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6.23.22
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Red Dwarf (Steve Marcus/ Staff)
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SUPERGUIDE
Your daily events planner, starring Steve Martin & Martin Short, Maluma, Mary Poppins, Primus playing Rush and more.
16 24 28 36 40 COVER STORY
New-to-Vegas tribal casino companies at the Palms and Virgin Hotels are breaking ground in the gaming industry.
ON THE COVER
CASINO CULTURE SHIFT
NEWS
What’s actually being done to change gun safety laws and prevent our country’s epidemic of violence?
Photo Ilustration
NIGHTS
Afterhours partying is a family affair at Drai’s, which marks 25 years of center-Strip excitement.
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New bookstores? In 2022? Believe it. Here’s a tour of three that recently popped up around the Las Vegas Valley.
SPORTS
FOOD & DRINK Gaucho sandwiches and chicken tinga chilaquiles at Aroma, and Detroit-style pizza and tiki drinks at Red Dwarf.
How might new Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy impact the team’s returning players?
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6.23.22
SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY 23 JUN.
SUPER SUMMER THEATRE: MARY POPPINS THE MUSICAL 8 p.m., thru 6/25, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, supersummertheatre.org. (Courtesy/Dave Billett)
MUSIC
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NEVADA WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL The Nevada Women’s Film Festival is back in person for the first time since 2019. The eighth-annual event will screen 63 films from 13 countries, honor the Nevada Woman Filmmaker of the Year and host meet-and-greets and panels with women making waves in the world of film. Night one kicks off with nine films including Warrior Spirit, a 96-minute film about Nicco Montaño, the first Native American UFC champion; and the 29-minute Aurora, about a young musician finding her voice through unrequited love. The weekendlong festival will also include a discussion with Ry Russo-Young about her acclaimed HBO documentary Nuclear Family, and will culminate with the annual Femmy Awards. June 23-26, times vary, $10-$30, Meet Las Vegas, 233 S. 4th St., nwffest. com. –Shannon Miller
DJ SNAKE With Alex Sensation, 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. KENNY LOGGINS 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticket master.com. GRUM 10 p.m., Commonwealth, elationlv.com.
ALESSO 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events.taogroup.com. TRAPT With Velvet Chains, Tales We Tell, Kalani, Retrogrvde, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billards, seetickets.us.
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES 7 p.m., thru 6/26, Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com. ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY 7 p.m., & 6/24, Myron’s, thesmith center.com.
DESERT ISLAND BOYS With Dead Money, Three Rounds, 8 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, eventbrite.com. CHASE B 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
6.23.22
FRIDAY 24 JUN.
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STEVE MARTIN & MARTIN SHORT The name of the tour by these two comedy legends is “You Won’t Believe What They Look Like Today.” I dunno about that—the 72-year-old Short looks perpetually youthful, and the 76-year-old Martin has had white hair pretty much as long as we’ve known him. It’s remarkable, however, that they’re so visible today, in an era when comedy is so closely scrutinized for being insensitive or not being insensitive enough, and at an age where they could easily rest on their laurels. Yet here they are, two wild and crazy amigos energetically collaborating onstage, as their streaming hit series—Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, co-starring Selena Gomez—prepares to drop a second season on June 28. It’s not so much about what they look like, and more about us wanting to check on these two influential comic talents because we want to see what they’ve still got up their sleeves. That’s very decent, I must say. June 24-25, 8 p.m., $140-$275, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. –Geoff Carter (Photo courtesy)
EL PERRO With Dirty Streets, Jason Walker & The Majestic 12, 8 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, eventbrite.com. ANTHONY ATTALLA Midnight, Sahara Theater, sahara lasvegas.com. JON B 9 p.m., House of Blues, livenation.com. SUMMER LOVE ADOPTION EVENT 11 a.m., thru 6/26, Animal Foundation, animalfoundation. com.
KATHLEEN MADIGAN 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, mirage. mgmresorts.com. DIPLO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. PHOENIX RISING 7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc.com. AJR With BoyWithUke, 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
FRENCH MONTANA 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com. JEFF ROSS 7 & 9:30 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com. MICHAEL T. BRANCH 7 p.m., the Writer’s Block, thewriters block.org. BECKY G With Zion & Lennox, Blessd, 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
VEGAS KNIGHT HAWKS VS. QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS 7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com. LIL JON 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com. SHANIA TWAIN 8 p.m., & 6/25, Zappos Theater, ticketmaster.com.
MADEON 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com. ROCK FOR RECOVERY With Empire Records, DJ Michael Toast, Long Beach Leftovers, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com. LOS DOS CARNALES 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
DEATH VALLEY HIGH With AntiTrust, Jeskerah, Not Your Kind, Damoklez, 7:30 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com. JERK! With Shubees, Illicitor, Battering Ham, 10 p.m., Double Down Saloon, double downsaloon.com. MICHAEL BLAUSTEIN 7:30 & 10 p.m., & 6/25, Wiseguys, vegas.wiseguys comedy.com.
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
SUPERGUIDE
(Courtesy/Polo America)
FERRARI LAS VEGAS POLO CLASSIC Thru 6/25, times vary, South Point Priefert Pavilion, poloamerica.com.
LUKE BRYAN 8 p.m., & 6/25, Resorts World Theatre, ticket master.com.
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SUPERGUIDE MUSIC
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SATURDAY 25
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JUN.
WILD’N OUT LIVE 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com. TURNOVER With Healing Potpourri, Temple of Angels, 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.
S U P E R G U I D E
LAS VEGAS ACES VS. WASHINGTON MYSTICS 7 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. STEVEN WRIGHT 8 p.m., Orleans Showroom, ticketmaster.com. GAYC/DC With Crimson Riot, The Forget Me Nows, The Negative Nancys, 8 p.m., Taverna Costera, taverna costera.com. 10,000 MANIACS With Dishwalla, The Calling, 7 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience. com.
BOOKA SHADE 9:30 p.m., Area15, area15.com. NEW VISTA WINE WALK 7 p.m., Downtown Summerlin, summerlin.com. MARSHMELLO 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com. GENERATIONS BIG BAND 2 p.m., Winchester Dondero Cultural Center, clarkcountynv.gov. TCHAMI 11 a.m., Elia Beach Club, eliabeachlv.com. GENE FARRIS 12 a.m., Azilo Ultra Lounge, azilo lasvegas.com. GERA MX 7 p.m., House of Blues, livenation.com. FOAM WONDERLAND 7 p.m., Craig Ranch Amphitheater, seeticket.us.
PRIMUS Catching the alt-rock weirdos of Primus in concert is always a blast, but this long-awaited performance—originally planned for July 2020 in a completely different room—brings a new twist to the proceedings. Following a set of their own music, vocalist/bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer (and former Blue Man Group/Überschall player) Tim “Herb” Alexander will perform A Farewell to Kings, the 1977 album by Rush, featuring single “Closer to the Heart” and prog-rock epics “Xanadu” and “Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage.” And, according to Rush frontman Geddy Lee himself, Primus’ versions do not suck. “Totally nailed it!” Lee posted on Instagram after catching the show last month in Toronto. “They did us proud.” See for yourself, and be sure to arrive in time to catch excellent Texas psych-rockers The Black Angels get the party started. 7 p.m., $30+, Theater at Virgin, axs.com. –Spencer Patterson
MALUMA Maluma Land is taking over Resorts World June 23-25, culminating in a live performance by the Colombian superstar (with a special surprise guests) at Zouk Nightclub on Saturday. Like some of the other artist-themed activations at this property, Maluma Land is built around musical parties at Zouk Group’s club spaces but also includes food and drink and retail experiences that align with the brand, which in this case is fashionable and sexy. The Medellín-born singer and songwriter has already dabbled in acting in 2022, launched a clothing label called Royalty, and recently released The Love & Sex Tape EP. He has a lot to share right now, and that’s why Maluma needs an entire Vegas weekend to connect with his fans. 10 p.m., $40-$60+, Zouk Nightclub, malumaland.com. –Brock Radke (AP Photo)
6.23.22
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ELDERBROOK 11 a.m., Élia Beach Club, eliabeachlv.com. STEVE AOKI 11 a.m., Wet Republic, events.taogroup.com. BREATHE CAROLINA 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com. JUSTIN YOUNG 2 p.m., Notoriety, notorietylive.com.
MONDAY 27 JUN.
JACKIE FABULOUS With Derek Richards, Vargus Mason, Traci Skene, thru 6/30, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticket master.com.
DJ DRAMA 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events.taogroup. com. EDWIN LAZER 9 p.m., Emporium, emporiumlv.com.
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DAPHNIQUE SPRINGS With Kevin McCaffrey, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com. ZHU With Chelina Manhutu, 10 p.m., Moonbeam at Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
JEFFREY SUTORIUS Formerly the face of EDM trio Dash Berlin—and famously the guy in the group who toured for the act’s live performances, including an extended Vegas residency at Marquee—Jeffrey Sutorius is back on the Strip to headline Sahara’s Groove Cruise Weekend, which features DJ sets day and night at Azilo Ultra Pool and Lounge and a Friday night gig in the resort’s theater from Anthony Attalla. Sutorius has been collaborating with singer-songwriter Jonathan Mendelsohn and recently released the melodic, energetic “Sink or Swim” single, paving the way for more new music and a monster tour in 2022. His big sound should have no problem filling up the intimate, LED screen-wrapped Azilo pool space. 3 p.m., $30+, Azilo Ultra Pool, azilolasvegas. com. –Brock Radke
ADAM HUNTER 8 p.m., thru 6/30, LA Comedy Club, tickets.thestrat. com.
BILLY RAY CHARLES 9 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesanddollarlv. com.
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
SUPERGUIDE
(Courtesy/Élia Beach Club)
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SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY 28 JUN.
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JOHN ACQUAVIVA With Artur, Dayana, Oscar Molina, 10 p.m., Lucky Day, luckydaydtlv.com.
LAS VEGAS CLASSICA MUSIC 7:30 p.m., Whitney Library, lvcld.com.
SUPERGUIDE
SPORTS
HALCYON TAKEOVER With Eliderp, Nuushi, Oolacile, Saka, 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.
DOUBLE DUO If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit Square Bar—the new, 1970s-themed nightspot at Commercial Center’s ascendant New Orleans Square complex—and you like good improv comedy, a twofold opportunity presents itself with Double Duo. Two teams of improvisors, led by “comedy nerds, class clowns and well-rounded dorks” Sean Reynolds and Rob Ferries, will take to Square’s stage to deliver “honest, genuine and heartwarming” comedy sets, “often about who farted.” (Hopefully they’re kidding about that last bit, but if Double Duo gets a solid laugh out of you, at least you’ll know who dealt it.) Pair the show with the bar’s cocktails and bites, and you’ve got a properly Square night of entertainment. 9 p.m., free. Square Bar, squarebarvegas.com. –Geoff Carter (Photo courtesy)
WEDNESDAY 29
Alexis Mateo of RuPaul’s Drag Race (Courtesy)
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RL GRIME 11 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial. com.
CHRISTINE SHEBECK 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmith center.com.
MILLION DOLLAR BAND With Ilan Dvir-Djerassi, 5:30 p.m., the Lawn at Downtown Summerlin, summerlin. com.
TORREN FOOT 10:30 p.m., the Library at Marquee Nightclub, events. taogroup. com.
BOB ANDERSON 8 p.m., & 6/30, Italian American Club, iacvegas. com.
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
AYLER EVAN & AMANDA KAISER 6 p.m., Nevada Room, vegas nevada rooms.com.
KEVON TYREE 9 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesand dollarlv. com.
DESERT DISCO PRIDE PARTY 10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecord lv.com.
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Consign. Bid. Experience. Barrett-Jackson.com
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ART& ACTIVISM IN THE DESERT
6.23.22
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Shannon Salter (Courtesy)
Shannon Salter on the inspiration and scrutiny of renewable energy BY SHANNON MILLER
Why are you doing this? I want to bear witness to something that is not very carefully looked at. There’s often this impression that the desert is this empty space. And it is full of a great distance, which is part of what makes it so magical and so powerful. But it’s also certainly not empty. There’s an entire ecosystem of ancient thousand-year old plants and desert crusts and bacteria and all kinds of things here, and animals, of course.
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It’s interesting to look into the face of the industrial order.”
How did your activism start? In 2017, there was a wind turbine proposal in my favorite area of Earth, which is the Wee Thump Joshua Tree forest, outside of Searchlight, Nevada. And it’s a now really infamous proposal. I was just shocked that there would be that kind of proposal in that area. And so I said, “No way … We can’t live like this.” I can’t live like this—I need this Joshua tree forest for my health, for my mental health. That’s where I go to have solitude and have prayer to feel close to the universe and close to God. So I went to every Bureau of Land Management meeting … I went door to door in Sen. Jacky Rosen’s district, because her office seemed somewhat concerned about it. I got to know the developers, too … Luckily, everyone came out against that project. How do your practices of immersing yourself in the landscape and “bearing witness” inform your art? I spent 10 years in Las Vegas, and I love Las Vegas with all my heart. But I can’t imagine living there now. When we live in the suburban world, we’re really living in the industrial order. We’re driving our cars to the strip malls and going to the grocery store where everything is brought in on trucks. And the kids are going to school and learning from textbooks that are all produced by the industrial order. So we’re living amidst this kind of terror, and not really even paying attention to it—because, it’s just the life. I think poetry in particular, for me, is really connected to what I can see. It’s connected to the visible world, you know, I write what I can see. The more you see, the more there is to see … the closer you look at something, the more you know. Follow Salter’s updates at mojavegreen.org and on Twitter @mojavegreen8.
THE WEEKLY Q&A
hannon Salter appears washed out in the late-morning sun as she crouches next to a yucca plant nearly twice her size and joins a Zoom call from the remote Mojave Desert. The 37-year-old poet and part-time teacher is camping out and “bearing witness” to the removal of plant and animal life to make way for a new 3,000-acre solar project. The Yellow Pine Solar Project is being built 10 miles southeast of Pahrump and 32 miles west of Las Vegas. Salter’s camp is just outside the project’s developing footprint. “I spent a lot of time walking on the solar site before they had the fence up. So I know what’s there … It’s interesting to look into the face of the industrial order,” Salter says, adding that there has been little public discussion about the effect this particular project will have on the desert ecosystem. While at camp, which started with poetry readings in 2021, Salter uses her observations as a source of inspiration for poetry. For her online tutoring job, she charges electronics with a 100-watt solar panel. As an activist, Salter has been monitoring applications for renewable energy projects in Pahrump Valley west of Las Vegas, attending public meetings to give input and speaking with locals in Tecopa, Shoshone and Pahrump. Salter posts updates to the Twitter account of her organization Mojave Green (@MojaveGreen8) , and has started a Change.org petition asking the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and President Joe Biden to stop subsidizing solar projects that disrupt desert life, and instead start subsidizing solar projects in urban areas. At the end of May, Secretary Deb Haaland visited Nevada to announce that the federal government will reduce rents and fees for solar and wind projects on public lands, to help reach the goal of 25,000 megawatts of renewable energy on public land by 2025. “I’m totally in favor of solar—on people’s rooftops and over parking lots,” Salter says. “Preserving wild land is just as important as making solar [energy]. We just don’t want to put it in a place that’s going to destroy a whole ecosystem.” She says the Yellow Pine Solar Project is “just the beginning,” with five other projects slated for the area.
Q+A
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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
6.23.22
A fresh legacy Native American tribes unlock an exciting new chapter in Las Vegas hospitality BY AMBER SAMPSON
The relaunched Palms (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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as Vegas’ Palms Casino Resort has always had a great story. The property just west of the Strip thrived under the original reign of the Maloof family, turning heads with its celebrity check-ins, over-the-top suites and starring role in the 2002-2003 season of MTV’s The Real World. In 2016, the Palms was acquired by Red Rock Resorts, parent company of Station Casinos, and that second, prominent family-run company sank hundreds of millions into a vast renovation of the property. But the COVID-19 pandemic hampered the potential of the refreshed resort. The Palms remained closed for two years, as most casinos across the Valley celebrated their reopenings. Then came the news that it had been sold again—but this second transaction would be anything but standard. When the Palms reopened on April 27, it returned as the first Las Vegas casino resort fully owned and operated by a Native American tribal gaming group. The San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA), an offshoot of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, announced the breakthrough acquisition in May 2021. “We definitely had this moment where we just stood back, like, wow. All this hard work has really brought us to this moment,” says Latisha Casas, San Manuel tribal member and chairperson of the SMGHA. “We were standing there at 9 o’clock when we finally opened up the doors, and the people coming into the building were just as excited as we were.” And San Manuel isn’t the only major tribal player betting big on Vegas. The Seminole Tribe of Florida made waves recently with the announcement that its Hard Rock International brand would acquire the Mirage for a little over $1 billion. And last year, Mohegan debuted the Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, making it the first tribal-operated casino in town.
* * * * * San Manuel opened its first bingo hall in 1986, on its reservation in Highland, California. Thirty-six years later, that enterprise has evolved into Yaamava’ Resort and Casino, a luxury destination with more than 7,000 slot machines, a 17-floor hotel tower, an elevated pool deck, a full-service spa and salon and a concert theater that has hosted recent shows by the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Erykah Badu. Like San Manuel, Mohegan comes from humble beginnings. “When I joined the organization in 2001, we were literally one small casino in southeastern Connecticut with about 2,500 slot machines and about 100 table games,” says Ray Pineault, tribal member and president and CEO of Mohegan, which also runs properties in Atlantic City, Pennsylvania and soon, South Korea. “Connecticut alone now has over 3,500 slot machines, 280 table games, 1,600 hotel rooms and more—a convention center, an expo center, an arena.” Former visiting UNLV professors Kathryn Rand and Steven Light, who teach law and political science, respectively, for the Boyd School of Law’s Indian Nations Gaming and Governance program and serve as co-directors of the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota, see these ventures as a clear way to diversify the tribes’ growing portfolios and expand their existing brands. They’re unique in their ability to do so, because they’re already “sophisticated casino operators” on their reservation lands, Rand explains, capable of developing “destination casino resorts that rival what’s on the Las Vegas Strip.” It’s likely the pandemic provided a rare opportunity to make these moves, as companies like Red Rock Resorts began to reassess their own portfolios, Light says. And the presence of these tribes has created a ripple effect in the gaming industry. “What these
tribes have done, or what Mohegan led with and now the other two tribes have followed with, is they’ve opened the door to the possibility of these tribes being seen as legitimate purchasers of additional commercial properties as they become available,” Light says. “They had to make their case and petition the Nevada Gaming Control Board and get that authority to do it. Now that they’ve done all that, and crossed the Ts and dotted the Is, that legitimizes them ... as being competitive in this market.” * * * * * The Palms acquisition might have seemed swift, but for the San Manuel tribe, it was 14 years in the making. “We wanted to make sure that we did it right. With our tribes coming from very little, it took a while and it was a process to get our tribal citizens comfortable with the understanding of investing,” Casas says. “When you come from nothing, you come from that mentality of put all the money under the mattress, bury it in coffee cans in the yard.” The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians consists of the Yuhaaviatam clan of Maara’yam, also known as the “People of the Pines,” in their native Serrano language. Tucked into the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear, the tribe peacefully resided in its homeland until the 1800s, when the clan was brutally ambushed and uprooted by a California state government-sanctioned militia. “My great-great grandfather, Santos Manuel, was our leader at the time, and he’s the one who led our people to safety,” Casas says. Manuel, known as the tribe’s Kiika’, succeeded in helping the clan take refuge in the San Bernardino Valley, but fewer than 30 tribal members survived the vicious attack.
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
That history weighs on Casas, and serves as a reminder of what the tribe has set out to accomplish. “We have to make sure that we’re doing the right things today to honor the sacrifices of all those that came before us. They endured so much to make sure we survived, and we’re doing everything we possibly can to make sure that continues,” she says. “This purchase of the Palms is one of a legacy. We’re hoping that it’s a legacy journey within our portfolio, so that we’re able to secure a future for our tribe into perpetuity.” Since the Palms has felt like a brand-new resort since the Station renovation, San Manuel essentially bought the keys to a kingdom. To lead the project as general manager, the tribe tapped Cynthia Kiser Murphey, a gaming veteran who has spent 20-plus years with MGM Resorts International, including serving as president and COO for New York-New York. Murphey calls it a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to join the first Native American gaming owner-operator in the city. Many of the newer venues and most popular features at the Palms remain intact, including the outrageous experiential suites equipped with bowling alleys and mini movie theaters. Beloved restaurants like steakhouse Scotch 80 Prime and Mabel’s BBQ by celebrity chef Michael Symon are also back in action. “This is where I could come and break barbecue rules. It makes me very happy,” Symon says. “I was talking to a chef friend today, and I said, ‘You know what’s more fun than opening up a restaurant once in Las Vegas? Opening one twice.’ It’s been fun. All of our chefs, all of our pitmasters, all of our managers came back.” And they aren’t the only ones. Murphey notes that 50% of former Palms’ employees returned when
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the resort reopened, including 78 workers who started at the property when it originally opened in 2001. “I believe they had a sense of community and pride, that Palms was always a special place to them,” she says. “They cared deeply for each other. They were having reunions at the bar over there by the sportsbook.” And when the tribe took over, Casas says, the first priority was that staff. “We wanted [them] on the first day to walk in and understand that they are part of our family, and we wanted them to feel welcomed and warm,” Casas says. To prove it, the tribe renovated the entire back-of-house area, from the lockers to the hallways, for its team members. Murphey says employees are flown out to the Yaamava’ property regularly to experience other San Manuel practices. But while plenty has stayed the same at the Palms, Murphey assures that the staff is “auditioning” lots of new aspects, including live music in different zones around the casino. You might find dueling pianos on one spot, and hear country music in another. “People want live entertainment. I think they crave it, but I think they might crave it in smaller environments,” she says. Other new additions include Serrano Vista Cafe, a contemporary comfort-food restaurant that’s especially popular at Yaamava’ in California. And on the casino floor, one can now find a large-scale replica model of Yaamava’, a distinct tribute to the flagship that started it all. Murphy explains that the next six months will be about “really owning hospitality and getting our entertainment all the way opened up.” Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will reopen the Pearl Theater on September 3, and the rooftop lounge Ghostbar—a favorite from the Maloof era—is also expected to return later this year. “With the tribe, our job is to create opportunities for the next seven generations and to honor the past,” Murphey says. “That’s a 140-year strategic plan. That’s new for me.”
* * * * * Every casino has its mission, vision and values. Few are steeped in the generational commitments of a tribe. The Mohegan tribe filters everything through the “Spirit of Aquai,” a centuries-old outlook based on passionate service to others, creating welcoming environments and
(Courtesy)
fostering lasting relationships. “We’ve learned from 13 generations in the past, and we’re building for 13 generations to come,” Pineault says. “We’re not built on what next week’s stock report is going to say or what our earnings report is going to say. We’re built on what’s in the long-term interest of the tribe, the tribal members,
our communities, our team members and our guests.” At Mohegan’s flagship in Connecticut, the tribe participates in traditional Wigwam corn festivals in the summer and celebrations every five years in honor of the Mohegan tribe federal recognition. When the company opened the casino at Virgin Las Vegas, it conducted its traditional “smudge,” which “wipes away any bad spirits that may be around the casino and to make sure it comes in with good spirits and washes everything clean,” Pineault says.
BELOW San Manuel tribespeople gather in front of the Big House, a traditional center for communal and ceremonial life.
(Courtesy)
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He says Mohegan has also been working with Cornell and Dartmouth universities to rehabilitate the original language spoken by the tribe in pre-settlement days, so it can be taught to younger generations. And San Manuel has an education department on its land to teach children the heritage of the tribe and the Serrano language. Back in their homeland, the members of the tribe celebrate at intertribal pow wows, during which Serrano people sing and make percussive music with gourd rattles filled with palm tree seeds. It’s been an active effort to keep the culture and traditions of the Mohegan and San Manuel tribes alive. And as far as Las Vegas goes, “These aren’t fly-by-night
operations. It’s a long-term investment,” Light says. “Each of these tribes has a reputation of using some portion of its gaming revenue to fund community or charitable organizations or educational opportunities for others. “It’s probable that these tribes will continue to put down roots in the Las Vegas area.” On reopening day, San Manuel and the Palms donated $50,000 each to local nonprofit groups Mondays Dark, Opportunity Village and the Las Vegas Indian Center. Prior to that, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated $100,000 to Three Square Food Bank and $9 million to UNLV to support education on tribal gaming operations and law. Casas says the company will continue reaching out to its new
Palms’ reopening night (Steve Marcus/Staff)
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
community, especially to indigenous organizations. The chairwoman says there are also plans to create a land acknowledgment to the Southern Paiute Tribe, since the Palms resides on its ancestral territory. And with time, she’d love to see property become a “touchdown headquarters” for other tribal organizations to feel at home. Now that the door has been opened, Rand speculates more tribal operators could break into different versions of commercial gaming or management, but the bigger, more successful brands will be more willing to target the city. “The tribal operations are now a part of how Las Vegas bounces back from the pandemic,” Light says. “That’s going to be an interesting, continuing part of the story.”
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TRIBAL DISTINCTIONS How these new Las Vegas operators differ from other companies “How many tribes are they going to let own casinos in Las Vegas?” It’s a question former visiting UNLV faculty member Kathryn Rand fielded from a local Uber driver. Her initial thought: “Nobody’s letting them. There’s no such thing as a special tribal license on the Las Vegas Strip.” All casinos operate under state law in Nevada. Things get different on tribal turf. Casinos on tribal land “have been used to operating under federal law, tribal law and the tribal state compact,” says Rand, who co-directs the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota with fellow expert Steven Light. Three layers of government regulation (which are called for by the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) might seem like a lot, but tribal casinos still undergo the same auditing, licensing and reporting as non-tribal casinos. “In fact, each of these tribes has not only been operating gaming on their lands, they’ve been regulating gaming on their lands,” Rand says. Yet, in Las Vegas, “They are treated just like any other casino operator on the Strip or in the state.” And any profits made from these tribal gaming operations are also funneled back to the tribe to be used by tribal government in whatever ways it decides will best benefit its communities, Light says. On tribal land, states generally can’t regulate federally recognized tribes. For instance, zoning restrictions for building on tribal land don’t apply unless construction conflicts with federal environmental laws or the tribe’s own laws. During the pandemic, tribal governments made decisions on their own authority about whether tribal casino would shut down, even as the state ordered others to do so. In South Dakota, Rand says, she witnessed tribal casinos shutting down before the state even asked. But that’s how sovereignty works. It gives tribes governmental authority over their lands. It’s a status upheld with pride, and “one of the key differentiating factors between tribal gaming and commercial gaming,” Light says. –Amber Sampson
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“ In America, you should be able to
go to a movie, or go to church, or go to school, or go to a supermarket, or go to a concert without the fear of being gunned down, and sadly that’s not the case.” -Dave Goucher, Vegas Golden Knights broadcaster
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Vocter turnout low, to no great surprise While more Nevada Republicans than Democrats voted this month in the primary election, the overall turnout of 23.92% was “not too impressive” but also “not too surprising,” said David Damore, professor and chair of the UNLV department of political science. It was expected that Republicans would have a bigger turnout because most of the notable races—U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and governor— featured incumbent Democratic candidates, Damore said. Are the primary numbers indicative of what’s to come in the midterms? Probably not. Damore expects the voter turnout in November to come in somewhere between 2014 and 2018 midterm numbers. In 2014, about 46% of registered voters participated, and in 2018 it was about 62%, Damore said. The number of people who have moved to the state in the past couple of years has also increased, Damore said, so the turnout could be greater than in 2018. And there’s a few notable races, including Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, in what is expected to be closely contested against Republican Adam Laxalt, and Gov. Steve Sisolak seeking reelection against Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, which will enhance the turnout. –Jessica Hill
DOWNTOWN BLAZE RAZES CARS, BUILDINGS
PUBLIC HEALTH
Burned vehicles in the lot of a body shop after a four-alarm fire overnight June 19 in Downtown Las Vegas. At least 10 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and more than two dozen vehicles burned, officials said. (Steve Marcus/Staff )
Monkeypox comes to Southern Nevada
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first case of monkeypox in Southern Nevada on June 15. The patient is a man in his 20s who did not require hospitalization and was isolating at home. Monkeypox is a rare disease that causes symptoms beginning with fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and swollen lymph nodes followed by a rash, health officials said. Monkeypox spreads through contact with infectious sores, bodily fluids and objects or fabrics used by someone who has monkeypox. –Staff
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6.18.2022
Skating through summer Mitch Fossier scores on goaltender Parker Milner during the debut of 3Ice, a 3-on-3 hockey league, at Orleans Arena. The rest of the summer schedule will be played in cities across the United States and Canada, but the playoffs and league championship are scheduled for August 20 in Las Vegas. Each tour stop features six games—three in the opening round among the league’s six teams, two semifinals and a championship—all within the span of three hours. (Steve Marcus/ Staff)
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Long-term payoff expected from tree investment
The newly planted trees at Freedom Park in northeast Las Vegas don’t look like much. They stand about 6-7 feet tall and provide little shade or aesthetic appeal. But they will eventually mature and serve their purpose of helping protect residents from the brutal Southern Nevada heat. “I think many of the effects are immediate. People see the investment and improvement immediately, but we get greater benefits from the trees as they grow and provide shade and size,” said Bradley Daseler, the city’s urban forester. “Some species tend to grow more quickly than others. (The city) plants a variety of species to capitalize on the trees’ individual strengths and attributes.” The Las Vegas Tree Initiative intends to plant 60,000 trees in areas of need as part of the 2050 Master Plan, which has a heavy focus on bringing sustainable efforts to the city. Equal numbers of willow acacia, lacebark elm and netleaf hackberry have been planted so far. UNLV’s Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute found in a 2020 study that Las Vegas “ranked as the most intense urban heat island in the United States in both daytime and nighttime between 2004 and 2013.” The average annual temperature in Las Vegas has also risen each year since 1970, according to the same study. -Grace Da Rocha
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Years since the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the civil rights portion of which is best known as Title IX, passed, affording women in athletics the same status as men. The law stated that college teams must provide an equal number of scholarship allotments and other financial resources to both men and women, though that ideal has largely not been reached.
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The first-place Aces play host to Washington on June 25 at 7 p.m.
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MEANINGFUL PROGRESS? As Congress works on gun-safety laws, local leaders discuss next steps in curtailing mass shootings
BY SHANNON MILLER
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rom Columbine to Sandy Hook to Parkland to Uvalde, each time a mass shooting takes place at a school—or anywhere in the U.S.—the conversation seems to go in circles. And the country seems to go nowhere in terms of preventing them from happening. After survivors, families and advocates called on lawmakers in Congress to take meaningful action in the form of gun-safety laws, Senate leaders announced an “agreement” on gun-safety legislation. That came less than a month after the May 24 Uvalde, Texas, shooting, during which an 18-year-old gunman entered Robb Elementary School and murdered 19 children and two teachers with an assault rifle and 315 rounds of ammunition he had legally purchased two days earlier. Before the agreement, a U.S. House Committee heard testimonies from Uvalde students and families—including 11-year-old survivor Miah Cerrillo, who said she covered herself in her deceased classmate’s blood to appear dead, in hopes of avoiding being shot. “It was sobering,” says Clark County Commissioner Justin
Jones, who has two children who attend school locally. The lawmaker, who worked on background checks and gun laws during his time as a Nevada Senator (20122014), added that the news from Uvalde cast a shadow on his daughter’s high school graduation, which occurred on the same day as the shooting. “When I was in school, we didn’t have active shooter drills,” he says. “Gun violence has been a part of her experience—and every student’s experience—for years now.” For Las Vegas and many U.S. cities, threats of gun violence and mass shootings have featured prominently in our experience, and in conversations about public safety. On October 1, 2017, a gunman used assault rifles and bump stocks to fire continuous rounds at concertgoers on the Las Vegas Strip, killing 60, injuring hundreds and devastating the entire community. Jones says it can be difficult to remain optimistic after the succession of mass shootings but that he believes the Congressional legislation will “move some things forward” and that he’s encouraged by the prospect of more federal funding being dedicated to mental
health resources. In addition to mental health funding, the framework of the Senate’s agreement (which had yet to be voted on at press time) includes enhancing background checks for gun purchasers younger than 21 and funding for states to implement so-called red flag laws. The framework does not include banning or restricting sales of assault weapons or rapid-fire accessories like bump stocks. It also does not include raising the minimum age to 21 to purchase an assault rifle—a measure that would have made it more difficult for the gunman to obtain the military-grade weap-
ons used at Robb Elementary. Diane Goldstein, executive director of Law Enforcement Action Partnership, which advocates for criminal justice and public safety reforms using perspectives of law enforcement, also says she’s encouraged by the Senate’s agreement. A retired lieutenant who spent 21 years with the Redondo Beach Police Department and new resides in Las Vegas, she says she sees a shift in public discourse surrounding reasonable gun laws and the role of mental health in mass shootings. “Uvalde was a moment to discuss law enforcement responses and raise the question, how do we
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(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration by Ian Racoma)
“clarifying the definition” of federally licensed dealers to include anyone who sells firearms. The framework also includes a provision to require the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to investigate mental health and juvenile criminal records for gun buyers younger than 21, a process that could take hours, or up to 10 days, according to reports. Such a provision would not necessarily have stopped the Uvalde shooter, whom police say did not have such records on file, but it would create another check on gun buyers aged 18 to 20, moving forward. Red flag laws also could impose
a waiting period on potentially dangerous gun buyers. A 2018 study published by the American Psychological Association looked at data from 50 states from 1981 to 2015 and found that red flag laws in Connecticut and Indiana (implemented in 1999 and 2005, respectively) corresponded with a reduction in firearms suicides during the 10 years following those laws’ implementation. Nevada passed a red flag law in 2019, which allows family, household members and law enforcement to file a petition to a judge demonstrating that an individual is a danger to herself or others. The judge then determines
whether to issue an order to confiscate and prohibit the individual’s ownership of firearms for up to one year. Some rural Nevadan and outspoken sheriffs railed against the law when it went into effect in 2020, claiming it violated Second Amendment rights. Goldstein says that compared to a few years ago, she sees more law enforcement leaders supporting evidence-based policies. She notes that American gun culture can be a distraction or an obstruction to passing and implementing “common sense” laws that reduce the potential harms of firearms. “We need to talk about community health and safety from an evidence-based perspective,” she says. “‘Taking people’s guns away’ is a political talking point that creates fear.” When it comes to finding an effective, lasting solution to gun violence, Goldstein says mental health resources and funding should be the priority, not arming teachers or increasing campus police. “When legislators are unwilling to invest in efficacious programs for the long term, we end up funding law enforcement from the back end,” she says, adding that public safety involves not just police, but social services and other preventive measures. “When it comes to talking about increasing police, what we really need to talk about is improving mental health services.” The Senate’s framework for gun safety laws will include “national expansion of community behavioral health center model; major investments to increase access to mental health and suicide prevention programs; and other support services available in the community, including crisis and trauma intervention and recovery,” according to a press release from Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s office. Senators are working on a final draft of a gun safety bill, which is expected to come to a vote in coming weeks, reports say. If passed, it will be the first “meaningful” federal gun safety legislation passed in 28 years.
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support responsible gun ownership?” she says, adding that an effective system for background checks for gun purchasers needs to be a part of that conversation. Extending the amount of time it takes to obtain a firearm can provide a “cooling off ” period and reduce the likelihood or severity of a mass shooting, she says. Congress passed a federal background check requirement in 1994, requiring them only for transactions involving federally licensed dealers. That left a loophole for transactions involving unlicensed dealers, such as online sellers or some sales at gun shows. The Senate’s framework proposes
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Victor (left) and Dustin Drai (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
NEXTGENERATION NIGHTLIFE Father and son reflect on 25 years of Drai’s in Las Vegas
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son duo made a great team. “We’ve always been together. I traveled all over the world with him,” Victor says. “I didn’t look at it like something weird. For me, it was just my kid, and we were doing things together because I was working. We were very close, and we work that close.” There was never a board meeting Victor didn’t allow his son to observe, or a discussion in which he couldn’t engage—even at age 12. “That was always the way that I was raised, being around and him never being afraid to ask my opinion,” Dustin says. “Because of that, I was able to see how hard he worked, and that really translated to the way that my work ethic is now.” It’s “turning more and more into a partnership as I get older,” Dustin says of the relationship, though nothing eclipses the personal connection they have when it comes to business. “The whole company knows when they need something, they go to him, he comes to me and he knows how to approach me,” Victor says. “He knows when I get crazy to back off, and to leave me and my sh*t for a few hours and to come back. He’s very diplomatic. He knows me better than myself.” Innovation runs in the family DNA. It has kept Drai’s thriving for 25 years, and it has turned Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub into a live concert destination for today’s biggest hip-hop and R&B stars. “Here you can almost touch the [artist onstage], and people freak out at that. That’s what we love,” Victor says. “It’s another level of show, almost like a showroom in the nightclub.” As the anniversary arrives, the Drais are set on remaining in the moment—and trusting their gut. “You have to,” Victor says. “Otherwise you’re never going to be great.”
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hrough all the changes the Strip has seen over the past quarter century, Drai’s After Hours has remained a linchpin of the Las Vegas nightlife scene. The iconic spot at the Cromwell will celebrate 25 adventurous years on June 25. For founder Victor Drai, creating such a long legacy will always feel like a happy accident. “I never think that far,” says Drai, the Moroccan mogul and film producer who helped modernize Vegas clubs. “That’s my magic. I always do things and live with it.” When he opened Drai’s as a restaurant in 1997—in the basement of what was then the Barbary Coast—he knew he had a gorgeous space in a prime location. It was just a matter of what to do with it after dinner service ended. Drai’s pioneered the late-night lounge, keeping revelers enticed into the wee hours with glamorous, exclusive vibes. Its influence would touch every part of the Las Vegas nightlife industry, from introducing the earliest sounds of EDM to ushering in the age of bottle service. Victor Drai went on to open other venues like Tryst and XS at Wynn and Liaison at Bally’s—the first LGBTQ nightclub inside a casino—while expanding the Drai’s brand with the rooftop nightclub and dayclub at the Cromwell. These days he’s lauded by many, but especially by his son, Dustin Drai, vice president of marketing and entertainment for the Drai’s Group. “Yes, we’re celebrating 25 years of Drai’s After Hours,” Dustin says, “but what we’re really celebrating is 25 years of being a part of Las Vegas nightlife and how [my father has] created not only jobs for companies he’s owned, but just an industry altogether that has provided livelihoods and careers to thousands and thousands of people who may or may not have come [here] without him coming here.” Like most things in this family business, Dustin joining his father wasn’t part of a master plan. In fact, Victor says he assumed his son would become an actor. But the father-and-
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6.23.22 STEVEN WRIGHT June 25, 8 p.m., $40$60. Orleans Showroom, ticketmaster. com.
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Steven Wright (Courtesy/Jorge Rios)
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Steven Wright ready to return to ‘amazingly bizarre’ Las Vegas BY BROCK RADKE
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he absurdist comedian Steven Wright is always in my head. When I was a kid, before I became a writer, I saw one of his TV stand-up specials, and that’s when the immortal one-liner, “What’s another word for thesaurus?” became permanently lodged in my brain. Every time I try to find the right word to type on these pages, I hear his deadpan delivery. With Wright performing in Las Vegas this week for the first time in a long time—he waited until April of this year to resume touring, the longest break from the stage in his entire career—I decided to seize the opportunity to try to get into his head. It worked. Maybe. Since you’ve been back onstage, have you noticed any difference in audiences and their reactions and behaviors from before the pandemic? I noticed that they’re two years older. Actually, I didn’t notice any difference in response other than the political correctness that keeps [growing], but maybe that was happening more than two years ago. It’s a freaky thing. It’s too much.
And you don’t really dive into political or cultural issues much. What could I possibly have that would do that? I’m talking about the speed of light or about lint. But it did affect a couple of jokes. I’m sick of it. It’s like I left on a spaceship and came back five years later and a lot of the rules are different. If George Carlin was still around, I would love to see what he would be doing with this sh*t. He would put it in a blender and make a fruit drink. You’ve been visiting Vegas for a long time. Do you like being here? I love going there. I don’t gamble, but I love surrealism and I think the way it looks is just amazingly bizarre. It’s like Salvador Dali built the skyline, with the Eiffel Tower and the New York buildings. The whole thing is fascinating. And now you can add the MSG Sphere. What is that? It’s a new arena-theater being built behind the Venetian that’s just a big globe. It’s pretty crazy. That’s what I’m talking about. This is great.
You’ve been in lots of movies—big and small—but when I go through the list, I realize how many great directors you’ve worked with. Any favorites? Well, Reservoir Dogs with Quentin Tarantino. Years ago I made a short film called The Appointments of Dennis Jennings [which won an Academy Award in 1988]; it was edited by Sally Menke, and her husband [Dean Parisot] directed, and I became friends with them. A few years later, she was working on Reservoir Dogs. Quentin knew there was going to be a guy, this voice on the radio, the K-Billy DJ, but he didn’t know who it would be. She suggested me, and he liked it. That was the first movie of his career, but it really changed things into this whole other version of movies, so I was happy to be involved with that because it was more than just a movie. It was like an exit ramp to another world. I’ve seen that movie many times and I’ve seen you in Half Baked many times, with Dave Chappelle. Half Baked is fun, because people have either never seen it or they’ve seen it 50 times and they own it. There’s no in between.
FRI / JUN 24
SAT / JUN 25
SUN / JUN 26
AT VIRGIN HOTELS L AS VEGAS 7 0 2 . 6 9 3 . 5 5 7 0 / M U ST B E 2 1 + / E L IA B E AC H LV. C OM
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C U L T U R E
Cuddlethot (Courtesy)
‘HOPELESS ROMANTIC’ Vegas singer/rapper Cuddlethot wants to wrap her listeners in a warm hug BY AMBER SAMPSON
NOISE
T
here’s something radically disarming about Jerraka Brown, the 28-yearold hip-hop artist better known as Cuddlethot. Perhaps it’s the shock of blonde curls paired with the teashade glasses, or the slightness of her unassuming frame. She’s poised and nonchalant here at Mothership Coffee inside Fergusons Downtown. As it turns out, the coolheadedness presented on mixtapes such as 2020’s The Melting Thot isn’t so much a musical style as a personality trait. “There’s a lot of different styles of me on
there, and I want to carry that throughout the rest of my career, ” says Brown, whose influences include Kanye West and Tyler, the Creator. “I don’t want to be bound to making chill, lo-fi music to relax to. I want to make bangers. I want to see the crowd moshing sometimes.” Brown fell in love with recording at a young age. Growing up in Seattle, she’d tag along with her brothers to their friend’s home studio, where they rapped and taught her about beatmaking. Even after joining the Air Force, Brown kept music close, ghost writing for musicians she met while stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, for four years. In 2017, Brown moved to Las Vegas, where CUDDLETHOT
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she discovered she belonged. “The energy is crazy here; it’s so fast-paced,” she says, “whereas in Seattle and Alaska, it’s like people go there to settle down, raise a family, get cable TV and forget about their dreams.” Not Brown. Upon arriving here, she immediately began releasing music as Cuddlethot, performing at events such as DTLV Field Trip and working at Junxion Sound, a Downtown recording studio where local producers have contributed to Grammy-nominated projects such as West’s Donda. Transparency abounds in Cuddlethot’s writing. The emcee and singer excavates from her own life, crafting narratives around love and emotional struggles, as in the mellow “Toxins,” a song about “keeping a person around just [because] we’re both lonely,” Brown says. On the track, Cuddlethot candidly raps, “Had depression/I still do/Come sit in my cesspool/I’m here if you want to/I really don’t want you.” “Ultimately, I make music for myself; it’s a venting thing,” she says. “But I also make music for those people who are like me: queer young black kids. The weirdos who don’t quite fit in. The awkward kids. The hopeless romantics.” With artists like Lil Nas X flaunting his LGBTQ status and rapper Isaiah Rashad embracing his sexual fluidity, the hyper machismo of hip-hop seems to be abating. And Brown, who describes herself as “black, queer and human,” is absolutely here for it. “I’ve had a few people from other countries who have reached out,” she says. “There’s this kid in Germany who was like, ‘I really love your music. I’m also queer and trying to make music, and you really inspire me.’ That was crazy to me, because I’m not the biggest artist. Like, how did you even find me, bro?” Brown continues to make space for other artists like herself. Every season, she and creative hub Juicebox Ent curate Low-Fye Nite, a local music showcase for mellow indie artists staged at a secret location (keep an eye on Instagram @lowfyenite for details on the June 24 edition). As for new music, Brown is hard at work after this year’s braggadocious “Field Day.” She’s carefully weighing her next release, focused on it being “better than the last,” though some of her past work might be hard to top (See: the reference to “Henderhoneys” in “Pull Up Like MJ”). Mostly, though, Cuddlethot wants it to take her listeners to a good place. “I just want them to feel warm,” she says. “I want my music to feel like a hug. Like they are being personally cuddled by me, Cuddlethot.”
juiceboxent.com/cuddlethot
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Instagram: @cuddleth0t
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READ ALL ABOUT IT C U L T U R E
Touring three newish Vegas Valley bookstores
BY EVELYN MATEOS
B
y author Neil Gaiman’s reckoning, every town needs a bookstore. “It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not foolin’ a soul,” he wrote in his 2001 novel American Gods. Las Vegas passes that test, even though it has seen the seen the closure of several local favorites during the past few years. More favorable times might lie ahead, however, as the Valley has recently welcomed three new bookstores to serve voracious readers.
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READ & DISCOVER
Avantpop Books, (left) inside and (below) out (Steve Marcus/Staff)
Music plays softly over speakers as one digs through the stacks at the forgettably named, yet otherwise interesting, Las Vegas Books (4790 S. Eastern Ave.). The shop, which opened in November, has a classic used-bookstore feel. Pre-loved books with cracked spines line the shelves, while many more sit in boxes and on tables waiting to be organized. Chaos? For some, maybe. But a treasure trove of discovery for others. Don’t be fooled, however: Las Vegas Books has every item carefully cataloged, staff members can easily look anything up in their database and they know their stock well. When I asked for a title, an employee knew exactly where it was without even consulting the system. Las Vegas Books features the expected genres, from memoirs to sci-fi, but the shop digs deep into others, like chess and poker, and it offers many Spanish-language books, too. Prices are about what you’d expect from a used bookstore, typically from a couple bucks to around $10. Creating a store account brings several benefits. The store can create a wish list for you and let you know— either by email or phone—when a title on your list comes into stock. It can also let you know if you’re about to buy a title you’ve purchased previously (which can happen, as book people know).
to spot, along with timeless works by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. There are sections devoted to LGBTQ and Black History. And a selection of used vinyl LPs and 12-inch singles can yield finds by Missy Elliot and Cher. Sorting through it all can easily turn into an all-day event. Most books at Diamond Sutra range from about $5 to $15, with leather-bound classics and first editions more expensive. As for the vinyl, you’ll have to check with the cashier, as many of them aren’t priced. And if you can’t make it out to Diamond Sutra’s physical location, you can check out its online offerings on eBay (ebay.to/3O15F5B). Avantpop Books (900 Karen Ave. #D102), which launched earlier this month at New Orleans Square in the Historic Commercial Center District, is highly curated, focusing on genres like art/photography, sci-fi/fantasy, womxn studies, queer, oddities, magic/sorcery/voodoo, horror, poetry and a few others. Because most of the books on
Avantpop’s shelves are older, they’ve been cleaned, and plastic dust jackets have been placed on all the hard covers. For the most part, titles are reasonably priced—mostly under $10, with some higher-priced first editions. Avantpop doubles as a publishing house, collaborating with artists and writers to bring independent works to the community. So far, it has issued poetry book F*d-Up Poetry for F*-Up People in F*d-Up Times and the zine Stoned History, both by local author (and Avantpop co-owner Shwa Laytart). There are also two coloring books available, one each by local artist Michael Maysonet (aka StonerDude) and Southern California-based artist Dakota Noots. Avantpop’s walls are adorned with art for sale—several pieces by StonerDude and a few by local artist BluuMangoo, who has also created a 12-month wall calendar. Customers will also find T-shirts and other items for sale around the shop. And on the way out, customers can pick up free bookplates and stickers. Neil Gaiman would likely approve.
Summer Reading & Activities + Coloring & Art Contest For Kids, Teens & Adults Pick up a Summer Challenge log and a Coloring & Art Contest form at your favorite library branch or go to LVCCLD.org/SummerChallenge for details and many more events!
Don’t Miss These Incredible FREE Events Happening This Week! Attending these programs counts towards completing your Summer Challenge log!
AUTHOR KENDRA ATLEEWORK Workshop: Writing Setting, Place, and Landscape Thursday, June 23 at 10 a.m. Windmill Library Author Reading: “Miracle Country” Thursday, June 23 at 12 p.m. Windmill Library Friday, June 24 at 5 p.m. West Las Vegas Library
Diamond Sutra Books (107 E. Charleston Blvd.#105), located on the ground floor of Downtown’s Arts Factory, set up shop just a couple of months ago. The store has a lived-in vibe, with a couple of couches and a coffee table at the center. Knickknacks abound, adding to that homey feel. Books by familiar authors, like Anne Rice and Stephen King, are easy
Las Vegas Books 4790 S. Eastern Ave., 702-758-5685, facebook.com/ lasvegasbooks. MondaySaturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
MAY 15 – JULY 31
AUTHOR MICHAEL P. BRANCH Author Visit: “On the Trail of the Jackalope” Saturday, June 25 at 4 p.m. West Charleston Library Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m. Whitney Library
Diamond Sutra Books 107 E. Charleston Blvd. #105, 725-221-0935, Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Avantpop Books 900 Karen Ave. #D102, avantpopbooks.com. Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
To support programs like these, please donate here.
Library District employees and their families are not eligible to win Summer Challenge prizes.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE MARCUS & CHIRSTOPHER DEVARGAS
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ABSOLUTELY
C U L T U R E
ADDICTIVE Cozy Latin spot Aroma has all the flavors you need BY BROCK RADKE
You won’t leave Aroma hungry. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
I’ve had it up to here with you Henderson people. Never again should I hear you claim you don’t have enough great places to eat in your suburban city. That hasn’t been a true statement for years now, but I continue to hear it, even though seemingly every time I try a new restaurant in Henderson, I’m blown away by the food and overall experience. My latest discovery is at the corner of Sunset Road and Green Valley Parkway, an intersection at the heart of this neighborhood’s dining scene for decades. And I didn’t discover it as much as I finally paid a visit
to a small, charming restaurant that several friends had passionately recommended in recent months. And then I took a seat at Aroma Latin American Cocina and promptly devoured the best steak taco I’ve ever had. Piled atop two thin, griddle-crisp tortillas with a drizzle of salsa verde, queso fresco, pico de gallo, avocado and pickled onions rested a mountain of perfectly seasoned and cooked steak, far more tender than the average carne asada. It could be a complete lunch by itself, a steal at $6. Considering the pedigree of
chef and owner Steve Kestler, who has worked in the kitchens of Bazaar Meat, Bouchon and EDO Tapas, it’s not surprising that something so simple is given the ultimate treatment at Aroma. But the tacos—also available with pork belly or fried avocado ($5)—are only the beginning at this versatile, casual eatery, which skillfully tours through Guatemalan, Cuban, Peruvian and other Latin cuisines. Start with the summer-appropriate, bright and fresh mangonada salad ($12.50), loaded with mango, jicama and cashews in a fun Chamoyaccented dressing. Shrimp
6.23.22 AROMA LATIN AMERICAN COCINA 2877 N. Green Valley Parkway, 702610-2727, aromalatin cocina.the foodygram. com. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
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Red Dwarf’s Detroit-style pizza (Steve Marcus/Staff)
ONE COOL SPACE
Red Dwarf specializes in Detroit-style pizza and tiki-inspired cocktails BY GEOFF CARTER
trées really shine. His take on lomo saltado ($20) uses beef tenderloin, an upgrade on the Peruvian tradition also served with sushi rice and an aji amarillo cream sauce. Chicken tinga chilaquiles ($16) are an any-time-of-day dish here, and the mole beef short ribs ($20), with roasted sweet potatoes and esquites corn salad, might be the showstopper on the menu. You have amazing food in your ’hood, Henderson people. Try Aroma, if you haven’t already, but don’t thank me; thank this talented and ambitious chef and his team.
Crème de Cassis sipper called the Mexican Diablo—are a steal at $10. Could also be the pizza. Red Dwarf’s pies ($12-$16), Detroitstyle with a chewy crust and a thick stack of toppings beneath the cheese and sauce, are rib-sticking, immensely satisfying affairs. You can get yours with anything from mushrooms and peppers to pepperoni and brown sugar-glazed ham, with a choice of red or white sauce. The possibilities are vast, and as near as I can tell, there’s no way to do it wrong. Pair your pizza with wings—mild, hot, hot barbecue or spicy garlic honey—and make a righteous meal of it. Or it could be the feel of the place. One wall is wallpapered with flyers from classic Vegas venues—the Huntridge, Calamity Jayne’s—and the bartop is lined with vintage record sleeves. Local bands squeeze onto the corner stage, and amongst the crowd you see people you know and like, or strangers you’d like to know better. In any case, whatever strange magic is animating this place, it’s working. Red Dwarf is our local. That’s all there is to it.
RED DWARF 1305 Vegas Valley Drive, 702-640-0496, reddwarflv.com. Daily, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
FOOD & DRINK
ceviche ($16) is served with fresh “tostadita” chips and packed with avocado and a cucumber-celery pico for fresh crunch. The Guatemalan enchilada ($10) is another flavor-bomb of a starter that could fill you up, with beef picadillo, hard-boiled egg, cotija cheese and pickled beets. Revisit that incredible steak on the Gaucho sandwich ($18), or indulge in the slow-roasted pork that serves as the foundation for an excellent, authentic Cubano ($16) at lunchtime. Then come back for dinner, where Kestler’s en-
n Ever since I first stepped foot inside Red Dwarf, I’ve wracked my brain for the proper words to explain it. Sure, I could use keywords to describe the friendly Midtown joint—“tiki,” “punk rock,” “dive bar,” “cocktails,” “craft beer,” “pizza”—but they wouldn’t convey how it feels to walk into Reed Dwarf, grab a seat at the bar and settle in. Thing is, you have to do it to feel it. It’s an intangible thing that makes hours seem like minutes, encourages you to introduce yourself to the bartenders and possesses you to begin describing the place as “my local.” Maybe it’s the booze. Red Dwarf offers 20 craft beer taps from local and regional brewers—Juxta Nomad, Modern Times and Pizza Port, among others—in 13-ounce pours that are priced to move. The house lager, Astronomy Aleworks’ super-drinkable and unfortunately named Dwarf Piss, is only $4, but on a recent visit no beer on the list cost more than $7. And the tiki-inspired cocktails—expertly-made takes on the Mai Tai and Painkiller, and a smooth mezcal/ginger beer/
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THE RIGHT FIT
CASSIDY AND THE KIDS How the Golden Knights’ new coach should fit with several players on the roster BY DANNY WEBSTER
C U L T U R E
W
ith a new coach comes a new system, and that new system will have a great impact on how the Vegas Golden Knights look next season. On June 16, the team introduced former Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy as its new man, and management has clear expectations for Pete DeBoer’s replacement. GM Kelly McCrimmon is tasking Cassidy with getting the Golden Knights back to the Stanley Cup Final—and ultimately winning it. “I would like to bring the stuff that worked well, and the stuff that didn’t we’ll sort through,” Cassidy said in his introductory news conference. “My beliefs are you need to have accountability in the group, you need to defend well and you need to have possession of the puck.” The Golden Knights will be looking for the coaching change to spark the same sort of immediate results the last switch behind the bench did. When Vegas went from Gerard Gallant to DeBoer in 2020, it quickly went on a tear and wound up making consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup semifinals. But DeBoer’s defense-first system ultimately hindered what Vegas wanted to do on offense. Shot attempts were mostly generated from the blue line, and if there was danger from the forwards, it was in a limited capacity. Cassidy’s system should open up opportunities for Vegas’ forwards. He spent the past six years coaching arguably the best top line in hockey with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. He’ll have that same type of talent at his disposal next season with Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone and Jack Eichel. “We want to get into attack mode,” Cassidy said. Some players already on the Golden Knights’ roster should benefit greatly from Cassidy’s defense-to-offense approach, while others feel like question marks as far as fit. Here’s a rundown on four players who fall into each category.
New VGK coach Bruce Cassidy (top) and (left to right) Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and William Karlsson (Steve Marcus/Staff/AP Photo/Photo Illustration)
MARK STONE When healthy, the Golden Knights’ captain is skilled enough to fit into any coaching system, but his match with Cassidy looks like a perfect one. Assuming he fully recovers from offseason back surgery, his presence could mirror Cassidy’s former captain, Bergeron, on both ends of the ice. Stone is a two-time finalist for the Selke Award, given to the best defensive forward in hockey, but he has never won the award, in part because he’s a winger rather than a center. Bergeron won his fifth Selke this year and has been one of the best at his position for a decade. “I had an opportunity to talk with [Stone] briefly on where he saw the team,” Cassidy said. “He’s very dialed in. When you can play a 200-foot game, be a threat on offense and be responsible on defense, those are the best hockey clubs, and Mark fits that category.” WILLIAM KARLSSON Cassidy’s counter-attack style of offense could help Karlsson regain his old form. The original Misfit probably won’t reach the 43-goal plateau from his first year in Vegas, but he should easily eclipse last year’s disappointing 37-point (12 goals, 23 assists) campaign. Karlsson might be a trade candidate this offseason, but if he sticks around, his well-rounded style should set him up for a rebound. ALEX PIETRANGELO In Boston, Cassidy had one puck-moving defenseman at his disposal in Charlie McAvoy, who established himself as one of the best generators in the league. In Vegas, Cassidy has two such blue-liners in Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore. Theodore rounded into form late in the season and should be primed for a big leap in 2022. Pietrangelo, the steady presence on the St. Louis Blues team that won the Stanley Cup over Cassidy’s Bruins in 2019, should thrive with a more manageable workload after injuries thrust him into career-high ice time last year. JACK EICHEL Cassidy noted that there are guys on the Golden Knights who haven’t been taught how to win and are therefore hungry for the experience. Eichel was the first player he mentioned. The Golden Knights’ newest star looked great in stints under DeBoer after returning from neck surgery, but an argument could be made that his strengths don’t work best in a defensive system. Eichel needs space and open ice to create. That’s something he should get under Cassidy, who spoke of allowing his best stick handlers the freedom and creativity to work in the offensive end. Eichel is the best stick handler on the roster.
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WILL IT WORK? CHANDLER STEPHENSON Stephenson shouldn’t struggle under Cassidy, but he might be hard-pressed to repeat the year he just put together. He scored a career-high 64 points as the primary No. 1 center, but the bulk of that scoring came with Stone and Pacioretty out of the lineup with injuries. Cassidy will empower his stars with more ice time and likely play them together, meaning it would be unfair to expect the same level of production from Stephenson for another year. If he can turn into a 40- or 50-point player on the third line, however, that would be a major win. ZACH WHITECLOUD Whitecloud will have the opportunity to earn a bigger role, but he’ll have to prove he’s ready for such a promotion in training camp. He’s coming off a career-high 19-point season, but there might be some doubt about whether he’s ready for a full-time role next to Theodore or Pietrangelo. DeBoer was high on Whitecloud’s potential going forward, but it’s always tricky for a young, developing player when a new staff comes in. BRETT HOWDEN It’s probably safe to assume that Howden, a restricted free agent, will re-sign with Vegas. He revitalized his career last season, scoring 20 points in 47 games before an upper-body injury in March ended his season. Howden would likely pencil in as the fourth-line center come training camp, and he might fit with Cassidy’s preference as a middleman with a scoring touch. But if Cassidy wants to go more defensive-minded with the fourth line, Howden might not be the guy.
SPORTS
MICHAEL AMADIO Signed to a two-year extension this season, Amadio scored a career-high 11 goals in 56 games while seeing some time on the second line during Reilly Smith’s absence. But it’s uncertain whether Amadio can maintain the same consistency going forward. He’s someone who could reasonably wind up as anything from a end-of-roster stash to a second-liner. Like Whitecloud, he’ll need to impress Cassidy in training camp to secure his place.
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MAY 15 – JULY 31 SUMMER READING & ACTIVITIES + COLORING & ART CONTEST FOR KIDS, TEENS & ADULTS Pick up a Summer Challenge log and a Coloring & Art Contest form at your favorite library branch or go to LVCCLD.org/SummerChallenge
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ADOPTION EVENT Friday, June 24 through Sunday, June 26 Adoption fees waived for ALL animals*
FRATELLO MARIONETTES: SPOOKTACULAR A fun, not-so-scary marionette show. Ages 4 – 11
Thursday, June 23
Saturday, June 25
Friday, June 24
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Rainbow Library at 11 a.m. Windmill Library at 4:30 p.m.
Mesquite Library at 11 a.m. Sandy Valley Library at 3 p.m.
Moapa Valley Library at 11:30 a.m. West Charleston Library at 11 a.m. Enterprise Library at 4 p.m. Spring Valley Library at 4 p.m. Go to LVCCLD.org/SummerChallenge or scan the QR Code for more details and for more event listings. Space is limited and registration may be required. Library District employees and their families are not eligible to win Summer Challenge prizes. Winners will be announced in August.
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ESPAÑOL
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
6.23.22
HOSPITALITY
FOR MULTIPRONGED SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN, ZOUK GROUP TAPS INTO ITS WORKERS’ STAR POTENTIAL
I
BY BRYAN HORWATH VEGAS INC STAFF
n the video clip, cocktail server Kami Deike playfully struts her stuff with a hypnotizing graphics background and a Zouk Nightclub tag line at the bottom of the screen. Deike, a recent UNLV graduate, is clearly comfortable in front of a camera, one reason why she was asked to be among the employees featured in a multipronged social media marketing campaign for the nightclub inside Resorts World on the Strip. Another part of the campaign, rolled out this spring, featured members of Zouk’s VIP host team. In that video, employees were captured around Resorts World in what Ronn Nicolli described as “Ocean’s Eleven-type” clips where the workers are sitting at a table game or a bar, or smoking a cigar. Nicolli, chief marketing officer for Resorts World and vice president for Zouk Group’s Las Vegas operations, said marketing campaigns that use actual venue or resort employees instead of actors or celebrities have become more popular over the years. Zouk Group, which also runs the Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World, is part of Genting Group, the company behind the massive Resorts World development, which opened last year. “Different nightlife groups have done things like this for years, but I don’t think to the scale that we’re doing it this year,” Nicolli said. “We look at it as content-building that meets team-building. If done the right way,
you have some beautiful collateral of team members that they can also use for their own social channels.” Employee-focused videos and other pieces of marketing material have been visible around the Strip this year, including on the massive LED video board on Resorts World’s west tower, and on mobile billboards that travel up and down Las Vegas Boulevard. “I think it’s something that’s truly unique to our venue and a great way to get the team involved,” Deike said. “This is where a lot of us call
home, so to be able to see ourselves and our co-workers plastered across the casino and around the city, that’s really exciting. People come into Zouk Nightclub or Ayu Dayclub and say ‘I just saw you on the screen outside and now you’re our server.’” While the idea of using employees as models in an advertising campaign might be easier for a Las Vegas nightclub or dayclub—venues that famously employ lots of attractive people—it’s also part of a more broad change in marketing tactics during the social
Zouk Nightclub (Courtesy/Zouk Nightclub)
media era. Marla Royne Stafford, a marketing professor at UNLV who has spent time over the years researching marketing in the hospitality industry, said the goal is always to employ the “best type of spokesperson” to help get a particular business recognized. “Years ago, you’d have more celebrities as spokespeople,” Royne Stafford said. “With the growth of platforms like TikTok and consumer-to-consumer marketing, you have more instances where real people have become more important in the spokesperson space. Those real people can be customers or they can be employees. You’re trying to build relationships, and sometimes celebrities can have issues with authenticity.” Zachary McCabe, a VIP host for Zouk Group Las Vegas, said he had fun doing the VIP team’s Ocean’s Eleven video shoot and would like to do more. “At first, I was hesitant because this was something I’d never done before,” McCabe said. “But I also was excited about the opportunity to create something that no one else is doing. ... These campaigns show that we are appreciated and that Zouk Group truly wants every employee to be involved.” In the nightclub/dayclub business, the generation of leads is paramount, Nicolli said. He said this year’s campaigns have helped in that area, partly because the ads can live on all the different employee social channels. The short video Deike put on her Instagram in February had about 700 likes. “In the absence of being a brand that’s been around for a decade or more, sometimes we can be a little lead deficient,” Nicolli said. “Creating these moments, there’s a certain amount of pride there for our employees. What we wanted to do is kind of treat our team members like we treat our resident DJs. In my mind, something like this is one of the best competitive features we have for our team members.”
2022_CTW-30455_ROY_Print_Las Vegas_Las Vegas Weekly_ENG_4.5x11_06-16-22_F.pdf
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6/7/22
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Follow us @CenterWellPrimaryCare to learn about activities and events CenterWellTM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711). 注意：如果您使用繁體 中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711). GCHLKSZEN
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
6.23.22
VegasInc Notes
adjudicate workers’ compensation disputes.
Howard & Howard announced that John Savage joined the law firm’s business litigation practice group in the Las Vegas office. Savage has experience in all aspects Savage of civil litigation, including arbitration, bench trial, short trial, jury trial preparation, post-trial proceedings, appeals, and mediation. Prior to joining Howard & Howard, he represented the first two court-appointed receivers over Nevada cannabis establishments.
pathic medical schools of the Touro University Western Division, were both awarded with this distinction.
The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation awarded the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine the distinction of Accreditation with Exceptional Outcome, the highest level possible. This top level of accreditation is awarded to approximately 25% of osteopathic medical schools. The approval time frame is 10 years. Touro University Nevada and Touro University California, the two osteo-
Department of Business and Industry director Terry Reynolds appointed Karl Armstrong as administrator of the Taxicab Authority. Armstrong most recently served as Armstrong an appeals officer with the Nevada Department of Administration, where he primarily conducted hearings to
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Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School announced that John Rinaldo was hired as director of business partnerships. He will be responsible for building partRinaldo nerships with local businesses and organizations that can offer entry-level paying jobs to Cristo Rey St. Viator’s High School students.
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Converting Production Manager, Sofidel America Corp., Las Vegas, NV. Manage the production personnel, shift rotation; achieve company objectives by operating in compliance with safety, environmental and product safety provisions, ISO 9001 Quality System and Groups policies; Oversee technical training; Collaborate with the Production Planning Office suggesting possible corrective actions; Ensure that the product is compliant with the technical specifications; Collaborate with the Product Office in the permanent updating of technical specifications, signaling anomalies and suggesting alterations for improvement; Manage the development of new products, check their technical feasibility, tests and sampling; Manage the assessment of auxiliary raw materials and their industrial tests; Promote the improvement aimed at the optimization of productive processes through innovative solutions; Collaborate with maintenance to guarantee the correct functioning of productive lines; Supervise compliance with safety provisions; Contribute to the creation of new products; Responsible for teams professional growth, valorization, and motivation; Monitor the safety, quality, and environment -bound corporate culture; Promote the Corporate Principles and Values. Requirements: High School diploma or equivalent; Minimum five years of experience in job or in related supervisory role(s) in paper manufacturing at a large, international paper mill environment; or in the alternative a Bachelors degree or foreign equivalent in Engineering and one year experience in job or in related supervisory role(s) in paper manufacturing at a large, international paper mill environment is acceptable. Experience must include supervision of production sites, improving production standards for paper mills and converting plants. Must possess problem solving skills, team management skills; Experience using MS Office Tools (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint), SAP software. Resumés by email to Andrea Franceschini, Assistant Vice President HR at: andrea.franceschini@sofidelamerica.com.
Jewish Nevada, which serves more than 70,000 Jews throughout the state, announced that Debbie Strimling has been named Women’s Philanthropy Council chair for Strimling the organization. Strimling will continue to help sustain a vibrant Jewish community throughout the state and assist with fundraising efforts and other duties within the council, serving in this role for the next two years. Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara has selected new leaders in several units and divisions as the school district prepares for the 2022-23 school year. Shana Rafalski has been chosen as chief of staff. She has worked in education for 20 years and recently served as executive director, educational choices and innovation school district of Osceola County, Florida. She is tentatively scheduled to begin work June 16. Carol Tolx began her role as the new chief human resources officer June 1. Tolx has worked in education for more than two decades and recently served as chief human resources officer for the
Centennial School District in Warminster, Pennsylvania. Nathan Miller is the new chief of facilities to oversee the maintenance and construction. He has worked for CCSD since 2001 and most recently served as principal at Durango High School. Alaina Criner-Wilson will transfer to become assistant superintendent in the curriculum and instruction division. Most recently, Criner-Wilson served as a school associate superintendent in Region 1. Criner-Wilson begins her new role July 1. Exit Realty Number One in Las Vegas announced the addition of Sean Malkia Mullens and Meredith Newell to its team of real estate professionals. Nathan Adelson Hospice was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the 2022 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. Credit One Bank received the United States Postal Service’s 2022 Partnership for Growth Award. Award winners are selected by the postmaster general and the USPS executive team, seeking companies that continue to provide innovation and growth through the USPS. Credit One Bank was recognized for its swift and inventive response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its utilization of marketing mail.
JOB LISTING Assistant CNV Production Manager, Sofidel America Corp, Las Vegas, NV. Operate in compliance with safety, environmental and product’s safety provisions, ISO 9001 Quality System, and Group’s policies to achieve corporate goals. Supervise production personnel, including shift rotation; Ensure that product is compliant with the technical specifications. Collaborate with the production planning office suggesting corrective production actions, and the updating of technical specifications. Suggest alterations for improvement. Assist in the development of new products, technical tests and sampling. Assess raw materials and their industrial tests. Promote the optimization of productive processes through innovative solutions. Assist with equipment maintenance to guarantee the correct functioning of productive lines and maximize productivity and efficiency. Requirements: Associate degree or foreign equivalent in Mechanical Engineering/ Industrial Engineering or related field; Minimum three years of experience in job or in related production supervisory role in paper manufacturing in a large, international paper mill environment. Experience must include specialized knowledge of paper production especially for hygienic purpose; knowledge of tissue paper converting equipment. Ability to troubleshoot production equipment; Computer literacy. Resumés by email to Andrea Franceschini, Assistant Vice President HR at: andrea.franceschini@sofidelamerica.com.
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