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IN THIS ISSUE WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.
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SUPERGUIDE
Your daily events planner, starring Tyler, the Creator; Luke Bryan; The Band’s Visit; Sarah Hester Ross; the Golden Knights vs. Colorado and more.
FEATURE Tips for an out-ofthe-box Valentine’s Day date.
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FOOD & DRINK Diving into the sushi, sake and Japanese whisky of Downtown joint Yu-Or-Mi.
THE WEEKLY Q&A Talking 10 years of the Mob Museum with President and CEO Jonathan Ullman.
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VEGAS INC
Las Vegas’ housing market set records in 2021. What’s next?
COVER STORY The Bengals’ improbable run, Raiders connections, proposition tips and other Super Bowl 56 storylines. (Courtesy)
ON THE COVER
SUPER BOWL 56 AP Photo Shutterstock Photo Illustration
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NIGHTS Legendary Vegas venue Light returns with new sound and lighting, and star openingweekend headliners.
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SUPERGUIDE MUSIC
SPORTS
PARTY
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THURSDAY 10
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY COMEDY
MISC
FEB.
VICE 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv. com. LOVE POTION ROMANTIC MIXOLOGY EXPERIENCE 6 p.m., the Sanctuary at Area15, area15. com. JIM BRICKMAN 7 p.m., thru 2/12 (& 3 p.m. 2/12), Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com. DAM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Thru 2/14, times vary, online, damshortfilm. org.
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ACRAZE 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events. taogroup.com. THE STORY OF THE MOB MUSEUM 7 p.m., Mob Museum, themob museum.org.
VIRAL LIVE WITH SARAH HESTER ROSS Following a notable initial run of an all-original live music and comedy show at Neonopolis entertainment stronghold Notoriety, singer, pianist and dirty joke expert Sarah Hester Ross is back with something different, inspired by her own pandemic-era success on social media. Viral Live sees Ross hosting an alt-comedy variety show featuring a rotating cast of “internet all-stars” you might have seen on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, including comedian and Trump impersonator John Di Domenico, songwriter and comedian Tom McGovern, singing prankster puppet Toiley T. Paper, “Mind Noodler” Matt Donnelly and many more. Every Thursday night show (stretching through March) will be different, but definitely loaded with laughs and music. 9 p.m., $35, Notoriety Live, notorietylive.com. –Brock Radke (Photograph by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
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 .
JONNY MYSTERY & MAYNEFRAME With PDot, AndyOowops 8 p.m., Oddwood, oddwoodbar. com. JEFF DYE 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., thru 2/13, Laugh Factory, ticketmaster. com.
LOVE IN THE DUNES BOOK LAUNCH The Las Vegas Writes series is one of this town’s stealth treasures: a yearly anthology featuring an ever-changing assortment of Southern Nevada-based artists and writers, each bringing their individual perspective to a specific topic. This installment—the 12th in the series—is Love in the Dunes: Las Vegas Writers on Passion and Heartache, and it features the talents of Emily Bordelove, Melissa Bowles-Terry, Bob Dancer, Kim Idol, Heather Lang-Cassera, Nicole Minton, Jen Nails, Mauricio Ortiz Zaragoza, Krystal Ramirez, Brett Riley, Nicholas Russell, Tonya Todd and compilation editor Jarret Keene. The book aims to answer the question “Is love possible in Sin City?”, though it’s possible the book will simply unearth more questions, because both love and Las Vegas are like that. Hear the authors read from their works, and secure your own copy of the book, at this Nevada Humanities-sponsored event. 6:30 p.m., free, the Writer’s Block, thewritersblock.org. –Geoff Carter
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TIËSTO 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv. com.
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The first two residencies to open at Resorts World have easily eclipsed expectations. Now it’s Luke Bryan’s turn, and if you didn’t already know, this country music chart-topper and American Idol judge might be one of the best-positioned artists ever to hit the Vegas stage. He’s got brands for days, from Two Lane beer and hard seltzer to Luke’s 32 Bridge restaurant, bar and live music venue in Nashville. Last month he held his seventh Crash My Playa music festival on a private Mexican beach before announcing his Raised Up Right tour, launching in June and hitting more than 30 cities through October. Even for an artist and personality who has already made his mark, Vegas provides an opportunity for Bryan to take things to another level. February 11-12 & 16, 8 p.m., $78+, Resorts World Theater, axs.com. –Brock Radke LIQUID RED NAUGHTY & NICE VALENTINE’S BALL 9 p.m., Artifice, eventbrite.com. FRED FALKE 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv. com.
MUSTARD 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, marqueelvnc. taogroup.com.
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CARLOS GUERRERO & THE MARK HUFF BAND 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com.
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NEVADA CONSERVATORY THEATRE: THE BEAUX’ STRATAGEM 7:30 p.m., Thru 2/13, Judy Bayley Theatre, unlv.edu
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BRODY JENNER & DEVIN LUCIEN 10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taolvnc. taogroup.com.
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SHANIA TWAIN & 2/12 & 2/14, 8 p.m., Zappos Theater, ticket master.com.
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KYGO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. WIZ KHALIFA 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.
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10:30 p.m., Light Nightclub, the lightvegas.com. (AP Photo)
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SUPERGUIDE SATURDAY 12 FEB.
LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC: BEETHOVEN 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com. SAM HUNT 10:30 p.m., Light Nightclub, thelightvegas. com. COMRADE DAY 2022 12:30, 3 & 5:30 p.m., CraftHaus Brewery, eventbrite.com.
ANA GABRIEL 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.
ZEDD 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SAN DIEGO STATE 2 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.
2 CHAINZ 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com. MARSHMELLO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.
GRIM REEFER With Häxa, Plague Doctor, 9 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com. MARTIN GARRIX 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, hakkasangroup. com. EDEN ESPINOSA 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
COLOR RUN 5K
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8 a.m., 945 Fremont Street, thecolorrun.com. (Shutterstock)
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 .
TOWNSHIP REBELLION With Bad Beat, Christian Jones, 10 p.m., the Portal at Area15 seetickets.us. LP AND THE VINYL 2 p.m., West Las Vegas Library; 7 p.m., West Charleston Library, lvccld. org.
TYLER, THE CREATOR AT MICHELOB ULTRA ARENA Tyler, the Creator’s set at last year’s Day N Vegas festival, in which the rap star blistered through 90 minutes of hip-hop performance art, lives in our minds. And the 30-year-old’s most recent albums— Flower Boy, Igor and Call Me If You Get Lost— have served as a threeact demonstration of Tyler’s musical and emotional growth. He’ll bring his next persona, the ushanka-wearing Tyler Baudelaire, to the stage for this Call Me If You Get Lost tour stop, with a stacked undercard that includes West Coast rap sensation Vince Staples, R&B singer-songwriter Kali Uchis (of the topstreamed Tyler collab “See You Again”) and Teezo Touchdown, a pop-punk Texas rapper with nail hair. February 12, $99-$178, 7 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. –Amber Sampson
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GUCCI MANE 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com. (Courtesy/Atlantic Records)
SPECTRUM: A VALENTINE’S NIGHT OF LOVE SONGS 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.
CHRIS RUGGIERO 2 p.m., Notoriety, notorietylive. com. UNLV JAZZ COMBO: VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERT 3 p.m., Summerlin Library, lvccld.org.
PAULY SHORE 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster. com. A PUBLIC FIT: RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS 7 p.m., & 2/11 (& 2 p.m., 2/122/13), the Usual Place, apublicfit.org.
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VALENTINE’S DAY COMEDY SHOW 8 p.m., Delirious Comedy Club, downtown grand.com.
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CLOUD9 IMMERSIVE INDOOR PICNIC
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Spend Valentine’s Day with your loved one inside a whimsical, neon-lit wonderland. The Portal at Area15 hosts this dreamy, oneof-a-kind date night, during which you and your partner will enjoy a bottle of Veuve Champagne, a threecourse dinner and a picnic basket filled with festive surprises. Throughout the evening, you’ll be able to send your sweetheart custom love notes and create a custom glow art painting, with prizes awarded for the best art. 5:30 & 8:15 p.m., $375, area15.com. –Evelyn Mateos
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Mob bosses, showgirls, neon signs, sex. Las Vegas boasts such a rich history, we need a museum for everything. One of our most glamorous additions has been the Burlesque Hall of Fame, a museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of burlesque and all its glory. Thousands of costumes, photos and stage props reside there, and on February 13, the museum will bring that history to Tease: A Burlesque Revue at the Space. A cast of burlesque legends, accompanied by some of today’s top entertainers will share the stage for a sexy evening that also promises a ton of laughs. All proceeds benefit the Burlesque Hall of Fame. 8 p.m., $20-$40, the Space, thespacelv.com. –Amber Sampson
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TEASE: A BURLESQUE REVUE
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SPORTS
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TUESDAY 15
ARTS
FEB.
TYGA 10:30 p.m., Omnia, taogroup.com.
FRANKIE MORENO 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.
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10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com. (Photo courtesy)
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VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE Fans of both teams remember: The Golden Knights fell behind 0-2 in last year’s playoff series before reeling off four straight victories—outscoring Colorado 17-8 in those wins—to oust the favored Avalanche from the playoffs and advance to the NHL’s Final Four. When the rivalry picks up again at T-Mobile Arena, Vegas will find itself up against arguably the hottest team in the league. At press time, Colorado had gone 15-2 since the calendar flipped to 2022, and with Avs stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar flying around the ice, capable of scoring from all angles, the Golden Knights will likely need one of their best efforts of the season to come out on top in this battle of division leaders. 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. –Spencer Patterson
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EAST FOREST CEREMONY CONCERT 6 p.m., Portal at Area15, area15.com.
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UNLV SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: DON QUIXOTE BY RICHARD STRAUSS 7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu.
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. FRESNO STATE 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.
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Number of Tony awards won by David Yazbek and Itamar Moses’ The Band’s Visit: 10, including Best Musical. Number of times this story has been told anew: three (first as a 2007 film directed by Eran Kolirin, and then as a 2016 Off-Broadway production based on the film, and then as a 2017 Broadway production adapted from the Off-Broadway show.) Number of years we’ve waited for this celebrated Broadway hit to come to the Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall: way too many, as the pandemic slowed its arrival. Now, at long last, we can see what happens to the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra when a misunderstood Egyptian accent re-routes their tour from the Israeli city of Petah Tikva to the small desert town of Bet Hatikva. Number of chances you’ll have to see a production The New York Times called “one of the most ravishing musicals you will ever be seduced by … an honest-to-God musical for grown-ups”: eight, spread over five days. February 15-20, times vary, $30-$148. Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. –Geoff Carter
FEB.
GALACTIC With Too Many Zooz, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com.
MISC
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REWARDS APP
AND RECEIVE A
FREE EIGHTH FOR SIGNING UP
$20 Purchase required to redeem offer. While supplies last, promotion is subject to change or end without notice. Limit one per customer. See store for details. Management reserves all rights. Keep out of reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older.
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MOB MENTALITY
Reflecting on the Mob Museum’s first 10 years with President and CEO Jonathan Ullman BY AMBER SAMPSON
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ne does not simply visit the Mob Museum casually. It’s an experience reserved for several hours and possibly even days, according to museum President and CEO Jonathan Ullman. “We knew we wanted it to be rich,” he says. “We didn’t want to distill it down to where you go through it once and it takes you 60 to 90 minutes.” Thousands descend upon the award-winning destination annually to learn more about Las Vegas’ historical mob era. In response, the museum vies to stay relevant for every age and demographic. “So by nature,” Ullman says, “it’s got to continue to evolve.” Since the museum opened in 2012, it has undergone renovations, unveiled more exhibits, received national recognition and steadfastly served the Las Vegas community through educational outreach impacting 25,000 students and seniors. As the museum’s 10-year anniversary approaches on February 14, the Weekly chatted with Ullman about its growth, his favorite exhibits and society’s persistent fascination with the mob. The Mob Museum surpassed 100,000 visitors in its first year. It recently welcomed its 3 millionth. What has it been like to watch the museum flourish over a decade? It’s enormously gratifying. We’ve come a long way, and I can’t underscore how many hands have been in this process. …
It started with the City of Las Vegas, under Mayor Oscar Goodman. It was really first his vision about recognizing the opportunity to get this building. It’s a former federal building, former U.S. box office and federal courthouse, which is part of why it’s so relevant to us, specifically because of the courtroom and events that took place in the courtroom. It’s also a wonderful landmark. … Las Vegas isn’t great about preserving old buildings; they typically blow them up. So here you have one of the best examples of neoclassical architecture you will find anywhere in Las Vegas beautifully restored. … What Oscar and the other staff at the city recognized back then was, this was a real opportunity to revitalize Downtown by doing something that would attract visitors and new audiences, and doing something that makes sense for us, and is unique and enticing. … I’m not certain you can point to a more successful public-private endeavor than what we’ve had here. The city did much of the initial heavy lifting, but then a group of community members who formed the board, incorporated the organization and basically created the museum, took it forward and created something magical. A decade in, why do you think the museum still resonates with people? Part of it is that you can’t tell American history, you can’t tell Las Vegas history, without talking about organized crime and law. It’s just interwo-
ven into our story. It’s also for the same reasons that this topic is so compelling in popular culture. It’s fascinating to people. They love to hear the stories of good versus evil. It’s cops and robbers. And in many respects, the real stories are as fascinating as anything that you could ever concoct for movies or television. You’ve got tons of appeal. The Mob Museum boasts four floors of historical artifacts. Which exhibits are your personal favorites and why? Some of the exhibits we’ve had from day one I still love, like the wiretap interactives. How cool is it to be able to listen to recordings of Kansas City crime bosses, or John Gotti? Recordings that were used as evidence in prosecutions. I love that. I love the courtroom program. It tells the story of the Kefauver committee trials, one of the hearings that took place in our building, and that’s such an amazing room to be in. It’s been restored as it was, and it’s awesome. … We also have the wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, which was such an extraordinarily pivotal event when you talk about the history of organized crime and law enforcement in the Prohibition era and what really raised a very broad awareness of how bad this activity and bad these people were, Al Capone in particular. … Adjacent to the wall, we have all the ballistic evidence that was gathered from the scene of that crime. … It was one of the first times ever that they were
able to use forensic science to link a weapon to a crime. … And I think that’s one of the really wonderful sub-themes of the museum. … As the criminals are doing these different rackets, how does law enforcement evolve in how they pursue the criminals and prosecute the crimes? … We have this evolution or progression, as opposed to just thinking about it in terms of discrete time periods and events. There’s a thread that flows through it. That’s really fascinating. The museum has hosted more than 300 public programs, where experts have discussed other crime topics, unrelated to the mob. What was behind that shift in focus? Our mission is fundamentally about organized crime and its impact on society. But there is, particularly when you talk about Las Vegas history, a lot of ancillary history, or history that’s interwoven that is still relevant. When you talk about law enforcement and some of these other topics, the methods [they] used to pursue criminals and investigate cases aren’t necessarily limited to organized crime. … It’s both about us being a museum about law enforcement and being a museum in and of itself. Serving our community and being a place where people can gather and better understand different topics, that motivates us to put on programs. And you can have a little more latitude with the types of programs you do than, say, permanent exhibitions. We’ll do programs like community safety forums. We’ll do programs about forensic science. We’ll do programs that are historical in nature. … The programming can really span a gamut of things, particularly when you get into contemporary issues—stuff about police reform or things that might be on a referendum for an upcoming election. How [to] help people understand issues so they can be more informed citizens and make better decisions about the world they live in.
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Jonathan Ullman (Christopher DeVargas/ Staff)
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
The Massacre Tommy Guns: A Special Display of Historic Firearms February 14, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Limited Edition Moonshine February 14, noon-6 p.m., the Underground Speakeasy Undercover of the Night Gala February 17, 7 p.m.
Q & A
Rose and Lavender Aviation Anniversary Cocktail Throughout February, the Underground Speakeasy
W E E K L Y
Free Admission to the Mob Museum February 14, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (with Nevada ID)
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The Story of the Mob Museum: Celebrating Its Past, Charting Its Future February 10, 7 p.m.
Q+A
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
SUPER BOWL 56 RAMS VS. BENGALS
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Where: SoFi Stadium in LA
Radio: 1100-AM & 98.9-FM Betting line: Rams -4.5, over/under: 48.5
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omeone could have made a fortune betting on the Cincinnati Bengals over the past two months. It’s just too bad no one was actually betting on the Cincinnati Bengals over the past two months. The consummate underdog Bengals roll into Super Bowl 56 on February 13 against the Los Angeles Rams having covered the point spread in seven straight games, including in all three of their playoff contests. But sportsbooks have been the ones benefiting the most from their ascent, as bookmakers far and wide have reported lopsided action against the Bengals every step of the way. “The public definitely did not play them at all during the playoffs,” says Jay Kornegay, vice president of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. “When they played the Raiders [in the wild-card round], it was pretty well-balanced but maybe a little in favor of the Raiders. But [in the divisional round],
mortgaged their future to win now. They haven’t made a firstround pick in the NFL Draft since 2016 and have already traded away their top selection in each of the next two years. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy that has largely paid off. The Rams have now made two Super Bowl trips in four years (they lost to the Patriots 13-3 as 2.5-point underdogs in 2019) and their roster boasts the star power befitting of their new Hollywood home. Among the big names on the Rams’ roster are the consensus best defensive player in the NFL (defensive tackle Aaron Donald), arguably the league’s best cornerback (Jalen Ramsey) and a future Hall of Fame left tackle (Andrew Whitworth who ironically spent most of his career with the Bengals). Meanwhile, Cooper Kupp gained 1,965 yards from scrimmage this season to set the all-time NFL record among wide receivers. It’s no surprise that bookmakers are bracing for Kupp to be perhaps the most popularly bet player in the annually colossal offering of Super Bowl proposition wagers. Odds to win the Super Bowl MVP were one of the first sets of exotic wagers put up at Caesars Sports, where Kupp went from 9-to-1 to 5-to-1 after a slew of action, including one $6,000 wager. “He’s just somebody that everybody likes to root for, and, if he has any type of a decent game, he’s going to get a lot of votes,” says Adam Pullen, Caesars Sports assistant director of trading.
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they were all over Titans. It was one of the largest wins we’ve ever had. Then, of course, when they played Kansas City in the [AFC] Championship Game, 70 to 75% of the tickets were on Kansas City.” The Bengals eked out each of those games—by a total of 13 points—to put themselves in position to become the most improbable Super Bowl champion in NFL history. The SuperBook had Cincinnati at 200-to-1 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy two weeks before the season began. Last year’s Buccaneers (before they signed Tom Brady), the 2016-2017 Philadelphia Eagles and 2001-2002 New England Patriots were all 60-to-1 at one point going into the season and are currently tied as the longest-shots to ever win the title. The Bengals’ final test is a formidable one, though. Cincinnati is a 4.5-point underdog to the Rams, which, unlike the Bengals, were always included on the short list of Super Bowl contenders. LA shot down from 20- to 12-to-1 in the offseason at the SuperBook when the Rams traded for longtime Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, and never got any higher than that. The average preseason future price of the past 10 Super Bowl champions is 13-to-1. “The Rams, with the moves they’ve made from Stafford and then in the season with [defensive end] Von Miller and [wide receiver] Odell Beckham, they’ve been on them,” Jason McCormick, Station Casinos’ vice president of race and sports, says of season-long betting interest. The Rams have repeatedly
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Can the longshot Bengals make betting history against the favored Rams?
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Donald is another player whose odds have dropped in the MVP market, as the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year went from 30- to 12-to-1. The last defensive player to win the MVP award was his teammate Miller, who earned the honors at Super Bowl 50, when he led the Denver Broncos past the Carolina Panthers. The Bengals have less of a veteran presence to lean on; second-year quarterback Joe Burrow and rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase have ascended to the faces of their franchise. Burrow and Chase have quickly become household names by reuniting in Cincinnati two years after leading LSU to the College Football Playoff national championship, but they aren’t the established stars typically highlighted in the Super Bowl. The relative unfamiliarity with the Bengals’ personnel has certainly played a role in most bettors doubting them, a trend that continued after the Super Bowl matchup was set. All the early money was on the Rams, pushing them from as low as 3.5-point favorites at open. The largest wagers, certainly those of the seven-figure variety, tend to come in the last few days before kickoff, but some notable ones surfaced on the Rams immediately. Caesars took one $522,500 wager on LA -4 hours after the matchup materialized, and a $180,000 bet to win $100,000 on the money line for the Rams to win outright. “It won’t be that lopsided, but I would expect a few more tickets on LA than Cincinnati by kickoff,” Kornegay says. “But there are going to be a lot of moneyline bets on the Bengals. They’ve won a lot of hearts and minds out there. There are a lot of people warming up to the Bengals.” Cincinnati has gotten as high as +176 (risking $100 to win $176) to win the game on the moneyline, implying a slightly better than a 1-in-3 chance. That’s a relatively high price compared to recent Super Bowls underdogs, but astronomically low considering how far up the betting board the Bengals started out this season. Few saw their breakout coming off a 4-11-1 campaign last season that included Burrow tearing his ACL late in the year and requiring surgery. But if Cincinnati pulls off one more upset against another team that should have it outmanned, few will forget the unlikeliest Super Bowl champion ever. “They’ve been a tough team to figure out during the year,” McCormick says. “But with the young Joe Burrow, the story of the Bengals is a great story.”
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The Raiders’ new power duo is being tasked with building on its Super Bowl legacy—in Las Vegas
BY CASE KEEFER Seated behind a display of his franchise’s three Lombardi trophies, Raiders owner Mark Davis mentioned “Super Bowl” within a minute of introducing his hires to fill the team’s head-coaching and general manager vacancies on January 31. Davis also closed out the 44-minute news conference by talking about the same thing, so the expectations for new general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels are both crystal-clear and sky-high. Davis isn’t bringing in two contributors
to the New England Patriots’ dynasty for a rebuild, as some analysts suggested and many fans feared. “It’s just taking this to the next level and getting to that Super Bowl and winning some championships,” Davis said. McDaniels and Ziegler have proven they’re championship-caliber, at least in the framework of the Patriots’ organization. McDaniels served as a coach for all six New England Super Bowl-winning teams over the past two decades, the most recent three as offensive coordinator.
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Josh McDaniels, left, and Dave Ziegler (Christopher DeVargas/Photo Illustration)
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1990s. Ziegler was the first general manager the Raiders interviewed, and Davis remembered asking him who would be his ideal head coach. When Ziegler answered with McDaniels’ name, Davis said he wasn’t aware he was available. “He will be if I come here,” Ziegler said in a response that piqued Davis’ interest. McDaniels, by his own admission, has been highly selective with the jobs he has considered, so the Raiders might have been a curious choice on the surface. Although they made the playoffs last year, it has been 20 years since they won so much as a divisional title. Being asked to step in and compete for Super Bowls right away might have been a turnoff to some candidates, but McDaniels and Ziegler seem confident enough in their previous experiences to believe they can do it again somewhere else. “Their commitment to winning is easy to feel, to see, and walking through this building and having a sense of the history and tradition of this organization and how much it impacts the day-to-day here really hit me,” McDaniels said. “Feeling their commitment and understanding that really married up to what my vision would be for another opportunity.”
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Ziegler must prove he can thrive without Bill Belichick. Ziegler has been considered a rising star among NFL front-office types in the past couple of years, but he never held final personnel say over the legendary coach while with the Patriots. “Bill is a forward-thinker,” Ziegler said when asked how Belichick shaped him. “It’s not just about a decision in the moment, it’s about how a decision can impact what we’re going to do in 2022, in 2023, and just to really
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Ziegler earned three rings as a personnel executive. To repeat such success in Las Vegas, that duo will need to step from a pair of long shadows. McDaniels must prove he can thrive without Tom Brady. The offenses McDaniels has headed that didn’t include the player widely considered to be the best quarterback of all-time—including during a two-year stint as a head coach in Denver in 2009 and 2010—have been collectively mediocre.
have an understanding of how decisions can impact different parts of the organization.” No one is underestimating the importance of the biggest decision Ziegler and McDaniels will need to make in the coming months. The two will need to decide what to do with quarterback Derek Carr, who’s entering the final year of his contract and will likely either need to be extended or traded. Carr has spent the past eight years as the Raiders’ quarterback and holds most of the franchise’s passing records, but he has never won a playoff game. The new staff could make it easier to move on, especially in an offseason that looks like it will have more league-wide quarterback turnover than usual. Superstars Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson could both be on new teams for the first time in their careers, for instance, and both reportedly expressed interest in Las Vegas last offseason. McDaniels gave Carr a vow of confidence, saying, “There’s no question that we have the capacity and capability of winning with Derek,” but Ziegler was noncommittal when asked about long-term plans at the game’s most important position. “Step one is building the relationship, understanding what Derek does well and Derek understanding what Josh and the offensive staff is trying to build,” Ziegler said. “I think as that collaboration goes, then you kind of see how everything fits together.” There’s little doubt that Ziegler and McDaniels fit together. They’ve been close since their days as college roommates at John Carroll University in Northeast Ohio in the mid-
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Ja’Marr Chase Kendall Blanton
MAXIMIZING MISMATCHES
A five-step plan for attacking the mountain of Super Bowl props BY CASE KEEFER
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With hundreds of ways to bet Super Bowl 56 at every sportsbook, one can feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to start. Employing a strategy to whittle down the betting board can help, so let’s zero in on five mismatches and how to take advantage of them at Nevada’s biggest sportsbook operator, Caesars Sports (formerly William Hill).
MISMATCH: Rams’ defensive line vs. Bengals’ offensive line This is the most obvious disparity in the game, and that almost can’t be overstated. The Rams have one of the best defensive lines of the past several years in the NFL and rate first in the league in defensive pass-rush win rate. The Bengals rank 31st in the league in offensive pass-rush win rate. BET: Over 5 total sacks in the game -130 (i.e. risking $130 to win $100) The Bengals also have an above-average pass rush that will go up against a good, but not great, Rams’ offensive line. Cincinnati should be able to chip in a sack or two itself and let Los Angeles do the rest in cashing this ticket.
MISMATCH: Bengals’ coverage against tight ends vs. Rams tight end Kendall Blanton Cincinnati rates 24th in the league against opposing tight ends by Football Outsiders’ DVOA ratings. Rams starter Tyler Higbee might have run wild in this matchup, but he suffered a knee injury against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, and even if he plays, he won’t be at full strength. Luckily for the Rams, Blanton proved he was capable of holding a bigger role, with five catches for 57 yards to help beat the 49ers. BET: Blanton over 21.5 receiving yards This number is too short, perhaps overestimating the chance that Higbee plays close to his full allotment at snaps. It might also be worth looking at backing Blanton to score a touchdown at +340 (i.e. risking $100 to win $340).
MISMATCH: Rams’ deep pass coverage vs. Bengals’ usual game-plan There’s no doubt Cincinnati will look to manufacture several deep shots from quarterback Joe Burrow to receiver Ja’Marr Chase, but those plays might not be as readily available as they have been throughout the season. The Rams are second in defending deep passes per DVOA. Superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey will pose a significant test for the rookie Chase. BET: Chase under 82.5 receiving yards Targeting under 28.5 for Chase’s longest reception is also worthwhile, but this bet gives a little more wiggle room in case he slips away and gets into the open field on one occasion or two.
MISMATCH: Bengals’ rush defense vs. Rams running back Cam Akers Not all our mismatches can be pro-Rams, right? To mix in one for the Bengals, let’s look to the season as a whole, where they’ve been solid against the run. That’s somewhat hidden, because Cincinnati has given up steady production on the ground in the playoffs, but that’s largely because it has played better running teams than LA. The Rams’ running game has plummeted in efficiency since losing starter Darrell Henderson to a knee injury late in the season. BET: Akers under 64.5 rushing yards Everyone is rooting for Akers, because he’s a great story, having returned only five months after tearing his Achilles to play in the postseason. But he hasn’t looked the same, gaining only 151 yards on 54 carries—2.8 yards per carry—in three games.
MISMATCH: Rams vs. Bengals The overall quality of these rosters is about as wide a gap as the Super Bowl has produced in many years. No, the current line of Rams -4.5 doesn’t seem short when weighing what has happened late in the season. But it would have seemed short for most of the season. It still could arguably be a couple points short if you believe the Rams deserve any home-field advantage for the Super Bowl being played at their own SoFi Stadium. BET: Rams alternate line -10.5 +225 (i.e. risking $100 to win $225) Six straight years passed without a Super Bowl blowout, but there’s a good chance that a second lopsided outcome in a row is on the way.
(AP Photos/Photo Illustrations)
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Damion Square could win a Super Bowl with the Bengals after spending most of this season with the Raiders BY CASE KEEFER
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WHERE TO WATCH
SUPER BOWL 56 VIEWING SPOTS (BEYOND SPORTSBOOKS AND BARS)
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CIRCA’S STADIUM SWIM Watch the Rams and Bengals match up on a 143-foot, 14 million-megapixel big screen, while soaking in one of Circa’s six heated pools. The property has a variety of special packages on offer, including day beds, cabanas and the ultimate “owners suite” experience. circalasvegas.com
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EMPORIUM ARCADE BAR Area15’s video gaming hub will show the game on eight big screens, while offering pre- and midgame drink specials and pizza from Todd English’s the Beast. emporiumarcadebar.com.
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LARRY FLYNT’S HUSTLER CLUB The gentlemen’s club’s Super Bowl party brings the game to 35 TVs, complete with food from the rooftop Terrance Mediterranean restaurant, bottle specials, premium cigars, entertainers including adult star Karma RX and giveaways. vegashustlerclub.com.
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HYPERX ARENA The Luxor’s esports home will beam the game onto its LED video wall while serving up bites and booze. Tables, lounges and VIP rooms are also available. eventbrite.com.
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DOWNTOWN CONTAINER PARK The Super Bowl party on the lawn is free to attend. One day earlier, the same Fremont East venue will host a Tailgate Beer Bash, including bottomless beers, for $40. bit.ly/3nYozzm
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one week. Las Vegas claimed him from Chicago following a Week 1 win over Baltimore in which it lost defensive tackle Gerald McCoy for the season. The Raiders cut Square three months later but re-signed him to the practice squad once he cleared waivers. The defensive line proved to be the Raiders’ biggest strength this season, and with a logjam of players competing for playing time, Square wasn’t always on the gameday roster. He was active in nine of a possible 16 games and earned praise from Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley for his team-first attitude and consistent preparation. “He’s one of those guys that’s helped set the standard,” Bradley said going into the playoffs. Bradley has coached Square for five consecutive seasons; the pair spent the previous four years with the Los Angeles Chargers. Square was one of eight defensive players Bradley brought to Las Vegas with whom he had worked previously, and one of four who played for Bradley with the Chargers. Familiarity with veteran leaders like linebacker Denzel Perryman and cornerback Casey Hayward allowed Square to fit in quickly, and he eventually became a highly respected teammate. Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby was among those singing the praises of Square, known as a dependable run-stopper. Bradley continually referred to the defense as a “tight-knit group,” so even though the hurt of losing to the Bengals might be fresh, many Raiders will likely be rooting for him on Super Bowl Sunday. “He’s a quick study as far as understanding what you’re asking out of the position,” Bradley said of Square earlier in the season. “He can step in and play pretty quickly if needed, so he brings that part of it and is just a really tremendous leader.”
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amion Square must have made quite the impression on the Bengals a month ago in the wildcard round of the NFL Playoffs. The then-Raiders’ reserve defensive tackle had his best game of the year when Las Vegas narrowly fell in Cincinnati, racking up three tackles, including one for a loss, in his final performance in silver and black. The 32-year-old veteran out of the University of Alabama was so impactful, in fact, that a few days later, Cincinnati called his agent and wanted to sign him. “I’d love to play for the Bengals next year,” Square responded, according to the team’s website. They weren’t talking about next year, however. They wanted him immediately, having lost starting defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi for the rest of the playoffs. Since Las Vegas had signed Square as a practice-squad player, his contract automatically expired at the conclusion of the team’s season. So, before Cincinnati’s divisional-round victory over the Tennessee, the 32-year-old joined the Bengals. He debuted on the field in orange and black during the Bengals’ AFC Championship Game win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Square didn’t get on the stats sheet, but he logged 15 snaps to become the first player in NFL history to play for two different teams in the same postseason. “It’s kind of weird … but it’s really exciting,” Square told Bengals.com before the game. “This is the farthest I’ve ever been in the playoffs.” Square must also rank among the most-transacted players in a single-season in NFL history. The Bengals are the fifth team for which Square has played this season. He spent part of training camp with both the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints before landing on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad for all of
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How to go beyond dinner and a show this Valentine’s Day BY EVELYN MATEOS
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ove can be celebrated all year long, but it feels good to go above and beyond to commemorate your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. Of course, a dinner reservation and/or tickets to a show can be the ingredients for a great night out, but few things are more romantic than experiencing new adventures together. Surprise your significant other this year with a new kind of date. Here are a few swoon-worthy ideas to get you started.
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Cruise the lake Lake Mead Cruises offers spectacular views of Lake Mead and landmarks like the vibrant Arizona Paint Pots and the Hoover Dam aboard the Desert Princess, a three-level paddle-wheeler. Enjoy the sunshine with a midday sightseeing cruise or add in a meal with a brunch or dinner cruise.
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Romantic retreat Roses are red, violets are blue … a spa day with your boo is long overdue! Treat your partner— and yourself—with a deep tissue massage or facial. The Strip has plenty of superb spas from which to choose, including the Spa at Encore, Qua Baths at Caesars Palace and the Spa & Salon at Aria. A Touch of Las Vegas Spa, located off the strip, also has similar amenities and excellent reviews.
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Hit the slopes If you and your significant other are feeling adventurous, snag a lift ticket and go snowboarding at Lee Canyon. And when you’ve had enough of the slopes for the day, snap some pictures and enjoy hot cocoa together before heading back home.
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V-Day getaway Spoil your partner by taking them on a staycation. Enjoy the Strip resorts from a tourist perspective, try your luck at the casino or maybe just stay in and order room service. There are quality offStrip options, too, like Red Rock Resort, which has great amenities of its own and those of adjacent Downtown Summerlin, too.
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Soaring over town Love is in the air, so why not fly thousands of feet above the desert in a hot air balloon? The fresh air and breathtaking views will be a memory you and your valentine will cherish for years to come. Both Vegas Balloon Rides and Las Vegas Balloon Rides offer sunrise flights and treats upon landing.
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Winter hideaway Sweep your partner away to a charming cabin this Valentine’s Day. Enjoy a bottle of wine with your favorite love songs playing in the background and cozy up by the fire together. The holiday lands on a Monday this year, so it’s a perfect excuse to enjoy a cabin all weekend long. Accommodations are available at Mt. Charleston Lodge.
Red Rock Resort (Steve Marcus/ Staff); Lake Mead Cruises & Vegas Balloon Rides (Courtesy); others (Shutterstock/ Photo Illustration)
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Go for a climb Share peaceful moments together and take in picturesque views on one of Las Vegas beautiful hiking trails. With its sandstone escarpment and thickets of Joshua trees, Red Rock Canyon has dozens of scenic hiking trails. We suggest heading out early in the morning or late in the afternoon to take advantage of full golden hour glory.
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Fun and games Add nostalgic fun to your Valentine’s Day by heading to an arcade. Emporium Arcade Bar at Area15 has everything you need for a classic arcade experience, along with specialty cocktails and a beer list featuring local breweries. Or try Adventuredome at Circus Circus, where you’ll find your favorite games, along with a virtual reality room, coasters and laser tag.
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Screen time Put a new twist in the old film night by taking over an entire movie theater. Enjoy your favorite snacks and the company of your partner in the comfort of a private auditorium. At AMC Theaters, Cinemark and Regal you can catch current films or fan favorites, and Galaxy Theatres also offers the option of playing Blu-rays or video games on its large screens.
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Mini golf The Twilight Zone course at Bally’s never disappoints with its glowing colors and unique visual experience. The same can be said for the Kiss course at Rio, and you can enjoy the band’s hits while you play. Another great option is the Rex Center, which offers an 18-hole course featuring unique golfing obstacles like water hazards, moving holes and more.
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ENTERTAINMENT
NEWS
WATCH THIS UNLV’s men’s basketball team plays at Boise State February 11 at 8 p.m. on FS1.
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ROLLING STONE BUYS LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL EXPANSION INTO OTHER CITIES IS EXPECTED Downtown Las Vegas’ Life Is Beautiful music and arts festival could soon be expanding to other cities. Rolling Stone, the longtime music and culture magazine, has acquired a majority stake in the event, the publication announced February 4. The festival will continue to be an annual occurrence Downtown, where it debuted in 2013 and annually brings more than 150,000 festivalgoers to the area. The deal is part of a larger push by Rolling Stone, and its parent company Penske Media Corporation, to make further inroads into the live event space. The magazine said it will bring the festival to “other territories.” “Live events have to have the ability to tell stories and create a narrative and impact through content just beyond the event itself that happens once a year,” Rolling Stone CEO Gus Wenner said in the magazine’s story announcing the news. As for the festival’s local operations, Life Is Beautiful CEO David Oehm tells the Weekly, “Our team will continue to run the festival as we always have. We have the best people in the business.” The 2022 Las Vegas event is set for September 16-18. Sign up for lineup and ticket announcements at lifeisbeautiful.com. The 2021 edition featured Billie Eilish, Green Day, Tame Impala, Megan Thee Stallion, Glass Animals, St. Vincent, Haim, Modest Mouse, A$ap Rocky, Ludacris and Willow Smith, among others. (CourtesyAlive Coverage/Sipa USA)
Jonathan Marchessault (left) plays in the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
SPORTS
SPOTLIGHT ON MARCHESSAULT A week that started in Mexico turned into quite the next few days for Jonathan Marchessault. The Golden Knights’ leading goal scorer played in his first All-Star Game on February 5 at T-Mobile Arena. Marchessault was one of four representatives for the host Vegas club, joining Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo and coach Pete DeBoer. DeBoer started his guys to begin the game, much to the
delight of the home crowd. Things didn’t start well, however—the Vegas trio got scored on 13 seconds into the game. “To be out there with those two guys there is a great honor,” Marchessault said. “Not the start we wanted, but it’s OK.” Marchessault and his family were in Cabo San Lucas before he got the call as a last-minute add-on for the Pacific Division team. He had a goal and an assist in the his team’s 6-4 loss to the eventual champion
Metropolitan Division in the four-team tournament. The weekend was a well-deserved acknowledgment for Marchessault, one of the few remaining original “Golden Misfits” from the inaugural 2017-2018 season. “First year, we didn’t know if we were going to win 10 games and have a sold-out barn, and look where we are now,” he said. “We have the All-Star Game here.” –Danny Webster
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‘I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SILENCING JOE IS THE ANSWER.’ –SPOTIFY CEO DANIEL EK, ON CRITICISM OF PODCASTER JOE ROGAN
2.2.2022 BY THE NUMBERS
$435K
The median home price for a home sold in January in Southern Nevada, marking an increase of $90,000 over the course of a year. That’s $10,000 more than in December, setting an all-time record.
LIFTOFF AT AREA15 Journalists and invited guests take a ride during the unveiling of Liftoff, a new attraction at Area15, on February 2. Guests ride to the top of a 130-foottall, helix-shaped tower with a panoramic view of the city and the Las Vegas Strip. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
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PROBE OF REGENTS FINDS POSSIBLE ETHICS VIOLATIONS BUT NO GENDER BIAS Investigators looking into allegations brought by Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Melody Rose against two ranking members of the Nevada Board of Regents found evidence of unprofessional behavior, including possible ethics violations, but insufficient proof of gender discrimination, according to a their report. Rose alleged in October that Regents Cathy McAdoo and Patrick Carter had undermined her authority, discriminated against her based on gender and engaged in other inappropriate behavior in an attempt to oust her. “Many of the chancellor’s comments in the complaint were based on information relayed to her by others, the meaning or intent of which could have been inadvertently modified by others or interpreted by the chancellor without the benefit of context, background, or an understanding as to another’s intent,” the report said. The investigators said, however, they found examples of “conduct that lacked collegiality” and several instances of violations of the regents’ ethical code of conduct. Those included violations of provisions requiring regents to treat all NSHE employees respectfully and to go “directly to the chancellor if a problem arises concerning the chancellor’s office or staff,” the report says. –Jessica Hill
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From left, Las Vegas city attorney Bryan Scott, Judge Johnnie Rawlinson, Judge Michael Douglas and Judge Tim Williams participate in a panel discussion at the Mob Museum on February 1.
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LEADERS
Prominent Black attorneys and judges consider Nevada’s historic—and current—efforts toward equality in their field BY ARLEIGH RODGERS PHOTOS BY WADE VANDERVORT
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ohnnie Rawlinson remembers the day Brown v. Board of Education passed in 1954, marking a legal end to segregated schools in the United States. Before that court decision, the classrooms in her elementary school were comprised by her familiar Black community members, the peers she grew up around and the teachers with whom she attended church. Then, without transition or preparation, Rawlinson and her classmates were stripped from that beloved school. She recalls that her classmates didn’t jump at the opportunity to be seated among white students, nor did the white students know how to interact with Black peers. The negative impact settled in, she says. Several of Rawlinson’s fellow Black students were pushed into vocational paths while she, often a lone Black voice in a sea of white students on a college track, was labeled “racist” for refuting their arguments that Black people should return to Africa, she remembers.
Johnnie Rawlinson
But Rawlinson’s experience wasn’t all bad, she says. As she grew up, she became a leader among her Black peers, earning spots as her high school’s first Black Honor Society member and its first Black cheerleader. Later, she would become the first female judge in the U.S. District Court for Nevada in 1998, appointed by President Bill Clinton. Then in 2000, she was selected to the U.S. District Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit, where she currently serves. Back in high school, it was clear to Rawlinson that racial representation, especially in legal spaces, allows for differing, necessary perspectives. Now, as conversations ramp up about President Joe Biden’s promise to fill outgoing Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s vacancy with a Black woman, Rawlinson calls such an appointment “long overdue.” “There have already been people talking about, if this is an
African American woman, she has to be unqualified, and that’s just unfathomable to me,” Rawlinson said during the February 1 panel “Leaders in Law: Celebrating Nevada’s Black Legal Trail Blazers” at the Mob Museum. “I think that one of the things that I bring to the court, that many of the others have not lived through, is the racism just faced by us, virtually on a daily basis.” “Leaders in Law,” jointly presented by the Mob Museum, the Clark County Black Caucus and NV Energy for Black History Month, highlighted four Black legal leaders in Nevada: Rawlinson; Michael Douglas, the first Black justice in the Nevada Supreme Court; Bryan Scott, the first (and current) Black city attorney for the City of Las Vegas; and Tim Williams, who was appointed to
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Bryan Scott
Scott, who was ratified as the city attorney by the City Council in 2020, said his law career would not be possible without his mother. Her 1952 high school diploma, which came from a segregated school in Texas, hangs in his office in City Hall. “She put me through law school
“We’re honored to have individuals who have been in the legal field for so long and have seen the changes over the years to share their insight into what is happening now and what we can do in the future.”
to law school. “The phrase that we used was, ‘Getting the best and the brightest to come back home,’” he said. “For us, it was the beginning of bringing back the best and the brightest to Las Vegas to practice in the future.” Williams spoke about his experience bringing the district court to Canyon Springs High School for an annual visit, so students could view a case play out in real time. That educational experience made the judicial system less opaque for young people, he said, something essential for those seeking a career in law. And for those not interested in becoming lawyers or judges, Williams stressed that serving on juries can be a direct way for residents to exercise their democratic rights. “I think as African Americans, some of us overlook the true power of the jury,” he said. “If you want to participate in the process and make change … go vote and when you get that summons in the mail, as it pertains to jury service, take advantage of that, and go down and serve the citizens of Clark County.”
N E W S
the District Court bench in 2006. In Nevada, Black people make up a small percentage of judges and legal professionals, due to gaps in access to law school and post-college opportunities, panel moderator Shakala Alvaranga, director of public programs for the Mob Museum, said during the discussion. All seven of Nevada’s current Supreme Court justices are white. Across the U.S., approximately 5% of all lawyers are Black, while Black Americans account for 13% of the total population, according to a 2020 American Bar Association study. Alvaranga said the panel spotlighted experts who have seen the legal landscape change throughout their careers. “We’re honored to have individuals who have been in the legal field for so long and have seen the changes over the years to share their insight into what is happening now and what we can do in the future,” she said. The panelists discussed their careers, persevering through racial inequality in law school and law work, the necessity of equal representation in the law and how they hope to fill those gaps as leaders in the field. The discussion also explored the panelists’ lives before they became lawyers. Some attributed their success to the support of their families.
herself, a single mother,” he said. “I do thank her because of … her sacrifices and what she did for us, through her deeds and through her actions and through her words, her faith in us and in God got us through and after my biggest goal.” The panelists were trailblazers from the start of their careers. When Douglas passed the bar exam in 1982, he was one of five Black students to do so that year. After moving between Pennsylvania and California, Douglas settled in Nevada, where he did pro bono work for Nevada’s poorest residents. He was then appointed as the first Black Supreme Court justice in Nevada’s history in 2004, and his term ended in 2019. That year, UNLV Boyd School of Law launched the Justice Michael L. Douglas PreLaw Fellowship Program, which educates students from diverse communities about legal jobs and the path
Tim Williams (left) and Michael Douglas
Celebrate Black History Month @ the Library District MID-DAY INSPIRATIONAL SHOWCASE & LUNCHEON
Feb. 15 at 11 a.m., West Las Vegas Library Song, dance, poetry, guest speakers, and a soul food luncheon.
ART NIGHT GALLERY RECEPTION
Feb. 17 at 5 p.m., Sahara West Library “Obsidian and Neon” by Erica Vital-Lazare and Greg Scheid, “Have a Seat in My Chair” by New Vista, and “Bold and Beautiful” by Lee Lanier.
The Mob Museum is hitting an exceptional tenth anniversary milestone on February 14, 2022 and has a robust lineup of exciting events and programs in February to commemorate this special occasion.
SUPREME DIVA: A DIANA ROSS TRIBUTE
Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Summerlin Library Alyssa Harris tributes one of music’s most iconic leading ladies.
BLACK WEEKEND 2022: KEMET IN THE DESERT SERIES
Feb. 18 & 19 at 7 p.m., West Las Vegas Library Theatre Hear presentations from master teachers of African and Egyptian history, religion, and culture.
LIVING LIBRARY LEGACY – VOICES FROM THE LAS VEGAS COMMUNITY February 10 | 7 pm - 8:30 pm The Story of The Mob Museum: Celebrating Its Past, Charting Its Future February 11 & 12 | 8 pm - Midnight Live Entertainment in The Underground February 14 | 9 am - 9 pm Free Admission For Nevada Residents and Vintage Cars Show from 10 am - 4 pm February 17 | 7 pm - 10 pm Undercover of the Night Gala February 25 | 6 pm - 9 pm Donnie Brasco: A 25th Anniversary Screening of a Mob Classic
Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m., West Las Vegas Library A night of stories, reflection, and voices from our local history featuring various guests, and a viewing of the “Joe Louis: American Hero” art installation.
CONTEMPORARY WEST DANCE THEATRE
Feb. 25 & 26 at 7:30 p.m., West Las Vegas Library Beautiful choreographic works and ballets by African American Choreographers Bernard H. Gaddis, Avree Walker, Ulysses Dove, and Milton Myers.
VOICES OF WOMEN: MAYA ANGELOU – CAGED BIRD
Feb. 26 at 3 p.m., Summerlin Library Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., West Charleston Library Vegas City Opera brings an introspection on the artistry and influence of Dr. Maya Angelou, American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.
ADDITIONAL FREE PROGRAMS FOR KIDS BÒGÒLANFINI: MUD CLOTH CRAFT FOR KIDS
Feb. 10, 17 & 24 at 4:30 p.m., Enterprise Library Calling all K-5th grade students for Craftopia! It might be messy, but it will definitely be creative and fun! Tickets are handed out at 4 p.m., as space and supplies are limited.
AFRICAN AMERICAN STORIES: FAMILY STORYTIME
Feb. 12 & 26 at 11 a.m., Enterprise Library Join our expert children’s staff every 2nd and 4th Saturday as they read a wide variety of books, sing fun songs, and engage in learning activities.
STORYTIME EXPLORERS WITH MR. BILLY
Feb. 13, 20 & 27 at 11 a.m., Whitney Library Storytimes every Sunday in February with books by Black children’s authors!
AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH: INTERESTING INVENTORS!
Feb. 17 at 4 p.m., Sunrise Library Let’s learn about African American inventors to celebrate Black History Month!
STREET ART PORTRAITS
Feb. 22 at 4 p.m., West Las Vegas Library Celebrate Black History Month by making these unique self-portraits!
For more events and programs go to
themobmuseum.org/events
Read. Watch. Listen. Learn.
Celebrate Black History Month
@ THE LIBRARY DISTRICT LVCCLD.ORG/BLACK
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LIGHT Friday & Saturday, 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-4700, thelightvegas. com.
C U L T U R E
N I G H T S
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LIGHTING THE WAY T A legendary Vegas nightclub looks to carve a new path BY BROCK RADKE
his weekend’s grand reopening of Light Nightclub at Mandalay Bay is significant beyond the fact that it’s the final major club venue on the Las Vegas Strip to return after the shutdown of 2020. The original Light opened at Bellagio in 2001 and became one of the most influential club operations in Vegas history. That spot later turned into the Bank, while Light was resurrected at Mandalay Bay in 2013, originally in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Now that Light is ready to shine again—starting with headlining performances from hip-hop legend Wyclef Jean on February 11 and country star
Sam Hunt on February 12—its comeback should make a serious impact on the south Strip, where the only big clubs can be found at MGM Grand. The last time there was a party at Light, there was no Allegiant Stadium nearby hosting events with tens of thousands of people. “The hotel feels a little different than it did two years ago, and there’s a lot of buzz on that end of the Strip,” says managing partner John Pettei. “With all the sporting events and concerts at Allegiant and being part of that whole campus, the whole area feels really activated.” A New Yorker and UNLV grad who once bussed tables at Light Bellagio,
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Light’s main room (Courtesy/Light)
Pettei admits there have been times, since the pandemic struck Las Vegas, that he wasn’t sure if one of the city’s best-known and most versatile nightclubs would come back to life again. “I was always positive when asked about opening up again in the hopes that we would, but it was definitely in the back of my mind that it might not [get a chance to] have a final night,” he says. “I almost believed that for a bit there, but I’m really glad we are returning Light to the Strip, and I know a lot of people are happy about it.” That group includes the staff, which includes many longtime team members, who are excited to work with some “new faces and new blood,” Pettei says.
The club’s clean layout hasn’t changed, but upgrades have been made to lighting and video systems. Light hallmarks, like cool visual content on multiple mega-screens and theatrical performances from dancers, aerialists and other artists, will be back. The opening-weekend headliners should set the tone for an increasingly diverse musical strategy. “We don’t want to classify Light as synonymous with one particular genre of music,” Pettei says. “It’s a place people know they can come hear top DJs and performers that span many different genres, stuff everyone can connect to and enjoy in some type of way.” There’s always been something about
Light that resonates with clubgoers beyond just another place to party. And Pettei and his team see the reopening as the start of a third life for this seminal Vegas venue. “I think Light at Bellagio really changed the whole landscape of Las Vegas nightlife, and that was 20 years ago. I connect to that legacy, because I was part of it, and there are some people still in town that worked there or know a lot about it,” Pettei says. “Outside of the name, Light at Mandalay Bay really needs to carve out its own, new legacy with this reopening. That legacy will always be there, but the key word is new, and we want people to understand that.”
Up Next...
Arabic Nights A Journey into Traditional and Contemporary Arabic Music
Saturday, February 19
Winchester Theater
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C U L T U R E
N O I S E
SHANDA & THE HOWLERS February 18, 10 p.m., free. The Golden Tiki, 702-222-3196.
FROM S THE SOUL Las Vegas’ Shanda & The Howlers make ’60s R&B original again on new LP It Ain’t Easy BY AMBER SAMPSON
handa Cisneros isn’t interested in singing pretty. The vocal powerhouse surrendered that idea long ago, after she left her cover band to create Shanda & The Howlers, a ’60s-inspired rhythm and blues outfit that has churned out hip-swinging originals since the release of 2017 debut Trouble. “I wanted to sound like a Disney movie, but I had to let that go,” Cisneros says of her formative years. “When you try to sound perfect like that, it takes away the emotion.” On the band’s new LP, It Ain’t Easy (rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy), Cisneros embraces a sound that’s as raw and authentic as the era to which she and the Howlers so affectionately pay tribute. Cisneros’ signature husky growl recalls Etta James, and the Howlers’ soulful arrangements hearken back to Otis Redding, Phil and Ronnie Spector and Motown. “We wanted to branch out a bit, show what we can do and then also not pigeonhole ourselves into only rockabilly, or only garage rock,” Cisneros says. “We wanted a retro sound, and we all appreciate the sound of the ’60s. We really love those musicians, and they influence all of us.”
Shanda & The Howlers (from left): Metz, Johnson, Cisneros and Miller (Courtesy/Robert John Kley)
It would be easy for such a band to wade into cover territory, but Shanda & The Howlers remain set on making original music that’s unmistakably … Shanda & The Howlers. “The art form has to survive,” says bassist Luke Metz, who teams with guitarist Trevor Johnson and drummer Joshua Miller as the Howlers. “We’ve all played in cover bands, which is cool, but if it’s all covers and no one’s doing new music, who’s going to cover stuff 20 years from now?” In a modern world dominated by pop and hip-hop, Shanda & The Howlers’ sound stands the test of time. The band has packed gigs at the Golden Tiki, Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend and even in Europe. So what keeps people coming back? “The word that comes to mind is always energy,” Miller says. “When that’s there, I don’t think it matters what era we’re in. When that energy is conveyed from the soul, I feel no matter who’s listening, even if they don’t like that music, they’ll still feel it and be like, ‘That’s a powerful song.’” Miller should know. When he joined UNLV’s jazz program, he learned about an unfamiliar form of music from drummer Bernie Dresel, formerly of The Brian Setzer Orchestra. “He was a rockabilly guy. When I met him, he had
the pop top, the chain wallet, the bowling shirt, and I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ They were like, ‘Yeah, this is your professor,’” Miller fondly recalls. “But what I learned is there’s this beautiful blend of attitude meeting mechanics.” Metz and Cisneros bring that attitude to the writing table, spending hours talking, trading stories and making memorable, relatable music. “We got this thing that you call romance/But you don’t hear a word I say/And you make nothin’ but excuses/But I want you anyway,’’ Cisneros rebelliously sings on “Want You Anyway,” a track about desiring someone who’s bad for you. “The fun part is writing from a woman’s point of view, but predominantly with what you would call masculine lyrics,” the singer says. “I get to say, ‘Yeah, I feel this stuff, too.’” With It Ain’t Easy out—and already receiving play on Steven Van Zandt Underground Garage SiriusXM satellite station—the band has upcoming dates booked at the Golden Tiki (February 18), SoulBelly BBQ (March 12), Backstage Bar & Billiards (April 9, opening for Shannon & The Clams) and the Sand Dollar Lounge (April 13). “We feed off the energy of the crowd,” Cisneros says, “so come on down and let’s party.”
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THE NEW MIKES
T H E
S T R I P
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Finding Magic Mike’s TV finalists move from screen to stage
C U L T U R E
BY AMBER SAMPSON
A
t this point, Magic Mike has its own cinematic universe. Steven Soderbergh’s eponymous 2012 film opened a window into the world of male strippers, one that has put Ginuwine’s “Pony” back into bachelorette party rotation, spawned a successful sequel and inspired Sahara Las Vegas’ Magic Mike Live, a critically acclaimed male revue created and co-directed by Channing Tatum. With a third Magic Mike film on the way, HBO Max expanded the stripper-verse in December with Finding Magic Mike, a reality TV series following 10 men trying to rediscover their “magic” through a dance competition with a $100,000 grand prize. Many floundered over the seven-episode series, but two contestants—Olympic-level runner Johnny Dutch and former minor league baseball player Nate Bryan—proved they could compete in the finale, performing in Magic Mike Live alongside professional dancers. Dutch emerged victorious,
MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS Sunday & Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Sahara, magicmikelive lasvegas.com.
but in a twist, both contenders were asked to join the Las Vegas show through May 29. “By the finale, I think I was on autopilot,” says Dutch, with a deep and pronounced North Carolina accent. “We were overwhelmed with so much information all at once, but that’s what it was about, seeing who could really stand under pressure.” For Dutch, working beside world-class dancers isn’t just an honor, it’s a fully realized dream. The athlete began training at age 10, but remembers being fascinated by dance even before then. “I just never told anybody,” he says. He says his mother’s very proud now, but it took time to let go of her son’s other dream. “I spent most of my life trying to hopefully become a medalist one day,” he says, “and when I decided to retire, I think she took it even harder than I took it, because it was an investment for her all these years, too.” Dutch and Bryan, with help from choreographers Alison Faulk and Luke Broadlick, learned all 11 dance numbers for Magic Mike Live in five days for the finale. Rehearsals today require the same dedication—if not more. “The choreography itself is hard. It takes an athlete to do these moves,” says Bryan, adding that he and Dutch watched the live show to prepare for their roles. “The first
Johnny Dutch (far right) and Nate Bryan (second from right) during the Finding Magic Mike finale (Magic Mike Live/Courtesy)
time I saw it, I was expecting stripping, like, solo dances. They’re taking off clothes, they’re doing a lot of pelvic thrusts and body rolls, but ... it’s more theatrical than what I anticipated.” Magic Mike Live presents a full, 360-degree experience. Wherever you are in the two-story theater, a “Mike” isn’t far off. Dancers might scale the walls, others might zipline across the stage or even pull attendees in for a thrilling time. It’s hard to imagine Bryan and Dutch, two men who’d seemingly lost their magic at the start of the series, doing any of this. But they’ve learned a thing or two about courage. In one episode, Bryan, a self-proclaimed shy guy from Indiana, let his guard (and his pants) down during a nude strip challenge, a moment he says ultimately boosted his confidence. “The biggest thing for our show was men showing our vulnerability on camera,” Dutch says. “Society tells us we always have to be tough, but rarely do you see a TV show where guys are very supportive of each other and not afraid to compliment each other, give each other hugs and be open with each other emotionally. That was our power.” The bond with the Magic Mike Live pros feels just as powerful, Bryan says. “Those guys are always lifting us up.”
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Faleminderit (Courtesy/Dam Short Film Festival)
DAM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL February 10-14, damshortfilm. org.
C U L T U R E
FEST AT YOUR
OWN PACE
The virtual world suits Boulder City’s Dam Short Film Festival well BY GEOFF CARTER
D
espite COVID’s continued chilling effect on live events, the Dam Short Film Festival is back. The Boulder Citybased film festival—ranked among Film Freeway’s top 100 best-reviewed festivals, no small feat considering film fests number in the high thousands—is streaming online for a second straight year, a necessary concession that has had the unexpected benefit of extending the festival’s reach well beyond the American southwest. “Our attendance in 2020”—the last year Dam Short held an in-person event—“was a little over 5,000 people. With the virtual festival [in 2021], we had over 6,300,” says Tsvetelina Stefanova, DSFF’s executive director. “And people told us that they watched almost every program, because they could do it on their own time. They watched programs they never would have stayed for, like the music videos or the undergrad program.” Stefanova promises that the 2022 edition of the festival—streaming online via Eventive, a user-friendly platform that plays nice with laptops, mobile devices and most smart TVs, from February 10-14—will once again offer lots of must-see programs. DSFF will present nearly 150 short
films organized into 23 thematic blocks of 60 to 75 minutes, which you can watch for just $14 per block. And with an all-access $140 household festival pass, you can stream it all for less than a buck a film. DSFF 2022 highlights include Algorithm, a mind-bending sci-fi story from director Edwina Casey; Alphonse Polito’s documentary Road to Recovery, a peek into the lives of ex-addicts; Cloud Boy, Kieran Firth-Bernard’s animated “semi-autobiography” about growing up with autism; The Water Sommelier, Ryan Wichert and Noémi Dabrowski’s lighthearted introduction to professional water taster Martin Riese; Nicolas Neuhold’s Faleminderit, a drama about a Luxembourgish cartographer’s momentous discovery; the music video for Cam Calloway’s slinky, atmospheric “China Blue,” directed by UNLV film professor Brett Levner; and many more. “There’s a little bit of something for everybody,” Stefanova says, adding that she particularly enjoyed curating this year’s music video program, something she’s been unable to wholly focus on for past festivals because she had too much on her plate. (Good thing, too. As the keyboardist and co-vocalist for acclaimed Valley band Same Sex Mary
and the promoter behind Bad Moon Booking, Stefanova knows a lot about the music industry, too.) This virtual DSFF will also feature the panel discussions and Q&A sessions that accompany films at the in-person events, and Stefanova says those, too, enjoy an unexpected benefit from the virtual format. “When we’re in the [Boulder Theatre], we only have about 10, 15 minutes after each program to talk to the filmmakers that could physically fly out to Las Vegas to be there and participate,” she says. “With the virtual Q&A, we have more time to really delve into a lot of things.” Still, as valuable as the convenience might be, there’s no replacing an in-person Dam Short Film Festival, Stefanova says. She’s hopeful that the lessons learned from the past two events will make DSFF even better when it returns to Boulder Theatre. “We definitely want to stay true to the core of what our festival is, which is the in-person experience in Boulder City—the networking, the way that the town has welcomed the filmmakers,” she says. “But there’s no reason we can’t build on top of that and incorporate some of the [virtual] things that have really worked well for us.”
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RUSH TO DINNER Yu-Or-Mi Sushi Bar serves inventive dishes in the Arts District BY GEOFF CARTER
C U L T U R E
The chef’s sashimi platter (right) and Yu-Or-Mi Roll (below) (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
YU-OR-MI SUSHI BAR 100 E. California Ave., 702-473-5200. Sunday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 3 p.m.-midnight.
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A
A NEW APPROACH Contrapunto could be Vegas’
Chef Donald Lemperle (left) and kitchen manager Juan Hernandez prepare dishes for the Contrapunto popup at Vegas Test Kitchen. (Christopher DeVargas/ Staff)
next great plant-based eatery BY EVELYN MATEOS n Las Vegas is known for its superb dining options,
D R I N K
but not so long ago, walking into a restaurant and asking for vegan or plant-based options was precarious. Today, the Valley’s vegan options are booming. Downtown’s VegeNation was one of the first plantbased restaurants to open here in 2015. It’s owned and operated by Donald Lemperle, a chef with more than 30 years experience who was inspired to open VegeNation after adopting a plant-based diet. Lemperle recently made a different leap into this world with the launch of Contrapunto, a plant-based modern-Italian concept. The name is Italian for “counterpoint,” and the chef aims to encourage folks to think about food differently—to understand that eating healthy can still be a great experience. So far, Contrapunto has presented two pop-up dinner experiences, including a recent four-course meal at Vegas Test Kitchen that served as a fundraiser for the nonprofit Garden Farms Foundation. A creamy portobello mushroom buckwheat noodle soup kicked off the evening. A farro chopped salad came next, with grapes, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, hazelnuts and blue cheese on a bed of assorted greens, all tossed in lemon pepper vinaigrette. The main course featured lasagna covered in sausage Bolognese and stuffed with roasted vegetables and ricotta made from cashews. A beautiful chocolate souffle cake with a marshmallow center, graham cracker streusel and chocolate ice cream topped things off. Lemperle wants to eventually open a brick-andmortar Contrapunto, “a much different concept than what I’m doing at VegeNation, where that’s like comfort food, food the people are aware of,” he says. “I want to be able to break barriers using different pastas [and] different grains, and just have a lot of fun with it—something where I could unleash my creativity.”
&
I’m a big fan of the kitchen’s sizzling stone rice bowls, available with braised tofu or your choice of land-or-sea proteins ($13$17), loaded with seasonal vegetables and topped with a perfect fried egg. Another favorite is the miso butter salmon ($22), served with grilled asparagus and greens and tender well beyond imagining. You could also enjoy New Zealand lamb chops ($20) with garlic Asian broccoli and shiso pesto, or a fine chicken teriyaki ($20) with baby bok choy and shimeji mushrooms, before you even begin to consider the nigiri, sashimi and specialty rolls. Try the chef’s nigiri platter ($30) for a sampler of tuna belly, sweet shrimp, king salmon and snapper, or swing big for the chef’s sashimi platter ($60) and let Chef V knock your socks off with an 18-piece seasonal assortment. All these terrific bites are supported by a deep selection of premium sakes, including the clear, dry Kurosawa Ginrei and smooth Shibata Black, and Japanese whiskys ranging from the mild, subtle Suntory Toki to the robust, 15-year aged Shinobu. And if you’d like to get an idea of what both the bar and kitchen can do without deep investment, you can’t go wrong with the restaurant’s happy hour—3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday—which offers modest peeks into all of Yu-Or-Mi’s strengths: an $11 omakase roll, $5 beef or salmon gyoza, a $5 carafe of hot sake and more. One last thing: The restaurant’s name comes from a hilarious Rush Hour 3 scene featuring Chris Tucker and Chinese actor Henry O. It’s a “who’s on first”-style routine, as ancient a gag as a whoopie cushion (“Who are you?” “Yu!”). But it works, because the two actors commit to it. That, too, is YuOr-Mi. Every last aspect of this place is wholly committed to leaving you happy.
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ny old sushi place might have worked in the Arts District. The up-and-coming neighborhood is wellstocked with a number of cuisines, from Italian to Mexican to barbecue, so basically, all a sushi joint had to do was show up with decent nigiri. Yu-Or-Mi, a sushi, sake and Japanese whisky bar just across from Esther’s Kitchen on California Avenue, not only understands the assignment, but does the extra credit work. “We wanted to stand out from the crowd with something that you couldn’t necessarily get anywhere else,” says Johnny Lee, who co-owns the restaurant with Melissa Robinson. “We didn’t want to do an all-you-can-eat, where you just stuff your face. … Our No. 1 thing was to focus on quality— to bring freshness, and not just drown things in spicy mayo.” That focus is evident from the top of the “shareables” menu. The plate of crispy Brussels sprouts ($9), finely chopped with almonds and glazed in a kurozu reduction, has a perfectly balanced taste and figuratively melts in your mouth. The yellowtail ceviche ($14), with cilantro, cucumber, red onion, serrano chilies, teardrop tomatoes and a yuzu-lime dressing, also nicely demonstrates the kitchen’s commitment to bringing big taste without depending on condiments or deep-fried heaviness. In fact, practically everything we’ve tried from “shareables”— especially the wasabi-crusted rock shrimp tempura ($9) and tuna tataki ($15)—could be a calling card for Yu-Or-Mi’s stylistically varied, consistently thoughtful approach. And that’s only the beginning. Chef Virakone Vongphachanh—“we just call him ‘Chef V,’ that’s the easiest way to go,” Lee says—delivers everything from sashimi to ramen in the same fresh, delicious style.
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
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REAL ESTATE
THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA’S HOT HOUSING MARKET
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BY BRYAN HORWATH VEGAS INC STAFF
hen considering the Las Vegas housing market outlook for the rest of 2022, mortgage loan officer Corey Gehlken thought of a client he recently helped. The client, he said, had made offers on more than two dozen homes during a one-year period, and none were accepted. “It can be discouraging to deal with that much rejection,” said Gehlken, a senior loan officer with Nova Home Loans in Las Vegas. “She was thrilled when it finally happened, and she’s in a great situation now, but it was a long road.” The housing market in Las Vegas is expected to remain in rarefied territory for many who want to step into the fray, especially first-time buyers, for the rest of 2022. In December, according to the Las Vegas Realtors trade group, the median sales price for an existing home in Southern Nevada was $425,000, an alltime record. By contrast, the median price for a home in Las Vegas at one point in 2012 was $118,000 following the housing crash that essentially caused the Great Recession. Largely because of a steady influx of new residents from states like California, and a limited supply of houses, most experts don’t foresee a significant drop in home prices in Southern Nevada through 2022. In addition, interest rates, which will affect mortgage rates, are expected to rise this year. During a December news conference, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the country’s central bank will likely raise rates multiple
times over the course of the next three years. He said three interest rate hikes could take place this year alone. The Federal Reserve has kept the benchmark rate near zero percent since the start of the pandemic. According to a recent news release from the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., the average rate for a fixed 30-year mortgage in the U.S. was 3.55%. At the same point in 2021, it was 2.7%. “Rates are going back up,” Gehlken said. “Where we are today, if you look at history going back to the 1970s, we’re still really low. But when you compare to the low rates we saw because of the worldwide pandemic, you notice those increases.” The nearly nonexistent interest
rates, of course, weren’t going to last forever, and with the Federal Reserve set to taper its bond-buying program— largely as a result of soaring inflation—first-time homebuyers could find themselves boxed out. A rise of just half of a percentage point in a mortgage interest rate could mean an additional $30 to $90 on a monthly payment for a loan in the range of $350,000, Gehlken said. Last year, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index, prices rose 7%, the largest jump during a 12-month period since 1981-82. Zillow estimates that Las Vegas-area home values will rise about 18% this year. That’s after an increase of between 25% and 30% last year. If those predictions hold, signifi-
cant barriers will remain for those who hope to enter the housing market or upgrade within it. To make matters worse, there aren’t many homes available for those who can enter or improve their standing within the market. Last month, Las Vegas Realtors president Brandon Roberts said the area had about a one-month supply of properties available for sale. That represented, he said, a supply pipeline that “has rarely, if ever, been lower.” As far as having a new home built, Nat Hodgson, CEO of the Southern Nevada Homebuilders Association, said 2021 was the most difficult year that he’s seen in the homebuilding industry here in the past three decades. That’s largely due, he said, to worldwide supply chain issues, which have been caused by the pandemic. “You can work with delays—in person or online—but when you can’t get stuff, you can’t get it,” Hodgson said. “I feel so bad for the builders. The supply chain problems won’t change a lot this year. It’ll be another long year.”
Mortgage loan officer Corey Gehlken (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
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GUEST COLUMN
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AGAINST ALL ODDS, THE SOUTHERN NEVADA HOUSING MARKET HAD A RECORD YEAR IN 2021
BY BRANDON ROBERTS trange as it may seem during a global pandemic, 2021 was a record year for the local housing market. With every turn of the calendar, we set a new high-water mark for existing home prices in Southern Nevada. We also broke another record that had stood for at least a decade. According to Las Vegas Realtors (LVR) statistics, 2021 was a record year for sales of existing homes in our area. This sales record is even more remarkable considering it came during this ongoing pandemic and at a time when local home prices have never been higher, and the housing supply has rarely, if ever, been lower. According to LVR, the total number of existing local homes, condos and townhomes sold in Southern Nevada during 2021 was 50,010. That beat the previous record set in 2011 by nearly 2,000 sales. By comparison, LVR reported 41,155 total sales during 2020. The year also ended with another record for local home prices. LVR reported that the median price of existing single-family homes sold through its Multiple Listing Service during December was $425,000. That was up 23.2% from $345,000 one year ago. That broke the previous record set in November. Same story for local condos and townhomes, which sold for a median
price of $242,000 in December. That also broke the all-time record set the previous month and was up 30.1% from $186,000 in December of 2020. Few of us in the real estate industry could have predicted all of this. Going back a year or so, some experts predicted that home prices would decline during 2021. In September 2020, real estate analyst CoreLogic predicted with what it said was 70% certainty that home prices in Southern Nevada would fall by 7.8% by July 2021. Instead, prices jumped during that time by more than 14%. Amid all the records, we also learned that our local housing market is not as unusual as it used to be. Las Vegas used to make national news for its extremes. For decades, we were typically among the national leaders for how fast our home prices soared during economic booms and how fast they fell during downturns. Today, we’re far from the only place on a record-setting pace. Here are some of the national housing records we set last year, according to a recent report from real estate brokerage Redfin:
n Record home prices. By late 2021, the median price for existing homes sold nationwide hit an all-time high of nearly $400,000. That was up more than 24% year over year. n Record-low housing supply. The supply of homes available for sale nationwide has never been tighter, largely because of a lack of new construction, surging demand, and homeowners taking advantage of historically low mortgage rates to refinance rather than sell. n Record for how fast homes are selling. The typical U.S. home sold in both June and July of 2021 was on the market for just 15 days. That’s the lowest median number of days on market in U.S. history. That was down from a median of 39 days in June of 2020. n Record-low mortgage rates. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit 2.65% during the week ending January 7, 2021. That’s the lowest ever recorded. n Record demand for second homes. Demand for second homes in the U.S. nearly doubled from pre-pandemic levels. n Record sales for luxury homes. The
typical luxury home in the U.S. sold for about 25% more in 2021 than during the previous year, marking record price growth. The high-end market is especially hot in Southern Nevada. In fact, 2021 set an all-time record for sales of local homes priced over $1 million—more than doubling the number of such homes sold during 2020 and tripling the number of million-dollar home sales here as recently as 2018. I agree with national experts who predict that the local and national housing markets should start to stabilize this year following what many are calling “an unseasonably warm winter.” With demand still high—and the housing supply still extremely low—it makes sense that local home prices are likely to keep increasing, but at a much more gradual pace than last year. The wild card is mortgage interest rates. As experts have predicted for months, they’re finally on the rise. By the second week of January, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had risen to an average of 3.64%. That reduces the buying power for would-be homeowners. To put that in perspective, buyers putting a 20% down payment on a $350,000 home would see their mortgage payment go up by $125 per month compared with what it would have been just three weeks earlier. If rates go up much more, that could slow the pace of our recently rising home prices. I hope rates stay near historically low levels. But a slight slowdown wouldn’t be the worst thing for our local housing market. Brandon Roberts is the 2022 president of Las Vegas Realtors and broker and founder of Signature Real Estate Group. He has worked in the real estate industry for more than 25 years.
With demand still high—and the housing supply still extremely low—it makes sense that local home prices are likely to keep increasing, but at a much more gradual pace than last year. The wild card is mortgage interest rates. As experts have predicted for months, they’re finally on the rise.
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VegasInc Notes The Clark County Commission ratified the appointment of the county’s first director of a newly created Office of Traffic Safety. Andrew Bennett previously worked for the Nevada Office of Bennett Traffic Safety, where he served as the public information officer and program manager for the Zero Fatalities program. The Nevada Division of Museums and History selected historian Christopher MacMahon as the new director of the Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City. He will oversee the open-air museum, MacMahon which preserves and displays railroad equipment of the Boulder Branch line, which supported construction activities at the Hoover Dam in the 1930s. The museum also works closely with Friends of the Nevada Southern Railway, the nonprofit
group that runs excursion trains at the museum. The statewide Nevada Realtors honored its leading members at an installation and awards event, naming Brad Spires as its Realtor of the Year and recognizing others from the Spires state for their service to their association, profession and communities. Five members from Las Vegas recognized were: Nevada Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama, Realtor Active in Politics Award; Keith Lynam, Realtor Achievement Award; David R. Tina, Nolan/Reiss Award; Jack Woodcock, Nevada Distinguished Realtor Award; and Robert Andy Stahl, Inspiring Realtor of Tomorrow Award. The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers announced its new slate of officers under the leadership of President David Lucchese, Everi. One-year terms were approved for: Vice President Ryan Comstock, Ainsworth Game Technology; Vice President Elaine Hodgson, Incredible
Technologies; Vice President Luke Orchard, IGT; Vice President Robert “Bob” Parente, Scientific Games; Secretary Thomas Jingoli, Konami Gaming; and Treasurer Hector Fernandez, Aristocrat Gaming. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced that Frank Flansburg, a shareholder at the firm, was named chair of Brownstein’s litigation department. A Nevada trial lawyer, Flansburg handles complex Flansburg business disputes in court and in arbitration. Additionally, the firm announced that Laura Langberg was elevated to a shareholder. A member of the firm’s litigation department, Langberg litigates complex Langberg commercial matters, bringing a detail-oriented approach and creative solutions to complicated issues. Absolute Dental Group completed the acquisition of two dental practices in Northern Nevada along with opening three new practices in Southern Nevada, bringing the organization to a total of 37 affiliated dental practices throughout the state.
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The Nevada State Apartment Association announced its newly elected board of directors for 2022, led by incoming NVSAA President Lisa Lynes, asset manager for the Calida Group. In addition to Lynes, 2022 NVSAA officers include: Tommy Zauder, NVSAA vice president, Greystar; Chrissy McCulloch, NVSAA treasurer, Sequoia Equities; Debra Peterson, NVSAA supply partner executive officer, Apartments.com; Robert Segura, NVSAA supply partner executive officer, Titan Towing; Phyllis Garcia, NVSAA immediate past president, Ovation Property Management; and Eric Newmark, NVSAA legal counsel, Karsaz Law. Board members include: Deb Blackford, Picerne Real Estate Group; Rich Friesz, Amaya Roofing & Waterproofing; Amy Hjerpe, Cushman & Wakefield; Bret Holmes, Advanced Management Group; Penny Irvin, Karsaz Law; George Johnson, FSI Construction; Tonya Johnson, FSI Construction; Claudine Livingston, Bountiful Property Management; Desiree Matuk, Ovation Property Management; Lisa Needham, MG Properties; Steven Olmos, Silver Lands Inc.; Beckie Shudinis, Burns Pest Elimination; May Sweeney, IRO; Dee Van Billiard, Greystar; Taylor Verhaalen, Stout Management Company; and Sheena Zauder, Bridge Property Management.
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LV W P U Z Z L E & H O R O S C O P E S
PREMIER CROSSWORD
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“CALCULATING CHARACTERS” BY FRANK LONGO
HOROSCOPES
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Real love is a pilgrimage,” declared author Anita Brookner. “It happens when there is no strategy, but it is very rare because most people are strategists.” That’s the bad news. The good news is that you have more potential than ever before to free your love of strategic maneuvering and manipulation. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Deliver loving inspirations and lush invitations to those who help you fulfill your reasons for being here on the planet. Here are some suggested provocations. 1. “Your body makes mine into a shrine; holy, divine, Godtouched.” —Ramona Meisel. 2. “Your luster opens glories on my glowing face.” —Federico García Lorca. 3. “We are each other’s harvest. We are each other’s business. We are each other’s magnitude and bond.” —Gwendolyn Brooks. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In author Orhan Pamuk’s novel Snow, the main character Ka asks a woman named Ipek, “What is the thing you want most from me? What can I do to make you love me?” Ipek’s answer: “Be yourself.” Engage in similar exchanges with those you care for. Now is a favorable time to shed all fakery and pretense. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Are you in the mood to make extravagant gestures on behalf of love? Are you feeling an urge to move beyond your habitual approaches to intimate togetherness as you dare to engage in fun experiments? Now is a good time for such behavior with allies you trust. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here are some splashy titles for stories, poems, songs, artworks or dances that you could compose for beloved allies. 1. Glistening Passion. 2. Incandescent Rapture. 3. Succulent Dazzle. 4. Molten Luminosity. 5. Splashy Fire Bliss. 6. Shimmering Joy Beams. 7. Opulent Delirium. 8. Wild Soul Synergy. 9. Sublime Friction. 10. Fluidic Gleam Blessings. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Life will conspire to help you heal yourself, in dramatic and even semi-miraculous ways, as you offer the people and animals you care for the same blessings that you crave to receive. An influx of restorative karma will flow in your direction. You will fix of at least some of your broken parts.
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Pet doc 4 “Come again?” 8 Treats maliciously 14 Tennis player Borg 19 Narcissist’s problem 21 Actress Andress 22 Ate, as prey 23 Football Hall of Famer Bronko 24 Arrive on wheels 25 Frankie or Cleo of song 26 Start of a riddle 29 Noise in a comic book gunfight 30 Exotica singer Sumac 31 The Human Stain novelist Philip 32 Cure-all 37 Race of people in an H.G. Wells novella 39 Some sorority letters 40 Donations to the destitute 44 Riddle, part 2 48 Like much greasy food 49 See 83-Across 50 Corp. leader 51 Skip over, as a vowel 52 World War II film, when tripled 53 Charged bit 55 Place — (be active on eBay, say) 57 Cheap cigar 58 Riddle, part 3 63 Simile middle 66 Chaney of film 67 Song-belting Merman 68 On a pension, maybe: Abbr.
69 Military draft gp. 70 Riddle, part 4 75 ZZ Top album whose name is Spanish for “The Crazy One” 76 Hamm and Farrow 77 Neither’s partner 78 Tingly feeling 82 Totally tired 83 With 49-Across, touter of green eggs and ham 84 “Yes” vote 86 Early arcade giant 87 End of the riddle 93 — -Flush (bathroom brand) 94 Architect I.M. — 95 Made angry 96 Florida fruits 97 R&B great Marvin 99 Not at all new 100 Golf club 102 Riddle’s answer 111 Stalin-era labor camp 112 Polecat’s kin 113 Urge against 114 Muscat native 115 Do over 116 Office squawker 117 Fender dings 118 Mimics a mad mutt 119 Helper of Frankenstein 120 Inventor Whitney DOWN 1 “—, vidi, vici” 2 “The Keep” novelist Jennifer 3 Forum wear 4 Angel’s instrument 5 Drunk 6 Writer Gogol 7 Third-largest city in Israel
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 27 28 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 41 42 43 45 46 47 53 54 55 56 57 59 60
Ride a wave Eighth-brightest star in the sky Like a hajji’s religion Second-largest city in Oklahoma Charles Lamb’s alias Bay Area California city Equivalent of A sharp Lee Tracy’s Bombshell co-star Like praiseful poetry Gossipy Barrett Bakersfield-to-Boise dir. Letters before 39-Across Swiss watch brand Clueless Fizzle sound Sleek, informally Hair removal brand Top squad Mooer’s mouthful On the — (fleeing) “— say more?” Actresses Vivien and Janet In — res (mid-plot) Clay pigeons to be shot, informally Three x three Frozen spear Eats away at “Were — it all over again ...” “It can’t be!” One of the Three Musketeers Nickname for singer Justin, with “the” Derisive smile One of the three Furies R&R alone
61 “— boy!” 62 Pisa’s river 63 Nuclear trials, for short 64 Class of antimicrobial drugs, in the British spelling 65 Actress Sorkin who once hosted America’s Funniest People 71 Like animals that don’t roam 72 So-called “fifth taste” 73 Apartment near the super’s, perhaps 74 Mesh well 79 Piquancy 80 Ontario tribe 81 Cat’s warning 83 Pittsburgh footballers 84 “Chances —” 85 “Catch my drift, bro?” 86 Pie-mode link 88 1974 CIA parody film 89 More lacteal 90 Not cardinal, as a number 91 Plundering 92 Writer Sábato 98 Patronage 99 “— Loompa” 101 Half-diameters 102 Journalist Brit 103 Zing 104 Lucy Liu’s Kill Bill role 105 Insect traps 106 Exploiter 107 Mongrel mutt 108 Frilly material 109 Shrine figure 110 Moore of G.I. Jane 111 Shrine figure
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In Michael Chabon’s novel The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Arthur says to Cleveland, “Love is like falconry. Don’t you think that’s true?” Cleveland replies, “Never say love is like anything. It isn’t.” Make that your meditation during this Valentine season. You will be wise to purge all your preconceptions about love. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Create a situation in which you tell an ally words similar to what author Jamaica Kincaid spoke to her lover: “To behold the startling truths of your naked body frees me to remember the song I was born from.” If there is no such ally, deliver the same message to your naked self. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Now is a favorable time for you to practice the fine arts hinted at by author Ivan Goncharov: “A close, daily intimacy between two people has to be paid for: It requires a great deal of experience of life, logic and warmth of heart on both sides to enjoy each other’s good qualities without being irritated by each other’s shortcomings and blaming each other for them.” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Hélène Cixous wrote, “It is easy to love and sing one’s love. That is something I am extremely good at doing. But to be loved, that is true greatness. Being loved, letting oneself be loved, entering the magic and dreadful circle of generosity, receiving gifts, finding the right thank-you’s, that is love’s real work.” Are you up for the challenge? AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Actor Leelee Sobieski was mourning her romantic adventures—or rather the lack of romantic adventures. She said, “If only I could find a guy who wasn’t in his 70s to talk to me about white cranes, I’d be madly in love.” Be inspired to be as exact and lucid as she is in identifying what you want. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Actress Natalie Portman’s idealistic attitude about relationships is what you should aspire to in the coming months. She said, “I always ask myself, would I want someone to do something that wasn’t comfortable for them to do just to please me? And the answer is no.” Do you suspect it might be interesting to apply that principle to your closest alliances? If you do, the planetary energies will conspire to deepen your intimate bonds.
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