2021-12-23- Las Vegas Weekly by Greenspun Media Group

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

12.23.21

ASTONISHING. UNPREDICTABLE. MIND-BENDING. Omega Mart is an immersive interactive experience from groundbreaking art collective, Meow Wolf. Featuring jaw-dropping work from international and local artists, Omega Mart sends participants of all ages on a journey through surreal worlds and immersive storytelling. Discover secret portals or simply soak up the innovative art as you venture beyond an extraordinary supermarket into parts unknown.

Get tickets at meow.wf/lvweekly LOCALS DISCOUNT AVAILABLE WITH NV ID

PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER KATIE DIXON katie.dixon@gmgvegas.com EDITOR SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Deputy Editor EVELYN MATEOS (evelyn.mateos@gmgvegas.com) Managing Editor/News DAVE MONDT (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writers HILLARY DAVIS, JUSTIN EMERSON, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, JESSICA HILL, BRYAN HORWATH, ARLEIGH RODGERS, AMBER SAMPSON Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JOHN FRITZ, CASE KEEFER, WADE MCAFERTY, KEN MILLER, JOHN TAYLOR Office Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Designer IAN RACOMA Multimedia Manager YASMINA CHAVEZ Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER Digital Marketing Intern EM JURBALA

ADVERTISING & MARKETING External Content Manager EMMA CAUTHORN Special Publications Manager JENNIFER INABA Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD Senior Advertising Manager SUE SRAN Account Executives BROOKE BROWN, LAUREN JOHNSON, MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, ALEX TEEL, ANNA ZYMANEK Sales Assistant APRIL MARTINEZ Events Manager SAMANTHA PETSCH

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Marketing Art Director DANY HANIFF Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS Publication Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA Traffic Administrator JIDAN SHADOWEN Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN Editorial Page Editor RIC ANDERSON

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 2275 Corporate Circle Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 702-990-2550 lasvegasweekly.com facebook.com/lasvegasweekly twitter.com/lasvegasweekly

All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3. ADVERTISING DEADLINE EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.

SELECT PREMIUM OPEN BAR F R I D AY,

DECEMBER

9PM

2AM

L I V E E N T E R TA I N M E N T S TA R T I N G AT 9 P M NEW YEAR’S COUNTDOWN & FIREWORKS VIEWING PARTY AZILO

U LT R A

POOL

S TA R T I N G AT $ 6 0 + + P E R P E R S O N • 2 1 O R O L D E R L I M I T E D T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E - B O O K N O W ! SAHARALASVEGAS.COM/NYE

ALL SPORTS. ALL SEASONS. HEATED POOLS & CABANAS PENALTY SHOTS

LIVE GAME SOUND 143-FT SCREEN

circalasvegas.com | @circalasvegas 8 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 | 702-247-2258 Circa Las Vegas is a 21+ experience. We encourage you to gamble responsibly. For problem gambling, call the Problem Gamblers Helpline at 800.522.4700.

12.23.21

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

IN THIS ISSUE WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.

SUPERGUIDE

Your daily events planner, starring The Nutcracker, Legends in Concert, Farrell Dillon, Glittering Lights, the Soul of Kwanzaa and more.

ART A new Neon Museum mural pays tribute to key Southern Nevada artists.

48 SPORTS

SPOTLIGHT

Scouting the Las Vegas Bowl: These participants could be playing on Sundays soon.

Happy 75th to the Flamingo! Looking back on three-quarters of a century of memories from the center-Strip mainstay.

VEGAS INC

IN THE NEWS

Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson on transportation infrastructure enhancements.

The year in review— vaccinations, heat records, new resorts, coaching changes and much more.

(AP Photo)

ON THE COVER

NEW YEAR’S EVE Adobe Stock/ Shutterstock/ Photo Illustration

2021 •THAT’S A WRAP!•

A&E YEAR IN REVIEW Our staff’s favorite concerts, meals, albums, podcasts, video games and more from the strange year that was.

MORE OFFERS

THURSDAY TECH D R AW I N G S

D E C E M B E R 2 3 & 3 0• 7 P M – 10 P M D R AW I N G S E V E R Y 3 0 M I N U T E S Earn entries each drawing day, 3:01am–9:55pm. 50 Slot Base Points or 1 Hour Table Play = 1 Entry

12/23:

12/30:

43” LED Smart Fire TV

$250 Best Buy Gift Card

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24 Swipe 7am–7pm at a promotions kiosk to activate.

Points are not available on some machines. Visit Player Services for details.

NEW YEAR’S EVE CASH DRAWINGS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25 Swipe at the promotions kiosk to activate this all-day multiplier.

Points are not available on some machines. Visit Player Services for details.

NEW YEAR’S EVE CASH DRAWINGS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 • 8PM-2AM $

8PM-2AM

500 CASH PRIZE EVERY HOUR! 12:15AM

A SPECIAL $2,022 CASH PRIZE! LIVE ENTERTAINMENT | PARTY FAVORS | CHAMPAGNE TOAST Earn entries 3:01am December 31, 2021 to 1:55am January 1, 2022. 50 Slot Base Points or 1 Hour Table Play = 1 Entry.

Must be 21 or older. See Player Services for full details and rules. 4100 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89169

silversevenscasino.com

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

12.23.21

SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY 23 DEC.

MUSIC

PARTY

SPORTS

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK

COMEDY

S U P E R G U I D E

FARRELL DILLON Prior to the pandemic’s arrival, Bally’s Las Vegas had a good thing going in a tiny showroom on the casino’s second floor it had dubbed the Magic Attic. With former Cirque du Soleil artist Xavier Mortimer (now starring at the Strat), mentalist Frederic Da Silva’s Paranormal production and the family-friendly comedic parody Potted Potter, it was an active and unique Strip entertainment space, and now it’s finally back to full strength. Comedy magician and “Idaho nice guy” Farrell Dillon has joined the lineup, launching a new show at the Magic Attic five nights a week between Paranormal and Potter. “I know everything in Las Vegas is usually bigger and louder with a lot of razzle dazzle, but where I come from, we just do things a bit more casually and understated,” the sleight-of-hand specialist said in a statement. Assisted onstage by his wife Amanda and occasionally by his pug Isley, Dillon makes the most of simple props and audience interaction, as seen everywhere from The Today Show to the Food Network. “I’m a really good magician, even by magicians standards. It’s every magician’s dream to have a show in Las Vegas and I’m beyond thrilled.” Wednesday-Monday, 6 p.m., Bally’s, ticketmaster. com. –Brock Radke

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: THE NUTCRACKER 7:30 p.m., thru 12/26, times vary, Reynolds Hall, thesmith center.com. (Virginia Trudeau/ Courtesy)

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. LA KINGS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. USHER 9 p.m., & 12/24, 12/28-12/29, 12/31-1/1, the Colosseum, ticketmaster. 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 .

WILLIE BARCENA 8 p.m., Thru 12/26, LA Comedy Club, tickets.thestrat. com.

WORSHIP THURSDAYS WITH WELLMAN 10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taolvnc. taogroup.com.

LVP PARTY WITH TM BAX 10 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, marqueelvnc. taogroup.com.

KELLY CLINTON 7 p.m., Nevada Room, vegas nevadarooms. com.

BUTCH BRADLEY With Jay Hollingsworth, Kathleen Dunbar, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrett comedy.com.

JIMMY CARPENTER 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com.

MISC

12.23.21

GLITTERING LIGHTS Thru 1/9, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, glitteringlightslasvegas.com. (Gabe Ginsberg/Courtesy)

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

SATURDAY 25

FRIDAY 24

DEC.

E R G

TOURNAMENT OF KINGS: TWAS THE KNIGHT 5:30 & 8 p.m., Thru 12/27, Excalibur, excalibur. mgmresorts. com.

THIS IS CHRISTMAS 3 p.m., Thru 12/26, Palazzo Theatre, venetian lasvegas.com.

LVP PARTY WITH SAMI BEIGI 10 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, hakkasangroup. com.

THE SPAZMATICS 10:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster. com.

ETHEL M CHOCOLATES HOLIDAY CACTUS GARDEN Thru 1/2, Ethel M Chocolates, ethelm.com.

U I

GOOGOOSH MICHAEL MONROE GOODMAN 8 p.m., Gilley’s, gilleyslasvegas. com. THEE MESS AROUNDS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com.

Celebrate Christmas Eve the Italian way with the indulgent Feast of Seven Fishes. The holiday tradition emerged as a way to “fast” (or at least avoid meat) the day before an even more indulgent Christmas dinner. And who better to serve such a meal than the Forum Shops location of Carmine’s Italian restaurant, which originated on New York’s Upper West Side and specializes in homestyle Southern Italian cooking. Carmine’s version serves 6-8 for $350 and features calamari, clams, shrimp, salmon, pasta and more. Reserve a table at carminesnyc.com. –C. Moon Reed

A NEVADA ROOM CHRISTMAS With Michelle Johnson, Sam Holder, Janien Valentine, Doug Carpenter, & 12/26, 2:30 p.m. Nevada Room, vegasnevada rooms.com.

This holiday season on the Strip is clearly more normal than 2020, evidenced by the return of Iranian and Persian entertainment events during Christmas weekend. Faegheh Atashin, the iconic singer and actress known as Googoosh, returned to her annual concert in Las Vegas in 2018 at the Colosseum after four years away, and this year she’s at the Cosmopolitan’s versatile Chelsea space for the continuation of her 2021 North American tour. 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke

LVP PARTY WITH LAIDBACK LUKE 10 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, hakkasangroup. com.

FEAST OF SEVEN FISHES

P L A N Y O U R W E E K A H E A D

11I

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

12.23.21

SUPERGUIDE MONDAY 27 SUNDAY 26 DEC.

DEC.

THE SOUL OF KWANZAA Jump start Kwanzaa with a musical celebration like no other at the West Las Vegas Library Theater. The Soul of Kwanzaa will honor the African-American holiday through performances by local violinist Brandon Summers, the Olabisi African Dance & Drum Ensemble and many others. Influential leaders in the Las Vegas community will also be highlighted for their efforts. A weeklong celebration, Kwanzaa thrives on big feasts, bright colors and jovial sounds. 3-5 p.m., free, lvccld.org. –Amber Sampson

S U P E R G U I D E

GRINCHMAS AT THE GARDEN One of the city’s hottest gay bars teams with the Greater Heights Creative agency for this charitable event featuring live performances from various Las Vegas entertainers, acrobats, dancers, artists and comedians, with no admission fee and heavily discounted bottle service and VIP tables. Take advantage, because 20% of the proceeds from the party will benefit Project 150 and support homeless youth. 9 p.m., the Garden, thegarden lasvegas.com. –Brock Radke

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. DENVER BRONCOS 1:25 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticket mastercom. TERRY FATOR: A VERY TERRY CHRISTMAS 7:30 p.m., Liberty Loft, newyorknew york.mgm resorts.com. K-VON 8:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com. MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER 7 p.m., Orleans Arena, ticket master.com.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. (AP Photo/Photo Illustration) JON LOVITZ Thru 12/29, 7 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticket master.com. DJ CRYKIT 9 p.m, Emporium, emporiumlv. com. PAULY SHORE 8 p.m., Wiseguys, vegas.wiseguys comedy.com. EDDIE GRIFFIN Thru 2/28, 8 p.m., Sahara Theater, ticket master.com.

NYE

12.23.21

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

Turn to Page 20 for your guide to New Year’s Eve weekend. MUSIC

TUESDAY 28 DEC.

PARTY

SPORTS

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK

COMEDY

MISC

WEDNESDAY 29 DEC.

LEGENDS IN CONCERT GOES COUNTRY Thru 12/30, 7:30 p.m., Tropicana, ticketmaster.com. (Main Stage Multimedia/ Courtesy)

KATY PERRY Thru 1/15 ,8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.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 .

NEON MUSEUM PRESENTS: CREATIVE AGING Thru 1/4, times vary, West Las Vegas Library, lvccld.org.

MOLTO RETRO 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com.

EMPIRE RECORDS 8:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com.

As half of the acclaimed progressive house duo Deep Dish, Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia won a Grammy and helped remake the way we listen to electronic music. As a solo artist and producer, he has maintained a minimal techno sound while bouncing through genres (and just teamed with Nicole Moudaber for a memorable EDC set). This week’s Techno Taco Tuesday 8th anniversary show puts him atop a bill with Badbeat, Lance Le Rok and Oscar Molina. 10 p.m., $30-$50, Commonwealth, commonwealthlv.com. –Brock Radke

DUBFIRE

BRET ERNST & 12/29, 10 p.m., LA Comedy Club, thestrat. com.

USHER Thru 1/1, 9 p.m., Colosseum, ticketmaster. com.

CARLOS GUERRERO 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com.

GABRIEL IGLESIAS Thru 12/30, 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, ticket master.com.

Nine years ago, singer-songwriter Madison Beer began releasing covers on her YouTube channel to a shallow pool of viewers. That is, until Justin Bieber shared one of her videos. Fast forward to 2021: The 22-yearold has more than 13 million monthly Spotify listeners, a debut album, an Epic Records deal and a residency at Zouk Nightclub. Tay James, Bieber’s personal tour DJ, joins Beer behind the decks for a dance-worthy night out. 10:30 p.m. $20-50, Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. –Amber Sampson

EDIT 10 p.m., Discopussy, nfbnlv.com.

MADISON BEER & TAY JAMES

P L A N Y O U R W E E K A H E A D

13I

M A G I C , M E N TA L I S M & C O M E DY

3 0 0 0 PARAD I S E ROA D, L AS VEG AS , NV 89109- 1267 PH O NE 7 02. 732. 5111 WE S TG AT ELA S V EGA S.COM

Scan the QR code with your phone for tickets.

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

12.23.21

THE FLAMINGO TURNS H I S T O R Y

For three-quarters of a century, this iconic property has anchored the Strip BY HILLARY DAVIS

s anyone with basic knowledge of Las Vegas history knows, celebrity mobster Bugsy Siegel was the owner of the Flamingo hotel and casino when it opened its doors on December 26, 1946. It was his passion project in the desert and would bring sleek art deco glamour to the proto-Strip, which at that time consisted of a couple of Old West-themed gambling houses. And it would precipitate Siegel’s assassination within six months of opening, likely over his mismanagement and skimming at the resort. Bugsy’s end was only the beginning of the stalwart Flamingo, which stands today as the oldest still-operating resort on the Strip. Here are some of the most notable events from its first 75 years.

12.23.21

From left: Bugsy Siegel, the Flamingo Hotel in April 2020 and Wayne Newton (AP Photos/Wade Vandervort, Christopher DeVargas/Staff/ Photo Illustration)

other exotic birds—including a rehabilitated pelican that cannot fly and must live the rest of its life in captivity—plus 20 turtles and more than 30 large fish. The habitat, accredited by the Zoological Association of America and a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Association, covers four acres and holds 400,000 gallons of freshwater in its nine ponds. Siblings Donny and Marie Osmond embarked on a lengthy residency in 2008. The duo’s residency started as a six-week engagement but didn’t close until 2019. They performed more than 1,700 shows in those 11 years. The Flamingo completed a $156 million hotel renovation in late 2018 that refreshed more than two-thirds of its guest rooms. Got a big group? Consider one of the new rooms or suites outfitted with bunk beds. On June 4, 2020, when Gov. Steve Sisolak lifted the unprecedented pandemic-forced casino closures after nearly three months, the Flamingo was one of the first resorts back—and also among the first in the Vegas Caesars family to reopen, along with similarly iconic Caesars Palace. Bugsy’s back. Guests can now enjoy a fine filet, a smooth bourbon and atmosphere to spare at the $10 million Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse, which opened in July 2020.

17I

S P O T L I G H T

Vegas’ resort age. The property changed hands in 1960, to a Miami group that included Morris Lansburgh and Daniel Lifter, the first of many sales over its lifetime. In 1967, the Flamingo sold to Kirk Kerkorian. In 1970 it sold to Hilton, which spun off its gaming division, Flamingo included, in 1998. In

Not long after Siegel was gunned down in LA in 1947, his associates Gus Greenbaum and Moe Sedway—who were his partners in another successful Vegas venture, the El Cortez—understood what Siegel had set in motion. They made style and luxury accessible to the everyman and solidified them as cornerstone aspects of

(AP

THE FLAMINGO REDEFINED WHAT LAS VEGAS COULD BE. IT INTRODUCED GLAMOUR TO THE STRIP AND MADE IT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

2005 it sold to its current owner, Harrah’s Entertainment, also known as Caesars Entertainment, along with the rest of the Harrah’s portfolio. The inimitable Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton, landed his first Vegas headlining gig in 1963 at the Flamingo. Newton was just 21 at the time but had been grinding for years as a lounge act and opener for big names of the era. Newton, who has held residencies up and down the Strip in the ensuing decades, will return to the Flamingo for a limited engagement beginning on January 24. The Flamingo hotel, at the time the Flamingo Hilton, underwent its first expansion in 1976, growing to 1,250 guest rooms. More expansions followed in the ’80s and ’90s. The property now encompasses some 3,500 guest rooms and suites. The last of the original structures was torn down in 1993. That includes Bugsy’s suite, also known as the Presidential Suite. But Bugsy’s presence remains—a monument to the gangster now sits in the courtyard. The Wildlife Habitat opened in 1995, housing pink-feathered, spindly-legged flamingos. In addition to eight Chilean flamingos, the habitat houses more than 60

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

12.23.21

New Year’s Eve 2020 was the weirdest Las Vegas has ever known. Whatever. That was last year, and while we’re clearly not done with this pandemic, the megastar concerts, headlining club DJs and all-out parties are back in force this year. We’ve long been ready to put 2021 to bed and push onward and upward, and it feels good to see our city return to its status as the best place in the world to ring in the new year. If you haven’t made New Years’ plans yet, mask up, get boosted and read on about out some of your options.

N E W

Y E A R ’ S

E V E

(Courtesy Glittering LIghts)

Send out 2021—and ring in 2022—at these parties, concerts, clubs and more BY AMBER SAMPSON & BROCK RADKE

GRAND FINALES

2022 SEE YOU IN

12.23.21

After taking last year off, Fireworks by Grucci will once again design and choreograph an eight-minute display of pyrotechnic wizardry at midnight on December 31, launching from atop several resorts, including Resorts World, MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Treasure Island, Venetian and the Strat.

FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE The Downtown drag will host the official New Year’s Eve party for the City of Las Vegas, an ’80s- and ’90s-themed dance party featuring live performances from Bobby Brown, Vanilla Ice, Village People, Tone Loc and A Flock of Seagulls. Early bird tickets cost $35 through December 23 before a Christmas Eve increase, and of course the Viva Vision light show will display custom graphics all night long. December 31, 6 p.m., vegas experience.com.

AREA15 The year-old, much buzzed-about art and entertainment experience destination just off the Strip will host Playa Playground for its first official New Year’s party, spanning across three venues with different “sound camps,” art car stages, interactive installations, food trucks, games, carnival rides and more. Tickets started at $235 at press time. December 31, 8 p.m., area15.com.

SEE YOU IN

Concerts

FIREWORKS ON THE STRIP

KATY PERRY BROOKLYN BOWL The Bowl will host a Y2K-themed New Year’s bash with all the hits from the aughts spun by DJ CO1. Tickets range from $20-$30. December 31, 9:30 p.m., brooklyn bowl.com.

GLITTERING LIGHTS The holiday spectacular at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host an East Coast New Year’s fireworks celebration at 9 p.m., adding even more sparkle to 600-plus animated and illuminated displays along its 2.5-mile drivable course. Attendees can also enjoy music, hot chocolate, kettle corn and more. December 31, 4:30 p.m., glittering lightslasvegas.com.

If there’s ever been a pop artist you just know will build a spectacular Las Vegas Strip residency production show, it’s Perry, who takes the baton from Resorts World’s opening act, Carrie Underwood, just in time for New Year’s Eve. Perry will also debut her new collaboration with Alesso, “When I’m Gone,” on opening night. December 29 & 31, January 1, Resorts World Theatre, axs. com.

LIZZO

FLYOVER LAS VEGAS The new multisensory flight ride experience on the Strip will stage a New Year’s Eve Glamping Soirée that includes unlimited rides, easy access to the Strip, specialty drinks at the Lost Cactus lobby bar and more. Tickets start at $250. December 31, 6 p.m., flyover lasvegas.com.

If you haven’t been following Lizzo on TikTok, you missed one of the best things in this not-always-so-great year. The singer, rapper and budding fashion icon helps Virgin Hotels Las Vegas wrap up its rookie season with smash summer single “Rumors” and plenty more tricks in her arsenal. December 31, Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

THE GO-GO’S Vegas’ most unlikely NYE headlining act is also one of its most exciting. The ground-breaking ’80s rockers come to Vegas fresh from being inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Now the Strip gets to ring in 2022 with “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Our Sealed,” “Vacation” and many more hits live at the Venetian. December 31-January 1, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster. com.

MAROON 5

21I

2022

Parties

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

USHER The multitalented R&B megastar brought the Strip one of its biggest parties in years with his raucous residency show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It’s only fitting that he’s back in Vegas for a bash to end 2021. December 28-29 & 31 & January 1, the Colosseum, ticketmaster. com.

From left: Usher, Lizzo and Katy Perry (AP Photos)

Is it really New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas if Maroon 5 doesn’t perform a couple of concerts? The pop band’s annual visit is an institution at this point, and it moves to the Cosmopolitan this year. Seems like Adam Levine and company should just go all in on a residency, doesn’t it? December 30-31, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

More!

• Bruno Mars December 30-31, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com. • Brian Newman After Dark December 30 & January 1, NoMad Library, ticketmaster.com. • Pauly Shore & The Crustys December 30, Plaza, plazahotelcasino.com. • The 442s December 31, the Barbershop, thebarbershoplv.com. • Blue Öyster Cult December 31, Golden Nugget, ticketmaster.com. • Kristin Chenoweth December 31, Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. • Kelly Clinton December 31, Nevada Room, vegasnevadarooms.com. • The Como La Flor Band December 31, the Railhead, stationcasinoslive.com. • Amanda King December 31, the Underground at Mob Museum, themobmuseum.org. • Skye Dee Miles, Mikalah Gordon, DJ Lisa Pittman December 31, the Shag Room, virginhotelslv.com. • Frankie Moreno December 31, South Point, southpointcasino.com. • Franky Perez December 31, Rocks Lounge, stationcasinoslive.com. • David Lee Roth December 31 & January 1, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

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

12.23.21

Zedd (AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

ZEDD

Clubs THE CHAINSMOKERS XS has served as home base for this Grammy Award-winning duo since 2017, and the hype has yet to fade. Experience it for yourself when Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart ring in the New Year like the genre-bending EDM veterans they are. December 31, XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

N E W

Y E A R ’ S

E V E

BLACK COFFEE South Africa’s top DJ hit the ground running with 2021’s Subconsciously, an impressive dance record featuring collaborations with Pharrell, Diplo and Usher. Fresh off his Hï Ibiza residency—and a monumental performance on NPR’s Tiny Desk earlier this year— Black Coffee returns to Vegas with music as classic as his name suggests. December 31, Hakkasan Nightclub, hakkasannightclub.com.

At this point, Zedd’s one of ours. The iconic Russian-born DJ has played nearly every major club in Las Vegas, and this summer, he locked in a multiyear residency at Zouk Group’s premier dayclub and nightclub. Catch the “Clarity” star in his natural element before the year’s up— and then do it all over again when he returns for his regularly scheduled performances in 2022. December 31, Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.

(AP Photos)

STEVE AOKI The DJ Mag Top 100 mainstay has worked with nearly every artist across the board—from Zooey Deschanel to the Backstreet Boys to Kid Cudi. Rest assured, there’s an Aoki remix for everyone, and you can dance your way into 2022 with it. December 31, Omnia Nightclub, hakkasangroup.com.

RICK ROSS Miami’s hip-hop heavyweight will likely bring hits like “Aston Martin Music” and “Money in the Grave” to Drai’s for NYE, but don’t be surprised if you also hear picks from his December LP Richer Than I’ve Ever Been. Drai’s rooftop is the perfect place to catch a “yacht rap” vibe—and a view of the spectacular fireworks. December 31, Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup. com.

More!

• Darude December 30, Commonwealth, elationlv.com. • Diplo December 30, XS, wynnsocial.com. • Flo Rida December 30, Jewel, jewelnightclub.com. • Jeezy December 30, Drai’s, draisgroup.com. • Loud Luxury December 30, Hakkasan, hakkasannightclub.com. • Tiësto December 30, Zouk, zoukgrouplv.com. • Fisher December 31, Marquee, taogroup.com. • Gettoblaster, Codes, Franklyn Watts December 31, Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com. • Kehlani December 31, Money Baby, moneybabylv.com • Lil Jon December 31, Jewel, jewelnightclub.com. • Mark Mac & Sam I Am December 31, Foundation Room, houseofblues.com/lasvegas. • O.T. Genasis December 31, Tao, taogroup.com. • 2 Chainz January 1, Drai’s, draisgroup.com. • DJ Pauly D January 1, Marquee, taogroup.com. • DJ Snake January 1, Zouk, zoukgrouplv.com. • Mustard January 1, Hakkasan, hakkasannightclub.com. • Afrojack January 2, Omnia, hakkasangroup.com. • Tory Lanez January 2, Drai’s, draisgroup.com.

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

SEE YOU IN

So many restaurants are doing special menus for New Year’s Eve, it would be impossible to cover all the fantastic flavors. But here are five baller experiences to consider. Wherever you want to go, make your reservation ASAP.

LAKESIDE

Dinner ONE STEAKHOUSE The Morton family stronghold at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is focusing on surf and turf pairings from chef Patrick Munster to ring in the new year, such as Snake River Farms’ Wagyu strip loin with Alaskan king crab legs or filet mignon with a massive Maine lobster tail. The full menu will also be available, and the swanky new restaurant opens at 5 p.m. Onesteakhouselv.com.

TAO ASIAN BISTRO Even if you’re not heading to the club after dinner, you need to keep Tao on your radar. With three seatings and two different price packages, this institution is rolling out all the classic dishes (Peking duck spring rolls, chicken satay with peanut sauce, five spice short ribs and more) and bringing the DJs and dancers into the restaurant culminating in a midnight countdown and Champagne toast. Taolasvegas.com.

One Steakhouse (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)

2022 SEE YOU IN

23I

2022

Reservations

12.23.21

Celebrate the new year with views of the Lake of Dreams at Wynn, enjoying DJs, dancing and party favors, and above all else, a six-course prix fixe menu from chef David Middleton. You’ll be spoiled for 2022 after feasting on bigeye tuna tartare, king crab salad with Asian pear and avocado, white truffle risotto and Wagyu short rib with goat cheese polenta. Wynnlasvegas. com.

EIFFEL TOWER RESTAURANT The legendary Paris Las Vegas destination will start early at 4 p.m. so the first guests can catch the sun setting across the Strip skyline. There are three more seatings for two-hour experiences throughout the night, with each preset menu starring elegant French cuisine such as foie gras with persimmons compote, loup de mer and vegetarian wellington. Twenty bucks says someone gets engaged while you dine. Eiffeltower restaurant.com.

STK The Cosmopolitan’s energetic steakhouse is going extra big for NYE. The restaurant features a three-course dinner of greatest hits and lots of choices along the way, and STK will also take over the former Estiatorio Milos space next door to create a pop-up dining experience with a different, slightly more casual prix fixe. Stksteakhouse.com.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT AXS.COM

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

12.23.21

NEWS STORIES FROM 2021 N E W S

A quick trip back through the year that was

n Josiah Kenyon, 34, of Winnemucca, was arrested almost 11 months after taking part in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Supporters of then-President Donald Trump, who had lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, stormed the Capitol in a failed attempt to prevent Congress from formally counting the electoral votes that would formalize Biden’s victory. Kenyon was the latest Nevadan arrested in connection with the riot, following Las Vegan Nathaniel DeGrave, 31, who pleaded not guilty to nine charges. Ronald Sandlin, 34, of Tennessee, was also arrested in Las Vegas.

n Kevin Kruger, who helped the UNLV men’s basketball team reach the Sweet 16 of the 2007 NCAA Tournament, was hired in March as head coach for a program that hasn’t played in the tournament since 2013.

n Although children age 5 and up are now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and despite the urging of public health officials to do just that in the face of a continually mutating virus, Nevada lags much of the nation in vaccination rate. About 56% of the state has been fully vaccinated, greater than just 15 states.

n Two giants of Las Vegas’ hospitality and entertainment industries died this year. Siegfried Fischbacher was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer and died at age 81 in January shortly after having a tumor removed— less than a year after longtime partner Roy Horn died. Two days prior, casino magnate and Republican Party megadonor Sheldon Adelson, who owned the Venetian and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, died at age 87 from complications related to cancer treatment.

n Juliana Urtubey became the first Nevada educator to be named National Teacher of the Year. Through her work as a special education teacher at Kermit R. Booker, Sr. Elementary School and previously at Crestwood Elementary, Urtubey drew attention for her innovative efforts to enhance education for students with special needs and to establish relationships between the school, its students’ families and the surrounding community.

12.23.21

n Hundreds of couples got married on April 3. As anniversary dates go, it’s an easy one to remember: 4/3/21.

n After six years of construction, the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas became the first major new property on the Strip in more than a decade when it opened its doors in June on the former site of the iconic Stardust.

n For the fifth time ever, the mercury in Las Vegas hit 117 degrees Fahrenheit this year. It happened July 10, coming on the heels of the second-hottest June in the city’s recorded history.

n Las Vegas Raiders, the good: Before the first season played with fans at Allegiant Stadium even started, the Raiders made history, when defensive end Carl Nassib came out of the closet, becoming the first openly gay player on an NFL roster. On opening night against the Baltimore Ravens, Nassib forced a fumble in overtime to set up the team’s game-winning score. Team owner Mark Davis also celebrated the NFL’s decision to bring the Super Bowl to Allegiant Stadium in 2024.

n John Lee and Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo threw their names into the ring for the 2022 governor’s race. For Lee, it was a little trickier than for Lombardo, as the Democratic mayor of North Las Vegas had to switch parties in hopes of facing incumbent Gov. Steve Sisolak in the general election rather than in a primary. Both, though, have chosen to, if not embrace, at least not denounce, former President Donald Trump’s Big Lie about the 2020 presidential election being stolen from him.

n The Golden Knights showed again in November that they aren’t afraid to make major moves, trading for Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel. Soon after, the 25-year-old center underwent neck surgery, and isn’t expected to play until later this season.

n Clark County School District Jesus Jara was fired on a 4-3 vote of the school board, but a month later, board Vice President Irene Cepeda changed her mind. The board voted to rescind his termination, and Jara agreed to serve out at least the remainder of his contract. No specific reason was ever given for Jara’s initial termination.

n Rumors have swirled for much of the year that the Oakland Athletics could move to Southern Nevada. And in November, the organization reportedly offered to purchase land in the Valley for a potential ballpark.

n MGM Resorts International announced plans to sell the Mirage casino operations to Hard Rock International. The $1.075 billion deal is expected to be finalized in the second half of next year, and the resort will be rebranded, with a guitar-shaped hotel expected to be erected on the site.

n The median sales price for an existing home in the Las Vegas area reached $420,000 during November, a record-high. That’s $105,000 higher than the peak 2006 price, before the Great Recession struck.

n Harry Reid, the highest-ranking Nevadan in American political history, became the namesake for the nation’s seventh-busiest airport. The former Senate majority leader’s name replaced that of Pat McCarran, who as a senator from 1933 to 1954 was a major proponent of aviation but also a well-known racist and antisemite.

(Resorts World/ Courtesy/Photo Illustration; all other photos Sun File, AP Photo)

•THAT’S A WRAP!•

n The Las Vegas Aces had a golden year, even if they didn’t win the WBNA championship. Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson helped Team USA continue its 55-game winning streak dating back to the 1992 Olympic Games, while Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young won the first women’s gold medal in the new Olympic event of 3-on-3 basketball.

n Tens of millions of years ago, a zippy, plant-eating dinosaur that resembled a big, scaly, green chicken roamed the area that is now Southern Nevada. It was Nevadadromeus schmitti, the first dinosaur unique to Nevada, and its discovery was announced this year by Las Vegas paleontologist Joshua Bonde. He meticulously freed the fossilized bones of the dinosaur from the tan sandstone of Valley of Fire’s backcountry and vetted them more than 13 years before formally introducing it to the scientific community in September.

n Las Vegas Raiders, the bad: The middle of the Raiders’ season devolved into turmoil, starting with head coach Jon Gruden’s resignation after racist, sexist and homophobic emails from his past surfaced as part of an NFL investigation into the toxic workplace culture of the Washington Football Team. Shortly thereafter, 2020 first-round draft picks Henry Ruggs III and Damon Arnette were cut from the team—Ruggs after he was charged in the DUI death of a young woman and her dog, and Arnette after he posted a video on social media threatening to kill someone.

27I

2021

n The biennial session of the state Legislature ended with 564 bills passed, including those that allocated $50 million of pandemic relief for small businesses; authorized cannabis consumption lounges; allowed people to sue for being doxxed online; acknowledged the parental rights of same-sex parents, surrogates and divorced parents; banned ticket and arrest quotas for law enforcement officers; and banned the sale and possession of firearms that lack serial numbers, such as those sold as kits or made with 3D printers.

n Many Vegas Golden Knights fans were heartbroken July 27 when the face of the franchise to date, likely future Hall of Fame goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, was traded to Chicago to free up cap space. Fleury had just won the Vezina Trophy, presented to the NHL’s best goalkeeper.

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

12.23.21

FRESH

START

Clean the World teams with community partners on mobile showers for the homeless BY AMBER SAMPSON n 2017, Shawn Seipler saw a video out of San Francisco that affected him—and the organization he had founded eight years earlier—deeply. “A group took a city bus and converted it into a mobile shower unit,” Seipler says. “They were hooking it up to fire hydrants and giving showers to the homeless. I said, ‘That is Clean the World. That is exactly what we should be doing.’ ” Since 2009, the global health organization had been redistributing soap from hotels and resorts to people in countries with high hygiene-related death rates. And here in the Las Vegas Valley, where Clean the World had expanded from its original city of Orlando, Florida, the nonprofit began teaming with Las Vegas Sands in 2014 to distribute hygiene kits to locals in need. But in 2017, a Homeless Census & Survey conducted by HelpHopeHome.org ranked Southern Nevada’s homeless population among the nation’s 10 largest, putting the number at almost 25,000 individuals. And Seipler wanted Clean the

C O M M U N I T Y

A Clean the World Mobile Shower (Clean the World/ Courtesy)

World to do more. “We’ve been in Las Vegas since 2010 … so it’s very important for us to give back,” Seipler says. “Our heart has been in Las Vegas.” In 2017, Sands sponsored Clean the World’s first local mobile shower trailer, funding the creation of the CTW’s Fresh Start WASH and Wellness Program and covering its operational costs. Four years later, that program has expanded to include four mobile showers, behind partnerships with Clark County and Caesars Entertainment/Caesars Foundation, which began in 2020 and October 2021, respectively. To date, Clean the World has delivered more than 30,000 showers to Las Vegas’ homeless population. “There’s magic that happens in the shower,” Seipler says. “[People] look different. They have a shine. It’s a figurative shine, but their hair is cleaner, their nails are cleaner. They get toothbrushes and toothpaste. They’re talking like somebody who just got to brush their teeth and has a very clean mouth.” More than 12,000 people in Southern Nevada will have experienced homelessness at some point in 2021,

according to a Homeless Point-InTime Count and Survey conducted in January. Approximately 55% of the current population lives in unsheltered areas, the majority surviving on the streets, in cars or encampments. Those issues have continued growing during the pandemic. An August study by UNLV’s Brookings Mountain West found that job loss has “exacerbated housing insecurity among low-income renters over the past year.” Rising rental costs haven’t helped, either. Homelessness, Brookings reports, is more prevalent in metro areas with “higher median rent, higher shares of rental housing and higher percentages of single-person homes.” ■■■■■ In 2018, Seipler and his team received data from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a government information-collecting system. The results confirmed Clean the World’s dedication to its mission. Days when CTW’s showers were present at an organization’s location it saw a 54% increase in service referrals, and communities with mobile showers available saw a 15% homeless rate reduction within the first six months, Seipler says. “I

remember internally going, ‘Wow, I think we’ve got a tiger by the tail here.’ ” With COVID cases on the rise again, access to clean water, soap and hygiene facilities matters more than ever. Homeless Southern Nevadans might attempt to wash up inside public restrooms; those at shelters can find lengthy waits to use bathrooms. Clean the World’s mobile showers provide another option. The private units, which don’t require water or electrical hookups, feature porcelain toilets, painted walls, natural light, air conditioning and heating and, yes, hot water. A single shower session lasts 20 minutes. CTW staffers and volunteers are stationed at the trucks, ready to clean them between uses and

12.23.21

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

29I

A rendering of the future Huntridge Theater (Dapper Companies/Courtesy)

Historic Huntridge Theater taps NYC’s SoHo Playhouse to head up its next phase

answer questions. “It provides individuals with dignity and the opportunity to take care of themselves,” says Sean McBurney, regional president of Caesars Entertainment, which has now worked with Clean the World for 11 years. Each trailer can provide about 50 showers per day. Tanks are dumped at night, refilled in the morning, and sanitized between showers. The units travel all around Clark County, paying weekly visits to shelters, nonprofits and resource centers for six to seven hours a day, starting in the mornings. And the response, Seipler says, is heartwarming. “Lots of smiles, lots of happiness, lots of joy,” he says. “It’s cool to see that reaction to something we take for granted every day. When somebody hasn’t taken a shower for eight days, and they think that one job interview is the thing

that’s going to change their life, and in some cases it is … it’s like, man, all we did was put in some pipes and some showers and give them some soap. They had to do the rest.” Seipler says he’d like to see the trailers converted into one-stop resource shops: showers, washer and dryer units, on-site testing and vaccines, a private room where individuals can meet virtually with case managers for wrap-around services. But, McBurney reminds people, homelessness is a “large and complicated problem” that will require multiple solutions—and collaborators. “Clean the World and Caesars are helping to partner with others to create the solution, which requires a lot of people’s involvement, a lot of organizations’ involvement to solve the core problem,” he says. “This is just one component of it.”

different things.” Dapper says SoHo Playhouse, and its artistic director Darren Lee Cole, are ideally suited to the challenge. SoHo, like the Huntridge, is an institution; Over the past 80 years, it has provided a stage to numerous acclaimed playwrights, from Tracy Letts to Phoebe Waller Bridge. Cole says he hopes the Huntridge will be a similar boon to Vegas’ theatrical scene, providing a vital bridge from Vegas’ independent theater companies to the big stage at Reynolds Hall. “I believe there’s an appetite for what we do that covers the whole calendar year,” Cole says. “It’s going to be built and programmed and designed for locals.” A construction timetable is difficult to predict, Dapper says, owing to the Huntridge’s inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Discussions are ongoing with possible food and beverage operators for the Huntridge’s adjoining buildings. Dapper offers a cautious “guesstimate” of 12 to 18 months, but is obviously eager to get going. “We know what we want to build,” Dapper says. –Geoff Carter

N E W S

(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

n A resurrected Huntridge Theater moved closer to reality this week, as Dapper Companies announced it struck a deal with New York City-based SoHo Playhouse to operate the 77-year-old Downtown venue. The new Huntridge will consist of one big room— the current auditorium, reconfigured to include a mezzanine level—with a capacity of 1,150 for local and national concerts and 450 for off-Broadway productions. Two additional theater spaces, with capacities of 199 and 100, will be built just south of the existing structure, and all three theaters will share a redesigned lobby. Dapper Companies principal J Dapper decided on SoHo after speaking with a variety of cultural entities. In so doing, he says, he realized the new Huntridge needs to be nimble-footed. “The concert industry is challenging, in that the big boys, like LiveNation and AEG, control a lot,” Dapper says. “In order for the Huntridge to be successful, it can’t just be a concert venue. It can’t just be an Off-Broadway venue. It’s got to have the ability to be flexible and do many

All Ages / Tickets @ AREA15.com ARE A15 / 3215 South Rancho Dr Las Vegas / 702 .846.1900

THE DAY’S

BIGGEST NEWS

Eat Healthy With

2021

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

12.23.21

202

OUR FAVORITES 2021

2021

•THAT’S A WRAP!•

The concerts, albums, streaming series, video games and more that helped make the year memorable

A R T S

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

CONCERTS

As touring acts and festivals began coming back to town, these, in particular, stuck out. (presented chronologically) Cannibal Corpse at Psycho Las Vegas (August 20) For an hour late at night, Mandalay Bay Beach looked like an apocalyptic stampede, with thousands of banging heads and a giant pool circle pit swirling to some of the most demented heavy music ever recorded. –Case Keefer Poison the Well at Psycho Las Vegas (August 20) Most acts that originated from the hardcore scene have received tepid responses at Psycho, but not these Miami metalcore pioneers, who whipped House of Blues into a frenzy by playing 1999 release The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation in its entirety. –CK

Megan Thee Stallion at Life Is Beautiful (September 17) I missed the first half of Tame Impala’s mainstage set to catch this one, and I regret nothing. The Houston hottie assumed the role of party conductor, directing the crowd’s energy with hit after rapid-fire hit, welcoming us back after a year without live music. –Amber Sampson John Legend at the Chelsea (September 18) The 12-time Grammy winner breezed through his catalog with the finesse and range of a tireless angel. A reminder that the studio will never do John Legend’s voice full justice. –AS St. Vincent at Life Is Beautiful (September 19) Artistically ambitious and musically bold, Annie Clark’s production show-quality festival set reminded us of the power of in-person performance after so much time without it. –Spencer Patterson

Billie Eilish at Life Is Beautiful (September 19) Eilish’s first post-shutdown set was a generous one. She expressed her gratitude to the crowd every chance she had; performed 22 songs whole or in part; and drew several well-earned laughs just by being forthright (“I’ve had a wedgie this whole time.”). –Geoff Carter

Descendents at Punk Rock Bowling (September 24) Nothing could have welcomed the long-running festival back after a 15-month delay better than this beloved band belting out a set of hits at a rapid pace. –CK

12.23.21

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

33I

The Golden Knights celebrate a goal against Colorado in Game 3 of the teams’ Stanley Cup playoff series. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

A W R A

P !

Finally, football (September 13) The Las Vegas Raiders won their first home game with fans in seats against Baltimore live on Monday Night Football in front of a crowd of nearly 62,000. Talk about delayed gratification.

Summer explosion (July 3) Amid a Fourth of July week-

Garth Brooks makes history (July 10) The first major stadium concert in the country since COVID began was also the first full-capacity event at Allegiant. Five weeks later, the country superstar had already shut down his remaining tour dates, but he’ll be back in Las Vegas in February—the same weekend the NFL Pro Bowl is planned for the stadium.

’

Intermission is over (June 28) Cirque du Soleil returned to the Strip stage with the reopening of its first Las Vegas residency show, Mystère at Treasure Island, followed on July 1 by O at Bellagio. The Canadian company has defined the Vegas production show for decades with epic theatricality; You couldn’t really claim Vegas was back until Cirque was.

end stacked with bigroom headliners, packed pool clubs and the first concert at Allegiant Stadium, Bruno Mars became the first Strip resident to return to his stage at Park MGM.

Golden Knights beat Colorado in Game 3 (June 4) This 3-2 victory set the Knights on the course for an impressive second-round playoff series comeback triumph, but it was also the first full-capacity crowd for an NHL game during another super-weird season. If you were one of the 17,504 fans, you know what it felt like to truly be back in the Fortress.

Clockwise from top left: Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish (Alive Coverage/ Sipa USA/Courtesy), John Legend (The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas/Courtesy), Foo Fighters (Dolby Theater/ Courtesy), The Descendents (Yasmina Chavez/Staff) (Photo Illustration)

Foo Fighters at Dolby Live (December 4) Once Dave Grohl and his cohorts get you in the room, they’ll win you over—with powerhouse versions of their hits, with well-chosen covers, with top-shelf stage banter and even surprise cameos (hello, Gene Simmons). They need a Vegas residency. –GC

In these pandemic times, when last year’s shocking shutdown of the Las Vegas Strip still looms large in our minds, the reopening of any show, concert residency, nightclub or live music lounge is significant enough to be called a milestone. The momentous arrivals of various entertainment venues at Resorts World and Virgin Hotels also deserve to be celebrated, and we’ll do that all year long. But the following were some of the biggest dots on the comeback graph, events that pushed us closer to our Vegas norms and showed the potential of the future.

Doja Cat at Day N Vegas (November 13) Hip rolls, humor and sex appeal … Doja Cat served up headliner-level fun during a breezy festival hour. –Amber Sampson

BROCK RADKE

Phish at MGM Grand Garden Arena (October 31) The jam gods’ fifth Halloween in Vegas produced yet another massive undertaking: a turn as fictional futuristic band Sci-Fi Soldier, complete with a dozen rhythmic new tunes and a coordinating comic book. And, oh yeah, they sandwiched that between two strong, normal-length sets, too. –Spencer Patterson

ENTERTAINMENT

2021

Japanese Breakfast at Brooklyn Bowl (October 5) Playing the majority of new album Jubilee—and saving older favorites like “Everybody Wants to Love You” for last, like a beloved, wild treat—Michelle Zauner and her band delivered the intimacy we’ve so desperately been missing. –AS

202

2021

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

12.23.21

SCREEN GEOFF CARTER

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

(presented alphabetically)

A R T S

Casa Playa (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)

The Beatles: Get Back Yes, Peter Jackson’s three-part documentary is eight hours of sitting around, but it’s eight hours of sitting around with John, Paul, George and Ringo— brotherly, inspired and cracking each other up, even as they drift apart. Dune I feel sorry for anyone who watched this epic, staggeringly beautiful fantasy on television, or worse still, on a tablet. It’s planet-sized filmmaking, meant to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The French Dispatch Wes Anderson’s homage to long-form journalism—and to The New Yorker, in particular—is a sweet, sumptuous confection. Loki Incredible: Marvel’s first four streaming forays into its Cinematic Universe—WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hawkeye and Loki—all debuted this year. Loki is easily the best of a good bunch, the proverbial good, weird sci-fi cult show, distinguished by Tom Hiddleston’s and Owen Wilson’s easy chemistry.

Made for Love If for no other reason, watch this dark sci-fi comedy—co-created by erstwhile Las Vegan Alissa Nutting—for the nuanced performances of Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen and Ray Romano. Pig Occasional Las Vegan Nicholas Cage released three films this year alone, but his performance in Pig—as a former chef scouring Portland, Oregon’s dining scene for his stolen truffle foraging pig— dazzles like a second coming. The Power of the Dog This Jane Campion Western isn’t the easiest watch, but the masterful performances on display here—Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee and especially Benedict Cumberbatch—make the long, dusty ride worth it. Reservation Dogs By the middle of the first episode, you’re a rideor-die friend of Bear, Cheese, Elora Danan and Willie Jack.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings This great-looking action movie deserves notice for its performances (particularly Simu Liu, Awkwafina and Tony Leung) and rich, engrossing mythology. You almost forget it’s a Marvel movie until its closing minutes. The Sparks Brothers/ Annette It took two gifted filmmakers—Edgar Wright and Leos Carax—to get Sparks’ Ron and Russell Mael the widespread recognition they’ve deserved all along. Wright’s Sparks Brothers is one of the best music documentaries ever; Carax’s musical Annette is borderline indescribable and sublimely different, much like the music of Sparks itself.

BROCK RADKE

(Disney/Courtesy)

2021

(Netflix/Courtesy)

•THAT’S A WRAP!•

his year in Vegas dining was all about getting back into your favorite restaurants for celebratory meals and discovering some of the exciting new culinary destinations that have popped up on the Strip and in the neighborhood. We did a lot of the former and are still working on the latter, but these are the meals that meant the most in 2021.

12.23.21

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

35I

MEALS

2021 T H A T ’ S A A P !

5. Nittaya’s Secret Kitchen. How would you feel if you went back to your favorite neighborhood Thai spot down the street for the first time in more than a year, only to find it in a bigger, nicer home with an expanded menu including perfect crispy pork belly, lemongrass chicken wings, green curry egg rolls and garlic basil lamb chops? Yeah, same.

2. China Mama. There’s nothing like a big family lunch—complete with all your favorite dishes spinning on that Lazy Susan in the middle of the table—and there’s no place we want to have that experience more than this Chinatown institution. The food remains unforgettable.

4. Casa Playa. All the new openings of the past two years were clouded by unprecedented challenges, but Wynn’s first-ever Mexican restaurant has carved a truly unique path. Coastal cuisine (crudos, octopus mole, branzino and more— and soothing atmosphere combine for an experience the Strip has never seen before.

1. Barry’s Downtown Prime. As soon as Circa opened in October 2020, we earmarked its lavish steakhouse as our designated comeback dinner. It didn’t disappoint. Like most things at this new casino resort, Barry’s blends old Vegas with smart new touches, and the cocktails are killer.

3. Fukuburger at Allegiant Stadium. Las Vegans are finding their first experience at the stadium to be a thrilling one, but it’s hard to describe the joy of seeing longtime favorite local eateries serving their food at this epic venue. Once we chomped into the Silver and Black Burger with its savory miso-bacon slaw, the Garth Brooks concert was almost an afterthought.

2021

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

12.23.21

ALBUMS

•THAT’S A WRAP!•

rock band can hypnotize you with a 10-minute prog jam or hit you with a glam rock stomp. With Butterfly 3000, they add synth-driven, spacey pop to their toolkit, and of course, they’re amazing at it.

A R T S

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

2021

Porter Robinson, Nurture Rarely have so many machines been employed to make something as organic-sounding as Nurture. Porter Robinson’s second LP might exist in the same sonic universe as EDM, but vibe-wise, this mellow masterwork is a whole new world.

GEOFF CARTER (presented alphabetically) Courtney Barnett, Things Take Time, Take Time It takes a special kind of vocal personality to make a nothing statement like “I might change my sheets today” sound like there’s a story behind it, and Courtney Barnett has it. The Australian singer-songwriter’s third album saw her solidify her ambling delivery and gift for storytelling. Claud, Super Monster I could listen to Claud’s mesmerizing pop forever and a day. “Overnight” and “Cuff Your Jeans” remind me of falling asleep to the radio as a kid; I’d awaken, catch a verse and chorus of something wonderful and wonder the next day if I’d dreamed it up. Could anything be that perfect? Claud is. Dry Cleaning, New Long Leg From the opening notes of “Scratchcard Lanyard”—that relentless bass-guitar chug—you

know you’re listening to something special. Singer Florence Shaw’s droll, deceptively offthe-beat delivery tells you that this London art rock band is, in fact, something very special. Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee Michelle Zauner’s third album of addictive indie pop is her best yet. Every note of Jubilee is the work of someone who’s beginning to figure out she’s got superstar bearing. This album is as smart, sexy and endlessly listenable as they come. Yoko Kanno and Seatbelts, Cowboy Bebop I liked Netflix’s (now-canceled) live-action adaptation of this classic anime series. They handled it similarly to the way the underrated Japanese composer Kanno does the music for the franchise—freewheeling her way across genres from jazz to bluegrass, never losing sight of a sweet melody. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Butterfly 3000 This Melbourne, Australia band psych

Squid, Bright Green Field I’m a sucker for nervy, angular postpunk sung by a dude who sounds like his voice is changing, and the debut album by this Brighton, England, band absolutely fits the bill. St. Vincent, Daddy’s Home Every few years, if we keep supporting her art, Annie Clark will give us an album as immaculately assembled and downright funky as Daddy’s Home—and if we’re really nice, she’ll tour behind them and continue to melt our brains from the stage. Wolf Alice, Blue Weekend The verses to Blue Weekend’s second track, “Delicious Things,” find Ellie Rowsell singing like she’s breathing the words into her cupped hands, and whose chorus is full-on anthemic— but the volume scarcely rises. And the whole album is that smart.

202

CASE KEEFER 1. Foxing, Draw Down the Moon Sonically bombastic, lyrically solemn lyrically and thematically complex—tied together by pop-rock choruses that stretch past the size of skyscrapers. 2. Origami Angel, Gami Gang A sweet, stripped-down collection of pop-punk, recorded during quarantine in vocalist/guitarist Ryland Heagy’s bedroom and brimming with joy, optimism and self-acceptance. 3. Fiddlehead, Between the Richness With these examinations of aging, fatherhood and more, Pat Flynn carries on the hardcore tradition of successfully going from furious blasts of aggression—as he did with seminal early 2000s act Have Heart—to more introspective material.

6. The Killers, Pressure Machine The local heroes paint a stirring portrait of small-town America on a seventh album that came out of nowhere to take the mantle as their most fully realized project. 7. Lana Del Rey, Chemtrails Over the Country Club The antithesis to the relative maximalism of 2019’s Norman F*cking Rockwell, this year’s follow-up creates a beautiful duality with its simplicity. 8. The Armed, Ultrapop The mysterious metal group returns with a wonky, wild and layered deconstruction of the modern-day pop album that sounds like getting lost in a virtual reality, neon-colored maze.

4. Every Time I Die, Radical On its ninth fulllength record, the Buffalo institution proves once again that no band has ever been better at writing metalcore songs while also sounding fresh within the confines of the genre. 5. Lucy Dacus, Home Video One of the world’s most gifted young singer-songwriters gets louder and catchier without sacrificing any of her trademark emotional impact.

9. Gojira, Fortitude The rare “big” or “mainstream” metal album that actually delivers. The French progressive death metal group gets slightly more inviting here, due in no small part to drummer Mario Duplantier’s head-spinning ability. 10. Converge & Chelsea Wolfe, Bloodmoon I Wolfe helps the Boston-based band commit to a full album of atmosphere, while Converge pushes the her to a grittier vocal performance.

12.23.21

Helado Negro, Far In Roberto Carlos Lange delivers a soothing, 15-track lullaby, inspired by his time in Marfa, Texas, during the pandemic lockdown. It’s the mellowest of music, best suited for a sunset drive or a lazy day in the city.

SPENCER PATTERSON 1. Don Cherry, The Summer House Sessions Much as I prefer topping my year-enders with current projects, this has been my undeniable 2021 go-to: unearthed, eight-man jazz jams from 1968, with fabled trumpeter Cherry at the helm. Breathtaking—and a lesson in breath control.

7. Grouper, Shade The mystical Liz Harris reaches back into the void and emerges with strange beauty.

Girl in Red, If I Could Make It Go Quiet Queer indie pop artist Marie Ulven wades in the waters of unrequited love and anxiety. In this poignant first fulllength, she navigates the noise of her own brain and the desires of a lovelorn heart.

S A W A P !

10. Daniel Bachman, Axacan Three Lobed Recordings’ 20th anniversary celebration has been an avant-guitar dream: Gunn-Truscinski, Pelt and this strangefolk jaunt down a deserted backroad.

Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever On her sophomore album, the 19-year-old prodigy proves she’s much more than just “Bad Guy” Billie, diversifying her sound with elements of jazz, spoken word and downtempo musings about the struggles of being in the public eye.

’

9. Juçara Marçal, Delta Estacio Blues Almost a decade after forging fiery jazz/punk/whatever LP Metal Metal with Brazilian outfit Metá Metá, Marçal wraps her punchy vocals in all manner of electronic blankets, tripping us all around the world.

Lucy Dacus, Home Video Dacus’ third LP puts her songwriting chops on full display as she revisits pivotal moments from her youth.

Wolf Alice, Blue Weekend I could listen to Ellie Rowsell wailing over dreamy ’80s synths of “How Can I Make It OK?”— and headbang to the whispery garage rock of “Smile”—forever.

8. Virginia Wing, Private Life Lifeaffirming beats and declarations, when we need them more than ever before.

(presented alphabetically)

Summer Walker, Still Over It The Atlanta native expresses her distaste for lackluster lovers over 20 fantastic R&B tracks featuring the sass of artists like SZA, Ari Lennox and Cardi B.

5. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, G_d’s Pee at State’s End! Another transportive experience from true giants of the century.

AMBER SAMPSON

Snail Mail, Valentine A mature follow up to Lindsey Jordan’s 2018 debut album, Lush. Her vocals have gotten deeper and more heartrending over time, making for some powerfully raw declarations.

4. Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & London Symphony Orchestra, Promises Turn off the lights, lie back and soak it in.

6. Guided By Voices, It’s Not Them. It Couldn’t Be Them. It Is Them. Add up the numbers: Robert Pollard and his merry men sound, somehow, even better than the last time you heard them.

Willow Smith, Lately I Feel Everything The 21-year-old Willow comes into her own on this punk record, equally free and in control.

3. Marissa Nadler, The Path of the Clouds Mary Lattimore, Emma Ruth Rundle and Cocteau Twin Simon Raymond are aboard as guests, but Nadler’s aching voice is the captain of a ship that will sail its way into your dreams.

San Holo, BB U OK? Sander van Dijick goes far outside traditional EDM, combining distorted beats and melodies underscored by indie rock. This album follows the aftermath of a failed relationship, but you can’t help but hear the silver lining.

37I

2021

2. Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt, Made Out of Sound Soothing guitar-drum interplay from two experimental all-timers who frequently collaborate in person, or, in this case, at a pandemic-forced distance.

Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee Michelle Zauner sets aside her grief to explore an emotion not commonly expressed in her previous music: joy. It’s a beautiful departure in theme and sound.

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

202

2021

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

12.23.21

•THAT’S A WRAP!•

VIDEO GAMES

PODCASTS

AMBER SAMPSON

Call of Duty: Vanguard Visually, the first-person shooter runs off the hyper-realistic Modern Warfare engine, but the fast-paced gameplay is more reminiscent of Black Ops: Cold War. I’m confident it will keep fans enticed. Death’s Door This indie title follows a soul-reaping crow in pursuit of his next assignment, which as been stolen by a thief in the afterlife. A topdown action-adventure game with a vibrant art style, rewarding puzzles and a sense of humor. Eastward Embark on a journey to the top, surrounded by a subterranean society on the verge of its own demise. This game encompasses the pixelated charm of the past (think: Zelda), while delivering a fresh and intriguing story with fun RPG elements.

EVELYN MATEOS Knockout City I’d burned out on most multiplayer games, but this one—pitting teams against one another for a feverish round of dodgeball—brought me back. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition You won’t regret any of the 100-plus hours you’ll sink into this masterpiece, which features all three sci-fi role-playing games (remastered), along with more than 40 pieces of downloadable content.

1. Dark History Each week, host Bailey Sarian (from YouTube series, Murder, Mystery & Makeup) hilariously conveys a chilling tale from U.S. and World history that you didn’t learn in school. 2. Forever is a Long Time Every living family member of musician and sound designer Ian Coss has gotten divorced, leading to this search, over the course of five compelling episodes, for what makes a successful marriage work. 3. Welcome to Your Fantasy Natalia Petrzela explores the dark origins of popular male striptease dance revue Chippendales. 4. Anything for Selena Maria Garcia was 9 years old when Selena was murdered. Here, she considers what the singer’s legacy shows us about belonging in America. 5. Mission: ImPASTAble Join Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful podcast, on his a quest to invent a new pasta shape.

A R T S

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

2021

(presented alphabetically)

Eastward (Pixpil Games/ Courtesy)

RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS

FOR TICKETS VISIT VIRGINHOTELSLV.COM/EVENT/LIZZO

NEW YEAR’S EVE DOORS OPEN AT 8PM FOR TICKETS AND TABLE RESERVATIONS VISIT WWW.MONEYBABYLV.COM.

DINNER AND DRINK PACKAGES

NYE MENU SPECIALS

LIVE DJ AND A LIVELY MARIACHI BAND

LIZZO INSPIRED COCKTAILS

7PM - LATE

11AM - LATE

SUPREME FOUR COURSE PRE-FIXE MENU LIVE JAZZ PERFORMANCE BY DAVID DECOSTA

5PM - LATE

PRE-FIXE MENU AND WINE FLIGHT 5PM - LATE

NYE MENU 5PM - 11PM

NYE MENU SPECIALS

NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH 5AM - 2PM

DINING RESERVATIONS AND FULL DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.VIRGINHOTELSLV.COM.

5PM - LATE

NEW YEAR’S EVE

THE

S TR I P

Unrivaled in taste,

potency and effect.

PRESALE

$ 5 0 D AY O F

BOTTOMLESS

DRINKS AT ALL CASINO BARS • 7PM–10PM

INCLUDES ONE ENTRY INTO THE NYE DJ DANCE PARTY AT 10PM

Purchase tickets online at silvertoncasino.com/entertainment TICKET PRICE SUBJECT TO LIVE ENTERTAINMENT TAX “L.E.T.” AND FEES WHERE APPLICABLE.

Holiday SPECIALS

NEW YEAR’S EVE M E NUS

Starting At

2699

MANAGEMENT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS.

I-15 & BLUE DIAMOND • 702.263.7777 • SILVERTONCASINO.COM

AD1221-26_LV Weekly 12.23 Ad • 4.5”x11” 4c • Runs in LV Weekly 12/23

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

12.23.21

A R T

SHINE A

C U L T U R E

Nanda Sharif-pour and Ali Fathollahi’s new Neon Museum mural illuminates unsung Vegas heroes

BY ARLEIGH RODGERS | PHOTOS BY WADE VANDERVORT

tribute to Las Vegas’ cultural and neon-bending scene has been splashed across the walls of the Neon Museum’s North Gallery. The mural, titled “Las Vegas Luminaries,” spotlights 11 individuals whose contributions significantly impacted the city’s boisterous and vibrant artistic history—but in some cases haven’t received the full attention they deserve. Nanda Sharif-pour and Ali Fathollahi created the mural. The couple’s work has appeared in dozens of local shows and galleries since they arrived in the United States from Iran as refugees in 2012. “The thing I really like about this project is that it has a lot of human characters,” says Sharif-pour, a fine arts instructor at UNLV. “I’ve done a lot of traditional oil paintings that involve human anatomy and portraiture, and this mural is kind of the same; it puts emphasis on the realistic representation of characters from the past and present.” Those figures are both well-known—Liberace, Sammy Davis Jr. and “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign designer Betty Willis—and less familiar. Read about some in the latter category here.

12.23.21

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

45I

For more about the mural and its subjects, visit lasvegas weekly.com.

Theodora Boyd A Black dancer who performed with legendary jazz singer and bandleader Cab Calloway, Boyd worked as a showgirl at the Moulin Rouge, the first Vegas casino to be desegregated. She sits before the pink Moulin Rouge sign, which rests in the museum’s Neon Boneyard and was designed by Willis. “Identifying her as one of the first Black showgirls of Vegas was a challenge, which speaks to the anonymity that comes with that role,” says Aaron Berger, the Neon Museum’s executive director. “I think adding her into this was really critical.” Kenny Kerr A drag queen whose show, This Is Boylesque, was a longtime fixture on the Strip, Kerr championed AIDS research for Las Vegas’ LGBT community and actively supported local LGBT organizations. Kerr was also present at the New York City gay club where the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a spark for the modern-day LGBT rights movement, took place. Sharif-pour says she studied Kerr’s performances to capture his essence. “The way that power just pours into the viewer, and then when you know his story a little bit more, you can feel that, how powerful the performance was,” she says.

Denise Scott Brown One of only two living figures in the mural, Brown, 90, is an educator, architect and urban planner. She co-authored (with architects Steven Izenour and Robert Venturi, the latter her husband at the time) the 1972 book Learning From Las Vegas, which famously analyzed Vegas architecture and signs. “She, as a woman, as a female architect, was underrepresented, underrecognized for her contribution,” says Steve Siwinski, project manager for the Neon Museum.

Oscar Gonzalez The work of this Mexican neon artist —the second living figure in the mural—has touched Southern Nevada and the Neon Museum itself. A neon bender for Hartlauer Signs, Gonzalez has restored several of the signs in the Neon Boneyard, Siwinski says, including the piece from the Moulin Rouge. “A lot of the signs in our collection have been … brought back to life by Oscar’s own hands,” Siwinski says. “He has breathed life back to our signs, literally, because when you bend neon, you have to use a rubber hose that keeps air into the glass while you’re bending.”

ENJOY THE STRIP’S ONLY 24/7

BLACK JACK

10$10 wings North America’s Largest Restaurant & Saloon

Cannot be combined with any other offers. One coupon per person, per visit. Management reserves all rights. Expiration: 2/28/22 VALID AT HOOTERS inside OYO HOTEL & CASINO ONLY. Must be 21 or older to gamble. OYO Hotel and Casino encourages you to gamble responsibly. For problem gambling information and assistance, call the 24-hour confidential hotline at 1-800-522-4700, or visit wwww.whenthefunstops.org

OFFER CODE: 20111

DOLCE & CHIANTI CUCINA & COCKTAILS

NYE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 6:30PM-1AM LIVE ENTERTAINMENT | FULL COURSE MENU $125 PER RESERVATION TO BOOK CALL 702-749-6534 OR VISIT DOLCECHIANTI.VEGAS

GAME CHANGER NO OTHER BETTING APP GIVES YOU MORE

L CIA SPEFFER! O

3 OFF

2 OFF

LAS VEGAS PAIUTE/SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP

PER CARTON* (CIGARETTES ONLY)

*Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes filtered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit 1 discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. VALID ONLY 12/23 & 12/24/2021. LVW

N E V E R P A Y A D D I T I O N A L T A X ! - G O T O L V P A I U T E S M O K E S H O P. C O M F O R C O U P O N S

DOWNLOAD TODAY

411873Fkh_OR_LVWeekly_BoydSports_AD

$34.99*

$74.59*

FINAL PRICE WITH $3 COUPON

$3.99 PER PACK SPECIAL OFFER EXPIRES 12/31/2021

$8.10 PER PACK

LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBAL SMOKE SHOP & CIGAR SHOPPE NEW M-Sat 7AM-7PM • Sun 8AM-5:30PM STO RE 1225 N. Main St. Las Vegas, 89101 HOURS!

SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP & GAS STATION M-Sun 6AM-7PM • Pay-At-The-Pump Open 24/7 US 95N @ Exit #99

JAN 07 2022 JAN 08 2022 APR 29 2022

APR 30 2022 MAY 28 2022 MAY 29 2022 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Scan For Tickets

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

12.23.21

Scouting the

LAS VEGAS BOWL Watch for these potential pros when Arizona State takes on Wisconsin BY CASE KEEFER

C U L T U R E

ollege football’s bowl season has become as much, if not more, about scouting players for the NFL Draft as rewarding teams for their strong seasons. The Las Vegas Bowl has seen a lot of future pros come through during its 29-year history, including reigning NFL Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert just four years ago. But that aspect will soon be amplified, beginning when Wisconsin and Arizona State meet December 30 at 7:30 p.m. The 2021 Las Vegas Bowl—the first played at Allegiant Stadium—will debut the game’s new Big Ten conference tie-in, by way of the Badgers. The SEC and Big Ten, the two best conferences in college football over the past decade, will alternate sending a team for at least the next five years to take on a traditional Pac-12 representative. That means a whole lot of talent will be coming through on an annual basis, including lots of players making their final collegiate starts before being drafted four months later. Here are six players—three from each team—playing in this year’s game who are likely to hear their names called April 28-30, when the 2022 NFL Draft takes place on the Las Vegas Strip. Left: Jayden Daniels, Arizona State; right: Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin (AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

2021

LAS VEGAS BOWL

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

12.23.21

Wisconsin tackle Logan Bruss If anyone playing in the Las Vegas Bowl goes in the first round next April, it’s likely to be this senior. Bruss is the latest in a long line of standout Badger offensive linemen—from soon-to-be Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, who retired from the Browns in 2017, to current Saints All-Pro guard Ryan Ramczyk. Bruss was a big reason Wisconsin successfully maintained its rush-first philosophy this season, when the Badgers ranked seventh in the nation in running on 63.4% of their plays.

RAIDERS Report

Head to lasvegasweekly.com to read about the team’s Week 15 result and how Week 16’s matchup might unfold.

Arizona State defensive end Tyler Johnson Johnson went from retired from football in late 2019 to arguably the Sun Devils’ best player at his new position the past two years, after he switched from linebacker to defensive end upon his return to the field. He has nine sacks over the past two seasons and more than enough size for the NFL at 6-foot4, 280 pounds. Some questions on his commitment to the game remain, but his ability is evident.

Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal This All-American is the heart of a Badgers defense allowing a national-best 2.2 yards per rushing attempt. Only a junior, Chenal Wisconsin tight end could follow Ferguson’s path from Jake Ferguson a year ago and return to Wisconsin Some were surprised Ferguson for another season, but he has said decided to return for his senior he won’t decide until after the Las year after leading the Badgers Vegas Bowl. Although he’s one of with 305 receiving yards and four the best run-stuffers in the nation, touchdowns in 2020. He could scouting profiles indicate Chenal’s have been one of the top tight pass coverage skills—which will be ends taken but stayed to graduate more important in the pros—could and enjoy a final year in Madison. use another year of seasoning. The grandson of former Wisconsin coach/athletic director Arizona State linebacker Barry Alvarez, Ferguson has put Darien Butler together another productive year The Sun Devils’ counterpart to to keep his draft stock intact. Chenal, Butler could also come back for another year, but The Athletic has reported that he will likely declare for the draft following the Las Vegas Bowl. Butler reportedly Teams: Arizona State (8-4) vs. Wisconsin (8-4) was considering returning but was advised that his draft stock might When: Tickets: December 30, 7:30 p.m. $50-$150 at ticketmaster.com never be higher after a strong season in which he registered 68 total Where: TV: tackles, three interceptions, three Allegiant Stadium ESPN passes defensed and two sacks.

S P O R T S

Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels This big-armed, dual-threat signal caller reached No. 4 in the nation in famed draft analyst Mel Kiper’s quarterback prospect rankings this season. The junior currently looks like a midround pick if he decides to leave but could elevate his stock with a big game in Vegas. Many have compared Daniels to Trey Lance, who went No. 3 overall this year to the San Francisco 49ers.

49I

D N E K E E W S ’ R A E Y NEW

FRI DEC 31

AKDJTNIVEVEA MAIN ROOM

OPENING

PATIO

E L L E EST MAIN ROOM PERFORMA

NCE

1 3 C E D I R F

@ON TH E R E C O R D LV ON T H E R E C O R D LV. C O M

MAN A G E ME N T R E S E R V E S A L L RIGHT S MU ST B E 2 1

R R A T S L L E M J DOPENING C EDDIE MA

SAT JAN 1

EXODUS MAIN ROOM

PATIO

SLYDE

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

12.23.21

INDUSTRY

LAS VEGAS BOWL HAS COME A LONG WAY IN 30 YEARS, AND EXPECTATIONS ARE GROWING FOR ITS FUTURE

BY RAY BREWER VEGAS INC STAFF

bundled-up Rob Dondero stood on the last row of bleachers at Sam Boyd Stadium glancing out to incoming traffic on Russell Road and hoping to see congestion. Instead, he was nearly blown away by December winds while witnessing just a few hundred vehicles headed toward the stadium for a 1992 college football game between UNR and Bowling Green. Dondero was part of a group that coordinated bringing the Las Vegas Bowl to Southern Nevada in the early ’90s—a move by tourism leaders to lure visitors to the area during the slow weeks at the end of the year. Travelers, though, opted for family gatherings over recreational vacations. That initial season brought about 7,000 fans to the game and revenue around a few million dollars, but “we were doing backflips,” said John Saccenti, the game’s executive director. (Accounting for all tickets sold, the announced attendance was 15,476). Fast forward three decades. The 30th edition of the Las Vegas Bowl takes place December 30 at Allegiant Stadium, featuring Wisconsin of the Big Ten Conference and Arizona State of the Pac-12 Conference—arguably the most attractive matchup in bowl history. The general consensus, especially with over-the-top Wisconsin fans leading the way, is that an attendance record of more than 60,000 fans will be established. This is the first year the game won’t

be contested at Sam Boyd, which squeezed in a bowl-best 44,615 fans in 2006 for Oregon vs. BYU. The move to Allegiant and new partnership with the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern conferences means the annual game in Las Vegas should produce a consistent win for the region’s economy. Hotels and bars will be packed, completing the vision Dondero and others had when brainstorming event options to fill the visitor void after the National Finals Rodeo. “Back then, that was 7,000 or more people in town on that date than ever before,” Dondero said. More important: The game was

televised on ESPN, giving the tourism industry “three and a half hours of broadcast television to tell the story of Las Vegas,” Dondero said. “That was a big deal.” The bowl began its rise in 2001, when it aligned with the Pac-10 (now the Pac-12), guaranteeing the game would feature a program from a notable conference with an established fan base. Nevertheless, then-Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen refused to travel to the game, due to his stance against legalized sports gambling, Saccenti said. That landscape has changed. The Pac-12 hosted its football title game at near-capacity Allegiant Stadium last

month and also contests its conference basketball tournaments at T-Mobile Arena. And, of course, major professional sports have come to town in the year since. “We helped prove Las Vegas was the place to be,” Saccenti said. “We helped open the door to people looking at Las Vegas differently.” This year’s game also signals its progression to a top-tier bowl game: It’s contested closer to New Year’s Day, features marquee conferences—this is the first year without the non-Power 5 Mountain West involved—and will be shown in prime time on ESPN. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. “With this stadium and this destination, these teams were going to their conferences and begging to come here,” Saccenti said. “And we were able to pull it off.” ESPN Regional Television has owned the game since 2001, when it purchased it from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. This year’s game will officially be known as the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, the first of five years in which SRS Distribution, a distributor of building products, will serve as the title sponsor.

Allegiant Stadium, site of the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (Steve Marcus/Staff)

Connect your business to your customer’s journey Good business is fueled by strong Internet and voice solutions. That’s why you can count on Cox Business for the 99.9% network reliability and 24/7 support you need to connect your business to your customers.

50 MBPS INTERNET AND IP CENTREX SELECT

/MO

with a 1-year term agreement

Get a $300 Cox Business Visa® Prepaid Card After online redemption.† Mention “reward promo” to qualify.

Call (702) 939-1146 or visit coxbusiness.com to switch today *Offer ends 12/31/21. Available to new commercial data and voice subscribers (excluding gov’t agencies and schools) in Cox service areas. $84/mo includes Cox Business InternetSM 50 and IPC Select. Price based on 1 yr. term agreement. Early term. fees may apply. Standard rates apply thereafter. Price excludes equipment, professional installation, construction, inside wiring, taxes, surcharges and other fees, unless indicated. Offer is nontransferable to a new service address. All Cox services are provided subject to Cox Business General Terms (including mandatory arbitration provisions), Acceptable Use Policy (including Cox’s right to terminate service for abuse of network), and other policies, which may be found at https://www.cox.com/aboutus/policies/businessgeneral-terms.html. CB Internet: Uninterrupted or error-free Internet service, or the speed of your service, is not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary. Rates and bandwidth options vary and are subject to change. DOCSIS 3.0 or higher modem may be required, unless indicated. See www.cox.com/internetdisclosures for complete Cox Internet Disclosures. IPC Select: 15-seat maximum. IPC Select is limited to direct-dialed domestic calls and is not available for use with non-switched-circuit calling. Desktop app included; physical handsets may be purchased separately from Cox. Access to E911 may not be available during equipment or extended power outage. Telephone services are provided by an affiliated Cox entity. Services are not available in all areas. Discounts can’t be combined or added with other promotions nor applied to any other Cox account. †Visa prepaid card available with qualifying new services ordered and activated between 9/1/21 and 12/31/21 with min 1 yr. term agreement for Cox Business InternetSM and IPC Select. Must mention “reward promo" when placing order. Account must remain active, be in good standing, and retain all services for a min of 30 days after install. Online redemption req’d by 1/31/22 and must follow instructions rec’d after service activation. Limit one card per customer, total not to exceed $300. Allow 15 days after redemption for delivery. Card is issued by MetaBank®, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. Other restrictions apply. © 2021 Cox Communications Inc. All rights reserved. PAD108040-0002

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

12.23.21 TOURISM

GUEST COLUMN

ADVANCES IN LAS VEGAS’ TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE VITAL TO SUCCESSFUL ECONOMY

BY JIM GIBSON as Vegas tourism has come roaring back to life from the pandemic. And with it comes a recognition that improving tourism transportation infrastructure is a key part of keeping the visitor experience a happy one. We must ensure that it is easy to get to and from Las Vegas by air, car and, eventually, train. And then tourists must find that Las Vegas and our tourism corridor are a relatively easy place to navigate once they arrive. With the expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center has come Elon Musk’s Boring Company and the underground tunnels that whisk visitors around that 200-plus-acre site. Tunnels are being bored, extending the Vegas Loop to Resorts World Las Vegas and then to other locations along the Strip, Downtown and to Harry Reid International Airport. This is an exciting development, especially for taxpayers, since the system is being paid for entirely by the private sector. (Additionally, the county also receives franchise fees from the Boring Company to help cover the cost of government services.) The proliferation of pro sports and mega-events such as the NFL draft, Super Bowl 58 in 2024, stadium-sized concerts and more add to the need to build out Interstate 15 and make improvements to that important arterial. Clark County is working closely with

the Nevada Department of Transportation on the $305 million I-15/Tropicana interchange vital to moving traffic more quickly around the south Strip, Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena. South of the Strip, Brightline West has purchased 110 acres along Las Vegas Boulevard between Warm Springs and Blue Diamond roads to build a multimodal terminal for its high-speed, zero-emission rail line to Los Angeles. The company projects it will transport 11 million passengers a year. Meanwhile, Amtrak has suggested bringing back service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas since Congress provided funding for new routes throughout the nation. Ours is the nation’s largest community without passenger rail service. Clark County Aviation staff continue to work on opening up more underserved markets while increasing the frequency of flights from places where we already enjoy nonstop service. So far, we have seen some great success. For November, Las Vegas was the fourth-most recovered U.S. market, and our TSA checkpoint volume was No. 5 in the country. Our level of daily round trips is at 90% of where

we were during the same time in 2019. We see more than 500,000 “seats” flying in each week, and as of this month we have 10 more nonstop U.S. markets than were served here in December 2019. Recent key returns include Virgin Atlantic and British Airways from London last month, and recently we saw the return of KLM (Amsterdam) and Copa (Panama City). Southwest continues to add markets, including service to the Hawaiian islands last summer, and Spirit Airlines has indicated it will start daily service to Memphis, Tennessee, this spring. This is just a sampling of the return of airlines over Las Vegas skies. Prior to the pandemic, international visitors made up 15% of our visitor base while spending about 50-60% more than domestic guests. So we need to keep working hard to bring these guests back while recognizing that not everyone will be comfortable with it so long as the pandemic marches on. (This is where I’d like to encourage you to get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so—not just for your health and that of your family, but for reviving the Las Vegas economy.) The largest obstacle to free-flowing traffic is I-15, where there is finally

momentum for change. I’d like to thank Gov. Steve Sisolak for reaching out to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who agreed to put $12 million into adding a temporary third lane to southbound I-15 between the state line and California’s agriculture station, where the highway already expands to three lanes. California will repave and restripe the shoulder so it can be used during peak congestion times, primarily Sundays and Mondays. The project will be completed by this summer while permanent solutions are considered. This is excellent news for the more than 10 million visitors and locals who use this corridor each year. Meanwhile, we’re building infrastructure on the Strip to accommodate autonomous vehicles when they become safe to operate there. Clark County has installed more than 100 dedicated short-range communication devices for autonomous vehicles there and will add more. These boxes allow for high-data transmission and enable autonomous vehicles to communicate with each other and stay informed about the surrounding environment. There isn’t room to expand the Strip. But between Sahara Avenue and the 215 Beltway, Clark County is in the midst of a project that modifies intersections to improve pedestrian crossings, upgrades traffic signal and street lighting systems with smart poles, enhances median landscaping with LED lighting, and replaces water lines and pavement. All in all, there is a lot of momentum behind bringing improvements to our tourism transportation infrastructure in the resort corridor and beyond. This brings benefits not only to our visitors, but to locals who use this infrastructure and whose livelihoods are often tied to the health of our tourist economy. Jim Gibson is a Clark County commissioner and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board member.

Prior to the pandemic, international visitors made up 15% of our visitor base while spending about 50-60% more than domestic guests. So we need to keep working hard to bring these guests back while recognizing that not everyone will be comfortable with it so long as the pandemic marches on.

a NEW HOME for the HOLIDAYS A CANVAS FOR YOU TO DESIGN A LIFE YOU LOVE

Situated amidst the energy and excitement of The Arts District, Juhl presents a collection of distinct condominiums with an exceptional array of amenities and services that bring a new meaning to artful living. LOFT-STYLE FLATS, LIVE/WORK & TWO-STORY BROWNSTONES OFFERED FROM THE MID $200s $200 s — LOW $800s $800 s

JUHLLV.COM | 702.690.4944

LOW DOWN PAYMENT FINANCING | SCHEDULE A PRIVATE PRESENTATION TODAY SEE LENDER FOR DETAILS. FOR ELIGIBLE PRIMARY HOMEBUYERS. LOAN TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY VARY. SUBJECT TO UNDERWRITING APPROVAL. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. IMAGES MAY REPRESENT MODEL HOMES. SEE AGENT FOR DETAILS. A DK LAS VEGAS LLC COMMUNITY. NORTHCAP COMMERCIAL | LICENSE # B.0143037

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

12.23.21

VegasInc Notes Broadbent & Associates Inc., an environmental, water resource and civil engineering firm, expanded its team with the addition of Taylor Musarra as a project engineer Musarra and Will Wiggins as water/wastewater division manager. Musarra joins Broadbent from UNLV, where she is completing her master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering. MusarWiggins ra’s new role will be to design water and wastewater treatment systems with the goal of bringing waters of varying quality to standards as outlined by local and federal regulations. Wiggins most recently served as a senior geologist and water/wastewater operator for Broadbent. Prior to joining Broadbent, he worked for the National Park Service as a biological technician and a wildland firefighter.

Snickerdoodle BAK ING JANUARY 17

Valid at: Las Vegas - Centennial Hills (NW) Las Vegas-SW

Expires 1/31/2022. Limit one (1) coupon per guest. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Valid only at the Nothing Bundt Cakes bakery(ies) listed. Valid only on baked goods; not valid on retail items. Must be claimed in bakery during normal business hours. Not valid for online orders. Not valid with any other offer. Discounts applied before tax. Coupon may not be reproduced, transferred or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. No cash value.

For Bakery Use Only

Las Vegas-Sahara (West) Las Vegas-Eastern (SE)

Nevada Donor Network promoted Sara Levinson to senior director of people, culture and development. She joins NDN’s senior leadership team and will be responsible Levinson for planning, directing and managing all human resources initiatives for the nonprofit organization. Levinson has been leading NDN’s people, culture and development team since 2014 with oversight of the human resources, education and development functions, as well as the safety committee and its initiatives. Previously, she served as NDN’s director of human resources. Dr. Gaurav Zirath of Southwest Medical, part of OptumCare, was recognized by the STFM Foundation, a program of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, in recognition of outstanding Zirath leadership potential. The award also provides him with a year of mentoring and presentations from the organization’s senior leadership, as well as other opportunities and benefits. Zirath was selected from a national pool along with 17 other individuals. Colliers Las Vegas announced that Amber McDaniel, property manager

of the Las Vegas office, and Angelina Scarcelli, CCIM, CPM, managing director, Real Estate Management Services Nevada received honors and recognitions for their work in the real estate industry at the Institute of Real Estate Management’s Las Vegas officer installation and awards ceremony. McDaniel received the 2021 CPM Candidate of the Year award, given to an outstanding CPM who displays leadership qualities to the chapter and real estate community. Scarcelli received the 2021 Mentorship Award, which recognizes an individual who gives her time and talent to further the principals of the organization and educate future generations in real estate management. T. Rao Coca was recognized in Marquis Who’s Who for excellence in law. Those profiled are selected based on current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field are considered. Since 2012, Coca has excelled as the CEO of his own intellectual property law consulting service. McCarthy Building Companies Inc. named Rachel McGinn as integrated design manager. McGinn brings a wealth of experience in architectural and sustainable design, McGinn client relations and design phase project management to her new role and will work closely with McCarthy’s preconstruction and construction team members. Joseph Anthony Vassallo, vice president and chief design executive of Paragon Pools, was named the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance 2021 Builder of the Year. The peer-nomVassallo inated award is given to one alliance builder member who has advanced the pool-building profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry. Snell & Wilmer announced that Lynn Vaughn joined the Las Vegas office as counsel in the real estate practice group. Vaughn focuses her practice in real estate, operations and corporate matters. Most recently, she served as general counsel for Gemini Rosemont Commercial Real Estate and previously as the general counsel for the Miracle Mile Shops, where she simultaneously served as the general manager of the property.

THE ONLY SURE BET IN VEGAS. PRIME CUTS AND SAVORY SIDES, COOKED TO PERFECTION

RESTAURANT & STEAKHOUSE IN LAS VEGAS

VISIT OPENTABLE.COM OR CALL 702.732.5277 3 0 0 0 PA R A D I S E ROA D, L A S V E G A S , N V 8 9 1 0 9 - 1 2 6 7 7 0 2 . 7 3 2 . 5 1 1 1 | W E S TG AT E L A S V E G A S .C O M

Mention I Love Las Vegas to your server when ordering. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other discounts, offers or specials. Valid only at Benihana at Westgate Las Vegas. Buy (1) one dinner entrée valued above $25 and receive (1) one Benihana Collectible Mug. Management reserves the right to change, cancel or amend this promotion at any time. Valid through 12/30/2020. Code# 57865

TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Improve the way you feel, look & perform! SPECIAL OFFER

$149

s ’ r a e Y w e N

BLOWOUT SALE!

UP TO

75% OFF 4335 W Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas | 702-367-8009

INCLUDES: Medical Consultation Physical Exam Full Body Composition Analysis Lab Work (CBC, PSA Total & Reflex, Total & Free Testosterone Levels) ▶ Follow-Up Consultation for Labs Interpretation ▶ Initial Dose of Medication ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶

www.iuventusmedical.com (702) 457-3888

T H E U LT I M AT E

WEIGHT

LOSS PROGRAM

▶ Initial Medical Consultation ▶ Full Body Composition Analysis ▶ EKG (if required) ▶ RX for (3) month Appetite Suppressants ▶ (12) Weekly B12 Injections ▶ Bi-Weekly Body Composition Analysis ▶ Medication for (3) month treatment

395

$ $

NEW PATIENTS ONLY, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS.

www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

3365 E. Flamingo Road, Ste 2 Las Vegas, NV 89121 4966 S Rainbow Blvd STE 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

3365 E FLAMINGO ROAD STE 2, LAS VEGAS, NV 89121 4966 S RAINBOW BLVD STE 100, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118

@YOURDISPENSARYNV

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAZE LET US COME TO YOU!

DECEMBER 15 TH - DECEMBER 31 ST RECEIVE 25% OFF WHEN YOU SPEND $125 ON DELIVERY USE CODE “HOLIDAZE” AT DELIVERY CHECKOUT TO GET YOUR DISCOUNT!

Scan to start receiving deal notifications and loyalty points!

HENDERSON

DECATUR

EASTERN

RENO

50 Gibson Rd #170 Henderson, NV 89014 (702) 476-0420

5347 S Decatur Blvd #100 Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702) 476-0420

8605 South Eastern Ave Suite A Las Vegas, NV 89123 (702) 476-0420

100 W. Plumb Lane Reno, NV 89509 (775) 244-1420

While supplies last. This is a cannabis product. Keep out of reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Promotion only valid at The Dispensary Gibson location.

SK Y HIGH

DECEMBER 31 • 10PM - 1AM • OPEN BAR PA N O R A M I C F I R E W O R K V I E W S • H A N D C R A F T E D C O C K TA I L S • F I R E P I T S E AT I N G

For more info and to make a reservations visit CircaLasVegas.com 702.247.2258 | 8 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 | @LegacyClub | @CircaLasVegas