2023-03-02-Las-Vegas-Weekly

OPEN HEARTS. OPEN MINDS. OPEN DOORS.

More than just bricks and mortar, Downtown Las Vegas is built on a foundation of original thinkers. It’s a place where unexpected people, unscripted places and unconventional ideas collide. A place for uncommon people to have something in common—open minds, open hearts and open doors. It is a place wide open for business, thrills, opportunity, reinvention— ANYTHING. Whether you live in Downtown or not, it surely lives in you. WHO’S DOWN?

DOWNFORANYTHING.VEGAS

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

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF

Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, SUE SRAN

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

Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

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Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

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(AP Photo/John Locher)

SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY

LUCKI

When Lucki’s Flawless Like Me debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 last year, complete with resounding praise from critics, hip-hop heads took notice. But those who’ve been following the Chicago MC since his early days know he’s been bullishly carving out a legacy since he was 17 years old. His first project, 2013’s Alternative Trap, caught the attention of several music blogs and major publications like Complex. Shortly after that, Lucki contributed his tranqued-out flows to tracks with Chance the Rapper and FKA Twigs, crossing the threshold from underground to mainstream. Adopting an openness around his experiences with depression and loneliness, Lucki revels in his realness on Flawless Like Me. Save the date for this rapper-on-the-rise when he hits the stage with Jonestown, Pennsylvania, hip-hop producer and soloist Eem Triplin. 7:30 p.m., $35, Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com. –Amber Sampson

PAC-12 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Thru 3/5, times vary, Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.

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

READING: OLIVIA CLARE

FRIEDMAN

7 p.m., UNLV’S Beverly Rogers Literature & Law Building, eventbrite.com.

THE BRONX WANDERERS

6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE

MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Thru 3/7, times vary, Orleans Arena, ticketmaster.com.

AUDIEN

With Zen Freeman, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

KEEVA LOUGH: QUEER SCIENCE

Thru 3/10, Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery, unlv.edu.

HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS

7 p.m., & 3/4, Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

V-TECH 10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

SEAN CARBONE GROUP

7:30 p.m., Gatsby’s Supper Club, eventbrite. com.

YULTRON With Danco, Praydo, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

(Courtesy)

USHER

9 p.m., & 3/4, 3/8, Dolby Live, ticket master.com.

NASCAR WEEKEND

Thru 3/5, times vary, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, lvms.com.

WIDESPREAD PANIC

Thru 3/5, 9 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

FIRST FRIDAY

5 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas, ffflv.org.

LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC: THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS

7:30 p.m., & 3/4, Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.

DON GAUTHIER TRIBUTE

With Big Bad Zero, Carlos Guerrero & Friends, 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesand dollarlv.com.

SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO

7 & 10 p.m., & 3/4, Encore Theater, ticket master.com.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. NEW JERSEY DEVILS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

KEITH URBAN 8 p.m., & 3/4, 3/8, Zappos Theater, ticket master.com.

ADELE 8 p.m., & 3/4, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

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

KATY PERRY 8 p.m., & 3/4, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

CHICAGO 8 p.m., & 3/4, 3/8, Venetian Theatre, ticket master.com.

TRITONAL 9 p.m., Hard Rock Live, seetickets.us.

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

DON FELDER 8 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticket master.com.

ADRIAN URIBE & ADAL RAMONES

8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster. com.

AMIRI PAUL 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events.taogroup. com.

KIM LEE Noon, Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

TYLOR & THE TRAIN ROBBERS

With Paige Overton, 8 p.m., the Griffin, eventbrite.com.

UNLV BASEBALL VS. SAN DIEGO STATE

Thru 3/5, times vary, Earl E. Wilson Stadium, unlvtickets.com.

When unadorned walls cry out for street art, the ISI Group—short for “Industry Supporting Industry”— usually answers the call. The Vegas-based entity has overseen the painting of hundreds of murals across the Valley, in locations ranging from Fremont East to Chinatown to the Linq. (And, perhaps needless to say, a large number of the colorful walls within the 18b Arts District were curated by ISI.) But if you’d like to get a complete sense of what ISI is all about, this week you only need to visit one spot: Main Street’s Recycled Propaganda gallery, where ISI has “transformed the entire space [from] top to bottom, wall to wall” with a group show featuring some 25 local artists. Bonus: ISI’s Sign of the Times show runs concurrently with a retrospective show of Recycled Propaganda’s own work—an “indoor mural and print anthology” spanning a decade of creative flamethrowing. Daily thru March 25, free, Recycled Propaganda, recycledpropaganda.com. –Geoff Carter

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

(Courtesy/Bellamy Brewster)

SUPERGUIDE

OAKLAND A’S VS CINCINNATI REDS

1 p.m., & 3/5, Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com.

UFC 285

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

THE FLAMING LIPS

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

JIM IRSAY COLLECTION

EXHIBIT & CONCERT

We can o cially say everything happens in Vegas now that this collection of rare rock ’n’ roll and historical artifacts will visit the city for a free exhibit at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. There’s an 1823 printing of the Declaration of Independence and Jack Kerouac’s 119-foot scroll manuscript of On the Road are musical instruments used by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Prince and Kurt Cobain. “We just got Secretariat’s saddle, which is a great addition,” says the collector, Jim Irsay, who also happens to own the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. “I look for things people want, and want to see, like Wilson the volleyball from the movie also has his friend Hunter S. Thompson’s 1973 Chevy Caprice known as “The Red Shark,” which will be Downtown, too. Irsay also assembled an all-star rock band that performs alongside the exhibition, including R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills & Nash.

“It started out with me and an amp doing a couple songs with a couple friends, and then we did a show in Washington and really rehearsed and started having more special guests,” Irsay says. “Now I just try to put together the greatest show I can, and this show is going to be tremendous.”

Cast Away.” He 6 p.m.,

Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, dlvec.com.

–Brock Radke

zoukgrouplv.com.

CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS

8 a.m., Craig Ranch Amphitheater, , and then there

10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, MARIACHI COMPETITION cityofnorthlasvegas.com.

Oakland’s Shea Langeliers (AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

NORMA JEAN

With Fire From the Gods, Greyhaven, 7:30 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.

THE CHAINSMOKERS

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

CUCO

7:30 p.m., the Portal, area15.com.

JIMMY BUFFETT

8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.

VEGAS VIPERS VS. SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS

4 p.m., Cashman Field, axs.com.

WINGER & LITA FORD

8 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

ATLIENS

8 p.m., A-Lot, area15.com.

FRENCH MONTANA

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

GRANGER SMITH

With Earl Dibbles Jr., 9 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience.com.

TUFF HEDEMAN

BULL RIDING TOUR

7 p.m., South Point Arena, ticketmaster.com.

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS

With The Spider Accomplice, Anti-Trust, Sheer Cold, Godless Throne, Wrath of an Empire, 6 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.com.

GRYFFIN

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

5 MAR. SUNDAY

FISHNETS & SPOTLIGHTS: MISS BLUEBELL

2 p.m., Clark County Library, thelibrary district.org.

LIL DARKIE 7 p.m., House of Blues, livenation.com.

MIKEY FRANCIS 11 a.m., Wet Republic, events.taogroup.com.

AS AM I

With Rose Levee, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

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

MOUNTAIN WEST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Thru 3/8, times vary, Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.

THE SLAM

Ft. Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, 3 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. MONTREAL CANADIENS

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

MONDAY

6 MAR.

MONDAYS DARK

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

KEV ORKIAN

With Don Gavin, thru 3/12, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.

UNLV’s Essence Booker

MIKE ATTACK

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

DAVE LANDAU

With Matt McClowry, Kathleen Dunbar, thru 3/12, 8 p.m. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrett comedy.com

MICKI FREE’S VEGAS JAM

Native American guitarist and singer Micki Free has a CV you wouldn’t believe. He’s jammed with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and The Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman; he sang for influential R&B group Shalamar, netting a hit on the Footloose soundtrack and a Grammy for a song from Beverly Hills Cop; and he played in the notorious “Shirts vs. Blouses” basketball game that Charlie Murphy described on Chappelle’s Show, staying for the blueberry pancake breakfast Prince served afterward. Someone with those chops and that many stories to tell is bound to put on a solid rock, funk and blues showcase, and beginning this month—and continuing every first Monday thereafter—that’s exactly what he’ll do at Triple B, welcoming guest players and adding new highlights to that impressive résumé. 8 p.m., $20, Backstage Bar & Billiards, backstagebarlv.com. –Geo Carter

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

SUPERGUIDE

NGHTMRE

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

UNLV CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

7:30 p.m., Clark County Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.

DANTES & ROSEDROP With Too Close for Comfort, Adrift, Worse for Wear, King Fun, Sunday Mourning, 5 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, seetickets.us.

SPRING MARIACHI CONCERT: DEL SOL ACADEMY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS

6 p.m., Whitney Library, thelibrary district.org.

WEDNESDAY

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Thru 3/11, times vary, Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.

AUGUST BURNS RED With The Devil Wears Prada, Bleed From Within, 6 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

INHERIT THE WIND

7:30 p.m., Vegas Theatre Company, theatre.vegas

8 MAR.

PAC-12 MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Thru 3/11, times vary, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

ASPEN With Empire of Ruin, Haddonfield, Bury Your Burdens, Volterrum, Burning Allure, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventbrite.com.

BIG WEST MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thru 3/11, times vary, Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

FROZEN

Disney’s Frozen track “Let It Go,” performed by Idina Menzel (insert your own Travolta joke here), infiltrated both radio airwaves and young minds—including mine, since my then-7-year-old brother begged to hear it over and over, when the smash hit movie was released in 2013. Since then, the film has spurred sequels, short films, television specials, a Disney on Ice show and a Broadway musical, which has arrived at the Smith Center. The film’s songwriters, husband-wife team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and EGOT winner Robert Lopez, created a dozen new numbers for the stage show. Return to the wintry world of Arendelle to follow Elsa and Anna on an adventure, and return home singing their magical melodies over and over and over. Thru March 18, times vary, $34-$160, Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. –Evelyn Mateos

RACCOON TOUR With Mattstagraham, Pure Sport, White Noise, 7 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, eventbrite. com.

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

7 p.m., & 3/9, Myron’s, thesmith center.com.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

MEN’S & WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thru 3/11, times vary, Orleans Arena, ticketmaster.com.

(Courtesy/Deen van Meer)

‘WE BUILT OUR IMAGINATION’

“Shogyo Mujo” inside the entrance to Area15 (Steve Marcus/Sta )

BY GEOFF CARTER

In 2005, real estate investment firm Fisher Brothers acquired a sprawling parcel of land formerly occupied by an auto dealership. It abutted Interstate 15 at the Desert Inn arterial overpass and was oddly isolated—accessible only through a series of turns onto anonymous-looking side streets lined with industrial businesses. Here, a typical commercial development—a shopping center, a casino—would be challenged to succeed.

“I had a lot of wacky ideas about what to do with the land,” says Winston Fisher, director of Fisher Brothers’ property acquisitions and development initiatives. “Then I met a gentleman named Michael Beneville.”

The rest is history in the making. Beneville Studios, a New York-based creative agency, collaborated with Fisher Brothers to develop that property into Area15, an interactive entertainment, dining and events complex that hosts Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart and nearly 20 other one-of-a-kind interactive attractions. Fisher, now Area15’s CEO, leaned into the offbeat location, adopting the slogan “Area15 does not exist.”

Yet it plainly does. Throngs of tourists and locals find their way to Area15 nightly to enjoy sets from superstar DJs, take selfies with Burning Man art or slip through a door to a parallel dimension. Now, what began as a single building in September 2020 is a cluster of experience-based attractions and retail—Fisher calls it a “district”—that’s soon to add a 20-acre expansion anchored by a permanent horror-themed attraction created by Universal Parks & Resorts. And a second Area15 location in Central Florida, adjacent to its theme parks, is in the planning stages. “Everybody imports stuff to Vegas. We’re exporting,” Fisher says.

Recently, Fisher spoke with the Weekly about Area15’s runaway success.

THE WEEKLY Q&A

How did the Area15 concept come to be? It must have felt a bit like a moon shot. Everybody thought I was crazy. When Michael Beneville and I started working together, there were some parameters: What will be an additive to Las Vegas, the decline of malls and what is the future of the experience economy and location-based entertainment. We’d always say we grew up at the Dungeons and Dragons [section of the mall]; that section was 5% of the mall. That’s where we had to hang out. So we built our imagination. It was an idea where creativity is what guides you, and not being scared of it. You’re creating placemaking, creating a district that attracts best-

in-class experiences and art, [that’s] accessible to everybody. We thought that Vegas was the absolute perfect place for it; it’s the entertainment capital of the world. What’s the next evolution of entertainment in Las Vegas? It’s a city that has wonderful reinvention. And we really saw ourselves as being a part of that next chapter, of what Vegas can be.

Did you take any inspiration from Vegas’ previous non-gaming efforts on the Strip—the theme park-styled attractions, the themed shopping malls? It’s interesting because people always ask, “What are you?” I hate the term “mall,” because we’re not a mall, though there’s some inspiration there. We’re not a theme park, but there’s some inspiration, right? We’re an event center. We’re taking everything that was working [in Vegas] and we’re

putting it together, in a new and unique way, with intention. Vegas has engaged in some of this stuff, the experience economy, but we’re building an immersive world, in an immersive district that houses immersive experiences. So there’s no skipping of the record.

The context is important for our type of experiences. I think that when you start looking at some of our experiences, they have the capability to be more successful with us than they would be in some other location. People are coming here with a mindset.

And find a very thoughtfully curated tenant mix. We’re very intentional about what goes in the district. We’re very happy about Universal. We’re getting an experience inspired by their Halloween Horror Nights, which are the coolest experiences in the world. They could have gone anywhere, but they’re in the district. Meow Wolf, Lost Spirits, Dueling Axes—there’s some really cool stuff going on.

We’re not trying to be like the clubs [on the Strip], because you can’t. But we throw like “whoa, man” costume parties—Alice in Wonderland, down the rabbit hole. Let your freak flag fly, be yourself, celebrate loudly.

Area15 has broad appeal. I’ve seen clubgoers there, but also families with kids. Authenticity is a word we use a lot. We take it seriously. We built something that we genuinely believe in, in our soul. This place is approachable. It may not really be for everyone—maybe you don’t like the flashing lights— but everybody is welcome here. Except the haters; we don’t need them (laughs).

People shop for memories here. That’s what they’re collecting. We’re giving people that. … You hear Disney talk about being a creative-led company, and that is at the heart of what we are. We are a creative-led company that is trying to push the boundaries, and in a way that’s approachable. We’re trying to expand people’s minds, for them to have the best time of their life.

Area15 CEO Winston Fisher invites you to jump down the rabbit hole

Area15 CEO Winston Fisher (Courtesy/Peter Ruprecht)

The west rim is heart-pounding, soul-searching, bucketlist-checking adrenaline rushes you’ve never felt or seen before, including one of the largest glass cantilever bridges in the world that will have you stepping 4,000 feet out over the Grand Canyon floor. Skywalk is just one of the ways you can jolt your senses and ignite your spirit at Grand Canyon West.

Plan your adventure today.

OUT FOR JUSTICE

BY

A league of local philanthropists has uncovered a new way to cut through cold cases

Penny Chutima

Lydia Ansel

Justin Woo

SHANNON MILLER

Last month, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced it had identified a suspect in the murders and sexual assaults of two local women. The bodies of 31-year-old

Lori Ann Perera and 35-year-old Pearl Wilson Ingram were found between 1992 and 1994 along a two-mile stretch of East Charleston Boulevard, but at that time, the tools weren’t yet available to link the two crimes, much less identify possible suspects.

During a press conference at Metro headquarters, police credited a local group of philanthropists with helping to solve the crimes.

“Utilizing funds from the Vegas Justice League, the suspect’s DNA was ultimately sent to Othram [a forensic lab in The Woodlands, Texas] to assist us in identifying who that suspect was,” Lt. Jason Johansson said. “And

they were ultimately able to preliminarily identify our suspect as Eddie George Snowden Jr.” Ingram’s sister, Teresa Board, thanked police. “It’s been a long, long 28 years. But we thank you,” she said.

Perera’s eldest daughter, Desiree Copping, thanked cold case detectives, the Vegas Justice League and forensic genealogy for “bringing our family resolution after 30 long years. After so many years, our family never thought that we would have any sense of closure,” Copping said in a statement.

The Perera and Ingram cases marked the fifth and sixth cold cases solved by Metro with the assistance of the nonprofit Vegas Justice League, which funded special forensic tests and services from Othram.

The league’s six members represent a diverse swath of the Vegas community, united by a drive to see cold cases resolved.

The league’s origin story stretches back to 2020, when Justin Woo, entrepreneur and founder of nonprofit crowdfunding charity Vegas Helps and a self-described “tech lover,” heard about a laboratory near Houston that was solving cases with new DNA technology.

“I approached Othram, offering to fully fund a case in Las Vegas,” he says. “They reached out to LVMPD and were given the Stephanie Isaacson case [by LVMPD]. Once that [was] solved, we funded seven additional cases to create the League.”

Lydia Ansel, a local musician and entertainer who shared Woo’s interest in community service and emerging technology, was convinced to “jump on board” in 2021, she says.

“Justin decided, instead of funding each case himself, ‘Why don’t I reach out to a few friends who might be interested in this kind of thing?’”

The league soon expanded to include Penny Chutima, restaurateur and managing partner of Lotus of Siam; Hezy Shaked, founder of Irvine-based clothing store Tillys, which has multiple locations in Southern Nevada; Craig Tann, owner of real estate agency Huntington & Ellis; and Greg Woods, president of Cirrus Aviation.

Craig Tann

Greg Woods

Hezy Shaked

Through the group’s relationship with Othram, each case costs $5,000 to run forensic tests and services. “We started with them early on [and] they’ve committed to keeping that price for us. … They appreciate the charitable side of it,” Woo says.

Ansel says she has been amazed at some of the ndings the league’s funding has enabled. “We’ve been having cases that are on a whole di erent level and incredibly scary—you know, people who’ve been serial killers,” she says, referencing three separate cases in which police identi ed a suspect connected to an additional cold case.

Since the league’s work began, Metro has uncovered suspects in a total of seven homicide cases spanning from 1979 to 1994.

Chutima says it “means a lot” to her, to help families get answers.

“I’m the type of person who needs to have an answer to everything … It never happened in my family, but to put myself in others’ shoes, it’s one of those things that you can never replace,” she says. “Especially if you don’t know how that person passed away … There’s so many questions, and these families are left with no answers. At least to know who did it, there’s more of an explanation.”

Genetic Genealogy

At last month’s Metro press conference, Johansson noted that Snowden’s criminal history indicated he lived in the Fresno area and several surrounding cities in California from the 1950s to the ‘70s. “[I] encourage the previous jurisdictions where he lived to review their cold cases for similar fact patterns,” Johansson added.

To identify Snowden as the suspect in the early ’90s murders

of Perera and Ingram, detectives used genealogical investigation, a method that only recently has broken ground in forensics, and has “exploded over the last couple of years,” Metro Sgt. Matt Downing says.

The method utilizes DNA databases from platforms like Othram’s DNASolves, which allows people to voluntarily submit a sample of their DNA (via cheek swab) or upload their DNA pro le from private ancestry sites like 23andMe. Those DNA pro les are then added to the DNASolves registry, which is “used exclusively to aid human identi cation investigations to help solve cases that otherwise would not be solved,” according to an FAQ page on DNASolves’ website.

Those pro les can then provide investigative leads when connected to law enforcement’s DNA pro les of unidenti ed suspects, stored primarily in the FBI’s

Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.

Genetic genealogy gained heightened attention after its use led to the identi cation and 2018 arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer and believed to have committed at least 13 murders, dozens of rapes and more than a hundred burglaries in California between 1974 and 1986.

Downing, who oversees Metro’s cold case team, explains how the emergence of the method linked up with evidence homicide detectives had collected decades ago through autopsies and the scenes in which Perera and Ingram’s bodies were found.

“In 1992 [and] ’94, DNA was still really in its infancy,” Downing explains, “but we had always collected things, like sexual assault kits [and] serology [blood evidence] for di erent reasons. Those types of evidence collec-

tion translated well into later DNA technology.”

Fast forward to 2012. “As DNA became more robust, our agencies [went] through some of those cases [and] submitted [Perera and Ingram’s] cases for further DNA analysis, not knowing that they were even related,” Downing says. “They were able to develop a suspect pro le on both of them; the pro le was uploaded into CODIS; and those pro les hit on each other.”

The suspect’s DNA pro le had been established, but with no identity, the cases sat for another decade before they could be solved using genealogical investigation.

“Further down the road, forensic genetic genealogy became kind of the hot method to use for DNA,” Downing says. “We took that one pro le [and] sent that DNA extract over to Othram’s lab. … They developed a genealogical pro le that they can use to com-

(Courtesy)

pare to genealogical databases that they have access to. … From that point, they started obtaining matches and were able to determine how close of a family member that DNA is, to the matches.”

Based on the DNA matches and other public records, Othram produces a narrow list of leads, on which Las Vegas detectives can follow up.

“In this case, our suspect was deceased,” Downing says of Snowden. “So then, the next best opportunity for us was to get a hold of close family relatives … and we obtain a DNA sample from them and send that back for analysis. The labs are able to take that sample and tell us with relative certainty that this person is a relative of the suspect whose DNA we have.”

Investigators were able to obtain DNA from Snowden’s biological family with the assistance of the Fresno Police Department, Downing says. The sample ultimately identified Snowden as the suspect, after 30 years of uncertainty.

“When a suspect [is] deceased, we’re not exactly going to be able to exact justice,” Downing says. “There’s no arrests, no prosecution or anything like that. But, at the very least, the family gets a little closure from knowing that we’ve identified the person who did this to their loved one,” Downing says.

“They can have some closure knowing that it’s not just sitting, or the [suspect] is out there floating around.”

It is vital work, and it has not only drawn law enforcement and the local community into closer collaboration, but also created some wholly unexpected bonds. After a year of working together, Vegas Justice League members Ansel and Woo married in 2022.

“For two people who are very much into technology and help-

ing the community … it’s been incredibly amazing to share that and to be part of that,” Ansel says. “For me … I fell into this, just seeing how much impact [this work] can bring to people.”

Community Support

The Perera and Ingram cases weren’t the first “double solve” in which the Vegas Justice League had a hand.

In the 1989 unsolved murder of 14-year-old Stephanie Isaacson—the league’s first-ever case—Othram used genome sequencing and genealogical investigation to help police identify a suspect, who had been arrested in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Nanette Vanderburg three years before Isaacson’s death, police say.

That time, Othram says, it set a record for solving a cold case with the least amount of DNA— the equivalent of about 15 human cells. “In a typical consumer DNA test, the collection kit will collect 750 to 1000 nanograms of DNA. The suspect in Stephanie Isaacson’s murder was identified using only 0.12 nanograms—a quantity that other labs and lab methods are not set up to handle,” Othram explains.

Ansel says that case gave the Vegas Justice League confidence it was on the right track.

“By basically proving that Othram is a lab that can do work better than any other, we all got excited—local law enforcement,

Othram, us, everyone,” she says.

Months after Metro announced the update in Isaacson’s case, the police announced that Othram’s services helped detectives identify a suspect in the 1979 murder and sexual assault of 16-year-old Kim Bryant. A month after that, police identified the same suspect in the 1983 murder of 22-year-old Diana Hanson.

In the 1980 murder of 25-year-old Sandra DiFelice, Othram’s DNA technology led detectives to identify suspect Paul Nuttall, 64. Nuttall was taken into custody in October 2022 “for arrest warrants issued for open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, sexual assault with the use of a deadly weapon and burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon,” according to Metro. In December, a district judge deemed Nuttall incompetent to stand trial.

Downing deems forensic genetic genealogy a “very effective method,” especially for cold cases in which very little DNA evidence is left over. It also can be used to identify the remains of homicide victims.

As it has emerged, genetic genealogy has raised concerns about consumer rights with regard to DNA databases and potential defamation of misidentified subjects. In 2019, the Department of Justice issued an interim policy to help law enforcement use the new method in a way that protects “privacy and civil liberties.”

Overall, Downing says more advancements in forensic technology will open up possibilities for solving more cases. Metro currently has more than 1,000 cold cases in its files, he adds.

“Even in the last 10 years, it has really leapt ahead,” he says. “[There] may be some cases where we tested what we could in 2012. … When we look at the technology we have in 2023, could it be helpful?”

Those advancements can take time to gain trust, trickle down to law enforcement agencies and become standard. That’s where Woo sees the Vegas Justice League swooping in to provide an assist.

“LVMPD has hundreds, maybe thousands of cold cases. … There’s so much work that’s required for them to get the DNA and get it out to the lab. That’s where we kind of come in and pick that up. We think that it gets the ball rolling a lot faster—being able to provide the leads [by] sponsoring that work,” Woo says.

“I think that what we’ve shown is kind of like a pilot: The program works. If you get your community [and] people together … you can gather the funds to help law enforcement in the local area to do good things.”

Ansel says “momentum is beginning to build” for the Vegas Justice League’s efforts. “Now, we have cases with the LVMPD, with North Las Vegas and two with Henderson. We just started working with the coroner’s office to identify Jane and John Does, and we have six cases with them.”

You don’t have to donate $5,000 to be a superhero, she adds. “Anyone can be a part of it [by giving] $10, $100 [or] whatever you want. Once that combines to $5,000, then we send it to Othram.”

And you can’t put a price on the peace of mind it can provide to Las Vegas families impacted by violent crimes, Woo says.

“I got to meet the parents of Stephanie Isaacson, and they said that they’ve cried every single day for the last 30-something years of their life,” he says. “They were so happy for that little bit of closure that we can provide to them.”

The Vegas Justice League logo

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

LOAN FORGIVENESS HEARING

The Supreme Court on February 28 began hearing arguments in a partisan legal fight over President Joe Biden’s plan to wipe away or reduce student loans held by millions of Americans. So far, 16 million have been approved to have up to $20,000 in federal loans forgiven.

NEWS

Following

remarks by creator

GOLDEN KNIGHTS’ TV FUTURE HAZY BEYOND MARCH 31

The future of watching the Vegas Golden Knights on television has become unclear, but fans shouldn’t worry about missing any games this season.

Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns the AT&T SportsNet brand that airs most of the Golden Knights’ regular-season games, plans to pull out of the regional sports network business effective March 31, according to a report from the Sports Business Journal

Of the Golden Knights’ seven remaining games after March 31, four were previously scheduled to be shown on the network, which is carried by Cox, DirecTV and CenturyLink. (The other three are set for ESPN and ABC.)

A blackout is unlikely to occur, however, since affected teams across the NHL, NBA and Major League Baseball, including the Golden Knights, can come to an agreement with Warner Bros. before the end of the month to take back their own broadcasting rights.

The Golden Knights are expected to reach such a deal, according to a source, and continue airing their games through the end of the regular season. The team could either rebrand AT&T SportsNet for the two-week period to keep the games on the same channel number or move them elsewhere. Streaming could also be an option.

The same broadcast crew will stay in place. The Stanley Cup Playoffs will not be affected, as regional sports networks no longer carry any postseason games

after the NHL’s new television deals with the Walt Disney Company and Turner Sports kicked in last year.

The first three rounds will be split between Disney (ESPN and ESPN2) and Turner (TNT and TBS), while the latter has rights to the Stanley Cup Finals this season.

Many other non-Warner Bros. Discovery regional sports networks are also on the way out. Diamond Sports Group, which owns the most regional sports networks in the country under the Bally Sports banner, is reportedly headed for bankruptcy, a situation that likely triggered Warner Bros. Discovery’s exit.

The long-term impact is anyone’s guess. Professional sports leagues appear to be going the way of consumers, cord cutting and moving toward streaming. Major League Soccer, for example, is broadcasting all of its games without any blackout restrictions on AppleTV starting this season. Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said his league has contingency plans “no matter what happens” with the regional sports networks.

The Golden Knights are deferring all comment to the NHL. “The NHL is closely monitoring the RSN situation,” the league said in a statement. “We will be prepared to address whatever circumstances dictate to provide our fans with access to our games.”

–Danny Webster

DILBERT FIRED

racist

Scott Adams, newspapers began dropping the comic strip and the company that distributed it, Andrews McMeel Universal, severed ties as well. Adams said it will only be available on his subscription service on the Locals platform.

The average amount of time, in minutes, that Major League Baseball’s new pitch clock shaved from the length of games during the first weekend of spring training. The new rules also limit the number of times a pitcher can throw to first base.

UNLV COULD GET LOOP STOP

On March 9 at the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents’ quarterly meeting, UNLV will seek approval to sell 1.3 acres of land near the Thomas & Mack Center to Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to build a new stop for the Vegas Loop.

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL FEST OFFERS LOCALS-ONLY PRESALE

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Life Is Beautiful will offer a locals-only presale for tickets to its 2023 festival.

IN THIS COMBAT, FEELINGS ARE ALL THAT GETS HURT

The Nightmare BattleBot ripped into a slot machine-themed bot, and with that, BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon kicked off February 22.

The new live show, which runs Thursday through Sunday until May 28, is based on the BattleBots television series.

At the BattleBots Arena,

4165 Koval Lane, BattleBots champions test their latest creations against well-known machines from past seasons of the TV show.

Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com, which was offering a buy-three-get-one-free discount at press time. –Staff

SAN MANUEL FUNDS SHUTTLE FOR HOMELESS

The San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority has pledged $235,000 to fund an additional Arrow shuttle for the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center, providing homeless individuals with access to free transportation.

The local tribal organization, best known for its operation of the Palms, presented the check to the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas Life on March 1. It marks

the City of Las Vegas’ third Arrow shuttle since it launched the initiative in July 2021.

The 24-seat shuttles travel daily to 19 essential resource sites, including the Salvation Army, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Job Connect and the Courtyard, giving homeless people a chance to attend important appointments and access wrap-around services. –Amber Sampson

From March 2 at 10 a.m. through March 3 at 11:59 p.m., buyers with a Nevada mailing address will be able to purchase three-day general admission passes for an early-bird price of $355 plus fees and taxes at lifeisbeautiful.com/ locals. This year’s fest is scheduled for September 22-24.

Life Is Beautiful, which launched on the streets of Downtown in October 2013, has run annually since, with a one-year break in 2020 due to the pandemic. Past performers have included Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Foo Fighters, The Killers, Florence and the Machine, The Weeknd, Arcade Fire, Green Day, Megan Thee Stallion, Tame Impala, Stevie Wonder and St. Vincent.

This year’s lineup has yet to be revealed. “With such a big milestone comes even bigger expectations, and we have big things planned for this September,” LIB CEO David Oehm, said in a press release. “We are ready to throw one of the biggest birthday parties this city has ever seen.” –LVW Staff

Durango High School basketball coach Mike Lee, center, dances in a ring of players after their 57-47 victory over Liberty in the NIAA boys 5A state championship game February 25 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

(Steve Marcus/Staff)

HOT SHOT

(Steve Marcus/Staff)

CUSTOM CARE

BY BROCK RADKE

The annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala fundraising event for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Downtown Las Vegas came back strong last month, holding its rst event since October 2021.

That gala moved from its traditional venue at MGM Grand Garden Arena to Resorts World, partially to honor Genting Group CEO KT Lim for bringing the new Strip resort to life, and partially because the Grand Garden wasn’t available while live entertainment was relaunching in Las Vegas during the pandemic.

The 26th gala, held February 18 and attended by more than 1,500 guests, returned to MGM Grand, bolstered by appearances and performances from a long list of entertainers including Sammy Hagar, Paula Abdul, Alice Cooper, John Mayer, Michael McDonald and Nikki Glaser. The evening generated millions of dollars for the Ruvo Center, which provides high-quality care, essential resources and education, and no-cost support to patients and caregivers battling Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.

“Without Power of Love, we lose a lot of money, and we need those fundraising e orts from the people of Las Vegas and the people that use the center to support us, to buy a ticket, to make a donation, anything they can do,” Larry Ruvo, Keep Memory Alive co-founder and vice chair, said before the event. Journalist and author Maria Shriver was in attendance, too, but she was there for a di erent reason than the other celebrities. Considered one of the world’s leading Alzheimer’s advocates—in 2017, the Alzheimer’s Association awarded her with its rst-ever Lifetime Achievement Award—Shriver helped conceive and launch the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) Prevention Center at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Shriver rst visited the Ruvo Center in 2010, when it was founded by

Ruvo in memory of his father, Lou, who died from the disease, as did Shriver’s father, diplomat and politician Sargent Shriver.

Ruvo said “it was her idea” to develop the one-of-a-kind, three-year pilot program speci c to women for Alzheimer’s disease prevention, launched in Las Vegas on June 18, 2020.

“I’ve been friends with Larry and Camille Ruvo for years,” Shriver tells the Weekly. “From the moment the Ruvos committed to building the beautiful state-of-the-art Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, I told them I was in—and that I would do whatever I could to help watch the center grow, from fundraising to talking about their important work on my many platforms as a journalist. I was there for the rst fundraising gala and have come back over the years whenever I can.”

Alzheimer’s disease impacts women disproportionately. According to Cleveland Clinic statistics, two-thirds of the 6.5 million Americans currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are women (4.3 million), and more than half of all caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s are women.

“Yet, the current research suggests that up to 40% of Alzheimer’s cases could have been prevented had we known decades ago about the lifestyle factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s risk, such as smoking, social isolation, high blood pressure, etc.,” says Jessica Caldwell, director of the WAM Prevention Center. “The goal is to give women an idea of how to change their behaviors now, so that they can change the future of their brain health.”

Shriver says her advocacy work has been focused on incentivizing policy makers and health care providers to help answer the question of why two out of three cases of Alzheimer’s develop in women, and why women of color are at even higher risk.

“As we all watched the painfully slow progress taking place around nding a cure or therapies for Alzheimer’s, we were simultaneously researching and following carefully the growing science around the power of prevention,” she says. “The rst Alzheimer’s prevention center designed just for women ... was [because of] the overnight demand and success of this clinic; that led to discussions with the larger Cleveland Clinic enterprise to see if we can grow what’s happening in Las Vegas.”

The WAM Center, designed for women 30-60 with known or suspected family history for Alzheimer’s disease, combines the latest science on preven-

tion with a woman’s medical history, biological risks, habits, mood and memory to create a custom, sustainable plan for lifestyle modi cations that can reduce the risk of disease. And it’s sta ed by women who understand the unique factors that impact women—like menopause—and those that can a ect women’s brains more than men’s—like diabetes.

“Having speci c care for women really helps us to help those people who have the disease most often,” Caldwell says. “[And] it’s allowing women the comfort to know that they are coming into a clinic that is made for them and designed with the types of stresses and struggles women might face in mind,”

Last year, WAM o cially merged with the Cleveland Clinic, Caldwell explains, which will allow the center to expand prevention care in Las Vegas and grow the collaboration at the clinic’s main campus in Cleveland, “to talk about how we might bring aspects of our prevention care there.”

“Now that WAM is a part of Cleveland Clinic, we will be able to pair that power with the medical expertise and robust research network of Cleveland Clinic to further address and reduce women’s risk for Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases,” Caldwell says.

Though the WAM Center is a clinic rst—a billable medical appointment with costs determined by a woman’s insurance plan—there are a number of active research opportunities in which patients can participate. There’s a registry where they can enroll their clinical data to help doctors and researchers better understand which prevention methods works best, along with a large National Institutes of Health (NIH) study to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease risk.

“It’s been an honor to work with the many highly trained researchers and doctors at Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, especially watching director Jessica Caldwell grow the program to the point where we are bursting out of our seams in Las Vegas,” Shriver says.

For more information, visit WomenPreventAlz.org.

Maria Shriver teams with the Ruvo Center to launch the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention Center

Alzheimer’s disease impacts women disproportionately. According to Cleveland Clinic statistics, two-thirds of the 6.5 million Americans currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are women (4.3 million), and more than half of all caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s are women.

Maria Shriver

PICTURE PERFECT

Downtown’s new Beverly Theater arrives as an art house cinema lover’s dream

BY GEOFF CARTER

We’re sitting in the Beverly Theater auditorium, noodling with the sound and lights. Kip Kelly, the theater’s chief experience o cer, is standing in front of the screen, controlling the room’s various bells and whistles from an iPad; Beverly Rogers, the theater’s founder and benefactor, is seated a few rows down from me, beaming with pride. (Yes, the theater is named for her, and no, she didn’t choose it; Kelly and other members of her sta insisted.)

“There’s a lot of things in here you wouldn’t see in a traditional movie theater,” Kelly says, pointing out the theatrical lighting rig, the pencil mics that descend from the ceiling for post-screening Q&A sessions and the soundproofed sliding wall that opens to the

building’s spacious courtyard with the push of a button. “We are purposefully designed for both lms and shows.”

He’s underselling it. The Beverly Theater is, in fact, purposefully designed in nearly every aspect; judging from our hands-on tour, I’d rate the form and function of this stand-alone art house theater as close to ideal.

The building itself, with its textured metal accents and broad second- oor balcony, is a handsome counterpart to the Lucy complex just next door. Kelly declares the theater’s digital projector “the latest and greatest,” adding that there’s room in the projection window for a lm projector, should they want to acquire one.

The 7.1 surround audio system—the Constellation, built by Meyer Sound—boasts a granular level of adjustability: The auditorium can go completely neutral, or it can reverberate “like an 18th century London cathedral,” Kelly says, immediately demonstrating exactly that.

The box o ce and concessions are cashless, fully compatible with both Apple and Google’s digital payment platforms. The candy, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages aren’t contained behind a glass counter, but in a bodega-like nook that visitors can browse freely. (By the way, the snack and beverage assortment is unprecedented: I’ve never seen Pocky and Pringles in a movie theater concession stand, much less next to local craft beers.) And the backstage areas are every bit as carefully considered, with a full kitchen and an elegantly appointed performer’s green room.

It’s not a “multipurpose space”—Kelly bristles at the phrase, which to him conjures images of a soulless box—but the Beverly’s auditorium will nonetheless serve multiple purposes, while never feeling like a cinema that’s awkwardly o ering literary events and live music. “People need to feel like this is the premier place for their speci c content,” Kelly says.

What that means is that it will be an ideal venue for the

author readings that its immediate neighbor, the Writer’s Block, used to pack into its classroom space. Music fans will delight in the o eat performers and genres that will be booked into the auditorium and enjoy a pristine sound mix— and, if needed, the auditorium’s 146 stadium-style seats can retract into the wall for standing shows, increasing the room’s capacity to 407.

And to Vegas’ cineastes, who have watched despondently for

The Beverly Theater (Christopher DeVargas/Sta )

The Beverly Theater’s auditorium (Patrick Gray/KabikPhotoGroup.com)

THE BEVERLY THEATER 515 S. 6th Street, thebeverly theater.com.

years as independent and international film flew right over this city on its way to the coasts, the Beverly Theater is a dream come true.

That said, it’s arriving at a moment when all cinemas, multiplexes and art houses alike, are fighting to stay open. Rogers and Kelly acknowledge that Vegas has struggled mightily to present indie film in the past—I talk up the Gold Coast Twin and the recently closed Regal Village Square, while Rogers invokes the old MGM Grand Theater—but they promise that their theater, a

501c3 nonprofit, is ready to earn Vegas’ often fickle loyalty.

“[Las Vegas entertainment] is competitive. There’s so much going on,” Rogers says.

“We can’t be the traditional exhibitor that just sits and waits for the studio to save their quarter. We’ve got to be proactive,” Kelly says. “We have to be a reliable brand, where people trust us [and just] show up because they know something good is coming. … We’re taking risks on some titles that we think need to be shown, but

that doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone’s going to come flooding in to watch them right away.”

Everyone should. The Beverly’s opening month overflows with risky and rewarding titles, from Celine Song’s acclaimed romantic drama Past Lives, to Laura Poitras’ Oscar-nominated Nan Goldin documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, to a trove of revival-house gold that includes David Lynch’s Lost Highway and Wong Kar-wai’s swooningly gorgeous In the Mood for Love. The Writ-

er’s Block is presenting Pulitzer Prize-shortlisted author Percival Everett, and Ekoh is playing a live set. That’s a lineup that would kill in LA or New York, and with any luck, Vegas will show up for it.

But even if the crowds are slow to appear, Beverly Rogers is more than ready to watch some movies. This dream began with her, and she’s thrilled to see it come true.

“I can hardly stand here and listen to Kip describing [this place] without crying,” she says. “That’s how emotional I am about it.”

FRESH START

Keith Urban builds new energy for his Zappos Theater residency

BY BROCK RADKE

Keith Urban is more than 30 years into an illustrious, hit- lled career, a big reason why the New Zealand-born country music megastar is such a natural choice for a Las Vegas Strip residency. But even this veteran performer was caught o -guard by the exibility and opportunity of such a show, which he rst launched in 2019 at the then-newly renovated Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

“I was pleasantly surprised how every night in Vegas is unique and how much I can take advantage of the epic nature of what you can do in those rooms, as well as the intimate nature of what those rooms can be,” Urban tells the Weekly

Now he’s joining the ranks of Cher, Shania Twain, Usher and other artists who have returned for a second residency at a di erent venue. Urban, who opens at Zappos Theater at the Planet Hollywood Resort on March 3, says he’s looking forward to a long, exciting, freedom- lled run at the energetic center-Strip venue. And you might catch him hanging out Downtown, too.

How di erent does it feel to launch this Zappos show versus your first residency at the Colosseum? It feels like a fresh beginning. We had a blast over at the Colosseum, and really, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed doing a residency. I think I had a di erent idea of what it might be like, kind of worried it would be playing the same room, the same show, night after night. I wasn’t chomp-

ing at the bit to get into something like that, but it turned out to be di erent every night.

So the residency gave you more freedom than you anticipated? Absolutely. You can design a stage that doesn’t have to be packed up and traveled, and that really opens up possibilities. You don’t have to think about logistics.

Zappos Theater definitely has a party-ready atmosphere, which we’ve seen at other residencies there. Totally. It feels like a room built for more spontaneous electricity. Look, I grew up playing in clubs and pubs, places with a concrete oor where everybody was packed in like sardines. It just creates a vibe, and that’s the foundation for what I do. I’ve been fortunate to work with great production and design people that can add more dimension to that, but there’s no doubt that the spirit of what I do was born in those clubs.

The only thing I think will be consistent [at this new residency] is that spirit that always happens at our shows. We’re looking for new ways to interact with the audience, and how we go about doing that is very di erent from anything I’ve done before. The look of the stage, the ow and some of the musical moments are also things I haven’t done before.

You dropped some new singles last year and you’re finishing a new album this year. Will Vegas get some of those new sounds, and will the album follow the storytelling themes of those singles? Vegas is a great opportunity to put in those new songs, and mix them in with some O.G. kind of songs that people want to hear. Being able to blend things together in one show, I feel very lucky.

I think [the album] is as much a mix as my music always is. It’s impossible for me to capture what I do on any one album, which is why I love playing live so much, because it gives new context. When we get onstage, the songs take on a whole new life, and … you can tell they’re very alive, as opposed to a perfect re-creation of what’s on the album.

Do you think you’ll have the chance to further explore Las Vegas this time around? I’m just psyched to come back and be spending more time in Vegas. It’s an ever-changing city and just evolving all the time. I love the Arts District Downtown. Billy Gibbons [from ZZ Top] hipped me to this place SoulBelly BBQ, and it’s a great spot.

If you spend too much time there, they’ll pull you up onstage and make you play a song. I would do it in a heartbeat.

Keith Urban (Courtesy/GMT)

KEITH URBAN March 3-4, 8, 10-11, 15, 17-18, 8 p.m., $79-$356. Zappos Theater, ticketmaster.com.

‘WORLD DOMINATION’

Jabbawockeez with Rauw Alejandro (center) Courtesy/Christian Astorga)

DOMINATION’

THE STRIP

BY AMBER SAMPSON

The 20-year legacy of the Jabbawockeez—the masked hip-hop dance crew behind several successful Strip productions, including the current Timeless at MGM Grand—has grown well beyond anything the troupe ever envisioned.

“[Las Vegas] was something we had discussed in 2004 as just kids dreaming,” says Je rey “Phi” Nguyen, one of the original founding members of the group, along with Kevin “KB” Brewer and Joe Larot. “One of our crew members [the late Gary Kendell] was the rst one to put it into the universe. He was like, ‘There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a show in Las Vegas.’ Fast forward to 2023, and this May will be 13 years.”

After more than a decade of headlining on the Strip, the Jabbawockeez have grown accustomed to thinking big. Their next move? A world tour with Puerto Rican reggaeton sensation Rauw Alejandro, set to begin March 4 in Tampa, Florida.

Last year, the dance troupe joined Alejandro onstage at the Latin Grammys, and that moment has since brought the two camps even closer together.

“We had been trying to make a presence in the Latin community and we’d touched base on it over the years, but very lightly,” Brewer says. “When Rauw reached out to us, we pulled up and did a set with him, and I think there was a synergy there. We kind of vibe o each other’s lore.

“He’s got this sci- retro ’80s thing, and we’re keeping that in mind. We’re trying to integrate the art of storytelling as we transition from our set to his,” he continues. “It’s like we both jet set across the universe. Then Rauw nds himself in a situation where he needs to call the Jabbawockeez as backup. We pinpoint his location, and in our dragon cruise ship, we meet up and do this tour.”

Nguyen says ’80s classics like Back to the Future, Tron and The Terminator fuel the crew’s creative mojo as it works on new choreography. Applying those elements to Alejandro’s show should be an easy exercise. The Jabbawockeez have backed up several musical heavyweights on tour, including New Kids on the Block and Bruno Mars, but the upcoming Saturno tour will see the crew headlining in a much more collaborative and prominent way, Larot says.

“It’s cool to work with artists that look at us as artists as well,” Nguyen adds. “With this particular tour, we’re not opening up for Rauw, we’re actually in the middle of his set, where it’s actually our set.”

Larot says Timeless will continue to run in Las Vegas during the tour. And introducing new audiences to Jabbawockeez on the road should help draw di erent fans to the Vegas show, he says. Brewer says 2023 is looking packed with opportunities, but the expansion of the crew’s legacy—and its family of “new young dragons, to take up the mantle”—remains top of mind.

“Our mission is world domination,” he says. “We want Jabbawockeez everywhere. Every inch and corner of the planet, that’s where we’re trying to have the mask.”

JABBAWOCKEEZ

Wednesday-Monday, 7 & 9:30 p.m., $50-$110. Jabbawockeez Theater, mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com.

The Vegas-based Jabbawockeez hit the road on a global tour with Rauw Alejandro

PIE HEAVEN

Crust & Roux brings comfy flavors to Town Square

BY BROCK RADKE

You might not yet have heard of AYYA Hospitality Group, but the Las Vegas-based company is moving moves and doing it quickly. In just a couple of years, the entrepreneurial collective has opened IVI Performance, an athletic training facility at the southern end of the Valley; the nearby Thick & Thin Treat bar, a combination juice bar and ice cream parlor; and homey Town Square restaurant Crust & Roux, serving up the holy pie trinity of pizza, pot pies and dessert pies. There’s more to come soon, namely the Lebanese-inspired Pine Bistro and the Mexican steakhouse J. Blanco at UnCommons. Partner Lowell Raven says the vision behind the venues is to bring Las Vegas Strip-level experiences and service to neighborhoods around the Valley.

“We all have hospitality backgrounds, and that’s the one thing we wanted to bring to the community that you can’t really get—that true, full experience,” he says.

in one. It’s not a normal pizzeria, and it’s not a traditional bakery. I wanted to make it more modern and elevated, make it cool and bring it to Vegas.”

Using the same dough recipe for the pot pies and desserts and utilizing plenty of ingredients as toppings and fillings for pizza pies and pot pies makes the concept more functional and removes some stress across a fun and familiar menu. One of the most popular dishes is the Crab Pie ($38 for 16-inch, $44 for 20-inch)—a pizza topped with signature white roux sauce, lump crab meat, garlic, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

CRUST & ROUX Town Square, 6825 Las Vegas Blvd. S. #120, 725-204-8522, crustandroux.com.

Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.midnight.

Raven, who worked at the Venetian and Palazzo’s acclaimed Cocktail Collective for years, is the man behind the Crust & Roux concept, directly inspired by an East Coast restaurant operated by his father for years—all the pies, all made fresh to order. The Vegas version opened last July at the edge of the Town Square complex, near Whole Foods and Total Wine.

“My family was in restaurants, and when I was a kid, I would spend summers visiting him and the [restaurant]. Those are some of my greatest memories,” Raven says. “The reason he loved it so much was that it’s like two different concepts

“When you think of a seafood pizza, you think of the East Coast clam pizza. There aren’t many with crab,” Raven says. “That’s No. 1, because it’s different.” The Roux Pie ($28-$34) is a close second, thanks to its flavor combo of chicken, spinach and mushrooms.

The chicken pot pie ($12 for 4-inch, $34 for 9-inch) is the go-to in its category, of course, but there’s also a seafood pot pie ($14-$38) with red and white sauces, crab, scallops and shrimp. Sandwiches and salads bring balance to the offerings, and unique flavors are everywhere, like the KBBQ pizza ($32-$38) with Korean-style barbecue chicken, the Gumbo pot pie ($14-$38), and the filet mignon sandwich ($26) with mushrooms, onions and pepper Jack cheese.

Dessert pie flavors depend on whether you’re eating in or taking them home, ranging from cherry, apple or blueberry to pecan, banana cream or chocolate peanut. Maybe get a taste by the slice ($10) before you commit.

PREPARE TO EAT YOUR HEART OUT AT DURANGO CASINO

 We had no reason to doubt Station Casinos when it announced the plans for this year’s Durango Casino in the southwest Valley and claimed the new resort would be stocked with elevated dining options. Still, the culinary collection coming to its Eat Your Heart Out food hall, unveiled last month, easily exceeds the most hopeful expectations.

Like some of the other trendy food halls that have sprouted around town in recent years, Durango’s will be a mix of local favorites and new-to-market concepts; both categories pack some real heavy-hitters. The familiars are Downtown’s Yu-Or-Mi Sushi, third locations of Shang Artisan Noodle and Vesta Coffee, Henderson sweet spot Nielsen’s Frozen Custard, an outlet of Palace Station’s legendary Oyster Bar and a new version of Marc Vetri’s pasta bar Fiorella.

The new stuff also delivers familiar names in the form of beloved eats from other cities. Chef Gene Villiatora will introduce grateful Ninth Islanders to Hawaiian street food at Ai Pono Cafe. New York City’s Prince Street Pizza will serve “Soho squares” and Sicilian-style slices. The East Coast-style LA deli Uncle Paulie’s will bring its long list of signature sandwiches to the 25,000-square-foot food hall. And another LA institution, Irv’s Burgers, is sure to land on everybody’s must-eat list with its pastrami-topped Big Irv, birthday cookies, chili cheese fries and more.

Still to be announced at Durango are a steakhouse concept, a coastal grill from Lettuce Entertain You and a Mexican restaurant, but Eat Your Heart Out’s eye-popping collection already has us excited. –Brock

Radke

Pies and more from Crust & Roux (Courtesy)

A platter from Yu-Or-Mi Sushi (Courtesy/Station Casinos)

OFF TO THE RACES

Key storylines at NASCAR’s early-season Las Vegas Motor Speedway stop

BY CASE KEEFER

Professional sports have overtaken Las Vegas in recent years, with more events—and local teams—coming to town than most can reasonably follow. NASCAR sometimes seems to get lost in the shu e, even though the nation’s largest auto racing organization was perhaps the rst top-tier pro sport to embrace our Valley.

NASCAR has brought at least one race in its Cup Series—the highest level of competition—to Las Vegas Motor Speedway every year since the track opened in 1998. And for the sixth consecutive time, the speedway will host a pair of NASCAR weekends during the 2023 season.

The rst starts Friday, March 3, with the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 Truck Series event, and ends Sunday, March 5, with the Pennzoil 400 Cup Series race.

NASCAR is no longer the biggest game in town; local attendance gures are one measure of its declining presence. The Speedway’s capacity has twice been downsized, from a high of 140,000 seats to its current total of 80,000.

But this year’s rst NASCAR stop—the second will take place in October during the sport’s playo s—is a good opportunity to start paying attention again, if not get back into the grandstands themselves.

It’s the third stop on NASCAR’s 2023 schedule, and there’s plenty of intrigue to go around at the start of a new season. Here are four reasons why the Pennzoil 400 will be worth watching when the drivers start their engines at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

1 Newfound parity

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the annual season-opening Daytona 500 on February 19, becoming the 20th driver since the start of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season to capture a checkered ag. That’s a near-unprecedented number of di erent winners over the course of one calendar year.

Superspeedways like Daytona notoriously level the playing eld for the entire entry list more than a traditional-type course like Las Vegas, but there’s still arguably more competition at every track than ever before. It makes for a more exciting racing environment, part of NASCAR’s master plan when it introduced “the Next Gen car” at the start of the 2022 season.

That new car has provided teams

with fewer resources a better chance to compete against goliaths of the sport like Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet), Team Penske (Ford) and Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota).

In past years, it might have been easy to narrow the potential list of Las Vegas winners down to ve or six drivers, but that’s no longer the case.

2A Rowdy restart

A two-time NASCAR Cup series champion and 60-time Cup series race winner, 37-year-old Kyle “Rowdy” Busch is the most accomplished driver ever to hail from Las Vegas. But the Durango High graduate is entering a new phase of his career in 2023.

Busch parted ways with Joe Gibbs Racing after 15 years following last

season. The organization cited the exit of Busch’s longtime sponsor, M&Ms, as a reason for not renewing his contract, but fans rolled their eyes at that when team owner Joe Gibbs’ grandson, Ty Gibbs, predictably filled Busch’s spot.

Bush was expected to be less competitive this season with Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet), but so far, the opposite has played out. He’s been the fastest driver in the Cup series through two races.

Bush picked up a victory in the second race of the year, February 26 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, after narrowly missing at the Daytona 500. Busch led at the 500-mile mark and bemoaned that he would have won had it not been for a series of late wrecks that prolonged the race.

SPRING LAS VEGAS NASCAR WEEKEND

March 3: Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 Truck Series race, 6 p.m., Fox Sports 1

March 4: Alsco Uniforms 300 Xfinity Series race, 1:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1

March 5: Pennzoil 400 Cup Series race, 12:30 p.m., Fox

Tickets: $10-$230 for weekend pass, $10-$165 for Pennzoil 400; lvms.com, ticketmaster.com, 800-644-4444.

The fiery Busch is cherishing the opportunity to prove his naysayers wrong and would love for it to continue in his hometown. 3

circles due to a confrontational and outspoken attitude, not unlike the one for which Busch has been known throughout his career.

part of the Cup Series playoffs.

A rookie debut

Ty Gibbs is one of just two rookies in the Cup Series this season. The other? Noah Gragson, who grew up in Las Vegas and began his career in local races at the speedway. The 24-yearold Bishop Gorman High graduate gets a well-deserved promotion to the Cup Series after dominating the secondary Xfinity Series the past two years.

Gragson won 13 races in the Xfinity Series, falling just short of winning the championship with a second-place finish behind Ty Gibbs in 2022 and a third-place showing in 2021. Gragson is already a polarizing figure in racing

Gragson never seems intimidated, even with this year’s major step up to the big show. He’ll be driving the No. 42 car for the rebranded Legacy Motor Club (Chevrolet), majority-owned by Allegiant Air CEO Maury Gallagher and recently retired NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson. 4

Logano, who hails from Middletown, Connecticut, went on to win again three weeks later at the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race in Phoenix, capturing his second career title.

In the Las Vegas record books, only Jimmie Johnson sits above Logano with four career wins. It feels like only a matter of time before Logano ties Johnson’s all-time mark, given how he has performed in Las Vegas.

The champion in his element

Joey Logano might not be a Southern Nevada product, but he sure seems at home at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 32-year-old Team Penske driver won for the third time in Las Vegas during the track’s most recent race in last October as

In 18 career appearances here, he has finished outside of the top 10 just six times. Logano also has one runner-up and three fourth-place finishes to go with his trio of wins.

He’ll once again be driving a Pennzoil-branded car this season, and he just might be the man to beat in the Pennzoil 400.

Kyle Busch (18) and Joey Logano (22) drive in a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WADE VANDERVORT

PRESENTED BY

DOWNTOWN-BASED WELLNESS BUSINESS MIKE’S RECOVERY IS SOAKING IN FAST GROWTH

BY BROCK RADKE VEGAS INC STAFF

Maybe you’ve used a pleasant aromatherapeutic soap at your favorite local coffee shop or restaurant, and it left an impression. Or maybe you’ve purchased one of the Mike’s Recovery brand mineral soaks or salt scrubs at the Whole Foods or Sprouts Market around the corner, not realizing these products are made in Downtown Las Vegas at the renovated and refashioned Fergusons motel on Fremont Street.

That’s where Michael Buckham runs his shop and creates his line of restorative products, which also includes massage and body oils, balms, hand sanitizer and cleaning solutions. Mike’s Recovery was founded just five years ago and it’s still a local operation, even though its items are available at national franchise markets, along with prominent spa venues like Canyon Ranch at the Venetian.

“I wanted to build it without any real [outside] investment and started with $6,000, just wanting to grow on its own merit,” Buckham says. “I wanted it to be something grounded. We made the first batch [of products] in a garage. It was very organic.”

Buckham moved to Las Vegas from his native Wales more than 20 years ago and began his wellness career journey working at gyms while completing massage therapy school. Once he started in massage, his interactions with clients and his previous experiences in fitness businesses informed his vision for Mike’s Recovery.

“It was a lot of guys working out hard and partying all weekend, and there was no time for processing what’s going

on in life,” he says. “That’s common for a lot of us. We don’t make real time for relaxation or self-care, and there’s a lot more talk about that nowadays.”

Buckham originally partnered with friend Max Jacobson-Fried of Freed’s Bakery to start the company but recently bought him out. Initial marketing efforts were targeted to athletes and fitness buffs at gyms and sporting events, with Buckham focusing on the aromatherapy elements built into each product. That was something new for the audience, he says.

“I studied aromatherapy for years. Women can better tolerate synthetic smells, and I think they’re definitely accustomed to that from women’s beauty products,” he says. “I’m very sensitive to smell and good at creating blends that are palatable for most people. If someone is really into the fake smells, they won’t like my products.”

When Buckham began installing soaps at restaurants for use in restrooms, like Downtown’s PublicUs coffee shop, the attention helped Mike’s Recovery turn a corner. “The owner said people were coming out smelling their hands and asking, ‘What is this?’ ” he says.

Misty Maher, co-owner of the Henderson spa Lapis & Oak, says Mike’s Recovery is an ideal fit for her business and clientele, because Buckham shares her team’s understanding of the importance of total wellness care.

“He really understands the true usage of everything he puts in his products and how,” Maher says. “He’s using the highest-quality ingredients to deliver care ... and we align with Mike’s Recovery because we both have that knowledge, and we know what we want to accomplish.”

Her husband and partner, Tommy

Maher, has worked as a massage therapist for 27 years in Las Vegas, including at the luxury spas in Strip resorts. They opened Lapis & Oak to fill what they saw as a void for a service-oriented spa for locals seeking massage and other treatments on a regular basis.

“We know there’s a need for massage and skin care wellness and health beyond celebrations or special occasions,” she says. “You are in your body 24/7, and it’s crucial you are getting regular body work and therapy.”

Her passion for that work extends to the products used in treatments and sold at the spa. The Mike’s Recovery mineral soaks are particularly prominent there, as Maher notes the importance of using salt soaks before and after therapy sessions in healing muscles and reducing inflammation.

Buckham says he has been invited to take his products national by Whole Foods, starting with distribution in California stores, but he’s managing expansion gradually. Mike’s Recovery can produce tons of products in the span of a week from its Downtown headquarters, which makes the business scalable.

“I really want to stay Downtown, and I’ve reached out to some brokers about spaces a bit bigger so [growth] in production can happen,” he says. “Just a few months ago, Canyon Ranch started giving lip balm to customers [in gift packages], so that’s 1,200 items a week. I feel like I’m at a point where it can blow up in a really good way.”

Rapid growth will mean hiring more staff, since Buckham is something of a one-man show. But he’s set on keeping and strengthening the brand’s personal connections with partners and customers. “In the short term, I really want people to feel it. It’s definitely experiential,” he says. “Where I grew up, taking a bath is a normal thing to do, no big deal. Here, relaxation and taking time for yourself is not part of the culture.

“Above all, I want affordable products of really good quality available to people of any demographic.”

Michael Buckham of Mike’s Recovery (Steve Marcus/Staff)

*Offer ends 3/31/23. Available to new commercial data and voice subscribers (excluding gov’t agencies and schools) in Cox service areas. $74/mo includes Cox Business Internet SM 50 and IPC Select. Price based on 1 yr. term agreement. Early term. fees may apply. Standard rates apply thereafter. Price excludes equipment, professional installation, construction, inside wiring, taxes, surcharges and other fees, unless indicated. Offer is nontransferable to a new service address. Offer subject to change at Cox’s sole discretion. All Cox services are provided subject to Cox Business General Terms (including mandatory arbitration provisions), Acceptable Use Policy (including Cox’s right to terminate service for abuse of network), and other policies, which may be found at www.cox.com/aboutus/policies/business-general-terms.html. Uninterrupted or error-free Internet service, or the speed of your service, is not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary. Rates and bandwidth options vary and are subject to change. DOCSIS 3.0 or higher modem may be required, unless indicated. See www.cox.com/internetdisclosures for complete Cox Internet Disclosures. IPC Select: 15-seat maximum. IPC Select is limited to direct-dialed domestic calls and is not available for use with non-switched-circuit calling. Desktop app included; physical handsets may be purchased separately from Cox. Access to E911 may not be available during equipment or extended power outage. Telephone services are provided by an affiliated Cox entity. Services are not available in all areas. Discounts can’t be combined or added with other promotions nor applied to any other Cox account. †Visa prepaid card available with qualifying new services ordered and activated between 9/17/22 and 3/31/23 with min 1 yr. term agreement for Cox Business Internet SM and IPC Select. Must mention “reward promo" when placing order.

BY VEGAS INC STAFF

Soccer has been a lifelong love affair for Melanie Stafford.

The executive director of the Nevada Youth Soccer Association started playing in that organization at age 4 with Grandma’s Tiny Tigers and, after experiencing success with club teams and at the high school level, eventually returned to the organization that first cultivated her passion for the sport.

“Aside from the health and fitness benefits of soccer, there are so many lessons that soccer can teach young kids,” she said. “Teamwork, work ethic and determination are all instilled in our players.”

Stafford chatted with Vegas Inc about the World Cup, the community and the business of youth sports.

What in your background prepared you for your role with NYSA?

My professional career started out in the health care side of sports, but I ended up transitioning to administration after receiving my masters in sports management from Long Beach State. I worked for a few different professional sports organizations in California, learning the ins and outs of sports as a business, and decided to move back to Nevada when I began working with NYSA.

Having a full running knowledge of the organization from the inside-out

Q+A: MELANIE STAFFORD

NONPROFIT YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZATION BUILDS SKILLS AND INSPIRES WORK ETHIC IN CHILDREN

was immensely helpful, and my time working with professional sports teams paired with my education in sports management helped me take on the role of executive director. It was a full-circle moment to become a leader for the soccer association that I played for as a kid.

What are the challenges of operating a youth sports league that people in the general public might not understand?

As a nonprofit, we rely on a lot of individuals donating their time to better the association and experience for the players.

I can recall volunteering all the way back to high school and I try to give back whenever I have the opportunity. I am a firm believer that if you are not willing to do something, you shouldn’t ask others to do it. So when I ask for volunteers with the association, I understand what it means to dedicate time to something. The public might like to know about more opportunities to participate and give back, and we can always take on more volunteers.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Seeing growth in our athletes is incredibly rewarding as a member of NYSA. Whether it’s their journey to scoring their first goal or finding a friend in a teammate, it really is all about the kids. It’s wonderful to see the next generation of players devel-

op their skills and experience all the great moments soccer can provide.

What lifelong lessons can participation in youth sports teach that carry over to the business world when young athletes become adults and join the workforce or start their own small businesses?

Participation in youth sports can teach kids about perseverance, teamwork and work ethic—lessons that help you in any professional workplace. Youth sports offer a first opportunity to join in on a team effort and work with others toward a common goal.

What’s the biggest change that has been made or can be made to protect the health and safety of young athletes?

As a product of this association, I have been able to understand all of the work that goes into ensuring that soccer can happen in a positive and safe environment for everyone. Our athletes are our No. 1 priority. One of the biggest shifts in youth sports is putting mental health first. It’s important that we are providing our players, and their families, with all the resources we can to promote a safe, healthy and happy sporting environment.

What is the best business advice you’ve received, and whom did it come from?

“It’s about connections.” This is

something I heard from multiple people, but felt its impact in practice while I was in graduate school. Connect with people on a personal level and you never know what will come of it.

Do you find that participation and interest in soccer increases in World Cup years?

There is a lot of passion for soccer in our community every year, but World Cup years are especially fun. World Cup years help us show our young players this sport can take them to one of the biggest stages in the world. It helps them visualize where big dreams can take them, so I think World Cup years inspire young players to dream even bigger.

What kind engagement do you have with the local business community?

We couldn’t do what we do without our great partners and sponsors. We always appreciate when local level businesses donate to our youth soccer scholarship funds or when employees take the time to participate as volunteers. We have found that Nevada businesses are very generous. We are also incredibly grateful to our relationship with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County. Their support for youth sports really expands our ability to provide the programming, trainings and games through us and our sanctioned leagues and tournaments.

One of the biggest shifts in youth sports is putting mental health first. It’s important that we are providing our players, and their families, with all the resources we can to promote a safe, healthy and happy sporting environment.”

VegasInc Notes

February 18 was officially named “Paul Revere Williams Day” in Nevada thanks to four nonprofit organizations that joined forces to bring to light the architect’s life and legacy. Spearheaded by the Nevada Museum of Art, this effort comes after many years in which Williams’ work went largely unrecognized. Carmen Beals, museum associate curator and outreach coordinator, organized an exhibition showcasing the photography of Janna Ireland, who toured the state photographing Williams’ designs. The exhibition can be seen at Nevada State Museum through May 30.

In tandem with Black History Month, local Black-owned creative agency BoothMeUp Las Vegas launched Red Carpet Robot, a video booth that utilizes three types of “Vegas-inspired” artificial intelligence to innovate experiential live events. The robot serves three main functionalities: video dance bot, bartender bot and product bot.

Department of Business and Industry Director Terry Reynolds announced the appointment of Scott Kipper as insurance commissioner at

the Nevada Division of Insurance. The appointment was made following the resignation of Barbara Richardson, who served in the role since 2016. Kipper has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, including prior stints as Nevada insurance commissioner from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2011 to 2015.

The National Association of State Workforce Agencies honored the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation with the Pinnacle Award for Business Development and the Data Insights and Innovations Award at the Winter Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. This Pinnacle Award is bestowed upon a state demonstrating excellence and innovation in the area of employer engagement. Nevada DETR received the award for its EmployNV Business Hub, the first American Job Center in Nevada designed to meet the needs of employers. The Data Insights and Innovations Award is bestowed upon a state demonstrating excellence and innovation in the area of labor market information. Nevada DETR received it for its Use of R in Producing Labor Market Information, led by Chief

MANAGEMENT ANALYST

Economist David Schmidt, which developed reproducible, automated reports from publicly available data in a format that can be shared with other states. This initiative improved comparisons between state and national data and increased efficiency in data analysis, allowing more work to be done with existing funding.

Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada has announced that Elizabeth Delgado has joined its board of directors. She is a founder and private wealth adviser for Every Season Wealth Management. Her experience in financial planning, strategic planning and relationship building and development will help the nonprofit organization achieve its mission to empower K-12 youths to own their economic success. Delgado also serves on the board for Scarlet Hope, a nonprofit organization that shares the hope and love of Jesus with women in the adult entertainment industry. She also sat on its Operations Board and held numerous volunteer positions from greeting, prayer, communion service, and lead study groups with Canyon Ridge Christian Church.

The offices of Rep. Dina Titus, D-Ne-

vada, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, announced that the state will receive $11,390,000 this year from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help communities upgrade essential water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

Gov. Joe Lombardo announced the appointment of Adriana Guzmán Fralick to the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board. She replaces outgoing member Dennis Neilander. Guzmán Fralick, a Reno-based attorney, has an extensive record of public service. Her legal and regulatory experience spans several state agencies and offices including Gov. Jim Gibbons’ administration, the Nevada Commission on Ethics, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina Y Casino and the newly rebranded Hotel Jefe are open to the public. A collaboration between Las Vegas-based Fifth Street Gaming and Dallas-based Ojos Locos Sports Cantina, the newly renovated gaming and entertainment destination represents the first U.S. hotel-casino dedicated to the Latino community. Replacing the Lucky Club Hotel & Casino at 3227 Civic Center Drive in North Las Vegas, the reimagined resort features Ojos Locos Sports Cantina as its dining, entertainment and nightlife centerpiece.

Delgado

PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES “ADDED WEIGHT”

BY FRANK LONGO

WEEK OF MARCH 2

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): My memoirish novel The Televisionary Oracle took seven years to write. I generated a lot of material I didn’t like. Then one day, I wrote about aspects of my character and behavior that needed improvement. Suddenly everything clicked. Dealing with self-correction was a key catalyst. Are there any such qualities in yourself you might benefit from tackling?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a risk and extend feelers to interesting people outside your usual sphere. But don’t let your social adventures distract you from your ambitions, which also need your wise attention. Your complex task: Mix work and play; synergize business and pleasure.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Astrologer Jessica Shepherd advises us to sidle up to the Infinite Source of Life and say, “Show me what you’ve got.” It delights in bringing us captivating paradoxes. Yes and no may both be true in enchanting ways. Independence and interdependence can interweave to provide us with brisk teachings. Are you interested in the charming power that comes from engaging with cosmic contradictions? Now’s a favorable time to do so.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Only a lunatic would dance when sober,” declared the ancient philosopher Cicero. Reject that limiting idea. Do a lot of dancing-while-sober. Singing-while-sober, too. There is no need to be intoxicated as you engage in revelry. It will be better for your soul’s health if you are lucid and clearheaded as you celebrate this liberating phase of extra joy and pleasure.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Poet Mary Oliver wondered whether the soul is solid and unbreakable, like an iron bar. Or is it tender and fragile, like a moth in an owl’s beak? She fantasized that maybe it’s shaped like an iceberg or a hummingbird’s eye. How do you experience your soul? The coming weeks will be a ripe time to home in on this treasured part of you. Feel it, consult with it, feed it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): According to the color consultant company Pantone, Viva Magenta is 2023’s color of the year. It is the lucky hue and power pigment for Virgos during the next 10 months. It is earthy and exciting; nurturing and inspiring; soothing yet arousing. The coming weeks will be a good time to get the hang of incorporating its spirit into your life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you are not working to forge a gritty solution, you may be reinforcing a cozy predicament. If you’re not expanding your imagination to conjure up fresh perspectives, you could be contributing to some ignorance or repression. If you’re not pushing to expose dodgy secrets and secret agendas, you might be supporting the whitewash.

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

ACROSS

1 Posh parties

6 Lumberyard

4 In the center of a vessel

5 Not religious

6 Mythical bird

7 Apple line

8 Alternative to JavaScript

9 Madrid Mlle.

10 “This is not —” (warning to kids) 11 Desire 12 Act segment 13 Legal wrongs 14 Crouch down 15 StarTalk cable chan.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Storyteller Martin Shaw believes that logic and factual information are not enough to sustain us. To nourish our depths, we need the mysterious stories provided by myths and fairy tales. Going forward, we require wily, lyrical tales imbued with the spirit of the Greek word metis, meaning “divine cunning in service to wisdom.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It’s a perfect time to prioritize your feelings of belonging and your sense of security. Focus energy on creating serenity and stability for yourself. Honor the buildings and lands you rely on. Give extra appreciation to the people you regard as your family and tribe. Offer blessings to the community that supports you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): If you are like 95% of the population, you weren’t given all the love and care you needed as a child. You may have made adaptations to partly compensate for this, but you are still running a deficit. But the coming weeks will be a favorable time to overcome some of the hurt and sadness. Life will offer you experiences that make you feel more at home in the world and at peace with your destiny and in love with your body.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The philosopher Aldous Huxley was ambitious and driven. He was a passionate pacifist and explorer of consciousness, a visionary who expressed dystopian and utopian perspectives. Later in life, though, his views softened. “Do not burn yourselves out,” he advised. “Be as I am: a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves for pleasure and adventure.” Recharge yourself with creature comforts.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

Author and activist W.E.B. Dubois advised us to always be willing to give up what we are. Because that’s how we transform into a deeper and stronger version of ourselves. You are primed to add through subtraction, to gain power by shedding what has become outworn and irrelevant. Identify dispiriting self-images you can jettison. Visualize a familiar burden you could live without. Drop an activity that bores you. Stop doing something that wastes your time.

VIPERS’ HOME OPENER | CASHMAN FIELD | FEBRUARY 25, 2023 | Neither Tina Turner nor Missy Elliott can stand the rain. But Vegas Vipers fans can. Look at their dedication. Look at their rain ponchos, partially protecting them from the water that’s pouring down their faces, mimicking tears of joy as the Vipers open their home season against the DC Defenders. Everybody wins, as long as they don’t look at the scoreboard, where the Vipers fell to the Defenders 18-6. –Corlene Byrd

(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)