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MUSIC VENUE POSITIONING FOR MAIN STREET OPENING
STATION GETS GREEN LIGHT TO BUILD IN SOUTHWEST
They say when one door closes, another one opens, and that might soon hold true for Downtown’s live-music scene. With locals smarting over the ongoing closure—and uncertain future—of the Bunkhouse Saloon, a new venue known as the Swan Dive could be launching in the coming months to help fill that void. On October 12, the man behind the project, Harvey Graham—who also operates Downtown dance club Oddfellows and multiple spaces in Austin, Texas—presented details to City of Las Vegas officials as part of the application process for a special-use permit. The venue would occupy the upper floor of the two-story Colorado building at 1301 S. Main Street, which is currently under construction. “We’ve been talking about doing this since just before COVID,” Harvey tells the Weekly. “Now it’s just a game of patience. I’m confident everything’s gonna be fine, but I’m not in control of the building, and the building’s not done yet. Best-case scenario we’d be open by the middle of next year.” Harvey’s original Swan Dive is a mainstay on the Austin music scene, though he says the programming focus for the Vegas version will likely be different, given its proposed dimensions—roughly 5,500 square feet inside with a 3,500-squarefoot patio and a show capacity around 400. To head up that part of the operation, Harvey has tapped a name familiar to Bunkhouse regulars: Mike Henry, who will serve as partner and talent buyer for Swan Dive Las Vegas. –Spencer Patterson
Plans for a new Station Casinos resort in the southwest Las Vegas Valley were approved during a Clark County Commission zoning meeting. The casino and hotel complex, called Durango, is planned for a plot of land owned by Station near the 215 Beltway and Durango Drive. The company also released renderings of what it expects the complex to look like—including over 80,000 square feet of casino space and 200 hotel rooms with the possibility of added rooms at some point. Station indicated the resort will feature four “signature food and beverage outlets” and a race and sportsbook. It is also expected to have 20,000 square feet of convention space and 40 electric vehicle charging stations. Ground is expected to be broken for the project early next year. The company has nine large casinos and 10 bar, restaurant and sports betting properties. Its Fiesta Henderson, Texas Station in Las Vegas and Fiesta Rancho in North Las Vegas closed during the pandemic and have not reopened. –Bryan Horwath
HOUSING MARKET STABILIZING BUT STILL SETTING RECORDS
Tyson Fury lands a left to the face of Deontay Wilder during their heavyweight championship boxing match October 9 at T-Mobile Arena. Fury got up from the canvas twice in the fourth round and eventually stopped Wilder with a right hand in the 11th round, retaining his WBC title. It was the second time the 6-foot-9 Englishman defeated Wilder. (Chase Stevens/Associated Press)
AFTER 15 YEARS ON THE STRIP, RAO’S TO CLOSE ITS DOORS NEXT MONTH Rao’s at Caesars Palace announced October 6 that it will permanently close on November 28. The legendary Italian restaurant born in East Harlem in New York City originally expanded to its Las Vegas Strip location in December 2006. A statement from co-owners Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Ron Straci noted a future Las Vegas restaurant could be in the works. Known for its homey cuisine such as Sunday gravy, giant meatballs and lemon chicken, Rao’s is located near Caesars’ pool and the Bacchanal Buffet. Reservations are available at OpenTable. “It’s a rare feat for a restaurant to be open on the Las Vegas Strip for 15 years,” said Sean McBurney, Caesars Entertainment Regional President. “We will always be grateful to Frank Pellegrino Sr., Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Ron Straci for their partnership in bringing their legendary brand to our guests.” The New York City flagship restaurant opened in 1896 and famously became one of the toughest reservations in the country after a New York Times review in 1977. The company has expanded through the years with a few restaurants and a retail line of premium pasta sauces and other food products. –Brock Radke
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The median sale price of a single-family home in Southern Nevada is up 20.5% from a year ago, according to a report from Las Vegas Realtors. The group said the median sale price of $406,500 for September established an all-time record in the area—slightly up from $405,000 in July. But in September 2020, the median price was $337,250, the group said. “The housing market is starting to stabilize nationwide. This month’s statistics suggest that we may be doing the same here in Southern Nevada,” said President Aldo Martinez, the group’s president, in a statement. Martinez noted that home prices continue to increase while wages remain stagnant, which he suggests has led some buyers to purchase a townhouse or condo, and not a single-family home. Others are renting, he said. –Ray Brewer
1 THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK
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DATA PROTECTION
STATE SENATOR RESIGNS
The bipartisan K–12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021, signed into law October 8 by President Joe Biden, will give resources to school districts to help them protect themselves against cyberattacks. A hacker published CCSD employee and student records after a ransomware attack in August 2020.
Republican state Sen. Ben Kieckhefer of Reno, who first took office in 2011, announced October 8 that he has resigned from the Legislature. He had more than a year before the end of his current fouryear term, but has been appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission by Gov. Steve Sisolak.
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
IN THIS ISSUE
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News: The iconic Wheel of Fortune slot machine turns 25 Cover story: The UFC heavyweight champ’s remarkable journey Noise: Shavo Odadjian talks System of a Down, cannabis and more Nights: A new Downtown home for Crykit’s Playhouse Food & Drink: A British butchery, plus glorious mounds of fries
WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD News you should know about
Sports: Nets as the NBA’s title favorites? Bet on it Vegas Inc: The food court business is booming
GRUDEN OUT As the Weekly went to press Monday night, multiple outlets were reporting that Jon Gruden would resign as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders following reports that, in addition to a 2011 email in which he used a racist trope to describe NFL Players Association leader DeMaurice Smith, league officials found that Gruden “casually and frequently unleashed misogynistic and homophobic language over several years to denigrate people around the game and to mock some of the league’s momentous changes,” according to The New York Times. Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for more on this developing story.
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) gets sacked by Chicago linebacker Khalil Mack on a two-point conversion attempt October 10 at Allegiant Stadium. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
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HOT TOPIC
AGE OF CHIVALRY
ACES FALL SHORT
At this month’s Global Gaming Expo, London-based International Game Technology’s cashless casino management system was recognized as the product innovation of the year. Still, industry representatives remain skeptical about whether players will buy in.
Like so many in-person festivals, last year’s Age of Chivalry Renaissance fair was canceled because of the pandemic. It returns this year to Sunset Park, from October 15-17. Friday and Saturday’s events will run 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday’s 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for tickets, go to lvrenfair.com.
The Las Vegas Aces faltered in the final minutes, squandering an eight-point fourth quarter lead as Phoenix stars Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner led the Mercury to a stunning 87-84 victory October 8, ending the Aces’ season in the WNBA semifinals. Phoenix will play Chicago for the title.
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SPINNING WHEEL
Vanna White and IGT celebrate 25 years of Wheel of Fortune slots
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BY C. MOON REED
henever Vanna White visits Las Vegas, the glamorous television game show host moonlights as a surprise good luck charm. “When I see people playing Wheel of Fortune slots, I go up to them, I rub my hand on the slot machine and I say, ‘This is for good luck. Hi, I’m Vanna.’ And then I walk off,” White tells the Weekly. “They just freak out. Because there they are, minding their own business, playing their game, and then I show up.” White was in town recently to celebrate the 25th anniversary of IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slot franchise at this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E). “It’s incredible,” White says. “I can’t believe that it’s been 25 years, and it’s still going strong. It’s still just as fun as it was on day one.” The anniversary isn’t just an achievement for gaming company IGT or for a game show that has been on air since 1975; it’s a piece of Las Vegas
history. Wheel of Fortune was the first-ever licensed, branded game on the casino floor, according to Boris Hallerbach, director of premium content for IGT. Countless TV shows, movies and celebrity brands have since followed suit. And unlike, say, a sitcom-branded slot machine, Wheel of Fortune has a natural connection to gaming. “I think the biggest draw for Wheel of Fortune slot players is spinning the wheel,” Hallerbach says. “If they’re a fan of the TV show, [they] dream of spinning the wheel on TV, and this gets them close to that.” White sees even more reasons for players to connect. “When you think of Wheel of Fortune, you
think of winning money and having fun, and it’s the same with the slot machines,” White says. “It’s almost like it’s one big, happy family. You feel like you’re part of Wheel of Fortune when you’re playing that. I was playing it yesterday and just the music, it’s like, oh my gosh, I feel like I’m at work.” Wheel of Fortune is now in its 39th season on television, and Hallerbach says parent company Sony keeps the show fresh by evolving with the times: “They’ve kept their style guide up-to-date. … The puzzles are relevant and current.” IGT has done the same. “We’ve taken that style guide, we’ve applied it to slot mechanics that we know work for players,” Hallerbach says. “As slot
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NEWS
TURNING LETTERS Quick hitters with Vanna White What’s your favorite part of being in a slot machine? Making people happy and rich. And having fun. Do you ever gamble yourself? Yes. I think playing slots is fun. … I like a little bit of everything to tell you the truth. I get bored. I like to move around.
FUN FACTS
The iconic Wheel of Fortune slot machine (Courtesy IGT)
players have evolved over the years, we’ve evolved the game mechanics.” Among the latest innovations is a 4D slot machine, which combines 3D visuals with the ability to swipe in midair to spin the wheel. Video, audio and music complete the experience. “We’re authentic to the sounds, the Wheel of Fortune chant,” Hallerbach says. “If you walk through the airport, you’ll hear that Wheel of Fortune chant.” There’s no reason to mess with success, as they say, so expect the wheel to continue spinning. “As long as we have the license with Sony, we’re gonna keep putting R&D development into it,” Hallerbach says. “It’s been such a great brand for us.”
What is your favorite ou r te game show, other than sy I GT) your own? I love Jeopardy. And I’m not saying that because it’s part of our show. I’ve watched Jeopardy for years and years and years. (C
■ IGT debuted 14 Wheel of Fortune-themed games at G2E 2021 ■ More than 250 variations of the game have been made ■ Wheel has awarded more that $3.3 billion in jackpots ■ Wheel has minted more than 1,100 millionaires ■ Wheel pays out a $100,000-plus jackpot every 65 hours, on average
How often do you visit Las Vegas? Not as often as I’d like. I love Las Vegas. I love their food. I love their entertainment. I love their gambling. The people are so nice. … It’s a great escape. And fortunately, in Los Angeles, I don’t live far.
As a Wheel of Fortune co-host, how often are you tempted to yell out the puzzle answers? It’s hard not to, because I do know the answers beforehand. I have to know where to go, where the letters are. But I’m always trying to send telepathic letters to [contestants], especially in the bonus round. It’s like, “Call the P!” I can’t say that, of course. But in my head, I’m [telling] them to call the letters that are in the puzzle. How do your famous on-air outfits work? I have a stylist, and we have contracts with several designers. They send their clothes to the studio. ... They let me borrow them for 30 minutes. I’ve worn over 7,000 dresses. … But my shoes are my own! Any favorite dresses? My favorite
ones are the loose-fitting ones. … I kinda like the short ones, too. The long ones are absolutely gorgeous … but sometimes it’s hard to walk. I’m afraid I’m going to trip or something. But they’re still fun to wear. How do you stay so fit and fabulous? I have to stay the same size, because I wear sample dresses. My biggest fear is—we do fittings every two or three weeks—am I gonna be able to fit into this? That has inspired me to stay in shape. I do Pilates, yoga, I spin on a bike and do weights usually four or five times a week. What’s it like working with Pat Sajak? Fortunately, we like each other. For 39 years, we have been together, and it’s like a great brother-sister team. … I can look at him, when he comes in, and tell if he’s in a bad mood or good mood. He can tell, when we walk out, if I like the dress I’m wearing, like if it’s uncomfortable or something. Why did they change the puzzle letters from physical to digital on the TV show? In 1997, I said, ‘Is there any way you can make my job easier?’ No, I didn’t really say that. I promise. The reason why they changed it to the computerized [letters] is because it saved a lot of production time with the show. What do you do for fun? I have my own line of yarn! It’s called Vanna’s Choice. I donate half my proceeds to St. Jude [Children’s Research Hospital]. I’ve donated over $2 million to them. I think it’s important to give back. And I’m so thankful for all these years of being able to be on the show. –C. Moon Reed
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LV W N AT I V E C O N T E N T
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LEGENDARY NEVADANS AND THEIR STOMPING GROUNDS
18351910
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Nevada has a rich and colorful history—one that includes noble, heroic figures, as well as Wild West shootouts, mob activity, gambling and intriguing individuals of all kinds. With Nevada Day observed this year on Oct. 29, we’ve rounded up a list of Silver State legends and where you can follow in their footsteps today. Use this as a blueprint for your next trip, inspiration for your bucket list or to just simply bask in Nevada pride. Full disclosure: You’re not going to find the Rat Pack or mobsters on this list, though they are Nevada legends. We’re looking at a few notable folks outside the Las Vegas Valley.
There are few authors more meaningful to American literature than MARK TWAIN. Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Missouri, he moved in 1861 to the Nevada territory, where he adopted his pen name, Mark Twain. Many of the experiences he had in Northern Nevada would later inform his writing.
EARLIEST INHABITANTS It’s believed that Nevada’s earliest inhabitants trace back about 12,400 years, dated by petroglyphs and archeological sites in locations such as Valley of Fire State Park, Gold Butte National Monument and Basin and Range National Monument. ANCESTRAL PUEBLOANS, WESTERN SHOSHONE and NORTHERN PAIUTES are only some of the American Indians who call Nevada’s Great Basin home. Today, there are 27 Indian reservations, bands and colonies in Nevada.
1829- 1925
DAT SO LA LEE was a famous basket weaver of the Washoe people in the northwestern part of the state. Her baskets are so celebrated and well-known, you can find them in museums across the country, including the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Locally, the Nevada Historical Society in Reno and the Nevada State Museum in Carson City have her willow baskets on display.
1 0 .1 4 . 2 1 The hot springs at David Walley’s Resort in Carson Valley, near Genoa, was a well-known stomping grounds for Twain. Soak in the mineral-rich waters Twain, fellow frontiersmen and countless guests have enjoyed since its inception in 1862.
C R E AT E D A N D P R E S E N T E D B Y T R AV E L N E VA DA
Unionville is near where Twain tried his hand at mining and where his cabin still stands today. If you head up to this area, stop at the Old Pioneer Garden Country Inn.
The Delta Saloon in Virginia City was a place Twain was known to spend many a raucous night.
18261903
EILLEY BOWERS was one of the richest women in the country and the state’s first female millionaire, amassing more than $4 million during the mining boom. But millionaire mine owner wasn’t her only title—she was also a purported fortune teller, socialite and prospector. Check out a surviving piece of her legacy at Bowers Mansion Regional Park in Washoe Valley. The estate hasn’t changed in 150 years, making it an incredible opportunity to step back in time.
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Another famed Virginia City boomtown character, JULIA BULETTE was once Virginia City’s most beloved prostitute, and today, she’s somewhat of a folk heroine. She was known for caring for sick miners and raising money for the Union during the Civil War. Sadly, Bulette met a gruesome end and was found murdered in her bedroom. As a show of respect, the mines, mills and saloons in Virginia City closed to mourn her passing.
1832- 1867
The Cobb Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Virginia City is a pristine mansion in one of Nevada’s most historic towns. And they have an entire room honoring Bulette.
Liberty Engine Company #1 State Firemen’s Museum is a must-stop for history buffs—and an important part of Bulette’s story, as she was named an honorary member of Virginia Engine Number 1 and donated her time and money to the organization. Hightail it to Virginia City and Gold Hill, where Bowers began her prospecting career. Don’t miss the oldest hotel in Nevada, Gold Hill Hotel & Saloon, which opened around 1861.
18481929
WYATT EARP was a lawman, gambler and gunfighter in Tombstone, Arizona, before he, and his brother VIRGIL EARP, moved up to central Nevada. They were known to spend time in what are now some of our favorite ghost towns—Tonopah and Goldfield.
Local legend says the Earp brothers frequented the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah. You can still stay at the Mizpah today, where you’ll enjoy the 1900s decadence—and possibly a ghost sighting or two. While in Tonopah, stop at the Central Nevada Museum to learn more about this special part of the state.
Virgil Earp worked at a saloon in Goldfield, and both brothers spent time at Hoist House Tavern (now Mozart Tavern) and Santa Fe Saloon—two sagebrush saloons in Goldfield that will take you right back to the 1800s.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
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SHE WILL ROCK YOU Queens of Rock creator and star Elyzabeth Diaga on launching a successful show during a pandemic BY BROCK RADKE
Q Elyzabeth Diaga (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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ueens of Rock opened at the upstart Mosaic Theater on October 8, 2020, and for a while, it was the only live show in a theater space on the Las Vegas Strip. The rock tribute concert, which focuses on female legends, was created by— and stars—Montreal-born singer Elyzabeth Diaga, who locked down a deal to bring her show to Vegas in December 2019 but delayed the big move while she filmed the Canadian version of The Voice. Then the pandemic hit, and everything on the Strip shut down—but Diaga kept on going. She moved to Las Vegas last summer, before the new rules were revealed detailing how live entertainment could operate. Her crew couldn’t travel, so she worked with the tiny team at Mosaic and her killer band of experienced local musicians (Christian Brady and James Oleson on guitars, Zach Throne on bass and Alex Papa on drums) to get Queens of Rock up and running, initially for an audience of fewer than 50 people. Those who have witnessed her perform in a Strip space that once housed Club Utopia and Empire Ballroom understand how a new-to-Vegas tribute show can survive through such challenging circumstances. Diaga is electrifyingly charismatic onstage, and her voice knows no limitations.
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THE WEEKLY Q&A (Left to right) Christian Brady, Elyzabeth Diaga and James Oleson in Queens of Rock (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
sing their songs your way—you still represent their tone and spirit. It’s impressive. It’s all instinct. I’ve listened so much to these singers that when I sing, it just comes out like that. It’s like I keep my personality but try to embody the song and the way it was written and performed. And every night when I sing those songs, I remember the first time I heard it.
You found a way to open the show and build a following during some of the toughest points in the pandemic. Performing is what you do, but how did you deal with those challenges mentally? I just focus and go. It was tough, but I was so happy to be opening, even though I didn’t know how many people would come. It was challenging, but I was just happy to be here. And since I was here, I was just going to go with the flow. I was lucky my producer still wanted to do it, and the team at Mosaic was very hands-on, because it was a lot of work for the staff. Were those initial performances difficult, considering you had such a small audience, which was 25 feet from the stage? Yes, but if there are two people in the room, or 100 or 300, you can still feed on the energy. You send something and you get something back—and even with that
little audience, I still felt that. Because I have such an amazing band, it feels to me like I’m in an arena every night, and no matter what happens, I’m very much in contact with the music. I think it’s the only way I could have gone through that.
QUEENS OF ROCK Thursday-Monday, 7 p.m., $55-$95. Mosaic, 702-444-7622, mosaiconthestrip.com.
It’s easy to see that you love this music, and so does your audience. You make that connection as soon as you step onstage. I think a lot of people go into this business to become stars or for money. I’m in it for the connection; that’s what drives me. When the curtain opens, I’m not even thinking. I’m listening and trying to reconnect with these women whose music I’m singing and what they represent. You switch between icons like Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Cher and even Lady Gaga. And though you’re not impersonating their voices—you
It also helps that you come out on roller skates for the disco hits of Blondie. What other elements have you added during the past year? I started learning guitar during the pandemic, so that’s a new element. I had to look all over to find a Gibson Melody Maker like Joan Jett’s, and when I finally received it and brought it to the show, all the guys in the band were like, “Oh my God, you really got it! And you got the best deal on the planet!” Are you looking to make any bigger changes or expand Queens of Rock somehow? I want to be here as long as I can. I never thought I would love it here like this. And what’s cool now is, I have more Quebeckers coming in, because the quarantine is no longer happening in Canada. That’s going to be awesome, since I was on The Voice and people know me there. I’m looking forward to that. I’ve had requests to tour other states like Texas and Utah, and that might be something in the future. But especially after all that’s happened, I’m just living day by day. This is where I am, and I’m happy.
00.00.00 10.04.21 PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER BY FIRST LAST DEVARGAS
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SAND MINES (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
TO STARDOM
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After an ‘unbelievable’ journey, UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou sets his sights on a long title reign
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BY CASE KEEFER
rancis Ngannou fidgets in the driver’s seat of his luxury SUV several times as he discusses his path to the top of the combat sports world. It’s not that the 35-year-old UFC heavyweight champion is impatient—he breathes before answering almost every question and shares long, thoughtful responses in a soft, slow-speaking voice. It’s more that the Las Vegas resident is still a bit uncomfortable with the life his devastating knockout punch and highly determined mindset have provided for him. “When I went to the dealership to choose my car, I would be like, ‘No, I don’t like this one,’” Ngannou says. “I felt a little spoiled and picky.” He’s taking a midday break from training at one of the world’s most renowned mixed martial arts gyms, Xtreme Couture, for a Zoom call in the shadow of the Strip. The setting is worlds away from the country he considers his true home, and all the places where he spent time working to get to this point less than 10 years ago. In 2012, Ngannou put a long-envisioned plan to leave his native village in Batie, Cameroon, into motion. Over the year that followed, he trekked more than 4,000 milesto Paris, sleeping everywhere from Algerian deserts and Moroccan forests to Spanish jail cells. It was a resolve-testing, life-threatening journey, all in service of realizing his dream to come to America and win a belt—a goal he accomplished in March by knocking out
Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 here in Las Vegas. Since then, Ngannou has been in dispute with UFC regarding his next move, but even UFC President Dana White— notorious for speaking his mind when at odds with one of his fighters—can’t deny what Ngannou means to the company going forward. “He’s a big, scary-looking heavyweight who viciously knocks people out,” White said in an interview over the summer. “It literally doesn’t get any better than that.” * * * * * Between the cuts, bruises, sore muscles and restricted diets, getting ready for a fight might be the most grueling process in all of sports. But Ngannou describes it as easy, because, he says, he learned the true definition of physical exhaustion at a young age. From the time he was 10, Ngannou worked in Cameroon’s sand mines to help support his mother, a victim of domestic abuse forced to raise five children on her own. He says he’d often lack enough money for food, so he’d be left fighting off sickness and starvation—and dreaming of a brighter day. “I worked in the sand mines for over 10 years, but it never felt final to me,” Ngannou says. “For me, it was just an obstacle to find a better situation. Even though I didn’t like it, even though it was sad and tough, it fueled me.” He’s unsure exactly why, but something about fighting has always fascinated Ngannou. He never saw any bouts as a child, but he heard about his father’s local legend as
“I worked in the sand mines for over 10 years, but it never felt final to me.”
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a street fighter, and caught tales of Mike Tyson’s exploits on the news. As a teenager, he saved up enough money to travel to an internet café in the city. His first search? Tyson fights on YouTube. Soon after, Ngannou filled a juice bag with sand and hung it from a tree in his village, spending his free time trying to emulate Iron Mike. Ngannou gave himself the nickname “San Francisco”—to this day, he still signs autographs “SF,” to the bewilderment of casual fans—because he’d heard it was a big city in America and liked the way it sort of sounded like his name. It wasn’t until Ngannou turned 22 that he first stepped foot in a Cameroon boxing gym, and he quickly realized it couldn’t provided him the instruction necessary to become a champion. With America so far away, he set his preliminary sights on France and took off through Africa, evading immigration authorities to the best of his ability, eating out of trash cans but never stopping, no matter the circumstances. One of the lowest moments, he recalls, was a near-death experience caused by a severe cut suffered while climbing a barbed-wire fence. The wound required hospitalization, which resulted in Ngannou getting thrown out of Morocco and dumped back in Algeria, he says, the first of six times he was deported from Morocco. “Every time, there was something inside of me that told me there was a light at the end of the tunnel,” Ngannou says. “There was a light I could see wherever I was, and I could follow it. That was my motivation, and I knew it was going to happen. “That might sound crazy, but that’s how I felt. … My way from Cameroon to France is the most challenging thing I’ve been through. It was unbelievable. I’ve been through a lot of things out there that even now, when I think about it, I can’t believe it.”
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Francis Ngannou celebrates after knocking out Alistair Overeem at UFC 218 in December 2017. (AP Photo/ Jose Juarez)
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“When you come back home, you find out it was more than just a belt. It was a hope. It was an inspiration.”
* * * * * More trials awaited once in Europe, including imprisonment in Spain for crossing the Mediterranean Sea and homelessness in France, but Ngannou eventually landed at the now-famed MMA Factory Gym in Paris. The coaching staff convinced him to switch from boxing to mixed martial arts, and his career took off immediately. It wasn’t a straight shot to the top, however, as Ngannou lost to Miocic in his first championship bout, in January 2018. That was followed with another unanimous-decision loss to Derrick Lewis shortly after. Ngannou had already moved to Las Vegas before the first Miocic fight, but after that, he decided to permanently relocate and begin training full-time at Xtreme Couture. He hasn’t lost since, knocking out four straight opponents in the first round before stopping Miocic in the second to win the title. Opportunities flooded in for Ngannou after the victory—appearances on television shows, acting roles in movies and commercials, even first pitches at baseball games. He took advantage of many of them, but mostly, he says, he just wanted to travel back home to Cameroon. He made the trip in April, and thousands filled the streets in the country’s capital of Douala to welcome him. Ngannou stood in the bed of a truck holding the belt in a parade that had swarms of fans rushing the vehicle for miles. “It was all over the news in the country for one week or more, and everyone came out,” Ngannou says. “It was unbelievable. When I was there, I was working
for the title, for my dream, but it was more than that. When you come back, you find out it was more than that. It was more than just a belt. It was a hope. It was an inspiration. It was a dream realized. And I think that’s why they loved it. All those people back there need those moments more than anyone.” He went on to spend time in his old village and even traveled to a quarry where he used to work, grabbing a shovel and tossing sand into a truck, the way he had done for so much of his youth. “You have playback of your life, like you were right here, and that’s something quite special,” Ngannou says. “I was there nine years ago, [but] it feels like just last week. And then I realize all this happened. But I can feel the feeling I had nine years ago. I feel the moment. That’s why I like to go back. Those memories, those moments fill me up.” The happiest moment of all, Ngannou says, came when he jumped into a car outside a house he’d bought for his family. He headed to the freeway, and one of the first billboards he saw was an advertisement featuring his mother. “She’s a superstar out there now,” Ngannou says with a grin. “It’s like, ‘Man, she made it.’ One of my biggest concerns was if my mom could survive, but now I can help her after all she’s given.” * * * * * Cameroon might be where Ngannou feels most at peace, but he says he doesn’t foresee moving back. In fact, he doesn’t envision leaving his new home in the desert. He calls
Las Vegas the “warmest” place in which he’s ever resided—and he’s not talking about the weather. “People here are nicer, welcoming, supportive,” Ngannou says. “Even though I didn’t speak English [at first], they were motivating me to speak English. While I was in France and speaking French, they were making me feel bad about my accent, even though I was speaking French perfectly. Here, people are complimenting you about your clothes, your shoes, how good-looking you are. That’s not what I’m used to.” Ngannou’s clothing, in particular, has been drawing raves. He consistently pays homage to his heritage by wearing traditional African outfits during media appearances. He sports different types of clothing from his native Cameroon during fight-week events like weigh-ins and news conferences. Ironically, given his profession of choice, Ngannou is known for being non-confrontational, which makes his current spat with the UFC noteworthy. Ngannou says he doesn’t understand why the UFC instituted an interim heavyweight title—which Ciryl Gane won by TKO over Der-
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rick Lewis at UFC 265 in August— when Ngannou says he informed the UFC he’d be ready to fight at UFC 266 in September. Ngannou has mostly let his management team deal with the issue, and a unification bout between Ngannou and Gane is reportedly in the works for UFC 270, which takes place on January 22, 2022. Until then, Ngannou says, he’ll channel a mindset like the one he had when he left Cameroon, thinking about the promise of what’s ahead. He’s focused on his first title defense, while grappling with newfound fame that might never feel completely normal. “I get to hang out and go to the parties, the nice parties with all these classy people that grew up in rich families and have quality education and know how to set the silverware on the table, which glass is for wine, which glass is for this,” Ngannou says. “I didn’t have that education, so when I go to that stuff, I’m embarrassed. I’m not comfortable. “But when I go back to [Cameroon], I’m like, ‘I know these people.’ That is my culture, even though today I can afford to be at another type of party. It’s my education. This was my way.”
Francis Ngannou made his film debut earlier this year with a cameo in F9, the ninth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, and his second movie role is already lined up. He’ll be featured in a stunt in Jackass Forever, the fourth Jackass film, scheduled for release on February 9, 2022. Ngannou’s scene reportedly involves him punching one of the cast members in the groin region. “I wasn’t familiar with Jackass until they told me about it,” Ngannou says. “I did some research about it, and I was like, ‘This movie is silly. This is crazy.’ They were like, ‘Yeah, that’s the concept. That’s how it’s meant to be.’” Ngannou says that while he has enjoyed his time
on both movie sets, he doesn’t expect to follow in the footsteps of fighters who have retired early to pursue acting more seriously. He says he still has too much to accomplish in the UFC. “It’s about my dream. It’s about my calling. I think when you prove yourself to be hungry, you never get satisfied, because there is always something that you have to accomplish all the time. It’s never over,” he says. “Yes, you’ve been a world champion, but so many people have been world champion before you and after you. So what can you do different, and how high can you set the bar? So that’s kind of the motivation for me. The more you get, the more you get hungry.” –Case Keefer
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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AFRICAN TRINITY
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THOSE WHO AWAIT To keep his belt long-term, Francis Ngannou will likely need to defeat these three men
There’s never been more talent in the UFC’s heavyweight division with a long line of potential contenders that make the prospects of Ngannou’s reign even more exciting. Here are the three opponents on the top of the list for Ngannou to face— potentially all in 2022—if he stays healthy and keeps winning.
Francis Ngannou is one of three current UFC champions from his native continent BY CASE KEEFER Francis Ngannou held up three fingers shortly after beating Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title, and it was far from an empty gesture. Ngannou meant that he had just become the UFC’s third African-born champion, alongside fellow current belt-holders Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya. Usman, a 34-year-old born in Nigeria, brought Africa its first title when he defeated Tyronn Woodley by unanimous decision for the welterweight belt at UFC 235 in March 2019. He’s currently rated as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by the UFC rankings and will go for his fifth title defense November 6 at New York’s Madison Square Garden when he fights against rival Colby Covington at UFC 268. Adesanya, a 32-year-old also originally from Nigeria, got his championship a month after Usman in the middleweight division and has since unified the belt and defended it three times. An electric striker who attacks from all angles, “The Last Stylebender” might be the most exciting fighter currently in the UFC. The UFC is reportedly trying to book his next title defense, a second meeting with former champion Robert Whittaker, as the co-main event for Ngannou vs. Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. Although none of the three champions have ever been teammates —Usman is now based out of Onx Sports in Denver and Adesanya is entrenched at City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand— they’ve become close friends and are driven by each other’s success. Behind the trio’s success, mixed martial arts is booming on the world’s second-largest continent. And UFC President Dana White says he will bring a card to Africa for the first time as soon as pandemic-induced global travel restrictions lighten.
CIRYL GANE The undefeated Muay Thai kickboxer out of Paris recently won the interim heavyweight title that Ngannou thought shouldn’t have existed. In case that didn’t set up a rivalry, Gane fights out of Ngannou’s old MMA Factory gym. The two were briefly training partners before Ngannou had a falling-out with MMA Factory owner/coach Fernand Lopez and moved his training to Las Vegas. “It doesn’t get any better than this,” White said of Ngannou vs. Gane. “You couldn’t write it. You couldn’t script it. [WWE President] Vince [McMahon] couldn’t have written a better script for this whole thing. It’s beautiful.” Ngannou and Gane are expected, though not confirmed, to fight at UFC 270 in January.
JON JONES Often considered the best fighter in UFC history, Jones has bulked up for more than a year, anticipating a move to heavyweight. Ngannou was under the impression that Jones, the longtime light heavyweight champion, would be the opponent for his first title defense and still prefers that matchup. Some have even suggested the fight could be big enough to headline Allegiant Stadium. But the matchup no longer seems imminent, with Jones locked in a contract dispute with the UFC. Jones was also recently arrested for domestic battery and tampering with a police vehicle while in Las Vegas for UFC 266.
STIPE MIOCIC Ngannou defeated Miocic definitively earlier this year, but the inverse was true the first time they met: Miocic won every round on every judge’s scorecard in their first fight in 2018. A trilogy bout to break the deadlock between the two fighters seems destined to happen at some point. Miocic holds the UFC record for most heavyweight title defenses (4), and Ngannou’s time at the top might not feel complete until he faces Miocic one more time. –Case Keefer
(AP Photos)
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BIG THIS WEEK HOCKEY
COLORADO EAGLES AT HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS The Golden Knights have a deep and talented roster this year, which means their top farm team will be loaded with NHL-ready players, on top of the rising prospects learning and biding their time. That should translate into some high-caliber hockey, and a chance to get a close view of some potential future stars. Not to mention, Silver Knights games are fun, affordable and don’t involve Strip traffic or parking. October 15, 7 p.m., $38-$121, Orleans Arena, hendersonsilverknights.com. –Spencer Patterson
BLONDIE & FAB 5 FREDDY “YULETIDE THROWDOWN” Originally released on flexidisc, this 1981 novelty track—a holiday-themed version of “Rapture”— gets a Cut Chemist remix that’s ... not bad at all. It’s from a Blondie box set that drops in 2022. Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music etc.
PRODUCTION
LADY GAGA Gaga won one of her dozen Grammy Awards for her 2014 collaboration with Tony Bennett, an album of covers titled Cheek to Cheek. The duo’s follow-up, Love for Sale, was released last month after the pair performed together twice in August at Radio City Music Hall. Battling Alzheimer’s, Bennett and his team announced that this will be his last album, and those were likely his final performances. Among the legend’s last Vegas appearances was his unannounced performance to help Gaga open the “Jazz & Piano” portion of her residency in January 2019, a show that returns to Park MGM this week, continues through Halloween and might never have happened were it not for their unique musical friendship. October 14, 16-17, 8 p.m., $175+, Park Theater, 844-600-7275. –Brock Radke
LAUGHS
GILBERT GOTTFRIED’S DIRTY COMEDY FESTIVAL “Working blue.” That’s a show business euphemism for performing risky and willfully profane comedy, and with this comedy showcase in the Plaza Showroom, Gilbert Gottfried intends to go headlong into the wild blue yonder. Gottfried and his cohorts—“Pitbull of Comedy” Bobby Slayton, AVN Awards co-host Thea Vidale and Comedy Central regular Patty Rosborough—will double down on jokes that offend, shock and maybe even make you laugh despite yourself. October 15-16, 8 p.m., $30-$45, the Plaza, 702386-2110. –Geoff Carter
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MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION A few bright points aside, Disney’s stewardship of The Muppets hasn’t exactly thrilled. The franchise gets back on track with this funny, atmospheric and actually kinda scary Disney+ special featuring Gonzo and Pepe the King Prawn.
Lady Gaga (AP/Photo Illustration)
OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
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DRINKS
DOWNTOWN BREW FESTIVAL After missing 2020 due to, well, you know, the annual outdoor tasting fest returns for its ninth year. Two hundred craft beers will be served from more than 60 breweries, including local favorites (Able Baker, CraftHaus, Lovelady), visiting mainstays (Modern Times, Rogue, Stone) and at least a few you’ve probably never tried before (Iceland’s Einstök, anyone?). Several eateries will also be on site, and Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds, Band of Gringos and Sunrise Sunset will provide the musical accompaniment. October 16, 5-9 p.m., $35+, Clark County Amphitheater, downtownbrew festival.com. –Evelyn Mateos
ART
JUAN MUNIZ: CHILD-ISH Illustrator, muralist and toy designer Juan Muniz is one of Las Vegas’ favorite lowbrow artists, known for his lifestyle brand Ninobuni World, his character Felipe the Bunny and his VGK-inspired Golden Misfits designs. Most importantly, Muniz uses his work to promote mental health. Don’t miss his one-day-only solo exhibition, Child-ish. The show, which will feature 10 new, large-scale art pieces, a limited print release and a live auction, benefits FEAT of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit autism support organization. Muniz will also paint live alongside with Liam, an 11-year-old boy with autism. October 14, 7-9 p.m., free, Ricci’s Room inside Maceoo at Aria. –C. Moon Reed
CONCERT
J. COLE In his documentary, Applying Pressure: The Off Season, Grammy-nominated rapper J. Cole likens the creation of his May LP to training on the basketball court. “I put myself through drills,” he says in the documentary. “I really tried to work on my craft to just reach new heights and push myself, so that’s why I call it The Off Season.” Cole’s work paid off, with his sixth studio album topping the Billboard 200 upon its release. He’ll bring some of its songs—and others—to life, with support from 21 Savage. October 16, 8 p.m., $78+, MGM Grand Garden Arena, mgmgrand. com. –Amber Sampson
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NOISE Talking Toxicity, cannabis and more with System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian BY BROCK RADKE
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onsidering the growth of his 22Red cannabis lifestyle brand at venues across the Valley, it might seem like System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian is a Las Vegas resident. The musician, entrepreneur and father of three says he has considered buying a home here, but after the pandemic basically transformed him into a full-time dad, he’s been focusing on his family and his business. He’ll get back to the business of performing with System at T-Mobile Arena this week—the first of five west coast shows on the art-metal outfit’s schedule. “It took touring away from me when we had a world tour coming up, so we’re doing small pieces at a time,” Odadjian
says. “After these shows, I don’t know when we’ll be playing again. So I’m juggling that with home-schooling. Imagine first-grade and third-grade classes going off, and being in the nursery [with a 3-year-old] and trying to do office Zoom meetings.” Rock stars are people too, especially during a global pandemic. System just marked the 20th anniversary of seminal album Toxicity, which infamously debuted at No. 1 on September 11, 2001. “It’s interesting how it really made sense back then. People thought we were talking about the stuff that came after 9/11 on that album,
OPEN SYSTEM
but we were talking about other stuff; it just became relevant,” Odadjian says. “Here we are 20 years later, and it’s just as relevant with what we’re going through again, and the whole planet is going through it.” He says the group has always enjoyed performing in Las Vegas, and fans should expect an explosive performance considering how long it’s been since the SoCal-born band took the stage. “I haven’t played these songs for three years. It’s going to be
something special.” Meanwhile, offstage, 22Red has evolved and expanded rapidly in California, Nevada and Arizona, recently dropping exclusive new products here. There are 14 strains available in Las Vegas at Curaleaf, Jade, Cultivate, MedMen, the Source and other dispensaries, plus two concentrates that haven’t launched anywhere else. Odadjian notes the company also grows in greenhouses in Las Vegas, which offers some cannabis choices that aren’t yet available in California or Arizona. “The vibe of the brand is never gonna change, always the same energy, but it’s becoming a little bigger,”
he says. “It’s out of your hands a little bit when it comes to what happens in different states, but I’m still there to hold everything accountable—the genetics, the packaging, coming in and checking every nug to make sure what is being grown is up to the standard. We’ve been able to keep it boutique, because the people we partner with understand it and love it and are carrying on the vision.” Odadjian is also carrying on with a musical side project he began before the pandemic, a band called North Kingsley that started with a distinct hip-hop flavor. That crew has been writing and recording during the shutdown, and it’s taking off in a new direction. “It’s turning into more of a rock thing and becoming way more heavy, and that makes me happy, because that’s my DNA,” he says. “We’re not rushing it. I think North Kingsley is going to be something special, and I’m excited for System fans to hear this new stuff.”
SYSTEM OF A DOWN With Korn & Russian Circles. October 15, 7:30 p.m., $50-$150. T-Mobile Arena, 702-692-1616.
Shavo Odadjian at Cultivate dispensary (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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PLAYING HOUSE DJ Crykit’s Playhouse makes its long-awaited Downtown return BY AMBER SAMPSON
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clectic doesn’t even begin to describe Vegas scenester Michelle Kolnik, better known as DJ Crykit. “I’ve been a raver, a b-girl, a sneaker and vinyl toy collector, an avid art show attender, a vintage clothing reseller, a full-time DJ,” she says, and for the past three years, she’s been the curator for Crykit’s Playhouse, a “nightlife experience that’s a melting pot of all the cultural scenes I’ve been a part of throughout my life.” Kolnik’s open-format DJ style has landed her gigs opening for everyone from Bruno Mars and Duran Duran
to Anderson .Paak and Tove Lo. But before she became DJ Crykit, Kolnik grew up in Wisconsin and relocated in the early 2000s to San Francisco, where she discovered a passion for art, style and sound. She locked into the Vegas scene with DJ gigs at the former Insert Coin(s) Downtown and then at Fremont East favorite Commonwealth, where Crykit’s Playhouse first debuted. The concept started as an online shop for vintage clothing and evolved into one of Downtown’s favorite parties—a place to listen to premier DJs, interact with art installations and, most importantly, ex-
perience fashion on an urban runway. “[It’s about people] feeling that they’ve been able to put time and thought into their outfit, how they’re showing up, seeing how others are dressed and being inspired,” Kolnik says. “My favorite takeaway I hear … is that they were able to connect with someone they’re creatively inspired by. I hear all the time they’ve met their new best friend or they’re now working on a shoot together for a creative project. I love having the platform to bring creative people together and feel something electric.” The pandemic stalled Crykit’s Play-
house for a year, but the event returned in August at a new location, Fergusons Downtown, in conjunction with the DTLV Field Trip series. Vintage collectors, stylists and artists came out in full force. Kolnik dressed the part, wearing overalls with rare Kubrick toys sewn into a clear pouch by designer Wavymonii, felt flowers added by Velveteen Rabbit bar owner Pamela Dylag and custom nail designs by Arielle Moses. The switch to Fergusons allows Kolnik to put fashion on full display, she says. “It’s an adult playground. I love having access to a stage, to lighting, to
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NIGHTS CRYKIT’S PLAYHOUSE October 15, 8 p.m., free (through online guest list). Fergusons Downtown, bit.ly/3ArkdDY.
DJ Crykit (Courtesy Mason Quick)
Lío Ibiza (Courtesy Pacha Group)
the different layers and levels that community space holds,” she explains. It also allows a shift to an 18-and-over format. The next party on October 15 will showcase local curator AXGQZ, who will style a fashion show with pieces from his ’90s-inspired Y2K collection. LA-based DJ Falcons will headline with support from Ralph Cinema, A.C. Esme and JDHD, and Kolnik will play a set while salon artists from the Noise Project and stylist Ira Pope Sage handle live haircuts onstage. Next up, the Playhouse will become a quarterly event, giving Kolnik time to “really execute and create more of a festival feel,” she says.
Bringing Ibiza to Bellagio
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ancer and actress Ariadna Hafez has been Mayfair Supper Club for two weeks starting on performing at the Lío Ibiza restaurant October 18. and cabaret for seven years, so she knows It isn’t just a different show. Mayfair’s menu better than anyone how this unique enterwill be switched over as well, adding Spanish tainment experience affects its guests. flair to complement the interactive performanc“The moment you go inside, a lot of things es running late into the night. are happening that bring out different feelings,” “Lío is indescribable, in a way. It’s a mélange she says. “You arrive shy and calm, not knowof all kinds of things,” says Pacha Group CEO ing what to expect. And then we warm Nick McCabe, who served as longtime LÍO IBIZA you up, chat with you, make you feel at Las Vegas nightlife exec before his AT MAYFAIR home, make you feel like you’re part of current Ibiza gig. “It’s such a creative SUPPER CLUB experience … and it just builds and the show. Soon you start singing and October 18-31, dancing with us. The night is getting builds throughout the night.” themayfairlv. warmer while you’re eating and watching Since Mayfair opened in 2019, the com/lio. acrobats, singers, dancers, comedy. Strip has added innovative supper club “It’s dramatic and erotic, a bit of experiences with Delilah at Wynn and everything,” she continues, “and at the Superfrico at the Cosmopolitan. The end of the night you’ll have a lot of different Lío partnership advances the Vegas trend in a emotions. A lot of people say it’s one of the best natural way. nights of their life.” “We know how to connect with the audience. Plenty of travelers spend time in Las Vegas It doesn’t matter where we are,” Hafez says. “In and Ibiza, particularly club hoppers and dance Ibiza you have incredible views and the beach music aficionados. The Ibiza party scene has and the place is just insane, but Mayfair is an influenced Strip nightlife for years, but it has incredible restaurant with the fountains of Belnever really been transplanted in Las Vegas— lagio in front. People will have the same feeling until now, when Lío takes over Bellagio’s lavish and experience, for sure.” –Brock Radke
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VOICED VISUALS
“Bitter Earth” by Carla Jay Harris and Dr. Brenda E. Stevenson
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ART The Barrick Museum’s ‘I Am Here’ lets the artists speak for themselves BY C. MOON REED PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS
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he new exhibition in the East Gallery of UNLV’s Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art is vastly different from nearly every other art exhibit you’ve seen. Walking into I Am Here, it might at first be difficult to spot what makes it unique. As with many shows, the room is filled with art and sculpture by a variety of talented national and Las Vegas-based artists. But look closely at the little signs accompanying each piece, and you’ll see something unusual. Rather than the standard write-up—generally a description of the work written by a gallerist or curator—the art in I Am Here features the artists’ own words. For example, Chase R. McCurdy’s black and white photograph of a sparkler, an American flag and a block tower (“Don’t Say I Didn’t WARN You…,” 2018) could be a patriotic still life. But the image is transformed by his words: “It’s a reflection in the work of my contending with the everyday realities of this world. So, there are those … times when it feels as though things are about to come down.” Rather than Fourth of July celebrations, the sparkler could represent an implosion of the American Dream. The artists’ quotes enhance the show’s stated goal: “Taking its cues from a textbased artwork by the visual storyteller Ashley Hairston Doughty, I Am Here invites us to think about what it means to use art as a vehicle for personal narratives,” the show’s description reads. “What stories do artists choose to tell about themselves, and who is invited to talk?” How better to know what artists would say than to share their own words? The idea is so obviously perfect, it’s a wonder it’s not common practice. The series of cartoonish face prints by visual and performing artist Heidi Rider are a delightful and discomfiting example of art as personal memoir. Rider “started working on [her] face” after catching COVID and becoming too weak to draw standing up. Instead, she would don clown makeup, do a photo shoot in character and then press her made-up face into a handkerchief, preserving it as a sort of clown death-mask. She writes, “This is an emotion-based practice that allows me to process whatever
Work by Claudia DeMonte
I’m feeling. In a creative way. And then wash it off. And send it down the drain.” The titles of her faces reveal a radical vulnerability: “Tell me I’m pretty,” “U used 2 want me,” “F*ck this sh*t,” and “2020.” As for who has been invited to talk, the team at the Barrick Museum, led by Executive Director Alisha Kerlin, put together a list of vital artists, whose work is either on loan or in the museum’s permanent collection. They include Catherine Angel,
I AM HERE Through January 22; Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free. UNLV’s Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, 702-895-3011.
Tomoko Daido, Claudia DeMonte, Justin Favela, Carla Jay Harris, Brent Holmes, Krystal Ramirez, Lance L. Smith, Dr. Brenda E. Stevenson and Mikayla Whitmore. The installation by the late, great Cuban-born American artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres is a show highlight. The 1991 work “Untitled (L.A.)” consists of 50 pounds of wrapped green candies piled on the floor. The weight of the candy represents how much Gonzalez-Torres’ partner weighed at the time, as he was dying of AIDS. Taken from a 1993 interview, Felix-Torres’ quote reads: “Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that’s why I made works of art.” On the other end of the spectrum is Jay Sarno. The late creator of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus is not known to be an artist, but his concrete “Sarno Block” says otherwise. The playful mid-mod architectural piece was used in his iconic Las Vegas building facades. Sarno’s quote is hilariously self-aware: “In your opinion, do I look like any designer you ever met? I would rather hang up by my thumbs!”
Fabric handkerchiefs with oil-based face paint by Heidi Rider
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MEAT THE NEIGHBORS
Featherblade Butchery brings old-world style to Las Vegas BY BROCK RADKE
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n London, where Martin Kirrane was operating a couple small butcher shops before recently relocating to Las Vegas, doing what he does is fairly standard practice. “Small fish in a big pond,” he says. “There were five other butchers within two square miles. Here, we’ve been open just a few months and already been noticed by local chefs and [customers]. You could be in London for 20 years and that might not happen.” Indeed, local foodies and restaurant folks are making a fast favorite of Featherblade English Craft Butchery at West Charleston and Durango. Kirrane and his American wife opened the shop in June, recognizing “what I do as the norm could actually be something special here,” since the Valley isn’t flush with independent butchers. Featherblade is all about full animal butchery and only offers meats and products from ethical and sustainable sources. Among its suppliers are Las Vegas Livestock—the Combs family’s pig farm in North Las Vegas—along with Strauss Brands for veal and Southern California’s Santa Carota for beef. Kirrane and his staff, all of whom have some experience as chefs or cooks, use traditional methods and practices, with a nod toward English style. “It’s really about two things, the welfare of the animal and the welfare of the people eating it,” Kirrane says. It’s not unusual to see the Featherblade crew working on a whole hog or steer behind the counter while you pe-
FEATHERBLADE ENGLISH CRAFT BUTCHERY 8550 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-625-2733. MondayFriday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
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FOOD & DRINK
Featherblade Butchery owner Martin Kirrane (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
HOT POTATOES
SoCal favorite Mr. Fries Man comes to town
Mr. Fries Man’s BBQ bacon ranch chicken fries
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
ruse display cases full of specialty steak cuts and house-made burger patties and sausages. You’ll find products that aren’t available elsewhere in town, like proper back bacon, classic British bangers and Scottish Cumberland sausages. There are also plenty of familiar choices, like Mary’s Free Range and Jidori chicken, Creekstone prime beef and local pork tenderloin and St. Louis-style ribs. The pricing is competitive. “Everybody should be able to get good quality meat,” Kirrane says. “And I’m always saying to the guys that we’re in the education business. We’re always on hand to advise, since we do have some things that aren’t as familiar, and suggesting different ways to cook it.” To advance that education process, Kirrane has launched Featherblade Evenings, a hands-on experience that keeps it friendly and informative and without delving into the super-technical aspects of butchery. You won’t just see how the sausage is made—you’ll get to try doing it. Another bonus: the hot box on the counter, always full of flaky, pastry-wrapped sausage rolls and Cornish pasties with various savory fillings. These irresistible snacks have also helped Featherblade build its following of regulars. “Already we know about a third of our customers by name, and that’s really cool,” Kirrane says. “We build a rapport and know what they like, and a lot of them always want to try something new.”
BY GEOFF CARTER Craig Batiste started at home. Five years ago, the Gardena, California, resident began piling backyard-grilled meats atop mounds of fresh-cut French fries, drenching them in yummy sauces and posting photos to his Instagram page, where growing numbers of South Bay residents clamored for a taste of what Mr. Fries Man was making. (Initially, he sold his loaded fries in parking lots belonging to other businesses, who kept kicking him out.) Several years and celebrity endorsements later (the late rapper Nipsey Hussle was a fan), Batiste and his wife Dorothy are up to 21 brick-and-mortar locations, spread across multiple cities as far as Atlanta. The Vegas Valley has scored two, one in North Las Vegas on Craig Road near Decatur Boulevard and another UNLV-adjacent at Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway. The reason for Mr. Fries Man’s growth is pretty easy to figure out: Batiste is still doing what made him a hit, serving up enormous and irresistible plates of fries, protein and sauce. Start with the specialties. Sure, you could get a simple plate of chicken chili and cheese fries, but they’re low on the menu, beneath shrimp and steak fries doused in honey garlic sauce ($21), fried or grilled chicken with bacon, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing and barbecue sauce ($15), or a generous helping of crab and shrimp, finished with cheddar and lemon garlic sauce ($25). A “build your own” option ($12-$25) offers any house meat the or plant-based Beyond Meat, your choice of sauces—from a creamy and spicy jalapeño ranch to the house’s sweet, tangy “Hello”—and as many add-ons ($2-$7) as you’d like, such as cheddar, bacon or chili. Every plate of fries is hefty enough to feed two to three people, MR. FRIES MAN so if you’d like to try more 1040 E. Flamingo Road, than one of Mr. Fries Man’s 702-485-1144; namesake creations, you’ll 4040 W. Craig Road, need lots of friends or lots 702-202-2870. of time. At the rate Batiste’s Daily, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. hot potato empire is growing, there’s room for both.
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NOTHING BUT NETS
Brooklyn to win the title and other suggested futures for the upcoming NBA season BY CASE KEEFER
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hree different champions and three different runner-ups have emerged in each of the past three NBA seasons, making for only the second time in the last 40 years so many different franchises have been represented at the sport’s pinnacle. It’s been a near-unprecedented run of parity, largely because of the league’s shifting power landscape in the wake of superstars switching teams. With player movement via trades and free agency exploding in frequency and basketball’s global popularity growing to unearth more talent, many have proclaimed this will be the new normal. Not so fast. History has shown that the NBA, more than all the other major American sports leagues, is ultimately dominated by the best players, especially when a collection of them band together. With Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving leading the way, the Brooklyn Nets have the best collection of players entering the upcoming season—and it’s not even close. The talent level on the Nets’ roster, which includes three other multi-time All-Stars in addition to the aforementioned Big Three, is every bit as overwhelming as the Miami Heat and Golden State Warrior teams of the 2010s. And yet, Brooklyn comes into the season priced significantly higher to win the title than any of those teams ever did, giving gamblers a can’t-miss betting opportunity ahead of the 2021-2022 season, which tips off on October 19. William Hill sportsbooks lists the Nets at 3-to-1 to win the NBA Championship, denoting less than a 25% chance after adjusting for the house’s hold percentage. Yeah, right. Brooklyn might be worth playing at any
KEVIN DURANT
plus-price, because its true probability isn’t any worse than 50% to win its first NBA Finals in franchise history. A sliver of Durant’s shoe on the three-point line at the end of regulation in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks was all that held off the Nets last season—despite everything conspiring against them. Neither Harden nor Irving were healthy for the series between the NBA’s two best teams, and it still took overtime in the final game for eventual champion Milwaukee to prevail. Had both those players been healthy, the Bucks would have been lucky to last five games. There was supposed to be an adjustment period when Brooklyn traded for Harden in the middle of last season, but that never happened. With him on board, the Nets instantly became one of the most efficient offensive teams in NBA history, even though their Big Three played less than 10 games together due to injuries and COVID
JAMES HARDEN
(AP/Photo Illustration)
SPORTS
KYRIE IRVING
diagnoses. It would take extraordinary bad luck for that to happen again this season (though Irvin’s anti-vaccination stance, conflicting with New York state laws, is reason for concern), but even if it does, the Nets should still have enough to remain the favorite to win the title. It’s been a welcome change of pace to see teams like last year’s Bucks (as high as 12-to-1 in the middle of last season) and the 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors (which opened at 60-to-1) prevail in the NBA Finals recently. But those titles remain novelties by NBA standards. The Nets’ reign is coming, and bettors should get in while they can. What about the West? Minus the Nets and Bucks, the Western Conference is seen as a more wide-open race. That’s fair, but don’t discount the chances of the defending West champion Phoenix Suns the way the betting market appears to be doing. The Suns are 10-to-1 to win the West at Circa Sports and might be worth playing at anything above 5-to-1. Some are characterizing the Suns’ rise as a one-year oddity, but that’s a mistake. With a young roster—aside from future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul—they still have room to grow. Phoenix, unlike Milwaukee, did benefit from minimal missed time to injuries, but that has become the norm with the Suns and doesn’t appear to be coincidence. Phoenix has one of the most renowned training staffs in all of sports dating back more than 10 years. A proven basketball projection model, DARKO, tabs the Suns to win the most games in the West by a relatively comfortable 4.5-victory margin this season. They won’t be as popular as the new-look Los Angeles Lakers or now-healthy Warriors, but the Suns will be every bit as good, if not better. Who wins MVP? Forget splitting the votes; if the Nets are as strong as expected, one of their stars has the best chance to win the Most Valuable Player award. Throw out Irving. He’s talented enough, but a clear third option to Durant and Harden with a damaged reputation among voters. Durant recently came in first in ESPN’s annual NBA Rank series rating the best players, but that was largely because of his exceptional play last postseason. Brooklyn rested him liberally throughout the regular season in preparation for the playoffs and will likely take the same approach this year. Harden is the most durable of the three and the most likely to pace the Nets on a nightly basis. MVP is a regular-season award, and few players in the regular season are as consistent at Harden. He’s a steal at 25-to-1 odds at BetMGM and playable at 15-to-1 or better.
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Raiders running back Josh Jacobs carries the ball against the Bears during the second half of the teams’ October 10 game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (AP/Photo Illustration)
n Last Week: Bears 20, Raiders 9 The Raiders’ offense went missing for the second straight week, scoring only one touchdown on a one-yard rush from Josh Jacobs late in the game. The defense played well, holding the Bears to 252 total yards and 4.2 yards per play, but gave up back-toback penalty-assisted touchdown drives in the second quarter that proved to be the difference. Penalties were a problem on offense, too, with a Jacobs touchdown wiped off the board early in the game by a holding call. The team totaled 10 flags for 82 yards, a factor that contributed significantly to the defeat.
RAIDERS
Report
This Week: Raiders (3-2) at Broncos (3-2) When: Sunday, October, 17, 1:25 p.m. Where: Empower Field at Mile High TV: CBS (Channel 8) Radio: 920-AM, KOMP-92.3 Betting line: Broncos -3.5, over/under: 40.5. Matchup: The AFC West rivals go into their first matchup of the year in identical situations, having lost two in a row to soil surprising 3-0 starts. The Raiders’ offensive line has been the worst in the NFL, and the Broncos have a defensive front that should attack it, led by future Hall of Famer Von Miller, who has 4.5 sacks so far this season. The Broncos’ offense has slowed and endured a rash of injuries at wide receiver, so the Raiders’ defense should be set up for more success, even though cornerbacks Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette are expected to be out again. Raider to Watch: Tight end Darren Waller The player most capable of breaking the Raiders out of their offensive malaise is their Pro-Bowl tight end, assuming he can put a rough Week 5 behind him. Waller had a pair of drops against the Bears, which held him to season lows of four receptions and 45 yards. He hasn’t put together a big game since Week 1 against the Ravens, and the Raiders need another now more than ever. In the final game last season against the Broncos, Waller led the Raiders to victory with nine receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.
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Court is in session: Feel Good Brands expands casual options on the Strip
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BY BROCK RADKE
isitors to the midway at Circus Circus have long had one dining option over the years—decades, actually. But the McDonald’s will soon have some company in the latest example of food courts changing with the times. The concept of the casino food court has evolved quite a bit in Las Vegas in recent years, with major Strip resorts such as Harrah’s, the Cosmopolitan and this year’s arrival, Resorts World, bringing sweeping innovations to the familiar and casual culinary option. While the size, design and variation at food courts continues to change, incorporating strong brands remains an important component, said Lincoln Spoor, founder of Feel Good Brands. His company operates food courts at Excalibur, Treasure Island and a new space opening in a few weeks at Circus Circus. “We are so excited because [guests] have been walking by what was the buffet space and wondering what is going on,” Spoor says. “And then they look at all these brands coming to Circus Circus, some of the best brands out there, and it’s like, holy cow. It should be one of the better food courts on the Strip, especially considering all the improvements going on at the property.” In addition to bringing outlets of Dairy Queen Grill, Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen, Pick Up Stix and Einstein Bros. Bagels to Circus Circus, the $9 million
project also involves relocating and expanding a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts store that has been on the property for 20 years, and replacing Auntie Anne’s pretzel shop with a brand-new Del Taco restaurant in March. The food court marks a continuing reinvigoration of the 53-year-old casino resort since MGM Resorts International sold it to Phil Ruffin two years ago. The family-friendly demographics at Circus Circus and long-running carnival midway entertainment on the second floor of the property are an obvious fit for the food court, Spoor says. His company just had to wait until the right time
to partner with the casino. “Feel Good Brands has made a substantial investment in taking the food choices at the property to a new level, and this expansion is just one of many exciting new developments we have coming soon to our world-famous property,” wrote Shana Gerety, senior vice president of operations at Circus Circus, in an email to Vegas Inc. “We believe this is truly what the property was missing and cannot wait for our guests and team members to experience the new food court,” she continued. The McDonald’s near the midway is
still open, and there’s also a stand-alone McDonald’s drive-thru just outside Circus Circus and its adjoining Slots a Fun casino steps away on Las Vegas Boulevard. “McDonald’s had a monopoly for 30 years on fast food and any cuisine type other than pizza,” Spoor said. “We were able to come in and give guests what they want—choices and nationally or regionally strong brands.” Feel Good Brands was founded in 1998 when Spoor opened the first Krispy Kreme west of the Mississippi in Las Vegas at Excalibur. The castle-themed resort is site of the group’s initial Las Vegas food court, which now also includes its own eatery dedicated to french fries, Frites. There’s also food court favorites such as Cinnabon and Schlotzsky’s. Additionally, the mini-court—just a few months old—in the former sportsbook space at Treasure Island, another of Ruffin’s casinos, has food court staples such as Popeye’s and Pick Up Stix. “TI is pretty much done, but I would love to put a Del Taco there,” Spoor said. “When they closed the buffet and opened the [Gold Circle] sports bar, that enabled us to put in these two concepts, and we’re looking for more. There’s other space there. Phil Ruffin is a brilliant operator and he sees value where no one else does.” Feel Good Brands just wrapped up a series of hiring events to fill more than 80 positions at all three casino food courts.
An artist’s rendering of the Circus Circus food court, scheduled to open soon. (Courtesy)
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VegasInc Giving Notes Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth celebrated 20 years of positive impact on youths experiencing homelessness. In its 20 years, NPHY has provided more than 7,000 nights off the streets for youths at its emergency shelters and more than 65,000 nights off the streets at its multisite transitional housing facilities. The nonprofit launched its 20th anniversary impact fund to sustain and grow programs that help youths overcome hardship and reach their highest potential.
annual Inspire Gala at the Waldorf Astoria on August 28, raising more than $450,000 to support its mission to maximize the gift of life and health through organ, eye and tissue donation. Several community members were honored with awards during the gala, including: Governor’s Award – Vegas Golden Knights; Life Award – the Jimmerson family, in honor of donor hero Jacob Jimmerson; Strength Award – Massiel Smith; and Hope Award – UMC Transplantation Center.
The Gene Haas Foundation, a philanthropic organization created by the founder of Haas Automation, donated $5,000 to the Henderson Firefighter Benevolent Association. The donation will assist the association with its primary objective to provide charitable assistance to members of the Henderson Fire Department, disabled and retired personnel, and their survivors as needed, including unexpected injuries, line of duty death and more.
Cox Communications celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring four Southern Nevadans for their contributions to our community. Honorees included state Sen. Mo Denis; 2021 National Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey, economist Jeremy Aguero of Applied Analysis and Cox senior manager Adrian Bernal. Public Service Announcements featuring each aired on Cox channels during the month.
The National Park Service awarded $50,000 to the City of Las Vegas as part of the Underrepresented Community Grant Program. The program focuses on preserving more of the nation’s history and telling a more complete story of the nation’s diversity. Las Vegas will use the funds to research and determine eligibility of structures and properties located in West Las Vegas for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places as well as listing on the City of Las Vegas Historic Property Register. HomeAid Southern Nevada, the official outreach partner of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, completed its third of four custom home renovations on the New Vista Ranch home site, benefiting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. HomeAid provided time and materials through in-kind donations from trade partners and employed the use of residential builder Toll Brothers to manage the construction efforts for one of the four homes. In total, the renovations will cover nearly 3,000 square feet for residents. City National Bank provided Nevada HAND and Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada with Community Reinvestment Act grants totaling $15,000. City National contributes financial, in-kind and volunteer assistance to nonprofit institutions and organizations that enhance the quality of life and promote public interest where the company conducts its business. The main areas of the bank’s community outreach include education, health and human services, community development, and arts and culture. Nevada Donor Network hosted its
The Nevada Mining Association donated $7,700 to After-School AllStars, thanks to its annual Hope for Heat Campaign. Every day that the temperature reached 100 degrees in Las Vegas, NVMA would donate $100. The funds will support after-school programs and boost the nonprofit’s mission of providing children with a safe space to learn, grow and succeed in both school and life. In total, the NVMA raised $20,660 for three nonprofits across Nevada—After-School All-Stars in Las Vegas, as well as the Eddy House in Reno and the Boys & Girls Club of Elko. Las Vegas’ Historic Westside received a $500,000 philanthropic contribution from MGM Resorts International via the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE and its fiscal agent, Nevada Community Foundation Inc. to help it become the first neighborhood in the city to have a community-based urban agriculture farming facility of this nature. This facility will serve to tackle food insecurity rates while addressing unemployment and building community wealth. With an ongoing mission to provide educational opportunities and resources to underserved populations, the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education donated $250,000 to nonprofit CORE. The funds will be used to expand CORE’s program to include a new cohort of scholars that will be named the Andre Agassi Foundation cohort. Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada hosted its second annual Swing Fore Safe Homes Golf Tournament, raising $40,000 thanks to event participants and sponsors. The funds will allow RTSNV to provide critical repairs to five homes at no cost to service recipients.
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“SCALE MODELS”” BY FRANK LONGO
HOROSCOPES
WEEK OF OCTOBER 14 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Life will present you with unusual opportunities. You will find it reasonable and righteous to shed, dismantle and rebel against the past. Redefining your history will be a fun and worthy project. Freshen your mood and attitude by rearranging your furniture. Write a note of atonement to a person you hurt once upon a time. Give yourself a new nickname and emancipate yourself from a pattern or habit you want to leave behind. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): If there is a scarcity of lovers, friends, allies and relatives in your life, the next eight weeks will be an excellent time to round up new ones. And if you are connected with people who delight in your progress and evolution, deepen your connection with them. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Author Lisa Cron advises writers, “Avoid exclamation points! Really!! Because they’re distracting!! Almost as much as CAPITALIZING THINGS!!!” You’re likely to find success in the coming weeks if you’re understated, modest and nonmelodramatic. Make it your goal to create smooth, suave, savvy solutions. Be cagey and cool and crafty. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu told us that water is in one sense soft and passive, but in another sense superb at eroding jams and obstacles that are hard and firm. You are one of the zodiac’s top wielders of water’s superpower. Take full advantage of your sensitivity, your emotional intelligence and your empathy. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Author James Baldwin said, “You read something which you thought only happened to you, and you discover that it happened 100 years ago to [Russian novelist] Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This is a great liberation for the suffering, struggling person, who always thinks that he is alone.” Track down people who have had pivotal experiences similar to yours. You need the consoling companionship they can provide. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Octavio Paz described “the distraction of the person who withdraws from the world in order to shut himself up in the secret and ever-changing land of his fantasy.” It’s time to reinvigorate your relationship with your deep inner sources. Go in search of the reverent joy that comes from communing with your tantalizing mysteries.
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Bucolic 9 Break away formally 15 Lazes about 20 Out of prison conditionally 21 Brand of infant formula 22 “— vincit amor” (“Love conquers all”) 23 Try to get the job done 24 The Grass Is Singing novelist 26 Falco of Oz 27 Bonding stuff 29 Peeving 30 O or Elle, e.g. 31 Original host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 35 In a calm way 37 Bellhop’s employer 38 Ultimate 40 Actress Hagen 41 They suffer for what they believe in 45 First lady who wrote American Grown 52 Self-confident declaration 53 Zilch 54 Ugly plants 55 Stuff oozing down a trunk 56 She sang “I’ll Be Missing You” with Puff Daddy 60 Skewed view 61 Unicycle part 62 Trout feature 63 “— go bragh” 64 Makes taboo 65 Sister chain of Marshalls 67 Art collector who founded a
Manhattan museum 72 Daisy parts 74 Nets or Nats 75 Daily opinion page 76 The Monkees’ “— Believer” 79 Since 80 Like lingerie 81 She played Kerry Weaver on ER 84 Hertz offering 85 Actress Keanan of Step by Step 87 Transmitted 88 This plus that 89 George C. Scott’s Taps co-star 92 Certain stream of particles 95 N, S, E or W 96 — de mer 97 Utility bill info 99 Waifish supermodel 104 Creator and star of FX’s Atlanta 110 Wall St. hedger 111 Remove a collar from, e.g. 113 Musk of SpaceX 114 Co. transfer 115 Luminaries like the eight featured in this puzzle? (hint: look at their first few letters) 118 Took off on 121 Pacific island nation 122 Dubbed 123 Greatness 124 Some female singers 125 Refuges 126 Goes along with humbly DOWN 1 Strength 2 Battery pole 3 Small shoot 4 George who
played Sulu 5 Singer Rita 6 Get decayed 7 Touches down 8 Leave alone 9 Second half of a single 10 “— Beso” 11 City about 50 miles west of Athens 12 Arab leader 13 Casino chips, e.g. 14 J.R. Ewing’s mother 15 California city near San Jose 16 Meditation syllables 17 Japanese cartoon art 18 Ultimate 19 Drooping 25 Invested (with) 28 Funny Tracey 32 Timid 33 “— favor” 34 Old Andean 36 Eatery bill 39 Chopping with an ax 41 Peeve 42 Brazilian berry 43 Cloudburst 44 Blasting aid 46 Passports, e.g. 47 Rent 48 The, in Paris 49 Area south of the Black Sea 50 Karl with a manifesto 51 Zenith 53 Manipulation of matter on a tiny scale 57 Satan’s home 58 God of love 59 Liveliness 60 Satchel, e.g. 61 “Eww, no more!,”
in texts 64 Lazy type 65 Ellington’s “Take — Train” 66 Yoda is one 68 Klutzy type 69 Medication for acid reflux 70 Part of LGBT 71 Fresh Air airer 72 Postwar deal 73 Morales of the screen 77 Prefix with analysis 78 Pallid 80 Put in words 81 Feline sign 82 Occurring every year 83 Clippers’ org. 85 Provocation 86 Ruler’s seat 87 WWII battle city in France 90 Pindar poem 91 Frog-to-be 92 Sullied reputation 93 Yolk’s place 94 Business card no. 98 Slanted 99 Iota-lambda link 100 “That’s — shame” 101 Fastening rod with a crosspiece 102 Lazy type 103 Bulgarian capital 105 Essentials 106 Arrangement 107 Leaf features 108 Vote in 109 Roping event 112 Being seen via the small screen 116 Kung — shrimp 117 Wallet bill 119 Discharge from service, informally 120 Wallet bill
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “We must never be afraid to go too far, for truth lies beyond,” declared novelist Marcel Proust. One of your strengths is your skill at maintaining healthy boundaries. But the coming weeks will be one of those rare times when you’ll be wise to consider an alternative approach: that the most vigorous truths and liveliest energies may lie beyond where you usually go. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Author William S. Burroughs claimed his greatest strength was a “capacity to confront myself no matter how unpleasant.” But although he recognized his mistakes, he rarely made any corrections. Do what Burroughs couldn’t. Question yourself about how you might have gone off course, but then make adjustments and atonements. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In her novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle, author Shirley Jackson wrote, “Today my winged horse is coming, and I am carrying you off to the moon, and on the moon we will eat rose petals.” If you receive a message like that, be receptive. Even if you don’t typically entertain such whimsical notions, the time is favorable to do so now. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Susan Sontag wrote about people who weren’t receptive to her intensity and intelligence. She said she always had “a feeling of being ‘too much’ for them.” We all want to be appreciated and understood. But refrain from taming and toning yourself down too much in the coming weeks. It’s time for you to be an extra vivid version of yourself. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Experience extra rapture, mystic illumination, transcendent sex and even intoxication in the coming weeks. These delights are more likely and desirable than usual. However, the best way to arouse them is by communing with your favorite non-drug and non-alcoholic substances. The benefits will last longer and incur no psychological cost. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “The truth is,” writes cartoonist Bill Watterson, “most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive.” This will describe your life during the next six weeks. Your long, strange journey won’t come to an end, of course. But a key chapter in that long, strange journey will climax. You will be mostly finished with lessons you have been studying for many moons. The winding road you have been following will end up someplace in particular. And sometime soon, you’ll spy a foreshadowing flash of this denouement.
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