother time to relax, get pampered and come out looking her best. But she had one exception: spray tanning. “I found myself dreading the process—it wasn’t luxurious; it wasn’t pampering me. In fact, it was quite arduous. I was taking my own makeup off and putting my own barrier cream on,” Comrov recalls. “I thought, why hasn’t somebody updated this service in the 20-plus years that it’s been around?” That was the beginning of her idea for luxury airbrush tanning salon Summer House, which opened in May. “I was excited to find what I call ‘the final frontier of beauty.’ ” Summer House offers a personalized airbrush tan with custom color blends and skin treatments. Upon arrival, guests pick a playlist and participate in a color consultation to find their perfect tone. The rest is done for them. “You don’t do a thing when you come to Summer House except show up and relax,” Comrov says. “We really took it to the next level with our relaxation lounge, our full facial cleanser, hand and foot massage, and then, of course, the highest-quality products and colors to make sure everything is safe.”

Comrov says sunless tanning has really evolved. It’s no longer the streaky mess that turned your parents’ skin orange. “When it comes to the color, people can’t believe how natural-looking it is,” Comrov says. Summer House has a variety of colors available: cool tones, warm tones and brown tones. “We can blend them based on their hair color, their skin, their eyes,” Comrov says. “It’s just so advanced, and the look is so natural, like they sat in the sun.” With an airbrush tan, it’s possible to go above and beyond a flat color. Summer House’s “airbrush artists” contour the abs and legs. They can also add more tan in the places where the sun would naturally hit your skin. So why hasn’t anyone else tried an upscale tanning salon? Comrov gets that question all the time. “It’s rare when you get to 2021 and somebody hasn’t thought of an idea yet,” says Comrov, who has big plans for Summer House’s eventual expansion. “But it still happens, and I’m just so proud to be the one to bring it to market.” Downtown Summerlin, 1875 Festival Plaza Drive #230, 702-277-2422, summerhousetan.com. Daily, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

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FORGING SUCCESS Elizabeth Blau at Honey Salt | Photograph Wade Vandervort/Staff | Hair Carl Hoffman | Makeup Reanna Saddoris

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Elizabeth Blau has helped shape Las Vegas’ culinary scene— and guide it through dark times BY BROCK RADKE

e’ve all had those days, too many of them now, when we don’t know how to keep going. How to get out of bed. How to put one foot in front of the other. How to make it all work. Some days you just need to see it done first, then you can pull it together and

maybe just take a step. ¶ There are different kinds of leaders. Some rely on their experience or their talent, while others are just incredibly agile, charismatic or diligent. An extraordinary leader has all those traits. But in our current times, a much more intuitive, deeply rooted leadership is required. Most days we need to see it done first. Show us the way out or the way in. That’s the first step. “For me, the pandemic was so crazy because we had just launched the Women’s Hospitality Initiative and we had this tremendous momentum behind this idea,” says Elizabeth Blau. “What better city than Las Vegas to use as a model, trying to really do something in a different manner and create change and get companies to work together.” One of the hospitality industry’s extraordinary leaders, Blau teamed with other leading chefs, restaurateurs and executives to organize the WHI and craft its mission statement: to accelerate the development and advancement of women leaders in the restaurant industry. The Las Vegas-based program boasts an impressive collection of founding board members along with a strategic advisory board, plus big goals to expand nationally with educational curriculum, mentorship and advocacy programs. “We just had this event with all these community leaders and so much support, and then literally the world shut down and so it wasn’t a matter of women in the industry. It became a matter of, we need to save our industry,” she says. “There was all this [work] with the National Restaurant Association and the new

Independent Restaurant Coalition, and it just became so apparent that while the government and the states’ intent was to help, there was no clear understanding.” While Blau figured out how to keep her own businesses—popular Las Vegas restaurants Honey Salt, near Summerlin, and Buddy V’s at the Venetian—running through the shutdowns and changing restrictions and continuing to provide assistance to the many different projects and clients associated with Blau and Associates, she stepped up as one of the local community’s most prominent lobbyists, helping to connect restaurant operators with resources and options in the fight for survival. “Even when help came, it was so complicated,” she says. “We started this Facebook page [called] Save Our Local Restaurants; it’s changed now, but back then we were just trying to post anything that could help. “It was so devastating to get these Instagram or Facebook messages from people who had sandwich shops or little cafés asking me for help. You needed a battery of lawyers and accountants to be able to figure out which loan to take. Is this one forgivable? Am I just getting

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myself more in debt? Or is this really a lifeline? So many haven’t been able to take advantage of tax credits, so many have shut their doors forever, and so many people have left our industry.” Plenty of local restaurant owners, including Blau, haven’t received leniency or assistance from landlords, yet another complication of the pandemic. Some vendors have been more helpful, she says, but overall the strongest support for restaurants has come from loyal customers and other operators. Most major restaurant cities across the country have seen the demise of some of their dining institutions. Las Vegas seems to have weathered this particular pandemic effect better than most, but the restaurant industry here has certainly been beaten down and continues to struggle. “Maybe it ties into the whole Vegas Strong [idea],” Blau says. “I think people supported us but also trusted us, because they know we are going to follow precautions and stay safe. We adhere to all those rules because we have not only a responsibility to our customers but also a responsibility to our team.” * * * * * “I think Elizabeth Blau is a national treasure, and we’re lucky that she lives in Las Vegas,” Elaine Wynn says. “She came here at the moment when the city was ripe for a turn in the direction she took it. It’s her sophistication, her exposure, her taste level, her energy and her passion. She is, more than any person in the city, I think, single-handedly responsible for the culinary upheaval in Las Vegas.” Few people have had the opportunity to watch Blau work in such close proximity as Wynn, co-founder of Wynn Resorts. That company’s landmark Bellagio resort, opened in 1998, is widely recognized as the Las Vegas casino project that created the blueprint for the city’s fine-dining future on and off the Strip, setting a new standard of luxurious and diverse cuisine for hotels around the world. “She hand-picked those original chefs one by one. I remember going to dinner with these guys and how she’d advocate for them, and we didn’t know who half of them were,” Wynn says. “Some were James Beard

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Award winners, but some were much more esoteric. She just had her finger on the pulse and knew it was the exact right time for this city to do it.” Blau’s first connection to Steve and Elaine Wynn came through a collegiate friendship with Gillian Wynn, the younger of their two daughters. When Blau was studying at Cornell University’s prestigious School of Hotel Administration, Steve Wynn spoke at its Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series. During a school trip to New York City, Blau was spontaneously invited to the birthday party of Sirio Maccioni, the legendary restaurateur who founded Le Cirque, launched the careers of many great chefs and left an immeasurable impact on global fine dining and hospitality culture. She worked for Maccioni while finishing graduate school until Las Vegas came calling, then connected the dots between Le Cirque and the developing Bellagio. Maccioni’s restaurants became the foundation for that game-changing food and beverage portfolio. It’s been said that Bellagio put Blau on the map, but it was the other way around. “Even though she had graduated from Cornell and [the restaurant industry] was her focus, all the graduates don’t get launched like a rocket ship with such an impressive restaurateur like Sirio Maccioni. That’s hitching your star to quite a wagon,” Wynn says. “And she had the chops to hold her own. I don’t think we thought of her as an exception in the bigger picture. She was someone passionate with a sparkling future ahead of her.” Maccioni died in his hometown in Tuscany in April 2020. The painful loss wasn’t the only one for Blau and her circle

Blau at Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas (Bill Milne/ Courtesy) Hair Carl Hoffman Makeup Reanna Saddoris

We have a responsibility to our customers [and] to our team.”

of partners and collaborators during the pandemic year. “Sirio was such a huge influence on my career and life and passion for the industry, and it was really tough not only losing a lot of very close friends but not really getting a sense of closure, the normal process of being able to have funerals and celebrations of life and telling stories with friends,” Blau says. Last year was also painful for Blau physically. In July, she was hit by a car while bicycling on Cape Cod, crushing her leg. There’s an eight-inch plate and several screws in that leg now, but she’s back on her feet, continuing to help the food and beverage industry do the same. * * * * * As complicated challenges sprung up during the pandemic, Blau and her network continued to create solutions. “During the darkest days of the pandemic, Elizabeth was constantly in touch with us about ways to help the industry,” says Robert Cauthorn, CEO of Las Vegas Weekly’s parent company, Greenspun Media Group. “What impressed me was that for someone synonymous with fine dining, she was fighting for everyone in the industry, from the person busing tables in a corner taco joint all the way to the most elegant restaurants in the city. “I know for a fact that she was pressing our congressional delegation on the big picture of how vital restaurants are to our economy,” Cauthorn continues. “She would stress how restaurants are incubators for talent in many fields, the entry point for ethnic populations to own businesses, the first job for countless people. When the restaurant community needed a hero, Elizabeth Blau was seemingly everywhere, protecting everyone she could.” In the early days when the coronavirus was just beginning to impact Las Vegas, Clark County Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick wondered how the most at-risk residents, seniors and other disadvantaged individuals and families, would be able to get food and supplies when it was no longer safe to leave their homes. Moonridge Group CEO Julie Murray and Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation executive director Punam Mathur answered the call with an idea to assemble healthy meals and take them straight to those homes, and they called upon Blau to make it happen.

Delivering With Dignity was born, a program that has delivered more than 413,000 restaurant meals to vulnerable Las Vegans through early July. “They realized there was going to be a crisis for those who are at risk for hunger and have food insecurity issues, because community centers, senior centers and schools were all closing,” Blau says. “Everything had to pivot. There were supply chain issues because the whole city was shutting down.” DWD started with Honey Salt chefs packaging meals for volunteers to deliver, and then other local restaurants and more private and corporate donors joined the effort. The program helped feed the community and kept dozens of restaurant workers employed in a time when they were required to stay closed for dine-in or were permitted only to operate at limited capacity. “The logistics that went into it were complex, because you have to make sure you’re identifying people who really need help; these are situations where people take advantage,” Blau says. “Now we work with 40 nonprofits that identify these people at risk. If you didn’t have all these strategic partnerships, your idea to do good could go nowhere.” Wynn has long been one of Southern Nevada’s most prominent philanthropists, and her support has been essential in launching both Delivering With Dignity and the Women’s Hospitality Initiative. She’s a firm believer that many problems can be solved at the local level when business and community leaders collaborate with the mission of taking care of workers and families. “Elizabeth is such a collaborative spirit and she knows how to appeal to all the kinds of people that would partner in these efforts,” Wynn says. * * * * * After Bellagio, Blau continued with Wynn Resorts, helping create the dining lineups at Wynn and Encore. When Encore arrived in 2008, one of its top restaurants was Society Cafe, led by chef Kim Canteenwalla, Blau’s husband and

Blau with her husband, Kim Canteenwalla (Courtesy)

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It’s just so great working with someone who gives you everything they have.” founding partner in Blau & Associates. The couple has a son, Cole, and the family has worked together on the menu at Honey Salt and the homey Honey Salt cookbook released in 2018. Even with all the challenges of the pandemic, Blau recently returned to Wynn to work as a consultant in food and beverage, strategizing behind the scenes on multiple projects including the splashy opening of Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas and the upcoming opening of Casa Playa in the former Elio space near Encore Beach Club. “She has had her hands in every aspect of food and beverage and helped shape the culture of who we are today,” says Alaina Nieves, who has been with Wynn Resorts for more than 15 years and recently stepped into the role of vice president of food and beverage. “She shaped that foundation but has also done her own entrepreneurial ventures, has her own restaurants and has done consulting for different groups globally. Working with her has been a huge opportunity.” Delilah, a collaboration with the LAbased h.wood Group that opened last month, isn’t just a glamorous restaurant with delicious food and live entertainment. Dramatically designed by Wynn Design and Development President and Chief Creative Officer Todd-Avery Lenahan, it’s an only-in-Vegas project that’s already moving the needle. “Delilah is an amazing supper club in LA and Todd has brought it to a new level at Wynn,” Blau says of her longtime friend and design mentor. “He’s truly a visionary, and I think restaurants have become theater and entertainment as much as they are about dining and service. To have a partner like this is truly a unique opportunity. “I think it’s arguably the most beautiful restaurant in America. It is stunning.” Sarah Thompson came to Las Vegas to serve as executive chef at Encore’s stylish Mexican restaurant Elio, originally set to

open on March 17, 2020. The pandemic obviously decimated those plans. The new plan is Casa Playa, a similar but enhanced concept set to arrive in mid-September. The original partners have gone their separate ways and the Wynn team has assumed operations, but Thompson is staying on to guide the kitchen. “I moved out here to advance my career and open this restaurant, and I feel like it would have been selling myself short if I didn’t continue,” she says. “I came here to make an impact and have the opportunity to do things you really don’t see anywhere else. Las Vegas is very different from what I’m used to, but it has grown on me a lot in the last year and a half.” Unsurprisingly, Blau’s presence is a big reason why Thompson is sticking around— and why the project is coming back to life. “I’ve never met anyone who has such a strong work ethic, is so decisive and knows what she wants to do and is so supportive at the same time,” says Thompson, who has also been involved with the Women’s Hospitality Initiative since its inception. “She’s the whole bundle, and she’s been nothing but encouraging and supportive. It’s just so great working with someone who gives you everything they have.” * * * * * This has probably been the most difficult time in modern history for Las Vegas and for the hospitality industry. But the past 17 months have also been filled with examples and opportunities, instances of looking around at our extraordinary leaders, watching them read the terrain and finding ways to keep going. That’s the past. The future, for Blau, will be about picking up the pieces of many different projects and pushing forward, in Las Vegas and beyond. The Women’s Hospitality Initiative will continue to have a significant impact on that front.

“One thing I’m incredibly proud of is that we were able to continue with the launch of our education platform,” she says. “We created a class called From the Classroom to the Boardroom: Leadership for Women in Hospitality—it’s the first leadership course for the industry. It was launched with UNLV and the Culinary Institute of America and they co-taught the class online.” That happened in the fall, and in the spring of this year the course was launched at Florida International University. This fall, it will be available at San Diego State partnering with UNLV and the CIA is expected to bring in another partner this year as well. The WHI focus on education at the high school and college level is crucial, Blau says, because it’s time to move beyond the theory of the glass ceiling. “Sheryl Sandberg and her foundation did a study that identified a new phenomenon called the broken rung,” she says. “It showed that the issue is not isolated to the glass ceiling. Men and women are entering the workforce in equal numbers over the last decade, but women are falling behind at their first management job. It’s like a race and you may never get to the finish line. “So if we could start there, focus on education and target women entering the industry and create mentoring programs, that’s such a powerful message. We’re super-excited about being able to carry that through.” It’s an entirely different and very important way Las Vegas can influence the global hospitality industry. But clearly, it wouldn’t be the first time Blau played a role in doing exactly that. Simply put, no one else has accomplished what she has. “I’m totally spoiled now. I can’t go to any city and have the consistently fantastic meals you can get in Las Vegas, especially in this radius of a few miles [of the Strip] which is literally a smorgasbord of the best offerings,” Wynn says. “It’s great, because people come through Las Vegas from everywhere because of our infrastructure. Millions of people are exposed to whatever dining is here, and they go home and rave about Las Vegas and how great the food is. And that is Elizabeth Blau.”

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Blau with Todd-Avery Lenahan at Delilah (Bill Milne/Courtesy) Hair Carl Hoffman | Makeup Reanna Saddoris

The Women’s Hospitality Initiative crew (Courtesy)

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

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BLAU ON VEGAS Nobody knows the Las Vegas dining landscape like Elizabeth Blau, and we’re not just talking about upscale restaurants in big fancy casinos. To know her is to bump into her when you’re trying out the hottest new eatery in the Valley, whether it’s a suburban treasure, a Chinatown discovery or a glamorous supper club Blau helped mastermind. So after all this time building and eating Las Vegas, what does she love about this unique food city? “I love that there are still things pushing the envelope,” Blau says. “I love what [Cosmopolitan President and CEO] Bill McBeath and [A Perfect Bite founder and consultant] Oliver Wharton did with the Block 16 Urban Food Hall. Food halls were happening around the country, but reinventing it that way—being able to curate all these great brands and having Cosmo operating them but still keeping true to their concepts—is so great. And what’s been done at Resorts World with [Famous Food Street Eats] is like that on steroids, to be able to bring that extra level of authenticity.”

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GETTING GROUNDED

Ashanti McGee (Steve Marcus/Staff)

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

THE WEEKLY Q&A Artist, gallerist, arts advocate, parent and aspiring geologist Ashanti McGee digs deep into the things she loves BY GEOFF CARTER

t’s kind of difficult to succinctly describe Ashanti McGee. On one level, it’s not hard at all: She’s a painter, and a sublimely gifted one. (She’s also versed in drawing, illustration and sculpture.) Her piece for the 2019 Block 17 show at UNLV’s Donna Beam Gallery, “Neon as Oshun,” took an inherently kitschy medium, the black velvet painting, to an unexpectedly spiritual place with its luminous depiction of a Yoruba water goddess. It’s the kind of work that, once you’ve seen it, lives rent-free in your dreams. Now, here’s where the CV deepens. McGee has a discerning eye for other artists’ work: She’s a co-owner, with husband Brent Holmes, of Mesa Gallery (instagram. com/gallerymesa), and recently curated A Common Thread, a group show featuring textile art by nine women artists of color, at the Barrick Museum. She’s the grants and access manager for the Western States Art Federation (WESTAF); is a Jameson Fellow with Compassionate Las Vegas, focused on education, health and other social issues; serves on the board of the Cultural Alliance of Nevada; formerly served as a District Representative for Las Vegas at the U.S. House of Representatives; and is a fiercely proud mother of four. “I really enjoy pushing myself,” McGee says, adding with a chuckle, “and that’s probably something unhealthy that I need to address.”

Where are you from? I was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, at the actual Tuskegee Institute. I think, because of that, I have a science-and-art mind. My dad went to school there for African American Studies and he also dabbled in some art, and my mom went there for Animal Science. That probably explains a lot about my approach to things. What was your first artistic medium? Goodness, it was anything and everything. When I was a kid I pretty much did whatever. I was trained at LVA for oil painting and printmaking; those are the two that I was really interested in. Now I’m getting more into sculptural and mixed media work. And textiles. How did A Common Thread come to be? My family’s extremely matriarchal. … My grandmother worked at a Lutheran church in Washington, D.C., that made all different kinds of embroidered items; she made these embroidered altar cloths, and unfortunately, I

don’t have any of them. She did it all on machine, but she taught my mom how to do it by hand, and I know how to dabble in it. … There’s so much that goes into creating something with your hands. You’re physically no longer there, but there’s that remnant of you, of you creating. You know, I wonder what people are doing and thinking as they’re going Adriana Chavez’s “Finding My Light,” at the Ashanti McGee-curated A Common Thread at UNLV’s Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art (Mikayla Whitmore/Courtesy)

through this methodical, rhythmic process of making. I love the idea of artists hitting that zone to where it’s just complete nothingness; it just goes and it flows. How often do you get into that zone? I haven’t had time to do art lately! Every once in a while, I’ll do a little picture or doodle somewhere. I need space and time: I need time to get to the space that I need to be in. I have a show that I’m working on in my head right now. It’s going to focus on the complexities of being a Black woman. It’s about reflections of myself, about looking at women around me and the things that you have to deal with. I’m hoping to get to lighter stuff soon, but I’m not ready yet (laughs). You’re an advocate for the arts in Las Vegas. How’s that going? I’m really trying to focus on connecting artists and arts organizations to resources or policy that allows artists to do work more effectively and more efficiently. … You know, I grew up with museums all around me. Even though I

lived in New Jersey, we’d go to Philadelphia all the time and just immerse ourselves in museums. My children, and so many other children here, don’t have that. My family will go on a bender in LA, spending two days on museum tours. We’re like, “OK, can we get in five museums in two days?” For a long time, the arts was marginalized in Las Vegas—as if it didn’t belong in daily life. Exactly. There are so many people here that come from other cities where the arts are so much part of their lives, not compartmentalized. Art really can be incorporated into so many other things that we do. One of those things that I really advocate for is the fact that the arts is an easy and effective way of problem solving, and learning about the world around you. Now seems a good time to ask about your fascination with earth. Like, actual earth; soil and rocks. Again, Tuskegee. I’ve been collecting rocks since I was probably 5 or 6. I was really into crystals but also knowing the difference between metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and how those formations look. I’m hoping that the next iteration of reinventing myself is me really getting into the sciences. As for soil … I just really like [taking] things that are seemingly mundane or uninteresting and making them interesting. I think that’s a little more of who I am: For the longest time, throughout the arts, a lot of people didn’t see me as “the artist.” It was always about being part of organizations and working in the back of the house. And I really like the idea of supporting and helping artists, but I finally I feel like I’ve come to a point where I really want to pursue things that I’m actually talented in.

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

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BIG THIS WEEK

METALLICA & JAMES NEWTON HOWARD’S “NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.” You read that right: Metallica recorded an instrumental version of its 1991 ballad for Disney’s Jungle Cruise, with orchestrations by nine-time Oscar nominee Howard. It’s bombastic, a little cheesy and kinda awesome.

PLAY

ZOOMLACES IN PARIS Delta variant got you down? If you don’t feel safe venturing into public as COVID-19 makes a comeback, but you do want to participate in local culture, ZOOMLaces in Paris might just be for you. It’s the online version of a popular recurring event by the Playhouse and Poor Richard’s Players normally called Shoelaces in Paris. In this iteration, you’ll watch 30 new plays written, shot and directed by Poor Richard’s Players. Available for streaming beginning August 13, $20, purchase tickets at showtix4u. com/event-details/55590. For more information, call 702-769-4345. –C. Moon Reed

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RICK ROSS AT DRAI’S

Aces stars Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young just won Olympic gold in 3x3 hoops, while A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray helped Team USA claim its seventh straight gold medal. With Tokyo in the rearview, it’s time to get back to business at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay as the WNBA season resumes and the Aces return to their championship quest. August 15, 3 p.m., lasvegasaces.com. –Brock Radke

Rick Ross kicked off his new multi-year residency at Drai’s Nightclub in late June, dropping a monster set of his many hip-hop hits and helping the club at the Cromwell send a signal to the rest of the Strip that its unique roster of headliners is ready for a big comeback year. Ross returns to Vegas this weekend and can also be seen on this month’s reboot of MTV’s Cribs. August 14, 10 p.m., $50-$75, draisgroup.com. –Brock Radke

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

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THE SUICIDE SQUAD Second time’s the charm. James Gunn’s reboot of this DC cinematic franchise seems to be a resounding hit with critics and fans. And if you’re not comfortable with seeing it in theaters, you can watch it on HBO Max, through September 5.

(Courtesy Mob Museum)

Plum (left) and Young (Jeff Roberson/AP)

OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

DRINK CELEBRATION

SCI FI CENTER GRAND REOPENING

KAIYO JAPANESE WHISKY TASTING FLIGHTS AT THE UNDERGROUND

Celebrate this age of peak geek with the official rebooting of the Sci Fi Center. The comic shop and performance space is coming out of hibernation with a free comic book giveaway, a free outdoor screening of the original Clive Barker classic Candyman and a chance to score passes to a screening of the Nia DaCosta/Jordan Peele Candyman reboot. August 14, free, 900 Karen Ave. #B209, 702-900-4335. Comics giveaway starts at 10 a.m.; screening at 8 p.m. –Geoff Carter

If you’ve frequented the Underground speakeasy and distillery inside the Mob Museum, chances are you’ve drank some kind of whiskey. But what about one straight from the ocean? Kaiyo Japanese Whisky matures for up to three months in the sea inside rare Mizunara oak casks—one of the most expensive barrels in the world. Throughout the month of August, you can experience a flight of four blended Kaiyo whiskies for just $35. Themobmuseum.org. –Amber Sampson

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THE CURTAIN RISES Las Vegas has long lacked indie and revival cinemas, but that’s about to change BY GEOFF CARTER

saw Lost in Translation in a theater. Also, Trainspotting, Parasite and, more recently, The Sparks Brothers. These were not blockbuster films; they contained little or no CGI, had no after-credits scenes to tease the next installment, and Dwayne Johnson didn’t head-butt the story into their third acts. These were small, human stories, screened to a scale where their assorted minute details and nuances really mattered. When I watched Lost in Translation at home months after its theatrical release, I didn’t enjoy it as much. Its magic diminished in proportion to the size of screen it played on. Las Vegas’ multiplexes don’t screen a large number of independent, foreign and revival cinema—all the forms that are generally grouped together under the “art house” banner. They pick up the occasional buzzy independent or import and stick it on one of their smallest screens for a week, or wait for those indies to win awards before they book them into longer, more prominent runs (see The Shape of Water, Nomadland and, yes, the 2020 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Parasite). Revival cinema is pretty much nonexistent here, outside of Library District or UNLV screenings, unless you count Fathom Events’

national “anniversary” bookings—rarely anything you don’t have easy access to, but hey, it’ll be fun to see Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on the big screen again, with Oompa-Loompas the size of Tesla sedans. Generally speaking, this kind of cinema is a nonstarter in Las Vegas, because we don’t have movie theaters that specialize in it. But that’s soon to change. A new Downtown cinema called Art Houz—located within the former Eclipse Cinemas complex, in the Arts District—has begun booking independent and local cinema alongside the newest blockbusters; the locally made Popovich: Road to Hollywood, starring performers from Spiegelworld and Cirque du Soleil shows, debuts at Art Houz on August 23. (Art Houz is currently operating at a reduced capacity due to the pandemic slowdown; it’s using only five of its eight screens and is closed Monday-Wednesday, but plans call for increased capacity as demand grows. Visit thearthouz.com to see what’s playing this week.) And in a surprising turn, no less than two theaters fully dedicated to specialty cinema—the Beverly Cinema, in Downtown Las Vegas, and the 35 Cinema, in Commercial Center—have announced plans to open within the next year. The Beverly intends to program

Rendering of the Beverly Theater (Courtesy of Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects)

mostly first-run independent and international cinema, while the 35 Cinema will specialize in revival programming screened exclusively from rare 35-millimeter film prints. It’s a small step for Southern Nevada’s cineastes—it seems like a Valley that has hosted hundreds of feature film shoots and several annual film festivals would have a couple of dedicated specialty cinemas already—but considered against the generally sad state of moviegoing right now, building a new movie theater from the ground up feels like a revolutionary act. Here’s what to expect when the curtain rises on these audacious new venues.

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SCREEN THE BEVERLY THEATER thebeverlytheater.com

NEW BEVERLY THRILLS “I tend to want to buy things people think are dead. Like, isn’t all the popular noise that bookstores are dying, especially independent bookstores? Well, apparently not,” Beverly Rogers says, chuckling. “Now, the noise is that cinema is dying. Since the pandemic, it’s like, ‘Well, you can watch films in your living room; who wants to go see a movie?’ Well, frankly, I think a lot of people want to go see a movie.” Rogers, the local philanthropist whose largesse supports the Black Mountain Institute, Believer Fest, the Rogers Art Loft and—you guessed it—the Writer’s Block independent

bookstore, intends to confirm her theory on the empty lot just north of the mixed-use Lucy complex at 6th Street and Bonneville Avenue. The soonto-be-built Beverly Theater will be a two-story, 14,306 square-foot cinema and performance space, mere steps from Writer’s Block. (Rogers didn’t name it; she had to be talked into “the Beverly Theater,” which cheekily references both its founder and LA’s venerable New Beverly Cinema.) The 150 person-capacity theater will feature a 360 square-foot screen designed to provide optimal viewing from any seat in the house. And that seating will be retractable, to accom-

modate different kinds of events. It will have an on-site box office and concession counter, a terrace and courtyard for special events, a catering kitchen, a “fully loaded” green room … every aspect of the Beverly has been carefully considered. The possibilities of such a space are massive. Kip Kelly, The Beverly’s Founding Creative Director, describes its potential programming as falling into three “buckets,” which he’s succinctly dubbed “the film, the literary and the live.” Yes, the Beverly will host Believer Fest events, author readings and perhaps even live music and performance—but its main point

and purpose will be to catch those films that might have flown right over Vegas, and create a culture around cinema similar to the one Writer’s Block has built around the printed word. “We’re not trying to be a million different things, but what we are trying to do is create a theater that’s warm and social, and puts an emphasis on a really good kind of cinematic experience,” Kelly says. Rogers has a warm place in her heart for film. Her late husband was a serious film buff—“particularly Westerns, which is not my favorite genre,” she says—and she has a friendly relationship with New York-based Killer Films, the woman-owned production company responsible for such acclaimed indies as Velvet Goldmine, Kill Your Darlings and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. “I gradually got this interest in bringing something a little bit new and different to Las Vegas, something that would fit in with what we’re already doing through the [Rogers] Foundation, in terms of arts and literature,” Rogers says. “It’s all about storytelling. It’s just a different form.” Kelly is fully on board with the idea, though he knows the theater, scheduled for a mid-to-late-2022 opening, faces an uphill battle in these unpredictable times. “Indie [film houses] is a dying business model, and it was even pre-pandemic,” he says. “They all operate as nonprofits now. I’m not blowing the lid off of anything; it’s just the reality of the world. “And that’s OK,” he continues. “We’ll operate as a nonprofit as well, but … I want us to have an aggressive film program that gets people down here to throw their money at us—and the message will be, ‘Oh, by the way, it was a tax write-off,’ rather than ‘We’re a nonprofit, come support us.’ We’ll have memberships and things like that, but indie film will anchor it all.” (Continued on Page 28)

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THE 35 CINEMA instagram.com/the35cinema

35 Cinema GM Shane Bingham (left) and owner John Lohmann (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

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SCREEN (Continued from Page 27)

35 MM MAGIC In a strangely appropriate bit of coincidence, the 35 Cinema’s founder John Lohmann checks in for our phone interview during a family trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Every few seconds, the roller coaster cars of Superman: Escape from Krypton scream by and drown out our conversation, and Lohmann apologizes for them: “Sorry, there goes Superman again.” Like Superman, Lohmann’s passion project belongs to a golden era. Not the era of Man of Steel, a wearying CGI slog projected digitally on six multiplex screens at once, but the era of 1978’s Superman, which screened in neighborhood movie houses from 35-millimeter

The 35 Cinema’s poster collection (Courtesy)

projectors whose motors could be faintly heard during the quiet scenes. One is science; the other, magic. During its brief run inside Downtown video game bar and bowling center the Nerd, the 35 Cinema screened an outstanding run of pre-2004 film classics—The Shining, Casablanca, Enter the Dragon, Beetlejuice, Alien and more—all from 35-millimeter film prints. It’s a revival theater in the fullest sense of the word: Both the stories, and the method by which they’re told, are of a sentimental vintage. “We are one of only two theaters on the West Coast that are actually running film. … Digital has a different look than film. Digital is missing the

flicker,” Lohmann says. (In another coincidence, the other theater he’s referencing is the Quentin Tarantino-owned New Beverly Cinema.) And if you wonder why “the flicker” matters, just watch a recent blockbuster on a digital TV with the motion smoothing turned off. When projected correctly, watching movies on film is simply easier on the eyes. Lohmann’s ideas quickly outgrew the limited space he had at the Nerd, and the bar’s 21-and-over door policy froze out families, so he made the decision to move. His friend Nick Benson at the

Cineloggia movie museum suggested a former nightclub space in New Orleans Square, a retail, gallery and dining center inside the Commercial Center complex. When it opens, the new 35 Cinema—currently holding a fundraising campaign at bit.ly/3ltEyEU—will house three auditoriums with silver screens, as opposed to flat white. (“It actually brings out a lot more color,” Lohmann says. Silver screens also amplify light, which is necessary for 3D film, which loses much of its luminosity from the projector to the screen.) It will have a projector capable of running 70 mm film—another West Coast rarity— and, more importantly, a crew that knows how to run it. “It’s a moviegoing experience versus, you know, going to go see a video; that’s how I look at it,” Lohmann says. “Movie theaters now aren’t really movie theaters; it’s more of a giant video projector.” The programming of the 35 Cinema will be dizzyingly ambitious. January will be devoted to musicals and classic cinema; black stars will be spotlighted during Black History Month; March is for Academy Award winners; summertime is all about classic blockbusters; wintertime will be a feast of holiday movies. It’ll be a must-visit during Halloween, when Lohmann intends to bring in horror film stars for special events. (In fact, he’s already found one: One of the 35’s managers is Lisa Wilcox, who starred alongside Robert Englund in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 and 5.) And Lohmann says he’s really looking forward to hosting school field trips, encouraging kids to get close to the analog machines that built Hollywood. “It’s worth it, to see somebody’s face when these projectors light up,” Lohmann says.

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NIGHTS

BURNING BRIGHT Illenium (Maggie Cordoba/Courtesy)

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

How Las Vegas became the perfect runway for electronic musician Illenium to take off in a new direction BY AMBER SAMPSON

here aren’t many DJs who show up to a four-hour, stadium-sized set with a three-act structure in mind, but Illenium isn’t like other DJs. The 30-year-old electronic musician played the very first Allegiant Stadium show in July to a sold-out Las Vegas crowd, journeying through Ashes, Awake and Ascend, a trilogy of works that have become the pages of his origin story. “Six years ago, when I started making Ashes, I just did it because I loved electronic music and I loved the community I found,” he said at the show. “And it turned into this trilogy, because it represents the phoenix for me and my transition from a sh*tty life.” The Denver-based artist has opened up in his music and in interviews about his recovery from substance abuse and how he narrowly escaped a fatal overdose. “That was my past,” he added, looking out over the crowd of roaring fans. That night, Illenium played the biggest show of his career, and simultaneously closed a chapter on a beloved saga. The fact that it all happened in Las Vegas is no coincidence. We’re a transient city for many, waiting to create a traveler’s next new beginning. On latest release Fallen Embers, Illenium frees himself to go even big-

ger—and more ambitious in sound. Pop-punk tracks like “Paper Thin,” featuring Angels & Airwaves’ Tom DeLonge, are a breath of fresh air, while progressive cuts like “Sideways” build melodically over time until they’re practically spilling over. Standout track “Blame Myself” features a collaboration between Illenium and songstress Tori Kelly. “‘It’s a really personal song and a really tough kind of subject matter and story that I wrote with one of my good friends,” he told Forbes last month. “I feel like when I played that live, that it’s kind of about loss, and it messes me up. It feels good though.” Fallen Embers is all about conflicting emotions. Some songs, he told Forbes, are meant to feel nice, while others force you to think about things you don’t want to. But overall, the endgame is to feel healed. Illenium’s latest work ushers in a new era for a phoenix that’s still clearly rising. And he’s keeping his flight path near Vegas for a while. You can catch the DJ at Omnia at Caesars Palace over the next few weeks, as he continues his Vegas residency. And come September, he’ll be spinning at the Life Is Beautiful festival on a bill that also features Billie Eilish, Tame Impala, Megan Thee Stallion and Green Day, among others.

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SCENE

(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

THE VEGAS CAPER

True crime podcast Chameleon: High Rollers dives into a world of freewheeling law enforcement and quirky criminals BY C. MOON REED

ho doesn’t love a good true crime podcast? The best ones offer all-too-human characters, a compelling mystery, an engaging host, authentic soundbites and a sense that what you’re listening to really matters because you know it’s real. With the new podcast Chameleon: High Rollers, all of that is true, with a special bonus: The story mostly takes place in Las Vegas. As you listen, you’ll experience moment after moment of recognition, as the plot unfolds in your own backyard. Author and Award-winning investigative journalist Trevor Aaronson hosts High Rollers, which evolved from a news story he covered for The Intercept. The 10-episode documentary podcast explores a two-year FBI money laundering sting in Las Vegas that might have been based on nothing (no spoilers here; you’ll have to listen

to find out). Hours of undercover FBI recordings add to the flavor and authenticity. When one of the subjects of the FBI investigation reached out to Aaronson, the journalist was skeptical. “My initial instinct was that this seems too far-fetched to be a story,” Aaronson says. But the sources checked out, and Aaronson soon found himself in a stranger-than-fiction world of diet clinics and overzealous FBI agents who really like free lap dances. “It’s this kind of fun crime caper story in that the FBI is going in there and trying to bust up a money laundering ring that might not really exist,” says Aaronson, who authored the book The Terror Factory: Inside the FBI’s Manufactured War on Terrorism. High Rollers is different from most true crime podcasts in that nobody dies. You don’t have to feel guilty about

consuming entertainment based on the murder of an innocent. “It’s a fun story,” Aaronson says. “But I also think it’s fun in the sense that it really challenges and plays around with your perceptions of who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.” None of the characters are spotless. Aaronson compares them to roles in a Coen brothers movie, “where everyone’s a bit flawed and everyone’s a bit quirky.” Diet clinic owner Emile Bouari, who gets pulled into the FBI’s web, “isn’t a great protagonist; he’s quite flawed.” For their part, the FBI agents “aren’t the white hats that you’d expect them to be.” Beyond the entertainment value of a good podcast, Aaronson wants listeners to learn an important lesson. “I hope that people take away that the FBI is this enormously powerful agency that

deserves more scrutiny than it currently receives,” Aaronson says. “If you’re caught up in an FBI investigation, even if you’re not guilty—like what ends up happening to the people in Operation Bo-Tox—it can be a really life-altering and life-damaging experience.”

CHAMELEON: HIGH ROLLERS Complete 10-episode series available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and at campsidemedia.com/shows/ chameleon-s2-high-rollers.

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VEGAN INNOVATION Chef Kenny Chye’s latest spot puts the focus on dim sum BY BROCK RADKE

fter setting the standard for meat-free Chinese fare with Veggie House and its Chinatown follow-up, Chef Kenny’s Asian Vegan Restaurant—and also creating the city’s first vegan drive-thru spot, VegeWay—Kenny Chye set out on a new mission. “A few years ago a friend who had come over to the vegan side was telling me how much they missed dim sum,” Chye says. “When you go to [traditional] dim sum, you can only get one or two vegan or vegetarian [options]. At that time I had VegeWay so I was pretty busy, but I said give me two years.” Chef Kenny’s Vegan Dim Sum opened last month, expanding and upgrading the dining space at the former Liang’s Kitchen on West Flamingo. It’s comfortable and quaint, possibly the coziest setting so far from this innovative chef and restaurateur. But like his other eponymous local eatery, the new spot has quickly become very popular for takeout, too. The new menu borrows from the most popular dishes at Kenny’s Asian Vegan, delicious stuff like spicy vegan crispy beef made with soy protein ($15) and vegan sea bass ($16) in ginger sauce. Another Chef Kenny innovation, vegan sushi, shows up here, too. But you can’t try this spot out with exploring the dim sum menu, where Chye really showcases his continued exploration of vegetable and protein blends to present magical interpretations of familiar flavors and textures. “The shumai is already one of the most popular but also one of the most difficult [dishes] to make,” he says. “A lot of restaurants can’t make those even if they aren’t vegan.” His vegan shumai ($5) are over-

sized, plump and juicy, some of the most savory imposters you’ll find in Las Vegas. The har gow, listed on the menu as shrimp dumplings ($5) , are another impressive replication, nailing the texture. The favorite selection so far might be the steamed pork bun bao ($5)—that same lovely, fluffy bread you’re expecting, filled with a unique combination of soy product, mushrooms and squash. The satisfaction level’s through the roof. Pan-fried chive cakes ($7), crispychewy sesame balls ($5) and an egg custard tart ($6)—standard offerings at traditional dim sum parlors—round out Chef Kenny’s dim sum offerings. If the dumplings at those other places tend to run a little more greasy and fatty than you’d like, the lighter, cleaner food here might be up your alley. Standout appetizers include roti with curry ($6) and a half-dozen panfried vegetable dumplings ($8), and the turmeric salad ($7) with oyster mushrooms, spinach and cilantro is a great complement. There are plenty of tasty tofu and vegetable stir fry dishes—crispy spicy eggplant ($14) is another must-order—plus chow fun and chow mein noodle options. If you’re an omnivore trying to eat a little less meat who enjoys the occasional Impossible or Beyond burger, Chye’s cuisine already should be your Chinese dine-in and takeout alternative. But no matter your regular diet, everyone should recognize that his latest step creating vegan dim sum is not only difficult but rare. “You don’t see much of this anywhere, even in Los Angeles or San Francisco,” he says. “The best part is every day someone comes in and says this food made their day.”

CHEF KENNY’S VEGAN DIM SUM 5570 W. Flamingo Road #110, 702-251-3920. Daily, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. & 4:30-9:30 p.m.

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FOOD & DRINK Chorizo, potato and egg and bacon breakfast tacos at El Gallo (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

AUSTIN POWERED Downtown’s El Gallo introduces Texas-style breakfast tacos

EL GALLO BREAKFAST BURRITOS 616 E. Carson Ave. #140, 725-204-6969. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.10 p.m.

BY GEOFF CARTER

A spread at Chef Kenny’s Vegan Dim Sum (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

here isn’t much I wouldn’t do for a good breakfast burrito. There’s something to be said for the compactness of the thing, the close-quarters mixing of so many wonderful tastes and textures—and I’d be able to tell you what that thing is, if at the relevant moment my mouth weren’t full of breakfast burrito. I can tell you that Francisco Alvarez, executive chef of Downtown’s Madero Street Tacos and its in-house sibling El Gallo, makes outstanding California-style breakfast burritos, packed with everything from grilled chicken to bacon to chilaquiles— glorious handheld morning feasts priced from $8 to $15 and worth every penny. I can also tell you that Alvarez has now rolled out Texas-style breakfast tacos … and that they, too, are praiseworthy. Served on lightly grilled 4.5-inch flour tortillas and paired with house-made chips and your choice of smoky red or tangy green salsa, El Gallo’s breakfast tacos come in threes and start with a baseline of pillowy, fresh-scrambled eggs mixed with gouda cheese ($10), which is buttery and chewy and perfect. If you want something a little more robust, add sautéed and seasoned red potatoes ($11), potatoes and applewood-smoked bacon ($12) or potatoes and a generous helping of Mexican poblano chorizo ($12). Or, you can do as I do, and request one of each of the latter three ($13), and scarf them down at the counter while they’re warm and fresh. The most beautiful thing about El Gallo’s breakfast tacos is that they offer similar pleasures to their breakfast burritos, but in more manageable proportions. A breakfast burrito is a hefty commitment, and once you bite in, you’ve got to see it through. Their breakfast tacos are probably the same amount of food, but you somehow feel better about plowing through them, and plow through them you will. And, seriously, you’ve got to try one of each. So worth it.

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SPORTS

FINDING A handful of bets to make on the upcoming college football season

J.T. DANIELS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FUTURES: Oklahoma 8-to-1 (BetMGM) and Georgia 10-to-1 (Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook) Let’s corner the market on second-tier championship contenders. Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State sit as the consensus favorites to win the College Football Playoff, with Georgia and Oklahoma trailing closely behind. That’s mostly based on history, though, and not reflective of this season’s reality. Georgia and Oklahoma enter the season with the most proven and complete rosters in the nation. They’re each led by Heisman Trophy favorites at quarterback—J.T. Daniels for the Bulldogs and Spencer Rattler for the Sooners—who are surrounded by returnees at the skill positions. And those teams’ defenses might be even better than their offenses. Oklahoma made huge defensive strides last year, finishing ninth in the nation by Football Outsiders’ F/+ ratings, and returns virtually everyone. Georgia doesn’t have quite as many veterans, but no program in the nation, not even Alabama, has recruited more blue-chip defensive prospects than the Bulldogs the past few years. The Crimson Tide, Tigers and Buckeyes have combined to win six of the seven titles since the advent of the College Football Playoff, but there should be a new team joining the title ranks this season.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP FUTURE: Washington +550 to win Pac-12 (SuperBook) No conference demonstrated the strangeness of last year’s college football season better than the Pac-12. Oregon, which didn’t even win the conference’s North Division, became Pac-12 champion when Washington had to pull out of the title game due to a COVID-19 outbreak. A poetic inverse could happen this season: The Ducks might be the best team in the conference, but the Huskies are better positioned to win the title. Oregon is loaded with talent, but its conference schedule is formidable, including road trips to UCLA, Utah and, most importantly, Washington on November 6. Washington, on the other hand, doesn’t have a single road game in which it will be favored by less than seven points. With a quiet bulldozer of a team that outgained opponents by one net yard per play last season, the Huskies should earn the trophy they deserved in 2020.

HEISMAN TROPHY FUTURE: Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud 16-to-1 (BetMGM) No quarterback in the nation has a better set of receivers and a weaker slate of opposing defenses on the schedule than the Buckeyes’ five-star freshman. Stroud is poised to put up outrageous numbers for one of college football’s glamour programs, a combination Heisman voters can never ignore. Sure, he might not be the only one who fits that description—with Rattler, Daniels, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei also set up for similar success—but all their odds have adjusted accordingly and mostly toppled down below 10-to-1. Stroud is the one who’s still sitting at a value price.

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FUTURES BY CASE KEEFER

he slapdash nature in which last year’s college football season was thrown together because of the coronavirus greatly cut into betting volume at local sportsbooks. With shortened schedules and drastically different start dates by conference, bookmakers couldn’t offer as many preseason wagering options as usual. The plan is to play a normal season this year, however, and sportsbooks have responded by posting all of their traditional offerings. Let’s dive into all variations of wagers currently available weeks before the start of the season and find a play or two in each of them.

(AP/Photo Illustration)

SPENCER RATTLER

WIN TOTAL: Coastal Carolina under 10.5 wins -135 (SuperBook) The Chanticleers were one of the biggest stories of the 2020 season with their undefeated regular season, but don’t expect an encore. During the memorable run, Coastal Carolina went an unsustainable 4-0 in games decided by single digits. Almost every team in the Sun Belt Conference looks better this season, making the Chanticleers’ schedule tougher than it might appear at first glance. It’s traditionally a profitable tactic to fade a team that made a drastic one-year leap in the following season, and Coastal Carolina offers the best opportunity to do that this season.

WEEK 1 LOOKAHEAD LINES: Kansas State +1.5 vs. Stanford (South Point) and UCLA +4.5 vs. LSU (SuperBook) Fortuitously, two of the better non-conference matchups on the first full Saturday of college football (September 4) feature an overhyped side taking on a potential sleeper. Expecting LSU to regain its national championship form from 2019 after a season in which it was outgained by 1.6 net yards per play is unreasonable, especially after the Tigers lost presumed starting quarterback Myles Brennan to injury. Stanford, meanwhile, has seen its efficiency and recruiting success plummet over the past three years and should be in store for a season similar to its 4-8 bottom-out in 2019. Kansas State struggled last year, but its biggest problem was an early-season injury to quarterback Skylar Thompson, who’s now back, surrounded by a veteran squad. No Power Five conference team has more returning production than UCLA, according to numbers compiled by ESPN’s Bill Connelly, and that should help boost the Bruins behind three-year starting quarterback (and Bishop Gorman grad) Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

GAME OF THE YEAR LINES: Miami +3.5 at North Carolina on October 16 (SuperBook) & Texas +9 at Iowa State on November 6 (South Point) If you make the somewhat safe assumption that Clemson and Oklahoma will reach the ACC and Big 12 Championship Games, respectively, then these are the two games most likely to determine their opponents. And they both should be closer than the advance lines indicate. North Carolina is getting a lot of attention for bringing back quarterback Sam Howell, but the Tar Heels have relatively little around him—at least on offense and at least compared with Miami and its quarterback, D’Eriq King. The Hurricanes are second to the Bruins in Power Five conference returning production. They’ll also be coming off of a bye for this game, while the Tar Heels will be competing for the seventh straight week. The scheduling spot is also beneficial for Texas against Iowa State a month later. The Longhorns will be one week removed from a bye with only a game at lowly Baylor before their trip to Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones, in contrast, have three straight tough contests leading up to the game, including a pair of road trips to Kansas State and West Virginia. Iowa State is coming off of a 9-3 dream season that has left it overvalued by the betting market, while Texas should be better than perception indicates in its first year under coach Steve Sarkisian.

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

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Despite shutdown, local barbers have managed to keep their heads above water

BY BRYAN HORWATH s he worked to touch up a regular customer’s hair at his east Las Vegas barbershop, Alejandro Perez pondered the events of the past 18 months. The coronavirus pandemic has been a disruptive time to be a small-business owner, he said, especially for a business that requires close contact with patrons. “We had to shut down for three months but still had to pay rent,” said Perez, owner of the Faded Talk shop near Flamingo and Sandhill roads. “I had savings that I used, but it was stressful. Now we have to wear masks again, but we just have to do what we have to do to not get shut down again.” According to the state Barbers’ Health and Sanitation Board—a four-person committee that licenses and regulates the industry in Nevada—there are 272 barbershops in Southern Nevada, close to the same number that were in existence before the pandemic. Elliott Chester, owner of two barbershops, including the Garrison store at Huntridge Center in Downtown Las Vegas, said he hasn’t heard of any shops in the Valley closing down for good due to the pandemic. “I’m sure there have been a few barbers retire, but the barbering community has bounced back,” Chester said. “As a barber, you develop personal connections with people. If you sit in my chair long enough, you become a friend.” During last year’s shutdown, many of those connections were temporarily lost. Perez said it was a sight last summer when regular customers came in after shops reopened. “People were desperate for a cut,” Perez said with a laugh. “People were looking ridiculous. We’re still busy now. We might be busier now than before the pandemic.” As cities go, Las Vegas is arguably one of the best on the West Coast to be a barber. The city is full of performers and customer-facing employees who need to look good on a daily basis. As Chester puts it, “people in the casinos and

hotels need to look fresh.” Chester, who has been cutting hair in Las Vegas for about 20 years, takes care of several UFC fighters and other pro athletes in town, including Conor McGregor. “I grew up around the barbershop,” Chester said. “I’ve always enjoyed being in the shop, enjoyed the camaraderie. Being a barber is as close to hanging out with your buddies all day and getting paid for it as possible. It’s a big reason why people get into this. I’ve stood up at customers’ weddings and gone on vacation with them.” Besides needing to be licensed by the state, barbers need to have the styling skills to attract return customers in what is a competitive marketplace. But they also need to be good friends, listeners and

sometimes even give advice. “We spend 30 or 45 minutes with each customer,” Chester said. “At times, we hear some pretty crazy things. There are stories of barbers convincing depressed clients to not take their own life. There aren’t a lot of professions where you come into such close contact with a person. It’s like when somebody describes their doctor, they’ll say that’s ‘my doctor.’ It’s the same with barbers.” While there’s a lot to keep track of on the barbering side of the operation, Chester said it’s important for shop owners to also stay up on the business side. That likely would mean hiring an accountant, attorney or business manager, he said. For Perez, who opened his shop in 2019, saving money for a rainy day—or pandemic—helped him stay afloat when he couldn’t cut hair last year. As if it wasn’t enough to be shut down for two months last summer, Perez said his shop was also looted while it was dark. Thieves, he said, broke in through the roof of his building and left with four barber chairs and a television. “We were able to get back on our feet again,” Perez said. “People feel good when they get a fresh cut, and that feels good as a barber. We’re artists, really. For me, it started as a hobby in school when I was at Las Vegas High School, but I was able to make a career out of it. That feels good.” As he listened to Perez talk, Brandon Pringle, his customer in the chair at the time, talked about why he’s been a regular customer for more than two years. “I’m a perfectionist and I know Hondo will give me perfect haircuts,” Pringle said. “I’m from the east side, just like he is, and we all know each other. He’s an east side legend.”

Alejandro Perez, barber and owner of Faded Talk Babershop (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)

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Michael Kelly, managing partner of the Little Vegas Chapel (Steve Marcus/Staff)

As ‘frightening time’ subsides, wedding industry revives, adapts

H BY VEGAS INC STAFF

aving to close because of the coronavirus was challenging for all kinds of small businesses, but the ongoing effects of the pandemic have been particularly lasting for the wedding industry. “We’re seeing more micro-weddings as couples are opting for smaller, intimate gatherings consisting of just core family members and friends,” said Michael Kelly, managing partner of the Little Vegas Chapel. “I think some of the health precautions will stick around as well. We don’t shake hands as often or see it happen as much around the chapel. I think we’ve culturally become more aware of our health, such as if an employee is feeling symptoms of any sort, they should isolate at home to decrease the chance of spreading the illness.” In spite of a six-week shutdown last year and the many adjustments made as the wedding industry has had to adapt to the virus, Kelly’s chapel has expanded and invested in its future. It’s begun renovations on a new venue, the Imperial Chapel, on Third Street and Imperial Avenue. “We had to cut certain departments and focus only on our core offerings,” Kelly said. “It was a frightening time as many local businesses were facing the un-

known, but today, I am happy to say that we have 70% of the staff back who were with us pre-pandemic and more couples than ever booking weddings and ready to celebrate their love, both locals and tourists. We’re renovating now to prepare for the influx of reservations we have been receiving and expect to continue.” Tell us about the local collaborations you have or are working on with other businesses. Since we don’t have a reception facility, we’re developing post-ceremony offerings for couples to celebrate afterwards that would include cocktails and dining. We’re also collaborating with local businesses in the Arts District and Downtown to drive more tourists into the area that otherwise may not have visited these restaurants and boutique shops. The Arts District, Neon Gateway and all of Downtown are flourishing right now, and we are happy to be a part of the community and support our neighbors. What would be your idea of a dream wedding for yourself? My idea of a dream wedding would be remarrying my wife of seven years on a beach with our toes in warm sand and having a Polaroid or two as a keepsake reminder.

You offer “pretend weddings.” Is that a popular booking? Tell us about the demand for that. Pretend weddings were intended to be a fun way for couples who want a wedding experience without the legalities of actually getting married. For the most part, though, they have developed into an offering for couples who want to get married but legally can’t. Sometimes couples are waiting for paperwork or they may be planning a ceremony abroad. Pretend weddings have evolved into commitment ceremonies and have the same emotional impact and connection as a wedding, but without the legalities. What’s the most over-the-top ceremony you’ve put together? When I think over-the-top, I think of the strongest emotional impact, and for me now, that is the wedding I’m planning for one of my dear childhood friends. We’re planning a simple affair where it’ll be just the couple, a witness and myself, and we’ll be waterfront at a secluded site. Nevertheless, I’ve participated in helicopter weddings, weddings in a limo on the Strip, at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and at Valley of Fire. I also synchronized the Bellagio fountains to align with a couple’s first kiss as a married couple. In Vegas, almost anything is possible, but for me, if the couple has happy tears, that’s what it’s all about. What is your advice to newlywed couples for a happy marriage? My simple but important piece of advice is that a marriage isn’t 50/50; it’s 100/100. What trends do you see happening in the wedding industry? In our local market, we’re seeing more last-minute ceremonies. We would normally receive reservations for weddings at least a couple weeks in advance, and now we’re seeing that window get tighter. In many instances, we’re seeing marriage licenses being picked up from the bureau and the wedding taking place on the same day. What do you do after work or on weekends? On any average day outside of work, you would probably find me in the kitchen. I try to execute a recipe every day out of one of my many cookbooks. My most rewarding recipes are from bread baking and barbecuing/smoking. Whom do you admire and why? I admire Rodney Mullen for being the Godfather of Skateboarding and innovating the sport to what it is today. He’s a successful businessperson and influential speaker who teaches an important lesson: When you fall, you have to get up.

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

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VegasInc Notes The Source Holdings, which oversees The Source+ dispensaries and affiliated brands, announced Simon Nankervis as president and CEO. Nankervis brings more than 20 years of retail experience to Nankervis The Source, having worked as CEO and president for Camuto Group, a subsidiary of Designer Brands, where he oversaw foreign offices as well as the design, sourcing, marketing, wholesale and retail management of the company’s brands. He also has experience as chief commercial officer for American Eagle Outfitters, with responsibilities for all brick-andmortar retail stores for the company on a global basis. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced shareholder Angela Otto as one of the new members of the firm’s executive committee, which guides Brownstein’s strategic direction. Otto practices corporate and real estate law and has worked with clients such as Caesars Entertainment, MGM and Wynn Resorts. Otto also advises

clients on other major commercial real estate, development and finance projects. CenterWell Senior Primary Care announced the addition of Dr. Jonathan Navar, board certified in family medicine, to CenterWell’s West Craig location. Prior to joining CenterWell, Navar Navar practiced at Healthcare Partners/Intermountain Healthcare. City National Bank hired Carlos Beltran as the relationship manager for its Green Valley branch located. Beltran joins City National with over 18 years of experience in the financial and Beltran business industry. Snell & Wilmer announced that 15 Las Vegas attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mountain States Super Lawyers publication. Those recognized as Super Lawyers included

Patrick Byrne, business litigation; Kelly Dove, appellate; Alexander Fugazzi, business litigation; and Bob Olson, bankruptcy-business. Those recognized as Rising Stars included Bradley Austin, business litigation; Brian Blaylock, business/corporate; V.R. Bohman, business litigation; Dawn Davis, PI products-defense; David Edelblute, business litigation; Aleem Dhalla, business litigation; Charles Gianelloni, civil litigation-defense; Blakeley Griffith, bankruptcy-business; Kade Miller, real estate; Michael Paretti, business litigation; and Morgan Petrelli, PI products-defense.

west Medical, part of Optum Care, at its Nellis Healthcare Center. Burchard specializes in OB/GYN care. Pierce Wasserkrug joined Sun Commercial Real Estate as an associate focusing on real estate sales/ leasing and retail development. Prior to joining Sun, Pierce worked in residential mortgage lending.

Allterco Robotics US, makers of the Shelly line of products, hired electrical wholesale industry veteran Timothy Young to lead the company’s distributor program in North America. With three decades of industry leadership, including a position on the National Association of Electrical Distributors board of directors, Young will leverage his deep market understanding to extend the impact of Shelly products amongst distributors.

Stella Burchard, APRN joined South-

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Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance welcomed four new hires to the organization to advance economic development efforts: director of investor services and engagement Brooke Malone, senior accountant Joan Camillo, engagement and events coordinator Jason Berthiaume and communications and public relations coordinator Lexia Brockett.

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“IT’S MEANINGLESS” BY FRANK LONGO

HOROSCOPES

WEEK OF AUGUST 12 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Consecrate” isn’t a word you often encounter in intellectual circles. But filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922–75) wrote, “I am not interested in deconsecrating: that’s a fashion I hate. I want to reconsecrate things as much as possible, I want to re-mythicize them.” Look for opportunities to do the same. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Anais Nin wrote, “I don’t want worship. I want understanding.” George Orwell said, “Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.” Poet Marina Tsvetaeva declared, “For as long as I can remember, I thought I wanted to be loved. Now I know: I don’t need love, I need understanding.” If you ask for understanding and seek it out, a wealth of it will be available to you in the coming weeks. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Seventeenth-century philosopher Baltasar Gracián said, “Leave people hungry. Even with physical thirst, good taste’s trick is to stimulate it, not quench it. What’s good, if sparse, is twice as good. A surfeit of pleasure is dangerous, for it occasions disdain even towards what’s undisputedly excellent.” Consider deploying these strategies. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Painter John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) sometimes worked alongside painter Claude Monet (1840–1926) at Monet’s home. Before their first session, Sargent realized there was no black among the paint colors Monet gave him to work with. Sargent was shocked. And yet, he did fine without it. In fact, the apparent limitation compelled him to be creative in ways he hadn’t previously imagined. What would be your metaphorical equivalent? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): According to author Guy de Maupassant, “We are in the habit of using our eyes only with the memory of what people before us have thought about the things we are looking at.” That’s too bad. It causes us to miss a lot of life’s richness. In every experience, engage “with enough attention to find an aspect of it that no one has ever seen or spoken of.” VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Brigit Pegeen Kelly described how, when she was a child, she stayed up all night picking peaches from her father’s orchard by starlight. Her hands “twisted fruit” as if she “were entering a thousand doors.” When morning arrived, her insides felt like “the stillness a bell possesses just after it has been rung.” Imagine the nearest equivalent for you.

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Carter-era FBI sting 7 “It costs — and a leg” 12 “Likely story!” 16 Learning inst. 19 Spanning structure 20 Gorme with Grammys 21 Mag online 22 Boxer Clay, renamed 23 Withstanding decay 25 Dak., in the 1800s 26 Sawmill item 27 Org. for drs. 28 Haughty type 29 Reggae singer with the Wailers 31 Pureed fruit product since the mid-1800s 36 Top-drawer 37 Is storming 38 Antonym: Abbr. 39 Maker of Tater Tots 41 It induces an immune response 44 Trash collection service 48 Our Gang girl 49 Evict 50 Raw resource 51 Racing units 52 Furniture with four sleeping units 55 Trachea-to-lung tubes 58 TV trophy 59 Partake of 60 French for “good” 61 Winfrey of Selma 65 Small inlet 66 Medieval stronghold near Cork, Ireland 71 “— had it!” 72 With 6-Down, relay

some information 74 Rustic hotels 75 Eighth mo. 76 Like both-sex dorms 77 Experienced again 80 Seepage in a boat’s bottom 83 Exhaust conduit, e.g. 86 Cavity-fighting org. 87 Golf great Ballesteros 88 Actress Graff 89 Chef who was a judge on ABC’s The Taste 93 Novelist Sidney 95 Good Times actor Walker 96 12, on some clocks 97 Speedskater Ohno 98 Celine of pop 99 Part of many a kid’s lunchbox meal 106 Cow stomach, on a menu 108 Fix, as a knot 109 Xbox competitor 110 AOL competitor 111 Yoo- — (chocolate drinks) 112 10 answers in this puzzle have one 116 Tenth mo. 117 Guitar relative 118 Prickly shrub 119 State of hypnosis 120 Co. top dog 121 Pro votes 122 Pungent salad green 123 Gossipy meddlers DOWN 1 James A. Garfield’s “A” 2 — -Seltzer 3 Occupy, as a desk

4 5 6 7 8

USN VIP Become older See 72-Across — Fables Sominex competitor 9 Have — with destiny 10 — Tin Tin 11 Got together 12 Old Mexican 13 Seven, in Seville 14 As to 15 Luxury Italian car 16 Second-largest city in Greece 17 Shut entirely 18 Tall 24 With an inky implement 29 Stage after larva 30 Bicycle pedal attachment 32 Soft felt hat 33 Actress Katey 34 Categorize 35 PD alert 39 Big oil gp. 40 College-level H.S. courses 41 Some vipers 42 Skyfall actress Harris 43 Writer Capote 44 Holster item 45 Invite (to) 46 Get reduced in price 47 Suffix with north 49 Surpass in competition 53 Wriggly fish 54 Sheep’s cry 55 Razor brand 56 Stephen of films 57 Weeding aid 60 Fly- — (pilots’ stunts) 62 Ran amok

63 Brand of bath additives 64 Actress Tippi 66 Slangy “sweetie” 67 Denver-to-Bismarck dir. 68 Call a halt to 69 Pull sharply 70 Size bigger than med. 73 Imagine 76 Young and inexperienced 78 Really weak 79 First lady McKinley 80 Stinging flier 81 Wall creeper 82 Hold and use 83 Part of many a kid’s lunchbox meal, for short 84 Shimmer, as an opal 85 It’s stuffed into an olive 87 Potato cover 90 After point number eight 91 Bar on a car 92 2016 Summer Olympics locale 93 1992 Summer Olympics locale 94 Frankness 97 Fall flowers 99 Regional life 100 Church parts 101 Bert’s bestie 102 Some RSVPs 103 Defiant kid’s declaration 104 About, timewise 105 Masks 106 College VIP 107 Rakish guy 112 SNL airer 113 NHL’s Bobby 114 ’Fore 115 Pale-looking

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Plato mistrusted laughter, poetry, bright colors and artists who used bright colors. All those soulful activities influenced people to be emotional, he thought—a threat to orderly society. Rebel against Plato. You need experiences that awaken and please and highlight your feelings. This will boost your intelligence and enhance your decision-making powers. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A biography of author Albert Camus noted that he had two modes. They are summed up in the French words solidaire (“unity”) and solitaire (“solitary”). In a solidaire phase, he immersed himself in the pleasures of socializing. But when it was time to write, he retreated into a monastic routine. You are in the solidaire phase of your rhythm. Enjoy it. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): During the 76 years since the end of World War II, Italy has had 69 different governments. On the one hand, it might be wise to keep reinventing the power structure as circumstances shift. On the other, having so little continuity may undermine confidence. You’re entering a phase when you could be as changeable as Italy. Would it serve you or undermine you? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Actor Nicholas Browne testifies, “My heart is too full; it overflows onto everything I see. I am drowning in my own heart. I’ve plunged into the deepness of emotion, and I don’t see any way back up. Still, I pray no one comes to save me.” You’ll be wise to embark on such an excursion during the next three weeks. Have fun diving! How deep can you go? AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Author Byron Katie offers you a message infused with tough love and sweet encouragement: “When you realize that suffering and discomfort are the call to inquiry, you may actually begin to look forward to uncomfortable feelings. You may even experience them as friends coming to show you what you have not yet investigated thoroughly enough.” PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In August 1922, author Nikos Kazantzakis wrote this triumphant declaration: “All day today I’ve had the most gentle, quivering joy, because I’m beginning to heal. Consciously, happily, I feel that I am being born anew, that I am beginning once again to take possession of the light.” Use these words as your own in the coming weeks. They capture transformations that are in the works for you. By speaking Kazantzakis’s declarations aloud several times every day, you will ensure that his experience will be yours, too.

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