2022-10-27-Las-Vegas-Weekly

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

PUBLISHER

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

katie.dixon@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR

(geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)

(brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

(evelyn.mateos@gmgvegas.com)

(shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com)

(amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

SUPERGUIDE

DRAB MAJESTY

It’s tough to think of anything more instrumentally rich than the catalog of LA’s Drab Majesty. The neo-goth project, led by Andrew Clinco’s mystifying and androgynous alter-ego Deb Demure, emerged in 2011 after Clinco discovered his solo recordings had started to sound less like him and more like the character Deb Demure would ultimately become. Drab Majesty coolly fuses shoegazey synths and hypnotic baselines to create a sound pulled from a 1980s dream. The aesthetically pleasing duo—which also includes keyboardist/vocalist Mona D—toys with the tension of feeling wholly futuristic and incredibly retro at the same time. You’ll want to dust o the dancing shoes for this one. With Srsq, Luxury Furniture Store, DJ Paulie. 8 p.m., $20, Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us –Amber Sampson

MARC ANTHONY 8 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. (Courtesy/Supa Joe)

DEADMAU5 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

HAMILTON 7:30 p.m., thru 11/6 (& 2 p.m., 10/29-10/30, 11/5-11/6), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

NIGHT SHIFT

7 p.m., Omega Mart at Area15, tickets. meowwolf.com.

MAX With Sara Kays, 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

JAMIE KOVACS: THE KEYS TO YOUR SOUL Reception 5:30 p.m., exhibit thru 1/10, Centennial Hills Library, lvccld.com.

AGENT ORANGE With Suburban Resistance, Nuclear Undead, A.T.S., Mondo Vermin, 7 p.m., Dive Bar, eventbrite.com.

PAULY SHORE: STICK WITH THE DANCING 9 p.m., Wiseguys, vegas. wiseguyscomedy.com.

SPACE AND TIME: FILIPINO NIGHT MARKET 6 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

CHADWICK JOHNSON 8 p.m., Gatsby’s Supper Club, gambithenderson.com.

SUNNY LAX 10 p.m., Commonwealth, seetickets.us.

POWERMAN 5000 With SinShrift, Funeral Haze, 8 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, eventbrite.com.

BANDLEZ

With Bainbridge, MGMA, Infvmous, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

In 2016, I saw Foals for the first time—at Brooklyn Bowl, a Vegas venue the band seems to favor (this is their third time back).

My girlfriend, who’d had other plans, asked how my night was, and I responded, glassy-eyed, “It was the greatest live show I’ve ever seen.” Now, I could dial that back a bit, and probably should; after all, I’ve seen a lot of live shows, and a good number of them were legitimately great. But there’s something that happens at a Foals show, somewhere between the Zeppelin-esque chorus of “Inhaler” and singer/guitarist Yan nis Philippakis’ fearless stage dives, that inspires wonderment, rapture, belief. When Foals hits—which they might do with the Talking Heads-meets-Duran Duran dance-pop of “Wake Me Up,” or perhaps the epic “When I see a man, I see a liar” bit of “What Went Down”—it’s easy to believe that this dynamic, mul tifaceted British band is one the best ever to do it. Foals make you want to believe. With Inner Wave, Gustaf. 6 p.m., $35-$45. Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com. –Geoff Carter

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS

3 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

BOBBY WEIR & WOLF BROS

8 p.m., & 10/29, Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

AFROJACK

10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

SILVER STATE FILM FESTIVAL

Thru 10/30, times vary, Century Orleans, silver statefilmfestival.com.

ALLEN STONE

7 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.

FUERZA REGIDA

8 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.

ALESSO

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

RITA RUDNER

8 p.m., Stirling Club, thestirlingclub.com.

ADAM LAMBERT 8 p.m., & 10/29, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

DAVID BLAINE 9 p.m., & 10/29, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

EARTH, WIND & FIRE 8 p.m., & 10/29, 11/2, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

JOHN LEGEND

8 p.m., & 10/29, Zappos Theater, ticketmaster.com.

DJ SNAKE With DJ Ruckus, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

USHER 9 p.m., & 10/29, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

TOM SEGURA 10 p.m., & 10/29, Mirage Theater, mirage. mgmresorts.com.

W.A.S.P. With Armored Saint, 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

DESIIGNER

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

COCKTAIL CABARET 6 p.m., & 10/29, Westgate Concierge Lounge, ticketmaster.com

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT

CHROMEO (DJ SET)

p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.

(Courtesy)

SUPERGUIDE

SATURDAY

THE WHISKYX

There’s only one Las Vegas event where you can sample an extensive and curated list of premium whiskey selections poolside overlooking the Strip while watching a live band and enjoying a cigar and a beard trim. Funny thing is, WhiskyX is not an only-in-Vegas event; it also has upcoming dates in Miami, New York and Atlanta. But the touring spirit-based experience is always elevated, literally and figuratively, when it lands at the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool. The 2022 version includes tasty bites from STK, Momofuku, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and more; haircuts and trims provided by the talented team from the Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails; and a performance from Birmingham soul-rock outfit St. Paul & The Broken Bones, which should satisfy locals who miss the days when Cosmo rooftop concerts were a regular thing. 7 p.m., $75+, Boulevard Pool, ticketmaster. com. –Brock Radke

OCT.

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG

11 a.m., Las Vegas Festival Grounds, whenwewereyoung. com.

BLACK LAS VEGAS FOOD FESTIVAL

9 a.m., Clark County Amphitheater, eventbrite.com.

MARSHMELLO

11 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

BIG SEAN

10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

U.S. HOCKEY HALL OF FAME GAME

7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

DILLON FRANCIS

11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

ZEDD

10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

ROCKY HORROR HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR

8 p.m., Regency Tropicana Cinemas, regencymovies.com.

GORGON CITY

With Moon Boots, Deeper Purpose, Brett Rubin, 9 p.m., Area15 A-Lot, area15.com.

BILLY OCEAN

8 p.m., Veil Pavilion, silvertoncasino.com.

MARTIN GARRIX

With Justin Mylo, 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

CANDLEBOX 8 pm., the Club at Cannery, ticketmaster.com.

BRODY JENNER & DEVIN LUCIEN 10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

THE QUITTERS

With Go Bold, Bennett, the Infinite Glowing Castle, Lawn Mower Death Riders, 8 p.m., Taverna Costera, tavernacostera.com.

PAULY D 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

(Courtesy)

(Courtesy)

SUNDAY

DURAN DURAN 8 p.m., & 10/31, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. WINNIPEG JETS 5 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

DIPLO 11 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

SURF CURSE 7 p.m., Area15 Portal, area15.com.

MONDAY

It might be the hottest ticket in town on Halloween, and it doesn’t require a costume. Steve Lacy’s Give You the World tour lands at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Monday night, which feels just as out-of-nowhere as the sizzling success of “Bad Habit,” the trippy R&B phenom’s moody smash that ousted Harry Styles from the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100. Certainly, it makes sense that the former guitarist of The Internet would utilize TikTok to crack open the charts, but both Lacy and “Bad Habit” are too interesting and funky to be dismissed as social media flashes in the pan. His sound is his own, but it easily slides across multiple genres—the single is the first to reach the top spot on Billboard’s Hot R&B and Rock & Alternative charts. Doesn’t it make you curious what this guy is like when he’s on stage? 7 p.m., $30, House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com. –Brock Radke

STEVE AOKI

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

DJ SNAKE With DJ Vice, 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

GREEN FUZZ

With Maybelline, Catman, 8 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com.

TWO FRIENDS 11 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

SEAN PATTON

With Dana Eagle, Des Bishop, Nikki Carr, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.

LIL JON 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

TORREN FOOT With Automhate, 10 p.m., We All Scream, weallscream.com.

STEVE LACY

(Courtesy/Julian Klincewicz)

ELTON JOHN 8 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.

LIFE IN DEATH FESTIVAL

5-9 p.m., & 11/2, Winchester Dondero Cultural Center, clarkcountynv.gov.

UNLV CHAMBER ORCHESTRA 7:30 p.m., Clark County Library, lvccld.com.

ROB GUSON

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

JAY HOLLINGSWORTH

8 p.m., thru 11/6, L.A. Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com.

PHANTOGRAM

With Glu, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com.

UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. CHICO STATE (EXHIBITION) 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.

ADAM CAROLLA 10 p.m., Wiseguys, vegas.wiseguys comedy.com.

SANTANA 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

KIM LEE 10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com.

FRANKS & DEANS WEENIE ROAST

With The Boss Martians, Tremelo Beer Gut, Tina the Tattooed Lady, Professor Rex Dart, 10 p.m., Double Down Saloon, double downsaloon.com.

Face painting, ofrendas, entertainment and food—Las Vegas’ Dia de los Muertos Festival checks all the boxes for a traditional celebration of those who have passed. Attendees are advised to bring blankets or low chairs to enjoy live entertainment on the lawn by Trice Be Phantom Magnetiq and his band Aslan Sol. The singer—known for rousing shows at Fremont’s Cheapshot showroom—brings African and Caribbean folk, electronic dance, hip-hop, soul and opera to the Day of the Dead party. Oh, and don’t forget your costume! 4 p.m., free, Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park, lasvegasnevada.gov. –Shannon Miller

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (Shuttertock)

Kristy Adams and (right) Nightmare Toys merchandise (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

BY AMBER SAMPSON

NIGHTMARE TOYS 1309 S. Commerce St., nightmare toys.com. MondaySaturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m.

Everything about Kristy Adams’ Nightmare Toys screams labor of love. The creepily authentic—and unblinking—Child’s Play dolls. The rows of vintage toys with characters from The Thing and the Tim Curry version of It. Even the bathroom murals (autographed by Gremlins actor Zach Galligan) provide color, courtesy of Sean O. Hill’s life-size depictions of iconic horror characters from Killer Klowns From Outer Space and Greta, the female Gremlin.

Since 2020, Nightmare Toys has thrived in the Arts District as a year-round horror-movie mecca for both collectors and casual film fans. And with the latest expansion of Adams’ bar and restaurant, Nightmare Cafe, the neighborhood should get even spookier. We caught up with Adams as Halloween approached to discuss slasher films, her favorite collectibles and why TV horror shows are killing it right now.

How did you become a horror fan? I’ve loved horror since I was about 5 or 6 years old. It came from watching Michael Jackson’s “Thrill er” video when it first came out. Because of him [I found] my love of horror and my love of dance. I’ve been a dancer my whole life.

That’s a great entry point. A lot of folks had never seen anything like that before. I don’t think we ever are going to. It was fun, but it also scared me. The zom bies didn’t bother me, but the were wolf did, and I liked that. I liked the feeling of being scared and the excitement I had. That made me so excited to start watching scary movies. John Landis, who directed it, is actually a director of tons of scary movies, [including] An Amer ican Werewolf in London. They talk

about it in the Making of Thriller, which I watched religiously.

What came after “Thriller” for you? At the time, the A Nightmare on Elm Street movies were very pop ular. My first one was actually Part 2 [Freddy’s Revenge]. That got me really excited about Freddy Krueger and the Elm Street movies. I went on to watch the first one, obviously, but Part 3 [Dream Warriors] ended up being a favorite of mine, and I watched that probably every day of my life (laughs).

Why do you think villains like Freddy, Chucky and Michael Myers have such staying power?

I think it’s because they’ve had so many sequels. There’s like, what, 1012 sequels of Jason? There’s so many sequels and they just become pop

ular with everybody and everybody knows who they are. Even if you’re not into horror, people know those particular characters.

Horror franchises and iconic characters fell away for a while, but with the new Halloween films and Prey adding to the Predator story, we’re seeing a comeback. Do you see it continuing? I do. Damien Leone and David Howard Thornton just put out Terrifier 2 Terrifier, and Art the Clown, was a big rage when that came out [in 2016]. Everybody’s liking it. It’s a big gore fest. I think Art the Clown’s gonna be the new It character to love. He’s already kind of out there. There’s T-shirts and stickers and all kinds of stuff already. The other person I like is Annabelle. You’re getting a bunch of different char acters from The Conjuring series now, too, that are really becoming popular: The Nun, Annabelle, the Crooked Man.

Nightmare Toys has so many unique items. Do you have any favorite collectibles in the store? A lot of the autographed toys are re ally cool. We don’t have it right now, but Drew Marvick—he’s a local here who does Pool Party Massacre—we had one of his severed heads here (laughs). That was cool, but he did take that with him the other day. I really liked that severed head.

What’s one item in your personal collection you’d never part with? I have a Chopping Mall bong [from the 1986 slasher film]. My best friend Noah gets me the best gifts for birthdays and Christmases, and a lot of the awesome custom pieces in my collection have come from him. It’s got a killbot on it, blood dripping and the Chopping Mall VHS poster on it. It’s really cool looking. You don’t see that anywhere.

Nightmare Toys has hosted some cool celebrity signings with actors like Derek Mears and Kane Hodder, both of whom played Jason, and even Tony Todd from Candyman. Have you ever personally freaked out

over a celeb in your store? Linda Blair. She was here in January, and I really fangirled. I couldn’t believe she was in my store … She’s so tiny, and she’s got a mouth on her. A guy actually had airbrushed horror figures on his motorcycle, and on one side was The Exorcist. She went out and signed his motorcycle. That was a cool moment.

We’re days away from Hal loween. What’s your favorite horror movie? Eighties slashers are my thing. My favorite is April Fool’s Day, a movie no one ever talks about. Everybody’s answer is always Halloween. But with April Fool’s Day, I’m on a whole other holiday (laughs). I love that movie. It just screams ’80s cheese to me. When I first watched it … I really hated it because of the ending. Now I love it. And I love stuff like Slumber Party Massacre, Critters and Ghoulies

A lot of great Final Girls have had their moment in horror lately. Do you have any favorites? I do, I do. [Sharni Vinson], the girl from You’re Next. Heather Langenkamp from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Jenna Ortega, because I’m really liking her for somebody new. I’m really liking her in horror movies right now. She’s so adorable, and she’s a good little actress. I feel her.

What’s your take on films competing with TV these days? I do believe that the TV series are taking over. For my personal taste, a lot of the TV series coming out are way better than a lot of these new movies coming out. With the mov ies, they’re new, but they’re not new, because a lot of people are doing a lot of remakes. But the TV series have fresh ideas. There’s so many good ones like Chucky. Instead of making a new movie, they did a TV series, and I love it.

As a horror fan, how do you feel about Hollywood making Winnie-the-Pooh a murderous killer in the slasher film Blood and Honey? I have no idea what to think about that right now. But am I gonna watch it? Of course!

GET YOUR HALLOWEED ON SAFELY

Halloween is a great opportunity to celebrate, and if your celebrations involve cannabis, we have plenty of ideas for a fun, safe and responsible holiday. Whether you’re partaking at home with friends or by yourself, use these tips for a great Halloweed.

Truthfully, any strain is a great strain for Halloween. But to stick with the theme, these are especially spooky options.

GHOST TRAIN HAZE, NATURE’S CHEMISTRY

This strain is high-THC sativa, making it ideal for an array of Halloween-y activities like costume parties, pumpkin carving and more. Sativa strains may help encourage creativity and focus, while the terpene beta-caryophyllene in this strain gives it flavor notes of sweet spices.

What’s better than a chill movie night at home? If you’re in the spirit, but don’t want to go full horror film, here are silly, campy movies perfect for kicking back and watching with a bowl of candy.

SCARY MOVIE: There’s five of them, and they’re all perfect for a goofy watch party!

FREAKY: A teenage girl switches bodies with a bloodthirsty serial killer—it’s fun!

TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL: This spoofy comedy will keep you laughing throughout. And has just enough gore to feed your Halloween bloodlust.

GREMLINS: A true ’80s classic, Gremlins is bizarre, somewhat spooky and very silly. If you don’t watch it this Halloween, consider it for Christmas instead. It holds up across the holiday season.

DEADHEAD OG, BLUEBIRDS

A sweet indica is the perfect pick for spending a cozy night at home. High in terpenes, this limonene-rich strain has fruity, citrusy notes. Grab these prerolled for convenience.

JACK, PROSPECTORS DISPOSABLE VAPE

Is this strain named after a jack-o’-lantern? No. But for the sake of Halloween, we can pretend. This sativadominant disposable vape is discreet and features high terpinolene properties, giving it a citrusy, woody flavor.

ARRANGE FOR A SAFE RIDE

If

BE CAREFUL WHEN DRINKING ALCOHOL

Mixing

EAT, HYDRATE AND ENJOY

Spend

KEEP YOUR EDIBLES SAFE

Keeping

These haunted attractions should keep you up all night

BY EVELYN MATEOS

FREAKLING BROS. HORROR SHOWS

Every year—for 30 years to be exact—the Las Vegas Valley has been able to count on the Freakling Bros. for a good scare. What began at Duke and Ginnie Mollner’s Las Vegas residence o cially evolved into Freakling Bros. in 1992.

“We like our family holidays, but there’s something about Halloween,” says the Mollners’ son, JT, now Freakling Bros. managing partner. “It’s definitely the most special holiday to this family, and the way we celebrate is by scaring people. There’s nothing we’d rather be doing than scaring the hell out of Vegas on Halloween.”

JT says the family’s insistence on hiring real actors, rather than relying on volunteers, has kept the annual attraction popular year after year. And sometimes, less can be more. “My dad’s philosophy when I was a kid was, ‘I can throw a live actor in a cardboard box and make it a scarier experience than all the money in the world can.’ So we’re really focused on fear factor and immersion rather than fancy sets and animatronics.”

Freakling Bros. adds to its attractions every year, so look for improved versions of the classic Castle Vampyre, Gates of Hell and Coven of 13 shows. Freakling launches new attractions every four or five years, JT says, which means Las Vegas can expect something new next year.

Along with the shows, guests can enjoy food, drinks and insight from a fortune teller. Through October 31, 7 p.m., $50-$250, IKEA Parking Lot, freaklingbros.com.

VEGAS FRIGHT NIGHTS

Clown Invasion in 3D and Nightmare Manor return to Vegas Fright Nights along with new installment Whisper Bayou. Deep in the swamp, a voodoo-cursed shack traps anyone who steps inside in an ever-changing labyrinth. Through October 31, times vary, $25, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., vegasfrightnights.com.

LAS VEGAS HAUNTS

Longtime haunted house attractions Asylum and Hotel Fear return for another year of terror. Find out how two families’ lives intertwine in a dreadful way. Through October 31, times vary, $30-$40, Meadows Mall, lasvegashaunts.com.

TRAIN OF TERROR

As you board, railroad workers open a strange crate from the Nevada Test Site, which begins infecting folks and turning them into zombies. Will everyone survive the journey? Through October 30, 5:30 & 7:30 p.m., $35-$50, Nevada State Railroad Museum, nevadasouthern.com.

SAW ESCAPE LAS VEGAS

The Jigsaw killer comes to life in this theatrical attraction. Wake up trapped inside an old meat-packing house … or is it a killer’s lair? Will you play his game to escape? Times vary, $50+, reservations required, 2121 Industrial Road, sawescape room.com.

ESCAPE BLAIR WITCH

This immersive escape room, based on the blockbuster horror film franchise, takes a spine-chilling trip to find college students who went missing in the Black Hills Forest. Solve the mystery in time or su er the rage of the Blair Witch. Times vary, $46+, reservations required, 2121 Industrial Road, escapeblairwitch.com.

Halloween parties wash over Vegas clubs, bars and other creative venues

BY BROCK RADKE

FRIGHT SPIKE AT GOLD SPIKE

Stage frights

Two plays and a concert to scratch that scary itch

MISERY

Experience Stephen King’s 1987 psychological horror thriller as a theatrical production. The story follows author Paul Sheldon, who is held captive by former nurse and fan Annie Wilkes, and forced to rewrite one of his novels after she learns one of her favorite characters was killed o . His life depends on the outcome. October 28-30, times vary, $30, Las Vegas Little Theater, lvlt.org.

AN EVENING AT THE GRAND GUIGNOL

This gory horror show channels onetime French theatre, Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol (1897-1962), which performed shows of the same nature. Get ready for a series of one-act terrors—and laughter. October 28-30, 11 p.m.; October 31, 8 & 11 p.m.; $30+; Majestic Repertory Theatre; majesticrepertory.com.

SAW AND STRINGS

Any truly scary film needs a great soundtrack to set the tone. Experience a chilling tale told by the “Collector” while the Las Vegas String Quartet performs some of the best scary music in film history. Guests will also have access to a haunted lounge featuring the Musty Cauldron bar, Ghost DJ, a costume photo op and more. October 28-31, times vary, $36-$60, theindustrialvegas.com.

The Downtown bar and nightlife destination will o er a spooky roller disco derby, a Latin music-fueled Day of the Dead celebration, a mega costume contest and DJ sets from J-Krazy, Presto One, Tommy Lin, TeenWolf and more, all weekend long. October 27-31, times & prices vary, goldspike.com.

WONDER WORLD AT ZOUK NIGHTCLUB

The Resorts World party spot will go hard all weekend long, with sets from Deadmau5, DJ Snake and Zedd, Halloween activations all over the property and a special $250 all-access weekend pass. October 27-31, times & prices vary, zoukgrouplv.com.

FORBIDDEN CITY AT HAKKASAN NIGHTCLUB

The cutting-edge technology at Hakkasan makes for the ultimate Halloween-party canvas, as aerial acts and enticing decor take over. Di erent sounds will be provided by Lil Jon, Steve Aoki and Rich the Kid. October 27-29, times & prices vary, events.taogroup.com.

MASQUERADE PARTY AT LEGACY CLUB

Dance the night away and participate in “elevated trick or treating” with premium candy and chocolate at the 60th floor club and lounge at Circa. Each ticket includes a unique masquerade mask, so you don’t even have to figure out a costume. October 28, 8 p.m., $150, circalas vegas.com.

BLACK SHEEP HALLOWEEN BASH AT THE SPACE

Black Sheep Booking brings Tranquility Waves, Partial Credit, Hunter’s Briefcase, Tree Frog Express, Pure Sport and Diva Bleach to the stage for a weekend music marathon. October 28, 7:30 p.m., $15, thespacelv.com.

SIN CITY HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AT THE PALMS

The iconic Fetish & Fantasy Ball will be reborn and rebranded for 2022, with three separate events spread over two days and nights. We’re not exactly sure what to expect, but we do know Paul Oakenfold is scheduled to spin at Kaos. October 28-29, times & prices vary, sincityhalloweenball.com.

FREAQSHOW AT MARQUEE NIGHTCLUB

The Cosmopolitan club known for some of the best themed holiday extravaganzas turns it on with sets from Afrojack, DJ Pauly D and Lil Jon throughout the weekend. October 28-30, times & prices vary, events.taogroup.com.

GORGON CITY AT AREA15’S A-LOT

Area15 has led the way for dance music events outside traditional nightclubs. This themed, outdoor party stars Gorgon City, Moon Boots, Deeper Purpose and Brett Rubin, along with roaming performers and a costume contest. October 29, 9 p.m., $40, area15.com.

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT THE UNDERGROUND

Themed around horror films of the 1920s, this swanky party at the Underground speakeasy and distillery at the Mob Museum features specialty cocktails and a performance by The Dixie Flats. The password for fun is “jeepers creepers.” October 29, 8 p.m., free, themobmuseum.org.

ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY AT STONEY’S ROCKIN’ COUNTRY

More than $2,000 will be up for grabs at this costume contest at Town Square, which will also serve up dance lessons and live music. October 29, 7 p.m., $10+, stoneys rockincountry.com.

TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE GOLDEN TIKI

The Spring Mountain tiki bar wonderland caps a full week of Halloween programming with an adult trick-or-treat experience. Costumes are encouraged, and Zombies are $15. October 31, free, thegoldentiki.com.

HALLOWEEN AT GILLEY’S

The Treasure Island country saloon hosts a best-dressed costume contest with a $500 cash prize for first place (plus $75 bar tab), along with live music from Rebel Heart. October 31, 9:30 p.m., free, gilleys lasvegas.com.

LIGHTMARE AT PARTICLE INK

The already “otherworldly experience” Downtown celebrates with an afterparty once the Particle Ink: Speed of Dark performance concludes, featuring DJ music, pop-up performances and creative libations at the LightHouse lounge. October 31, 9 p.m., $55+, particleink.com.

Do You Like Scary Movies?

Vegas experts

ALISSA NUTTING

Author of Tampa, co-creator of HBOMax’s Made for Love and co-creator of Adult Swim’s Teenage Euthanasia

My favorite scary movie is It Follows, because a fatal curse that’s a sexually transmitted disease is just a brilliant premise.

TROY HEARD Artistic Director of Majestic Repertory Theater

The original Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre hold equal weight in my esteem for total opposite reasons. Halloween establishes tension through minimalism, while Chainsaw is a maximal orgy of rural terror—and both do so while withholding the blood and gore.

ZAK BAGANS

Star of Ghost Adventures, executive producer of The Haunted Museum: Three Ring Inferno on Travel Channel/discovery+ and founder of Downtown Vegas’ Haunted Museum

The Shining is my favorite scary movie. No other film captures [Stanley] Kubrick’s unique visual style and tone. The Overlook Hotel is where I’d like to be locked inside for a whole winter.

YOU KILLED ME FIRST AND THERE SHE IS Wheatpaste street artists

As fans of classic horror, we love the original House on Haunted Hill. Combining Vincent Price and suspenseful camp in the setting of a Frank Lloyd Wright house— you can’t go wrong.

BY GEOFF CARTER

you, says this professional

local costumer

BY GEOFF CARTER

Amanda Williams knows what it’s like to come up with costume ideas on a deadline. The professional costumer has some 20 years’ experience in the craft, creating wardrobe pieces for a variety of Las Vegas productions including Le Rêve, Opium, Barry Manilow’s Westgate residency and Nevada Ballet Theatre.

If you’re stuck for a costume idea at the last minute, she knows what it takes to put one together. Here are a few of her remedies for Halloween panic.

I’m glad to get your advice. I always stress over Halloween costumes; I’m basically clueless about them. You don’t do any costuming during the season?

When I do, it’s a minimal e ort: a couple of clothing items and a lot of acting. There you go! I think having whatever you have around the house kind of inspires you and puts you into character. I don’t necessarily think running around town and grabbing a bunch of stu from Halloween superstores is necessarily the best idea. Being creative and thinking on your feet is how to go about it.

Tell us more about thinking on your feet. I’m kinda flat-footed. Be clever. And try to be funny, because I think having a funny costume is more important than having an elaborate cosplay costume. … That’s what starts a conversation, and if you’re gonna go out and about, you want to attract attention to yourself and have fun with it.

It’s not just about what you put on your body, but how you act; you can do something that can put you into character. I look to Pinterest for ideas like that. Do something like “cereal killer,” where you [string] together a bunch of little cereal boxes, put fake knives in

them and then just tie it on yourself. … Something clever, thinking outside the box and being silly. Those are my favorite costumes, you know?

One year I put on an Enron hat, a flannel shirt and some fake blood. I told people I was the guy Dick Cheney accidentally shot in the face while hunting. Exactly! Perfect. Pull stu from around your house, like old uniforms you’ve had, and think of how you can play them o . Everybody’s got something weird in their closet that they can just run with. Make it be a dead version of that [thing]; if you have an old bridal dress, be

MELODY SWEETS

Singer and burlesque star

The only scary movie I’ve seen was in sex ed class, when they made the class watch the miracle that is life. This little creature crawling out of a woman’s hoo-ha. Terrifying! Put me off scary movies ever since!

MICHAEL YO Co-star of Amber Brown on Apple TV+, Comedy Cellar regular and host of the Yo Show podcast

By far, my favorite scary movie is A Nightmare on Elm Street. Freddy’s line, “No running in the halls, Nancy,” still gives me chills to this day.

DIRK VERMIN Owner/artist at Pussykat Tattoo Parlor and Vegas punk rock mainstay Bride Of Frankenstein. It’s subversive and profane; a true gothic horror show. This is the rare sequel that bet ters the original. The makeup by Jack Pierce remains unri valed and iconic to this day. I’ve tattooed versions of the monster and the bride my whole career. There are scar ier movies, but few with the lasting effect and influence, especially on pop culture for almost 100 years. No one did horror like Universal.

PENNY PIBBETS Star of Absinthe at Caesars Palace

What I love about horror movies are their range. If you want a masterpiece, you watch The Shining; if you want something campy and funny, you watch Army of Darkness; Hereditary is tense and terrifying... But if you want a love story, watch the original Swedish version of Let the Right One In, which is the only romantic movie that I’ve ever enjoyed.

JT MOLLNER Managing Partner at Freak ling Bros. Horror Shows

For me, it’s an unbreak able tie between the original Halloween and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The former for the iconic creep and suspense and the latter for the sheer bru tal horror. I’ve never been affected by another horror film like either of these films impacted me as a kid. And they still hold up

a dead bride—or maybe there’s something you’ve seen in the news relating to brides that you think is funny. Go with that. Have a story.

Are there non-clothing items we always should keep around the house for quickie costumes? One thing I’ve seen lately that’s popular is pool noodles. If you have some extra pool noodles laying around, you can get creative. You can cut them up; you can glue them together. You can use them as headpieces; I’ve seen them used as wigs in various contexts.

Also, just cardboard. You can

make a big frame around your face and become a painting. Or maybe you can become an app, like Tinder or TikTok. You can just put cardboard around yourself and draw out the app interface, and maybe make yourself an ugly Tinder choice.

And if you want to be an android or a robot or something futuristic, wires, [circuit boards]. You’ve probably got a bunch of old technology lying around that you don’t use anymore.

Have you had a lot of experience with whipping up Halloween costumes on the fly? Well, I have a closet full of stuff from

different eras of fashion, because I collect all kinds of clothing. And when I lived in the Bay Area, there were a lot more reasons for dressing up; everybody loved to do costume parties all year round. So, I always had something to pull out … but I know a lot of people around here don’t have the time or the focus.

Las Vegas needs more yearround costume events. We’re too weird a place not to have ’em. I agree. I wish there was a parade or something. … I want to give a shout-out to the Katy Perry show Play, which has a lot of funny, goofy costumes and some bath-

room humor that people appreciate. I think that’s an inspiration.

[The Broadway musical] Six, which opened its tour at the Smith Center a few weeks ago—I mean, that’s an amazing inspiration for costumes, because you get to be both a pop singer and a historical figure, and you can walk around with Henry the Eighth’s head in your hand.

Going to shows, and getting inspired by them, goes a long way, especially in Vegas. … There’s costuming literally everywhere on the Strip. If you walk down Fremont Street, you see [street performers] dressed up. I find that inspiring, as well.

THE

Nevada billionaire opens vault for GOP

BIGELOW HAS POURED MONEY INTO CAMPAIGNS

Las Vegas billionaire Robert Bigelow of Budget Suites of America and Bigelow Aerospace has donated at least $47 million during the midterm elections campaign cycle to mostly Republican causes, including closely watched contests for Nevada governor and several of the state’s federal races, according to campaign finance records.

Bigelow’s largest contribution has been $12.3 million to the Republican Governors Association, according to financial disclosures filed by the conservative political action committee with the IRS. The IRS filing indicates he gave $9.3 million spanning from January 5 to September 28, and gave an additional $3 million on behalf of Sedona Magnet LLC, a company registered to Bigelow, according to Nevada secretary of state records.

The Republican Governors Association had spent $12.7 million in Nevada as of October 15, when the most recent campaign finance reports were due with the Secretary of State’s O ce. That spending has been poured into advertising in support of Clark County Sheri Joe Lombardo’s gubernatorial campaign against Democratic incumbent Steve Sisolak.

–Casey Harrison

YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

All in on the Raiders

Magic Johnson wants a piece of the action

Basketball great Magic Johnson is negotiating to purchase a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, the digital media group Semafor reported October 21. Johnson, who is also part-owner of MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, “has been assembling a team of investors in recent weeks for a minority slice of the Raiders,” Semafor reported. Semafor reports a potential transaction could set a record for sports franchise deals. It’s unknown what percentage of the team Johnson’s group is negotiating to acquire. The Raiders are valued at $5.1 billion by Forbes to rank as the ninth-highest valued franchise in the 32-team NFL, nearly doubling in worth since moving to Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium in 2020. They were valued at $2.9 billion in the final Oakland season of 2019. –Ray Brewer

A fan shows his Raider pride during Las Vegas’ 38-20 win against the Houston Texans October 23 at Allegiant Stadium. (Brian Ramos/Sta )

“ Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous.”

-Statement from Adidas upon severing its business relationship with the artist formerly known as Kanye West

(AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Ober Elementary School students greet customers during Green Our Planet’s Giant Student Farmers Market at the Clark Government Center. The semiannual market, billed by its sponsor as the largest student-run farmers market in the nation, o ered fruits, vegetables, herbs, ower bouquets and crafts such as greeting cards, garden stakes, insect habitats and painted ower pots. Spirited students from about 30 local schools lined the curving walkway wrapping around the amphitheater at the government center to take part. (Wade Vandervort/Sta

CCSD exam scores compare favorably

Clark County School District students generally performed as well as or better than their peers in other major metros on national math and reading exams despite challenges presented by the pandemic, according to data released October 25 by the Department of Education.

CCSD students’ performance slid below pre-pandemic levels on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, but stayed roughly in line with the decline seen nationally in the wake of pandemic interruptions to learning. The math and reading test is typically given to fourth- and eighth-graders every other spring, though this year’s was the first since 2019.

About half to two-thirds of CCSD children achieved at least “basic” understanding in the two core subjects. Here’s how they did, this year and last time:

• Fourth-grade reading: 54% in 2022; 62% in 2019

• Fourth-grade math: 65% in 2022; 76% in 2019

• Eighth-grade reading: 65% in 2022; 66% in 2019

• Eighth-grade math: 54% in 2022; 59% in 2019 Nevada, as a whole, had slightly higher scores with all of its public school districts combined, but among all states still rated “significantly lower” than the national average in fourth-grade math and reading and eighth-grade math. Eighth-grade reading was “not significantly di erent.” Hillary Davis

BY THE NUMBERS

On October 28, the Neon Museum celebrates the 10th anniversary of it opening to the public. The formal

a air will be held at Jungle Palace, the private estate of Siegfried & Roy, and will include guided tours and an appearance by the duo’s stage partner, Lynette Chappell (“The Evil Queen” in their long-running show), and the honoring of Barbara Molasky, founding president of the Neon Museum.

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Democracy is under attack. The Colorado River and Lake Mead are drying up. The costs of housing and education are skyrocketing.

Young people’s voices and votes can only be counted if they cast a ballot. And given the stakes of this year’s elections and the existential threats young Nevadans are inheriting from prior generations, ensuring that the voices of young people are heard and counted has never been more important.

Younger voters, the older generation that got us to this perilous place fear you. They want to make it harder for you to vote. They want you to stay home. But you can transform American politics and save the nation.

Elected o cials are counting on young voters being disengaged. They’re counting on the knowledge that historically, voter turnout increases with age, allowing them to marginalize the voices and interests of younger voters without consequence.

But this year can be di erent. It must be di erent. Your future is at stake, and it won’t be the baby boomers or even Generation X that su ers the consequences.

Young people are accustomed to having their ideas dismissed.

A 2020 study by researchers at the University of Toronto and Furman University found that 49.5% of young adults reported experiencing disrespect and negative assumptions about emotional and cognitive abilities, due to nothing more than their age.

They have also been the repeated targets of disenfranchisement, with Republican leaders attempting to ban common documents used by young people to verify identity and eligibility, such as student IDs, rental agreements and jointly held banking and credit accounts.

Fortunately, they can’t take away the fact that within the boundaries of a district, the vote of an 18-year-old counts the same

YOUNG AMERICANS, YOU CAN MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE–BY VOTING

as a vote from a 65-year-old. And young people have every incentive to turn out and place their issues and voices at the center of this year’s elections.

According to the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at Washington University in St. Louis, the current generation of young people are the first generation in U.S. history that will be economically worse off than the generation that came before them. That’s not an accident. It’s the result of 40 years of short-sided policies that created short-term profits and concentrated wealth at the expense of future generations.

Both major political parties had a role in getting us to where we are today. But only one of those parties is trying to learn from its mistakes and look forward to a better future, rather than backward to a ctional revisionist version of the past. Only one is trying to make things right for young people, their children

and their children’s children.

Over the past two years Democrats have successfully passed legislation to:

 Rebuild America’s aging infrastructure.

 Fund our struggling education systems.

 Expand a ordable child care and education opportunities.

 Restore a competitive trade balance with China by beginning to return manufacturing to the Americas.

 Reduce the costs of health care and prescription medication.

 Provide millions of Americans with access to a ordable and reliable high-speed internet.

 Make the largest investment in addressing global climate change of any country in the world.

And they did all of it while successfully reducing the spread and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You might not agree with all of those policy choices, but it’s undeniable that they are for-

ward-thinking investments in the future.

Meanwhile, the Republican party, under the leadership and direction of Donald Trump, has been focused on regressive, backwards-looking policies that seek to “make America great again” by undoing the progress of past decades. Their major accomplishments during that same time frame include:



Continuing decades of climate change denialism, science denialism and conspiracy theory.



Successfully reversing 50 years of established precedent and civil rights by overturning Roe v. Wade.

 Failing, for the 165th time, to overturn the A ordable Care Act.

 Following blindly as their leader organized a violent insurrection to overthrow the duly elected government of the United States.

These are truly regressive policies. But they are nothing compared to what Republican legislators are proposing should they take control of Congress in 2022 and the White House in 2024. They want to shatter public education and shift taxpayer dollars to private religious schools. They want to ban a large number of books. They want to see how far they can push the boundaries of attacking civil liberties like marriage equality, free speech and the right to abortion. And they want to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency and burden future generations with cleaning up their messes while they line their pockets with corporate profits.

Even if none of these policies speak to you, the only way young people will get the issues they care about on the radar of their elected o cials is to exercise their power and vote.

Younger voters are the key to stopping the madness and creating a better future. Older generations want to convince younger voters to stay home. Will young voters obey their elders? If they show up, they can throw o the shackles of the elder leadership and make the world a better place.

BY SHANNON MILLER

It’s widely known that young vot ers typically have lower turnout rates compared to other age groups. And that means they’re power is largely untapped at the polls.

During the past 10 years, the number of active Nevada registered voters age 18-24 has increased from 108,740 in 2013 to 198,713 in 2022—83%, the largest jump of any age group, and considerably higher than the 45% overall increase across all age groups during that time frame.

With Nevada’s midterm guberna torial and congressional races ex pected to be close, the growing and diverse young voting bloc could be the key to the election’s outcomes, says Dan Lee, associate professor of political science at UNLV.

“Low turnout among young voters is one of the biggest factors that could lead to the ‘red wave’ election many people are expect ing,” Lee says. “They simply are not as motivated to turn out this year compared to 2018 and 2020.”

In contrast with the 2018 midterm and 2020 presidential election, when young voters’ overwhelming disapproval for then-President Donald Trump helped bring about “blue waves,” this year’s election has not stoked their interest to the same degree. “The economy (inflation) is hurt ing them as well, hence Biden’s (and Democrats’) low approval,” Lee explains.

Overall, a recent New York Times/Siena College poll of fewer than 800 likely voters found that the majority plan to vote for a Re publican in upcoming congressio nal races. Respondents who were most concerned with the econo my favored Republicans by more than a 2-to-1 margin, according to a New York Times report accom

panying the poll.

Democrats had the highest rate of support among respondents age 18-29, 52% of which said they plan to vote for Democrats in the congressional election. Hispanic and younger voters “appeared to separate their frustration with the White House from their voting plans,” the Times report noted.

As expected in a midterm race, many voters are swinging away from the sitting president’s party. But Democrats would do well to establish loyalty among the group of voters who support them most, Lee says.

“Young voters will play a crucial role for the Democratic Party in the coming years,” Lee says.

“And although Biden has pushed through policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (which included investments in clean energy) and student loan forgiveness, those things might not be enough to draw young voters to the polls.

That’s where Democratic strategists are hoping an issue like abortion can help.”

Sy Bernabei, executive director of LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit Gender Justice Nevada, says it’s not necessarily the names on the ballot that matter to young voters. The issues alone can be a rallying cry.

Bernabei has seen community enthusiasm surrounding Nevada Ballot Question 1, which would add an equal rights amendment to Ne

vada’s constitution and advance the fight for gender equality. Gender Justice Nevada has been talking on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, at PRIDE events and at gay bars about the ballot initiative.

“We started ringing this alarm months ago,” Bernabei says, adding that many of Gender Justice’s members are young voters. “Be cause of what happened with Roe v. Wade, we see them coming after equal marriage next.”

Furthermore, the LGBTQ community has been motivated after seeing hundreds of pieces of proposed or passed legislation dis criminating against transgender people, Bernabei says. They want to set the record straight, when rightwing politicians villainize trans peers as though they’re “grooming and harming” kids with prescribed puberty blockers and gender-af firming health care.

“I’ve seen a huge increase in people coming in for information and education,” Bernabei says. “Trans folks realize this culture war is happening now and is direct ed at them. They know the most power they have now is as a voter … getting people to the polls … getting people in the Senate to codify Roe and equal marriage.”

Nevada Ballot Question 3, which would open primaries to nonpar tisan voters and establish ranked choice voting, could also help draw young voters to the polls. While the 18-24 age group comprises nearly 11% of total active registered voters in Nevada, it also makes up a sizable 16% of the growing pool of nonpartisan and minor party vot ers, according to September data from the Nevada Secretary of State.

Per reports from that office, as of October 4, approximately 37% of total active voters are registered nonpartisan, Independent, Liber tarian, or members of other minor parties, up from previous years— and more in total than either active Democrat (33%) or Republican (30%) registration rates.

The nonpartisan lean is even stronger in the 18-24 age group, with more than half of those active voters registered nonpartisan (54%), followed by Democrat (31%) and Republican (15%).

In part, the increase in Nevada voters registered as nonpartisan is due to an automatic voter regis tration law that went into effect in 2020. But over the past decade, at least one-third of active registered voters age 18-24 were registered nonpartisan, according to data from the Secretary of State.

“Young voters do make up a large portion of nonpartisan voters,” Lee says. “They just have weaker partisan attachments, because they simply have had less experience with the political world and politi cal parties.”

Tethering more partisan attachments from young voters played a role in Biden’s 2020 win. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engage ment (CIRCLE), voters age 18-29 nationwide provided 50% turnout for the 2020 election, an 11-point increase since 2016.

Participation was even higher for young Nevada voters in 2020, CIRCLE estimates, with 53% turnout from the 18-29 age group and 61% turnout from voters 19 and younger.

Ballots cast by 18-to-30-year-olds could be the key to Nevada’s close midterm races

“Trans folks realize this culture war is happening now and is directed at them. They know the most power they have now is as a voter … getting people to the polls … getting people in the Senate to codify Roe and equal marriage.”

-Sy Bernabei, executive director of LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit Gender Justice Nevada

EARLY VOTING SITES & MAIL BALLOT DROP-OFF SITES

These locations are open through 11/4 (check hours below).

n Arroyo Market Square 7225 Arroyo Crossing Parkway (parking lot near Men’s Wearhouse). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-

7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Blue Diamond Crossing 4100 Blue Diamond Road (parking lot between Target and Kohl’s). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Boulevard Mall 3528 S. Maryland Parkway (east lobby between Galaxy Theatres and El Mercado). 10/27-11/3, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Centennial Center 7881 W. Tropical Parkway (tent in Home Depot parking lot). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Deer Springs Town Center 640 E. Deer Springs Way (parking lot near Home Depot). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Desert Breeze Community Center 8275 Spring Mountain Road. 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n East Las Vegas Library 2851 E. Bonanza Road. 10/27-10/28, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; 10/29-10/30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 10/3111/3, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

n Galleria at Sunset 1300 W. Sunset Road (near Kohl’s on first floor). 10/27, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; 10/28-10/29, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; 10/30, noon-6 p.m.; 10/3111/3, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Las Vegas Athletic Club 6050 N. Decatur Blvd. (tent). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Las Vegas Athletic Club 1725 N. Rainbow Blvd. (tent). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Lowe’s 2570 E. Craig Road (tent). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Meadows Mall 4300 Meadows Lane (first floor near Round1). 10/27, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; 10/28-10/29, 10 a.m.8 p.m.; 10/30, noon-6 p.m.; 10/31-11/3, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Mountain’s Edge Regional Park 8101 W. Mountains Edge Parkway (tent). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Nellis Crossing Shopping Center

1250 S. Nellis Blvd. (tent near Target). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Silverado Ranch Plaza 9731 S. Eastern Ave. #H4 (tent near PetSmart). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Town Square 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tent near AMC Theatres). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Tropicana Beltway Center 5120 S. Fort Apache Road (tent near Lowe’s). 10/27-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

These locations are open on select dates through 11/4 (check dates and hours below).

n Albertsons 3010 W. Ann Road. 10/31-11/2, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 1650 N. Buffalo Drive. 10/31-11/2, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 8350 W. Cheyenne Ave. 10/27, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 575 College Drive. 10/27-10/29, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 4850 W. Craig Road. 10/28-10/30, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 7151 W. Craig Road. 11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Albertsons 2885 E. Desert Inn Road. 10/29-10/31, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 4055 S. Durango Drive. 10/27, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 7271 S. Eastern Ave. 10/29-10/30, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 1001 S. Rainbow Blvd. 10/27-10/29, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 201 S. Stephanie St. 10/30-10/31, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Albertsons 1940 Village Center Circle. 10/28-10/30, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Alexander Library 1755 W. Alexander Road. 10/27, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Boulder City Recreation Center

900 Arizona St. 11/1-11/3, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; 11/4, 8 p.m.-6 p.m.

n Centennial Hills YMCA 6601 N. Buffalo Drive. 11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Chinatown Plaza 4255 Spring Mountain Road. 10/28-10/29, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Coleman Senior Center 2100 Bonnie Lane. 10/31-11/2, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n CSN North Las Vegas Campus 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. (Student Union). 10/27, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

n CSN West Charleston Campus 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. (Student Union). 11/1-11/2, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

n Doolittle Community Center 1950 J St. 10/27, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Enterprise Library 8310 Las Vegas Blvd. S. 11/2-11/3, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

n Green Valley Library 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. 11/2-11/3, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 11/4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

n Henderson City Hall 240 S. Water Street. 10/31-11/3, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

n The Jimmie Hughes Campus 150 N. Yucca St., Mesquite. 10/30-11/1, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Lakes Lutheran Church 8200 W. Sahara Ave. 11/3-11/4, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Las Vegas City Hall 495 S. Main St. (City Clerk’s Office, second floor). 10/31-11/3, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

n Moapa Valley Community Center 320 N. Moapa Valley Blvd., Overton. 11/2, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

n Mosaic Church 9220 Manhattan Road. 10/27-10/28, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Mountain Crest Community Center 4701 N. Durango Drive. 10/31-11/1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

n Mountain Shadows Community Center 9107 Del Webb Blvd. 11/2-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Nevada State College 1300 Nevada State Drive (Christensen School of Education building). 10/31-11/1, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

n North Las Vegas City Hall 2250 Las Vegas Blvd. N. 10/31-11/3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

n Paradise Community Center 4775 McLeod Drive. 11/2-11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Paseo Verde Library 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. 11/1-11/2, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Pearson Community Center

1625 W. Carey Ave. (Room C). 10/2811/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Sahara West Library

9600 W. Sahara Ave. 10/30, 10 a.m.6 p.m.; 10/31, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Searchlight Community Center 200 Michael Wendell Way. 10/28, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

n Silver Mesa Recreation Center 4025 Allen Lane. 11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Skye Canyon Community Center 10111 W. Sky Canyon Park Drive. 10/27-10/28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

n Solera at Anthem Community Center 2401 Somersworth Drive. 10/29-10/31, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Sun City Aliante Community Center 7390 Aliante Parkway. 10/27-10/28, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Sun City MacDonald Ranch Community Center 2020 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway. 10/27-10/28, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Sun City Mesquite 1350 Flat Top Mesa Drive. 10/29, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n UNLV Lied Library 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. 11/2-11/4, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

n Veterans Memorial Community Center 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive. 10/27, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Vons 6450 Sky Pointe Drive. 10/29-10/30, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Vons 2667 Windmill Parkway. 11/3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Walnut Recreation Center 3075 N. Walnut Road. 11/3, 9 a.m.7 p.m.; 11/4, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

n Whitney Recreation Center 5712 Missouri Ave. 10/31-11/1, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

n Windmill Library 7060 W. Windmill Lane. 10/30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 10/31-11/1, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

PRACTICAL MAGIC

BY AMBER SAMPSON

For all the nonchalance the mind-bending illusionist David Blaine exudes, he’s not one to mince words about his new In Spades residency at Resorts World.

“My show is pretty f*cking nuts,” he said earlier this month, during an event at Resorts World’s plant-based restaurant Cross roads Kitchen. That admission came shortly after he’d noshed on his preferred hors d’oeuvre—a bowl of nails and a guest’s wine glass, which he so politely emptied before taking the first bite.

During all of this, Blaine amicably professed that he doesn’t drink often. Perhaps it’s to keep him connected to his otherworldly influences as the dark web message boards suggest, or maybe it’s the healthy habit of a stunt artist who swam (in a tuxedo) with great white sharks. But after seeing him do the unthinkable at In Spades, chances are you’ll beeline it for the bar.

Here are some things to expect from his show when it returns on October 28-29.

RISKY BUSINESS

Blaine said he lost nearly 30 pounds in preparation for his Las Vegas show, and the culmination of that training is seen at the start of the performance, when as he steels himself on a scaffold, overlooking the audience and a pile of card board boxes into which he’ll dive from 78 feet up.

The feat is a callback to Blaine’s 2002 special Vertigo, in which he stood on a 100-foot high, 22-inch wide pillar for 35 hours and then jumped. It’s nerve-wracking to see it performed in a venue like Resorts World Theatre, let alone in front of fans who will have to fish him out. In Spades will likely be one of the last times we’ll see Blaine play chicken with death like this. The 49-year-old has said he’ll stop doing dangerous feats like this when he turns 52, the age at which his idol, Harry Houdini, died.

What to expect from David Blaine ’s enchanting new Resorts World residency

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS

In one particularly harrowing stunt, Blaine submerges into a vat of water to see how long he can hold his breath (his record is 17 minutes). As an audience, we’re encouraged to join him, and on opening night, the em cee requesting it was none other than Edward Norton, one of Blaine’s good friends. As an es teemed performer, Blaine runs in an incredibly diverse social circle, so it wouldn’t surprise us if you see some stars.

MIND GAMES

Prepare for some mental gymnastics once Blaine actually starts doing real magic. The once-in-ageneration illusionist proves throughout this show that he is the real deal. If you don’t believe it, he invites guests to come onstage and see for themselves. Whether he’s having an audience member sew his mouth shut, sticking an ice pick through his arm or coughing up frogs and washing them back down, Blaine will have you second-guessing reality.

STAYING IN THE MOMENT

Guests are required to turn off their cell phones for In Spades. This can be controver sial, but trust us: Whatever’s happening on TikTok isn’t nearly as fun as David Blaine swimming with a crocodile, so TTYL, group chat.

You’re encouraged to stay sharp for this show, especially for skeptics looking to catch a gaffe in Blaine’s wicked sleight of hand (spoiler: you won’t find one). That’s the fun of it, watching his tricks as closely as possible and still having your mind irrevocably blown.

David Blaine’s In Spades (Courtesy/Resorts World Las Vegas)

DAVID

BACK INTO HAPPINESS

Phantogram returns to Vegas, and to the light

BY GEOFF CARTER

For a few years, Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter visited Las Vegas almost frequently enough to forward their mail here. They per formed at Life Is Beautiful in 2014, at Brooklyn Bowl in 2015, 2016 and 2017, made another Life Is Beauti ful appearance in 2019. The law of averages suggests that, following the release of fourth album Ceremo ny in March 2020, the Upstate New York-based dream pop/trip-hop duo probably would have made a springtime Brooklyn Bowl appear ance, at minimum. Then COVID upset Phantogram’s near-perfect Vegas attendance record.

“We’d planned on doing every thing that you’re supposed to do when you put out an album,” Carter says during a phone call from Den ver. “We did Jimmy Kimmel [Live]

in LA, the album came out … and then, like, two days later, the world shut down completely. Crickets, you know—all of our touring got canceled, all of our press got can celed, everything.

“It kind of took a hit on us, psychologically,” he adds. “But we can’t feel too badly for ourselves, considering it affected the entire world.”

Ironically, Ceremony was precisely the sort of Phantogram record the world needed at that mo ment. It was definitely the album Barthel and Carter needed. Making it was a kind of healing process for the two lifelong friends; Barthel’s sister Rebecca took her own life during the recording of the group’s 2016 album Three. Themes of

soldiering on, through brokenness and pain, are threaded throughout Ceremony. “I’m not afraid of the scars; they ain’t ugly,” Barthel sings in “Pedestal.” “I decide when it ends,” she declares at the opening of “Let Me Down.”

But it was “Into Happiness,” released as a single almost a year before the album, that spoke most directly to a scared, frustrated world confined to home. In the con text of COVID shutdown, Barthel’s wistful message to her sister—“Fall into happiness/Wish you could be here/No more loneliness/You’d make it perfect”—felt like a sort of

invocation, a fervent wish for re union with friends and family and a return to “a life of gold.”

In a statement accompanying the release of “Into Happiness,” Barthel and Carter called the song an embodiment of “the personal journey” the group has undertaken since its heartbreaking loss, a step toward “coming out of the darkness and into the light.” Carter says the group is glad to share that light.

“A lot of fans have said that [“Into Happiness”] was just the

song that they needed at this time their life,” Carter says. “And I got a lot of messages during the pandemic saying that the [entire] album helped them through a lot of hard times. … That makes me very happy.”

Now back on the road for the first time since December 2019, Phantogram has a lot of good vibes to share with a Vegas audience it hasn’t performed for in a minute. Even when the lyrics lean toward the dark and desperate, there’s a thunderous uplift in their music.

(The cinematic, utterly spectacular “Fall in Love” is a perfect song to listen to when arriving in Vegas by air, despite—or maybe because of— the bit where things go relatively quiet and Barthel intones, “Babe, the night has swallowed my soul.”)

Plus, in the eight years since Phantogram’s first Vegas appear ance, the group has accumulated a legit selection of show-stopping hits, killer tracks that should lay Brooklyn Bowl flat: “Black Out Days,” “Dear God,” “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” and many others. (And Carter says more are on the way: “We’re recording a new

album now, and we’re constantly writing music. I haven’t been this excited about new material in a long time; I think we’re writing some of our best stuff.”)

If you’ve somehow missed every other opportunity to see Phanto gram on stage in Las Vegas, you should consider making up for lost time. Phantogram is primed to de liver a golden evening, after been saving up for it for so long.

“[Playing live] is just a lot of hard work and focus and putting your energy into what you love,” Car ter says. “You have these sets that just feel so good. … It’s a high you get after being on stage that you can’t replace by doing anything else.”

GETTING REAL

Channel Tres (Courtesy/Leeay) FREAK THE BEAT Ft. Channel Tres, Yung Bae & more, October 2829, 7 p.m., $35-$50, Fergusons Downtown, freakthebeat. com.

Channel Tres deepens dance music with Compton flair

BY AMBER SAMPSON

You can’t talk about West Coast rap without men tioning Compton. The hardened city streets are home to some of hip-hop’s greatest, from N.W.A. to Kendrick Lamar. Channel Tres, one of LA’s most buzzed-about talents, has everything it takes to join that roster. But first, he’s redefining the boundaries of modern-day dance music.

A seasoned beatmaker at his essence, Channel Tres has worked with Kehlani, SG Lewis and Tyler, the Creator, and toured with Thundercat. The musical poly math rose to fame with 2018’s “Controller,” a splendid union of techno and house, richly layered and accentuated by Tres’ deep baritone. He has since expanded his portfolio, marrying heady, Afrofuturistic and often hypnotic beats with West Coast G-funk flair.

Tres will spin a DJ set at Fergu sons Downtown’s Freak the Beat party on October 28, with future funk producer Yung Bae headlin ing on October 29.

Tres doesn’t pass through Las Vegas very often, but when he does, he says it feels something like a homecoming. “When I was in college, my family, my mom and my grandma moved out there,” he says. “Every time I go, it’s like a family reunion. Everybody comes down.”

College also proved pivotal for the 31-year-old artist in another way: It’s when he first discovered house music. “It was something I could relate to,” he says. “Being a producer, I’m making trap beats, R&B, but when I started making dance music, it really stuck with

me. It felt fun. I don’t want to say effortless, but it felt natural.”

The rapper, singer and produc er studied such artists as Kanye West, Marvin Gaye, Pharrell, George Clinton and Prince to mas ter his craft. The result is a catalog of prismatic grooves so texturally rich, you can almost touch them. And the race to experiment fur ther is always on.

For instance, “Show Me Some Love,” a song Tres recorded with Chicago DJ Honey Dijon, demon strates his playful side. “I tried to write it from the perspective of if I was a drag queen,” he says, “so I started doing all these funny voices, and I just got into it. It was a really fun track to just become another personality.”

The artist recently reunit ed with his roots on this year’s Refresh, an emotive instrumental beat tape he self-produced to get through a rough patch on last year’s tour. “I didn’t want to let those emotions die with me,” he says. “I wanted them to be re leased, and maybe something good would come out of it.”

It’s possible we’ll hear a few cuts off Refresh at Tres’ Fergusons set. Or perhaps we’ll get a sneak peek at his debut LP Real Cultural Sh*t, scheduled for December.

“It was something I was mum bling in the studio, because I was excited about a certain track I was making,” he says of the album title.

“I was like, ‘This is real cultural sh*t. This is about me. This is about where I’m from.’ It’s what’s real to me at the time. Like right now, real cultural sh*t is playing Uno after a show every night.”

REIMAGINED CLASSIC

Black & Blue Diner looks to update an everyday favorite

BY EVELYN MATEOS

With big portions and fair pricing, diners are pretty much essential to American cities. And Las Vegans love to have options.

Veteran local chef Vic “Vegas” Moea recently teamed with Rose Tummarello to open the Black & Blue Diner, taking over an old Arby’s building on Decatur south of the 95 and transforming it into a sleek, New York-style eatery complete with a fridge of Yoo-hoo across from the bar top.

It opened for takeout only in October 2020, when the pan demic was keeping us mostly confined to our homes. Fortu nately, the old drive-thru window in the building served the staff well until the diner opened for dine-in service the following summer under COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The diner was Moea’s idea, and Tummarello enthusiasti cally agreed to it; the pair had previously worked together on North Carolina-based restaurant the 51 House. They met after Tummarello came across Bar Rescue—the popular reality TV show in which hospitality expert Jon Taffer helps struggling bar owners save their business—and she decided to get in touch with Taffer. As part of the consulta tion, Tummarello was provided with a chef, Moea.

“That’s how I got to know all the great things he does. We became a dynamo team doing great things together at The 51 House,” Tummarello says. “Then

he presented his diner [idea] to me. I said, ‘Yes, yes, let’s do it.’ It’s New York foods that I love to eat. I said, ‘I’m sure that’s going to explode in Vegas.’”

Moea made sure to include plenty of comfort food on the menu, which has everything from a classic stack of pancakes to vegan breakfast sandwiches made with plant-based chicken or steak.

There are also innovative dish es like the huevos taquitos ($13), a house favorite featuring three rolled beef tacos, two eggs, re fried beans, cheddar cheese, sour cream and red and green salsas. For the side, I choose hash brown patties, because hash browns always taste great at a diner.

In a spin on traditional chick en and waffles, Black & Blue pro vides a choice between waffles, French toast or pancakes to go with the bird ($14-$15). Each op tion is served with whipped but ter, syrup and powdered sugar.

Moea is also known locally for his West Valley sandwich shop Sinful Subs, so I left room for a sandwich, too. At the recom mendation of my friendly server, I went for the Southern Honey ($13)—honey-glazed crispy chicken, slaw, pickles and fried onions. The chicken was lightly breaded, so it wasn’t overly filling and the fried onions were a nice touch.

Like any great diner, Black & Blue has something for everyone on its expansive menu, with the added bonus of fun twists and big flavors.

‘DIG IN’ TO BRAISED OXTAILS ON THE STRIP

n Caribbean and African flavors are hard to come by on the Las Vegas Strip. But diners can visit Libertine So cial at Mandalay Bay or Public House at Luxor right now to feast on chef JJ Johnson’s signature cinnamon-scented braised oxtails with jollof rice, five-hour black beans and collard greens. And credit for this delicious availability goes to Pepsi and MGM Resorts.

The Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency initiative has brought Johnson’s food to the two MGM properties through November 5, after which another culinary gem from across the country will take a turn. Pepsi launched Dig In two years ago to accelerate business and awareness of Black-owned restaurants, and the residency program is a new part of a larger commit ment of over $400 million towards advancing racial equality within the company.

Johnson has been expand ing his acclaimed Fieldtrip fast-casual rice bowl concept from New York City, so perhaps

he could find a permanent Vegas spot soon. In the mean time, Houston rapper Bun B’s Trill Burgers pop-up hits the Strip next, from November 6 through December 3, and then Nashville’s Slim & Husky’s hiphop pizza shop will bring its food to Las Vegas.

“The Pepsi Dig In initiative combined with our compa ny’s renowned culinary program provides the ideal platform to continue leading with a purpose,”

Tony Gladney, MGM Resorts’ vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, said in a statement.

“By creating exceptional guest experiences with this initiative, we also provide op portunity for talented Blackowned restaurants to shine on a worldwide stage.”

Other scheduled residen cies include FoodChasers’ Kitchen in January (think shrimp and grits) and Trap Kitchen in February (get ready for a pineapple bowl filled with steak, shrimp, rice and house-made sauces).

–Brock Radke

JJ Johnson’s braised oxtail (Photos Courtesy/MGM Resorts International)

BY CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS

HUTCHINSON

BY DANNY WEBSTER

Michael Hutchinson still longs to be an NHL goalie. He craves the opportunity to prove that he can be a reliable presence for a Stanley Cup contender.

But it’s not in the cards right now, and it hasn’t been for the past few years. Earlier in his career, that might have gotten Hutchinson down, but the 32-year-old veteran has found peace with his role in a goalie tandem with the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights.

“I’m never a guy that sits there waiting for an injury,” Hutchinson says. “I like to think of myself as a good teammate.”

Hutchinson signed a one-year deal with the Golden Knights this summer, partly because he saw a path to playing meaningful NHL games. With both Robin Lehner and Laurent Brossoit having undergone o season hip surgery, Hutchinson gured he could compete to be Logan Thompson’s backup.

That opportunity faded, however, when Vegas acquired Adin Hill from San Jose. Though Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy praised Hutchinson throughout training camp, he only appeared in half of one preseason game before getting sent down to Henderson.

He’s now sharing time evenly in the Silver Knights’ net with 23-year-old Jiří Patera.

Hutchinson has become accustomed to playing the veteran role within the organization’s goalie group.

“I feel like it happened overnight, going from one of the young guys to being one of the old guys in the room,” Hutchinson says. “It’s been fun in my career to make that change and help the younger guys out. I appreciated any veteran help I got when I was younger, and I wish I had taken advantage of it more.”

With 137 career NHL games under his belt, Hutchinson has experienced what his younger peers hope for, though it has been sporadic. A third-round pick by the Boston Bruins in 2008,

IN

Hutchinson made his NHL debut with Winnipeg during the 2013-14 season. The next year, he played in 36 games, winning 21 of them on a playo team.

His appearances dwindled after that, to 30 and 28 games, respectively, the next two seasons. And over the next six years, he played in just 38 total NHL games. Hutchinson’s last two stints before coming to the Golden Knights, with Colorado and Toronto, were at least eventful.

The Avalanche’s No. 3 goalie during 2020’s pandemic-bubble playo s, Hutchinson found himself starting Game 5 of the Western Conference semi nals, which he won to prolong the series. He followed that with another win in Game 6, before the Avalanche were eliminated in Game 7.

The following o season, the Barrie, On-

tario, native lived out “a childhood dream” by signing a two-year deal with Toronto. But there were downsides, too.

That 56-game 2021 season kept the Canadian teams north of the border due to COVID restrictions. That meant limited travel for Hutchinson, who longed for more time with his wife and daughter. His wife, Jenna, was also pregnant with the couple’s second daughter at the time.

“There were a lot of negatives with the bubble situation and being away from family that long,” Hutchinson says. “That kind of stu took a toll and makes you appreciate when my family is able to be in town.”

Hutchinson says he’s feeling more comfortable now. In Henderson, he should see more action after playing only 28 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies last year, when he went

Michael Hutchinson (Steve Marcus/Sta / Photo Illustration)

The Silver Knights are back in action, with an NHL veteran in net

October

Colorado Eagles, 11 a.m.

Eagles, 7 p.m.

Condors, 7 p.m.

Diego Gulls, 7 p.m.

at

Tickets $10-$142, available at axs.com.

Prospect watch

Keep an eye on these potential future Golden Knights when the Silver Knights suit up at Henderson’s Dollar Loan Center this season.

Forward Brendan Brisson, 20 years old, 6-0, 180 pounds The 2020 first-round pick skated with the big club for the first time during training camp. Brisson’s shot is NHL-ready, and the former University of Michigan star is working on developing the rest of his game.

Defenseman Kaedan Korczak, 21 years old, 6-4, 190 pounds Vegas’ top defensive prospect made a run at the NHL roster before getting sent down in the final days of training camp. Cassidy loves Korczak’s o ensive ability and steadiness in his own zone.

11-10-4 with a save percentage of .899 and 3.23 goals-against average.

For now, Hutchinson and Patera are the only two goalies on the Silver Knights roster, as Henderson looks to make the playo s for the third consecutive year. The Golden Knights’ other main goalie prospect, 22-year-old Isaiah Saville, was recently assigned to the East Coast Hockey League’s Savannah Ghost Pirates.

And depending how the Golden Knights’ goalie situation progresses, there might come a time when Hutchinson gets called upon to perform in the NHL once again. He has shown he’s capable of lling in, and sounds con dent he can do so.

“I’m at an age of my career where I enjoy playing, I love competing, but I also like winning,” Hutchinson says. “As long as you’re a part of a winning organization, it’s fun.”

RAIDERS Report

■ Last Week: Raiders 38, Texans 20 Las Vegas outscored Houston 21-0 in the fourth quarter to secure its second victory of the season. Running back Josh Jacobs scored the Raider o ense’s final three touchdowns as part of a 20-carry, 143-yard day—his third straight game with more than 140 rushing yards. Jacobs’ final score—a 15-yarder, also his longest rush of the day—put Las Vegas up 31-20 before veteran safety Duron Harmon added another touchdown a few minutes later. Living up to his reputation and “The Closer” nickname from his days with New England, Harmon returned an interception 73 yards for the first pick-six of his 11-year career.

■ This Week: Raiders (2-4) at Saints (2-5) When: Sunday, October 30, 10 a.m. Where: Caesars Superdome TV & Radio: CBS (Channel 8) & 920 AM/92.3 FM Betting line: Raiders -2, over/under 47.5

Goaltender Jiří Patera, 23 years old, 6-3, 210 pounds Vegas’ top goalie prospect got his first taste of extended professional hockey last year, appearing in 22 games in Henderson. The Czech native should play even more this year.

Forward Pavel Dorofeyev, 21 years old, 6-0, 165 pounds Dorofeyev stood out toward the end of camp on the strength of his o ensive ability.

The Russian native needs to develop more defensively to earn an NHL role.

■ Matchup: A big part of Jacobs’ recent success has been the surprise ascent of the Raiders’ o ensive line, but the unit might find its toughest test awaiting in New Orleans. The Saints, led by defensive mastermind—and former Raiders coach—Dennis Allen, have several standouts up front, including edge rushers Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport, and linebacker Demario Davis. New Orleans has underperformed, with the Saints o to an even more disastrous start to the season than the Raiders. New Orleans will look to bounce back after extra time to rest coming o a 42-34 loss to Arizona on Thursday Night Football. This will be the Raiders’ first trip to the Superdome since a season-opening 35-34 win in 2016.

The Raiders’ fourth-year pass-catcher had his best game of the year against the Texans, pulling in three catches for 55 yards. But it seemed like Renfrow could have done even more had quarterback Derek Carr targeted him more often. Renfrow was getting open with ease over the middle and near the line of scrimmage, looking like he did during last year’s breakout season, when he led Las Vegas with 1,038 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. First-year coach Josh McDaniels’ offense has traditionally produced big success for slot receivers like Renfrow. It hasn’t come immediately in Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean it’s never going to happen.

■ Raider to Watch: Slot receiver Hunter Renfrow

–Case Keefer

Las Vegas running back Josh Jacobs (28) celebrates with tight end Foster Moreau (87) after scoring a touchdown against Houston. (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

CONTRACTOR

FROM

The Nevada Contractors Association is

that the

of

uni

and the future of our

is

We are committed to

that

subcontractors, suppliers and a liated rms that we represent. Together, there is nothing we can’t do. The Contractor of the Year Awards are the industry’s highest and most coveted honors,

and are bene cial to the nearly

contractors, subcontractors and professionals, as well as the year’s most impressive and prestigious projects. The recipients have demonstrated the very best when it comes to building

and improving our quality of life. We’re proud to

and

of the construction industry’s nest.

CONSTRUCTION

Since 1984, Burke Construction has prided itself on exceeding client expectations, and focusing on the people and communities it serves. Still locally owned and headquartered in Las Vegas, Burke emphasizes strong and cohesive relationships with clients, trade partners, local utilities and government agencies to maintain the highest level of integrity.

With an emphasis on safety and innovation, Burke continues to establish its vi-

sionary leadership across Southern Nevada. Since its inception in 2019, Burke’s Virtual Design & Construction Department has seen tremendous growth. Not only does it develop multidimensional digital representation of projects, it also provides clients with meaningful insight into the project through renderings, animations and virtual walk-throughs of the space.

Burke project teams also use StructionSite, a 360-degree camera and viewing soft-

ware that allows clients to track progress and experience the project developments in real time. Burke has also recently expanded its drone program with three licensed pilots and several pilots in training.

Another recent initiative is the company’s Environmental, Social & Governance program aimed to implement the newest best practices for the environment, as well as socially based goals to improve sta and corporate health.

OF THE YEAR

COMMERCIAL ROOFERS, INC.

Commercial Roofers, Inc. was founded in Las Vegas more than 25 years ago, and today, it is the largest roo ng and waterproo ng contractor in the Valley. The full-service roo ng agency provides new construction, re-roof, roof maintenance and repair, and waterproofing contractor services for commercial projects.

Commercial Roofers specializes in complex projects and has a client list that includes MGM/Mirage Corporations, Station Casinos, Resorts World, the Las Vegas Raiders, T-Mobile Arena, the City of Henderson, Clark County School District and many more. One of its most expansive projects includes the Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion, Phase II, which is a 3.2 millionsquare-foot space with a total roof area exceeding 1 million square feet. The pandemic began halfway through the project, and Commercial Roofers was able to quickly pivot to accommodate all safety and state regulations.

Accident prevention is at the forefront of every Commercial Roofers project, with a multilayered approach to ensure all safety precautions are taken, including trained foremen acting as Safety O cers at every job site and a Safety Committee that meets frequently to review the e ectiveness of the program and make improvement recommendations.

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SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR COASTLINE EQUIPMENT

Coastline Equipment is a premier John Deere equipment dealer and a provider of Wirtgen, Hamm, Vogele and Kleemann products. With two locations in Nevada, and 11 in the western region overall, Coastline Equipment delivers best-in-class solutions to its partners while promoting e ciency and success, and ultimately enriching the communities it serves.

Coastline Equipment and Coastline Equipment-Crane Division are part of a larger family of companies under Bragg Investments. The Bragg Investments companies seek to improve services to the construction industry including equipment and heavyhaul services, electrical engineering and nuclear energy services.

Safety, integrity, quality and superior service are the core values at Coastline Equipment. Prioritizing meaningful relationships with the companies it serves is part of what has led to Coastline’s long-term success, and it continues to drive the company’s innovative approach to providing cutting-edge technology to its customers.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRM OF THE YEAR

GRAND CANYON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS

Grand Canyon Development Partners is a full-service real estate development and general construction company that o ers an array of services, including complete facilitation of client’s real estate development, project and program management, lender services, tenant coordination and LEED Certi cation studies. With experience in a variety of market sectors such as hospitality, entertainment, gaming, o ce, nonpro t and more, Grand Canyon Development Partners provides owners, investors and developers a well of vast expertise to draw from. Always on top of trends and new techniques, Grand Canyon Development Partners has been involved with many high-pro le projects in Southern Nevada, including the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Credit One Bank headquarters, Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino and more. In many ways, Grand Canyon Development Partners is a one-stop shop for e cient and quality development. Its host of on-sta professionals include architects, engineers, low voltage designers, facilities management and expediters with construction and development expertise, all of which guarantees the highest level of institutional knowledge and resources.

SAFEST GENERAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

CORE CONSTRUCTION

CORE Construction approaches safety with a holistic, company-wide approach, requiring all superintendents, assistant superintendents, project managers, assistant project managers, interns and laborers work collectively toward the safest workplace possible. Each jobsite is under frequent safety review—both internally and by third-party safety services—using a series of di erent inspections. Violations are reported and corrected swiftly. All employees receive regular educational resources and trainings to ensure that safety is always at the forefront, and CORE gives monthly safety awards to recognize the safest jobsites.

Using its trademarked construction management program called Operational Excellence, CORE identi es the following as the most important priorities on any project: safety, quality, schedule, cost, subcontractors and client. Daily huddles on every jobsite address each of these key considerations.

The City of Las Vegas Corridor of Hope, a community-focused homeless shelter totaling more than 50,000 square feet, is a recent project that CORE is proud to highlight. The project presented several logistical challenges, including some involving complex safety issues, as the site was an active and fully operational campus throughout construction.

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calling. Desktop app included; physical handsets may be purchased separately from Cox. Access to E911 may not be available during equipment or extended power outage. Telephone services are provided by an affiliated Cox entity. Services are not available in all areas. Discounts can’t be combined or added with other promotions nor applied to any other Cox account. †Visa prepaid card available with qualifying new services ordered and activated between 9/17/22 and 3/31/23 with min 1 yr. term agreement for Cox Business Internet SM and IPC Select. Must mention “reward promo" when placing order. Account must remain active, be in good standing, and retain all services for a min of 30 days after

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SUBCONTRACTOR

MOJAVE ELECTRIC

Mojave Electric credits open and honest communication for its tightknit workplace. Described as a family where safety is at the foundation of everything they do, Mojave Electric’s Total Recordable Case Rate has been below the NAICS for the past three years.

Using a multi-tier process that identifies safety concerns, beginning with the initial proposal process and throughout the completion of the project, the company seeks to mitigate risk proactively.

Mojave was recently contracted for Amazon’s third distribution center in Southern Nevada.

With only 10 months to construct the nearly 2.25 million square foot space, Mojave worked with the other contractors to ensure a smooth completion under an accelerated timeline. Eightyfive electricians were used during the project, reporting 115,037-man hours with no injuries and no OSHA violations.

PROJECT OF THE

LAS VEGAS PAVING

U.S. 95 NORTHWEST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, CENTENNIAL BOWL PHASE 3C

Las Vegas Paving was awarded Phase 3C of the Centennial Bowl project that included a halfmile connector with the addition of three new interchange ramp connections—the connection of northbound U.S. 95 to the westbound CC 215 flyover ramp, southbound U.S. 95 to the east bound CC 215 flyover, and eastbound CC 215 to southbound US 95 ramps.

This extensive and complex project saw 28,520 tons of asphalt paving, 9,200 square yards of concrete paving and 2,600 tons of reinforcing steel—all within 450 allowable working days. With substantial experience and innovative methods, Las Vegas Paving was able to overcome the challenges associated with the project to help create infrastructure that will serve the Valley for years to come. The result of this corridor improvement is better access for residents and businesses, enhanced safety for vehicles and pe destrians, increased freeway capacity and more.

BUILDING PROJECT OF THE YEAR

MARTIN-HARRIS CONSTRUCTION

AURIC SYMPHONY PARK LUXURY RESIDENCES

Auric Symphony Park Luxury Residences is a mixeduse residential project by the Southern Land Company in Downtown Las Vegas consisting of 324 luxury apartments and 21,000 square feet of ground-level retail and restaurant space. With extensive amenities including a resort-style pool with two-story cabanas and an outdoor bar, this build totaled 480,000 square feet.

Prior to construction, the site was a designated brownsite for many years, and during the initial phase of the build, Martin-Harris had to take down the site 8 feet and replace it with clean ll. During that excavation, several areas of contaminated soil were encountered and required strict regulatory disposal methods.

The LEED Silver Certi ed project began in May 2019, and the rst residents moved in July 2021. While the pandemic introduced challenges to the project, including global supply chain disruptions, Auric Symphony Park Luxury Residences is now a vibrant, luxury residence that has breathed new life into the bustling area.

BUILDING PROJECT OF THE YEAR

CORE CONSTRUCTION

CITY OF LAS VEGAS, CORRIDOR OF HOPE

In 2017, the City of Las Vegas created the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center to provide support for the expanding homeless population, including resources for housing, health services, legal guidance, employment and education opportunities, monetary guidance, clothing and more. However, as the needs of the community evolved, the city opted to expand the facility to serve more people in need, more e ectively.

That’s where CORE Construction came in—to navigate the complicated process of expanding and replacing the facility for what would be renamed the Corridor of Hope, consisting of three new buildings and a canopied courtyard.

After nding saturated clay soil and groundwater at shallower depths than identi ed in the geotechnical report, the project team determined that a permanent dewatering solution would be required, which is a signi cant undertaking that presented myriad challenges. Additionally, unexpected shipping delays forced the team to rework the schedule to complete the project by the city’s desired date, and pedestrian safety presented further challenges. Despite this, the project has ushered in a new era of service to this vulnerable community.

MILLION)

MILLION)

MARTIN-HARRIS CONSTRUCTION

Built in 1968, Circus Circus Hotel & Casino has seen countless renovations over the years, and, like many older resorts in similar situations, reliable as-built documents for the property did not exist. So when Martin-Harris Construction began planning for the Big Top Food Court, it took an exploratory approach during the pre-construction process to ensure a successful build.

The project required extensive demolition, structural changes and considerable renovations to the existing space. It also saw the construction team cutting into the shear wall and reinforcing a new food court entrance—the shoring and demolition of this wall had to be engineered throughout the process to ensure the

stability of the property.

The new, 15,000-square-foot food court features four dining concepts with an open oor plan, and the management o ce and break room opposite the restaurants. Both the management o ce and break room required infrastructure for a future AV rack and were built in a cost-e ective manner using VCT for ooring and ACT ceiling.

Safety was the most important component of this project, as it is with all Martin-Harris projects, particularly as construction occurred in an occupied space, on a tight jobsite. Coordinated tra c planning, crane planning, road guard and aggers and more were all required.

CORRIDOR OF HOPE

MEMBER OF THE YEAR

MICHAEL SUKEYASU, MJ DEAN CONSTRUCTION

Michael Sukeyasu wears many hats—including a hard hat. The Project Manager at MJ Dean Construction spends many of his days on jobsites, but he still manages to make time for the community. He currently serves as the Construction Leadership Council Chair and on the NCA Board of Directors. In these roles, he works to better the construction industry, and community, in Southern Nevada.

In his role with CLC, Sukeyasu spearheaded an event called Canstruction to donate thousands of cans of food to a local food bank. He is also involved in several other philanthropic endeavors throughout the year, including the Las Vegas American Cancer Society’s Construction vs. Cancer event.

Sukeyasu is also very active with NCA events, attending mixers, luncheons, and volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and encouraging membership among his peers and colleagues. He says that members who commit to serving on committees and engaging at events will nd the most success in the organization—and have the most fun.

MEMBER COMPANY OF THE YEAR

FASTENERS, INC.

Fasteners, Inc. is a Nevada-based, employee-owned supplier that actively participates in NCA committees, events, and volunteer opportunities. Fastener’s vice president of sales, Brett Wilson, salespeople Alexandra Weber and Brian Ridgway, and social media marketing manager

Rosie Jimenez are all members of the NCA Construction Leadership Council. Corporate counsel C.J. Potter serves on NCA’s Government Affairs Committee. And all these individuals bring their expertise and unique skillsets to the organization.

With ongoing dedication to the NCA, Fasteners has recruited new company members, as well as increasing the number of its employees who are active, participating members.

Fasteners is committed to providing an inclusive, rewarding, and collaborative workplace that places a special focus on community involvement. It sponsors a bimonthly donation drive to collect and deliver necessities to di erent organizations in Southern Nevada, including Safe Nest, Ronald McDonald House, Baby’s Bounty, Candlelighters, and others. It also has developed a relationship with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that delivers beds to children in need. Striving to embody what an ideal NCA member should be, Fasteners continues to service the industry and community through its many e orts.

DIVERSE GENERAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

KOR BUILDING GROUP

Founded by Rebecca Fountain in 2013, KOR Building Group is a Nevada-based general contracting rm that specializes in high-end residential renovations, government and state contracting, hotel renovations and improvements, facility maintenance services, certi ed reproo ng, tenant improvements and commercial construction. Fountain has been a construction executive for more than 40 years and is currently the president of the Nevada Contractors Association and one of the founding members of the Diverse Contractors Council.

KOR is a WBENC certi ed Women-Owned Business and an approved vendor for the Bellagio and Venetian & Palazzo resorts. Other KOR projects include several key areas of the Harry Reid International Airport and the UNLV Campus Lab remodel, which KOR highlights as one of its best projects of the year.

Honoring diversity is a guiding principle at KOR, which aims to create safe workspaces that prioritizes diversity and equality within the company and community. KOR works with and supports a wide array of diverse subcontractors including Women-Owned, Minority-Owned, Disabled Veteran-Owned, Small Business-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

DIVERSE SUBCONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

LIVE ELECTRIC

Live Electric has eight diversity certi cations, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Business, and is Southern Nevada’s only WOSB/DBE certi ed Union Electrical Contractor. The company o ers a full range of high, medium and low voltage electrical services, with a mission to provide high-quality, on-time services that are within budget and exceed client expectations.

Live Electric seeks out small, local, and diverse business partners to work with—striving to create a robust network of diverse suppliers and contractors they can spend their dollars with. The company attributes its success to the qualities that di erentiate it, and it seeks to elevate and connect similar businesses to nd success as well.

This year, Live Electric was contracted for the MGM Mansion Villa 8 project alongside TEAM Construction Management. The project included the incorporation of electrical, lighting and AV upgrades.

With a pay-it-forward mentality, Live Electric is active within the community and donates labor, materials and time to several organizations, including Make-a-Wish foundation.

DIVERSE SUPPLIER/PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRM OF THE YEAR

LINDA Q MEDIA PRODUCTIONS

Linda Quackenboss took her passion for photography, and her knowledge from being raised in a construction-business family, to launch Linda Q Media Productions. With 14 years of construction photography and videography experience, and an FAA-certi ed drone ying operation since 2017, her company works primarily with general contractors, as well as subcontractors, commercial real estate brokers and architects.

Displaying clients’ hard work and productions excellence is a priority at Linda Q Media Productions. Its service list includes ground-level photography and 4k videography, aerial still photography and 4k videography, orthomosaic imagery and video presentations.

Quackenboss serves on the NCA Ambassador Committee, the Diverse Contractors Council and the Diverse Contractors Council Steering Committee. She also attends nearly every NCA event and does the event photography for the association.

Dumpster Rentals for Any Project

as the Nevada State

Board’s executive o cer

that time,

1998,

has proven a decisive,

leader who upholds integrity

progress a priority through legislative

and administrative processes.

her rst year as Executive Director, she collaborated on the bill establishing the Residential Recovery Fund that a orded homeowners who hired licensed contractors and incur damages up to $35,000 (now $40,000). This program has given homeowners an avenue for nancial recourse and has awarded $14 million to-date. In 2021, Grein drafted the proposed legislation forming the

Commission

Construction Education that designated

from disciplinary nes

be awarded as grants to enhance educational

within the construction industry.

Grein has also been involved with legislation

include enhanced pool and solar construction laws, regulations that mitigate consumer harm and increase contractor accountability, and implemented the Nevada’s bidder preference law.

her tenure, Grein has led the NSCB to become a Model Regulatory Agency that is recognized throughout the country.

civil servant, Grein’s professional

that of service, advancement and tangible, meaningful results felt throughout the state.

RETURN OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS HELPING TO PUSH LAS VEGAS VISITATION BACK NEAR PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS

BY BRYAN HORWATH VEGAS INC STAFF

Visitation to Las Vegas is close to preCOVID-19 levels, but it’s not there quite yet. That’s the outlook as Las Vegas tourism officials look to next year as 2022—which has by nearly all accounts been a successful stretch—winds down.

In August, close to 3.2 million people visited Las Vegas, up 6% from the same month in 2021 but down 11% from August 2019.

The barometer for the ongoing tourism comeback is 2019, because that was the last full year with no coronavirus-related disruption for visitation.

Though Las Vegas welcomed more than 32 million visitors last year, certain segments—including interna tional travel and convention busi ness—still track behind 2019 totals.

The sooner Las Vegas tourism offi cials can nudge the yearly visitation total back to—or above—42 million, the better for a city and region that rely heavily on leisure dollars.

“From a domestic standpoint, we’re over-recovered,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “We’re not all the way recovered internationally, but that’s largely be cause of the slow recovery in Asia.”

In 2019, 14% of the roughly 42 mil lion people—around 5.8 million—who visited Las Vegas were from a foreign country, according to the LVCVA.

Largely because of various sets of

travel restrictions around the globe and attitudes about the spread of COVID-19, the percentage of domes tic visitors to Las Vegas ballooned to 97% in 2021.

This year, more people have chosen to travel and more have been vacci nated against the coronavirus—in the United States, virtually everyone who wants to be vaccinated is vaccinat ed—which means Las Vegas should come close to the pre-pandemic figure of 42 million visitors.

Through August, Las Vegas attract ed about 25.2 million visitors, so it will almost certainly blow past 32

million this year.

If it attracts, on average, 3 mil lion tourists in September, October, November and December, Las Vegas would finish 2022 having welcomed more than 37 million visitors.

That would be about how many visitors came to the city in 2010.

On the air traffic side—about half of all visitors to Las Vegas arrive via airplane—Harry Reid International Airport set a passenger record in 2019, when it welcomed 51.5 million arriving and departing passengers.

Air travel to Las Vegas was down significantly in 2020 and 2021 but has

roared back in 2022.

Through August, Harry Reid International has welcomed nearly 34 million arriving and departing passengers this year, which includes a record-breaking three-month period from June through August.

If the airport averages about 4.4 million passengers per month—it logged 4.6 million in August—it will reach 51.5 million for the year.

Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation for Harry Reid International, said she believes the total air traveler figure for this year will get close to the 2019 number.

“We may get very close to what we had in 2019 at the end of this calen dar year, but I believe next year, with more recovery going on, is going to be a big growth year for our town,” Vassiliadis said. “From an aviation standpoint, there were a lot of air crafts that were taken out of service once the pandemic hit, and a lot of those will be back in service [next year]. It’s not easy to put an aircraft back in service.”

Like Hill, Vassiliadis said the demand for travel to Las Vegas hasn’t wavered.

The two tourism leaders were on hand this month for the Routes World 2022 trade show at the Las Vegas Con vention Center.

This year marked the first time since 2013 that Las Vegas hosted the global conference, which brings to gether officials from airlines, airports and tourism hot spots.

Hill said the event served as a good reminder to Las Vegas tourism offi cials that there are markets around the world that could be tapped into to help the city with its international travel recovery.

“Over the next 12 months or so, I think we will get back to 100%, inter nationally,” Hill said. “But we also see real growth opportunity internation ally. It’s a big world out there. Part of what we’re working on is getting more flights directly to Las Vegas, which would make a big difference.”

Harry Reid International Airport (Shutterstock)

Virginia Valentine (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

RESORTS’ CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTIVITIES PAY DIVIDENDS

NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

BY VIRGINIA VALENTINE

Nevada’s 158th birth day is on the hori zon, which offers a time for reflection about who we are as Nevadans and what our great state represents.

While people in every state think theirs is unique, we know it to be true— Nevada is like no place else.

Much of this exceptionality comes from the prescient decision to be the first to legalize gaming.

This consequential action launched a statewide industry that has become the lifeblood of our economy—the largest employment sector, largest taxpayer and largest source of economic activity.

According to the Nevada Commis sion on Tourism, the state’s tourism industry generated $62.5 billion in total economic impact, supported more than 355,000 jobs and brought more than 43 million visitors to see us in 2021.

While impressive numbers, they re main well below our typical levels as the industry continues its recovery from the devastation caused by the global pandemic.

Since March 2020, we have acutely experienced the reality that the pros perity of Nevada’s economy is inextri cably tied to the success of the tourism industry. Accordingly, Nevada’s leading industry understands its extraordinary responsibility and has an unwavering commitment to doing all it can to

quickly return to our normal tourism levels and surpass them.

As we move toward full recovery, one of the ways the resort industry is safeguarding the long-term durability of Nevada’s economic engine is through deep investments in corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Frankly, this should receive more attention than it does.

The resort industry has taken a lead role in establishing policies, programs and initiatives that promote responsible gaming, protecting the planet, enhancing the well-being of employees and guests, fostering a culture of inclusivity and building a more resilient community.

On the philanthropic side, the indus try has a longstanding history of com munity engagement, charitable giving and employee volunteerism.

The industry has donated hundreds of millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to nonprofit organizations that serve as our community’s safety net. Attend nearly any nonprofit event and you’ll see resort representation along with legions of employees proudly there in support. Team members also give generously to help those most in need.

To ensure all feel welcome and valued, the resort industry is a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

The industry works closely with com munity leaders and diverse organiza

tions to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive by embracing authenticity, removing barriers and pro viding fair access and opportunity.

To protect the planet, resort com panies are committed to environmen tal sustainability and implementing sustainable practices throughout their properties. They are investing millions of dollars into responsible operations aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, carbon emissions, trash, single-use plastics, food waste, water consumption and more.

From achieving LEED and Green Globe certifications to utilizing renew able energy sources and installing com plimentary electric vehicle charging sta tions, the industry is on the forefront of change. Perhaps most importantly, the resort community has long recognized the need to conserve water and has part nered with the Southern Nevada Water Authority for decades in pioneering water conservation measures.

In fact, only 7% of Southern Nevada’s water resources is used by hotels and casinos, and of that, more than half is recycled and returned to the water supply. Combating the ongoing drought is a priority for the industry.

The industry’s commitment to this community is so strong that these fierce competitors have come together as the Nevada Resort Association’s CSR Coali tion, working collaboratively on shared priorities to make a lasting impact on

our community’s toughest challenges. The coalition has prioritized ending human trafficking, addressing critical issues such as homelessness and food insecurity, and advancing effective environmental sustainability solutions.

For example, the coalition has been active in the fight against human trafficking, joining forces with one another, law enforcement and non governmental organizations to share information, hear from survivors, enhance trainings and procedures, and bring greater awareness to the issue. For the past two years, the coalition has partnered with Truckers Against Trafficking and law enforce ment to host a statewide training for the resort industry.

This is merely a snapshot of the industry’s many CSR efforts.

Why dedicate significant resources into CSR? It’s the right thing to do. It’s an investment in Nevada’s future that provides dividends now and in the fu ture. And it’s smart business. There is a continual stream of research showing that Gen Z and millennials make pur chasing decisions based on a company’s values and CSR track record.

Further, these generations want to work for a company that shares their ideals. CSR helps with recruitment, and it’s instrumental in retaining top talent. Studies show a company’s com mitment to societal impact, diversity, equity, inclusion and sustainability have a direct impact on job loyalty and employment engagement.

This boosts morale and produces a more creative, high-functioning work place. Consequently, Wall Street and shareholders are also putting a finer focus on a company’s societal efforts, measuring and tracking progress as part of a company’s “environmental, social and governance” reporting.

Nevada’s resort industry is driven by a sense of service, and it’s proud to be a leader in CSR, knowing that these investments into our community and its people will make Nevada stronger for the next 158 years.

Virginia Valentine is president and CEO of the Nevada Resort Association.

VegasInc Notes

Nigro Construction announced the completion of a 50,000 square-foot building which also marks the start of operations for Spreadshirt, part of Spread Group’s U.S. production team. This building is part of Phase 1 of the Mountain West Industrial Park, a project that began just as the pandemic broke in 2020.

Downtown Las Vegas’ Circa Resort & Casino won the North American Property of the Year award at Global Gaming Awards Las Vegas 2022 for the second consecutive year.

Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas appointed Sebastian Stutz as general manager of the nongaming, nonsmoking prop erty. Stutz has 25 years of global hos pitality experience, having spent more than a decade with Hilton Hotels & Resorts and more than 13 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he worked at both domestic and international properties in Germany, Dubai, Jamai ca, Egypt, Miami and Atlanta.

Urology Specialists of Nevada has added a new health care provider. Elizabeth Anne Smedley, APRN, works at the 2010 Wellness Way location.

Southwest Medical has added a new provider. Dr. Neda Azizian joins the Nellis Healthcare Center location (420-560 N. Nellis Blvd.) and spe cializes in adult medicine.

Novus Architecture relocated into a larger office space at Soho Lofts in the Arts District. Soho Lofts is a 17-story high rise condominium tow er. The 2,300-square-foot space that Novus occupies had previously been utilized for various pop-up stores and art galleries.

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Best Practices Study group named Cragin & Pike a “Best Practices Top Performer.” More than 2,600 independent agencies were nominated to take part in the annual study. Only 282 qualified for inclusion in the 2022 Best Practices Study and just one Top Performer is chosen for each of the six rev enue categories based on their performance metrics. Cragin & Pike received that designation.

American Nevada Realty, the real estate and property management arm of American Nevada Company, has retained management contracts on two three-property office portfo lios at 2275, 2285 and 2370 Corpo rate Circle, and 2475, 2485, and 2495 Village View Drive in Henderson that

were acquired by Kingsbarn Realty Capital. Combined, the portfolios total nearly 300,000 square feet.

Roy Student and Frank Fantini were recipients of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers’ 2022 Memorial Awards. Student received the Jens Halle Memorial Award honoring excellence in com mercial gaming professionalism, and Fantini received the Peter Mead Me morial Award honoring excellence in gaming media and communications.

Credit One Bank promoted Lauren Vickery and Zachary Westbrook. Vick ery now serves as senior vice president of credit risk acqui sitions, in charge of new account acqui sition programs the bank implements, initial line assign ment strategies and tri-bureau relation ships. She has been with the bank for more than six years.

As vice president of total rewards and people operations, Westbrook leads human resource functions focused on strategy, design and delivery of the employee experience.

Brittany Toth was appointed the City of North Las Vegas’ new communica tions director. She will oversee com munications-related functions and team efforts including public information, internal and external communications, media relations, is sue management, branding, market ing, social media, event coordination and development of a distinct city image, among other visual commu nications, public engagement and media relations-related efforts.

Oak View Group, a global venue de velopment, advisory and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industry, appointed veteran hospitality executive Chan dra Allison as senior vice president of strategy and growth for meetings, conventions and exhibitions. In the newly created role, Allison will over see the strategy to grow the con vention center business and elevate the guest experience. She will also design and develop meeting spaces and programming for Oak View’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino project, a $3 billion entertainment district.

Stutz

Westbrook

Vickery

Toth

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Of all the rich philanthropists in the world, MacK enzie Scott is the most generous. She disburses donations quickly and without strings attached. Make her your inspirational role model in the coming weeks. You will reap selfish benefits by exploring the perks of generosity. Halloween costume suggestion: philanthropist, Santa Claus, compassion freak.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’re in a phase when you’ll thrive by nurturing your inner wild thing. You will give yourself blessings by stoking your creature intelligence. All of us are part-beast, and this is your special time to foster the beauty of your beast. Halloween costume suggestion: your favorite animal or the animal that symbolizes your soul.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): During the tyrannical reign of Spain’s fascist government in the 1930s, poet Federico García Lorca creatively resisted and revolted with great courage. Be inspired by his untamed, heartfelt beauty. It’s a favorable time to rebel with exuberance against bigotry, injustice, misogyny, creeping authoritarianism or anything else. Halloween costume suggestion: a high-spirited protester.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): If the trickster god Mercury gave you permission to do one mischievous thing today and a naughty thing tomorrow and a rascal ly thing two days from now, what would you choose? Engage in roguish, play ful, puckish actions. You are especially likely to get away with them if they are motivated by love. Halloween costume suggestion: prankster, joker, fairy, elf.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Everyone’s mind constantly chatters with agitated fervor. It’s a fundamental element of being human. Yet there are ways to tone down the inner commotion. Meditation can help. Communing with nature often works. Doing housework. You’re in a phase when it should be easier than usual to cultivate mental calm. Halloween costume suggestion: meditation champi on; tranquility superstar; gold medalist in the relaxation tournament.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Education is an admirable thing,” said author Oscar Wilde. “But it is well to remember that nothing worth knowing can be taught.” That’s an exasperating theory, especially given your ability to learn amazing lessons, useful knowledge and life-changing wisdom. Get out there and soak up all that’s available. Halloween costume suggestion: top student.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): To celebrate Halloween, costume yourself as a char acter you were in a past life. If you don’t have any intuitions about your past lives, be playful and invent one. You might make an accurate guess. Now is an excellent time to re-access resources and powers and potentials you possessed long ago—even as far back as your previous incarnations.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It would be difficult to create a practical snake costume for Halloween. How would you move around? So maybe instead you could be a snake priest or priestess. You will benefit from embodying the mythic attributes of a snake, which sheds its old skin to let new skin emerge. That’s a perfect symbol for rebirth, fertility, transformation and healing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I need my sleep,” proclaimed comedian Bill Hicks. “I need about eight hours a day and about ten at night.” Don’t scrimp on your travels in the land of dreams. Your decisions in the waking world will improve as you give yourself maximum rest. Halloween costume suggestion: dancing sleepwalker; snoozing genius; angel banishing a nightmare.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): All families have odd secrets and mysteries and illusions. How about you? The coming months will be a favorable time to dig down to the roots of your family’s secrets and mysteries and illusions. Get started! Halloween costume suggestion: your most fascinating ancestor.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you woke up one morning and found you had transformed into a giant wolf-dragon that ate people, who would you put on your menu? Meditate on this hypothetical question. You’re primed to activate more ferocity as you decide how you want to fight the world’s evil. Halloween costume suggestion: a giant wolf-dragon that eats bad people.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Do you value the feeling of wildness? Is that an experience you seek and cultivate? If so, what conditions rouse it? How does it feel? When it visits you, does it have a healthy impact? Are you motivated by your pleasurable brushes with wildness to reconfigure the unsatisfying and unwild parts of your life? These are questions to contemplate in the coming weeks. The astrological omens suggest you have more power than usual to access wildness. Halloween costume sugges tion: whatever makes you feel wild.