R O O M & T I C K E T PA C K A G E S ON SALE NOW
N O V
1 6 - N O V
1 8
PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Deputy Editor SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com) Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA, HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, RHIANNON SAEGERT, DANNY WEBSTER Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT Office Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE
Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Senior Designer IAN RACOMA Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
DIGITAL
Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN Account Executives MARY CHARISSE DIMAIN, LAUREN JOHNSON, ANNA ZYMANEK Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ, NANCY RAMOS Events Director SAMANTHA PETSCH Events Manager HANNAH ANTER Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA
Love for locals
PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS Senior Traffic Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA Traffic Coordinator ALEX HAASE Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU
GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP
CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN
UP TO 35% OFF
BOOK YOUR STAY AT VIRGINHOTELSLV.COM
LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 2275 Corporate Circle Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 702-990-2550 lasvegasweekly.com facebook.com/lasvegasweekly twitter.com/lasvegasweekly
All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3. ADVERTISING DEADLINE EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.
ChefHold the traffic. driven dining.
Off the strip, but so on point. A world-class foodie experience arrives in Southwest Las Vegas.
uncommons.com | I-215 and Durango
AT THE SUNDRY
This week at UnCommons
Thurs 11/9
Highballs & Handrolls @ The Sundry 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sat 11/11
Blues & Brunch @ The Sundry 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sun 11/12
Wellness Market @ The Assembly 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun 11/12
Sunday Sessions Poetry @ The Quad 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
11.9.23
A
B
L
E
O
F
C
O
N
T
E
N
T
S
Liquid Diet (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.
8
SUPERGUIDE
Your daily events planner, starring Tracy Morgan, Mareux, Jay Leno, Eric Nam, a concert from the Spider-Verse and more.
14 18 32 36 40 THE WEEKLY Q&A
COVER STORY
Magician and versatile entertainer Stacey Stardust is building something special with her Secret Circus.
ON THE COVER
DRY RUN
How will Las Vegas fare in coming decades as water supplies shrink?
Photo Illustration by Ian Racoma
SCENE
You’ll have to seek it out, but buzzy new Arts District bar Liquid Diet will make it worth your while.
44
THE STRIP
Dita Las Vegas at Horseshoe’s historic Jubilee Theater might be a game-changer for burlesque and the entertainment scene.
SPORTS
FOOD & DRINK Ocean Prime is the latest must-eat Strip steakhouse, a one-of-a-kind destination with an emphasis on oceanic treats.
Can interim Raiders coach Antonio Pierce get something going beyond the supportive spike that took the team to a big win over the Giants?
7I
IN THIS ISSUE
T
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
8
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY 09 NOV.
MUSIC
POSTMODERN JUKEBOX 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
PARTY
SIDDHARTHA 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation. com. STICKS & KICKS 8 p.m., Eight Lounge, eight loungelv.com.
SPORTS
RAWAYANA 7 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebever lytheater.com. GLITTERING LIGHTS Thru 1/7, times vary, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, glitter inglights.vegas.
S U P E R G U I D E
ARTS
UNLV OPERA THEATER: PRIMA LA MUSICA E POI LE PAROLE & LA DIVINA 7:30 p.m., Beam Music Center, unlv.edu. BARRY MANILOW Thru 11/11, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com. CHARLIE SPARKS With Tris Tiffany, 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us.
BENDA With Beastboi, Forte, Mazdo, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us. AT ODDS With Gob Patrol, Billy Doom Is Dead, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com.
ATOMIC LIFE: SHAKEN & STIRRED In the latest installment of the Atomic Museum’s Atomix mixer series, Vanderbilt University professor and author Cecelia Tichi joins cocktail connoisseurs for a deep dive into her third book, Midcentury Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from America’s Atomic Age. Mining the rich social history of the post-World War II era, Tichi outlines the cultural shifts that shaped mid-century cocktail culture. Tiki-inspired drinks, as well as bar staples like the Moscow Mule and Piña Colada, emerged from a unique time of unrest and innovation, and Tichi tells both sides of that story in full. That history will pair well with the gin and tonic and Jack Rose recipes being served up on-site, and a book signing from Tichi will follow suit. 6 p.m., $39, Atomic Motors Classic Cars & Motorcycles, atomicmuseum.vegas. –Amber Sampson
TRACY MORGAN 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com.
CORDYCEPS With Vulnificus, Godless Throne, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, see tickets.us.com.
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
(AP Photo) MISC
11.9.23
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
FRIDAY 10 NOV.
UNLV FOOTBALL VS. WYOMING 7:45 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, unlv tickets.com. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. TINA FEY & AMY POEHLER With Zarna Garg, 9 p.m. (& 11/11, 5 p.m.), Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.
TONY! TONI! TONÉ! 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com. RICHARD CHEESE & LOUNGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 9 p.m., Rocks Lounge, ticket master.com. COLIN QUINN 9 p.m., Treasure Island Theatre, tickets.treasureisland. com. RAY VOLPE 9:30 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.
ERIC NAM With Jamie Miller, 6:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
(Courtesy/Kigon Kwak)
CONCOURS Thru 11/12, times vary, Wynn Las Vegas, lasvegas concours.com. ROD STEWART 7:30 p.m., & 11/11, 11/15, the Colosseum, ticketmaster. com. KEITH URBAN 8 p.m., & 11/11, 11/15, Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com. LAS VEGAS RODEO DAYS 5 p.m., & 11/11, Core Arena, plazatix.com. KYLIE MINOGUE 9:30 p.m., & 11/11, Voltaire, ticketmaster.com. REO SPEEDWAGON 8:30 p.m., & 11/11, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com. NATE BARGATZE 7:30 & 10:30 p.m., & 11/11, Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com. RICK SPRINGFIELD 8 p.m., & 11/11, Strat Theater, tickets. thestrat.com. SWAE LEE 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com. SANTANA Thru 11/12, 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation. com. DJ SNAKE 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.
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
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets. com.
USHER 9 p.m., & 11/11, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
9I
10
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
SUPERGUIDE SATURDAY 11 P
L
A
N
Y
O
U
R
W
E
E
K
A
H
E
A
D
NOV.
LUIS R. CONRIQUEZ 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, ticketmaster. com. SWAE LEE Noon, Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup. com. UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. STETSON 4 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com. SONS OF NORWAY SCANDINAVIAN HOLIDAY BAZAAR 9 a.m., Community Lutheran Church, vegasvikings.org. UNLV WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS. WYOMING 1 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.
ANA BARBARA 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com. LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC: WINDBORNE’S MUSIC OF QUEEN 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmith center.com. WE CAME AS ROMANS With Emmure, Bodysnatcher, Archetypes Collide, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. ROB SCHNEIDER 8 p.m., M Pavilion, ticketmaster.com. LOS LONELY BOYS 8 p.m., Veil Pavilion, silvertoncasino.com. THE WHISPERS & THELMA HOUSTON 8 p.m., the Club at Cannery, ticket master.com.
PETER & THE STARCATCHER 7 p.m. (& 11/12, 2 p.m.), Horn Theatre, csn.edu/pac. HIROSHIMA 6 & 8:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com. THE CHAINSMOKERS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. TRIVECTA 9 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com. STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com. ADELITAS WAY & OTHERWISE 8 p.m., Beverly Theater, seetickets.us. KASKADE 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
(Courtesy/David Vera)
S U P E R G U I D E
THE XHIBITION 4 p.m., & 11/12, LVLV Gentlemen’s Club, eventbrite.com. MAREUX Covers seldom take the spotlight of original recordings, but Mareaux’s breakthrough cover track of The Cure’s “The Perfect Girl” proved otherwise in 2021. The song replaces The Cure’s distinct alt-rock sound and utilizes gloomy synths, a throbbing beat and entrancing vocals to take hold of the listener’s ear and unveil a new world. This Los Angeles-born electronic project is the brainchild of producer and vocalist Aryan Ashtiani. He has consistently released music under this stage name for a decade, making darkwave romanticism his forte. Soulful shoegaze outfit Cold Gawd is supporting the night at Triple B with its downtempo gritty sound and simplistic, gut-punching lyricism. Don’t forget to show up early enough to catch local openers Past Self—the trio’s newest album Die Cry Hate is a brilliant concoction of ethereal post-punk, dreamy synths and gothic gloom. 8 p.m., $20-$50, Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us. –Gabriela Rodriguez
FRENCH MONTANA 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com.
11.9.23
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
SUNDAY 12 NOV.
JAY LENO 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. NEW YORK JETS 5:20 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster. com.
JEFF DUNHAM 8 p.m., Bakkt Theater, ticket master.com.
ZION’S YOUTH SYMPHONY 4:30 & 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmith center.com.
LÍO IBIZA Thru 11/22, 8 p.m., Mayfair Supper Club, mgmresorts. com.
BLUE OCTOBER With Veers, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticket master.com.
HUGEL 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial. com.
MONDAY 13 NOV.
MICHAEL TORKE ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT 7:30 p.m., Beam Music Center, unlv.edu.
SUPERGUIDE
FILM: THE WICKER MAN Thru 11/19, times vary, Beverly Theater, the beverlytheater.com.
JASON CHENY Thru 11/19, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com. DJ E-ROCK 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.
GIMS It’ll be worth heading down to the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay just to dance to “Arhbo,” last year’s FIFA World Cup anthem recorded by French-Congolese singer and rapper Gims (with an assist from Ozuna). Those kinds of infectious, energetic beats will build up throughout the night as Gims visits Las Vegas along his current U.S mini-tour, on which he’s already showcased a wide spectrum of hip-hop, R&B and reggaeton with inflections of Afrobeats and Middle Eastern sonics. 7 p.m., $49-$55, House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com. –Brock Radke
P L A N Y O U R W E E K A H E A D
(Courtesy)
MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
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 .
MISC
11I
12
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
P
11.9.23
L
A
N
Y
O
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UTAH TECH 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets. com. PARTY
FRANKIE MORENO 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com. KIRAN DEOL Thru 11/16, 8 p.m., Westgate Comedy Cabaret, ticketmaster.com.
SPORTS
R
W
E
E
K
A
H
E
A
D
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY 14 NOV.
MUSIC
U
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE LIVE IN CONCERT In case you missed it, this year’s sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse just started streaming on Netflix, opening the door for you to re-engage with this brilliant animated superhero franchise. But if you need a more immersive experience, the Smith Center is here for you. The all-women and majority women-of-color Broadway Sinfonietta orchestra will perform the hip-hop-influenced score of the 2018 original film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, along with a DJ and a screening of the movie. If you and your fellow (possibly younger) Spider-fans are like us, you’ve seen this flick a bunch of times, but never like this. 7 p.m., $45+, Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. –Brock Radke
HUMAN NATURE Thru 11/16, 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.
ARTS
tur
es)
FOOD + DRINK
WEDNESDAY 15
S U P E R G U I D E
NOV.
COMEDY
MISC
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS 7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.
DAVID STANLEY: MY BROTHER ELVIS 5 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticket master.com.
BRANDON WARDELL 7:30 p.m., Wiseguys Town Square, wise guyscomedy. com.
ONE NIGHT FOR ONE DROP 5 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, one drop.org.
COMPOSERS SHOWCASE 9:30 p.m., Myron’s, the smithcenter.com.
MARSHMELLO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.
Daryl Hall (AP Photo) 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
(
ic yP Son
DECEMBER 1, 2023 9PM-12AM Mark the start of the holiday season atop the 60th floor. With the jingle of the bell, twirl your way through a holiday soiree. Find warmth and delight in our festive small bites, live music, and enchanting dance floor. Dress to impress and enjoy the million-dollar views as we make this a night of magical festivities.
F O R M A L C H I C AT T I R E
H O L I DAY B I T E S
LIVE MUSIC
OPEN BAR
Visit CircaLasVegas.com or scan to reserve your spot. 702-247-2258 | 8 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 @LegacyClub | @CircaLasVegas
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
P E O P L E
14
STACEY STARDUST’S CIRCUS SPECTACULAR November 19, 8:30 p.m., $25. Ahern Hotel, eventbrite.com (Photo Courtesy/ Mordred Lafey)
11.9.23
T H E
W E E K L Y
I
t’s great to be a student of life. Las Vegas magician, fire-breather, producer and host Stacey Stardust sure is. “I love learning, I love playing and I love just feeling like a kid,” she says. Stardust started developing her unique set of trades at age 25. First, it was professional hula hooping. Then, while living in New York City, she picked up juggling and partner acrobatics. “When I moved to Vegas, there was no community here so I created a circus meetup once a week,” she says. “I taught people how to hula hoop, how to juggle and how to do partner acrobatics. I just fell in love with everything.” After a roller-skating accident left her with a broken leg, Stardust turned her attention to magic. The pandemic allowed her to accelerate her training and Stardust was able to emerge as a full-time magician by the time Las Vegas opened back up. Some years after that, she started swallowing fire. For her next trick, Stardust has become ringleader of her own Secret Circus, a variety show featuring local performers experimenting with their best and most bizarre. The next performance is December 3 at the Jackpot Bar & Grill. I love the idea of the community passing on the knowledge of their trade with you, and you also paying it forward. I love playing with other people. That’s why I cultivated Secret Circus. I wasn’t able to commit all that time every week, bringing all my props, teaching people, my schedule just got so crazy. Secret Circus was the next step of bringing people together who wanted to try out stage and give them an opportunity to do that once a month. Before I got really into magic, when I was just dabbling, I went out to Fremont Street with my cast on my leg. I was hula hooping with one leg—I got more tips that way—and somebody found me there. They started following me on social media, and they found out I was a magician. But if he didn’t find me on
BUILDING THE SHOW
Secret Circus host and Las Vegas magician Stacey Stardust fosters a community of performers the street and give me an opportunity to be on the stage, I don’t know if I would have pushed myself that hard. He saw something in me. So I’ll do the same thing. I’ll see people who are new on Fremont Street and be like, “You’re amazing. Come to my show.” There isn’t anything quite like Secret Circus. Why hasn’t this happened until now? It’s a labor of love. I’m not making a lot of money doing it, honestly, and the amount of hours I spend advertising, marketing, putting the whole cast together … People don’t see the behind the scenes of it. It’s the most work I’ve ever done on anything. I’m getting to practice myself as an artist, and I’m getting my name out there in the community. I make more money doing one hour of close-up magic than I do producing a whole month’s show. Nobody wants to work that hard just for passion. I’m willing to put in the work because I have that much passion. Why was keeping Las Vegas circus acts the focus of your show important? Because I love
15I
Q & A
Q+A
BY AMBER SAMPSON
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
community. I moved to Vegas, and ... everybody was very cliquey, and I hated that. I want community because ... I’m involved in a lot of communities, and we’re all artists, we’re all locals. Even myself, I love to host, I love to have people over to my house. I love to nurture. I love to feed people. It’s just who I am. This gives me opportunities to do that on a big scale. What sort of acts do you look for when you’re curating a show? Are you purposely eyeing what’s weird or shocking? I personally love that kind of stuff. Also, there’s not a lot of venues that will accept all acts. For some people, it has to be conservative because of the venue, or they don’t want sideshow because it’s going to turn people away. I love it being so raw. Taking away what people can do takes away creativity as an artist. Sometimes artists will ask me, “Is there a theme? Is there anything you prefer?” It’s artist’s preference. If you want to do weird sh*t, go for it. I try to have as much variety as possible. I’d love everybody to get a chance to showcase stuff that you would never really think you would see on a stage.
You have another show called Circus Spectacular at Ahern Hotel. How is that different from Secret Circus? So, Secret Circus is in a dive bar; it’s really fun. But [Circus Spectacular] is in a beautiful cabaret setting with a view of the Strip, with real curtains and real theater lighting. This is a show-show. This one has fire, and this one is the same cast every time. This is my professional show. Secret Circus was kind of my playground showcase to try out new stuff, to be a little wild, sexy. This is a show I audition people for. The next one is all female, and I think I’m going to keep it that way. There’s not a lot of all-female shows in Vegas. This is my step towards building my dream show. Why aren’t there many female magicians? I think representation is a part of it. Even with Disney princesses, there were no Asian or Black Disney princesses that many years ago. As a little girl, you want to see a representation of yourself. Like, I can’t be a f**king princess? What? I think it’s similar to magic. Usually females get more respect and get further along in society if they’re pretty and they focus on their looks. Males get a lot further along in society if they focus on money and charisma. It’s a combination of lack of representation and our culture. It’s also a more introverted skill to get into. When I broke my leg, I was sitting here with a deck of cards for hours. I didn’t get into it for the longest time because I’m this social butterfly. But then I was stuck at home and then the pandemic happened and I was forced to be even further stuck at home. In the long run, could you see yourself traveling with these shows? Or would you keep them in Vegas? I would definitely like traveling. I plan on doing a tour next summer. People ask me “Is it your dream to have a show on the Strip?” No, I do not want the same show every single night. I love variety. I love changing things up.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
C O V E R
S T O R Y
18
DRY RUN
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
11.9.23
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
HOW WILL LAS VEGAS FARE IN A FUTURE WITH LESS WATER? BY SHANNON MILLER Is Las Vegas going to run out of water? It might feel that way if you’ve been paying any attention to the growing bathtub ring around Lake Mead, the shrinking Colorado River and federal actions to try to keep the river’s main reservoirs in working order. Lake Mead and Lake Powell, which are filled by the Colorado River, reached all-time lows in 2022. Upstream from Lake Mead, Lake Powell sank mere feet away from the level where Glen Canyon Dam can no longer operate, compromising power for millions in the Southwest. This year, the river has operated under restrictions by the federal government called a “Tier 2 shortage,” meaning that Nevada had to give up 8% of its usual allotment. Going into 2024, the river will be under a Tier 1 shortage, meaning Nevada will have to give up 7% of its Colorado River allotment. After a wet winter, water levels have risen in Lake Mead by 24 feet after reaching a record low in 2022. But a relaxing of restrictions would be premature. Currently, the reservoir sits at only one-third full. “As nice as it is to have a wet winter and give everybody some breathing room, 2023 does not fundamentally change any of the long-term problems. And we need to keep the accelerator to the floor and continue to work on a long-term solution,” says Brad Udall, senior water and climate research scientist and scholar with Colorado State University’s Colorado Water Center. Udall says the decline in reservoir storage since 2000 has been “pronounced.” Whereas Lake Mead was close to 100% full in 2000, it was only about one-quarter full in 2022. Declining inflows to the Colorado River, caused by higher temperatures and reduced precipitation, as well as overallocation of river water, have begun to deplete it, Udall tells the Weekly. “We really do need to plan on future flow reductions, and potentially quite large ones,” he says. The Bureau of Reclamation is currently working with states on a plan for the nearterm operation of Glen Canyon and Hoover Dam through 2026, and a longer-term “interim” plan that will replace current guidelines for Lower Basin shortages and coordinated
operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The interim plan would go into effect in 2027, and is expected to set the rules of operation for 20 years. Pat Mulroy, senior fellow for climate adaptation and environmental policy at UNLV’s School of Law, says states and water managers have an uphill battle ahead with regard to implementing permanent cuts in demand that scientists say are needed to sustain the Colorado River. “They’ve got a heavy lift in front of them to convince certain users to permanently give up water,” Mulroy tells the Weekly. “Unless there is water added to the overall system, I don’t see a solution readily apparent, because I think we’ll all end up in court.” As the federal government, seven Colorado River states and Mexico work on that, we’re wondering, what will happen in Las Vegas in the next few decades as Las Vegas potentially runs lower on water supplies?
Higher temperatures, more evaporation Climate change continues to add uncertainty to the mix when it comes to planning water resources. Colorado River flows are down 20% compared to the 20th century average. They’re expected to continue to decrease as more greenhouse gases are emitted, Udall says. “It’s clear … that the decline in flows is due to two things. One, higher temperatures which promote more evaporation. And we’ve also seen since 2000 a very interesting reduction in precipitation,” he says. “We think we end up losing between five and 10% of the flow for every degree Celsius increase in temperature. And temperatures are up about a degree and a half … in the Basin since the 1970s.” “Unfortunately, we’re not doing a good enough job on getting to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” he adds, referencing a goal set by former Gov. Steve Sisolak in accordance with the U.S. Climate Alliance, which current Gov. Joe Lombardo withdrew Nevada from last July. Michael Cohen, senior researcher at the Pacific Institute, says if greenhouse gases continue to be pumped into the atmosphere at current rates, temperatures will continue
to rise leading to greater evaporation, reduced runoff and unpredictable precipitation patterns. “In the West, a lot of fossil fuel extraction continues, particularly in the Upper Basin. So there’s still coal and oil dependent economies in the Colorado River Basin, which are contributing directly to additional carbon emissions, heating up the planet and reducing runoff,” he says.
Southern Nevada ‘years ahead’ Despite the challenges presented by climate change, Southern Nevada remains one of the most water-secure communities along the Colorado River. Scientists and water managers agree that Southern Nevada is a poster child for water conservation and drought resiliency. About 99% of all indoor water use in Southern Nevada is recycled and returned to Lake Mead. And despite the population having grown by approximately 750,000 since 2002, consumptive water use has decreased by 30% over the past two decades, says Bronson Mack, spokesman for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). “We are about 20 years ahead of just about any community in the Basin,” he tells the Weekly. The water authority is confident Las Vegas can weather even a Tier 3 federal shortage, under which Nevada would have to give up 30,000 acrefeet of its usual 300,000 acre-feet allotment. (One acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons of water.) “This year, we’re on track to have our consumptive water use below 200,000 acre feet. … So we’re in good shape from that standpoint,” Mack says. Las Vegas doesn’t need to worry about running out of water in the short term. In 2020, the water authority installed a $1.5 billion low level pumping station and third intake pipe, meaning that even if Lake Mead’s level gets so low that it can no longer deliver water downstream, Southern Nevada water managers will still be able to draw water from the massive reservoir, which currently has about 8.8 million acre-feet stored. Mack says between groundwater, Lake Mead storage and water assets in other states, the water authority has about 12 years’ worth of water stored. “That is huge, because that’s really a block of water that we can use in the event that we see water demands go in the wrong direction and start increasing, or have a crazy issue with population growth, that we’ve got reserved supplies that we can tap until we bring new water supplies on,” Mack says.
19I
20
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
D R Y
Investment in California water recycling The SNWA is expected to get additional water supplies in the next few years, after the water authority was approved to invest up to $700 million to help fund a $3 billion project by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “It’s basically what we do here to recycle our indoor water use,” Mack explains, adding that Nevada would be entitled to 25% to 30% of the water that comes from the plant. “Rather than pipe that treated wastewater from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Los Angeles will use it locally. And we’ll give them our share of that water in exchange for a share of California’s Colorado River water,” he says. The project is expected to undergo final environmental reviews in 2025, according to the Metropolitan Water District’s website. It is expected to add about 25,000 acre-feet to Southern Nevada’s annual water supply, Mack says.
Innovations in conservation and economic development WaterStart, a nonprofit that helps connect water agencies and major water consumers with innovative technology, is working with the water authority to develop alternatives to evaporative cooling—a form of air conditioning common in commercial buildings. Evaporative cooling is the second-largest consumptive use of water in Southern Nevada. “Commercial water consumption is where there’s going to be a lot of focus for the next 10 years,” says WaterStart CEO Nathan Allen. The technology they’re piloting would not only save water, but also power. “These [cooling panels] circulate heat from inside the building and run it into the panel,” Allen says. “These have a film on them that reflects more energy than it absorbs. The film was originally developed to reflect energy off a spacecraft when it re-enters the atmosphere, so it doesn’t burn up. It reflects energy out and cools the building. It’s a completely different novel approach to cooling a building down.” WaterStart works with large companies and corporations to impact water conservation on a large scale. Through an initiative from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, WaterStart is developing technologies that can be paired with incentives
R U N
for companies looking to move to Nevada. It’s a novel approach to integrating water management into economic development plans, something the state has emphasized since 2019. The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) is piloting a “water investment rating tool” developed by the water authority to better understand companies’ water consumption and how that can be factored into economic development planning. If a company approaches a municipality, the LVGEA or Governor’s Office of Economic Development asking for incentives to move here, the water investment rating tool can be used to “grade” whether they’re a good fit for Southern Nevada. It also takes into consideration job creation, average salaries, capital investment and tax generation. “You can attract all the [heavy] water users you want, but that will limit your future economic growth,” says Tina Quigley, President and CEO of the LVGEA. “We are the very first in the region to develop a tool like this. … It’s the very first time there’s a nexus between water consumption and economic development.”
City vs. farm In the coming decades, there could be changes in farming practices along the Colorado River, where 70% to 80% of water is currently used for agriculture. “[Even] if you removed all municipal demand from the river, you’d still have a huge problem, and that problem’s agriculture,” Udall says. Last spring, the Bureau of Reclamation discussed paying farmers to leave their fields unplanted and allow the water that would’ve been used to irrigate crops to stay in the Colorado River—a common practice that has been used for decades. Funding would have come from $4 billion set aside in the Inflation Reduction Act for Western drought aid. The Bureau of Reclamation on November 3 announced nearly $64 million for agreements with various Arizona tribes and agricultural entities to voluntarily conserve up to 162,710 acre-feet of water. Contractors can earn up to $400 per acre-foot they don’t use from their allotment of Colorado River water. Mulroy, who served as the general manager of the SNWA from 1989 to 2014, says conflict could arise along the river if farmers are asked to permanently give up their water rights—
rights that take legal precedence over most other users. “That’s a lot of money coming from [the Department of the] Interior. … And they’re going to use the bulk of it, hopefully if they can find willing leasers, to lease water from farmers,” Mulroy says. “There’s one conversation in which you say to the farmers, ‘Let me temporarily take some of your water, and you take the rest.’ It’s a whole other conversation to say we want you to permanently give up a quarter of your water supply. That’s when the wheels come off the wagon.” Scientists say permanent cuts in demand will be necessary for the long-term viability of the Colorado River. For Mulroy, the question is whether those cuts will come from agriculture or from urban centers. “I think the confrontation is going to be between agriculture and urban. … And I think we’re going to push it right to the brink,” Mulroy says. That will be more of a conversation for other states, says hydrologist and UNLV professor David Kreamer. “If I had a crystal ball, I would say we would
What about desalination? Mulroy says desalination is “the most logical place to go next” for the Lower Basin states. But whether water managers actually get there remains a question largely hinging on financing, practicality and environmental concerns. Take for instance the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant in San Diego. It cost $1 billion, according to a fact sheet from the San Diego County Water Authority. The plant meets approximately 10% of the water demand for a region of about 3.3 million people. Mulroy believes such an investment would be worth it, if that means augmenting Southern Nevada’s water supplies and stabilizing supply and demand on the river. “There is no such thing as a water project that doesn’t have a constituent of opponents. The first thing they’ll lob at you is how expensive it is. So, it’s OK to spend billions to lease water from farmers and cut down on the food supply, but it’s not OK to spend
billions to build a project to add water to the system?” Mulroy says. Udall says he believes desalination would help, but would make only a very small dent in the amount of water that needs to be conserved in the Colorado River. “I think we need about 1.5 million acrefeet in Lower Basin demand reductions on a permanent basis,” Udall says. “I think desalination will be part of the solution. Given numbers like 1.5 million acre-feet though, you’re not going to come remotely close to fixing it.” Ngai Yin Yip, a desalination expert and assistant professor of earth and environmental engineering at Columbia University, says while desalination has proven effective in places like Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Africa, it remains the most expensive means of getting potable water. “If we have surface water and treat it, the energy it would take to turn it into drinking water would be one-tenth or one-twentieth the energy it would take to desalinate seawater. If you want to desalinate seawater, it’s going to
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
cost 10 to 20 times more than surface water.” That’s not to mention the fact that Nevada doesn’t have a coastline. To employ seawater desalination, the SNWA would need to invest in a desalination plant in California or Mexico. “You’re looking at something that could be upwards of $2,000 or $3,000 an acre-foot. Right now, Colorado River water is somewhere closer to about $300 an acre-foot,” Mack says. “There have been challenges getting desalination permitted in the U.S. and specifically within California more than anything. It probably is more likely that we would see some type of partnership with the country of Mexico.” Yip adds that one of the reasons permitting has been difficult is because local areas oppose desalination for its environmental effects. The byproduct of desalination is brine, which is toxic to ecosystems. “If you don’t have a sustainable option for the brine, it can pose a lot of environmental issues,” he says. “Essentially, people don’t want this in their backyard.”
(AP Photo/John Locher)
11.9.23
21I
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
D R Y
C O V E R
S T O R Y
How about groundwater? While Las Vegas gets 90% of its water from Lake Mead, it gets 10% from an aquifer beneath the city. Nevada has 345,000 acre-feet of water stored in the local groundwater system. The SNWA has rights to an additional 46,000 acrefeet of groundwater annually, and treats and uses that to meet demands in the summer. And although Mack says that’s expected to be the case for the “foreseeable future,” it doesn’t hurt to have systems in place in the event the water authority is granted the right to pump and use more groundwater. WaterStart is working on approaches to treating groundwater in a decentralized manner. “Groundwater is distributed over a big area. And to access that, there are a lot of different wells that will need to be used. One of the challenges that they’ve got to figure out is, how do you treat that water over this distributed area? … If you’ve got to run big power lines to get even more electricity to those sites to serve the treatment, that’s a higher cost,” Allen says. LED bulbs can be used to kill contaminants in groundwater, and eliminate the
need for the construction of additional power lines. “They’re a great way to mitigate the need for power at those wells … And based on what the contaminant is, you can dial the power up and down to kill different contaminants,” he explains.
‘Not the apocalypse’ As they relate to water availability and conservation, the Colorado River, climate change, technology and politics might be difficult to predict. But Mulroy says the signs would be obvious if Las Vegas really was running out of water. “I think the day you hear that no water is being released from Lake Mead downstream, that’s a good warning sign,” she says. “Certainly I’m not saying Las Vegas is going to run out of water, because for that to happen, Los Angeles, Phoenix, northern Mexico will have run out. They’re going to lose it long before we do.” For now, the Bureau of Reclamation, western states and local water managers have a little breathing room to figure out a plan for the coming decades. The hope is that politics don’t get in the way of a solution, Cohen says.
R U N
“Political posturing makes me very concerned that we’re not going to be able to craft a durable solution, even given the gift of the incredibly wet winter we had last year,” Cohen says. “Instead of the Upper Basin and Lower Basin working together, we have a lot of finger-pointing, particularly from the Upper Basin states saying that it’s a Lower Basin problem. And we still have a lot of people falling back on what they see is their potential legal protections in terms of water rights, and saying that others should bear the brunt of the reductions.” Withstanding some uncertainty, the experts are watching the signs very closely and working proactively to ensure there is water in Las Vegas’ future. “No one should be denying how serious the situation is. We are in uncharted territory. We don’t really know what is going to happen to our water resources based on climate change,” Allen says. “But just because the headlines are finally talking about this doesn’t mean that the professionals are just starting to talk about it. We’ve been working on this for 10 years, as the [SNWA] has been working on this for longer.” “It’s not the apocalypse. We’ll figure it out. We have to.”
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
22
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
ANA BÁRBARA SATURDAY
NOVEMBER 11
KESHA FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 24
YÄCHTLEY CRËW The Titans of Soft Rock
FRIDAY & SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10 & 11 | DECEMBER 29 & 30
HERE TO Scan & see how Palms does entertainment.
4321 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103
26
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
IN THE
I N
1 NEWS
C A S E
Y O U
M I S S E D
I T
2
DURANGO RESORT DELAYED
Station Casinos announced it has moved the opening of the Durango Casino & Resort to December 5 from the previously planned November 20. The company noted employees will be compensated for that period, and hotel guests will be given priority booking for future dates.
BATTLING EROSION IN THE WASH
The Southern Nevada Water Authority plans t build $61 million of aquatic “speed bumps” to slow the flow of water down the Las Vegas W the first of five planned projects to help prevent erosion. Federal and state grants will cov $15 million of the cost, and the Water Authori is seeking additional funding for the balance.
LAS VEGAS PICKLEBALL ENTHUSIASTS HAVE REASON TO REJOICE
N E W S
A new pickleball entertainment experience is getting closer to opening a location in southwest Las Vegas, as the sport gains popularity nationwide. Electric Pickle will have multiple pickleball courts, including five indoors, and will hopefully greet its first customers sometime in the fourth quarter of 2024, said Paul Frederick, founder of Eureka Restaurant Group, the company behind the development at The Bend on Sunset Road and Durango Drive. “We are a hospitality-based company, and that’s really what’s driving the majority of the business model for Electric Pickle,” Frederick said. “It’s just a big entertainment restaurant, where you have 10 pickleball courts and lots of little fun activations that (keep) people entertained.” Electric Pickle will have full-service private cabanas for players, outdoor televisions and fireplaces and more, according to a news release. The concept is similar to what’s seen at Top Golf, a golf-driving and entertainment experience near the Strip. Pickleball in the U.S. has grown exponentially over the past couple of years. Participation in the decades-old sport nearly doubled in 2022, increasing by almost 86% year-over-year and winning the title of the fastest-growing sport in the country for a third straight year, according to the 2023 Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s Topline Participation Report. Pickleball has gained so much popularity in Las Vegas that many of its dedicated facilities are no longer sufficient, said Patti Chess, who sits on the board of directors at Southern Nevada Pickleball, a nonprofit aimed at growing the sport on a local level. More courts, especially indoor ones to escape extreme heat in the region, are needed in Las Vegas, she said. -Katie Ann McCarver
S
T
U
F
F
Y
O
U
S
H
O
U
L
D
K
N
O
W
A
B
O
U
T
ver ity
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
27I
BUMP STOCK BAN The Supreme Court agreed November 3 to decide whether a ban on bump stocks, the gun attachments that allow semiautomatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns, violates federal law. The device was used during the October 1 massacre on the Strip in 2017.
3
SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS
DID YOU KNOW
Pro Volleyball Federation, the first women’s professional volleyball league in the United States, named Las Vegas as the seventh team for its inaugural 2024 season. The season begins February 7 in Omaha, Nebraska.
ALZHEIMER’S AWARENESS MONTH
King Kane, a 1-year-old male German shorthaired pointer mix, waits to be adopted November 2 at Nevada SPCA. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
NSPCA FEELS PINCH OF MORE ANIMALS, HIGHER COST The Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) cares for 2,500 animals a year. And executive director Lori Heeren said its resources are being stretched thin. Food costs, payroll increases, a decrease in donors and fewer people adopting large dogs— which requires them to stay longer at the no-kill shelter—have created a “perfect storm” of financial issues, Heeren said. The shelter needs about
HOT SHOT
65
to o Wash,
11.9.23
$3 million annually to stay afloat, she said. It receives some grant money from Clark County and relies on the generosity of donors for the rest. People interested in adopting a pet can visit the Nevada SPCA (5375 S. Procyon St.) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Donors can visit the site online at tinyurl.com/nspca-donate. -Grace Da Rocha
On November 2, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health marked a milestone in Alzheimer’s disease care by administering its first infusion of the anti-amyloid drug, lecanemab (LEQEMBI), for the treatment of mild Alzheimer’s disease. In conjunction with National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas administered its first dose of lecanemab in a clinical setting following the drug’s traditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July. Dan Harrington, 64, moved to Las Vegas six years ago specifically to receive care at the Ruvo Center. The milestone marked the first time outside of its research program that the center’s infusion center has administered a therapy that is proven to slow Alzheimer’s disease progression, not just treat its symptoms. -Staff
Liberty High running back Isaiah Lauofo is tackled by Shadow Ridge cornerback Jonah Ruiz (9) during the second half of their Class 5A-Division I state semifinal game November 3 in Henderson. Liberty won 27-8 and will play Bishop Gorman for the state championship November 20 at Allegiant Stadium. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
THE GOLDEN STEER STEAKHOUSE CELEBRATED ITS 65TH ANNIVERSARY BY ANNOUNCING A 1,000-SQUARE-FOOT EXPANSION. THE RESTAURANT OPENED IN 1958 AND IS KNOWN TO HAVE HOSTED MANY CELEBRITIES INCLUDING FRANK SINATRA, MUHAMMAD ALI AND ELVIS PRESLEY.
GOV. JOE LOMBARDO SIGNED A LETTER URGING THE NCAA TO BAN TRANSGENDER WOMEN FROM COMPETING.
28
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
MØAA November 11, 8 p.m., $5. Artifice, artificebarlv.com.
N O I S E
GOTH GOES WEST MØAA brings its darkly lush dreamscapes back to Las Vegas Jancy Buffington, the mastermind behind the brooding Seattle-based project MØAA, shuffled her tour dates around for Artifice’s Scarlet Goth Night. After a turn out like the last one, how could she not? “That [January] show that we played at Artifice was one of our best shows of that tour,” Buffington tells the Weekly. “We were shocked. I think a lot of times, when it’s a goth bar or a goth venue, it seems to fit really well with MØAA.” MØAA’s chilling, atmospheric dreamscapes get circulated around the darkwave forums a lot. Debut album Euphoric Recall, which Buffington recorded in Italy with co-producer/live guitarist Andrea Volpato, holds a tangible amount of weight, reinforced by thick, shadowy bass lines and a progressive sense of dreamy, pop-tinged doom. Ask her about her process, though, and she’ll tell you it was an album driven purely by instinct. “Truly, when I was writing Euphoric Recall, I did not have any intention of a genre. It was just a complete childlike exploration of writing,” she says, adding that Brian Jonestown Massacre and Dead Skeletons were two psych-rock bands in her top rotation during that creation period. “There are some old influences that probably came out in that album too, like ... Songs for the Deaf from Queens of the Stone Age. That’s something that I worship, and a lot of heavier stuff I was listening to, like Tool,” she continues. “But when the album was released, I never even knew what darkwave music was. I didn’t even know the term until some fans on some press outlets were starting to say, ‘this is darkwave.’”
Obliviously, but brilliantly, MØAA had created an enthralling debut, born of Buffington’s own grappling with grief and strained relationships. On 2023’s Jaywalker, however, she’s lightened the load, trading the thicker riffs for a brighter wash of tones and a deeper appreciation for the dreamy mechanics of shoegaze. Energy-wise, it’s a different experience, this time informed by Buffington’s deep dive into the darkwave world of bands like Drab Majesty, Soft Kill and TR/ST. And while some might suggest she pick a genre and get on with it, it’s fun to watch an adventurous musician in her element. “I don’t like to overwork things. I like it to be as pure as possible. For me, it’s so cathartic writing that I want it to always stay that way,” she says. “If I have some objective, I feel like that would just defeat the purpose of what writing means to me.” Buffington works closely with Volpato to c0-produce and record MØAA’s music, but she’s normally the only writer in the room, leaving Volpato to learn the parts she’s written so he can perform them in studio for the final recording. Given how personal the work is, it makes sense. Some of the subjects in her lyrics aren’t even alive anymore, she says, and others she’s cut ties with completely. So to still have music there as a form of communication is incredibly healing. But on Jaywalker, Buffington says her focus has shifted to other tales, possibly because she’s finished telling her own. “That’s exactly what I hypothesized. Maybe I worked through a big chunk of stuff in Euphoric Recall. Not that I don’t have any well to reach into on my own, but for whatever reason,
I’ve gone towards telling other people’s stories,” she says. As someone who studied cellular and molecular biology at the University of Washington and grew up watching every episode of Forensic Files, she has plenty of other source material to pull from, too. “I actually wanted to become a forensic pathologist, originally. I was very morbid. I think that might not be super surprising if you see my music to some degree,” she laughs. “But it was something that I explored a lot. I was very into different serial killers. Some songs in the new album are very directly about murder, for example.” All the more fitting for a goth night, right?
(Courtesy/Mila F. Photography)
C U L T U R E
BY AMBER SAMPSON
cOMBInInG mexIcAn cuISIne wiTh sOCIAl AMBianCE
N OV E LT I E S D A N C E W E A R L I N G E R I E F E T I S H MASSAGE OILS SMOKE SHOP 4335 W Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas | 702-367-8009 Accross from the Orleans Hotel & Casino
3 OFF
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE/SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP
$
15% OFF
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE CIGAR SHOPPE/SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP
PER CARTON* (CIGARETTES ONLY)
PREMIUM CIGARS & ACCESSORIES
*Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes filtered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit 1 discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. EXPIRES 11/30/2023. LVW
*Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes sampler packs. Excludes bundles & individual sticks from bundles, cigarettes, mass market and pipe tobacco. Must present this coupon for redemption. Not valid on alcohol purchases. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies or digital copies accepted. EXPIRES 11/30/2023. LVW
N E V E R P A Y A D D I T I O N A L T A X ! - G O T O L V P A I U T E S M O K E S H O P. C O M F O R C O U P O N S IAL EC ! SP FFER O
OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER DAILY CASACALAVERA.COM
$38.90*
$86.55*
FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON
FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON
$4.19 PER PACK Special Offer Expires 11/30/2023
$8.99 PER PACK
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBAL SMOKE SHOP & CIGAR SHOPPE M-Sat 7AM-7PM • Sun 8AM-5:30PM 1225 N. Main St. Las Vegas, 89101
SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP & GAS STATION M-Sun 6AM-7PM • Pay-At-The-Pump Open 24/7 US 95N @ Exit #99
THE ONLY SECOND-HALF PRO FOOTBALL CONTEST IN VEGAS! WEEKS 10-18 SIGN UP NOW THROUGH SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11 AT 3:00 PM
$500 ENTRY FEE MAX 5
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
3 0 0 0 PA R A D I S E ROA D, L A S V EG A S , N V 8910 9 | 70 2 .73 2 . 5111 | W E S TG AT EL A S V EG A S . CO M
32
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
S C E N E
WITCHY WAYS New Downtown spot Liquid Diet is throwing its own brand of party
C U L T U R E
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
11.9.23
The first time I visited Liquid Diet, I had to ring a friend to give me detailed directions. Admittedly, I was lost. This new Arts District gem is tucked in an alley between Main and Commerce where graffiti murals and dim lighting are the only hints that you’re nearing arrival. But two large rolling gates mark the spot, and the first sip of my mezcal apple cocktail made the journey worth it. Liquid Diet didn’t mean to become a speakeasy. As a matter of fact, co-owners Bret Pfister and Patrick Mannion are not in favor of buttoned-up bars that require a special word for admittance. But the two are loving the voyage guests are having to take, and their witchy house party concept and shifting menu pack enough buzz to keep people coming back. On this day, they’re closed to the public and running around preparing for a private party. Mannion’s every move around the large kitchen island is strategic and calculated. Pfister is chatting excitedly about the evening’s affairs. The space is utilitarian yet fanciful and leads the eyes to wander. “Patrick and I both had pretty long, intense careers, which is exactly what gave us the tools to do this,” says Pfister. The two are New England natives who met in a youth circus group over 25 years ago, and although their careers took separate paths, their creative connection never died. In 2017, Pfister moved to Vegas to perform in The Miss Behave Gameshow at what was then Bally’s, a show that closed after the pandemic, jumpstarting Pfister’s path into hospitality—first as a host at Discopussy and then as a bartender at Oddfellows. Mannion is an industry veteran with a culinary career that spans years of practice and miles of global travel. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, lived in France for an internship, cooked in Michelin-star restaurants and worked as a private chef on yachts. After planning, discussing,
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
33I
contemplating and eventually collect dust,” says Mannion. “It “just saying f**k it,” they set about gives me space to fresh-press everyopening their own bar. In 2021 they thing and gives a better visual into signed a lease on an old Downtown how the sausage is made, for lack of auto body shop, went through all a better term.” the permits and permissions, broke He recalls peeling bananas the ground and gutted the building. night before, blending them with After months of work, bourbon and balancing we’re now met with an them in buckets before open cocktail kitchen, sending them into the LIQUID DIET indoor lounge area and centrifuge blender. 1415 S. Commerce a sprawling patio. Guests seated at the bar St., instagram.com/ “House party was too were able to witness liquid.diet.dtlv. broad of a term to get bourbon and bananWednesday-Sunday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. the design aesthetic,” as become a clarified says Pfister. “So what liquid. it spiraled into was, This attention to what if you’re at a house detail is paramount and party that was at a house forces menu updates owned by a group of fun but also ties back into (Opposite page) witches?” He plays with the house party idea. Liquid Diet cocktails, the contrast of living Pfister explains that from left: Tequila Green and deceased elements. options are limited at Apple, Pico De Gallo Sprawling tree branches those kinds of gatherMichelada, Cranberry Pear Cosmo and Date hang above the sitting ings and people must Old Fashioned. area while live edge ask, “What do you tables, mismatched have?” rather than (Wade Vandervort furniture and avant garrequesting, “Make me /Staff) de artwork give guests this.” Using this method plenty to explore. encourages guests to Mannion’s background shines explore and trust their bartenders. through in the cocktail ingredients. And it seems to be working. Syrups, sodas and juices are all made One of the more daring drinks, fresh daily. He even opted for handthe horseradish shot, is quickly cut ice over machine-made cubes. becoming a local favorite—and as “I’m a chef and I wanted to get memorable as discovering Liquid rid of the back bar where bottles Diet in the first place.
A Retro Modern
Burlesque Show
Now Performing Thursdays-Saturdays Tickets available at virginhotelslv.com
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
C U L T U R E
36
(Courtesy/Fiestaban Photography)
11.9.23
T H E
S T R I P
IN FINE FEATHER
The smart, sexy Dita Las Vegas is something both old and new BY GEOFF CARTER
When burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese announced a residency at the Horseshoe earlier this year, we had some small idea of what to expect. We knew her image, from tight-corseted fetish work to silver screen striptease, and we knew that she’s a sought-after entertainer who’s been shimmying around the world since the 1990s. But what we didn’t realize, and should have, is that Von Teese is as passionate a fan of her art as she is its foremost modern practitioner. Dita Las Vegas, showing three nights a week in the Horseshoe’s storied Jubilee Theater, is every bit the burlesque showcase you might expect of Von Teese. But this “jubilant revue” is something else, something even better: It’s a time warp. It’s a new generation of performers—of all genders, all colors, all body types—rediscovering the classic Vegas showgirl
variety revue, utilizing costumes and props from the defunct Donn Arden spectacular Jubilee. The proof of Von Teese’s curiosity and commitment is displayed in the show’s opening number. The curtain rises, the stage blazes with light and there they are: some two dozen performers, strutting across the boards in Pete Menefee and Bob Mackie-designed costumes of red and orange feathers and Swarovski crystal. It’s one thing to grab selfies with street performers dressed in cheap showgirl garb, and quite another to be hit with a wave of color and glitz touched by Mackie, a legendary Tony and Emmy award-winner. (He was nominated for three Oscars and should’ve won at least two.) Von Teese and her crew took these and other artifacts in the theater’s storeroom and restored them to full, imaginative use once more. And the wows don’t let up. Dita
DITA LAS VEGAS Thursday-Saturday, 9 p.m., $59-$208. Jubilee Theater, ticketmaster.com.
Las Vegas showcases several of the artist’s signature acts: the giant Champagne glass makes an appearance, as does her breathy rendition of the Irving Berlin standard “Lazy” and the dazzling projection-mapped striptease act created for Von Teese’s Crazy Horse Paris performances. She rides a pink mechanical bull; floats down from the ceiling on a suspended platform; graciously bows to influences ranging from Sally Rand to Bettie Page. And while she’s usually the focal point of the showstopping numbers, she often yields the spotlight to others by allowing them to perform some of her routines, or by standing aside and watching, beguiled, as they chew up the scenery. Two featured performers stand out. “No-Pantser Romancer” Jett Adore offers a terrific homage to a classic Strip performer that, in the interest of preserving the surprise, won’t be named here. (One big hint: there’s a candelabra prop.) And “Ms. 44 and a whole lot more,” Dirty Martini, does a tassel twirl set that’s the equivalent of a Prince guitar solo, both in its “did I really just see that?” factor and its sheer virtuosity. Dita Las Vegas pulls together a lot of threads—the choreography of Kevin Wilson, Johanna Sapakie, Marcel Wilson and Ferly Prado; the direction of Michael Schwandt, a seasoned creative who’s worked with Cirque du Soleil, Lady Gaga and others; the lighting design of David Finn and Alex Goldberg; the routines and costumes created with Von Teese’s longtime collaborator Catherine D’Lish; the Jubilee treasures; the unique talents and looks of its performers—and weaves them together into a brilliant, sexy piece of living history. Longtime Las Vegans will applaud its familiarity, and younger generations might say, “So that’s what the big deal was.”
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
37I
ALL YOU CAN PLAY ARCADE GAMING!
HOUSE OF BLUES
CRAFT BEERS ON TAP
UPCOMING SHOWS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ NOV
9______
___ NOV
12
CARLOS SANTANA
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
NOV
13
GIMS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
NOV
19
GOSPEL BRUNCH
ARCADES * CONSOLES * PINBALLS * 21 &
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
25 FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY & EXODUS NOV
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ DEC
ERIKA JAYNE 8 MAMMOTH WVH
1______ ___ DEC 16
2797 SOUTH MARYLAND PKWY
* LAS VEGAS, NV 89109
www.PLAYER1VEGAS.COM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
DEC
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
DEC
9
NIMESH PATEL
SEMAGLUTIDE
WEIGHT LOSS
PROGRAM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
DEC
11
EDDIE TRUNK’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY W/ SAMMY HAGAR
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AQUA 29 SUMMER SALT DEC
19
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
DEC
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SCAN TO GET YOUR TICKETS!
✔ Lose up to 20% of your body weight ✔ Powerful appetite suppressant ✔ Regulates blood sugar ✔ Weekly SQ injections SPECIAL OFFER:
215
$ $
✔ Consultation with a Licensed Medical Provider ✔ Physical Examination ✔ Full Body Composition Analysis ✔ Initial Dose of Medication
www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099
3365 E. Flamingo Road, Ste 2, Las Vegas, NV 89121 | 4966 S Rainbow Blvd STE 100, Las Vegas, NV 89118
40
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
C U L T U R E
F O O D
&
11.9.23
D R I N K
Fresh seafood and world-class hospitality make the Strip’s Ocean Prime a cut above
PRIME TIME
OCEAN PRIME 63 Las Vegas, 702-529-4770, ocean-prime.com. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m. -11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
11.9.23
(Opposite page) Ocean Prime’s New York strip, (clockwise from top) Smoking Shellfish Tower, ahi tuna tartare and Ocean Roll (Courtesy)
BY AMBER SAMPSON In a city like ours, dinner deserves to be extraordinary. Las Vegas is too scenic, its lights too bright and colorful, and its sounds too pleasing for a meal here to be anything but memorable. The storied Cameron Mitchell Restaurants group has had decades to perfect the extraordinary, and it’s demonstrating that with the Strip’s first Ocean Prime. Located four stories above the Boulevard at the new 63 retail complex on the corner of Harmon Avenue and the Strip, Ocean Prime towers over its competition in more ways than one. If this feels like a $20 million restaurant, that’s because it is. CMR poured some serious capital into its 14,500-square-foot flagship, the 18th Ocean Prime in the U.S. that comes equipped with a rooftop terrace, three bars, three private dining rooms and more than 400 seats. From the elevator entry, you’re lead into a muted, intimate cocktail lounge which feeds into a sprawling dining area that bubbles with louder conversation. Gorgeous glass wine cellars, sink-in booths, sexy palettes of silver and gold—this is the restaurant’s heart, and it’s beating with opulence and style. The air, the drinks, the food—it all tastes better on the terrace. We’re so high up that we can see the pixels in Aria’s marquee. And when our server arrives to take our order, he unloads his menu knowledge with the authority of a man whose house you’ve just stepped into. He’s well equipped to answer any questions and anticipates them. Yes, the oysters have been flown in tonight from Prince Edward Island and British Columbia. Yes, the steaks are broiled at 1,200 degrees to ensure an evenly browned crust and tender interior. Yes, the potatoes au gratin ($18), infused with a building heat of jalapeño, are absolutely to die for. Seafood at Ocean Prime is an experience all its own. The smoking shellfish tower is an absolute table flex,
while tried-and-true apps like the ahi tuna tartare ($29) and the calamari ($28), perfectly cooked with a dollop of sweet Thai chili and bean sprouts for an acidic crunch, get the palate prepared for greatness. Sushi offerings, an ahi tuna and salmon poke bowl ($26), and lobster linguine with roasted tomato butter ($58) round out the seafood offerings. All the steakhouse standards and then some are present, from your blackened snapper and Alaskan halibut to your bone-in filets and New York strips, topped with black garlic butter. Ocean Prime’s use of truffle vinaigrette on its Chilean sea bass ($43) also marinates the fish in a flavorful, savory glaze, enhancing everything these wonderful chefs have already perfected. And baked lobster mac and cheese ($48) could be the perfect pairing with your favorite cut of beef, perhaps a show-stopping 16-ounce ribeye ($72). “Wow” is a word that came up a lot over this dinner. That’s something we’ve come to expect from the Las Vegas Strip steakhouse experience, but with its seafood focus, Ocean Prime is prepared to take that experience to new levels.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
41I
T H E U LT I M AT E
WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM
SPECIAL OFFER
575
$
INCLUDES:
✔ Initial Medical Consultation ✔ Full Body Composition Analysis ✔ EKG (if required) ✔ RX For (3) Month Phentermine Tablets ✔(12) Weekly B12 Injections ✔(12) Weekly Lipotropics Injections ✔ Bi-Weekly Body Composition Analysis ✔ Medication For (3) Month Treatment NEW PATIENTS ONLY, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS.
2
CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
3365 E. Flamingo Road, Ste 2 Las Vegas, NV 89121 4966 S Rainbow Blvd STE 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118
www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099
and
© 2021 DFO, LLC. Printed in the U.S.A. At participating restaurants for a limited time only. Selection and prices may vary. While supplies last.
November 16-18, 2023
COMPLIMENTARY
HOTEL STAY WITH PURCHASE OF TWO 3- DAY VIP TICKETS AT THE MIRAGE ZONE
THE MIRAGE ZONE VIP GRANDSTANDS $4,000.00 PER TICKET (PLUS TAX AND FEES)
VIP TICKETS INCLUDE:
FOR QUESTIONS OR TO PURCHASE VIP TICKETS, CONTACT VIP SERVICES
(833) 690-1162
∙ LIVE MUSIC
∙ COCKTAIL SERVICE
∙ ENTRY INTO THE MIRAGE ZONE VIP AFTER-PARTY
∙ ELEVATED FOOD MENU
∙ EXCLUSIVE HOSPITALITY LOUNGE
ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Each ticket for the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2023(“Event”) at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit (“Circuit”) is a revocable license that grants entry into the Circuit and a seat or standing location for the Event, with such license subject to the terms and conditions available at https://www.f1lasvegasgp.com/ticket-terms(hereby incorporated by reference), including to an agreement to arbitrate in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act and certain grants(e.g., right to use your likeness), prohibitions on recording of data and filming for commercial purposes, agreement to assign copyright in any image or recording you make and/or waivers(e.g., release of liability) of legal rights.The Mirage reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion at any time. Guests must have 72 hours between complimentary or discounted reservations. Any additional redemptions on subsequent trips are up to management discretion and based on play. Must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older to gamble. Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older in Florida to participate in Bingo and Poker. Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older in the Dominican Republic.Hard Rock offers Players Edge information to its patrons to encourage responsible gaming at all participating locations. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem,in CA, NJ, VA call:1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537) or 800GAMBLER.org; OH:1-800-589-9966, Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline; FL: 1-888-ADMIT-IT (236-4848)or gamblinghelp. org, Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling; IN:1-800-994-8448; IL, NV, Punta Cana:1-800-522-4700 or chat ncpgambling.org/chat.
44
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
C U L T U R E
BY CASE KEEFER Antonio Pierce needed more hands. The Las Vegas Raiders’ new interim coach wanted to congratulate the defense after the unit started his tenure by forcing a three-and-out and began giving high-fives as the players ran off the field. But the offense was naturally taking the field at the same time, and Pierce was trying to encourage them concurrently. Pierce’s early demeanor in an eventual 30-6 victory against the New York Giants on November 5 at Allegiant Stadium may not sound like anything radical, but it was out of the ordinary for Raiders’ standards. Now-fired previous coach Josh McDaniels more commonly cocooned himself at one end of the sideline to focus on playcalling and lock into the action during his abbreviated 25-game stint at the helm over the past year and a half. The 45-year-old Pierce instead wanted to be right in the middle of the action, a small example of the “new chapter, new era, new mindset” he wants to instill with the Raiders. “Go back to our roots,” Pierce described his philosophy in the postgame news conference. “How did we all get here? When you were in Pop Warner, you just had a joy and love for the game. I just felt like we lost that for a bit.”
The Raiders were in the midst of arguably their worst two-game losing streak since moving to Las Vegas four seasons ago when McDaniels was let go, getting blown out by the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions on successive weeks. The former was against a team starting an undrafted rookie quarterback for the first time, Tyson Bagent, and the latter came in front of a national television audience on Monday Night Football. Most fans and analysts left the Raiders for dead as far as playoff aspirations or even staying competitive for the rest of the year, but Pierce showed such eulogies might have been a touch premature. Team owner Mark Davis reportedly instructed Pierce to get the team to play with as much energy as he did during a nine-year NFL career that peaked with a Super Bowl victory with the New York Giants in 2008. Through one game, Pierce pulled it off and led the Raiders to their second-largest win during their time in Las Vegas—just barely behind a 37-12 blowout win against the Denver Broncos in 2020. Now at 4-5 on the season, anything is possible the rest of the year if Pierce can show that the renewed effort wasn’t a one-game mirage. “We wanted to do it for AP,” running back/team captain Josh Jacobs
S P O R T S
PLAYING FOR PIERCE
Raiders’ players enlivened and ready to make a run under interim coach Antonio Pierce
11.9.23
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
45I
RAIDERS’ SECOND-HALF SEASON SCHEDULE Week 10 — vs. New York Jets, 5:20 p.m. November 12 on NBC Week 11 — at Miami Dolphins, 10 a.m. November 19 on CBS Week 12 — vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1:25 p.m. November 26 on CBS Week 13 — Bye Week 14 — vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1:05 p.m. December 10 on Fox Week 15 — vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 5:15 p.m. December 14 on Prime Video Week 16 — at Kansas City Chiefs, 10 a.m. December 25 on CBS Week 17 — at Indianapolis Colts, 10 a.m. December 31 on CBS Week 18 — vs. Denver Broncos, TBD January 7 on TBD Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (8) attempts to break past the New York Giants defense on November 5 at Allegiant Stadium. He scored two touchdowns in the 30-6 win. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
said after the game. “We came to that conclusion. We all sat down and said, ‘No matter what, we’ve got to play for that man because of the position he’s in.’ However it goes, he’s going to be the face of it. He (could get) ridiculed (if we lost) so we wanted to go out there and play for him.” The question now is how far Pierce, formerly the linebackers coach, can take it all. He’s vowing that he won’t let anyone outwork him, and no one wants to see the franchise succeed more than him. Pierce may forever be best known as a Giant around the league, with perhaps some even remembering him from his time in Washington, when he broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Arizona. But he says he goes further back with the Raiders. “The short story is, the matter of fact is, I grew up in Compton,
California,” Pierce said. “I was born a Raider. I was born with the Raiders rolling into the Coliseum in LA. I was rolling with N.W.A., talking Straight Outta Compton, rocking Raiders hats … I was born this way.” N.W.A.’s diehard embrace of the Raiders famously exploded the franchise’s nationwide popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, especially in the Black community. The Raiders have always proudly trumpeted their efforts at diversity, which include making a Black quarterback a firstround draft pick for the first time (Eldridge Dickey in 1968) and hiring the league’s first modern-day Black coach (Art Shell in 1989). They hit a new landmark in the Giants game as the first team with a Black coach (Pierce), Black general manager (new interim GM Champ Kelly) and Black president (Sandra Douglass-Morgan) at the same time.
Before the chaos of the game swallowed up the trio, they posed for pictures on the field leading up to kickoff. “Butterflies. I’ve had it three times as a professional: my first game in the NFL, the Super Bowl, and my first game as a head coach,” Pierce said. “That was special but the other part that was special was the history we made today … You don’t take that for granted. I’m humbled by the opportunity. “When you look at it, if it goes forever, or if it doesn’t, for that one moment, we had that one opportunity. If it’s (only) the next nine games, let it be, but I’m very humbled.” On the surface, Pierce would be a long shot to hold onto the job long-term. He only began coaching in the NFL last season—previously working as an assistant at Arizona State University following a stint
as head coach at Long Beach Poly High School—and isn’t regarded as a schematic wiz like many of his NFL counterparts or McDaniels. But maybe that’s exactly what the Raiders need—passion and attitude over structure and consistency. They rallied to make the playoffs the last time they were under a nontraditional interim coach, special teams head Rich Bisaccia in the 2021-22 season. It’s now widely regarded as a mistake that Davis let Bisaccia go in favor of McDaniels. Players at the time endorsed keeping Bisaccia, and at this rate, the current ones might be on their way to doing the same for Pierce. “AP is a guy with strong convictions and you can feel his intensity when he talks,” quarterback Aidan O’Connell said. “I think guys believe in him.”
46
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
11.9.23
Amer Tadayon, founder and CEO of Lucihub, an AI-powered video production platform and mobile app that has been selected to participate in the Accelerator Program sponsored by StartUpNV. (Brian Ramos/Staff)
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
B U S I N E S S
L
LOCAL STARTUP FUND HELPS TURN BUSINESS VISION INTO REALITY BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF
ucihub, a Las Vegas-based video production platform and mobile app powered by artificial intelligence, was founded with one goal: deliver high-quality, full-scale, professionally edited videos within hours to consumers, who may typically pay tens of thousands of dollars for video production that often takes so long to turn around that its content becomes irrelevant. The 18-month-old company now has just over 20 employees worldwide, and was recently accepted into nonprofit business incubator StartUpNV’s accelerator program, allowing Lucihub to access a wealth of resources and finances to push its product forward. “We’re just getting started,” said Amer Tadayon, CEO of Lucihub. “What I’d love is for our platform to be the de facto standard for filming and turning around professional phone content. That’s where I want to go with this, and so I’d like to think the sky’s the limit.” Lucihub, Tadayon said, is all about quickterm video production: A customer can film content, perhaps even on a smartphone, then submit it to Lucihub for a professionally edited final product in up to 24 hours, and often faster. Social media has created a huge market for video content, Tadayon said, while also reducing its shelf life. Meaning, a timeand money-consuming commercial that previously may have been around for nearly a year now loses relevance in days. “We said, look, is there a way we can help democratize professional video production so that any brand team could do it themselves?” he said. “And that’s really the idea behind Lucihub.” The company, which started in the wedding video industry and has since expanded to corporate communications and other enterprises, is a global business, Tadayon said, with many of its employees working remotely not just outside of Nevada but outside of North America. Additionally, Lucihub has AI “woven in our DNA,” Tadayon said. The platform’s AI-powered assistant creative director, Butterfly, can help consumers create scripts, storyboards, press releases, blog posts and more. Butterfly is an assistant, he emphasized, meaning the tool requires human input and intelligence to get to the finish line,
but can help users get their work done more efficiently and accelerate their business overall. A core value at Lucihub is “AI for good,” Tadayon said, and it’s so far proven to always take the company from “nothing to something” quickly. Now, Lucihub will grow with the help of FundNV—StartUpNV’s pre-seed venture capital fund—and a capital match from Nevada’s State Small Business Credit Initiative, which offers startups an investment match of up to $500,000, according to a news release. Jeff Saling, co-founder and executive director of StartUpNV, said the organization looks to support Nevada-based companies like Lucihub that are working on solving problems for a significant market. “We thought it was a really interesting, scalable idea, and a very large market with founders who have a passion for it and have ... a vision for it,” Saling said. Local support is “critical” to creating an ecosystem of startups in Las Vegas, Saling said. And like many startup hubs around the country, Las Vegas has an air of creativity to it that fosters entrepreneurship. “If you think about an entrepreneur that’s creating a business, it’s just like any artist—you’re creating something from nothing,” he said. “You have an idea and you’re creating something, whether that’s a painting, a sculpture, a piece of music, or a startup. So that’s a very consistent type of behavior. And we have that in spades here in Las Vegas.” Tadayon said he previously would have had to search outside Nevada for resources and capital to build Lucihub. But because of opportunities like those provided by StartUpNV, he doesn’t have to. The city also has an appealing lifestyle for entrepreneurs, Saling added, pointing to easy commutes, affordable living and a growing venture capital community. It’s an attractive option compared with other, possibly more established technology hubs such as Silicon Valley in California or Austin, Texas. “We have the start of something great,” Saling said. “We have everything it takes. It’s not quite as mature as any of those places—it’s not the same and we don’t want it to be the same. We want it to be our version of it. ... We don’t need to copy what somebody else has done.”
CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS
48
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
VEGAS INC NOTES Highlighting the best in business
11.9.23
The City of Henderson has been awarded Gold Certification in the LEED for Cities and Communities rating system, an international symbol of excellence recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED for Cities and Communities helps local leaders measure and manage progress in community conditions, in pursuit of a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future. Henderson excelled in the categories of Quality of Life, Natural Systems and Ecology, Innovation, Regional Priority, Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
by four Nevada governors.
City National Bank named Punam Mathur, executive director of the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation, as a member of its Southern Nevada Advisory Board. Mathur is a philanthropist expert, speaker, trainer, writer and leader of the Southern Nevada business community. She has received appointments to statewide leadership positions
Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation, a nonprofit organization that develops health care research, education, clinical assets and programming in Nevada, hired Lisa Levine as senior director of business development and operations; Kelly Lavigne as director of administration; and Kimberly Case-Nichols as general manager of strategic operations and fa-
BUY 3 COFFEE BAGS AND GET A FREE LATTTE OF CHOICE!
D R I NK LI KE A MOTHER mothershipcoffee.com
@mothershipcoffee
Available at all locations. Limited time only. In store only.
Gov. Joe Lombardo appointed Scott Scherer to the Nevada Commission on Ethics. Currently working at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Scherer was previously appointed as a member of the commission by the Legislature and served as a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Scherer also served as a member of the Nevada Assembly, as general counsel and chief of staff for Gov. Kenny Guinn, and as chair of the International Association of Gaming Regulators.
cilities management. Levine collaborates with the president and CEO to establish project performance objectives, longterm operational strategies, and financial and budgetary decision-making. Lavigne is responsible for the development and oversight of administrative functions, including human resources, accounting, benefits and payroll. Case-Nichols is responsible for aligning business and physical infrastructure strategies to optimize building performance and service delivery at NHBC. NASA published new research detailing a distant system of planets, and one of the authors is UNLV astrophysicist Jason Steffen. This work provides a deeper understanding of our solar system’s history and adds to the existing catalog of known planets with richer detail. It has enabled astrophysicists to gain a better understanding of a distant planetary system of seven planets.
MGM Resorts International Operations, Inc. seeks a Senior Data Engineer II in Las Vegas, NV to lead, manage and execute the designing, development and operationalization of data integration, engineering and data platform services to support enterprise data programs. Work from home benefit available within a reasonable commuting distance of the Las, Vegas, Nevada Office.
Apply online at https://careers.mgmresorts.com/global/en job number: 239871 or E-Mail resume to resume@mgmresorts.com and reference job number: 239871.
Systems Analyst II-Operations (Multiple Positions, GEODIS Logistics, LLC, North Las Vegas, NV): Reqs Bach (US/frgn eqv) in Supply Chain Mgmt or rel & 5 yrs rel exp as Sys Analyst. Alt will accept Master’s (US/ frgn eqv) in Supply Chain Mgmt or rel & 3 yrs rel exp as Sys Analyst. Also reqs: exp w/WMS configuration, implementation, & support in distb center envrn w/comprehensive knowledge of RF sys & equip; knowledge of Oracle SQL Db; knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, & procedures inc inventory control & configuration; working knowledge of bar code sw & Zebra Printers; PC proficiency to inc MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, Visio, & MS project. Mail CV to: Sharon Barrow, 7101 Executive Center Dr, Ste 333, Brentwood, TN 37027 Ref#SYSTE036232
NOVEMBER 16 - 18
PRESENT THIS ADVERTISEMENT AND RECEIVE:
CANNABIS DISPENSARY
F1 BUNDLE 55
$
1 Pack of Essence Swift Lifts*
1 Savvy 0.3g Traveler Vape 1 Encore 100mg Edible FLAMINGO
NORTH LAS VEGAS
POST RD.
5940 W FLAMINGO RD. LAS VEGAS NV, 89103
4444 W CRAIG RD., SUITE 100-104 N. LAS VEGAS NV, 89032
9120 W POST RD., SUITE 103 LAS VEGAS NV, 89148
EVERYDAY: 10AM-9PM
EVERYDAY: 8AM-10PM
EVERYDAY: 10AM-9PM
*Essence Swift Lifts excludes Iced. Keep Out of Reach of Children. For Use Only by Adults 21 Years of Age or Older. D081/RD081 | RD590 | RD592
Management Analyst Req’d: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Admin., or rltd. $59,675/yr
Send resume to US Pharmatech, Inc., 2730 Monterey St., #101, Torrance, CA 90503 (Job Site: Las Vegas, NV)
MGM Resorts Satellite, LLC seeks a Senior Software Engineer II (Multiple Openings) in Las Vegas, NV to develop and execute production grade software code through vision, definition, planning, execution, deployment and sustainment. May work remote.
Apply online at https://careers.mgmresorts.com/global/ en job number: 240006 or E-Mail resume to resume@ mgmresorts.com and reference job number: 240006.
now slicing
MGM Resorts Satellite, LLC seeks a Sr. Software Engineer IAM (Multiple Openings) in Las Vegas, NV to be responsible for designing, engineering, implementing all IAM technologies across the company enterprise. Position requires 10% domestic travel. Remote work Permitted.
Apply online at https://careers.mgmresorts.com/global/en job number: 239882 or E-Mail resume to resume@mgmresorts. com and reference job number: 239882.
extraordinary order at capriottis.com for pick-up or delivery
50
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
11.9.23
PREMIER CROSSWORD “COMMERCIAL EXPANSION” BY FRANK LONGO
HOROSCOPES WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9 BY ROB BREZSNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): A sustained surge of hard-earned personal growth is rendering one of your problems mostly irrelevant. You have been redefining what rewards are meaningful to you, and that’s motivating you to infuse your ambitions with more soulfulness. You are losing interest in a manipulative game that doesn’t serve you as well as it should. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Physicist Richard Feynman articulated a perspective that will be healthy for you to experiment with. He said, “I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it’s much more interesting not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I’m not absolutely sure of anything, and there are many things I don’t know anything about.” GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Jobs involving hard labor teach people how to interact harmoniously with a wide array of others. They help forge a robust social conscience. And they motivate people to eventually figure out how to get jobs they really love. Take an inventory of your own work life. It’s an excellent time to evaluate where you’ve been and where you want to go in the future. CANCER (June 21-July 22): There are so many kinds of sweetness. Zesty spicy sweetness. Tender balmy fragrant sweetness. Sour or bitter sweetness. Musky piquant sweetness. Luscious succulent sweetness. You are about to commune with at least three of these sweetnesses. Maybe most of them. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Author Dan Savage notes that few people can “get through 24 hours without a little downtime. Human beings need to stare off into space, look out the window, daydream and spend time every day being indolent and useless.” For the sake of your long-term mental and physical health, you need to relax extra deep and strong now to recharge your battery. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your mouth will soon be a wonder of nature. The words emerging from your lips will be extra colorful, precise and persuasive. Your taste buds will have an enhanced vividness as they commune with the joys of food and drink. And your tongue and lips will exult in an upgrade of aptitude and pleasure while plying the arts of sex and intimate love.
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 It’s on either side of a weather front 8 Like some pain-causing toenails 15 Award for Nomadland 20 Decay of a plant’s stalk 21 Suave, glib sort 22 1/24 of a day, in French 23 Astronauts’ advisory group? 25 Blows gently 26 NHL great Bobby 27 Dot in la mer 28 Candied nut given to a kid to quell a tantrum? 30 Advice for Fonda when she has a grievance? 35 Finds a new purpose for 36 Saudi export 37 Adele’s vocal range 38 Without remuneration 41 Big cheese 44 RBI, e.g. 45 Lily White novelist Susan 46 Colo.-to-Ga. direction 49 Present, as the whole group 51 Small car manufactured in Poland’s capital? 54 Optimal nutrient amt. 55 In — of (replacing) 57 Suffix with hero or opal 58 Common brown rodent 59 Give praise to sellers of stolen goods?
63 Regarding 64 Like the horse favored to win 65 Units of gold purity 70 Zest or Dial 73 Fighting between Dracula and Lestat? 80 Puts into operation 85 Partner of neither 86 Land of Lima and llamas 87 “So that’s it!” 88 Halt hubbub? 91 Is scornful of 93 Pork product 94 Ocean trip 95 Oolong and Darjeeling 97 List details 98 Isn’t truthful with 99 Orch. section for timpani, triangles, etc. 100 Jet to JFK, once 101 Tater Tots maker 104 Give solace to actor Mike? 109 Win the contest? 113 — Grande 114 Meadow 115 From Havana, e.g. 116 Noting the differences between cutting utensils? 121 Nuclear trial, in brief 122 Respectful tributes 123 Hint-giving columnist 124 Old Persians 125 Unity 126 Plaits of hair DOWN 1 Part of YMCA: Abbr. 2 Computer support whiz 3 Supply with new weapons
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 24 29 31 32 33 34 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 50 52 53 56 60
2,100, to Caesar “— you in?” Communal Vodka brand, familiarly Suffix with 6-Down Abbr. for those with only one given name “Gee, I would never do that!” Perez of film Elevator company “— asking?” Big Apple mail abbr. “I do so suffer!” Slimy shore deposit in some spa treatments Sleeve ends Bandleader Shaw Takes it easy — Work (“Down Under” band) Industrial city in southern Poland Pal of Tigger Maligned in print The Hunger Games star, in tabloids Acquire D.C.’s land Rustic denials Tempo DEA agent Battle Cry actor — Ray “Kapow!” Watermelon waste “So that’s it” Work to get Mark for life Suffix with kitchen Watermelon waste Big GOP get-together It splits light Aliens’ ship Clean a spill on the floor
61 62 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 74 75 76 77 78 79 81 82 83 84
Ltr. encloser Slalom, say Jean of Dada Bog grasses Lot division Vacation travel, often Window part Twice tetraQuark locale Price to play “Li’l ol’ me?!” For the time being Portend “Excuse me” Fling Mishaps Ripped into Tall birds The Power of the Dog co-star Kodi — -McPhee 89 Spanish for “bear” 90 Spongy ball 92 Teeny-tiny 96 Oak nut 98 Enzyme in fat breakdown 99 Thick soup 100 Dracula creator Bram 101 Philosopher with a “razor” 102 Way to travel 103 Plant firmly 104 Channel that televises hearings 105 Correct 106 “Blue Suede Shoes” singer 107 Della of song 108 RSVP card encls. 110 Say again 111 Great benefit 112 Single-named plussize model 117 Apt., e.g. 118 Mag. edition 119 Mets’ div. 120 Platform for iDevices
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) believed that musicians best express their skills when they play fast. It’s more challenging to be excellent when playing slowly, he thought. Adopt the reverse attitude and approach in the coming weeks. You will be most successful if you work gradually and incrementally, with careful diligence and measured craftiness. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are complex, thick, rich and lush. Your destiny is labyrinthine and mysterious and intriguing. But here is a simple, straightforward oracle, borrowed it from author Mary Anne Hershey: “Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Play with abandon. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love.” SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In her poem “Requiem,” Anna Akhmatova says, “I must kill off memory ... and I must learn to live anew.” Most of us can benefit from periodically engaging in this brave and robust exercise. It’s not a feat to be taken lightly—not to be done more than once or twice a year. But the coming weeks will be a time when such a ritual might be wise for you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The best stories nourish our souls, stimulate our imagination and make life exciting. That’s not to say that all stories are healthy for us. We sometimes cling to narratives that make us miserable and sap our energy. We have a sacred duty to de-emphasize and even jettison those stories— even as we honor and relish the rich stories that empower and inspire us. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are smarter and wiser than you realize about the pressing issues that are now vying for your attention. You know more than you know you know. This will soon become apparent, as streams of fresh insights rise up from the depths of your psyche and guide your conscious awareness toward clarity. It’s OK to squeal with glee every time a healing intuition shows up. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Indigenous cultures, shamans have claimed to converse with and even temporarily become hawks, coyotes, snakes and other creatures. They aspire to learn from those alternate ways of seeing and comprehending the world. Many of us who live in Western culture dismiss this venerable practice, although some animal lovers sympathize with it. Try your own version. Choose an animal to learn from. Study and commune with it. Ask it to reveal intuitions that surprise and enrich you.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 | 10PM Gear up for the excitement at Stadium Swim for the Red Bull Watch Party to see the race around Las Vegas! Free entry begins at 10PM for a night of high-speed fun.
143-FT CENTER SCREEN | FULL AUDIO | HEATED POOLS & CABANAS | FREE ENTRY STARTING AT 10PM
circalasvegas.com | @circalasvegas 8 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 | 702-247-2258 Circa Las Vegas is a 21+ experience. We encourage you to gamble responsibly. For problem gambling, call the Problem Gamblers Helpline at 800.522.4700.
scan to reserve