MORE OFFERS
TV
CURVED
55”
Samsung LED 4K Ultra High Def
SCREEN
11X
D R AW I N G S
NOVEMBER 4 • 7PM–10PM
W E D N E S D AY S
NOVEMBER 5 • 8PM–12AM
Drawings every 30 minutes!
Winner called every hour!
Earn entries each drawing day, 3:01am–9:55pm. 50 Slot Base Points or 1 Hour Table Play = 1 Entry
Prizes are given in Free Slot Play.
Earn entries each Friday, 3:01am–11:55pm. 50 Slot Base Points or 1 Hour Table Play = 1 Entry
FRIDAYS IN NOVEMBER
POINTS
7am – 7pm
Swipe at the promotions kiosk to activate. Points are not available on some machines. See Player Services for details.
FRIDAY
Swipe at the promotions kiosk 7am–7pm to activate. Points are not available on some machines. Visit Player Services for details.
gift GIVEAWAY
NOVEMBER 5 Copper Fusion 14-pc. Knife Set
4:30PM – 7:30PM
EARN 2,500 POINTS TO RECEIVE GIFT.
NOVEMBER 6 • 8PM–12AM Winner called every 30 minutes.
Visit the 2nd Floor Event Room.
All unclaimed CASH prizes rollover into the next 30-minute’s drawing!
Gifts may vary from images shown.
Earn entries each Saturday, 3:01am–11:55pm. 50 Slot Base Points or 1 Hour Table Play = 1 Entry.
Must be 21 or older. See Player Services for full details and rules. 4100 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89169
silversevenscasino.com
PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER KATIE DIXON katie.dixon@gmgvegas.com EDITOR SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Deputy Editor EVELYN MATEOS (evelyn.mateos@gmgvegas.com) Managing Editor/News DAVE MONDT (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writers HILLARY DAVIS, JUSTIN EMERSON, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, JESSICA HILL, BRYAN HORWATH, C. MOON REED, ARLEIGH RODGERS, AMBER SAMPSON, RICARDO TORRES-CORTEZ Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JOHN FRITZ, CASE KEEFER, WADE MCAFERTY, KEN MILLER, JOHN TAYLOR Office Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Designer IAN RACOMA Multimedia Manager YASMINA CHAVEZ Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
DIGITAL Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER Digital Marketing Intern EM JURBALA
ADVERTISING & MARKETING External Content Manager EMMA CAUTHORN Special Publications Manager JENNIFER INABA Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD Senior Advertising Manager SUE SRAN Account Executives BROOKE BROWN, LAUREN JOHNSON, MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, ALEX TEEL, ANNA ZYMANEK Sales Assistant APRIL MARTINEZ Events Manager SAMANTHA PETSCH
PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Marketing Art Director DANY HANIFF Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS Publication Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA Traffic Administrator JIDAN SHADOWEN Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU
GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN Editorial Page Editor RIC ANDERSON
ON THE COVER
Photograph Wade Vandervort
FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION VISIT VIRGINHOTELSLV.COM
LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 2275 Corporate Circle Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 (702) 990-2550 www.lasvegasweekly.com www.facebook.com/lasvegasweekly www.twitter.com/lasvegasweekly
All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3. ADVERTISING DEADLINE EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.
11.4.21
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
IN THIS ISSUE WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.
08
34
SUPERGUIDE
The debut of our new weekly event planner. You’ll never go out without consulting it again!
THE STRIP From Sammy Hagar to iLuminate, the Strat property has added to its entertainment arsenal.
22
42 SPORTS
COVER STORY
College basketball betting tips. Plus, how will the Raiders return from their bye?
Have you taken a stroll (or bike ride) along Main Street lately? If not, you might not recognize it. Geoff Carter does the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to.
46
32
VEGAS INC
NFT stands for nonfungible token, but how much more do you know about them?
PROFILE
Meet Luis Varela-Rico, local sculpture artist and contestant on Neflix’s Metal Shop Masters.
40
FOOD & DRINK Mojave Brewing Company welcomes you to Water Street. Plus, diving into the new fall menu at the reopened NoMad Library.
NoMad’s Sunchoke Salad (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
7I
8
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
MUSIC
11.4.21
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
THURSDAY 04
FOOD + DRINK
AMY SCHUMER & FRIENDS 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, ticket master.com.
COMEDY
DJ SNAKE With Charly Jordan, 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv. com.
MISC
JJ GREY & MOFRO With TK & The Holy KnowNothings, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com.
PBR WORLD FINALS Thru 11/7, times vary, pbr.com. (Las Vegas News Bureau/Courtesy)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT LIVE Has there ever been a TV-to-Vegas transition that made as much sense? Formerly home to Cirque du Soleil’s short-lived stunt-based production R.U.N, the Luxor Theater was kept warm during the pandemic by performances from Carrot Top and Fantasy, two long-running shows that have returned to their homebase upstairs. Now the room receives a live Las Vegas version of AGT, NBC’s hit talent competition show that has already spawned Strip headliners Terry Fator, Mat Franco and Shin Lim. Its opening lineup includes comedian Preacher Lawson, spoken word artist Brandon Leake, singer Kodi Lee, knife-throwers Deadly Games and aerialists Duo Transcend. November 4, 8 p.m.; November 5-7 & 10, 7 & 9:30 p.m.; $49-$129. Luxor, 702-262-4400. –Brock Radke
THE SANDMAN 8 p.m., Majestic Repertory Theatre, thru 11/28, majestic repertory.com.
TEENWOLF 9 p.m., Emporium at Area15, emporiumlv. com.
JOEL CORRY 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan, hakkasan nightclub.com.
REAGAN YOUTH With Lean 13, Across the Street, 7 p.m., Dive Bar, eventbrite.com.
QUINN DAHLE With DJ Demers, Kenny Garcia, thru 11/7, 8 p.m., bradgarrett comedy.com.
DOWN AND DERBY 10 p.m., Gold Spike, gold spike.com.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
P
L
A
N
Y
O
U
R
W
E
E
K
A
H
E
A
9I
D
FRIDAY 05 CALVIN HARRIS 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. (AP Photo)
GWEN STEFANI & ll/6, 9 p.m., Zappos Theater, ticketmaster. com. LIL JON 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, hakkasan group.com. ARTURO SANDOVAL 7 p.m., & 11/6, 5 p.m. & 8 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com. UNLV ART WALK 5-9 p.m., UNLV Academic Mall, unlv.edu/fine arts/art-walk. OLD DOMINION & 11/6, 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster. com.
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
THE GREAT LAS VEGAS TACO FESTIVAL Indulge in Mexican food and culture, including food and drinks from more than 25 taco shops, food trucks and michelada and margarita bars. Also on the menu: carnival rides, face painting and the 360 Car Show. November 5-7, times vary, $12, Craig Ranch Park, projecttaco.com. -Evelyn Mateos
F O R E V E N M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY. C O M .
COMEDY
METALACHI 8 p.m., the Space, the spacelv.com. DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 5-9 p.m., Springs Preserve, springs preserve.org. PAULY SHORE 10 p.m., Delirious, downtown grand.com. GRYFFIN 10:30 p.m., XS, wynnsocial.com.
MISC
STING The pandemic put the red light on a 2020 opening of Sting’s My Songs residency at the Colosseum, but those days are over (kinda), and the venerable rocker/ adult contemporary Grammy machine is now at Caesars walking his beat. A peek at an early setlist reveals an equal share of Police and solo songs, which we wish more strongly favored the former, but it’s never a sound idea to tell a cop how to do his job. November 5-6 & 11, 8 p.m., $60+, ticketmaster.com. –Geoff Carter
Sting (AP Photo)
MUSIC
FIRST FRIDAY 5-11 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas, facebook.com/ firstfridaylas vegas.
10
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
MISC
SATURDAY 06 VEGAS VALLEY COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL It’s willfully ignorant of us to say, “It’s your big day, nerds,” when nearly all current entertainment is based on comic books. Instead, we’ll say that this year’s Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival features illustrious guests that include artist Spencer Brinkerhoff III, cultural critic Douglas Wolk, writers Mark Russell and Amy Chu, voice actor Bonnie Gordon and more. See their panels before they’re adapted into blockbuster movies. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., free. Clark County Library, vegasvalleycomicbook festival.org. –Geoff Carter
THE ROLLING STONES 8 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
LIL BABY Lil Baby’s fight-night set marks his return to the Drai’s stage after nearly two years. Honored as BET’s 2021 Best Male HipHop Artist, he is a heavy hitter in the rap game—a fitting capper to an evening that will see boxers Canelo Álvarez and Caleb Plant duke it out at MGM Grand. 10 p.m., $100$150, draisgroup.com. –Amber Sampson
RAEKWON, GHOSTFACE & GZA 8 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb. com.
RÜFÜS DU SOL 8:30 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, dlvec. com.
BOXING: CANELO ÁLVAREZ VS. CALEB PLANT Card begins 4:15 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.
PUNK ROCK REUNION Triple Ripple, Atomic Gods, RZM, Substance-D, Self Abuse, Bad Attitude, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventbrite.com.
JMSN 7 p.m., 24 Oxford, virginhotelslv. com.
KAROL G With Feid, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
MAC SABBATH 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
ZEDD 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv. com.
TYGA 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, hakkasan group.com.
GEORGE THOROGOOD 9 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegas experience.com.
TRIPTIDES With Desert Island Boys, Trevor & The Joneses, Poets of Mydnight, 8:30 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com.
KEVIN COSTER & MODERN WEST 8 p.m., Sunset Station Amphitheater, ticketmaster. com. THE NEW WAVES With Professor Rex Dart, 9 p.m., the Golden Tiki, thegoldentiki. com. JOHNNY MATHIS 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
P
L
A
N
Y
O
U
R
W
E
E
K
A
H
E
A
D
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY. C O M .
SUNDAY 07 DJ FRANZEN 10 p.m., Drai’s, draisgroup.com. (Courtesy)
FLO RIDA 10 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com. QUINTETO ASTOR PIAZZOLLA 3 p.m., Water Street Amphitheater, cityof henderson.com. TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com. SUPER SUNDAY JEWISH FOOD FESTIVAL Noon-4 p.m., Tivoli Village, jewishnevada. org/super sunday. KIM LEE 10:30 p.m., XS, wynnsocial.com. LED KAAPANA 3 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.
MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
MISC
11I
12
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
MISC
TUESDAY
MONDAY
09
08
JOSHUA JAY IN CONVERSATION WITH TELLER 7 p.m., the Writer’s Block, thewritersblock. org.
ROB GUSON 10:30 p.m., Omnia, hakkasan group.com. BILL FAYNE 6 p.m., Nevada Room, vegas nevadarooms. com.
JASON COLLINGS With Amy Shanker, Jay Hollingsworth, thru 11/14, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrett comedy.com.
MISCAST! 8 p.m., the Space, the spacelv.com. JACKSON PERDUE With Joe Nipote, thru 11/11, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster. com.
TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET With The Last Gang, 8 p.m., Dive Bar, eventbrite.com. MICHAEL YO With Jason Cheny, Kathleen Dunbar, Julian McCullough, 7 p.m., Comedy Cellar, comedy cellar.com.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. SEATTLE KRACKEN 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. (AP Photo)
ONGOING
ONGOING
ZOMBIE BURLESQUE Finally, the show that was the last to close when COVID set in last spring is back onstage at V Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. The hilariously naughty and frighteningly musical Zombie Burlesque reopened on October 21 ,and it doesn’t matter if Halloween has come and gone; this one has tricks and treats to last all throughout the year. Nightly except Sundays, 8 p.m., $140-$160, zombieburlesque.com. –Brock Radke
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH Before you start looking towards the holiday season, slow down and join Discovery Children’s Museum in observing the rich culture, history and traditions of Native people. Visitors will be able to investigate tools and technological advancements made by Native Americans, create artwork inspired by traditional techniques, construct models of dwellings and more. Thru 25, times vary, $13-$15, discoverykidslv.org –Evelyn Mateos
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY. C O M .
11.4.21
P
L
A
N
Y
O
U
R
W
E
E
K
A
H
E
A
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
D
WEDNESDAY 10 UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. GARDNERWEBB 7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
BRYAN ADAMS Thru 11/20, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticket master.com.
DJ FIVE & ERIC DLUX 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynn social.com.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. SAN DIEGO GULLS 7 p.m., Orleans Arena, henderson silverknights. com.
WESTEND 10:30 p.m., the Library at Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.
WINE WEDNESDAYS WITH SAGE WATERS 7:30 p.m., the Space, the spacelv.com.
SADGIRL Spoiler alert: LA-based SadGirl isn’t all-girl, nor are they altogether sad. But it’s a smart, tuneful indie outfit that you can’t quite pin to one genre—surf probably comes closest, though there are elements of goth, punk, shoegaze and even chamber pop in the group’s makeup. Dreamlike but never sleepy, SadGirl makes the kind of music that can become a soundtrack to your life. 8 p.m., $15-$20. Backstage Bar & Billiards, 702-6909542. –Geoff Carter
EARTH, WIND & FIRE Thru 11/20, 8 p.m., Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com. (AP Photo)
THE WHISKEY CLUB As the chill outside sets in, warm up with a curated monthly tasting at the Mob Museum’s speakeasy, the Underground. Louisville-based Rabbit Hole Distillery will offer a selection of four bourbons to try as Raul Faria, award-winning bartender and Pernod-Ricard portfolio specialist, walks you through the tasting. 8 p.m., $75, themobmuseum.org. –Amber Sampson MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
MISC
13I
Social again. Your event. We got you.
Photo Booth Rentals • Balloon Garlands • Green Screen
THE DAY’S
BIGGEST NEWS
Call or Text (702) 291-8712 IG: @socialboothlv WWW. SOCIALBOOTHLV.COM
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Sign-up Now at LVSun.com/Optin
Senior primary care centered on
Gail
“I can tell my doctor is listening because he asks the right follow-up questions.” Gail, CenterWell patient
A doctor’s office focused on the unique needs of seniors:
Same-day appointments
On-site lab
24/7 access to the Care Team
Schedule a tour at any of our 8 locations to meet doctors who listen and take the time to meet your needs.
Become a patient or schedule a tour today Call 702-930-8727 or visit SeniorFocusedLasVegas.com Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm
CenterWell Senior Primary Care is now accepting select Medicare Advantage plans from Aetna (including HMO Prime), Alignment Healthcare, Humana and Wellcare. CenterWell does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711). 注意：如果 使用繁體中文， 可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711). GCHKU9REN
Follow us @CenterWellPrimaryCare to learn about activities and events
16
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
Bloom Where
L I F E S T Y L E
L
as Vegas-based rock climber and nutrition therapist master-in-training Shaina Savoy lives a a beautiful life. Her Instagram (@ shainasavoy) is full of pictures of her either hanging off the side of a cliff or eating delicious plant-based meals, not to mention the adorable dog pics and photos of her traveling the world with her pro-climber boyfriend Jonathan Siegrist. While the rest of us might not be able to easily replicate her mountainous ascents, we can learn from her healthy eating habits. Savoy has almost completed her studies at Denver’s Nutrition Therapy Institute and she’ll soon be starting her own private practice to help climbers, athletes and the general public optimize their health and performance. “I love plant-based nutrition. I love the way it makes my body feel and the performance benefits that it gives me for rock climbing,” Savoy says. “I want to help others also discover that for themselves as well.” Savoy, who moved from Atlanta to Las Vegas for the rock climbing opportunities, discovered that she performed and recovered better when she ate a plant-based diet. What does that mean? “Plantbased can mean anything from being vegetarian to vegan to consuming a very small amount of meat a couple times a week,” says Savoy, who falls on the vegan end of the spectrum. “But the main common denominator is ... minimally processed, whole-plant foods. So you’re eating a lot of whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, leafy greens and fruit.”
YOU’RE PLANTED Rock climber Shaina Savoy wants to improve your diet, one healthy dish at a time BY C. MOON REED
A plant-based diet made Savoy feel so good, she wanted to share her discovery with others. “I decided to go to school for nutrition, so that I can learn more and help others make the same choice for themselves,” Savoy says. “I love to help people transition to a plant based-diet and just make sure they’re getting the nourishment that their bodies need on a diet.” For people who want to improve their eating but don’t know where to start, Savoy says, “Simpler is often better.” She suggests focusing on adding healthy foods rather than subtracting or restricting suboptimal foods. “That’s going to create longer-lasting change,” Savoy says. Again, no need to overthink things. Savoy says to start by simply adding vegetables to two of your meals throughout the day. “People often overcomplicate nutrition and it’s unnecessary. It ends up stressing people out or making them feel restricted.” Equally important to what you eat is how you think. Savoy suggests tuning into your body and reflecting on how different foods make you feel throughout the day. While eating, eliminate distractions, such as the phone or television. Observe and
reflect on the thoughts, feelings and physical body sensations that you have after eating. Look at your emotions from a place of non-judgment. If you’re feeling fatigued or jittery, ask your body what message it’s trying to send you. If you’re craving sugar, rather than judging yourself harshly, consider why you might be feeling that way. Perhaps you’re not eating enough food or not fully enjoying your meals. Really ask yourself what role you want food to play in your body and then take some time to consider realistic ways to meet your goals, Savoy advises. Ultimately, Savoy says, balance is needed to establish a lifestyle. “We should all strike a balance ultimately,
between eating for enjoyment and also eating for nourishment and our health.” Being mindful of how healthier choices improve your day-to-day wellbeing, will help keep you motivated, she says. In her own daily menu, Savoy loves to eat plant-based “Buddha bowls.” Each bowl consists of five interchangeable elements: a carbohydrate (such as brown rice or a sweet potato); a vegetable; a protein (tempeh, tofu, beans); a small source of fat (avocado, peanut butter or some nuts and seeds); and some flavoring. “I can’t stress the importance of choosing foods that you know that you love to eat,” Savoy says. “If you don’t like Brussels sprouts, don’t force yourself to eat Brussels sprouts.” The key is learning to really appreciate the inherent deliciousness of real, unprocessed food. Ask Savoy about her favorite fruits and she gets downright excited. “I know they’re so basic, but I love bananas. I eat them every morning. And whatever is in season right now—I’m in love with all the melons.”
A typical day for Savoy BREAKFAST
LUNCH
SNACK
DINNER
Oatmeal with nut butter, banana, flaxseed, chia seeds and cinnamon.
Massaged kale with Green Goddess dressing, spicy roasted sweet potato, beets, avocado, tofu and pumpkin seeds.
Mango, melon or berries with edamame or sliced peppers and carrots.
Rice with vegetable stir fry and tempeh.
11.4.21
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
17I
Photographs Courtesy
H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S
“I can’t stress the importance of choosing foods that you know that you love to eat.” –Shaina Savoy
18
LV W N AT I V E C O N T E N T
11.4.21
SHOPPING OMEGA MART
A quick tour of the mischievous products at ‘America’s most exceptional’ grocery store
+
Omega Mart is an immersive art experience set in a grocery store that conveys “nationally localized consumables to the American people.” What does that mean? You may have to visit this fever-dream of a supermarket to find out. Omega Mart’s products are one-of-a-kind. First made to consume with your eyes, they’re also real products you can purchase, use or wear. Here is a look at some of the goods you will encounter.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Omega Mart is an eye-popping shopping experience that will exceed your wildest expectations. Shoppers have access to more than 100 original products, all of which have an uncanny ability to fulfill desires. Examples include Wake Up Please! (energy drink), Simply Does Not Contain Spiders (breakfast cereal), Caltucky Freedom Glaze (steak sauce), and Who Told You This Was Butter? (room freshener). These products are special and can only be found at Omega Mart—and other outposts in the Meow Wolf universe.
Refre shi ng Dr ink ab les !
‘Produce!’
All the produce at Omega Mart serves a dual purpose. Why have an ordinary cabbage when you can have cabbage sandals instead?
Travel Apple (A Yeti-like travel cup that looks like an apple)
z 32 o i t y ! c a c ap with N o w s e e ds ! r fewe
ss St a i n le l! e e p a b le m e R ov lid !
There’s no soda case like ’ll Omega Mart’s soda case. You the in ks drin soft best the find galaxy and possibly a secret passageway, too. Check out Omega Cola, Vegan Goat Pus (lemonade beverage), Prickly Pear Soda, Wake Up! Please (energy drink).
11.4.21
19I
C R E AT E D A N D P R E S E N T E D B Y M E OW WO L F
S N AC KS !
Grab som ething to munch on as you explore th e intricate of Omeg world a Mart an d beyond Examples ! include S imply Burlap (g ranola ba r), Leprecha un Kidne ys (wasabi p eas).
House Products!
Bring Omega Mart into your home with these unique necessities: Sweet Whispers (toilet paper), Plausible Deniability (laundry detergent).
Hygiene Products!
*May already be out of stock.
GET TICKETS AT
MEOW.WF/LVWEEKLY LOCALS DISCOUNT AVAILABLE WITH NV ID
If you want to be fresh and clean—or at least appear fresh and clean—look no further than the hygiene section for products such as Whale Song Deodorant, Muscle Fresh (toothpaste), Tooth Slime (pencil pouch), Heavy Mellow Aura Spritzer (Post Modern Dog Freshening Spray).
Grocery Items!
Even at Omega Mart, some things just cannot be categorized. These miscellaneous items are peanut-based or peanut-free. The choice is yours: Nut-Free Salted Peanuts (table salt), P-2000 Cracker Spackle (peanut butter).
ONLY at
RATED #1 ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN LAS VEGAS ON TRIPADVISOR
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 702.732.5276 OR VISIT 3 0 0 0 PA R A D I S E ROA D, L A S V E G A S , N V 8 9 1 0 9 - 1 2 6 7 7 0 2 . 7 3 2 . 5 1 1 1 | W E S TG AT E L A S V E G A S .C O M
Mention I Love Las Vegas to your server when ordering. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other discounts, offers or specials. Valid only at Benihana at Westgate Las Vegas. Buy (1) one dinner entrée valued above $25 and receive (1) one Benihana Collectible Mug. Management reserves the right to change, cancel or amend this promotion at any time. Valid through 12/30/2020. Code# 57865
UNLVTICKETS.COM
22
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
11.4.21
Touring this ever-evolving hub of dining, nightlife & more BY GEOFF CARTER
F E A T U R E
I
’ll often take the bike instead of the car. I live roughly a mile and a half from Main Street and can be there in 10 minutes, even if I roll out at a poky pace. Sometimes, locals arrange giant group rides on weeknights—100, 200 bikes, easy—and occasionally I’ll merge with that crowd, one LED light-festooned bike among many. Some riders have Bluetooth speakers in their baskets, and I’ll change positions in the pack, like switching stations on a radio, to listen to the music: pedaling faster to catch Slash’s solo on “Nightrain,” slowing up to hear Chaka Khan punch out the chorus of “Ain’t Nobody.” Instead of leaning on their horns, drivers give friendly waves or film the pack with their phones. That’s my neighborhood. It hardly seems real sometimes. Just 20 years ago, it wasn’t. In the early 2000s, the 18 Downtown blocks the City of Las Vegas now calls the 18b Arts District was little more than industrial suppliers, abandoned storefronts and antique shops. The antique shops remain, but Main Street now offers a staggering variety
of additional experiences under its zig-zagging canopy of string lights, from craft breweries to bistros to storefront theaters. Murals and wheatpaste art have transformed its side streets and alleyways into walking galleries. Its business owners like and support one another. And the 18b’s prevailing mood, even on busy Saturday nights, is neighborly, chill and resolutely local. This is a place where you can walk—or ride—up the street and run into someone you actually want to see. If you haven’t visited Main Street recently, or explored much of the 18b Arts District beyond First Friday’s festival grounds, it’s about time that we talked. You’re missing out on some-
thing great—a hip, urban experience, on par with those we sometimes travel to other cities to enjoy. Speaking as someone who has visited more than his share of hipster neighborhoods— and even lived in one of them, for the better part of a decade, in Seattle—I’d like to offer you a casual introduction to the Downtown I like best. Get on your bike, and let’s head out. A quick pair of disclaimers: I’ll use “Main Street,” “Arts District” and “18b” interchangeably throughout this tour.
Though most of the places I’ll mention here are on Main Street, some are located in those 18 surrounding blocks— though close enough to Main Street to belong to it. And I apologize in advance for leaving out any businesses that might deserve notice—and for not giving the ones I do mention the full extent of the love they deserve. Over the past few years, this neighborhood has grown from “give me a few recommendations” to “write me a guidebook.” I’ll try to land somewhere in the middle.
11.4.21
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
23I
Main Street in Downtown Las Vegas (Steve Marcus/ Staff); below: a rendering of the Downtown Loop Shuttle (Courtesy)
GETTING AROUND
The easiest way to get to Main Street, aside from riding your beloved Schwinn, is via I-15. Take the Charleston Boulevard exit and head east. Main recently became a one-way street, so to get to the head of it, make a right onto South Commerce Street, head up to West Wyoming Avenue and make two left turns; that will put you very near the beginning of Main. (You could also turn left onto California, Colorado, Imperial or Utah Avenues and catch Main, but if you’re headed down there for the first time, you ought to start at the top.) Parking on and around Main varies between parallel and angle-in spots. If you’re confident in your parallel parking skills, grab the first spot you see on Commerce or Main with confidence, knowing you’re within easy walking distance of most everything. You’ll find the angle-in spots on the side streets—California, Colorado and Casino Center are your best bets. And should all else fail, there’s a paid lot behind ReBar. (The City of Las Vegas is in the process of adding more paid lots). Street parking is not metered, but take care not to overstay the posted time limits. Parking enforcement doesn’t sleep on this stuff. If you’d like to park elsewhere
Downtown but still enjoy what Main Street has to offer, the City operates a free Downtown Loop shuttle that runs a twisty route between the Strat and Circa, with stops at the Arts District, the Fremont East district and Symphony Park along the way. The Downtown Loop runs Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 3 to 10 p.m. (A special City Hall-to-Main Street route runs for First Friday, if you’d like to take advantage of City Hall’s giant paid garage.) A complete
Carlos Vivaldo, who created and launched Las Vegas Tall Bike in 2018. For more information, visit @lasvegastallbike on Instagram.
route map, and a real-time shuttle location tracker, can be found at bit. ly/3BaeH9n. I almost forgot the rental bikes. RTC rents cruiser and electric bikes beginning at $5 a day (bikeshare. rtcsnv.com), and from recent experience I can tell you that there’s no better way to explore Main Street than from the seat of a bike. (And if you’d like to join up with one of the group rides I mentioned previously, seek out the Las Vegas Bike Rides/Cruises group on Facebook.)
24
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
11.4.21
Bartender Kaitlyn Noreen at Berlin Bar (Wade Vandervort/Staff
F E A T U R E
DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
Main Street came out of the pandemic lockdowns with more bars than it had going in, thanks in no small part to the shock-and-awe arrival of craft beer. First-on-thestreet brewery and taproom Hop Nuts (1120 S. Main St. #150) has been joined by Beer District Brewing (914 S. Main St.), Able Baker Brewing (1510 S. Main St.), Nevada Brew Works (1327 S. Main St. #160) and HUDL Brewing Company (1327 S. Main St. #100). All of these places have indoor and outdoor seating, offer an astonishing number of local, national and international taps, and host live entertainment ranging from trivia nights to live music. While they don’t brew on-site, CraftHaus operates an Arts District taproom (197 E. California Ave. #130). Three Sheets (1115 S. Casino Center Blvd.) offers 30 taps and a chill space to watch the Raiders and Golden Knights. Silver Stamp (222 E. Imperial Ave.) isn’t just a solid beer bar, but a Westworld-quality dive into 1970s Americana. (That rumpus-room wood paneling! That tower of vintage beer cans!) And
Servehzah (1301 S. Commerce St. #130) boasts 24 taps, a patio that peeks into Conrad West Gallery and a chilled, walk-in “beer cave” filled with craft beers from near and far. All the places just mentioned have something in common: They’re run by people who know lots and lots about adult beverages, and are willing to talk folks through it. The same is true for Garagiste Wine Room & Merchant (197 E. California Ave. #140), where a spectacular wine list meets helpful explanation. The 18b’s river of booze only widens from there, and takes a few turns you’d never expect. Cork & Thorn (70 W. Imperial Ave.) complements its wine selection with floral design classes and live music. Jammyland (1121
S. Main St.) serves up outstanding, tropical-inspired cocktails on a bed of reggae music and 24-hour jerk wings. LGBTQ lounge the Garden (1017 S. 1st St. #180) has courtyard seating and a weekly drag brunch with bottomless mimosas. Berlin (201 E. Charleston Blvd.) sustains you on a diet of hard liquor, killer post-punk sounds and gourmet hot dogs. True to its name, Horse Trailer Hideout (1506 S. Main St.) has a patio where its “industrial country-chic” trailer bars live when they’re not out in the world satiating thirsty cowpokes. Some bars shift the entertainment to the foreground. Wiseguys (1511 S. Main St.) brings Vegas’ live comedy scene out of the tourist corridor. Level One Bar & Lounge (1410 S. Main
St.) mixes things up with DJ nights and open-mic poetry. The entertainment offerings at Artifice (1025 S. 1st St. #100) are as expansive as the bar’s adjoining event space, ranging from live drawing classes to monthly goth night Scarlet. And Ninja Karaoke (1009 S. Main St.) serves up soju, specialty cocktails and a menu of 154,000 songs to belt out after you’ve drunk past your inhibitions. Finally, there’s ReBar (1225 S. Main St.), the splendid bar/antique shop hybrid whose happy hour specials and funky vibe have few local equals, and the wonderfully gothic craft cocktail bar Velveteen Rabbit (1218 S. Main St.,), whose sibling owners might actually be magic. These two bars are my go-tos, my “locals.” If you want to find me in the Arts District, you should try one of these places first. If I’m not there, check the restaurants.
11.4.21
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
25I
Matcha Latte at Bungalow Coffee Co (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
DINING
Dining in the 18b is almost unbelievably good. Don’t take my word for it; just try to score a seat at Italian bistro Esther’s Kitchen (1130 S. Casino Center Blvd. #110), sushi bar Yu-Or-Mi (100 E. California Ave.), American comfort food spot Main St. Provisions (1214 S. Main St.) or Brooklyn-style pizzeria Good Pie (1212 S. Main St.) on a weekend night without calling ahead. Between those four places, there are enough Yelp stars to rival the heavens, and they’re all deserved. That’s just the beginning of the sublime food options in the 18b. Want a delicious vegan taco? Try Tacotarian (1130 S. Casino Center Blvd. #170). How about a savory meat pie? Cornish Pasty (10 E. Charleston Blvd.) awaits your custom. The empanadas at Makers & Finders (1120 S. Main St. #110) are the stuff of dreams. Taverna Costera (1031 S. Main St.) is dishing up Mediterranean-inspired seafood and tapas. The small-but-mighty D E Thai Kitchen (1108 S. 3rd St.) cooks up a dynamite bowl of drunken noodles. And the rib-sticking fries at 18bin (107 E. Charleston Blvd. #150) are available with a staggering variety of seasonings and sauces. You’re even afforded variety within cuisines. Some nights I crave the cochinita pibil and fresh-made horchata at Letty’s de Leticia’s Cocina (807 S. Main St.), while other nights, nothing sounds better than a devouring a plate of camarones al mojo de ajo underneath
a portrait of Frida Kahlo at Casa Don Juan (1204 S. Main St.). If I want Texas-inspired barbecue, I have my choice of the brisket at SoulBelly BBQ (1327 S. Main St.) or the pulled pork at Braeswood (1504 S. Main St.), both of which thoroughly satisfy. And the universe has bestowed upon this former Seattleite not one, but three great coffee spots: Golden Fog (1300 S. Casino Center Blvd. #110), Bungalow (201 E. Charleston Blvd., #180) and Vesta (1114 S. Casino Center Blvd. #1), where they know my face and my order. Dessert is the last part of the picture, but it’s beginning to fill in. Paradise City Creamery (paradisecitycreamery.com) serves its plant-based, gluten-free ice cream from a pop-up location near Garagiste. Nearby, old-fashioned ice cream soda shop Cream Me (1203 S. Main St.) draws lines that push out onto the sidewalk. And an 18b location of Freed’s Dessert Shop, appointed with colorful mural work by Shan Michael Evans, should be open soon after you read this. You don’t even have to try that hard to eat well in the 18b. ReBar serves loaded John Mull sausage and Field Roast dogs right at the bar. Nevada Brew Works and Able Baker both offer great bites from walk-up counters. And when I’m too hungry to think straight, I can always get a slice of Vincent Rotolo’s aptly-named Good Pie from the sidewalk slice window. On Main Street, good things are always within reach. Even from the back of a bike.
Venison tataki at Main St. Provisions (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
MAIN ON MAIN Where do the 18b’s business folk go when they’re not working? PAMELA DYLAG, CO-OWNER, VELVETEEN RABBIT “I love Bungalow and Vesta for their nitro cold brews—both are so good! I frequent all the antique shops on Main; Local Oasis for gifts; SoulBelly for their incredible barbecue; Esther’s, of course, for pasta; Main St. Provisions (I absolutely love their hominy hummus); Jammyland for amazing cocktails and late night food; the Good Wolf and Alt Rebel for fashion; Garagiste for their wine and impeccable customer service … Sorry, I’m naming off the whole neighborhood, but I really do love it all.” JOSH MOLINA, CEO, MAKERS & FINDERS “I’m a big fan of Servehzah. The beer list is always spot on and varied by region and style. There are food trucks [there] almost every night that never disappoint. Plus, their events are always fun. If you’re on the go like I usually am, pop into their beer cave for top-notch bottles and brews.” DARBY FOX, CURATOR AND ARCHIVIST, BURLESQUE HALL OF FAME “My favorite thing to do around Main Street is thrift-shop. The Red Kat and Glam Factory are the best vintage vendors in town, plus all of the smaller thrift and resale stores including Alt Rebel and the Buffalo Exchange. … [And] breakfast at Makers & Finders or a bougie meal at Esther’s Kitchen make a Downtown shopping trip perfectly complete.” DEREK STONEBARGER, OWNER, REBAR “I love Able Baker, Recycled Propaganda, Modern Mantiques, Priscilla Fowler Art Gallery, Retro Vegas, Jammyland and Good Pie. Who knew I needed that slice window so much?” NATALIE YOUNG, OWNER, AUTHENTIK “I love Yu-Or-Mi sushi; they’re super nice and their food is consistent. I also love the Antique Mall and Red Kat—my go-to spots. The Good Wolf is cool; Alley Fitness … Lots of good sh*t going on, with good people.” MARC ABELMAN, CFO, INSIDE STYLE “One of my favorite things to do is ride through the alleys, as they’re a living history of why the 18b started and what made us so interesting, and they’re [filled with] ever-changing street art. That’s one of my favorite parts of the 18b; Ras One (who commissioned many of the 18b’s original murals) was ahead of his time.” –Geoff Carter
26
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
11.4.21
The English Hotel (Geoff Carter/Staff)
GALLERIES, THEATERS & MUSEUMS
F E A T U R E
The English Hotel prepares to join the Main Street mix “We’re all about the neighborhood; we’re all about that community,” says Steve Dennis, General Manager of the English Hotel. “We want to know who our neighbors are and promote them.” The English Hotel—a four-story, 74-room luxury boutique hotel located at 921 S. Main St., mere steps from Jesse Carson Smigel’s beloved “Snowball in Vegas” statue—is moving into a neighborhood that couldn’t be more prepared for it. The Todd English-branded hotel will open its doors to a district packed with bars, restaurants and attractions that rival those on the Strip, and Dennis is seeing to it that the outside finds its way inside. “We’re engaging with local artists to do murals and paintings for the hotel,” he says. “And the brewery across the street [Beer District Brewing] has actually already made an English Hotel-labeled beer.” It’s a great posture for the English to take, considering the Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel, owned by Weina Zhang and Anna Olin’s ZLife Co development company, probably doesn’t need to take it. The English will open in early 2022 to a Las Vegas that’s soon to receive a lot of convention and international travelers that have been eager to come to our city since March 2020. It’s adults-only, which will sell the place to visitors seeking the elusive “old-school Vegas” experience. And the hotel isn’t exactly stuck for amenities. It will boast an intimate pool area, with 11 suites that open directly to it; bright, stylish rooms that can be easily adapted for business or pleasure with advance notice to the hotel’s roughly 120-person staff; a beverage cart in every room, complete with its own cocktail shaker; and a Japanese/ Mediterranean fusion restaurant and lounge created by its namesake celebrity chef. The lobby is appointed with antique décor from English’s own collection, and he’s looking at the possibility of providing one of his vintage autos, a 1964 Rolls-Royce, as the hotel’s shuttle. But Dennis, who’s returning to Vegas after some years away—he managed the Greek Isles/Clarion and Hooters properties before taking work abroad—knows that half of the English’s appeal stems from its location, and he wants to ensure that guests won’t have to wait long to begin exploring it. The staff will know exactly who you are when you arrive—one of the benefits of a place that will only see 74 check-ins on its busiest day—and if you’ve used a mobile app to check in, you won’t even need to loiter in that antique-rich lobby. “Within 15 minutes, you can be anywhere where the action is in Las Vegas,” he says, whether that means hopping into your car or simply walking out the front door to discover the restaurants, the breweries and art within steps of your room. “It’s so exciting down here [in the Arts District],” Dennis says. “It’s so unique; there’s so many things to do. If you’ve been a Vegas regular, if you come here all the time, you’ve already done everything. Well, this is something new, and we are the perfect concierge to get you involved.” –Geoff Carter
Though First Friday set this neighborhood in motion, the exploding popularity of the 18b Arts District has actually been rough for its galleries, many of which operate on razor-thin margins and are particularly susceptible to rent hikes. (It’s a testament to both Main Street’s growth and the stubborn durability of Vegas’ art scene that another Valley art hub—at the New Orleans Square complex inside Commercial Center—has formed from galleries and businesses that fled the Arts District when rents began to rise.) Fortunately, many stalwarts remain. Priscilla Fowler Fine Art (1300 S.
Main St. #110) is still here, as is Annex Gallery (1308 S. Main St.), Circadian Gallery (1551 S. Commerce St.), Conrad West Gallery (15 W. Colorado Ave.), Savidan Art Gallery (1310 S. 3rd St. #200) and the gallery of culture-jamming sociopolitical street artist Isaac Zevalking, better known as Recycled Propaganda (1114 S. Main St. #120). Crossing Charleston, you’ll find two new art spaces—Main Street Studios (1056 S. Main St.) and its neighboring “performance gallery and artist’s lounge” Gallery 54 (1054 S. Main St.). And since you’re there, you might as well cross the street and check out the galleries of the Arts Factory (107 E. Charleston Blvd.), and Brett Wesley Gallery (1025 S. 1st St. #150) and Nevada Humanities (1017 S. 1st St. #190). Why wait for First Friday to enjoy, and perhaps even begin collecting, local and
11.4.21
regional art? The performing arts also have a strong Arts District presence. Majestic Repertory Theatre (1217 S. Main St.) stages interactive productions whose scope and ambition sometimes extend beyond its stage and into the alley behind the venue. Art Square Theater (1025 S. 1st St.) is home to Vegas Theatre Company (formerly Cockroach Theatre), a volunteer-run company that delivers smart productions of works by the likes of Harold Pinter and Larissa FastHorse, and to the fleet and funny improv comedy troupe Bleach. While it’s not a performance venue, the Burlesque Hall of Fame (1027 S.
Main St. #110) is steeped in theatrical tradition. This one-of-a-kind museum preserves the memory of classic burlesque through rare photographs, costume pieces and assorted bumpand-grind artifacts, and functions as an educational resource for anyone who has ever considered picking up the pasties. Even more museums and performance spaces could find their way to the 18b in the near future. Sometime in the next year, Oddfellows operator Harvey Graham hopes to open Swan Dive, a 400-capacity live music venue, in a yet-to-be-completed building at 1301 S. Main St. Ethos, a café and theater, is “unveiling soon” near Main and California. And there are persistent rumors that the 18b might take the Evel Knievel Museum away from its current home in Topeka, Kansas. We’ve got more than enough room for one more bike.
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
27I
Alt Rebel boutique (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Pasties at the Burlesque Hall of Fame (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
SHOPPING
The 18b’s antique and vintage dealers call Main Street “Antique Alley.” They have a legit claim to the street; after all, they were there first, and there’s a lot of them, too many to list off here in detail. There’s (deep breath) Antique Alley Mall, Glam Factory Vintage, Main Street Peddlers, Martin’s Mart, Modern Mantiques, Retro Vegas and Red Kat Vintage … Just check out mainstreet. vegas/antiques.html and start digging for treasure. The 18b’s vintage mojo is so strong, it’s attracting new vendors of old things. Authentik (1321 S. Commerce St.), from Eat/Old Soul owner Natalie Young, is a sharply-curated home furnishings boutique. (She often stocks restored typewriters. Sold.) An increasing number of boutiques— For the Love LV (1114 S. Main St.), Rockin’ Bettie (1302 S. 3rd St.) and Sabrak (1408 S. Main St.)—cater to the fashion-conscious. There are two dealers of vintage streetwear—Waves (1411 S. Main St.) and Bring It Back (1512 S. Main St. #1122), both with gi-
ant walls of collectible sneakers—and at least two buy/sell/trade clothing dealers: Alt Rebel (1409 S. Commerce St., #110), and the Vegas location of national chain Buffalo Exchange (1209 S. Main St.). The gift boutiques are stacking up nicely, too. The Good Wolf Lifestyle Co. (1401 S. Commerce St.) has a winning assortment of apparel and home items. The bright, upbeat Local Oasis (220 E. Charleston Blvd.) offers art items and goodies from local makers. Jammin on Vegas (1401 S. Main St.) is all things tie-dye. The Honeypot (1409 S. Main St.) specializes in crystals and minerals, both as decoration and jewelry. And you can get the jump on next Halloween at Nightmare Toys (1309 S. Commerce St.), a crazy-fun horror movie emporium where Michael Myers is a whole mood. I’m leaving out a lot of places, most of them service-related: urban gyms (Alley Fitness, Real Results), salons (Atomic Style Lounge, Makeshift Union), tattoo parlors (Koolsville, Hardline), flower shops (Gaia, Stinko’s) and more. Between them, you’ll come out of the 18b looking better than you did going in.
L A S V E G A S ' O N LY F E T I S H S T O R E
SCHLOSSMEISTER DUNGEON LINE CHASTITY PLAY IMPACT PLAY SUSPENSION E-STIM BDSM FURNITURE SHIBARI BONDAGE CLASSES CUSTOM ORDERS 4335 W Tropicana Ave Suite A | Las Vegas | 702-367-8009
LOS E P O U N DS A N D INCHES WITH THIS
23 DAY HCG DIET INCLUDES: ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶
Initial Medical Consultation Full Body Composition Analysis 6 Weekly Follow-up Visits 6 Weekly B12 Injections 23 Days Pharmaceutical Grade HCG Medicine
SPECIAL OFFER $
475
www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099
2
CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
3365 E FLAMINGO ROAD STE 2, LAS VEGAS, NV 89121 4966 S RAINBOW BLVD STE 100, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118
30
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
IN THE NEWS S
3 T
U
F
F
Y
O
U
LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN “ APRICED OUT OF THIS HOUSING
MARKET IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS PROJECT CAN HELP.” - Todd Stratton, owner of Kavison Homes, which plans to build 150 houses on a 15-acre tract along Cactus Avenue, a short drive from Mountain’s Edge Regional Park
S
H
O
U
L
D
RAIDERS STAR TO BE CHARGED IN FATAL CRASH
K
N
O
W
A
B
O
U
T
Metro Police investigators and crime scene analysts work at the scene of a fatal crash on November 2. Metro said Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III would be charged with DUI resulting in death. His vehicle, a Chevrolet Corvette, reportedly collided with the rear of a Toyota RAV4. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK PFIZER VACCINE APPROVED FOR CHILDREN AGES 5-11 The Food and Drug Administration cleared kid-size doses—a third of the amount given to adults. About 25% of parents polled said they would get their children vaccinated “right away.”
AMODEI WON’T RUN FOR GOVERNOR Saying it didn’t pass the “gut test” for him, Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., announced Nov. 1 that he will not join the crowded GOP field seeking the governor’s office in 2022. Among those in the race are Michele Fiore, Joe Lombardo, Dean Heller and John Lee.
VAX REQUIRED TO ATTEND UNLV HOOPS UNLV men’s basketball will require fans to provide proof of COVID vaccination to attend games at the Thomas & Mack Center this season. Fans will not be required to wear masks inside the arena.
MEDIA
WEEKLY WEBSITE RECOGNIZED Las Vegas Weekly’s website has scored the top honors in its class in Editor & Publisher’s prestigious EPPY Awards. Lasvegasweekly.com was named Best Weekly or Non-Daily Newspaper Website and was also recognized for Best Overall Website Design, both for sites with fewer than 1 million unique monthly visitors. This marks the ninth time in the past 11 years that the site won at least one EPPY award. Additionally, the Las Vegas Sun’s Mike Smith received the Best Editorial/Political Cartoon EPPY (more than 1 million unique monthly visitors). Winners in other categories include Bostonglobe.com, ESPN. com and CNBC.com.
WATCH THIS The Golden Knights play at Detroit November 7 at 3 p.m.
10.29.2021
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
BLUE OCTOBER
The UNR football team celebrates with the Fremont Cannon after a 51-20 win against UNLV in Reno. As a result of the win, the cannon will remain painted blue and reside in Northern Nevada. For UNLV, which endured four straight last-minute heart-breaks heading into the contest, it was a 14th consecutive loss, leaving coach Marcus Arroyo seeking his first win with the program. UNLV plays at New Mexico November 6 at 4 p.m. (Tom R. Smedes/Associated Press)
K N
SUPERINTENDENT FIRED
D
I
D
Y O
EDUCATION
U
O W ?
R
E N
O
I
S
W
E
S T
O
F
S A
N
D
I E
G
O
11.4.21
A deeply split Clark County School Board voted 4-3 on October 28 to terminate Schools Superintendent Jesus Jara’s contract “for convenience,” meaning it did not have to give a specific reason. Trustees Danielle Ford, Irene Cepeda, Linda Cavazos and Lisa Guzman voted to oust Jara. In his departing message, Jara said he has been steadfast in working to help students achieve academic success, despite board members’ meddling. Trustee Lola Brooks, who backs Jara, attempted to get the termination tabled until January 2023, close to when his contract would expire, but the move was shot down. When the vote came to terminate, and it passed, people applauded. Jara gave his statement and asked to be excused. Speaking to board president Cavazos, trustee Katie Williams said: “You are a toxic leader in this district and I hope every single one of these parents see it.” –Hillary Davis
BY THE NUMBERS
$50B
Amount Elon Musk, who recently blew past Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest man, would have to pay in a one-time hit if the Democrats’ tax proposal had passed. The tax proposal would have applied to fewer than 800 Americans. Musk is worth $300 billion.
31I
32
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
DREAMING
BIG
Metal Shop Master Luis Varela-Rico sprinkles large-scale sculptures around the Las Vegas Valley
P E O P L E
BY EVELYN MATEOS want to show you something,” Luis VarelaRico, 38, says, walking toward one end of the narrow room at PublicUs, where his large steel sculpture of a human hand—titled “Organic Study #1”—has hung since the Downtown coffeehouse purchased it a few years back. He lightly pushes the steel slices comprising the hand, so that they swing back and forth and soon the piece vibrates with life. The metal artist originally constructed it for Clark County’s art program, which offered an $800 stipend. He spent almost $5,000. It’s about taking risks, he explains. That’s how Varela-Rico found himself on the inaugural season of the 2021 Netflix original Metal Shop Masters, a show on which a group of metal artists compete to make the best sculptures, in hopes of winning the title of Metal Shop Master and $50,000. (Without spoiling the ending, we’ll just say he held his own.) Varela-Rico says had no idea what was in store when he responded to an agency that reached out to him via Instagram to inquire about his skills. It wasn’t until he arrived on set in LA and laid
eyes on the cameras, equipment, and—most importantly—Jo Koy that the gravity of the moment hit him. Koy, one of Varela-Rico’s favorite comedians, hosts the show. Originally, Varela-Rico says his aversion to cameras almost caused him to pass on the competition, but his uncle convinced him it could be a great opportunity. “I was really worried about misrepresenting who I was,” Varela-Rico says. “[But] ultimately, it took up so much of my energy to just try to work in the time frames that they were giving us and try to create something that I wasn’t going to be embarrassed about.” Varela-Rico is being modest. He and his peers from the show are profoundly gifted artists. In just the first challenge, they were asked to create an avatar of themselves in a limited time frame, and the results were phenomenal. One produced a robot, another an intricate set of wings, a third an armored bird emerging from an egg. Varela-Rico— who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico (he has been a Las Vegas resident since elementary school)—tapped into his culture to create a 250-pound Día de los Muertos skull. That artwork was created the way many of his pieces are: He designs on computer-aided software, cuts the necessary parts on computerized numerical control machines and then assembles the artwork through a process that includes welding. * * * * * The metal artist had momentarily lost steam after he left UNLV. He had received his associate’s degree from the College of Southern Nevada before transferring over—with the intention of earning a bachelor’s degree—but became “disillusioned” with the UNLV art program. Instead, he began pursuing a career as an elevator technician, now his day job. Then he became inspired to create. “Back when Shepard Fairey and Banksy were exploding—when the street art scene blew up—I wanted to hop on and get some momentum,” he says. “So I started doing guerrilla sculptures, because no one was really doing 3D when it came to street art.” In 2011, Brett Sperry, owner of Downtown’s Brett Wesley Gallery, noticed him and offered to represent him. “That was the genesis of me taking it seriously, because someone took me seriously,” Varela-Rico says. Why did he need permission? “I think it’s a cultural thing,” Varela-Rico explains. “I think Mexican people lack a lot of self-confidence sometimes. And that’s supported by a family that doesn’t necessar-
“Pikai,” Varela-Rico’s e-waste desert tortoise sculpture at Area15 (Photographs Courtesy)
ily not support them, but doesn’t support dreaming really, really big.” Sperry, who repped Varela-Rico through 2012, still praises his artistry. “Luis has worked tirelessly, and with great passion for a solid 14plus years,” Sperry says. “It is [a source of] great pride to see him recognized as a strong voice in contemporary sculpture today.” Varela-Rico typically begins his days at 5 a.m. and works until 2 p.m. After that, he heads into his workshop and focuses on his art. His dedication has begun paying off. He has four art installations in the Vegas Valley. Along with “Organic Study #1,” he made “Norte y Sur,” a pair of large steel heads located on Eastern Avenue just south of the 215; “Organic Study #2,” a 15-foot sculpture of a hand gripping a baseball, at the Desert Diamonds Baseball Complex in Mountain’s Edge Park; and “Radial Symmetry,” two large steel sculptures inspired by Southern Paiute basket weaving, in the Arts District Downtown. “The city propping up local artists is important,” Varela-Rico says. “When I think Chicago, I think Cloud Gate—Sir Anish Kapoor’s chrome bean. It helps the identity of the city, and it helps people that are from the city be proud or at least feel like they have culture.” Most recently, Varela-Rico teamed with Meow Wolf and Goodwill to celebrate International E-Waste Awareness Day with an electronics donation drive at Area15. His contribution was a oneof-a-kind desert tortoise electronic-waste sculpture. The metal artist also recently lent a hand to “Mothers of Gynecology,” a monument project that is headed up by Alabama-based artist and activist Michelle Browder and is dedicated to enslaved 19th-century Black women. All this feels like just the beginning for Varela-Rico. The metal shop master says he’s been contacted by some big names, like Ronald McDonald House and Starbucks. Beyond that, he has one personal goal ahead of him—sleeping in. “For a while, I’ve been defining success as [the option to] choose when you can wake up. Right now, I do not choose,” he says. “Success would be full-time art … owning my own shop and continuing to be able to explore freely as an artist.”
11.4.21
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
33I
P R O F I L E
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
Miral Kotb’s iLuminate has been updated at the Strat Theater. (Photographs Courtesy)
T
H
E
S
T
R
I
P
34
THE
STRAT
C U L T U R E
GETS
‘STICKY’
From Sammy Hagar to iLuminate, the North Strip property has widened its entertainment array BY BROCK RADKE
T
here’s no sure-fire strategy for creating a successful musical residency show on the Las Vegas Strip these days, but it’s been proven time after time that an artist with a loyal following of fans who will travel to see the show is an essential ingredient. Two rock and rollers with that important asset kicked off different headlining gigs over Halloween weekend: Sting at Caesars Palace and Sammy Hagar at the Strat. Sting’s show was announced years ago and delayed because of the pandemic while Hagar’s was announced this year and sold out six shows immediately. “My fans, the Redheads, they come from all over the world and you want them to be in a place like Vegas, where they can have a good time before and after the show,” Hagar said in September when he hit the Strip to launch his new canned cocktail with a rooftop concert at Beer Park at Paris. “The experience in Vegas is like no other town. If you can’t find something to do here, you’re either broke or in a really bad mood.” The former Van Halen frontman is rewarding his Redheads with plenty of special guests, a different set every night and a deep dive into his complete catalog, even reaching back to his breakthrough days with Montrose. He returns to the Strat Theater November 5, 6, 12 and 13. “My fans, I love ’em to death,” Hagar said. “I said it when I left Van Halen: I don’t care if I have one more new fan for the rest of my life, I will never lose the ones I’ve got. I want to make those people so happy and take ’em all the way to the finish line. The music, the cocktails, anything I do, I do it for them.”
The Strat Theater, normally a 600-seat classic-style showroom that has been altered slightly to squeeze in 800 total Redheads, might seem like an unlikely venue for a residency of this caliber. The show was created through the partnership between the casino and SPI Entertainment, which has been producing its own shows while operating the Thunderland Showroom, home of Thunder From Down Under at Excalibur, for nearly 20 years. The quick results from this partnership are impressive. Michael Jackson tribute MJ Live has been the primary occupant of the venue in recent years. Now, in addition to MJ Live and Sammy Hagar and Friends, the Strat Theater is home to the magical Xavier Mortimer: The Dream Maker, the mentalism-based Banachek’s Mind Games Live and the new dance show iLuminate. All the time slots are full, mostly with family-friendly live entertainment, a natural complement to the attractions and rides atop the Strat’s Skypod. “For years they only had one show there,” SPI founder Adam Steck said recently, “and I said I’d like to maximize the real estate and make the property stickier, so when people go there, they have multiple entertainment options.” Suddenly, the Strat is very sticky. A week before Hagar’s opening, iLuminate celebrated its grand opening after a quick break to restructure the show. The updated version is unlike anything the Strip has seen before, a musical party with eye-popping visual effects that must be seen to be fully appreciated. That, too, is an unexpected but awesome find at the Strat.
M A G I C , M E N TA L I S M & C O M E DY
3 0 0 0 PARAD I S E ROA D, L AS VEG AS , NV 89109- 1267 PH O NE 7 02. 732. 5111 WE S TG AT ELA S V EGA S.COM
Scan the QR code with your phone for tickets.
36
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
FLO RIDA November 7, 10 p.m., $20$30. Marquee Nightclub, 702-3339000.
N
I
G
H
T
S
Top photos (Courtesy); Flo Rida (AP Photos)
C U L T U R E
S SUNDAY FUN DAYS … AND NIGHTS
Marquee launches a circus-inspired industry party BY BROCK RADKE
undays in Las Vegas definitely hit differently now that the Raiders are filling up Allegiant Stadium. The NFL has provided a bit of a boost for the Strip’s nightclubs, too, but Sunday-night parties have always been more touchand-go than touchdown across the nightlife landscape in Las Vegas. Marquee Nightclub is looking to score with this weekend’s launch of the Greatest Show on Earth, a new weekly industry night bash bringing in big-name talent and a circus-inspired theme. Rapper Flo Rida, last seen in town at the grand opening celebration of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, kicks things off on November 7, followed by Lil Jon on November 14 and Mustard on November 21. “The music lineup for the Greatest Show will continue to be diverse, allowing us to bring a whole new experience to life that will thrive with any artist who is serving as our headlining ringleader each Sunday,” says Dominic Ritzer, vice president of marketing at Tao Group. “Guests will encounter discovery moments from onstage performers to stilt walkers passing out cotton candy to Zoltar handing out fortunes and more.” And locals get in free for the Sunday-night extravaganza, always a good idea for any club’s industry
night. After Tao Group acquired Hakkasan Group earlier this year, the expanded hospitality company began exploring different ways to program and counterprogram across its vast Las Vegas club portfolio, Ritzer says, “creating an optimized industry night for each venue. Every night of the week, we have at least two of our nightclub properties programmed.” Marquee at the Cosmopolitan is focusing not only on the new Sunday event, but also on Wednesdays, with the recent launch of LowKey in the Library, offering different musical genres in the venue’s intimate club-within-the-club space. Resident DJ Lema spun at LowKey this week, and rising house-tech star Westend takes over on November 10. Of course, Marquee continues as one of the most popular nightclub options on the Strip on Fridays and Saturdays, with Deorro, Mustard, Oliver Heldens and Sam Feldt on deck for the upcoming weekend lineup. Marquee Dayclub is staying active on Sundays, too, transforming into a football watch party hot spot. The pool club opens at 9:30 a.m. Sundays offering full game-day food and beverage menus with music interspersed between game action.
38
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
“A Question of Balance” by Roxanne Swentzell (Chris DeVargas/ Staff)
C U L T U R E
FORWARD BALANCE AH’-WAH-NEE Through December 10; MondayFriday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; free. UNLV’s Donna Beam Gallery, 702895-3893, unlv.edu/ donnabeam gallery.
11.4.21
"Nuwuvi: Our Bodies Our Lands" by Fawn Douglas (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
T
T
raditionally, the Southern Paiute people have foraged the landscape for raw materials, turning reeds and grasses into beautifully woven baskets. Today, Las Vegas Paiute tribal member Fawn Douglas uses the same time-honored techniques to produce an innovative result. She wove a basket from electrical conduit cable and a flourish of bright yellow-and-red electrical wire, having found the materials abandoned in a pile during the renovation of her NuWu Art + Activism Studios at 1335 S. Maryland Parkway. “I could say that it’s a traditional Southern Paiute basket, because I was using my foraging practices, searching in my environment to harvest those things,” says the artist, activist and curator, who also works as the cultural engagement specialist for Meow Wolf. The finished product—woven around a framework of willow harvested from Clark County Wetlands Park—is a shiny hybrid of past and future, tradition and technology. It’s the perfect exemplar of Ah’-Wah-Nee, a new show at UNLV’s Donna Beam Gallery, which Douglas also curated. Years in the making, Ah’-Wah-Nee is a dream realized for Douglas, who is finishing her MFA in Fine Art at UNLV. The show features all female, indigenous artists. Some of the invited artists are leaders in the field (Natani Notah, Roxanne Swentzell and Melissa Melero-Moose), while others are Douglas’ peers, up-and-coming artists like recent UNLV MFA graduate Noelle Garcia. They all share a certain talent and vibrancy. “These are all women I’ve looked up to or do look up to, women who have inspired me and who continue to inspire me. Women I want to be like,” Douglas says.
R
BY C. MOON REED
are all an unflinching assertion of identity, a proverbial stake in the ground saying, Yes, my perspective matters. Here is my world, one of struggle, importance and beauty. “There’s moments where I just stop and admire—like, wow, this is happening,” Douglas says. “It just felt so good to be completely surrounded by my people, and our expressions and stories, here in the same space. I’m surrounded by all these incredible artists … and all these different pieces are speaking to each other in different ways.” As for what she hopes viewers take away from Ah’-Wah-Nee, that’s where the activist in Douglas really emerges. “I would like people to walk into this gallery space and see that we’re still here,” Douglas says, offering a direct rebuke to the myth of Native Americans being lost to history. “There is more to us than meets the eye. There’s different levels of our artistry. There’s ways we keep our traditions and ways that we’re moving into the future. I want people to come in here and see the example of indigenous futurism.”
39I
A
Connecting past and present, Ah’-Wah-Nee celebrates female, indigenous artists
“The significance of this project cannot be overstated,” Jerry Schefcik, UNLV’s director of galleries, says in a press statement. “The Donna Beam Gallery is elated to present the work of these remarkable Native American women artists.” To find the best title for her exhibition, Douglas dug through the archives at UNLV’s Special Collections Library for Southern Paiute words. When she saw “ah’-wah-nee,” the word for “balance,” she knew she’d found the key to her show. “I was like, ‘That is really beautiful,’” Douglas says. For her, the word “ah’-wah’nee” highlighted the many ways indigenous women artists must navigate competing roles: artist vs. mother; teacher vs. student; new methods and materials vs traditional ones. Ultimately, Douglas invited the participating artists to answer these questions for themselves in the art they would display: “How do we balance, as women, living in two worlds?” “What does ah’-wah’nee mean to you?” The answers came not as facile essay responses but as art, some chosen among an artist’s existing work and others newly made. The astounding result comprises 26 pieces by 11 living artists. The pieces span many methods, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles and intricate beadwork. Some are abstract, others representational. But they
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
C U L T U R E
40
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
Owners Nathan Carney (left) and John “Griff” Griffith (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
MOJAVE BREWING COMPANY 107 S. Water St. #100, 725-2041387. Monday-Thursday, 2-9 p.m.; Friday, 2-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-7 p.m.
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
11.4.21
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
NoMad Library’s tuna tartare (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
DEEP DIVE
O O D + D N K
NOMAD LIBRARY Park MGM, 702-730-6785. Thursday-Monday, 5-10 p.m.
I
n A handful of the Strip’s fine-dining palaces held off on reopening after last year’s pandemic restaurant restrictions faded, waiting for larger and more varied groups of Vegas visitors to return. The NoMad restaurant at the same-named eponymous hotel inside Park MGM—now known as NoMad Library— was down for 18 months. General manager Peter Lederman says his team was overjoyed to finally get back to work in this one-of-a-kind dining room. And this month’s arrival of a fresh fall menu ramped up the excitement further, allowing the kitchen to return to the full scope of NoMad cuisine. That means the signature roasted chicken for two ($90), stuffed with foie gras, black truffles and brioche, is back, adjacent to an even more celebratory American Wagyu prime rib ($150) rubbed with porcini and black garlic plus all the trimmings, also designed for two (or more). But you don’t have to ball out quite that hard to take advantage of these seasonal specialties. A salad of roasted sunchokes, dandelion greens, grapes and hazelnuts ($17) makes for a perfect round two after a half-dozen chilled oysters ($26) with invigorating “cucumber snow.” Prepared tableside with togarashi, tamarind, horseradish, shiso and chili, the tuna tartare ($26) is unlike any version you’ve had. Ricotta cavatelli ($29) with fennel sausage, grana padano cheese and a bit of black truffle brings all the richness without going overboard. And while indulgent side dishes like lobster and truffle mac and cheese ($29) demand your attention, the subtle and seasonal roasted honeynut squash ($14) with sage and lemon ricotta is just as satisfying. Heck, it feels downright festive. –Brock Radke
R
O
ne of the elements that separates Henderson’s Water Street district from and other walkable areas stacked with bars, shops and restaurants is its neighborly character. You feel like a regular even if it’s your first time visiting one of these welcoming businesses, and that’s especially true at Mojave Brewing Company. This place had me at hello, mostly because of its tasty and creative brews, some of which are named after my favorite pop-culture nostalgia. How could I not enjoy the toasty Almost Famous Porter or the hoppy Point Break West Coast IPA? “One of the wild cards I thought would be seasonal but I can’t take off the tap, because too many people would complain, is the Shotgun Wedding blonde ale with raspberry and peppers,” says c0-owner and brewer John “Griff” Griffith. “It really trips the switches for a number of our regulars.” Griffith and business partner Nate Carney, both former CCSD educators, opened Mojave on February 2, 2020, operating for six weeks before COVID struck. As locals have returned to their favorite watering holes more consistently this year, many have discovered this one-ofa-kind brewery and taproom in a former Bank of America building that fits into the Water Street renaissance hand-in-glove.
“I’m a Michigan kid and have sort of a small-town mentality. Even though Henderson isn’t a small town, you still wave at your neighbor here and see what we can do to help each other out,” says Griffith. “Nobody is cutthroat on Water Street. There’s that tide rises, all the bloats float higher attitude.” As for the brews, they’re all over the place, and that’s intentional. Right now, you’ll find holiday seasonal specialties alongside top sellers like the Skrogzilla Blonde Ale, and then there’s wild creativity at play with Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Fruity Pebbles beers—because what beer drinker doesn’t want to reminisce about Saturday morning cartoons with a big bowl of cereal? “We’re careful to adhere to traditional styles when we do a traditional style,” Griffith says. “But when we do an experimental beer, there’s no holds barred.” Mojave is going all out on big beers for the cold-weather season, aging some brews in bourbon barrels for after the New Year’s clock strikes. The upcoming Russian Imperial stout will be its first to exceed 11% ABV. And the brewery’s One More series continues from the Mexican lager Uno Mas and the Oktoberfest Kölsch Einer Noch with an upcoming Japanese-style lager. Yes, it’ll be called Mohitotsu, or something like that. I’ll be back to try that one out, and to see if Griffith names a third beer after a Patrick Swayze movie. I’ve had the Point Break and the Red Dawn red IPA. “At the very least, it’s a talking point,” Griffith says. “Maybe you feel comfortable, if you know that movie, to try a new beer.”
F
NOMAD LIBRARY
BY BROCK RADKE
Mojave Brewing Company is making friends on Water Street
41I
42
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.4.21
HEADING TOWARD MADNESS
Alabama’s
Four college basketball teams that hold value in the futures market to start the season
Jahvon Quinerly (AP Photo)
C U L T U R E
BY CASE KEEFER
T
he NCAA Tournament is the biggest sports betting event of the year, but bettors waiting until March to wager on teams to win the 68-team field are doing themselves a disservice. The market is highly efficient by then, with casinos having collectively taken millions of dollars in action to mostly have teams priced appropriately. A better strategy— and one employed by those betting at the highest level—is to build a portfolio of futures bets with value prices throughout the season, starting immediately. The season tips off Tuesday, November 9, so here are four teams worth considering betting whose odds shouldn’t take long to dip lower.
TEXAS (15-to-1 at Circa Sports)
The transfer portal, and eradication of penalties for players switching schools, has changed the landscape of college basketball, and no program utilized it better this offseason than Texas. The Longhorns have the top transfer score of any power conference program, according to statistician Bart Torvik’s analytical model. The headliner of the incoming transfers is National Player of the Year candidate Marcus Carr, who averaged more than 19 points per game last season at Minnesota. Texas was a trendy Final Four sleeper pick going into last year’s NCAA Tournament before getting upset by Abilene Christian—and
that was with both a weaker roster and lesser coach. Underachieving coach Shaka Smart left for Marquette, and Texas wooed Texas Tech’s Chris Beard, widely considered one of the sharpest coaches in the sport, to take his place. Beard brought Texas Tech to a national championship game three seasons ago; imagine what he can do with more resources at Texas. This number has crashed from as high as 50-to-1 before Beard’s hire to as low as 5-to-1 at some shops around town. The Longhorns are still worth playing at 12-to-1 or better. MEMPHIS (30-to-1 at Golden Nugget)
It has been several years since a group of uber-talented blue-chip
freshmen proved unstoppable en route to a national championship. Memphis could revisit a trend that once was considered the future of college basketball. This year’s Tigers are built in a similar vein to the 2015 Duke Blue Devils and 2012 Kentucky Wildcats, teams that overwhelmed opponents with their athleticism. A pair of five-star incoming freshmen—swingman Emoni Bates and big man Jalen Duren—lead what 24/7 Sports rated the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. It’s the second time in three years coach Penny Hardaway’s program has earned top honors, and a couple of players remain from his No. 1 class in 2019: Lester Quinones and Malcolm Dandridge. Hardaway guaranteed a national
11.4.21
Memphis’ Lester Quinones (AP Photo)
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
43I
RAIDERS Report
S P S
Tournament success, or in this case, lack thereof, holds too much influence on the perception of programs. The Buckeyes haven’t made it out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament in four seasons under coach Chris Holtmann, with the repeated failings covering up what have otherwise been consistent production and progress. Ohio State has been in the top 20 of Ken Pomeroy’s season-end analytical rankings in three of four years under Holtmann, who had his best team a year ago. The Buckeyes earned a No. 2 seed in the tournament last March before getting stunned by Oral Roberts in the opening round. The good news is, most of the squad is back to try again; Ohio State ranks first in experience in the Big Ten Conference according to Torvik’s numbers. Forward E.J. Liddell is one of the best players in the country. Betting odds price the Big Ten as a two-team race between Michigan (14-to-1 to win the title) and Purdue (21-to-1), but that’s a mistake. Ohio State and Illinois (also worth a look at 40-to-1 at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook) also have extremely high upsides.
T
No power conference team plays a smarter style than the Crimson Tide. Coach Nate Oats employs an ultra-modern 3-and-D approach, and now that he has ideal personnel in place to execute it, opponents are scrambling to catch up. First-team all-conference players Jahvon Quinerly and Jaden Shackelford lead a stacked backcourt rotation that took the SEC by storm a year ago. The Crimson Tide went on a 10-game win streak mid-year before winning both the conference regular-season and tournament titles. Few teams looked stronger going into the NCAA Tournament, where Alabama’s high-variance style eventually caught up to it. The Tide made only seven of 28 3-point attempts while getting ousted by UCLA in the Sweet 16. But it would be a mistake to consider one off-night a portent of things to come. Alabama projects to be an even better offensive team this year, and as long as it can avoid
OHIO STATE (40-to-1 at Circa Sports)
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs carries the ball against the Eagles, Sunday, October 24 in Las Vegas. (Rick Scuteri/AP Photos)
R
ALABAMA (33-to-1 at Circa Sports)
a nightmare shooting night at an inopportune time, it has a chance to win more than a pair of conference titles. The Tide could just win it all.
O
championship after he took over at Memphis in 2018, and he might be closer than some of the betting odds indicate. Concerns over Hardaway not being a seasoned enough coach should also be assuaged after he bulked up his assistant staff by bringing in veteran Hall of Famer Larry Brown this offseason.
Last Week: Bye Raiders’ players had a chance to get away and relax ahead of the final nine weeks of the regular season; coach Rich Bisaccia didn’t give them much directive, except to “get rest, be really smart and run.” Bisaccia indicated that both tight end Darren Waller, who missed the Raiders’ last game with a rolled ankle, and running back Josh Jacobs, who left in the second quarter with a chest contusion, are expected to return for Week 9. But it will be at least one more week until other key injured players, such as guard Richie Incognito, cornerback Trayvon Mullen and cornerback Damon Arnette, return. This Week: Raiders (5-2) at Giants (2-5 at press time) When: Sunday, November 7, 10 a.m. Where: MetLife Stadium TV: CBS (Channel 8) Radio: 920-AM, 92.3-FM Betting line: Raiders -2.5, over/under 47.5 Matchup: The Giants look like the worst team left on the Raiders’ schedule, having been below average on both offense and defense. A gauntlet lies ahead the next three weeks, however, when the Raiders will have games against three Super Bowl contenders in the Chiefs, Bengals and Cowboys. It would be dramatic to call an interconference game a mustwin for a team sitting near the top of the AFC standings, but it sure could give the Raiders some breathing room in the playoff picture. Las Vegas hasn’t played the Giants since 2017 (a 24-17 victory), but it will be traveling to East Rutherford, New Jersey, for the third straight year, having split a pair of games there with the Jets in 2019 and 2020.
Raider to Watch: Defensive end Maxx Crosby To the surprise of virtually everyone, the third-year edge rusher was the Raiders’ best player over the first half of the season. He led the NFL in QB pressures (47) through the first seven weeks. Those outside of the organization have been stunned by the progress of the former fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan. Internally, Las Vegas anticipated a leap from Crosby but still expected to be an offense-first team. The Raiders’ offense has played well enough, but the defense has been more consistent overall, and it has all started with Crosby’s pass rush. He’s likely to continue his success against a mediocre, beaten-up Giants offensive line. –Case Keefer
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE OR SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE CIGAR SHOPPE OR SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP
3 OFF
15% OFF
$
PER CARTON* (CIGARETTES ONLY)
PREMIUM CIGARS & ACCESSORIES
*Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes filtered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit 1 discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. EXPIRES 11/30/2021. LVW
CHEYENNE
$35.69*
FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON $3.99 PER PACK SPECIAL OFFER EXPIRES 11/30/21
*Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes bundles & individual sticks from bundles, cigarettes, mass market and pipe tobacco. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies or digital copies accepted. EXPIRES 11/30/2021. LVW
NEVER PAY ADDITIONAL TAX!
LD
$33.79*
FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON
$3.68 PER PACK Go to LVPaiuteSmokeShop.com for coupons.
MARLBORO
$73.29*
FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON $7.99 PER PACK
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBAL SMOKE SHOP & CIGAR SHOPPE NEWRE MON-SAT 7AM-7PM • SUN 8AM-5:30PM STO RS! HOU SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP & GAS STATION MON-SUN 6AM TO 7PM • PAY-AT-THE-PUMP OPEN 24/7
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY. C O M / F I X SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!
Join THE Club • 20% OFF ON YOUR NEXT VISIT • EXCLUSIVE TREAT DURING YOUR BIRTHDAY MONTH
SIGN UP AT: DENNYS.COM/REWARDS © 2021 DFO, LLC. Printed in the U.S.A. At participating restaurants for a limited time only.
46
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
11.4.21
TECHNOLOGY
21ST-CENTURY ART DEALING: MARKET NOT QUITE SET FOR NONFUNGIBLE TOKENS
M
BY BRYAN HORWATH VEGAS INC STAFF
ax Jacobson-Fried stumbled upon a Saturday Night Live skit that poked fun at NFTs, those digital offerings that have started to take pop culture by storm. NFTs—or nonfungible tokens—are one-of-a-kind digital assets that are verified using blockchain technology to give owners or buyers proof of authenticity. NFTs are most recognizable in mainstream circles now as images, video loops or GIFs. Just like art or collectible sports cards, the uniqueness of an NFT can help drive up its value. “My wife loves Saturday Night Live, so we were watching, and this skit comes on about NFTs, which I knew nothing about,” said Jacobson-Fried, owner of Freed’s Bakery in Las Vegas. “I forgot about it for a while, but I was curious and interested, and it was something that was on my radar.” Freed’s, a popular family-owned business, introduced an NFT wedding cake, a detailed spinning GIF. The GIF was put up for auction on OpenSea, a platform that allows trading of NFTs. Jacobson-Fried said the bakery is just dabbling with the NFT concept now, but offerings could evolve to the point where a customer who purchases a cake also receives an NFT. “We have some different things that we’re looking at,” he said. “It could be really fun.” NFTs, however, aren’t just for fun. They are also capturing eye-popping amounts of money in the cryptocurrency world. Mike Winkelmann, who also goes by “Beeple,” earlier this year sold a collage
JPEG for $69.3 million. The NFT featured unique creations of digital art that Winkelmann made daily for 5,000 consecutive days. Even if they’re not selling or auctioning their NFTs for tens of millions of dollars, there’s plenty of NFT money changing hands these days around the world. In Las Vegas, entrepreneur and podcaster Jake Gallen, a Chaparral High School grad, last month made more than $100,000 on the sale of three NFTs—from his “Mooncats” collection—at auction. The collection was made popular in part because it was the first set of a
work of art—somewhat clumsy spaceage images of digital cats—created by an algorithm to be minted on the blockchain. “To summarize what NFTs are, it really just gives the ability to assign ownership to anything digitally,” Gallen said. “It could be a graphic piece of art, or it could be a contract. Right now, the primary use of NFTs are art and collectibles, which I think speaks to the mainstream a little more.” Las Vegas DJ and producer Justin Blau this year sold an array of digital art and music NFTs—called a drop— for over $11 million. Even the Vegas Golden Knights
NHL team has dipped its toe in NFT waters. In July, the team announced the release of eight exclusive Golden Knights-themed NFT images that were featured in an auction on Crypto.com. A team spokesman said there could be more offerings by the franchise at some point. And in basketball, NBA Top Shot—which captures specific plays from games—have become lucrative assets in the sports collectible arena. Rajiv Kishore, an entrepreneurship and technology professor at UNLV, said interest in NFTs has grown exponentially in the past 12-18 months. He mentioned Top Shots as one of the more popular expressions of NFTs. “Think about any new invention, in the beginning we don’t understand the true value of a thing,” Kishore said. “We make that typical human mistake of overvaluing things. We understand there’s some potential value, but we just don’t know what that value really is. Initially, there’s hype, then there’s a crash, then, eventually, the reality will set in.”
Las Vegas native Jake Gallen hosts The Guest List podcast and creates digital artwork to sell as NFTs. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
48
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
11.4.21
VegasInc Notes Michael Cruz joined Lewis Roca as an associate in the firm’s litigation practice group. Cruz’s practice will focus on commercial litigation. He has experience in real estate and construcCruz tion litigation and has represented companies in all areas of civil litigation, including commercial disputes, personal injury and insurance bad faith. Additionally, Lewis Roca announced Adrienne Brantley-Lomeli was Brantleyselected as a memLomeli ber of the inaugural class of the Business Bankruptcy Committee 20/20 Partners Rising Young Leader Award. This American Bar Association Business Law Section Business Bankruptcy Committee award recognizes the nation’s top young bankruptcy lawyers. She is one of 19 recipients to receive this award. The Baller Dream Foundation, an
uplifting nonprofit that supports children and young adults battling cancer, announced that philanthropist and long-time community activist Paige Maddux has joined the foundation as its first executive director in Las Vegas. Maddux previously served as director of philanthropy at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Amy Hunter joined Opportunity Village as vice president of human resources. Hunter previously served as Opportunity Village’s HR consultant. Prior to joining Opportunity Village, Hunter Hunter was managing partner at Simmons Group for 14 years, where she supported clients with strategic planning, managing human resources and business acumen consulting, working with companies to help fulfill their training, workforce hiring needs and development goals. Chris Pritsos, director of the University of Nevada, Reno Experiment Station, was named chair of the national Experiment Station Committee
on Organization and Policy and will provide support to Experiment Station directors across the country. ESCOP makes recommendations on budgets and policy to federal agencies and lawmakers related to food, agriculture and natural resources on behalf of the state agricultural Experiment Station directors and administrators. Colliers Las Vegas announced that Patti Dillon, SIOR of the company’s office division, and Jennifer Kennedy of its property management division, were honorees of Connect Media’s 2021 Women in Real Estate Awards for the southwest region. Dillon received an award for Office Brokerage, and Kennedy for Property Management. This distinction celebrates leading women professionals who apply their talent and leadership to achieve influence and success in commercial real estate. Dr. Ian Elliot, a trauma surgeon, and Brittany Hough, a physician assistant, joined Optum Care Orthopaedics and Spine to help meet the growing need for health services in the Las Vegas Hough community. The City of North Las Vegas announced that 58 local small businesses have been supported in either starting
MORE EXPERTISE, MORE LOCATIONS accesspcp.com
or growing their business since the city, UNLV’s Small Business Development Center, Employ NV Business Hub and Access Community Capital opened the NLV Small Business Connector on October 12. The NLV Connector is a one-stop shop at North Las Vegas City Hall that helps businesses launch and expand, provides loans at subprime rates to entrepreneurs, and connects job seekers with employers. TSK Architects, in association with TVS Nevada Inc., Simpson Coulter Studios, Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects, KME Architects and TSK’s consultant GRN Vision, earned three Bailey Green Globes for New Construction certification on their work for the Las Vegas Convention Center Phase 2 Expansion. Green Globes is a green rating assessment and certification system that ensures projects meet criteria in project management, site, energy, water, resources, emissions and indoor environment. TSK also announced Melanie Bailey as a new senior marketing specialist. In addition to developing and deploying strategies to advance marketing operations, she will mentor and train junior marketing specialists while overseeing staff to help elevate TSK’s business and community presence.
SE HABL A ESPAÑOL
D R. VON TOBEL | D R. ANG - E R M OC I LL A D R. ERM OCI LL A | DR . E M E RY
MARYL AND PARKWAY
SMOKE RANCH ROAD
N EW L AKE SAHARA DRIVE
2870 S Maryland Pkwy, Suite 120
7190 Smoke Ranch Rd, Suite 150
2650 Lake Sahara Dr, Suite 100
(702) 677-3911
(702) 677-3538
(702) 707-8026
See Y our P
You’ve always been there for them. Keep protecting them with Nevada Health Link. It’s comprehensive health insurance at the lowest possible price.
Where Health Insurance Competes for You.
now slicing
extraordinary order at capriottis.com for pick-up or delivery
T H E U LT I M AT E
WEIGHT
LOSS PROGRAM
▶ Initial Medical Consultation ▶ Full Body Composition Analysis ▶ EKG (if required) ▶ RX for (3) month Appetite Suppressants ▶ (12) Weekly B12 Injections ▶ Bi-Weekly Body Composition Analysis ▶ Medication for (3) month treatment
395
$ $
NEW PATIENTS ONLY, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS.
2
www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099
CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
3365 E. Flamingo Road, Ste 2 Las Vegas, NV 89121 4966 S Rainbow Blvd STE 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118
rice:
THE DISPENSARY LOCATIONS
MYNT LOCATIONS
GIBSON (HENDERSON)
DOWNTOWN
50 GIBSON RD #170
132 EAST SECOND STREET
HENDERSON, NV 89014
RENO, NV 89501
(702) 476-0420
(775) 686-MYNT (6968)
DECATUR
NORTH 340 LEMMON DR. RENO, NV 89506
MATC E IC
LAS VEGAS, NV 89118 (702) 476-0420 EASTERN 8605 SOUTH EASTERN AVE
H
PR
(775) 686-MYNT (6968)
5347 S DECATUR BLVD #100
H
LAS VEGAS, NV 89123
PR
S Y A D N O M
SUITE A
E MATC IC
SCAN SO YOU NEVER MISS A DEAL!
SCAN SO YOU NEVER MISS A DEAL!
@GREENSATMYNT
@YOURDISPENSARYNV
Product must be an exact match by brand, product type, and strain. Management reserves all rights. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounts. Some restrictions may apply. This is a cannabis product. Keep out of reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older.
(702) 476-0420 RENO 100 W. PLUMB LANE RENO, NV 89509 (775) 244-1420
GAME DAY. GAME PLAN.
LIVE GAME SOUND 143-ft screen 3 LEVELS • 6 POOLS ALL SPORTS. ALL SEASONS. Cheer on your favorite football team all season long for the ultimate poolside tailgate.
scan to reserve the best seat in the stadium
circalasvegas.com | @circalasvegas 8 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 | 702-247-2258 Circa Las Vegas is a 21+ experience. We encourage you to gamble responsibly. For problem gambling, call the Problem Gamblers Helpline at 800.522.4700.