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IN THIS ISSUE WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.
09
24
WEEKLY SUPERGUIDE
NEWS
Your daily events planner, starring Ludacris, Gwar, #IMomSoHard and the return of KÀ.
How has the pandemic impacted local food bank Three Square’s ability to keep people fed?
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28 THE STRIP
FEATURE
Peeking into four venues bringing entertainment into the dining room.
Meet the superheroes of Critical Care Comics, brightening children’s lives all over the Valley.
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18
FOOD & DRINK
COVER STORY
Water Street welcomes hockeyfriendly bar food at Sticks Tavern.
Prepping you for the holidays with classic dishes, meal-making tips and more.
41
TOP TECH AWARDS 2021
Recognizing excellence throughout the Las Vegas tech community.
Lío Ibiza at Mayfair Supperclub (Courtesy Mayfair Supper Club)
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SUPERGUIDE MUSIC
PARTY
THURSDAY 18 NOV.
SPORTS
WORSHIP THURSDAYS WITH ERIC DLUX 10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taolvnc. taogroup.com.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. DETROIT RED WINGS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
SOIRÉE CINÉMA (FRENCH MOVIE NIGHT) 6:30, UNLV’s Beam Hall, unlv. edu.
THEE MESS AROUNDS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com.
THE BLACK CROWES & 11/19, 8 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster. com.
DJ RUCKUS & DEE JAY SILVER 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.
DOV DAVIDOFF & 11/21, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster. com.
LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS 5 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com. (AP Photo)
Christina Aguilera
F OMRO M E FUOPRCMOAMTI INOGN ,E V V IESNI T T SL, AVSI V SE I TG A LS AW S VEEEG S .W EE FOR RO E RI N KA LY CO MK L Y . C O M .
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
MISC
ILLUSION AND REALITY Originally from South Korea, TeaYoun Kim-Kassor studied art education at the Saitama University in Japan and now serves as a professor and department chair of the foundations program at LA’s Otis College of Arts and Design. This exhibit at the Fine Arts Gallery at CSN’s north campus explores tension, migration and identity through large-scale charcoal paintings. Hear her discuss the work during a 6 p.m. reception two days before the show closes. Through November 20, free, csn.edu/ artgallery. –Amber Sampson (Photo courtesy)
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
FRIDAY 19 NOV.
BILL BURR Much can change in a year. For comedian and actor Bill Burr, whose onand-off residency at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan was interrupted by COVID, the past year only made him bigger. He appeared in The Mandalorian and Reservation Dogs; he dropped a new season of his animated Netflix series F Is for Family; he debuted his new Roku anthology series Immoral Compass. If his Chelsea stand-up sets mix a little humblebrag with his edgy observational comedy, he’s earned it. November 19-20, 8 p.m., $49-$159. the Chelsea, ticketmaster. com. –Geoff Carter
LUDACRIS 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com. (AP Photo)
SIN CITY ANIME WAYNE BRADY & 11/20, 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, ticketmaster. com. ROMAN MAIN EVENT MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT UNLV, Michigan, Arizona & Wichita State. 7 p.m., & 11/21, 6:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
LAGWAGON 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb. com. UNLV FOOTBALL VS. SAN DIEGO STATE 8:30 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, unlvtickets. com.
DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN HOLIDAY PARADE 6 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays, summerlin.com. JEFFREY SUTORIUS 10 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, marqueelvnc. taogroup.com.
AN ORAL HISTORY OF BLACK LAS VEGAS WITH CLAYTEE WHITE 7 p.m., Windmill Library, lvccld. org. STICK TO YOUR GUNS With Harms Way and Initiate, 7 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, eventbrite.com.
SHIP WREK 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, hakkasangroup. com.
Celebrate your love of anime, cosplay and Japanese culture. This friendly and fun-loving event will feature live performances, panels, games, workshops, meet-and-greets, an exhibitor hall and even video game tournaments. Feel free to wear your favorite costume while enjoying the Cosplay Masquerade and interacting with talented guests, including anime voice actors. November 19-21, $50-$70, Alexis Park Resort, sincityanime.com. –Amber Sampson
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SUPERGUIDE
SATURDAY 20 NOV.
MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
THE ACES
#IMOMSOHARD 8 p.m., Green Valley Ranch Grand Events Center, ticket master.com.
GWAR With Napalm Death, Eyehategod, 6:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster. com. KOE WETZEL With Muscadine Bloodline, 8 p.m., the Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
MISC
LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC’S BEETHOVEN TRIPLE CONCERTO
This Provo, Utah, alt-pop outfit arrived on the scene bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and really freaking in love. The band’s 2018 debut, When My Heart Felt Volcanic, begged lovers to stay, wished some would go and likely won a few back over funky basslines and soaring rock choruses. In 2020, The Aces returned with Under My Influence, a more mature take on the matter that you won’t want to miss as these ladies make their Virgin Resorts debut. 7 p.m., $20, 24 Oxford, virginhotelslv. com. –Amber Sampson
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
COMEDY
LEE CANYON’S PRAY FOR SNOW PARTY 3-7 p.m., Skye Center, 10111 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive, leecanyonlv.com. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
TENAYA CREEK ANNIVERSARY PARTY 5-10 p.m., Tenaya Creek Brewery 831 W. Bonanza Road, eventbrite.com. ALESSO 10:30 p.m., XS, wynnsocial.com.
PEPE AGUILAR 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com. BOXING: TERENCE CRAWFORD VS. SHAWN PORTER Card begins at 3 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs. com.
F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY. C O M .
MYSTIC BRAVES With David Turel, The Laissez Fairs, Luxury Furniture Store, 8:30 p.m., Artifice, eventbrite.com. OVI 7 p.m., Azilo Ultra Pool, saharalasvegas. com.
It wasn’t long ago that the Smith Center raised its curtains again after the pandemic pause, and its return has been spectacular. Return to Reynolds Hall to catch the Phil presenting a rarely performed Beethoven work. As its name suggests, the Triple Concerto is three times the fun, with violin, cello and piano soloists. 7:30 p.m., $29-$121, thesmithcenter. com. –Evelyn Mateos
DETLEF With Eric Jerome, Robby Powell, David Serrano, midnight, Tempo Ultra Lounge, eventbrite.com.
DUKE DUMONT 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com. BONE THUGS-NHARMONY 8 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com.
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SUNDAY 21
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
NOV.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. CINCINNATI BENGALS 1:05 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster. com.
SILVERSTEIN 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb. com.
MUSTARD 10 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, marqueelvnc. taogroup.com. RITUALS 10 p.m., Ayu Moonbeam, zouk grouplv.com.
MONDAY 22
VARIALS With Distinguisher, Take, Glee Club, 7 p.m., American Legion Hall, eventbrite.com.
DJ FIVE & ERIC DLUX 10:30 p.m., XS, wynnsocial. com.
DJ SINCERE 9:30 p.m., Foundation Room, houseofblues. com/lasvegas/fr.
EARTHBORN: 30 SECONDS TO 40 MOONS Two photographers— Greenough, Montana-based Elizabeth Stone and Las Vegas’ Linda Alterwitz—consider relative transience of life in this affecting show at Springs Preserve’s Primrose Gallery. Stone memorializes the last 40 days of her mother’s life through composite images of the handwritten journals of her caregivers, while Alterwitz’s 30-second exposures of the sky were captured by people taking a deep breath with a camera balanced on their chest. The artists come to the gallery to discuss their work. 1 p.m., free for Springs Preserve members or with paid admission, show runs through January 9. springspreserve. org. –Geoff Carter
NOV.
GOOD SAM EMPIRE CLASSIC MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Gonzaga, UCLA, Central Michigan, Bellarmine, 5 p.m., & 11/23, 4 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. (Shutterstock/ Photo Illustration)
MIRACLE ON SPRING MOUNTAIN Thru 12/31, the Sand Dollar, thesanddollarlv. com. JON LOVITZ Thru 11/24, 7 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticket master.com. MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
SHAUN REEVES Detroit-born DJ and producer Shaun Reeves, who just released his first full-length album, The Eye That Sees Us All, creates the kind of deep house music that the Vegas club scene, for all its dynamic flash, simply doesn’t offer enough. He’ll play the Industry Monday party at Oddwood at Area15. 10 p.m., free admission, oddwoodbar.com. –Brock Radke
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SUPERGUIDE MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
MISC
WEDNESDAY 24 NOV.
TUESDAY 23 NOV.
UNLV SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: RACHMANINOV & ELGAR 7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu. TSURUDA 10 p.m., Discopussy, disco pussydtlv.com.
DJ SHIFT 10:30 p.m., Omnia, hakkasan group.com.
WILL CLARKE We’re not sure what’s more recognizable: Will Clarke’s enormous beard or his signature house music style. Both of these will be on full display at Discopussy when this U.K.-bred producer and DJ hops behind the decks. Clarke has only been spinning since 2016, but he’s already garnered the attention of EDM stars such as Marquee resident DJ Fisher and acid house guru Carl Cox. 10 p.m., $25, Discopussy, discopussylv. com. –Amber Sampson
HOLIDAY CACTUS GARDEN Thru 1/2, 5-10 p.m., Ethel M Chocolates, ethelm.com.
MYSTIC FALLS PARK WINTER WONDERLAND
A CHRISTMAS CAROL The West Wing’s Bradley Whitford stars as mean old Ebenezer Scrooge in this five-time Tony Award-winning adaptation. This new take on the classic holiday story of love and redemption comes from Broadway and London’s West End. Audiences will enjoy an award-winning cast, Victorian-period choreography, an on-stage bell choir, 12 beloved Christmas carols and endless holiday magic. November 23-28, times vary, $30-$148, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall, thesmith center.com. –C. Moon Reed
Thru 12/31, performances 2-10 p.m., Sam’s Town, samstownlv.com. (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY With Obituary, Prong, 6:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticket master.com.
RL GRIME 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynn social.com.
KÀ REOPENING 7 & 9:30 p.m., SaturdayWednesday, MGM Grand, mgmgrand. mgmresorts. com.
PURO PARTY Ft. Frankie J & Baby Bash, Amanda Perez, MC Magic, JayRoxxx, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com.
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. WHITTIER 6:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlv tickets.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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HOMETOWN HEROES T
Critical Care Comics spreads cheer across the Valley
C O M M U N I T Y
BY AMBER SAMPSON
here’s a hero inside everyone. It’s inside our nurses and doctors, who have battled COVID-19 relentlessly in the hospitals. It’s inside our first responders, who run toward threats instead of scrambling away. And there are heroes inside the men standing before me in the lobby of St. Rose Dominican Hospital Sienna Campus, too. They’re just taking it a bit more literally. Chase Cutler is a porter at the Caesars Forum convention center. Lydon Grossi is ex-Army and a personal trainer. But the kid they’re talking to has no idea those are their day jobs. Cutler is fully suited up as DC’s lightning-fast hero The Flash. Grossi has donned Wolverine’s signature yellow suit, though without the winged mask. Today he’s an “agent,” out of costume but still on duty— comic book duty, that is. Grossi has stacks of comics to give away to sick children, and he’s
determined to hand out every one of them. This is the mission for Critical Care Comics. During the nine years the local nonprofit has served the Valley, its heroic volunteers have visited countless kids in hospitals, shelters and treatment facilities dressed as their favorite superheroes. “They’re kind of an extra piece in my puzzle for helping kids get out of here, be happy and have fun while they’re here,” says Brianna Snipes, child life specialist at St. Rose Hospital, as we hustle down the hospital halls alongside The Flash, Wolverine, Doctor Strange and Luke Cage. “I have kids who are sad to go home,” Snipes says. “Those are the kids who you’re like, ‘Yes, we made a difference.’” ■■■■■ Every hero has an origin story. Critical Care Comics founder Jason Golden’s began in a hospital bed. Back in high
school, Golden was diagnosed with acute non-lymphoid leukemia. He lived in and out of hospitals, looking forward to Wednesdays, when his parents would deliver comic books from a local shop. In a room filled with uncertainty and whirring machines, Golden found solace in those pages. “Critical Care Comics started with our founder’s personal comic book collection,” says Richard Tango, president of the nonprofit. “Jason’s intent was to bring the comic books back to the kids.” The concept soon evolved into heroes from those pages handing out comic books to kids. “It was a ragtag bunch in the beginning of, I think, six volunteers,” Tango says. “Now we’re at about 60.” Tango moonlights as Iron Man, but behind the scenes, he’s dogged about expanding Critical Care’s influence. “My big mission with our expansions is becoming the largest cancer survivor scholarship fund
1 1 .1 8 . 2 1 HEROES & VILLAINS BALL November 20, 7:30 p.m., $40-$50. Meet Las Vegas, 233 S. 4th St., criticalcare comics.org.
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(Critical Care Comics/Courtesy) (Left) Josh Jenkins, Tyler Moir, Stephanie Overton, Karla Laredo and Stefan Norman visit children at Cure 4 the Kids, a pediatric treatment center.
(Below) Critical Care Comics volunteers pose at the 2019 Heroes & Villains Ball at Red Rock Resort.
S P L I G H T
Our first patients really love Luke Cage. A 2-year-old girl with pom pom buns and a butterfly T-shirt looks up in awe at Willie Winds, a stocky gentle giant with a deep drawl. There’s a glimmer in the girl’s eyes. After she and a 4-year-old boy take a photo with him, she rips the phone out of her parents’ hands to see the picture. In pediatric intensive care, we see another 2-year-old girl with an oxygen mask over her nose. A relative holds her in her hospital bed as she stares in wonder at The Flash, Doctor Strange and Power Man. She lights up as Doctor Strange, played by Evan Deiro, hands her a Wonder Woman doll. Cutler seems especially in tune with his role today, strutting from room to room. He joined Critical Care shortly after losing his mother to cancer. The Flash struck a chord with him. “The one thing that really sold me was that even with his ability to go back in
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in the country,” he says. Pushing toward that goal, Critical Care Comics will host its annual Heroes & Villains Ball on November 20, designed to raise $10,000 toward a $50,000 college scholarship for cancer survivors. Tango knows the financial and emotional hardships that come with a diagnosis. At 12, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and endured two years of chemotherapy. “You grow up really fast when you go through something like that,” he says. Tango’s first visit as a hero also made a key impression. “I remember being at the pediatric emergency room, and there was a child wailing in pain down the hall,” he says. “It was distant and quickly familiar, and it triggered something in me.” Tango stepped away, and his heroic friends came to his aid. “We surrounded each other in a group hug, and they comforted me. I had a private cry, just a gentle one,” he says. “Just a moment.”
time, he can’t save his mom. I really resonated with that,” he says. “I wanted to be there for kids in a way that I needed someone.” Cutler recently got that chance, when a child asked for him one-on-one. “He’s not calling Chase into the room, he’s calling The Flash in. I wanted to give him the whole experience,” he says. The boy’s speaking ability was limited, but he took Cutler on a tour of the hospital, “point[ing] me out to the other doctors and nurses, like, ‘Fastest man alive.’” ■■■■■ During the height of the pandemic, in-person visits paused, but the heroic work continued. Critical Care raised funds to buy kids Nintendo Switch game consoles and iPads for virtual visits and ran food dropoffs for frontline workers and nurses. Now, Critical Care volunteers have resumed attending improv classes and child psychology courses with child actors, learning how best to interact with kids, especially
those who can’t speak or are in pain. Still, sometimes the experiences can be overhelming for the heroes. “I’m really glad I get to be one of the characters that has a full face mask,” says Michael Mutzhaus, Critical Care Comics’ vice president, full-time U.S. government and history teacher and part-time Spider-Man. “I don’t know how these guys do it sometimes,” he says, gesturing to Cutler, Deiro and Winds. Winds has been on the team for three years but only recently started visits. He sees every aspect of the charity as an opportunity to help. “Bruce Lee said it best, ‘When you take a pebble and you throw it into a pond, it starts ripples. The ripples don’t stop until they cross the entire pond. I am that stone,” Winds says. “I want to be able to create ripples that cross the entire pond. That inspires somebody else to want to do [what] we do, or do other things that inspire them to be helpful in their community.”
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
F E A T U R E
Golden Steer’s prime rib (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
S U O L T A B U AS A E F F
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Try your hand at classic Vegas restaurant dishes this holiday season BY BROCK RADKE
D I N I N G
Umami-packed sautéed mushrooms don’t get enough credit as a holiday-friendly dish that goes with almost anything. “It’s often difficult to find a side to pair with a variety of main dishes, but this one can stand up next to all of your holiday favorites,” says Top of the World Chef Chad Castanino. “Plus, there is nothing better than creating a little luxury for your guests.” Melt butter over high heat in a big pan, add sliced cremini mushrooms and salt and stir and cook until the ’shrooms have browned and all the liquid has evaporated. When the pan is almost dry, add diced shallots and garlic confit and cook for five minutes. Add small amounts of red wine vinegar, Burgundy cooking wine, thyme and sugar and bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook until the sauce is thick and glossy.
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(Courtesy)
WINE BRAISED MUSHROOMS FROM TOP OF THE WORLD The Strat, 702-380-7711, thestrat.com.
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If you haven’t upgraded your mashies a la Robuchon for a family meal at home, you can still join the club. The secret has been out for a while now: Use way too much butter. Boil a pound of potatoes (we like Yukon Gold), mash them using a ricer, then throw them back in a pot with a half-pound of unsalted butter and mix well. Add a few splashes of milk, season with salt and pepper (we like rosemary, too) and you’re ready to impress four or more with the most indulgent “mashed potatoes” they’ve ever tasted.
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POMMES PURÉES (mashed potatoes) FROM JOËL ROBUCHON MGM Grand, 702-891-7925, mgmgrand.com.
Name an iconic dessert that a) works for any occasion, b) makes something fancy out of something simple and c) satisfies both kids and adults. Emeril Lagasse’s banana cream pie is the right choice for any celebratory meal—creamy and smooth and packed into a graham cracker crust. This one’s a bit more complicated, so visit emerils.com if you need more details. Combine 2 cups cream, 1 and a half cups whole milk, a half-cup of sugar and one vanilla bean (split and scraped with seeds) in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil while whisking, then remove from heat. Combine 3 egg yolks, 2 eggs, a half-cup of cornstarch and 1 cup sugar in a bowl, and whisk until pale yellow in color. Whisk 1 cup of hot cream mixture into egg yolk mixture. Gradually add egg mixture to hot cream mixture, whisking constantly. Bring to a simmer, stirring continuously to cook out cornstarch, and thicken for about 5 minutes. (If it separates, remove from heat and beat with an electric mixer until thick and smooth.) Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface. Chill in refrigerator for about 4 hours. To assemble, spread a half-cup of custard over the bottom of the prepared crust, smoothing with the back of a large spoon or rubber spatula. Arrange banana slices in a tight pattern over custard, pressing down to pack them firmly. Repeat to build a second layer, using 3/4 cup custard and enough bananas to cover. For the third layer, spread 3/4 cup custard over bananas and top with remaining bananas, starting 1 inch from outer edge and working toward center. Spread 1 cup custard evenly over bananas to prevent discoloration. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve topped with whipped cream, caramel and chocolate sauces, chocolate shavings and fresh mint, if you want to be fancy like Emeril.
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Vegas doesn’t get more classic than the Steer, where you can still order the exact meal Frank Sinatra used to enjoy after a show. And there’s no centerpiece of a dish more appropriate for the holidays than a perfect prime rib ready for slicing at the table. Luckily, you can pick up a copy of the Golden Steer Steakhouse book at the restaurant, full of recipes and stories from the past, which details the preparation for its famous prime rib. This kitchen works with a 20-pound, nine-rib roast that serves from nine to 14. Coat your beef in coarse salt for a thicker, savory crust, place it in a roasting pan with the fat side up and bake at 300 degrees for two hours. That should result in medium-well cuts at the ends and rare in the middle. Serve with au jus and horseradish cream sauce for that special Golden Steer touch.
EMERIL’S BANANA CREAM PIE FROM DELMONICO Venetian, 702-414-3737, venetian.com.
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PRIME RIB FROM GOLDEN STEER 308 W. Sahara Ave., 702-384-4470, goldensteerlasvegas.com.
Make a superior poultry decision with this bright, simple and versatile dish from Chef Chris Conlon, who’s been adding modern, flavorful touches to one of the city’s most celebrated Italian restaurant menus. For each serving, you’ll need a diced chicken breast and a few artichoke heart bottoms (also chopped), along with fresh garlic, white wine, lemon juice, butter, parsley, Wondra flour, salt, pepper and olive oil. Start by seasoning the chicken and tossing it in the Wondra, then heat a sauté pan and add your olive oil. Sauté the chicken until golden brown, add artichokes and chopped garlic and keep cooking until the garlic is toasty. Deglaze with wine and add butter, then reduce until the sauce thickens to your preference. Finish with a healthy squeeze of lemon and chopped parsley.
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Are you thinking what I’m thinking? We’ve all been cooking at home a bit more in the past two years, and maybe we’re ready to reach beyond roasted turkey or reheated ham for this year’s holiday meal. Consider a classic Vegas-themed menu that samples from some of our most legendary restaurants. It could be a fun way to add some flash and flavor to your table.
CHICKEN CARCIOFI FROM PIERO’S 355 Convention Center Drive, 702-369-2305, pieroscuisine.com.
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ON THE COVER
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Take the stress out of Thanksgiving BY C. MOON REED Nothing’s better than sitting around the Thanksgiving table with family and friends as you dig into a delicious meal … unless you’re the person who has to cook that meal. The pressure to create your own Norman Rockwell moment can be overwhelming, but a holiday meal doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips for a stress-free celebration.
Don’t be afraid to delegate. A holiday party—food, decorations, planning, cleaning—can often be too much for any one person. “If you share the work it’s a lot easier,” says Abi Flores, salesperson for Las Vegas’ Rebel Party Rentals. “Someone brings decor, someone brings the main course, someone brings appetizers, etc.”
Miracle on Spring Mountain’s Christmas Carol Barrel (Courtesy)
Count your chairs. If you’re going to host a big bash, you might not have enough of the basics. It’s easy to buy last-minute plasticware, but some supplies need outside help. Flores says the most popular items rented from Rebel are tables, chairs and linens. Keep the food flowing. “Thanksgiving is an all-day grazing day,” says Alaina DeCarlo, owner of the Salted Sage Charcuterie Creations in Las Vegas. “Charcuterie is something you can start with while dinner is being cooked.” For a DIY charcuterie board, DeCarlo recommends plating two cheeses, two meats, some nuts, some fruit and something sweet, like chocolate covered almonds. Make it fun. While the Thanksgiving meal always takes center stage, consider adding a few entertainment items to keep your guests busy while their food digests. To go beyond football on TV, Rebel offers outdoor
lawn games rentals, such as a giant Connect 4 or Jenga. Make it fancy. Impress your guests without much extra work by adding a garnish to your dishes. Cut flowers look nice arranged around a dish or on the dinner table. DeCarlo suggests a few sprigs of rosemary and sage for looks and aromatics. Order early. Between global supply chain snarls and staffing shortages, it’s important to secure your order ASAP. Even if you don’t know exactly what you want, better to get your name on the books and amend your order than face zero availability. Gift it. If you have to cancel Thanksgiving plans due to the pandemic, consider sending a “COVID gift” to the host, DeCarlo advises. She says sending one of her charcuterie boxes—or any other token of your appreciation—will show your friends that you “really did want to be there.”
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A holiday Miracle returns We could all use a little extra Christmas cheer this year, and the Sand Dollar Lounge’s Miracle on Spring Mountain pop-up delivers it. The kitschy celebration of holiday happiness, which debuted in 2019, transforms the familiar blues bar into a decked-out winter wonderland. The Miracle Christmas Cocktail Pop-Up Bar originated in New York City’s East Village in 2014 and has since spread to 90 cities. According to a Sand Dollar spokesperson, however, the Las Vegas version is the only one with live music. The festive decor, which cost more than $10,000 in its first year, was installed by Las Vegas’ own Garrett Pattiani’s Bright Light Holiday Company. Last year’s Miracle worked through pandemic restrictions with reserved tables. This year is expected to be more free-flowing. Details are still being finalized, but there will be spe-
cial offerings galore. Nightly free live music will include Pauly Shore & the Crustys (December 9) and Tom Petty/Johnny Cash cover band Petty Cash (December 16). Themed nights will include an ugly sweater party (December 4), Grinch Day (December 13) and naughty or nice night (December 20). And chef-driven pizza pop-ups will return with participating locals including Gina Marinelli, James Trees, Crystina Nguyen, Chris Decker, Gary LaMorte and Nick Dugan. Come for the Christmas, stay for the crazy delicious cocktails—a bevy of new beverages have arrived this year. Try the Elfing Around, with mulled wine, prosecco and gin. The hot Bad Santa will keep you warm at night with rum, mixed spiced butter, oat milk and velvet falernum. Or party all night with the Christmas Carol Barrel, with coffee liqueur, spiced chocolate and Reposado tequila. –C. Moon Reed
MIRACLE ON SPRING MOUNTAIN November 22-December 31, daily, 2 p.m.-3 a.m. (closed Thanksgiving & Christmas). Sand Dollar Lounge, 702-485-5401, miracleonspringmountain.com.
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THIS YEAR, THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH IS NOVEMBER 28.
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Honey Salt (1031 S. Rampart Blvd., 702-445-6100, honeysalt.com) will serve a Hanukkah dinner November 28-30 for dine-in (reservations recommended) or takeout. Slow-roasted turkey breast ($30) or red wine-braised brisket ($35) are the main attractions, dished up with sweet potato and prunes tzimmes and roasted Brussels sprouts. –Brock Radke
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Siegel’s 1941 (El Cortez, 702-3855200, elcortez hotelcasino.com) offers a special menu ($27) from November 28 through December 6 with chopped chicken liver and
Hearthstone Kitchen (Red Rock Resort, 702-7977344, hearthstonelv. com) is dishing up a special menu from November 28 until December 6, including homemade challah with honey butter ($10), latkes with smoked salmon and dill créme fraiche ($15), brisket with glazed rainbow carrots and sweet potato ($29), and chocolate babka bread pudding with vanilla ice cream ($10).
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Rooster Boy Cafe (2620 Regatta Drive #113, 702-560-2453, roosterboycafe.com) is catering Hanukkah with a variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts, each feeding four to six and priced a la carte. Options include latkes with sour cream and applesauce ($18), homemade gravlax ($20/half-pound), brisket ($75), roasted chicken with apricots and honey ($35), salmon with pesto ($85) and chocolate babka ($30).
matzoh ball soup appetizers; roasted apricot chicken and beef brisket entrees with latkes, kasha and bowties and steamed broccoli; and sweet raisin kugel or ice cream for dessert.
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Siegel’s Bagelmania (252 Convention Center Drive, 702369-3322, bagelmanialv.com) offers a special holiday dinner ($25) with brisket or roasted chicken plus matzoh ball soup, challah rolls, latkes, green beans and desserts. Or, cater your athome meal with a bigger version of that meal with both entrees that feeds 8-10 ($225).
Rao’s Italian restaurant opened at Caesars Palace during the holiday season in 2006—an appropriate seasonal arrival considering the colorful decor and year-round Christmas lights made the Strip dining destination feel like the red sauce joint around the corner where you make an annual reservation to gather with family and friends and escape your own kitchen this time of year. In East Harlem, that’s sorta what the original Rao’s did, starting in 1896. Sometime in the 1970s, the tiny but iconic New York City restaurant became known as one of the toughest reservations in the country, because it was so small and its devoted regulars wouldn’t give up their tables. So when Rao’s expanded to Las
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Hit these local spots for your Hanukkah meals
Vegas 15 years ago, it became easier for more people to experience the Rao’s family’s hospitality and homey cuisine, including signatures like the huge veal, pork and beef meatballs; linguine frutti di mare loaded with seafood and red chili flakes; Uncle Vincent’s lemon chicken; and Sunday gravy simmered with a variety of meats that isn’t on the menu but was tasty enough to threaten your nonna’s recipe. After a terrific and long run, Rao’s Las Vegas will serve its last meal on November 28. Locals and tourists have been regulars here, and we’ll all miss the food, the friendly ambiance, sitting at the bar and sipping the E. 114th after catching a show at the Colosseum, and bumping into family scion Frank Pellegrino Jr., who was always quick to fill your Champagne glass. Every night has been a celebration here, and you can’t say that about every restaurant on the Strip. –Brock Radke
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Farewell to Rao’s, where every meal felt like a holiday celebration
Rao’s meatballs with pasta (Courtesy)
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SPREAD THE LOVE Nevada Humanities grants $200,000-plus to arts and cultural organizations Nearly 50 Nevada organizations will make more art and culture thanks to Nevada Humanities’ newly announced 2022 Major Project Grants, which total $232,484. Recipients range from big players (the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and UNLV’s Barrick Museum) to small-town stalwarts (Elko’s Western Folklife Center and Mesquite’s Virgin Valley Artists Association). The grants are in the $1,000$6,000 range and are for specific projects. For example, $6,000 will support the Writing Downtown Arts and Activism Speaker Series at the Writer’s Block bookstore. Additional Southern Nevada recipients include the Boulder City Chautauqua, City of Henderson’s American Indian Heritage Festival, Discovery Children’s Museum, Las Vegas Writers Conference, Jazz Outreach Initiative, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Neon Museum’s Oral History Project, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Nevada Women’s Film Festival, Poetry Promise, Project Real, Artists for Kids, Black Mountain Radio and Ah’-Wah-Nee. For more information, visit nevada humanities.org. –C. Moon Reed
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This is a jobs bill for our state, and it’s going to mean a stronger economic recovery for workers and businesses—particularly in our travel, tourism and hospitality industry.” –Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev), after President Joe Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill on November 15
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Andre Filosi, vice president and general manager of the California, Fremont and Main Street Station casinos, presents the Island Showdown Trophy to UNLV running back Charles Williams (8) after his team’s 27-13 win against Hawaii, November 13 at Allegiant Stadium—UNLV’s second straight victory after snapping a 14-game losing streak. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
LEAVING LEGENDS
Frank Marino’s hosting gig has brought extra energy to the timeless musical tribute show Legends in Concert at the Tropicana, but the collaboration is coming to an end. The colorful entertainer, known for his iconic portrayal of Joan Rivers, is leaving the show after the 7:30 p.m. performance on November 21, one day after his 58th birthday. Marino is exploring several different options for his future onstage with different entertainment companies and some big names on the Strip scene, including a sort of rebirth of his Divas drag production. “In February, I gave myself the gift of making the calendar all white,” he said. “Not a phone call, not a doctor’s appointment. For one month, I’m waking up and doing whatever I want to do. And whatever happens with all those projects will happen in March.” –Brock Radke
WATCH THIS The Golden Knights play Columbus on November 20 at 7 p.m.
11.10.2021
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PEACEFUL MOURNING
Volunteers, including veterans, first responders and military service members, gather November 10 at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City to place flags on gravestones ahead of Veterans Day. “These flags mean the world to these veterans’ loved ones,” said Dawn Kramer (not pictured), who organized the event. “Paying respect is what matters.” (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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SCHOOL BOARD ATTACK AD
Clark County School Board members Linda Cavazos and Lisa Guzman asked KSNV-TV, Las Vegas’ NBC affiliate, to stop running a 30-second ad that the pair say is false and misleading. The spot, paid for by the Clark County Education Association, accuses Guzman of using her board position to benefit her employer, the rival union Nevada State Education Association, and Cavazos
of bullying and creating a toxic work environment. “Two untrustworthy school trustees: Lisa Guzman and Linda Cavazos,” a narrator says. “We stand by the content of the ad,” CCEA Executive Director John Vellardita said. The allegations against Cavazos echo accusations that a lawyer for recently fired Superintendent Jesus Jara made in a letter to the
district. Through his lawyer, Jara said he would be willing to drop the bullying and toxic work environment charges if CCSD paid him $2 million on top of the roughly $657,000 to buy out his contract. The trustees voted 4-3 on October 28 to fire Jara with a little more than a year left on his contract. Guzman and Cavazos were among the members who voted to dismiss Jara. -Hillary Davis
SAD TIME OF YEAR Las Vegans turned their clocks back an hour this month, meaning the sun begins to dip below the horizon around 4:30 p.m. And for some, it also means the onset of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a major depressive disorder that affects 10 million to 20 million people in the United States.
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FILL ALL PLATES Three Square food distribution (Jeff Scheid/ Courtesy)
Local agencies combat Valley hunger—and all of them could use your help
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BY EVELYN MATTEOS
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t’s time to officially get excited for Thanksgiving dinner. An overly portioned plate of turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce is only days away. But before we fill our plates, it’s a good time to consider whether our neighbors will be able to do the same. Three Square, Southern Nevada’s only food bank, currently feeds about 160,000 individuals per week, according to chief operating officer Larry Scott. A good portion of its food supply comes from the government, which purchases food and provides it to food banks like Three Square. The organization also purchases food itself; being a member of the Feeding America network allows Three Square to buy food at a much lower price than what we see in grocery stores. On the local level, Three Square accepts donations from the public and rescues food from grocery stores—typically product approaching its expiration date or cosmetically flawed.
Additionally, Three Square’s Hot Food Rescue Program partners with such entities as MGM Grand and Caesars Palace to utilize food left over from banquets and conventions. The process to get food on tables doesn’t end there. Volunteers help to package meals and groceries and then deliver it to partner agencies in the area like Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. “[Three Square] definitely helps us. We’ve been partners for a long time,” says Leslie Carmine, Catholic Charities’ media and community relations director. “They kind of took over fresh rescue for the Valley, because their infrastructure is meant for that; ours isn’t necessarily. When they did that, it was very helpful to us, because we could then focus on what we needed to do and do that well.” Prior to the pandemic, Three Square had about 180 agency partners that would distribute food to those in need, but due to various issues brought on by
the crisis, only about 10 or 15 remained open. In response, the organization immediately set up distribution locations throughout the Valley to get the food directly to the community. The need during those initial months of the pandemic was visible, Scott says. Lines for the mobile sites were nearly four or five miles long—about 1,000 cars a day came through each site.
“We are a vulnerable economic community. Hospitality richly rewards us, and we are oftentimes the epicenter of economic crisis,” Scott says. “So, as a consequence, the demand on us as a food bank peaks extraordinarily high during these periods.” That practice has mostly been discontinued, and Three Square has largely reverted to its original system. There are currently 160
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Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, celebrating the grand reopening of its St. Vincent Lied Dining Facility (Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada/Courtesy)
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100 to 150 households daily. Unfortunately, public donations aren;t as bountiful as they’ve been in years past. Carmine attributes that to recent food supply chain issues and the increasing cost of food. She says Catholic Charities could use more holiday item donations like boxed mashed potatoes and canned foods. Scott adds that food items
“The community can rest assured, we will be able to get the food that you need. We have not failed at any time during this effort. It will cost us more to get it here, but we are prepared, no matter what.” –Three Square Chief Operating Officer Larry Scott
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Now, as the holidays near, the organization is seeing an increase in demand for its services. Catholic Charities, which started its Thanksgiving distribution on October 25—and will run it through November 24—had served 1,184 households as of press time. That averages out to more than 200 households daily. In a non-holiday month, the organization typically sees between
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partner agencies actively distributing food, and only a few of the pop-up sites remain, which are seeing an average of 250 to 300 cars. Carmine says Catholic Charities has seen about a 24% increase in households utilizing its service from last year. It has also seen many families new to food pantries that were unsure what to do at first.
such as peanut butter and low sodium items (which Three Square keeps on hand for the elderly) are also becoming scarcer. Moreover, items like rice are tricky to come by due to supply chain disarray. “The community can rest assured—whether you’re a senior or a child—we will be able to get the food that you need,” Scott says. “We have not failed at any time during this effort. It will cost us more to get it here, but we are prepared, no matter what ,to make sure that the food our community needs is available.” If you decide to donate, don’t forget about smaller food pantries in the area. Birds of the Air Food Pantry, an official function of Epic Church (which distributes at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church and City Light Church), fed 6,931 individuals in October. Ron Scarpa, pastor at Epic Church, says the smaller pantry could use more donations year-round. Vegas Valley Church feds about 200 families every month, Pastor Russell Hoyt says. Grocery gift cards help many families in their congregation. “[Food] allows people to put all of this stress aside and gather around a table and have something nourishing for their family,” Carmine says. “When you don’t have enough to eat you can’t really do anything else. It’s hard.”
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MORE THAN DINNER AND A SHOW C U L T U R E
If “supper clubs” are the future of the Strip, we’ll have some more, please
Brian Newmann performing at NoMad’s After Dark (Brian Friedman/ Courtesy)
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Delilah’s Wagyu beef Wellington (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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designed to do it all. It opened as part of the NoMad Hotel project at Park MGM in 2018 in partnership with Sydell Group and acclaimed restaurateurs Daniel Humm and Will Guidara. Now known as the NoMad Library, the dining room was all about the food, while the adjacent NoMad Bar offered entertainment and cocktails. But the striking and luxurious space has evolved. thanks to Brian Newman After Dark—a rip-roaring afterhours jazz party engineered by Newman, the New York City musician and bandleader of Lady Gaga’s Jazz & Piano residency nearby at Dolby Live. He’s in town when Gaga is, and sometimes when she’s not, and he’s always bringing local and visiting singers, musicians, burlesque artists, magicians, comedians and others to join him in a wild, spontaneous, incredibly sharp show that usually starts after midnight and runs past 2 a.m. “He’s always appreciated that sort of old Vegas style, and I knew that was a goal of his doing the show here,” says singer Jaclyn McSpadden, a veteran of Vegas shows who has become an After Dark regular and also performs at Mayfair. “It’s that whole idea of the Las Vegas lounge, where people used to hang out until the wee hours and just love being there because it’s such a beautiful room. I didn’t realize at first that all those books are from the Rockefeller family’s personal library.” McSpadden’s cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” with Newman and his band is becoming legendary. And there are special late-night
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he most exciting thing about the current supper club trend on the Las Vegas Strip is that it’s not really about supper clubs. That term likely inspires images of old-school Vegas—casino dining spaces with vintage decor where you can enjoy cocktails and food and great live entertainment without paying for a ticket. There certainly are fragments of that experience at various venues that have popped up on the Strip during the past two years, but like the resorts that host them, these destinations are too special and different to fit together under a single banner. The common thread running through Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio, THE NoMad INCIDENTAL Library at Park MGM, TOURIST Delilah at Wynn and SuperBY BROCK RADKE frico at the Cosmopolitan is an innovative effort to appeal to the ever-changing desires of Vegas visitors. These places are built to be restaurants first, but also definitely more than just a grand dinner, shrewdly targeting those who want a fabulous night out on the Strip without having to move from bar to restaurant to nightclub or show. You’ve been able to have it all without leaving your hotel resort for a long time; now you can do all the Vegas in a single venue. The NoMad restaurant wasn’t originally
cocktail and food menus at NoMad during the show. The entertainment at Mayfair is much different—it’s tightly choreographed and escalates throughout the evening: from an ambient jazz trio, to a full-on production show onstage in the middle of the glamorous dining room, to a high-energy, almost clubby musical experience bolstered by Bellagio’s fountains erupting in the background. Mayfair opened around New Year’s Eve rolling into 2020, and for a while during the pandemic, it was the only live performance of its kind happening on the Strip. If it set the current standard for combining food and entertainment, it blew that standard away recently, when the Lío Ibiza cabaret from Spain took over the entire venue to bring a very international, slightly naughtier, endlessly engaging presentation to Las Vegas. Delilah, which made its debut over the summer after pandemic delays, serves up similar upscale cuisine in an equally opulent environment at Wynn. Its stage is at the end of the room, and the venue is set up in a very theatrical way, in addition to being one of the most beautifully and expensively designed restaurants in the country. Different pop, jazz and soul artists play the Delilah stage during dinner, but later, there’s no telling who might pop in. So far, everyone from Justin Bieber to Jim Gaffigan to John Fogerty to 50 Cent to Tiffany Haddish have visited. Strip celebrity hunters should look nowhere else. And then there’s Spiegelworld’s first restaurant, Superfrico, a colorful Italian joint in the former Rose. Rabbit. Lie. room at the Cosmopolitan that shares a space with the spacey Opium theater. There’s unexpected and random entertainment popping up all over the restaurant throughout the night, not to mention a hidden ski lounge-themed bar. Having an amazing meal and walking a few steps to catch a hilarious variety show has never been so easy, but both Superfrico and Opium also feel as unpredictable as it gets on the Strip. And that’s the real trend behind these venues—it’s big, well-designed fun that feels like it just happened magically. Each spot executes that phenomenon in their own way, and it’s fascinating.
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Rich (left) and Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes (Josh Cheuse/Courtesy)
A FAMILIAR REMEDY
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The Black Crowes are shakin’ their money maker in Vegas again BY BROCK RADKE
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inally, The Black Crowes are back together and back in Las Vegas at their ideal home, the House of Blues. Atlanta-born rock ’n’ roll brothers Chris and Rich Robinson were set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal album Shake Your Money Maker two years ago with a massive reunion tour when COVID changed the plans. But they merely delayed the celebration and spent the downtime creating new Black Crowes songs after years of writing and recording quite a bit of music individually. Las Vegas Weekly caught up with both brothers to gauge the temperature of this blues-rock revival. On the reunion: Chris: “A global killer virus will dampen any weekend, to say the least, so of course it was a lot. By the time Rich and I were on the same page to do it and we put a great band together … and then to put it on the backburner [because of the pandemic], that was frustrating. But it’s not like only our band had to deal with it; it’s been so tough for millions of people. To finally get out there and do exactly what we wanted to do—all the loud guitars in this era where there’s a lack of rock ’n’ roll—to do something that’s really alive and kind of woolly and wild, it’s amazing.” On the Shake Your Money Maker shows: Rich: “We’re playing the album front to back, then mixing it up. It’s something we’ve never done in our whole history of being musicians. We’ve always pushed ourselves to move forward and do different things, even from day one. The minute we made Shake Your Money Maker, it was, ‘That’s done; let’s move on.’ So it’s been really interesting for us to look at this
and have the discipline to focus on one album and the way it was written and recorded.” Chris: “It feels like we got better every night, and there’s a different mindset and focus. It’s not just to celebrate that record. We’ve been through a lot, and it’s a celebration of all the things Rich and I have done.” On new Black Crowes music: Rich: “The [pandemic] definitely opened up a huge space for us to be able to do it. Chris and I were never ones to sit around and not do anything, but we tried to take advantage of the time we had. I sent him 30 or 40 songs over the course of 18 months, like I always did, and we don’t really think about an album. I just write what I write depending on what moves me.” On a lifetime of creative collaboration: Rich: “Every time I’d write a song, my unconscious focus was writing for Chris, his voice, the way he sings and phrases, all those elements. So to get back into that and just be a fan and be excited to hear what Chris brought, that’s always where my head was anyway, but to have that come back in and be able to hear his voice and lyrics over what I do again, it was really amazing.” Chris: “No matter what we’ve been through, the writing is always just me and him. There weren’t other guys or producers around; we were always left to our own to do the composition, and that would be the time we never really argued or got into fights. Rich plays me something that sparks something or inspires me, and it can be any little thing that dictates where the lyrics and melodies come from. That’s just always been there for us, and we’re lucky that way.”
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STICKS TAVERN 203 S. Water St., 702900-3969. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.11 p.m.; FridaySaturday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
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Sticky Tabasco chicken wings, poutine, New York strip steak salad and To Be Frank Classic Dog at Sticks Tavern (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
CHICKEN T BY THE RINK
Sticks Tavern offers new tastes on Water Street BY C. MOON REED
he tagline for Sticks Tavern, the sports bar that opened in June along Henderson’s emerging Water Street District, is “every sport, every season.” That approach rings true, but one sport shines above all others—hockey, specifically, the Henderson Silver Knights. This neighborhood bar has a very important across-the-street neighbor in Lifeguard Arena, the AHL team’s official practice facility. Sticks is situated to be the place to dine and drink
post-skate. Not long after it opened, Weekly readers chose Sticks as the Best Sports Bar in Southern Nevada. Locally owned and operated, it offers something for the eyes (ample televised sports) and stomach (elevated bar food), while saving the lungs (no smoking). Outdoor seating is also available for those who want to enjoy Water Street views. The fresh-made menu is designed by executive chef and partner Trevor Garrett. Rotisserie chicken is the star item, and it rises to the occasion by
being pasture-raised, organic and non-GMO ($9-$25, depending on size). Delicious aspects of said chicken trickle down to various menu items, adding flavor and depth. The poutine appetizer ($8)—perhaps inspired by ice hockey’s Canadian roots—stands out thanks to sumptuous chicken gravy. Make it a meal for $3 more, with the addition of—you guessed it—rotisserie chicken. Seasonal vegetables ($4-$5) manage to be both healthy and indulgent. Shredded chicken stars in the Barn
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Makai Island Grill’s “ono’est” plate with chicken katsu, mochiko wings, poke and kimchee slaw (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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PERSONAL PLATE LUNCH
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MAKAI ISLAND GRILL Four locations, makaigrill.com. Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
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of fresh fruit juices such as strawberry and lime. The $12 cocktail menu features cleverly titled, hockey-themed drinks: Chance’s Colada (their take on a piña colada), Lucky’s Favorite (bourbon, bitters, syrup) and the Gila Tequila Monster (with grapefruit and Mexico-bottled Squirt). Even wine drinkers can show their team spirit with VGK Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir ($11-$33). Look out for game-day specials, which often offer discounts on food and drink, along with blackout bingo.
two entrees to its selection that you don’t see at most of these eateries—tuna poke and mochiko chicken. While the poke is fresh and served in an adequate portion ($1.25 upcharge on your plate, bowl or salad), the mochiko wings really stood out on my plate, complete with the tasty little caramelized crunchies that come from frying in a sweet rice flour batter. Makai’s kalua ($3.75 a la carte) is also terrific, big, juicy chunks of roasted pork that go great with rice doused in some spicy teriyaki sauce. You can truly make this plate lunch your own by switching over to brown rice and choosing from other side dishes including sweet corn, kimchee coleslaw, garlic edamame or salad greens. I’m not sure if you’re doing it right without that mac salad, but I’m all for freedom of lunch. –Brock Radke
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Burner sandwich ($12), which is completed with tomatoes and bean puree. The appetizers, listed as “pre-game” snacks, include the traditional mix of bar nuts ($4), wings ($10-$16), artichoke dip ($8) and cheese sticks ($8). Potato croquettes ($6) are a highlight—little pockets of happiness, served hot with scallion aioli. Burgers ($12), sandwiches ($11-$14) and salads ($8-$11) round out the menu. All that food will certainly work up a thirst. Try the Lemonade of the Day ($5), an ever-changing kaleidoscope
n It took me far too long to check out Makai Island Grill, a local Hawaiian barbecue chain that’s been around for more than five years and recently blossomed with four convenient locations around the Valley. I’ve always been obsessed with the traditional island-style plate lunch, grilled or fried proteins with big scoops of white rice and a bit of creamy macaroni salad, and Makai takes the buildit-yourself, assembly-line approach to this simple and satisfying meal. You can start with a one-meat small plate and work your way up to the “ono’est” three-meat plate, or opt for a rice bowl or salad, with prices generally ranging from $6 to $18. I’ve eaten tons of kalua pig, teriyaki meats, chicken katsu and fried fish at different Hawaiian joints around town, but Makai adds
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EMPLOYING EICHEL How will Vegas use its big new addition, and how good can he be when he comes back from injury?
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BY JUSTIN EMERSON
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he Vegas Golden Knights have done it again. They went out and got another superstar, adding to their ever-growing collection by bringing in Jack Eichel, the former No. 2 overall draft pick by the Buffalo Sabres who’s regarded as one of the best centers in the world. It might go down as the most impactful move they’ve ever made, and the only difference
from similar blockbusters that brought the likes of Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty to town is that it requires a wait. It will be at least three months until Eichel plays for Vegas after he underwent artificial disk replacement surgery November 12 in Denver. But when he does get on the ice, how much better will he make a Vegas team that already came into the season as a Stanley Cup favorite? The answer to that
question has the current roster teeming with excitement. “Jack can change the game in a blink of an eye, and that’s an element you want on your team,” defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. The 25-year-old Eichel is actually a few months younger than Alex Tuch, part of the package for which he was traded, alongside with Peyton Krebs and draft picks. Eichel is a bona fide No. 1 center, which aside from William Karlsson’s career year in 2017-18, Vegas has arguably never had. The Golden Knights acquired stars on the wing such as Pacioretty and Stone to augment the forward group but hadn’t found
the key pivot that’s the centerpiece of so many Stanley Cup champions. Until now. Eichel is so good that general manager Kelly McCrimmon insists his availability changed the team’s plans. The Golden Knights’ front office made moves to clear cap space in the summer, but then spent it, so it’s not like the trade of Marc-André Fleury to Chicago came in anticipation of Eichel. McCrimmon said he simply acted and didn’t worry about the eventual details when it became clear he could acquire Eichel. Vegas technically doesn’t have the cap space for Eichel at the moment, but it doesn’t matter since he’s on injured reserve. The team will almost surely need to move players off the roster
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Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton strips the ball from Raiders wide receiver DeSean Jackson November 14 at Allegiant Stadium. (John McCoy/ Associated Press)
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n LAST WEEK: CHIEFS 41, RAIDERS 14 Nothing went right for the Raiders in their first of two games against their archrival this year. A blowout loss sent Las Vegas tumbling from first to third place in the AFC West and currently out of a playoff spot. The Raiders’ defense gave up more than 500 yards of offense, with the Chiefs’ former MVP quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, throwing for 406 yards and five touchdowns. The Raiders’ offense managed only 15 first downs—the Chiefs had 29—and committed two turnovers, including DeSean Jackson fumbling after his first reception with the team. Jackson caught a 38-yard bomb in the third quarter that could have helped the Raiders keep pace in a quickly developing shootout, but Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton punched the ball out of his hands and the rout began. n THIS WEEK: BENGALS (5-4) AT RAIDERS (5-4) When: Sunday, November 21, 1:05 p.m. Where: Allegiant Stadium TV: CBS (Channel 8) Radio: 920-AM, 92.3-FM Betting line: Bengals -1, over/under: 49 n Matchup: Las Vegas struggled to contain a dangerous speedy wide receiver/brawny tight end combination against Kansas City, and the Raiders will face a similar challenge against Cincinnati. Ja’Marr Chase has taken the league by storm, scoring seven touchdowns and gaining 835 receiving yards in his first nine games to become the favorite for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Veteran C.J. Uzomah has also built a strong rapport with second-year quarterback Joe Burrow; he has five touchdowns. Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce combined for 15 receptions for 202 yards against the Raiders, and if Chase and Uzomah produce anywhere near that level, Las Vegas will be looking at a third straight loss.
n Raider to Watch: Wide receiver Bryan Edwards One of the only positives in the loss to Kansas City was the play of Edwards, who had a career-high 88 receiving yards, including a 37-yard touchdown reception. Jackson’s presence might cut down on the snaps of all Las Vegas’ receivers once he gets up to speed, but Edwards looks secure in his role. The second-year player is the only big-bodied possession receiver on the roster, and quarterback Derek Carr needs Edwards to establish himself as a threat to open up opportunities for everyone else. Edwards has been inconsistent this year— occasionally struggling with drops and an inability to create separation from defensive backs—but he could be turning the corner. –Case Keefer
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Jack Eichel (NHLI/AP Photo/Photo Illustration)
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with a player like Eichel, there isn’t a wrong answer. For now, coach Pete DeBoer isn’t giving any clues as to his thought process. “I’ll leave that to you guys for the next few months,” he told reporters with a grin. “Who knows what’s going to be available in three months or four months when he gets back.” The past decade of Stanley Cup champions help illustrate the importance of an elite center. Current back-to-back champs Tampa Bay had Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos. St. Louis had Ryan O’Reilly for its 2019 title year, and Washington had Nicklas Bäckström in 2018. Pittsburgh had Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for its backto-back titles in 2016 and 2017. The list continues with Jonathan Toews for the Blackhawks in 2010 and 2013 and Anže Kopitar for the Kings in 2012 and 2015. Now Vegas has Eichel, whose name would absolutely fit with those players based on his early career production. Since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, the Golden Knights have acquired wingers (Pacioretty and Stone), a goalie (Robin Lehner) and a defenseman (Alex Pietrangelo) in a push to get back and win it this time around. They never had that center until they brought in Eichel, one of the best players in the world at the sport’s most important skating position. It’s easy to envision him becoming the piece that pushes Vegas over the top.
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in order to fit his $10 million cap hit when he’s ready to return, which could be as early as February. But it’s hard to argue any shifting won’t be worth it. “There’s no question about the caliber of player he is,” forward Mattias Janmark says. “If there’s anyone who can challenge [Edmonton Oilers center Connor] McDavid, it would be a guy like him.” So where will he play in Vegas? He’ll immediately improve any line, and the thought of him centering Pacioretty and Stone has Vegas fans frothing at the mouth. Those three would form the most talented line Vegas has ever iced and would give Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog-Nathan MacKinnon-Mikko Rantanen trio and Boston’s Brad March-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak combination a run for their money as the best in the league. And that might not even be the Golden Knights’ best option. While Chandler Stephenson isn’t what most consider a true No. 1 center, he has produced at an elite rate between Pacioretty and Stone. Those three together have been so dominant that it’s worth considering keeping them intact and letting Eichel super-charge another line. There are a lot of options if the Golden Knights decide to go that route. Eichel could center players like Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, playing the driving role he did for years in Buffalo with far less talent around him. Or what about a line with Eichel between Pacioretty and Evgenii Dadonov while letting Marchessault and Stone flank Karlsson? That would move Stephenson to a third-line role, where he’d be a big asset. The point is, when dealing
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2021 TOP TECH JUDGES & ADVISORY COUNCIL
A letter from the presenting sponsor Dear Friends, In partnership with Vegas Inc, Cox Business is honored to serve as the presenting sponsor of the 11th annual Top Tech Awards. Since 2010, it has been important to Cox Business to honor the leaders who take on big challenges and innovate to keep their businesses thriving. Over the past decade, we’ve experienced many changes in our community, but nothing compares to what we have experienced in 2020 and in 2021. We have adapted to new norms, new environments and new ways of doing just about everything. Through it all, we have been reminded of the common fiber that is unique to Southern Nevada, which is a place that I now call home. Being new to the Valley and learning about this great community makes me proud to lead Cox Business alongside other trailblazers in Las Vegas. We have the most incredible tech leaders pushing through and moving the needle to keep this great community at the forefront of technology. With a record-breaking 96 nominations submitted by their peers, it’s evident that the leadership, vision and innovation of these individuals are the heartbeat driving the technology industry and continued economic growth of our region.
CHAIR, SNEHAL BHAKTA Career and Technical Administrator Clark County School District
Congratulations to each of the award recipients and nominees for your outstanding contributions. With new advances in technology, we are thrilled to host the celebratory event at Allegiant Stadium, the most technologically-advanced stadium in the country. We greatly appreciate the partnership with Vegas Inc and the tech community’s support, without which the Top Tech Awards would not be possible. Cox Business and Hospitality Network works closely with local and nationwide business clients in an array of verticals and segments. This includes voice customization, video, networking services, security solutions, cloud and managed services to support client requirements and business objectives with a strong focus on economic growth, community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and technology service excellence. From smart communities to cyber security, gaming and sporting events, our entire Southern Nevada landscape has changed, thanks in part to those honored at this event. We were delighted to celebrate our Top Tech professionals and hope you enjoy reading about them in this publication. And please take a moment to pay homage to the incredible group of judges—they are the heroes of Top Tech! Our heartfelt congratulations to the 2021 nominees and award recipients.
Steve Westerman Vice President Cox Business Sales
CHAIR, CHRISTOPHER CRESCITELLI Founder Dreamland LLC
JAIME WELLER-LAFAVOR Chief Operating Officer Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada
CAE SWANGER Assistant Vice President, Identity & Access Strategy HCA Healthcare
ROBBIE PEARCE Cyber Security Teacher Clark County School District, Cheyenne High School
KRIS CUARESMA-PRIMM General Manager Nevada Homie
JASON FRAME Chief Information Officer Southern Nevada Health District
MATTHEW PASCO Vice President, Information Technology Las Vegas Raiders
MICHAEL RAINEY Corporate Regional IT Manager Beasley Media Group
ALAN WORATSCHEK VHS System Director, Information Services Valley Health System
DEBBIE BANKO CEO Link Technologies
RACHEL PAPKA, MHAI Chief Health Informatics Officer Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging
ADVISORY COUNCIL
WONDA RINER Executive Director of Information Technology and Interim Director of Marketing and Communications Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV
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2021 TOP TECH
NOMINEES Joe Leavitt SuperBook
Matthew Alden Scientific Games
Joseph DiGiorgio Nice Guys Technology
Joshua Leavitt IONnovate, LLC
Arthur Andreas ClickIt Social
René Durruthy DTP Companies
Ray Arzate Storyville RD
Kri Edholm KRICO Productions
Leslie Asanga Pills2Me
Gary Ellis Marker Trax
Ercan Aydogdu Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas
Michael Feil Faith Community Lutheran Church
Joshua Benedetti Card Z3N, LLC.
Joseph Fernandez Brady Industries
Manick Bhan LinkGraph
Brooke Fiumara OPTX
Leo Bletnitsky Healthy Technology Solutions
Terris Foley Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
Jason Buckley Jasco Technology Shalimar Caceres Cenegenics Sonal Chablani IGT Melvin Chatman Jr. Business Continuity Technologies Brian Chausmer Ellis Island Hotel, Casino & Brewery Harvin Chavez Vegas Golden Knights JJ Christian Intellatek Joshua Copeland Remote Dev Force Angeline Cosca Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging
David Guillen Perfecto Consulting Zach Gunier St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School Marcus Howard, Ph.D. Teach for America, Las Vegas James Hsu VRLU Cam Johnson UNLV School of Medicine Ian Jones The PENTA Building Group Rafal Henryk Kartaszynski Pro-Project Vikas Khorana TruAbilities
Elena Ledoux Boss Security Screens
Mike Nolan El Cortez Hotel Casino Richard Perks Resorts World Las Vegas
Alisha Solomon SKC Group Robert Speciale Clark County School District
Tom Lisciandra TSK Architects
Sonia Petkewich Taurean Consulting Group
William Steck II University Medical Center of Southern Nevada
Enrico Litterini West Career & Technical Academy
Michael Polak III Corporate Design Solutions
Tim Stephens Three Square Food Bank
Ronald Longley CO2 Monitoring, LLC
Al Prendergast Las Vegas Clark County Library District
Christopher Sterle Acoustic Design Systems
Kamal Punjabi E2E Tech Solutions
Jason Stump Wynn Resorts Lori Temple,Ph.D. UNLV
Jean Claude Luakabuanga BRBCK (Be Right Back) Jaron Lukas Yumwoof Natural Pet Food Karl Maisner KMJ Web Design David Martin Wynn Las Vegas Grayson McNees Tuscany Suites & Casino Eric Mendelsohn CodeCentral Joe Mieszala Comprehensive Eyecare Partners Anne Milkovich Nevada System of Higher Education Shane Minjarez Everi Holdings Inc.
Shayna Quinn Kaptyn Blake Resnick BRINC Drones Lawrence Rodis Strategic Resource Consulting Group LLC Mark Ruber MTSolutions Group Jeff Saling StartUpNV Gary Sharp MountainView Hospital & Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center - HCA Healthcare
Dr. Tiffany Tyler Children’s Advocacy Alliance Gilbert Urrea Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chekesha Van Putten Castango Jose Villa Villa Co Bruce Wilby Station Casinos
Ross Siegel The Siegel Group
Craig Winslow Neon Museum
Darcy Silver LuvSeats
Marina Worre Worre Studios
Jacqueline Morck Carrot Inc
Ryan Smith City of Las Vegas
Dennis Moriarity City of North Las Vegas
Kris Smith Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada
Dan Neuman Sunrise Health System - HCA Healthcare
Jaswant S. Tony GoMeyra
TOP TECH AWARDS 2021
Joe Devon Diamond
Christopher Adams Dreamr
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2021 TOP TECH AWARDS n As a 20-plus-year member of the Las Vegas community, Credit One Bank is proud to be the platinum sponsor of the 2021 Top Tech Awards. We are thrilled to honor those who share a dedication to excellence and leadership, both of which are integral to the work we do at Credit One Bank and the work we see across the tech industry in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas' tech community is one to be reckoned with, as evidenced by the incredible growth over the past decade and the city's inclusion on lists of up-and-coming tech markets within the U.S. We celebrate the growing diversification of Vegas’ industries and workforce, and continue to be impressed with the ingenuity and creativity that comes from tech-driven forward thinking. We are honored to recognize such a dynamic group of tech professionals from our community. These nominees are the epitome of Las Vegas’ tech industry, leading a wave of innovation that is reimagining how we live and work in this new normal—taking their organizations, and the city as a whole,
into a bright and exciting future. As a data-driven financial services company, technology is the lifeblood of Credit One Bank and is at the forefront of our growth and future plans. We are excited to see tech continue to flourish in Las Vegas. We look forward to supporting the community through our own hiring efforts, collaboration with other Las Vegas-based businesses and our continued partnership with multiple local organizations, including the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Aviators and the Las Vegas Raiders. Please join us in congratulating the nominees and winners—the best and brightest in the Las Vegas tech industry.
Puneet Rawal Chief Information Officer Credit One Bank
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TOP TECH OF THE YEAR
GARY SHARP Senior Director of Information Technology MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center, HCA Healthcare
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n Internally and externally, Gary Sharp is known as a role model to his IT peers. In his position as the IT director for Southern Hills Hospital, Sharp has overseen several major initiatives including the IT setup for an 80bed Behavioral Health Pavilion, the rollout of iMobile, an important internal communications system, and more. After being an integral part of Southern Hills Hospital for more than four years, Sharp was recently promoted to senior IT director at MountainView Hospital as well. Patient care and staff support is the primary goal for Sharp and his team. Responsive and continually available, Sharp understands the pressure of caregivers to provide
the highest quality of care for patients, and as such, Sharp ensures his hospitals receive immediate technical support. He also encourages innovation to improve efficiencies for the IT department to make these goals possible. Two of Sharp’s most notable recent accomplishments include the opening and IT development of two new, free-standing emergency rooms in the Valley—ER at South Las Vegas Boulevard and ER at Skye Canyon. He led the successful implementation of cutting edge mobile and telehealth technologies to optimize patient care, and physician, provider, and staff efficiencies to open and run both 24-hour facilities.
(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
n Despite the myriad of pandemic-related challenges presented for health care IT departments, Dan Neuman successfully led his team through unforeseen workflow changes, urgent application development, and the necessary amendment of existing systems to account for COVID data collection. Some of Neuman’s accomplishments over the last year-and-a-half include the creation and implementation of a Personal Protective Equipment Depot tracking application, a Power BI report that tracked COVID trends using information from John Hopkins and HCA Healthcare’s internal data warehouse, a surgical reboot dashboard that allowed for the tracking of elective surgeries, and many more. Neuman’s tools were adopted by 19 hospitals in Southern Nevada, California, Utah, Idaho, and Alaska, and as a result of their success, these applications became the foundation for similar tools created for nearly 185 hospitals across the county. Because of Neuman’s visionary systems development, countless hospitals and health care workers were given important tools and necessary support during an unprecedented time. Neuman is renowned and respected across HCA Healthcare’s 6,000-person IT organization. He recently was awarded a company-wide Innovators Award and was a finalist for an IT Employee of the Year award in the Far West Division. He has been in his role for 12 years and developed more than 100 applications during that time.
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Manager of Application Services, Development Sunrise Health System, HCA Healthcare
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Founder & CEO Castango
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CHEKESHA VAN PUTTEN
for these performers. During a challenging and uncertain time, Castango was able to provide up-to-date resources, remote job opportunities and put hundreds of freelancers to work. Some of Castango’s most notable clients include Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Zero Fatalities campaigns, Wework, United Health Group, Forbes Travel Guide and many more. Van Putten is a dynamic and passionate leader who seeks to help others achieve their goals using her visionary platform. She was a 2020 Caress IFundWomen of Color COVID-19 recipient and was featured in Yahoo Finance as one of the 12 Women in Tech to Know, 2021.
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COMMUNITY EXEMPLARY AWARD
n An award-winning performer, Chekesha Van Putten built Castango on the foundational knowledge from her own professional experience working in the entertainment industry. Castango is a unique, on-demand job marketplace that connects freelance talent with job opportunities. This platform streamlines the hiring process and allows companies to search, cast, hire and pay talent—no middleman required. Castango was launched in 2017 and has since acquired more than 11,000 freelancers and 1,200 companies to date. When the pandemic hit the Las Vegas event industry and left thousands of freelance talent looking for work, Van Putten sought to restructure the casting landscape and hiring process
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TOP TECH HOSPITALITY AWARD
JASON STUMP Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, North America Wynn Resorts
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n For most, completing one major project in 12 months is a worthy accomplishment. But not for Jason Stump. He raised the bar, by a six-time multiplier. Stump led all technology aspects of a private, on-site COVID testing lab at Wynn Las Vegas which was used to test employees as well as CCSD students and staff—allowing student athletes, coaches and staff to be tested quickly so that they could finish their sports program. The lab completed several thousands of tests each day. A new marketing loyalty program, a promotional kiosk system and an automated enrollment kiosk were all on the docket—and all three projects were championed by Stump to drive increased customer loyalty. With these, Wynn
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became the first among its competitors to open an automated marketing promotional kiosk product that reduced wait times—with 45% of Wynn Rewards transactions taking place at the enrollment kiosk. At Allegiant Stadium, Stump drove technology deployment for Wynn Field—a private club at the stadium offering unparalleled service and unforgettable experiences for those attending concerts or sporting events. And finally, Stump continued for the third year as the president of Technology and Diversity for Charity, a nonprofit that raises funds for charitable community partners. Throughout his tenure, the organization experienced the most funds raised in its history.
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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(Courtesy)
EDUCATION
GOVERNMENT
CAM JOHNSON
DENNIS MORIARITY
Director of IT Operations UNLV School of Medicine
Director of Information Technology City of North Las Vegas
n The UNLV School of Medicine is focused on making Southern Nevada a healthier place to live and work, and Cam Johnson has been instrumental in this endeavor. He is part of a team that supports equipment in 17 different locations for over 1,500 individuals—including the new Medical Education Building opening fall 2022. All IT coordination services including computers, printers, wiring and technology have been implemented and coordinated through Johnson. During the pandemic, Johnson quickly adapted to changing needs of all faculty, staff and students, pivoting all teams to home environments when needed and then back to in-person seamlessly. For employees that had to remain in the office, Johnson introduced small group conferences to increase productivity and efficiency, and he was responsible to ensure their COVID vaccination PODS had constant connectivity. Johnson also leads the team for moves, consolidations, new clinics and the medical school, including extending the network for COVID-19 curbside testing and vaccinations, two consolidated ENT clinics and the pediatric surgery relocation as well as switching out over 900 phones to upgrade the call flow and design for each clinic. He works to ensure UNLV has the technology in place to serve the health care needs of our diverse community—when and where it is needed.
n In only two years, Dennis Moriarity has fully embraced his role at the City of North Las Vegas and has spearheaded its successful completion of several projects that have made the city’s “fast and faster” ways of doing business proceed at record speed. Moriarity led the city’s shift to a fully online environment to allow City Hall to be open and accessible to customers 24/7 during the pandemic. Then, when North Las Vegas set the goal of being the first municipality in the state to run its own largescale public vaccination program, Moriarity developed a user-friendly online registration system that allowed more than 25,000 people to sign up for vaccination appointments, without crashing or slow performance. All of this for the mere cost of $6,000—a drop in the bucket compared to $6 million the state spent to design and roll out its own version. His expertise was tapped regionally and by the state as entities developed some of the IT systems behind the pandemic response. Additionally, Moriarity implemented a computer network for 100 students at the highly acclaimed Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy, which expanded to 150 students in fall of 2021. As his team implemented technology upgrades citywide, existing technology was repurposed for student use at three North Las Vegas facilities.
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n Sonal Chablani is an accomplished gaming technology leader who delivers results and drives growth and profitability for IGT and its customers. She applies her talents, expertise and passion to optimize processes and implement next-generation technologies that modernize gaming in casinos across North America. Chablani and her team lead deployments and support for more than 1,000 systems across 450 U.S. casinos. The backbone of any casino, these casino management systems track casino play, monitor machine uptime and game performance, and are the foundation for every casino’s loyalty program. Chablani tackles each problem she faces with a collaborative, pioneering spirit. Most recently, she led the charge to propel cashless gaming in Nevada with IGT’s Resort Wallet and IGTPay solutions—accelerating a shift in consumer behaviors, and health and safety considerations brought on by the pandemic. Chablani’s leadership extends far beyond her role in tech at IGT. She currently serves as the vice president of public relations for IGT’s Toastmasters organization. She is also a member of an IGT-organized Lean In Circle and IGT’s Employee Advisory Committee.
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n With dueling passions for philanthropic work and IT, Kris Smith found the perfect role with Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada. Here, he helps facilitate organizational growth while also supporting mission services programs. Goodwill does so much more than sell donated clothing—it also operates two Career Centers, offering training services and job placement to local job seekers. The Goodwill IT team, led by Smith, transformed its traditional in-person services to create a virtual Online Career Center to allow remote access to obtain bus passes, work clothing, work cards and gas cards to those who needed assistance during the pandemic. Smith also oversees the Digital Recycling program, which rebuilds computers for reuse, saving them from our landfills. Day-to-day, he stays busy updating the organizations technological systems and improving efficiency across all 16 retail stores—always introducing modern technology to increase productivity and facilitate incredible growth. Fueled by the mission of Goodwill, Smith helps to provide real-world knowledge and experience to youth interested in IT with community partner, TechImpact. He not only helps students acquire the training necessary to pursue a career in the industry, but also helps them secure employment with local companies as well.
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PRIVATE – SMALL/MEDIUM BUSINESS
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IAN JONES
JASWANT S. TONY
Director of Information Technology The PENTA Building Group
Founder & CEO GoMeyra
n The arrival of COVID-19 brought with it an evolution in the way The PENTA Building Group did business. Ian Jones was there to lead a successful navigation of this ever-changing work environment. Jones rolled out a completely new and innovative internal intranet platform, replaced an aging videoconference platform and upgraded over 15 conference rooms across regional offices and job sites—ensuring the PENTA team could complete its 1,700 meetings each month. A remote workforce also introduced new challenges, including the ability to provide required trainings. Jones leveraged the new intranet site to publish micro-trainings to Microsoft Stream. All of this while keeping the security of PENTA’s infrastructure front of mind. Recognizing that the world of IT is constantly changing, Jones is an active member of several industry groups. One such group is Construction Technology Users Group that discusses technology trends and best practices, and attempts to drive innovation and change from the industry’s largest vendors. Jones is also a member of the American Contractors Insurance Group that is focused on technology and security, and he has established himself as a thought leader within an IT PEER Group. Jones is also a dedicated mentor to his staff and works to create learning opportunities that foster personal and professional development for his team—regularly nurturing the natural skills of staff to promote growth.
n In March of 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Jaswant Tony’s IT company was contracted to provide services to a local medical lab. He quickly discovered that the lab’s information management system (LIMS) was terribly inefficient. After some research, he found this to be true for the bulk of labs across the country. It became clear to him that this was a main cause for the COVID testing bottleneck the U.S. was experiencing. He wanted to help, and in about four months’ time, GoMeyra LIMS was born. GoMeyra LIMS is a comprehensive, fully customizable, cloud-based laboratory information management system that increases efficiency challenges inherent in laboratory workflows and can be onboarded with unprecedented speed—in as little as two days. The system is now used in organizations across the U.S. as well as several countries overseas, including labs, medical providers, enterprise-level corporations, universities, casinos, live entertainment productions and professional sporting events, to handle large-scale testing and help get more Americans get back to work, school, travel and normal activities. Tony is a humble leader who recognizes that it is his team that has allowed GoMeyra to become the successful business it is today. He also supports his community through the development of scholarships for the Medical Laboratory Technician program at CSN and the Vegas Chamber’s leadership programs.
Congratulations, Jaswant S. Tony, Founder & CEO, on your nomination for the 2021 Top Tech Awards
We celebrate your accomplishments after just one year in business: • Launched a customizable, cloud Laboratory Information Management Solution to increase testing efficiencies by 300%+ • Awarded Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Honorable Mention for founding an innovative solution to address the pandemic • Expanded client base across US, Canada and Caribbean • Increased workforce to 340% • Over 4 million tests processed Learn more at GoMeyra.com
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START-UP BUSINESS
HARVIN CHAVEZ
BLAKE RESNICK
Lead Systems Administrator Vegas Golden Knights
Founder & CEO BRINC Drones
n Harvin Chavez is responsible for all the IT infrastructure associated with the Vegas Golden Knights, Henderson Silver Knights and Las Vegas Black Knights. Some might call this an IT hat trick. One of Chavez’s most recent projects was outfitting the 120,000-square-foot indoor hockey facility at Lifeguard Arena—the practice home to the Silver Knights and a welcomed expansion to host VGK youth programs. This included a jumbo TV in the City Hall Plaza used for streaming VGK watch parties for the community, free of charge. Additionally, Chavez championed the technical portion of the Silver Knights’ new arena, a 6,000-seat indoor venue known as the Dollar Loan Center. The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2022 and will also be home to non-sports entertainment such as the Henderson Symphony Orchestra. The stadium will be fitted with the latest fan-facing technologies, including the best game-day wireless and video technologies. Chavez often works long, tireless hours in pursuit of the best experience for VGK fans because he knows just how much the team means to the Las Vegas community. He also does charity work for Good Smartian Christian Academy, volunteering his time on Sundays, and bringing the children school supplies and VGK memorabilia.
n At only 21-years-old, Blake Resnick has founded and created an innovative drone technology company that is gaining national recognition. BRINC Drones manufactures advanced indoor/outdoor tactical drones used by local and national law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, CIA and various police departments. Motivated by the October 1 shooting, Resnick designed the Lemur drone to suit the specific needs of law enforcement during active-shooter, hostage or hostile police situations. These drones are uniquely designed for law enforcement, with highly specialized functionality such as glass breaking, a 31-minute flight time, the ability to correct itself if flipped over, a speaker and microphone for two-way communication, and more. It can provide aerial footage in dangerous situations to help first responders identify and assess risk. Today, BRINC’s Lemur is used by agencies across the country and Resnick is working to expand into the foreign market. A pivotal accomplishment for BRINC occurred in July 2021, when the Miami Dade Search and Rescue team used the Lemur to help find survivors of the collapsed apartment building. Resnick founded BRINC Drones over three years ago, and during that time, he has grown it from a small-scale living room operation to a multimillion-dollar company with more than 50 employees.
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CULTURAL TOUCHPOINT The Perez family adapts to keep its Havana Grill restaurant thriving
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BY RAY BREWER VEGAS INC STAFF
ergio Perez is busy mingling with guests during the lunch rush at Havana Grill on Eastern Avenue near the 215 Beltway. He’s quickly pulled away to help in the kitchen, but re-emerges minutes later in another part of the establishment to make a food recommendation. He suggests the pollo frito (fried chicken). Perez moves to the next table, where he spots a longtime friend, who, like Perez also found a home in Las Vegas after leaving Cuba. Havana Grill is a favorite dining spot for Cuban-Americans, and it’s where many came to celebrate on the night in 2016 when dictator Fidel Castro died. Being a small-business owner, Perez says, means wearing many hats, some of which aren’t too glamorous. Some days, that means he’s mopping floors and cleaning the kitchen. Other days, he’s spreading good cheer or toying with the menu. He never stops moving. His sole mission: providing an authentic experience for guests. The commemorative plates that line the walls came from Cuba, the ingredients used to bring that familiar flair to the menu are shipped in from Miami, the music being played is native to the country, and until the pandemic, there was a dancefloor crowded with patrons. Like many family-owned restaurants during the shutdowns in the spring of 2020, Perez used the downtime to evaluate ways to improve his small business. The biggest change was converting the dancefloor into a bakery that serves some of his mother’s favorite recipes. Dancing, because of the close contact, wasn’t initially allowed when restaurants reopened, making the de-
cision to install the bakery a no-brainer, Perez said. He proudly serves staples such as tartaletas de Guayaba, cake fresa and éclair de chocolate. There’s also ice cream, gelato and milkshakes—all of which are authentic. “Now you smell the Cuban pastries and coffee when you walk in,” he said. An industry free-fall brought on by the economic crisis affected restaurants and small businesses of all sizes. In total, 110,000 restaurants nationally were temporarily or permanently closed as a result, according to the National Restaurant Association. Nearby at Stephanie Street and Warm Springs Road in Henderson, chain
establishments Miller’s Ale House and Sweet Tomatoes permanently shuttered. Perez didn’t sense his family-owned restaurant was in trouble, as to-go orders were strong throughout the shutdown. He raves about the support of the community. There are 11,000 Cubans in Nevada, according to the 2020 Census. Still, he knew a change had to be made because half of the building was going to waste without dancing. Perez looked at the emptiness and began thinking, “How can we better use this space?” Launching a bakery similar to those found in Havana has been a hit, reaffirming what he suspected: Many people like something sweet with coffee after a meal.
Perez came to Las Vegas in the mid1990s and cut his teeth in the restaurant industry at the Florida Cafe on Las Vegas Boulevard near Charleston Avenue. He washed dishes for seven years, observing the ins and outs of how to run a business before going out on his own. That was 18 years ago. “It was risky. It’s a lot of money and a lot of time,” he said. “You just don’t know if people would like it.” The fact that there aren’t too many places to get Cuban food in the Las Vegas area has certainly helped the family develop business longevity. They also operate Havana Express on east Tropicana Avenue, near Topaz Street. But longevity had nothing to do with Havana Grill, or any business, navigating the pandemic. That, Lucia Perez says, is where her husband’s work ethic has been the difference. “He was born that way,” she says of his work-around-the-clock mentality. “He loves it. This is what makes him happy. He lives to share [Cuban culture] with people.”
Havana Grill owner Sergio Perez enjoys a cookies and cream milkshake at the restaurant’s bakery. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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Ultimately, adaptation and technology are the name of the game, and going forward, the most successful businesses will be the ones that are able to adapt and leverage technology to best provide value to their customers.”
Q+A: RYAN SMITH
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BY VEGAS INC STAFF usiness owners who move to Las Vegas frequently praise the city as “business-friendly.” And that’s not just code for favorable tax structure. “One of the big things that Nevada has beyond a favorable tax structure is governmental support at all levels,” says Ryan Smith, acting economic and urban development director for the City of Las Vegas. “If you are a company looking to expand into Nevada, the access to government both at a state and local level is unparalleled. “We often also act as a liaison between businesses and developers with other departments in the city. We strive to find a reasonable way to ‘yes.’ ” Vegas Inc caught up with Smith to ask about cultivating themed business districts, the resources available to business owners at city hall, COVID-19 and more. A lot of businesses had to close down because of the pandemic. Are they mostly reopening now, or being replaced? And if they’ve been replaced, how is that changing the feel of the community? I believe it’s a mix of both. The pandemic had significant impacts on the business community, but one of the bright spots is the entrepreneurial spark that was a result of it. According to data from the Census Bureau, Americans filed paperwork
URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SEES BIG OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH IN TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH CARE SECTORS to start 4.3 million businesses last year. There have also been a flood of new residents and businesses that have been attracted to Vegas due to remote work and not having to be tethered to traditional high-costof-living, ultra-congested areas. In August, filing locations counts increased year over year by 12.6% in Clark County. Explain the city’s role in helping to shape the business landscape. The city has a great team that acts as a springboard for businesses. Las Vegas is a city full of entrepreneurs, and as the government, we want act as a tool box for them to build their business. Our team works with businesses to assist with various functions such as business licensing, permitting, incentives within our redevelopment area and other areas of municipal assistance. Give us the Cliff’s Notes version of what it takes to get a business up and running in the city. Las Vegas is a melting pot of cultures and opportunity. There might not be a short version of how to get your business up and running in the city, but there is a multitude of resources to help with the process, ranging from state resources such as Nevada’s Department of Business and Industry to UNLV’s Small Business Development Center. These resources help business through incorporation, business licensing, funding and scaling.
We have an Arts District and Brewery Row. What’s the next theme we can look forward to the city cultivating? Two big opportunities are health care and technology. We have our Medical District and Innovation Center, but many cities often have certain distinct areas within those districts, such as Medical Miles and Tech Alleys. As we continue to grow these industries, something like that could easily happen. We have seen Brewery Row act as an anchor for new business growth in the Arts District. How do these districts benefit specific business owners? These districts lay down the foundation for a thriving economy. They house a portfolio of amenities that people love. If you have great amenities, you can bring in great talent, and that is a key catalyst in growing out the business environment here. They also provide opportunities for businesses to cluster and become more identifiable in the community. Has “normal” forever changed, or will you aim to get back to what normalcy was pre-COVID? Most likely we will land somewhere in between what normal was preCOVID and what it is now. There are trends like remote or flexible work and an acceleration in e-commerce and digital products. As a city, we are very forward-looking and are going to ensure that whatever the future of
normal is, that we are best prepared to handle it. How did the pandemic change your outlook on business? The pandemic has made people rethink business from all angles. There are still challenges and hurdles that all business owners are facing, ranging from severed supply chains to labor shortages. Ultimately, adaptation and technology are the name of the game and going forward; the most successful businesses will be the ones that are able to adapt and leverage technology to best provide value to their customers. What is the best business advice you’ve received? One of my first bosses said: “If you want to be successful in business, just shut up and listen.” I think about that often and the intent was keeping an open mind and understanding that you can learn something from anyone or any situation if you just listen. It really drove me to value empathy and continuous learning. Anything else you want to tell us? There is so much opportunity in Las Vegas right now. We are still a young city in comparison to the United States. We are laser focused on providing great customer service. I also wanted to give out my direct phone number in case anyone is interested in bringing their business or project to Las Vegas (702-229-3268).
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VegasInc Notes Nevada State Contractors Board Executive Officer Margi Grein announced the promotion of Kenya McCampbell to executive assistant/ policy analyst and McCampbell Phillips the hiring of Michael Phillips as public information officer.
Outstanding Public Outreach and Journalism Award for implementing a collaborative effort to connect at-risk residents to available resources and programming utilizing targeted outreach and strategic partnerships. Snell & Wilmer announced the addition of three attorneys in its Las Vegas office: Erin Gettel, Christian Ogata and Abigail Pace. They will join the firm as associates in the commercial litigation practice group. MountainView Hospital and Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, announced a collaboration for blood and marrow transplant services in Nevada for patients with blood cancer and blood disorders. Prior to this program, patients had to leave the state to seek these services, which can be a barrier to receiving the most appropriate care. The first transplant at MountainView Hospital was performed this summer.
Jennifer Bradley of JB Public Relations announced that her firm is the agency of record for Steelman Partners, Art Houz Theaters, Tuscany Hotel & Casino, Mead Law Group, URVenue, Salyulitas Mexican Restaurant and Girls Athletic Leadership School. Bradley was also named to the board for the South- Bradley ern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame. The City of Henderson announced it received two awards from the Nevada Chapter of the American Planning Association for the revitalization of Water Street Plaza and the city’s COVID-19 outreach and planning efforts. The Water Street Plaza Reimagine Plan received the Outstanding Implementation Award for transforming the plaza into a premier entertainment destination and the COVID-19 Vulnerable Populations Outreach Plan received the
Rimini Street Inc., a global provider of enterprise software products and services, a third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software products and a Salesforce partner, appointed Eric Helmer as its chief technology officer and announced the establishment of the office of the chief technology officer. As CTO, Helmer is charged with helping prospects and clients design and deploy innovative solutions and road maps to achieve strategic IT, operational and financial goals across various enterprise applications and technology products.
The Ferraro Group announced employee promotions across its public relations and public affairs departments for Misty Grimmer, Latoya Bembry, Gabby McGregor, Emma Williams and Grimmer Tommy Ferraro. Grimmer is now vice president of public affairs; Bembry has been promoted to vice president of strategic communications; McGregor now McGregor serves as director of public policy, research, and analysis; Williams has been named senior public relations account manager; and Ferraro was named director of public affairs.
Bembry
Williams
Developer Scott Goldstein of Prospect Street, along with Crovetti Orthopaedics and others broke ground on a new Class A medical building. Ferraro When complete, Queensridge Medical Center will be a three-story, 70,000 square-foot medical office building less than a mile from Summerlin Hospital. Crovetti will offer a surgery center with operating rooms, a cardiac catheterization lab and overnight recovery suites. Other tenant offerings include physical therapy, primary care, dental care, ophthalmology, radiology and imaging.
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