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unlock your appetite.
Photograph by Wade Vandervort
Gamers are convening at the Las Vegas Convention Center for EVO, the world’s largest video game fighting tournament.
Local
tard
As the Las Vegas Monorail celebrates its 20th anniversary, what’s in store for its
The Marías stop at the Chelsea, sharks come out at Golden Nugget and more happening this week.
Seven position battles to watch as the Raiders open training camp in Southern California.
SUPERGUIDE
NATTALI RIZE
With Kumar & The Original Fyah, 7 p.m., Taverna Costera, posh.vip
NBA SUMMER LEAGUE Thru 7/22, times vary, Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com
SCHOOL OF ROCK THE MUSICAL Thru 7/20, 8 p.m., Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, supersummer theatre.org
PUBLIC ENEMIES: THE OUTLAWS AND THE FBI 7 p.m., Mob Museum, themob museum.org
MORGAN MEDALLION
CLASSIC CHARITY HORSE SHOW Thru 7/21, times vary, South Point Priefert Pavilion, morganmedallion. com.
THURSDAY JUL 18 DO IT ALL
LEE LANIER: YOU WRITE THE STORY Thru 8/4, times vary, East Las Vegas Library, the librarydistrict.org
HUMAN NATURE 6:30 p.m. (& 7/1921, 7:30 p.m.), South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com
PRESLEY & TAYLOR 8 p.m., Stoney’s North Forty, tixr.com
If there were a playlist for the modern-day hopeless romantic, a good chunk would be made up of The Marías’ discography. Their 2017 debut EP Superclean, Vol 1 is bound in capturing a soft essence of love, relationships and self-exploration through the band’s bilingual, dream-like sound imbued with a universal nostalgia. The band’s latest release, sophomore album Submarine, continues this tradition, blending sultry psych-rock influences with introspective lyrics that are brought to life by frontwoman Maria Zardoya’s velvety vocals. While The Marías are best known for love songs, the new project marks a new era, sans the rose-tinted glasses as the material is influenced by a breakup between Zardoya and the band’s drummer and producer, Josh Conway. But pressure makes diamonds and that’s exactly the case here, as they share another deeply personal and artistically moving chapter. 8 p.m., $42+, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
–Gabriela Rodriguez
LOS BUKIS
8 p.m., & 7/20, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE
With Starship, 8 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com
TYE TRIBBETT
7:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
A THOUSAND HORSES
10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, tixr.com
ANJUNADEEP: OPEN AIR
8:30 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, area15.com.
GOOD RZN
With Dos Lonely Boys, 7 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv. com
CALABRIA FOTI
With Bob McChesney, 7:30 & 8:45 p.m., & 7/20, Vic’s, vicslasvegas. com
As Brazilian icons go, Os Mutantes sits in a league of its own. The ’60s psychedelic-rock trio, led by the late Rita Lee Jones, stood at the forefront of the Tropicalia movement, conjuring sounds that were both transcendent and defiant of the times. The band’s 1968 self-titled debut entered the atmosphere like a noisy, outlandish meteor. It was puzzling in tone, steeped in samba, fuzzed-out rock grooves and playful jingles Brazil had yet to hear before. Today, Os Mutantes remains a towering influence in psychedelic circles, and the band has broadened its reach considerably in the United States. Os Mutantes has played Vegas on several occasions but there’s no telling how long this legacy band will continue, so catch it while you can. 7 p.m., $25, Swan Dive, swandivelv.com. –Amber Sampson
RON WHITE
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com
TOMMY LAMA
8 p.m., Veil Pavilion, silvertoncasino. com
SILVER STATE SUMMER BREWFEST
4 p.m., Tuscany, eventbrite.com
THE CHAINSMOKERS
With Charly Jordan, 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
TIËSTO
GUCCI MANE
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.
RÜFÜS DU SOL
With Sean Doron, 10 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial. com
ZEDD
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com
ILLENIUM Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
GORGON CITY
11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com.
KASKADE
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
COLIN JOST & FRIENDS
9 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
SUNDAY JUL 21 MONDAY JUL 22
SHARK DAYS
TV’s Shark Week may have wrapped but the Golden Nugget is just getting started. One of the coolest places to observe the oceanic predators, the H2O Pool aquarium at the heart of the Downtown hotel, is hosting chats with divers and biologists, fish feedings, scavenger hunts and other activities between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. through July 28. The Chocolate Box will be serving up shark cupcakes and you can get a selfie with Sharkey on the pool deck before you take a trip down the waterslide for a quick closeup with the real thing. Times & prices vary, Golden Nugget, goldennugget.com. –Brock Radke
JEFF DUNHAM
8 p.m., Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com
LOUIE THESINGER
7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
CRUMBCATCHER
With About You, Kewk, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com
GREEN VELVET
11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
LIL JON
11 a.m., Wet Republic, taogroup.com
DIPLO & DILLON
FRANCIS
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
KEHLANI
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
8 p.m., the Barbershop, thebarber shoplv.com
DJ ROMEO
10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
DREW DUNN
With Amy Miller, Ty Barnett, Matthew Broussard, thru 7/28, 7 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticket master.com
RIKI RACHTMAN: ONE FOOT IN THE GUTTER 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventbrite.com
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY JUL 23
WEDNESDAY JUL 24
BENNETT COAST
7 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebeverly theater.com
FRANKIE MORENO
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS Thru 7/25, 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com
CROWJANE
With Spelling Hands, Radio Vampire, 8 p.m., Sin Wave, dice.fm
DOWNLINK & DIESELBOY
With MGMA, 10 p.m., Discopussy, posh.vip
WAKA FLOCKA
10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com
LOUD LUXURY 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
ROD STEWART
7:30 p.m., & 7/26-7/27, the Colosseum, ticketmaster. com
QUASI
With Je rey Lewis, 7:30 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com
DAVID STANLEY: MY BROTHER ELVIS
5 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster. com
MÙA HÈ RUC RO
8 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv. com
DILLON FRANCIS
10 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
WORLD OF DRUM AND BASS
9 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com
JEWEL & MELISSA ETHERIDGE
7:30 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com
A KNOCKOUT RETURN
Video game tournament EVO
is on track to be the best it’s ever been
BY AMBER SAMPSON
The largest video game ghting tournament in the world isn’t pulling any punches this year. As the annual Evolution Championship Series (EVO) descends on Las Vegas for the 18th time, fans from around the globe will witness history.
“I don’t think there’s been an open bracket competition larger than what EVO 2024 is going to be in the history of competitive gaming,” says Rick Thiher, general manager of EVO. “This is tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of people descending on Las Vegas … for the love of ghting games.”
More than 10,000 competitors will attend EVO at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall on July 19-21, crushing records as the largest esports tournament to date. That alone should be enough to prove EVO’s on track to be the best it’s ever been, but
there’s more: Thiher says this year’s tournament will be the rst three-day convention at EVO in over a decade, and after years of bouncing from casinos to convention spaces across the Strip, it’ll return to the Convention Center for the rst time since 2016.
“It’s going to be a very new, very di erent EVO experience,” Thiher says. “But there’s lots here that hearkens back to some of the earliest EVOs pre-Mandalay Bay, where it’s one giant show oor, it’s one ticket, it’s one choose-yourown-adventure experience.”
In recent years, Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay housed EVO’s Grand Finals, but the Convention Center’s new West Hall will see a mega transformation for the competition, with stadium-seating and a main stage being installed to replicate a true nale experience.
“The [Convention Center]’s
EVO
July 19-21, $75 - $225, Las Vegas Convention Center, evo.gg
All Photos
Courtesy of Evolution Championship Series/Stephanie Lindgren, Li Hoang and Robert Paul
state-of-the-art West Hall is the ultimate backdrop for EVO with its contemporary design and innovative technology,” Lisa Phelps, director of trade shows and convention sales at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), said in a statement.
“The 1.4 million-square-foot space has created opportunities for EVO to enhance the attendee experience, including an expanded show oor and other upgrades to fan-favorite experiences.”
The LVCVA Research Center projects that roughly 20,000 people will gather for this year’s EVO, accounting for a total economic impact of more than $40 million.
A Las Vegas staple since 2005, EVO has managed to stitch itself into the fabric of the video gaming community here, similarly to how the city embraces mainstream events like National Finals Rodeo. Last year, EVO’s
founders were awarded the key to the city, and August 6 o cially became EVO Day.
“It’s ridiculously big, but it’s big for a good reason,” says Hieu Van Le, founder of the Nevada Esports Education League. “It’s video gamers coming together to love what they do and play against each other. Not just for fun, but to see who’s the best of the best.”
Van Le worked with EVO on Nevada’s rst ghting game circuit, giving 14 local nalists free tickets to compete in this year’s tournament. Growing up, Van Le never went to EVO because it was too expensive and his parents didn’t understand the appeal. “I used to be the boy from Chinatown. My parents told me never to play video games again. And I would hide under the sheets playing with my Game Boy SP. I loved video games,” he says.
Today, people from around the
world attend EVO and millions more watch online, eager to see their favorite players face o in tense, white-knuckled games of Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1, Tekken 8, Guilty Gear Strive and more.
Thiher says. “Having that lan-
Nicolas, two Las Vegans who previously served as EVO referees and will now compete in its Tekken 8 bracket (thanks to Van Le’s circuit), started attending EVO in 2012 as teens and have been going ever since.
Hwoarang, a Tekken ghter with a similar Taekwondo journey to his own. That’s what Labajo says she loves most about ghting games: the ability to see yourself in your badass character.
“Back then, it was in the ball-
“Back then, it was in the ballrooms of Caesars [Palace],” says Labajo, who will again referee at EVO this year. “It wasn’t taking up a whole Mandalay Bay Convention Center, and not with the 10,000plus people that we’re getting nowadays. It was very grassroots.”
“The spectacle of it, the special moves, the way that you ght—I can’t do that in real life, obviously. One, I probably don’t have the physical capabilities. And two, it’s probably illegal. But it’s just being able to put myself in there,” Labajo says.
rivalry side of it.”
“Two cool things happen when you learn a ghting game. You learn a discipline, you learn everything that comes with putting into that discipline and improving upon yourself and being able to test yourself with other people. But you learn a language at the same time,” Thiher says. “Having that language so exclusively to this genre of gaming means that anytime you meet someone else that knows how to speak that language, you have an excuse to speak it. That’s that camaraderie component. And the competition component is right there next to it too, so you get the rivalry side of it.”
Shantell Labajo and Erwin
the series shortly after his uncle recommended checking out put
The growth has been steady. Thiher calls the current state “a renaissance period,” as new installments from beloved ghting game franchises come out. Tekken 8, with its realistic character models, over-the-top combos and stylish brawlers, remains a stalwart of the genre. Nicolas jumped into the series shortly after his uncle recommended checking out
In preparation for EVO, Nicolas says he’s competing in local tourneys at Velocity Esports, the like as out,”
In preparation for EVO, Nicolas says he’s competing in local tourneys at Velocity Esports, the Peoples’ Card and traveling out of state to compete at events like DreamHack Dallas. “You want to get as many games as you can without getting burned out,” he says. Labajo echoes that advice, adding that she’s hitting the gym, meditating and learning how to steel her nerves under competitive
meditating and learning how to steel her nerves under competitive
pressure. It’s easy to lose your composure at EVO’s Grand Finals with aisles upon aisles of fans watching. “That whole room is vibrating,” Nicolas says.
“You’ve got a crowd behind you possibly cheering against you. The monitor setup might not be as ideal, maybe it might have a little bit more of a latency to it.
Then there’s the stakes at hand,” Labajo says. “Your ego wants to prove that you’re good at the game, that you’re better than this other person and you feel that there’s something at stake there. That’s where people get nervous.”
EVO being signi cantly larger this year also means competitors and spectators can take a break from the ght, too.
Thiher says the community will have even more to do than ever before, from exploring EVO’s art museum, featuring more than 100 works from all of the game’s fran-
chises, to learning about the last 30 years of ghting game history at the Arcade Stick Museum and sparring in games on the show oor. With EVO approaching almost 20 years in Vegas, Thiher has had the privilege of watching the fandom have fun and grow up doing it.
“There’s a reason why when you go to EVO, and you sit down to compete and you’ve got a 50-year-old man, and a lot of times now he’s brought his 12-year-old kid. And she’s also sitting down to compete right next to him,” Thiher says. “It’s still generations of testing themselves against the world. That’s what makes ghting games special to me.
“That’s part of what has made EVO special in the ecosystem, and as long as we can continue to really have a place to celebrate that, I think there will always be a good cause for EVO to be here.”
SCAN HERE FOR TICKETS
Local frozencustard options are an essential summertime treat
PHOTOGRAPHS BY WADE VANDERVORT
Egg yolks—that’s the key di erence between frozen custard and ice cream. You may not notice the di erence when you’re enjoying your favorite flavor, but custard enthusiasts will tell you their choice is more rich and the texture is smoother and creamier. And local frozen custard fans will almost certainly send you to one of these long-popular shops, especially right now when the desert heat demands a cool treat. The Las Vegas Valley hasn’t always had tremendous ice cream options, but for whatever reason, a few fantastic local businesses have been serving frozen custard in cups, cones, sundaes and shakes for decades. Multiple visits to Downtown’s Luv-It or Nielsen’s in Henderson (and now, in other neighborhoods) are an essential part of summer in Southern Nevada. It simply must be done, so please join us in celebrating this unique dessert and these friendly businesses.
(Hand model Hannah Anter )
EXPERIENCE THE CHERRY PIE SUNDAE
You roll up to the shack at the edge of Downtown’s historic John S. Park neighborhood—the same humble location Luv-It has occupied since opening in 1973. (The Luv-It shack is a little old place where we can get together.) There’s no interior seating; just a walk-up window. A wall-sized menu lists the sundaes— up to three toppings—shakes, floats and frozen quarts available for take-away, in flavors including apple pie, chocolate pretzel, lemon, peanut butter, strawberry and more than two dozen others. A small board at the order shares which flavors were made fresh today, though personally speaking, I tend to stick with the Western—creamy vanilla custard with the perfect ratio of hot fudge, hot caramel and pecans.
And that’s it. Nearly every bit of effort Luv-It extends goes directly into the product—a cool, smooth and flavor-rich indulgence that draws throngs of customers daily, especially on crazy-hot days like these. Families, teens, tourists, off-duty police and firefighters, and even the occasional celebrity (former Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson is a huge fan) come to Luv-It, order their favorite sundae or shake, and eat them in their car or on the sidewalk. It’s as perfect, delicious and uniquely local a summertime distraction as they come. 505 E. Oakey Blvd., 702-384-6452, luvit frozencustard.com. –Geoff Carter
Given the state of the economy, politics, and the world in general, it’s natural to long for a “simpler time.” And although that simpler time might exist only in our imaginations, Nielsen’s Frozen Custard offers a little taste of that idyllic, carefree state that we all pine for.
Nielsen’s was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1981 and has been in Las Vegas for 27 years, says Amanda Zayon, who coowns the four local stores with her husband Howard Zayon. It’s a family-owned business that aims to “bring back the goodness and taste of a bygone era.”
“I think what sets us apart is our ingredients. We make our custard fresh all day long. We use the highest-grade ingredients, cocoas and vanillas. And it’s all natural. Everything you see from our custard is done by hand. We chop all the toppings. It’s no easy job,” Amanda Zayon says.
That quality is evident, whether it’s in a concrete (available in 50 different flavors), scoop, float, sundae or take-home pint. The custard comes out at the perfect temperature (which, by the way, is 16 degrees warmer than regular ice cream) and with a dream-like consistency. They just don’t make ‘em like this any more. Multiple locations, 702-451-4711, nielsensfrozencustard. net. –Shannon Miller
FLAVOR FRUITY PEBBLES
The beauty of CJ’s Italian Ice & Custard, other than its dozen years serving Las Vegas, is that this shop o ers killer custard concretes and sundaes in addition to Italian ice, gelati and Dole whip. But if you’re sticking to the main attraction, try the apple pie concrete, or choose your favorite flavor for a cereal-crusted custard cone. Multiple locations, cjsitalianice.com.
There’s a reason the Midwest is stacked with burger and shake stops, and it’s not just that there’s probably a dairy farm nearby. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, founded in Wichita, Kansas, is emblematic of this region’s abilities, and it has grown to include five Valley stores. The signature Turtle sundae is the way to go, but don’t sleep on the simple chocolate custard malt. Multiple locations, freddys.com.
Just as it maintains the highest possible standard for a fast-food burger—and changes it up often with seasonal menu items—Shake Shack goes big on concretes and shakes. Strawberry frosted donut and peaches and cream are among the limited-time summer flavors, so yeah, get over there. Multiple locations, shake shack.com. –Brock Radke
CJ’s M&M-crusted cake cone with vanilla custard rolled in rainbow sprinkles and Oreos dipped in birthday cake sauce
CJ’s Loaded Oreo bowl
CJ’s Strawberry cheesecake crumble in a plain wa e bowl
GARY OWEN
SATURDAY | JULY 27
PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GIRALDO
FRIDAY | AUG 2
RICHARD MARX & RICK SPRINGFIELD
SATURDAY | AUG 17
CHRISTOPHER CROSS
SATURDAY | AUG 24
IN THE NEWS
“The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated. It’s time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that.”
–President Joe Biden in an Oval Office address following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Battle for Vegas
Former Vegas Golden Knights player Ryan Reeves (left) celebrates a home run with current VGK center Jack Eichel.
The Knights team beat the Raiders team at the annual charity softball game held at the Las Vegas Ballpark on July 13, raising $225,000 for local charities.
Downtown festival to coincide with F1
While the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix returns to the Strip, Downtown is planning to have its own attraction. The new Neon City Festival will be a free music and culinary event taking place at various Downtown venues on November 22-24.
An announcement from the festival promises a “large sprawling footprint, headliner talent, diverse food and beverage offerings, and more.” Created by Circa owner Derek Stevens, the festival will be a new corporate entity overseen by appointed CEO Jeff Victor. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a $1 million sponsorship deal.
Expected to be “involved” in the festival are Circa, the D Las Vegas, Golden Gate, Fremont Street Experience, Binion’s Gambling Hall, California Hotel Casino, Downtown Grand, El Cortez, Four Queens, Fremont Hotel & Casino, Golden Nugget, Main Street Station, the Plaza and the Strat. Additional details are expected in the coming weeks. –Staff
Aguilar
condemns attack on Trump, addresses Washoe Co.’s refusal to certify election
Two days after an attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar condemned the attack and emphasized his commitment to ensuring state elections remain secure.
In his speech at an UnidosUS conference at MGM Grand, Aguilar described the attempted assassination of Trump as a “sobering reminder of the importance of maintaining public safety” and likened it to an attack on democracy.
Trump at his political rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13 was injured on his ear as a result of a shot fired from an AR-style rifle by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa. The shooter was killed by Secret Service agents and identified by the FBI, while one attendee was reported dead and two spectators as critically injured.
Trump’s campaign has since reported that the GOP nominee was “fine,” the Associated Press reported.
Aguilar, who spoke for the first time on July 15 about the incident, said citizens should not have to worry about violent retaliation for holding a differing opinion from someone else.
He also stressed that Nevada has some of the “most safe, secure and accessible elections in the country,” before slamming Washoe County Commissioners for refusing to certify the results of two local recounts from last month’s primary election.
Washoe County, which represents Nevada’s second most populous county behind Clark, includes Reno and has been “the battleground county” of Nevada, said Aguilar. The Board of County Commissioners voted in a 3-2 decision to reject the results of recounts in the race for one of the commission seats as
well as a local school board seat, the Associated Press reported last week.
Three Republican commissioners—Jeanne Herman, Mike Clark and Clara Andriola—voted against certifying the recount results. The Associated Press said the commission’s two Democratic members voted against rejecting the recount results.
The Associated Press also mentioned in their reporting that local residents filled the public comments alleging irregularities in the election, demanding a hand-count of ballots and even making claims of stolen elections and a “cabal” within the county.
Aguilar and State Attorney General Aaron Ford “immediately took legal action” by filing an emergency writ before the Nevada Supreme Court, demanding that Washoe County “do their job and respect the will of Nevada voters.” –Grace Da Rocha
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has announced the return of SEMA Fest on November 8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring the trade-only automotive aftermarket event and several bands.
“For its second turn, the event is coming back as a one-day experience merging the show’s high-energy automotive atmosphere with musical headliners Cage The Elephant and Sublime, with Fitz and the Tantrums and Petey,” reads a news release from SEMA Fest.
Tickets go on sale Friday, July 19 at semafest.com –Staff
The Clark County School District plans to back bills in the upcoming legislative session to broaden access to mental health resources and support bullying victims, the school board decided July 11. These priorities come from the district’s broader legislative platform for the upcoming session of the Nevada Legislature, which starts in February.
CCSD’s bill priorities aim to provide broader access to mental health resources for students and educators, and to support updates to state bullying statutes. These updates would allow the district to transfer students with substantiated discrimination and bullying incidents to different schools, rather than move the victims who had already endured the pain of being targeted by peers.
The board did not craft specific bill language at its July 11 meeting. State legislative staff does this. Members of the Nevada Assembly or Senate can then introduce the bills once the Legislature reconvenes.
District staff has until September 1 to submit bill draft requests to the state.
–Hillary Davis
Now 20 years old, the Las Vegas Monorail is seeing increased usage and pondering its future
STAYING ON TRACK
BY BROCK RADKE
The Las Vegas Monorail celebrated its 20th anniversary this week, giving away free tickets for local riders on July 15 and o ering two-day unlimited ride passes for a discounted online price of $20 throughout the month.
Considering it runs four miles from MGM Grand to Sahara Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention Center, riding the elevated, electric train might be unfamiliar or downright unnecessary for locals—especially those who don’t spend much time on the Strip. The Monorail is designed for and largely used by Vegas visitors and convention-goers, and critics have complained about its limitations since it began operating, but transportation and tourism o cials maintain it’s still an important mode of movement that helps drive the economy in Southern Nevada.
Since the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) acquired the assets of the Las Vegas Monorail Company out of bankruptcy in November 2020, ridership has returned to pre-pandemic levels of about ve million passengers per year, and in the last 12 months, that number is close to six million, according to LVCVA CEO and President Steve Hill.
“The number of events up and down the east side of the resort corridor [where the Monorail runs] has continued to increase.
You’ve got the Sphere opening, Caesars’ Forum [Conference Center] opening … and in the last year there have been quite a number of events at the Festival Grounds at Sahara and Las Vegas Boulevard. The Monorail does really well when the Festival Grounds has concerts,” Hill tells the Weekly. “And last year when the Formula 1 circuit was built with the congestion that created, it was great for the race, but also very helpful to get around when construction was taking place, and leading up to the race.”
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) oversees public transportation, manages tra c, funds construction projects and plans for growth, and it partners with many jurisdictions and companies like the Monorail to coordinate those e orts. CEO M.J Maynard says Clark County o cials assembled a group last year to manage the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and how to e ectively move resort corridor workers around the race course, and the Monorail became an essential piece of that puzzle.
“F1 was such a great example for the Monorail to shine. A lot of [Strip] employees could park their cars at an LVCVA parking lot, hop on the Monorail and get
Price: $13.45 for a 24-hour pass up to $57.50 for a 7-day pass. Discounts are available for local residents.
Stops: MGM Grand, Paris/Horseshoe, Flamingo, Harrah’s/Linq, Las Vegas Convention Center, Westgate, Sahara.
Schedule: Trains arrive every 4-8 minutes.
Space: Each train can hold 222 passengers standing and seating.
Speed: Trains travel up to 50 mph. More: lvmonorail.com
(Steve Marcus/Sta )
right to their respective hotels,” Maynard says. “For many of them, it was the rst time riding, and I heard it was like, ‘Yay! This is awesome! How do we get more Monorail?’
“For the next [Grand Prix] we are talking to the Monorail now about connecting our public transit riders to get them to the track. We all have the same commitment to the community, a commitment to nding and using the best way to move locals and tourists.”
center,” he says.
During a four-day convention in Las Vegas, the Monorail carries 140,000 passengers, equivalent to 70,000 car trips with two passengers per car, according to its website. It has now served more than 103 million riders with zero emissions, and has eliminated more than 41 million vehicle miles on local roadways and kept more than 600 tons of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides from being emitted.
Hill says ridership among convention-goers has likely increased as well because the LVCVA, which also operates the convention center, can more conveniently connect with trade show organizers and planners. “Prior to us owning the monorail, it was each company’s responsibility to do that, and they[the Monorail] were connected to roughly half, maybe more, of the shows in the convention
“We’re proud of it, we know it’s important, and we’re working to make sure a form of alternative transportation around that system remains in place for a long time,” Hill says. “It’s an important thing to do for the destination and we think we’re on the path to making that happen.”
WHERE WILL THIS TRAIN STOP?
The original segment of the Monorail is actually older than 20 years. It started in 1995 with service from MGM
Grand to what was then Bally’s (now Horseshoe Las Vegas), and shut down years later for construction and expansion. The current system opened on July 15, 2004 with seven total stops.
The growth of the Las Vegas Strip in the last two decades certainly requires more integrated and diverse transportation options, but another Monorail expansion simply isn’t in the cards.
When the LVCVA bought it four years ago, o cials estimated its trains and tracks would hold up for another 8-10 years. Replacing them would cost an estimated $250-$350 million, and Hill says the system doesn’t generate enough pro t to pay for such a project, nor is the LVCVA in a position to subsidize that level of expense.
“We’re not seeing the deterioration of the trains as quickly as we expected to, which is great,” he says. “That has caused us to invest additional money in additional systems. The communications system is so old and obsolete, we cannot get parts. So we’re going to replace the entire communications system … because we didn’t want that to be what ended the life of the Monorail.”
its current structure is obsolete for whatever reason: the Boring Company is interested in buying it from us and putting a two-lane road on top of it, using it as part of their system, basically an aboveground tunnel,” Hill says. “That would be a terri c alternative.”
The RTC’s Maynard says any adaptation to a current system that even slightly pushes the community closer to a fully integrated transportation solution is a welcome project.
“When you look at the resort corridor, it’s the same asphalt footprint it’s been for decades. It’s landlocked, yet we’ve added T-Mobile Arena, Allegiant Stadium, a potential baseball stadium, thousands more hotel rooms and employees, and we’re expected to grow another 14% in population in the next 10 years,” she says. “We’ve always been known for world-class entertainment and [events] and now we’re a sports capital, but we do not have a world-class transportation system.”
Investments like those could keep things running smoothly even longer. A possible longer-term plan involves integration with the Boring Company’s Vegas Loop, the underground electric car transportation system that currently operates between two Las Vegas Convention Center stops and a third at Resorts World.
A tunnel to UNLV is under construction and other plans include extensions to Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium and Downtown Las Vegas.
“What we plan to do once the Monorail in
One of the RTC’s recent successes is the Game Day Express, utilizing existing public transit vehicles and routes to pick up residents at popular neighborhood casinos and deliver them via bus to T-Mobile and Allegiant for Golden Knights, Raiders and UNLV games. It keeps cars close to home and o crowded roads during big events, and it’s one of the Valley’s smaller systems that can connect with other modes of transportation to create a more e cient network.
“In any community, the best mobility system is one that’s integrated,” Maynard says. “We’re all certainly working hard to diversify the economy in Southern Nevada, but the resort corridor is still our economic engine. We need as many modes as we can get if we want to stay viable.”
MUSIC
HOUSE PARTY
Renowned London-based label Anjunadeep brings its Open Air concert to Area15
BY AMBER SAMPSON
One thing we can say about Area15 is that it keeps its dance card full. At any one time, the experiential complex has a rave-worthy amount of live EDM events on deck. Its latest one, with deep house UK label Anjunadeep, might be its most exclusive yet.
Open Air, Anjunadeep’s widely regarded outdoor concert series, will make its Las Vegas debut on July 19. Exclusive to just six U.S. cities this year, Open Air puts dance enthusiasts on a path to discovery with a robust lineup of artists hand-selected for each destination. Last year’s showcase at Denver’s 9,545-seat Red Rocks Amphitheater even sold out, making Anjunadeep the rst record label to ever achieve that. Judging by how fast early bird tickets for Las Vegas’ date have sold out, we’re well on track to see that happen again.
Noah Kessler, head of entertainment at Area15, says the Las Vegas camp reached out to Anjunadeep rst about bringing Open Air here, recognizing it as an obvious t. Anjunadeep label manager Dom Donnelly said in an email that they also had Vegas on their “wish list.”
“Because it’s home to some of the world’s best electronic music events,” Donnelly said. “It’s a
city that draws people from around the world to celebrate electronic music culture, which makes it ideal for what we do with the Anjunadeep Open Air series.”
A household name since 2005, Anjunadeep has put out more than 600 releases, including remixes from the euphoric house duo CamelPhat, rising female star Tsha and “minimal techno” DJ Boris Brejcha. Open Air gives us a glimpse of that star power when it tours each year. But anyone who’s been to one of Area15’s massives can attest to their stellar curation, too.
Last year’s spaced-out alien rave Galactic Zoo, held in the outdoor A-Lot where Open Air will be, brought heavyweights like Noizu behind the decks and a record number of attendees under the stars. And notable DJs like CloZee, Frameworks and Shallou have also packed out Area15’s venues with their vibrant, dopamine-dealing beats.
“The owners of Area15 are extremely passionate about electronic music. So that really helped us to have a solid foundation,” Kessler says. “The whole space is very electronic and colorful. I think that ts very well within the realms of electronic music.”
Open Air will build on that with a stacked bill
of rising and established house and techno artists from the Anjunadeep family, including Eli & Fur, Marsh, Durante, Joseph Ray and many others.
“We wanted to showcase the full range of the label’s sound, from the softer and more melodic vibes of Nicky Elisabeth, who’ll be getting the day started for us, through to the peak-time energy of Dosem and Luttrell, who close the party with a special [back to back] set,” said Donnelly. “All three artists have new albums coming out this year on Anjunadeep, and fans will be getting an early taste of what’s to come.”
Before the show, Anjunadeep Kitchen will also host Luttrell’s Happy Hour: Las Vegas, a free popup event featuring a show near Area15’s Lifto at 7 p.m. Think of it as an appetizer to the bass-heavy main course.
Donnelly said the label is rounding on 20 years in the deep house scene, but vows to keep it coming fresh.
“Our focus is always on signing emerging artists we believe in, releasing music that we feel is timeless, and doing everything we can to foster community around it,” he said. The music landscape is so saturated these days, but quality cuts through, and our unique community provides our artists with fans for life.”
NIGHTLIFE WITHOUT LIMITS
RVLTN’s new Downtown club venue
Substance aims to bring a Strip experience to locals
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ | PHOTOGRAPHS BY WADE VANDERVORT
Every time we blink, it seems like a new nightlife development emerges in Downtown Vegas. And for locals looking to dodge the chaos of the Strip in search of entertainment, this is a welcome trend.
Fremont Street already buzzes with an eclectic mix of venues, each contributing its own flavor to the city’s entertainment landscape.
Within a few blocks, you’ll find some of the city’s most hyped dance sanctuaries: Commonwealth, Discopussy, Lucky Day, Oddfellows and We All Scream are just a few of the reliable Downtown institutions people flock to every weekend.
Substance is the newest player in this mix. Located on the second floor of the Neonopolis
entertainment complex, the year-round venue is poised to grow into a central hub for music fans.
Behind Substance are Marcel Correa and Joe Borusiewicz, founders of RVLTN Events, a Vegas-based company that’s known for throwing some of the best electronic music-centered events throughout the year.
As locals, they had their community’s wants and needs at the forefront of the venue’s development. Through years of attending and coordinating countless events themselves, they recognized that they wanted to double down on fixing the problems inherent to clubgoing: venue accessibility, dress codes, parking and drink prices.
“Our goal with this project was to bring the
high-end production of a Strip-based nightclub to a Downtown location,” the company told the Weekly in an email.
“Substance doesn’t chase, Substance attracts,” is the duo’s motto when it comes to capturing the essence of their vision. The venue will feature world-class DJs from the electronic and Latin realms, thanks to partnerships with heavy-hitting promoters Insomniac and Altura Presents.
While this is sure to add to the company’s impressive event portfolio, the independent ownership gives organizers even more freedom to book and host fresh acts. The owners say they’ll be looking to work with promoters in the area to widen the musical variety and showcase
Mexican regional, rock, R&B and reggae acts.
“One of the areas where Substance will shine is a complete lack of genre limitations,” Borusiewicz says. “We feel genres are a thing of the past. At Substance, anything goes.”
Walking into Substance is meant to feel like you’re stepping into a dystopian dreamscape. The decor, designed by artist Gear Duran, melds stripped-down architecture with a post-apocalyptic warehouse vibe within the 18,000-squarefoot space. But you won’t lose your footing on the way to the dance floor, as the place boasts having one of the city’s biggest LED installations, a video wall towering over 100 feet that will act as a centerpiece at all events.
Opening night on July 12 set the stage with house music duo Walker & Royce followed by the debut of Altura Presents’ weekly Saturday night Latin event. The summer lineup promises an array of exciting acts, including LA’s hip-hop and Latin-influenced techno producer Boombox Cartel and dubstep DJ Crankdat.
“Substance is a venue created for Vegas locals, by Vegas locals. … We’ve incorporated and corrected everything we’ve learned through the years dealing with other venues as promoters, “ says Borusiewicz.
“This is only the beginning of what to expect from our group as we enter the hospitality space.”
DJ Neek Lopez performs during the soft opening at Substance.
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FOOD & DRINK
CURATED CRAFT
Wineaux fi lls the southwest’s cup with a “hospitality-fi rst” experience
BY AMBER SAMPSON
If you’ve been to any of chef Shawn McClain’s Strip restaurants (Libertine Social, Sage, Balla Italian Soul), then you might already be familiar with their knockout wine programs. Now locals can experience that in their own neighborhood at Wineaux, a new wine bar and bottle shop at UnCommons with a welcoming approach.
“We sometimes talk about the cocktail craze that’s been going on for the last five to 10 years, but it’s really nice to see wine getting attention again,” says McClain. “We definitely want to be a part of that trend because winemaking, in a traditional sense, is old world, it’s fantastic, but there’s a lot of new things
that are going on in the industry.”
Open since February, Wineaux is the brainchild of the James Beard Award-winning restaurateur and longtime partners Richard and Sarah Camarota and master sommelier Nick Hetzel.
“We felt like the Valley and the community really needed a place that was going to be a lot like what Wineaux is, a place to come and enjoy great wine,” says Richard Camarota, operations and managing partner of McClain Camarota Hospitality. “It’s a fun atmosphere, and it’s not super fussy when it comes to this pomp and circumstance about it.”
The team created Wineaux with inclusivity in mind, seeking to attract casual drinkers and oenophiles alike with an approachable wine list that checks all the boxes. Part of that also comes from having seasoned sommeliers who can speak to wine in a way that’s understandable and exciting.
“Whether you know grape varietals or not, I think they can really bring something to you that you’re going to enjoy, as well as from a price perspective,” McClain says.
Currently, Wineaux offers 250 hand-selected labels, ranging from everyday wines to vintage bottles for collectors, and many of these you can discover by joining Wineaux’s wine clubs. If you purchase a bottle to go, you’ll also receive 25% off the retail price.
But if we’re being frank, it’s hard to visit Wineaux without unwinding for a few hours. It’s cozy, warm and tailor-made for large groups or simmering date nights.
Wineaux also has hour-long Wine Wednesday tastings every other week, with sommeliers like Hetzel walking groups of 20 through three wines and their dish pairings. Speaking of that, the savory bites at Wineaux stand up on their own, but as all know, wine makes everything better.
(Courtesy/Bronson Loftin)
Obviously, the cheese boards and charcuterie reign supreme, but Wineaux’s hamachi and caviar ($34), bolstered by a rich onion creme fraiche and served with crisp ciabatta, is a firm favorite. Hetzel also recommends pairing it with Champagne or “some sort of mineral or earth-driven white with higher levels of acidity.”
The smoked salmon flatbread ($20) is also a winner when combined with the fruity notes of rosé, and the beef tartare ($19) belongs with nothing less than a glass of dry Beaujolais.
There’s a wine-centric experience for everyone here.
“We’re a hospitality-first wine destination. We are a choose-your-own adventure,” Hetzel says. “Whatever you’re looking for in terms of a place to either enjoy wine or a place to purchase wine for your home, we are at your beck and call.”
Chef Shawn McClain (left) and some of the offerings and atmosphere at Wineaux.
CAMP COMPETITIONS
BY CASE KEEFER
Seven position battles to watch as the Raiders open training camp in Southern California
Continuity is one of the main reasons why the Raiders believe they can make a leap into the playoffs this season after a two-year absence.
There aren’t many sweeping changes to a roster that jelled over the second half of last season and went 5-4 under then-interim, now-permanent coach Antonio Pierce.
That doesn’t mean the starting lineup on both sides of the ball is set for their 2024 regular-season opener September 8 at the Los Angeles Chargers. On the contrary, Pierce is preaching competition and vowing to put the most deserving players on the field.
There are a few positions where that’s a tough choice for Pierce and his staff going into the start of training camp July 23 in Costa Mesa, California. Here are seven positions where starting spots are up for grabs, ranked roughly in terms of importance, ahead of Pierce’s first full season at the helm.
This is the decision that could define the season. For the first time in a decade, the Raiders go into training camp not knowing who they will rely on at the sport’s most important position.
It’s either second-year incumbent Aidan O’Connell or free agent acquisition Gardner Minshew. Compelling cases can be made for each candidate.
Deciding who plays on the opposite side of top cornerback Jack Jones and next to slot cornerback Nate Hobbs is the most pressing matter for a defense that’s mostly solidified otherwise.
The two leading candidates are second-year, former fourth-round draft pick Jakorian Bennett and sixthyear veteran Brandon Facyson
O’Connell has the trust of Pierce and his teammates after improving during the Raiders’ 3-1 run at the end of last season.
Minshew is more proven and signed a two-year, $25 million deal to join the Raiders after starting 13 games for Indianapolis last season.
O’Connell got the initial reps of offseason team activities and minicamp in May and June, but split time with Minshew evenly overall.
Minshew might be a better fit in new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s scheme, but he’s going to have to outplay O’Connell.
This is a race that could truly go either way.
Like quarterback, it shapes up as a 50/50 proposition on who will claim more snaps between those two. Unlike quarterback, there could be a third fourth intriguing option.
At 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds, rookie fourth-round draft pick Decamerion Richardson might fit the modern cornerback prototype better than either of the front-runners. But he’ll need to show he’s capable of adjusting to the speed and physicality of the professional game in the preseason and padded practices to get on the field consistently.
Las Vegas could also potentially sign a veteran free agent if it doesn’t trust any of the aforementioned players in the role. Bennett, struggled in his rookie campaign but drew a lot of buzz for having a great offseason going into minicamp. Facyson, who was injured most of last year, got more time with the starters overall.
SPORTS
On the opposite side of superstar Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce broke out at the end of last year with four sacks and two forced fumbles in the final four games.
The fourth-year, former third-round pick has done more than enough to retain his starting role, but he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and may not be a part of the team’s long-term plans. That’s because the Raiders drafted Tyree Wilson at No. 7 overall last year and are therefore inherently invested in his development. Wilson had a disappointing rookie season but will get every opportunity to bounce back this year—and that may mean supplanting Koonce.
The Raiders haven’t hidden their intentions to use second-round draft pick Jackson Powers-Johnson immediately.
Powers-Johnson, who played center at the University of Oregon, shifted a spot over and was running with the starters during OTAs. He got banged up, however, and veteran free agent acquisition Cody Whitehair filled in at his left guard spot during minicamp.
Both second-year player
Michael Mayer and rookie Brock Bowers will be virtual starters with how often the Raiders figure to run 12 personnel (two tight ends) but that will be far from their lone formation.
Much like left guard, the Raiders have given every indication that they have their guy at right tackle—thirdyear, former seventh-round pick Thayer Munford Jr.
That doesn’t mean they don’t have a couple backup plans just in case the Ohio State product can’t build on the promise he showed late last season. Las Vegas signed veteran offensive-line utility man Andrus Peat from the New Orleans Saints and drafted DJ Glaze out of Maryland in the third round.
Munford struggled in minicamp, but in his defense, he was mostly matched up against Crosby. Everyone in the league struggles against Crosby.
It’s going to take a lot more than a few rough days in shorts and helmets for Munford to be unseated by Glaze or Peat.
The interior line spot next to prized free agent signing Christian Wilkins will feature a rotation, so it may not matter much who’s officially listed first on the depth chart. John Jenkins, Adam Butler, Byron Young or even Wilson could all get the nod, though.
Powers-Johnson should still be considered the favorite to earn the starting role, but Whitehair—who spent the past two seasons with Getsy in Chicago—provides insurance if the rookie isn’t quite ready.
It’s uncertain which of the two former collegiate All-Americans will get precedence when only one tight end is in the game. Mayer improved as last season went on and therefore may be better prepared for the rigors of a 17-game professional regular season, but Bowers is more of a big-play threat— something that was already evident in minicamp.
Bowers probably has the slight edge as the No. 1 tight end as long as he can show his blocking won’t be a liability in the preseason and padded practices.
The 34-year-old Jenkins started all 17 games last year, but the 30-year-old Butler was getting more snaps than him by the end of the season. Both Crosby and Wilkins have praised Butler, hinting he could be more than the situational pass-rusher he was for much of last season. Young was a non-factor in his rookie season last year, but ideally the Raiders could get something out of the third-round pick out of Alabama.
Wilson shifted inside often during minicamp. The prospects of having him, Crosby, Wilkins and Koonce all on the field together could be tantalizing if the coaching staff determines he’s set to deliver on the potential that made him a first-round pick.
We have volunteer opportunities where you can come help us do normal, traditional volunteering. A lot of our volunteer program is actually asking members of the community to come teach a class on a skill set or your hobby.”
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER
VEGAS INC STAFF
According to Arash Ghafoori, CEO of the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, about 12% of all youths experiencing homelessness in the U.S. resided in Nevada as of 2022. It’s that number and similar statistics, he said, that prove that the problem of homelessness among young people is more than just an “issue du jour,” or a fleeting concern.
Since the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY), was incorporated in 2001, the nonprofit has risen to the challenge of relieving youth homelessness by providing young people with shelter and other resources, prompting the passage of laws on their behalf and more.
“Homelessness happens to young people during their most critical, informative education years,” Ghafoori said. “These are 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18-plus year-olds that are getting thrust into homelessness during the years they’re supposed to be learning about themselves, their community, how to participate in society, what they want to do to further themselves and how they want to chase their dreams.”
Recently, the NPHY was awarded an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s $51 million for Youth Homelessness System Improvement
Q+A: ARASH GHAFOORI
Approach
to combating homelessness incorporates youth leadership as well as traditional an unconventional volunteering
initiative, which will help expand the organization’s reach to diverse communities throughout the state and draft a “Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness.”
Vegas Inc sat down with Ghafoori to learn more about youth homelessness in Nevada, how the HUD grant will be deployed to combat it and what anyone in the community can do to have an impact.
What are some of the specific measures NPHY has taken to combat youth homelessness?
We have an over 50-bed housing program. We have a slew of education and employment assistance services—that’s everything from getting youth re-enrolled in school to supporting them in a school, getting them into college. We have programs with UNLV where they can move into the day after they graduate and receive advanced assistance. We have programs with employers where they can get employment training and get employed even before that … We also have a lot of health and wellness services. A lot of young people have been medically neglected. They don’t have support for behavioral health, they don’t have support for diabetes—they don’t have support for a lot of conditions.
Tell me about the Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) grant and what it will be used to accomplish.
We wanted a grant to start uplifting and coordinating youth voice throughout the state. And we needed to introduce a giant group of collaborative partners to do that. And the grant basically spells out two things that we’re going to create and build capacity for youth voice throughout the state.
And then after we do that, we’re going to sit down and build the first ever statewide Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness. What we’re going to do is a couple things. Northern Nevada does not have any sort of Youth Action Board. Youth Action Boards are critical. These are boards of young people experiencing homelessness who meet together and discuss what’s working, what’s not and then work with local government and other organizations like ours … to affect those changes.
In Southern Nevada, we have an existing Youth Action Board, but it needs to grow and expand and be enhanced through further training and through further mentorship opportunities … This grant will also fund the creation of the first-ever statewide Movement Youth Action Board.
What can the average citizen do to contribute to the battle against youth homelessness in Nevada?
A lot of people are like, “I don’t know what I would do about homeless youth. I’m just a nurse or a teacher or a media personality, whatever.”
No, no, no—everyone can be part of it. We have volunteer opportunities where you can come help us do normal, traditional volunteering. A lot of our volunteer program is actually asking members of the community to come teach a class on a skill set or your hobby.
All of our services aren’t just like business, business, business—trying to get young people out of this situation in a militant fashion where they have to work nine hours a day toward their goals, because they’re youth. They are young people still, and they still have the same desires and indulgences to sleep in and to eat junk food and to hang out with people and play video games.
And so we have to find a balance of doing that, and we invite the community to help us do that. You can stock cans for us and things like that, but you can also just hang out with youth in a very casual way.
Through our movement efforts we also hold quarterly training institutes where people can come just learn more about the systems-level effort, because everyone can help us sign a piece of paper that we can send to legislators to say, “Hey, these are all the people that care about the plight of our youth, and we want you to pay more attention to this, or we want you to pass this particular legislation or to think about creating more resources in the state.”
VEGAS INC NOTES
Local philanthropy making a difference
HomeAid Southern Nevada coordinated a project with local home-building companies and subcontractors to renovate donation space at Shine A Light Foundation’s headquarters. The nonprofit helps people living in the underground flood channels of Las Vegas. Tri Pointe Homes served as build captain on this project, while subcontractors that participated included Rightway Drywall & Paint, Window Scenes, Next Level Door and Millwork, Interior Specialists Inc., Desert Janitorial & Maintenance, Closets Las Vegas, IES Residential and Sunrise Carpentry Inc
Signs of HOPE (Healing, Options, Prevention and Education), which serves those affected by sexual violence and exploitation, recently received more than 2,000 items donated by Monster Energy’s philanthropic arm, Monster Energy Cares. The items include hats, sweatshirts, sweatpants, polo shirts,
JOB LISTING
coolers, tote bags, and more. Signs of HOPE also received a $7,750 donation from Findlay Automotive Group
Local kids will benefit from before, after-school, and school break programs from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada through a $140,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare Plan of Nevada Medicaid, one of the largest donations the nonprofit has received from a health plan. The plan covers the annual membership fees for their members to enjoy Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada’s educational, healthy lifestyle, character, and leadership programming, and now is supporting more families with this extension of their collaboration.
Cox Las Vegas presented $35,000 in scholarships to 10 high school seniors. The Cox Diversity Scholarship Program has awarded $385,000 in scholarships since 2014. Each $3,500 scholarship
VP, GLOBAL GAMES PRODUCT MANAGEMENT sought by Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. in Las Vegas, NV. Create an effective global insights function that feeds off regions data sources. 25%-50% international and domestic travel required. Hybrid work is permissible. When not working from home, must report to Las Vegas, NV office. 10 years experience or BS+8 required.
Apply by email to: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. totalrewards@aristocrat.com (Reference Job code: NV1220DG).
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is awarded in partnership with the Public Education Foundation and diverse nonprofit organizations such as 100 Black Men, the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada, Junior League of Las Vegas, Asian Community Development Council, Chicanos Por La Causa, Latin Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club and the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Nevada. Scholarship recipients include: Charles Ogle, Pinecrest Academy Cadance; Oniana Boulware, Rancho High School; Asia Suyat, Legacy High School; Gisselle Delgado Velarde, Legacy High School; Shawn Evan Gutierrez, A-Tech; Pedro Tapia Zamora, A-Tech; Bradley Hutchings, Southwest Career and Technical Academy; Sarah Kellogg, Bishop Gorman High School; Jordan Quidilla, West Career and Technical Academy, and Marley Tashjian, Northwest Career and Technical Academy.
HAPPENS HERE Health
All Valley Health System hospitals are accredited by The Joint Commission for meeting performance standards for delivering safe, high-quality care.
Our acute care hospitals hold national certifications in stroke and heart attack care. Our hospitals consistently earn recognition from the American Heart Association® and American Stroke Association® for meeting or exceeding national standards for heart and stroke care.
The Valley Health System hospitals also consistently earn national quality awards for services such as wound care, orthopedics, maternity care, weight-loss surgery and more.
Discover where HEALTH HAPPENS at
Sripadha Inc., a Las Vegas, NV based IT Consulting Services Firm has multiple openings for JOB ID 11335: Data Engineer. Education and Experience requirements along with remuneration as provided on the website. Travel/relocation may be required. Details at https://www.sripadha.com/. Send resume to: legal@sripadha.com, including the JOB ID. Equal Opportunity Employer.
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resolves system related problems; Ensures that system controls are adequate; Leads systems projects. Acts as business system advisor to the organization. Completes documentation in accordance with SDLC policies and procedures • Communicates with users to gather requirements. Bachelor’s or its equivalent in Business, Info Systems, Comp. Science or IT related field. Plus 4 years experience in position or related technical occupation involving planning, coordinating, integrating, interfacing, enhancing, testing, and supporting an application ecosystem with experience in IBM Maximo Asset Management/Spatial Asset Management, Ventyx Service Suite, ArcGIS for Windows Mobile, AppStudio for ArcGIS, Oracle RDBMS, PL/SQL, WebCenter Content (Oracle Universal Content Management), Fishbowl Solutions Enterprise Batch Loader, PeopleSoft Financials/Supply Chain Management, Human Capital Management, MicroStrategy, Atlassian Jira, Confluence, Microsoft SQL Server RDBMS, Excel, Word, Viso, PowerPoint, SharePoint. Less than 5% short term domestic travel involved. Remote/telecommuting position. Employee may work remotely 2 days per week. Annual salary scale: $94,162 - $123,700. Email resumes to Tim Lindquist at timothy.lindquist@nvenergy.com
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Have you ever been given a Starbucks gift card but then neglected to use it? Many people fail to cash in such freebies. Don’t be like them in the coming weeks, Aries. Be aggressive about cashing in on the offers you receive. Be alert for good luck, and seize it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your relationship with food. Here are ideas to ponder: 1. Do you know exactly which foods are best for your unique body? 2. Are you sufficiently relaxed and emotionally present when you eat? 3. Could you upgrade your willpower to ensure you joyfully gravitate toward what’s healthiest?
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Hybridization could be a fun theme in the coming weeks. Your spirit creatures will be the liger, which is a cross between a lion and a tiger, and a mule, a cross between a horse and a donkey. It’s good to be experimental and audacious in your mixing and matching, but not delusional.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In 1986, Cancerian singer-songwriter George Michael released his song “A Different Corner.” Never before in British pop music had an artist wrote, sang, arranged and produced a tune, and played all the instruments. Maybe you would prefer to collaborate with others in your big projects, but if you choose, you could perform minor miracles all by yourself.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the Biblical allegory of Noah and the Ark, God warns Noah about a flood and commands him to build a lifeboat. Noah obeys. After 40 days and nights of inundation, Noah sends out a dove to reconnoiter for dry land. But it returns with no clues. A week later, Noah dispatches a second dove. It returns with an olive leaf, showing that land is nearby. It’s time for you to do the equivalent of sending two doves out to explore.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): According to an ancient Chinese proverb, “An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.” For instance, I have observed an ant carrying a potato chip back to its nest, and I doubt that an ox could tote a potato chip without mangling it. Be meticulous, persistent and industrious rather than big, strong and rugged.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “If it sounds too good to be true, it always is,” said stage magician Ricky Jay. I suspect his formula won’t entirely apply to you in the coming weeks. Things may sound too good to be true—but will in fact be true. So if you’re tempted to be hyper-skeptical, tamp down that attitude a bit.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1803, the French government sold a 530-million-acre chunk of what is now North America to the American government. The land actually belonged to the Indigenous people who had lived there for many generations. The two nations pretended they had the right to make the transaction. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to make a big, important purchase or sale—as long as you have the authentic rights to do so.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): An antiques dealer named Laura Young bought a marble bust of a Roman military leader Drusus the Elder at a thrift store in Austin, Texas. Later she discovered that it was over 2,000 years old and worth far more than the $35 she had paid for it. I foresee similar themes unfolding in your life, Sagittarius.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): My childhood friend Jeanine used to say, “The best proof of friendship is when someone gives you half their candy bar. The best proof of fantastic friendship is when they give you even more than half.” In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to give away at least half your candy to those you care for in the coming days.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you’re a teacher, it’s a favorable time to enjoy a stint as a student—and vice versa. If you’re a scientist, I suggest you read some poetry, and if you’re a sensitive, introverted mystic, get better informed about messy political issues. In other words, dear Aquarius, open a channel to parts of reality you normally ignore or neglect.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Jane Brunette, a writer I admire, uses the made-up work “plurk” to refer to her favorite activity: a blend of play and work. I have always aspired to make that my core approach, too. As much as possible, I have fun while I’m doing the labor-intensive tasks that earn me a living. And I invoke a disciplined, attitude as I pursue the
