2023-05-11-Las-Vegas-Weekly

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)

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, TERESA MOSS, RHIANNON SAEGERT, 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 MARY CHARISSE DIMAIN, DEREK EIGE, LAUREN JOHNSON, 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

Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON

Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS

Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

Senior Tra c Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Tra c Coordinator ALEX HAASE

Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

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CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

Chief Operating O cer ROBERT CAUTHORN

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SUPERGUIDE

Your daily events planner, starring the Pixies, Capital Cities, Danzig singing Elvis, Elder, Glam at Ghostbar and more.

THE WEEKLY Q&A

Lindsay Stewart spotlights the dining scene through her popular @thelasvegasfoodie Instagram.

ON THE COVER

Coffee Photograph by

COVER STORY Nerding out on local coffee— different styles, different processes and where to get gummy worms in your cup.

NEWS

Las Vegas’ postpandemic entertainment recovery is in full swing—with one notable exception.

NOISE

Sick New World brings heavy music of all kinds to the Strip, and we get you ready to rock.

FOOD & DRINK

Chef Francesco Di Caudo brings Italian creativity to the ’burbs, and the Mob Museum debuts new spring cocktails.

IN THIS ISSUE

SPORTS

Bruce Cassidy has been making the right moves all season long. How deep into the playoffs can it continue?

Wade Vandervort

Melvins will perform at Sick New World (Chris Casella)

SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY PLAN YOUR WEEK AHEAD

SAN GENNARO FEAST

Thru 5/14, times vary, M Resort, sangennarofeast. com.

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES

Thru 5/13, 7 p.m. (& 5/14, noon), Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com.

ADAM CAROLLA 7:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD 360 ALBUM EXPERIENCE

Thru 5/14, times vary, the Portal at Area15, area15.com.

NU METAL DANCE PARTY 9 p.m., Artifice, eventbrite.com.

PARADOT With Chocolate Jesus 702, K.O.S.M., Sacredpeaks, 8 p.m., the Gri n, eventbrite.com.

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

HUMAN NATURE

6:30 p.m. (& 5/12-5/14, 7:30 p.m.), South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

CHUWE & 2DEEP 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

BOOK SIGNING: JAY WEXLER 7 p.m., Avantpop, avantpopbooks. com.

SPARTAQUE 10 p.m., Commonwealth, seetickets.us.

FOOD + DRINK

CAPITAL CITIES 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

ELDER

The last time Elder played Las Vegas, the stoner/psych/metal outfit was forced o stage two songs into its 2022 Psycho fest set by a torrential downpour at Ayu Dayclub. The band regrouped later that night for some songs inside the Dawg House at Resorts World, and a scheduled set in that venue two nights later, but for many Psycho attendees, the lasting image of Elder was soaked guitarist/vocalist Nicholas DiSalvo desperately trying to keep his instrument dry while staving o potential electrocution. A May 11 Las Vegas return should feature no such drama, since it’ll take place inside Downtown’s the Usual Place. Look for the Massachusetts-born group—now largely based in Berlin, Germany, apparently—to lean on its most recent LP, last year’s proggy Innate Passage, but here’s hoping Elder also dips deeply into its peak trilogy from last decade: 2011’s Dead Roots Stirring, 2015’s Lore and 2017’s Reflections of a Floating World. Hmm, floating world … it’s almost like they knew the rains were coming. With Ruby the Hatchet, Howling Giant, 8 p.m., $20-$25, the Usual Place, eventbrite.com. –Spencer Patterson

PHOTO EXHIBITS: ANGELA BOATWRIGHT & RIKKI ERCOLI

The new Punk Rock Museum located between the Strip and Downtown held its first-ever exhibit opening party on April 28, highlighting two temporary installations from rock photographers Angela Boatwright and Rikki Ercoli, both of whom have played significant roles in capturing the punk scene through the decades. Boatwright spent 20 years documenting exactly that in New York City, but her Los Punks: The Backyard Punk Scenes in East Los Angeles and South Central, 2013-2016 collection brings us to the West Coast, as she also did with a full-length documentary on the same topic. Ercoli’s In the Beginning: Photographs From the Dawn of New Wave, Punk Rock & Hardcore showcases his black-and-whites from the ’70s and ’80s, concert images and o stage snaps of Blondie, Ramones, The Clash, Dead Kennedys, X, Richard Hell and many more. Thru 9/30, daily, noon-10 p.m., $20+, thepunkrockmuseum.com. –Brock Radke

Elder (Courtesy/Maren Michaelis)

(Courtesy)

PIXIES

Metaphysically speaking, there are two bands called Pixies. The first is the Boston version that casually dropped four classic albums—Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova and Trompe le Monde—between 1988 and 1991. This iteration of the Pixies was beloved, vastly influential—even David Bowie bent a knee to them, covering Surfer Rosa’s “Cactus” and declaring the band “a psychotic Beatles.” The other Pixies, the band that’s playing the Wynn this week, isn’t quite the same animal; it’s missing a founding member (Kim Deal quit in 2013), and though they’ve made four albums since reuniting in the early aughts, these Pixies don’t have quite the same weird magic that powered their early albums. No matter. The band still dominates the stage, singer Black Francis is still every bit himself and “Alec Eiffel,” “Wave of Mutilation” and “Where Is My Mind?” still have the power to punch you through the back wall of the theater. Though I confess, when I was cranking up “Debaser” back in the day, I never dreamed that theater would be on the Strip. With Slow Pulp, 8 p.m., & 5/13, $55-$95. Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. –Geoff Carter

LAS VEGAS POLO CLASSIC & 5/13, times vary, South Point, poloamerica.com.

THE B-52S 8:30 p.m., & 5/13, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

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

THE CHICKS 8 p.m., & 5/13, Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com.

SNOW THA PRODUCT 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

READING: JULIA LEE 7 p.m., the Beverly Theater, thebeverly theater.com.

KATY PERRY 8 p.m., & 5/13, 5/17, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

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

STABBING WESTWARD With The Birthday Massacre, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

DUKE DUMONT 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.

(Courtesy/Tom Oxley)

KYM WHITLEY 7:30 & 9:30 p.m., & 5/13, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

ROD STEWART 7:30 p.m., & 5/13, 5/15, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

NERVO 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

FIDDLEHEAD With Narrow Head, Object of Affection, Jinx, 6 p.m., American Legion Post 8, seetickets.us.

THE MAKAHA SONS

7 p.m. (& 5/13, noon), Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.

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

DANZIG SINGS ELVIS 8 p.m., Tropicana Theater, ticket master.com.

SUPERGUIDE

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

(Courtesy)

SUPERGUIDE

DILLINGER BLOCK PARTY

SPORTS

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK

It’s a springtime rite of passage, and in this case, 13 feels like a lucky number. Known for its gourmet burgers and craft beer selection, the Dillinger transforms into party central for the 13th annual block party in downtown Boulder City. The Whisky Fiddlers, Second Echo and The Junkyard Dogs will play live music, which attendees can enjoy with food truck fare. A bounce house and open-entry dog show will serve up family entertainment, and a covered beer garden will cater to attendees 21 and older.

4 p.m.-midnight, free, Arizona Street, thedillinger. com. –Shannon Miller

SICK NEW WORLD 11 a.m., Las Vegas Festival Grounds, sicknewworldfest.com.

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

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. FC TULSA 7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc.com.

ZEDD

LYNCH MOB

With Double Wide, 8 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, eventbrite.com.

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

DONNIE MENACE

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS: ROMERO VS. BARROSO 3 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

COMEDY

NEVADA BALLET

THEATRE: THE WIZARD OF OZ 2 & 7:30 p.m., (& 5/14, 1 & 5:30 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

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

BONAFIDE

With DJ Finesse, 8 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool Deck, downtowngrand.com.

VEGAS KNIGHT HAWKS VS. ARIZONA RATTLERS 7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

KASKADE 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

With Wildcard, 7 p.m., Taverna Costera, eventbrite.com.

STEVE AOKI 11 a .m., Wet Republic, events.taogroup.com.

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

FREDY FRESCO 10 p.m., Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com.

MISC

MARY DROPPINZ 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com. (Photo Courtesy)

THE SISTERS OF MERCY

With Strange Cities, 8:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

MR. BUNGLE

With Melvins, Spotlights, 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

TEMPTATION

SUNDAYS

OPENING DAY

Noon, Luxor Pool, temptationsundayslv. com.

AARON LEWIS

8 p.m., Sandbar at Red Rock Resort, ticketmaster.com.

DIVIDED BY STEREO

8 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesanddollarlv.com.

MARSHMELLO

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

GLAM

The Easter version of this recurring LGBTQ party at Palms’ rooftop Ghostbar was a vibe, hosted by drag star Roxy Brooks with appearances and performances from choreographer Derek Daniels, J.Lo lookalike Connie Pena and historic Miss Nevada USA 2021 winner Kataluna Enriquez. This month’s Mother’s Day edition keeps the fun level sky-high with host Mikalah Gordon, DJ Lisa Pittman and special guest Sarah Hester Ross. With this much energy spanning out across the Vegas skyline, you never know who else might show up. Glam is a collaboration between QVegas Magazine co-owner Garrett Pattiani and the Palms Pride initiative, and it looks like this monthly gathering could be around for a while. Admission is free before 11 p.m. 8 p.m., Ghostbar, eventbrite.com.

–Brock Radke

SUPERGUIDE

DAVID PERRICO’S POP SOUL Ft. Serena Henry, 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.

NECO

ALLEGAEON With The Zenith Passage, Sheer Cold, Madzilla, Eloteros, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

NICOLE AIMEE

With Rich Vos, Chris Clarke, Michael Yo, thru 5/20, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, comedycellar.com.

Azilo Ultra Pool, 10 a.m., azilolasvegas.com.

PATRICK WARBURTON

2 p.m., & 5/16, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, jimmkimmelscomedy club.com.

TRENTINO Flamingo’s Go Pool, 9 a.m., gopoolvegas. com.

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

( C )ysetruo

SUPERGUIDE

SHEA

With Maejoy, Dama Vicke, Cuddlethot, Indigo Rose, 7 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater.com.

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

FRANKIE MORENO 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

THE BRONX WANDERERS 6:30 p.m., thru 5/18, South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

LTJ BUKEM 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.

LORELY MUR 10 p.m., La Mona Rosa, lamonarosalv.com.

TWRP

With Magic Sword, 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etixcom.

MAY

The Jazz Outreach Initiative (JOI) was founded by Las Vegas native musician Kenny Rampton, who plays with the esteemed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis in New York City. Its purpose is to expose a greater number of students and young people to jazz through festivals, clinics and other educational events, and generally help create the next generation of artists and performers. One of its groups is the JOI Jazz Orchestra, a professional big band of top-flight musicians united in a common goal to boost the art form’s culture and community in Southern Nevada, and the band is getting a boost of its own from Neonopolis entertainment venue Notoriety, which is hosting performances every other Wednesday. Catch this week’s concert and you’ll not only be blown away by the talent, you’ll be contributing to important outreach programs like free lessons and donated instruments for students. 7:30 p.m., $20, Notoriety, notorietylive.com. –Brock Radke

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

THE DIRTY AT 12:30 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW 11:59 p.m., South Point’s Grandview Lounge, southpointcasino.com.

CHOIR BOY 7:30 p.m., (& thru 6/4, dates & times vary), Vegas Theatre Company, theatre.vegas.

CHELSEA GRIN

With Carnifex, Left to Su er, Ov Sulfur, 7 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us.

A SKYLIT DRIVE With Scarlett O’Hara, Sunsleep, 7:30 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

TWO FRIENDS 10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com.

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

JOI JAZZ ORCHESTRA

(Courtesy)

DISHING VEGAS

Lindsay Stewart spreads her appreciation for the Valley’s dining scene

Instagrammer

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Lindsay Stewart won’t stop raving about the cotton candy burrito. The Santa Clarita native, mother of two and former restaurant food runner swears by the dessert, created by Las Vegas ice cream parlor Creamberry. But Stewart also can’t forget the family-owned business for another reason. “They were the very first people who ever gave me a chance,” she says.

For nearly seven years, Stewart has been running the popular Instagram account @thelasvegasfoodie full-time, and has since spread the word about thousands of great Las Vegas restaurants to her 397,000 followers.

The Weekly sat down with Stewart to talk about her newfound influencer status, how her job has changed with time and why Las Vegas just does everything better.

When did you first discover your love for food? My parents weren’t taking me to expensive places or anything crazy. We were going to Hamburger Hamlet on Sundays— old school—but my dad actually owned a pizza place when I was 16. And I’ve worked in restaurants since I was 15. That’s when I started making my own creations, because you can’t eat the same things every day. Then, of course, when you start working, you have more money and you can start venturing out. That’s where it started.

How did @thelasvegasfoodie take shape? When we moved here, we lived right at the Panorama [Towers], so we could walk anywhere on the Strip. It was all at our fingertips, as opposed to being from a suburb of LA, where it was two-plus hours to go downtown. No one wants to do that, so we were stuck with going everywhere in Santa Clarita. When I knew all these restaurants were here and some were from LA … I was like, let’s go try these places out. Yelp was my best friend. I would keep track of everything in my notes on my phone. Finally, I was like, I’m just gonna start taking pictures of everything. I didn’t want to do it on my personal Instagram or my

Facebook, because I didn’t want to bother people, and I also didn’t want people to know that it was me. I wanted to be anonymous. It was almost like a double life.

In those early days, did you stick with onStrip restaurants, or did you make it a point to venture out to find neighborhood gems?

I always covered on and off the Strip, because Vegas isn’t just the Strip, and working in restaurants, you get recommendations from your friends that work there. It was always word of mouth. My friends and Yelp took me around. But in the beginning, no one was really doing this. We would stand on chairs [to take photos], and my husband would be so embarrassed. He’d be like “Oh my God. Hurry up, hurry up.” Back then it was 20 minutes to take 100 photos. Now I feel like we’re better, and videos are even better, because it’s just a quick video and then you can do whatever with it later.

What’s a typical day like for you now? It’s so different now than it was ... because I have my two babies. I usually do about three restaurants a week. But before it was three restaurants a day. We had no kids, my husband loves to work and I would do this with my friends. We’d pound three a day, or we would do two during the day and one at night. It was constant. I was helping restaurants run their social media, which is a very popular thing to do, and we’d go on vacation, but we wouldn’t leave the hotel room for three hours, because I’d be posting on my accounts. It was time-consuming and just hard to turn it off. They’re talking about mental health awareness month in May, and it’s like, give yourself a break. Sometimes you need to just stop. Like, what race are we really running?

It’s probably easy to forget to enjoy the meal you’re posting about. Do you ever do phone detoxes?

I don’t know if it’s a detox, but … I’ll take a picture and then put it away, or I’ll take a couple of videos. But 100 percent, there’s nights where I’m like, off our phones. Just put it away. When I’m with the kids, I don’t want to be on my phone. I don’t want them to see me have my screen time. I’d rather just be fully present with them as much as I can.

Have you discovered any new favorite types of food through your job? Everything. I would never in my life have tried foie gras or quail eggs. I tried uni before, and I’d like to try it again. Caviar is something I’ve never had before, and I feel like this town loves it now.

Is there anything you think Las Vegas does particularly well, food-wise? Seafood towers and service. I mean, even down to the valet. I think this city definitely ranks well above others. We’re the entertainment capital, right? But I think we really do live up to that. I’m biased, but I feel like it’s above, because you can’t eat all this stuff in three days in LA. You’d be waiting in traffic for 20 hours.

As we’ve seen recently with foodie influencer Keith Lee, posted content can really elevate a restaurant’s profile. Does that add any extra pressure or feeling of responsibility to what you do? Of course, and hopefully in a positive way. I’d never want to do it in a negative way. I could never do that and feel good about it. There’s a total responsibility. I’m not Keith Lee, but I wish I was. It’s so wonderful—he literally changes businesses overnight. I wish there were more people like that. But I also have a responsibility to my followers to make sure that I’m directing them to a place that’s good and clean.

What are your goals for @thelasvegasfoodie going forward? I’d love to grow with Las Vegas. If you asked me five years ago where my page would be, there’s no way I could tell you this is where it would be, sitting down with you. So hopefully, to keep growing and helping more businesses, because that’s what it comes down to. That’s how we started.

Lindsay Stewart (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Diving deep into local co ee

A cup in the morning—and maybe another in the afternoon to re-energize—is a fairly universal human experience, but despite the best e orts of Starbucks, co ee isn’t one size ts all. Like any respectable city, Las Vegas has plenty of cafés and shops, roasting operations and experimental baristas that sculpt a unique co ee culture. It’s not just about the drink; there’s science and style and a whole lot of stu involved in crafting these experiences. If you’re going to swim in this sea and nd your favorite deep-roasted varietal, mind-jolting cold brew or sweet, pretty latte, you’re going to have to act quickly ... and then, slowly. So let’s dive into di erent aspects of Vegas co ee one cup at a time and keep it moving.

Evergreen Co ee (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

They go by Dark Moon, but their cold brew formula has been thrust into the light.

In September, Henderson roaster and coffee shop Dark Moon Coffee Roasters (11041 S. Eastern Ave. #115, darkmoon.coffee) launched its cold brew cans at Whole Foods Markets. The Lunar blend and single-origin Sumatra and Honduras blends are now available at stores throughout Southern Nevada, Southern California and Arizona.

Owner Kyle Porterfield says custom-

ers can expect the best-tasting cold brew regardless of where it’s enjoyed. That’s partly because Dark Moon does everything under one roof, from roasting the beans to brewing and canning. “We make everything in-house,” he says. “We just wanted to control the entire process.”

This brew is “cold-chained,” a method that differs from the typical immersion method of making coffee. “A lot of places either use hot water or leftover coffee remnants from the day before. We brew everything with cold water. We keep the entire process cold when we’re storing and canning it,” he says. “Our process uses a misting technology, where it will spray all of the grounds of coffee over the course of three hours. And we’re able to get a very strong concentrate.”

A word to the wise: Sip slowly. “Cold brew’s higher caffeine content is due to using more coffee per ounce of liquid,” Porterfield explains. For example, a can of the Lunar blend contains 280 milligrams of caffeine, more than double the average cup of coffee. –Shannon

Miller

WANT MORE? Is the 14-hour-infused, seemingly super-charged cold brew at Madhouse Coffee (8470 W. Desert Inn Road, madhouse.coffee) the reason this local institution is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? Is it the inspiration for the name? It’s strong stuff. (And by the way, the other location on Eastern Avenue is now under separate ownership.)

Four-year-old chill spot Coffee Religion (5191 W. Charleston Blvd. #185, coffeereligionlv.com) offers tranquil vibes and an 11-foot Buddha sculpture to go along with afternoon tea (complete with finger sandwiches!) and a diverse drink and food menu. But its nitro cold brew is intense in a smooth way, peacefully powerful. –Brock Radke

Madhouse Coffee on Desert Inn (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

Little Avalon ( 9410 W. Sahara Ave. #130, littleavalonlv.com ) came online in late 2022, and already, it has made a splash on the Valley’s coffee scene. Using beans from Santa Monica-based Amigo Coffee Roasters, baristas whip up artful creations with flavors, frothed milk and garnishments.

For the popular Honey Bee latte, honey gets drizzled into a ceramic cup with dustings of cinnamon and cardamom. Leaf designs are created with expertly timed flicks of the wrist while pouring steaming frothed milk into the espresso, topped with crushed rose petals—a delight to smell while sipping.

Coffee-based lattes also come in the form of the Lavender White Breeze, the Gingerbread Steamer or plain with no flavoring; just Amigo’s rich, balanced

espresso. For matcha-based lattes, try the unsweetened Kyoto latte and the Paradise Matcha latte with white mocha, vanilla and a dusting of caffeine-packed green tea powder. –SM

WANT MORE? The vibrant green iced matcha and beautifully drawn froth designs on the flat whites at Downtown’s Bungalow Coffee Co. ( 201 E. Charleston Blvd. #180, bungalowcoffeeco.com ) are just as lovely and alluring as the precise avocado toasts and delicate charcuterie boards.

And have you seen the swan art on a tiny cortado or hot matcha lavender latte at Savor Coffee (6811 S. Eastern Ave. #104-D, savorcoffeelv.com)? These decorative drinks are next-level, and they taste that way, too, thanks to house-made syrups. –BR

ABOVE Little Avalon’s latte, Kyoto Matcha and Honey Bee (Wade Vandervort/Staff) BELOW Bungalow's All I Avo Wanted, Matcha Latte and Rosemary Latte (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

As a purveyor of some of the freshest specialty grade co ee in the city, Vesta Co ee Roasters (1114 S. Casino Center Blvd. #1; 9031 W. Sahara Ave.; vestaco ee.com) knows its role. Founder Jerad Howard, who opened the Downtown café in 2016, stresses that as the last link in the supply chain, Vesta must strive for excellence.

Howard recently took a trip to Costa Rica and El Salvador, two destinations from which Vesta directly sources a majority of its co ee, in addition to a farm Oaxaca, Mexico. “We buy their farm’s harvest every year. That helps us create better relationships and stability,” he says. “We always know we’re gonna have a good supply, and they don’t have to stress about it. They only get one harvest a year, and that’s how they eat, so having that trust really helps.”

Vesta’s production— including for wholesale—is done in-house, ve days a week. The café’s San Franciscan drum roaster is a gorgeous, old-world machine that cranks through batches of beans poured in from the top, tumble-roasted in the drum for nine to 12 minutes and then dumped on a drying tray to cool for two to three minutes.

“Then we data-log every roast for time, temperature and air ow,” Howard adds, noting that Vesta samples each roast, too. “If there’s any anomalies, for better or worse, we can document those and improve.”

It’s all in the details for this diligent

Plenty of purists have ditched the standard drip co ee makers at home in favor of the pour-over method, placing a filter and co ee grounds in a funnel over a container and pouring water through in timed intervals. It takes longer to brew a cup, but advocates say it’s the best way to extract flavor and yields more consistent results than drip machines or a French press.

The landmark co ee bar Sambalatte (three locations, sambalatte.com) was one of the first boutique spots in Las Vegas to popularize the pour over, and its well-versed crew of baristas continue to hone in on this option even as it has expanded into rainbow lattes and other adventurous pursuits.

Meanwhile, Downtown’s co ee scene has been helped along by PublicUs (1126 E. Fremont St., publicuslv.com), where a hearty bite and a conversation with a neighbor has been reinserted into the otherwise fast-paced co ee experience. That comfy feeling comes alongside a perfect pour over, which can inspire you to slow down and savor each sip. –BR

local roaster. “I think that’s what sets us apart,” Howard says. “We make 90% of our food menu from scratch. We don’t use any store-bought syrup or anything like that. We do this because we like it.” –Amber Sampson

WANT MORE? Not far from Vesta’s Lakes-area second location, Desert Wind Co ee Roasters (7772 W. Sahara Ave., desertwindco ee. com) o ers small-batch, fresh-roasted beans to take home or enjoy in another charming café space, and there’s little lag time—once they’re cooled and ready to go, you’re drinking these aromatic brews. The popular Red Rock Blend is low on acid and rich with toasted almond and chocolate notes, a perfect complement to your favorite pastry.

And one can’t chat about local co ee without mentioning Sunrise Co ee (3130 E. Sunset Road, sunriseco eelv.com) and its o shoot Mothership Co ee Roasters (2708 N. Green Valley Parkway; 1028 Fremont St.; mothershipco ee.com). The former, founded by Juanny Romero and Josh Walter in 2008, helped change the local game with a focus on roasting and blending organic fair trade beans from single-origin farms, and Sunrise and Mothership continue to help set a standard across the Valley. –BR

When a standard cup of Joe just won’t cut it, give yourself some sugar. The brews at Dig It! Co ee (1300 S. Casino Center Blvd. #110, digitco eeco.com) could double as dessert, with drinks like the Peanut Butter Cup latte and the Caramel Cinnamon Dulce latte leading the sugary charge. Fans of excess will also love the Dirt Cup latte, packed with gummy worms, dark and white chocolate, cookie crumble and whipped cream. At Coffee Class (8878 S. Eastern Ave. #102, theco eeclass.com), the Maple Blueberry and Brown Sugar Caramel Pecan lattes taste just as indulgent, while the Mexican Mocha, made with homemade chocolate sauce and ancho chili vanilla syrup, pulls ahead of the pack for its savory-sweet balance.

And the inventive streak continues at Founders Co ee (6410 S. Durango Drive #100; 3512 St. Rose Parkway; foundersco eeco.com), where you can get a Mexican hot chocolate, a butterscotch and caramel brew and a churro latte, which sounds like a sugar rush waiting to happen. –AS

Co ee Class’ Black Cherry Cream Cloud (Courtesy)

You must remember this: It’s called a co ee break for a reason.

Evergreen Co ee opened in Henderson in July, created by rst-timers Lovely Mempin and Lucas Bulau. The business and life partners share the philosophy that a co ee shop—or any biz for that matter—exists to support its community, and not just with food and beverage. They’ve tried to establish a place where neighbors from all across the Valley can come to relax, “not think about the world so much and just enjoy themselves,” Mempin says.

“Just come in and take a breather, and know whatever you’re enjoying, it’s done in a manner that’s ethical and helps take care of the community we all share.”

Evergreen is aligned with the slow co ee movement, which is about sourcing local ingredients, steering clear of mass-produced food methods and taking the time to make sure every cup is brewed best—basically, the opposite of grab-and-go.

“A lot of people don’t realize in order to get the peak avors from the co ee, you have to do a lot of small, meticulous things,” Mempin says. “It takes time

and a detailed eye, something you don’t always get in faster co ee places.”

Even so, she explains, “We appreciate places like Starbucks and Dutch Bros. because even though it’s commercialized and mass-produced, it’s what got a lot of people into co ee, that rst experience that opened your eyes to the world of coffee. And here, we’re showing another side you might not be used to.”

Evergreen uses beans from local roasters Vesta, Dark Moon and Yaw Farm, rotating its house roast seasonally as it adjusts its food and drink menus accordingly. The stylish shop crafts its own syrups to avor favorites like the Orange, Spiced Honey and Soy Sauce Caramel lattes, and the drinks are a bit stronger, because they use two shots across the board. Evergreen’s avocado toast is built on local sourdough from 5098 Bread, and Evergreen bakes its own Shokupan Japanese milk bread for the Breakfast Sando with sausage, cheese and egg salad.

“We really like to experiment and play around with the food,” Mempin says, “because it’s nice to have a seasonal menu and rotate things in and out, and for customers to have something new to try every time they come in.” –BR

LATTE It’s co ee with the volume turned down—espresso with lots of steamed milk and a layer of foam on top. You’ll love it if: You’re only at the café for the Wi-Fi and want to occupy a table for as long as possible.

MACCHIATO Forget what Starbucks taught you. This is supposed to be one shot of espresso with one to two teaspoons of steamed milk. You’ll love it if: You’re a big fan of Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio. If not, just try drinking one now without thinking of him.

CAPPUCCINO Italian breakfast: equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foamed milk. You’ll love it if: You crave a little serenity in the morning instead of a ca eine power jolt.

AMERICANO Stretch out that coffee without the creamy factor with an Americano, a shot of espresso with three ounces of hot water. You’ll love it if: You’re lactose intolerant and also kinda co ee intolerant.

BREVE You can breve almost any drink, adding indulgence by using steamed half-and-half instead of milk. You’ll love it if: You’re the type to add whipped cream to your pumpkin spice lattes.

CAFÉ AU LAIT Typically made with French press co ee, this drink is equal portions of co ee and steamed or scalded milk. You’ll love it if: You’re learning French in Duolingo and want to put it to immediate use.

EVERGREEN COFFEE

40 N. Valle Verde Drive #100, evergreenco eelv.com. Daily, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Evergreen’s Dark Moon Nova Blend latte (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS

EDUCATION

NEWS IN THE

Hungry bugs can prevent food waste

UNLV STUDENTS HAVE A PLAN TO AID THE ENVIRONMENT

Using hungry bugs to get rid of food waste that would otherwise end up in landfills is the winning project in the second annual UNLV President’s Innovation Challenge.

Twenty teams entered the competition when it began last year, but only six made it in front of the judges. The competition seeks solutions to “major problems of our day in Southern Nevada and beyond,” and this year’s challenge centered on sustainability, according to UNLV.

The winning team, LutumPotentia, pitched a business that would cultivate an army of black soldier fly larvae, then partner with local business to feed food scraps that can’t be composted to the bugs. The larvae aren’t picky eaters, and once they’ve disposed of the waste the larvae can be used as animal feed and their droppings can serve as fertilizer.

LutumPotentia won a $25,000 grand prize, as well as scholarships for its five members.

During the presentation, Hankins said about 30% to 40% of the nation’s food supply ends up in the trash each year, with most of that waste going to landfills. Nevada ranks fourth in the nation in food waste production, he said.

“We have no competition in the [black soldier fly larvae] facility market in Nevada,” said team member Nour Benjelloun. “This idea is actually feasible.”

–Rhiannon Saegert

WATCH THIS

The second-annual Lovers & Friends festival had the unenviable task of following what was considered one of the best throwback events of the season last year. But to fans’ delight, it upstaged the festival’s 2022 debut with more surprises, vibes and shade (literally and figuratively) than before.

Chief among the most memorable sets was headliner Missy Elliott’s. Performance delays on the main stage pushed her start well past

midnight, but fans who stuck around to see the hip-hop icon (and recently named addition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) were treated to a stadium-sized experience.

It was a Missy Elliott music video brought to life, as Elliott fully embraced her otherworldly origins with a full spectrum of kaleidoscopic stage visuals and alien abduction backdrops. Between party pleasers like “Get Ur Freak On” and “Lose Control,” the rapper made several

wardrobe changes, at one point donning a glittering pair of black overalls and a ruby red jumpsuit. Celebration felt evident here, as even Elliott’s dancers appeared to be giving it their all—and gladly—for the legendary rapper. In a fun surprise, R&B singer Monica also joined Elliott for a song, bringing the hype to an absolute fever pitch.

For more of our favorite moments from the festival, go to lasvegasweekly.com/loversand friends2023. –Amber Sampson

The Golden Knights host Edmonton May 12 for Game 5 of their playo series.

Missy Elliott (Courtesy/Luther Redd, Lovers & Friends Festival)

Longtime ESPN anchor John Anderson, referring to Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud, the NHL’s first Indigenous player from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Anderson later issued an apology statement.

BY THE NUMBERS

$430,000

Home prices in Southern Nevada rebounded slightly in April, with a median sale price of $430,000 for existing single-family homes, according to Las Vegas Realtors. That’s up more than 1% from March but down nearly 10% from April 2022. More than 3,700 single-family homes were listed for sale without an offer by the end of April 2023.

5.5.2023 CELEBRATING THE JOY OF READING

Gov. Joe Lombardo, second from right, was on hand to commemorate the unveiling of an automated Las Vegas-Clark County Library District book lending machine at the Boulevard mall. He’s joined by, from left, Library District Executive Director Kelvin Watson, Latin Chamber of Commerce President Peter Guzman and Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

Underground map of city expanding

Clark County commissioners approved 18 stations additional stations for the Vegas Loop underground transportation system, which opened in 2021. That brings the total to 69, extending the underground tunnels another 29 miles.

The system now shuttles passengers across the Las Vegas Convention Center through a series of tunnels—each runs just under 1 mile—in electric Tesla vehicles, with speeds reaching up to 40 mph.

Stations are now scheduled for UNLV, near Chinatown at Spring Mountain Road and Valley View Boulevard, and a pair of stops on Las Vegas Boulevard South—at Town Square and on Blue Diamond Road.

Once fully operational, it could transform travel in the resort corridor, especially for the millions of visitors arriving here annually. For instance, it would take passengers five minutes to travel the 4.9 miles from Harry Reid International Airport to the convention center with a fare of $10.

From Downtown Las Vegas to the airport, it would be $12 for an eight-minute ride, according to a representative from the Boring Company.

The loop would also connect with Allegiant Stadium for Raiders games and other large-scale events, including the Super Bowl slated for next February. –Grace Da Rocha

“What kind of name is Whitecloud?

Great name if you’re a toilet paper.”

While big entertainment booms, production shows recover more slowly

BY BROCK RADKE

Las Vegas is on a hot streak. The city is buzzing with talk of new projects and events this year, including the openings of the Sphere in September and Fontainebleau in December and the arrival of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in November. Add more excitement with the possibility of the Oakland Athletics coming to town in the coming years, and the hype intensifies.

Tourism numbers continue to soar after the challenges of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Las Vegas drew 38.8 million visitors in 2022, with weekend hotel occupancy clocking in at 89%. The first quarter of 2023 continues the upward trajectory, with more than 10 million visitors and 90.8% weekend occupancy. And last year’s record $14.8 billion in state gaming reve-

nue demonstrated that visitors are spending more in casinos, not just on big entertainment and sports events along the Strip.

Despite that strong recovery and a bright future, however, there are pieces of the puzzle that remain out of place. Live entertainment feels bigger than ever in Las Vegas, with sports, concerts and massive residencies like the one U2 will open at the Sphere, but its most traditional form—production shows performed nightly in theaters along the Strip—continues to seek stable ground.

Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas opened in November in the theater that formerly hosted Le Rêve for 15 years. Universally reviewed as a visual spectacular with a dramatic story and astounding special effects, Awakening ran twice nightly five times a week—until it

went dark on April 17.

According to a statement from Wynn, the show “will temporarily pause performances … to allow for an extended rehearsal period. Consistent with the resort’s commitment to excellence and quality, Wynn Las Vegas is committed to bringing a superior vision of Awakening to audiences.” Tickets are on sale for performances starting on June 6.

It’s common for new Vegas shows to adjust and adapt during the first year of production, but many of the recent arrivals to showrooms haven’t been able to overcome those early challenges. The magic-based Amystika from Criss Angel and the late Franco Dragone opened in April 2022 at Planet Hollywood and closed in October. The Broadway rock musical Bat Out of Hell opened in September at Paris Las Vegas and closed in January. And the musical improv show Freestyle Love Supreme debuted in November in the smaller Summit Showroom at Venetian before closing in January.

Convention catchup

The challenging new twist in today’s landscape appears to be the previously sluggish return of Las Vegas convention business.

After 6.6 million convention attendees in 2019, the city saw nine months of no business in 2020, and then just 2.2 million attendees in 2021.

Last year brought significant improvement—nearly 5 million

convention attendees—and the first quarter of 2023 has been especially promising, with 1.95 million people showing up for business events that are largely happening midweek.

Ross Mollison, founder of Spiegelworld, says production shows on the Strip rely on convention business because those visitors aren’t coming to Las Vegas to gamble, yet they’re still looking for activities when the meetings adjourn.

“I’m not going to say we’re slaying it, but I’m not complaining

Awakening (Courtesy/Denise Truscello, Wynn Las Vegas)

about our business,” Mollison says. “The resorts have been crushing it, and there seems to be a greater percentage of gamblers than pre-COVID occupying the hotels. Restaurants are crushing it; our restaurant is doing incredible business.”

Spiegelworld produces three Strip shows—Absinthe at Caesars Palace, Atomic Saloon Show at Venetian and OPM at Cosmopolitan—and operates the Superfrico restaurant at the Cosmopolitan. The company also plans to launch

DiscoShow at the Linq next year.

“Our shows themselves are doing fine, but some of the smaller shows are probably suffering, and we’re seeing some drop off, which is problematic,” Mollison says. “And it’s really difficult to launch a show, because if you miss the market, there’s no recovery. You’ve got to be careful and really know what you’re doing.”

There are positive signs of life, however. The Luxor’s America’s Got Talent Presents Superstars Live opened in November 2021

and celebrated its 500th show in March. Thanks to a rotating cast of performers audiences have seen on the popular TV competition of the same name, the variety show has been rolling right along, with eight performances weekly at the 1,500seat Luxor Theater.

And Cirque du Soleil added a sixth resident production to its Las Vegas Strip portfolio in 2022 with the debut of Mad Apple, situated in the New York-New York theater where the company’s Zumanity show ran from 2003 through 2020.

Another different take on the Vegas variety show, Mad Apple takes the stage twice a night every week from Friday through Tuesday.

“Entertainment in Las Vegas continues to amaze and delight guests from around the globe post-pandemic, whether they are in town for business or pleasure,” Eric Grilly, president of Cirque’s resident shows division, tells the Weekly by email. “[And] Cirque du Soleil is proud to have been part of those guest experiences for 30 years.”

“It’s really difficult to launch a show, because if you miss the market, there’s no recovery. You’ve got to be careful and really know what you’re doing.”

-Ross Mollison, Spiegelworld

Mad Apple (Courtesy/Cirque du Soleil)

NU MEETS NEW

The inaugural Sick New World fest gathers bands across the heavy spectrum

BY CASE KEEFER,

Calling first-year Las Vegas festival Sick New World a nu metal gathering would be accurate … and also not. Yes, many big names associated with that late-’90s/early-’00s hard rock subgenre—Korn, System of a Down, Deftones, Incubus, Papa Roach, Sevendust and P.O.D. among them—will be onstage May 13 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. But also, Sick New World will include a variety of acts that have little in common with those bands, apart from a general sense of heaviness. A few of the participants we’re most excited about …

COLD Lineup changes have whittled this Florida post-grunge outfit’s original members down to one, but frontman Scooter Ward has always been the heart of the band, so catching him performing poignant power ballads like “Cure My Tragedy” will be a treat regardless. Cold’s career-defining Year of the Spider turns 20 this year, and Sick New World will factor into its commemoration tour. –AS

DEATH GRIPS There’s no guarantee vocalist MC Ride, drummer Zach Hill and keyboardist Andy Morin will be here Saturday; Death Grips was infamous for canceling sets at one point in its history. But we can say with absolute certainty that if the experimental hip-hop trio makes it, it’ll produce one of the day’s most intense sets, bar none. –SP

DEFTONES The longtime Las Vegas favorite has credited straying from the nu-metal scene more than 20 years ago—both sonically and in terms of tour partners—for its sustained run of popularity and acclaim. It’s only recently that Deftones has become open to playing with bands like their 1990s best buddies, Korn, to turn their Sick New World spot into a homecoming of sorts. –CK

FIDDLEHEAD Here’s an ultra-rare opportunity to catch one of today’s best post-hardcore bands, comprised of Have Heart vocalist Pat Flynn and members of English emo fave Basement. Flynn brings the same passion to his more melodic, part-time band that he once did to his aggressive, heavy-touring early-2000s group. (Added bonus: The band headlines American Legion Post 8 on May 12.) –CK

FLYLEAF Lacey Sturm’s harrowing vocals on “I’m So Sick” put these Texans on the map and helped change feelings toward Christian hard rock bands. She exited in 2012— and the band went on hiatus soon after—but in a surprise twist, Flyleaf has returned with Sturm back on the mic. –AS

HEALTH

This noisy LA trio has layers, man. From creating memorable video game scores for Grand Theft Auto V and Max Payne 3 to leaving an unrelenting trail of gritty-yet-danceable mayhem in its wake, Health breaks down barriers with music that excites even as it obliterates. You’ll love it live. –AS

INCUBUS

These SoCal rockers remain popular two decades after their biggest songs—think: “Drive,” “Wish You Were Here” and “Megalomaniac”—charted in the early 2000s. Why? Incubus shaped a signature sound, whisking together elements of funk, hip-hop, pop and metal to produce those classics and many more, and we know you still know all the words. –AS

KITTIE

The Canadian female foursome reunited for last year’s When We Were Young festival here, and we’re glad to see they’ve stayed together. Kittie formed in the mid-’90s, and by 2001, Billboard had called it “the most successful female band in modern metal.” There aren’t many ladies on the Sick New World lineup, so show up and support a group reminding the world that women can rock. –AS

SPENCER PATTERSON AND AMBER SAMPSON

SICK NEW WORLD May 13, 11 a.m.-midnight, sold out/waitlist at sicknewworldfest.com, Las Vegas Festival Grounds.

KORN The majority of acts playing the festival—including headlining System of a Down— wouldn’t exist without Korn, which created the groovy, downtuned sound now known as “nu metal” on its self-titled 1994 debut album. Expect the classics o that landmark release, which they played in full for the first time ever at nearby Brooklyn Bowl in 2015, to highlight a festival that owes Korn everything. –CK

MONSTER MAGNET Folks still bummed that the Jersey stoner-rock veterans dropped o the 2022 Psycho Las Vegas bill get another shot at the band’s heavy psych/space blend.

As for what Monster Magnet might play when it gets here, it’s been three-plus years since the band’s last tour, so that’s anyone’s guess. –SP

NOISE

MR. BUNGLE We didn’t see this one coming, especially after leader Mike Patton shelved both Mr. Bungle and Faith No More due to mental health concerns two years ago. But we’re glad he’s doing well enough to return to the road— and that Vegas gets not just a Sick New World set from his original art-metal project but also a second one at House of Blues one night later, supported by fellow festival act Melvins and Brooklyn post-metal band Spotlights. –SP

PLACEBO Sick New World’s inaugural lineup is largely an American a air, but London alt-rock outfit Placebo is one of the notable exceptions crossing an ocean to be here. Locals should be particularly stoked; after regular visits during the mid-2000s, the band has gone more than 15 years since its last Las Vegas performance. –SP

SCOWL Vocalist Kat Moss will become your new favorite frontperson if you arrive early enough to catch the latest rising stars out of the improbably soaring Santa Cruz, California, hardcore scene. Most of the festival will revolve around arena metal, but it will be nice to start the day with a younger, punkier attitude. –CK

THE SISTERS OF MERCY Named for a 1967 Leonard Cohen song, this English outfit helped define goth-rock during the 1980s, when it released two of the genre’s most beloved albums, First and Last and Always (1985) and Floodland (1987). Frontman Andrew Eldritch’s haunting vocals and melodies should pair nicely with the more intimate environs of Brooklyn Bowl, where the band will perform an additional set on May 14. –SP

TURNSTILE Perhaps no band in the world is more energetic—or, dare we say, all around better—in a live setting than this Baltimore quartet, which has exploded in popularity to bring hardcore to the masses.

Frontman Brendan Yates and bassist Franz Lyons, specifically, rage with enough intensity to win over even the most jaded fans on site to catch the legacy acts. –CK

Scowl (Courtesy/Alice Baxley); Incubus (AP Photo/Amy Harris); Placebo (Courtesy/Mads Perch)

SUMMERLIN FROM THE STRIP TO

DJ Maria Romano brings party brunching to Jing

BY BROCK RADKE

Lots of Las Vegas DJs spent the long months of COVID closures developing new music. Maria Romano made the most of her downtime by conceptualizing and creating new experiences.

One of those ideas came to life in January with Brunch Club University at Jing restaurant and lounge at Downtown Summerlin. The Pennsylvania native, who’s been knocking it out of the park with open-format parties at seemingly every club on the Strip in recent years, started her own marketing company during the pandemic and began branching out.

“Jing is one of my clients, and they’ve always done brunch, but it wasn’t a party except for once a year at Halloween,” Romano says. “I’ve been wanting to start a brunch party, but we weren’t sure about it in the fall. I just decided to take the responsibility and start it up, so I approached them again in January and said, ‘I’m doing it, and I’d like to do it here.’”

The monthly bash has sold out all five times, she says, and if you’ve ever been to Jing, you know why; it feels like a Strip space, and the food, drinks, atmosphere and service style are all primed for parties. Romano’s event is somewhat inspired by Lavo’s party brunch at Palazzo—“not as crazy with the presentations and stuff, but it’s a big party,” she says. “We keep it light in the beginning then close the curtains and create that big party vibe around 2 p.m., and it goes until about 6.”

May’s Brunch Club University was themed for Cinco de Mayo, and the next edition on June 4 will be all about “Jing Beach” for the summer, with a Casamigos tequila partnership to boot. Romano is on the decks every month, and she rotates other locals into the mix; there are typically three DJs at each event.

Sustaining a daytime suburban bash is no easy feat, and it’s certainly a world apart from the big club gigs on the Strip with which Romano is familiar; she’s spinning at Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World and Drai’s Beachclub at the Cromwell this weekend alone. The audience couldn’t be more different, but Jing’s established reputation offers an advantage.

“If you don’t live in that area, you’re 20 minutes away, so you have to plan accord-

ingly,” she says. “But locally, nobody does it like Jing, and it’s held that name for a while. You know there’s going to be a DJ, the food is great, there are always good-looking people there, and if you don’t want to go to the Strip, you have this place that still feels like going out without dealing with a lot of tourists.”

Crafting a musical event for locals and by locals is ultimately rewarding for Romano, whose DJ career really kicked into gear when she moved to Las Vegas. She’s known for her versatility and for keeping up with the changing culture and tastes in the scene, and while she says she’ll always consider herself a true open-format DJ, she’s dabbling in different genres and broadening her horizons.

“If I need to play a country set, I can play a country set, and that’s important here,” she says. “But during the pandemic, I was going to Tulum [in Mexico] and really took a liking to that sound, tech house and Latin house. I’ve done Latin and hiphop for so long, my ears were just attracted to that sound, and now it’s traveled from Tulum to Vegas and Miami and it’s becoming more popular.”

When she landed the gig at the Zouk Group clubs during Resorts World’s opening, incorporating some of those deeper house sounds into her sets helped her find the right groove for those globally accessible venues. And the themed parties she witnessed in Tulum certainly helped inspire the extra touches applied to her own events at Jing.

“My main focus during the pandemic was inventing new things for people to do, creating new experiences, and when you have a smaller venue like Jing, you can do a lot of different things,” she says. “You can decorate the entire venue, and it feels different every time.”

MARIA ROMANO With Nervo, May 12, noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com; May 14, 11 a.m., Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup.com.

Maria Romano performing at Jing during Brunch Club University (Courtesy)

Maria Romano (Courtesy/SKAM Artist)

SEIZE THE SUN

STEP INTO PARADISE

Immerse yourself at Vegas’ Mykonos beach oasis, where toes belong in the sand and heads stay among the clouds. A new summer has begun in the Vegas pool scene – and it’s your time to shine.

AT VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS

NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE

ANYMORE

Nevada Ballet Theatre transports viewers to the fantastic lands of Oz

BY SHANNON MILLER

At the top of a number inside Nevada Ballet Theatre’s rehearsal space, the dancers are lined up in orderly fashion, along lines taped to the studio floor. As the music picks up, chaos swirls around the woman playing the role of Dorothy Gale.

That action leads to one of the most memorable lines in cinematic history, the Wicked Witch’s “I’m melting, melting!” Conveyed tacitly in dance, the performance stays true to the classic story from the 1939 film, while telling it through an entirely new medium.

To close out its 50th anniversary season, Nevada Ballet Theatre is putting on one of its largest-scale productions to date, The Wizard of Oz, with choreography by Septime Webre and music by Matthew Pierce.

During a Thursday rehearsal, they’re practicing with an imported set and props including a moving Yellow Brick Road and 20 puppets—“more than any I’ve ever seen in any production,” artistic director Roy Kaiser says.

show for a while now, so I’m able to anticipate many of the challenges that come with elements like props, set pieces, flying and costumes,” Larouche says. “The sheer volume of material places significant demands on the artists, and if dancers get injured or ill, reorganizing the show is usually a complex puzzle.”

Additionally, vibrant costumes transport viewers to the different worlds of Oz, from Emerald City to the forest full of talking trees to the Wicked Witch’s castle. Dorothy’s hallmark blue gingham dress gets an update, while the Wicked Witch sports a studded leather trench coat that would put any biker to shame. And 38 child dancers play various, fantastic characters, including poppy seeds and grasshoppers.

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: THE WIZARD OF OZ May 13-21, times vary, $31-$155. Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

Kaiser’s remark comes the day before 75 dancers, who play more than 100 roles, put together the entire run of show for the first time. “So far, it’s been rehearsed in just pieces,” he says, amid attending to other demands.

The studio’s vestibule serves as partial storage for the set pieces and the puppets, which the dancers manipulate during the show. And it’s no easy task to fold a 5-foot-tall flying monkey into the routine. (“Fly, my pretties, fly!”)

Stager Philippe Larouche has been traveling with the show and assisting NBT to make sure it all goes off without a hitch. The ballet has been performed by only three other companies in the U.S. and in Winnipeg, Ontario.

“I’ve been doing this

Back in the studio, the Wicked Witch of the West’s minions torment and pick apart Dorothy’s loyal travel companions. Her beloved dog Toto, played by a dancer-operated, mechanical puppet, “runs” around frantically. Eventually, the chaos clears, and Dorothy is presented with the witch’s coveted broom.

Getting such a “huge” show together has been a challenge, Kaiser concedes. “It’s very complicated. … Everything must be in place,” he says, adding that the scale of the production is “perfect” to close out the theater’s semi-centennial season.

The Wizard of Oz, performed by Kansas City Ballet (Courtesy/Brett Pruitt, East Market Studios & Kansas City Ballet)

Nevada Ballet Theater rehearsing The Wizard of Oz (Courtesy/Virgina Trudeau)

MODERNIZING CLASSIC

Italian creativity blooms at the brand-new Basilico

BY BROCK RADKE

Francesco Di Caudo was part of the opening team at Anima by Edo that helped earn this year’s James Beard Award finalist status for Oscar Amador in the Best Chef Southwest category. (Winners will be announced June 5 in Chicago). But that’s just one of the recent accomplishments for Di Caudo,

who has without question left his impression on the Las Vegas dining scene. He has served in the kitchens at many of the best Italian restaurants ever to do it here, including Osteria del Circo at Bellagio, Sinatra at Wynn, Canaletto at Venetian and the legendary Ferraro’s off the

Basilico's branzino, beef carpaccio, uovo raviolo and pavlova (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Strip. Now, the Sicilian-born chef is breaking new ground in the southwest neighborhood cuisine scene and unleashing the full spectrum of his creativity at the months-old Basilico Ristorante Italiano.

“When I took the [executive chef] position at Ferraro’s [in 2015], it was a more experimental situation for me, about how much I can push myself and how much I can push the menu there after 30-plus years of existence in this

city,” Di Caudo says. “Ferraro’s is famous for its traditional dishes, and it was fun for me to merge those with my ideas, mix the old and the new worlds of Italian food.

“I’ve learned from all the experiences I’ve had, but at the end of the day, you have to be yourself on the plate. You learn how to run a kitchen and mix ingredients and all that, but at the same time, you forget about it all because my food has to be me and not something someone else can duplicate.”

In the new master-planned community Evora, Basilico’s menu is stocked with uncommon dishes. Gnocco frito (fried bread) with Stracciatella cheese, prosciutto Adobbo di Parma and red onion balsamic jam ($21) starts the experience, along with an eggplant-based twist on caprese ($18) and the “foiemisu” ($25) with fig jam and mascarpone. Di Caudo says the Smoked Cigar ($19), a duck mousse rollup with sesame truffle “ash,” is catching diners off-guard in a pleasant way.

“They don’t expect something like that, or the foie gras with the custard flavor of tiramisu,” he says. “You will see a lot of dishes that people know, eggplant Parmigiana or beef carpaccio or carbonara, just done in a different way. You know what you’re getting but you don’t expect the way it is served.”

There’s pizza, pasta—tarragon fazzoletti ($33) with lobster, burrata, Calabrian pepper and lime zest leaps off the menu—and meat and seafood entrees, just like your previous favorite neighborhood Italian joint. But have you seen a veal chop version of steak and eggs ($62)? Di Caudo adds a truffle sauce flourish to the 16-ounce chop with Fontina cheese, fried eggs and Cotto ham, a showstopper. Elevation is the only way to go, especially when you’re trying to make something familiar and essential stand out in the exciting, evolving southwest restaurant landscape.

TESTING SPIRITS

The Underground ’s new spring cocktails have the booze scene buzzing

 Remember, you were never here. That’s always been the code behind the Underground, the hush-hush Prohibition-era speakeasy and distillery located in the Mob Museum’s basement. It’s a place that thrives off secrecy—and has for the past five years—but try as we might, we can’t keep quiet about its new spring libations.

Belly up to the bar and order a round of Liberty’s Last Word ($15) for starters. Infused with house-distilled Cinn-City Moonshine—a Fireball-esque mixture of cinnamon with a hint of cardamom—Liberty packs a pleasant heat, with herbaceous notes from the chartreuse.

Everything’s Jake ($15) wields a stallion’s kick with its Ginger Jake Moonshine, based on the Jamaica ginger medicinal alcohol that was so potent during Prohibition, large amounts could cause paralysis. This hooch is strong enough to keep you on that barstool (or off, depending on how much you’ve had), but when combined with chili liqueur, jalapeño honey and egg whites, it’s a refreshing and spicy spin on a once-popular spirit.

Refined palates will also love detecting the sweetened carrot notes in the decadent rye cocktail A Wild Hare ($14), which pays homage to the sugar rationing during Prohibition that forced many to use carrots instead. Speaking of decadent, how does Cognac, banana liqueur, chocolate and nutmeg sound? The Golden Indulgence ($15) is the Underground’s play on a Brandy Alexander—aka dessert in a glass.

BASILICO RISTORANTE ITALIANO

6111 S. Buffalo Drive #100, 702-534-7716, basilicolv.com.

WednesdaySunday, 4-9 p.m.

“This area is growing like no other in Vegas,” he says. “In the next few months, other Italian [restaurants] are going to open in this area, but we are positive and proud of the product we are going to serve, and giving people a new, modern Italian. It’s no problem. The more Italian restaurants we have, the more excited I get.”

Between drinks, new seasonal charcuterie plates, mezze samplers, spinach artichoke dip and sliders all make fine bar bites, and with the weather warming up, a cool Caribbean-style cocktail is just what you need to wash it down. The Tequileros Cooler ($14) scores high marks for its use of hibiscus, cucumber, lime, mint and a blend of tequila and mezcal for a splash of spring. We could see ourselves toasting with more than a few of these, and while we’re at it, let’s lift our glasses to the Underground’s first five years—and many more to come. –Amber Sampson

THE UNDERGROUND Mob Museum, 702-229-2734, themobmuseum.org/underground. Monday-Wednesday, noon-10 p.m.; Thursday-Sunday, noon-midnight.

Liberty's Last Word at the Underground (Courtesy/Chris Wessling)

COMEDY HEADLINERS TAKE THE STAGE

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THE MAN IN CHARGE

Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy during Game 2 against Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena (Steve Marcus/Staff)

BY CASE KEEFER

Asked about a skirmish between Vegas’ Keegan Kolesar and Edmonton’s Evander Kane—with the Golden Knights down five goals late in the second period—Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy neither blinked nor flinched.

The 57-year-old, first-year Knights coach rubbed his fingers together along the back of his microphone stand, stared straight ahead and delivered a stern message to conclude his postgame news conference after the 5-1 Game 2 defeat on May 6.

“Most disappointing part of the game for me as a head coach,” Cassidy said. “You’re going to have nights you’re going to get out-executed, certainly by this team. They were more competitive. But we got sort of out-teammated, for a lack of a better word. That should never happen to the Vegas Golden Knights under any circumstance.”

To those who haven’t followed the Golden Knights closely under Cassidy, the rebuke might seem harsh, or at least unusual. It’s rare for modern-day NHL coaches to call out or challenge their players publicly. But unwavering honesty is a pillar of Cassidy’s coaching style, and something his players have responded to all season.

His ability to get the most out of his roster, both emotionally and tactically, could ultimately play a key role in determining how far Vegas’ current playoff run goes. There’s no reason to doubt he’s capable of leading the Golden Knights to hit the top end of their potential, because he’s done so all year.

Cassidy didn’t get a smooth ride in his first season after changing benches from Boston to Vegas, and he still managed to lead his new team to the franchise’s third-ever Pacific Division title and the best regular-season record in the Western Conference. Injuries might not have ravaged the Golden Knights as badly as they did a year ago, but they still struck in an above-average and near-constant manner.

Vegas’ four best players—forwards Jack Eichel and Mark Stone and defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore—all missed extended time.

Five different goalies also picked up at least two victories, not including planned franchise cornerstone Robin Lehner, out for the year after offseason hip surgery.

Cassidy deftly maneuvered through it all and validated his reputation as a game-planning, whiteboard wiz by always seeming to come up with the right adjustments. Such skills take on even more importance in the playoffs, and Cassidy has already shown a talent for harnessing them with the Golden Knights, in case his six previous series wins in six years with the Bruins weren’t proof enough.

Game 1 in Vegas’ first-round series against Winnipeg was a cousin to the Game 2 blowout against Edmonton— both 5-1 defeats. Cassidy shared two main gripes after the series-opening loss to the Jets: that the Golden Knights lacked energy after they fell behind and that they weren’t disciplined or strong enough in front of the net.

Both issues turned around the rest of the way, as Vegas reeled off four straight wins to reach this second-round series with Edmonton. Cassidy also didn’t hesitate to describe Stone as “rusty” after Game 1 against Winnipeg in the captain’s first game

following back surgery.

Stone went on to look much better the rest of that series, then chipped in a point and an assist as part of a 6-4 Game 1 victory over Edmonton.

“I think we were a little nervous in that first game of the series against Winnipeg,” Stone said. “We had a lot of guys that hadn’t played playoff hockey. Speaking for myself, I hadn’t played in three months. So there were some nerves, and I think we just got better. I’m sure we’ll make some adjustments, watching the film from Game 1 to Game 2 [in the Edmonton series].”

Of the nine goals Vegas gave up in the first two games against Edmonton, the first might have bothered Cassidy the most. It featured the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl rocketing a pass from fellow superstar Connor McDavid threaded to one of his favorite scoring spots, the middle of the faceoff circle, on a power play. Cassidy alluded to a missed assignment in giving up a seam, and Stone stepped up the next day to take responsibility for what he called “a mistake by me.”

Accountability might be the foremost tenant of Cassidy’s coaching philosophy, and it’s no small victory that the players have been so accepting of his style. It certainly wasn’t guaranteed.

Cassidy’s outspoken nature marks a significant break from previous coach Pete DeBoer’s style, and certainly that of original Golden Knights’ boss Gerard Gallant. Both Gallant and DeBoer were highly successful overall with Vegas, and there’s a strong case to be made that they deserved better than their eventual dismissals.

The Golden Knights have therefore arguably never made a good coach firing in franchise history, but more importantly, Cassidy has shown that they’ve also never made a bad coach hiring.

Cassidy has done a commendable job in taking this year’s team this far, win or lose in the series against the Oilers.

The opportunity to reach a Western Conference or Stanley Cup Final should never be taken for granted, but this year’s run is in all likelihood not a final chance for the Golden Knights. As long as Cassidy is around and his advice is being heeded, the Golden Knights are poised for more success.

Bruce Cassidy pushed all the right buttons this season. Can he extend the Golden Knights’ playoff run?

Note: This story was written after the Golden Knights’ 5-1 Game 2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL’s Western Conference playoff semifinals, which tied the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece. This issue of Las Vegas Weekly pressed prior to Games 3 and 4 in Edmonton.

Matradee L (Courtesy)

Robot servers who can dance, sing and say “excuse me” when people block their way could soon be serving you lunch with your coworkers or drinks with your friends, following the debut of the LOLA Matradee L.

LOLA, a FinTech product line of the Las Vegas-based National Merchants Association, is a 4-foot droid complete with a digital monitor that can display its face and/or promotional videos.

“It’s super cute,” said Travis Everett, chief operating o cer of the National Merchants Association of the robot server. “It’s the cutest robot you’ve ever seen.”

The robot, which can carry almost 24 pounds, is poised to help businesses in the retail, hospitality and restaurant industries as they grapple with labor shortages and other issues coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Technology is increasingly important in the restaurant sector, and Everett pointed to the use of kiosks for placing orders as a primary example. While that technology has thrived at many large fast-food chains, the National Merchants Association—an advocacy organization—is also making it available to small businesses.

THIS ‘SUPER CUTE’ ROBOT ISN’T JUST FOR LARGE COMPANIES

BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF

“What we’re doing di erently is we’re helping the smaller merchants,” Everett said. “And we’ve got very, very aggressive programs that help them get this equipment most of the time with no cost to them, so that they can have the technology that’s forward facing and the tip of the spear, and the technology to really help them compete.”

The LOLA Matradee L is no exception, and National Merchants Association CEO, founder and owner Heather Altepeter said the robot—created in partnership with various robotics and engineering companies— was self-funded by her organization and has been made affordable for small-business owners.

“We’re making it free in many cases, just so they can start taking advantage of that technology and can be part of the early adopters that really drive it, because it’s coming,” she said. “And you don’t want to be—especially in the restaurant business— you don’t want to be the ones left behind. You want to be the next best thing.”

The LOLA Matradee L can seat customers, serve and bus tables and more, Everett

said. The robot is geared toward e ciency, and—with a body consisting of up to four shelves—it can carry about three times the amount of food a traditional server could carry, he said.

It’s also independent, Everett said, and just needs an initial command to get started.

“LOLA doesn’t take cigarette breaks. It doesn’t get sick,” he said. “It can work a 12hour shift on a single charge. So, it’s one less headache that these small-business owners have to deal with.”

Kiosks and robots like LOLA can ll the gaps created by a nationwide labor shortage, Altepeter said, and may also improve accuracy when it comes to taking orders and how swiftly they are delivered.

“We really believe that technology is the way to move everything forward,” Everett said. “And, as a FinTech company, we can really, really help these merchants solve problems with technology before they even become an issue for them.”

Though some people might worry about losing their jobs to automatons, Everett said there’s no reason to fear technological advancements like LOLA.

If jobs “at the lowest end of the spectrum” become automated, he said, then young or unemployed people can move instead into positions that will build their career skills and have a lasting impact on their life.

“In no way, shape or form is it putting people out of work,” he said. “It’s getting people to further places in their career, earlier, so they can look more toward the future.”

The LOLA Matradee L has generated “unbelievable” feedback since its rollout in April, Everett said, and the National Merchants Association is continuing to share it at trade shows and events.

The organization is especially excited to bring LOLA to the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago this month, and ultimately continue to be an advocate for merchants of all shapes and sizes.

“There’s going to be a lot of talk about … all the cool things with importing and exporting, and new avors of things, and the best and the brightest of new tables and chairs and all that too,” Everett said. “But there’s going to be very little representation for technology, and so it’s just the perfect space for us.”

LOLA

Summer Challenge

Summer Reading & Activities Program for Kids, Teens & Adults!

May 15 – July 31

Are you ready to ‘Make Your Summer Out of This World?’ Join us at one of your favorite libraries to kick off Summer Challenge 2023! We’ll have great activities to jumpstart your way to reading, playing, discovering, and winning all summer long. All attendees will get a free pair of sunglasses!*

Tuesday, May 16

West Las Vegas Library 4-6 p.m. 702.507.3983

Wednesday, May 17

Windmill Library 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 702.507.6041

Thursday, May 18

West Charleston Library 12-6:30 p.m. 702.507.3947

Friday, May 19 Moapa Valley Library 4-6 p.m. 702.397.2690

Saturday, May 20 Centennial Hills Library 11 a.m.-12 p.m. 702.507.6115

May 23

Wednesday, May 24

Sunrise Library 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 702.507.3905

Summerlin Library 4:30-6:30 p.m. 702.507.3865

Thursday, May 25 Rainbow Library 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. 702.507.3712 Enterprise Library 4-6 p.m. 702.507.3764

Friday, May 26 Whitney Library 2 p.m.-4 p.m. 702.507.4015

Saturday, May 27 East Las Vegas Library 12 p.m.-2 p.m. 702.507.3517

VEGAS INC NOTES

Spotlighting the best in business

Gov. Joe Lombardo appointed George Markantonis to replace Steve Cohen on the Nevada Gaming Commission and Gregory Gordon to the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division, Department C Markantonis served as president, chief operating officer and, after the early 2021 sale of the property, CEO of the Venetian and Palazzo until mid-2022, before transitioning to special adviser to the newly formed board of the property last year. Gordon practiced family law in Nevada for nearly three decades.

Laguna Pool House & Kitchen is open inside Palms Place Las Vegas Helmed by chef Luke Palladino and his team at Meta-Hospitality, Laguna Pool House & Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, happy hour light bites, a special poolside menu, and dinner daily as well as late-night snacks and brunch on the weekends.

Lake Mead Mohave Adventures announced that launch ramps at all of its Lake Mead marina properties, including Echo Bay, Temple Bar and Callville Bay, are now open to the public.

GOLO, a health and wellness solutions company, was named the winner of the Best of Category (Brand/ DR) for Health & Fitness by the 2023 AdSphere Awards. The award recognizes top advertisers and brands across a range of industry categories representing all facets of

the direct-to-consumer television industry.

SVN The Equity Group announced the addition of Pete Janemark, CCIM, and Lisa Hauger as senior vice presidents. Janemark has over 30 years of commercial real estate experience, focusing on office leasing and sales. Hauger has been in the commercial real estate arena for more than 40 years and closing deals here in Las Vegas since 1990.

Pinkbox Doughnuts is the official doughnut partner of Las Vegas Lights FC

Mark IV Capital, a private investment firm, appointed Justin Basie as president of real estate. He will oversee all of Mark IV’s investment markets.

Las Vegas’ Historic Westside became the first local neighborhood to have a community-based urban agricultural farming facility with the opening of the Urban Farm at James Gay Park. Announced in fall 2021, the urban farm was funded by a $500,000 donation from MGM Resorts International

The third annual three-day off-road adventure Victory Loop raised approximately $50,000 in charitable funds and donated 100% to nonprofit organizations supporting veterans and first responders in Nevada.

Justin Basie, Mark IV Capital

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU, FOR AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE | VIVA LAS VEGAS WEDDING CHAPEL | MAY 4, 2023

“Do you take this person to have and to hold, like you did by the lake on Naboo? Do you promise not to point out that BB-8 and I weren’t in the same movies together? Do you promise to let me take your youngling as my padawan learner? Then, by the unlimited power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. This will be a day long remembered.”

(Steve Marcus/Staff)