2023-02-16-Las-Vegas-Weekly

THE LARGEST SELECTION OF WINE ON THE STRIP

PUBLISHER

MARK DE POOTER

mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR

SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com

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

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DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

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ADVERTISING & MARKETING

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Account Executives DEREK EIGE, LAUREN JOHNSON, ALEX TEEL, ANNA ZYMANEK

Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ, NANCY RAMOS

Events Director SAMANTHA PETSCH

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

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PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

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SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY

PLAN YOUR WEEK AHEAD

JUSTIN FAVELA

Incredibly, Justin Favela is now in 10-year retrospective territory. The Las Vegas-based artist mounted the first solo show of his work at the Clark County Government Center in 2011, showing o his fanciful, large-scale creations made from colorful paper, cardboard and other found materials, from lowrider cars to room-sized plates of “nachos.” It wasn’t long after that before the art world fell in love with both the Guatemalan/Mexican/American artist and his work, inviting him to show in museums all over the U.S. and overseas. (Remember the year Life Is Beautiful’s Art Motel looked like a giant pinata? That was his doing.) Now, on the eve of the publication of his first monograph—Justin Favela: Fantasía/Fantasy, A Decade of Practice 2011-2021, coming in March—Favela has come home with a retrospective show at Nuwu Art Gallery that ably demonstrates how he’s earned a 300-page book about his life and art. The show is free, though Nuwu welcomes donations at iafinc.org/giving to support the mission of its gallery and community center. Through May 12; Thursday-Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday noon4 p.m.; free; Nuwu Art Gallery; nuwuart.com. –Geo Carter

DAM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Thru 2/20, times vary, Elaine K. Smith Building, 700 Wyoming St,, Boulder City damshortfilm.org

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS

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

BAYSIDE

With I Am the Avalanche, Koyo, 8 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

HONEYLUV

With Danco, Sigi, Faceto, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

READING:

AMANDA FORTINI

7 p.m., UNLV’s Beverly Rogers Literature and Law Building, eventbrite.com.

THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS

With Kaz James, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

BARRY MANILOW

Thru 2/18, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SAN JOSE STATE 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.

JADE CATTA-PRETA

Thru 2/19, 7:30 p.m. (& 2/17-2/18, 9:30 p.m.), Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

BALLYHOO!

With Joint Operation, Mike Pinto, 7 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesanddollarlv.com.

JACK N CAKE

With Yo Yolie, 10 p.m., Commonwealth, tixr. com.

OTIS JULIUS 7 p.m., Evel Pie, evelpie.com.

FATIMA HAJJI

With Banish, Nico Salazar, 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us.

A tasty Favela creation (Courtesy/Geo Carter)

BASS DRUM OF DEATH

With Have a Rad Day, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com.

KATY PERRY

8 p.m., & 2/18, 2/22, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

KASKADE

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

TAYLOR

TOMLINSON

8 & 10:30 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com.

KREWE DE LEGACY MARDI GRAS JAZZ PARTY

8 p.m., Legacy Club, circa lasvegas.com.

JONAS BROTHERS Thru 2/19, 8 p.m., Dolby Live, ticket master.com.

ADELE 8 p.m., & 2/18, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

LVL UP EXPO

BILL MAHER 8 p.m., & 2/18, David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand.mgm resorts.com.

UNLV SOFTBALL: DESERT CLASSIC Thru 2/19, times vary, Eller Media Stadium, unlvtickets.com.

A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS

With Strangelove, 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

PLAY ON!

7 p.m., & 2/18 (&2/18-2/19 at 2 p.m.), Las Vegas Little Theater, lvlt.org.

ASHBA

8:30 p.m., Area15 Portal, area15.com.

DJ WHOO KID

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

HARD PIPE HITTERS With The Quitters, Horripilation, Wolfhounds, 8 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesanddollarlv. com.

UNLV BASEBALL VS. PACIFIC

Thru 2/19, times vary, Earl E. Wilson Stadium, unlvtickets.com.

SPONGECOLA

7 p.m., Fremont Country Club, eventbrite.com.

MONYA

With Cervello, Elettronico, Ratio Strain, 9 p.m., the Dive Bar.

What started as a homegrown passion project for two Las Vegas locals has turned into a love letter to nerd culture everywhere. Last year alone, LVL Up Expo brought more than 30,000 video gamers, cosplayers, anime lovers and comic book readers together. As it celebrates 10 years in Las Vegas, the expo returns with one of its biggest editions yet—three days of cosplay contests, pro wrestling, K-Pop battles, retro games, hundreds of exhibitors and a stockpile of special guests, including voice actors from the battle-royale game Apex Legends; Christopher Sabat, who voiced Vegeta and Piccolo in Dragon Ball Z; and Steve Downes, Master Chief from Halo. LVL Up Expo’s competitive scene is also back with game tournaments for everything from Mario Kart 8 to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with prize pools running from $500 to $10,000. And don’t forget to pop into one of LVL Up’s afterparties at HyperX Arena inside the Luxor and KAOS Nightclub at the Palms. February 17-19, $30-$200, Las Vegas Convention Center, lvlupexpo.com.

–Amber Sampson

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

SUPERGUIDE

(Courtesy/Steve Gullick)

SUPERGUIDE 18

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: BLUE UNTIL JUNE

NBT returns to the Reynolds Hall stage with a triple bill of diverse works. First, the company will present Trey McIntyre’s Blue Until June. Set to the music of soul/blues great Etta James, the ballet explores “American archetypes of romantic love and the inevitable heartache in pursuit of such idealized aims,” per NBT’s website. Next up: the world premiere of Intimacy With Strangers from choreographer Sidra Bell, with music by Immanuel Wilkins and featuring new, custom-made costumes by wardrobe coordinator Amanda Williams. The work sets out to “reconnect [us] to the tenderness and imperfection of human connection and communal moving,” Bell tells NBT. And finally, the company will conclude the evening with Allegro Brillante by renowned ballet choreographer George Balanchine, set to Tchaikovsky’s piano Concerto No. 3. Sounds like a little something for everyone. February 18, 7:30 p.m.; February 19, 2 p.m.; $31-$141; Reynolds Hall; thesmithcenter.com. –Evelyn Mateos

SANDER VAN DOORN

FOOD + DRINK

One of the most influential Dutch dance music producers of his or any generation, Sander van Doorn hasn’t been seen around these parts in quite some time. It’s fitting that the DJ, who has always pushed through boundaries of genre to find the sounds that force people to the dancefloor, would return to Las Vegas to play Discopussy, the Downtown club that has been doing the same thing. In recent years he’s been exploring the world of dark trance under his Purple Haze alias, and last year, he reworked Belgian producer Praga Khan’s hit “Breakfast in Vegas” into a moody, throbbing track that could work in any club in any era. Rising hard techno talent Vangar pops over from LA to open. 10 p.m., $20, Discopussy, seetickets.us. –Brock Radke

NE-YO 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

PATI With Haleamano, Steppadelic, 7 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.

NEVADA CONSERVATORY THEATRE: SHE KILLS MONSTERS

7:30 p.m., (& 2/19, 2 p.m.) Judy Bayley Theatre, unlv.edu.

POWER OF LOVE GALA

5:30 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, keepmemoryalive.org.

Michael McDonald will perform at this year’s Power of Love Gala.

(Courtesy)

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

7:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

BOY GEORGE & CULTURE CLUB

8 p.m., & 2/19, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

POKÉMON GO TOUR

10 a.m., & 2/19, Sunset Park, gotour. pokemongolive.com.

MARSHMELLO

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

DEREK DOMINIQUE

2 p.m., Historic Westside Legacy Park, lasvegasnevada.gov.

AFROJACK

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

TEASE: A BURLESQUE REVUE

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

ROSE LEVEE

With Elevated Undergrounds, Kangaroo Fight Club, Hunter’s Briefcase, 7 p.m., Taverna Costera, eventbrite.com.

MARTIN GARRIX

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

JOHN ROBINSON

With Jake Martin, 8 p.m., Fremont Country Club, dice.fm.

SURF MESA

10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynn social.com

LAS VEGAS JAZZ

SOCIETY: CHARLES MCNEAL QUINTET

1 p.m., Bootlegger, bootleggerlasvegas. com.

JEFF LEESON 7 p.m., Wiseguys, vegas.wiseguys comedy.com.

JUDAH With Citrus, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com.

LANDRY

LAS VEGAS

SINFONIETTA: STRAUSS, BRAHMS & SCHÖNBERG

3 p.m., Clark County Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.

HAL SAVAR’S SINGER/SONGWRITER SHOWCASE

6 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, soulbellybbq.com

E-40 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

In late January, Oyo Hotel & Casino—the spot just off the Strip on Tropicana formerly known as Hooters Casino—celebrated the newest arrival to the comedy scene, Vegas Stand Up & Rock. Launched by the same crew that runs the Strat’s LA Comedy Club, the updated, multilevel showroom seats 230 and also offers live country and rock music Fridays and Saturdays and the Sunday night Laugh After Dark Live residency (from the Amazon Prime and Tubi comedy TV show of the same name). Canadian funnyman Landry, a first-place winner at various comedy festivals, including the World Series of Comedy—which just held a series of events at this very venue—headlines all week long, offering several opportunities to check out the new spot.

Thru 2/24, 7 p.m., $30, Vegas Stand Up & Rock, vegasstandupandrock.com. –Brock Radke

MONDAY

SLOW CRUSH With Death Bells, Trauma Ray, Roman Candle, 6:30 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, seetickets.us.

FEB.

20

MONDAYS DARK

8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark. com.

ORIGINS FILIPINO POP-UP

5 p.m., Larrea, 4515 Dean Martin Drive, istoryalv. com.

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

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

(Courtesy/Radis Denphutaraphrechar)

THY ART IS MURDER With I Am, Justice for the Damned, Kublai Khan TX, Undeath, 5 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

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

CARLOS SILVA & THE SCATTERBRAINS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesand dollarlv.com.

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

SPACEBYRDZ 10 p.m., La Mona Rosa, lamonarosalv.com.

One of the most prolific and popular musicians in Las Vegas is taking over another room. After test-driving the Palms’ former nightclub space Kaos with a few rollicking shows last year, Frankie Moreno brings his new “Live & Electric” residency to the space each month stretching into the summer, starting March 23-24. But this week, Moreno returns to a more familiar room, one he helped bring back to life after COVID closures. Catch the iTunes hitmaker doing all the things a showman does at the Smith Center’s intimate listening room Myron’s, then make your plans and get your tickets for Kaos. 7 p.m., $50, Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

–Brock Radke

DJ RUCKUS 10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com.

EDDIE IFFT With Akeem Woods, Kathleen Dunbar, Gabriel Rutledge (& 2/202/21 with Michael Yo), 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, comedycellar.com.

EDWIN LAZER 7 p.m., Lucky Day, luckydaydtlv.com.

A STATE OF MIND 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.

FRANKIE MORENO

(Courtesy/Denise Truscello)

BEHIND THE SCENES

Lisa Marie Smith (Christopher DeVargas/ Staff)

Q+A THE WEEKLY Q&A

Vegas performer Lisa Marie Smith on doubling as a corporate events producer

BY BROCK RADKE

Las Vegas’ entertainment industry has two sides. There are flashy shows and concerts and events that line the Strip, And then there are private, corporate events, just as flashy, expensive and star-studded but out of reach to the general public.

Many artists and technicians who make a living in Vegas entertainment dabble in both, but Las Vegas-born singer Lisa Marie Smith is doing more than dipping a toe in the corporate entertainment world—she’s building a second career there.

After roles in shows like Pin Up at the Strat and Baz at Palazzo and some time recording her own music, she joined the cast at Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio and was one of the first entertainers to return to the stage during the pandemic. But she had already begun a new journey by then, inspired to forge her own path after recovering from serious separate injuries to her back and vocal cords that threatened her career.

Smith and her husband and partner Isaac Tubb—an acclaimed trumpet player and musician who has also performed in countless Vegas shows and currently co-stars in Cirque du Soleil’s Mad Apple at New York-New York— created Live Music Society, a band that performed in casino lounges before graduating to big-time corporate gigs, like the private show headlined by Janet Jackson to ring in the new year at Wynn.

It was a bold move, and it’s been an interesting adventure so far, Smith says—and she’s only getting started.

Shifting from performer to producer probably seems like a natural progression to those outside the industry, but it’s pretty complicated, right?

It presented a real challenge for me. There’s a lack of female representation in the industry in general, but usually females are the performers, not the people casting the performers. That space is generally a boys’ club— the creation, the booking, the negotiation, the production. Not to mention to cross over from entertainer to producer or booker or agent, people might not take you seriously. You’re stepping on toes. And the lines are very separated in Las Vegas—you’re behind the scenes or you’re in front. I had to develop a super-clear sense of intention, a super-thick skin and a game plan.

The core of that game plan is the band, Live Music Society, which is something of a rotating cast of some of the most talented musicians in Vegas. It started as a bunch of friends, and you always hear it’s a bad idea to hire your friends.

But they had a vested interest in our company, and they’re some of the best musicians in Las Vegas—even our sound guys work on some of the best shows on the Strip—so we got really strong feedback in the lounges.

That started us down the path of reaching out to the corporate event industry.

It takes a lot of different skills to run a corporate music event.

A lot of people think they get a band together, play the music the client wants and call it a day. But that wouldn’t justify the invest-

ment the [company] is making. These events cost a lot of money, so it’s about what makes this band different from plucking any group in Las Vegas or any other place. The [performance] has to be catered individually to each brand. LMS came in as a liaison between big business and art.

Did the private New Year’s Eve party at Wynn with Janet Jackson mark a point where your business turned the corner? It was huge. Jaimee [Gallego] at JKay Choreography reached out about it and said, “It’s a 90-minute production, and we want to work with you to put it on. We do the performance structure and you guys do all the music.” It was two months of hyper-focused structure with a timecode; we had to do everything on a click, going from one song into another with a beat underneath. We had to figure out who do we incorporate that with live musicians.

It was really challenging in a good way, and we found out we were opening for Janet a couple weeks before. And Cher ended up being there, which was really cool, because she’s my idol. I’m Armenian, and she’s the only Armenian pop star ever. It was a [turning point], but the major turning point was when I was asked to spearhead the entertainment for Caesars Means Business, their campaign tour for the year. We went to six cities over six months, and I was hired to create and supply the entertainment. It was in conjunction with Imprint Events Group, and their partnership was the launch of me doing this on a corporate scale … That connected me to the Wynn, so there was a domino effect.

What’s it like to be developing and growing this company with your husband, who just happens to be one of those great Vegas musicians? He’s an anomaly. He has that dual brain. A lot of musicians don’t necessarily have that frontperson mentality, and he can turn that on, although he doesn’t like to. I think that’s why he was hired for Mad Apple. Isaac and I decided to divide and conquer, so he starts developing the music structure and I was the one creating a legit technical rider and getting into the details.

It must be rewarding to collaborate with your partner like that, and to work with so many of your friends. One of the most fulfilling parts of this whole journey has been employing people I love and respect who deserve their time to shine. Giving somebody like [singer] Elise Victoria a platform to use that insane voice of hers … and now she runs the band in all the lounges, hires musicians, creates setlists.

People are getting inspired to create their own projects. When you give people that respect, they start believing in themselves more and it breeds excellence. That is the most rewarding part of it.

What does your future as a performer look like? I’m still doing Mayfair, and I’m still doing [cruise] ships on occasion. I want to perform because it brings me joy, not because I have to. We become artists because it brought us joy, and then it turns into our job, and sometimes the joy can be stripped from that. So the ultimate goal is to find the joy every time I perform.

OPEN OPEN OPEN

HEARTS. MINDS. DOORS.

laTimey P

BY BROCK RADKE

Katy Perry loves Las Vegas, and she loves performing on the Las Vegas Strip. She says it during her show, the vibrant and completely unique Play at Resorts World Theatre. She says it in her interviews, like this exclusive chat with the Weekly. And she said it repeatedly while receiving a Key to the Strip last summer, in a highlighter-yellow dress by the pool at Ayu Dayclub under a scorching sun.

During our conversation last month, the pop singer behind nine Billboard No. 1 hits—“Waking Up in Vegas” only made it to No. 9 in 2009, by the way—demonstrated that she has a sharp understanding of Strip entertainment and the expectations of a headlining residency show like hers.

“It’s definitely a way to have an incredible show and cater to an audience that wants maybe a more packaged experience like staying at a nice hotel, having a nice dinner, going to a nice show and maybe going out after,” Perry says. “It’s different from going on tour and seeing someone at an arena or stadium, when you’re still playing the last record you put out. When you come to Vegas, you really know you’re gonna get the essentials, the hits, the concentrated version of the artist.”

new Vegas, too, very experiential and almost family-based. There’s a real pleasing nostalgia aesthetic I wanted to tap into that my own family has been a part of, so I guess I was paying homage.”

It’s easy to imagine this star shining playing the Strip for a long time, which would suit her just fine. Just this week, her residency was extended through mid-August.

“I can see myself being in Vegas for periods of time for the rest of my life, especially since I live so close in California,” Perry says. “I can see myself having many different moments in the future. I’ll still go on tours and be putting out records, but it’s a great touchstone to come back to.”

KATY PERRY: PLAY

February 17-18, 22, 24-25; March 3-4; April 5, 7-8, 14-15; 8 p.m.; $93$356. Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

She gets it, and what’s more, she has some serious Vegas connections. Her father grew up here, and her parents met and married here. Her grandmother worked as a seamstress creating costumes worn in production shows on the Strip, and her aunt was a showgirl in one of those shows—at the Stardust, on the same chunk of land where Resorts World now stands.

Of course, Perry splashed her own campy, cartoon-y style all over it. (Surely you’ve heard of the giant toilet and other gigantic props, if you haven’t yet been to Resorts World Theatre.) With the assistance of producer and lighting designer Baz Halpin and directors and choreographers Ashley Evans and Antony Ginandjar, video content by Blink Inc. and musical direction from longtime collaborator Kris Pooley, Perry crafted a one-of-a-kind spectacle that truly stands out. Play maintains a throwback ’60s vibe within its sights and sounds that connects all the dots.

“I like remembering that vibe of the old Vegas, and there’s something really cool and classy about that,” she says. “Then there’s this

You opened Play toward the end of 2021 and seem pleased with the way it’s been going. Why has it been such a cozy fit for you? There are three reasons artists do Vegas. One is the comfort level. Having a young child and getting to drop my daughter at preschool and then go to work, then coming home and making the lunchbox in the morning and doing it all again, that’s a special time I’ll never get back. I don’t want to miss that. You know, mommy was on tour in Europe and didn’t get to see you grow three inches.

You do it for that comfort and ease. You do it because you can create this incredible spectacle, because of the capabilities of the show and the stage. And you do it because you’re making a better financial move than a world tour, which is really hard.

Every tour I’ve ever created was a world of its own, but Vegas is a world of its own. I’m an experiential person. I get to indulge in a nice restaurant, take my daughter to see something interesting, see the art installations that are popping through.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wider age range at a Vegas residency show. You have parents taking their teenagers and all kinds of groups of different people. How did you manage to cultivate that following? It’s all about the songs, and the personality. I think I straddle the line of the inside joke or the double-entendre. It’s like when you watch a Pixar film—not all the little kids understand the jokes, and some are written especially for

could only put this show together in Vegas.”

Katy Perry tells the Weekly why her Vegas show means the world to her

(Courtesy/Kevin Mazur)

That’s always been my brand, ages 8 to 80.”

adults, so everybody can enjoy it.

That’s always been my brand, ages 8 to 80. I’ve always tried to maintain that integrity and trust with my audience, and it’s always been 8 to 80, because I don’t think I cross the line of being too age-appropriate. I straddle it, literally, physically. I have fun being cheeky, but I don’t necessarily need my cheeks out. That can all evolve in the future, but I’m not vanilla, not a play-it-safe artist, but I’m not like a shock jock.

Seeing Play and really understanding your grasp of the visual side of what you do—not just this show but so many wild music videos and touring production setups—also made me wonder why you haven’t done more with movies or TV. Is that something you’re considering? I’m always open to the right thing, always open for the conversation. It’s a juggling act. I’ve created a few other businesses on the side, and I always say that music is the trunk of my tree. but there are other creative branches blooming and I’m managing them. Getting them to be full and flourishing is a large operation.

I get sent all kinds of things all the time, and some are an obvious no, and a few of them are great. But it’s just about having 24 hours in the day, especially when you have a child and you’re laying that foundation of presence with them. That’s super-important for me.

Have you thought about what this Vegas show might mean in the grand scope of your career? Do you think it will rank as one of your favorite accomplishments? A hundred percent. When we were creating this show, I had to have a real cometo-Jesus with myself about who my audience potentially was. It isn’t always my core fan

base. My audience is a convention attendee looking for a night out, or a bachelorette party, or my audience got a family package to the show, or it’s their 21st birthday. It’s people that are creating an eventful day to celebrate whatever they’re celebrating. Those people may not know every album I do front to back, and that’s why I had that conversation with myself and why 85 to 90 percent of the show is those undeniable, big, massive hit songs.

I’m not going to do a self-serving, self-proving, I-am-a-serious-artist moment, I can save that for a tour if I want. This show is larger than life, which is really what Vegas is. And I’m glad I went this route, because the other route is a little more obscure and a little less light-filled.

I will look back at this show as one of my favorite shows I ever put together, but I could only put this show together in Vegas. There’s no way I could take these oversized props all over the world. There’s no practical way to ship or fly 20-foot-tall toilets and put them together night after night. Actually, I’ll probably go out on a world tour and have the sads, because I’ll have to have a more realistic approach when creating another show.

One could argue that creating this show, which is so tuned to your music and style, against the backdrop of Las Vegas and all the other residencies and entertainment options, actually is a serious artist moment. Listen, it’s not easy. And serious doesn’t have to be sad and moody. It’s pop art and that’s to be taken seriously, too, right? Andy Warhol and the Campbell’s soup? People are taking that seriously. Joy is valuable. A lot of artists are moody and introspective. For me, there’s always layers, and the fans know that. Nothing is one-dimensional.

(Courtesy/Kevin Mazur)

POLICE INCIDENT ON CAMPUS

The Clark County School District will review its district police department’s use of force policy and protocols in the wake of an incident recorded February 9 in which a CCSD Police officer is seen slamming a Black teenager to the ground at Durango High School.

NEWS

U2 RESIDENCY AT MSG SPHERE SET TO BEGIN THIS YEAR

What’s been rumored for months was made official during Super Bowl 57: Veteran rock band U2 will launch the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas with a concert residency later this year.

The show, U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere, was teased during a TV commercial near the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 38-35 win against the Philadelphia Eagles on February 12. Fans can register at verifiedfan. livenation.com/u2 to receive information on specific show dates and ticket sales information.

U2’s performances, which will make use of the 17,500-seat Sphere’s 500,000plus square feet of LED screens, will apparently focus on the band’s 1991 album Achtung Baby, which debuted at

PSYCHO LAS VEGAS POSTPONED

Psycho Las Vegas, the heavy metal and psychedelic rock festival that debuted here in 2016 and most recently took place at Resorts World in August, has postponed its next edition until 2024, organizers announced February 10.

An announcement of the postponement cited that “the desired lineup could not be achieved given external factors outside of our control.”

Passes for Psycho’s 2023 edition, originally set for August 18-20, went on sale in the days following the 2022 festival.

No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and spent 13 weeks within the top 10. The album spawned five hit singles— “The Fly,” “Mysterious Ways,” “One,” “Even Better Than the Real Thing” and “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses.”

A press release also confirmed that drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who will undergo surgery this year, will not be part of the Las Vegas run. Bram van den Berg will fill his spot for the shows.

“It’s going to take all we’ve got to approach the Sphere without our bandmate in the drum seat, but Larry has joined us in welcoming Bram van den Berg who is a force in his own right,” read a statement from vocalist Bono, guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton. –LVW Staff

“Ticket holders will receive an email with instructions on how to receive a full refund,” the announcement continued. “We understand how disappointing this is, and we thank you for your continued support.”

Since arriving in Las Vegas, Psycho has been staged at three different casino-resorts: the Hard Rock Hotel (now the site of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas), Mandalay Bay and Resorts World. The many acts to play Psycho Las Vegas thus far have included Mercyful Fate, The Original Misfits, Opeth, Electric Wizard, Emperor, Danzig, Sleep, Mayhem, Neurosis, Alice Cooper, Mastodon, King Diamond, Beach House, Godflesh, Swans, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mayhem, Sunn O))), GZA and Deafheaven. –LVW Staff

INFLATION SLOWS

The pace of consumer price increases eased again in January compared with a year earlier, the latest sign that the high inflation that has gripped Americans for nearly two years is easing. Consumer prices climbed 6.4% in January from a year earlier, down from 6.5% in December.

40% OF WING EATERS PREFER BONELESS WINGS … WHICH ARE NOT WINGS.

BROADWAY SERIES

Bob Dylan musical Girl From the North Country and Canadian musical Come From Away—a pair of Tony Awardwinning productions—will highlight the Smith Center’s 2023-2024 Toyota Broadway Las Vegas Series. For more, visit lasvegasweekly.com

THE MOB MUSEUM MARKS VALENTINE’S DAY WITH ARTIFACTS FROM MASSACRE

While couples celebrated Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas with gifts and romantic dinners, the Mob Museum marked the 94th anniversary of one of the most notorious gangland murders in organized crime history.

The holiday is the anniversary of one of the most infamous organized crime events in U.S. history: On February 14, 1929, seven members of a Chicago gang were ambushed and brutally murdered in what would become known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

Nearly a century later, the Mob Museum played host to a special presentation of several items from the crime scene, including weapons linked to the shooting, a gun belonging to one of the victims and letters written by mob boss Al Capone—who is believed by many to have been responsible for the massacre.

The exhibit coincided

with the 11th anniversary of the museum’s opening, which was commemorated with free admission for locals and buy-one-get-one ticket prices for tourists.

“Everything got separated,” Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs at the Mob Museum, said of the artifacts. “They got moved, and now we’re bringing all that back together for this pivotal moment.”

Among the artifacts on display for the first time were three letters written by Capone, as well as a home video the mob boss made at his mansion in Miami Beach, Florida, that provide interesting insight into the infamous mobster’s life, Schumacher said.

Those letters will also be displayed February 18, as will a gun that belonged to one of the victims of the massacre, Frank Gusenberg, who was shot 14 times and died three hours later. –Katie Ann McCarver

SPORTS

FORMER UNLV QUARTERBACK LANDS HEAD COACHING JOB

The Indianapolis Colts hired Shane Steichen as their head coach February 14.

Steichen, 37, played college football at UNLV as a quarterback from 2003 to 2006 and most recently served as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, who narrowly lost Super Bowl 57 despite scoring 35 points February 12.

Under Steichen’s tenure in Philadelphia, quarterback Jalen Hurts went from second-round draft pick in 2020 to solid starter in 2021 to NFL MVP runner-up in 2022.

But Hurts isn’t Steichen’s only prized pupil. In 2020, as offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, Steichen presided over Justin Herbert’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.

In Indianapolis, Steichen inherits a quarterback, Matt Ryan, who is just six days younger than him and would count $35.2 million against the salary cap if he returns.

–Associated Press

The M-Bot security robot patrols in front of the M Resort on February 9 in Henderson. The property last month debuted the 5-foot, 450-pound robot, equipped with 50 cameras and sensors, which patrols the exterior of the property 22 hours a day. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

HOT SHOT

(Steve Marcus/Staff)

A NEW CENTER

The City of Las Vegas creates a civic gathering place

BY GEOFF CARTER

Over the past 20 years, the City of Las Vegas has steadily rebuilt its core.

It has re-energized its Fremont and Main Street corridors, welcoming new businesses and implementing massive street improvements; willed a Medical District into being, complete with a brand-new UNLV School of Medicine; coaxed the building of midrise apartment buildings, a world-class brain research clinic and a performing arts center on the site of a former railroad maintenance yard; and even built itself a new City Hall in 2012, with rivulets of LED light cascading down its facade.

But this new Downtown Vegas had no discernible center point—a place for festivals, concerts, rallies, job fairs, farmers’ markets and the like. Most cities have such a gathering spot, but Las Vegas, a relatively new city born at the height of 1950s car culture, has little park space and nothing that could rightly be called a “public square.” So, in keeping with its spirit of reinvention, and working from a design by LGA Architecture and BNIM Architects, the City is building one from the ground up.

The Civic Plaza project was originally conceived as a way of centralizing all of Vegas’ far-flung city employees, says Mike Janssen, executive director of infrastructure for the City of Las Vegas’ Public Works arm. “We’ve always had staff at various satellite offices all over the city,” he says.

“City Hall has over 500 employees. Then we added the Municipal Courthouse [in 2021]—that has a couple hundred employees. And we looked at all our satellite offices and said, ‘You know, what we really want is a City Hall campus.’”

A one-block area bordered by City Hall to the north, the Municipal Court building to the east, Bonneville Avenue to the south and Main Street to the west,

the current Civic Plaza site plan consists of two new buildings—one five stories tall, the other four. Approximately 250 to 300 city employees will move into the first three floors of the five-story building, with the top two floors reserved for future growth. Plans for the four-story building are more fluid, with possible tenants including UNLV’s Boyd School of Law or one or more of the City’s Innovation Centers. A ground level, as-yetunleased restaurant/retail space, and a 1,000-square-foot gallery space to be curated by the City’s Office of Cultural Affairs, are also part of the plan. All told, the two buildings will provide nearly 300,000 square feet of space for the City.

“For a little perspective, City Hall is about

310,000 square feet,” Janssen says. “Essentially, we are building an equivalent space.”

Those two new and two existing buildings will encircle a nearly two-acre open plaza, with shaded seating areas, green space and public art. Two giant “Event Pavilions” anchor the plaza at its north and south ends, capable of functioning as covered areas for markets, fairs and outdoor dining, or as stages for concerts and events. A festival geek could look at the placement of the stages in the rendering and easily imagine multiple bands playing alternating sets.

“You can hold 2,473 on the lawn area for the concert, and then an additional 825 for a festival,” Janssen says. “Our cultural affairs team’s mission is to have that

space programmed year-round, whether that’s for art events, concerts, yoga in the park, public readings, public speaking, car shows, you name it. That space is being created for that one piece of outdoor plaza area that we’ve been missing, and to make it have the energy that we want from the City Hall campus.”

Additionally, the section of Clark Avenue that runs in front of City Hall will be closed to daily traffic, extending the plaza to City Hall’s front doors. Removable bollards will be placed at the two ends of the street, creating a pedestrian-friendly area that can still accommodate food trucks and other parked vehicles. That part of the project came easy, Janssen notes, compared to the land acquisitions the City had

to complete to make this project happen.

“There are lots of tiny parcels Downtown—narrow, 20 foot-wide parcels. This block was no different. There were dozens of parcels there.” In the end, he notes, eminent domain was unnecessary; all the required parcels were acquired through “willing buyer, willing seller” transactions.

Janssen also notes that many of the elements that will make this project a success are already in place. There’s a parking garage just across the way on Main, with bridges that connect it to Symphony Park.

The restaurants and bars of Fourth Street, the Arts District and Fremont Street are comfortably within walking distance. And the Bonneville Transit Center, just to the southeast, is the transfer point for “17 or

18 transit lines from every single corner of the city,” Janssen says.

At present, the project is barely begun; the site remains at-grade parking, dirt lots and a closed bail bonds shop. But the utility and sewer lines that crisscross the site are being relocated, as is a deactivated cell tower, and the bail bonds structure will soon be demolished. The project team and contractor Core Constrution are striving for a December 2024 finish.

“Our staff will be all moved in by then, so we’ll be able to have a Christmas event, as well as New Year’s events,” he says.

“And our contractor and architecture team has ensured that every step we’ve taken has been strategic, to make sure we hit that date.”

A rendering of Civic Plaza (Courtesy/City of Las Vegas Public Works)

SHORT SWEET AND

The Dam Short Film Festival resumes in-person screenings— at a new Boulder City venue

BY SHANNON MILLER

After hosting its screenings virtually in 2021 and 2022, the Dam Short Film Festival will mark its in-person return by drawing crowds to a new Boulder City venue for five days of moviegoing magic.

“Virtual had its advantages—you could sit at home and watch from your house—but it’s not quite the same,” says Lee Lanier, the fest’s director of continuity. “It’s really different to see it done with a large audience, having filmmakers who made the films there to answer questions and just hanging out with all the people.”

The festival’s 19th annual edition

will screen 153 short films from February 16-20 in several 60 to 90-minute programs: animation, comedy, documentary, drama, music video, Nevada, sci-fi/horror, student and underground. Entries come from all over the world, including Brazil, China, Israel, Mexico and Poland.

“We have two Nevada programs— nothing but films from [around] the state, many of them from Las Vegas,” Lanier says. “Those tend to be our best-attended programs. A lot of people come to support [those] filmmakers.”

For the first time, the 2023 DSFF will take place at the Elaine K. Smith Building, a multipurpose facility in

Boulder City’s historic downtown district that once was home to a College of Southern Nevada campus.

Why the change of venue from the fest’s traditional Boulder Theater home? “We were unable to rent it this year. I can’t go into details why,” Lanier says.

Despite moving to a spot with fewer seats—down from 400 to 250—Lanier says attendees should count on the traditional experience, along with an additional perk. “Aside from the venue change, we expect everything to be similar in terms of very excellent projection of film, Q&As … all the things we normally have,” he says.

“[Plus,] we can actually sell concessions this year within the screening space, which we weren’t allowed to do in the theater, previously.”

Lanier and his wife, Anita, founded the Dam Short Film Festival nearly two decades ago and have seen it blossom, to the point where it typically attracts thousands of movie enthusiasts and “scores of filmmakers” each year. He estimates at least 100 filmmakers will attend this time.

“We’re consistently rated one of the top-100 film festivals in the entire world … by filmmakers,” he says, referencing Dam Short’s ratings on the film

festival website FilmFreeway. “We do make sure we treat them well.”

After each program, audience members can cast votes for their favorite within that group. Awards will be announced and rescreened Sunday night.

And as a bonus, on Monday, the festival will repeat four of the most popular programs and screen every award-winning film in two special sessions.

Lanier warns that, “There probably will be more sellouts this year, [so] you might want to show up a bit early to stand in line for a few minutes and make sure you get a seat.”

Boulder City’s Elaine K. Smith Building (Wade Vandervort/Staff); (below) posters for films scheduled to screen at the 2023 festival (Courtesy)

DAM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL February 16-20, times & prices vary. Elaine K. Smith Building, 700 Wyoming St., Boulder City, damshortfilm.org.

PARTY CONDUCTOR

playful, bass-forward tech-house cut currently nearing 9 million streams on Spotify. And let’s not forget “Your Tongue,” a flex of HoneyLuv’s clean production, mantra-building earworms and thrumming basslines.

The Martinez Brothers, the Honey Dijons, and I felt more at home with that type of music. So that’s where I have shifted my focus.”

Character taught herself how to DJ in 2018 while stationed near Malibu, California. She’d practice until midnight on her Pioneer DJ starter pack in her barracks, then awaken around 5 a.m. to start her next shift.

But even before she was spinning, Character had a passion for producing. In middle school, she’d create beats on her keyboard and write poetry over them. Back then, she had Black female producers like Missy Elliott and dancehall divas like CeCe Peniston, the voice behind ’90s classic “Finally,” from whom to cull inspiration, thanks to her mother’s eclectic taste in music.

“At the time, I didn’t think of [CeCe’s music] as dance music—maybe I was too young—but I liked it,” Character says. “I knew it was music that made you move. That’s where it all started.”

That exposure to groundbreaking Black artists left a lasting impression on Character, who often finds herself as one of the only Black female DJs on a festival bill. That isn’t lost on her, especially because house music is so deeply rooted in Black culture.

But seeing mainstream giants like Beyoncé earn accolades with works like 2022’s Renaissance, which highlights the Black pioneers of the genre, gives Character hope the narrative will change, she says.

“Sometimes it’s sad when we have to look to other bigger pop artists to actually give us those flowers for those types of things,” she says. “But I greatly appreciate it, because I think some people forget. A lot of the artists that do come in here don’t know the history of it.”

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Few people have lived as many lives as Taylor Character. At one point, she was a celebrated NCAA basketball player. Then she became a skilled drone operator in the U.S. Navy. And now? She’s an internationally known house DJ and producer, spinning under the name HoneyLuv.

The Cleveland-born artist shattered expectations in 2022 with the career-defining Black Book Records track “365 (Thr33 6ix 5ive),” a

Her breakthrough year continued with the 365 Tour, which took her overseas and to major U.S. music festivals like Outside Lands, Electric Forest and Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnival (for the second time). Now she returns to town for a set at Downtown’s We All Scream.

Traveling to that many markets and experiencing so many variations of house has greatly influenced the HoneyLuv sound, Character says. “By me just doing my own research,” she explains, “I found out about the Jamie Joneses,

As HoneyLuv, she continues to carve her own path, starting with her first single of 2023, “Inside My Mind,” featuring house heavyweight Harry Romero. Three more features are on the way, with Michigan techhouse DJ Seth Troxler, longtime producer and vocalist Roland Clark, and Will Clarke, who has made several trips to Vegas for RVLTN Events’ Holy House shows (“I call this year the year of collabs,” Character laughs).

Don’t expect another career shift anytime soon from a beatmaker who has fully hit her stride.

DJ HoneyLuv (Courtesy/Niki Cram)

DJ HoneyLuv shows she can do it all and then some

HONEYLUV With Danco, Sigi, Faceto. February 16, 10 p.m., $15. We All Scream, seetickets.us.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

HOSTED BY SHAWN EIFERMAN

WEDNESDAYS | 8PM  LATE

OLDMANNWILLY

LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE

THURSDAYS | 8PM  12AM

THAT VEGAS DUO

LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE

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M3CCA

LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE

SATURDAYS | 9PM  1AM

UPSIDE-DOWN TEA PARTY

A BOOZY TAKE ON THE HIGH TEA EXPERIENCE

SUNDAYS | 12PM  4PM

AT VIRGIN HOTELS

LAS VEGAS

Must be 21 or older. For complete details and reservations, visit virginhotelslv.com. Management reserves all rights.

SAFE ZONE

Fresa’s Skate Shop provides a hub for the local roller skating community

BY SHANNON MILLER

You won’t find many quad or in-line skating competitions in the Las Vegas Valley. In fact, Amanda Quintanilla, owner of the new Fresa’s Skate Shop in the Arts District, says hers was the “first competition for roller skating” anywhere in town.

On February 3, 27 quad (four-wheel) and in-line skaters took laps across and performed tricks above the shop’s 16-by-42-foot indoor ramp, newly renovated with a spine and a hump.

“It’s the only skate shop in the state with an indoor ramp,” Quintanilla says.

It feels natural for Quintanilla (known to the community as Fresa) to be the one to bring it to town. For her, roller skating is a way of life. “Roller skating is the new shoes! We should be allowed to go anywhere with roller skates,” she laughs.

During the pandemic, the 40-yearold El Salvador native and LA transplant fully embraced her love of skating and opened her store. “I started

skating in my teenage years, [then] I stopped for a while. And in 2020, I decided to pick it up again,” she says. “I used it as an escape. I was going through depression and lost my job, and I didn’t know what to do.”

The shop opened in August 2022. Based on the attendance at the competition—about 80 people came through during the night to watch and cheer—it appears to have helped fill a void in the local community.

Hannah Blank, 20, says it was the first skate competition in which she has competed. Since moving back to town from the Pacific Northwest, she has been skating for about a year, and has found the Vegas community “welcoming.”

“The Northwest could be kind of cutthroat,” she laughs. “Fresa’s does a good job of getting locals together, and is supportive.”

Older competitors agree, and emphasize that wasn’t always the case.

Melvin Sentman, 29, runs the Ins-

FRESA’S SKATE SHOP

1300 S. Main St. #140, 702-2011140, fresas skateshop.com.

Tuesday-Sunday, noon-7 p.m. Next event: February 18, 6 p.m., free.

tagram account @vegasbladingcommunity, which shares information and resources for the roller-skating community. He’s been skating for 17 years.

Like Blank, Sentman noticed that skating spaces had a certain edge that kept him from fully participating or enjoying the sport, at times. “It took me a while to get out of that competitive mindset,” he says. “Rollerblading will not pay the bills. But if you love it, you need to find a way to do it.”

Eddie Lopez, 36, says a childhood experience at a skate park kept him from in-line skating for a long time. “I remember the day I stopped skating is when I was called a f*g,” he said, calling out homophobia and other forms of ostracism in some skateboarding spaces. “You didn’t want to show up to the park in blades. You’d get beat up.”

At 14 years old, that incident was enough to make him walk away from an activity he loved. “I lost years, [but] today, I’m raising my kids to skate,” he said.

Skating over to Quintanilla before heading back to the ramp to warm up, he said, “Amanda, thanks for everything you do here.”

She smiled, sitting on a sofa with a flower, a disco ball and Frida Kahlo throw pillows; behind her, a bright-yellow “tattoo collage” mural with views of skaters dipping above store displays. Her red-jumpsuited employees were gliding around, attending to customers and getting Fresa’s ready for the competition.

“This shop is owned by a woman and run by women,” Quintanilla says. “All the employees are women of color, which is very important to us. It’s a safe zone for everyone.”

Holding space and lifting up the roller skating community also means investing in them, she says. Fresa’s is launching sponsorships to send local skaters to other competitions.

“We’re sponsoring a couple of local skaters. … There’s a competition called Blading Cup in California, and I want to take Las Vegas to represent,” she says. “There’s a lot of great talent here that’s not getting recognized.”

(Left) A skating competition during First Friday

(Below) Amanda Quintanilla, owner of Fresa’s Skate Shop

(Brian Ramos/Staff)

2023 – Pioneer Award – Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation Britney Spears Campus

2023 – Leadership Award – Angelina Scarcelli

2022- “Mark Anderson” Associate Member of the Year – Alicia Nelson

2022 – Committee Member of the Year –Tasha Blackburn

2022 BOMA Board of Directors 2023 The

Office Under 100,000 sq. feet – American Nevada Realty - Corporate Center 3

2022 – Principal Member of the Year –Vanesa Werme

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADRIENNE ANGELO

2022 – President’s Award – Teri Steuart

Bradley Ogden takes over the kitchen at Marche Bacchus

TWO TREASURES UNITE

BY BROCK RADKE

Humboldt Fog blue cheese souffle. Hot and cold foie gras with toasted Boston brown bread. And yes, that butterscotch pudding. These are some of the signature dishes of Bradley Ogden, the Michigan-born chef who worked with James Beard in Kansas City, put himself on the national culinary map at the Lark Creek Inn in California and brought farm-to-table dining to the Strip during a 10-year-run with his eponymous restaurant at Caesars Palace. And those beautiful bites are coming back to Las Vegas. Ogden was recently named culinary director at Marche

Bradley Ogden at Marche Bacchus; (opposite) the Desert Shores restaurant’s patio views (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Bacchus in Desert Shores.

“It reminds me so much of Lark Creek Inn, my first restaurant opened in Marin County,” Ogden says of the Vegas neighborhood favorite restaurant and wine shop owned by Jeff and Rhonda Wyatt. “I guess what goes around comes around. There’s so much opportunity there, with the feel of the lake right there and the community restaurant that it is. It’s a great fit.”

Ogden’s most recent Vegas project was the Hops & Harvest gastropub, which closed at Tivoli Village in 2013. He moved back to the Valley a couple of years ago to serve as a corporate chef at Sugar Factory, where his son and longtime collaborator Bryan Ogden worked as vice president of operations.

bringing everything up to date,” he says. “But we’re going to maintain a lot of what they’ve already acquired, maintain the venue and the success they’ve had with the wine program and other things. I’m just going to be bringing in my style.”

WELL DONE

MARCHE BACCHUS

2620 Regatta Drive, 702-8048008, marche bacchus.com. Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.;

Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Favorite dishes will stay put, like escargot, French onion soup, and much of the popular brunch and dinner fare. Ogden has plenty of ideas about other dishes from his past that could be updated for the new menu, like Peekytoe crab salad with cucumber broth. “I’m not French, but certainly great cooking comes from French technique,” he says.

Bryan had introduced Bradley to the Wyatts, and when the Sugar Factory gig ran its course, a new conversation began.

While plenty of change is coming to Marche Bacchus, Ogden says loyal fans have nothing to worry about. “I plan to have a working chef in place, under my tight control, and we’re already talking about remodeling the kitchen and

Regulars know the Wyatts have been steadily reinvesting in and updating the food and space since they bought the restaurant nearly 15 years ago, building Marche Bacchus into something more than a pleasant escape for locals—a bona fide institution. Different chefs have also added their own touches to the core cuisine through the years.

Ogden is searching for a chef de cuisine and other additional staff, but “we have great people already that bring great skills,” he says.

Michael Mina’s updated StripSteak ushers in new classics

 Can you improve on a winning formula? In the case of StripSteak at Mandalay Bay, the answer is a resounding yes.

Michael Mina’s steakhouse, which debuted 16 years ago and set the bar for the steakhouses that followed, has undergone a makeover. In addition to a new look in the dining room—now with warm, desert hues, midcentury furnishings and one of the largest private dining rooms on the Strip—the menu is studded with new offerings, while keeping some favorites close at hand.

“We’ve really had a lot of fun with the menu,” Mina says. “We’ve probably changed 70 percent.

“Obviously, the techniques that we use [for] the steaks haven’t changed. The rib cap probably will always be the signature steak here, but to be able to do great appetizers with some good Japanese influence, have a lot of light choices and shareable things, is really fun and whimsical. It’s a nice way to start your meal and still be able to have that classic steak with

those sides done really well. That’s what StripSteak is all about, and that’s what we wanted to keep it about.”

How to approach the new menu? Start with the savory-sweet palate pleaser caviar jelly doughnuts ($17), filled with bright yuzu curd and topped with Daurenki caviar. You’ll find that Japanese influence in the hamachi nori tacos ($28), fresh yellowtail wrapped in crispy seaweed and topped with soy-cured ikura and wasabi tobiko. Share an order with the table.

The prime rib Wagyu ($86) is a deeply flavored cut of meat. Covered in duck fat and aged 45 days, it’s served with fresh horseradish and black truffle au jus. Or for a truly decadent steakhouse experience, splurge for the Kagoshima A5 Wagyu ($260 for a 5 oz. portion), served with StripSteak’s signature red wine-shallot butter and prepared in Mina’s tried-and-true way—butter-poached and fired up in a wood-burning grill. Some things need not change, and that’s fine by us.

–Genevie Durano

StripSteak’s Kurobuta pork tomahawk (Courtesy/Mandalay Bay)

STRIKE VIPERS OF THE

BY DANNY WEBSTER

The XFL is back. It’s also back in Las Vegas. And if it can stay a oat for more than a year in its third attempt, it might just turn into a consistent hub to launch players into the NFL.

The Vegas Vipers, one of eight teams in the reformulated league, kick o the XFL schedule on the road February 18 against the Arlington Renegades, a game that will air on ABC at noon.

“I’m beyond excited,” Vipers defensive end Jah’Sheem Martin says. “We’ve got a good thing brewing over here. We’ve got a bunch of older guys that know what it takes to win and build something, and a bunch of young guys who are hungry and chasing their dreams.”

If you’ve heard of the XFL but don’t remember its nuances from back in the day, fear not. It’s a completely di erent league now. The XFL played its rst and only full season in 2001 after then-World Wrestling Federation owner Vince McMahon launched the product.

McMahon envisioned the XFL as an alternative to the NFL, with fewer rules and more risqué entertainment.

It showed some promise at the outset. The rst-ever game, staged in Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium, drew a massive television rating, with 10.3% of U.S. households tuning in, but the numbers quickly plummeted. The second week’s nationally televised game su ered a delay from a power outage, pushing Saturday Night Live back by an hour. Several other broadcasting mishaps occurred before season’s end, with both the WWF and NBC ultimately losing millions of dollars on the endeavor.

McMahon and the WWE attempted to revive the XFL with a scaled-back version in 2020, but the league lasted only ve weeks due to the pandemic.

VIPERS TO WATCH

BRETT HUNDLEY Quarterback

The team’s top signal-caller has NFL experience, having started nine games in place of an injured Aaron Rodgers in 2017. With Hundley here and rumors swirling that Rodgers could join the Raiders, might we see a local reunion?

This third try will take place under a new head of operations: Former WWE champion and movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson takes over, with plans of presenting a more serious product than its predecessors.

The XFL’s goal is now solely to become a secondary league for players who hope to eventually make it, or make it back, to the NFL.

“I think the sky’s the limit for the league,” Martin says. “There’s only a certain amount of spots for guys to make the NFL, but there’s so much talent out there. I think this league has the opportunity to capture that essence.”

The Las Vegas Outlaws might be the most remembered team from the original XFL. In a league billed around personalities, none was bigger than running back and kick returner Rod Smart, better known as “He Hate Me,” which was prominently displayed on the back of his jersey.

There don’t seem to be any such zany characters this time around, but there are some recognizable names on the Vipers’ roster. Former UCLA and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Hundley leads an o ense that also includes former Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders receiver Martavis Bryant. Former Atlanta Falcon and Las Vegas Raider Vic Beasley is expected to anchor the Vipers’ defense.

Those are players attempting to claw their way back to the NFL, while potential standouts like Martin and o ensive lineman Clayton Bradley will try to prove they belong there after missing out post-college.

Martin played four years at Pace University, a small school in New York City, where he was named rst-team all-conference in the Northeast-10 in 2018 after contributing 5.5 sacks. Martin has

VIPERS’ HOME SCHEDULE

February 25 vs. DC Defenders

4 p.m., FX

March 4 vs. Seattle Sea Dragons

4 p.m., FX

March 18 vs. Orlando Guardians

7 p.m., FX

March 25 vs. St. Louis Battlehawks

4 p.m., FX

April 1 vs. San Antonio Brahmas

3 p.m., ESPN

All home games at Cashman Field.

Season tickets $110-$235 at xfl.com. Single-game tickets $12-$180 at ticketmaster.com.

continued to train over the past few years in the hopes an NFL team might come calling.

“I’m telling you, I am chomping at the bit, dying to get back on the eld,” Martin says. “I was overlooked and undervalued in everything I’ve done. To have an opportunity like this for me is unbelievable. The opportunity to show I can play, that I can do everything and I belong, is what I’ve worked for my whole life.”

Bradley, a former four-star o ensive lineman who committed to USC but saw limited action, transferred to UNLV in 2020. As onetime high-pro le lineman who went to storied Servite High School in Southern California, he has a desire to prove wrong all those who have written him o .

“That’s always been the plan,” Bradley says of getting to the NFL. “I just try to prove every day why I belong in that league. I think with this 10game season, there’s a good opportunity.”

MARTAVIS BRYANT

Wide receiver

This speedy 6-foot-4 deep threat is on the comeback trail. Bryant was suspended for the entire 2016 NFL season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and then put on indefinite suspension in 2018 after breaking the terms of his conditional reinstatement. The 31-yearold had some nice moments during his four NFL seasons but now needs to show he’s back on the right path.

VIC BEASLEY Edge rusher

This former No. 8 overall pick was an NFL All-Pro selection in 2016 after racking up 15.5 sacks and six forced fumbles to help the Atlanta Falcons reach the Super Bowl. His numbers tailed o from there, and he managed just one tackle in five games with the Raiders at the end of the 2020 season, his last NFL action. He’ll get a chance to show he still has some burst o the edge.

The Vipers tapped a big name for their rst head coach, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson, who will make his head coaching debut here. The former Super Bowl champion served as an assistant coach with the Raiders in 2011.

The XFL’s seven other teams are similarly structured with a blend of veteran and young talent, comprising what should be a competitive league. All the squads, including the Vipers, should have a realistic shot at the XFL Championship, set to be awarded after a May 13 title game that will air on ABC.

“It’s the ultimate opportunity, knowing any dog can have his day,” Martin says. “It’s exciting for the competition, and exciting to know that this is a fresh start.”

FATHER AND SON DEDICATED TO MAKING ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES FEEL LIKE FAMILY

BY RAY BREWER VEGAS INC STAFF

Ron Smith would frequently tell his son that if he didn’t do well in school, he would be forced to settle for a job at McDonald’s.

Christopher Smith wound up getting a master’s degree, and yet he’s still working at McDonald’s—as a franchise owner.

Ron and Christopher Smith, operators of the Frsco Corp., opened their 17th McDonald’s location in the Las Vegas Valley February 9 at 6850 South Fort Apache Road.

Ron Smith has been a McDonald’s owner since acquiring his first store in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1996. Christopher Smith joined after graduating from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.

The stores touch all corners of Southern Nevada, from the second location on Horizon Ridge and College drives in Henderson to the newest location in the southwest Valley. Ron Smith sold the original franchise in Arizona.

“I’ve always had business at the top of my mind, and McDonald’s at the time was considered the No. 1 franchise you wanted to get into,” Ron Smith said. “I worked my way into getting a franchise, and one turned into two and here we are with 17.”

Managing the daily operations at 17 stores, the owners stress, is a team effort. And their team is 850 members strong.

Father and son take turns visiting the stores throughout the week. When Ron Smith makes an appearance, he’s greeted by staff like royalty. They yell, “Ron’s here”—not as a cue to other

employees to perform at their best, but because Smith always seems to lighten the mood, his son said.

“Many people notice my sense of humor,” Ron Smith, 75, said. “I think that is very, very key [in management]. It’s something I have discovered throughout my life, actually, is that people retain a little more when you keep [the mood] light. Attaching a little sense of humor can go a far way.”

Robert Hansen, 30, started working for Frsco as a teenager growing up in Las Vegas. The family kept promoting him until he became the general manager at one of their locations.

A few years ago, Hansen told the Smiths he was tired of working in the restaurant and wanted to enroll in college. They coordinated for

him to attend the College of Southern Nevada on the Archways to Opportunity tuition assistance program, and Hansen earned a degree in informational technology.

Hansen still works for the corporation as its operations technology manager, where he’s dispatched from the Frsco offices to a store when its tech—say a cash register—isn’t functioning.

“They were so supportive of my career change,” Hansen said. “It’s a family environment here. When Ron comes in cracking jokes with me, it’s like [a fatherly figure] checking in on his family.”

Christopher Smith, who has a professional background in strategic intelligence and a degree in national

security studies, couldn’t pass up a chance to work alongside his father in business. The men each said they are constantly evolving in their approach to running the stores, and borrow entrepreneurship methods from one another.

Ron Smith, a Vietnam war veteran, has been a businessman for decades and has a wealth of knowledge. He knows a good opportunity when he sees one, his son said.

Christopher Smith is meticulously organized and sticks to his plans, something he retained from his educational background. “The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree,” said Ron, in regard to his son’s business prowess.

“I noticed that there was probably never going to be another time to have that kind of opportunity to learn the business and learn how to run a business that’s growing really fast,” Christopher Smith said of joining forces with his father.

Ron Smith is willing to teach anyone the ropes, whether that’s his son as a McDonald’s operator or one of the employees at a location. Hansen said Ron Smith’s site visits frequently include him pitching in to help or showing a worker the tricks of the trade.

Ron Smith’s reputation with his staff is similar to that in the international McDonald’s community. He serves as the local chapter president of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association and has previously worked two terms as the vice president of strategy for the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association.

McDonald’s has 186 Black owners around the globe, the company said. The Smiths are proud to be part of that group.

“Working side by side to nurture and grow our business has been the experience of a lifetime and one that I am grateful for every day,” Ron Smith told a group of business colleagues and supporters during a grand opening ceremony for the newest store.

Christopher, left, and Ron Smith, at the grand opening of their 17th McDonald’s restaurant. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

VegasInc Notes

Nevada Donor Network Foundation announced that its president, Steven Peralta, will join the UNR Foundation board of trustees.

Peralta brings over 20 years of leadership experience in philanthropy, donor relations and fundraising to his role on the board. Peralta has served as president of NDNF since 2019, leading the organization’s philanthropic and fundraising strategies to help expand transplantation services and programs in the state. Under Peralta’s leadership, NDNF established a capital campaign called “End the Wait” to raise $35 million to develop the Nevada Transplant Institute. In addition, the organization was awarded $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the state of Nevada to support the creation of the institute. Through a partnership with Cox Communications, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada has opened three new Cox Innovation Labs at local clubhouses. Funded by more than

$145,000 in donations from Cox Las Vegas and the James M. Cox Foundation, these labs provide local kids and teens with learning tools, technology, and high-speed internet access in a safe, supportive environment.

Annette LoganParker, founder and CEO of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, has been selected as chairperson of the Nevada Rare Disease Advisory Council. The council was formed under Senate Bill 315 during Nevada’s 2019 Legislative Session. The council’s mission as an advising body is to provide a platform for those who are affected by rare diseases, including pediatric cancer. The council’s goal is to provide the rare disease community with a stronger voice in state government, including the ability to make recommendations to state leaders.

Distill and Remedy’s taverns donated close to $100,000 to the Injured Police Officers Fund and collected

toys for children from Candlelighters

Childhood Cancer Foundation

Mead Law Group donated $15,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Nevada

Massage Envy and Marissa Hawkins gave more than 4,000 books to Title I schools in the Clark County School District

Tree of Life Dispensary donated more than $100,000 to Volunteers in Medicine, Ability Center of Southern Nevada, the armed forces and military veterans, and the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada

Commercial Real Estate Women of Las Vegas presented Women Veterans of Nevada with a $9,450.59 donation.

Lamar Advertising Company donated several billboards throughout the year to support charitable events and causes, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, American Cancer Society and Project Marilyn

New York-New York’s 14th annual St. Baldrick’s Day head-shaving event, which is free and open to the public, will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 18. The event has raised millions of dollars raised for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Guests of all ages are invited to the resort’s Brooklyn Bridge to enjoy live entertainment and celebrity guest head-shavers, as

participants shed their hair to support St. Baldrick’s.

This month, Children’s Heart Foundation honors the 1 in 100 kids born with congenital heart defects with a variety of activities such as dining out, rocking red on social media, and raising awareness and funding. The foundation has partnered with Buddy Valastro Restaurants to raise funds for its programming, which includes financial, emotional and educational support for families affected congenital heart disease. Buddy V’s Ristorante guests can dine and give back through the end of February, with $3 from lunch and $4 from dinner going to the foundation. Diners at PizzaCake, The Boss Cafe by Buddy Valastro and Buddy’s Jersey Eats can donate to the organization at the register.

Project 150 is adding a second Las Vegas location to meet the growing need for its services to homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students in Southern Nevada. Thanks to the generosity of the Engelstad Foundation and another donor who wishes to remain anonymous, Project 150 purchased a building at 2605 E. Flamingo Road for $1.3 million. It will include offices, a student education and empowerment center and warehouse space, as well as Betty’s Boutique, where students can shop for free clothing and more in a boutique-style setting.

JOB LISTING

Market Research Analyst for COOPER USA, LLC, F/T in Las Vegas, NV. Gather, compile and analyze data about consumers, competitors, market conditions & trends, consumer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to create marketing forecasts; Interpret complex data and findings to determine pricing strategies and marketing strategies. Assess the impact and performance of the company’s existing marketing & sales programs, methods and strategies, and then propose solutions and suggestions to improve them. Master’s degree in Global Marketing Management & 12-month related working experience required.

EMAIL RESUMES TO COOPERUSAHR@OUTLOOK.COM

COST ANALYST

REQUIRED:

Bachelor’s degree in Business Admin., Accounting, or related. $46,592/year.

SEND RESUME TO:

US PHARMATECH, INC., 2927 LOMITA BLVD., #A, TORRANCE, CA 90505 (JOB SITE: LAS VEGAS, NV) CAMPAIGN ID#- 21849

MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS, INC.

SENIOR SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR I -BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE — LAS VEGAS, NV — APPLY

MGM Resorts International Operations, Inc. seeks a Senior Systems Administrator I-Business Intelligence in Las Vegas, NV to analyze system requirements and performance to optimize systems configuration for stability. Work from home benefit available within a reasonable commuting distance from Las Vegas, Nevada Office.

Peralta

Logan-Parker

PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES “CLEAR

COMMUNICATION”

BY FRANK LONGO

ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Asked to name this year’s worst movie, Francis Ford Coppola instead listed his favorite films, then declared, “Movies are hard to make, so I’d say, all the other ones were fine!” Refrain from judging efforts about which you have no personal knowledge. Be as open-minded and generous as you can.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Andy Warhol said, only half in jest, “Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art, and working is art and good business is the best art.” When you are at your best, you’re not a greedy materialist who places a higher value on money than everything else. Instead, you approach the gathering of necessary resources, including money, as a fun art project that you perform with love and creativity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Now is a favorable time to explore and expand the pleasures of personal sovereignty. You will be at the peak of your power to declare your independence from influences that hinder and limit you. To prepare, act as if free will is an illusion, then visualize what your destiny would be like. Then, act as if free will is real. Imagine that in the coming months you can have more of it at your disposal than ever before. What will your destiny be like?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The ethereal, dreamy side of your nature must continually find ways to express itself beautifully and playfully. If you’re not always allowing your imagination to roam and romp around in Wonderland, your imagination may lapse into spinning out crabby delusions. You will be highly motivated to generate fluidic fun by rambling through fantasy realms.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t treat your allies or yourself with neglect and insensitivity. For the sake of your mental and physical health, you need to do the exact opposite. Be almost ridiculously positive. Be vigorously nice and rigorously kind. Bestow blessings and dole out compliments, both to others and yourself. See the best and expect the best in both others and yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Is there a bug in the sanctuary of love? A parasite or saboteur? If so, banish it. Do you have a stuffed animal or holy statue to whom you can spill your deep, dark, delicious secrets? If not, get one. Have you been spending quality time rumbling around in your fantasy world in quest of spectacular healings? If not, get busy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): There’s a weird magic operating in your vicinity these days—a curious, uncanny kind of luck. Here are affirmations to chant regularly: 1. “I will attract and acquire what I want by acting as if I don’t care if I get what I want.” 2. “I will become grounded and relaxed with the help of beautiful messes and rowdy fun.” 3. “My worries and fears will subside as I make fun of them and joke about them.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The coming months will be a good time to cultivate your love for your country’s land, people and culture, but not for your country’s government and armed forces. Minimize your aggressiveness unless you invoke it to improve your personal life. Don’t get riled up about vague abstractions and fear-based fantasies.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): By the time she was 33, Jane Fonda had already won many awards, including an Oscar. Then she became an outspoken opponent of America’s war in Vietnam. Some of her fans were outraged. Despite being “graylisted,” she kept working—and never diluted her political activism. May she inspire you to be true to your principles even if some people disapprove.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Once, while visiting the Italian painter Titian to have his portrait done, Charles V did something no monarch had ever done. When Titian dropped his paintbrush, Charles humbly picked it up and gave it to him. Maybe you will be aided by a big shot or get a blessing from someone you consider out of your league.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Psychologist Valerie Tarico says the Bible is filled with “repetition, awkward constructions, inconsistent voice, weak character development, boring tangents and passages where nobody can tell what the writer meant to convey.” Now is a good time to rebel against conventional wisdom, escape from experts’ opinions and formulate your own unique perspectives.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Arrivederci and au revoir and sayōnara will overlap with birth cries and welcomes and initiations in the coming days. Are you beginning or ending? Leaving or arriving? Letting go or hanging on? You will be beginning and ending; leaving and arriving; letting go and hanging on. That could be confusing, but it could also be fun. The mix of emotions will be rich and soulful.

STRATHENGE | JANUARY 22, 2023 | 2:34 P.M. One can scarcely swing a Nikon through our resort corridor without getting a snapshot of the Strat’s signature tower. But if you want to capture this particular eclipse, there’s only one place to go: venerable Downtown favorite Luv-It Custard, or more precisely, about 40 feet southeast of it. Wish I could’ve stayed for a Western Special, but I was late for a meetup, so I pulled over for a moment and shot this from my car. –Geoff Carter

THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE HOOPS EXPERIENCE

4 WATCH PARTIES. 4 GREAT VENUES.

MARCH 15 – 19 & 23 – 26

MARCH HOOPS

12TH FLOOR AT THE D LAS VEGAS

This is not your ordinary free viewing party! Place your bets at our Circa Sports Satellite Book without having to take your eyes off the screen. Quench your thirst at the on-site bar while enjoying delicious stadium-style bites. Private man caves are also available for purchase.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THED.COM

BIG BRACKET

GALAXY BALLROOM ON LEVEL 3 AT CIRCA RESORT & CASINO

Catch all the games at our free watch party in our newest venue. Our ballrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art audio, high-definition screens, a Circa Sports Satellite Book and on-site bars. Private viewing areas for large parties are also available for purchase.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT CIRCALASVEGAS.COM

MEGA MARCH

CIRCA SPORTSBOOK AT CIRCA RESORT & CASINO

Watch all the action in the largest sportsbook in the world. Choose from a variety of seating options whether it’s enjoying the games from the elite Circa Club to our comfortable recliners.

BOOK YOUR SPOT AT CIRCALASVEGAS.COM

MANIA UNDER THE SUN

STADIUM SWIM AT CIRCA RESORT & CASINO

Plan your Mania Under the Sun experience at Stadium Swim. Watch the game from the comfort of a reserved cabana, chaise lounge, or a day bed. Or opt to relax in our 104-degree temperature-controlled pools.

BOOK YOUR SPOT AT CIRCALASVEGAS.COM