ASTONISHING. UNPREDICTABLE. MIND-BENDING. Omega Mart is an immersive interactive experience from groundbreaking art collective, Meow Wolf. Featuring jaw-dropping work from international and local artists, Omega Mart sends participants of all ages on a journey through surreal worlds and immersive storytelling. Discover secret portals or simply soak up the innovative art as you venture beyond an extraordinary supermarket into parts unknown.
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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
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ON THE COVER
Doja Cat; Tyler, the Creator by Amy Harris/AP Photo Kendrick Lamar by Jordan Strauss/AP Photo Photo Illustration by Ian Racoma
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WEEKLY SUPERGUIDE
Your daily event planner, featuring Porter Robinson, Hellzapoppin, ice skating and doughnuts.
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NEWS
NOISE
NIGHTS
FOOD + DRINK
Prepping you for massive hip-hop festival Day N Vegas. Can you score better than your friends on our quiz?
Speed kills. Experts detail the dangers of driving fast on the streets of Las Vegas.
Sting opens his first-ever Vegas residency, but not before scoping out the competition.
You don’t have to hit the Strip or head Downtown to party. Two places doing it in the ’burbs.
Casa Playa brings Mexican meals to Wynn, while Starlight on 66 delivers breathtaking views at Resorts World.
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SPORTS UNLV’s men’s basketball team has a new coach and a bunch of new players—how will it all come together? Mike Grimala breaks down the knowns and unknowns as the 2021-2022 season begins.
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THURSDAY11 NOV.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. MINNESOTA WILD 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. DEREK HOUGH: NO LIMIT & 11/12-11/14, 11/17, 7:30 p.m., Summit Showroom at Venetian, ticket master.com. GLITTERING LIGHTS Thru 1/9, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, glitteringlights lasvegas.com. DJ SNAKE 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com. BARRY MANILOW & 11/12-11/13, 7 p.m. Westgate International Theater, ticket master.com. AUTHOR SUSAN LEE JOHNSON 7 p.m., the Writer’s Block, thewritersblock. org. JOSEPH WATSON: STORIES WITHOUT WORDS Thru 11/14, East Las Vegas Library, lvccld. org.
PORTER ROBINSON The electronic favorite has returned to the stage for the first time since 2019, wielding new material. Catch songs from April album Nurture, featuring Robinson singing and playing piano— along with an array of digital gadgetry—accompanied by carefully crafted visual production. EDM producer Jai Wolf opens. 7:30 p.m., $39+, axs.com. –Evelyn Mateos (Aidan Cullen/ Courtesy)
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EVANESCENCE & HAELSTORM 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com. (Nick Fancher/Courtesy)
DAY N VEGAS FESTIVAL Thru 12/14, noon, Las Vegas Festival Grounds, dayn vegas2021.com. DANIEL TOSH & 11/13, 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, ticketmaster. com. ONE DRUNK PUPPY WINE TASTING 6 p.m., Sway Pool, silverton casino.com.
SAMMY HAGAR & FRIENDS & 11/13, 9 p.m., Strat Theater, ticketmaster. com.
OLIVER HELDENS 10 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, marqueelvnc. taogroup.com.
LAS VEGAS DAYS RODEO & 11/13, 7:30 p.m., Core Arena at the Plaza, lvdexperience. com.
FERRARO’S 36TH ANNIVERSARY MENU Thru 11/14, 4480 Paradise Road, ferraroslas vegas.com.
VEGAS CITY OPERA: LA BODEAD Thru 11/14 & 11/19-11/21, 7:30 p.m. or 3 p.m., Charleston Heights Arts Center, vegas cityopera.org.
ZANE LAMPREY 7 p.m., & 11/13 at 6 p.m., CraftHaus Brewery, eventbrite.com. HOlY HOUSE: VOLAC 10 p.m., Discopussy, disco pussydtlv.com. POWERMAN 5000 8 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, eventbrite.com.
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 .
Vegas has demonstrated an insatiable hunger for circus acts, and Hellzapoppin, a “vaudeville freak show of wonder,” is coming to town to satisfy it with ferocity. Bryce “The Govna” Graves presents an evening of thrilling sideshow stunts, from glass-walking to razor blade-swallowing, with many dizzying stops in-between. Plus, the show returns Auzzy Blood, formerly of Cirque du Soleil’s R.U.N., to the Vegas stage. He’s still doing that thing with a corkscrew and his face. (Maybe don’t bring the kids.) 7 p.m., $15-$40, the Usual Place, eventbrite.com. –Geoff Carter
MARIA BAMFORD Arts District comedy club Wiseguys has been open only a couple of months and it’s already scored a big get in booking Bamford, star of Netflix’s gonetoo-soon Lady Dynamite and easily one of the most honest, distinctive and flat-out hilarious stand-ups working today. Speaking frankly about her struggles to maintain her mental health, Bamford pivots from eccentric characterizations to all-too-relatable stories of social anxiety with wit, deftness and grace. November 12-13, 7 & 9:30 p.m., $30. wiseguyscomedy.com. –Geoff Carter
Hellzapoppin (Courtesy); Maria Bamford (Robyn Von Swank/Courtesy)
HELLZAPOPPIN CIRCUS SIDESHOW REVUE
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SATURDAY 13 NOV.
MARTHA REDBONE The blues and soul singer headlines Henderson’s American Indian Heritage Celebration with a 4 p.m. performance at Henderson Events Plaza. The Native- and African-American singer is known for her “honey-toned voice” (Chicago Reader) and her expert mixing of musical traditions. The daylong event begins at 10 a.m. with a “Pow Wow Spectacular” and includes storytelling (10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.), a Hoop Dance (1:30 p.m.), traditional music (noon) and even family fitness (11 a.m.). Free, Water Street Plaza. –C. Moon Reed
BRETT ELDREDGE Is Eldredge the country Mariah Carey? He released his first Christmas album, Glow, in 2016; he issued a smash duet of “Under the Mistletoe” with Kelly Clarkson in 2020; and last month he dropped another merry album, aptly titled Mr. Christmas. Santa Carey isn’t scheduled to park her sleigh on the Strip this year, but Eldredge launches his holiday tour at Virgin this week. 7 p.m., $35-$125, the Theater at Virgin, axs.com. –Brock Radke
MARSHMELLO 10:30 p.m., XS, wynnsocial.com. (AP Photo)
MARLON WAYANS 8 p.m., M Pavilion, the mresort.com.
EMO NIGHT BROOKLYN 9 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb. com.
DEORRO 10 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, marqueelvnc. taogroup.com.
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia, omniaclubs. com. UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. CALIFORNIA 5 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
THE METEORS 7 p.m., Dive Bar, eventbrite.com. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. VANCOUVER CANUCKS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
TACO & TAMALES FESTIVAL Noon-8 p.m., Desert Breeze Park, tacosand tamaleslv.com.
CODE BLACK & DARKSIDERZ With DJ Cable, Jack Spaidz, Kosmiic, 10 p.m., Hard Rock Live, seetickets.com.
K-VON 8 p.m., the Space, the spacelv.com.
UNLV FOOTBALL VS. HAWAII 1 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, unlv tickets.com.
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LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 5:20 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, allegiant stadium.com. JEFF DUNHAM 7:30 p.m., the Colosseum, ticketmaster. com. RL GRIME 10:30 p.m., XS, wynn social.com. LIL JON 10 p.m., Marquee, marqueelvnc. taogroup.com. GILBERTO SANTA ROSA 8:30 p.m., the Theater at Virgin, axs.com. SECOND SUNDAY 1-5 p.m., Downtown Container Park, downtown containerpark. com.
HOT SINCE 82
NF HOPE CONCERT
Pool season is decidedly done, but the outdoor party continues at Resorts World. Ayu Dayclub’s versatile Sunday Moonbeam party shifts to the night for three events this month, starting with a set from British house producer Daley Padley, aka Hot Since 82, fresh off a performance at San Francisco’s Outside Lands. 10 p.m., $30-$50, zouk grouplv.com. –Brock Radke (Courtesy)
Former Jersey Boys star Jeff Leibow and his wife launched this show 11 years ago, after their daughter was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder of the nervous system. The concert—which features live performances from prestigious entertainers, along with a silent auction—has since raised more than $1 million for NF research. 1 p.m., $49-$69, Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com. –Amber Sampson
(Denise Truscello/Courtesy)
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D DONUT FEST LAS VEGAS 1 p.m., Arts District, eventbrite. com.
FREE MOB MUSEUM ENTRY FOR NEVADANS In 1950, the Kefauver hearings, a series of organized crime investigations, enthralled the nation. Las Vegas’ historic hearing, which took place in the federal courthouse where the Mob Museum now stands, marked a pivotal shift in our city. In commemoration of Kefauver Day, the Mob Museum will offer free entry for locals—and buyone-get-one tickets for non-Nevada residents—as it imparts knowledge about Las Vegas’ eventful past. 9 a.m.-9 p.m., themobmuseum.org. –Amber Sampson
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. NORTH DAKOTA STATE 7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
BRYCE VINE 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, hakkasangroup. com.
NEXTET NEW MUSIC SERIES CONCERT 7:30 p.m., Rando-Grillot Hall, unlv.edu.
MICHAEL SOMERVILLE With Andy Pitz, Jimmy Burns, thru 11/20, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrett comedy.com.
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 .
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VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. CAROLINA HURRICANES 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. FRANKIE MORENO 7:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmith center.com.
THE RHYOLITE SOUND With Dallas Moore, SoulBelly BBQ, 8 p.m., eventbrite.com. (Mike Hewitt/ Courtesy
ICE RINK AT THE COSMOPOLITAN ’Tis the season to drink hot cocoa, roast s’mores and carve up some ice. The Ice Rink returns in time for the holidays, with a classic screening of Jack Frost at the Boulevard Pool to kick off the evening. Drink, skate and be merry! (And be careful!) Through January 2, free admission, $20-30 skate rentals, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com. –Amber Sampson
WEDNESDAY 17 NOV.
DEUX TWINS 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynn social.com.
POP SOUL FT. SERENA HENRY 7:30 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE & 11/12-11/13, 8 p.m., Venetian Theatre, ticket master.com.
BRYAN ADAMS & 11/12-11/13, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticket master.com.
MYKE TOWERS 8:30 p.m., the Theater at Virgin, axs.com. (Courtesy)
QUEEN NAIJA If you can’t get to Day N Vegas, you can still catch this R&B queen’s Butterfly Tour stop at the recently renovated House of Blues. The Detroit singer and social media star has been building momentum since last October’s release of major label debut Missunderstood, including this year’s buttery smooth single “Set Him Up” featuring Ari Lennox. With Tink, 7 p.m., $29.50, livenation. com. –Brock Radke
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Putting a show together myself was terrifying but so exhilarating and so worth it. I really got to dig into who I am as a performer.”
ALWAYS ONSTAGE
Katie Marie Jones balances hockey hosting, showgirling and more BY BROCK RADKE
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atie Marie Jones seems like a natural when she’s interacting with hockey fans as one of the in-arena hosts during Vegas Golden Knights games at the Fortress. Maybe it’s the thousand-watt smile, or the fact that she’s a native Las Vegan. But there was a learning curve to this high-profile sports gig, even for an experienced performer like Jones. She has been onstage on the Strip for about three years in magician Nathan Burton’s show at the V Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, and she has performed in several musical theater productions across the country. In October, the night after this season’s VGK home opener, Jones performed her first solo show at the Space, bouncing through some of her favorite songs and sharing stories from her varied entertainment career.
“I wanted to put together a show that showed every side of me, not just musical theater or jazz or pop,” she says. “It’s still a work in progress, and I’ve already changed things. That’s where my heart is, on the stage and in the theater, and I think this coming year, that’s going to be where my focus is.” Last month was a bit crazy for you. I don’t know what possessed me to put my show the day after opening night for the Golden Knights, but I did, and I’m still sleeping from it. But it was also the best week of my life. We finally were able to be back in the stands with fans and doing interviews with players and all that stuff, and it’s been a long two seasons of not doing that. The day after, I got to just play and put all my favorite songs into one show, and it was an incredible night, the first time I’ve done anything like that.
You’ve never done a solo show? That’s the first time it’s just me. Being 100% me onstage is a little terrifying, even though I’ve been hosting in front of thousands of people at the arena, and been in a bunch of plays and musicals. For some reason, putting a show together myself was terrifying but so exhilarating and so worth it. I really got to dig into who I am as a performer and what made me. You’re a born-and-raised native, so did growing up in Las Vegas turn you toward performing? It wasn’t until high school that I thought I could maybe do it for a living. Before that, I was just trying anything and everything to see what stuck. I think I always looked up to the people entertaining on the Strip, and I remember we went to see Donny & Marie and [other shows] growing up. It’s really amazing to be born in a city that has so much entertainment.
What was it like adapting to the role of host at Golden Knights games? When they called me and told me I got the job, I said, “Really? Are you sure?” Once I got past the shock and stopped worrying about messing up in front of 18,000 people every night, it is similar to [other] productions. We’re putting on a show, there are stage managers and lighting guys and cameramen and it’s a familiar environment for me. But I’m playing a totally different role. That’s how I thought of it at first, that I’m playing the role of a host, and I researched different hosts in the NHL and different women who have blazed a trail for us in this industry and watched what they did. And now you’re balancing that demanding role with your showgirl gig in Nathan Burton Comedy Magic at V Theater. That is such a different experience, because there are so many things that can go wrong at any moment and you have to know how to figure it out and make it look like everything went according to plan. It’s been so much fun, and I’ve learned so much about myself and other types of performance. Learning all these different things in sports, magic, dance and other avenues have made me a lot more well-rounded.
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Katie Marie Jones (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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The hip-hop fest returns to Las Vegas, with another eye-popping lineup
our months after Day N Vegas brought Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Migos and many more to the Las Vegas Strip, live music paused worldwide for more than a year. But anyone who worried the pandemic might derail Las Vegas’ new hip-hop festival clearly wasn’t paying attention to its November 2019 debut. Day N Vegas’ first edition was a success by most any metric, selling out and drawing rave reviews for its music by fans and critics in attendance. That meant the AEG/Goldenvoice-produced fest would almost certainly be back—and it is. DNV’s November 12-14 return—set for the Las Vegas Festival Grounds at Sahara and the Strip—will feature another powerhouse lineup. Lamar, Post Malone and Tyler, the Creator will each headline a day, and the stacked undercard will be loaded with the likes of Doja Cat, SZA, YG, Lil Baby, Ari Lennox, Lil Uzi Vert and dozens more. Travis Scott, originally scheduled to headline Saturday, dropped out after at least eight people died and more were seriously injured during his set at last weekend’s Astroworld Festival in Houston. On Tuesday morning, Day N Vegas issued this statement: “The security and safety of all attending Day N Vegas has been and is always top priority in our festival planning. We continue to work hand in hand with law enforcement, medical personnel and public safety agencies on our protocols for the weekend. Please take care of yourself and each other.” Weekend and single-day Day N Vegas tickets remained available at press time, so whether you already have yours or are considering purchasing, read on and get excited about the artists on the bill.
DAY N VEGAS November 12-14, gates open at noon, $200 per day/$490-$800 weekend pass, proof of vaccine or negative test required. Las Vegas Festival Grounds, daynvegas2021.com.
(Left to right) Kendrick Lamar (Richard Shotwell); Tyler, the Creator (Amy Harris); Post Malone (Andy Kropa) (AP Photo/Photo Illustration)
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How was it to be able to go back and do that? Man, it felt good. Those kids needed a break. They needed somebody to tell them [what was true.] Someone who understood what was going on.
REWRITING THE GAME Chatting with Denzel Curry about anime, self-growth and what’s next BY AMBER SAMPSON
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Growth seems to be huge for you right now. Yeah, more soul growth, spiritual growth, physical growth and also emotional growth. Just being more articulate with the way I express myself.
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How are the projects going so far? I’m almost done with one, which you’re probably gonna get at some point. Can’t tell you when. It’s called Melt My Eyez, See Your Future. When it comes down to the other two, it takes careful research, because I don’t want to rehash the thing I just did. I wanna give a new experience.
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It’s nice to see you taking two art forms and marrying them into something unique. Art is art. It’s not meant to be separate. Art is art, and art is subjective. … Back in art school, they used to tell us that anime is not a real art style. I went back to teach the same school that kicked me out. I taught their students, because their kids loved me, and at the same time, I was like, ‘Look man, they told you anime’s not a real art style, I’m here to tell you f*ck that sh*t. It is. It is a real art style.’
Will exploring those themes be a challenge for you or a welcome project? When you challenge yourself, it’s always a welcoming feeling. … When you allow that challenge, you’re able to grow. Once you grow, you become something different, almost like the butterfly effect. You’ve gotta go through these changes in order to have your wings and spread them.
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(Courtesy/Rachel Miller & Mariangel Robles)
In your music videos, specifically ones for your 2020 album Unlocked, there’s a strong anime and video game influence in the art direction. What’s your connection to those styles? To be honest with you, I’m actually terrible at video games (laughs). But when it comes down to anime … when I went to art school, I was a film kid. A lot of the stuff I put in my music videos is based off films—films and anime, certain things I like. I just try to incorporate it the best way I can with my stuff, especially with Unlocked. Unlocked was an ode to all my favorite cartoons that I was growing up on. If you know me personally, you know how much I enjoy cartoons and anime and movies [like] Star Wars. … I put it all together. When it comes down to my music videos, I just wanted to do something different that no Florida rapper’s ever done before. While everybody’s trying to be Kodak or X or all these motherf*ckers, I’m gonna be the one going against the grain and being like nah, I’m not gonna be like all of them. I know who I am, and I know what my strong suits are.
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You’ve been releasing music for a decade now. What has contributed to your style maturing over time? My style of music changed over the years due to me going to therapy and doing martial arts. I remember before quarantine, all the music [I was making], I was just catering to what I thought fans liked. It was usually the same thing, but I started to change over time, because I got tired of doing the same thing. Then once all that was stripped away during quarantine, I had to really look at myself and be like, Damn, who am I? Once the curtains are closed and there’s nobody saying you’re this person or you’re that person, who are you? So throughout the whole journey of making music, it changed over time as my demeanor changed over time. … Cause if you don’t grow inside, how can the stuff you do grow outward?
In an XXL interview, you said you have three albums coming. How do you pace yourself when making a lot of music? And how will these albums differ from the past? Well, that’s the thing, you just have to live life. ... When it comes down to making albums, the reason why fans weren’t getting that relatability to me was because I was just pumping them out real quickly. But they all stem from something. They all stem from some type of homesickness or depression or whatever the case may be. But now, I’m in a new mindset where I’m turning over a new leaf in a way where you’re not going to get that depression. I already talked about that; I don’t need to talk about that no more. Plus, I’m not even in that mindset. My life got relatively better. I’m gonna talk about the trials and tribulations I’m going through as a man, growing into myself. And that’s always gonna be relatable. Not everybody’s gonna relate to money, because people are broke. Not everybody’s gonna relate to having chains and diamonds, because they don’t have it. Not everybody is going to relate to having the finest car, because they’re driving a beat-up bucket or they gotta take the bus. So it’s just navigating through that world, in a sense. It’s just me being more relatable as a person, on a human level. And that’s how I’m gonna maneuver through the game.
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Denzel Curry’s explosive 2019 cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade” might have raised a few hairs and eyebrows, but it showcased what the 26-year-old Floridian has been doing all along: proving he’s an anomaly. The rapper released his first album while still in high school and, in tandem with rap collective Raider Klan, positioned himself as one of the pioneers of lo-fi SoundCloud rap. He has since pumped out four critically acclaimed studio albums and captivated fans with a slew of diverse features, including a metal song with PlayThatBoiZay titled “Bad Luck.” Curry is a chameleon of an artist, a muay thai fighter in his spare time and a mustsee act at Day N Vegas. Ahead of his Sunday set (8:10-8:50 p.m. on the Sammy Stage), the rapper spoke to the Weekly about the importance of self-growth, how anime informs his music videos and why his next projects need to be very different.
You have a lot of creative interests. What’s something else you’d love to pursue that not a lot of people know about? My fans and I are really connected, so usually I’d tell them— comic books, cartoons, they know that stuff. But for me really, it’d be filming—directing films and writing films. I’m a writer ultimately when it comes down to my music and stuff. I was able to navigate and direct my music in a way that’s visual, that people can see it. I feel like I have success in that, and I could have success in other [things]. It’s just how I go about writing it, and the dialogue and studying different writing styles. The same way rappers study other rappers.
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FRI DAY
Young M.A. (4:30-5 p.m., Sammy Stage) In 2016, Brooklyn’s Young M.A pulled up on the rap world with her debut single “OOOUUU.” She’s been a New York icon ever since. The multiplatinum rapper is bullish on the mic, shooting well-placed shots at her haters and breaking down barriers as an openly queer female artist in a male-dominated industry. Expect to hear hits from her swagful May LP Off the Yak—and for the crowd to turn up accordingly.
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Rico Nasty (5:10-5:45 p.m., Sammy Stage) When it comes to rap, Rico Nasty’s dancing to the beat of her own “sugar trap” drum. The Maryland rapper coined the term to define her style of trap rapping over melodic, bubblegum beats, but she also draws from the well of nu metal, punk and rap rock. Rico’s 2020 release, Nightmare Vacation, is a fully formed example, showcasing a rambunctious brand of music that’s unapologetically Nasty. Lucky Daye (7:25-7:55 p.m., Sammy Stage) Before you ever knew Lucky Daye’s name, you knew his work. The 36-year-old New Orleans native has co-written songs for Boyz II Men, Ella Mai and even Mary J Blige. In 2019, he debuted “Roll Some Mo,” a single that paved the way for Painted, a Best R&B Album contender at the 2020 Grammys. Lucky Daye’s a refreshing addition to the R&B scene, one you’ll want to keep an eye on.
12 acts to catch at Day N Vegas BY AMBER SAMPSON
Thundercat (7:25-8:25 p.m., Dean Tent) How does one describe Thundercat? Let’s count the ways. Groovy. Soulful. Progressive. LA singer and bassist Stephen Bruner is the man behind the moniker, best known for his Grammy-award winning work on jazz-funk projects like 2020’s It Is What It Is. Thundercat has worked with Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder and Erykah Badu, among others. You’re in for a treat. Kendrick Lamar (10:20-11:50 p.m., Frank Stage) At this point, what else can Kendrick Lamar do? At 34, the Compton rapper has won 13 Grammys, released an album that won a Pulitzer Prize for Music, produced and curated a soundtrack for a critically acclaimed Marvel movie and received a Generational Icon Award from California’s State Senate. Rumors are swirling about a new album as the influential rapper makes his return to Day N Vegas, but his set here is billed as “from Section.80 to Damn,” so it’ll cover his last four LPs. Will we get a taste of the new stuff? With an artist this talented, we’d be crazy to complain either way.
Young M.A. (Courtesy/ Andrew Morales) Yves Tumor (Courtesy/Paul Kooiker) SZA (Courtesy/Blair Caldwell)
QUIZ TIME! Test your knowledge about the acts on Day N Vegas’ bill
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Which of these albums reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200? a) Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City b) Doja Cat’s Planet Her c) Tyler, the Creator’s Igor d) SZA’s Ctrl Which of these artists has not guested on a Post Malone single? a) Olivia Rodrigo b) Ozzy Osbourne c) Nicki Minaj d) Justin Bieber
Which Day N Vegas artist teamed with MF Doom in the duo Madvillain? a) Freddie Gibbs b) Madlib c) Kenny Beats d) Bas
Which Day N Vegas artist portrayed Inspectah Deck in Season 1 of the Hulu series Wu Tang: An American Saga? a) Don Toliver b) Lil Uzi Vert c) Joey Bada$$ d) YG
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Answers: 1. c; 2. a; 3. b; 4. c; 5. d; 6. b; 7. a; 8. c; 9. b; 10. d.
Day N Vegas artists Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt are members of which hip-hop collective? a) Doomtree b) Anticon c) Odd Future d) Rhymesayers
Which match between Day N Vegas artist stage name and birth name is incorrect? = Dominique Armani Jones a) Lil Baby b) Queen Naija = Solána Imani Rowe c) Lil Uzi Vert = Symere Bysil Woods = Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson d) YG
Which Day N Vegas artist was featured on Nipsey Hussle’s 2020 Grammy-winning Best Rap Performance track “Racks in the Middle”? a) D Smoke b) Cordae c) Saba d) Roddy Ricch
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Which two Day N Vegas artists teamed up on a song featuring a portion of the melody from Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical”? a) Victoria Monét & BIA b) Doja Cat & SZA c) Tinashe & Yves Tumor d) Queen Naija & SiR
Which Day N Vegas artist was once a member of SoCal punk band Suicidal Tendencies? a) Thundercat b) Premo Rice c) Isaiah Rashad d) $NOT
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Which Day N Vegas act appeared on Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy? a) $uicideboy$ b) Jazmine Sullivan c) Flatbush Zombies d) Teyana Taylor
SZA (8:20-9:20 p.m., Frank Stage) It’s been four years since SZA released her groundbreaking debut, Ctrl, and last year, Rolling Stone ranked it among its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Fusing contemporary R&B with elements of neo-soul, jazz and indie pop, SZA created a modern romance playbook that feels timeless and right for any season. SZA has been teasing a ton of new music, so time will tell if she’ll unveil some of it at Day N Vegas.
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Almondmilkhunni (1-1:25 p.m., Dean Tent) Philadelphia’s rising star might be fresh-faced, but she shows all of the signs of a natural hitmaker. Almondmilkhunni blends airy pop with a subtle dose of R&B, as her vocals glide over standout tracks “Damnboy” and “Grapefruit.” A proud member of the LGBT community, this artist knows who she is and carries that confidence into her music.
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Tinashe (9:15-10 p.m., Sammy Stage) Back in 2014, you couldn’t turn on a radio without hearing this pop starlet’s club track, “2 On.” Tinashe has worked with everyone from Britney Spears to A$AP Rocky, securing her spot as a multiplatinum musician. But in 2019, she left her record label, starting over as an independent artist. On fifth album 333, Tinashe basks in that newfound freedom, melding rhythmic pop with strokes of EDM and alternative R&B.
Raveena (4:50-5:20 p.m., Dean Tent) Raised in a traditional Sikh house by two Indian parents, R&B darling Raveena grew up with three core influences: Bollywood, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. Her 2019 album, Lucid, arrived rife with soul, inviting vocals and pure, unadulterated emotion. Raveena’s music is a multi-genre gem, some of the most refreshing stuff around today.
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Yves Tumor (7:15-7:55 p.m., Dean Tent) You won’t find anyone else on this lineup like Yves Tumor. In 2020, Pitchfork called Miami’s experimental electro-rocker one of “the most interesting artists working today,” and two Weekly writers included 2020 album Heaven to a Tortured Mind in their year-end Top 10s. That record’s theatricality earned it comparisons to David Bowie and Prince, but there’s something intrinsically Yves Tumor in the music. Find out what it is when you catch this unskippable set.
Victoria Monét (8:05-8:35 p.m., Dean Tent) Victoria Monét has a way of making every song feel like an instant classic. Her latest single, “Coastin,’” has the trappings of an ’70s-infused funk record, but the singer-songwriter brings a freshness to what’s already familiar. In previous years, Monét has penned music for Nas, Blackpink, Fifth Harmony and Ariana Grande, most notably on Grande’s Thank U, Next. At Day N Vegas, expect something completely original.
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Latto (4:55-5:30 p.m., Sammy Stage) Latto got her first break after winning Jermaine Dupri’s reality TV competition, The Rap Game. The Atlanta rapper’s breakout single, “Bitch From Da Souf,” put her on the map, and she has since joined the ranks of rising female rap stars dominating the game. Latto can flow over anything, including —on current hit “Big Energy”—a sample from Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love” (also famously sampled by Mariah Carey on “Fantasy”). Come prepared to sing along.
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Donovan Childress (left) and Quentin Savwoir (Courtesy)
OPEN ENVIRONMENT
Local groups look to diversify and widen outdoor opportunities BY ARLEIGH RODGERS
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he past few weeks have brought welcome, cooler temperatures to Las Vegas. And the change of seasons also marks a significant shift for outdoor enthusiasts ready to hike, climb and camp at Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston and beyond. Donovan Childress, a senior at Arbor View High School, created Black People Hike Las Vegas in 2020, hoping to break down the stereotypes around Black people engaging with natural spaces or outdoor pursuits. “Black People Hike Las Vegas is a group that tries to inspire African Americans in Las Vegas to embrace the beauty, adventure and peace of nature of the American wilderness,” he explains. “We also want to erase the stereotype that hiking and other outdoor activities aren’t made for people of color.” Childress, an avid outdoorsman, says the group has been to Red Rock Canyon and Utah’s Zion National Park. With the weather cooling down, the group plans to return to
Red Rock to visit Ice Box Canyon, a 2.2-mile narrow and low-light trail that leads hikers through seasonal waterfalls and loose boulders. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Childress says, he was restless and felt unproductive while staying indoors. Black People Hike Las Vegas combined his search for an activity to abate that boredom with his desire to make a difference in the outdoors community. “When I went to Zion National Park or Grand Canyon National Park, I really didn’t see people that looked like me,” he says. “If I tell Black kids at school, they look at me crazy, like, ‘Oh, hiking’s for white people.’ So I try to erase that stereotype.” Red Rock Canyon requires timed reservations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those interested in driving its scenic route or hiking its varied trails. The canyon actually opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. — reservations aren’t needed before 8 or after 5—and prices vary per type of entry. Those interested can
book tickets as far as 30 days in advance. John Asselin, public affairs specialist for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), says the reservation system helps alleviate crowds at the canyon, as more visitors come to the canyon once the summer’s heat recedes. In the fall and spring, the busiest times of the year for Red Rock, he says, approximately 2,300 people come to the scenic drive on weekdays, with close to 4,000 on the weekends. “It’s getting busier and busier every year,” he says. “Even
though the weather’s cooled off, it’s super dry out here. It’s the desert, so bring plenty of water. Don’t hike alone. Bring someone with you if you can.” Another barrier for some seeking environmental ventures is its cost. Hiking, camping or backpacking gear can be expensive if bought new and depending on brand, type and quantity of items. Other travel expenses such as location of stay, transportation and entry to the parks can drive up the cost of a camper’s trip. Some provisions make camp-
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ing more affordable, including staying on public BLM land, typically first-come, first-serve and free to stay for up to 14 days. April Contreras, a third-year graduate student at the UNLV and president of the university’s Mountain Club, says that when she founded the club in February 2020, she wanted to keep costs low to increase engagement among historically excluded groups like students of color. “I started exploring the outdoors a lot as a graduate student and realized that there were a lot of barriers to access in the
outdoors for women, women of color and the diverse community that UNLV and the Las Vegas community in general serves,” she says. “So that kind of really stood out as an opportunity to start the UNLV Mountain Club to give people the opportunity to learn skills to navigate the outdoors and to grow and feel empowered outside.” Though a UNLV organization, the Mountain Club is open to any interested residents, Contreras says. Dues are $25 per year and include access to weekly trips, led by Contreras; Dustin Hikes,
faculty adviser and professor in the Department of Psychology; or other experienced UNLV student hikers. “One thing that we talk about a lot is the triumph of the human spirit,” Hikes says. “You can see this … when people are hiking, to take that next step when they’re climbing, to get past the difficult part.” Jaylen Morris, a senior accounting major at UNLV and member of the Mountain Club and Rock Climbing Club, says being part of the groups has helped him grow from a novice
to thriving hiker. After transferring to UNLV as a junior, Morris sought clubs to meet new people and make friends, a successful move that took him to Sedona, Arizona, where the Mountain Club hiked around natural hot springs and camped out for the weekend. He says he had run into gatekeepers in the past in other sports, “but especially the Mountain Club and Rock Climbing Club, they’re really awesome and willing to teach new people, and it makes it a really good time.”
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Fontainebleau expected to open in 2023
The group behind the longstalled Fontainebleau resort on the north Strip expects the project to be complete in late 2023. The group, made up of the Fontainebleau Development company and the real estate wing of Koch Industries, made the announcement on November 9. A 63-story casino resort is planned for the blue-glass building near the recently opened Resorts World Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall expansion. Fontainebleau Development, which owns and operates hospitality, commercial, retail and luxury properties, is targeting the fourth quarter of 2023 for the opening of the property at 2777 S. Las Vegas Boulevard. It will open under the name Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Construction at the site started in August, said Jeffrey Soffer, chairman and CEO of Fontainebleau Development. “We have been extremely selective when it comes to expanding our brand,” Soffer said. “Las Vegas has always been our number one choice. The building is in mint condition.” –Bryan Horwath
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AS SECOND OR THIRD GRADE (ASKING), ‘HOW COME YOU GUYS ARE NOT ACTING LIKE GROWN-UPS?’ GOOD QUESTION.” -Linda Cavazos, President of the CCSD Board of Trustees, in the wake of the firing of Superintendent Jesus Jara
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Charles Williams (8) scored two touchdowns on November 6, helping UNLV defeat New Mexico 31-17—the school’s first football victory since November 30, 2019. The senior also became the school’s all-time leading rusher in the road win. (Andres Leighton/ Associated Press)
HOME PRICES CONTINUE TO HIT NEW HIGHS
The median price for an existing home in the Las Vegas Valley has set an all-time record, according to a report released by the Las Vegas Realtors trade group. The median for October was $410,000, a 21% increase from October 2020 and a modest $3,500 increase from September, which was a record at the time. The median price for a condo or townhome in October was $236,000, a 27% increase from the same month last year. At the end of October, 3,287 homes were listed for sale without an offer, down 27% from the same month in 2020. The report showed that 583 condos and townhomes were listed. That is a 7% drop from the same month last year. The Las Vegas housing market bottomed in 2012 after the Great Recession, when the median price for an existing home plummeted to $118,000. –Bryan Horwath
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
WATCH THIS The Golden Knights play Vancouver November 13 at 7 p.m.
11.5.2021
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Guests make their way through Ethel M Chocolates’ Holiday Cactus Garden display on the first day of the 28th annual holiday lights tradition at the chocolate factory. The garden, at 2 Cactus Garden Drive in Henderson, is lighted nightly from 5-10 p.m. through January 2. Face masks are required in the store but not in the garden. Reservations are not required but are recommended. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS RETURN
November 8 represented a milestone, as the first transoceanic flight in nearly 20 months arrived at McCarran International Airport. Las Vegas previously welcomed back flights from Canada and Mexico. But the Virgin Atlantic Airways flight with about 240 passengers onboard marked the reopening of the Europe-to-Vegas gateway. Through September, McCarran has seen just over
400,000 international travelers this year. That’s about an 85% drop from the first nine months of 2019, prior to the pandemic and before travel restrictions were instituted. In 2019, some 740,000 tourists from the United Kingdom alone visited Las Vegas, about 13% of all international travelers here. “They represent an extremely important component for us,” said Fletch
Brunelle, vice president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. According to the U.S. Travel Association, the 28 European countries that were barred from air travel to the U.S. made up 37% of overseas visitors in 2019. Next month, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Copa Airlines out of Panama will resume service to Las Vegas. –Bryan Horwath
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$7M
Estimated amount the Vegas Golden Knights will be over the NHL’s salary cap, once newly acquired center Jack Eichel begins playing after undergoing neck surgery—assuming stars Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty and William Karlsson return from their injuries.
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SPEED KILL Nevada drivers need to slow down to save lives
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riving is simultaneously mundane and dangerous. Its sheer repetitiveness— the countless commutes, the endless stoplights—makes us feel invincible inside our cars. So we speed a little, or a lot. And generally, nothing happens. Except when it does. “Nevada is about to experience its worst year in a decade of fatalities on [our] roadways,” says Andrew Bennett, public information officer for Nevada’s Office of Traffic Safety. The top causes of fatal crashes in Nevada are impairment and speeding. And in the wake of the pandemic shutdown, Nevadans have been doing a lot of both. In 2020, 314 people died on the state’s roadways, according to ZeroFatalitiesNV.com. Already in 2021, 329 have perished. Tragically, more will surely die before the year is out. And yet,
most assume it won’t happen to them. “Most people feel that it will not affect them—that they can speed, that they cannot wear seat belts, that they can have a couple of drinks and not feel intoxicated,” says Dr. Deborah Kuhls, a trauma and critical care surgeon at UMC and professor of surgery at UNLV’s Medical School. “They don’t actually think that they will be injured or killed or that anyone else will be.” Earlier this month, those lurking dangers became very apparent, when 23-year-old Las Vegan Tina Tintor and her Golden Retriever were killed in a fiery car crash. Tintor was violently rear-ended on Rainbow Boulevard by former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs III, who was both drunk and driving 156 mph, according to police. “When someone notable is involved, the conversation be-
BY C. MOON REED
comes more prevalent,” Bennett says. “But the fact is, we’ve had nine fatalities just in the last four days statewide, and [only] one of them got the coverage.” Traffic fatalities might seem like “the cost of doing business” in a car-centric state. But what if they weren’t necessary? That’s the concept behind the Zero Fatalities program led by the Nevada Departments of Public Safety & Transportation. The program’s goal: to have nobody die from crashes in Nevada by 2050. PANDEMIC SPEEDS
You might assume the roads were safer when last year’s COVID-19 lockdowns kept most folks at home. Instead, Bennett says, the opposite happened, because some drivers turned those empty roads into raceways. And, he says, bad habits linger. “We saw almost an immediate increase in fatalities that were
speed-related,” Bennett says, “which was honestly shocking to us. When fewer people were on the roads, we were expecting fewer fatalities.” In 2020, 4,415 Nevadans were cited for driving in excess of 100 mph, nearly 900 more than in 2019. Bennett says he expects that number to increase again in 2021. Normally, he says, speed is a factor in about 30% of fatal crashes. Today, it’s almost 50%. TOURISM’S ROLE
Believe it or not, Bennett says, Las Vegas isn’t any worse for intoxicated driving than other places. “We have the same DUI problem per population that Topeka, Kansas, does,” he says. “It’s not specifically a Vegas thing.” What is fairly unique to Las Vegas, however, is the Valley’s luxury-exotic car rental industry. About 8% of fatalities in Southern Nevada involve a luxury rented
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vehicle, Bennett says. In June, an intoxicated tourist in a rented Lamborghini going 141 mph on West Russell Road struck—and instantly killed—a local man on a moped. “Just today, Boulder City Police Department pulled someone over going 150 mph in a rented Lamborghini,” Bennett says. “That’s honestly unacceptable.” Nevada’s Office of Traffic Safety has been working with Clark County to develop new life-saving policies. Possible safety enhancements include interlock devices to prevent impaired driving; speed monitoring devices or governors; and dash cameras. “We’ve had great conversations with the industry and will continue to move forward,” Bennett says. “We just want people to have a great time and do it safely, to make sure that they can get home at the end of the day.”
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“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that the faster you go in a vehicle, the more likely that car’s gonna kill somebody,” says Keely Brooks, an avid cyclist and board member for the Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition. Brooks is working to promote her organization’s new education campaign, “Let’s Get There Together,” which “asks stakeholders to be invested in one another arriving safely at their respective destinations and achieving zero fatalities,” according to a press release. Brooks’ message to Nevada drivers: “Don’t kill me, please.” The violence of a crash depends on physics. “It’s simple math, and it’s deadly,” Bennett says. Newton’s Second Law of Motion holds that mass times acceleration equals force. Multiply the weight of the vehicle(s) times the speed(s) to determine
the violence of a collision. Bennett helps students visualize that math with this hypothetical situation: A 100-pound human going 100 mph would have to bench press 10,000 pounds in order to “hold themselves in” the vehicle, if they weren’t wearing a seatbelt. Faster speeds make crashes worse. “If one happens to hit a pedestrian at [40-45 mph] versus say 20 miles an hour, we know from our research that that pedestrian is five times more likely to go to an ICU when they’re admitted to the hospital than if they were going slower,” Kuhls says. Speed is just one factor involved in collisions, but it’s also the most significant, Bennett explains. “Someone can be impaired. … They can be distracted. … They can not have their seatbelt on,” he says. “But at the end of the day, speed determines how violent and deadly these crashes are—speed and speed alone.”
SOLUTIONS
Southern Nevada’s long, smooth roadways with wide lanes unintentionally help promote speeding. The general expert consensus is that lanes should be narrowed, with traffic-calming measures in place, so vehicles must slow down. “We can do a better job of engineering our roadways,” Bennett says. “The roadway should not allow you to go that fast. You should not have the ability to go 156 miles an hour in a residential area.” Some people will choose to speed, however, no matter the danger they pose to themselves and others. Reducing speeding will require a multi-pronged approach: education, enforcement and engineering changes to roads and cars. But above all else, Erin Breen, coordinator for UNLV’s Traffic Safety Coalition, reminds us, “Speeding is a choice.”
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Gliding over the Fountains of Bellagio (Courtesy/FlyOver Las Vegas)
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FLYOVER LAS VEGAS Daily, noon8 p.m., $12$54. 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. S. #150, flyover lasvegas.com.
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A former Disney Imagineer creates immersive flight ride FlyOver Las Vegas BY C. MOON REED
n some level, your brain knows it’s not physically possible. You can’t just fly above desert rockscapes, instantaneously plunge into snowy vistas and then, in the blink of an eye, rise toward an enormous dam the moment it gushes water. The geography doesn’t add up. But the experience feels so real, it’s impossible not to get carried away. FlyOver Las Vegas is one of the latest iterations of a new Strip trend: immersive entertainment. From Meow Wolf at Area15 to the Van Gogh exhibit at the Shops at Crystals, tourists are traveling to Las Vegas to be transported to other worlds. In the case of FlyOver, attendees travel to Iceland or “the Real Wild West.” Located in the former Regal United Artists Showcase Theater, FlyOver makes the best possible use of an empty movie house. In a building that once showed rom-coms, a 52.5-foot spherical screen transports viewers to a world of breathtaking vistas in 8K high-definition. Gone are sticky movie theater chairs, replaced by state-of-the-art “flight motion seats,” which put the viewer out and over the screen and then move with the action. Riders’ feet hang in space, like on a roller coaster. Mercifully, FlyOver doesn’t produce the terrible sinking-stomach feeling of a real roller coaster. But there are times when riders might be tempted to lift their feet to avoid scuffing a few mountain tops. Gusts of wind, well-timed nature scents and even cold mist add to the experience of riding in a magi-
cal helicopter. The effect is especially potent when mist sprays riders as they soar over snow or water. A soundtrack by Grammy-nominated musician Junkie XL adds emotion to the moment. In true Strip fashion, the FlyOver experience extends beyond the ride itself. Entering directly from Las Vegas Boulevard, guests find a space designed to evoke the canyons of the desert southwest. Multimedia studio Moment Factory has created a six-minute pre-show, projected on wraparound walls in a sort of anteroom. The Lost Cactus Bar provides the libations with themed cocktails, such as the Desert Sunset (orange vodka, peach Schnapps, citrus and grenadine), the Durango to Silverton (a hickory-smoked Old Fashioned) and the Gold Rush, a mock mimosa topped with gold glitter. Creative director Rick Rothschild is the brain behind FlyOver. The former Disney Imagineer directed and produced more than 25 attractions for the theme parks. In 2001, he directed the original Soarin’ Over California source video for the Disney ride. FlyOver takes that original concept and expands upon it with a much longer experience and the latest technology. “I’ve always thought flying was a really cool thing to do. My favorite movie when I was a kid was Peter Pan,” Rothschild told Forbes. “Flying gives people that connection to an altered state that is not actually real. You can’t be a bird, but you can sit in a helicopter and pretend you’re one.”
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‘READY TO COMPETE’ Sitting down with Sting to discuss his first-ever Vegas residency BY BROCK RADKE
C U L T U R E
(Courtesy/ Eric Ryan Anderson)
STING: MY SONGS November 12-13, 8 p.m., $60-$350. The Colosseum, 866-227-5938.
t took less than a full song for us to realize this is the Vegas residency show we’ve been craving. Nothing against Usher or Bruno or Gaga, but Sting has the stuff. He’s the perfect artist with the ideal performance style and body of work for the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. That’s why opening night of My Songs on October 29 felt so comfortable and familiar, from the moment he strolled onstage in a yellow suit with an acoustic guitar to play “Roxanne.” The next day, we returned to Caesars Palace to speak with Sting about the show and his upcoming album, The Bridge (out November 19), written and recorded during the pandemic, in one of the resort’s majestic villas. It was his last interview of the day. He’d been out on the patio recording for TV but came inside for our chat, first sitting at a piano to dabble a bit before settling on a sofa. Our first impression was the same as during his exuberant performance the night before: There’s no way this guy is 70 years old.
How did it feel to finally play this show that was announced more than two years ago and was supposed to open last spring? It’s still the first time I’ve done a Vegas residency, so the first night was hugely important for me and the band, and the audience. Excitement was an understatement. It felt like release. I consider the stage my living room; this is where I know where all the furniture is, where I feel very comfortable, and it was lovely to get back to that. You had some pretty epic comeback concerts before coming to Vegas, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens. Yes, I had my birthday at the Acropolis in Athens. We were looking for a venue older than me, so I guess 3,000 years probably does it. That was a lovely way to begin my 70th year. They brought a cake on that was so heavy with candles, they could hardly lift it. But it feels good. I’m proud of my age, and I enjoy my life. I have no complaints. Did your plans for the Vegas show change over the pandemic? I think people
come to Vegas to hear the songs they know and love. That’s comforting for everyone, and I would never argue with that or not comply with that. But I also demand people listen to something that’s new, so I tried two songs last night from the new album, just to test the water. As the year progresses, I will introduce more and more. It’s hard to introduce new material, but you have to take the plunge. How did the pandemic impact the process of creating the new album? It shifted my usual cycle. I write, I record, I tour. [The pandemic] cut me off in the middle of my touring schedule, so I went home—I have a studio at home—and I just moved the cycle forward. I had no idea what I was going to write—I certainly didn’t want to write about the pandemic—but I just put the work in. I turned up at 10 in the morning and worked through until dinner, and some days you get nothing, like fishing. A few days later you might catch a fish, and you cook it and see what happens. After a year I had about 12 or 14 fish, I strung
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them together, and we have an album. A lot of artists struggled to be creative when we were all stuck at home. Not everyone can summon it when they need it. Nor do I. It’s the most difficult thing to do, to summon creativity. It’s a mysterious process, and some days it doesn’t happen. But you have to put the hours in; you have to be there. I think Jack Nicklaus said, “The harder I practice, the luckier I get.” That’s a great philosophy. You’ve been making the rounds since you arrived in Las Vegas. I’ve used my time here very well. I’ve seen a lot of shows. I wanted to check out the competition. I saw Lionel Richie, [and] it was fantastic. I saw Absinthe, which I adored. It’s very rude, very sexy and funny. Then I was blown away by Lady Gaga the other night; she really did it. That girl can do anything—such a fantastic singer, a great artist and a great actor. I was so thrilled. I’ve known her a long time, but this is another level. So I was ready to compete.
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IN THE ’BURBS Neighborhood nightlife thrives at Summerlin’s Jing and Henderson’s Blume BY BROCK RADKE
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Blume VIP host Valentino presents guests with the Valentino IV cocktail. (Christopher DeVargas/ Staff)
hen Vegas started to open up again, nightclubs couldn’t. Locals looking for some semblance of that experience found it in an unlikely location near Henderson’s Seven Hills neighborhood. “We were the biggest club in town over quarantine,” says Daniel Hackett, owner of Blume Kitchen & Cocktails (3415 St. Rose Parkway #120, 702-444-7820). He started at the restaurant as general manager and took over when its original owners decided to sell in the summer of 2019. A year later, Hackett shifted gears to create a vibe dining hot spot and turned the banquet room into a late-night lounge offering cocktails and bottle service, hookah,
DJs and live entertainment. Then the celebs started showing up. “I did an event for Alexis Skyy, an Instagram model [and reality TV personality], and she posted it everywhere,” Hackett says. “Two weeks later, I got a call that Cardi B wanted to do her birthday party, then we did one for T-Pain’s wife. Bow Wow, Lil Baby, everybody was coming in, because it was the only place outside of Miami doing anything. Every time you’d come in you’d be sitting next to Shaq or Mike Tyson.” There have always been Las Vegas night spots away from the Strip and Downtown, neighborhood bars, restaurants and lounges serving up music and drinks to industry folks and locals who want to party without driving to a casino megaclub. But it’s
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Jing (Carlos Macias/Courtesy)
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tough to build consistency. Blume is doing it by evolving its dining experience to match its clientele and by keeping its programming interactive. “I hate nightclubs. I love going out to have a drink and smoke hookah and see a great DJ,” Hackett says. “Obviously, having local pricing goes a long way, not paying a thousand dollars for a bottle of Casamigos. We’ve changed to more of an urban ultra lounge, the food changes and we listen to guests to see what they’re looking for.” Since so many customers work in the industry, service has to be a priority when it comes to neighborhood nightlife. That’s the guiding philosophy at Jing at Downtown Summerlin (10975 Oval Park Drive, 702-3331512), the Las Vegas version of a popular upscale steak and seafood restaurant from
Colorado that opened in January 2020. “We put the emphasis on training our staff, so they can educate guests on all our programming,” says general manager Rob Velez, formerly of Bardot Brasserie and Sage at Aria. “It doesn’t matter what you’re into; we have a little something for everybody.” Jing is a restaurant first, with an eclectic menu engineered by veteran chef Thomas Griese (Le Cirque, Andre’s, Mina Group). The elevated design—and literally elevated booths—might give you some STK vibes, and every week is stacked with events. “We do something almost every day,” Velez says. “Monday is our industry night, and at 9 p.m. this secret industry menu kicks in with 50% off steak and sushi. We do some bottles and cocktail specials and get a lot of club kids and industry folks from the
Strip coming to join us.” Tuesday is wine night, with some oldschool music for an older audience, and Wednesday is ladies’ night, with bottomless bubbles beginning at 9 p.m. Jing has been attracting some celebrities and entertainers, too, especially during October’s promotional partnership with Dan Bilzerian’s Ignite spirits. Both suburban venues are providing nightlife experiences that could take place on the Strip but are clearly conceptualized for locals. “Six months ago I broke up our team into groups and ... started spitballing ideas. That’s how some of our programming really came about,” Velez says. “That’s why it’s been successful, because we’re all invested. They book tables and tell their friends and family.”
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CASA PLAYA Encore, 702-770-5340. Wednesday-Sunday, 6 p.m.-midnight.
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Casa Playa’s Mexican blue shrimp ceviche, mushroom tetelas, branzino a la talla, octopus and shortrib suadero (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
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MEXICAN Wynn’s Casa Playa skillfully elevates a favorite cuisine BY BROCK RADKE
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he pandemic knocked out several notable Las Vegas Strip experiences, but Mexican food’s arrival at Wynn wasn’t one of them. The first iteration, Elio, was shuttered a year ago after its operators parted ways with each other and with Wynn, but the resort soldiered on by redesigning the space, formerly Andrea’s at Encore, and holding onto talented executive chef Sarah Thompson, who had come from the acclaimed Cosme in New York City’s Flatiron District. The result of this strong
second effort is Casa Playa, one of the most refined Mexican restaurants the Strip has ever seen. The previously minimalist dining room has been enlivened by a ceiling installation of cascading marigolds, and the energetic lounge space is a cozy place for a meal or just for sampling mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini’s imaginative cocktails. The cuisine is decidedly coastal, and the menu is a mix of exciting, surprising flavors and homey, traditional offerings. Wynn Resorts has always aimed to lead dining trends on the Strip, so
it makes sense to expect a lot from Casa Playa. Thompson and her team do not disappoint. Begin the experience with a selection from the crudo menu, ranging from oysters with prickly pear mignonette to yellowfin tuna tartare ($24) with avocado and pasilla chilies. The Mexican blue shrimp ceviche ($24) offers out-ofthis-world freshness, with soothing flavors of coconut, tomatillo and cucumber. Shareable seafood platters are also an option, but don’t skip other appetizers like burrata with morita salsa
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Brown butter lobster rolls at Starlight on 66 (Courtesy Resorts World)
VIEWTO A THRILL
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STARLIGHT ON 66 Resorts World, 702-676-7766. Daily, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.
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cashew salsa is next-level Vegas vegan dining, even at Wynn, where that’s been a thing for a long time. Yucatan chicken pibil ($42) is a huge portion of soulful food, perfectly kissed by adobo made with orange and annatto. And the branzino a la talla ($36-$70)—flaky fish lacquered with guajillo adobo and served with simple herbs and salsa cruda—is my favorite new entree of the year. You’ll want to share the playful churros ($24) with your tablemates to close the meal, but don’t skip the toasted coconut and white chocolate tres leches cake ($14). It’s sublime.
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($17), addictive tetelas ($15)— blue corn masa purses filled with mushrooms and cheese— or a duck confit tamale with mole and ricotta. The flavors are rich and warm, connecting you with your base understanding of this cuisine, but they’re often paired with unexpected ingredients to broaden your perception of what Mexican food can be. You can get fried fish ($17) or carne asada tacos ($18) from the appetizer section, too, but press on with the exploration of the new and you’ll be rewarded. Cauliflower al pastor ($29) with pineapple butter and
n Over the past 20 years, the Las Vegas skyline has advanced from “kinda weird” to “kinda gorgeous.” The Wynn’s glass towers, CityCenter and the High Roller changed what was fundamentally a city of trifurcated rectangles and one observation tower into a varied assortment of shapes, textures and colors as fanciful as anything built with Lego. That’s the Las Vegas that Starlight on 66—Resorts World’s 66th-floor lounge— serves up in cinematic fashion, and they serve it alongside excellent cocktails and small plates. Soon after you’re seated, you’re served a complimentary dish of house-made truffle and pecorino potato chips and sweet-spicy mixed nuts with sesame—an umami-rich prelude that fills you with an immediate want of cocktails. Try the Twilight ($25), a silken mix of No. 3 London Dry Gin, Crème de Violette, Chambord, lemon, egg white and simple
syrup. If you want something dessert-like to chase that truffle taste, try the Banana Bread ($25)—Howler Head Banana Bourbon, coconut syrup and almond milk. Or, if this observation lounge has you feeling extra-observational, get an Old Fashioned mixed at tableside. Starlight offers several variations on the theme, but the New Fashioned—Johnny Walker Black Label, Luxardo, house made orange simple syrup and Angostura aromatic bitters—caught my eye first. They also offer a wide-ranging wine list and a selection of champagnes. The small-plates menu offers plenty of savory points of entry, from garlicky brown butter lobster rolls ($25) served in toasted brioche; Wagyu beef sliders ($21) with baby gem lettuce, caramelized onions, aged cheddar, tomato and remoulade; or blackened watermelon with goat cheese cream, cucumber relish and a red wine reduction. Whether you end your visit with yuzu cheesecake ($13) or simply by admiring the Andy Warhol portrait of Lady Diana Spencer that adorns the entryway, be sure to step out to the patio and admire how far we’ve come. Starlight on 66 puts two decades of Valley growth into a stunning frame. –Geoff Carter
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Starlight on 66 treats the senses at Resorts World
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Bryce Hamilton (Steve Marcus/Staff)
KNOWN AND UNKNOWN BY MIKE GRIMALA
Sizing up the new-look UNLV men’s basketball team
U C U L T U R E
NLV underwent another drastic transformation this offseason, waving goodbye to former coach T.J. Otzelberger after a two-year stint and promoting assistant Kevin Kruger to the job. Frequent new beginnings are now the nature of college basketball since the advent of the transfer portal, but changes have come at a particularly breakneck pace for the scarlet and gray. Kruger hopes to provide stability, despite being a first-time head coach. He wants to win now. That’s why he replaced most of Otzelberger’s players with college transfers who figure to be ready to play right away. Among the 10 newcomers to the team, nine are transfers; only one is a high school recruit. It’s an uncommon approach to rebuilding. Most of the transfers are former top prospects who, for one reason or another, didn’t play much at their previous schools. So, while UNLV might be an older team, it isn’t really an experienced one. That left a lot of mystery as UNLV prepared to open its season on November 10. What kind of team will this be? Here’s what we know, and what we don’t.
WE KNOW These guys are athletic Kruger really focused on reshaping a roster that had become rather stationary and earthbound under Otzelberger. The difference, as seen in practices, has been night and day. Senior center Royce Hamm, junior forward Victor Iwuakor and junior forward Donovan Williams are each more athletic than anyone on last year’s roster, and all three figure to play big minutes in the frontcourt.
WE DON’T KNOW If these guys can shoot Hamm, Iwuakor and Williams combined to go 5-for-25 from 3-point range last year, so this roster clearly isn’t built like Otzelberger’s floor-stretching squads. Kruger did import a pair of guards who shot the ball well last year in Mike Nuga from Kent State and Justin Webster from Hawaii, but the offense will run through senior guard Bryce Hamilton, who’s more of a slasher than a shooter.
WE KNOW Kruger has the pedigree to be a successful head coach During his playing days, Kruger was a thinking man’s point guard, who famously led the Rebels deep into the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He has been groomed for seven years as an assistant, including three years under his father, Lon, at Oklahoma. Those are all bullet points you would expect to see on the résumé of a bright young head coach, so on paper, Kruger looks ready to lead his own program at the relatively young age of 38.
WE DON’T KNOW If Kruger will be a good head coach With coaches, you just never know. The job of a head coach is too different than that of an assistant to really predict future success, no matter how primed someone might seem. Kruger’s players speak highly of him, however, and many credited him with building a good offensive playbook during his two years under Otzelberger.
Kevin Kruger (Steve Marcus/Staff)
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE November 13 vs. California 5 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center November 15 vs. North Dakota State 7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center November 19 vs. Michigan 9:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena November 21 vs. Arizona or Wichita State 6:30 or 9 p.m., T-Mobile Arena November 24 vs. Whittier College 6:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center November 27 vs. UCLA 2 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center Tickets available through unlvtickets.com or at 702-739-3267.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr warms up before the team’s November 7 game against the Giants. (Bill Kostroun/ Associated Press)
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n LAST WEEK: GIANTS 23, RAIDERS 16 Las Vegas wound up on the right side of its first two one-score games of the year, but fortunes flipped in the third. Turnovers were the biggest issue at the Meadowlands, as Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr threw two interceptions and lost a fumble that directly led to the loss. Otherwise, the Raiders played well enough to win with a lopsided box score that saw yardage and efficiency numbers skew heavily in their favor. A 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Giants rookie safety Xavier McKinney, who also picked off a pass late in the fourth quarter, was too much to overcome even though the Raiders’ defense held the Giants’ offense to one touchdown. n THIS WEEK: CHIEFS (5-4) AT RAIDERS (5-3) When: Sunday, November 14, 5:20 p.m. Where: Allegiant Stadium TV: NBC (Channel 3) Radio: 920-AM, 92.3-FM Betting line: Chiefs -2.5, over/under: 51.5. n Matchup: The Raiders split their first two AFC West games of the season, losing at the Chargers and winning at the Broncos, but this might be the one they want most—against a hated Chiefs team. Kansas City has dominated the division the past three years but has looked surprisingly mediocre through the first half of the season. The Chiefs’ defense is arguably the worst in the NFL, and the offense has failed to reach the heights that delivered Kansas City to back-to-back AFC championships the past two years. The Chiefs have only scored more than 20 points once in their past four games— an unimaginable downturn dating back to even the beginning of this season, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes was favored to win his second MVP award.
n Raider to Watch: Wide receiver DeSean Jackson In search of speed and bigplay ability after lacking both on the outside against the Giants, the Raiders signed the veteran receiver immediately after the loss. Jackson asked for his release from the Los Angeles Rams a week earlier after a logjam at receiver saw him only getting a handful of snaps per game. Playing time won’t be a problem for the Raiders, who will look to insert the 14-year veteran into their lineup immediately. Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowler, sits 38th all-time in the NFL record books with 10,877 receiving yards. He’s known as one of the best downfield threats of the past 20 years, so the Chiefs can count on being challenged vertically in his first game with the Raiders. –Case Keefer
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WE DON’T KNOW If there’s room for the program’s longest-tenured veteran Marvin Coleman has been the heart and soul of the program for several years now, but that doesn’t guarantee him a key role. He missed most of last season to injury, and while he was working his way back onto the court, the coaching staff brought in both Gilbert and senior transfer Jordan McCabe from West Virginia at his spot. Kruger loves Coleman’s toughness and leadership, but will that be enough for the Foothill graduate to earn steady minutes?
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WE KNOW There’s room for a freshman The lone freshman on the roster—Keshon Gilbert, a 6-foot-3 guard—has turned heads in practice with his defense and will likely find himself in the rotation to start the year. He was voted Mountain West Preseason Freshman of the Year.
WE DON’T KNOW If a defensive mentality is enough to win games Kruger was an offensive-minded assistant under Otzelberger, so even with several of his players projecting as promising defenders, it remains to be seen if he can get the most out of them. Besides Muoka, none really have track records as impact defenders. Can these players be molded into a team that gets big stops with the game on the line and make that an identity?
RAIDERS P
WE KNOW This team has a defensive mentality While there are questions about the offensive capabilities, there are no such doubts regarding the defense. It has length, athleticism and strength at just about every position. The best example of the new scoreon-us-if-you-can attitude is transfer center David Muoka, a 7-footer who earned Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020-21 at Lamar University after blocking 2.9 shots per game.
WE DON’T KNOW If Hamilton will bounce back as a senior Yes, Hamilton scored a lot of points last year, but it took him a lot of shots to do so. He made just 43% of his field goal attempts, and he wasn’t a threat from beyond the arc. That meant his scoring output was rather inefficient, and it remains to be seen if he can translate being one of the most talented players in the conference into more effective play in Kruger’s system.
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WE KNOW Hamilton is back for his senior year When Hamilton simultaneously declared for the NBA Draft and entered his name in the transfer portal as a backup plan, he was assumed gone. It was one of UNLV’s biggest wins of the offseason when Hamilton—chosen as an All-Mountain West first-team selection after averaging 17.9 points per game last year—announced he would return for one more year.
PAHRUMP
SOCIAL POWWOW Gather at the home of Western Shoshone and Paiute tribes at our Pahrump Social POWWOW. From November 19th - 21st, tribes and visitors will come together at Petrack Park for a three-day celebration honoring Veteran Native Americans and Native American culture. You’ll enjoy a variety of dance styles, a northern and a southern drum, artisans, craftsmen and much more for free - making it a cultural and educational experience for the whole family to enjoy. For more information, please visit visitpahrump.com/events/pahrump-social-powwow/
travelnevada.com
Explore the possibilities at VisitPahrump.com
60 Miles West of Las Vegas. 180 Degrees Different.
11.1.21
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WADE VANDERVORT
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
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DEMAND FOR CLEANING SERVICES HAS RETURNED, BUT WORKER SHORTAGE PERSISTS
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BY BRYAN HORWATH VEGAS INC STAFF
any people have gone to great extremes during the pandemic to clean the surfaces in their homes and workplaces to prevent themselves from coming into contact with the coronavirus. We bought cleaning wipes in bulk and stored them in our garage, and had plenty of hand sanitizer to go around. We cleaned everything in our path— the kitchen, office and bathroom—only to clean them again later in the week. That mentality won’t be changing anytime soon, and could be why national chain cleaning service MaidPro projects 50% growth in the industry between 2020 and 2024. Simply put, people all over the world have a new appreciation for keeping clean. “I think people are more aware of germs in general now after the pandemic,” said Shelli Brighi, who owns a MaidPro franchise in Las Vegas. “Our target clients are people with kids and pets, and I think people are more aware now about being clean.” Just before the pandemic started in early 2020, Michael Amato-von Hemert’s MaidPro franchise, based in Henderson, had a client list of close to 100. Once the pandemic—and the ensuing panic—hit that spring, the list dropped to about 30. “At the time, there were health concerns and I think people weren’t sure about letting other people into their homes,” Amato-von Hemert said. “There were major furloughs and job loss happening, too, which I’m sure affected discretionary spend.” But now with the vaccine readily available, along with more information
on how the virus spreads, business is booming. “It has taken us about that entire 18 months, but we’re back to where we were before the pandemic,” Amato-von Hemert said. “We’re looking to grow; there’s demand there right now.” For the most part, Amato-von Hemert said his crews service residential homes between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet every two weeks. They provide basic household services like vacuuming, dusting and bathroom and kitchen cleaning, but also work to clean units that people are moving into or out of. Depending on the size of the property and the work provided, having a
service clean your home runs about $150-$200 a month on average. “There’s a resilience to this kind of business, which is one of the things that attracted me,” Amato-von Hemert said. “Yes, we took a hit, but there’s definitely potential in the business, and in this model.” FILLING JOBS REMAINS DIFFICULT Similar to what’s being seen in many other industries, it’s been difficult to find employees as the town emerges from the pandemic, Amato-von Hemert said. Economists believe that an unusually large number of people across the country continue to remain outside
the workforce for multiple reasons, including health concerns, expanded jobless benefits and factors leading people to stay at home to care for family members. “It’s tougher than it was before, that’s for sure,” he said. “We’re still getting candidates, but it’s a lower volume of candidates.” Roger Schulze, owner of Las Vegas-based Desert Maids, says he’s offering $15 per hour and a Christmas bonus, but still can’t populate his workforce. In fact, he said candidates have suddenly disappeared once he attempts to move forward with the hiring process. “The same thing has happened about 20 times in a row lately,” Schulze said. It has gotten so bad, Schulze says, he’s down to just one employee. As a result, Desert Maids can’t take on more clients, turning away potential work. Echoed Amato-von Hemert, “We certainly have the business. We can’t keep up right now.”
Brooke Cullum, a service professional with MaidPro Henderson, cleans a dining room in a home. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
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VegasInc Giving Notes The Folded Flag Foundation, an organization committed to honoring America’s fallen military service members by providing their families with financial support for education, recently raised over $1.1 million during its annual Salute to Service Gala. Noah’s Animal House announced it has served 2,021 pets since the nonprofit organization started in 2007. As part of this milestone, it has provided nearly 153,000 free boarding nights to ensure that pets stay safe and united with their families while staying at their partner domestic violence shelters in Las Vegas and Reno. Baby’s Bounty, an organization providing life-saving supplies as well as diapers for newborns, reached 1 million diapers distributed at its monthly diaper bank in North Las Vegas. The event also marked 3 million baby wipes distributed and thousands of families helped since the organization launched the diaper bank program in May 2020, which also serves Las Vegas and Henderson. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Nevada chapter will host its annual spin4 crohn’s & colitis cures event
to support the IBD community at TruFusion in Downtown Summerlin on December 3 and virtually on December 4. The event will raise money to support the foundation’s mission to find cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. Learn more at spin4.org/lasvegas. Nevada Donor Network Foundation received a $12 million philanthropic commitment from University Medical Center, which will be in the form of in-kind programs and services, along with a cash contribution component to help support a virtual transplant institute in Nevada. This year, the foundation launched a $35 million campaign, “End the Wait,” to help bring more transplantation programs and services to Nevada. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated $100,000 to Las Vegas-based nonprofit Three Square Food Bank. This donation will provide over 300,000 meals to individuals and families affected by food insecurity in the Southern Nevada community.
More than 1,490 community superheroes joined the nonprofit Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada at the recent Superhero 5K presented by Centennial Toyota at Exploration Peak Park in Mountain’s Edge. The event raised $237,161 to help children and their families battling cancer, making it Candlelighters’ biggest annual fundraiser. More than 200 volunteers supported the race and companion festivities. Make-A-Wish America announced Linda Richardson as the recipient of its 2021 National Philanthropist of the Year award. For more than 20 years, Richardson has driven the MakeRichardson A-Wish mission forward through generous contributions and two decades of leadership of the annual Fashion Luncheon event in Las Vegas. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded $2,000 to Spread the Word Nevada. The grant aims to support youth literacy programs in the communities Dollar General serves. The City of Henderson named Eric Umali as its 2021 Heart of the City Award honoree. Umali, an 11-time nominee, is the founder, owner, executive director and head instructor of
Altruist MMA, a nonprofit martial arts school. He established the performance of good deeds as a requirement to be promoted to a new rank in the gym’s martial arts belt system. The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, in partnership with Icy Hot, donated $200,000 to the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE for the renovation of two basketball courts at Doolittle Complex in West Las Vegas. Improvements include new surfacing, custom colors and floor graphics, shade structures, seating areas, new basketball standards, a Daktronics LED scoreboard and two art installations. Cox Charities recognized the efforts of Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada’s financial literacy efforts in improving the lives of local K-12 students by awarding the nonprofit a $4,000 grant. Touro University Nevada received a $5,000 gift from Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative of Nevada, an alliance of local, state and national organizations committed to finding solutions to end the opioid crisis. In 2020, Touro received an initial grant of $6,500 from RALI to create videos that feature two of the university’s professors advocating for safer alternatives to pain management, including expanded use of physical therapy. This brings the total gift amount from RALI to $11,500.
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