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Thurs 10/26
Breath & Beats Yoga @ The Quad 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Sat 10/28
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Sun 10/29
Sunday Sessions Poetry @ The Quad 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sun 10/29
Blues & Brunch @ The Sundry 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
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10.26.23
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Oil paintings of Eminem and Frank Ocean by Stephanie Amon from the Faces of Hip-Hop exhbition. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.
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SUPERGUIDE
Your daily events planner, starring Lil Yachty, A Public Fit’s Indecent, SZA, Phantasm and more.
20 26 36 42 46 COVER STORY
The Aces are not just repeat champions, they’re building an impressive Las Vegas sports dynasty.
ON THE COVER
FEATURE
How spooky is Vegas? Zak Bagans shares his thoughts, and curiosities shop Cemetery Pulp keeps things weird.
LAS VEGAS ACES WNBA CHAMPIONS See story for cover details.
NOISE
Fantasy singer Lorena Peril gets a unique turn in the spotlight at the Smith Center.
ART
SoCal transplant Stephanie Amon brings her Faces of Hip-Hop to Sahara West Library.
53
FOOD & DRINK
Barry’s Downtown Prime creates dinner with a show with flashy tableside presentations.
CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Vegas Inc honors the industry’s best and brightest for 2023.
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10.26.23
SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY 26 OCT.
MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
LIL YACHTY At this point, there’s no limit to what Lil Yachty can do. The 26-year-old Atlanta rapper has defied expectations since he arrived on the scene in 2015. First, he did it with his eccentric brand of mumbly, nursery rhyme trap. Next, he became a fashion icon, modeling Ye’s clothing line in 2016 and Nautica and Urban Outfitters’ seasons ahead of his debut album, Teenage Emotions. Then he became a pro video gamer, joining FaZe Clan, one of the most decorated esports teams in the industry. But Lil Yachty’s greatest feat would be transitioning into a full-blown psychedelic rock star with January’s Let’s Start Here. Lil Yachty steps into a risky new era on this instrumentally rich LP that lets his funk flag fly. The presence of spacey synths and ambient, atmosphere-changing guitar work puts him leagues above other rappers. Lil Yachty told Variety he had Tyler, the Creator’s Igor in mind when he created Let’s Start Here. Considering the color and depth of it, we can only imagine what the live show has in store. With Nick Hakim, 7 p.m., $50-$60, Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. –Amber Sampson
S U P E R G U I D E
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
(AP Photo) MISC
10.26.23
DITA LAS VEGAS Thru 10/28, 9 p.m., Jubilee Theater, ticketmaster.com. LSDREAM With Zingara, Elephant Heart, Black Carl, 7:30 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, area15. com.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
FRIDAY 27 OCT.
POLAR BEAR GONZALEZ 7:30 p.m., Wiseguys Arts District, wiseguyscomedy. com.
UNLV HOCKEY VS. ARIZONA 8 p.m., City National Arena, rebelhockey.com. CHRIS KATTAN Thru 10/28, 7 p.m., (& 10/27-10/28, 9:30 p.m.) Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguyscomedy.com.
RED ROCK PASTEL SOCIETY OF NEVADA: ORANGE Thru 10/29, times vary, Priscilla Fowler Fine Art Gallery, priscillafowler.com. RACING AND RACKETEERS: MOTORSPORT AND ORGANIZED CRIME IN LAS VEGAS 7 p.m., Mob Museum, themobmuseum.org. JAMIE JONES With Amémé, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. MARK DESALVO Thru 10/31, times vary, Punk Rock Museum, thepunkrockmuseum.com. ALESSO 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events.taogroup.com. BLIND TIGER 9 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com. KUMBIA QUEEN: A LAS VEGAS TRIBUTE TO SELENA Thru 10/29, 7 p.m., Vegas Stand Up & Rock, vegasstandupandrock.com.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. ONTARIO REIGN 11 a.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com. DISCO LINES With Angrybaby, Alex Parra, Halftime Hooper, Benjo, 7 p.m., Fergusons Downtown, wethebeat.com. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 3 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. TECH N9NE & HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD With King Iso, 7 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com. STRAIGHT NO CHASER 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. LUCHA VAVOOM 7:30 p.m., & 10/28, House of Blues, concerts.livenation. com.
ILIZA SHLESINGER 8 p.m., & 10/28, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
MARSHMELLO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.
USHER 9 p.m. & 11 p.m., & 10/28, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
2 CHAINZ 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com.
BILLY IDOL 8:30 p.m., & 10/28, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
THE CULT 8 p.m., & 10/28, Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com.
THEO VON 8 p.m., & 10/28, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com. EARTH, WIND & FIRE 8:30 p.m., & 10/28, 11/1, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster. com.
U2 8 p.m., & 10/28, 11/1, Sphere, ticket master.com.
DANIEL TOSH 10 p.m. (& 10/28, 7:30 p.m.), Mirage Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
ADELE 8 p.m., & 10/28, the Colosseum, ticket master.com.
OLETA ADAMS 7 p.m., & 10/28, Myron’s, thesmith center.com.
AFROJACK 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events. taogroup.com. DESTRUCTO With Tripps, Gold Lemonade, 10 p.m., Discopussy, see tickets.us.
INDECENT When Yiddish playwright Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance came to Broadway in 1923, its run was cut short when the entire cast, producer and theater owner were arrested on obscenity charges. The story revolves around a Jewish couple who run a brothel and are trying to find a suitor for their daughter to marry. Meanwhile, their daughter is having a lesbian relationship with one of the brothel’s prostitutes. A Public Fit’s Ann-Marie Pereth and Joseph Kucan direct the theater’s very first musical, an adaptation of Paula Vogel’s 2015 play Indecent, which is based on the entire controversy that God of Vengeance stirred up. Thru 11/20, days and times vary, $40, Super Summer Theatre Studios, apublicfit.org. –Shannon Miller
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
SUPERGUIDE
D20 BURLESQUE 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com.
TY DOLLA SIGN 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
(Courtesy/Allied Global Marketing)
FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS 7:30 p.m., & 10/27, Westgate International Theater, ticket master.com.
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SUPERGUIDE LAS VEGAS MAYOR’S CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT & 10/29, times vary, Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex, lv mayorscup.com. ED SHEERAN With Russ, Dylan, 6 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster. com. DJ PAULY D 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events.taogroup. com.
S U P E R G U I D E
ROB ZOMBIE & ALICE COOPER 8 p.m., Bakkt Theater, ticket master.com.
USA TODAY WINE & FOOD EXPERIENCE 1 p.m., Tivoli Village, tivolivil lagelv.com.
SAWYER BROWN 8 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticket master.com.
SUBTRONICS 8 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, dlvec.com.
LADY LIKE 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.
BONEY JAMES 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com. SIN CITY HALLOWEEN BALL 9 p.m., Theater at Virgin, sin cityhalloween ball.com. MARC REBILLET 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticket master.com.
THE BUTTERTONES Smash Mag is kicking off Halloween weekend with “A Nite of Haunted Madness” at Fremont Country Club. Cinematic surf rockers The Buttertones will be headlining the gig and casting a spell on attendees with their atmospheric stage presence as they have before. Supporting the main act are a slew of talented local acts who fit the bill perfectly. Local dreamgaze band Francia dropped a full length instrumental album earlier this year and is sure to get bodies moving. Los Emptys will be serving up some Eastside-born indie surf rock, and Secos’ early-2000s New York City alternative rock sound never disappoints. Costumes and dancing shoes are encouraged. 8 p.m., $20-$50, Fremont Country Club, seetickets. us. –Gabriela Rodriguez
SZA With D4vd, 8 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
(Courtesy/RCA Records)
SATURDAY 28 OCT.
GIN BLOSSOMS 9:30 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience. com. DJ SNAKE 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.
SCAREA15 HALLOWEEN MASSIVE With G Jones, Hudson Mohawke, Lunice, more, 8:30 p.m., Area15, area15. com. SPECIAL EFX ALL STARS 8 p.m., Chrome Showroom, ticketmaster.com. RICK ROSS 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com. THE CHAINSMOKERS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.
FILM: PHANTASM It began with a nightmare Don Coscarelli had as a teenager—a terrifying, claustrophobic vision of being pursued down a corridor by a flying chrome sphere that he feared would drill into his head. Several years later, he scraped together a shoestring budget to make 1979’s Phantasm, a surrealist horror film about how young people react to death and, yes, how they react to chrome spheres hellbent on drilling out their brains. Coscarelli recruited his friend Angus Scrimm to play the Tall Man, the creepiest mortician ever to single-handedly hoist a coffin into a hearse, and a cult classic was born. While Coscarelli has made a good number of cult favorites since Phantasm, including 1982’s The Beastmaster and 2002’s Bubba Ho-Tep, the Tall Man keeps calling him back (“Boyyyyy!”) for sequels; we’re currently up to four of them. Following a restored 4K screening of Phantasm at the Beverly Theater, Coscarelli will sit for a Q&A about his immortal creation. Should be a ball. 7:30 p.m., $10, Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater.com. –Geoff Carter
10.26.23
SUNDAY 29 OCT.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. SAN DIEGO GULLS Noon, Dollar Loan Center, axs. com. THE DREAM AWARDS 7 p.m., Suncoast Showroom, ticketmaster.com.
BLACK COFFEE 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. THE WISE IDEA With Decaying Tigers, Trivia Menace, Psycho, Scotty Dub, 6 p.m., Taverna Costera, taverna costera.com. CLAUDE VONSTROKE 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.
WESTERNER When’s the last time you danced? Los Angeles indie rock trio Westerner has plans to loosen up those hips. The band’s second album, 2022’s Kali Yuga Kama Sutra, prevails as a colorful plumage of pop, aglow with hints of neopsych, disco rock and funk. Westerner nimbly covers a lot of ground here, and certainly has a great time doing it. Unreal City, the trio’s 2014 debut, was a sci-fi concept album that boldly introduced characters and a whole canon that existed within those 16 tracks. These works call for a level of immersion that Sand Dollar Lounge undoubtedly delivers. Now the question is, who’s your dance partner? With The Blank Tapes, 10 p.m., free, Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com. –Amber Sampson
MUSIC
TRAVIS SCOTT With Teezo Touchdown, 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.
PARTY
(Courtesy/Ray Corrupted Mind)
MONDAY 30 OCT.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. MONTREAL CANADIENS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
SPORTS
LIL JON 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.
ARTS
MICHAEL GRIMM 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmith center.com.
FILM: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 5 & 9 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebever lytheater.com. JOSH WOLF 7:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster. com.
FOOD + DRINK
SUPERGUIDE
GOSPEL BRUNCH 10 a.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
TRIXX Thru 11/5, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegas comedy.com. MARVELUST 10 p.m., the Space, thespacelv. com.
COMEDY
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
P L A N Y O U R W E E K A H E A D
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FILM: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 7 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebev erlytheater.com.
KATY PERRY 8 p.m., & 11/1, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.
G-EAZY 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.
WEDNESDAY 01 NOV.
SPORTS
SANTANA 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com. AUTHOR AMY KURZWEIL 7 p.m., Beverly Theater, thewriters block.org.
S U P E R G U I D E
FOOD + DRINK
CAULDRON NOIR BURLESQUE With Cervena Fox, 9 p.m., Commonwealth, tixr.com.
KEITH URBAN 8 p.m., Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com.
LORENA PERIL 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com. HONEY REVENGE With Pollyanna, Colorblind, Arrlo, 6:30 p.m., Soulbelly BBQ, eventbrite.com. UNLV COMMUNITY & NEW HORIZONS BANDS 7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu. IVAN CORNEJO With Arath Herce, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster. com.
COMEDY
MISC
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.
(Courtesy)
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
SUPERGUIDE
ARTS
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. CAL STATE LOS ANGELES 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.
CHRISTIAN LÖFFLER & PARRA FOR CUVA With Beary the Otter, 7:30 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.
LAS VEGAS NOVEMBER 9-11, 2023 • 1,000 VEHICLES LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER • LAS VEGAS, NV
BUY. SELL. SPECTATE. GATES OPEN DAILY AT 8 AM $20 ADVANCE ONLINE TICKET PRICE (per person) // children 12 and younger admitted at no charge $30 at the door and online after 11:59 PM CT on November 8 (per person)
THE EXPERIENCE BEGINS AT MECUM.COM NV License DLR000045204
For complete auction consignment or bidding information, visit Mecum.com or call 262-275-5050
DíA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION NOVEMBER 1 & 2
AT VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS
CONGRATULATIONS LAS VEGAS ACES
BACK TO B AC K W NB A C HAMPIONS • 2022 + 2023
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10.26.23
How the Las Vegas Aces captured a second straight WNBA title in 10 key moments S T O R Y
BY DANNY WEBSTER
C O V E R
A’ja Wilson and Alysha Clark carried bottles of Ace of Spades Champagne into the podium room at the Barclays Center, ready to discuss how the Las Vegas Aces pulled off a WNBA championship repeat in style. They only got through two minutes of their postgame news conference before teammate Kelsey Plum burst in, crashing the party with music blaring from the same Bluetooth boombox she used in the same situation a year ago.
ON THE COVER
Cover photo by Steve Marcus/Staff
The celebration on October 18 in Brooklyn, New York, was a nearly identical sequel to the one a year before at Mohegan Sun Arena in Montville, Connecticut. Merriment and Michelob Ultra were the focal points. Over the top? Perhaps. Deserved? Absolutely. The Aces had every right to party after making history by clinching their second straight WNBA title with a four-game series win over the New York Liberty. The 7069 victory capped a season where
Las Vegas won a league-record 34 games. The Aces were also nearly perfect in the postseason with their only loss an uncharacteristic 87-73 setback to the Liberty in Game 3 of the finals. But they bounced back despite losing two starters to foot injuries in the defeat—point guard Chelsea Gray and center Kiah Stokes—to become the first repeat champions in the WNBA since the 2001-2002 Los Angeles Sparks. “This one’s sweeter,” coach
Above Aces championship celebration at Toshiba Plaza by Brian Ramos/Staff
Becky Hammon said. “We went from darling to villain real quick. We had our good names slandered, and all these women did was lock in together. This is probably the tightest group I’ve ever been around.” The Aces finished the year with the most efficient offense in league history, and a shutdown defense to boot. Here are 10 of the most memorable moments of the season recounting how the latest championship feeling came together.
BANNER SEASON
10.26.23
FEBRUARY 1, 2023: Aces sign Candace Parker Four months before their first game, the Aces started the memorable campaign by adding a twotime MVP and champion to their lineup. The 37-year-old Parker is known as one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all-time, and spoke of a motivation to capture another title as a sidekick to reigning MVP Wilson. As expected, they made for a scary tandem to start the season. MAY 27, 2023: Aces crush Sparks on banner night Because of scheduling conflicts at Michelob Ultra Arena, the Aces had to wait until their third game of the year to raise last season’s championship banner. After beating the Seattle Storm and Los Angeles Sparks on the road in the days before, they got their moment in front of their home crowd in a 93-65 shellacking of the Sparks. The celebratory night was the centerpiece of a seven-game win streak to start the season. Las Vegas didn’t lose until June 8 at Connecticut. JUNE 29, 2023: Aces blow out Liberty in first meeting Everyone expected the Aces and Liberty to meet in the finals all year, but the season was more than a month old before their first official encounter. It ended up being pretty anticlimactic as all five Las Vegas starters scored in double figures to cruise to a 98-81 victory at home. Both sides had been called “super teams,” with the Liberty countering the Aces’ offseason additions of Parker and Clark by acquiring Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot and Jonquel Jones. They’d go on to play some tighter games against each other, but the initial contest served as the first concrete evidence that the Aces were the definitive team to beat.
JULY 7, 2023: Parker plays her final game of the year The good vibes hit a screeching halt. Parker hurt her foot in a 80-78 loss to the Dallas Wings , but she was always expected to return until news surfaced that she had undergone surgery on July 25. The Aces rallied without their most famous player, however, and won eight straight after the Wings’ defeat before a 99-61 loss to the Liberty on August 6 at Barclays Center. JULY 9, 2023: Plum goes for 40 Plum was the first one to pick up the slack, as she set a franchise record with 40 points in the first game without Parker. The Aces smashed the Minnesota Lynx on the road behind Plum’s career night to put the Dallas loss behind them. AUGUST 11, 2023: Wilson’s turn The franchise record lasted all of 33 days without company. Wilson matched Plum’s 40-point feat in another 113-89 victory, this one against the Washington Mystics at Michelob Ultra Arena. AUGUST 22, 2023: Wilson ups the ante Wilson tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points as the Aces also matched the league record with a 29th victory on the year in a 112-100 victory at Atlanta. Wilson went 16-for-23 from the field and 20-for-21 from the free-throw line, joking that “MVP” chants from the road crowd threw her off and cost her the chance at setting a new all-time record. She picked up steam in the MVP race with the performance, but Stewart ultimately picked up the honors at the end of the season by one vote. SEPTEMBER 10, 2023: T-Mobile Arena debut The Aces set a franchise record with 17,406 fans in attendance for their first game in the Strip’s largest arena to close the regular season. The home crowd had plenty to cheer about as Las Vegas pummeled the Phoenix Mercury 100-85 to clinch the WNBA playoffs’ No. 1 seed over the Liberty.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
OCTOBER 11, 2023: Aces blitz Liberty in Game 2 of Finals Most expected the Liberty to respond in a big way to a 99-82 Game 1 loss and officially make it a series. That didn’t happen. The Aces instead jumped out to a 19-2 lead in the first five minutes and scored a record 38 first-quarter points en route to a 10476 victory. That meant they carried a 2-0 series lead into Brooklyn, which was ultimately too big for the Liberty to overcome. OCTOBER 18, 2023: Back to back The Aces were driven primarily by offense all season but it was defense that carried them to the finish line. Without Gray and Stokes, they had to jumble the lineup and start Clark, Plum at point guard and Cayla George at center. Lightly-used reserve Sydney Colson even logged 15 minutes. It took everyone to shut down Stewart, who went just 3-for-17 from the field in the clinching game. Wilson won the Finals MVP award after a 24-point, 16-rebound performance. “It’s who we are,” Wilson said. “We’re professionals. We’re ready when our name is called. “This sh*t wasn’t easy at all. A lot of people counted us out from the jump. That just fueled us. We read it, we see it. That says a lot about us.” Wilson said throughout the season that a team can’t be considered truly great until they win two titles. Mission accomplished. Now the only question is, can anyone stop them from winning a third in a row? “There’s a reason it hasn’t been done in that long,” Clark said. “It’s hard to get to the Finals multiple times. You never know when you’re going to get this opportunity.”
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WINNING
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
10.26.23
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
CULTURE COLUMN BY RAY BREWER Las Vegas Aces championship apparel at this particular big box store inside the Galleria at Sunset mall was mostly unavailable. Residents had already bought all the shirts, hoodies, cups and whatever else was being sold within a few days of our city’s professional women’s basketball team winning its second straight WNBA title. It’s another example of the powerful love affair between the city and its team. We can’t get enough of our champs. The Aces averaged a league-best 9,551 fans per game this season— many youth and teen girls cheering for their favorite players—to mark a 66% increase over last season. And when it came time for the WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty, there was a sellout crowd for both home games. Thankfully, there was no need for a third home game in the series, as the injury-depleted Aces only allowed 46 points over the final three quarters of Game 4 on October 18 in a defensive masterpiece at New York in the series-clinching win. It was vintage Las Vegas Aces basketball in showing the grit and determination that makes the team so darn likable and fun to cheer for. Starters Chelsea Gray and
Kiah Stokes had foot injuries and couldn’t play, meaning coach Becky Hammon—one of the sport’s best, regardless of league—had to tinker with the rotation in moving reserve Cayla George into the starting lineup. The 34-year-old George, who averaged 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds during the regular season, became the unsung hero with 11 points and four rebounds over 30 minutes. That was enough to supplement another epic performance from A’ja Wilson, who had 24 points and 16 rebounds in reaffirming her label as the WNBA’s best player. New York’s Breanna Stewart narrowly won the MVP vote during the regular season, which further motivated Wilson to beat Stewart in the postseason. Wilson, who this season became the fastest player in league history to reach 3,500 career points, 1,500 rebounds and 300 blocks, is one of the great ambassadors of the team in our community. That’s especially true when it comes to paving the way for young girls to enjoy sports, because they all want to be like A’ja. She’s always smiling and having fun, whether that’s the pure jubilation after winning the championship or dancing around ahead of games to whatever music is blasting over the speakers at Michelob
Ultra Arena. It shows a younger generation that participating in sports is enjoyable, whether you are one of the world’s notable players or someone competing in a city recreation league. “We fought through so much adversity throughout the season,” Wilson said postgame on ESPN. “I can’t express just how proud I am of my teammates. They picked me up when I was down. We cried together, and now we’re poppin’ Champagne together.” Back home in Las Vegas, we were also partying. In our town, you don’t have to play for the Golden Knights or Raiders to be plastered on highway billboards or a casino marquee, or have young children wear your jersey. And most importantly, when there’s a championship to be won, if you are wearing Las Vegas across your chest, there’s a community of 2.3 million strong pulling for you. Many of us headed to the Strip October 23 for the championship celebration, where you couldn’t help but notice the number of young girls with homemade signs, Wilson jerseys and gigantic smiles. Some will say the back-to-back championships are what makes the Aces successful. That’s not the only reason. The Aces have been a home run
in our community since relocating here in 2018 because they have shown a younger generation of girls the value of competing. The Aces are heroes and role models to countless youngsters. Sports are designed for everyone to have a chance to compete and thrive while playing. You don’t have to be a world-class athlete to have teammates, look forward to attending practice or have someone cheer for you. You don’t have to play at an arena on the Strip in a nationally televised competition to make a basket in a game. That’s why adults spend their weeknights competing in bowling and softball leagues, even if it means applying creams to sore muscles and wearing a few braces to keep their bodies from falling apart. That’s why local parks and gyms are packed with children playing sports, because like the Aces, we desire the thrill of competition and memories of being part of a team. The Aces this season certainly gave us more than our share of memories in posting a 34-6 record for the best finish in WNBA history. They’ll be favored to do it again next season, which would make them only the second three-peat champions in league history—and cause another rush at the mall for championship swag.
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Is Las Vegas haunted? Ghost Adventures host Zak Bagans investigates
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ur Valley is home to millions of souls. Most have physical forms, but according to paranormal investigator Zak Bagans—star of the Discovery Channel hit Ghost Adventures and the eponymous proprietor of Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum in Downtown—a good number of them don’t. He took a quick break from filming his show, now in its 25th season, to talk about Vegas’ haunted spaces.
(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)
Until you opened your museum, it didn’t occur to me that there could be hauntings in Vegas. I thought the city was too young for it. Does a city’s age make a difference? No. Wherever you have death, wherever you have energy, wherever you have people’s emotions, you know you’re going to have a residual haunting; you’re going to have a trapped spirit, a trapped soul. There’s a lot more history that Vegas has; it just doesn’t look like that on the surface. I love my hometown, but it’s very sad and very tragic that we destroy a lot of our historic hotels and casinos. Have you had the chance to investigate some of those historic properties? It’s very hard to gain access to these hotels to investigate. My targets are the Flamingo, Circus Circus, the former Bally’s, places like that. But they don’t want hauntings attached [to their hotels]. They just want gamblers and gambling and that’s it. [But] when we do investigations on hauntings, it’s more than just going around getting evidence. We also like to present
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Aside from the museum, have you found other haunted spaces in Vegas outside of the tourist corridors? One place I’ll tell your readers to go to, which is a thrill, is over at Lake Mead in those old, abandoned railway tunnels. We did a two-hour special on Lake Mead, with all these bodies coming up, [and] we started hearing about these abandoned railway tunnels. They used these tunnels to transport stuff in the making of the Hoover Dam, and a lot of men died in the tunnels due to carbon monoxide from the railway cars. We talked to a Ph.D. who said that because the Hoover Dam looks similar to Satan’s throne, she believes that those tunnels were attracting some dark occultists, as well. So, when we investigated … During the day, you’re fine, but something happens at night that opens up Lake Mead to something otherworldly, and we documented evidence of it. We captured a dark shape that had a luminescent light on it in one of the tunnels. We captured a disembodied phantom screaming coming from there, and some really strange sounds of rocks hitting together. It’s a terrifying place. If anybody out there is adventurous enough to hit those tunnels at night, that would be a real big thrill-seek.
(Sun File/Photo Illustration)
the history of these places, like we did at the Riviera—we did the Riviera twice—and Binion’s Horseshoe, and I just love unraveling the mysteries of the history. I was talking to a friend of mine this morning about the Haunted Museum—we just celebrated our sixth year—and why it’s been so successful. It’s because it’s a niche in Vegas: You can step back in time in an old 1930s mansion. You’re not just there for the paranormal, to have a thrill, but to immerse yourself in the history of Vegas, [in] a historical structure with old artifacts. … We have so many people that come here and experience it and say it’s the highlight of their trip.
FREMONT EAST’S FUNKY APPARITION Swapping ghost stories is a pastime that gains traction around this time of year, and given this town’s unique history, it’s little wonder that Vegas is a hot spot for tales that’ll make the hair on your arms raise up. Rumor has it that the people on weekend benders aren’t the only entities lurking around Fremont East. Corduroy is famed for its 1970s-style decor, pickleback shots and cool lightbox photo op—but one of the lesser known allures is the ghostly guest who likes to say hello during closing hours. “There’s a fine line between what’s logical and what’s being haunted,” says Corduroy bartender Randy Alvarez. “But there’s a general understanding that this place is haunted and there’s something roaming here.”
Alvarez has witnessed a plastic cup being flung to the ground during a slow hour and hearing a large trash can mysteriously fall over in the prep room while he was up front debating the haunt with the staff. There’s word that the space that’s now home to this watering hole was previously a morgue, confirmed in a 1940s Las Vegas Age article describing a political figure’s sudden death. “The remains are in charge of the Garrison Mortuary. 515 Fremont Street,” reads the article. On two separate occasions, mediums have found themselves drawn to the area outside of the women’s bathroom and claimed to have felt ghostly energy. “One of the mediums said that the spirit is a dude, an old jazz player and he’s just not ready to move on yet,” says Alvarez. —Gabriela Rodriguez
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(Left) Odd items for sale at Cemetery Pulp; (right) owners Chris Kmit and Erin Emre. (Brian Ramos/Staff)
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Cemetery Pulp shop owners build a kooky community BY AMBER SAMPSON
lbert used to have a good really get until you come in,” Emre head on his shoulders. Now says, and that goes for taxidermy, it resides in a case at Cemtoo. etery Pulp. A human skull might Kmit and Emre are adamant sound wild, but it’s pretty tame about using every part of the animal compared to the rest of the oddities to honor them, and encourage at this offbeat Las Vegas shop. guests to touch the taxidermy as a “We’re the fairy dead parents way to muster more appreciation for a reason,” says Erin Emre, who and to conquer their fears. As ownopened the shop with her partner, ers of a rescue animal themselves Chris Kmit, in 2021. “There’s a lot (see: the 40-pound albino Burmese of kids that are shunned for being python, Eddie), they regularly raise the weird kids, you know? Or their funds for local animal shelters and families are like ‘Why do you like sanctuaries, too. this stuff? It’s so weird.’” So with so many dead things on Cemetery Pulp functions as display, do spirits linger at CemeKmit and Emre’s own tery Pulp? Emre conbizarre little biome, firms lots do. “People CEMETERY PULP where animal skulls get kind of bummed 3950 E. Sunset Road are arranged by size, out that they’re not #106, 725-206-5412, books on cemeteries punching us in the cemeterypulp.com. Daily, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. to see before you die face or whatever, but are the best-sellers, they’re all very nice,” and taxidermied she laughs. “They raccoons are frozen mid-growl and kind of just want to be acknowldraped in tuxes and tutus handedged, really.” picked by Emre. Cemetery Pulp has hosted paraThere are glowing corners of normal classes, and if you ever want uranium glassware, a wall of comic to learn other useful things like how books, chemically treated photos to play Dungeons & Dragons, hold from the 1800s (“They were made a seance or get into taxidermy, the with cyanide, and the people makshop has weekly events, including ing them actually died,” Emre says) local concerts. and a custom ceiling of bronze tile The owners credit the resuraccents. You know, for the vibe. gence of D&D, the goth subculture “We wanted to make sure when and shows like Oddities on the you walked in you didn’t think you Discovery Channel for making the were in a strip mall still,” says Kmit. weird “come out of the woodwork.” “If we’re gonna be open seven They’ve watched dates unfold at days a week, we’ve gotta make it Cemetery Pulp. There have been look like home,” Emre adds. weddings. Wet specimens in jars, sub“Everyone is welcome,” Emre merged in isopropyl alcohol, are says. “I think that’s the big thing also a sight to behold at the shop, with the oddities culture: It’s not offering customers a rare look at just dead things. It’s people of all beautifully preserved animals in different personalities who are northe last moments of their life. mally shunned in a regular scene. “There’s a weird spirituality to They can come here, and let’s just oddities that a lot of people don’t all be weird together.”
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County aims to create ‘innovation corridor’ The Clark County Commission recently approved an action plan for the development of a district with offices for new technology and innovation companies as well as community spaces. The district is located in the southwest valley, bordered by Russell Road to the north, Durango Drive on the west, Decatur Boulevard to the east and Robindale Road to the south. Existing businesses in the district represent what the county hopes will be the future of Southern Nevada’s economy—one that includes more technology, advanced manufacturing, engineering and creative industries. Many notable tech companies already call the area home, including the data center Switch and UNLV’s 122-acre Harry Reid Research and Technology Park. Other companies include: Pepsi Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming, Ainsworth Gaming Technology and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Apex. The county has begun moving forward with funding a direct fiber connection between the Harry Reid Research Park and Switch to allow area businesses to connect with the resources of the two “anchors.” Once hooked up, businesses would be able to connect to the fiber network of the two companies for faster data processing and computing. That means jobs and research being accomplished at a more efficient pace. -Grace Da Rocha
Old school Green Day
ENTERTAINMENT
Green Day performed the entirety of their 1994 album Dookie at Fremont Country Club on October 19, two days before headlining the When We Were Young festival. (Courtesy/Fred Morledge/PhotoFM)
Next Mission: Impossible delayed a year
The eighth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise has been postponed a year, signaling a new wave of release schedule juggling for Hollywood studios as the actors strike surpasses three months of work stoppage. Paramount Pictures shifted the release date of the next movie from June 28, 2024 to May 23, 2025. As Hollywood’s labor turmoil continues, it is increasingly upending the release plans not just for movies this fall that want to wait until their stars can promote them (like Dune: Part Two, postponed to March), but some of next year’s top big-screen attractions. A string of Marvel movies have previously shifted back, as did the third Venom film. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse has been delayed indefinitely after being dated for March 2024. -Associated Press
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10.23.2023
OCTOBER DIED NAMESAKE, TOWN’S N E VA DA THE LAUGHLIN, DON
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Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada unveiled a historic neon star from the Riviera at The Wishing Place at Allegiant Campus as the first recipient of the Neon Museum loan program. The museum’s Adopt A Sign program focuses on identifying and lending pieces that are “underappreciated” in their current location or have been inaccessible to the public during restoration efforts. Longtime supporter of Make-A-Wish and Strip illusionist Criss Angel, center, was at the unveiling and was awarded the Beacon of Hope Award. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
The Golden Knights play Montreal October 30 at 7 p.m.
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CCSD enrollment drops below 300,000 Enrollment in the Clark County School District has dropped below 300,000 students, according to a recent presentation at the district’s Attendance Zone Advisory Commission meeting. CCSD had 298,065 students as of September 1, signaling a loss of 4,996 students, or a drop of 1.6%, from the same time last year. Tracy Murphy, the director of demographics and zoning, said the decline was partially credited to a new state law moving the birthday cutoff for a child to enroll in kindergarten. Children now must turn 5 on or before
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August 1 to enroll in kindergarten anywhere in Nevada. Previously, they were required to turn 5 by September 30. After the change, 16,308 kindergartners were enrolled in CCSD this year versus 18,527 last year. The presentation also showed high schools have the most crowded campuses in the district, with 17 schools enrolled at 110% of capacity or higher; four of those 17 were at 125% of capacity or higher. Only 19 of the 200-plus elementary schools were above 110% capacity. None of the roughly 60 middle schools were. -Hillary Davis
3D PRINTING FOR EVERYONE On November 2, Las Vegas Ward 3 Councilwoman Olivia Diaz will join city officials to cut the ribbon for the city’s first 3D Maker Center. The new 3D print center is located Downtown and is available for free public use by appointment. The center features 3D printers and will offer educational workshops for all ages and skill levels.
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SWEET SUPPORT Q+A
P E O P L E
The Cupcake Girls’ Amy-Marie Merrell brings sex work, trafficking ‘front and center’
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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BY SHANNON MILLER y name, the Cupcake Girls might seem playful. But the nonprofit is not messing around when it comes to helping survivors of sex trafficking and shattering stigmas surrounding sex work. It’s important work, considering Las Vegas has the third-highest rate of human trafficking in the U.S., according to data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The Cupcake Girls combat that through outreach, advocacy, resources and referral services. Executive director Amy-Marie Merrell says the organization, which was founded in Las Vegas in 2011, serves about 250 to 300 clients per year. In addition to helping clients navigate a network of more than 400 partnering service providers across the U.S.—“doctors, dentists, lawyers, daycare providers, auto mechanics, counseling, you name it”—the Cupcake Girls also offer “trauma-informed” trainings for the community, helping promote a broader understanding of traumas surrounding trafficking, and how the community can help. “We’ll provide community education to first responders, but also to businesses,” Merrell says. “We do a really good job when it comes to understanding that everybody is human and valid and wanted.” The Weekly sat down with Merrell to talk about how she became an activist, the difference between sex work and sex trafficking, and the Cupcake Girls’ new resource center planned for the Arts District.
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The Cupcake Girls’ mission is to support people in the sex industry and to provide prevention and aftercare to those affected by sex trafficking. How did you become interested in this kind of work? I moved to Portland, Oregon in 2009. And [what] kind of solidified my life’s work [was] ... I went on a run with my dog, and it was like 4:30 in the morning, and I ran past this man. And I thought that he was hugging this woman who was crying. And I realized that he was actually holding her with his left arm and punching her in the side with his right arm. And so I ran backwards to a security guard to ask if they could call 911. And the security guard laughed at me and he was like, “She’s a prostitute. They’re just going to arrest her anyway.” And so I ran to my apartment, and I called 911. But by the time the police got there, the woman was gone, and the man was gone. And I asked the officers, “Hey, is this true? Is this what would have happened?” And they [said], “Well, if it’s the woman that this guy says it is, then yeah. She does have a few warrants.” And I was like, “This is crap.” Within two weeks, I was sitting across from the chief of police. And she told me that if I wanted to make any change in this world, I needed to get involved with changing legislation or work with grassroots nonprofits. So then I dedicated my life to doing both of those things, and was working alongside houselessness nonprofits, domestic violence shelters, and anti-trafficking groups. How did you end up finding the Cupcake Girls? The more that I was working with a lot of these groups, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for volunteers to provide actual tangible change opportunities for the folks that were in their services. And so I thought it was really cool that the Cupcake Girls allowed for volunteers to work with folks that were in the industry and be able to share and have peer support. What do you wish more people understood about the connection between sex trafficking and sex work? A lot of folks assume that [since] they’re out of sex trafficking, they’re not wanting
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to do sex work at all. That’s not really true. Many times, folks continue in sex work as a means to survive, because of many reasons including the intense stigma on sex trafficking survivors and sex workers. And so these folks, they have a hell of a time trying to get a nine-to-five job. The Cupcake Girls have a slogan posted on social media: The difference between sex work and sex trafficking is consent. Why is that distinction so important? It’s important that we’re not conflating sex work and sex trafficking for a few reasons. A, we don’t want to accidentally put somebody in jail when they’re literally trying to survive and escape a terrible [situation]. B, we want to make sure that people have the wraparound support that they need when leaving a traumatic situation. And C, we want to make sure that we’re destigmatizing and decriminalizing sex work as a whole, so that we can truly be funding the thing that we’re trying to fund. We see millions of dollars going into the anti-trafficking world. But when we’re looking at the amount of folks that are actually being helped, we’re just really spending money under the guise of spreading awareness, or actually not serving anybody. The Cupcake Girls announced it will be opening a new resource center in the Arts District. What can we look forward to there? [Director] Asia Duncan is leading that. … We’re going to have space for workforce development, for folks to come in with their own nonprofits and be able to put on different resume-writing events; different marketplace events where our participants can sell their wares; free grocery opportunities, because that area of town is a food desert. So that’s all happening on one side of the building. And then on the other side of the building will be Cupcake Girls offices, so that we will be able to serve our participants well, in a really central location. I think that a lot of the time when it comes to oppressed people, we want to push them away and pretend like they don’t exist. … We need to make sure that we’re front and center as an organization.
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N O I S E
STAR TIME C U L T U R E
With Housekeeper to Headliner, Lorena Peril tells her story in song
(Courtesy/Bryan Steffy)
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BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ airy tales do come “This is my musical adaptation true, especially in of my Las Vegas success story. I the Entertainment wrote it during the pandemic, Capital of the World. when I was performing on the On November 1, at streets,” recalls Peril. “I wrote the Smith Center, award-winning it during that time, because I singer and performer Lorena Peril thought the world ended.” unveils Housekeeper To Headliner, Her story blossomed into a an original show about her life and 13-number production that’s set quick progression to the spotlight. to include a live band, audience The name of the show is perparticipation, belly dancing and fectly apt. Before Peril was known more. Peril wrote Housekeeper to for her magnetic stage presence Headliner from a place of genuineand riveting vocals, she worked a ness and gratitude and expects to modest housekeeping job in her have tender moments on stage. hometown San Francisco for four “I feel a little selfish because it’s years, alongside her mother. about my life, but I know it’s not “I wasn’t trying to be a singer,” that way,” says Peril. “I hope I can says Peril. “My mother did it for inspire people…I hope to inspire years and I did it as long as I could the Latin community. Because before I was discovered.” there’s a lot of people that have This discovery came been reaching out to by chance on a family me lately asking for vacation she was origiadvice.” nally reluctant to join. As a first generaLORENA PERIL While on a Carnival tion Mexican AmerNovember 1, 7 p.m., $29-$52. Myron’s, cruise, Peril participatican, Peril’s story is thesmithcenter.com. ed in an open mic that especially inspiring changed the course for those looking for of her life. Following a nudge to chase their a standing ovation dreams. She says that and audition tape, the cruise line she has a love for all people and offered her a contract to perform feels like a magnet at times in her as the lead vocalist in their nightly ability to connect with individuals. shows. She adds that the audience is her “I was so shy! I had never sung in primary source of happiness. front of a thousand people like that “I’m going to be very authentic… … next thing I know I’m packing my think of Charo meets Lucille Ball,” bags and I’m traveling the world,“ laughs Peril. says Peril. It took Peril two months of The job offer doubled as her first rehearsing for “Housekeeper To professional vocal training. During Headliner” while simultaneously another vacation, this time in Las performing six nights a week at Vegas, she found herself craving Fantasy. But when asked about the something beyond the cruise ship— challenges during preparation, and once again, she packed her bags she laughs and says there simply to pursue her dreams in a new city. haven’t been many thus far. In 2010 she joined the cast of “Things have been going Fantasy, eventually working her smooth,” she says. “I just pray that way up to becoming a headlining I make my outfit changes quick performer. enough.”
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N I G H T S Candles, fog machines, red hues
Griffin: One of the biggest draws to this tavern are the brick fireplaces, vaulted ceilings and an overall touch of doom and gloom. These elements make the backroom an obvious fit for a night of goth. Artifice: All of the above and then some. One wall of the dance floor space is dedicated to projecting clips from films like Queen Of The Damned, an obvious pick but still a nice touch. Winner: Artifice
Chances of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” playing at least twice
Griffin: Even if there isn’t a calendered event, you’ll likely hear this Joy Division track on the acclaimed jukebox. Artifice: You might even hear it a third time here if the foot traffic spikes throughout the night. Winner: It’s a tie.
Indoor clovesmoking section
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Griffin: Although clove cigarettes are banned in the U.S., the signature sweet-and-spiced smell sometimes wafts through the crowd, which adds to the ambiance. Artifice: Smokers need to shuffle outside for a puff. Winner: Griffin
(Sun File/Photo Illustration)
A GOTH NIGHT DUEL FOR SPOOKY SEASON Darkness-friendly Downtown spots Artifice and the Griffin square off BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ Bela Lugosi might be dead, but local goth nights have never lost their pulse. The recipe for any lucrative goth night is simple: get a reliable goth-adjacent DJ who knows the essential tracks, serve strong elixirs, and bring all the dim lighting. Fremont East’s Griffin and the Art District’s Artifice have both been hosting their respective vampire-esque nights for years. But when the ingredients are so similar, is there really a difference between the two? It might be difficult to choose between these two alt institutions, so we’re taking the pain out of the decision by pitting the affairs against each other. Both venues have goth nights in the works for Halloween weekend, so stay on top at artificebarlv.com and instagram. com/lasvegasgriffin.
Space to rest your bat wings
Griffin: The backroom is dedicated mostly to dancing, so if you feel the need to sit, you must venture into the front bar and possibly fraternize with the non-goths. Artifice: Goths rejoice! The whole bar is yours to lurk and roam about without sharing your space with onlookers. Winner: Artifice
Latex, leather and corsets
Griffin: Like any good cult, there are the regular members who show out. They let their outfits speak for themselves, which means that the ghouls and gals will be laced up and painted to the nines at either event. Artifice: Please see above. Winner: It’s another tie.
Spirits and potions
Griffin: Heavy pours make for lighter feet on the dancefloor. Artifice: Don’t sleep on the curated cocktail list. Winner: Griffin
Polyamorous couples looking for a third
Griffin: Don’t be surprised if a couple or throuple or a quad sends a drink over to you. Goth nights are ideal hunting grounds for the explorative. Artifice: Please see above. Winner: Also a tie.
THE CULT
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Fall is here, the days are getting shorter, pumpkin spice is in season, and many of us may find ourselves winding down earlier to fend off chilly evenings. If cannabis is an integral part of your relaxation routine, here’s a look at everything you need to know about using cannabis to encourage sleep.
According to the American Sleep Association, 50 to 70 million adults experience symptoms of a sleep disorder, with 40 million affected by insomnia. Despite many pharmaceutical sleep aids, an increasing number of individuals are turning to cannabis for natural relief. The Sleep Foundation reports that 70% of young adults who use cannabis do so to help them rest, and among users who have been using cannabis for 10 years or more, half use cannabis to improve their sleep.
Cannabinoids bind to receptors in the brain, suppressing the brain’s arousal system and increasing a sleep-promoting chemical called adenosine. Several sleep-related cannabinoids— including THC, CBD and CBN—can have varying effects on the body but may work in concert to help a person fall asleep and stay asleep longer. ■ THC: THC is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid that causes consumers to feel intoxicated with sedating effects for many. ■ CBD: CBD is the most commonly used nonpsychoactive cannabinoid and is linked to relaxation, decreased anxiety and an overall sense of well-being. ■ CBN: CBN is a more recently acknowledged cannabinoid that shows promising results for promoting sleep. The effects of CBN are typically enhanced by THC.
A study published in Canadian Pharmacists Journal in 2022 examined the effects of medical cannabis on individuals with sleep disorders. Though looking at a relatively small sample size, the study found that 39% of patients were able to completely discontinue the use of prescription medication for sleep. On follow-up, 71% reported a subjective improvement in their sleep when using medical cannabis. Only 21% reported adverse effects but qualified them as manageable and did not require the disuse of cannabis.
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ADVERTORIAL PRESENTED BY D E E P R O OT S H A RV E S T
There are many strains that may promote sleep, but effects vary person to person. In general, indica strains are thought to be more sedative and better for promoting sleep, as well as strains higher in CBD and CBN. While THC can have sedating effects for some, it can have simulating effects for others. New users should start slowly while finding a dose that works for them. For sleep assistance, it may also be best to use flower or cannabis vapes to ensure more immediate and reliable results. Alternately, edibles can take about an hour for users to feel results.
According to a 2008 study published in Sleep Medicine Reviews, consuming high-THC strains reduces REM sleep. A reduction in REM sleep means less dreaming, and for those with PTSD or anxiety disorders, a reduction in dreams can mean a decrease in nightmares. Research posits that if you spend less time in REM sleep, you may spend more time in deep sleep, which is believed to be the most restorative type of sleep in the sleep cycle.
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ALL EYES ON THEM
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FACES OF HIP-HOP Through November 18; Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sahara West Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.
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Stephanie Amon’s Faces of Hip-Hop paints the genre’s greatest rappers in a personable new light BY AMBER SAMPSON Picture being surrounded by all the greats: Tupac, Biggie, Kendrick, Nipsey and 24 other top-billed wordsmiths of hip-hop. We know them for their music. We rank them according to it. But when’s the last time we really reflected on the humans behind the hits? Las Vegas artist Stephanie Amon’s Faces of Hip-Hop at Sahara West Library allows us to do just that. The exhibit marks one of several showcases the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has introduced as a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and visually-speaking, it’s one of the best. A portrait artist since 2020, Amon gathered a list of more than 20 rappers from different eras for her first solo exhibition, creating hyperrealistic oil canvas paintings of each that spoke to their inner characters, personalities and even swag levels. “I would look for images with a lot of expression, or anything really flashy,” she says. “You’d see artists from Atlanta and they would have grills. Anything with a lot of detail, I went towards that.” For an artist who took a single painting class at UNLV as she pursued a degree in nursing, the 30-year-old
Amon is either an incredibly fast learner or a prodigy. She captures distinguishing features of these emcees that you might miss on a mixtape cover. The feathering of Tupac Shakur’s long eyelashes. The twinkle in Tyler, the Creator’s expressive, playful eyes. The gold-plated grin of Andre 3000 as he hides his face with his hands. And then there’s all the ice. Amon’s portraits of rappers like Tory Lanez and Gunna drip with it, gleaming with a brilliance that’s hard to replicate with oil paints, but Amon’s an artist with bold hues, rugged brush strokes and delicate accents. To see these musicians, stripped of their titles, staring back with the naked emotion that makes their music so iconic, has a profound effect. They, too, are people. They, too, have trauma, and they, too, have joy. It’s all written there on their faces. Amon was born in Long Beach, California and spent some time living in Okinawa, Japan as a “military brat” before she moved to Vegas in 2002. “Japan had a big influence on my creativity,” says Amon, who loved the color-drenched styles of anime. But Amon didn’t get serious about art until she escaped a toxic relationship
that hindered her creativity. “When I left my ex, everything just started to fall into place,” she says. “It didn’t feel like I was forcing anything. It was organic. I put all my emotions into it.” It took about a day to create each painting (“If I take weeks, I’m already uninterested,” she says), but Amon actually had to redo pieces for Faces of Hip-Hop because NFL quarterback Cam Newton bought a majority of the collection the first time. “Being able to finally share it with everyone publicly was definitely a milestone,” she says. Her work has been shown in group shows at Downtown’s Priscilla Fowler Gallery and at Trap Music Museum in Atlanta, among other places. The artist plans to make a lookbook out of her Faces of Hip-Hop pieces and has already begun a women in R&B series. As a relatively new painter, Amon says she’s still nailing down the softer notes of painting women, but she’s excited to showcase more artists in such a detailed way. “It’s definitely helped me appreciate art as a whole. Just the difficulty and the struggle of being an artist,” she says. “It doesn’t just have to be visual art, it applies to singers, rappers and stuff like that. You have to be in it to understand fully.”
Faces of Hip-Hop paintings by Stephanie Amon, from opposite page: Tupac Shakur, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, J. Cole and Snoop Dogg. (Staff/Wade Vandervort)
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TURNING THE TABLES C U L T U R E
Barry’s flips the script on interactive presentation
(Courtesy/Barry’s Prime)
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BY ROB KACHELRIESS “You like lobster?” The words are a warning as much as a question as Barry Dakake gets ready to prepare one of the most indulgent and decadent tableside dishes in Las Vegas today. The chef behind Barry’s Downtown Prime is manning a tableside cart with a built-in grill, fully in his element while sautéeing about a poundand-a-half of tail and claw meat from a six-pound Maine lobster. “We call this Lazy Man’s Lobster back in Rhode Island,” Dakake says with modesty while heads turn in the dining room, taking notice of an aromatic cloud of white truffle butter, garlic and shallots. Throughout the presentation, the chef also adds fine herbs, a splash of cream, lobster stock, sea salt and toasted black pepper. At around the three-minute mark, a touch of brandy lights up the room with a sizzling flambé special effect. Suddenly, you’re front row at one of the best shows on Fremont Street. It’s hard to believe Barry’s Downtown Prime is now three years old, but then again, the steakhouse opened during the height of the pandemic, when everything was a blur and the perception of time was in short supply. The restaurant emerged from the chaos without losing focus, locking down a reputation as one of the most ambitious and reliable steakhouses in Las Vegas, mixing old-style swagger with a contemporary edge at the Circa resort. Dakake’s lobster is a meal unto itself, mixed with asparagus, potato gnocchi and several grams of freshshaved truffles in a combination that almost feels random, but works perfectly in both taste and texture. It’s designed to share, so go the extra mile and order the restaurant’s signature ribeye cap ($89) for the ultimate family-style surf and turf. The steak is marinated in olive oil, garlic, shallots, rosemary and thyme. Ask for it sliced, and even if medium-rare is your default, try it medium. The higher temperature renders the fat more thoroughly and
Surf & turf (Courtesy/Patrick Miyoshi)
evenly in the tender cut. Dakake always handles the lobster orders personally—sometimes as many as 25 a night—and exclusively on weekends. (However, it never hurts to call in advance and inquire about weeknights. Dakake is a people pleaser.) The dish pairs effortlessly with one of two smoked cocktails served from a bartending cart with a choice of spirits ($29-$50). The Old Fashioned mixes a touch of simple syrup with Angostura and orange bitters, while a Manhattan follows the classic recipe of Angostura bitters and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth. The former is poured over a sphere of ice with an orange peel. The latter is served up with a cherry. Guests are free to choose from two familiar brands that overdeliver (Buffalo Trace and Patron Extra Anejo) or bourbon aged in port barrels by Woodinville, a fast-rising distillery that utilizes grains from a single
Washington farm. High West Rendezvous Rye is offered as a premium upgrade. A smoking gun, fueled with white oak wood chips, effectively infuses a cloud of flavor within your choice of spirit in a decanter before it’s poured into the glass. The interactivity continues during dessert when guests struggle to choose between a fiery Baked Alaska ($36)with Neapolitan ice cream flavors or the roast-’em-yourself Campfire S’mores ($26) with graham crackers already slathered with dark chocolate ganache for your convenience. The showstopper, however, is the off-menu Bananas Flambé, which is like a Bananas Foster and Cherries Jubilee in one, brought to life with a flaming presentation, hot caramel sauce and a vanilla ice cream cake infused with cherries and banana bread. It’s the right way to finish a meal that—in many ways—is everything you could’ve ever wanted.
BARRY’S DOWNTOWN PRIME Circa, 702-726-5504, barrysdowntownprime.com. Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.; Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.
Oct. 20-31 6300 W. Oakey Blvd.
HallOVeen at the Magical Forest is a family-friendly Halloween experience benefiting Opportunity Village.
Reserve tickets:
HALLOVEEN.com
ENTERTAINMENT
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free
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Concerts in the
park
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GENERAL A D M I S S I O N $4 5 ** NOVEMBER 11
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE AT SILVERTONCASINO.COM/ENTERTAINMENT OR SCAN FOR TICKETS
Asteroid M Halloween Block Party
Saturday, Oct. 28 | 7-11 p.m. Third Street Promenade
on Third Street from Hoover to Gass avenues in downtown Las Vegas. Asteroid M Records is a Las Vegas record label and recording studio founded by producer Cody Leavitt and is dedicated to bringing an eclectic variety of musical, visual and performing artists to the Third Street Promenade. This year’s lineup includes Horripilation, Desert Island Boys and Anti-Vision and more.
TICKET PRICE IS SUBJECT TO LIVE ENTERTAINMENT TAX (LET) AND FEES
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FIGHTING
Locally-based heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou lands the mega-bout he always wanted BY CASE KEEFER
Francis Ngannou has recently struggled to sleep through the night even after some of the most grueling training sessions of his decade-long combat sports career. Every once in a while, the former UFC heavyweight champion turned imminent professional boxer will wake up in his Las Vegas home thinking about the day’s work in the gym. He’ll particularly go over the coaching he’s receiving from his childhood idol, former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. “In the night, it’s like, ‘Am I tripping? Is it real?’ ” Ngannou explained at a recent press conference. “Then I walk around and realize, no, I’m not dreaming. This is real.” Ngannou’s fighting dreams were born when he was a child working in the Cameroon sand mines and heard tales of Tyson knocking out opponents and winning title fights on the other side of the world. He didn’t even actually see Tyson box until a few years later when he saved up enough money to travel to the city and search for the superstar boxer on YouTube. Ngannou eventually emigrated to France, on foot, with his sights set on becoming a professional boxer, but he was convinced to pursue mixed martial arts instead. But boxing never left his mind, so much so that when he first met Tyson four or five years ago before he won the UFC title, Ngannou said he had one question for him. “One thing that I precisely requested from Mike Tyson was whenever I fight Tyson Fury, would he be in my corner,” Ngannou said. “At that time everybody was looking at me as a fool for even (thinking about) fighting Tyson Fury.” FURY VS. NGANNOU On Saturday, October 28, in When: October 28, 11 a.m. PT Riyadh, Saudi Arbaia, Ngannou Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Betting odds: Fury -1400 (i.e. risking (0-0 in boxing) will fight the $1,400 to win $100), Ngannou +800 lineal heavyweight champion (i.e. risking $100 to win $800) Fury (33-0, 1 no contest) with Pay-per-view: $80 on ESPN+ or Tyson in his corner. through cable and satellite providers “He thinks he’s in a dream?
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F*ckin’ hell, I’m definitely in a dream. I’m named after (Mike Tyson) and now I’m in the opposite corner to him (35) years later?” Fury said. “I have to take my hat off to Francis for his story and where he’s come from and the fight, the grind, the determination and everything he’s put into it to get to where he is. He was just a young boy in Africa with a big dream and everybody probably laughed at him when he said he was going to go to Las Vegas and win the UFC heavyweight championship. And then, when he said he was fighting Tyson Fury, they still laughed at him, but I never laugh at anybody because I know the man’s struggle. I come from a place where anything is possible.” Boxing pundits give the 37-year-old Ngannou little chance to defeat the 35-year-old Fury in his maiden boxing voyage, and betting odds imply only an 8% chance at victory. But he arguably just faced an even larger foe, albeit in a bout that took place outside the ring. For the past several years, Ngannou had waged a war with the UFC. One of his many points of contention with the locally-based fighting promoter was that it wouldn’t sign off on outside opportunities like the upcoming boxing match with Fury. Ngannou feels like he won after the UFC gave up on contract negotiations and waived its right to match a deal with another promotion. He wound up signing with the Professional Fighters League, which welcomed his intentions to try out boxing. Ngannou is expected to return to mixed martial arts and make his PFL debut sometime next year after the Fury fight. “I’m going to fight the best boxer in the world for my first boxing fight,” Ngannou said. “I always ask myself, ‘What is going to happen the moment that guy hits the floor and my hand is up? Are you the best boxer in the world now? What would that be?’ If you take out the No. 1, I think you are the No. 1 … but it’s really hard to think about. I think right now, I focus on taking him out and then I’ll figure out the rest later.” Fury has all but guaranteed victory, saying he wouldn’t only defeat Ngannou in boxing but also in mixed martial arts “if the money was right.” Ngannou has the world record for hardest punch ever recorded, 129,161 units on a PowerKube unit, so even Fury has admitted his opponent has “a puncher’s chance.” The long odds against him don’t bother Ngannou after he’s defied them every step of his life and career so far. Having Mike Tyson by his side is proof enough that anything is possible. “Go back and watch this man’s story. If you doubt him now, you will be sorry come October 28,” Ngannou’s longtime agent Marquel Martin said. “This man will shock the world. He’s done it time and again. It’s destined to be.”
RAIDERS
Report
Chicago quarterback Tyson Bagent (17) passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half October 22 at Soldier Field. (AP Photo)
■ Last Week: Bears 30, Raiders 12 In one of the Raiders’ worst losses since moving to Las Vegas, they were non-competitive against a bottom-tier Bears team. Las Vegas had a chance to move a victory above .500 on the season, but instead couldn’t even score a touchdown until the final two minutes of the game when the outcome was already decided. Veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer, filling in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, was ineffective in throwing for 129 yards on 17-for32 passing. He was far outplayed by Chicago counterpart Tyson Bagent, filling in for the injured Justin Fields, as the Division II Shepherd University product completed 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards. Las Vegas’ rush defense was particularly poor, and Chicago running back D’Onta Formean totaled 19 touches for 120 yards and three touchdowns. ■ This Week: Raiders (3-4) at Lions (5-2) When: 5:15 p.m. Monday, October 30 Where: Ford Field TV: ESPN Radio: 920 AM, KOMP 92.3 Betting line: Lions -7.5, over/under 44.5 ■ Matchup: The only team that lost by more points than the Raiders through Sunday’s Week 7 slate was Detroit, which was crushed 38-6 by the Baltimore Ravens. The defeat was a sudden decline for a team that many had started to describe as a Super Bowl contender. The Lions opened the season by upsetting the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs on the road, and hardly slowed down from there until encountering the Ravens. Detroit’s offensive weaponry represents a big step up from Chicago’s, and includes prolific receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, dual-threat running back Jahmyr Gibbs and bruising rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. Detroit may still be the best team Las Vegas has faced all year.
■ Raider to Watch: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo The Raiders’ starting quarterback should be ready to return from a back injury in time for Monday Night Football, and fans must be desperate for his comeback. There’s been some frustration with the veteran, who leads the league with eight interceptions despite missing two games, but he’s clearly a level above the other two options. Both Hoyer and rookie Aidan O’Connell have now started games and looked outclassed in inefficient, turnover-plagued affairs. Frustrated star receiver Davante Adams hasn’t scored a touchdown or put together a 100-yard game in four weeks, and Garoppolo represents the best chance to put him in position to get out of the funk. –Case Keefer
WWW.WCILV.COM
702-876-5090
PLACING CUSTOMERS FIRST SINCE 1935
10191 PARK RUN DRIVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89145
(Photograph by Wade Vandervort/Staff)
10.26.23 VEGAS INC BUSINESS 53I
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
A LETTER FROM THE NEVADA CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
T
he Nevada Contractors Association is dedicated in working to ensure that the voices of our contractors are heard, and the future of our industry is protected. We are committed to providing unified industry leadership and superior advocacy on initiatives that reflect our industry and are beneficial to the nearly 500 general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and affiliated firms that we represent. Together, there is nothing we can’t do. The Contractor of the Year Awards are the industry’s highest and most coveted honors, showcasing general contractors, subcontractors and professionals, as well as the year’s most impressive and prestigious projects. The recipients have demonstrated the very best when it comes to building Southern Nevada and improving our quality of life. We’re proud to honor and celebrate those achievements of the construction industry’s finest.
Ann Barnett
Chief Executive Officer
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GENERAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
MARTIN-HARRIS CONSTRUCTION
Martin-Harris Construction was founded by Frank Martin and Frank Harris in 1976. Both men were carpenters with a mission of buying, selling and renovating houses. The company has since evolved and is now a leading commercial construction company with a team of more than 375 associates that has completed 60 projects in just the last year. These projects include luxury residences like Parc Haven Downtown, state-of-theart industrial facilities like Chartwell Commerce Center, and cutting-edge spaces like the Cathédrale Restaurant at Aria Resort & Casino. Martin-Harris Construction proves time after time their commit-
ment to delivering exceptional results. Martin-Harris Construction also prides itself on its high standards of safety. Site superintendents perform daily site-safety audits and the safety team conducts weekly assessments. It has won numerous Associated General Contractors Safe Site awards and its workers’ compensation modification rate consistently surpasses industry norms. The construction industry currently faces struggles with sustainability, in the environment and in the labor force, but Martin-Harris Construction is innovating creative solutions to bring progress to the industry. It implements energy-efficient systems and uses renewable energy sources,
contributing to a greener future. And, through a partnership with the Clark County School District and the STEM Academy, Martin-Harris Construction is exposing young students to the opportunities and advantages available in construction careers. Community involvement is another area where Martin-Harris Construction takes great pride. In the past year, it has contributed to Project Marilyn, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the American Cancer Society, Special Olympics, the Catholic Charities food pantry, and many other organizations and programs. It also utilizes social media to spread awareness and invite community members to join in making a difference.
Your LOCAL vocational truck experts TEC Equipment – Las Vegas is your source for Medium and Heavy-Duty trucks. We can work with you to spec your trucks to the exacting needs of your business.
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CONGRATULATIONS — TO THE —
WI N N E R S
POWERING YOUR NEXT PROJECT.
4150 Donovan Way | N Las Vegas, NV 89030 | 702-565-7555
T ECEQUIPMEN T.COM
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SUBCONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
BERGELECTRIC CORP Bergelectric opened its Las Vegas branch in 1999 and has grown with the city since then, embedding itself in the dynamic landscape of the region. Projects have included everything from casinos to condos, as well as federal buildings, industrial warehouses and renewable energy projects. In the nearly 70 years since its inception, Bergelectric has been propelled by vision, determination, a progressive attitude and a desire to improve. Its culture of trust with clients, business partners and communities is built on a safety mindset which encourages employees to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others. Innovation is another sector where Bergelectric excels. Using innovative technologies both in the field and in the office is a key element in its success. During the design process, Bergelectric utilizes advanced Building Information Modeling software which enables teams to access the most up-todate information and resources, communicate the status of projects across the entire organization and easily organize and update project records. In the past two years, Bergelectric has experienced success in safety by hiring a corporate safety director, renewing its safety policy and increasing credential safety professionals within the organization. It has also taken home awards for projects and innovation.
SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
REBEL OIL COMPANY Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rebel Oil Company is a privately owned, family-operated business and wholesale distributor of conventional fuel, renewable fuel, DEF, lubricants, oils and specialty products for Nevada, Arizona, California and Utah. The values and mission of Rebel Oil Company are community driven and include honesty, integrity, empowerment, environmental stewardship and supporting the prosperity of families, business partners and communities. With these values at the forefront of everything the company does, it has taken action to upgrade the Las Vegas fuel terminal for environmental compliance. It has also expanded into new markets and increased customer retention. Rebel Oil Company is proud to support the communities its employees and customers live and serve in. Its founder sponsors youth athletic programs, hoping to inspire skills including discipline, respect, leadership, resilience and teamwork.
HOLCIM - SWR, Inc Building for Progress and Planet
Aggregate Industries - SWR, Inc entered the valley in 2003 with the acquisition of Southern Nevada Paving and Frehner Construction Company. In 2006 Holcim Ltd welcomed Aggregate Industries into its worldwide family of building products. While the name may have changed, the dedication to quality products and services has remained the same! Capitalizing on our internal aggregate and asphalt resources, our construction division is here to provide you with all of your grading and paving needs. From mass grading to finish grade and asphalt surface, Holcim has been a part of multiple projects in and around the Las Vegas Valley
Contact us today for all of your Aggregate, Asphalt, Paving and Grading Services: 4675 W Teco Ave, Ste 140 Las Vegas, NV 89118 NV Lic # 0010639A www.holcim.us Phone 702-649-6250
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRM OF THE YEAR
UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING SCIENCES Universal Engineering Sciences is guided by a defined set of values represented by the acronym STRIVE: safety, teamwork, responsiveness, integrity, value and excellence. As the business puts these values into action it builds trust with business partners that UES teams will solve problems for their customers and deliver high-quality service ensuring the success of clients, employees and stakeholders alike. An engineering and consulting firm that has been operating for nearly 60 years, Universal Engineering Sciences has experience in geotechnical engineering, materials testing and inspections, environmental consulting, occupational health and safety, building sciences and code compliance. The company continues to grow and currently has more than 3,000 associates across 85 branches. Key projects that Universal Engineering Sciences has worked on in Southern Nevada include collaboration with PENTA Building Group on Formula 1 preparations, Dry Lake Solar and Gemini Solar, UnCommons and Matter Logistics at North 15 with Burke Construction and Matter Real Estate Group, UMC exterior façade and Showcase V with Grand Canyon Development Partners, Otonomus Hotel with Compass Development and Rafael Construction, and multiple UNLV and Clark County School District projects. Universal Engineering Sciences participates in local and national charitable efforts everywhere its employees live and work. Here in Southern Nevada, Universal Engineering Sciences employees support St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada, Green Our Planet and many other organizations.
SAFEST GENERAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
THE PENTA BUILDING GROUP
At the beginning of every year for the past 16 years, the PENTA Building Group hosts Safety Kick-Offs. These events, hosted in Nevada, Arizona and California, feature safety expos, inspirational speakers and award ceremonies, including the announcement of an annual theme. This year’s theme has been “A Safety Victory in 2023,” endorsing the notion that PENTA employees, partners and subcontractors all win when they embrace safety. PENTA implements a procedure-focused rather than employee-focused incident investigation process, examining safety issues through the lens of how things could have been improved in procedure rather than blaming employees. In addition to the annual safety campaign, PENTA conducts quarterly safety stand-downs, continuously monitors safety on job sites, such as daily, weekly and monthly safety huddles to review and discuss strategy, assigns site-safety managers to every project and maintains site-specific safety plans. PENTA doesn’t only prioritize onsite safety. By implementing safety trainings focused on the importance of mental health and suicide prevention, PENTA demonstrates that it puts people first. It also requires safety managers to not only maintain standard qualifications, but also to continue their education. In Nevada, safety team members are enrolled in Nevada’s OSHA Safety Consultation and Training Section training program known as Safety and Health Practitioner Certificate Program.
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HELP US DO THE IMPORTANT WORK OF BUILDING COMMUNITIES
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SAFEST SUBCONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
WELLS CARGO
Communication is at the heart of Wells Cargo’s safety implementation. Employees receive training on the importance of safety culture; most are also trained in damage prevention, an important factor on job sites where properly maintained equipment and safety procedures are a key factor to individual safety. Workers know how to prevent accidents and who to call when concerns arise. Wells Cargo’s safety trainings include, among others, limits of dig tickets, what utilities are near milling operations, what markings mean what on the ground and safe paving practices. Wells Cargo recognizes that more work is accomplished when jobs are done safely. Employees are the key to the success of the business and their safety is therefore the priority. This year Wells Cargo subcontracted with CB&G on a project to mill and pave Silverado Ranch Boulevard from South Jones Boulevard to Arville Street. This job had the most man-hours for the year and was completed in a timely manner. There were also zero safety incidents for the project.
CIVIL PROJECT OF THE YEAR
MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES ARROW CANYON SOLAR AND BESS PROJECT The Arrow Canyon Solar and BESS Project is a clean energy facility 20 miles northeast of Las Vegas. McCarthy Building Companies worked with electrical trade partner Bombard Electric to construct 621,093 solar modules which now boast a capacity of 275 megawatts DC in solar power and a 75 megawatt, 375 megawatt hours DC-coupled battery energy storage system. The 1,387-acre facility was built on the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians Reservation. McCarthy structured the project to minimize the environmental impact during construction and operation. The project was also committed to the Tribe’s vision and values, promoting sustainable practices, and respecting the people and the land. Because it was so important to have as little environmental impact as possible, McCarthy developed innovative approaches to the project. Installing hundreds of thousands of solar panels required vegetation to be flattened. McCarthy was able to do this in a way that preserved the root structures of native plants allowing for faster regrowth of the desert flora. Today, the Arrow Canyon Solar and BESS Project provides enough power to sustain up to 76,000 Nevada homes, eliminating the need for 632,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2023 Contractor of the Year Nominees
CONGRATULATIONS 2023 CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
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BUILDING PROJECT OF THE YEAR (UNDER $15 MILLION)
SHAWMUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CULTURE KINGS LAS VEGAS Shawmut Design and Construction had a unique task in constructing Culture Kings Las Vegas. The Las Vegas space is the first international location for the Australian-based streetwear brand, which required extensive communication and even occasional travel for the Shawmut team. To bring this two-story store and entertainment source to life, Shawmut coordinated with the resort’s operation team at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. Because the project was on the casino level, special care had to be taken so as to not disrupt regular resort operations and guest experience. Structural work included demolishing four pre-existing spaces down to the studs, adding a mezzanine and infilling spaces where the stairs and elevators had been. Some of the unique features of the new space are a large feature staircase, a mirrored tunnel hallway that leads clients into a secret room, a jumbotron, a half basketball court, a recording studio, a shoe customization lounge, the largest hat wall in the world, a DJ stage and a bar. The Culture Kings store is a multisensory experience with a futuristic aesthetic. Shawmut helped create the owner’s vision with a layered design approach, resulting in a modern retail experience bursting with fresh energy.
BUILDING PROJECT OF THE YEAR ($15-$30 MILLION)
MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES UNLV TROPICANA PARKING GARAGE EXPANSION The UNLV Tropicana Parking Garage, built twelve years ago, was no longer meeting the needs of the communities it served. This year, McCarthy Building Companies, with design partners Choate Parking Consultants and Ficcadenti Waggoner and Castle, completed the UNLV Tropicana Parking Garage Expansion project. This project added to the preexisting structure to better meet the needs of the Thomas & Mack Center and the growing UNLV campus community. Expanding the structure came with several construction challenges. Settlement and seismic separation threatened the stability of the existing structure. However, the McCarthy team, with its partners, devised a strategy to combine the new and existing footings, a process which reinforced the foundation and ensured the seamless integration of the structures. The parking structure was built with the future in mind. Advanced mapping services captured 65 years of modifications which were then consolidated into up-to-date records and provided to the university for future maintenance and renovation. The updated garage also has the infrastructure to include more EV parking spots and a future solar canopy to provide clean energy.
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CONGRATULATIONS Contractor of the Year nominees.
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NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
We are seeking nominations for exceptional C-level executives across all industries and specialties. The Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors recognize these leaders who work to inspire their teams, drive success in their business and serve as stewards in our community.
DEADLINE NOVEMBER 6 S U B M I T YO U R N O M I N A T I O N S H E R E
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BUILDING PROJECT OF THE YEAR (OVER $30 MILLION)
THE PENTA BUILDING GROUP 63 LAS VEGAS Working in one of the most traveled areas in the world is no minor construction feat. Yet the PENTA Building Group succeeded in building 63 Las Vegas in a high-profile location with frequent foot traffic. 63 Las Vegas hosts 12 tenant spaces that have been built out individually. Adjacent to Crystals, a high-end mall on the Strip, it also includes an LED sign facing Las Vegas Boulevard, leasable storage space below the street level and valet parking. PENTA worked closely with the design firm to ensure that the new structure fit seamlessly with existing infrastructure. The new structure also needed to complement its surroundings while still achieving its own unique look, all while experiencing the effects of supply chain problems for construction materials. The project was accomplished with close coordination with the project superintendent and the owner. Safety was an important consideration through the process as not only worker safety, but also pedestrian safety needed to be accounted for. By building a safety bubble between hoisting operations and the public, conducting safety stand-downs for onsite crew and quarterly safety trainings, the project team achieved successful safety outcomes without incident.
MEMBER OF THE YEAR
GITANA CAFASSO, BURKE CONSTRUCTION Gitana Cafasso has been a member of the Nevada Contractors Association for five years and currently serves as the vice chair of its Construction Leadership Council. In her role, she attends fundraisers, safety forums and mixers, as well as finding professional development workshops for CLC members. As the marketing manager at Burke Construction Group, she also leads teams, does outreach with local educators, and organizes programs. Cafasso says that the NCA has been instrumental in her journey in the construction industry. “It provided me with a network and a platform that is unparalleled in its quality and depth,” she said. “This has enabled me to foster strong, meaningful relationships with diverse and experienced professionals. These relationships, built on mutual respect and shared passion, have not only expanded my professional horizons, but also enriched my personal development.” In her time with the NCA, Cafasso has served as the Secretary of the Construction Leadership Council where she organized leadership trainings, prepared volunteer activities, and connected with the community through volunteer efforts including the CANstruction competition and events at Three Square and Boys & Girls Clubs.
Chartwell Commerce Center Las Vegas, NV
2023 Contractor of the Year Award Nominees and Winners!
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CONGRATULATIONS to the 2023 Contractor of the Year Nominees
2023 R
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MEMBER COMPANY OF THE YEAR
FASTENERS, INC. Fasteners, Inc. is now in its 30th year of membership in the NCA. Leading by example, Fasteners, Inc.’s vice president of sales Brett Wilson, salespeople Alexandra Weber and Brian Ridgway and social media marketing manager Rosie Jimenez are members of the NCA’s Construction Leadership Council. They and other employees volunteer at NCA community service events and attend NCA training events, including NCA’s Operation Backpack event, Construction Career Day, Can Drive Build and Ladder Safety Week. Fasteners encourages others to participate with the NCA and recently recruited Mayhew Marketing Group to the association. It has also increased the number of their own team members who are active participants of the NCA. Besides its NCA involvement, Fasteners excels in its work. Just this past June, Fasteners, Inc. opened its new distribution facility in North Las Vegas. The 200,000-square-foot e-commerce distribution facility utilizes cutting-edge logistics technology such as robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. Fasteners continues to operate at its existing location on West Harmon Avenue, but the additional distribution center accommodates the company’s growth. The new location also ensures that customer service stays at its very best by keeping products in stock.
DIVERSE SUBCONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
LIVE ELECTRIC
Established in 2014, Live Electric is a commercial and industrial electrical contracting company that offers high, medium and low voltage electrical contracting services as well as emergency and routine maintenance. Live prides itself on efficiency, discipline, and attention to detail. These traits were exemplified by Live’s recent work on the Aria Pool Bar, which was completed ahead of schedule, within budget and to the satisfaction of the client. The pay-it-forward mentality helps shape Live Electric’s attitude to working with other subcontractors, contractors, suppliers, clients and businesses. Because Live is a diverse subcontracting firm itself, it is in a prime position to help others find success by connecting them with resources, opportunities and community leaders. Live attends resource fairs, expos and outreach events, always looking to expand its network and connect with other diverse suppliers. Live’s innovation goals are centered on education. In 2023, Live has focused on the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program and infrastructure projects. By learning about the future needs and plans of the community, Live plans to be a lead contractor to meet requirements and diversity goals for future builders. Live also pursues continuing education through certifications. It identifies qualified team members to certify on new techniques and teach others to provide the highest value service to clients.
CONGRATULATIONS
to all of the finalists for the ���� Nevada Contractors Association Contractor of the Year Awards.
to the 2023 Contractor of the Year Nominees WWW.DIELCOCRANE.COM 702-364-5000
Congratulations to all the Nominees of 2023 Contractor of the Year Awards. Fencing Specialists, Inc. is a proud supporter of diverse businesses in Southern Nevada and we help meet your goals. We are a certified DBE/ SBE/MBE/WBE and WOSB fence company!
Live Electric offers a full range of high, medium, and low voltage electrical contracting services for commercial and industrial projects in Southern Nevada Bilingual field and office staff
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2023 SNBTU Skilled Contractor of the Year Award NCA 2022 Diverse Subcontractor of the Year Nevada SBA 2022 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year Nevada AFL CIO 2022 Contractor of the Year
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DIVERSE SUPPLIER/PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRM OF THE YEAR
BEST IN THE WEST SAFETY
After leaving a job as a pollution prevention coordinator, Diane Hale searched for a way to put her experience in materials engineering, mining, aerospace manufacturing safety and hazardous waste management to good use. In 1995 she began her own company promoting environmental sustainability and saving businesses money. In the beginning, the company that would become Best in the West Safety was primarily focused on hazardous materials management, waste management and sustainability solutions. However, when confronted with major safety concerns while working on a contract, Hale made the decision to switch the focus of her company to enhance safety programs. Within two years, the client that once had no idea how to begin fixing their safety problems went from an average of 8-10 recordable incidents to just one first aid injury. Best in the West Safety holds DBE, ESB, and SBE certifications and prioritizes safety, helping promote safe practices through training, testing and outreach throughout Southern Nevada and neighboring regions. The Best in the West team consults with businesses to identify worksite hazards and determine which safety practices to implement to save time and money, and reduce risks and liabilities. Hale and her company have continued to innovate throughout the years. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Best in the West had initiated new safety inspection and industrial hygiene services. This allowed her to keep all of her employees, even when most companies saw a downturn in business. These services are still offered today alongside environmental and safety services.
J.A. TIBERTI SPIRIT AWARD
BOYD MARTIN, BOYD MARTIN CONSTRUCTION After graduating from Chaparral High School in 1981, Boyd Martin attended Brigham Young University where he received a bachelor’s degree in construction management. He married his high school sweetheart, moved back to Nevada and began working with a general contracting firm for 14 years as a project manager, estimator, and eventually vice president and general manager. Martin decided to pursue his own dreams in January 2003 when he opened Boyd Martin Construction LLC. In the past 20 years, Martin has developed a loyal clientele and grown his business through excellent care, attention and leadership. His leadership extends past BMC. Martin served as the NCA president in 2011, followed by many years as chair of the NCA Government Affairs Committee. He was appointed as a member of the Nevada State Contractor’s Board (of which he is currently the chairperson) in 2020, and is also a member of the Residential Recovery Fund Committee. Though busy with BMC and other responsibilities representing the construction industry, Martin prioritizes serving his community. He spends much of his personal time serving in his church, serves on the board of YMCA of Southern Nevada, received the Silver Beaver award from Boy Scouts of America, and supports local charities including Three Square, Shade Tree, Grant a Gift for Autism and Construction vs. Cancer. Martin loves to spend any free time he can find with his wife, two children and five grandchildren, cheering on the BYU and UNLV football and basketball teams.
4420 South Decatur Boulevard • Las Vegas, NV 89103 • (702) 251-5800 LasVegasPaving.com
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WITH EXPANSION OF SHELTER, CITY AND NONPROFIT AIM TO GET MORE PEOPLE ON THEIR FEET BY GRACE DA ROCHA VEGAS INC STAFF
Las Vegas Rescue Mission (Sun File)
H
eather Engle said she entered a detox program for indigent people over 16 years ago. Had the facility turned her away due to a lack of space, Engle said she “wouldn’t have survived one more week.” She is now the CEO for the Las Vegas Rescue Mission—a nonprofit homeless shelter located on two city blocks in Downtown Las Vegas. “Because they took me in with no money, no insurance, no questions, I’m able to stand here today and have the honor of working with the people I get to work with and serving the population I get to serve,” she said. The shelter, which helps hundreds of people daily and provides roughly 30,000 monthly meals, is growing with a 49,708-square-foot expansion for its complex on West Bonanza Road. “The only thing that we see in people is recovery, we don’t see anything other than that; it’s an incredible environment and it’s a safe environment for that,” Engle said. “We are all one tragedy, paycheck, something terrible happening to us that’s gonna change our life and it happens … and so, we have to maintain what we’re doing.” The Las Vegas City Council on October 18 in a unanimous vote agreed on the expansion and updated site development plan for the project, which will provide more space to aid the region’s homeless population. A January 2023 count by Clark County found there were roughly 6,500 homeless individuals in the Las Vegas Valley—an increase of 900 since 2022. Engle said the whole campus needs to be renovated and the costs are estimated to be around $35 million to $40 million. Some of the buildings will need to be torn down and rebuilt, especially due to concerns about accessibility for disabled people, she added. Five new buildings will be added in total, said Erik Swendseid, vice president of design at EV&A Architects, the firm working on the expansion. Office space for the mission’s roughly 45 employees, internet and security for the staff also is “antiquated” since the nonprofit’s campus was founded over 50 years ago in 1970, Engle said. Beds are becoming more limited as the population in Las Vegas grows, she added.
The mission has about 96 beds for men and 24 for women in its addiction treatment program. Shaking her head, Engle said that sometimes have women seeking treatment have been turned away or put on a waiting list for services, which “is a very unpleasant thing to do.” In 2022, 365 men and 111 women were admitted into the addiction treatment program, said Alyson Martinez, clinical director at the mission. But beds for women have been “completely full” for the past two months, she said. The expansion will bring about 700 beds spread across the mission’s various programs, according to documents from EV&A Architects. “I’m a product of the Las Vegas Rescue Mission and I’m forever grateful for the help I was able to get over there,” said Garfield Wolfe, a counselor at the mission. “I’m just forever grateful, having a mission there because there’s a lot of people that could use these services in our community.” Wolfe said he had been homeless most of his life and was in and out of the prison system before being taken by his parole officer to the mission in March 2020. He went on to graduate from its substance abuse recovery program and was hired on to the staff. He is also attending UNLV. The mission is also looking to expand its wraparound services and other programs, Engle said. Over 200 families have been supported through the mission’s family program, Martinez said, and nearly 80% have since been permanently housed, she noted. “I don’t think I had a full understanding or appreciation of the mission and the great work that you’re doing, so ... after hearing you today and our meeting ... you’ve become one of my favorite nonprofits,” said Councilwoman Nancy Brune, a volunteer at the mission. “So, thank you so much because the work that you’re doing is so important.” This redevelopment and expansion have been in the works for about three years, Engle said. Councilman Cedric Crear said “we need more investment into the community” and expressed the council’s “full support” of the expansion. The mission will remain open during construction.
Check Out These Fun Fall Events At Your Library! The History & Business of Hip Hop for Teens Thursdays at 5 p.m. | Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 30 | East Las Vegas Library The Wonderful World of Was — A Musical Dramedy Thu., Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. | Windmill Library Fri., Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. | Clark County Library Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival Sat., Nov. 4 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Clark County Library Dia De Los Muertos Sat., Nov. 4 from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. | East Las Vegas Library Native American Flute, Dance & Stories with Shelley Morningsong & Fabian Fontenelle Fri., Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. | Windmill Library Sat., Nov. 18 at 12 p.m. | Whitney Library Sat., Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. | West Charleston Library Sun., Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. | Summerlin Library Teen animeFest Sat., Nov. 18 from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Sahara West Library Home Buying Made Simple Sun., Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. | Sunrise Library Fall Band Camp Strum Along! Tue., Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. | Sahara West Library Learn to Hula Sat., Nov. 25 at 10:30 a.m. | Enterprise Library Native American Dance & Music with Derrick Suwaima Davis & Ryon Polyquaptewa Tue., Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. | Clark County Library Tue., Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. | Windmill Library Wed., Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. | Centennial Hills Library Wed., Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. | Enterprise Library Thu., Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. | Moapa Town Library
For details on these events, or to see many more events, scan the QR Code or go to TheLibraryDistrict.org.
A Month Of Scary-Fun Events Just For Teens In Grades 6-12!
TeenTober: Karaoke Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. Windmill Library Costume Sewing Clinic Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. Rainbow Library TeenTober Thursday Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. Sahara West Library TeenTober: Two Sentence Horror Stories Oct. 26 at 4:30 p.m. Centennial Hills Library TeenTober Interactive Movie Night Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. Centennial Hills Library Teen Horror Night Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. Rainbow Library
SCAN FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS FOR TEENS!
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Amanda Hilton was named president of the Nevada Mining Association. She has been general manager for the Robinson Mine, one of Nevada’s largest and oldest operating mines, for the past six years and was a member of the association’s board of directors during that time, serving as chair in 2021-22.
VEGAS INC NOTES Highlights of the best in business
Justin Brandwein was appointed as senior management executive at Longevinex, an international supplement company based in Las Vegas. Brandwein has been with the company since 2012. Favian Perez was appointed interim CEO of KNPR following the retirement of Mark Vogelzang. Perez, who has been with Nevada Public Radio for 10 years, served as chief operating officer since 2022. Vogelzang, who enjoyed a nearly 40-year career in broadcast management at stations across the country
and as a national public broadcasting nonprofit leader, joined KNPR in early 2022 after being lured from his longtime public broadcasting position in Maine just as he was preparing to retire. Southwest Medical added three new hospitalists: Dr. Christian Beau Hicken, Dr. Chee Lim and Dr. Xiaoyin Qiao. WBF Management, one the largest McDonald’s franchise owner/operators on the West Coast, opened its 47th restaurant, this one at 1180 E. Craig Road in North Las Vegas. The newest location employs more than 80 people. To commemorate the occasion, WBF presented a $200,000 check to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas in support of its second Ronald McDonald House location, currently under construction. The Nevada Forward Initiative, a teach-
er prep program housed within UNLV’s College of Education, was approved by the Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner’s Apprenticeship Council as the state’s first teacher training apprenticeship program. It provides career readiness and workforce training for future education professionals and includes an accelerated master’s level teacher licensure program for professionals with degrees in non-teaching fields, as well as a licensure program for existing school support staff who want to make the transition to teaching. Gov. Joe Lombardo appointed Randy Brown to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. A licensed certified public accountant, Brown has worked in public utility accounting, tax and regulatory affairs for over 26 years. He previously led regulatory operations for AT&T in Nevada and has served on the Nevada Tax Commission since 2017.
MGM Resorts Satellite, LLC, seeks a Senior Quality Engineer II in Las Vegas, NV to provide strategic and tactical direction in the performance of all levels of software testing within Enterprise Quality Assurance function. Remote Work Permitted.
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