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8.4.22

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

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

White Noise, performing at the Road to Life Is Beautiful Battle of the Bands at the Space (Steve Marcus/Staff)

SUPERGUIDE

Your weekly events planner, starring Red Hot Chili Peppers, Father John Misty, Teyana Taylor, Jauz and more.

NOISE

Local bands vie for Life Is Beautiful spots, and other Vegas music notes.

38 THE STRIP

COVER STORY

U2 at the Sphere and Adele at the Colosseum—the Incidental Tourist analyzes the latest Vegas residency wave.

We’re all for splurging on special meals, but sometimes you don’t have to. Our staff points the way to more than 40 tasty deals around the Vegas Valley.

FOOD & DRINK Il Toro E La Capra, from the family behind Lindo Michoacan. Plus, Bellagio’s new Garden Table.

NEWS

Following the Supreme Court’s blow to emissions regulations, what can local agencies do to clean up our air?

ON THE COVER

THE RIGHT PRICE Mas Takos Photograph by Wade Vandervort

SPORTS

Best bets to win college football’s major conferences, the Heisman Trophy and the national title? Case Keefer’s got you covered.

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

8.4.22

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SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY 04

AUDIEN 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. (Photo Courtesy/Tony Tran)

AUG.

MUSIC

PARTY

SPORTS

S U P E R G U I D E

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK

COMEDY

MISC

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. RENO ACES Thru 8/7, 7 p.m., Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com. NGHTMRE 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

BRAD GARRETT With Tom Rhodes, Robbie Bullard, thru 8/7, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrett comedy.com. THE PROM Thru 8/7, times vary, Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

SISTAZ OF SOUL With Chimini-Yoka, Serena Henry, Terrie Rimson, 7 p.m., Baobab Stage, baobabstage.com. DJ CLA 10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

MICHAEL GRIMM 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com. WILLIE FRATTO FARRELL Thru 8/7, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com.

FASTER PUSSYCAT With Jet Black Romance, 8 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, eventbrite.com. DJ SEINFELD 8 p.m., Area15 Portal, area15.com.

8.4.22

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

FRIDAY 05 AUG.

JOHN LEGEND 8 p.m., & 8/6, 8/10, Zappos Theater, ticketmaster.com. (AP Photo) CYPRESS HILL 7 p.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com. KATHLEEN MADIGAN 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, mirage. mgmresorts.com. STRFKR With The Undercover Dream Lovers, Das Kope, 8 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com.

XIQUET X LE CIRQUE DINNER Times vary, & 8/6, Bellagio, bellagio. mgmresorts.com.

ZEDD With Kiko Franco, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

FATIMA HAJJI, SIAN & BRENNAN GREY With Bad Beat, 9 p.m., Area15 Portal, area15.com.

ILLENIUM 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

KATY PERRY 8 p.m., & 8/6, 8/10, Resorts World Theatre, ticketmaster.com. SILK SONIC 9 p.m., & 8/6, 8/10, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

LIONEL RICHIE 8 p.m., & 8/6, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. 2 CHAINZ 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

CARLOS ANTHONY 7:30 p.m., & 8/6, Wiseguys, vegas. wiseguyscomedy.com. THE RHYOLITE SOUND 8:30 p.m., the Tank, goldennugget.com. ROBERT LANEY 9 p.m., & 8/6, Comedy Works, plazatix.com.

SUPERGUIDE

LAS VEGAS STORIES: UNDER NEON SKIES “During Las Vegas’ classic era, neon was everywhere,” historian Lynn Zook says. “It was in neighborhoods, it was Downtown, it was on the Strip, it was everywhere. It just wasn’t for casinos; it was for restaurants and motels and all sorts of businesses. But I guess neon got a reputation for being tawdry, and [because of that] it had to go away.” It’s true: Much of the great neon signage of Vegas’ bygone era has been destroyed, snapped up by collectors or given to the Neon Museum. (We adore the Neon Museum, but we also love seeing neon out in the wild.) And a cheaper, less-soulful alternative stands in its way of new neon signage: “You drive up and down the Strip these days and it’s all bright LED marquees,” Zook says. “The warmth of neon is lost. LED is rather cold.” With “Under Neon Skies,” Zook aims “to explore how neon signage turned Las Vegas into the ‘bright light city’ of our collective memory.” During this historical talk with film clips and other visual elements, Zook will tell the story of Las Vegas through its signage, and through the lives of the commercial artists who made it. For one night, that warm, classic era will glow again. 7 p.m., free, Clark County Library, lvccld.org. –Geoff Carter

GATSBY NIGHT 8 p.m., Legacy Club, circalasvegas.com.

FATHER JOHN MISTY “I was worrying maybe my thing was too subtle for Vegas, but it seems there’s room for sophistication,” Joshua Tillman, better known as Father John Misty, announced during his 2015 Boulevard Pool concert on the Strip. The singer-songwriter went to forecast his future singing in a Las Vegas lounge 20 years later. Well, Tillman’s not quite there yet, but his latest album, Chloë and the Next 20th Century, sounds like a running start. Old Hollywood jazz and big-band energy abounds on Misty’s fifth release, which departs from his indie-rock roots. It’s a swarm of orchestral arrangements, of woodwinds and lush crescendos, just what might expect from an evening at a Vegas lounge. With Suki Waterhouse, 8 p.m., $39-$150, the Theater at Virgin, axs.com. –Amber Sampson

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 .

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

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

8.4.22

SUPERGUIDE SATURDAY 06

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS With The Strokes, King Princess, 6:30 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. (Photo Courtesy/Clara Balzary)

AUG.

DADDY YANKEE 8 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. KASKADE 11 a.m., Wet Republic, events. taogroup.com. DJ SNAKE 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgroup.com. MOKSHA 9 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, the sanddollarlv.com. AQUARIA Midnight & 1:30 a.m., Piranha Nightclub, seetickets.us.

S U P E R G U I D E

CHICO BEAN 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, ticket master.com. LESS THAN JAKE & BOWLING FOR SOUP With Cliffdiver, Doll Skin, 6:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com. PAUL OAKENFOLD With Liquid Todd, 9:30 p.m., Area15 A-Lot, area15.com. MARSHMELLO 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com. DIRTY HEADS With Soja, Tribal Seeds, The Elovaters, 6 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, tixr.com.

TIËSTO With Kiko Franco, 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com. THE SURFRAJETTES With The Volcanics, The New Waves, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, theusualplace. vegas.

DANIEL EMMET With Pia Toscano, 7:30 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticket master.com. ALESSO 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com. THE CHAINSMOKERS 11 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

JON PARDI 8 p.m., Red Rock Sandbar Stage, ticketmaster.com.

GETTOBLASTER 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.

PAT TODD & THE RANKOUTSIDERS With The Dogs, Tramp for the Lord, Neverland Ranch Davidians, 9 p.m., Double Down Saloon, doubledown saloon.com.

THE HALFTIME SHOW With Mikey Picasso, EastGawd Seli, & more, 9 p.m., Gas Station Studios, 2270 Losee Road, eventbrite.com.

TED SABLAY, JESSE PINO & CHRIS MENDOZA Noon, Fergusons Downtown, fergusons downtown.com. BARRY CAN’T SWIM 10 p.m., We All Scream, weallscream.com.

8.4.22

MUSIC

PARTY

SPORTS

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK

COMEDY COMEDY

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

MISC

SUNDAY 07 AUG.

EVOLUTION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ARENA FINALS 9 a.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. FABOLOUS & JEEZY 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com. CAM 8 p.m., Club Madrid, ticketmaster.com.

SUPERGUIDE

TEYANA TAYLOR Harlem’s Jill of all trades is a rare talent. In the span of 17 years, Teyana Taylor has choreographed videos for Beyoncé (“Ring the Alarm,” at 15 years old), written for Usher, acted in several feature films, signed to Pharrell Williams’ and Kanye West’s labels and released three studio albums—the most recent of which includes features with Erykah Badu, Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill. Taylor is an entertainer the R&B world will reflect on long after she has stopped singing … and that day could be soon. The singer is bringing her Last Rose Petal 2 Farewell Tour to Vegas this week, and according to a recent Instagram post, she means it: “Come out and watch me leave it all out on the stage. … one last time … just for you.” 7 p.m., $35-$60, House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com. –Amber Sampson (AP Photo)

JAUZ Twenty-eight-year-old Sam Vogel is deep into his summer tour, the Bite This Block Party series, fresh off a gig in Denver and headed next to SoCal, Alaska and Canada. Always eager to blend different dance sounds into his music, he’s also mixing in one more date for his Off the Deep End residency at Virgin’s oasis-like Élia Beach Club, which has proven to be an appropriately diverse sonic home for the DJ known as Jauz. From trap to dubstep to house to future bass, you just can’t pin him down. And you don’t need to. Just ride the wave. 11 a.m., Élia Beach Club, $20, eliabeachlv.com. –Brock Radke (Photo Courtesy/Élia Beach Club, Alex Jerome, Honeyshot Photography) MYSTIC BRAVES With Viaje Nahual, Trevor & The Joneses, DJ Jacob Savage, 8 p.m., Taverna Costera, eventbrite.com. MARSHMELLO 11 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. AARON ARCHER 7 p.m., Square Bar, squarebar vegas.com.

MONDAY 08 AUG.

MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv. com.

DESIIGNER 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events. taogroup. com.

KATHLEEN DUNBAR With Dustin Ybarra,Michael Yo, Orlando Leyba, 7 & 9 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.

THE SMOKESTACKS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesand dollarlv.com.

MARK SCHIFF Thru 8/14, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster. com

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8.4.22

SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY 09 AUG.

MUSIC

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. ATLANTA DREAM 7 p.m.,Michelob Ultra Arena, ticketmaster.com. PARTY

AVOID With Aura, Dead Lakes, Pure, Silence Speaks, 5:30 p.m., Rockstar Bar, seetickets.us.

THE JAZZ REPUBLIC 9 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com. DUMB With Morosis, Mutual, Homebodys, 9 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesanddollarlv. com.

BABES & BLUES TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY For two sultry years, Glitter Crash Productions’ Babes & Blues events have combined live music, sizzling burlesque, bonus variety acts and throwback vibes, transporting audiences to a time when speakeasies were truly hidden, intimate lounges were the best places to catch the hottest music and a little tease was more than enough to keep the night going. To celebrate this anniversary, The Hypnotiques will provide the soundtrack while burlesque artists Miranda, Raquel Reed, Abby Dandy, The Queen and Isabelle Marie will captivate the crowd. While this type of performance has worked its way into some of the most popular and exciting shows on the Strip, there’s something about this particular formula that feels even more concentrated and powerful. 7 p.m., the Usual Place, $20-$300, eventbrite.com. –Brock Radke

WEDNESDAY 10 AUG.

SCOTT BAUER: ART OF INSPIRATION Thru 8/26, Sahara West Gallery, lvccld.org. (Photo Courtesy)

S U P E R G U I D E

ARTS

CALDONIA: CONCERT AND FILM POSTERS FROM THE RALPH DELUCA COLLECTION Thru 10/2, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, bellagio.mgmresorts. com.

FOOD + DRINK

ROSS ONE 11 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com. THE HOT MOPS 8 p.m., Gatsby’s Supper Club, eventbrite.com.

COMEDY

LEMA 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events. taogroup.com. MIKE GAFFNEY With Carmen Morales, Ron Vigh, 8/8-8/14, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett Comedy Club, brad garrettcomedy.com.

MISC

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

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(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

8.4.22

Eating these local treasures— all priced under $20— almost feels like stealing BY LAS VEGAS WEEKLY STAFF Threesome at Tekka Bar $17.50 The Las Vegas Strip isn’t famous for food bargains, but this trio of hand rolls—scrumptious salmon, yellowtail and toro, enveloped in soft, warm rice, wrapped in nori and passed one by one from maker to devourer—certainly qualifies. Those cold cones most sushi spots serve up simply can’t compare. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7000, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

8.4.22

Torta at Mas Takos $9.25 The Pambazo, Mexicano and Gringa tortas are made with different combinations of your choice of meat (chorizo, asada, al pastor, carnitas or chicken) with beans, avocado, sour cream, tomato and crisp lettuce sandwiched between soft, Mexican bread. 4425 Sunset Road, 702780-8100, ordermastakos authenticmexicangrill. com.

Stuffed sopapilla at Carlito’s Burritos $12 Sure, you can go big by upsizing this doughy pillow of perfection—filled with your choice of protein (start with the pork verde) and smothered with red or green chile (or the “Christmas” blend of both)—and/or tacking on two sides for $4 more, but the half-portion makes for a mighty filling, not to mention cost-effective, dish all on its own. 4300 Sunset Road #A5, 702-547-3592, carlitos burritos.com. Butcher blend burger at Echo & Rig $15 The Best Vegas Burger debate will rage on forever, but surely we can all agree that this flavorful, juicy patty, ground up from USDA Prime beef in the butcher shop right below the dining room, deserves a serious voice in the discussion. 440 S. Rampart Blvd. #120, 702489-3525, echoandrig.com.

Corned beef hash at Peg’s Glorified Ham & Eggs $16 Whether you’re nursing a Sunday hangover or arrived starving from the gym, this pile of memorably seasoned hash—mixed up with onions and peppers— has your back. Break those egg yolks, stir in some hash browns and start working that toast. Multiple locations, eatatpegs.com. Burnt ends burrito at BBQ Mexicana $16 We know, $16 seems steep for a burrito, right? Not when it’s this one, born years ago inside chef Mike Minor’s Truck U Barbeque mobile kitchen and now served in the takeout space opposite Border Grill at Mandalay Bay. Hunks of tender brisket play with coleslaw, cheese, potato strips, chipotle aioli and a spicy mole sauce so dreamy, you’ll wake up needing more. Mandalay Bay, 702632-7403, bordergrill.com.

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

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(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Build your own pizza at Guerrilla Pizza Co. $17 With its thick, chewy dough and generous dollop of sauce, Robby Cunningham’s 8-by-10 inch, Detroit-style deep dish is great even if you stick with a basic cheese. But you gotta try it with pepperoni, sausage or Canadian bacon, or vegan style with plant-based sausage, banana peppers and red onion. Either way, it’s some satisfying ’za. 1675 S. Industrial Road (inside Hard Hat Lounge), 702-384-8987, linktr.ee/guerrillapizzadtlv. Taco combo at Taco Man Grill $9 Abandon self control, ye who enter this unassuming Mexican eatery. The taco combo sets the lunch-special standard, with your choice of tender meats (don’t sleep on the baja fish or birria), rice, beans and chips. 10100 S. Eastern Ave. #120, 702-202-2610, tacoman.co.

Beef skewers at Starboard Tack $13 Starboard’s skewers aren’t a big visual production—just four skewers of tender beef marinated in sweet Szechuan sauce, with a dollop of rice and some peanut sauce for dipping. And yet, more than once, we’ve made a meal of this humble overachiever, ordering it two and three more times as we work through the Tack’s splendid cocktail list. 2601 Atlantic St., 702-684-5769, starboardtacklv.com.

Bacon, egg & cheese at Sun’s Out Buns Out $10.25 This tried-and-true breakfast staple, with its thick-cut applewood bacon smoked to savory perfection and over-easy or soft-scrambled eggs between two pillowy brioche buns, will have you begging for seconds. A generous amount of melted cheddar holds the indulgent meal together, and there’s enough chipotle ketchup to kick some heat into every bite. Resorts World, 702676-6852, rwlasvegas.com.

Smoked meat in a blanket at Main St. Provisions $14 Chef Justin Kingsley Hall’s flaky and savory smokedmeat creation might change stuffings based on what’s in the kitchen—on a recent visit, that meant the duck, bacon and lamb—its deliciousness stays constant. Think of it like the best Hot Pocket ever. 1214 S. Main St., 702-457-0111, mainstprovisions.com.

The 305 at Cubanidad 1885 $9.45 Miami is full of flavor, and so is this lean Cuban with smoked ham and roasted pork stacked between thinly sliced Swiss and airy bread. Cubanidad’s tangy house-made mustard cuts through the savory richness for that perfect balance. Multiple locations, cubanidad1885. com.

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

8.4.22

Elote dog at ReBar $11 Is it a hot dog? Is it Mexican street corn? It’s both, true believer. Davy’s kitchen at ReBar takes an allbeef hot dog (which you can sub with a bacon-wrapped dog or vegan sausage for an additional $2) then tops it with spicy corn, Mexican crema, cheddar jack and cotija cheeses, taijin seasoning and spicy mayo. 1225 S. Main St., 702-998-8777, rebarlv.com.

(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

Chicken makhani at Lazeez Grill $14 Don’t let the menu confuse you; this is a dish you probably know better by its stage name: butter chicken. Lazeez’s rendition is buttery and tomatoey—make sure to get some naan to sop up the excess sauce—while large enough for a couple days’ meals. It’s comfort food from the Indian grandmother you wish you had. 8560 W. Desert Inn Road #D3, 702-7781613, lazeezgrill.org.

Calamari chicharron at Bajamar Seafood & Tacos $14 Pretty much everything Bajamar serves up, from battered or grilled fish tacos to mouthwatering seafood tostadas, is top of its class—but there’s surely some magic taking place in the making of this calamari. It’s among the most tender we’ve ever had—perfectly seasoned and fried, and buttery-smooth in your mouth. Multiple locations, bajamarbajastyle.com.

Hot & sour Iberico pork Shanghainese soup dumplings at Mott 32 $14 A standout among Mott 32’s diverse dim sum offerings, these hot & sour soup dumplings pack a surprising spiciness—and we’re suckers for any successful heat/meat combo. Palazzo, 702-607-3232, venetianlasvegas.com.

Apple fritter at Real Donuts $1.75 There are fancier doughnut shops in town, sure, but the OG Real Donuts remains the king of fried dough royalty. Start with the fritter—with all that apple, it’s practically health food. 1811 W. Charleston Blvd., 702388-9958, facebook.com/ RealDonutsLV.

Wisconsin fried cheese curds at Aces & Ales $13 Is there any better pairing than beer and fried food? Aces’ crisp beer-battered curds with gooey cheddar innards hit the mark, served with dill-laced ranch or Frank’sbased Buffalo hot sauce for dipping. Multiple locations, acesandales.com. Burnt ends at SoulBelly BBQ $18 The Arts District’s SoulBelly has emerged as one of the Valley’s best ’cue spots, and the best dish is often an off-menu special: burnt ends. You’re most likely to find these fatty, crispy nuggets of joy over the weekend, so happy hunting. 1327 S. Main St., 702-483-4404, soulbellybbq.com. Japanese fried chicken at Other Mama $13 The question isn’t, Why would you order Japanese fried chicken at a westside stalwart known for its sea-

food? It’s, Why wouldn’t you? Rest assured, it’s swimmingly delicious. 3655 S. Durango Drive #6, 702-463-8382, othermamalv.com. Zombie pan pie at Beer Zombies $7 Chris Jacobs’ Downtown Summerlin location is renowned for its beer list, but chef Marc Marrone has cooked up this pizza deserving of its own star turn. Downtown Summerlin, 702-780-0297, thebeerzombies.com. Taamia salad at Pots $11 Egyptian falafel, fresh mixed greens and a cucumber, tomato and onion salata baladi, all drizzled with creamy hummus for a vegan party in your mouth at this foodie fave, now headquartered Downtown. 333 W. St. Louis Ave., 702-754-6200, potslv.com.

Lunch special at Thai Food Kitchen $10 Tasty entrees like pad Thai, curries and spicy basil come with a crunchy salad and a hot-fromthe-fryer egg roll with sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. Those who dine in get bonus vegetable soup, too. 4350 Sunset Road #110, 702-665-5724, thaifoodhenderson.com. Uji Kintoki shaved ice at Matcha Cafe Maiko $6.15 Delicate Japanese shaved ice is drizzled with matcha (the good stuff) syrup and condensed milk and topped with red bean paste and tapioca balls. Equally light on your wallet and your palate. 3400 S. Jones Blvd. #3, 702-2471779, matchalv.com.

(Brian Ramos/Staff)

8.4.22

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Quesabirria tacos at Los Arcos $4.50 The local birria convo starts at Los Arcos, one of the most traditional shops in town. If you want to try goat instead of the more popular beef, don’t worry—any gameyness has been slow-simmered into rich, delicious perfection, then plastered with melty cheese and ready to dip in spicy consomme. 2201 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-586-6020.

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Maple bacon chicken wings at Wing and Go $14 If you feel guilty after indulging in a plate of your favorite chicken and waffles, go for the distilled version at this new wing joint just off the Strip. There are tons of crazy sauce creations available, but addicts of that sweetand-savory combo will find their fix with the majestic maple bacon wings. 4501 Paradise Road #430, 725-2000998, wingandgo.com.

Classic gyro combo at Tony’s Gyros $11 When you’re after an alternative to your go-to burger, consider this gyro, filled to the brim with tender, juicy meat and fresh lettuce, onion and tomato. And that tzatziki sauce, oh my. 2555 Wigwam Parkway, 702478-5942, tonygyros lasvegas.com.

Sickies Burger at Sickies Garage $16 Sickies might feel like an upscale tavern with its car lovers’ decor and spacious patio, but the prices are decidedly unfancy. The signature burger is super-stacked with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, peppered bacon, a fried egg, two huge onion rings and a dash of hot sauce. Yes, this is one meal. Town Square, 725-735-5400, sickiesburgers.com. Four scoop sampler at Handel’s Ice Cream $5 You haven’t done summer right until you’ve hit the window at Handel’s for some cool, creamy bliss. While sundaes, shakes, ice cream pops and Hurricanes (think DQ’s Blizzards) are on the menu, this homey spot is all about carefully curated flavors, so select your scoops and dip in. We like banana cream pie, black walnut, Snappy Turtle and pink Champagne sherbet. 10170 W. Tropicana Ave. 702-749-9299, handels icecream.com.

Spicy pork U-wrap at Bang Bar $12 David Chang’s favorite street food— basically a Korean flatbread burrito rolled tight and skinny—is one of the best affordable lunches on the Strip, and while the chicken and eggplant versions are tasty, the pork U-wrap hits the perfect balance of heat and umami. Cosmopolitan, bangbar.xyz.

Chicharron gordita at Gabi’s Gorditas $6 When you tire of tacos, hit Gabi’s for its eponymous Latin dish, fresh-made masa corn-cake sandwiches filled with your favorite stuff. With crispy pork, salsa verde, beans, queso fresco and wagon wheel-shaped chicharonnes de harina, this selection is packed with fun textures and satisfying flavors. 5095 Blue Diamond Road #110, 702-268-7466, gabisgorditas.com.

Big Aristotle at Big Chicken $9 Shaquille O’Neal’s chicken sandwich joint specializes in monster sandos, absolute two-handers with lots of good stuff stacked atop that juicy fried bird. The Big Aristotle, named for a title Shaq once gave himself, features Muenster cheese, crispy fried onions and a sweet and smoky Memphis barbecue sauce. It’s a slam-dunk. 4480 Paradise Road #1200, 702-675-3333, bigchicken.com.

Chicken pho at Pho Ga Bac Bac $14 Vegas has been introduced to chicken-based ramen, instead of traditional pork broth, at several great shops. Now, thanks to this buzzy Chinatown joint (recently rebranded from its original name, Pho Ga Tony Tony), we have a poultry version of Vietnamese pho, lighter but no less savory than the beef broth we’ve come to love. 3775 Spring Mountain Road, 725204-8084.

Flavor Flav’s DUI Dog at Dirt Dog $12 First thought: Do you want a Flavor Flav-branded hot dog? Second: Is it reckless to call it the DUI Dog? The Thought That Matters: Yes, I do need to bite an all-beef wiener wrapped in bacon covered in pastrami, carne asada, cheddar cheese, chipotle aioli, cilantro and bacon bits. Multiple locations, dirtdogla.com.

Cumin lamb burger at Big Dan Shanxi Taste $8 This Chinese-food gem is hiding in the Soul rolls at DB’s front of the SF SuperCajun Kitchen $9 market, and it’s worth The New Orleans discovering. Many po’boys, fried catfish of its dishes might baskets and gumbo seem complicated all push the limits of to first-timers, but tastiness-per-dollar at this steamed bread this special eatery, but sandwich, with spicy these deep-fried egg chilies and explosively rolls, filled with mac seasoned bits of lamb and cheese and sweet needs no translation. yams, are the stuff It’s just delicious. 5115 of dreams. 4343 N. Spring Mountain Road, Rancho Drive, 725-780702-363-6669, bigdan1850, dbscajunkitchen. Classic gyro combo at Tony’s shanxinv.com. com. Gyros $11 When you’re after an alternative to your go-to burger, consider this gyro, filled to the brim with tender, juicy meat and fresh lettuce, onion and tomato. And that tzatziki sauce, oh my. 2555 Wigwam Parkway, 702478-5942, tonygyroslasvegas.com.

(Photographs by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

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Kimchi chicken noodle soup at Buldogis $11 You know this westside favorite and food truck for its gourmet hot dogs with Korean accents. Now it’s time to discover this brilliant hangover remedy, a big bowl of chicken broth stabilizing mung bean noodles, spinach, cabbage, green onions and chicken grilled with kimchi for a sour and spicy kick. This soup can cure ailments that haven’t even been diagnosed. 2291 S. Fort Apache Road #102, 702-5707560, buldogis.com.

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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Fruit tart donut at Gäbi Coffee & Pastry $6 Now that Gäbi has expanded with a second location in Henderson that specializes in pastry, a broader audience can chill in its cute environment for stylish sips and noshes. Colorful creations like the fruit tart donut look too good to eat, but one bite will change your mind. Multiple locations, gabicafe. com.

Sisig panini at Pepita’s Kitchen $14 Dedet de la Fuenta, the “Lechon Diva” of the Philippines, has created something we’ve never seen before for Pepita’s Kitchen. The funky and flavorful sisig pork stew finds a new companion in a fluffy ciabatta roll, layered with pickled veggies, provolone cheese and calamansi aioli. It’s otherworldly fusion, at a Strip casino food hall, for 14 bucks. Resorts World, 702-6767000, rwlasvegas.com.

Short rib dumplings at 8 East $16 Almost all the dishes at this Downtown pan-Asian concept are under $20, packed with flavor and perfect for sharing. But we always get these rich beef shortrib dumplings (your choice of steamed or pan-fried) with horseradish cream sauce, because you simply can’t get dumplings like these anywhere else in Las Vegas. Circa, 702726-5508, circalasvegas.com.

Jerk fried chicken eggs Benedict at DW Bistro $16 Weekend brunch at DW is a Vegas institution, but don’t forget just how great this food is. Revisit this twist on the classic Bennie with cornbread, perfect eggs and Hollandaise and spicy, crunchy Jamaican jerk fried chicken. 9275 W. Russell Road #190, 702-527-5200, dwbistro. com.

Hot dog cart at South Point $1.25 Located in the South Point sportsbook, this unassuming old-school kiosk effectively assumed the title of most iconically cheap casino bite when the Golden Gate discontinued its shrimp cocktail. A Vienna beef dog gets steamed in Budweiser and topped with whatever you want, and you have enough change in your car’s cup holder for two of ’em. South Point, 702-796-7111, southpointcasino.com.

(Gäbi Coffee & Donut Pastry, Rebellion Pizza by Wade Vandervort/Staff)

NY slice and drink at Rebellion Pizza $8 We all have our favorites when a pizza craving arrives, but there’s a different desire when someone says, “Let’s get a slice.” Rebellion is the manifestation of that emotion, where one simple slice (even plain cheese!) is more than enough, fantastic fulfillment with every crispy, chewy, bubbly bite. 2540 Anthem Village Drive #100, 702-268-8268.

(Courtesy)

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NEWS 2

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

HALL OF FAME GAME

The Raiders open their 2022 season August 4 at 5 p.m. in Canton, Ohio, against the Jacksonville Jaguars—the league’s annual Hall of Fame Game. Both squads teams will play four preseason games, compared with three for the rest of the NFL.

RESORT RENOVATIONS

The Silverton is closing its 300room hotel and pool for at least five months while undergoing a $45 million renovation delayed by the pandemic. Its casino, aquarium, restaurants and shops will remain open during construction, which is expected to be finished early next year.

DIVERSE CULINARY PROGRAM UNVEILED FOR LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

N E W S

The Life Is Beautiful festival, returning to Downtown Las Vegas September 16-18, has announced this year’s culinary lineup of more than 70 chefs, bartenders, restaurants, bars and food trucks set to participate. The homegrown festival might be best known for its musical headliners, but it has always maintained a prominent presence of local food and drink purveyors. “We are beyond appreciative of the incredible chefs, mixologists and culinary professionals in our community who help us bring a uniquely beautiful experience to our attendees,” Sharee Macy, LIB’s director of food and beverage, said in a statement. Among the special programming offerings: Cocktail School, with inter-

active seminars and tastings curated by Bryant Jane of Starboard Tack and hosted by Gene Samuel of Peppermint Hippo and Joy Figueroa of Herbs & Rye; the Pizzeria, a new offering with specialty pizzas presented by the Vegas Pizza Fest and Good Pie owner Vincent Rotolo; and the returning Omakase Cantina curated by Secretburger’s Jolene Mannina featuring different chefs throughout the weekend. Participating restaurants and food trucks this year include Night + Market, Shake Shack, Café Lola, Afters Ice Cream, Cousins Maine Lobster, the Black Pearl, Custom Pizza Truck, Bazaar Meat, China Poblano, Kusa Nori, Echo & Rig, Mabel’s BBQ, Pizza Rock and many more. –Brock Radke

TRAVIS SCOTT LAUNCHES VEGAS RESIDENCY

more information available at zoukgrouplv.com. “Travis Scott was a seamless fit for the Zouk Nightclub roster,” Andrew Li, CEO of Zouk Group, said in a statement. “His electric performances will pair perfectly with our immersive atmosphere, bringing our guests an unmatched show unlike anything else they can find in Las Vegas. We can’t wait to kick off his residency and continue to amplify our talent lineup.” Scott recently hit the stage with Future at Rolling Loud in Miami, his first festival appearance since the tragedy at his own Astroworld event in Houston last November. He’s slated to perform this week at the O2 Arena in London on August 6 and 7. –Brock Radke

Travis Scott’s plans to headline on the Strip might have been deterred with the recent cancellation of 2022’s Day N Vegas hip-hop festival, but the Houston-born rapper’s time will come, starting on September 17. Scott will launch his Road to Utopia residency at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World that night, during Life Is Beautiful festival weekend. That will be the first of seven Scott shows planned for the Zouk Group venue. September 17 and October 15 dates are on sale, with

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PAVEMENT CAN REACH 170 DEGREES UNDER MIDDAY SUMMER SUN IN LAS VEGAS.

MONKEYPOX IN WASTEWATER

ELECTION 2022

As of August 1, 23 probable and confirmed cases of monkeypox had been reported in Southern Nevada. The virus has been detected in the community’s wastewater by UNLV’s surveillance program.

REPUBLICANS ENDORSING DEMOCRATS

EVO 2019 (Courtesy Robert Paul)

VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT RETURNING TO LAS VEGAS The Evolution Championship Series (EVO), one of the world’s largest video game fighting tournaments, returns to Mandalay Bay August 5-7 for the first time since 2019. EVO canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, then ran exclusively online in 2021, to the disappointment of many fighting game fans. “Even if we ignore that fighting games are historically rooted in side-by-side, one-on-one competition dating all the way back to the late ’80s and early ’90s … the nature of 1v1 competition is dramatized when you’re in person,” says EVO General Manager Rick Thiher. “All the ways that heighten that competition, all the ways that inspire camaraderie and rivalry, are much harder to see when you’re sitting at a computer.” EVO returns with newfound support from Sony and RTS, the companies that bought it in 2021. That acquisition, Thiher

Life Is Beautiful’s 2022 festival will feature a pizzeria with a rotating selection of pies curated by Vegas Pizza Fest and Good Pie owner/chef Vincent Rotolo. (Courtesy)

NEWS

HOT SHOT

says, has “absolutely impacted the show in almost entirely what I consider to be good ways.” Thiher promises tournaments will be larger than ever before, and staging will be more impressive. Competitors will battle in such games as Street Fighter: V, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Tekken 7 and Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate. Convention space will also be dedicated to casual gaming, an arcade fighting stick museum, a vendor village and demo stations for sampling games like Street Fighter 6. “EVO is a place to fall in love with fighting games, even if you are not already invested in this community or these games,” Thiher says. “There’s an opportunity for you to meet people that can be part of your life for the rest of your life.” For more information, visit evo.gg. –Amber Sampson

Some notable Republicans in Nevada are supporting Democratic candidates over those in their own party in November’s midterm elections. The most significant movement came last week with the forming of the “Republicans for Ford” organizing committee to back Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford’s re-election against the Republican nominee Sigal Chattah. The committee includes the likes of Senate Republican Leader Michael Roberson and former state GOP chairwoman Amy Tarkanian. Tarkanian has also endorsed Treasurer Zach Conine’s run for reelection over Republican Michele Fiore. Additionally, incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., has been endorsed by Ely Mayor Nathan Robertson, former Winnemucca Mayor Di An Putnam and former Churchill County Commissioner Carl Erquiaga—all Republicans—in her race against GOP nominee Adam Laxalt. -Jessica Hill

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Weakened EPA authority leaves state and local governments to tackle air quality BY SHANNON MILLER

E N V I R O N M E N T

fter controversial decisions on reproductive rights and gun laws, Supreme Court justices recently sided with Republican-led states and coal companies in West Virginia v. EPA, weakening the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants. In a 6-3 vote, the court ruled that the federal agency did not have the authority to enforce an inactive 2015 policy from the Obama administration, the Clean Power Plan, which set goals for each state to cut power plants’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2030—and was hailed by environmental groups as an unprecedented limit on existing power plants and how much they can pollute. Emissions from electricity production and the industrial sector comprise nearly half of carbon emissions in the nation, according to the EPA. Democratic leaders have decried the ruling. Both President Joe Biden and Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto— who sits on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee—characterized the decision as a step backward, not just for air quality but for the country’s ongoing commitments to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

According to a report from the Council on Foreign Relations, the decision could delay climate action from the U.S., the world’s largest historic emitter and currently the second largest emitter behind China. Per the international Paris Agreement, the U.S. has pledged to reduce net carbon emissions to about 50% of 2005 levels by 2030. Thus far, the U.S. has achieved only a 15% reduction, according to Yale Climate Connections. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak says that, regardless of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Nevada will push forward with its interstate commitments and climate goals, including the Renewable Portfolio Standard of 50% renewable energy by 2030. “Nevada is a member of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of states that are committed to taking real, impactful, on-the-ground action that urgently addresses the climate challenge,” the governor said in a statement to the Weekly, “and the State continues to push forward with

policies and actions to help achieve our climate goals and reduce emissions.” Nevada has set its own benchmarks for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. According to a 2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions report, the state is about 21% short of its reduction target for 2030 (45% below 2005 levels). According to the state emissions report, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (enshrined in Nevada law in 2019) has helped reduce emissions in the electricity generation sector. However, the report explains, “Unless more aggressive policies are adopted at the state and federal level, [electricity generation sector] reductions may be offset by increase in emissions in the other sectors, primarily industry and residential and commercial.” WORST LOCAL EMITTERS According to Clark County’s most recent greenhouse gas emissions report, the buildings and industrial energy sector generated the majority of emissions in 2019, accounting for

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more than 47% of regional emissions. The report includes residential, commercial and industrial energy as part of the sector, but does not include electricity power plants that burn fossil fuels. “The fossil fuels burned to generate electricity at power plants are not generally accounted for in community-based inventories and are excluded from this assessment,” the report says. The transportation sector was revealed as the second-largest emitter in Clark County (37% of regional emissions) and the largest emitter in Nevada, accounting for 34% of total statewide emissions. Transportation is expected to remain the largest emitter statewide through 2041, according to the state report. Lawmakers and the governor have looked to electric vehicles as one way to reduce the sector’s emissions. The Clean Cars Nevada regulation, passed by Nevada lawmakers in 2021, adopted more stringent emissions standards and aims to increase the number of electric vehicles in the state by 2024— an effort that will require the state to take a closer look at the electricity generation sector. “Continued decarbonization of the electricity generation sector is needed to realize greater carbon reduction benefits of transportation sector electrification,” the state emissions report says. Clark County has supported the state’s emissions reduction goals,

largely through the Division of Air Quality, which administers the county’s air pollution control program. The division’s air quality monitoring system is based on EPA standards for clean air, explains Kevin MacDonald, spokesman for the Department of Environment and Sustainability. The division issues “air permits” to businesses that meet a certain threshold of emissions. Right now, the county has about 1,100 active permits, MacDonald says, and businesses must provide documentation to show compliance with regulations. “The permits are written so that they will operate within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards,” he says. “So that is going to hold them accountable for whatever they’re emitting.” As for enforcement, a compliance division conducts “routine, sometimes unscheduled inspections,” MacDonald says. The county also provides a hotline for community complaints ranging from construction projects kicking up dust, overwhelming smells or smoke. Noncompliance or violations of local regulations can result in a notice of violation and monetary penalties. In 2021, the hotline received more than 1,040 calls, and responded to all but three of them, he says.

UNEVEN IMPACT In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling, people of color will “bear the burden” of pollution and suffer the negative health effects from pollutants that they did not create, says Estefany Carrasco Gonzalez, national director of Chispa, a branch of the League of Conservation Voters that focuses on environmental policies’ effect the Latino community. “The decision that was made in the Supreme Court really sacrifices the health and livelihoods of low-income communities of color, who are already bearing the brunt of climate change and are already being exposed to higher levels of air pollution,” Gonzalez says, referencing information from the EPA and her experience working with residents in Southern Nevada.

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“The quality of the air that we breathe, the quality of the water that we drink, everything affects our health and causes our communities to have disproportionate impacts on their health, ranging from asthma and respiratory illnesses, heart issues,” she says. “It affects our ability to live a long, healthy life.” The American Lung Association (ALA) has given Clark County an “F” grade for ozone and short-term particle pollution, which are standards for measuring air quality. Ozone is harmful to lung function when inhaled, with more severe symptoms in those with pre-existing conditions and in older adults. Studies have shown that exposure to ozone is associated with increased mortality. People of color are 3.6 times more likely to live in a county with failing grades in clean air categories. Four in 10 Americans live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the ALA.

(Shutterstock/ Photo Illustration)

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8.4.22

LOCAL MUSIC NOTES

The battle for LIB, Velvet Chains’ rosy outlook and more

C U L T U R E

BY AMBER SAMPSON

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED “I need you to come a little bit closer for this f*cking one,” White Noise frontman Kaesen Samson urged the packed house July 22 at the Space, his shoulder-length hair dangling wildly after headbanging to the band’s unreleased track “No Room for That.” The rock trio, one of 15 local finalists vying for six coveted spots on the lineup for next month’s Life Is Beautiful festival, tore through its 15-minute set with gusto and guitar-soaked spectacle. Samson capped off the performance by playing his final solo within the crowd. The two-day Road to Life Is Beautiful Battle of the Bands saw alt-rock quintet Secos, R&B singer Tanna Marie and melodic rapper Sebastian Reynoso bring similar energy to the stage, and other Vegas acts delivering something entirely different. Poppy outfit Arrlo, for example, spotlighted barrier-breaking conversation. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about people like me,” said trans lead singer Sunni Suede, “and we want people to

think a little deeper than what social media tells them to think.” Some participants waxed nostalgic. Teenage trio The Dollheads nailed a faithful cover of Nena’s 1983 hit “99 Red Balloons,” while Isolated Ave jammed out a pop-punk mashup of TLC’s “No Scrubs” and George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” saxophone included. Ultimately, Decaying Tigers won us over with a unique slice of chiptune electro-pop—complete with dancing GameBoy mascots in the front row. Local winners, along with nine others from around the world, will be announced later this month and will perform on LIB’s Rising Stars stage September 16-18 Downtown.

Velvet Chains (Courtesy/ Fred Morledge)

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Arrlo performs at the Road to Life Is Beautiful Battle of the Bands July 22 at the Space. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

COMINGS AND GOINGS Wave goodbye to the Vegas disco-pop veterans of GoldBoot. The duo— Logan Lanning and Bobby Lucy—which has played with such high-profile acts as Imagine Dragons, Glass Animals and Metric through the years, recently announced a relocation to Nashville, with an August 19 set at Rockstar Bar billed as its “Last Night in Vegas.” Purchase tickets at seetickets.us/event/ Goldboot/493319. In tour news, rising darkwave group Luxury Furniture Store will perform a series of gigs along the West Coast, starting with the Cheba Hut on South Rainbow on August 19. The sonic shapeshifters, who have been playing cuts from dreamy debut Bedrot at a lot of local shows lately, will take LA, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and beyond. linktr.ee/ Luxuryfurniturestore And in case you didn’t know, singer-songwriter Aaron Archer now performs regularly at Downtown’s Square Bar. The multi-instrumentalist released throwback-grunge single “Ache Anyway” earlier this year. aaronarcher.bandcamp. com.

that he has added a rhythm guitarist to the band and replaced its singer and drummer with new members. Band diversity is especially important to the bassist, who fell in love with rock music in his home country of Chile. “South America is rock ’n’ roll country, or up until very recently it was,” he says, adding that the emergence of reggaeton in recent years has caused a cultural shift. “The first band I ever remember listening to was Guns N’ Roses … so they were like superheroes for me growing up.” The new album is slated for an October release, with the band’s Velvet Revolver-esque single “Back on the Train” set to drop on August 12. Instagram @velvetchainsband

ALSO Ted Sablay, touring guitarist for The Killers, performs August 6 at noon at Fergusons Downtown, along with Jesse Pino and Chris Mendoza. Sablay released debut album You’ll Be Back Here Soon, in February. … Kat Kalling’s new bop, “Good Luck,” exposes a womanizing ex. The singer calls it her “villain origin story.” Expect a villainous music video soon. … Dama Vicke will drop new single “Elefante” on August 12 …Trevor and the Joneses, who just released catchy jangle-pop track “Love It!,” play Taverna Costera with Mystic Braves on August 7. … And heads up: Jerk!’s latest punk EP, Welcome to Sleepaway Camp, is killer.

NOISE

MAKING THE CUT Change is in the air for Velvet Chains. As the rock band gears up for a six-month residency at the Barbershop speakeasy at the Cosmopolitan, new music and a fresh vision have come into focus. Velvet Chains founder and bassist Nils Goldschmidt says the band is gravitating away from its ’90s grunge-rock influences toward “more modern, heavier, hard rock. The next releases are going to be more like [our new single] ‘Last Drop,’” he says. “Last Drop” is Velvet Chains’ first new music since last year’s full-length debut, Icarus, which featured Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus. And Goldschmidt sounds determined to make an upcoming sophomore LP even better, explaining

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NIGHTS

C U L T U R E

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Exploring the dreamy daylife at Virgin’s Kassi Beach House escape BY EVELYN MATEOS It’s difficult to resist a good pool party in Las Vegas. But tucked away inside Virgin Hotels is a perfect summer getaway with a different style from the big dayclubs on the Strip. Kassi Beach House, a restaurant and lounge, creates seaside escape vibes with its terracotta arched entrance, beachy décor and coastal Italian cuisine. The patio area, equipped with misters to keep cool, offers views of the resort pool deck and is outfitted with loungers, cabanas and daybeds. There’s a serene overall ambiance, and the pool has a sand bottom, which adds to Kassi’s transportive feel. Kassi offers poolside seating daily with a minimum of $300 toward food and drink. If you start off inside the restaurant, you can ask the staff to help you get set up at a daybed. This patio party stops short of taking you all the way to the club; there’s chill music but no DJ. Midweek programming includes the Kassi

House Party every Wednesday night starting at 9 p.m., with specials like half-off pasta dishes, select bottles and featured cocktails, along with a local DJ lineup. The food menu focuses on well-known dishes with a twist, and many selections are vegan or vegetarian-friendly. The mezze platter ($24), a shareable appetizer, comes with oven roasted puccia bread, veggies and three different dips—whipped eggplant, white bean dip with salsa rosa and whipped ricotta with honey. For a brunchtime delight, ricotta cheese is poured into the pancake batter to create fluffy, rich cakes topped with salted caramel, maple syrup and bruléed bananas ($14). While your plant-loving friends are welcome, others would surely opt for the soppressata pizza ($22), topped with cured pork, chili honey and mozzarella. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and is nicely com-

Kassi Beach House offers (left) daybeds, (below) cocktails and more. (Courtesy/ Kassi Beach House)

plemented by the calamari appetizer, served with a flavorful and light balsamic aioli instead of the typical tartar sauce. There are plenty of party brunches to go along with the pool clubs in Las Vegas, but few venues combine great food with the relaxed rhythm and outdoor setting at Kassi Beach. Whatever you choose to eat will pair well with the bottomless rosé experience, which includes Fleur de Mer’s Côtes de Provence rosé and La Marca Prosecco every day starting at 11 a.m. ($45 per person). If you’re looking for a cocktail instead, the refreshing Kassi ($19) combines watermelon, citrus, Calabrian chili and a watermelon salt rim with your choice of tequila, vodka, gin or rum. With extensive food and drink choices and a fun, bohemian atmosphere, Kassi Beach House has created a perfect relaxed outing for friends looking for different type of Vegas daylife.

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

8.4.22

U2, Adele (insert) (AP Photo)

THE STRIP

C U L T U R E

TECTONIC SHIFT It’s not official. It hasn’t been confirmed by the band, the venue or any major concert promoter. But when Billboard reported on July 22 that U2 will perform the first concerts at MSG Sphere next year in Las Vegas, it made all the sense in the world. The $1.8 billion high-tech arena, THE considered the INCIDENTAL largest spherical TOURIST structure ever BY BROCK RADKE created and currently under construction just east of the Venetian, has been described as the next level of live entertainment from the day it was first announced more

than four years ago. The Sphere’s state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities—including 580,000 square feet of programmable LED panels—will allow it to host new types of shows and events Vegas hasn’t seen before, and provide the opportunity for superstar acts like U2 to elevate their performances to new heights. With capacity expected to level out between 17,000 and 20,000, the Sphere also adds another megavenue to the Strip skyline. (Thought notably, if the U2 shows become reality, it won’t be the first arena-sized residency in Vegas; country music king George Strait has been performing his recurring Strait to Vegas concert series at T-Mobile Arena since it opened in 2016. He’ll return on December 2 and 3.) The other major residency rooms on the Strip—at Caesars

A couple of days in July might have changed Las Vegas’ residency landscape forever Palace, Park MGM, Resorts World and Planet Hollywood—generally top out around 5,000 seats. But the Sphere isn’t just a bigger space for these and other entertainment events. It’s continuing the evolution of Vegas entertainment with enhanced experiences to better showcase the biggest draws in the industry. Just a few days after the U2 report, Adele finally rescheduled her residency dates at the Colosseum, unleashing plans to launch the stalled Weekends With Adele shows on November 14. Even though the 15-time Grammy winner had promised to make good on the Vegas dates she called off just one day before her planned opening in January—and even though the Strip residency masterminds at Live Nation are behind her production in partnership with the legendary

venue at Caesars Palace—doubt remained that Weekends With Adele would actually happen. The sudden shutdown was unprecedented for Las Vegas and truly shocking, even during these unpredictable times. And it put a serious dent in the artist’s reputation, disappointing her most dedicated fans. Come August 10 and 11, when tickets go on sale, we’ll see how much damage was actually done. Adele has already made an obvious effort to atone for the letdown by adding eight Colosseum concerts to her schedule, continuing through March 25. That brings the original 24-show run to a total of 32. Billboard reports that fans who unsuccessfully tried to get tickets when Weekends was first announced in December will be second in line on Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform, right behind fans who bought Adele tickets and then asked for a refund when the shows were postponed. Ticketmaster executives have said 32,000-plus tickets up for grabs this month will be bought up by fans from the December wait list, according to Billboard. If that happens, Adele’s residency will continue to be a historic, record-setting engagement as projected, joining the elite Vegas residency ranks of Celine Dion, Elton John and a few others. With Adele captivating Vegas crowds into next year and U2’s potential arrival at the Sphere at the end of 2023, imagine what could come next.

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

8.4.22

CROWD

PLEASER T

C U L T U R E

Il Toro E La Capra adds Italian cuisine to the Lindo Michoacan legacy BY BROCK RADKE

Il Toro E La Capra’s carnitas y chicharron pizza, Marco Polo Sette Mare and osso bucco fajitas (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

he latest restaurant offering from the family behind the Lindo Michoacan empire was a massive undertaking that became more challenging over the past two years. But Il Toro E La Capra came to life in January, a unique blend of Italian and Mexican cuisines in the family-friendly format familiar to Las Vegas at Lindo since 1990. Lindo Michoacan owner Javier Barajas spent millions acquiring the gigantic former Rhythm Kitchen space in the southwest Valley in 2020, setting it up as the site of his dream-come-true Italian restaurant. As if the pandemic wasn’t obstacle enough,

the original Lindo on East Desert Inn Road was forced to close for months later that year due to a sinkhole. But the double drain on resources couldn’t derail the dream. Lindo reopened last summer, and work continued on Il Toro E La Capra—named after Barajas’ youngest children Javier (“the Bull”) and Jimena (“the Goat”). “It was a big challenge, but now we’ve turned it around, and we’re getting busier by the week,” says general manager Carlos Villaseñor, who worked for more than a decade at Lindo’s West Flamingo location. “It looks completely different, nothing like the other restaurant

[Rhythm Kitchen].” Villaseñor likes to say Il Toro E La Capra offers three menus under one roof: Mexican dishes the community knows and loves, authentic Italian favorites and some fun fusion blending the seemingly disparate cuisines. The restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner, with a brunch buffet on the weekends from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., so there’s a lot of time to try all those different dishes. The actual menu isn’t divided into those three categories, but that just makes it more entertaining to sift through the offerings and discover something different. Taquitos D’oro ($11)—

8.4.22

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IL TORO E LA CAPRA

Garden Table at Bellagio (Courtesy/Bellagio)

6435 S. Decatur Blvd., 702-331-6090, toroelacapra. com. Daily, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE Bellagio’s Garden Table brings dining into the Conservatory

sauteed and tossed in cream sauce before joining housemade spaghetti, Parmesan cheese and cilantro. Osso Bucco Michelangelo ($42) with porcini mushrooms and saffron risotto and Lamb Shank Frank Sinatra ($36), are among other popular entrees, and families can fill up on pizzas ($14-$18), chicken parm ($23) and pastas like penne with pesto ($19). Combination dinners ($16$23) with tacos, enchiladas, tostadas and more will satisfy the Lindo Michoacan loyalists at your table. And this might be the only spot in town where the tough dessert choice is between tiramisu or flan (both $10). It’s a win-win.

Jungle of Dreams, on display through September 10 and featuring 28 animal sculptures and 10,000 plants and flowers, is only the beginning. After the pink flamingos, blue herons and 20-foot-tall lion have packed it up, there will be new seasonal menus available to match the next Conservatory theme. Brunch ($75 per person) includes Sadelle’s favorites like sticky buns, smoked salmon and bagels, while dinner ($250) is designed around Mina’s acclaimed seafood selections like Kona blue prawns, ahi tuna tartare and a charbroiled shellfish platter. Both Bellagio restaurants are already established for their memorable culinary creations, but this dynamic setting takes things to the next level. –Brock Radke

FOOD & DRINK

deep-fried corn tortillas filled with chicken, beef or cheese and topped with pomodoro sauce, guacamole, feta cheese and pico de gallo—are listed under “antipasti,” and that’s a great example of how things work. Flavor combinations that might seem strange turn out quite nicely, including pizza topped with salsa verde, carnitas and chicharron crumbles ($18), or veal osso bucco fajitas ($38), which find Burgundy-braised meat mingling with grilled peppers, onions, tomatoes and cilantro. Pollo con rajas y crema pasta ($23) is a top seller, an upgrade on Alfredo. Chicken, pasilla peppers, corn and shallots are

n Bellagio has always excelled when it comes to creating exclusive experiences. The latest offering takes full advantage of the wonders of the resort’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, allowing guests to do something they’ve never been able to do in this familiar and iconic space—dine. The new Garden Table, set up in the heart of the current Jungle of Dreams summer display, can be reserved for brunch daily from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., or dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 5 until 10 p.m. For two hours, parties of six or less can enjoy special pre fixe menus from Sadelle’s (for brunch) or Michael Mina (for dinner) surrounded by the floral beauty of one of the most photographed attractions on the Las Vegas Strip. And the

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

8.4.22

TO THE

BACK FUTURES Get these preseason college football bets in before the value vanishes

C U L T U R E

BY CASE KEEFER

ollege football begins in less than a month, and the betting odds have reacted accordingly. Markets are tightening into place

as more money comes in ahead of the opening set of games on Saturday, August 27, with the first full schedule on tap for the following weekend. A lot of value has already left the betting board in the most popularly bet futures options, so there’s no time to waste. In this same space a year ago, we cashed a 10-to-1 ticket on Georgia to win the College Football Playoff, along with a handful of other payouts. Let’s go for a repeat this year by looking for winners and breaking down the three biggest futures markets in college football: the College Football Playoff, Heisman Trophy and conference odds.

(AP Photo/ Photo Illustration)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

Georgia is coming off a dominant 14-1 season in which it outscored opponents by an average of more than 28 points per game, and yet bettors remain relatively bearish on the Bulldogs. At Caesars/William Hill sportsbooks, the largest operator in Nevada, Georgia ranks outside the top five in ticket count to win the national championship. Alabama (9:5, or +180, to win the title), Ohio State (3-to-1), Texas A&M (20-to-1), USC (25-to-1) and LSU (65-to-1) are all ahead. That action has raised Georgia’s price to 4-to-1, where it’s worth a bet to go back-to-back. There’s a gulf between college football’s top three this season—Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State—and everyone else. Bill Connelly’s SP+ ratings, for example, project all three teams as at least a touchdown better than each of the other 128 Football Bowl Subdivision programs on a neutral field. Nearly every ratings system gives each of the Crimson Tide, Bulldogs and Buckeyes anywhere from a 25% to 35% chance to win the championship, with the only disagreement on what order they should rank. That translates to a minimum 3-to1 odds, and Georgia is the only one of the three outside that range. The public’s hesitance is understandable considering Georgia lost a record amount of defensive production, with five first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. But coach Kirby Smart has recruited at a higher level than anyone in the nation on that side of the ball, with several more

blue-chippers ready to step in. The Bulldogs’ offense was also better than it’s being given credit, and it returns a lot, including quarterback Stetson Bennett III and potentially the best tight end group in college football history—including local Desert Pines High grad Darnell Washington. BetMGM initially opened Ohio State at 6-to-1, which was an even better play, but that number is long gone. It’s not a bad strategy to try to find the fourth most likely playoff team for value—it’s easy to be tempted by the likes of Clemson at 14-to-1 or Notre Dame at 50-to-1—but it seems like a stretch that any team can really compete with this year’s Big Three. Ohio State and Alabama might be worth betting mid-season if they surprisingly stumble to inflate their odds, but for now, Georgia is the only one in bettable territory.

8.4.22

HEISMAN TROPHY

One thing that seems certain: Ohio State will have the best offense not only among the Big Three but in the entire nation. The Buckeyes averaged 7.8 yards per play a year ago, a half-yard better than anyone else, and return more than half of their starters. That makes quarterback C.J. Stroud a deserved favorite at 2-to-1 to win the Heisman, but no one should bet a player at that low a price going into the season. The trophy hasn’t traditionally gone to the player with the lowest odds; in the past 10 years, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) was the only preseason favorite who went on to win the award. Voters tend to reward the more surprising candidates, and Stroud has two of those alongside him as teammates—running back TreVeyon Henderson (50-to-1 at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (60-to1 at Boyd Sports). Quarterbacks have won the Heisman eight of the past 10 years, but there’s been some recent blowback to that trend. Two years ago, Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith edged his own quarterback, Mac Jones. Last year, cases were mounted for several less-deserving skill players before Alabama quarterback Bryce Young pulled away. It’s hard to see Henderson and Smith-Njigba not putting together deserving cases. Henderson averaged nearly 7.5 yards per touch last year as a freshman and will be the focal point of the Buckeyes’ offense this year. Smith-Njigba, meanwhile, became a household name with an obscene stat line of 15 catches for

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347 yards and three touchdowns in a January victory against Utah in the Rose Bowl. It’s never a bad idea to back quarterbacks, but look further down the board instead of paying a premium for Stroud or Young (3-to-1). Clemson might present a unique opportunity: Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is 80-to-1 at the SuperBook, more than 13 times higher than his 6-to-1 price going into last year. Uiaglelei struggled as a first-year starter last season, but if he bounces back, Clemson has the pieces around him to re-establish itself at the top of the sport. And, for insurance purposes, Uiagalelei’s presumed backup, Cade Klubnik, the nation’s top freshman quarterback recruit, is worth a small play at 150-to-1 at Boyd in case he wins the job in training camp.

CONFERENCES

SPORTS

Odds to win the Power Five conferences are beaten into place by now, but a lot of value still exists diving down into the Group of Five “mid-majors.” Toledo and Fresno State, for instance, should be clear favorites, instead of bunched together at the top in the Mid-American Conference and Mountain West Conference, respectively. Fresno State, 3-to-1 at Circa Sports, has the MWC’s best roster, led by quarterback Jake Haener, and gets to play in the much-weaker West Division, apart from Boise State, Air Force and defending champion Utah State. The MAC usually produces a surprise winner, but Toledo, 7-to-2 at Circa, has a major talent edge over everyone else this season. For a better payout, consider SMU at 12-to-1 to win the American Athletic Conference at Caesars/William Hill. New coach Rhett Lashlee kept mostly intact a Mustangs roster that last year nearly got to the conference championship game— including standout quarterback Tanner Mordecai. Look to Conference USA for a chance to back the longest shots. It’s wide open, with defending champion UTSA benefiting from a great deal of good luck last year and first-rate UAB coach Bill Clark abruptly retiring for health reasons in June. Louisiana Tech and North Texas, both 30-to-1 at the SuperBook, are headed in the right direction and not as far back from the contenders as the odds imply.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY WADE VANDERVORT

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

8.4.22

SPORTS BETTING

FOOTBALL HANDICAPPING CONTESTS REEL IN GAMBLERS FOR FOUR MONTHS OF ACTION

t’s almost pro football season in America, which means it’s almost football contest time in Las Vegas. Handicappers this month will flock to their favorite sportsbook to register for an NFL contest, whether it’s one of the premier contests at Circa Sports or the Westgate SuperBook that pays millions, or a $25 buy-in at Station Casinos tailored to recreational players. Regardless of the contest or property, the goal for casino officials is the same: to get customers in the door. “Some people who come here to sign up will buy a hotel room, sure, but almost everyone will buy a beer and spend some time at the sportsbook,” said Derek Stevens, the Downtown casino owner and CEO of Circa Sports. “It’s a great way to show off what we have here at Circa. I want to create a really good incentive for people to come in and visit our sportsbooks.” Stevens is pulling out all the stops to get people in the door, highlighted by the Circa contest preview bash August 27 at the Circa Las Vegas meetings and convention space. Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher is scheduled to be at that event, which also includes a preseason panel discussion. To be invited, contest participants must have three entries in the Circa Million and six entries in the Circa Survivor to take advantage of a complimentary three-day stay at the D. The weekend, sponsored by the Vegas Stats & Information Network, also offers the chance to schmooze with Stevens at cocktail parties and attend concerts Downtown. For Ste-

vens, part of the appeal of the parties centers on Circa’s huge sportsbook, which it bills as the biggest in the world. Sports betting is big business in Las Vegas. In September 2021, the first month of the NFL’s regular season, bettors wagered nearly $787 million. After starting with $1.5 million in guaranteed prizes in 2019, this year’s version of Circa Million will offer $6 million in prizes and $1 million for the first-place finisher. Entrants pick five NFL games against the spread each week of the regular season—a win is good for one point; a push counts for half of a point. Each entry costs $1,000, with a limit of three entries per person. “We did $4.1 million last year, so

we’re hoping for some growth this year or we’re in trouble,” Stevens joked while seated at the sprawling sportsbook at Circa in late July. “I think this football season is going to be the biggest and best we’ve ever seen.” As of the last week of July, close to 600 entries had been submitted, though Stevens said a flood of handicappers will enter just before the season starts. The final day to enter is September 10. The Circa contest is patterned after what remains, according to many, of one of the premier Las Vegas highstakes pro football handicapping contests—Westgate’s SuperContest. That contest started in 1988 and is still going strong. This year, Westgate

Casino owner Derek Stevens inside Circa Las Vegas (Steve Marcus/Staff)

SuperBook officials expect between 2,000 and 2,500 entrants. Last year, about 1,800 entries were gathered. “I would say the SuperContest is still the most well-known football handicapping contest in the country,” said John Murray, director of race and sports operations at the SuperBook. “It certainly has the most tradition.” This year, the SuperContest is as much a series of mini-contests as it is one big contest. There’s over $1.1 million up for grabs, and the overall contest will also have three six-week, six three-week and two nine-week contests built into the season. “With the 11 in-season contests, you’re really signing up for 12 at the end of the day,” Murray said. “That’s all for the buy-in of $1,000. These types of things are a great way to keep people engaged throughout the season. It might seem like a lot of money, but you’re in play for 18 weeks, so it really isn’t that much money.” Like Circa, the SuperBook likes to put on a party on for its bettors. This year’s SuperContest weekend—which features a golf tournament and the giving away of 10 entries—will take place August 19-20. Station Casinos and William Hill also offer seasonlong pro football contests, but with buy-ins of only $25 and a smaller pot of winnings. “The marketplace is more competitive now,” Murray said. “Not only are there big contests in Nevada, but there are others popping up around the country now. People don’t necessarily have to fly to Nevada any longer to enter these contests.” Murray said many contest participants make it an annual party when they visit Las Vegas to sign up. “People make futures bets, and some groups coordinate the contest with their fantasy football drafts,” Murray said. “I don’t think that element of the contest will ever go away. It’s a way for people to get together with people they know who they maybe haven’t seen in a while.”

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