2024-02-01-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

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Senior Designer IAN RACOMA Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

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ADVERTISING & MARKETING

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PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

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Artist and gallery founder Vicki Richardson (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

IN THIS ISSUE

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

PLAN YO U R WEEK D! AHEA

08 14 18 36 38

SUPERGUIDE

Check out the Vitamin String Quartet, Leanne Morgan, John Lloyd Young, Howie Mandel, Charly Jordan and much more this week.

ON THE COVER

WEEKLY Q&A

Concert, stage and screen producer Baz Halpin has been all over the Strip in recent years, and now he’s working on the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

LEFT OF CENTER GALLERY Photograph by Wade Vandervort

COVER STORY

How Left of Center Gallery quietly became an essential piece of the arts culture of Southern Nevada and a home for Black creativity.

THE STRIP

Play Playground at Luxor is a new place for grownups to act like kids—even while they’re on the job.

FOOD & DRINK

You won’t believe it’s gluten-free when you taste the fast-casual goodness of exciting new concept PowerSoul Cafe.

SPORTS

The Super Bowl is set and the Kansas City Chiefs will be looking to prove their place in the legacy of dominant NFL squads.

WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.

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SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY FEB 01 LETTUCE 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

BRUNO MARS 9 p.m., & 2/2, 2/5, 2/7, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

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

BASSWELL With Julia Kova, Wet Willy, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us. LOUD LUXURY 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup. com. KYLE DUNNIGAN 7:30 p.m. (& 2/2-2/3, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.), Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

THE ORIGINAL, THE REMIX & THE EVOLUTION: A JOURNEY THROUGH HIP-HOP 6 p.m., West Charleston Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.

VITAMIN STRING QUARTET So-called genre-benders have nothing on Vitamin String Quartet. In the last 20 years, the Los Angeles-based group has become the secret, classical sauce of TV and film soundtracks, reshaping famous pop, rock, rap and metal music into lively, string-oriented arrangements that could rival the original hits. The award-winning ensemble has a catalog of more than 300 releases and has had its covers featured on Shameless, Modern Family and, most recently, Netflix’s Bridgerton. Reader, we can assure you you’ve never heard Cardi B’s hit single “WAP” sound this tasteful. VSQ adds its own unique flourish to that song and other breakout tracks like Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” and Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” throughout the seasons. Don’t miss the chance to hear those, and many more from Bridgerton’s saucy scenes at the Smith Center. 7 p.m., Myron’s, $39-$59, thesmithcenter.com. –Amber Sampson

(Courtesy/The Smith Center for the Performing Arts)

S U P E R G U I D E

G U I D E

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 .

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FRIDAY FEB 02

DO IT ALL

PAULY SHORE 9:30 p.m., & 2/3, Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguyscomedy. com.

JOHN LLOYD YOUNG 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com. LON BRONSON BAND 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com. U2 8 p.m., & 2/3, 2/7, Sphere, ticketmaster.com. ADELE 8 p.m., & 2/3, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com. SANTANA Thru 2/4, 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com. STYX 8:30 p.m., & 2/3, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

MUSIC

LEANNE MORGAN 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticket master.com.

S U

TERROR VISION With Some Kind of Nightmare, New Cold War, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com.

HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. IOWA WILD 7 p.m., & 2/3, Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

E R

KAIVON 9 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.

DJ VICE 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.

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

(Courtesy/AEG Presents Las Vegas)

FILM: PRISCILLA 4:15 p.m. (& 2/4, 5:30 p.m.), Beverly Theater, the beverlytheater. com.

FRENCH MONTANA 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com. THIRD CULTURE 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us.

PARTY

ARTS

SPORTS

FOOD

COMEDY

MISC

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SUPERGUIDE SUNDAY FEB 04

SATURDAY FEB 03 HEATHER MCMAHAN 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

LEVEL UP 9:30 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.

U P E R

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HOWIE MANDEL 8 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com. UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. WYOMING 5 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unvtickets.com. LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE 8 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. JAMMIN’ 105.7 LOVE AFFAIR CONCERT With The Stylistics, Rose Royce, Ready For The World, Delfonics, more, 7 p.m., Orleans Arena, ticketmaster.com. GOSPEL FEST Noon, Water Street Plaza Amphitheater, cityofhenderson.com. SANTINO FONTANA 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com. EAGLES RONSTADT EXPERIENCE 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

MUSIC

ANDREAS HENNEBERG With Chris Irvin, Tris Tiffany, 9 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com. DEADMAU5 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

BIG SEAN 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com. TYGA 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com. JAMES KENNEDY 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com. AUDIEN 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

FILM: DONNIE DARKO When Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko was released in autumn 2001, friends tried to convince me that the sci-fi thriller was a philosophical work. I didn’t quite agree with that take (and I bet that if I asked those same friends what they remember about Darko today, they’d all say the same exact thing: “Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion”), but I did think that Darko was, and still is, a first-class example of creepy speculative fiction—one that’s uniquely well-suited to the Beverly Theater’s “After Dark” series. Its soundtrack of 1980s alternative hits will sound great on the Bev’s sound system; the theater’s great projector will do justice to the ghoulish details of Frank’s bunny mask; and its smart, multilayered performances, especially those of Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone and Patrick Swayze, have always belonged in an arthouse. Donnie’s coming home. 10 p.m., $10, Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater.com. –Geoff Carter

PARTY

ARTS

SPORTS

TOO MANY ZOOZ 8 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com. WAR PEGGY With The Out There, The Minges, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com. RECLAIMED TIMBER 7:30 p.m., Lee and Thomas Beam Music Center, unlv.edu. MIKE YARD With Forrest Shaw, Mia Jackson, Gabriel Rutledge, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com. MIKE ATTACK 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

FOOD

COMEDY

MISC

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LIBERACE: REAL AND BEYOND Thru 4/29, Thu.-Mon., 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Nevada State Museum, lasvegasnvmuseum.org.

THE DAN PATRICK SHOW Thru 2/9, 6 a.m., Fontainebleau Oasis Pool Deck, fontainebleaulasvegas. com. MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com.

DO IT ALL

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 .

MONDAY FEB 05 DOOMED POETRY FOR APOCALYPTIC TIMES Explore the ominous and be swept away by spoken word at Avantpop Bookstore’s Doomed Poetry for Apocalyptic Times event, hosted by notorious satirical dark poet Shwa Laytart at the Red Dwarf. This evening of spoken word showcases the works of local poets Brooke Arita-Zamora, Emily V. Ajir, Garrett James Dillon and Rick Writes, whose verses weave a tapestry of doom and apocalyptic themes that will captivate. Take in the artistry of these talents as they welcome you along a journey through the haunting landscapes of their minds. 9 p.m., free, Red Dwarf, avantpopbooks. com. –Gabriela Rodriguez

(AP Photos)

KEVIN SHAE With Brandt Tobler, thru 2/11, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com. E-ROCK 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com.

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SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY FEB 06

S U P

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. EDMONTON OILERS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

YHETI With Sloanwolf, Chieeff, 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv. com.

GIADA VALENTI 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.

MICHAEL SOMERVILLE With Dave Burleigh, Kathleen Dunbar, thru 2/8, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com.

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

WEDNESDAY FEB 07 TOPDOG/UNDERDOG Just last year, Topdog/Underdog won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Add that to the Pulitzer writer Susan-Lori Parks won in 2002, and you know Vegas Theatre Company has some quality material for a riveting show. It’s a tale of two brothers navigating identity, relationships, power and the pursuit of the American dream. Stars Jason Nious and Jamey Clay Brown bring “a depth and authenticity to their roles that will undoubtedly captivate and challenge our audiences,” said director Tom W. Jones. Emotional performances and an impactful story are guaranteed to leave an impression. Thru 2/24, days and times vary, $40, theatre.vegas. –Shannon Miller

E CHARLY JORDAN 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

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G U

JOI JAZZ ORCHESTRA 7:30 p.m., Notoriety, notorietylive.com.

DAVID STANLEY: MY BROTHER ELVIS 5 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

D E

ROGER SANCHEZ 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

MUSIC

PARTY

ARTS

SPORTS

FOOD

COMEDY

MISC

(AP Photo/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

COMPOSERS SHOWCASE 9:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

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T H E

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W E E K L Y

Q & A

P E O P L E

LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS Baz Halpin (Courtesy/Sabin Orr) Opposite page: Usher (Brian Ramos/Staff)

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Q+A

Silent House Group CEO Baz Halpin on producing residencies, Awakening and Usher’s Super Bowl performance

BY BROCK RADKE

ntertainment production company Silent House Group is not based in Las Vegas, but “Vegas has been the hotbed for us lately,” says CEO Baz Halpin. His first effort on the Las Vegas Strip was working on Cher’s concert residency at Caesars Palace, and the breakthrough of Britney Spears’ show at Planet Hollywood occurred in the early days of Silent House. “That’s when it really felt like the floodgates started to open up,” he says. “Pop residencies just ignited.” Halpin has produced or collaborated on many of those residencies, including shows starring Adele, Maroon 5 and Katy Perry. He also helped develop and launch Awakening at Wynn, and beyond Las Vegas, his company has expanded in both concert and live event production and transferring those experiences to TV and movies; Silent House produced the film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and recently took home an Emmy Award for the TV special Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love. Halpin took some precious time to discuss the evolution of Vegas entertainment with the Weekly while he continues to work on Usher’s upcoming Super Bowl LVIII halftime show at Allegiant Stadium.

What was your approach when starting out with residency shows on the Strip? You always want to think about the audience with any type of show, and for [Las Vegas], you want to think about the audience in two categories: the fans who know the artist and the catalog and can’t wait to see this artist perform, and then there’s going to be the vacationer, the tourist, people in Las Vegas who have never seen Britney Spears before so let’s go check out Britney Spears. And we try to think about residencies being different from a concert tour where fans also go to see their favorite artist but might buy tickets months in advance. In Las Vegas, tickets are often purchased when they come into town. So we try to structure the shows so they’re focused more on the greatest hits, more catalog-based, and more conceptional rather than supporting a specific album or period of time. Katy Perry’s show Play was a much more conceptual type of show; it wasn’t tied to anything. It’s something that would be evergreen

regardless of what she’s doing in her career. The other thing about Vegas is it gives you the opportunity to do things you can’t do in a touring situation. You have a theater that affords you a different sort of tools, and from the artist’s perspective, you can do something slightly more involved, challenging or technically advanced.

Awakening (Courtesy)

At this point, do you prefer to work on live stage shows or on TV and film projects? It all centers around entertainment that is usually live or recorded as live, whether it’s for broadcast or a crossover, like the Eras film with Taylor [Swift], a live touring show that became a theatrical release. I wouldn’t say I prefer one or the other. I like the variety, that you can learn things in one discipline that you can bring over into another. Awakening was a different project, a new version of a traditional Vegas production show. What was that process like, and how has that show evolved? It was incredible, certainly a dream to create a Las Vegas spectacle. When I first started coming to Las Vegas, I’d go see every show I could and I was completely in awe of the feat of putting on a show like that, the ambition. The scale of it is so gargantuan compared to anything you would do in live music. Putting on a show like Awakening is no easy feat, but you want to be challenged, to have projects that will push you. When we set out to do the show at Wynn, there were a couple things we wanted to do. One was to make it the most technologically advanced show on the Strip. And we wanted to embrace all the

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different facets that made these spectacular [shows] in Vegas so successful, while creating something that could always evolve. At Awakening, we’ve had a lot of repeat audiences, so you want to make sure you can every so often refresh the show, add new elements, chapters or scenes. You’ve worked on Super Bowl halftime performances already but this one in Las Vegas with Usher feels like expectations for entertainment are at another level. Silent House has been involved in five or six halftime shows, and it’s a show for not only the 120 million people at home, but also for the 60,000 people in the stadium. Las Vegas is such an iconic city with an incredibly solid identity. Everyone in the world knows what Las Vegas is, so to have the Super Bowl here and embrace that is great. And Usher is just the consummate performer, a real professional. He’s definitely an entertainer with a capital E. He can do things no one else can and his catalog is just mind blowing. I think he has embraced the city really fully in a way not all performers who come to Las Vegas do, really sort of set a new paradigm here. What other projects are you excited about this year? Silent House is producing the SAG Awards on Netflix, the first live awards show on Netflix, and we’re excited about that. It’s really been a phenomenal past year for us—we were nominated for a Golden Globe, we won an Emmy, and we’ve had an amazing start to 2024 and kicking it off with the Super Bowl will be great. It’s just a great time for live entertainment in general. People always have an appetite for it, even in a world where so many people live on their phones and computers day in and day out. The live experience is a unique way for people to get together and experience something communal, a rarity these days, and sports and music seem to be the two things that encapsulate the best of that communal human spirit. And the Super Bowl is an amalgamation of that.

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E N T E R TA I N M E N T

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C O V E R

S T O R Y

Vicki Richardson, founder and president of the Left of Center Gallery, holds a Bongo Mask from the Kuba People of the Congo.

ON THE COVER “Hoover Dam” by Sylvester Collier

ART PIECES

ON THIS PAGE: To Richardson’s left: “Horse and Rider” from the Bamana People of Mali. Right: “Monkey Figure” from the Mbra Society Baule Tribe of the Ivory Coast. Rear: an animal skin handmade rug from Tanzania.

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BY AMBER SAMPSON

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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y WA D E VA N D E R V O R T

Left of Center Gallery’s decades-spanning reputation as a cultural arts and education hub leaves its mark on Las Vegas

A wood “Maiden Mask” from the Igbo People of Nigeria

“What is your gallery?” It’s a question Vicki Richardson, artist and founder of Left of Center Gallery, gets asked a lot. But after some 30 years since the North Las Vegas gallery and nonprofit first opened, a better question might be, what isn’t it? To many Black and brown artists in the Las Vegas community, it’s been a stepping stone to greater opportunities. To other creatives, who’ve thrived in the arts elsewhere, it’s a home base. To art students, it’s an institute of knowledge, a space where they can expand upon and give chase to their creative whims. To the general public, it’s something of a revelation. Tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood on West Gowan Road, Left of Center Gallery may as well be on its own island. It’s easy to miss and not much to look at from the outside, but at the threshold another world awaits. Several, actually. The works of local art mavens like Justin Favela, Nancy Good, Jerry Misko, Chase R. McCurdy, Lance L. Smith and Mikayla Whitmore have all cycled through Left of Center, anointing the gallery with a spectrum of cultural experiences. Social justice ex-

hibits, such as 2021’s Bending the Arc, have also challenged societal norms, inspired reflection and demanded we change. Meanwhile, a collection of rarified African art—sculptures, masks, tapestries and more—adorns the gallery’s second floor, shaping it into a heritage-rich gala of artifacts, many of which were donated from Richardson’s own personal collection. “It’s one of those rare sites in the Valley that can transport you pretty much anywhere. I think it rivals pretty much any large museum institution anywhere I’ve been because of that careful selection and just stewardship of BIPOC vision,” says Erica Vital-Lazare, a local literary artist and College of Southern Nevada professor who sits on Left of Center Gallery’s board of directors. “I can’t even express the level of abstract imagery that’s come through there. Figurative imagery that reflects Black and brown life, of course, but then these abstract artists give me a sense of the otherworldly. Vicki’s not a traditionalist in that sense that you might equate with a gallery that’s been around for more than 20 years.” Open since the late 1980s, Left of Center Gallery became

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a nonprofit organization in 1997 and has remained a communal institution of North Las Vegas ever since. “There’s no other place that I would rather be if I were living in Las Vegas, other than on the fringes like we have been,” says the 79-yearold Richardson, who moved to the Valley more than 30 years ago. “I’ve always been unafraid to extend myself for something that I felt was valuable, something that I thought was helping other people.” That moral stance dates back decades for Richardson, who attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, a historically Black liberal arts college known for its sit-in demonstrations, which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once called, “the best organized and most disciplined in the southland,” during the civil

rights movement. Art played a role in that activism, and Richardson got firsthand experience with it. Aaron Douglas, one of the most influential artists of the Harlem Renaissance and a member of the Fisk faculty, left a lasting impression on her, a religion and philosophy major at the time. “I had a lot of admiration ... He was just fascinating and encouraging,” she says. “When he was looking over my paperwork, I had illustrations in there, and he said, ‘You should be over here.’ So I said ‘Maybe I should.’ That’s what got me from religion and philosophy into art.” Freedom, she says, resided in the art classrooms of Fisk. And as racial and political unrest ran rampant, art began to take on new power and meaning for Richardson. “It’s more than just being able to paint a pret-

ty flower, to get the technique,” she says. “It also gives you an avenue to change people’s minds, to grow yourself, to get your ideas on that paper and across to people, to challenge people when they look at your art.” Richardson would go on to instill those teachings at inner-city schools in troubled areas of the South Side, where she taught art while getting her master’s degree at the University of Chicago. At the time, she was a member of an experimental group of educators, sent in to create a multidisciplinary curriculum approach for schools being racially integrated. Richardson specifically asked to teach at the more racially diverse schools, and she would choose to invest in another when she moved to Las Vegas in 1979 to teach at Rancho High School.

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“I had a lot of people telling me ‘No, you don’t want to go to Rancho. I said ‘Yes, I do,’” Richardson laughs. “When I went there, they were taking bets on how long I would last because the last two art teachers there hadn’t stayed more than six months.” Instead of a regular classroom, she was issued a room that used to hold football equipment. “It was a storage room. No intercom, and that was before cell phones, so you didn’t really have any way to communicate with the rest of the school. It was an isolated area, but it proved to be absolutely the best area,” she reasons. “With the climate here, we worked outside a lot. Nobody messed with me. They left me alone out there. And those kids, they were so happy they had a safe place to be creative and express themselves. It was wonderful.” That emphasis on the underserved, on the unseen and the unregarded is precisely what’s helped Left of Center Gallery stand out and endure. As a Black artist who grew up in the projects of Hampton, Virginia, Vital-Lazare considers spaces like Left of Center essential to the growing generations. “Our world seemed to be circumscribed by going across the street to the corner store. The acreages of the projects itself, the playground and school. That was the scope of your world,” she remembers. “But one thing my mother had always done was take me to the museum, take me to the library, enroll me in arts programs, so that I knew … not that there wasn’t beauty where we were ... [but] that I got a case of other dimensions of beauty, other perspectives. And to also link you to other places aspirationally and geographically,” Vital-Lazare continues. “Art does that. Public art gives the viewer, particularly young viewers, space to dream. Space to imagine themselves as the artists.” The creative writing professor recalls exploring art shows in the early days of coming here, only to find that they were “so heavily infused with this western aesthetic. I felt the scope of my experience was not welcome within those frames.” Stumbling upon Richardson’s artwork, along with other Black artists at a small exhibit at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, came as a revelation. “I was like, ‘Wait. There’s Black art here. That means there are Black people here. There’s an appreciation for the community here.’ And

through that introduction I discovered the gallery community in North Las Vegas and West Las Vegas.” Richardson also immersed herself in that community through a friendship she forged with Benny Cassel, a Las Vegas artist who owned an all-in-one gallery, classroom and bookstore on Martin Luther King and Lake Mead boulevards. That intersection of art and education would eventually become the bedrock of Left of Center Gallery. “He was very, very dedicated to improving

the lives of the people in our neighborhood. He was a real inspiration to me,” she says. “When he left to go to Africa for several years, because his wife was training teachers there, he left the gallery in my hands.” In 1983, Richardson opened her own exhibition space and started asking to exhibit work in private galleries. But the initial reception wasn’t exactly favorable. Rejection was common, she says, as was feedback that the artwork was “too ethnic” to be sold. Eventually, it found a home in a Flamingo Library juried show. “At first, we didn’t get in there either. But over a period of time, they started respecting what we were doing. It’s the quality of the work and the sincerity of the work that finally got us into some of these different art competitions,” she says. “But then we said, why are we breaking our necks? We’re trying to make a statement to them that our work is worthwhile, and that’s not necessarily the way to go. I said, we’re going to do our own thing. We’re going to start our own gallery.” Richardson’s late husband Louis, an engineer and contractor who had helped build other schools, parks and fire stations in the Valley, established Left of Center Gallery on the once barren and secluded West Gowan Road. And in 1987, local artists Sylvester Collier and Harold Bradford became her co-founders. “We could see nothing but desert out of our front window and a couple of riders because it

All photographs by Wade Vandervort

“Practice, Practice,” 1987, by Sylvester Collier

A bronze “Oduduwa Head” from the Yoruba Tribe of Nigeria

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used to be a horse country,” Richardson remembers. “We met some actual Black cowboys, and we would paint them and use them as subject matter, and they loved it.” So, they had built it. But would people come? “We had to look for our artists. We had to ask around the community. We had to go and visit them. We had to convince them, in some cases,” she says. “People had art that they had done when they were in college, and it was hidden in their garage or under their bed. We were on a mission to find artists that we knew existed in this community, but had stopped doing it.” Richardson set out to make a Black gallery that would celebrate her culture. But never at the expense of anyone else. “Just because somebody did it to me, I’m not going to be exclusionary in what I put in the gallery,” she says. “I want good art.”

That ceaseless, inclusive pursuit has brought a vast pool of artists into Left of Center Gallery over the years, creating milestones for many of them. A UNLV undergrad at the time, Las Vegas artist and teacher Lance L. Smith vividly remembers their 2011 exhibit at Left of Center feeling like their first “legit art show.” “I’m grateful for that space for being so open,” says Smith, who has since shown work across the Valley and been awarded multiple artist residencies. “We think of artists like Chase R. McCurdy and a whole bunch of other artists who are coming up, we were all given the chance to walk through the threshold of a professional gallery. Those lines on your CV, they mean so much.” “It’s always been a space that I hold dear,” Smith says. “I think of it as a space of jubilation, learning, exploration. It encapsulates so

many facets for me.” Since that first show, Smith has started teaching aspiring artists how to draw at Left of Center Gallery and plans to continue in the new year. “Oftentimes gallery spaces, they get in a rut. They kind of only want to do certain things, and I think with the programming being run by Miss Vicki ... you’re seeing such variation,” Smith says. “They have life drawing classes, painting classes, exhibitions, they have town halls. It really is kind of a space where it’s a nexus. If you can get in there and really just show up, there’s so much that can be found.” Smith stresses that the desire to champion and support the women at the helm of Left of Center Gallery is a priority. Because “this is not just for us folks who are living right now. There are future generations of artists that need this space.”

C O V E R

S T O R Y

“Maternity Statue,” from the Yombe Tribe of the Congo, is part of Left of Center Gallery’s African art collection (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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Meaningful, must-see works on display at Left of Center right now “Strong Bull Scratching” by Djibril N’Doye “Riity Player Trio” by Djibril N’Doye

By Amber Sampson BY AMBER SAMPSON “A society without culture will have a hard time thriving.” “A society without culture will have a hard time That statement, by Senegalese artist Djibril thriving.” N’Doye, looms over of Center Gallery’s art That statement, byLeft Senegalese artist Djibril space, where latest Preservation Life, N’Doye, loomshis over Leftshow, of Center Gallery’sof art Art and Culture, now sits onPreservation display. space, where his latest show, of Life, The Culture, exhibit tactfully tribute to the Dogon Art and now sitspays on display. people of Mali, whose culture is currently crumThe exhibit tactfully pays tribute to the Dogon bling of under the boot of religious extremism. people Mali, whose culture is currently crumHistoric wood and sculptures created by bling under the carvings boot of religious extremism. Histhiswood indigenous West African group disappear by toric carvings and sculptures created by this the day — destroyed, vandalized, discarded. indigenous West African group disappear by the But artists like N’Doye refuse to forget them. day—destroyed, vandalized, discarded. Instead, he’slike chosen to preserve them here at Left But artists N’Doye refuse to forget them. of Center Gallery. Instead, he’s chosen to preserve them here at Left of TheGallery. works on display may as well be a window Center into West his Thethe works onAfrican displayworld. may asN’Doye well beadorns a window woodburned works inworld. showers of color. Women into the West African N’Doye adorns his in braids and fringed shawls faceofburnished copper woodburned works in showers color. Women in sunsets; prismatic patchwork braids andanother fringedweaves shawlsaface burnished copperof fabric across herweaves knees on a frame ofpatchwork wooded birch sunsets; another a prismatic of panel; one group of masked drummers appear in a fabric across her knees on a frame of wooded birch blur of shapes, the illusion of movement, panel; one groupgiving of masked drummers appear inof a urgency in their playing. blur of shapes, giving the illusion of movement, of Moreinslices beautiful Black life wrap around urgency theirofplaying. the gallery space, where N’Doye haswrap meticulously More slices of beautiful Black life around dotted drawings out of ballpoint pen. “Young the gallery space, where N’Doye has meticulously Girl Thinking,” an abstract portrait a woman dotted drawings out of ballpoint pen.of “Young Girl wearing cherry red earrings and alThinking,” an abstract portrait ofaatextured, woman wearing most three-dimensional patch of vest-like fabric, cherry red earrings and a textured, almost three-diis a stunning example of N’Doye’s mensional patch of vest-like fabric,painstaking, is a stunning ballpoint process. Her natural hair pitches example ofpen N’Doye’s painstaking, ballpoint pen forward, defying any sense of gravity. process. Her natural hair pitches forward, defying theofupper floor of Left of Center Gallery, any On sense gravity. more African beenof preserved in the On the upper life floorhas of Left Center Gallery, formAfrican of a large artifacts.inWestern more lifemuseum has beenof preserved the form instruments such as Western the “thumb piano” ofAfrican a large museum of artifacts. African and the hourglass-shaped Fontomfrom drum instruments such as the “thumb piano” and the — used to “communicate royaldrum—used messages into hourglass-shaped Fontomfrom Ashanti tribalroyal settings” — can marveled at “communicate messages inbe Ashanti tribal here, alongside made of wood, settings”—can be Congonese marveled atharps here, alongside Conhide harps and twin, horned ritual masks and peculiar golese made of wood, hide and twin, horned spiked statues the Nkisi Nkondi, ritual masks andlike peculiar spiked statueswhich like the Kongo peoplewhich used Kongo to hammer nails into to sumNkisi Nkondi, people used to hammer moninto theto ancestral inside. spirit inside. nails summonspirit the ancestral These works,and andmany manyothers, others,defined definedLeft Leftof of These works, CenterGallery Galleryasasa aplace placeofofnot notjust justpreservation preservation Center but celebration. but ofofcelebration.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

IN THE

1 NEWS

LOCAL THEATER MEMBERSHIP

The Beverly Theater has announced a membership program featuring reduced ticket prices, early access, and food and drink specials to support the nonprofit indie film house. Memberships are available in solo, duo or community packages ranging $79 to $149 per year. Sign up at thebeverlytheater.com/memberships.

BREAK FOR LOCAL COMPANIES

Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development approved more than $14 million in tax abatements for Edgewood Renewables LLC and Hard Eight Nutrition LLC in Clark County. They, along with a third company in Reno, are expected to generate more than $37 million in new tax revenues over the 10-year abatement period.

LAS VEGAS CHEFS SNAG JAMES BEARD AWARD NOMS The prestigious national James Beard Awards recognizing culinary excellence have once again focused on Las Vegas, as a handful of local chefs were named as semifinalists. Nominees advancing as finalists will be announced April 3 and winners will be celebrated at the annual awards ceremony June 10 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. Oscar Amador Edo, a finalist last year in the Best Chef: Southwest cat-

egory, is a semifinalist in the overall Outstanding Chef category for his creative work at Anima by Edo. And the pop-up bakery operation Milkfish propelled Kimmie and Josh Mcintosh into the overall Outstanding Pastry Shop or Bakery category as joint semifinalists. Three Southern Nevadans placed in Best Chef: Southwest this year—Brian Howard of Sparrow + Wolf, DJ Flores of Milpa, and Steve Kestler of Aroma Latin American Cocina. –Brock Radke

REPORT CALLS FOR STUDY OVER NEVADA TEACHER SHORTAGE CONCERNS The report presented five findings: n An overreliance on long-term substitute teachers can result in gaps in students’ learning. n Structural problems with the pipeline of behavioral health professionals contribute to shortages of providers, which can lead to the poor behavioral health of students. n The shortage of in-school behavioral health professionals poses “grave concerns” as violence increases. n Shortages of teachers and professional staff are especially high in rural areas of the state. n In urban school districts like Clark County School District, teacher vacancies are concentrated in schools with high percentages of Black and Latino students. Visit usccr.gov to read the full report. -Hillary Davis

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A new report recommends that the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights direct the federal government to study whether every child in Nevada is getting the same educational opportunities and experiences. The report, released by the Nevada Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, examines educator shortages statewide and how the lack of teachers and other school professionals creates inequities in access, quality of teaching, student learning and student discipline. In 2022-23, there were 2,922 vacancies out of 30,491 teacher and professional staff positions statewide, creating a vacancy rate of 9.6%, the report said. While it was an improvement versus the 2021-22 vacancy rate of 12.4%, it’s still above the 2020-21 vacancy rate of 8.27%.

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SPIEGELWORLD’S DISCOSHOW OPENS JULY 27 AT THE LINQ.

DROPICANA 2.0

Tropicana Avenue between New York-New York and Dean Martin Avenue is scheduled to reopen with a temporary Super Bowl setup February 1 with three lanes in each direction. Tropicana will have a final full closure leading up to “Dropicana 2.0” on February 16-19, which will also close I-15 between Russell and Flamingo Roads. TRAVEL & TOURISM

Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft and his daughter Alivia, 3, help plant a Chinese Pistache tree during an NFL Green tree-planting event January 23 at the Silverado Ranch Community Center. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

TROPICANA TO CLOSE APRIL 2 TO MAKE WAY FOR BASEBALL’S A’S After more than a half century in operation, the Tropicana will close April 2. The resort will begin closing out all hotel bookings and relocate reservations for April and beyond, according to a memo sent to employees by the property’s vice president and general manager, Arik Knowles. “On behalf of our entire leadership team, we deeply appreciate all the effort and incredible work our team has put forth during our time here—dating all the way back to the property’s debut in 1957,” the memo said. The resort is slated for demolition to make room for a $1.5 billion, 33,000seat stadium for the Oakland Athletics, who are relocating to Las Vegas to become the city’s first Major League Baseball team. The team is expected to start play at the new stadi-

HOT SHOT

um in the 2028 season. Property leadership is working with operator Bally’s Corp. to assist Tropicana employees through the transition period and provide them with resources, the memo says. It is also working with local agencies and unions to assist with unemployment benefits and employment placement, the memo says. Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Union, said Tropicana workers who receive severance will get $2,000 per service year, plus six months of health insurance. Workers who want to get a “recall” to work at a new resort that property owner Gaming and Leisure Properties has said will eventually be built adjacent to the stadium can receive only up to $15,000 in severance, he said. -Katie Ann McCarver

AIRLINES ON BOARD WITH SWIFTIES, CHIEFS KINGDOM FOR SUPER BOWL Taylor Swift was born in 1989. Travis Kelce wears jersey No. 87. American Airlines and United Airlines took notice. Whether you’re a Swiftie or a member of Chiefs Kingdom, if you need flights from Kansas City to Las Vegas and the Super Bowl on February 11, a few flight numbers might catch your eye. American’s Flight 1989 is scheduled to run twice from Kansas City to Las Vegas on February 9 and 10, both departing at 12:30 p.m. local time. And after the game, Flight 87 leaves Las Vegas for Kansas City at 12:20 a.m. local time on February 12. These aren’t regularly scheduled flights, either. It wasn’t just Swift and Kelce whose numbers are now flight numbers. There are three Flight 15 offerings, which happens to be quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ jersey. Flight 15 from Kansas City to Las Vegas is on February 8. The same flight number, this time going from Vegas to Kansas City, is offered February 12 and 13. –Associated Press

Las Vegas visitors take photos at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park on January 25. Heavy rains last year left a significant amount of water in the basin, where Lake Manly, which once filled 700 feet deep during the Ice Age, once stood. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

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D O W N T O W N

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here’s a fire out there,” someone behind me says. A number of us walk to the windows. The Weekly offices have a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Valley, from southernmost Enterprise to Frenchman Mountain, with the entirety of the Strip at its center. And whenever a plume of black smoke goes up somewhere in that broad vista, I join my coworkers in attempting to guess at its point of origin. “That’s somewhere in Winchester,” I’ll say. Or “that’s over by the IKEA.” Often, though, that smoke is rising from Downtown Vegas. And before I say anything to anyone, I take a moment to make sure that smoke isn’t coming from my neighborhood, because I’ve lived Downtown for 10 years, and I know well that it has lots and lots of old, charming EXTENDED and dangerousRESIDENCY ly flammable BY GEOFF CARTER buildings—many of which are currently sitting empty and boarded-up. Downtown fires were a regular thing last year, as constant as the seasons. On June 7, the roof of Fremont Street’s 72-year-old Lucky Motel caught fire and collapsed. On August 29, an empty commercial building at Third Street and Charleston Boulevard burned; it was leveled shortly after to prevent its collapse. The Historic Westside’s Town Tavern/Tokyo Casino building, a 68-year-old structure, was completely decimated in an October 13 blaze. An early-morning December 29 fire consumed another vacant commercial building on Commerce Street, at the north end of the Arts District. And those are just the fires that were severe enough to make news, or be seen from my office window. The City of Las Vegas is very particular about buildings left vacant for extended periods of time. The rules of their “Registration and

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HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN

Too many empty buildings in this city are ready to burn. What can we do to protect them, and the people who may be burning them?

Maintenance Program for Vacant Properties” are clear and exact, this one among them: “Specified property shall be maintained in a secure manner so as not to be accessible to unauthorized persons. Doors of all kinds, windows, gates and other openings that make the property accessible must be closed and locked... Broken windows must be reglazed or boarded.” Missy Braman, senior property manager for Dapper Companies, keeps Dapper’s vacant Downtown properties—which include the

Huntridge Theater, whose full renovation is scheduled to begin this year—in line with that City ordinance. She says it’s never as easy as boarding up the windows and doors of a vacant space when you’re dealing with people who feel strongly motivated to get inside. “It may look like it’s boarded up, but [trespassers] have tools,” she says. “They will actually take off your boards and put them back on, but with hinges on them. They can create doors, and you don’t even know it.”

That’s one of the biggest problems with ordinances like these: They’re meaningless to people who don’t read them or have compelling reasons not to read them. They’re meaningless to vandals who can’t resist an easy target; meaningless to the people shooting off illegal fireworks in Downtown yearround; meaningless to Vegas’ many unhoused people, who are looking for badly needed shelter against summer heat or winter cold; and they’re especially meaningless to the desert sun, which has been random-

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A fire in the eastern part of the Valley, July 2023. (Geoff Carter/Staff)

ly setting things on fire in this Valley since long before we moved in. The vulnerability of these buildings is a constant concern for property owners like Dapper, which goes above and beyond the City’s requirements for empty buildings with working sprinkler systems, surveillance cameras and round-the-clock security patrols … and to Downtown residents like me, who live next door to, and in trepidation for, all this historic kindling. But it’s alarmingly easy to overlook the other vulnerable entity in this set of circumstances: the tres-

passers themselves, who easily could be killed by their own actions. Case in point: The aforementioned August 2023 fire trapped three people, who were saved by fire crews; one was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Las Vegas Fire & Rescue can’t always prove what caused a fire in a vacant building, says the department’s community engagement administrator Jordan Moore. With vacant buildings and late night or early morning blazes, it’s not like witnesses are abundant. Or willing to wait around.

“In many cases, by the time staff arrives, everyone within the structure has vacated,” says Moore. But she adds, while the exact numbers can’t be conclusively proven, that “a percentage of abandoned building fires are started due to trespassers” who are trying to cook food or warm themselves. Some vacant buildings are particularly attractive targets, forcing property owners to take stronger measures. Before she went to work for Dapper Companies, Braman worked with the Tony Hsieh-led Downtown

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Project (DTP). She notes that one of Dapper’s current Downtown properties, the 74-year-old Mission Linen building next to Arts Square, once belonged to DTP. “I remember the first time we walked in; it was a village. We got chased out with a knife,” she says. Metro was called to evacuate the squatters, and DTP took care of the rest: “We ripped everything out. We had to rip everything out; there was too much you could burn.” Braman’s vigilance continues today with Dapper Companies, as she works to protect the historic buildings the developer is in the process of renovating. The Huntridge Theater is a treasure to most locals, but to some, she says, it’s a constant temptation. “We did have a fire two years ago at the Huntridge. It was about two o’clock in the morning. They cut a hole, a little mouse-hole, in [the building] to start a fire. What for? I don’t know,” she says. The building’s sprinklers quickly doused the fire, and Dapper increased its security patrols from 12 hours daily to 24. “That’s the only thing that’s really saved us,” Braman says. “It’s just constant eyes.” If you read this far hoping for solutions, I’m afraid I have to disappoint you. There’s no easy, catch-all solution to this problem, because it’s actually a bunch of big, terrible problems that need to be solved first. Las Vegas’ unhoused need to be cared for and housed, so that they won’t be tempted to take up residence in tinderboxes. Property owners need to keep a vigilant eye on their vacant buildings, to make certain they remain safely secured. And “the community can always help by being the city’s eyes and ears,” says Moore, suggesting that residents report suspected squats to City of Las Vegas code enforcement before it becomes a 911 call. And while Downtown Vegas has a concentration of those vacant buildings, the same holds true for unincorporated Clark County, Henderson and North Las Vegas, too. From experience, I can tell you that the Valley’s next plume of smoke could come from anywhere.

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EMO EVOLUTION

Show by show and song by song, Twin Cities is building its audience and refining its sound

(Courtesy)

M U S I C

C U L T U R E

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ Over a decade ago, local singer-songwriter and guitarist Macario Gutierrez quietly released his solo debut track “Dear, Departed.” This yearning ballad is a declaration of love written for the hopeless romantics of the world. Its melodic construct packs an emotional gut punch played both acoustically and at full volume, and its tearjerking effect still works today. “I released it in 2011 and people still want to hear it,” says Gutierrez. At the time he didn’t know that “Dear, Departed,” along with a number of other songs written during that period, would become part of his lifelong project, Twin Cities. “I was releasing a couple of songs here and there under my name and I decided to change it from being a solo project to Twin Cities,” says Gutierrez. “I wanted to distance myself as a person from the music.” (Strictly speaking, Twin Cities has no relation to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area; the name was inspired by mentions of another midwestern duo in Fargo, a TV show Gutierrez happened to be watching at the time.) Gutierrez quickly formed an ensemble of local musicians for this new project, released the debut EP The Winter and started playing gigs. This period in local music history is niche— back when smoking American Spirits, wearing sagging beanies and illegally tight jeans, and hanging at house shows was part of the cool guy ensemble—and it’s time-stamped by the emo/

screamo bands that dominated the scene. Twin Cities was a valve in the heart of it all, alongside local projects like Alaska, Oranges and Stolas. Soon enough, Twin Cities had stamped its “I’ve played there” card at nearly every all-ages venue the city had to offer at that time. “There hit a point where I wanted to tour—we played 58 shows in 64 days with the band Alaska,” says Gutierrez. “I quit my day job to do that and quitting was the best thing I could’ve done for myself to pursue being in a band.” That initial outing sparked a frenzy of DIY tours for Twin Cities, from 2014 to 2019. The band made out-of-state runs every couple of months, played with big names like Balance and Composure, and became a “new and notable” featured artist on Bandcamp. When Gutierrez’s career in music production took off, Twin Cities unavoidably slowed down. The band released the occasional single and played a sprinkling of live sets. But while bands, trends and friends moved on, Gutierrez stayed grounded in what he’s always known best—music. Now, he finds himself on the right side of the soundboard again, revamping Twin Cities with a permanent lineup. With Cameron Gile (bass), Dustin Elias-Odgers (keys), Mikey Haddad (guitar) and Alex Klinger (drums), the band is slowly extracting and releasing previously recorded songs that have been vaulted away for years.

“All of us were living our lives and getting our careers together and now that we’re settled in a bit, we thought, ‘Let’s get to this’,” says Gutierrez. He credits Gile with pushing the project forward with his creative content direction: Since the bassist joined, Twin Cities has taken on a newfound presence on social media by sharing TikTok and Instagram videos showcasing the band’s jam sessions, showing snippets of new releases, and dropping humorous clips from the road, like the “Barstow Burrito Latte Challenge.” More importantly, they’re dropping new music. The latest EP Better is a compilation of tracks that were composed in touch and go fashion from 2016 to 2017. The five-song extended play retains Twin Cities’ distinctive melodic guitar structures, while introducing rhythm and drum sections that hold a density and create a new exciting dynamic. To accompany the release, the band unveiled its first ever music video for “Patience,” a standout track that utilizes textural instrumentation and crescendos from its woeful starting point, teetering between a fiery place and acceptance. This is just the tip of the iceberg for Twin Cities, Gutierrez says. We should expect to hear much more from the band during this resurgence. “I’ll always have Twin Cities as an emotional outlet to release music under,” he says. “I never expect people to come to shows but it always surprises me that people still show up.”

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N I G H T S

SLUMBER PARTY

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Midnight Brunch provides late-night revelers a comfy alternative to the club

C U L T U R E

(Photos Courtesy)

MIDNIGHT BRUNCH February 2, 9 p.m., $20-$75. Downtown Cinemas, eventbrite.com.

Pillows and pajamas sound pretty dreamy after a long work week. So instead of beelining it to the bar, why not steer your evening to Midnight Brunch, a new adult sleepover party at Downtown Cinemas? “We really wanted to turn this into something people would look forward to coming to on Friday, as kind of the answer to, ‘I want to do something, but I don’t want to go to a club. I don’t want to get dressed up and deal with the crowds and the noise.’ We wanted to give you that, but at the same time have it be really comfortable,” says Brjden “Bridge” Crewe, who has also hosted numerous Content Couture fashion balls with his digital publication, Bitesized Multimedia. Mining inspiration from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Crewe created Midnight Brunch with fandom culture firmly in mind. “All the freaks would get dressed up and watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight on Saturday night and know all the words,” Crewe says. “They know the movie, but they want to come out and just kind of share in it. I thought it would be a cool idea to do that but with different movies here.” In this case, late-night

revelers are encouraged to dress down, trading Dr. FrankN-Furter’s fishnets for a silky pair of pajamas. And forget the extras at home, because Midnight Brunch provides it all—blankets, pillows, forts and even VIP beds if you spring for the $75 tickets. Testing the firmness of a mattress in a movie theater may sound absurd, but trust us, you’re going to want your breakfast in bed. Downtown Cinemas’ brunch menu, curated by Las Vegas-based Naomi’s Island Cafe, has a firm handle on bold, Caribbean flavors and applies it to everything from cheesy shrimp and grits and French toast to chicken and waffles and even the famous Bougie Burger. Downtown Cinemas’ bar remains fully stocked, so you can order your fill of mimosas and party in your PJs to the slow jams of local DJ Mai Gurl. Midnight Brunch kicks off at 9 p.m., running into the afterhours with back-to-back films biweekly on Fridays. Past sleepovers have included double features of the 2004 comedy Mean Girls and its 2023 movie-musical, as well as Friday and Next Friday. On February 2, Midnight Brunch opens with a Clueless and White Chicks night, followed by Love & Basketball and High School Musical on February 16, in celebration of NBA All-Star Weekend and Valentine’s Day. And Crewe says he’s just getting started. Right now, Midnight Brunch also uses the Downtown Cinemas space (formerly Art Houz Theater) as a proving grounds for Mario Kart video game competitions, and new programming like comedy sets and karaoke may take up other theater rooms as demand increases. Midnight Brunch is a party that can and will feel like home, so definitely don’t sleep on it.

FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS THE LAST ENCORES

APRIL 4 - 6 | OCTOBER 24 - 26

KOOL & THE GANG FEBRUARY 9 & 10 | MAY 24 & 25 AUGUST 2 & 3 | OCTOBER 4 & 5 COMEDIAN

HOWIE MANDEL

SPECIAL GUEST PREACHER LAWSON

FEBRUARY 3

#IMOMSOHARD LADIES NIGHT MARCH 2

TOM KEIFER BAND SPECIAL GUESTS LA GUNS

APRIL 11

TYLER HENRY HOLLYWOOD MEDIUM STAR OF NETFLIX - LIFE AFTER DEATH

APRIL 25

for show times and tickets

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Luxor’s new Play Playground caters to the corporate crowd BY JASON R. LATHAM

T H E

S T R I P

(Renderings Courtesy)

C U L T U R E

IN PURSUIT

“America’s Playground” has a new addition, and this one’s built for pleasure and business. Play Playground, the 15,000-square-foot “playdate” venue that’s just opened at Luxor, is tapping into our childhood memories by combining beloved favorites such as musical chairs, parachute, and “Red Light, Green Light,” with life-sized versions of the board and block games that kept us occupied as kids. There’s Perfect Popper, a timed competition in which large shapes are placed in their corresponding holes; Biggle Ball, a jumbo version of that game in which you move a pinball through a tilting maze; and the sure-to-be-popular Bullseye Bounce, in which you suit up in Velcro and get catapulted against a wall, à la Most Extreme Elimination Challenge. What the makers of Play Playground, New York-based Play Social Inc., hope will separate their venue from the competition is its appeal to the convention and meetings crowd. Much of the Play Playground marketing emphasizes team-building, the concept of “corporate recess” and PTO, “Played-Time-Off.” It’s not terribly risky to bet on business travel, as the LVCVA’s 2022 Visitor Profile Study found that nearly two-thirds of convention and meeting-goers were more interested in doing business in Las Vegas because it’s Las Vegas. Dr. Marta Soligo, director of tourism research at UNLV’s Office of Economic Development, has a word for the trend: “Bleisure.” “When I started studying tourism 20 years ago, business travel was boring, it was being stuck with your boss for eight hours a day,” Soligo explains. “Now, business travel is less about hours in a conference room and much more experiential. “It’s about hands-on, playful activities; going on a business trip but having time to engage in these leisure activities.” The pursuit of “bleisure,” she adds, extends beyond the playgrounds of the Strip and includes sporting events, nightlife, and an increased emphasis on health and wellness at resort spas and fitness centers. “[Business travelers] who come here from large urban settings, they’re tired of traffic and burnout,” Soligo says. “If you want to see the big trend right now, it’s healing the body and the mind together.” Las Vegas didn’t create spas or nightclubs or ginormous board games, but one could argue that we perfected them. Other cities may try to copy the trends—just look at NHL pregame shows—but as that visitor profile study proves, you can’t out-Strip the Strip. And with Play Playground joining the likes of Area15, the $2.3 billion Sphere, and a multitude of escape rooms, among other attractions, the city continues to distance itself from its gambling roots, placing increasingly expensive bets on collaborative experiences that boast eye-catching visuals, oversized stimuli, and repeated use of the word “immersive.” “Diversification is the key to everything, it’s the backbone of the experience economy,” Soligo says. “I’m in Italy right now, on the other side of the world, and everyone is talking about the Sphere. “Look at Area15. Talk about trendsetting. The next generation will be progressively looking for these kinds of experiences.”

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GRAND OPENING 2/8-2/10

OF BLEISURE

FEBRUARY 8TH - Military & First Responders get 20% off and one free small regular coffee - First 10 customers get a choice of free bun, Karak tea or small regular coffee PLAY PLAYGROUND Sunday-Thursday, noon-midnight; Friday & Saturday, noon-2 a.m. $37+, Luxor, playplayground. com.

FEBRUARY 9TH - UNLV students and faculty get 20% OFF and one free small regular coffee - First 10 customers get a choice of free bun, Karak tea or small regular coffee FEBRUARY 10TH - 8am Ribbon cutting with the Chamber - All tourists get 20% off and one free small regular coffee - First 20 customers get a choice of free bun, Karak tea or small regular coffee ALL DATES Big Game attendees or affiliates (with proof) will receive special promotional discounts

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ALL-AROUND D

C U L T U R E

F O O D

D R I N K

BY BROCK RADKE

PowerSoul Cafe is ready to bring tasty certified gluten-free fast food to the world—Vegas first

ina Mitchell, the entrepreneur who built Tropical Smoothie Cafe into a powerhouse chain in Southern Nevada and California, is finally ready to unveil her latest creation, and she’s doing it in a big way. PowerSoul Cafe, which Mitchell describes as the world’s first certified gluten-free fast food restaurant chain, is set to open its first two locations early this month at Tarkanian Plaza (8180 W. Warm Springs Road) and in Chinatown (3501 S. Valley View Blvd.), setting up Southern Nevada as the launching pad for a company she’s planning to grow to more than 100 stores in five years. “I’m not taking a breather until I hit a thousand stores,” Mitchell says. “The next states we’ll jump to are Arizona and California, and Texas is on the horizon. When I go on social media, there are thousands of

people saying, ‘Please, come here,’ even naming [retail] centers. We’re going wherever we can thrive.” Mitchell has been designing this new concept for nearly three years, taking years off after her Tropical Smoothie business era to travel the world and research the idea of healthier casual dining. “I wanted to do something that was actually truly healthy,” she says. “It’s not about checking off every box, no sugar or dairy, we’re not going for that. The No. 1 priority was to be certified gluten-free, to give people that option and to be able to go somewhere safe without getting sick and without having trust issues, to get anything off the menu.”

AMAZING She says consumers in Las Vegas and everywhere else seeking gluten-free dining—whether due to food allergies, celiac disease or just for personal choice—have been virtually disregarded by the marketplace. “I’m catering to an audience that has been shamed because people assumed it was fake, or just ignored the choice for whatever reason. I have been gluten-free by choice for a very long time, but I’m very aware of

how foods affect me. Allergies, celiac, these things are real. This is definitely not a fad, not something someone made up.” Key to PowerSoul’s success will be the menu’s ability to offer not just healthy alternatives, but delicious dishes. Smoothies, bowls, pizza, breakfast dishes, desserts and more will be available, including the Full Throttle açaí bowl with fruit, vegan protein and optional almond butter or dates; barbecue chicken, parmesan truffle or cheeseburger pizzas; the self-explanatory Sausage Waffle on a Stick; and savory baked snacks called Shortys stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese or spinach, coconut milk, cashews and mozzarella. “My standard is that you can’t tell it’s gluten-free,” Mitchell says. “I want you to prefer this over the other one. I’ve had 77 people try the entire menu, and the one thing they say is, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe this is

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(Courtesy)

gluten-free.’ They say it so often we included it in our branding. I want it to be amazing or I will not have it on the menu.” To celebrate the grand openings—and you can stay up to date on all the plans at powersoulcafe.com—the first stores will offer free smoothies and food for a week to customers who donate $1 or more to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. Partnering companies including Orlando Foods, Caputo, Patagonia, Sysco, Dole and Daring are donating products to enable the giveaways, which Mitchell believes will surpass standard buy-one-get-one programming you’d find at most restaurant openings. “Seven days of free [food and drinks] is bold, but I think it’s the best way to introduce something new. If you’re confident in it, give it away for free,” she says. “And the best part is we’re raising money for the Boys & Girls Club.”

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

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S P O R T S

C U L T U R E

DYNASTIC DREAMING

The Kansas City Chiefs could complete one of the best runs in NFL history with a win against the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs on the field before the AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens. (AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

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BY CASE KEEFER

he Chiefs barely had time to brush off the confetti as they exited the field as Super Bowl champions following a win against the Eagles a year ago in Glendale, Ariz., before debate raged on their accomplishment. No one in NFL circles really questioned Kansas City’s status as the 2022-2023 champions but plenty challenged whether the team was historically great. The consensus seemed to be that the Chiefs hadn’t yet earned the right to be considered a dynasty despite a pair of Super Bowl victories over a four-year span. The teams considered the best in NFL history—the 2000s Patriots, 1990s Cowboys and 1970s Steelers— had all won at least three titles with the same core, including back-toback championships. “We had a lot of doubters from the beginning of the season,” Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed said. “No one believed in us, the champs. But we stayed at it, had a lot of adversity. We kept going and look at what we’re at now.” Kansas City can eradicate any remaining doubt regarding its all-time status at 3:30 p.m. February 11 at Allegiant Stadium. That’s when Super Bowl 58, Las Vegas’ first-ever “Big Game,” kicks off with the Chiefs looking to thwart the San Francisco 49ers. Kansas City will of course want to prove its worthiness on the field, but there’s a case to be made that merely reaching the Super Bowl again cements its current run near the top of the annals. The Chiefs have already become just the third team ever— joining the 2010s Patriots and the 1990s Buffalo Bills—to make the Super Bowl four times in five years. “You don’t take it for granted,” Chiefs quarterback and two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes said. “You never know how many you’re going to get to or if you’re going to get to any. It truly is special, just to do it with these guys after what we’ve been through all season long, guys coming together. I told them, ‘The job is not done.’ The job now is to prepare ourselves to play

a great team in the Super Bowl and try to get that ring.” On paper, the 49ers look like the best team the Chiefs have squared off against for a championship— even a cut above the 2020-2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who pummeled Kansas City 31-9 in Super Bowl 55. San Francisco had the ninth-best regular season since 1981—as far back as reliable data stretches—by the DVOA ratings, a preeminent all-encompassing metric measuring team quality on a play-by-play and drive-by-drive basis. And the 49ers have a score to settle with the Chiefs. Kansas City’s sort-of, probably dynasty officially began in Miami on February 2, 2020, when it overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat San Francisco 31-20 in Super Bowl 54. “I wasn’t here in (the last Super Bowl season) obviously,” 49ers second-year quarterback Brock Purdy said. “But you can tell the guys who have been here are like, if anybody, it would be special for them to play against (the Chiefs). I’m excited to

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

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

SUPER BOWL OPENING NIGHT

 The only public event of Super Bowl week featuring the teams takes place at 5 p.m. February 5 at Allegiant Stadium with “Opening Night” festivities. Once known as “Media Day,” the event has transformed into a spectacle featuring live entertainment, team introductions and special surprises. Fans can also download the NFL One Pass app to listen live to the full 50-minute media sessions with the stars of each team from the stands. Tickets are $30 and available at superbowl.com/openingnight.

be a part of it.” San Francisco has seven of the same starters this year as it did on the 2019-2020 Super Bowl team—wide receiver Deebo Samuel, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, edge rusher Nick Bosa, edge rusher Arik Armstead, linebacker Fred Warner and linebacker Dre Greenlaw. That’s actually a high number for NFL standards, given how quickly rosters turn over. The Chiefs, by contrast, only retain three starters from their last Super Bowl against the 49ers, though they are almost inarguably the three pillars of the franchise— Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones. Cornerback Charvarius Ward has

swapped sidelines, signing with the 49ers in 2022 after winning a ring with the Chiefs. The coaching matchup remains the same, with San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan squaring off against Kansas City’s Andy Reid. “I’ve already got a pretty good idea of how it’s going to look,” Shanahan said. “They’ve been doing it a while. Since we met them in ’19, it seems like they’ve been back every year since. We’ve been trying real hard to get back to that moment and been close a number of times, but this time we got it done. We’ve got two weeks to prepare and I’m sure it’s going to be a hell of a game.” Last year’s Super Bowl set a high bar to clear, as Mahomes had to rally the Chiefs back with a late, game-winning drive to knock off the Eagles 38-35. They came into this season as the championship favorite again, alongside the 49ers at the top of betting boards, but failed to live up to the hype most of the year. Kansas City was only the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, being forced to win two straight road playoff games (at Buffalo and Baltimore) for the first time in Mahomes’ career to reach the Super Bowl. The Chiefs have ascended when it matters, and if they can do it for one more game, this run will rightfully be called one of the most successful in NFL history. “It’s tough back-to-back-to-back seasons,” Reid said. “We’ve played a lot of football games. You’ve got to work through that mentally and it’s not an easy thing. I’m so happy for the guys and how they handled that.”

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VEGAS INC BUSINESS

2 .1 . 2 4 ECONOMY

WHAT GOES IN TO ESTIMATING AN EVENT’S ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE CITY BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER

B U S I N E S S

VEGAS INC STAFF

bout three years ago, as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority made a bid to host the city’s first Super Bowl—now just days away—it commissioned local analytics firm Applied Analysis to create an economic impact statement on the event. The report’s findings forecasted that Super Bowl 58 would have a net incremental impact of $799 million on the Las Vegas community, as well as a fiscal impact, or public revenue impact, of $62 million. “I think it will be measured among the largest, if not the single largest event in Southern Nevada’s history,” Jeremy Aguero, principal analyst for Applied Analysis, told Vegas Inc. When asked to describe how Applied Analysis conducts an economic impact study like that one, Aguero said the firm takes LVCVA survey data— including that of visitor spending and visitor demographics—and then benchmarks it back to “known values,” or verifiable data, like room-tax data, gaming-tax data and more. “That is to say, if you tell me that you spend $100 a night on a hotel room—if the average visitor spends $100 a night—we need to multiply that times the number of visitors, and get a sense of whether that’s the right amount of room revenue in the market,” he said. Analysts then look at the spending profile of people who visit Las Vegas for special events, such as UFC fights, NASCAR or the National Finals Rodeo. That gives them an idea of the difference in spending between traditional leisure travelers, meeting and convention travelers or someone that’s coming for a game like the Super Bowl. Analysts only count “incremental visitation,” Aguero emphasized. “If someone says, ‘Well, look, I was in Las Vegas and I decided to go to that UFC fight because I was just in town and I wanted something to

Allegiant Stadium in preparation for Super Bowl LVIII. (Brian Ramos/Staff)

do,’ we don’t count that as an impact,” he said. “Because that person was already in town, and maybe they would have spent that money on something else.” There’s also a secondary impact, he said, which includes supplier purchases: People who are hired locally to help with security, landscaping or anything else related to the Super Bowl. Between a visitor spending estimate of $515 million and $100 million forecasted for event operations and support, the gross direct spending impact—when the number was first calculated for the report in 2020—totaled $615 million. Additionally, wages and salaries from the Super Bowl and related activities will trickle down into the community, Aguero said. “Those workers spend those dollars at doctors’ offices or restaurants or movie theaters or, I guess, anywhere else within the Valley,” he said. “And those are called ‘induced impacts’ associated with that.” According to the report, the ripple-effect forecast includes the indirect impacts, or vendor purchases, and the induced impact, or employee spending. Those two together total $180 million. The total impact number for events like the Super Bowl, or the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, comes from the combination of the direct, indirect and induced impacts, Aguero said,

and takes into account a displacement rate—like the impact of people who would typically come to Las Vegas opting not to, because of the Super Bowl hoopla. Nicholas Irwin, an assistant professor of economics at UNLV, said he believes Las Vegas will not see much of a negative impact from the Super Bowl, especially because the city is so well-equipped to handle big events compared with its peers. In other Super Bowl host cities, the massive sporting event is oftentimes disruptive to the local community, and some businesses may even become inaccessible because of everything happening around them, Irwin said. In Las Vegas, that’s not much of a concern. “We’re good at entertainment, and increasingly we’re becoming very good at sports entertainment—we’re marrying the two,” he said. “So we know how to handle a big influx of people. We know how to accommodate them, get them rooms; we know how to feed them and entertain them a lot better than other places do.” Hindsight is always 20/20, Aguero said in regard to whether the forecasted economic impact may come in over or under the actual number. Luckily, both fiscally and economically, the tendency is for projects to outperform expectations, Aguero said, and he thinks Super Bowl 58 will, too.

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VEGAS INC BUSINESS

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FINANCE

who had similar values as mine. And eventually, my network grew stronger and referrals began to increase.

GUEST COLUMN

Mastering the art of impactful business relationships: A guide to success in the vibrant landscape of Las Vegas BY BERNARD BERMUDEZ

id you just relocate to Las Vegas? Are you finding it difficult to establish meaningful relationships? Is it becoming a challenge when meeting new people, and finding out that they are already connected to who they need to be connected to, making it nearly impossible to offer the service or product that you are marketing? Or, are you a longtime resident and struggling to make new contacts as you attempt to expand your professional network? As a commercial lender and business relationship manager, my responsibility to my firm is to actively solicit and service prospective entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. This includes producing a variety of commercial loans, as well as generating and managing a portfolio of business and corresponding relationships, while seeking new accounts through calling efforts, marketing and referrals. I am passionate about people and playing this role, while serving my community is something that I really enjoy. Securing friendships with the local commercial and nonprofit space is just icing on the cake. Las Vegas caught me by surprise, initially. This town has a big-city feel with small-town vibes—everyone knows one another. It is a close-knit community. Looking back, I remember wishing that I had taken a crash course in relationship building in an area like Southern Nevada before I decided to embark on a banking career in this city. So here, I’ll

offer that crash course. There are three things that every relationship should be based on, which I wish I’d known when I moved here. Keep it real Just be real and be you. Be purposeful: You are an interesting person. Figure out your personal brand. Ask yourself, “What makes me different from my peers?” Creating your personal brand is important in a city like Las Vegas, since so many people are transplants from elsewhere. As a result, this is the ideal place to be different. Take inventory of what you want your personal brand to look like. Then, ensure moving forward that you are transparent and consistent in executing that brand across all social media platforms and while engaged in community efforts. What do you care most about in life? Communicate your values clearly and consistently deliver on any promise that you make. This will ensure that you are perceived as being genuine and will help build trust one relationship at a time. Also, find commonalities between your personal brand and your company brand. Be unapologetic in your marketing efforts. Your pictures, any discussions you have with others and any public speaking engagement that you do should include a discussion around these values and culture. Collaboration of values Make sure that you are clear on what your values are. Are they lined up with

the company’s values? What drives you to perform at top levels each day? Do others on your team embrace these as well? It’s helpful when others in the community meet your colleagues, and can say with certainty that the values carried by each individual representing your company brand match up with your personal brand. This was an important lesson for me to learn. And once I did, it became so much easier engaging with authenticity in the community. As I got to know each new connection, I learned what motivated each person. Some said it was their family, others enjoyed working hard to serve their customer base. I tend to focus on these non-negotiables during my discussions. This became critical as I navigated through the number of people at events. I realized that focusing on collecting business cards at an event wasn’t as important as I got more connected to the community. Rather, it was more important to find an individual or two who lined up with my values. I always found commonalities. I looked for people to hang out with, and those were usually the ones who I was interested in following up with and having additional one-on-one time with. When I started focusing on quality over quantity, engaging with like-minded professionals became much more fun and so much easier. The contacts I made became so powerful that eventually they would introduce me to other people in their network. They knew what was important to me, and seemed to line me up with others

Mutually beneficial relationships Put the focus on the person you are connecting with. I rarely talk about myself in new meetings, unless asked. Pay attention to things that are important to the other person. Look for ways to offer help to them and their organization. Would an introduction to someone in your network be helpful? My main focus is to make myself invaluable by offering assistance, advice and support to anyone in my network. This creates authenticity and shows that you are invested in the success of others. I also research whoever I am meeting. During any follow-up meetings, find any mutual connections that can help strengthen the relationship or things that the new contact is deeply passionate about. In-house relationships are equally important. My relationships with my colleagues, and even my manager, became more important as I got older. When relationships are based on a foundation of mutual understanding and shared principles, they are far stronger—and this applies to relationships between people, and between firms and their clients. Teaming up and being guided by human touch and introduction by people who are trusted makes this process much more pleasant for everyone. Focus on that personal touch and having discussions that have nothing to do with the daily grind of the business world. Consider sponsoring a community event, providing clients with entertainment, sending text messages, or better yet cards to mark holidays/special occasions, or just sparking up a sincere and meaningful personal conversation. Las Vegas is a special place and as we grow our community by being purposeful and collaborative, we can create a value-driven ecosystem. Bernard Bermudez is a senior vice president, relationship manager at Enterprise Bank & Trust. He has nearly 30 years of experience in relationship banking.

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

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The City of Henderson announced the reaffirmation of its AA+ bond rating from Standard and Poor’s Global. The S&P credited Henderson’s growing and diversifying economy, strong pace of residential and commercial development and strong financial reserves bolstered by experienced management as strengths that led to the AA+ rating.

workforce development, education and content creation infrastructure at UNLV’s Harry Reid Research and Technology Park. Nevada Studios is conceptualized as the primary studio complex of the proposed 34-acre Las Vegas Media Campus, incorporating soundstages and other content creation components.

VEGAS INC NOTES

Time Equities Inc., a diversified real estate investment and development company, purchased Boulder Crossing, a multitenant shopping center at 5500 Boulder Highway. The center is 92% leased with tenants including Planet Fitness, Metro PCS and a mix of other services and retailers, all anchored by an Albertsons.

CleanSpark, a Bitcoin mining company headquartered in Henderson, promoted Taylor Monnig to senior vice president of mining. He focuses on the operations of the company’s data centers along with developing the technology that goes into them. Taylor founded TMGCore, where he previously served as chief operating officer.

Highlights of the best in business

A new studio alliance combines the experience of The MBS Group and national legacy developer Birtcher Development, originators of the Nevada Film Tax Infrastructure Act proposal that establishes

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona appointed Jhone Ebert, superintendent of public instruction in Nevada, to the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for the Nation’s

Report Card. The Nation’s Report Card, also known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, is the only nationally representative assessment of student achievement. Ebert began her career as a math teacher in the Clark County School District and has served as the chief state school officer under both Democratic and Republican governors in Nevada. Bank of Nevada announced the promotions of Melanie Maviglia and Kate Zavala-Duran to senior directors of business banking. Maviglia has spent 34 years in the banking industry assisting clients in Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City. Zavala-Duran has been in banking for nearly 20 years, the majority at Bank of Nevada. Both will continue management of their business banking portfolios while expanding business development in commercial, industrial and Small Business Administration lending.

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Celebrate

Black History Month at the Library District Kemet in the Desert Lecture Series Lecture • Adults Fri. & Sat, Feb. 9 & 10 @ 7 p.m. West Las Vegas Library

The Original, The Remix, and The Evolution A Journey Through Hip Hop Lecture • Teens & Adults Thu., Feb. 1 @ 6 p.m. West Charleston Library Step Into Jazz: Billie Holiday and her Powerful Performance of the Song Strange Fruit Arts & Crafts • Tweens Mon., Feb. 5 @ 4 p.m. West Las Vegas Library Capturing Dreams on Camera A Filmmaking Journey Lecture • All Ages Tue., Feb. 6 @ 6:30 p.m. Windmill Library

Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood Arts & Crafts • Teens Fri., Feb. 2 @ 4:30 p.m. West Charleston Library Wed., Feb. 14 @ 3 p.m. Summerlin Library

Pete Taylor - Conversations with a Cowboy Lecture • All Ages Thu., Feb. 15 @ 4 p.m. Windmill Library

Summerlin Library Black History Heroes Bingo Games • Tweens Mon., Feb. 26 @ 4 p.m. West Las Vegas Library BHM: Garret Morgan Saves the Day Storytime • Kids Wed., Feb. 21 @ 4 p.m. West Las Vegas Library

Scan for even more events & programs in February.

William Wilkerson: Illuminations Gallery Reception • Teens & Adults Sun., Feb. 4 @ 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. West Charleston Library

Black History Month Watercolors Arts & Crafts • Adults Tue., Feb. 6 @ 4 p.m. West Charleston Library Katherine Johnson and the Hidden Figures of NASA Class • Kids Wed., Feb. 7 @ 4 p.m. West Las Vegas Library Black Artist Appreciation Discussion Group • Teens Thu., Feb. 8 @ 4 p.m. West Las Vegas Library

Soulful Blues Music with Dennis Jones Band Live Performance • All Ages Fri., Feb. 16 @ 7 p.m. West Las Vegas Library Sat., Feb. 17 @ 7 p.m. Windmill Library Sun., Feb. 18 @ 3 p.m.

Alyssa Harris Live in Concert A Tribute to the Music of Motown & Stax Live Performance • All Ages Sun., Feb. 25 @ 3 p.m. Summerlin Library

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BACKSTORY

P H O T O G R A P H Y

(Brian Ramos/Staff)

READY TO GET RUFF | NEVADA SPCA Lady Luck, an upright resident of the Nevada SPCA, has been chosen to appear in the 2024 Puppy Bowl during the weekend of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. (In fact, the Nevada SPCA is only steps from the stadium, and full of many cuddly players ready for team commitments.) No matter the outcome of the Puppy Bowl, with her winning form, Lady Luck is sure to dominate the field. –Geoff Carter

THE BLACK CROWES FRIDAY & SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 9 & 10

YÄCHTLEY CRËW The Titans of Soft Rock

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 16 & 17

AMY GRANT SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 17

HERE TO Scan & see how Palms does entertainment.

4321 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103

CIRCA SQUARES

$1 MINIMUM BET & $100K MAX PAYOUT

P IC K Y O UR O W N N UM B E R S

D OW N LOA D, F U N D & B E T A N Y W H E R E I N N E VA DA

7 CO N V E N I E N T LO C AT I O N S !