2023-12-07-Las-Vegas-Weekly by Greenspun Media Group

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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 EMMA BROCATO, 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

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DIGITAL

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ADVERTISING & MARKETING

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PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

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This week at UnCommons

Dec. 7-18th

Holiday Toy Collection @ The Quad 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Thurs 12/7

Highballs & Handrolls @ The Sundry 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Sat 12/9

Weekend Brunch @ Amari 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Sun 12/10

Blues & Brunch @ The Sundry 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

LEGENDARY GIFTS OF ENTERTAINMENT

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for show times and tickets

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IN THIS ISSUE WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.

SUPERGUIDE

Your daily events planner, featuring the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Majestic Rep’s Very Vegas Christmas Carol, Mammoth WVH and more.

NEWS

Resorts World is now powered by 100% renewable energy, a shining example of progress toward sustainability.

40 SCENE

FEATURE STORY

Reality television has always had a blast in Las Vegas, but last month’s BravoCon took things to another level.

Mondays Dark has been entertaining—and raising money for—the local community for a decade, and it’s time to celebrate.

COVER STORY

FOOD & DRINK

The Strip has had to wait a long time to get its Fontainebleau resort. Now it’s ready to overdeliver in every way.

It’s time to make the spirits of Nevada’s Frey Ranch Distillery a staple at your bar. (Courtesy)

ON THE COVER

FONTAINEBLEAU Photograph by Wade Vandervort, courtesy rendering/ photo illustration

SPORTS

The annual College Football Betting Awards are back, complete with a surprise underdog champion this year: our very own UNLV squad, which will be playing in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

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SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY 07 DEC.

MIRANDA LAMBERT 8 p.m., & 12/9-12/10, Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com. WARREN ZEIDERS 7:30 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster. com.

MUSIC

NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT Thru 12/9, times vary, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. RYAN BINGHAM WITH THE TEXAS GENTLEMEN With Corb Lund, 9 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

PARTY

SPORTS

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO Thru 12/16, times vary, Thomas & Mack Center, nfrexperience.com.

S U P E R G U I D E

JUICY J 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com. TANNER USREY 8 p.m., Resorts World Event Center, rodeovegas.com.

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK

COMEDY

(Courtesy/NFR Media, Phil Doyle) MISC

PIERCE THE VEIL With L.S. Dunes, Dayseeker, Destroy Boys, 5:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

BURNING WITCHES With Tyrants By Night, 7:30 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, eventbrite.com. RODNEY CARRINGTON Thru 12/9, 9 p.m., David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand.mgm resorts.com. BARRY MANILOW Thru 12/9, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com. DEZ HOSTON & THE LONGWOOD BAND Thru 12/9, 5 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, dlvec.com. SWEETTOOTH & ARTIX With Collision, Jason White, 10 p.m., We All Scream, weallscream.com. HAUSHANKA With Ugly Boy, Muertos Heist, Sticker, 8 p.m., the Griffin, blacksheep booking.ticketbud. com.

A VERY VEGAS CHRISTMAS CAROL Not for the faint of heart or easily offended, A Very Vegas Christmas Carol is an original “lounge musical spin” on the classic tale of a miser and three ghosts who visit on Christmas Eve. This F-bomb-laced “Scorsese parody,” with book and lyrics by Troy Heard and music by James E. Edwards, tells the story of the most ruthless casino owner in town and the Sin City specters—including a cranky cocktail waitress and bizarre French-Canadian clown—that visit the night before Christmas. Thru 12/10, 7 p.m., $40, Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory.com. –Shannon Miller

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FRIDAY 08 DEC.

MAMMOTH WVH Van Halen’s original band name was Mammoth, and that’s why Wolfgang Van Halen, 32-year-old multi-instrumentalist and son of Eddie Van Halen, chose that name for his first band. Now that he’s released a second album of tight, muscular rock—once again writing all the songs and playing every instrument himself—and hit the road for a headlining tour, things are really starting to shape up. “It’s a really crazy thing to be headlining, kind of eye opening in a way I wasn’t expecting,” Van Halen says; the band has opened for Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. “In this day and age it’s tough to tell where you stand without concrete data ... so going to these venues and seeing people show up—and selling some places out on our own—I never expected that sort of bump in the past two years.” But if you listen to new tracks like “Another Celebration at the End of the World” and “I’m Alright,” you might be compelled to check the live show. Just don’t expect any covers of his legendary dad’s stuff. “He spawned enough imitators. I can play it, it’s just not something I want to do,” he says. “It’s fun to give nods and I think it will always be part of me no matter what.” 7 p.m., $25-$65, House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com. –Brock Radke

ELF THE MUSICAL 8 p.m., & 12/9 (& 12/9-12/10, 2 p.m.), Las Vegas Little Theatre, lvlt.org. CODY JOHNSON 7:30 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com. NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: THE NUTCRACKER 7:30 p.m., & 12/9 (& 12/9-12/10, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, the smithcenter.com.

JEFF DUNHAM 8 p.m., Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster. com.

CODY JINKS 10 p.m., & 12/9, Dolby Live, ticketmaster. com.

GARY ALLAN With Mark Mackay, 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com. JIM GAFFIGAN 8 p.m., & 12/9, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. DJANGOBELLS HOLIDAY JAZZ EXPERIENCE With Tatiana Eva-Maria, John Jorgenson Quintet, 6:30 p.m., Water Street Plaza Amphitheater, cityof henderson.com.

U2 8 p.m., & 12/9, 12/13, Sphere, ticketmaster.com. GARTH BROOKS 8 p.m., & 12/9, 12/13, the Colosseum, ticketmaster. com. PAULY SHORE 9 p.m., & 12/9, Wiseguys Arts District, wiseguys comedy.com. CARRIE UNDERWOOD 8 p.m., & 12/9, 12/13, Resorts World Theatre, axs. com. ZEDD 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com. KYLIE MINOGUE 9:30 p.m., & 12/9, Voltaire, ticket master.com. NICK SWARDSON 8:30 p.m., & 12/9, Summit Showroom, ticketmaster.com. DIPLO With Vavo, 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. MONEYBAGG YO 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

(Courtesy/Jason Deramo)

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

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

G LEAGUE IGNITE VS. SANTA CRUZ WARRIORS 7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

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SUPERGUIDE SATURDAY 09

DEC.

UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT Time TBD, Dollar Loan Center, axs.com. JON PARDI With Jackson Dean, Ella Langley, DJ Highmax, 7 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. ARTIST BRIAN WALSBY Reception 8 p.m., exhibit thru 1/31, Punk Rock Museum, thepunkrock museum.com.

S U P E R G U I D E

CLAY WALKER 9 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com.

HOLIDAY APPY HOUR With chef Alicia Shevetone, 5 p.m., Vegas Valley Winery, eventbrite.com.

O.T. GENASIS With Justin Credible, 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events.taogroup. com.

LUDACRIS 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.

DILLON FRANCIS & BRANDI CYRUS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynn social.com.

IAN MUNSICK With Ashland Craft, 8:30 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com. 2 CHAINZ 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com. ALEXANDRA KAY 10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, stoneysrockin country.com.

BRUJERIA With Piñata Protest, No/Mas, Eloteros, Inframundo, 7 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite. com. MATRODA 9 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, area15.com. PHASEONE With Ivory, Virus Syndicate, 9 p.m., Hard Rock Live, seetickets.us.

YUKON PIZZA’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY Yukon is what pizza dreams are made of. This pie has been making a serious impact on the local scene since before it opened the brick-and-mortar last year. The 125-year-old heirloom sourdough crust pizzas are finished with quality sauces and toppings and wood-fired until reaching a perfect melt. This Sunday, Yukon invites you to help celebrate a year of success and give back to the community. The all-day event will include raffle prizes, a toy drive, food specials and, of course, $1 slices. Noon, 1130 E. Charleston Blvd. #160, yukonpizza.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez

NIMESH PATEL 6 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation. com.

(Courtesy)

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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

SUNDAY 10 DEC.

(Courtesy/Richard McLaren)

TOBY KEITH 8 p.m., & 12/11, 12/14, Dolby Live, ticketmaster. com. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. MINNESOTA VIKINGS 1:05 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. RANDY HOUSER & TRACY LAWRENCE With Kendell Marvel, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

SUPERGUIDE

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. CHRIS JANSON With Parmalee, Elle King, Tenile Arts, Corey Kent, Kylie Morgan, 7 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com. STEVE TREVIÑO 9 p.m., thru 12/12, David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com.

MONDAY 11 DEC.

MUSIC

PARTY

LUENELL 9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

EDDIE TRUNK’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY FEAT. SAMMY HAGAR & MICHAEL ANTHONY 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

MONDAYS DARK 10TH ANNIVERSARY 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com.

SPORTS

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK

CHOREOGRAPHER’S CARNIVAL 9 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com. RACHEL ECKROTH TRIO 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.

COMEDY

F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .

P L A N Y O U R W E E K A H E A D

MISC

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TUESDAY 12 DEC.

MUSIC

PARTY

SUPERGUIDE

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. CALGARY FLAMES 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

G LEAGUE IGNITE VS. RIP CITY REMIX 7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

CHARLEY CROCKETT With Vincent Neil Emerson, 9 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

JANE MONHEIT 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

POLA & BRYSON 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com. POSSESSED With Nunslaughter, the Black Moriah, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

JAKE WORTHINGTON 8 p.m., Resorts World Event Center, rodeovegas.com.

WEDNESDAY 13 DEC.

ARTS

KID ROCK’S ROCK N’ RODEO PARTY With Cole Hauser, 9 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

LIVING LEGENDS & BROTHER ALI With Reverie, Vic Smith, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticket master.com.

BRAT With Poon Tickler, Swamp Brain, Teach, 8 p.m., Dive Bar, eventbrite.com.

SUPERGUIDE

SPORTS

UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. CREIGHTON 6 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

SÉRGIO & CLARICE ASSAD AND THIRD COAST PERCUSSION 7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu.

S U P E R G U I D E

FOOD + DRINK

COMEDY

MISC

LAINEY WILSON National Finals Rodeo week (which is definitely more than one week) always brings a variety of country music artists to Las Vegas venues, but they tend to occupy two ends of the spectrum: big-name, established stars playing big rooms; or up-and-comers playing smaller shows in bars and lounges. Rarely will December Vegas see the genre’s latest breakthrough phenom, but this year we get four concerts from 31-year-old Louisiana native Lainey Wilson, who dominated last month’s 57th annual Country Music Association Awards with five wins including Entertainer of the Year. And she’s bringing in different opening acts each night at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, including Jake Worthington, Pony Bradshaw and Colby Acuff. Even with Garth, Carrie and others playing the Strip, Wilson’s run will likely be the talk of the town to close out rodeo week. Thru 12/16, 8:30 p.m., $96-$328, Theater at Virgin, axs.com. –Brock Radke

(Courtesy/Alysse Gafkjen)

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 .

INTRODUCING THE HALL OF FOODS

EAT YOUR HEART OUT • MON TO SUN EAT YOUR HEART OUT IS AN ELEVATED HALL OF FOODS FEATURING ECLECTIC CUISINES AND A LIVELY COMMUNAL DINING EXPERIENCE. THE NEW COLLECTION OF HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER OUTPOSTS INCLUDES LOCAL FAVORITES AND BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS FROM CULINARY-DRIVEN CITIES SUCH AS NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, AND PHILADELPHIA.

FEATURING

Uncle Paulie’s Deli was founded by longtime friends Paulie James and Jon Buscemi, inspired by their cherished memories from New York neighborhood delis. They made their way to LA to create a classic menu and signature sandwiches that carry a piece of home. After five years and multiple locations in the city, Uncle Paulie’s will bring sandwiches “from the neighborhood, for the neighborhood.”

Las Vegas’ own Vesta Coffee Roasters sources, roasts, and serves some of the world’s finest specialty coffees from around the world. Vesta also produces all their bread and worldclass pastries in-house, with patrons raving about their organic sourdough, brioche, and laminated croissants. Guests will enjoy their made-to-order café and coffee bar in both the hall of foods and hotel lobby.

Palace Station’s hidden gem oyster bar will debut at Durango Casino & Resort. Offering its famous counter seating and signature seafood dishes prepared before your eyes, the Oyster Bar will offer all the staples, including freshly shucked oysters, homemade chowders, soul-warming gumbo, pan roasts, and seafood pastas.

What makes Nielsen’s Frozen Custard more delicious isn’t just one ingredient, it’s a combination of a precise recipe made with real dairy cream, rich eggs, and other natural ingredients that make their custard an irresistible treat. Expanding to Durango, this local favorite offers all their famed classics including their fresh cones and worldfamous concretes.

Las Vegas favorite Shang Artisan Noodle aims to both honor and elevate the Chinese culinary tradition of handmade noodles. Shang delights guests with an affordable meal that satisfies all the senses, emphasizing premium ingredients, classic techniques, and thoughtful presentations. Classics include the Shang beef noodle, Dan Dan noodle and the spicy wontons.

Ai Pono’s owner Chef Gene Villiatora, a Top Chef alum and former Station Casinos Team Member, is on a mission to reintroduce authentic Hawaii street food to the community. From Da “Roots” plate and Ahi Tuna Katsu to the “Crackhead” Chicken, enjoy these signature dishes and Island flavors that only Ai Pono Café can deliver.

Yu-Or-Mi is a small and intimate dine-in Japanese restaurant expanding from Downtown Las Vegas that serves fresh sushi, noodles, small plates and rice prepared using only high-quality ingredients. Soon-to-be favorites include the truffle Hamachi roll, Uni Yaki Udon and the Miso black cod tacos.

Celebrated James Beard award-winning chef Marc Vetri expands his partnership with Station Casinos delivering a replica of his wildly popular Philly pasta bar offering daily hand-made pastas, antipasti and dessert prepared in an open kitchen and ultimately enjoyed at the chef’s counter.

Irv’s Burgers has been a Los Angeles institution for over 50 years, when it opened as one of the first roadside burger stands on Route 66. Serving classic burgers, fries and premium comfort foods at comforting prices, Irv’s also offers staples, including the Irv’s Dog, chili cheese fries, the tuna melt and a variety of shakes.

Home of the Soho Square. Prince St. Pizza offers a variety of New York and Sicilian-style pizzas. Their oil-catching, crispy pepperoni square, and signature recipes have created a one-of-a-kind slice shop that’s often imitated but never duplicated. No other square can compare.

Eat Your Heart Out introduces an all-new place to imbibe. At the center of the action awaits DRNK, a lively bar known for colorful frozen drinks, a chill atmosphere, and the perfect place to grab a drink or two while enjoying its convenient bartop gaming.

FREE PARKING

6915 S DURANGO DR, LAS VEGAS, NV 89148 • FOLLOW US @EATYOURHEARTOUTLV

LOCATED OFF THE 215 GARAGE

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BRAVO, BRAVO!

Las Vegas’ first BravoCon proves reality TV has found a comfortable home on the Strip

BY AMBER SAMPSON Every Bravo reality TV show season has a Vegas episode. Who could forget the Magic Mike Live meltdown of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Or the Discopussy divorce party of Vanderpump Rules? Somehow, Vegas always finds itself in the background of Bravo’s biggest moments, and its stars have warmed to our strange little city like no other place. Lisa Vanderpump has expanded her culinary empire here in recent years, and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills favorite Erika Jayne now helms her own Strip residency at the House of Blues. The names of reality TV stars grace resort marquees. Considering all that, Las Vegas hosting its first BravoCon—an annual three-day fest for fans of the reality TV empire and its iconic shows—was, perhaps, inevitable ... as was the tea-spilling spectacle that ensued last month.

 Kimberly Faver has a theory on why reality TV stars love Las Vegas so much. She’s just struggling to voice it over the cavalcade of women chanting “BravoCon” down the halls of the Caesars Forum. “I say the word fandom a lot, but this is what I’m talking about,” Faver says, waving a hand at the passing procession of Bravoholics double-fisting their 9 a.m. mimosas. As senior vice president of content and talent partnerships for Bravo’s parent company NBCUniversal, Faver has seen the TV channel evolve with the times, thriving in its tenets of beauty, fashion, food and pop culture, occasionally moving the needle of America in the process — not unlike how Vegas has been known to do. “Las Vegas, to me, is just a judgment-free zone,” she says. “People come here to escape. They come here

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“ A line of Bravolebrities take the stage at Paris Theater for BravoCon Live with Andy Cohen: The Reading Room. Pictured: (L-R) Alexia Nepola, Larsa Pippen, Quad Webb, Garcelle Beauvais, Margaret Josephs, Phaedra Parks, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Tamra Judge, Kenya Moore, Andy Cohen, Erika Jayne, Shereé Whitfield, Karen Huger, Kate Chastain, Dr. Heavenly Kimes, Dolores Catania, Reza Farahan, Sai De Silva, Madison LeCroy, Lesa Milan.

to have fun. For our shows, I think they want to capture our talent experiencing new things in a place that they feel comfortable, and I think they feel very comfortable here. It’s the most welcoming city.” An estimated 30,000 people traveled to the Strip for BravoCon November 3-5, and nothing quite compares to the gust of energy they brought with them. Fans loitered in line with full faces of makeup and sequined dresses before 9 a.m. Others rocked their favorite Bravo taglines on their tees — “Who gon’ check me, boo?” by Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Shereé Whitfield being a favorite, though the fan who sported the “Bravo Is My Roman Empire” deserves a clap. Even Caesars Forum’s distinctive pillarless ballrooms got a facelift for the weekend. BravoCon sponsor Wayfair designed living room sets of each Real Housewives season

Las Vegas, to me, is just a judgment-free zone. People come here to escape. They come here to have fun. For our shows, I think they want to capture our talent experiencing new things in a place that they feel comfortable, and I think they feel very comfortable here. It’s the most welcoming city.” -Kimberly Faver, senior vice president of content and talent for NBCUniversal

(All photos courtesy of Bravo)

for fans to lounge around in and roleplay their multi-million dollar lives. State Farm constructed a beach day getaway setup in honor of Summer House. And fans could book massages at a Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip-themed bungalow retreat. A Bravo Land Museum by Freevee also drew considerable lines, with folks eager to capture photos of themselves reenacting the iconic table-flip from Real Housewives of New Jersey and gossiping in the infamous “drama alley” from the SUR restaurant from Vanderpump Rules. You couldn’t escape Bravo’s intellectual properties, not even in the restrooms, where mirrors were branded with famous taglines from Bravolebrities and each bathroom stall included a trivia question. But honestly, who would want to? BravoCon was so delightfully meta, so scathingly aware of its audience

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and its IPs, that the thought of it representing itself in any other way would be off-brand. The ComicCon of reality TV is stranger than fiction, as it should be. “People love the aspirational nature of Bravo. That’s why the brands gravitate towards us, too … but it still feels very good. It feels still within reach,” Faver says. “I think people see themselves in these reality stars, and they root for them. It’s real life, souped-up a little bit for them.” Robyne Cody and Carrie Williams, twins I find twerking on the Gay Shark mascot from Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, definitely share that sentiment. “It’s a better soap opera than Days of Our Lives,” Williams says of their Bravo shows. It’s just after 10 a.m. when we cross paths, and these twins still appear to be buzzing from their first BravoCon. They file through the highlights of the weekend in quick succession. Last night, it was clubbing with a group of Real Housewives at Omnia. Today, they’re booking it to a panel with the cast of Below Deck. Having driven all the

Andy Cohen holds court during BravoCon Live.

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way from Texas, they’re keen on catching every moment. “Our mom got us hooked on this stuff. She’s no longer with us but we know she’s here in spirit,” Williams says, exchanging a smile with her sister. “We don’t like the drama, but we like people being real,” she adds. “Our favorite part is when they go ‘I didn’t say that’ and they roll back the footage.” “The receipts are the best,” they reply in unison.

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    BravoCon’s first panel of the morning is always dedicated to Ask Andy, a shade-filled talk show hour for which fans pack the pews of the ballroom like Sunday service. For one round, Andy Cohen co-hosts the large-scale chat with Flipping Out designer Jeff Lewis, serving thirsty fans their morning tea like two sassy gay uncles on vacation. Risky games of unscreened Q&A roulette ensue, but Cohen, like his persona on Watch What Happens Live, is a master moderator, knowing how and when to avert a messy question without offending any one Bravolebrity. Fans from around the world offer up questions over the hour, and by the end, Cohen encourages them to take a look around and make some connections. “It’s like a destination wedding,” Cohen tells the crowd. “You are going to make friends.” “Just don’t get pregnant,” Lewis warns. “Or do,” Cohen adds. With that, we’re released into the wild. And like Cohen promised, it’s incredibly easy to make BravoCon friends. “What’s your show?” is the universal hello. “This has been a great weekend. We have been so pleasantly surprised with how organized and well run it’s been,” says Las Vegas attendee Greg Snyder. “I’ve worked in service operations my whole career, and these things are usually a sh*tshow.” Towering well over six feet tall, in a T-shirt that reads “Real Men Watch Bravo,” Snyder is something

of a unicorn here. The 44-year-old looks more like a member of a security detail than a Bravoholic, but he’s the real deal, and he attributes his newfound fandoms to his wife, Kim Adler. “It wasn’t so much a show as an experience,” he says. “She was watching Real Housewives of New Jersey, and I would always be reading the book or on my iPad or whatever. I’m sitting there, not paying attention, then I hear Margaret [Josephs] say to someone ‘Your mouth looks like a monkey’s butthole.’ I dropped my iPad, and was like, ‘What did she just say? Can we play that back?’” Adler, a Bravo fan since the early seasons of the Real Housewives of Orange County, hooked him, line and sinker, with Vanderpump Rules and Below Deck. Now, here he was at BravoCon, stirring up drama at panel Q&As, boldly asking Vanderpump Rules’ Tom Sandoval the messiest of questions and being lauded as a weekend

Real Housewives of Miami’s Julia Lemigova poses for a photo at Caesars Forum.

hero by attendees. “I actually lived in West Hollywood when Vanderpump Rules was first starting and I didn’t know anything about it. When she introduced it to me, I’m seeing places that I knew … and I’m about the same age as some of those folks. I really connected with that,” Snyder says. “With Below Deck, I worked service my whole career, so seeing … the workers behind the scenes, but then also that aspirational life of the people, the charter going astray. This is the life I live, but this is the life I want. That juxtaposition was really cool.” As locals, Snyder and Adler view Vegas’ BravoCon as a source of pride and a no-brainer. “I don’t think there is a better fit for where BravoCon should be than Las Vegas. I mean, we’re the entertainment capital of the world here,” Adler says. “And a lot of the Housewives and other Bravo celebrities now are really occupying the entertainment space. I hope they

continue to have BravoCon here in Vegas.” Snyder eagerly nods as we wait in line for the next panel. “Vegas is a destination for anybody in the world on a regular Tuesday,” he says. “You bring something that brings so much joy to so many people here and you have the hotel space, you have the convention space, you have everything to support it, I think it’s a win-win all around.” BravoCon was indeed a boon for Las Vegas. Over that weekend, Cohen taped several episodes of BravoCon Live With Andy Cohen at Paris Theater, which have since been aired on the streaming service Peacock, to its nearly 30 million paid subscribers. It’s exhilarating to see Vegas in the spotlight on such a grand-scale, especially after always being the backdrop. Next year’s BravoCon is still months and months away, but our city has certainly proved it’s got what it takes to be a Bravolebrity of its own.

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(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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Big things happen fast in Las Vegas. It’s been that way for a long time. A 12-month span between 1998 and 1999 saw the openings of Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Venetian and Paris Las Vegas—still among the biggest and most recognizable resorts on the Strip. Our current span, 2023 to 2024, is going to rival that year when all is said and done. The big, fast Vegas things of right now go beyond casino openings: the Vegas Golden Knights’ first Stanley Cup, the arrivals of Sphere and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and February’s first Super Bowl in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. It’s been a year of firsts, events and venues that continue to show the world this place is about much more than casinos. All of this mind-blowing stuff might make it easy to overlook the casino opening that’s about to happen. But the December 13 debut of Fontainebleau Las Vegas is as important as any Strip resort opening since 1998-1999, and it’s also a first. No Strip resort has been through anything close to what this 67-story, shimmering blue building has seen. No Vegas casino has written such a wild tale before opening its doors. • • • • • This site on Las Vegas Boulevard was first occupied by the Thunderbird in 1948. The property was renamed as the Silverbird and then as the Strip’s second El Rancho. (The original El Rancho, located on what is now the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, burned down in 1960.) The larger El Rancho operated until 1992 and was demolished in October 2000. Florida real estate developer Jeffrey Soffer’s company bought the property in May 2000 for $45 million but didn’t announce plans to build a new casino resort until 2005, when he partnered with

former Mandalay Resort Group president Glenn Schaeffer to form Fontainebleau Resorts and purchase the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach. “We’re going to compete on five distinct elements: Design, art, music, fashion, technology. The aesthetic is a contemporary, crisp look, with a 63-story, international-style glass skyscraper that would fit in the leading cities of the world,” Schaeffer told the Las Vegas Sun in 2007. Construction on the $2.9 billion resort began in February of that year with an opening set for October 2009. But the group of banks financing the project infamously cut funding during the economic downturn that led to the Great Recession, and the developers sued the banks and eventually declared bankruptcy. Construction was halted when the project was 70% finished. After plenty more messy litigation, Carl Icahn outbid Penn National Gaming and another competitor and purchased the property for $156 million out of bankruptcy in early 2010. Fontainebleau wasn’t the only Strip development derailed by the Recession: Construction of Boyd Gaming’s Echelon—now the site of Resorts World Las Vegas—was also halted. MGM Resorts’ CityCenter and the Cosmopolitan resort fought their way through the financial collapse and opened their doors in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Known for buying depressed assets in down cycles, Icahn said he would hold onto the Fontainebleau until the economy improved. He ended up selling it to the Witkoff Group in 2017 for $600 million. That company announced plans in 2018 to finish the project and open it as The Drew in 2020. Hospitality executive John Unwin, who opened the Cosmopolitan, came on to lead, and plans were made to construct a bridge connecting to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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But The Drew never found its funding and went into default in the summer of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly put the final nail in another coffin for this project. That’s when Koch Industries’ real estate investment arm partnered with Soffer’s Fontainebleau Development company to swoop in and purchase the property, reuniting it with the original developer and returning to the Fontainebleau brand. New construction began in August 2021, with Soffer confirming that the 13-year-old unused building was “in mint condition” and gutting 1,800 finished hotel rooms in favor of an updated, luxury design approach. “The market has changed, and those styles are now outdated,” he said at a ceremony almost exactly two years ago. “Our brand will play in the Wynn, Bellagio, Aria realm. That’s the type of finish we’ll have. We’re looking forward to finishing

what we started. I never thought this would sit this long because it’s always been a great building.” • • • • • “It is a fascinating story, and one that demonstrates certain characteristics,” says Fontainebleau Las Vegas president Mark Tricano. “We are really starting to pull from those characteristics to define who we are and what’s important to us. “When you think about Jeff Soffer and his journey through this process, the things that come to mind are resilience, commitment, excellence, and we are pulling those into our operating model, almost rallying around it as a sense of pride.” Las Vegas has waited a long time for its Fontainebleau, an internationally celebrated brand thanks to the glamorous reputation and architectural significance of the Miami hotel, established in 1954.

That towering blue building on the Strip may feel familiar after passing by for 15 years. Certainly many Vegas visitors have also seen or stayed at Fontainebleau Miami. But the Vegas version is different, bigger, more modern. And essentially, it’s been designed and created twice, updated and modernized before any guests have checked in. “As our team members have started to walk the property and see the visuals, how beautiful the property is and how it’s so well-integrated—with those historic Fontainebleau brand elements integrated into the architectural design—it really starts to become tangible to them,” Tricano says. “The energy, excitement and optimism, you can see it in their eyes. This place is amazing, something special, and to have so many more people walking around every day, it’s a sight to behold.” It’s also special because it’s another emblem of the resilience

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of Las Vegas itself. CityCenter and Cosmopolitan slogged through their opening years; it took a while to get over the Recession, and less time to rebound from the pandemic because Vegas keeps building itself back stronger every time. There will be others, but those historic challenges to the city’s economy and progress can be definitively put to rest as Fontainebleau finally comes alive. • • • • • The Fontainebleau tower on the 24.5-acre Strip site is the second-tallest building in Nevada at 729 feet. The resort offers 3,644 rooms and suites and 150,000 square feet of gaming space, a six-acre elevated pool deck with seven pool experiences, and 36 first-to-market restaurants and bars. Nightclub, dayclub, 3,800seat concert theater (where Post Malone will ring in the new year), 55,000-square-foot spa … it has all

LEFT Fontainebleau’s luxe interior. (Courtesy)

NEXT PAGE The exterior view in September 2023. (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)

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the stuff and more. “When you’re building resorts like this, in the end, in some respects, the ‘talent’ is the same. Slot machines are the same. Food is food. It’s the magic of all the people in there that make the place special and I feel that,” says Fedor Banuchi, senior vice president of entertainment, special events and sponsorships. “Our owners have really created an asset that’s truly spectacular, visually stunning, and I think it will be very appealing to a lot of people. “This is something Las Vegas has been waiting for … the restaurants people want to go to, the retail people want to buy, the shows people want to see. It’s going to have it all.” Banuchi understands how a casino can captivate an audience in a special way; he was a day one employee at the Cosmopolitan. The style and vibes at that resort created a feeling of newness on the Strip and caught the attention of locals who are notoriously picky

about venturing into the tourist corridor. He thinks Fontainebleau has even greater potential to accomplish both feats. “But Fontainebleau is of this era. The design is a lot more timeless and fresh,” he says. “The restaurant collection is curated and all new-to-market, but truly world-class with Michelin-star chefs and restaurants that are considered the No. 1 export of their country.” And locals, like tourists, are always excited to see the big new thing on the Strip. How that thing resonates determines how badly we all want to go back and explore its myriad experiences. “The number that’s out there [$3.7 billion] doesn’t take into consideration what was spent on the first go-round,” Banuchi says. “To build this asset with today’s money would be something like $10 billion. There’s no resort on the Strip that’s close. “When people come in and see this place, it’s awe-inspiring. It’s

beautiful. You come inside and it just feels wonderful.” • • • • •

This is something Las Vegas has been waiting for … the restaurants people want to go to, the retail people want to buy, the shows people want to see. It’s going to have it all.” Fedor Banuchi, senior vice president of entertainment, special events and sponsorships

David “Papi” Einhorn has always been big on Vegas, even when he was just “the grillmaster” cooking out in friends’ backyards, before he teamed with Groot Hospitality to open the insanely popular, 93-seat Papi Steak restaurant in Miami Beach’s prestigious South of Fifth neighborhood. “I came when I was 18 and stayed at the Mirage and was blown away, just a kid [thinking] this is the craziest, biggest thing I’ve ever seen,” he says. “I’ve been through all the stages of Vegas—Mirage when that was hot, went to the Siegfried & Roy show, went to Bellagio when that was the hottest thing, and now I’ve been at the Wynn. I always like to stay where the energy is. Now that’s going to be Fontainebleau.” There are too many wildly anticipated restaurants coming to Fontainebleau to rank which ones might be most exciting, but Papi

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The Monarque is one of Fontainbleau’s elegant Fleur de Lis suites. (Courtesy)

Steak is certainly cut out for life in Las Vegas. The Miami chophouse is known for its party energy, a massive tomahawk-cut steak, and personal service that hearkens back to the golden era of hospitality in both cities. “Whenever you go to Vegas, it’s already in your mind that you’re going to have a good time, and Papi Steak is all about having a good time,” Einhorn says. “High energy, great service, great food, personalization, old-school hospitality—all these things Vegas has, we did in Miami, to coming to Vegas now is a perfect match. And it’s kind of a dream to be able to host people in Las Vegas.” Like the Fontainebleau bowtie logo that’s embedded in the marble floors when you enter through the main porte-cochere, the strategy to anticipate guests’ needs and desires is designed into the property. The

20,000-square-foot lobby and massive crystal chandelier in the central Bleau Bar are statement-making visuals, introducing or reminding all that this is as luxurious as it gets. The casino is all about connectivity, so there’s no long walks to find the convention spaces or the theater, Tricano says. “This goes back to the property in Miami, that more midcentury modern [design] with more curvature, but you don’t see a lot of right angles. So there’s this flow that exists throughout the casino that’s easy to navigate.” Providing an accessible and customizable tactile experience—how to get around to your favorite parts of the resort—has become essential in Las Vegas, showcased with the Strip’s two newest built-from-the-ground-up resorts (Cosmopolitan and Resorts World). It’s no simple task, and elevating that to an artful level seems even more complicated.

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But that’s the objective at Fontainebleau. “The thing I’m most excited about is just the integrated nature of everything, how the property is presented from an architectural perspective, a design perspective. It’s hard to articulate or convey this through words until you actually experience it,” Tricano says. “The second thing that’s extremely exciting and I’m very proud of is the food and beverage program, which will be an important differentiator for us. “The third thing is really the experience we plan to create through our people,” Tricano continues. “We talk a lot internally about the concept of humanized hospitality, and we’ve led with a people-first culture in a lot of our recruiting so we’ve been able to attract talent that wants to work in that type of environment. We have the right assets and the right programming to deliver the right experience.”

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BY GEOFF CARTER

IT’S SWOOPY. From the street, Fontainebleau is long, straight lines, but once inside, you’re hard-pressed to find a right angle. The walls and ceiling of the casino swoop, drip and curve like the inside of a seashell—a subtle nod to the resort’s seaside Miami provenance. Planters full of live greenery add to the airy, natural feel.

LOTS OF SPACE, BUT FEWER STEPS. High-ceilinged and vast, Fontainebleau’s 150,000 square-foot casino is surprisingly easy to navigate; its restaurants and bars are smartly arranged around the machines and tables, and the theater and food hall are just above it on a very visible second-level berth. You won’t get lost or worn out traversing this property. Wherever you’re headed, it’s usually in sight ... and it’s nearly always closer than it appears.

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THE INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK-FRIENDLY ART TAKEOVER OF LAS VEGAS CONTINUES HERE. Cosmopolitan, Park MGM and Aria currently hold the franchise on giant art installations that invite selfies and reels, but judging from what we saw on our pre-opening tour, Fontainebleau may

BLEAULIVE THEATER MADE US CRY A FEW HAPPY TEARS. It’s a beauty, with a multitiered balcony, a capacity of just under 4,ooo and a big floor suitable for GA shows or boxing matches. It gives Pearl and Chelsea vibes, but is very much its own thing. (Bonus: Fontainebleau’s food hall is right next door, which will come in handy on show nights.) We can’t wait to see, and hear, the artists who will play this handsome room after Post Malone breaks the seal.

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THE DECO IS IN THE DETAILS. The Fontainebleau’s bowtie insignia is everywhere you look—on the walls, on the furnishings, even artfully hidden in the crystal chandeliers. But it’s not the only visual motif to look for; there are other Art Deco-inspired flourishes repeated throughout the property, adding up to a flood of details that give the property lots of welcome texture and color. (For example: Look for the two-tone, egglike circles bisected with a line. They appear most prominently in a tile wall near check-in, but once you see them once, you’ll see them everywhere.)

soon join those ranks. Largescale arts installations are peppered throughout the resort, including an immense abstraction by New York artist Urs Fischer and other cool pieces we can’t reveal at press time. It’s as if Fontainebleau cracked open an issue of Artforum and said, “That one, that one and ... ahh, why not, that one, too.”

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Time to tell you something you already know: LIV nightclub was always going to end up in Las Vegas. It’s been the nightlife measuring stick in Miami Miami’s megaclub since 2014, when it ranked leads nightlife as one of the top-grossing programming clubs in the country, if not earlier. And from the time BY BROCK RADKE it first opened in 2008 at the original Fontainebleau, conversations about a Vegas expansion were in the mix. “We’ve had a lot of opportunities to do Vegas and we’re just so excited to do it with Jeff Soffer and Fontainebleau. It just feels so right,” says David Grutman, owner of Groot Hospitality. “To have [Fontainebleau] come back this way is the greatest story. And the design of this club is much different than the one we thought about 16 years ago. It’s cool to have those years under our belt and be able to apply that now.” Soffer, Fontainebleau Development chairman and CEO, said in a statement that past collaborations “have transformed LIV into a worldwide destination and have made Fontainebleau Miami Beach a haven for celebrities and adventurous revelers.” In short, LIV is one of the rare national megaclubs that was already operating at Vegas levels. LIV will open to the public on December 14 with LIV Beach at the Fontainebleau pool district primed for arrival in the spring. Few details have been released regarding either venue but clubgoers should be expected to be blown away, Grutman says. “Just the way the club flows is so great. And the dayclub as well … some dayclubs, you’re watching the DJ on some LED screen and it’s almost like you never get to see him. You’re so far removed. At the end of the day, it’s throwing a party, not a concert, and we’ve taken that mentality into designing these two venues.” Groot is also bringing its high-energy Komodo and Papi Steak restaurants to Fontainebleau Las Vegas—and they’ll be clustered near the club—while other energetic lounge and bar options including the speakeasy-style jazz and cocktail spot Nowhere and the tequila and mezcal-centric Azul will diversify the nightlife at the resort. “One thing we learned from Miami is to have an ecosystem where the restaurants feed the nightclub and otherwise,” Grutman says. “And with Jeff and the other great restaurateurs who are like-minded, we know you won’t have to leave the campus, and that’s the greatest thing ever. Having that all work together gives us an edge.”

(AP Photo/ Lynne Sladky)

things we noticed on our hard-hat tour of Fontainebleau

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IN THE

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RODEO STAYING PUT

The Las Vegas Events Board of Trustees and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board of Directors jointly announced that they have reached an agreement to keep the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas through 2035.

BIDEN TO STOP IN LAS VEGAS

President Joe Biden will be in Las Vegas for a few hours December 8 en route to a campaign reception in Los Angeles later in the day. It will be his first trip to Southern Nevada since March, when he celebrated the designation of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument.

REGULATORS OK $3 BILLION FOR VEGASCALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT

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Regulators have approved $3 billion in federal funding for the Brightline West high-speed rail project linking Las Vegas and Southern California. The funding clears the way for the long-anticipated commuter project to soon break ground. The funding, sourced through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, comes months after lawmakers from Nevada and California urged the U.S. Department of Transportation for final approval. “This historic high-speed rail project will be a game changer for Nevada’s tourism economy and transportation,” U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, said in a statement. “For decades, Nevadans have heard about the benefits of high-speed rail, and I’m proud to have led the charge for months to push the U.S. Department of Transportation to secure critical funding to make this a reality,” Rosen said. Proponents say the rail line will be a boon for tourism and could remove up to 3 million cars a year from Interstate 15. It is expected to create 35,000 union jobs throughout the project’s life. The proposed 218-mile Brightline West route would have stations in Las Vegas and in Rancho Cucamonga, Hesperia and Apple Valley in Southern California. Bill Hornbuckle, president and CEO of MGM Resorts International, said the funding announcement was “a huge win for Las Vegas, our economy and the travel and tourism industry.” “This project will not only help alleviate bottlenecks and delays along I-15, but also open Las Vegas to an even wider group of visitors looking to enjoy all we have to offer.” -Casey Harrison

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STREAM QUEEN According to Spotify Wrapped, Taylor Swift was 2023’s most-streamed artist globally, raking in more than 26.1 billion streams since January 1. The pop powerhouse dethroned Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny, who held the title three years in a row.

ENTERTAINMENT

Broadway In The HOOD is hosting a movie screening of The Color Purple at Maya Cinemas in North Las Vegas with showtimes at 2 and 7 p.m. December 9 to support the Legacy Theatre Capital Campaign Project. Tickets are $25 and available at broadwayinthehood.org.

PHISH BOWL AT THE SPHERE

(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

STATION CASINOS OPENS ITS NEXT GENERATION OF LUXURY Patrons who step into the new Durango Resort for the initial time should notice something distinct: It’s bright. Between the natural light flowing into the $750 million resort on Durango Drive and the 215 Beltway, the inside-out concept of some of the property’s restaurants, the light color scheme and plenty of open space, there’s no question this is a modern resort. It opened to the public December 5. There are many options

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that scream luxury. Take the 180 guest rooms, all of which are 480 square feet, include 65inch televisions and have views of the mountains the property backs up against in Southwest Las Vegas, or views of the Strip. And like the rest of the property, the rooms have light and neutral tones. Durango Resort additionally has 29 suites, which won’t immediately open. Guests staying in suites will have round-the-clock butler service. -Ray Brewer

Acclaimed jam band Phish has announced four performances at Sphere in 2024, marking “the beginning of a new relationship between Phish and Sphere,” according to an announcement. Phish will play there April 18-21. “From the moment we first heard about Sphere and its potential, we’ve been dreaming up ways to bring our show to this breathtaking canvas,” said Phish guitarist and vocalist Trey Anastasio in a statement. “We’re thrilled to present this completely unique experience to Phish fans.” Meanwhile, U2 has announced dates for their final performances of U2: UV Achtung Baby. The band will play February 23-24 and March 1-2. Tickets for Phish at Sphere go on sale on December 15 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at phishatsphere.100xhospitality.com. -Staff

Participants in the annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run get started from the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on December 2. (Brian Ramos/Staff)

Caridad, a Las Vegas nonprofit that provides affordable housing, job training and supportive services for those who are formerly homeless or transitioning from homelessness, is seeking donations for air conditioning units that can provide heat during the winter. Donations can be made at mightycause. com/story/Heat4theholidays.

‘RIZZ,’ DERIVED FROM THE WORD CHARISMA, IS OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY’S WORD OF THE YEAR

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NEW POWER GENERATION

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Is the Las Vegas Strip becoming a model for renewable energy use?

BY SHANNON MILLER an a city that prides itself on excess also be sustainable? Brandon Morrison, director of sustainability with Resorts World, says yes. His evidence: The 3,500-room property recently announced it is now powered by 100% renewable energy. “I think there’s the perception that you’re either luxurious or sustainable, and you’re not a mix of both. We’re working to prove that you can have a luxurious integrated resort in the entertainment capital of the world that operates efficiently and responsibly, and that seeks to minimize natural resource consumption,” he tells the Weekly. “It’s having Las Vegas with 45 million visitors a year as a model for sustainability.” Resorts World isn’t alone. Last October, Allegiant Stadium announced the Raiders’ home facility is now the first NFL stadium powered by 100% renewable energy. Also on the Strip, Sphere in August announced a proposed 25-year agreement with NV Energy to provide the “highest percentage of solar power available to Sphere,” according to a press release from Sphere Entertainment Company. These moves happen to align with Nevada’s goal of reaching 50% renewable energy by 2030. In 2019, the Nevada

Legislature passed Senate Bill 358 which modified the state’s renewable portfolio standard and set benchmarks for how much greenhouse gas emissions reductions should be achieved in the coming decades. Ultimately, the goal is to reach zero emissions by 2050, and clean energy is one of the state’s main strategies. Tony Sanchez, executive vice president of business development and external relations for NV Energy, says the utility is “ahead of the curve” in helping the state meet these goals. “We’re at the end of 2023 now, so we’ve got six years. And we’re doing great … The law says we’re only supposed to have 29% [renewable energy] right now, and we’re at 37.6%,” Sanchez says. “We’ve never looked at the portfolio standard or that legal requirement to get to 50% by 2030 as a cap. We look at it as a floor.” That 37.6% renewable energy figure is just the minimum that any NV Energy customer is using, he adds. Some Strip properties are going above and beyond. MGM Resorts International, for example, has its own

100-megawatt solar array powering 13 properties in Las Vegas. Vice president of sustainability Michael Gulich says it’s the “largest direct-connect solar energy system in the hospitality industry,” with the ability to power the equivalent of 27,000 average homes. Instead of entering an agreement with NV Energy, like Resorts World did, MGM worked with an outside company to develop and launch the solar array in 2021. MGM is the sole user, with the array producing up to 100% of Las Vegas properties’ daytime electricity needs. “The Strip is a unique area in that several of the Strip properties obtain their energy from a provider from out of state. And those properties are Caesars, MGM and the Wynn,” Sanchez explains. Resorts World and Allegiant Stadium are different customers in that they’re “fully-bundled” and obtain their energy through NV Energy. “We went out and procured specific renewable energy within Nevada from certain sites that are directly allocated to them. … And

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(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

THAT YOU’RE EITHER LUXURIOUS OR SUSTAINABLE, AND YOU’RE NOT A MIX OF BOTH. WE’RE WORKING TO PROVE THAT YOU CAN HAVE A LUXURIOUS INTEGRATED RESORT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD THAT OPERATES EFFICIENTLY AND RESPONSIBLY.” -Brandon Morrison, director of sustainability with Resorts World

others are starting to follow suit,” Sanchez says. Sphere is jumping on board agreements with NV Energy to power its venue with as much renewable energy as possible. Its proposed 25-year agreement is pending before the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and is scheduled for a hearing in February. The agreement includes solar battery storage, a relatively new technology which essentially stores solar power collected during the day and allows it to be used at night. Resorts World is already using battery storage. “It’s something that the MGM solar array doesn’t have. So they’re able to generate a vast amount of power during the day and then, at nighttime, they have to find other sources of power,” Sanchez explains. “Having that battery storage means it’s around the clock. Even when the sun’s not shining, we’re still using that solar base because it’s able to be stored in those batteries.” The 200-megawatt solar array that powers Resorts World can power the equivalent of 50,000 homes. “200 megawatts is significantly more than the property’s energy load, and Resorts World only utilizes a portion of this solar development project. The ‘leftover’ renewable power is therefore available for additional entities to also tap into,” Morrison says. Resorts World’s transition to 100% renewable energy has been in the works since before the property opened in June 2021. In the beginning, the property used roughly 20% renewable energy. Sanchez says the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have been “the

real game changer” in getting renewable energy projects online and into venues. The legislation extended the federal solar investment tax credit, allowing nonrefundable tax credits up to 30% of installation costs through at least 2032, according to the Department of Energy’s website. “They introduced tax credits for renewable energy projects, as well as batteries. We can now build solar and battery projects now at potentially up to 50% off, because of the tax savings,” Sanchez says, calling the legislation “transformative” for the renewable energy landscape. NV Energy expects to add more than 1,440 megawatts of solar energy and battery storage over the next year. The Gemini solar project in Moapa, which Sanchez says is one of the world’s biggest, is expected to add 690 megawatts, with nearly 400 megawatts of battery storage. “That’s going to be utilized for our customers here in Nevada, and will add to that 36.7% that we currently have for renewable energy,” Sanchez says. He anticipates the Strip will go the extra mile as NV Energy continues to work with the state on its emissions reduction and clean energy goals. “We’ve got so much growth coming that we anticipate [making] 50% by 2030. So the Strip will be able to say they’re at least 50% powered by renewable energy, if not more,” Sanchez says. “I would anticipate more companies going down that same road. We’re in discussions with many of them. … There’s an incredible amount of demand right now for renewable energy solutions.”

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MAJOR MILESTONE Mondays Dark celebrates a decade of giving back to Las Vegas BY AMBER SAMPSON

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Mark Shunock, host and creator of Mondays Dark, has juggled more than a few high-profile gigs in his lifetime. But ultimately, they all point back to the star-powered, twice-monthly charity event to which he’s dedicated the last decade. “I love being the Golden Knights guy. I love being the Top Rank Boxing guy. But I love when I get stopped at a hockey game running up the aisle after we score a goal and somebody grabs my arm and says, ‘Hey, I love dark Mondays. I love the dark!’” he says. “They don’t know the name, but they know what it’s about. They know they got this goofy guy hosting a hockey game who does a sh*tload of work behind the scenes for the community.” Since Mondays Dark began in 2013, it’s donated more than $1.8 million back to the local community, consistently raising $10,000 in 90 minutes at its live show for 181 local nonprofits to date.

Mark Shunock (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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Now it’s primed for an extra-special version of its annual anniversary show, held this year at the Pearl at the Palms, where next year’s nonprofit partners will be announced—along with lots of special guest performers. Paige Strafella, a Las Vegas performer and producer of Mondays Dark, has had the privilege of watching the boisterously unscripted variety show evolve over time, with many Strip entertainers and Hollywood crooners passing through for one unforgettable night after another. “We’re throwing a party, we’re having the best time, but we’re literally changing people’s lives,” says Strafella, who books entertainers for the shows at the Space, just west of the Strip. “It’s so cool to get to be part of something like that, and we’re international now. Last [show], we had people from Ukraine and Italy. We’ve got the loyal people on the livestream that watch from everywhere, like New Zealand and Brazil.” Mondays Dark was one of the few Vegas shows still running during the pandemic, thanks to Shunock shifting it to a livestream event. Its online following has only strengthened with time, making it more than the hottest $20 ticket in Vegas. The charm of the show has always been in its unpredictability. You never know when Shunock’s going to break out into song or call out that entire group of women in the back for all being from Ohio (“The hell? Did you all take a bus together or something?”). Entertainers run through blistering Led Zeppelin covers. They deploy full trumpet sections for a jazzy cover of Sia. Those who attended Mondays Dark in its earlier days might recall a much different scene. “The first one was god-awful,” Shunock remembers. “It was an attempt at some sort of Jimmy Kimmel meets Saturday Night Live meets Carol Burnett.” There might have also been a whole segment of reading Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, against his wife Cheryl Daro’s wishes. “I was like, ‘This is one of my favorite childhood books. I’m going to leave you with this wonderful piece of literature.’ People were in the crowd

going ‘What is this guy doing?’” for a group outside of Las Vegas. Somehow, the core message won “The agreement was that I would out and people started spreading the write the check to the organization word about this ongoing party for a based in LA, and I said [we] have great cause. to earmark it to Vegas. They took “Everyone talks about it, everybody that $127,000, and in around eight wants to do it. It’s one of the only things months, distributed $1.5 million to our that anybody does for free in town. entertainment community because That says a lot,” says of the partnership Dai Richards, former with Mondays Dark,” Tenors of Rock perShunock says. MONDAYS DARK former and current That partnership 10TH ANNIVERSARY December 11, Magic Mike Live with ECF is expect8 p.m., $20-$50. emcee. ed to grow in 2024, Pearl Concert Theater, Richards, like with Vegas artists, ticketmaster.com. Strafella, started technicians and performing in Monentertainment indusdays Dark shows and try workers having now works as a producer and helps access to the national organization’s coordinate a waitlist of more than resources and programming on the 300 local charities. Mondays Dark website very soon. And In 2020, the variety show aired a there’s more change to come. six-hour telethon starring dozens “The next chapter for the next of local performers and Strip stars decade … is to make sure that we’re to benefit national organization the helping cultivate not only an enterEntertainment Community Fund and tainment scene out of the Space, but a raised $127,000. It was the first time younger generation of kids, profesMondays Dark had ever raised money sionals, that know that they don’t

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have to have millions of dollars to create change,” he says. The priority is growing the online presence, he adds, as some streaming deals have already presented themselves. The possibility of Mondays Dark one day becoming its own latenight show is very real. “If this room was a half-size bigger … we would have that traditional latenight set, and I’m going to look at that for next year,” he says. “You can go into post-production then and write and edit the live version of Mondays Dark into a 30-minute or 60-minute television program that airs the following Monday.” That would give Mondays Dark a four-week presence with a global audience. It’s a lofty goal, but with the allstar team Shunock has, he’s confident they’ll further the mission together. “Everybody who walks through these doors on a Monday night, they’re not here for their stipend,” he says. “They’re here because this is home. They know that they’re a part of something that’s bigger than they are.”

President of Critical Care Comics Richard Tango, bottom center, collects a check from Mark Shunock (also on left page) and Mondays Dark during a show at the Space on November 6. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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DESERT-BORN SYNTH-PUNK N8NOFACE stays true to himself by shifting his sound BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ “I’m always unsure of myself and it still blows my mind that people dig this,” confesses Nathan Hose, better known as N8noface. “That’s why I love the internet, because I can throw something on there and then just quickly turn it off and walk away.” N8noface’s discography is renowned for brash vocals, intense synth distortion and heart-pumping tempo. His live gigs can be characterized as sweaty and frenzied—all controlled by N8’s clenchedjaw attitude and coupled with a fan base that spans generations and isn’t afraid to get in each other’s faces. So it goes without saying that Hose’s offstage, shy demeanor is more than surprising. He’s quick to pinpoint his musical interest to his adolescent years spent in Tucson, Arizona. It was the ’90s, and he found himself drawn to musical biopics like La Bamba; he hung around his aunts and uncles and heard them playing Prince tracks while getting ready for the club; and he relied on MTV to introduce him to new sounds like Suicidal Tendencies.

Although not classically trained, Hose made the decision to pursue music while in high school. He’d hang around local music stores and browse their magazines—familiarizing himself with the gear not offered for sale in store. “I always looked at drum machines and samplers,” says Hose. “Since I wasn’t musically trained I thought that I could make a collage of sounds via samplers.” He eventually saved up to order a SP-1200 beat sampler from an ad in the back of one of those magazines. That gear paved the way for his decades-long musical experimentation and growth. Crimekillz was the first project Hose presented to the world with a hometown friend. The duo classified their sound as “Game Boy punk,” due to their literal use of modified Game Boys and screamy vocals. Soon, the project gained some traction. They were booked for shows in LA and even had songs licensed for use in episodes of Workaholics, but according to Hose, the duo eventually crashed and burned. Now, he’s the center of

attention with N8noface, a personal project which found its stride and audience during the pandemic. When the world stopped, Hose was willing to stream performances while other artists were reluctant. These relentless efforts to create music has earned Hose a badge of respect in various scenes, and that ambition led to collaborations with other artists and eventually transformed him into a full-time musician. “I would definitely say that this new spark came from the project with Eyedress, Don’t Dial 911,” says Hose. The 5-track EP was released in 2020 and remains his most popular. The songs clock in just under two minutes but pack the abrasive truth of life’s harsh realities with chantable lyrics. Even if this is the sound that drove his popularity, Hose isn’t afraid to write outside of the box. “I want to make a song so goth that when you hear it you would think I’m decked out in leather and lace. I want to make a song that sounds so punk you think I have studs on,” he says. ”My motto is always, ‘save the genre for your momma’.”

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F O O D

D R I N K

WHISKEYTOWN, NEVADA Silver State-based Frey Ranch farms and distills spirits that are perfect for giving (and keeping)

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BY GEOFF CARTER “I like to call myself a whiskey farmer,” said Colby Frey during a tasting event at Sparrow + Wolf last July. “Our goal when we started the distillery was to showcase the grains that we grow on the farm.” Frey Ranch Distillery (freyranch.com), which Colby Frey co-founded with his wife Ashley, is in Fallon, Nevada, about 80 minutes east of Reno. The ranch was founded in 1854, but the Freys only began distilling in 2006, and they hit the ground running. Until the Freys invited me—and a couple hundred other journalists, influencers and beverage industry folk—to that ranch in September for their annual “whiskey harvest” event,

(Courtesy/Frey Ranch)

I confess that I didn’t yet have a full understanding of what “whiskey farming” meant. One extensive tour and several exquisite tastes later, I was not only fully informed, but wholly converted. Spoiled, really. I may never touch another brand of whiskey again. Frey Ranch, a 1,500-acre concern, is a small cluster of buildings—including the Frey family home—surrounded by vast fields of wheat, rye, barley and corn. Over the course of a day, we were given a full and

thorough tour of the place, from the fields to barrel storage to the whiskey still itself, which Colby Frey assembled with his master distiller Russell Wedlake working only from a single photo. (Wedlake joked that when they asked Vendome Copper & Brass Works for a bit more documentation, the manufacturer replied that if they needed more than that photo to assemble the still, then they shouldn’t have it at all. After some trial and error, they figured it out.) The Freys employ a few proprietary techniques to make their bourbon, rye and single

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barrel whiskeys, many of which I’ve forgotten; I’m afraid that my recordings from that day are of low volume and that my notetaking, frequently interrupted by eager tastings, isn’t as clear as it should’ve been. But that’s okay, because everything you need to know about Frey Ranch’s spirits is contained in Colby Frey’s guiding principles—which he succinctly expresses as “from ground to glass”—and in the bottles themselves. Frey Ranch’s flagship, a 90 proof, sustainably farmed straight bourbon whiskey, tastes as natural and unaffected as the place it was born. It offers a clean, smooth, multilayered taste—more so than many other premium whiskeys I’ve tried, and entirely above and apart from the as-seen-on-TV big brands. And it mixes beautifully with cocktails, which you can discover for yourself at Al Solito Posto, Anima by Edo, Bar Zazu, DW Bistro, the Gold-

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en Tiki, Sparrow + Wolf and dozens of other locations across the Valley, where Frey Ranch spirits are a backbar fixture. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll want to proceed directly to getting a bottle for your own home bar, or to giving one as a gift to someone who appreciates careful and diligent craft. The bottle itself is a piece of art, thanks to Ashley Frey’s branding and marketing savvy: It’s barrel-shaped, embossed with a medallion depicting the distillery barn and grain silo, and lists the latitude and longitude of the ranch. It’s in the heart of Nevada, where we know how to showcase the things we do best.

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Heritage Holidays at the Clark County Museum

Friday & Saturday, Dec. 8 & 9 5:00pm to 8:00pm Free Admission, Decorated Historical Homes Holiday Caroling Hot Chocolate & Cookies Craft Tent Visit with Santa Claus

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AWARDS SEASON Our own College Football Betting Awards return for an eighth edition recognizing outstanding performance in the sportsbook BY CASE KEEFER

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The eighth year of our annual College Football Betting Awards strikes closer to home than ever before. There’s a local, regional and Las Vegas Bowl-participating victor spread across the six established categories. Without further ado, here are the winners. The first three honors are cut-and-dried, while the final three require some subjectivity but were picked after careful consideration and closely following the betting market all season.

TEAM OF THE YEAR ARIZONA (Team with the nation’s best record against the spread) Last year’s winner: TULANE  Expectations were low for the Wildcats coming into the year, but they ended up putting together their best season since 2014 with 9-3 straight-up and 10-2 against-the-spread records. They fell just short of reaching the Pac-12 Championship Game via a two-point overtime loss to USC and a seven-point defeat to undefeated Washington, both games in which Arizona easily covered the spread. The Wildcats found a star in quarterback Noah Fifita, who began the year as the backup, and the prolific passer will lead them into a marquee matchup against Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on December 28.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD NORTHWESTERN (Team that furthest eclipsed its over/under preseason win total) Last year’s winner: TCU  The betting market was more efficient this season, as for the first time in the history of the betting awards, no team beat its win total by more than four games. Both Arizona and Northwestern went over by four games, but the former got the marquee honor. Northwestern deserves its own nod, given that many suggested it would be the worst power-conference team coming into the season. The Wildcats were rocked by a hazing scandal that resulted in the firing of coach Pat Fitzgerald a month before their first game. Former defensive coordinator David Braun became the interim head and earned the fulltime job with a 7-5 straight-up season when the betting market tabbed the Wildcats for only three wins. They’ll make their first-ever Las Vegas Bowl appearance December 23 against frequent visitors Utah at Allegiant Stadium.

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COVERING STREAK OF EXCELLENCE BALL STATE (Team with the longest current winning streak against the spread) Last year’s winner: OREGON STATE  The Cardinals won’t be playing in a bowl game, but they’ll head into next year considered a potential darkhorse Mid-American Conference championship contender after building some late-season momentum. Ball State covered its last six games behind physical, workhorse running back Marquez Cooper and a ferocious defense. That was enough to steal this category from New Mexico State, which deserves an honorable mention for having covered in eight straight games before a 49-35 loss to Liberty as 10.5-point underdogs in the Conference USA championship game.

BETTORS’ CHOICE PENN ST. (Team that made the most money through gamblers via point-spread victories) Last year’s winner: USC  The Nittany Lions scored garbage-time touchdowns in the final minutes as a big favorite to cover on three separate occasions this year. While the late-game aggression enraged many who bet against Penn State, there were far more who benefited from coach James Franklin’s apparent and long-rumored desire to use any means necessary to cover point spreads. Penn State was popularly bet in all but a pair of games this season— big-time showdowns against Ohio State and Michigan. Those were appropriately two of the only three times the Nittany Lions failed to beat the point spread, further locking up their case for this award.

(AP Photo/ Photo Illustration)

BOOKMAKERS’ CHOICE ALABAMA (Team that made the most money for the house through point-spread victories) Last year’s winner: PENN STATE  It feels unnatural to tab the best college football program of the past 15 years for this distinction, but Alabama didn’t get bet to the same level as it has in the past this season. Sentiment soured on the Crimson Tide after an early-season upset loss to Texas, and the line moved against them in virtually all their biggest games for the rest of the season—against Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU, Auburn and Georgia. Alabama went 5-1 against the spread in those games, showing this year’s group wasn’t as far off from a vintage Nick Saban-coached team as initially thought. The results also put a dent in some of the world’s biggest bettors’ bankrolls, as it takes a lot more parlay cards and small wagers to move spreads as far as they regularly shifted against the Crimson Tide.

UNDERDOG OF THE YEAR UNLV (Team that performed best with the odds stacked against it) Last year’s winner: SOUTH CAROLINA  UNLV went 5-0 against the spread as an underdog in the regular season. No other team in the nation that was an underdog at least twice stayed perfect. The Scarlet and Gray’s run ended in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game when it fell 4420 to Boise State as 2-point underdogs but their résumé here was already too far above the other contenders. UNLV also tied with Oregon and Miami (Ohio) for the second-best againstthe-spread record in the nation at 103. Coach Barry Odom’s first season at the helm was highly successful, both on the field and in the sportsbook.

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INDUSTRY

JOB DISRUPTIONS TO BE EXPECTED AS AI ADVANCES

B U S I N E S S

BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF

as Vegas’ workforce is the most at-risk for losing jobs to artificial intelligence, according to a recent report determining the U.S. cities where AI poses the biggest threat to employment. Nearly 162,000 jobs here, or about 15.8% of the workforce, are considered “at-risk” for disruption by AI, based on an analysis from ChamberofCommerce.org, which provides research and product insights and reviews for small-business owners. “With the introduction of tools like AI, obviously jobs that require more analytical skills are also at risk,” said Collin Czarnecki, a researcher with ChamberofCommerce.org, who noted that, historically, technology has primarily displaced jobs that require physical labor. “Whether it’s a bank teller, medical professional—there are, really, very few lines of work that won’t be affected by AI or automation in some way, shape or form.” The report—which looked at the 10 most atrisk occupations based on data from the World Economic Forum, and used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which cities might experience the most job losses due to AI—listed cashiers, retail salespersons and customer service representatives as the top

three at-risk occupations in Las Vegas. The next two cities with the most “at-risk” jobs were Miami and Louisville, Kentucky. Many jobs in Las Vegas, due to its nature as a tourism hub, are already at risk for being displaced by automation, Czarnecki said, such as customer-service representatives, janitors and cleaners. As technology advances, those occupations will be at greater risk of disruption. For example, he said, hotels could use AI to monitor and predict maintenance needs in guest rooms, make inventory decisions and engage with customers through chatbots or virtual assistants. “So it’s sort of a two-sided coin in the sense that it can be helpful for those types of occupations,” he said, “but as this technology continues to advance, obviously, the risk of those jobs being threatened either with reduced hours or total elimination is definitely in the picture.” Managing how enhanced technology affects jobs on the resort corridor was a sticking point last month during negotiations between the Culinary Union and resort companies on a new five-year contract. Ted Pappageorge, the secretary-treasurer for the union, said the contract includes language that gives workers “the ability to have a say in how technology impacts our work.”

(Shutterstock)

Despite an increase in automation or AI, some consumers will place a premium on human interaction or service, and some will shirk certain technologies because of security risks— like the major cyberattacks that took place at leisure and hospitality institutions in Las Vegas this year, said Andrew Woods, director of UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research. “The idea that we’re going to get rid of all human workers, I think, is overblown,” he said. What’s important to note, as well, is that AI may disrupt jobs—but it’s not going to destroy them, Woods said, citing similar technological advancements over the years that have not overrun the workforce. “Certainly technology is going to have its benefits for everyone and it’s going to have its downsides, as everything does,” Woods said. “And it’ll be interesting … to see how much consumers accept that.” In anticipation of the growth of AI, Czarnecki suggested that people in at-risk jobs take advantage of training, certifications or other opportunities that could build up their skills, and especially those that can’t be replaced by AI—including creativity, critical thinking and problem solving. Also, be willing to pivot to a new career, if necessary, he said. “It’s really just an interesting time right now, to think that it’s only been a year, really, since Chat GPT has been introduced, and we’re already seeing disruption in several different ways across various occupations,” Czarnecki said. “We’re living in this continued evolution of what disruption and job losses might look like due to AI.”

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R.E.A.C.H. (Research, Education and Access for Community Health) received a $125,000 donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to purchase equipment for its newly open Community Health Center, which serves people regardless of ability to pay, especially the Hispanic community.

GIVING NOTES Local philanthropy making a difference

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children’s Healing Center received a $500,000 donation from the Nevada State Elks Association, matched by the Engelstad Foundation’s matching grant, which is now complete for $4 million. The donations are part of a $25 million capital campaign to construct the Healing Center campus for children who are victims of sex trafficking. The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation awarded Chicanos Por La Causa $1.6 million to combat housing instabil-

ity. Starting in January, the funding will help further workforce development efforts in the state, helping more people who are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, family instability, and emotional distress in Clark County. Bank of America announced $100,000 in grants to seven nonprofit organizations: the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, Western Nevada College, the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, Skillup Coalition, The Children’s Cabinet, High Sierra Area Health Education Center and Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Cox Charities, the philanthropic arm of Cox Las Vegas, awarded $100,000 in grants to 22 local nonprofit organizations this year, including: Andson, Inc.; Asian Community Development Council; Children’s Heart Foundation; Communities In Schools of Nevada;

Sripadha Inc., a Las Vegas, NV based IT Consulting Services Firm has multiple openings for JOB ID 10961: Software Developer. Education and Experience requirements along with Remunerations as provided on the website. Travel/relocation may be required. Details at https://www.sripadha.com/.

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DISCOVERY Childrens Museum; Kline Veterans Fund; Goodie Two Shoes Foundation; Green Our Planet; Halle Hewetson Elementary School Music Program; HELP of Southern Nevada; Las Vegas Natural History Museum; Leaders In Training: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation; Neon Museum; Nevada Diabetes Association; Nevada Health Centers; Olive Crest; Project Marilynn; Sleep in Heavenly Peace; Spread the Word Nevada; The Shade Tree and United Service Organizations (USO) Las Vegas. Henry’s Place Camp & Retreat Center, named in memory of Las Vegas Metro Sergeant Henry Prendes, who was killed in the line of duty in 2006, raised more than $100,000 at its annual Country Jamboree fundraiser. All of the money raised will be used to provide weeklong camp experiences for the valley’s underserved youth in 2024.

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