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THIS WEEK’S COVER
18 COVER STORY
A guide to the tricks of Las Vegas Boulevard for new residents, sports fans, art lovers and others.
34 NEWS
The City of Las Vegas is moving forward with the creation of a theme park-sized immersive entertainment district north of Area15.
38 STAGE
Sin City Burlesque Festival returns for its second year with more stars to showcase.
10 SUPERGUIDE Super Summer Theatre stages A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Ramona rocks at Sand Dollar Downtown and more this week.
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
44 NIGHTLIFE
Altura’s parade of Latin parties has turned it into a nationwide name.
46 FOOD & DRINK
Analyzing and enjoying standout smashburgers in Las Vegas.
50 SPORTS College football titans LSU, USC clash in the Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium.
Photo Illustration
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY AUG 29
REASSEMBLY REQUIRED
Thru 9/12, Mon.Thu. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery, clarkcountynv.gov
SHAN MICHAEL EVANS: SAINTS AND POETS MAYBE Thru 9/25, Tue.-Fri. 1-5 p.m., Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, nevadahumanities. org
PPA TOUR LAS VEGAS PICKLEBALL CUP
Thru 9/1, times vary, Fontainebleau, tixr. com
BAGELMANIA BACKROOM
With Noah Gardenswartz, Ester Steinberg, Rachel Wolfson, Jay Hollingsworth, Carlos Anthony, 6 p.m., Siegel’s Bagelmania, siegels bagelmania.com
NAS WITH THE LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC
8 p.m., & 8/31, 9/1, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
STEEL PULSE
7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster. com
THE KRUSE BROTHERS
8 p.m., Stoney’s North Forty, stoneysnorthforty. com
RESONATE
9 p.m., the Usual Place, theusual place.vegas
MARIA ROMANO
8 p.m., Bel-Aire Lounge, belaire loungelv.com
NICKY ROMERO
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com
KUTSKI
10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us
CHARLIE SPARKS
10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
MUSTARD
10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
JKYL & HYDE
10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us
A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER
Readers with weaker constitutions may want to skip this blurb. But those harboring an unspoken a ection for class struggle, vials of poison and jailhouse confessions presented in the form of Tony Award-winning musical comedy are invited to take a seat and dig in: Super Summer Theatre is staging Steven Lutvak and Robert L. Freedman’s aptly-named A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder underneath the stars at Spring Mountain Ranch. The story of one Lord Montague “Monty” D’Ysquith Navarro—an impoverished, upstart earl whose rise to the top is stepped with hummable songs and fresh corpses—A Gentleman’s Guide is just the kind of macabre fun we need to chase down the last days of this long, scorching summer. Thru 8/31, 7:30 p.m., $20-$150. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, supersummertheatre.org. –Geo Carter
At last, alt-R&B siren Tinashe has unleashed the second collection of new music in the trilogy she started last year, dropping the sultry Quantum Baby this month, which contains song-of-the-summer viral smash “Nasty” (“Is somebody gonna match my freak?”). That track hit the charts and the internet just in time for Tinashe’s victorious debut at Coachella, where she deftly demonstrated what longtime fans have been touting for years—she can do it all. Unfortunately, she doesn’t currently have a Vegas date on her Match My Freak world tour so we can see that comprehensive skillset onstage, but we’ve always got the clubs—in this case, the often overlooked hip-hop and R&B hot spot Jewel at Aria, where we’ll get a Labor Day weekend dose of Tinashe. 10:30 p.m., $20-$30+, Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com. –Brock Radke
LAS VEGAS ACES VS. ATLANTA DREAM
7 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com
FUTURE & METRO BOOMIN
8 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
THE KILLERS
8 p.m., & 8/31, 9/1 the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com
BOYZ II MEN
8 p.m., & 8/31, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com
CHRISTINA AGUILERA
9:30 p.m., & 8/31, Voltaire, ticketmaster.com
THIEVERY CORPORATION
7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster. com
EPIK HIGH
7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
THE GATLIN BROTHERS Thru 9/1, 7:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster. com
FETE DE FEMME With Elevated Undergrounds, Same Sex Mary, Ronnie Wilder & The Cosmic Frenzy, Switterbeet, 8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
THEO VON 9 p.m., & 8/31, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
DANE COOK 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com
AFROJACK With Charly Jordan, 10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial. com
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
(Courtesy)
SUPERGUIDE
SATURDAY AUG 31
RAMONA
Emerging from Tijuana, Mexico’s indie Spanish music scene, Ramona makes its Las Vegas debut, swirling a vivid tapestry of genres into what the band calls “romantic psychedelic rock.” Together, they’ve mastered their explorative, airy sound and shared a stage with a number of Spanish notables (Natalia Lafourcade, Hello Seahorse) because of it. On 2024 album Los Himnos Del Amor, Ramona samples the woozy ri s of the ’70s, flavorful funk and soul-stirring Latin ballads to create literal hymns of love. Vegas represents one of only three West Coast dates on Ramona’s tour and the band will be in good company, as our own Latin-psych heroes Viaje Nahual and the Red Seduction join them, along with East Los Angeles new wave band Twin Seas. 8:30 p.m., $20, Sand Dollar Downtown, thesanddollarlv. com. –Amber Sampson
BRUNO MARS
9 p.m., & 9/1, Dolby Live, ticketmaster. com
BABYFACE
Thru 9/1, 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster. com.
MARAUDA
With Level Up, Culture Shock, Mad Dubz, more, 7 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, seetickets.us
BLUE OCTOBER
With Switchfoot, Matt Nathanson, 6:30 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com
POLARIS
With Blessthefall, Thousand Below, Nerv, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com
KEITH SWEAT
7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
ALIEN ANT FARM
With Atomic Life, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us
COMMON KINGS
9 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience. com.
DON CARLOS
8 p.m., Azilo Ultra Pool, eventbrite. com
LOS SKARNALES
8 p.m., the Usual Place, theusual place.vegas
HOWIE MANDEL
8 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster. com
TIËSTO
11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup. com
BIGXTHAPLUG
11 a.m., Daylight Beach Club, tixr. com.
WIZ KHALIFA
11 a.m., Drai’s Beachclub, drais group.com.
THE CHAINSMOKERS
11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
BRYSON TILLER
Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com
ELECTRIC FEELS
INDIE ROCK DANCE PARTY
8 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, area15.com
LIL WAYNE 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
DIPLO
10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial. com
ZEDD
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
SUNDAY SEP 01 MONDAY SEP 02
CHELSEA HANDLER
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
READING: PLACES WE CALL HOME Library of America, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, is directing a national initiative in 2024 and 2025 called Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home that includes a tour of events, an online archive and a massive anthology of work from Latin poets edited by Rigoberto González. Thanks to a partnership with Las Vegas’ Asylum Theatre, founded in 1997, the program lands locally with an afternoon of professional readings at the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum, curated by the Asylum’s resident playwright Gigi Guizado with a discussion moderated by Nevada State University poet and scholar Erika G. Abad. 2 p.m., free, Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum, asylumtheatre.org. –Brock Radke
VEGAS
KICKOFF CLASSIC:
USC VS. LSU
4:30 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com
KEVIN HART
9 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
NICK CANNON PRESENTS
WILD ‘N OUT LIVE
8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com
ALI SIDDIQ
7 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com
AKON
Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
PLIES
Noon, Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com.
MONEYBAGG YO
11 a.m., Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup.com.
NELLY
11 a.m., Wet Republic, taogroup.com
DOM DOLLA
11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub. com
LUDACRIS
10:30 p.m., Zouk Dayclub, zouk grouplv.com.
FABOLOUS
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com.
SKRILLEX
With Jyoty, Kenny Beats, 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
FISHER
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
LACERATION
With Molten, Eloteros, Cielo Impuro, Wretched, 8 p.m., Sinwave, dice.fm.
THE FRIGHTS
With Surely Tempo, Ricky, 7 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.
PEREZ HILTON
11 a.m., Daydream Pool Club, them resort.com
WAKA FLOCKA
Noon, Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup. com
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
GREETINGS FROM LAS VEGAS: GROWTH OF A CITY THROUGH POSTCARDS Thru 9/22, Thu.Mon. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Nevada State Museum, lasvegasnv museum.org
KEVIN SHEA
With Jimmy McMurrin, thru 9/8, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com
HYSTERIA WAY 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com
DO IT ALL
(Courtesy/Denise Truscello)
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY SEP 03
WEDNESDAY SEP 04
THE BEACH BOYS
8:30 p.m., Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS ACES VS. CHICAGO SKY
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. ROUND ROCK EXPRESS
Thru 9/7, 7 p.m., Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com
DRONE With Owshteen, Homer, 10 p.m., Discopussy, posh.vip
BUTCH BRADLEY
11:30 p.m., & 9/4, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com
JOI JAZZ ORCHESTRA 7:30 p.m., Notoriety, notorietylive.com
JIM GAFFIGAN Thru 9/7, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
IAN ASHER With Deux Twins, 10 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
DJ FRANZEN 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
(Courtesy/Jim Trocchio)
MASTER THE
STRIP
A locals-oriented guide to navigating and getting the best out of the Boulevard
Over the past few years, thousands of new residents have relocated to Southern Nevada, drawn by its relatively affordable housing and lower taxes. While we don’t have the time or resources to give you an exact number, we suspect that many of them (perhaps most of them!) don’t know that longtime locals never pay for casino parking, walk past a meal deal or drive more than one block on the Las Vegas Strip, if we can help it at all. ¶ If you’re among those uninitiated, allow us to share what the Weekly has learned about navigating the Strip from decades of working on it and living alongside it, from free attractions to its locals’ discounts to simply getting there. Ready to become a true Las Vegan, and a topnotch tour guide for your tourist friends and relatives?
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
HOW TO GET THERE AND GET AROUND
Don’t drive on traffic-choked Las Vegas Boulevard if you can help it. To travel north or south on the Strip, go east to the Rat Pack streets: Sammy Davis Jr. Drive, Frank Sinatra Drive and Dean Martin Drive. Like those icons, these streets get you in through the back way, avoiding crowds and hassle. Even if the property you’re visiting is on the other side of the Strip, take the Rat Pack route; Paradise Road and Koval Lane, which run parallel to the Strip on its west side, have several major pinch-points that will only worsen before the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in November. (Note: the Rat Pack route has one traffic snag, where Frank Sinatra meets Sammy Davis Jr. It’s just behind Caesars.)
Don’t have a Nevada driver’s license? Get one. Most major resorts offer limited free parking to locals with a Nevada DL. Caesars Entertainment properties (Caesars Palace,
Flamingo, Harrah’s, Horseshoe, Linq and Paris) offer three hours of free parking with local ID, as do MGM Resorts properties (Aria, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, New York-New York and Park MGM), the Venetian and Wynn/Encore. Not to be outdone, Fontainebleau offers four hours. Check the relevant property website for details before you go and note that the offer is voided on big holidays and during high-traffic events like game days and big concerts.
Don’t want a local ID? No sweat, carpetbagger: Circus Circus, Palms, Rio, Sahara, South Point, Treasure Island and Westgate provide all-day free parking regardless of where you live. The Fashion Show offers free parking, but only during mall hours. Brooklyn Bowl at the Linq Promenade will validate your parking if you eat, bowl or attend a
concert there.
If you’re running late, just park valet. You’ll pay for it—through tips, a service fee, or both— but the convenience of parking at the front door can’t be denied. Tip heavier on busy nights.
Once you’re on the Strip, you don’t necessarily have to walk or take a rideshare from one property to another. There are free trams connecting Bellagio, Aria, the Shops at Crystals and Park MGM; and Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay. (Note the hours before you hop on; they don’t run all night long.) And the Las Vegas Monorail—only $1 per ride for locals, but you must purchase your ticket from a service office employee who can verify your ID— stops at Sahara, Westgate, the Convention Center, Harrah’s, Flamingo, Paris and MGM Grand. We use it for events at MGM Grand Garden Arena, avoiding the MGM’s packed parking structure. –Geoff Carter
Aria Express (Shutterstock)
MASTER THE STRIP
HOW TO DO AIRPORT PICKUPS
Harry Reid International Airport is centrally located in the south Valley, with a dedicated I-215 exit. It’s almost criminally easy to drop o and pick up visiting guests from Reid. Just follow these tips:
■ Tell your visitors to text or call you at wheels down, while they’re taxiing to the terminal. If they’re brisk walkers and they didn’t check bags, you’ll have roughly 20 minutes before they get to passenger pickup. Allow an extra 10 if they’ve checked bags.
■ When they arrive at passenger pickup, instruct them to text you the number of the pillar they’re standing underneath. Higher-numbered pillars are easier.
■ If you arrive too early, wait in the cell phone lot. (You can’t idle at passenger pickup, even for a minute; airport security will order you to move on.) –Geo Carter
First-timers might assume the casinos and structure of the Strip make major league sports events more accessible and convenient in Las Vegas than in other cities, and that’s true to some extent. Parking is always the main issue, as it is everywhere, which is why plenty of locals who steadfastly refuse to pay for it have sought out creative alternatives.
The only Strip sports event where it makes sense to drive and pay and park is catching a Las Vegas Aces game at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay. It’s a cozy venue, the garage is huge, and you should go early to grab some grub and drinks at Border Grill, Flanker Kitchen or House of Blues. But make your plans now as there are only four home games left this season, and the September 3 game against Chicago is at T-Mobile Arena.
HOW TO DO SPORTS ON THE STRIP
Going to a Raiders game? It’s a whole thing, of course, and if you don’t want to shell out to park in a casino garage and walk over the Hacienda Bridge to Allegiant Stadium, consider the RTC Game Day Express ($2 one way or $4 roundtrip, rtcsnv.com/gamedayexpress),
(Christopher DeVargas/Sta )
which shuttles fans to the game from six di erent neighborhood casinos across the Valley. And the rst departure is three hours before kicko for those who want to enjoy a tailgate experience; the shuttles run every 30 minutes after that. If you are parking for football, consider using an app like SpotHero, which will nd you the best-priced and closest options well in advance.
Most of us Vegas Golden Knights devotees have our pregame transportation rituals down pat, but there’s always room for improvement (and Game Day Express runs for hockey, too). If driving, we like to park at Aria’s garage, because it’s far enough from T-Mobile Arena to not get as congested as other casino parking facilities, but it’s still a close and simple walk that can be done almost entirely indoors (through the Aria-Park MGM corridor). We still get plenty of time to pregame at Beerhaus, Best Friend, Nine Fine Irishmen, Tom’s or the Crack Shack, and then after the Knights get the W and we sip a victory cocktail at NoMad Bar, getting back to the car is a breeze. –Brock Radke
(
HOW TO FIND COOL FREE STUFF
The Strip can be expensive, but not everything you do on the Boulevard needs to break the bank. Within many casino-hotels is a world-class fine art collection hidden in plain sight, perfect for a free, self-guided art walk.
For instance, at Resorts World, you’ll find Red Hong Yi’s “Kopitiam Uncle,” a portrait made from thousands of tea bags, near Harajuku Ramen at Famous Foods Street Eats; and Marlies Plank’s “Dare to Dream,” a gorgeous nine-panel installation of floating elephants, near Liberace’s 1913 Nickelodeon piano in the Conrad lobby. Kasey McMahon’s “Connected,”
a stunning wire sculpture crafted out of CAT5 ethernet cables and USB cords, sits on the third floor of the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Tower. Near the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens (another great free attraction!), you’ll spot Tomás Esson’s oil-on-linen painting, “Quimera.” And a smaller, cast-bronze version of Sanford Biggers’ “Oracle” sculpture is found on the Aria casino floor, just off the parking garage escalators. (Aria also boasts works by Jenny Holzer, Maya Lin, James Turrell and more; it’s almost a museum in itself. Download a guide to Aria’s art collection at tinyurl.com/p9n8zxht.)
When the weather cools, take a trek through the serene four-acre garden of the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, home to rare birds, exotic fish and hot pink flamingos. The Palazzo’s atrium and floral gardens also calm and soothe.
Finally, the free luxury of people watching is always fun. Mon Ami Gabi’s Strip-side patio at Paris is a great place to start. And up top, Brew Dog, Ole Red, Skyfall at Delano and the outdoor terrace at Ocean Prime offer sweeping rooftop views of the entire Strip—not completely free if you’re getting a drink or a meal, but always worth it. –Amber Sampson
KASEY MCMAHON’S CONNECTED
SANFORD BIGGERS’ ORACLE
Bellagio Conservatory (Steve Marcus/Staff)
(Christopher DeVargas/Sta )
HOW TO ENTERTAIN ALL AGES
After you’ve taken your tourist fam or friends to the obligatory Bellagio fountain show and killed some time strolling through one of those fancy malls, what’s next? There are more options than meet the eye. We love Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay because, yeah, sharks, but there are more than 2,000 animals to see and a lot of sneaky-fun learning to absorb.
HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR LOCAL STATUS
You could make a day or two out of all the perks that Las Vegas hotels o er to locals. We advise starting with a trip to the Forbes Travel Guide ve-star rated Aria Spa & Salon, where those with a Nevada ID receive 20% o spa services Monday through Thursday. There’s also the Roman-inspired Qua Baths & Spa Caesars Palace, where locals can receive 15% o .
both Topgolf and Atomic Golf o er 25% o for locals. Or maybe you’d rather take in views from the largest observation wheel in North America, the High Roller, at 20% o for locals.
Head west and take a dip at the Palms Pool, where locals can get a free cabana Monday through Friday. Or try Azilo Ultra Pool at the classic Sahara, where locals get in free no matter what day of the week it is.
at at the classic Sahara, of dates for locals, or at
After all that relaxation, it’s time to check into your hotel room and take a nap. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas o ers 35% o room rates for locals, plus no valet or self-parking fees. Palms o ers 15% o room rates for locals.
When you’re ready for something active,
A proper Vegas staycation must include a show, and luckily, there’s a handful of discounts to pick from. Catch some comedy at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club with 35% o select dates for locals, or at Stars of Comedy at Harrah’s, currently featuring resident comedian Carlos Mencia. Hip-hop dance crew Jabbawockeez performs at MGM Grand with 30% o tickets for locals. And if you’re into magic and mind games, tickets are 25% o for locals to see mentalist Colin Cloud (see page 42). For the cherry on top, hit the clubs. Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World o ers free admission for locals on Thursdays, and adjacent Ayu Dayclub o ers free locals admission on Fridays. –Shannon Miller
Hiding on the Strip near the Hard Rock Cafe, FlyOver Las Vegas is a real ride, much more immersive than many of the attractions making that claim. You’ll feel like you really are ying over the America’s most scenic landscapes, and the experience won’t tie up a lot of your time on the Boulevard. For those who need bigger thrills, the Adventuredome theme park at Circus Circus and the Big Apple roller coaster at New York-New York are obvious classics.
MGM Grand with 30% o tickets tickets
We’ve always enjoyed The Mac King Comedy Magic Show, the very de nition of friendly, all-ages entertainment in Las Vegas. And when you take your multigenerational posse to this 3 p.m. show at Excalibur, you can grab some tickets for your aunties to see Thunder From Down Under later that night in the very same Thunderland Showroom. Convenience! –Brock Radke
HOW TO FIND AFFORDABLE AND CONVENIENT FOOD AND DRINKS
If you’re prowling for a ordable yet satisfying options, the rst stop is Stage Door Casino, behind the Cromwell. A $3 beer and hot dog combo awaits—a classic pregame ritual before hitting a show at Brooklyn Bowl. Need quick and tasty? Head to the Cosmopolitan’s Block 16 Urban Food Hall where Bāng Bar o ers a chickpea dip with three pieces of atbread for just $7. If you’re gambling on the casino oor, ask for an Illy co ee with cream— it’s the same quality brew served at Va Bene Ca è near the lobby.
Don’t miss the Cosmo’s happy hours. From 5-7 p.m., Jaleo boasts delightful small plates like pan de cristal con tomate for $6, patatas bravas for $7, and traditional red wine sangria for $8 or frozen red wine sangria for $7. China Poblano’s happy hour from 4:30-6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, o ers an array of tasty snacks like fried wontons with shrimp and pork
for $10, quesabirria for $9, and drinks including Tsingtao, Corona Premium and Modelo Negra for $7 each—or try the iconic Salt Air Margarita for $13.
Craving Italian? Eataly is your ideal destination. This marketplace at Park MGM is a haven for the freshest Italian fare—breads, wines, cheeses, meats and cocktails that’ll transport you. And with a variety of stands and options, the prices are on a sliding scale.
At the other end of the Strip at the Sahara, Tuesdays are for steak. Balla Italian Soul o ers locals 50% o premium cuts with Nevada ID, and Wednesdays, the same discount applies to all bottles of wine.
Just east of the Strip at Silver Sevens, you can enjoy a $5 burger and beer combo daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Another nearby budget-friendly option is Ellis Island Casino, where you can savor a classic steak and eggs deal for just $9.99. –Gabriela Rodriguez
(Courtesy)
(Courtesy/Rey Lopez)
HOW TO CHOOSE A FANCY RESTAURANT MASTER THE STRIP
Special-occasion dining might be the one thing that gets locals to the Strip most frequently—because when it’s time to splurge on a memorable culinary experience, this is one of the best places to do it in the whole world.
Steakhouses might be the most popular category and every Las Vegan should have a favorite. Ours include the Steak House at Circus Circus, Joe’s Prime Steak & Stone Crab at the Forum Shops at Caesars, Edge Steakhouse at Westgate, Delmonico at Venetian and Bavette’s at Park MGM. Further exploration should be dictated by your preferences: if you love Italian food, check out Cipriani at Wynn or Carbone at Aria; for Chinese, maybe Genting Palace at Resorts World, Wing Lei at Wynn or Hakkasan at MGM Grand
(where you hit the club upstairs after dinner).
Locals have a reputation for knowing where the hottest new restaurants in the tourist corridor can be found, and that pipeline has been telling us to try out Mother Wolf and Ito at Fontainebleau, Bazaar Mar at the Shops at Crystals, the reopened Wine Cellar at the Rio and the refreshed Chéri Rooftop at Paris.
Another useful tip: Go brunching. Many of the Strip’s fine dining jewels offer incredible daytime weekend fare, like the steak frites and short rib hash at Bardot Brasserie at Aria, or the Peking duck and dim sum at Palazzo’s gorgeous Mott 32 You might save a few bucks and keep your evening open for another experience, but you’ll never forget these meals. –Brock Radke
HOW TO DO DINNER AND A SHOW
Playing concierge for family members or high school buddies who happen to be visiting Las Vegas? It’s a rite of passage. You’re not a true local until you’ve shown those folks a good time. And for some reason, they always want help navigating the stressful world of Strip nightclubs—one of the most intimidating aspects of Vegas entertainment.
Circumvent this request by making a reservation at Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio (themayfairlv. com) or Delilah at Wynn (wynnlasvegas.com). You won’t have to hop venues from restaurant to lounge to club—and you’ll spend less— but you’ll still show off with amazing food, over-the-top atmosphere and thrilling live musical entertainment. No shade to the amazing nightclubs on the Las Vegas Strip these days, but this is how we love to party right now. –Brock Radke
(Courtesy Mott 32)
AREA 15 is the all-in-one entertainment district that boasts something for everyone, from restaurants and arcades to rides and immersive experiences. No matter how many times you’ve been there, you still haven’t seen it all. The entire space is packed with secret quests, hidden areas and Easter eggs just waiting to be discovered. Here’s an insider’s guide to the secrets of AREA 15.
Grab your phone and get ready for a narrative-based scavenger hunt like no other. Communicating with AREA15’s Multiverse Maintenance Department by text, you’ll explore the entire facility and solve puzzles at six di erent stations to investigate the strange signals appearing on AREA15’s systems. Someone is trying to get in contact, but who? And why? It’s a mystery you’re tasked with solving, and along the way you’ll learn how AREA15 came to be. All you need is your phone to play. Plus, it’s great for groups and suitable for kids aged 8 and older.
Enter AREA15’s hub of games and experiences, featuring seven popular AR and VR attractions. The Lab showcases several attractions previous guests may remember, including Birdly, a VR flight simulator that mimics the avian experience. Fly through New York City, Jurassic Flight or a mountainside experience and find the Easter eggs within each map to unlock alternative scenes. The Lab is also home to the OZ Ride, Grand Prix Racing Simulators, AR Dodgeball and Particle Quest. Plus, two new experiences: Laser Maze and Bot Breach. Laser Maze is an all-ages attraction with three games, and Bot Breach is a VR experience that welcomes guests into the AREA15 multiverse to protect Mechan9.
In collaboration with Able Baker Brewing, AREA15 launched Signal Lager, a Mexican-style lager that’s light, crisp and showcases a gentle malt sweetness balanced with a touch of hoppy bitterness. It’s exclusively available at Oddwood Bar, LIFTOFF Ride and the Asylum Bar + Arcade. Each can has a QR code that will unlock more puzzles to solve.
ADVERTORIAL PRESENTED BY AREA15
One of the most iconic figures at AREA15 is Mechan9, a half-buried robot created by artist Tyler Fuqua of Portland, Oregon. It’s an enigma to be solved and a relic from another era, though whether it’s of the past or future is undetermined. Upon further investigation, you’ll discover secret hatches that contain mysterious texts that are unknown to any scholar. Are they simply decorative, or do they contain clues to Mechan9’s mysterious origins? Those who discover the truth and decode the final message can redeem a special surprise from an AREA15 ambassador.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Tyler Fuqua Creations is an art collection that was spearheaded by Fuqua, who began his artistic career by making giant puppets from found objects. Alongside fellow builder Jason Hutchinson, he’s created interactive pieces, including a 221-foot whale puppet, a flaming kinetic phoenix and a tricycle-powered space worm.
COCKTAIL HIGHLIGHT: We won’t give away the full secret menu, but one of our favorites is called the Loro Rojo, a mezcal-forward strawberry cocktail presented in a bird-shaped glass. It’s delicious, Insta-worthy and ordering it gives you the opportunity to receive 50% off admission at Birdly. Win-win-win.
Located in the center of AREA15 is Oddwood Bar, which houses an ever-changing, nearly 23-foot-tall Japanese maple tree with more than 5,000 twinkling LED leaves. It also has a secret menu only intrepid explorers will be able to find. As you roam AREA15, keep an eye out for small stickers that resemble the tree’s leaves with QR codes. Scan the codes to unlock the bar’s secret menu and unique discounts and offers for AREA15.
And one more lesser-known secret of Oddwood Bar: Guests who complete the Particle Quest augmented reality experience will disrupt the programming of the leaves at the Oddwood tree and reveal a special light setting that is only deployed once the quest is complete.
“I don’t know how the hell we could lose it … I’ve never seen such support.”
- Donald Trump, talking about losing Nevada to Democrats in 2016 and 2020 at an August 23 invitation-only campaign event at Las Vegas restaurant Il Toro E La Capra
HOT SHOT Washoe County Commissioners on August 20 voted to approve funding for the relocation of the Seven Magic Mountains art installation to Washoe County. The massive sculpture, o Interstate 15 between Las Vegas and California, opened in 2016 as a project of Reno’s Nevada Museum of Art and the Art Production Fund.
(Brian Ramos/Sta )
BY THE NUMBERS
That’s the maximum amount of the City of Las Vegas Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program grant, designed for youth ages 8-18 to create and implement neighborhood-based, service-learning projects. Applications are open through October 31 at lasvegasnevada.gov/residents/education/ynapp-grant.
New agency to manage large events
As the Valley attracts more mega-events like the Super Bowl and Formula 1, Clark County announced August 20 that it will create a sports and special events department to manage the influx of big spectacles.
Security upgrades at UNLV
The first day of fall classes at UNLV was August 26, with an expected record-high number of students enrolled, according to university officials. It’s also an important time for the university as it continues to recover from a December 6 shooting and solidify its status as a top-tier university.
About eight months after an active shooter killed three professors and wounded another in Beam Hall, the building has been repaired and reopened for the fall semester with $2.5 million in enhanced safety measures.
Cameras have been added on some floors, a security guard is now stationed on the first floor at a UNLV-branded desk, and phones with large screens hang
HIGHER ED THE STRIP
off the walls of every classroom. Those phones are big enough to catch the attention of any student or teacher when they blink during an emergency.
On the first floor, students will immediately notice the security desk. The desk will be staffed with a private security officer in a yellow vest the entire time Beam Hall is open. Individual security officers are patrolling floors throughout the building and its exterior as well, allowing “people that are attending this building or in this building occupying it to have a direct pipeline to us in the form of radio communications,” said Arnold Vasquez, interim director of University Police Services.
It’s a difference in safety that
students can see and feel, said student Carlee Brooks. But Brooks also wishes these sorts of protections could have come before the shooting.
“I feel more safe, but it’s still in the back of your head,” Brooks said. “It’s like, why couldn’t they do this before? Why do they care about us after?”
UNLV President Keith Whitfield said the university was constantly looking at ways to improve safety. In addition to spending $2.5 million on enhancing Beam Hall’s security, the university has allocated another $1 million to add lighting around the campus so students can “feel safe coming through” campus, Whitfield noted.
–Grace Da Rocha
Bellagio is celebrating a milestone and a first. The hotel debuted its 40th show August 26, set to U2’s song Beautiful Day. The show also marks the first time a hotel guest has designed a show for the famed fountains. Scott Krupa of Atlanta tapped 2.4 million saved-up Marriott Bonvoy Moment points to be able to choreograph the show, an experience offered through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform, which Bellagio participates in. “It was about creating something beautiful, creating something memorable for the thousands of people who come to see this show on any given day,” Krupa said. The opportunity to choreograph the Fountains of Bellagio is available only through MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy. MGM Resorts International and Marriott International announced in March that 16 MGM resorts would participate in Marriott Bonvoy Moments. –Staff
The ordinance, unanimously approved by the county commission, establishes a unique division to manage special events. It also creates a process that will receive applications, collect fees, work with organizers to estimate needed county resources and maintain a calendar in relation to special events.
Before getting a special event approved, applicants must now provide various plans for the proposed location, public safety and traffic management alongside the usual basic information.
Applicants may be required to appear before commissioners for a public hearing if their event estimates more than 15,000 people; could cause “activities which endanger the health or safety of patrons or disrupt the peace or order of their neighborhood;” has multiple activations across the county; needs “significant resources” from the county; or would impact or require a closure of Las Vegas Boulevard.
A post-event worksheet must also be submitted within 30 days of the special event, and the organizer’s event approval in the future could be impacted should the form be submitted incomplete or not be turned in at all.
The ordinance will go into effect January 1, so the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix will not be affected by the new rules.
–Grace Da Rocha
(Brian Ramos/Staff)
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A theme park-sized Las Vegas development is planned north of Area15
BY NAOKA FOREMAN
The City of Las Vegas is moving forward with a proposal to create an immersive entertainment district for tourists on 35.5 acres north of Area15.
At the August 21 City Council meeting, a representative for the developer said the district would include the previously announced horror-themed experience from Universal Parks and Resorts, as well as retail and office space, a hotel and multi-family housing.
“Area15 is fast becoming recognized as a premier destination for creatives to showcase their intellectual property at a physical location,” said Kyle Sutherland, director of development for the landowner and developer Fisher Brothers.
“The success of Area15 has led to further interest in expansion of the Area15 district directly to the north. We envision the district will become a premier immersive entertainment and retail district in the country and even in the world.”
EXPANDING
Area15 opened in fall of 2020 and, despite the pandemic, quickly became a booming tourist attraction specializing in immersive and experiential entertainment. According to a preponderance study conducted by Johnson Consulting for the city, the new district north of the complex will be home to retailers and tenants who want to be “part of a dynamic and constantly evolving community … that transforms visitors from spectator to participant through entrancing entertainment programs, living art experiences and culinary adventures.”
Fisher Brothers is planning a 200-room hotel, 585 multi-family housing units, 518,000 square feet of retail space, 320,000 square feet of office space, and 100,000 square feet of “horror-themed immersive entertainment.” These are expected to bring $796 million in annual on-site spending from Las Vegas visitors by 2037, according to the
preponderance study.
The anchor tenant for Area15’s expansion will be the year-round horror experience from Universal, originally announced in January 2023. According to a news release from the company, the attraction will hinge on a “library of classic horror films and today’s most terrifying tales.” The concept marks Universal’s first creation of a permanent horror experience beyond its theme parks in Florida and California.
Councilwoman Olivia Díaz, whose ward includes Area15 and the development area, says the community can expect thousands of jobs from the proposed expansion, including unique opportunities for local creatives or docents. Initial conversations with Universal executives included plans to recruit locally for job opportunities and collaboration with her office to alert residents and locals about auditions and job
openings, she said.
“I was very pleased to hear that they want these jobs to go to our community,” Díaz says. “Especially those that live closest to the project who may be within walking distance and could benefit from a second income, or this could be their primary job.”
The city council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution to move forward with the process of creating a tourism improvement district for the project.
Fisher Brothers is looking to develop the area north of Area15, bordered by Sirius Avenue to the south, Rigel Avenue and Wyandotte Street to the west, Teddy Drive to the north, and Rancho Drive to the east. When completed, it’s estimated to bring almost seven million annual visitors by 2037, “anticipated to be out-of-state and
ENTERTAINMENT
non-local visitors,” according to the study.
Making this vision a reality will require major infrastructure upgrades, Sutherland told council members.
“There is a challenge to developing as we have planned. The location is currently served by aging infrastructure intended for lower-density uses. There were lots of single-story buildings,” Sutherland said. “And now, we’re proposing more dense development and additional stories to those buildings. The development would require an upgrade to this infrastructure and that upgrade is a major project.”
To fund those upgrades, Fisher Brothers is asking the Las Vegas City Council to create a tourism improvement district (TID), which would allow the developers to utilize a portion of any newly generated sales tax in the development to pay for improvements
like new water and sewer lines and parking garages.
“If no new sales taxes are generated, the developer does not receive any funds, so any incentive is strictly performance-based,”
Fisher Brothers spokeswoman Erika Pope wrote in an email.
“Approval of the TID will allow Fisher Brothers to invest in infrastructure necessary to maximize the potential of the site for the benefit of both the project and the City of Las Vegas.”
If the TID is approved, Pope continued, Fisher Brothers will be eligible to receive rebates for portions of new sales taxes generated by the development, which are used to offset the cost of necessary infrastructure and parking additions needed for expansion.
One of the requirements for the creation of a TID is that the area has had zero sales tax generated in 120 days. In this case, there has been little to no sales tax generated
for many years, Pope said.
There also must be preponderance that the area will attract tourists and generate sales tax revenue from outside the state.
The study notes that the development is expected to bring in $15.8 million annually in sales tax revenues by 2037.
“As a result of them coming and bringing that visitation, there’s a level of dollars that are invested and poured back into the community in different ways based on the consumption of those visitors to our fabulous city,” Díaz says.
The Nevada Commission on Tourism will hold a public hearing on the proposed tourism improvement district on September 11, said Dina Babsky, deputy director of economic and urban development for the City of Las Vegas.
Following that meeting, the city council is expected to introduce an ordinance in October that would establish the TID.
TEASING OUT TALENT
Sin City Burlesque Festival returns with more burgeoning stars to showcase
Raquel Reed in front of the Space at the 2023 Sin City Burlesque Festival.
(Courtesy)
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Burlesque has always been a risqué business. It’s tasteful, even when it feels taboo. But that illicit treatment of the art form is what’s hindered off-Strip burlesque from becoming as mainstream as it could be in Vegas. While performing in Absinthe (during a furlesque-coded gorilla striptease, mind you) Raquel Reed became acutely aware of this.
“I was thinking about how I would love to link more performers with well-known producers on the Strip and in Vegas. A lot of producers don’t know who burlesque dancers are all over the world,” says Reed, who also produces The Jiggle Room monthly revue at Downtown’s Cheapshot.
“I was honestly trying to make a portfolio of people in our industry every year that … get to perform and showcase their art in front
of potential producers that could book them. It’s kind of a rarity for us in burlesque. We perform for a lot of patrons, but to perform for people who will actually potentially book us or put us in their show is really big.”
That thinking eventually led Reed to found and produce the Sin City Burlesque Festival, a two-day showcase that will bring more than 50 burlesque performers together when it returns to the Space September 6-7.
“There are plenty of producers who are burlesque performers, but in this city, people who produce larger shows don’t really consider burlesque, at least off the top of their head, and that’s because it’s been kind of suppressed and pushed aside,” says Enzo Cinquegrana, Reed’s husband and co-producer of the show. “We owe a lot to
STAGE
SIN CITY
BURLESQUE
FESTIVAL
September 6-7,
7 p.m., $65-$160. The Space, sincityburlesquefestival. com
the people that have been holding the torch and keeping the fire lit, but we’re hoping to add to what we see as another evolution of burlesque becoming a more accepted art form here again.”
Cinquegrana, an blacksmith by trade, handcrafted all of the set pieces for the festival, effectively transforming the Space into a neon burlesque cabaret. And both nights will offer varying degrees of seduction.
On night one, patrons will be treated to The Grind, an erotic revue headlined by renowned Vegas performer Michelle L’Amour, followed by a zany variety show hosted by the ever-charming comedian and burlesque star Tito Bonito. The following night, modern burlesque darling and pin-up model CoCo Lamarr will lead the Big Queen Competition, where performers from around the world will compete for the cabaret crown. Judges include Miss Exotic World 2023 Samson Night, Miss Nude Universe 1975 Tiffany Carter and Liinda Garisto, a professional dancer from Magic Mike Live.
“Really, it is the best of the best competing and winging it to live music with a live band,” says Reed. “They just dance freely in this competition. It’s not set choreography, and that’s what makes it special, and that’s what makes it powerful.”
Naturally, the Burlesque Hall of Fame will also be there to support the fest, as it creates a unique platform for burlesque performers to receive their flowers and hopefully their offers. As for the patrons? Reed hopes the festival leaves a lasting and positive impression of the industry.
“I want them to walk away loving burlesque and feeling like they went to a vintage burlesque show, they saw vintage performers, and they were in it, they were feeling the moment of being in that time,” she says.
The Sin City Shakers performing at the 2023 Sin City Burlesque Festival. (Courtesy/Chase Stevens)
+Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart at AREA15 is the sideways, mysterious grocery store that houses secrets at every turn. Within the supermarket experience is a lineup of unexpected and hilarious products, and if you happen to wander near the pharmacy, you might stumble upon Datamosh, the hidden in-house bar. Many Omega Mart shoppers walk right by while hunting for other portals and dimensions, but if you’re lucky enough to find it, you’ll discover an entire world of unique cocktails.
A quintessential summer cocktail, palomas are always on the menu in Las Vegas. This one is especially flavorful, featuring tequila, grapefruit juice and a unique Champagne and pink peppercorn simple syrup that o ers a depth of flavor that will leave you wanting more.
WHAT’S A BUZZ BUTTON?
Also known as a Szechuan button or an electric daisy, this garnish is an edible flower that creates a tingling or numbing sensation in the mouth.
What’s a happle? It’s an exotic and extremely rare fruit that exists only in the Omega Mart universe. This cocktail is presented like the delicate produce product it is and includes the signature Happle Juice blend— apple sake, aloe liqueur, citrus, apple bitters and buzz button.
Described as Datamosh’s pièce de résistance, The Source o ers one of the most stunning cocktail presentations in Las Vegas. It’s made with blue butterfly infused gin, bergamot liqueur, rhubarb, strawberry puree and lemon, and it’s topped with a smoke-filled bergamot bubble. The name of the cocktail references an Omega Mart Easter egg, so once you’ve gone through the rest of the experience, The Source is the ideal cocktail with which to celebrate.
WOLF
Yes, it’s an Old Fashioned, but it’s blue. And slanted. And the alcohol is sprayed out of the Old Fashioned Spray bottle. Though it may look similar to window cleaner, it’s actually Rye Whiskey. This kooky cocktail is not for the faint of heart; it packs a punch in flavor and proof. In addition to the whiskey, this cocktail features Italian orange liqueur, simple syrup and orange bitters.
The Meowjito is a best seller at Datamosh, and it’s easy to understand why—it’s balanced, refreshing and just sweet enough. Featuring white and golden rums, lemongrass syrup, guava puree, ginger, lime, sugar and mint, it’s an elevated take on the classic that’s purrfect for anyone.
There are Easter eggs scattered throughout the Datamosh menu, from cocktail names to key ingredients, everything is chosen for a reason. Even the smallest details, such as the use of rosemary, pay homage to Rose The Herbalist, one of Omega Mart’s many characters.
Meow Wolf collaborated with Albuquerque-based Marble Brewery to craft a Japaneseinspired rice lager called Day Ghost. The signature beer is crisp, balanced and dangerously easy to drink.
Omega Mart is an immersive experience that’s so cohesive and convincing, it’s easy to lose yourself and hours within the space.
One of Omega Mart’s most consistent characteristics is its sense of humor, which is whimsical and surreal. This also applies to the menu at Datamosh with cocktails that are full of personality.
Another fresh take on a classic cocktail, the Omegarita is a dark, smoky, orangey and chocolatey masterpiece. It’s made with tequila, mezcal, ginger agave syrup, citrus, cocoa bitters and an orange omega salt rim.
(Courtesy)
THE STRIP
ABSOLUTELY MENTAL
Mind-rattling entertainer
Colin Cloud strikes out on his own with Mastermind at Harrah’s
BY AMBER SAMPSON
When we reach Colin Cloud over Zoom, he’s in his hotel room in Edinburgh, Scotland. His hair, on the other hand, is on a vastly different planet.
“Sonic the Hedgehog, Jimmy Neutron, it’s in full capacity, just for you,” he jokes, primping his gravity defying updo.
The charm is on, despite the fact that it’s 10:30 p.m. and the America’s Got Talent finalist is visibly knackered from a long day at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where his brow-raising mentalism has rattled a few minds and incited a few freakouts inside McEwan Hall, an iconic landmark of the capital.
“I’m from here,” Cloud says of Scotland. “This is where I got a name for myself, where I got noticed, where The Illusionists picked me up, brought me to [London’s] West End first, then America and that led to AGT. Without this place, I would be nothing.”
Cloud, who describes himself as an empath, wields something variably close to a sixth sense, challenging audience members to conjure up a word, song or memory and guessing it without fail. That ability has aided him in becoming a globally recognized mentalist, especially here in Las Vegas, where he’s shared a stage with Shin Lim in his Limitless show at the Mirage.
mental magic that has left everyone from Prince William to Steve Carell speechless. Lim is launching a new residency at Venetian in October; Cloud is stepping out to headline Mastermind, his own first Strip show at Harrah’s Cabaret.
“I wanted to, from a place of love and respect for how much I care about Shin, remain with that show and love what we built there,” Cloud says. “I’m very proud of that show and the impact that it had, because Vegas is the magic capital of the world. I’m going to be forever grateful to him for trusting me to be his sidekick.”
The mentalist enlisted the help of David Gerard and Ryan K. Davidson, two of “the best magicians on the planet,” to collaborate with him behind the scenes on Mastermind. And the show also functions as a full-circle moment for Cloud, who moves into the Harrah’s space where his good friend Tape Face once performed.
“I’ve always looked at him as a real hero of mine,” he says. “In Edinburgh, I kind of followed his trajectory where if he did a room one year, I would then move into it, follow him, almost like a little brother to his big brother.”
“It relies on me being in the room with those people and really observing everything and using that and making it feel like that show happened just for them,” Cloud says. “I grew up in Edinburgh watching stand-up comedians, and the best standup comedians are Sherlock Holmeses. They’re observing everything. They’re paying attention to all of it. I just truly fell in love with that approach.”
What started as a two-week engagement blossomed into a years-long partnership between Lim and Cloud, who complemented the AGT champion’s close-up card magic with
A headlining show in Vegas looks a lot like Edinburgh in that the audience is so diverse, he says. And having an ongoing set also allows him to experiment and stay engaged, because “I never want to be the performer on stage who’s just pressing play,” he says.
There’s no telling what you’ll see, but rest assured the audience will never feel humiliated or devalued at Mastermind In Cloud’s eyes, they’re all his co-stars.
“Mentalism, it doesn’t happen without other people,” he says. “I never want anyone else to feel like they came and they were sh** on, for lack of a better phrase. I want people to come and feel empowered by what they’ve been a part of.”
NIGHTLIFE
AUTHENTIC SOUNDS
Altura ’s parade of Latin parties has turned it into a nationwide name
BY AMBER SAMPSON
It’s hard to imagine a time when Peso Pluma and Bad Bunny weren’t in deep rotation in Vegas nightclubs. But roughly six years ago, Olivier Sanchez, also known as DJ Exile, couldn’t dream of it.
“It was really weird to hear reggaeton and Latin music in big rooms. There was no scene. It was always underground,” Olivier says. “There was no Latin Downtown. You would hear DJs play it in their sets, but a focused Latin night? Nothing.”
At the time, Sanchez was one of the only Vegas DJs spearheading a Latin night at the Blue Martini at Town Square. He soon developed a reputation for spinning Latin-exclusive parties, capturing the interest of Arnol Aguilar, who he met at Tequila & Turntables, a DJ competition at the former Hyde Bellagio.
“Anything that was Latin, Exile’s name was already on it. Whether it was a Latin Grammy weekend or if it was a pop-up with House of Blues or something like that, Exile was literally always involved,” says Aguilar. “It was one of those steps that was like, this dude is crushing it. We gotta just emphasize it now.”
Aguilar and Sanchez went on to found Altura, an indomitable pillar of the Latin nightlife scene, incorporating an eclectic range of music across its branded parties from reggaeton to bachata. “It’s the stu that’ll make you say, ‘This isn’t a Latin party. It’s a party for Lati-
nos,’” says Aguilar.
The duo launched its rst event in 2020 at Downtown’s Discopussy. The following year, they moved down Fremont Street to Lucky Day, where Aguilar says Altura became the runaway success it is now.
“It was supposed to be a Tulum-inspired bar. Eventually the partnering manager hit us up and was like, ‘You guys have o cially changed the whole brand of Lucky Day. There’s no way we’re playing anything but Latin music here,’” Aguilar says.
Since then Altura has grown stratospheric, launching a nationwide tour with its Planet Perreo party and licensing more parties to be hosted elsewhere. Aguilar and Sanchez were also tapped to curate acts for the Rumbazo Latin music fest in 2023, a testament to their exquisite taste.
“The merengue, the real traditional Latin sounds, kids that are barely 21 still know those songs because I feel like as Latinos, we love our roots. It just felt like an authentic Latin party ... We’re not just trying to sell something. We grew up with it,” Sanchez says. “Also, me and [Aguilar] are working DJs. He grew up in quinceañeras, playing underground parties, playing concerts. I grew up with the same thing. It’s as authentic as possible.”
That DJ connection also means you might hear mixes at an Altura party you’ve never heard anywhere else. Aguilar says they’ve been
heavily inspired by the SoundCloud era of Latin music, when a lot of producers overseas didn’t have access to YouTube.
“They’d upload their music to SoundCloud, and that’s its own culture itself. That’s how Bad Bunny was discovered,” Aguilar says. “Exile would show me edits, and literally I’d send him edits, and that’s how our sound for Altura just started combining.”
The founders’ roots explain why Altura parties have a duality, feeling mainstream and underground at the same time. Viva El Perreo, their reggaeton party that pops o at Neonopolis’ new Substance club every Saturday, brims with classic cuts and sweaty dancing. In contrast, Altura’s Baja Mundo is a carnival-style, Latin tech-house party. For a more traditional, regional Mexican party, the duo recommends La Pista, Saturday nights at Commonwealth.
Aguilar and Sanchez say they’re grateful for all the recognition Altura has received, but especially from their own culture. Convincing Latinos to come to a Latino party was never a tough sell, Sanchez says. It was getting everybody else on board. Now that Latin music has blown into the mainstream, the duo can keep focusing on making Altura even better.
“We don’t take it for granted, and we actually think about people’s experience. We really, really do,” Aguilar says. “We put a lot of thought into it, and we go back and forth internally to make the best show ever.”
LET’S GET SMASHED
The double smashburger at Stay Tuned (Wade Vandervort/Sta )
Analyzing and enjoying standout smashburgers in Las Vegas
BY JIM BEGLEY
The smashburger’s origins are somewhat hazy. Legend has it Dairy Cheer in Ashland, Kentucky, first smashed its patties with a can of beans in the mid-1900s, but Miner-Dunn in Highland, Indiana, has been serving them since 1932. And the OKC burger, a specific style of smashburger, traces its roots to the Depression in the 1920s. Regardless of these humble beginnings, the smashburger is undeniably having a moment. While it’s available at Valley fast food options from the eponymous Smashburger to Shake Shack, it’s also abundant on local menus. You can find smashburgers in some of the most unlikely places in Las Vegas, so please dig into our favorites.
STAY TUNED BURGERS
Arguably the most famous local smashburger is from Bobby Meader’s Stay Tuned Burgers, nestled inside the rustic but recently remodeled Hard Hat Lounge. A Vegas native, Meader developed a passion for smashburgers while hunting down LA’s best renditions. After he relocated back to the Valley, what began as a literal backyard pop-up at the end of COVID landed him at Vegas Test Kitchen via a recommendation from the Yukon Pizza crew, and eventually to a permanent home at Hard Hat.
As for his burger, it’s a $9 charred classic. Meader uses shoulder clod ground and smashed in-house. The patties are topped with a paprika-infused secret sauce, American cheese, house-made pickle chips, and copious chopped white onions—although grilled onion jam is also an option— in between a butter-griddled potato bun, delivered with remarkably delicious consistency. And the vegan version is almost indistinguishable and made on its own vegan grill. 1675 S. Industrial Road, 702-3848987, staytunedburgers.com.
NO PANTS AT THE GREEN FAIRY GARDEN
While sampling hundreds of burgers in the name of research, Spiegelworld executive culinary director Anna Altieri had a singular goal: to create a memorable rendition. She’s succeeded with her No Pants Burger in the unlikeliest of locations: served from a repurposed shipping container in the Green Fairy Garden outside the Absinthe show tent at Caesars Palace. You have to neither be an Absinthe ticketholder nor without britches to enjoy it, but the Gazillionaire certainly encourages both.
This is truly an OKC-style rendition, with thinly sliced onions smashed into the 75/25 chuck brisket/ short rib burger. But unlike the Depression-era cooks, Altieri isn’t looking to ration meat; rather, she liked the way the veggie helped moisten the peppery, paper-thin patties. The $14 double-patty burger, a steal by Strip standards, delivers a bit of every ingredient in each bite with a trick: sandwich-sliced dill pickles in lieu of chips. These are in addition to American cheese and a tangy, mayobased sauce, all swaddled within a butter-toasted pretzel bun. Caesars Palace, spiegelworld.com.
DELMONICO STEAKHOUSE
Plenty of fancy steakhouses—and Emeril Lagasse’s Venetian fixture certainly is fancy—have burgers on the menu, but those tend to be the thick-patty renditions and not the more accessible, fast-food variety. But when chief culinary officer Ronnie Rainwater and his team were talking about their favorite burgers over pre-shift family meals, they kept coming back to a smashburger.
That’s the genesis of the Delmonico Smash Cheeseburger, the comically large, $26 lunch-only offering consisting of a pair of gargantuan patties overflowing the house-made potato brioche bun. I’m not an advocate of eating a burger with a fork and knife, but you might not have any other option with this beast. The meat is a blend of ribeye brisket with some trim, including Wagyu, and the flavor shines with dry-aged funk, even in griddled form. The accompanying lettuce, tomato and onion on the side allows you dress it as you like, but it comes adorned with bread and butter pickles, American cheddar—a welcome departure from the norm—and a tangy fry sauce. It’s a treat well worth escaping to the Strip for a lunchtime excursion. Venetian, 702-414-3737, venetianlasvegas.com.
YUKON PIZZA
Remember that mention of Yukon Pizza from Stay Tuned’s origin story? Well, they have a smashburger of their own, but it started as a joke. Chef Justin Ford thought it’d simply be funny to have a burger on the pizza’s place early menu, never thinking it’d stay. But the joke’s on him, because the $10 burger is one of Yukon’s best-selling items.
This smashburger, with great char, delivers a surprising bit of heat. Some of the spiciness can be attributed to the togarashi-tinted secret sauce, which consists of the Japanese spice blend plus sour cream, mayo, and a lot of garlic powder. But the 80/20 chuck patties are also seasoned with a 70/30 mix of togarashi and Maryland-favorite crab seasoning Old Bay, infusing the meat with an amalgam of spicy and salty. White American cheese, caramelized onions and house-made pickles finish it off. It’s no joke to order a burger at a pizza place! 1130 E. Charleston Blvd. #160, 702-509-6691, yukonpizza.com.
No Pants burger with Star Tots (Courtesy)
Contestants choose the over/under for each of the pro football season win totals! $200 entry fee
BLUEBLOOD BATTLE
BY CASE KEEFER
College football titans LSU, USC clash in Las Vegas to kick o the season
Las Vegas has seized a larger share of almost all the biggest sports in the country over the last seven or eight years, and college football is the next frontier.
UNLV football is improving into a potential Group of Five conference power, the Las Vegas Bowl has climbed the ranks in prestige and Allegiant Stadium has hosted four conference championships. But bigger games are on the way.
Allegiant will reportedly conclude the 2027 season with the College Football Playo national championship and also occasionally have the honors of pitting a pair of powerhouse programs against each other to start the year.
That will be the case this season when two of the sport’s most successful programs, USC and LSU, square o at 4:30 p.m. on September 1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Allegiant.
Both the Tigers, No. 13 in the initial Associated Press Top 25 poll, and the Trojans, No. 23, gure to be in the running for a CFP spot in the rst year of the 12-team eld. One of the two teams will take a big step toward the goal to start the season.
Here’s what else to watch in one of the biggest college football games in Las Vegas history.
HEISMAN SUCCESSORS
The biggest reason why the two schools open the season slightly on the outside of the projected playo eld is they’re each tasked with replacing a player deemed college football’s most valuable in the last two years.
USC’s Caleb Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy and became the top overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft; LSU’s Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy and went second in this year’s draft. It will be up to Miller Moss and Garrett Nussmeier, respectively, to replace Williams and Daniels.
Both players are 22-year-old redshirt juniors who went against the recent trend of transferring and waited their turns at the program they committed to out of high school. They’ve both gotten some action earlier in their collegiate careers, but the Vegas Kicko Classic will be the rst place to see if they live up to the high standard their predecessors upheld.
DEFENSIVE DEVELOPMENT
Both LSU and USC fell short of expectations last year, and it was entirely because of underperforming defenses.
The Tigers sat 98th in the nation in giving up 6.23 yards per play; the Trojans were only slightly better in 90th place while surrendering 6.12 yards per play. Both sides made drastic changes going into the 2024 season, not only raiding the transfer portal for immediate reinforcements but also making coordinator changes.
D’Anton Lynn now heads USC’s defense after leading a su ocating UCLA unit last year. Blake Baker steps in at LSU after helping guide Missouri to one of the best seasons in school history last year.
Keep an eye in the trenches to catch a pair of decorated NFL prospects in edge rusher Harold Perkins Jr. for LSU and nose tackle Bear Alexander for USC.
THE BRANCH SHOW
USC receiver Zachariah Branch emerged as one of the most electrifying players in college football on opening weekend a year ago when he scored back-to-back touchdowns, on a long reception and a punt return, as a true freshman.
The Las Vegas football community wasn’t surprised. Branch, the grandson of Raider great Cli Branch, was a two-sport star locally in high school at Bishop Gorman where he won state titles in both football and track and eld. He’s expected to be even better as a sophomore, and has drawn some sleeper Heisman Trophy buzz. Zachariah Branch is one of four locals on the USC roster alongside older brother Zion Branch (a safety), fellow Gorman product Garrett Pomerantz (an edge rusher) and former UNLV/Liberty High standout Jayden Maiava (Moss’ backup at quarterback).
GARRETT NUSSMEIER
RECRUITING BATTLEGROUND
Zachariah Branch’s equivalent on this year’s Gorman team, ve-star senior receiver Derek Meadows, will attend LSU next year. USC has long recruited the Las Vegas prep scene given the proximity, but there was a time when schools like LSU and other bluebloods in the SEC skipped over town.
Those days are long gone.
LSU doesn’t currently have a Las Vegas native on the roster, though former Gorman defensive back Jeremiah Hughes just transferred from the Tigers to the Michigan State Spartans this o season. LSU coach Brian Kelly and his sta make frequent stops in town, adding to the competition for west-coast luminaries like USC coach Lincoln Riley, who used to have an easier path to landing the best prospects in Las Vegas.
Every little edge in the ever-more-cutthroat world of recruiting matters, and picking up a big win in what’s become a fertile ground for college football stars would be no small feat.
BETTING BONANZA
With its standalone, primetime nature on a Sunday night, USC vs. LSU should be one of the heaviest-bet games of the year in local sportsbooks.
Look for an exhaustive amount of proposition bets and exotic wagers to join the pointspread and total that have been posted since May. LSU was as high as a six-point favorite at publication time with an over/under of as high as 64 points.
Take USC +6 and Under 64 points for some action the game. These two top-level programs look pretty evenly-matched once again, and their defenses should be more game than a year ago.
NEW GAME MANUFACTURING FACILITY EXPECTED TO BOOST HENDERSON’S ECONOMIC ENGINE
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF
Aristocrat Gaming has unveiled a new, 265,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Henderson.
Sydney, Australia-based Aristocrat, a game designer and manufacturer with a North American headquarters in Summerlin, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Henderson outpost with local city and business leaders.
“They’ve just been great partners to us,” Deanne McKissick, chief supply chain officer at Aristocrat, told Vegas Inc. “We’re happy to be a part of that community and that family and continue to grow our business, not only in the Las Vegas Valley — and, obviously, the Strip and Las Vegas proper — but also in the Henderson area as well.”
The company’s previous Las Vegas manufacturing facility was around 110,000 square feet, McKissick said. The size of the new one allows for growth from eight production lines to a full dozen.
The facility is in West Henderson near the Henderson Executive Airport, which McKissick called “a great part of town,” close to amenities like restaurants and coffee shops for the convenience of
employees.
“We’re happy to be in that area,” she said. “It’s growing. Obviously, the Raiders are there — Levi’s, Amazon. So, there’s a lot of similar-type work near us. There’s growth and there’s energy, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony August 22 was the culmination of years of planning and anticipation for moving to the new site, McKissick said, while also setting up the company’s “factory of the future,” and growth for years to come.
The Henderson Chamber of Commerce’s economic arm has advocated for 10-plus years on behalf of bringing this type of business — manufacturing and distribution — to West Henderson, said Scott Muelrath, president and CEO of the organization. He pointed to the area’s proximity to Interstate 15 as just one example of its convenience.
“With Aristocrat coming in, in that project, it just was very much in alignment with our vision for West Henderson as an economic engine,” he said. “And Aristocrat brings more than just distribution. I mean, they’re assembling these slot machines out there. So, it’s a great new use for this region of the valley.”
The positions at the facility are technical and in a high wage sector, which he expects to result in a positive economic ripple effect in the area, Muelrath said.
And Aristocrat’s not done yet. The manufacturer intends to build a second facility, this one around 130,000 square feet, on the same site, McKissick said. It’s slated to open sometime in mid-2025.
There are a little over 200 employees based at the campus, she said, with more to come once the expansion is complete.
She’s happy the facility is finally open, and Aristocrat can begin scaling its business, and growing in efficiency, innovation and technology, McKissick said.
“We’re excited for what this means for the industry, for the Las Vegas Valley — for Henderson … what it means for our customers,” she emphasized. “We’ll continue to focus on providing a high speed of execution and a high-quality product to our customers, and we’re happy for what this means to our employees, and the future and growth for them in their careers in gaming.”
Workers pose at the new Aristocrat Gaming facility. (Courtesy/Aristocrat)
VEGAS INC NOTES
John Naylor and Jennifer Braster of Naylor & Braster, Attorneys at Law, were named to the 2024 Mountain States Super Lawyers list as top-rated business litigation attorneys in Las Vegas. Braster received further recognition as an honoree in the “Top 100” and “Top 50 Women Lawyers” lists. Super Lawyers is a legal evaluation resource that rates the top 5% of attorneys in each state by their area of practice.
The ER at Cadence, an extension of Henderson Hospital, opened August 15 in the Smith’s Marketplace complex at 865 E. Lake Mead Parkway. It is the second freestanding emergency department operated by Henderson Hospital. It is open for 24-hour emergency care every day and is staffed with the same types of medical personnel, including emergency medicine physicians, and equipped with the same diagnostic technology that is available at the Hen-
derson Hospital emergency department.
Jackson-Shaw, a national real estate developer headquartered in North Texas, hired Malia Johnson as director of sales for its dual-branded AC Hotel by Marriott Symphony Park and Element by Westin Symphony Park in Las Vegas. The two hotels, managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, are connected under one roof and are located on the south side of South Grand Central Parkway and Symphony Park Avenue between the World Market Center and the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
Grand Canyon Development Partners promoted Brian Graham and Rob Bedsworth to director of project development and project executive, respectively. Graham previously served as a senior project manager and has managed a diverse portfolio of projects, with over 150 completed commercial and hospitali-
ty projects. Bedsworth brings 25 years of experience to his position with a diverse background spanning various industries.
Platinum Contracting of Nevada was ranked No. 1,703 and Huntington & Ellis, A Real Estate Agency was ranked No. 3,883 on Inc. Magazine’s annual Inc. 5000 list, a ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.
Platinum achieved a 306% three-year growth rate and Huntington & Ellis a 118% rate.
The Henderson Fire Department earned its sixth consecutive reaccreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. CFAI is dedicated to assisting the fire and emergency service agencies in achieving excellence through self-assessment and accreditation to provide continuous quality improvement and the enhancement of service delivery to their communities.
PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES “LO
AND BEHOLD!”
BY FRANK LONGO
ACROSS
1 Police dept. alert
4 Celtics, on scoreboards
7 Like messy
BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Now is an excellent time to pare down your options with regard to all your resources and influences. You will function best if you’re not overwhelmed with possibilities. You will thrive as you experiment with the principle that less is more.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I encourage you to be single-minded in the near future about goodies that appeal to your inner child as well as your inner teenager and inner adult. You are authorized by cosmic forces to go in quest of experiences that tickle your bliss.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): My analysis of the omens suggests you will have a high aptitude for the domestic arts in the coming weeks. You will be more likely than usual to take good care your home. It’s a good time to redecorate and freshen up the vibe.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): These days, you are even smarter and more perceptive than usual. But there may be a downside: You could be hyper-aware of people whose thinking is mediocre and whose discernment is substandard. That could be frustrating, though it also puts you in a good position to correct mistakes those people make.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your assignment in the coming months is to rebel against any influence that tempts you to tamp down your gifts and specialties. Assert your sovereignty. Identify what you do best, and do it more and better than you ever have before.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When an infant giraffe leaves its mother’s womb, it falls six feet to the ground. I suspect that when you are reborn sometime soon, Virgo, a milder and more genial jolt will occur. It may even be quite rousing and inspirational—not rudely bumpy at all.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Many people living in the Napo province of Ecuador enjoy eating a dish called ukuy, which is a Kichwa word for large ants. If you travel to Napo anytime soon, Libra, I urge you to sample the ukuy. Such an experiment is in alignment with the kinds of experiences you Libras should be seeking: outside your usual habits, beyond your typical expectations, and in amused rebellion against your customary way of doing things.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The theory of karma suggests that all our actions, good and bad and in-between, send ripples out into the world. These ripples eventually circle back to us, ensuring we experience events that mirror our original actions. I believe you will soon harvest a slew of good karma that you have set in motion through your generosity and kindness. It may sometimes seem as if you’re getting more benevolence than you deserve, but in my estimation, it’s all well-earned.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I encourage you to buy yourself fun presents that give you a feisty boost. Why? Because I want you to bring an innovative, starting-fresh spirit into the ripening projects you are working on. Your attitude and approach could become too serious unless you infuse them with the spunky energy of an excitable kid.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): On a Tuesday in August in 2012—one full Jupiter cycle ago—a Capricorn friend of mine called in sick to his job as a marketing specialist. He never returned. Instead, after enjoying a week off to relax, he began working to become a dance instructor. I am not advising you, Capricorn, to quit your job and launch your own quixotic quest for supremely gratifying work. But if you were ever going to start taking small steps towards that goal, now would be a good time. It’s also a favorable phase to improve the way your current job works for you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Now might be a favorable time for you to wed your fortunes more closely with a valuable resource— though there’s no need to perform literal nuptials. What material thing helps bring out the best in you? If there is no such thing, now would be a good time to get it.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take inventory of the gifts and blessings you dole out. Now is a good time to correct any dubious priorities. Take steps to ensure that your generosity is going where it’s most needed and appreciated. What kind of giving makes you feel best?
OWN YOUR FUTURE
The Foundation for Women’s Leadership & Empowerment (FWLE) is pleased to announce the debut at 2024 WLC of its new Continuing Leadership Education Program (CLEP), approved by UNLV.
• Participants to enhance their knowledge and accelerate their career development!
• Employers to provide valuable leadership education to their team members economically!
BACKSTORY
As a Vegas native, I feel like this Las Vegas periodic table is missing at least half a dozen elements. What’s accounted for seems to be representative mostly of the Strip and Downtown scenes—general pursuits of entertainment—but perhaps I am wrong. Maybe the point is to identify these elements symbolically. The city’s game of roulette, the city’s internal boxer, the city’s symbolic game of poker, so on and so forth. Okay, I like it now. Not pictured are the elements Sugar (Su) and Magic (Ma). See what I did there? It’s all kind of sweet if you look hard enough. –Corlene Byrd
A PARTIAL VIEW OF DANIEL COHEN’S THE PERIODIC TABLE OF LAS VEGAS | RESORTS WORLD | AUGUST 24, 2024
