2023-01-26-Las-Vegas-Weekly

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)

Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Deputy Editor EVELYN MATEOS (evelyn.mateos@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, DANNY WEBSTER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT

O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Senior Designer IAN RACOMA

Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS,

ON

NOISE

The Dirty Rock & Roll Dance Party helps to keep psych- and garage-rock alive in Las Vegas.

THE

Mr

table grilling, and Vetri Cucina comes back strong at the Palms.

Photographs by Wade Vandervort/ Photo Illustration 34 16 36 42 30

of Las Vegas helps at-risk

THE COVER

SUPERGUIDE Your daily events planner, starring Ari Lennox, Luke Bryan, Snails, Sam Morril, Big Dog’s Winterfest and more.

SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY

ARDIE

YORGANS: BENEATH THE MEADOWS

Thru 4/18, times vary, Spring Valley Library, thelibrarydistrict. org.

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

RAINBOW CABARET: A TRIBUTE TO JUDY GARLAND

With Denise Rose & Suzanne Goulet, 1 p.m., Coop’s Cabaret, coopscabaret. com.

MATT ISEMAN

With Steve Byrne, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster. com.

DEORRO 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events.taogroup. com.

EMORFIK

With Gorillat, Deadset, Magoh, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

JAN.

26

NATHAN MACINTOSH

With Jay Jurden, Erik Lewin, Sophie Buddle, Jackie Fabulous, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Thru 1/29, Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster. com

ATROXX

With Suara, Kraftek, Tronic, Octopus, 10 p.m., Commonwealth, seetickets.us.

NIGHT SHIFT

8 p.m., Omega Mart at Area15, meowwolf.com.

The

The track, which

(who signed Lennox to his Dreamville Records label), landed on the motion picture soundtrack for Creed II and solidified what fans of her debut EP, Pho, already knew: Lennox was a bona fide star. The singer went on to tour with Cole and then Lizzo before making several solo appearances in Las Vegas, most recently at Day N Vegas (2021) and at the Soul Train Awards (2022). Now, as the 31-yearold Lennox prepares to kick o her Age/Sex/Location tour on the Strip, it could be your last chance to see the swaggering force in action, since she announced in December that this tour would be her last. Expect Lennox to make it memorable. 7 p.m., $40-$75, House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

–Amber Sampson

MUSIC

ARI LENNOX

slow-burn neosoul of Ari Lennox’s “Shea Butter Baby” is a timeless entry in her R&B-tinged catalog, like the 2019 album of the same name.

featured a verse from rapper J. Cole

Ari Lennox (Courtesy/Gizelle Hernandez)

27 JAN. FRIDAY PLAN YOUR WEEK AHEAD

BRUNO MARS

9 p.m., & 1/28 & 2/1, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

ADELE 8 p.m., & 1/28, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

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

DIA NACIONAL DE LA BANDA

With Pepe Aguilar, Angela Aguilar, Leonardo Aguilar, Marca MP & more, 8 p.m. T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

FRANKIE & THE WITCH FINGERS

With Monsterwatch, Xxyyzz, 8 p.m., Artifice, eventbrite. com.

LOMBARDI Thru 2/5, times vary, Las Vegas Little Theatre, lvlt.org.

BRYAN ADAMS 8 p.m., & 1/28 & 2/1, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

STYX 8 p.m., & 1/28 & 2/1, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

SANTANA Thru 1/29 (& 2/1), 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. SAN JOSE BARRACUDA 7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

SAM MORRIL Bill Maher is sliding over to MGM Grand. Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is taking his talents to the Cosmopolitan. As the Mirage begins its transformation, its Aces of Comedy performers are branching off to other Strip venues, but there are still plenty of laughs to be found until the conversion is complete, including a rare two-night visit from New York City stand-up Sam Morril. He just launched the new sports podcast Games With Names with former NFL star Julian Edelman and also appeared on That’s My Time with David Letterman on Netflix, but you’ll recognize him from those viral clips where he’s brutally taking down hecklers or his latest special, Same Time Tomorrow, in which he deftly and dryly holds up the mirror to the weirdness that is us. 1/27-1/28, 10 p.m., $51-$111, Mirage Theatre, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke

WENZDAY 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us.

MACHINEDRUM & CRAZE 9:30 p.m., Area15 Portal, area15.com.

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

MITCHELL TENPENNY 8 p.m., Chrome Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

OPERA LAS VEGAS: A CAPACITY FOR EVIL 7:30 p.m. & 1/28 (& 6 p.m. 1/29), the Space, thespacelv.com

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

INSPECTOR With Tijuana No, Los Ataskados, Muerto Heist, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com.

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

A PUBLIC FIT THEATRE: BRILLIANT ADVENTURES 7 p.m. (& 2 p.m. 1/28), Clark County Library, apublicfit.org.

Wenzday (Courtesy/Koury

Angelo)

SUPERGUIDE

SATURDAY

JAN..

28

SNAILS

Don’t let the name fool you: Snails’ crushing, glitch-laden “vomitstep” is anything but sluggish.

The Canadian producer introduced the subgenre on his 2017 debut album, The Shell, and it’s been blowing EDM fans’ hair back ever since. Influenced by the intensity of bands like Slayer and Metallica, Snails unleashes a barrage of arresting noise, from trap to dubstep to 808s and overblown bass notes. Swirl it all together and you get a uniquely danceable sound that’s tailor-made for the Portal at Area15. With more than 400 international performances under his belt, this snail shows no signs of slowing down. 9:30 p.m., $20-$23, Area15, area15.com.

–Amber Sampson

TIËSTO

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

UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UNR 7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.

UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UNR 2 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlv.com.

JJ LIN 9 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.

LEEHOM WANG 5 p.m., Resorts World

Theatre, axs.com.

WINTER WINE FEST 6 p.m., Bella Vita Blue Diamond, hfnv.org.

TOWER OF POWER 8 p.m., Veil Pavilion, silvertoncasino.com.

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

HENDERSON

SILVER KNIGHTS VS. CALGARY WRANGLERS 3 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

WRATH OF AN EMPIRE

With Antitrust, Pariah Was One, Volterrum, The Red Charade, The Forest, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.com.

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

RADICAL WEST

With Miles V., Michael Richter, Sonia Barcelona, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com.

WINTERFEST

3 p.m., Big Dog’s Brewing Company, bigdogsbrews.com.

MUSIC PARTY

SUNDAY

SURF MESA

10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

CATBAMBOO

With Tree Frog Express, Post NC, So as to Be, Eloteros, 6 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, eventbrite.com.

EVOLVE

JAN..

29

SPRING FESTIVAL 11 a.m., Desert Breeze Community Center, clarkcountynv.gov.

DIXIE FLATS 8 p.m., the Underground, themobmuseum.org.

Canadian-born singer Kelly Vohnn performed in tribute shows as Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire and others before she evolved into her own brand of country music chanteuse, one named Independent Entertainer of the Year in Nashville in 2000. Her new show, Evolve, opens at Notoriety at Downtown’s Neonopolis complex this week and finds Vohnn celebrating women at every age and stage of their lives through music, comedy and dance (provided by a crew of showboys). It’s also a collaboration with Exxcite: The Show producer and choreographer Jennifer Romas, so expect a lively, if still family-friendly, limited engagement running on Sundays through February 12. 7 p.m., $39-$49, Notoriety, notorietylive.com. –Brock Radke

MONDAY

TAG GLOBAL SPIRITS AWARDS

Thru 2/3, times vary, Delano Las Vegas, tagspiritsawards. com.

ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ

Thru 2/4, 7 p.m., Vegas Stand-Up & Rock, vegas standupandrock. com.

SUPERGUIDE

JAN..

30

PETER BERMAN

Thru 2/5, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, best vegascomedy.com.

DANNY BEVINS

With BT, Drew Dunn, thru 2/5, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett Comedy Club, bradgarrettcomedy club.com.

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

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

Kelly Vohnn (Courtesy/Richard Faverty)

SUPERGUIDE

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

SAPIRA CHEUK: PAS DE DEUX, IN THE TIME OF QUARANTINE

Thru 4/23, times vary, Windmill Library, thelibrary district.org.

PARADE OF BAD GUYS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com.

YHETI With Ternion Sound, Toadface, Honeybee, 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopossydtlv. com.

CLINT HOLMES 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.

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

EDGAR REYES With Getbizzy, Oscar Molina, The Lux, 10 p.m., Lucky Day, luckydaydtlv.com.

THE HOT MOPS FT. JOHN WEDEMEYER 7 p.m., Gatsby’s Supper Club, gambithenderson. com.

LUKE BRYAN

During a performance in early December, Strip resident Luke Bryan shared his hopes that latest song “Country On” would become his 30th No. 1—and the lead single from his new project, expected later this year, did indeed reach the top of the chart. The track encourages some vital workers to keep going: “Hey, fireman, boys and girls in blue/We could sure use a lot more like you.”

“That song just speaks to the hardworking Americans out there,” he told MusicRow magazine. “In my opinion, a lot of the people that I reference in that song make the world go around.” After a short break, Bryan is back at it himself, working hard onstage to share his catalog of hits. 8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

–Evelyn Mateos

Luke Bryan (Courtesy/John Shearer)

JUSTICE EQUALITY’ AND Q+A

BY GEOFF CARTER

Together, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 represent some 60,000 workers in the resort properties of Las Vegas and Reno. When those workers run into obstacles—management conflicts, citizenship battles, economic hardship—they turn to their union, and the union entrusts Bethany Khan with getting their message to its employers and to the public.

The Culinary union’s spokeswoman and director of communications and digital strategy has a staunch and tireless dedication to economic equality and social justice. She has fought for immigration reform, for pay equality, even for democracy itself; she played a key role in the Culinary union’s effort to canvass voters in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm election. She works long days, occasionally forgoing sleep entirely—which, to her, is no hardship at all. “I’m really productive when others are sleeping,” she says.

Recently, Khan sat down with the Weekly near the end of one of those long workdays to talk about why she keeps fighting for Nevada’s workers.

You’re still pretty energized this late in the day. What is it about this work that fires you up? Our union is mostly women of color and immigrants, and I’m a first-generation daughter of immigrants. I love working, and winning, for my community. That’s what’s great about working for Culinary: It’s a very dynamic organization, and we win. You’re fighting every

day, whether it be for racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice.

… Oftentimes, it’s not a matter of if the union will win, it’s a matter of when. What’s very satisfying [about this work] is that it changes people’s lives.

I can see it in the stories that I have the privilege to hear, and then on the other hand, uplift. I can see the direct impact of unions on workers’ lives. It’s a great place to be.

It sounds like it’s not just whether you win, but sometimes, by how much. A good example is the midterms. We won mostly everything [we wanted], but obviously we didn’t win the governor’s race. [But] I was able to develop 458 workers to become leaders in the political program. And these are shop stewards, the rankand-file members in the casinos, who just ran, like, nine months of the most intense and sophisticated political campaign in the country. Knocked on a million doors, talked to 175,000 Nevadans, helped to cure over 11,000 Nevadans’ ballots by the end of the cure deadline. And then they went to Georgia, to deliver the seat for [Senator Raphael] Warnock.

It’s incredible to see the leaders that were trained and developed and grew during the campaign who will go on to continue to lead, and hopefully one day be elected to office or become leaders in the union. So, even if we didn’t win every race, we still won most everything. The internal victories are worth it.

But the Culinary union also excels at reaching outward, and that’s you, too. I’m an organizer. That’s what my department does; that’s what I think about every day. How can my talents, how can my digital strategy and my communication strategy, support organization? … When you’re in a movement, you know it. You’re fighting for justice and equality, for respect and dignity, for workers to have their First Amendment rights respected. And the fights that we do help the rest of Nevada. We took on Sheldon [Adelson] over the public sidewalks issue in the ’90s, an important battle for our workers. ... It set the precedent for future activists and protesters to have access to public sidewalks on the Strip. We fought for Nevada Senate Bill 386, Right to Return, because we had a lot of workers who were out of jobs during the pandemic. … Really, it impacted more non-union workers, because a lot of workers didn’t have that type of language in their contract to protect them.

[And] our citizenship project has helped over 18,000 Nevadans to become U.S. citizens, for free, since 2001. So, how do I bring this message, [that] when workers in this town and our Culinary members do well, you do well? That we will protect democracy, because you’ll have elected officials up and down the ballot who will center your issues and make sure that you have a champion for immigrants, workers, regular people? I think it’s by telling stories—making sure that workers have a voice at the table, and that workers are in the media sharing their stories.

Making people realize that we’re all in the same boat. Everybody, at the end of the day, wants to be treated with respect. And everybody’s had a bad boss or been fired or treated unfairly, or maybe doesn’t have a contract to protect them at work. Everybody has someone that they love who’s in that messy situation, or you yourself have been in that situation. And I always say that all the top executives, here in Vegas and around the country, have a contract that details the specifics of their job. Why shouldn’t you have that as well?

The Culinary Union’s Bethany Khan fights tirelessly for Nevada’s workers

THE

Q&A

Bethany Khan (Steve Marcus/Staff)

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

BY BROCK RADKE

ariety always has been the spice of life when it comes to Las Vegas casino cuisine, or at least since the city’s earliest gambling halls began to morph into something greater.

“Gourmet” dinner theater venues and casual coffee shops quickly gave way to all-you-can-eat buffets, hearty steakhouses and more refined seafood, Asian and Italian restaurants. The arrival of the modern Vegas megaresorts in the ’80s and ’90s took fine dining in the desert to new heights, and the decades that followed elevated casual cuisine and diversified with specific flavors from around the world.

One of today’s most exciting food trends combines the different elements that have shaped the Vegas dining scene through the years, and these new venues are equally attractive to locals and tourists. The recent and current generation of food halls are creative, convenient and communal, and most importantly, the flavors always deliver.

At Resorts World, the newest megaresort on the Strip, the most celebrated dining experience is Famous Foods Street Eats, a hi-tech version of a Singapore-style hawker center, with 17 different vendor stalls serving pan-Asian and other fare, including a handful of Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated street kitchens. At the Cosmopolitan, the always-bustling Block 16 Urban Food Hall continues to bring beloved bites from Nashville’s Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and Portland sandwich mecca Lardo, among other carefully curated options.

Newly opened at Aria, the Proper Eats Food Hall blends acclaimed restaurants from across the country with new homegrown concepts. And Downtown, the Fremont Hotel has assembled an intriguing mix of familiar brands and local operators at its new casual dining destination. Everyone is getting in on the act, including the blossoming mixed-use UnCommons development in the southwest valley.

You can’t really understand what all the fuss is about until you’ve experienced it. So let’s dig into the Las Vegas food hall phenomenon and prepare you to gather your hungriest companions and enjoy every bite.

The idea of putting smaller versions of different restaurants together in one space with a shared dining room is not a new one. Las Vegas shopping malls, casinos and convention centers have been doing it forever. So what makes a food hall so much more interesting than a food court?

“Historically, when you look at food courts at malls or shopping centers, you find more mass-market, publicly traded companies [restaurant chains], and there was a cookie-cutter approach to how they operate,” says Bryan Fyler, vice

president of food and beverage at the Cosmopolitan. “When you look at Block 16, it’s [about] really getting together, picking things that are new to the market and what is satisfying to multiple palates. And it’s [creating] a dining destination where you bring a group—not everyone wants to eat the same thing, so you can branch out and then come together in a communal setting to enjoy a meal.”

Located on Cosmo’s second level near Marquee Nightclub, Block 16 opened in fall 2018 with six firstto-market, chef-driven, made-toorder dining concepts. Fyler was a member of the team that scoured the country to curate each vendor; in addition to Hattie B’s and Lardo, they picked New Orleans’ District Donuts, New York City’s tequila and mezcal bar Ghost Donkey, Portland’s Pok Pok Wing, and local restaurateur Takashi Segawa’s

sushi Tekka Bar. Everything was slightly edgy and completely delicious, and the intimate, urban setting made eaters feel like they were in the middle of the coolest, tastiest party in town.

“Our clientele [at Cosmo] is well-traveled. Our guests are aware, they understand different cuisines and concepts and they’re also curious to try something they haven’t had the opportunity to try,” Fyler says.

Simply put, it’s all about the food. That collection of Sbarro, Panda Express and Hot Dog on a Stick you remember from your teenage mall-hopping days was built for convenience—recognizable variety at low prices in an environment not necessarily designed as a social spot. The much more thoughtful food hall is a legitimate culinary experience, even if it’s still serving burgers and fries, and the various vendors are chosen to complement each other and enhance overall guest satisfaction.

Here in Las Vegas, they’re typically organized and operated by a single company, even if other brands and concepts are collaborating under one umbrella. Clique Hospitality, founded by nightlife and hospitality legend Andy Masi, was brought in by MGM Resorts to create the Proper Eats experience, which opened around the first of the year.

“Aria is one of the better food hotels on the Strip … but one of the things they were missing was a little bit more of a casual experience,” says Jason McLeod, the food hall’s culinary director. “It was important to give the guests something that they could get quick, easy, delicious, tasty, but keeping with the Aria design and feel.”

Proper Eats is the latest Strip experience (see sidebar), and it’s easy to see why Aria would convert its former buffet space into a shiny new

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

example of the food hall trend. Vegas visitation is becoming a more diverse group as the years roll along, different ages and lifestyles coming from different places, seeking out unique experiences.

While Block 16 gets credited for setting the standard, Caesars Entertainment might have kick-started the trend by opening the Fulton Street Food Hall at Harrah’s Las Vegas in 2014. That expansive venue split the difference between buffet and food court, with several made-to-order food stalls among many options: pizza, deli sandwiches, beer and wine, tacos, burgers, noodles and

NORI

tons of desserts. Everything falls under the Fulton Street banner; there are no imported concepts, but the quality is a significant step up from casino courts of old.

The Cosmo changed the game, and changed up its offerings slightly when celeb chef David Chang’s Bāng Bar replaced Pok Pok Wing at Block 16.

Months after that 2018 opening, Eataly Las Vegas debuted at Park MGM, the comprehensive Italian food and wine marketplace experience known throughout the world. While it contains two sit-down restaurants, the Vegas version’s Cucina del Mercato

certainly qualifies as a food hall, with its selection of counters and bars and vibrant central seating area, where you should first stake out a table before roaming a sea of pasta, pizza, sandwiches, seafood, Italian street foods and the butcher and salumeria stations.

Next came Famous Foods Street Eats when Resorts World opened in 2021, a collaboration between the resort, the Zouk Group and individual vendors from Asia and the U.S. It offers Michelin Guide-recognized Shanghainese dumplings from Ah Chun Shandong, Blood Bros. BBQ from Texas, Hainanese chicken rice from

Boon Tong Kee, and legendary lechon from Pepita’s Kitchen, to name a few.

“We wanted to bring these hawkers from southeast Asia, the people that started cooking from carts on the streets, and bring that authenticity to Vegas and have everything under one roof,” says Resorts World Executive Chef Devin Hashimoto. “It was challenging in the beginning, given what we were going through in 2020. There were a lot of Zoom calls and sharing recipes and emailing to connect with them.

“It was definitely something new for me,” Hashimoto contin-

“Not everyone wants to eat the same thing, so you can branch out and then come together in a communal setting.”

BAR at Famous Foods Street Eats

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

ues, “doing video calls with the [people behind] Springleaf Prata Place to learn to make prata, the bread, and all the techniques that go into making the dough, stretching it, wacking it on the board, and they’re watching us on video on Teams.”

Bringing so many different vendors together to launch something new during the pandemic was a feat by itself, but staying true to the food at each kiosk was the real accomplishment.

“We had to decide which items to put on the menu, focus in and do it right. At Googgle Man, there’s two dishes—that’s it—but you have

to perfect them every single time,” Hashimoto says. “There’s always discussion about having enough ‘dragon’s breath,’ the smoke that comes off the wok, in the char kuey teow noodles. It gives the dish its character, that smokiness.”

Many of the dishes at Famous Foods aren’t available anywhere else in Las Vegas, but there’s another element that makes the Resorts World food hall a pivotal development. Instead of ordering your food at each individual stall, you can order anything at any touchscreen in the area. Then you pay and receive a text message when your food is ready. The

technology creates a different experience, and while it took time for some guests to adjust, the process has further distinguished the venue.

“We got to the point where it’s running great, and … guests enjoy it and we get a lot of great feedback because it’s something new,” Hashimoto says. “There are people like me who don’t want to see a picture of the food onscreen, I want to see what the cooks are doing. And you see guests walking around stall to stall, or walking the entire area, and then they get five dishes so they can have a little bit of everything.”

Conversely, Block 16 tinkered with tech and decided to simplify its process. “We wanted to maintain interaction where you are walking up and speaking to a person who cares about you, your order and your experience in that moment,” Fyler says. “When we first opened, we thought we might be high volume, very transactional, and then understood this is a chef-driven food hall, a hospitality experience, so we keep working to continuously evolve that.”

poke nachos and more at Village Square near Summerlin.

The next massive food hall won’t even be inside a casino. The Sundry, an collection of eateries from Las Vegas and California chefs and restaurateurs, is scheduled to arrive at UnCommons this spring, crafted by TableOne Hospitality and its founders Patric Yumul and Michael Mina.

Along with full-service restaurant Mizunara from San Francisco-based chef Shotaro Kamio, the Sundry will offer a dozen concepts and indoor and outdoor bars across its 20,000 square feet, including the Cal-Italia style BarZotto, Indian outlet Dhaba Ji from award-winning restaurateurs Alejandro Medina and Rajat Parr, fried chicken joint Kowbird from Oakland chef Matt Horn, Bay Area favorite Smitten Ice Cream, and new locations of locals SoulBelly BBQ, Saint Honoré doughnuts and beignets and Proper Sandwich Company. (The previously announced La Madrina taco spot from Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn is no longer in the mix.)

By bringing a very specific cultural experience from the other side of the world and scaling it up Vegas-style, Resorts World has made a major impact on Strip dining. The next wave of Vegas food halls is happening off the Strip.

The 13,000-square-foot Fremont Food Hall opened in mid-December at the iconic Downtown casino, and don’t let the presence of the ubiquitous doughnut slingers at Dunkin’ or Midwestern burger fave Steak ’n Shake throw you. This isn’t some old-school food court. Bringing balance are Roli Roti, the San Francisco rotisserie chicken food truck founded by a Swiss butcher; the first Vegas location of Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders, from Orlando; the second spot from beloved local bakery and café CraftKitchen, from chef Jaret Blinn; and a new spot for Tomo Noodles, the Asian eatery that previously served ramen, saimin,

It’s the same story with new results, as casino dining developments drive what’s happening with neighborhood restaurants.

“You’re starting to see these food halls pop up around the country, and America is probably behind that trend,” McLeod says. “If you look at different countries around the world, they may not be food halls inside of beautiful hotels and casinos, but there’s street merchants, there’s markets. They’re all really a form of a food hall.

“Having a place like Vegas, where you have so many visitors [and] not only Americans but from around the world, I think that helps elevate the exposure of the food hall concept in North America.”

Staff writer Amber Sampson contributed to this story.

at the Cosmopolitan

Eating our way through the Strip’s latest delicious food hall

PROPER EATS FOOD

HALL at Aria

FANTASTIC FOOD HALLS

BY AMBER SAMPSON

As a Las Vegan, I feel spoiled by the recent uptick in fast-casual feasts. The Strip’s obsession with the elevated food hall experience has spawned all sorts of culinary wonders up and down the Boulevard. Clique Hospitality’s Proper Eats, a concept located on the second level at Aria, is the latest to join the scene.

“Our goal is to create something special,” says Jason McLeod, its culinary director. “We are evolving in terms of our food tastes. I think it started back in the day, when the Food Network came out and the celebrity chefs really took off. Our guests are a lot more educated now about food, and they want something a little more elevated than what they were given before.”

Clique tapped McLeod, a two Michelin-star chef at Chicago’s Ria who also anchored San Diego’s acclaimed Born & Raised and Ironside restaurants, to lead the project, along with Oliver Wharton, a hospitality veteran of Vegas and New York and the founder of A Perfect Bite. Together, they’ve curated a collection of nine delicious imports spread across Proper Eats’ sprawling 24,000-squarefoot space. Let’s take a lap.

My lightest bites come from Easy Donuts, a quaint doughnut and coffee shop also serving quiche, croissants and baguettes. At eye-level, it appears pretty grab-and-go, but focus on Easy Donuts’ signage and you’ll notice it spells out “speakeasy.” Rumor has it a hidden cocktail bar will be announced very soon.

Proper Eats, like other food halls on the Strip, feels full of those best-kept secrets. Take the East Coast’s Egghead for instance. An affordable egg sandwich eatery? In this economy? Believe it. Egghead’s menu is lean and simple, with selections of fried and scrambled eggs and cheese on savory potato brioche. Adding cheesy hash browns to the center is next-level.

And don’t skip LA’s Wexler’s Deli, which delivers Jewish deli classics with character, from the house-smoked pastrami Reuben the Sam Rothstein ($18) to the Moe Greene ($28), a decadent bagel with hand-sliced lox and caviar.

“We like to hand-slice the lox so thin you can read The New York Times through it,” owner Michael Kassar says.

“Best smoked salmon I’ve ever had,” Wharton adds. “I’m an East Coast guy, and I’m very comfortable saying the West Coast guys have won this battle.”

PROPER EATS

Aria, 702-5908664, propereats lasvegas.com. Daily, 7 a.m.11 p.m.

Lunchtime calls for heavier bites, and the Korean fried chicken sandwich from Seoul Bird qualifies. Food Network star Judy Joo crafted her addictively crispy recipe with umami in mind, and the chef says the Seoul Bird team makes its own sauces, brine and batter mixes, including the secret ingredient—matzo meal. It’s also the first Seoul Bird outside of London, so don’t be chicken about trying the concept.

If you love protein, Shalom Y’all’s Mediterranean cuisine is well worth a visit. Specializing in Israeli street foods like handmade pita, shawarma-spiced cauliflower and Nazareth kebabs, the Portland import doesn’t skimp on quality.

Laughing Buddha’s steaming bowls of ramen don’t, either. My expectations weren’t high for a fast-casual version, but the tonkotsu ($16), simmered with a rich and silky pork bone broth, cozied me up like a rainy day.

Somewhere between the ramen and the sushi at Temaki Bar, I started craving the gourmet grub at Lola’s Burgers next door. Wharton’s burger joint caters to the classics his father, an esteemed New York chef, used to churn out in the ’70s. There are staples like the double-patty Smash Burger ($13) and more whimsical creations like Lola’s Way ($10), a mix of garlic truffle fries, onion rings and crispy jalapeños in honor of Wharton’s daughter’s favorite sides.

Superstar DJ Steve Aoki also comes from an acclaimed restaurant family, which explains his EDM—every day menu—at New York-style pizza chain Pizzaoki. This is the second time Aioki has lent a concept to a Vegas food hall— he and his brother Kevin launched yakitori booth Kuru Kuru Pa at Resorts World—and those looking for a wellmade, hand-tossed pie with personality (there’s a slice called the Mic Drop) won’t be disappointed.

After hearing the stories behind the stalls and relishing a number of palate-pleasing bites, I’m convinced Proper Eats is a dining experience one should plan a day around. Bring an open mind, a bunch of friends and a healthy appetite.

(Wade Vandervort/ Staff)

CLASSIFIED DOCS ALL OVER

21In addition to the boxes upon boxes of classified material recovered from former President Donald Trump’s estate and the small number found in President Joe Biden’s home, more classified documents were found January 24 at former Vice President Mike Pence’s home, as well.

DEARICA HAMBY ACCUSES ACES OF BULLYING, MANIPULATION

The WNBA players’ union said January 21 it will review Dearica Hamby’s complaints about Las Vegas management after the Aces traded the twotime All-Star to the LA Sparks.

In an Instagram post, the 29-year-old Hamby said the Aces attacked her character and work ethic. “Being traded is a part of the business,” Hamby posted. “Being lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against is not.”

Hamby agreed to a twoyear contract extension with Las Vegas in June. She said in her Instagram post that Aces management said she knew she was pregnant at the time of the deal. “This is false,” Hamby wrote. “I was told that I

was a ‘question mark’ and that it was said that I said I would ‘get pregnant again’ and there was a concern for my level of commitment to the team.”

Hamby also said the Aces said they were concerned she wouldn’t be ready for this season. Hamby said she plans to play this season.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association said it would “seek a comprehensive investigation “to ensure that Hamby’s rights under the league’s 2020 labor agreement as well as state and federal laws were not violated.

The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from the Aces.

–Associated Press

END OF THE ROAD FOR PANIC! AT THE DISCO

Las Vegas-born pop-rock outfit Panic! At the Disco will call it quits after an upcoming European tour, frontman Brendon Urie announced January 24.

In a social media statement, Urie, 35, revealed that his wife is pregnant with the couple’s first child. “I am going to bring this chapter of my life to an end and put my focus and energy on my family,” Urie’s statement read, in part.

Urie founded Panic! At the Disco in 2004 with fellow Las Vegans Ryan Ross, Spencer Smith and Brent Wilson. Despite lineup changes through the years that ultimately left Urie as the band’s lone permanent member, PATD went on to release seven albums, beginning with 2005’s A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out and

ending with last year’s Viva Las Vengeance

Two LPs, 2016’s Death of a Bachelor and 2018’s Pray for the Wicked, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and the songs “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” (No. 7) and “High Hopes” (No. 4) climbed near the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Panic! At the Disco will end its run with a European tour beginning February 20 in Vienna, Austria, and ending March 10 in Manchester, England. The group played its final Las Vegas show October 21 at T-Mobile Arena.

“It has been a pleasure not only to share the stage with so many talented people but also share our time with you,” Urie said in his statement. –LVW Staff

BUMP STOCK BAN

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nevada, and two other lawmakers introduced a bill January 17 to ban bump stocks after a judge struck down a ban implemented by the Trump administration. The bill would treat bump stocks the same as machine guns, making it illegal to manufacture, sell or possess them for civilian use.

UNLV

NURSING PROGRAMS

3RANKED UNLV’s School of Nursing earned two U.S. News & World Report top-10 rankings for its online program. The publication put UNLV 10th in the nation for its online nursing master’s program. In specialty programs, the family nurse educator track ranked 10th.

STATE OF THE STATE: LOMBARDI LAYS OUT PLANS TO USE BUDGET SURPLUS

Nevada would temporarily suspend collection of a statewide gas tax and invest more than $725 million in education over the next two years, returning to pre-pandemic levels of budgetary spending and paving the way for a slew of new initiatives, if Gov. Joe Lombardo’s budget plans are put into law.

Speaking January 23 to lawmakers for his first State of the State Address from the Nevada Assembly chambers in Carson City, the newly elected governor said the state’s general fund was expected to generate approximately $11.4 billion in revenue with proposed expenditures of about $11 billion.

“As governor, I am fi lled with hope and optimism of what we can accomplish if we simply summon the will to work together,” Lombardo said. “It is my intention to work side by side with all of you to write another chapter of Nevada history that will

record that we did it the Nevada way—never give up, never stop dreaming.”

State economists estimate Nevada’s two-year general fund revenue will increase by more than $2 billion because of increased economic activity as the state emerges from the pandemic. The 25% increase is driven largely by increases in sales tax and tourism-related revenues.

Along with an increase in operating funds, and the ability to fund certain programs with cash on hand, the state is expected to save $2.2 billion over the next biennium and still have $1.7 billion in cash, Lombardo said.

The rub for the Republican governor? Democrats hold the majority in the Nevada Senate and a supermajority in the Assembly, and the state budget must win approval in both legislative chambers before going back to Lombardo’s desk to be signed into law.

–Casey Harrison

LIBRARIES OFFER FREE PASS TO STATE PARKS

A library card can get you free access to endless books and, now, to 27 Nevada state parks.

Launched this year, the Nevada State Parks Library Park Pass is available to cardholders, with a loan period of one week. The passes cover dayuse entrance fees for one passenger vehicle with a capacity of up to eight people. They do not cover other state park fees such as boating or camping.

State parks in the Southern Nevada area include Valley of Fire, Spring Mountain Ranch and Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, where day-use entrance fees range $3 to $15.

Available passes can be checked out at the information desk at all participating Nevada public libraries. More information is available at thelibrary district.org/passes

–Shannon Miller

HOT SHOT

CARR’S VALUE ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported January 23 that Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was exploring potential trade partners and could eventually land with New Orleans, Washington or the New York Jets.

JT Payne, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, competes January 18 during the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The contest, staged as part of the World of Concrete convention, brings masons together to compete at building a wall with the most bricks in 60 minutes. (Steve Marcus/Sta )

RAISING THE BAR

BY SHANNON MILLER

On the third Thursday of the year, the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas held a graduation for 116 students, all newly certified in the sorts of hospitality skills that keep the city’s resorts running.

Wearing caps and gowns while smiling for photos, the graduates had just completed training programs for bussing, serving, bartending and cooking. The programs, some which utilize hotel room simulators, are designed to prepare them for day one on the job. And through the academy’s partnerships with 37 employer properties, it’s not a far leap from getting certified to landing a job.

LaTasha Fobbs, who just completed a three-week housekeeping certification program, says she’s “already hired” at a hotel on the Strip, and feels ready to

work in the new “extravagant” surroundings. During a graduation speech for classmates, friends and family, she delivered a message of inspiration.

“This is hard work. … They said [it would be], in the training. But if you keep going, you can do it. Don’t give up,” she said. “Even if you have to refocus yourself, redirect yourself … to succeed in life.”

Since going through a divorce and moving to Las Vegas in 2021, the 49-year-old Oakland transplant and her two sons, 18 and 22, have been dealing with homelessness and “trying to get ahead,” Fobbs tells the Weekly.

“My son ended up getting into a homeless shelter for teens. And they were blessed to get an apartment,” she says, pointing out her sons Nehemi-

LaTasha Fobbs, third from left, sits with other graduates and instructors during the Class of Winter 2023 graduation ceremony at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas on January 19.

(Steve Marcus/Staff)

Culinary training helps tackle Nevada’s high unemployment

ah and Tyrell in the audience. “They’re my whys. They’re why I get up, why I keep going, why I strive, why I persevere. They’re my life.”

While attending a hiring event hosted by MGM Resorts—one of the largest employers of Nevadans—she spotted a job that she wanted, and found out she’d need to take a housekeeping certification course, to land it.

“The program helped me, not only with transportation, but also with clothing, shoes … uniforms,” she says, adding that it also offers assistance with child care for qualifying students who need it. “[They] make sure they can get you to the next level.”

When Fobbs becomes eligible for further training through the academy in six months, she plans to learn new skills to advance her career. “I’m definitely coming back for cooking on my days off,” she says. “I’d like to open up Tashi’s Deli, one day.”

The Culinary Academy, a labor-management trust of the local Culinary and Bartenders Unions, hosts graduations on a quarterly basis. The academy offers 15 training programs ranging from three to 17 weeks.

It’s one example of employment programs helping Southern Nevada’s still-recovering jobs market.

According to a January 24 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nevada started 2023 with the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.2%. December marked the third month in a row that the unemployment rate has increased, after at least 21 consecutive months of decrease.

Clark County unemployment sits above the statewide average, with a current rate of 5.4%.

Ana Puljic, the Culinary Academy’s executive director of institutional partnerships and

program development, says the organization has been working on “a few initiatives” to help fill vacancies in the lagging hospitality sector.

“An initiative that is really working well for the employers and us is where the employer will select an individual and pay them while they’re in training,” Puljic explains, adding that the academy works with “nearly all” Strip properties to fill vacancies.

Like Fobbs, 85% of students qualify for financial assistance through programs with their employer partners or similar grants, so they don’t have to pay out of pocket for their training. Puljic says the academy also “works very closely” with state employment agencies like EmployNV, which can assist students with training and job placement.

The result of those wraparound services and coordinated efforts? A 93% employment rate among graduates, a spokesperson for the academy says.

David Schmidt, chief economist with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), emphasizes that employment growth remains “relatively high” compared to 2021. He also says the increase in unemployment could be attributed to workers re-entering the workforce.

“Annual job growth remains … at 3.8 percent but is moderating with a slight decline from November’s peak,” Schmidt said in a January statement.

“The unemployment rate rose above 5 percent, and is likely to remain one of the highest rates in the country. … The labor force participation rate also increased, suggesting that workers continue to re-enter the workforce.”

Those comments came after

DETR in July celebrated an “alltime high” of jobs in the state since the pandemic. In a press release from the governor’s office, Schmidt said the net increase in jobs was a reflection of “the growing diversification of the state’s economy,” while pointing out that the leisure and hospitality sector was still lagging some 30,000 jobs behind pre-pandemic numbers.

Getting those numbers righted will not only help the economy recover but also bring a new sense of purpose to those looking for a fresh start. Speaking at the podium for her graduating class, Fobbs spoke about taking pride in a job well done.

“Before I came [to the academy], I worked at a gas station and a call center. And I needed something different,” she said. “No matter what you’re doing, whether that’s bartending or guest room attending, you have to be the best at what you do. … You have to have standards.”

LaTasha Fobbs with sons Nehemiah, left, and Tyrell at the Class of Winter 2023 graduation ceremony at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

Nevada started 2023 with the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.2%.

Clark County unemployment sits above the statewide average, with a current rate of 5.4%.

DIRTY DEEDS

Brian Moy’s Dirty Rock & Roll Dance Party keeps psychedelic garage sounds in Las Vegas’ rotation

NOISE

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Brian Moy never set out to become a Las Vegas concert promoter. He just wanted to throw a cool birthday party.

The Portland, Oregon, native moved here in 2010, and as a rock fan, he naturally gravitated to Downtown’s Bunkhouse Saloon. “It was my first-, second- and third- favorite place,” Moy says.

In 2016, Moy reached out to his friend Ryan Pardey, then the Bunkhouse’s entertainment director, about hosting a show there for his birthday—but not just any show. This would be a fully packaged event, a “Dirty Rock & Roll Dance Party,” as he described it.

Moy tapped spaghetti western psych act Spindrift to headline, and on the day of the party, “I had four bands, three DJs, a sponsor and a tattoo raffle. And this was just basically for my birthday for fun,” he remembers.

Moy enjoyed his rager, the show drew well, … and then the calls began flooding in.

“Spindrift reached out to me and said, ‘We loved the show. We’d like to do something else later in the year,’” he remembers. “Then another band from LA reached out and said, ‘So, we heard that you’re the guy in Las Vegas to talk to about psychedelic rock bands.”

Before he knew it, Moy was also booking gigs under the Dirty Rock & Roll Dance Party banner. Early on, most parties were held at the Bunkhouse. “If it wasn’t available, I almost didn’t want to do the show. That’s how much I loved it there,” he says.

Jose Torres, who played Moy’s birthday party with his garage band Leather Lungs, still marvels at those early days watching Dirty R&R blow up. “Bands were hitting him up all the time that would normally never come here, usually cool bands from LA, West Coast bands,” says Torres, who plays bass with The Acid Sisters these days. “I’m glad he’s around and he’s still sticking with it.”

But after the Bunkhouse shuttered in early 2020, Dirty R&R branched out to other spots like the Usual Place, Artifice, Red Dwarf and

“Music to me is more than just background. It’s an escape,” Moy says. “And when you go to a live concert versus just listening to it, I want it to be an occasion.”

Moy has gone on to curate some of Las Vegas’ most interesting indie shows in recent years. In December, he brought Brazilian psych legends Os Mutantes to perform an intimate, last-minute set at the Usual Place after he saw them perform in Portland. Other recent Dirty R&R acts have included LA garage-rockers Meatbodies, Mexico City dreampop trio Mint Field and rising LA shoegaze outfit Møaa.

“I don’t want to do shows that I would not want to be at myself,” Moy says. “People go to my shows because I essentially do psychedelic, garage, underground, out-of-themainstream rock ’n’ roll. They have the expectation that it’s going to be like that.”

Last year, the promoter staged more than 40 Dirty R&R shows, between his full-time job as a real estate agent and a side gig as the touring manager for local darkwave outfit Luxury Furniture Store. And Moy says he only has two options now: Give it all up or go even bigger—and

DIRTY ROCK & ROLL DANCE PARTY’S UPCOMING SHO WS

January 27 Frankie and the Witch Fingers with Monsterwatch, Xxyyzz, DJ Jacob Savage, 8 p.m., $15-$20, Artifice, eventbrite.com.

February 6

The Hickoids with The Psyatics, 9 p.m., $15-$20, Sand Dollar Downtown, eventbrite.com.

March 10

Maximum Doom ft. Fever Dog, Acid Sentence, Plague Doctor, 9 p.m., free, Cornish Pasty (Downtown). Facebook.com/ dirtyrockroll

(Left)

(Above) Frankie and the Witch Fingers (Courtesy)

he’s opting for the latter.

A month into the new year, he says, he’s “15 shows deep” into his planning. He has partnered with longtime Vegas promoter Pulsar Presents on his next show, a January 27 gig featuring LA garage-psych faves Frankie and the Witch Fingers, along with Seattle noise-punks Monsterwatch and the live debut of Xxyyzz, the electronic project from Torres and fellow Las Vegan Ted Rader (The Mad Caps, The Magic Family).

And there’s plenty more to come, including returning heavy metal series Maximum Doom (next installment: March 10 at Downtown’s Cornish Pasty), and an April 23 show with New Zealand noise-rockers Bailter Space, perhaps best known for their ’90s releases on iconic indie labels Flying Nun and Matador. Moy seems intent on presenting concertgoers with their next favorite band, again and again.

“The dude has really good music taste,” Torres says. “Most of the time, I’ll know which bands he’s booking because we have similar tastes and genres, but there’ll be certain shows where I’ll just go in not having a clue what to expect.”

And though reaching for more obscure sounds can be a financial gamble, “It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Moy says, “because I want to bring great stuff to Las Vegas.”

Cornish Pasty, delivering diverse bills built around psychedelic music and a blissful vibe.

Brian Moy at Red Dwarf (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

CULTURE BACK WITH NEW BEATS

U.K. house star Bontan returns to Las Vegas for his Marquee debut

NIGHTS

BY BROCK RADKE

There’s a wave of diverse European artists who don’t typically make their way to Las Vegas nightclubs doing just that, and the tide is rising.

English underground house DJ and producer Bontan, whose recent Strip experience is limited to a couple of sets at Wynn Nightlife’s elrow parties during Art of the Wild, is taking over the weekly Lowkey in the Library session at Marquee at the Cosmopolitan.

“I think I’ll be back and forth to Vegas throughout the year,” says the Southport, Merseyside, native also known as Andrew Phillips. “It’s only been twice over the past four or five years, but this year I’ll come over a few times. And I’ve gone before not necessarily to work, and I always have a lot of fun. So the chance to come back and DJ more is something I’m looking forward to doing.”

BONTAN February 1, 10:30 p.m., $20+. Marquee Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

The U.S. has increasingly been one of those places in recent years, and not just because, as he explains, “everyone from Europe wants to go to America now because the parties are just so great.” Thanks to easy access online and technology that allows artists across continents to collaborate, North American fans know European dance music better than ever, even if they haven’t seen certain DJs play here yet.

Bontan will kick off February with his first appearance at Marquee, a natural fit for his sound given the club’s longstanding reputation for stretching beyond the dominant Vegas soundtrack of mainstream electronic dance music and hip-hop. “What I’ve noticed is they really push diverse sounds, and there’s not necessarily one genre they try to stick to. Those are the places I look to go around the world,” he says.

“DJs in the U.K. always did their own thing, but that authentic Chicago sound was the one thing I couldn’t get enough of.”

Bontan, who says he has been more influenced by the American music and DJs he discovered as a teenager than the somewhat condensed scene in the U.K., has been working with Diplo lately and hopes the results will be among a busy schedule of releases throughout 2023.

“Mainly the sound I was into was that soulful underground U.S. sound, sort of the origins of house music,” he says. “DJs in the U.K. always did their own thing, but that authentic Chicago sound was the one thing I couldn’t get enough of.”

You can hear those early influences in his most recent work, including last year’s “Gold Teeth,” with its almost tribal groove, and its B-side “Heart Shaped Leaf,” propelled by handclaps, bells and clipped vocal samples. Expect more very soon.

“I’m trying to get some stuff out every couple of months and fit some more studio time between tour dates,” he says. “It’s going to be a busy year for me.”

Bontan (Courtesy)

BETTING ON RED BETTING ON RED

BETTING ON RED

Blake Shelton speaks during an event celebrating the groundbreaking of the future site of Ole Red Las Vegas at the Horseshoe on January 19.

(Photo by Denise Truscello/ Getty Images)

THE STRIP

Blake Shelton ’s honky tonk aims to be the epicenter of live country music

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Country music superstar Blake Shelton knows Las Vegas well enough to know that “if you’re going to do something here, you’ve got to do it big,” he said during a January 19 event on the Strip.

That’s why Ole Red Las Vegas, Shelton’s four-story, 27,000-square-foot live music venue, bar and restaurant set to open in front of the Horseshoe this fall, will be his largest and most ambitious location yet.

What’s more, it should shake up the Strip entertainment scene, which Shelton believes is lacking a strong honky-tonk presence.

“You’ve gotta have a break at some point from what you do for 36 hours in a row in Las Vegas,” Shelton said. “Every time I’m here I want some damn country music and a beer. I think Ole Red is a remedy to that.”

Earlier this month, Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Vegas venue, which joins five other locations in Tennessee, Oklahoma and Florida. Ole Red will be a sophisticated addition to an already advanced Las Vegas market, Ryman executive chairman Colin Reed said. “We’re gonna be building the Bellagio here as it relates to country music.”

Guests on the first two floors of Ole Red will enjoy Southern-inspired bites while listening to concert-caliber country performances. Later in the night, the space will become a dancefloor. In keeping with the “Vegas way,” as Shelton put it, Ole Red’s third level will offer a more VIP lounge feel, complete with bottle service and a menu of restaurant favorites exclusive to that level.

Ole Red’s rooftop should prove popular, too, with its sweeping Strip views, live music, DJs and curated cocktail and food menus.

To a simple Southern soul like Shelton, the music will always be the main draw. After judging for 22 seasons on The Voice, he said, he’d seen one too many contestants step off that stage and into the unknown. The weighted question of “now what?” always hung in the air. But “Ole Red became what’s next for many of these artists,” he said.

“Perception is everything in this business, and when you come to Ole Red, you feel and look like a superstar no matter what level you’re at. I toured for seven or eight years before I’d ever had anything like this,” Shelton continued. “For a lot of artists, the most important gigs they have in a year are at Ole Red. That’s when they invite the booking agents and the managers and the record labels.”

Wendy Moten, a Nashville singer-songwriter who finished second during The Voice’s 21st season and debuted at the Grand Ole Opry in 2019, performed at Ole Red’s flagship in Nashville last year.

“It’s a great opportunity for new artists to have a place to play,” she said. “At every Ole Red, you feel like at any moment, Blake is gonna walk through that door. They’ve captured his presence so much that you feel like that’s a place he would hang out.”

He just might. Shelton has teased some pop-up appearances at the venue once it’s open. And don’t be surprised to see more talent from The Voice playing there, along with other red-hot stars looking to be discovered.

PREMIUM BARBECUE

BY BROCK RADKE

Our city’s Korean food scene has been on the rise in recent years, but there’s no dispute that Greater Los Angeles is, and likely always will be, the king of this dynamic cuisine across the United States.

Fullerton is about an hour south of LA’s Koreatown, and it’s home base for the wildly popular, premium all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue spot Mr BBQ. The family-run restaurant recently expanded to Las Vegas, opening its doors in the former Magal BBQ space across from the original Chinatown Plaza in December.

For second-generation restaurateur Jenny Chai, it was a natural progression.

“My family has been in the restaurant business for so long, we could never take really long vacations, so Vegas was always our spot,” she

says. “The more time I spend here now, I really like it more and more. And I really love the food culture here.”

Her genre of restaurant has seen a miniboom in the Vegas Valley in the last few years, with grill-it-at-your-table barbecue joints expanding beyond the Spring Mountain Road area. But Chinatown was always the place for Mr BBQ’s expansion, an endeavor also born out of those family vacations. “We would stay on the Strip, and there were not a lot of options for Asian restaurants,” Chai says. “Our older family members can’t go one day without having some sort of Asian food, so we’d always come down this street to get something. And now the options are so much more.”

Mr BBQ challenges the stigma that AYCE

destinations don’t use high-quality ingredients. The new 200-seat eatery serves only USDA-graded beef and pork, including the top-selling beef bulgogi (marinated USDA choice ribeye), beef short ribs, top sirloin, Black Angus ribeye, pork belly and more.

Dinner costs $39 (or premium for $49), lunch is $29-$39 and signature combos range from $120-$180 for group feasting. The No. 1 combo ($120) feeds at least four with protein selections of beef belly, brisket, pork jowl, ribeye, short ribs, pork belly, baby octopus and shrimp, plus sides.

“When you go out to eat and you’re spending money, for me the most important thing is to get value, no matter if you’re spending $100 or $15,” Chai says. “It’s a rare situation where you

MR BBQ

4240 Spring Mountain Road #101, 702-4834240, mrbbq lasvegas.com.

Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight.

can get steakhouse-quality steaks, all prime grade, and even Wagyu, in an all-you-can-eat setting, and that’s the special niche we have carved for ourselves.”

Her mother and grandmother’s marinade recipes also set these meats apart, with the bulgogi and short ribs renowned for sweet/ salty flavors and juiciness when they hit the grill at the table. Regulars are ready to cook their favorite proteins and pass around traditional banchan side dishes, while newbies receive guidance from friendly servers. It’s an interactive, communal experience, balanced out by beer and soju cocktails.

“It’s pretty much like a barbecue in your backyard,” Chai says, “but we do all the work for you.”

FOOD &

Fine-dining fave Vetri Cucina returns to the Palms with gusto

 As will not soon be forgotten, COVID savaged Las Vegas’ hospitality industry with closures across the Valley, one of the most impactful of which was the Palms’ extended downtime. But its acquisition and reopening by San Manuel Gaming is gradually bringing the property back to prominence, including a notable spot in the culinary scene.

Philadelphia celebrity chef Marc Vetri’s first foray into Vegas, Vetri Cucina, originally opened on the 56th floor of the resort’s Ivory Tower in late 2018. It finally reopened in November under seasoned chef de cuisine Michael Rubinstein, a native who has risen in the local culinary scene with stints ranging from the Goodwich to David Chang’s Strip venues Momofuku and Majordōmo.

The Vetri menu has turned over approximately 40% from its previous incarnation, combining Philadelphia classics with dishes created in Vegas. One newcomer is the zeppole ($24), fried sourdough doughnuts made with pecorino cheese, layered with prosciutto di Parma and finished with toasted black pepper-infused honey. It’s a holy trinity of salty, sweet and savory.

Another addition is the Beausoliel oysters ($28), slightly briny New Brunswick bivalves highlighted by an eye-catching giardiniera mignonette. The mignonette hearkens back to Rubi’s Goodwich tenure and while most might associate the pickled condiment more with Chicago than Philadelphia, its prevalence across Italy makes it a natural fit for the venue’s upscale offerings.

Among the staples are house-made pastas crafted with housemilled flour. The diverse selection ranges from bright taleggio ravioli ($36) with honey and walnut (which Rubi refers to as a “cheese plate in pasta form”) to castoncelli alla Bergamasca ($36), a savory pasta shell stuffed with a meaty combo of chicken, pork, beef and salumi contrasted by a sweet brown butter sauce dotted with bacon.

Another Vetri classic might be the menu’s biggest surprise. The rustic roasted goat ($64) is a revelation, mesquite-smoked goat garnished with crispy goat skin. Served simply atop house-milled polenta, its smoke complements the protein’s typical gaminess without overwhelming. It’s a superb winter dish. –Jim Begley

VETRI CUCINA

Palms, 702-944-5900, vetricucinalv.com. Tuesday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m.

Premium AYCE at Mr BBQ (Courtesy)

Foie gras pastrami (Courtesy/ Steve Legato)

DOGS DAYS

Welcome to the world of box lacrosse, Las Vegas

BY DANNY WEBSTER

Music echoes throughout Michelob Ultra Arena as fans witness big hits along the boards, dazzling saves and highlight-reel goals. It might sound and even feel like a hockey game, but this is actually something brand new for the Las Vegas Valley—the excitement of a Desert Dogs lacrosse game.

The expansion team began playing in December as a member of the National Lacrosse League, the sport’s top box (i.e., indoor) level in the world. Excitement is buzzing from Las Vegas’ small but growing lacrosse community. Some who have attended the rst handful of games are also surely new to the sport, but they’re catching on fast, partly because of its similarity to hockey.

Box lacrosse, not hockey, is actually the national sport of Canada, as Desert Dogs minority owner Wayne Gretzky repeatedly pointed out during a news conference announcing the team in 2020. Nearly 95% of the Desert Dogs’ roster is Canadian, athletes who grew up playing both sports.

A number of Vegas Golden Knights are in the same category, including forward Chandler Stephenson, who recently reminisced about how he’d trade his curved stick for a netted one once summer rolled around in Saskatchewan.

1Hockey fans can pick it up fast

If you’ve enjoyed going to or watching Golden Knights games, you should adjust quickly to box lacrosse. Field lacrosse might be the more widespread version of the sport in America—it’s what’s played at the collegiate level—but it’s more spread-out and slower-developing than box lacrosse.

February 4: Colorado Mammoth, 7 p.m.

February 24: Calgary Roughnecks, 7:30 p.m.

March 11: Vancouver Warriors, 7:30 p.m.

March 25: Rochester Knighthawks, 7:30 p.m.

April 8: San Diego Seals, 7:30 p.m.

April 29: Saskatchewan Rush, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets $25-$99 at axs.com.

All games televised on myLVTV (Cox channel 12, DirecTV channel 21).

Both sports have the same high-octane atmosphere, and the Desert Dogs are unashamedly looking to pull from the Golden Knights’ rabid fan base to build their own following. They’re o to a good start with the game-day experience, which is both electrifying and family-friendly.

Here are four reasons why you should consider checking out the Desert Dogs during their inaugural season.

Box lacrosse much more closely resembles hockey from a physicality and strategic standpoint. There’s even the shared terminology of goals, assists, saves and power plays. Bone-crushing hits, stoppage scrums and even ghts occur, too.

The biggest di erence? There’s more scoring in box lacrosse than hockey. The average NLL contest features about 100 shots per game and 20 goals.

Las Vegas’ Connor Kirst (34) and Philadelphia’s Matt Rambo (1) clash during an NLL lacrosse game at Michelob Ultra Arena. (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

2There’s a basketball element, too

Watch closely enough and you’ll see a lot of pick-and-roll action. Add in constant music, and Desert Dogs games share the feel of a modern-day NBA experience.

That’s probably no coincidence. Desert Dogs majority owner Joe Tsai is best known in the sports world for owning the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, along with the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Twotime NBA MVP Steve Nash and former world No. 1 golfer Dustin Johnson are also part of the ownership group with Tsai and Gretzky, further illustrating box lacrosse’s appeal throughout the sports world.

3It’s affordable

If you’re looking to go to a sporting event on a budget, the Desert Dogs have you covered, with tickets ranging from $25 to $99.

Michelob Ultra Arena doesn’t have a bad seat in the house for its primary sports tenant, the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, and the same holds true for the Desert Dogs. All the action, which takes place on a condensed field the same dimensions as a hockey rink, is visible from anywhere in the stands.

Prices at concession stands are also slashed compared with those at bigger venues like T-Mobile Arena, so tickets aren’t the only place where you’ll save money.

4There’s typically drama until the final buzzer

In box lacrosse, a team can be down four goals with three minutes to go and still find a way to win. No lead feels safe.

When the Desert Dogs hosted the Philadelphia Wings on January 7, the home team scored twice within two minutes in the second half to make things interesting in a game in which they had mostly trailed significantly.

Las Vegas ultimately didn’t get any closer than a twogoal deficit, but it was easy to feel the increased energy from the crowd during a spirited comeback attempt. The Desert Dogs went winless in their first four games but should improve as the season goes on and the new players settle into their roles.

It might take a year or two for the expansion franchise to turn into a contender, but don’t be shocked if the Dogs come together and push for one of the 15-team league’s seven playoff spots. You never know what can happen in box lacrosse.

Desert Dogs players celebrate a goal against Philadelphia at Michelob Ultra Arena. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

MISSION TO HELP FAMILIES ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE IS PERSONAL FOR NONPROFIT EXEC

BY RAY BREWER VEGAS INC STAFF

Terry Ruth was only 5 years old when the state of California determined she would be headed to foster care.

Her parents were “well-seasoned alcoholics” and not stable enough to keep a roof over the family’s head, she said. Lindemann would live in 13 foster homes in the San Diego area.

“That introduced me to what it feels like to not be in your own home,” said Lindemann, who has turned her childhood experiences into a professional passion.

Lindemann is the longtime executive director of the nonprofit Family Promise of Las Vegas. The group helps at-risk and homeless families with children to find sustainable housing.

Lindemann will tell you no two days are the same. Between working on multiple grant proposals, coordinating with Clark County officials for funding, training volunteers and ministering to at-risk families, the 74-year-old wears many hats.

She’s a businesswoman, social worker, architect, friend and more—and she loves it. Lindemann, after starting as a volunteer, has been the executive director since 2004.

“We have to do a better job [as a society],” Lindemann said. “When you see some of the people who come through here, they could be my sisters or my children.”

The group has about 40 families in its motel shelter program, where those needing to strengthen their financial position live for about three months and go through the Family Promise process to transition to independent living in their own residence.

That process begins with detailing a plan to achieve employment and housing, which includes participating in continuing education classes the group offers. Those lessons include money management, life skills, parenting and lifestyle choices.

Families in motel shelter are paired with volunteers in the Just Neighbors program, where families or church groups serve as mentors. Family Promise is proud of its stable of helpers, including volunteers from multiple faith denominations.

It leases office space from Community Lutheran Church on East Tropicana Avenue, where Lindemann is a longtime churchgoer and where she got her start with the Family Promise program.

Back then, multiple faith congrega-

tions would volunteer to house the families overnight at their church buildings or homes, rotating each week in bonding together for the good of the community. They’d serve meals, play games and provide fellowship.

Often, the families in need would become part of the church community, and updates on their successes in gaining independence would be shared in the weekly church bulletin.

“When we see a need, we want to help others,” said Bob Blaskey, the pastoral assistant at St. Viator Catholic Church and a longtime Family Promise volunteer. “It’s more than helping people in need, it’s helping families in need.”

The Family Promise strategy altered during the pandemic because

it could no longer house families at faith buildings or homes for fear of spreading the virus. That’s when funding was secured to launch the motel shelter program, which Lindemann says has been a success.

About 80% of the families who exit the program stay independent, Lindemann said. That’s especially significant considering 65% of the total people they work with our children.

“If there was a place like Family Promise when my family fell apart, we would have been saved,” she said.

Lindemann will soon be retiring, but only after Family Promise takes the next step in its evolution. It was awarded 1.1 acres of land and a $5.3 million community development grant from Clark County to build a full-service family navigation center—complete with 10 transitional apartments. It will have all of the bells and whistles to service families, with a state-of-the-art playground and educational rooms over 12,000 square feet. It will need to raise about $2.5 million to finish off the project.

“[The center] will enhance our impact, and that’s what drives me,” Lindemann said.

The success stories are also a motivator. A few of them are listed on the group’s website; others are entrenched in Lindemann’s memory, as she never forgets a face.

Take Thelma, “who after months of living with friends and relatives and then moving from shelter to shelter” turned to Family Promise, according to her testimony on the group’s site. She thrived in the workforce development program, including job interview skills, and also went through the financial literacy program.

She now works in property management, and lives independently with her daughters. Lindemann knows there are more Thelmas out there to save. And, more important: more children to help.

“She cares about people,” Blaskey said. “She cares about all of those people who come through the program.”

Terry Ruth Lindemann, executive director of Family Promise of Las Vegas (Brian Ramos/Staff)

GAME-CHANGING CONCEPT IN ORGAN DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION WILL SAVE LIVES IN NEVADA

BY STEVEN PERALTA

Cirrhosis of the liver. Cystic fibrosis. Coronary heart disease. These conditions can lead a patient to need a liver, lung or heart transplant operation, respectively, to survive. Unfortunately, if that patient lives in Nevada, they will have to move out of state in order to receive these types of transplantation services. Only one transplant center exists in Southern Nevada, University Medical Center (UMC), which only provides kidney transplantation and services.

Imagine that you or someone you love are forced to choose between the financial, physical and emotional burden of traveling to neighboring states to get needed care or being placed on hospice, a choice that particularly impacts culturally and socioeconomically diverse populations. Currently, more than 600 Nevadans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. As one of the highest-performing organ procurement organizations in the country, Nevada Donor Network’s recovery of organs far exceeds the current waitlist, yet over 90% of all lifesaving organs (liver, heart, lungs, pancreas and intestines) are leaving our state because we don’t have the health care infrastructure in place to serve these critically ill patients.

While advancements and rapid breakthroughs in the science of organ transplantation have saved hundreds of thousands of lives across the country, we must note that in the 70 years since the first transplant operation was performed, the business model for organ transplantation delivery has not significantly evolved. Currently, all transplant centers across the country are affiliated with hospitals, hospital systems or universities, which are beholden to financial and governing restraints by the parent institution. That can lead to organ rationing or missed transplantation opportunities.

To address the problems, we must offer an innovative solution. To successfully end the wait for Nevadans in desperate need of a lifesaving organ, we must adopt a “for Nevadans by Nevadans” approach and expand transplantation programs and services here in the state. Enter the Nevada Transplant Institute (NTI), a groundbreaking initiative from Nevada Donor Network (NDN) and the

Nevada Donor Network Foundation (NDNF). The NTI will be a network of hospitals, providers and payers working together to partner with existing hospital systems and infrastructure while leveraging health care services that are currently available and in place throughout the state.

So, how will it work? First, the NTI will expand upon the current kidney transplant program at University Medical Center and create a first-ofits-kind liver transplant program in Nevada. NDN and its foundation will recruit qualified physicians, nurses and allied health professionals to Nevada. The NDN team envisions that NTI will be able to perform liver transplants and services in Las Vegas, and be able to offer kidney transplants and services in Reno for the first time, both by the end of the year.

A few years ago, NDNF launched a $35 million “End the Wait” capital campaign to raise the needed funds to develop the NTI. End the Wait highlights include:

n $15 million in American Rescue

Plan Act funds were awarded from the state.

n UMC made a $12 million philanthropic commitment, which will be in the form of in-kind programs and services, along with a cash contribution component.

n $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds were awarded from the City of Las Vegas.

With the above commitments, we are well on our way to revolutionizing transplantation services in the state. Once established, the impact of the NTI will reach far beyond the thousands of newly listed and transplanted patients over time. It will be game-changing in the fight to save more people waiting for a second chance at life, and it will allow us to better serve our heroic organ donors and their courageous families.

Expanding transplantation services in Nevada will create a more collaborative and robust health care sector. With support from both public and private sectors, and through highly integrated partnerships with hospitals throughout the state, NTI will contribute to growth in the health care sector, economic development, research and commercialization, and to an expanded physician workforce.

The state in which a patient resides shouldn’t define their ability to receive an organ transplant operation. With the establishment of the Nevada Transplant Institute, we will elevate all health care in Nevada and serve to correct health disparities in access within the diverse populations in desperate need of transplantation-related services.

Steven Peralta is the president of the Nevada Donor Network Foundation, a federally designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

To successfully end the wait for Nevadans in desperate need of a lifesaving organ, we must adopt a “for Nevadans by Nevadans” approach and expand transplantation programs and services here in the state. Enter the Nevada Transplant Institute (NTI), a groundbreaking initiative from Nevada Donor Network (NDN) and the Nevada Donor Network Foundation (NDNF).

VegasInc Giving Notes

GOLO, a wellness solutions company with logistics and distribution facilities in Las Vegas, donated $10,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. The money will support the nonprofit organization’s healthy lifestyle programs for young people.

Crystal Sunbury joined the Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada board of directors.

Sunbury is a senior manager at RSM She is also a real estate and construction senior analyst in RSM’s Industry Eminence Program, serves as a leader in RSM’s Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Advancement Employee Network Group, and serves as a designated instructor for the firm’s National Learning and Professional Development.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc., through the Las Vegas Grand Prix Foundation, will donate more than a million meals to the Las Vegas community through Three Square Food Bank and provide monetary support to several other established

local organizations that address food insecurity, including Green Our Planet, the Just One Project and Project 150. All donations were made possible by Formula 1 fans who joined the ticket on-sale pre-registration list by contributing $7.77 to the foundation. The program launched in August and the goal of raising funds for 1 million meals was met within 24 hours. Funds provided to Green Our Planet will support “farmpreneur” and school garden programs at Clark County schools. The Just One Project will use the donated funds to grow its No-Cost Community Markets.

The board of directors for local nonprofit REACH (Research, Education and Access for Community Health) has promoted Rebeca Aceves to president and CEO. Aceves served as the organization’s executive director for six years. REACH provides evidenced-based research, information, development and implementation of programs to improve community health services and access to care in Nevada, predominantly to the Hispanic community but also to anyone seeking the health care services it provides.

The Nevada Mining Association

made the most of last year’s hot summer days with its seventh annual Hope for Heat campaign, held in partnership with Granite Construction, which raised more than $25,500 to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs across Nevada. As a result, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Truckee Meadows, Elko, Winnemucca and Southern Nevada each received more than $6,000 to support the nonprofit’s programs.

Snell & Wilmer announced that Family 2 Family Connection was awarded a three-year grant from the Snell & Wilmer Charitable Foundation

Founded in 1998 by Sandy Miller, former first lady of Nevada, Family 2 Family Connection serves families with children from birth to age 5 and empowers parents and caretakers with the tools to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children through parent education and community networking.

One Nevada Credit Union and its credit card transaction processor, PSCU, announced $10,000 in community donations to support local charities. Credit union employees selected four charities to donate to for the holidays. Each received a $2,500 donation. The donations went to: Safe Nest, which provides education, shelter, court advocacy, counseling, and other services victims of domestic violence; Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, a full-time dropin center for homeless youths that

provides immediate needs items and respite from the streets; Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, which Supports families with educational, psychological and financial support services after a child has been diagnosed with cancer and chronic illness; and Cup of Hope Outreach Ministry, which partners with local food pantries and national companies to serve meals to homeless Nevadans.

The Source+, a cannabis company, is supporting the Nevada chapter of the nonprofit Sleep In Heavenly Peace for its January roundup initiative. All month, customers can round up purchases to directly support Sleep In Heavenly Peace’s Nevada chapter. Sleep In Heavenly Peace is dedicated to constructing and delivering safe and comfortable bunk beds to children and families that are in need.

The Source also partnered with Never Forgotten Animal Society Inc. in Pahrump, raising nearly $5,500 to support their efforts to rescue and provide care to animals in need. In November, The Source raised funds for Nevada Homeless Alliance, donating more than $12,700.

The Las Vegas Gay Softball League, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive space for members of the LGBTQ community and its allies to compete athletically, was awarded a $1,000 community grant from Sam’s Club, 5101 S. Pecos Road.

Sunbury

PREMIER

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Noah Webster (1758–1843) worked for years to create the first definitive American dictionary. It became a cornucopia of revelation for poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886). She said that for many years it was her “only companion.” Get intimate with a comparable mother lode. Find or identify a resource that will continually inspire you for the rest of 2023.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.” So declared philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein in his book Philosophical Investigations. You have a natural knack for making sure that important things don’t get buried or neglected, no matter how simple and familiar they are. Be gracious as you wield this superpower to enhance the lives of everyone you care about.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Poet Carolyn Kizer said the main subject of her work was this: “You cannot meet someone for a moment, or even cast eyes on someone in the street, without changing.” Celebrate this truth. Thrive on it. Be extra hungry for and appreciative of all the prods you get to transcend who you used to be and become who you need to be.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Encounters with good, spooky magic will be available in the coming weeks. More easily than usual, you could enjoy altered states that tickle your soul with provocative insights. Here’s another exotic pleasure you may want to explore: that half-forbidden zone where dazzling heights overlap with the churning depths.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The circle can and will be complete—if you’re willing to let it find its own way of completing itself. But an outdated part of you may cling to the hope of a perfection that’s neither desirable nor possible. Trust that the Future You will thrive on the imperfections that arise, that they will be like the lead that the Future You will alchemically transmute into gold.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Shakespeare’s work has been translated from his native English into many languages. But the books of detective novelist Agatha Christie have been translated far more. Make Christie your inspirational role model for the next four weeks. You will have an extraordinary capacity to communicate with a wide variety of people.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Musician Franz Liszt (1811–1886) was a prolific and influential genius who created and played music with deep feeling. He was also a generous and attentive teacher for hundreds of piano students, and always offered his lessons free of charge. May Liszt rouse you to express yourself with flair and excellence, even as you shower your blessings on worthy recipients.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the coming weeks, engage in what might appear to be cultural appropriation. Expand your mind and heart by seeking inspiration from an array of cultures and traditions. Listen to West African music, read Chinese poetry in translation and gaze at the art of Indigenous Australians. Sing Kabbalistic songs and say Lakota prayers and intone Buddhist chants.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): High-level pretending and performing will be happening in the coming weeks. The plot twists may revolve around clandestine machinations and secret agendas. It will be vital for you to listen for what people are not saying as well as the hidden and symbolic meanings behind what they are saying.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Storyteller Michael Meade said, “The genius inside a person wants activity. It’s connected to the stars; it wants to burn and it wants to create and it has gifts to give. That is the nature of inner genius.” Write a page of ideas about what your genius consists of. Throughout 2023, you will express your talents and gifts more than you ever have before.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis (1883–1957) was nominated nine times for the Nobel Prize in Literature, but never won. He almost broke through in the last year of his life, but French author Albert Camus beat him by one vote. Camus said Kazantzakis was “a hundred times more” deserving of the award than himself. If there has been anything about your destiny that resembles Kazantzakis’, chances are good that it will finally shift.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Educator Parker Palmer has a crucial message for you to meditate on in the coming weeks. Read it tenderly, please. Make it your homing signal. He said, “Solitude does not necessarily mean living apart from others; rather, it means never living apart from one’s self. It is not about the absence of other people—it is about being fully present to ourselves, whether or not we are with others. Community does not necessarily mean living face-to-face with others; rather, it means never losing the awareness that we are connected to each other.”

Love is in the air at Tivoli Village Valentines Giveaway