FALL FLAVORS Await
PUBLISHER
MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com
EDITOR
SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)
Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)
Contributing Writers KYLE CHOUINARD, GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, HAAJRAH GILANI, MIKE GRIMALA, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, AYDEN RUNNELS, JACK WILLIAMS, ILANA WILLIAMS
Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT
O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE
Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)
Senior Designer IAN RACOMA
Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS
Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
DIGITAL
Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON
Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Associate Publisher ALEX HAASE
Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART
Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN
Account Executives CRISTAL BLAKEMAN, LAUREN JOHNSON, GIANNA PUCCI, ANNA ZYMANEK
Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB
Events Manager HANNAH ANTER
Events Coordinator APRIL MARTINEZ
Event Sales Coordinator MELINA TAYLOR
PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX
Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY
Production Manager BLUE UYEDA
Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON
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Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS
Senior Tra c Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA
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Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN
Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE
Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU
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LAS VEGAS WEEKLY
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EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.
Photograph by Wade Vandervort/
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Photo Illustration
SUPERGUIDE
GARTH BROOKS
8 p.m., & 10/12-10/13, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com
NIKI
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com
RIVAL SONS & CLUTCH
With Black Stone Cherry, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com
TWIN TEMPLE
With Creeper, 7:30 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com
OLYMPIA WEEKEND
Thru 10/13, times vary, Resorts World, mrolympia. com
BRAD GARRETT
With Tom McTigue, Jim Flannigan, thru 10/12, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com
KEITH URBAN
8:30 p.m., & 10/12, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster. com.
SUMMERLIN FESTIVAL OF ARTS
Thru 10/13, 9 a.m., Downtown Summerlin, summerlin. com
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. ST. LOUIS BLUES
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
RAY ROMANO
8:30 p.m., & 10/12, Summit Showroom, ticketmaster.com
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER FESTIVAL
With Sunny Day Real Estate, Cap’n Jazz, The Blood Brothers, The Jesus Lizard, more, thru 10/13, noon, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, 24tix.com
EAGLES
8:30 p.m., & 10/12, Sphere, ticketmaster.com
MAROON 5
8 p.m., & 10/12, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com
LIONEL RICHIE
8 p.m., & 10/12, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS PRIDE PARADE
EARTH, WIND & FIRE
8 p.m., & 10/12-10/13, 10/16, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com
CONAN GRAY With Maisie Peters, 7:30 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com
CARLY PEARCE
8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com
DWIGHT YOAKAM
8 p.m., Sandbar at Red Rock, ticketmaster.com
JINJER With Hanabie, Born of Osirus, 6:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts .livenation.com
OFFSET
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
Happy Las Vegas Pride Month! This year, like every year before since 1983, we celebrate the LGBTQ community’s right to express themselves, to love whom they love and to walk in the freedom of their future, paved by many brave Las Vegans who came before. Downtown’s annual Pride Parade kicks o at 7 p.m. on Friday with the rainbow-clad procession guiding the party down Fourth Street. The Pride Festival continues at noon Saturday Downtown, with an afterparty at the Phoenix at 10 p.m. Those who came for the festivities should also check out Gipsy’s Pink Pony Club, a party that’ll rope folks in Friday and Saturday with performances by DJ Chyld and Hector Fonseca. Sahara’s third annual Elevate Pool Party also returns on Sunday. There are plenty more ways to party with Pride; check out the listings at lasvegaspride.org. –Amber Sampson
SATURDAY OCT 12
CALVIN HARRIS
11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
DIPLO
11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
AYYBO
11:30 a.m., Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com
ILLENIUM
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
WIZ KHALIFA
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
THE CHAINSMOKERS
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
AKI MATSURI
JAPANESE FESTIVAL
11 a.m., Water Street Plaza, akimatsurinv.com
ALYSSA EDWARDS
9 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com
WILD WEST ACCESS FUND BENEFIT SHOW
8 p.m., Double Down Saloon, doubledownsaloon.com
HANS ZIMMER
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
JUNIOR H
8 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE LIVE IN CONCERT
2 & 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com
SKILLET
With Saliva, Royale Lynn, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com
BLACK TIGER
SEX MACHINE
With Canabliss, Jon Casey, more, 6 p.m., Craig Ranch Amphitheater, seetickets.us
GINO VANNELLI
7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com
THE STRIKE
7 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater.com
FRENCH POLICE
(Courtesy)
MARQUEE DAYCLUB
DOME OPENING
Summer just didn’t wanna end, did it? Triple-digit temps may have lingered a lot longer than any of us wanted but fall has certainly arrived. Know how to tell? Because one of our favorite seasonal activities has returned to the Cosmopolitan—pretending it’s still summer at Marquee under the 50-foot-tall, climate-controlled Dayclub Dome. In here, it’s always balmy and comfortable, and locals get in free Monday through Friday (11 a.m.-6 p.m.). The Sunday night swim party will be back soon, but for the dome opening party, Tao Group resident Deorro will get everyone moving while YouTube troublemakers The Nelk Boys play host. Ah, fall in Vegas. 11 a.m., $20-$30+, Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com. –Brock Radke
With Wisteria, Social Order, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets. us
STREET MOB TOUR
With Chino Pacas, Calley 24, Clave Especial, more, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE & SHADOW OF INTENT
With the Zenith Passage, Ingested, Disembodied Tyrant, 5:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
BLU & EXILE 7 p.m., Asylum at Area15, area15.com
ROB SCHNEIDER
8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com
TUMUA TUINEI
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com
SUPERGUIDE
HAUSHANKA With Sticker, Elevated Undergrounds, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticket master.com
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
LAS VEGAS PRIDE ELEVATE POOL PARTY 10 a.m., Azilo Ultra Pool, eventbrite.com
MATRODA Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv. com
DOMBRESKY 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub. com
SHRINERS CHILDREN’S OPEN Thru 10/20, times vary, TPC Summerlin, shrinerschildrens open.com
AJ RAFAEL 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
HIPPIES & COWBOYS With Temple Monarc, 9 p.m., Fat Cat Lounge, fatcatlv.com
JUSTIN CARDER TRIO 9 p.m., Easy’s Cocktail Lounge, easysvegas.com
GABRIEL RUTLEDGE With Joe Praino, Bernadette Pauley, thru 10/20, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com DO IT ALL
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY OCT 15
WEDNESDAY OCT 16
BREAKING BENJAMIN & STAIND
With Daughtry, Lakeview, 5:30 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster. com THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS Thru 10/17, 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster. com
LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs. com.
GET THE SHOT
With Kind Eyes, Run Your Luck, Irony, 6 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, dice.fm MOAA
9 p.m., the Usual Place, theusualplace. vegas
(AP Photo/Nic Coury)
MANIC FOCUS
With Naked Civilian, Soundzzz, 10 p.m., We All Scream, posh. vip
PBR CHALLENGER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
7 p.m., & 10/17, South Point Arena, ticketmaster. com
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
8 p.m., & 10/18-10/19, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
JUDAS PRIEST With Sabaton, 7:30 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster. com
COLD WAR KIDS
7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
COMPOSERS SHOWCASE
9:30 p.m., Myron’s, the smithcenter.com
GREEN OUR PLANET STUDENT FARMERS MARKET
The country’s largest student-run farmers market returns to the Vegas Valley this week. Green Our Planet, a nonprofit that fosters environmental stewardship and helps teachers enhance student performance in STEM through hydroponics and garden education programming, brings the event Downtown to showcase fresh produce grown in dozens of school gardens across the Clark County School District by more than 300 student “farmpreneurs.” Handmade crafts and other goods will also be available, with all proceeds going back to sustain those schools’ garden programs. And the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is the presenting sponsor of this year’s market, which means you can get a cool photo opp at the entrance with a race car. 9:30 a.m., free admission, Clark County Government Center, greenourplanet.org. –Brock Radke
SELF-CARE AND LEISURE LIFE HEALTH
BY DIANA EDELMAN
FRESH TO THE DESERT
Gilcrease Orchard (Wade Vandervort/Staff) + Herbal remedies (see page 18)
Is fresher better when it comes to what you consume? According to Mark Ruben, director of Gilcrease Orchard, it sure is.
“Fresh produce tastes so much better than stuff that has been in storage,” he explains, saying some produce can sit there for up to a year. “A lot of people will come and get produce for the freshness.”
In Las Vegas, you don’t have to go to a fancy resort restaurant to eat farm-to-table. In fact, you can skip the middleman and head straight to the farm—or get a curated box of goodness.
At Gilcrease Orchard in the northwest Valley (7800 N. Tenaya Way, thegilcreaseorchard.org), visitors can nab the freshest seasonal produce by picking it with their own two hands straight from the ground. From leafy greens in the spring to juicy summer tomatoes, to sweet potatoes and pumpkin in the fall, the historic Las Vegas landmark lets you get down and dirty for your dinner in the best possible way.
It offers you-pick fruit and veggie plots with seasonal products as well as a farm stand selling produce from the region. As for what’s best for each customer, it’s entirely up to them and their green thumb.
“We have some people who really want to grow their own stuff and other people who want to buy from the farm stand,” Ruben says. “The stand is stuff we grow at our other property, like eggplant and berries. We also buy from Utah [for corn and tomatoes].”
There’s also Cluck It Farm (cluckitfarmlv.com), one of the city’s only CSA (community-supported agriculture) programs. Launched in 2017, Samantha White took it over in 2021. CSAs operate differently than Gilcrease. Consumers buy shares
of a farm’s harvest in advance and receive regular deliveries of the fresh product harvested from it.
With roughly 150 Las Vegans reaping the benefits of the bounty, White knows how special the farm is.
“We are providing Las Vegas residents with locally grown, all-natural produce, but we are also showing that it is possible to grow your food, even in an environment like the desert,” she says. “Providing truly healthy food to the community is so important.”
For those concerned about where their food comes from, CSAs and Gilcrease allow them to know exactly where it is from, how it was grown, and even who grew it.
“The produce you receive is harvested within a day or two of reaching your door,” says White. “You can
taste the difference and feel better knowing the food received from us is actually good for you and better for the environment. It hasn’t been transported a long way, stored for days, or covered in chemicals.”
Customers getting their produce from Gilcrease Orchard or Cluck It aren’t the only ones who benefit; it’s reciprocal. The dollars spent go directly back to the farmers who grow the food rather than large corporations. Plus, it provides predictable income for farmers, allowing them to sell their produce at reasonable prices.
Gilcrease Orchard is open from early March through Halloween. (This is the most popular time to visit Gilcrease, because of the pumpkin patch and family-friendly activities.) Cluck It operates year-round.
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR FRESH PRODUCE
CLUCK IT FARM
Year-round: Microgreens, salad greens, greens mixes, root veggies (carrots, beets, turnips, radishes)
Summer: Peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, onions
Cooler months: Broccoli, collard greens, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, Swiss chard, spinach, peas, napa cabbage, onions
GILCREASE ORCHARD
Spring: Leafy greens, carrots, beets, green onions, green garlic
Summer: Tomatoes, squash, zucchini, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, okra
Fall: Pumpkins, sweet potatoes, okra, cucumbers, radishes
SELF-CARE AND LEISURE LIFE
GOING HERBAL
These
BY DIANA EDELMAN
COMMON HERBAL REMEDIES FOR COMMON AILMENTS
Hangover:
1. GINSENG
Did you know you have an entirely di erent medicine cabinet in your house —in your spice rack?
According to herbalist Melora Chavez of local herb shop Herbally Grounded, you’ve probably got quite a few herbs in your home that have medicinal properties. In fact, if you’re a part of the pumpkin spice mania, you’re in luck: when consumed, the autumnal blend of cardamom, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and
A 2014 study from the National Institutes of Health found that red ginseng, an anti-inflammatory, significantly mitigates hangovers in healthy men.
Indigestion:
2. GINGER
Also a root, ginger has many health benefits. It’s perhaps best known for its ability to calm an upset stomach.
Headache:
3. WHITE WILLOW BARK
ginger can actually help support the body’s immune system.
But there’s so much more than pumpkin spice at your ngertips to help you feel better. Chavez can easily rattle o a list of herbs at home, including kitchen staples like garlic and ginger.
“Ginger is the best to help with calming and soothing the digestive system,” she says. “It helps promote blood ow, and encourages the breakdown and elimination of cholesterol in the
Often referred to as nature’s aspirin, white willow bark has been used for centuries as a pain reliever. The active ingredient, salicin, can also help relieve back and joint pain.
Exhaustion:
4. HOLY BASIL
arteries.”
Raw garlic can help when feeling generally unwell, she says, and if you’re looking to reduce allergy symptoms, peppermint is bene cial.
The FDA classi es herbs as food and not drugs. Some herbs can cause allergic reactions or have negative interactions with medications, so always seek guidance from a medical professional when experimenting with di erent herbs and food products.
High in antioxidants, holy basil, or tulsi, is known to increase energy and reduce stress.
Stress:
5. CHAMOMILE
Not only can it help to soothe upset stomachs, chamomile also works as a mild sedative to deal with stress and aid sleep.
SERVICES INCLUDE:
On-site lab, X-Ray, ultrasound, dietitian, hearing tests, minor surgeries, skin services, CDL and immigration physicals
MOST MAJOR INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED.
Including: Aetna Medicare, Aetna HMO, Aetna Choice Plus, Aetna PPO, Champva/Champus, Cigna, First Health, Humana Gold Plus, GEHA, SCAN Medicare Advantage, Humana PPO, Medicare/Railroad Medicare, Tricare, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare POS, United AARP Medicare Advantage, Universal Health Network, Wellportal, Select Health, Prominence, MGM PPO
MEDICAL STAFF
Peter J. Licata, D.O.
George Gabriel Toldness, APRN-C
Charmaine Coronado, APRN-C
THE AGE OF CHIVALRY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
MARKS THREE DECADES OF BRINGING HISTORY AND FANTASY TO LIFE
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
here I was, standing at the gates of a world I didn’t quite understand—yet. We were at a Renaissance festival. My best friend’s idea, not mine—one that he’d been pushing on me for years. (His love for history, fantasy and all things mystical runs deep.) Finally, in October 2022, I gave in. I thought, sure, sounds like the perfect excuse to eat oversized turkey legs and see people playing dress-up.
So, on an 85-degree fall evening in Las Vegas, I walked through the metal detectors at the festival gate. The next moment, I was entirely immersed in another time and place. A winding path led through stalls of merchants peddling their wares—leather-bound journals, hand-forged blades, glassware, battle axes. My head was on a swivel, looking at each eclectic vendor and the ornate garb of the knights, hobbits, elves, lords and ladies. And there were camel rides. There’s nothing like watching the joy on a pirate’s face as he climbs atop a camel’s hump and goes for a ride.
“How is no one talking about this?” I half-joked to my friend, who’d literally been talking about it for years. He gave me a look of “duh” and shook his head as we walked on in search of the nearest ale and jousting match.
Clark County’s annual Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival was founded by Fred Macklehaney in 1993. (It was originally called Pirate Fest, but the opening of Treasure Island compelled a rebranding.) Since that inaugural year, when it drew only 250 attendees, it has transported thousands of visitors to ye olden times, providing a unique experience for both newcomers who aren’t necessarily part of the live action role playing scene and the festival faithful who return every year.
“The cool thing about the way we
Age of Chivalry 2023
(Courtesy/Fred Morledge @PhotoFM/Photo Illustration)
Ren fair vendor Sir Rodney dishes about his Valley-wide famous turkey legs
BY AMBER SAMPSON
t’s a tradition you can sink your teeth into: the oversized turkey leg, a medieval meat that’s reigned over Ren fair culture for as long as we plucky squires can remember. At the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival, there’s no better place to find the smoked treat than Sir Rodney’s Legs. Run by Rodney Balinski, who’s been serving at Ren fairs since 1976, Sir Rodney’s Legs has been a staple of the
Las Vegas fest since it began.
“I hear about this all year long. I could be in Home Depot or somewhere and they say, ‘Hey turkey leg man! Hey turkey leg man!’ They recognize me,” says Balinski. “I put myself in the program every year. It’s on the inside front page, and I’m standing there with a turkey leg, a steak sandwich and my signs behind me. You’d be surprised how many people come up to get my autograph.”
Going out of his way to make his turkey legs as authentic as possible, Sir Rodney uses his own recipe and gets his meat from suppliers in Texas and North Carolina.
buy some more.”
Balinski’s reputation dates back to his days of working at Pirate Fest and other fairs in San Diego. Draped in his distinctive pirate garb, he’s earned his share of treasure within that scene, too.
“I was doing a Renaissance fair in San Marcos, California. Did that for about 12 years, and the turkey legs were a big hit. They made a big production out of it, as far as the festival, and then they knighted me Sir Rodney,” he says.
“I got a beautiful hand-painted sign. It’s a knight with a sword, and then it’s got the turkey leg-crossed emblem right below it.”
“It’s not something you buy at Costco,” he says. He also has hand-cut, prime ribeye steak and sauteed mushroom sandwiches, served on freshly
built this event is there’s something for everybody,” says Brian Saliba, program supervisor for special events with Clark County Parks and Recreation, “whether it’s history, thespians, combat, art, fantasy, fairies or pirates. There’s so many di erent things that just captivate you.”
Saliba has been involved with the fair for 23 years, and has seen the event grow from 6,000 attendees to more than 60,000 in 2023. Given its expansion, the festival naturally calls for more hands on deck. “We went from a three-person crew when I rst came on board, and now we’re running this fair with about 60 or 70 people. Not counting all the volunteers and the guilds … it takes about 3,000 people to put this event on.”
“I have about 200, maybe 250 people that come to the fair just to buy the legs,” he says. “They’ll buy maybe two dozen to carry them through until Pirate Fest, and they’ll
Rodney (Courtesy/ Fred Morledge @PhotoFM)
The thrice-knighted proprietor says word of his turkey legs eventually got ’round to Age of Chivalry founder Fred Macklehaney, who asked him to join the Las Vegas festival. “I said absolutely, anything to keep me in Las Vegas,” Balinski says. “I started there and 30 years later, here I am.”
Balinski’s son and daughter-in-law also help out with Sir Rodney’s Legs, making it a family tradition they all enjoy.
“It’s just comfortable. The people are great,” he says. “I like the entertainment, the jousting, the belly dancers, the pirates. They have di erent themes and everything. It’s a wild time.”
The fairgoer demographic is a well-rounded mix. Fridays are school days, Saliba says, when the festival comps the entire school district, resulting in about 3,000 to 6,000 students through the doors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As afternoon turns to early evening, the team notices a spike in service industry workers visiting before their weekend shifts begin. Throughout the weekend, daytime brings lots of children attending with their parents, while evening patrons range from 18 to 35 years old.
Keith Cunningham, the Master of Guilds who has been involved with Age of Chivalry since its inception, emphasizes the level of commitment
Keith Cunningham at the first Age of Chivalry festival in 1993
(Courtesy/Keith Cunningham)
baked rolls.
Sir
these groups bring to the table. More than 30 guilds set up camp at Age of Chivalry, and although not all of them are rooted in historical happenings, they’re individually unique and offer photo ops, demonstrations, performances and more. Want to see a cannon firing? Look to Clan Darksail in the Pirates Port. Are you partial to the whimsy of the shire? Visit the Hobbits of Thorngrove in Hawick Village. Do you find comfort with creatures of myth? Check out the interactive canopies of color and light at the Enchanted Forest, where the Greenwood Revelers invite you to frolic.
“The barber surgeon is just amazing. He talks about medical procedures in the 14th century from the perspective of a village person,” says Cunningham. “He pulls people in without them realizing he’s pulled them into our world.”
For performers, it’s not just about dressing up and putting on a show— the historical accuracy and audience engagement is critical to the experience. The barber surgeon’s portrayal of a 14th century Scot character is just one example of how a person can help a guild create a living, breathing historical landscape.
From the outside in, it might appear as though the performer’s characterization comes naturally. But years of funding and rehearsal go into their portrayals. Take Rick Bindhamer, the guild master of the Hanging Jesters Guild, who oversees a team of 20 actors who entertain fairgoers with musical sketch comedies, traditional rustic plays and a crowd-pleasing wet sponge catapult routine—a staple since 1998.
The guild also includes the Atistan Vala belly dancing group, which is managed by Bindhamer’s co-guild master Sherry Bransley. Their direc-
tion has given professional structure to their guild’s performances and keeps fairgoers coming back to visit year after year. It’s a lot of work, Bindhamer says, but it’s worth the effort:
“We’re all volunteers, but we perform for the love of performing.”
When surrounded by like-minded people, it’s natural to make lasting connections and sometimes even find a fairytale love. The King and Queen of the fair, Michelle and Tony Mortimer, met at the fair in 2007. Michelle, with her degree in fashion, was initially
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
(Photos Courtesy/ Fred Morledge @PhotoFM)
drawn to Age of Chivalry when she was asked to design gowns for the then-queen of the event. Tony, on the other hand, is a history buff with a degree in medieval Norwegian history and theology.
The two crossed paths in the most theatrical of ways—while appearing in a play. Michelle, playing the queen, was kidnapped during an action scene, and Tony, along with a band of men, rode valiantly to save her. They’ve been partners in both love and ruling ever since.
Now, as heads of the Aragon guild, they are responsible for helping create a world that blends historical accuracy with fantasy. The guild portrays 15th to 16th century Russia, commanding a fairytale that requires a U-Haul and a mega-trailer transport. For the duration of the fair, they quite literally move out of their house and into a 600-square-foot medieval apartment within the festival grounds for the weekend.
“It’s really a chance to just be a second personality,” says Michelle. The dual life she and Tony lead, between their modern existence and this theatrical world, is something they plan for and look forward to each year.
And overnight fun isn’t exclusive to the hundreds of actors on the fairgrounds.
“The camping aspect of it is really unique. They started doing it not too long ago, in 2017,” says Shelly Lawless, one of the fair’s first campers. “And it has grown so much that this year they sold out in record time.”
Lawless and her wife Cindy Ellis have been coming to Age of Chivalry since the early days of their relationship. Ellis’s son had been part of a high school Shakespearean troupe that would perform at the fair. “I would drop them off but it just kind of evolved from there,” Ellis says.
The campgrounds are home to a familial spirit, garnering close connections between campers who are known to dress up and participate in afterhours dinners and entertainment. “We consider this our family vacation,” says Lawless. “All of our family and friends get together, about 40 of us and we all camp together.”
Age of Chivalry fosters a community held together by this love of time travel. Skeptics, take heed—there’s magic in the unknown. Every corner reveals new wonders of history and folklore. You’re invited to be a part of it.
Cindy Ellis (left) and Shelly Lawless (Courtesy)
(Photos Courtesy/Fred Morledge @PhotoFM)
The Aragon Empire, a 9th through 15th century Russian Byzantine-inspired guild, poses at Sunset Park. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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IN THE NEWS
“As we navigate a time where [Diversity Equity and Inclusion] e orts face challenges across the nation, it is crucial that individuals from all backgrounds come together to ensure our community and campuses remain safe, inclusive spaces for all.”
–Dr. DeRionne Pollard, president of Nevada State University, at the Nevada System of Higher Education’s annual Diversity Summit on October 4
The Golden Knights play their second home game of the new season against St. Louis on October 11 at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.
HOT SHOT
Vegas Aces
Marcus/Sta )
BY THE NUMBERS
The Las Vegas Lights FC played to a 1-1 draw at home at Cashman Field against Orange County SC on October 5, and though it wasn’t a win, it allowed the local club to clinch its first-ever playoff berth. Khori Bennett headed in his club-leading 13th goal of the season to tie the score.
The Lights are currently in second place in the USL Championship Western Conference, behind New Mexico United. There are three matches left in the regular season (against Birmingham Legion FC on October 13, Oakland Roots SC on October 19 and North Carolina FC on October 26) before the playoffs begin the first weekend of November.
The Vegas professional soccer squad made its debut in the USL in 2018. –Staff
$20M
That’s the potential total of the Clark County School District’s central budget deficit, according to a response to the Nevada state superintendent’s inquiry on the district’s budget woes sent on October 3. CCSD previously attributed the deficit to unanticipated expenses such as litigation and cybersecurity expenses.
FIORE FOUND GUILTY
A Nevada Republican politician who ran unsuccessfully two years ago for state treasurer was found guilty Thursday of using funds raised for a statue honoring a slain police officer for personal costs, including plastic surgery.
A jury convicted Michele Fiore, a former Las Vegas city councilwoman and state lawmaker, of six counts of federal wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud after a weeklong trial in U.S. District Court in Nevada. Each count carries a possible penalty of 20 years in prison. Fiore, who has been suspended without pay from her current elected position as a justice of
the peace in Pahrump, will be sentenced January 6. She will remain free while she awaits sentencing.
Her attorney, Michael Sanft, said Fiore will appeal the conviction.
Federal prosecutors said at trial that Fiore had raised more than $70,000 for the statue of a Las Vegas police officer shot and killed in 2014 in the line of duty, but instead spent the money on plastic surgery, rent and her daughter’s wedding.
“Michele Fiore used a tragedy to line her pockets,” federal prosecutor Dahoud Askar said. FBI agents in 2021 subpoenaed records and searched
Fiore’s home in northwest Las Vegas in connection with her campaign spending. Sanft told the jury that the FBI’s investigation was “sloppy.”
Fiore, who does not have a law degree, was appointed as a judge in deep-red Nye County in 2022 shortly after she lost her campaign for state treasurer. She was elected in June to complete the unexpired term of a judge who died.
The 54-year-old served in the state Legislature from 2012 to 2016, making headlines posing with guns and her family for Christmas cards. She was a Las Vegas councilwoman from 2017 to 2022.
–Associated Press
Krabby Patties available in Las Vegas
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? It’s SpongeBob SquarePants, and his culinary presence will be felt throughout Las Vegas this month. In celebration of the fry cook cartoon character’s 25th anniversary, Nickelodeon and Paramount+ have created the Krabby Patty Kollab, partnering with 17 local food establishments (including Bar Code Burgers, Black Tap, Duck Donuts, Honey Salt, Makers & Finders, Pinkbox Doughnuts, Yukon Pizza and more) to serve food items inspired by Bikini Bottom’s most sought-after secret recipe. The program runs through October 27, coinciding with the release of a one-hour anniversary special premiering October 10 on Nickelodeon and Paramount+. A list of participating restaurants can be found at krabbypattykollab.com –Staff
‘Mini moon’ asteroid has likely been visiting for billions of years
Although it’s hard to spot without a decent telescope, the mini moon is here through November 25. The only similarity between the mini moon and Earth’s moon is they are both made of rock, said Jason Steffen, an astrophysicist at UNLV.
The mini moon is 10 meters wide, or as big as a goal post at a football game, whereas Earth’s moon is the size of the United States. The mini moon is a part of the asteroid belt called the Arjuna asteroids. It has a similar orbit to Earth’s and is close to the plane where all the planets orbit.
“We’ve only been able to see them for 20 years, so it happens quite a bit,” Steffen said. “Which means that it must have been happening for the last 4.5 billion years.”
Really small objects in the solar system can tell people information about the history of the solar system, Steffen said. As the planets form and move around, the small objects get scattered and can smash into planets.
“The objects that can survive for long periods of time get whittled down,” Steffen said. “You can basically trace the history of the solar system by looking at what kinds of things are able to survive.”
By studying the Arjuna asteroids, scientists can determine how many of these objects were near Earth’s distance when the Earth was forming and how the solar system around Earth has changed, Steffen said.
–Ilana Williams
GETTING STRATEGIC
A new state economic initiative aims for growth through collaboration
Governor Joe Lombardo (Photo Illustration)
BY BROCK RADKE
A new nonprofit entity designed specifically to diversify Nevada’s gaming and tourism-dependent economy was set in motion recently by Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
The privately funded Nevada Strategic Growth Initiative will collaborate with myriad development agencies, chambers of commerce and other state and local leadership to work toward creating jobs, helping existing businesses grow, recruiting new businesses to operate in Nevada and stimulating entrepreneurship, according to the governor and other officials.
Lombardo said in an August 26 announcement the new 501(c)(6) organization is “dedicated to a shared vision of helping improve the quality of life for all Nevadans through the creation of new high-paying jobs in industries that align with our resources, workforce and future.”
The group’s board of directors is an impressive collection of notable businesspeople, some of which have helped shaped the economy in Southern Nevada.
Leading the Nevada Strategic Growth Initiative is board chair Matt Maddox, a longtime gaming executive and the former CEO of Wynn Resorts. Also serving on the board: Peter Guzman, president of the Latin Chamber of Commerce; Danny Thompson, executive secretary-treasurer of the Nevada state American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFLCIO); longtime marketing leader and philanthropist Staci Alonso, formerly a member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and an executive at Station Casinos; and Shirley Folkins-Roberts, community development director at Panattoni Development Company.
“Governor Lombardo has declared Nevada open for business, and in his first year in office, Nevada was ranked No. 1 in job growth and saw more than $5 billion in new economic development,” Guzman said in the announcement. “Nevada is a premier place to start or relocate a business and the Nevada Strategic Growth Initiative will play an important role aligning Nevada’s resources and advantages with
companies ready to grow with our state.”
Diversifying the business landscape— particularly in Southern Nevada, where Las Vegas tourism has always been and likely will always be the state’s primary economic engine—continues to be an elusive priority despite collaborative efforts. And officials at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) believe Nevada leaders need to work together at a higher level in order to inch closer to that ultimate goal.
In March, GOED unveiled a study by UNLV’s Brookings Mountain West, Center for Business and Economic Research and Transportation Research Center that found that state economic development is siloed across jurisdictions. Unlike in neighboring regional metropolitan centers, Southern Nevada lacks a governance structure to facilitate the planning and coordination needed to realize regional economic and infrastructure priorities.
The study also found that gaps in job creation, labor productivity and wages have persisted due to Southern Nevada’s continued overconcentration of employment in low-wage and low-productivity occupations.
The new initiative’s stated objectives in working with the governor and existing organizations and municipalities include creating and advancing strategically impactful opportunities that create good jobs and economic growth, and working with policymakers to create a stronger workforce and environment to welcome investment.
As the regional development authority for Southern Nevada, the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance similarly functions behind collaboration with multiple public and private sector partners, said president and CEO Tina Quigley.
“Together, we build strategic and sustainable solutions that deliver outstanding benefits to our residents,” Quigley said via email. “Through innovation and collaboration, we are supportive of the opportunity to accelerate global understanding of the Las Vegas Valley as an ideal place for companies looking to launch, relocate, or expand their business.”
SMALL BUSINESS BOOST
On September 10, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development was awarded more than $4 million aimed at assisting small businesses through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program. The national program connects underserved and small businesses to financing needed to participate in essential supply chains and boost development in key economic sectors including electric vehicle and semiconductor manufacturing, construction, transportation, clean energy and others.
U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., said providing additional funding for clean energy companies will allow this crucial industry to expand and solidify the future economy across Nevada.
“Already 10,000 jobs have been created producing clean energy in Nevada and another 40,000 jobs are expected in the next 10 years,” she said. “Investing in these businesses now means more opportunity and better-paying jobs for Nevadans in the future.”
SSBCI program manager and GOED senior director of strategic programs and innovation Karsten Heise said the funding will also empower state programs that provide technical assistance for health care businesses and work to expand a tribal entrepreneurial development program.
The American Rescue Plan Act passed by President Joe Biden expanded SSBCI, which provides nearly $10 billion to support small businesses and empower them to access capital needed to invest in job-creating opportunities.
Nevada small businesses can connect with Battle Born Growth, Nevada’s Small Business Capital Program, and learn about funding and resource opportunities at nvsmallbiz.org.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WADE VANDERVORT
MUSIC
(Courtesy/Millicent
UNAPOLOGETIC SPIRIT
Mannequin Pussy ’s Missy Dabice talks about rage, resilience and how respect is earned
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
”I like comparing myself to a feral animal, because that’s how I feel a lot of the time,” says Marisa “Missy” Dabice, frontwoman of Phillybased punk quartet Mannequin Pussy. You can hear that ferality on the band’s records since its 2014 debut. It’s revealed in the musicians’ commanding body language on stage and it rips through their lyrics.
On the eve of their next tour and a visit to Las Vegas for the three-day Best Friends Forever festival, Dabice seems more subdued on a Zoom call with the Weekly. She’s in her kitchen, a space she’s come to see as a personal refuge. Dressed in an oversized sweater and sporting an inverted hair dye job—blonde on top that bleeds into black—her inner animal appears temporarily at rest.
“I would be incredibly anxious about starting a tour tomorrow if I had not just had seven weeks to focus on myself,” Dabice says.
This past August, after four months of nonstop touring, Dabice, bassist Colins “Bear” Regisford, drummer Kaleen Reading and
guitarist Maxine Steen reluctantly had to pull out of a run of European dates after hitting the wall mentally, physically and emotionally. But demand for the band is high, given their recent break into mainstream consciousness thanks to the success of fourth studio album I Got Heaven. I Got Heaven is an ideal introduction to those arriving late to the Mannequin Pussy party. The album encapsulates the band’s disdain for oppression and longing for independence, and deals with truth found in loneliness. It has been heralded as “Best New Music” by Pitchfork. Rolling Stone found the project to be “refreshing, radical, and fearless.” And the critics on Reddit found solace in the balance between the heart-pounding, punk-forward stanzas and Dabice’s vocal ease with both rage and melody.
A lyric from I Got Heaven’s title track, about receiving cunnilingus from Jesus, has predictably drawn attention. “When people talk about [that] line, it’s like, I’m not being coy. I understand why someone would be offended,” Dabice says. “The metaphor of that line is that even if
Jesus Christ himself was my lover, if we were engaged in a relationship like that, I would still feel the wrath and judgment from them.”
It’s a bold statement that aligns with the band’s unapologetic approach to everything they do. Even their name ruffles the feathers of media, venue owners and haters.
“If there’s any politician, religion, individual or government who is leading from a place of violence and not compassion, then I have no respect for it,” Dabice says. “I’m tired of being told that I’m supposed to have respect for these institutions just because they have been around for hundreds of years. And why? They’re not respecting me. They’re not respecting constituents. They’re not respecting my community.”
And while much of Mannequin Pussy’s musical power is driven from the relentless chaos of the world, they also find beauty in femininity and creativity. They find power in the primal group scream they stop to have at their shows. They look to each other to find the commonality in life’s experiences and encourage fans to relish in these moments with them.
Hailes)
FRIENDS FOREVER FEST
VS SELF TALKS HOUSE SHOWS, EMO NOSTALGIA AND PREPARING FOR THE BIGGEST STAGE YET
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Screamo traditionally hits hardest while you’re watching a band play in the living room of someone’s house, smushed between the sweaty bodies of fans screaming their lyrics back at them. “Far west” emo band Vs Self is no stranger to these conditions, as the group regularly draws a new wave of rock-leaning fans while appeasing the old heads of the genre. Its discography, consisting of two EPs, an album and a sprinkling of singles, is promising and special—so much so that it stirs the instinct to gatekeep.
Now, the Southern California-based trio is gearing up to play one of its biggest shows to date at the inaugural Best Friends Forever festival. Guitarist and lead vocalist Kyle Schlenker chatted with the Weekly about the upcoming gig.
You came up in the house show scene. What’s your impression of the new generation of fans going to shows?
I’m quite often the oldest person at my shows, which feels a little weird. A lot of them remind me of myself when I first got started going to shows. But the scene I grew up in and this scene are very different in positive ways. The music seems to be a bigger focus for these kids than it was for a lot of my friends growing up. It would be a “party first, music second” attitude.
How does the band feel about sharing a bill with these nostalgic emo acts?
That’s like every band that we look up to, and a lot of the first bands I ever heard that were within this world of music who I still love to this day. So, yeah, I was like, there’s no way we’re not gonna play that [festival].
The lineup is crazy. My friends and I thought it was fake.
It looks like one of those fake Coachella things, you know? It takes your specific Spotify algorithm and makes a fake festival lineup. It looks like they did that with my Spotify!
What does the band do to prepare for a show like this?
We have played festivals but this is far bigger than anything
we’ve ever done. There are some nerves involved. At the same time, I feel like with bigger shows, I’m usually less nervous. At least, me personally; I can’t speak for the rest of the band. There gets to a certain point where anything above 600 people seems like a sea of people and it’s less nerve-wracking. Do you think playing BFF will be a turning point for Vs Self?
All of what’s happening right now with the band feels so fleeting; you never know. We’re just trying to take full advantage of it while it’s here, and appreciate all the cool opportunities, like this one, that we’re given.
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER FEST: VS SELF October 11, $159+, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, bestfriendsforeverfest.com
LONG DISTANCE DESTINATION
A full Las Vegas Marathon returns with a different course and a party at Omega Mart BY
Runners love to travel. Whether competitive or recreational, athletes who sign up for marathons and other distance races in their own communities relish the opportunity to run their way through new cities, states and countries.
And travelers love Las Vegas, which makes it a little bit ridiculous that there hasn’t been a major full marathon here since 2019. But last fall, Salt Lake City-based event organizer Brooksee announced the new Las Vegas Marathon, set for November 3.
The course starts at the Sandstone Quarry Overlook in Red Rock Canyon and races through Downtown Summerlin, east along Charleston Boulevard, and through Symphony Park and the 18b Arts District for a finish at the Fremont Street Experience. Registration is currently available until race weekend at vegasmarathon.com
Brooksee CEO Phil Dumontet agrees that Las Vegas is ripe for running events. “We have runners from all 50 states and 40 countries coming because it’s such a great destination,” he says. “We’re always looking at markets
BROCK RADKE
across the country where there isn’t a signature marathon or full marathon … and it was surprising to us. We’re bullish on the opportunity for a full marathon and [for] this market to be one of the top [race] destinations not just in the U.S. but internationally as well.”
Brooksee produces nine annual races across the country serving around 50,000 participants, with Las Vegas joining Portland, Oregon, and Mesa, Arizona as the company’s big three marathon destinations.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, operated by Ironman subsidiary Competitor Group, had produced a marathon partially run along the Las Vegas Strip from 2009-2019. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas half-marathon, 10k and 5k event returns to the Strip on February 22-23.
Brooksee’s Las Vegas Marathon will include the standard 26.2-mile race as well as a half-marathon (13.1 miles) and a special 7.02-mile race geared toward local runners.
“For the inaugural year we wanted to offer three distances in order to be inclusive of all ability levels,” Dumontet says. “And the unique
7.02-mile race, representing the Las Vegas area code, is kind of the locals race and will be all Downtown.”
The new Las Vegas Marathon also offers an expo on November 2 at World Market Center, where all participants and non-runners can join with sponsors, vendors, industry retailers and event partners. And the finish line on November 3 along the Fremont Street Experience will incorporate a festival environment with a beer garden and plenty of food and drink options, live entertainment and photo opportunities.
Meow Wolf is the presenting sponsor, and everyone is invited to the post-race part at the company’s immersive art exhibit Omega Mart at Area15 (November 3, 5 p.m., $35, vegasmar athon.com/tickets).
“It’s been really embraced by the community, with over 6,000 runners we’re expecting on November 3,” Dumontet says. “We were targeting 4,000-5,000 in the first year and we’re well ahead of that, and we’re expecting over 20,000 fans and spectators in attendance.”
(Photo Illustration)
FOOD + DRINK
TAKEOVER TIKI
Exploring the tropical cocktail craze at three new-ish bars
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Chris Gutierrez, partner at the Arts District’s charming Stray Pirate, is facing a conundrum: How does one decorate a buccaneer-anddog-themed tiki bar for Halloween when it’s always in costume?
“I don’t even know if I can put any more skulls in here,” says Gutierrez. “Am I gonna go to Party City and buy a foam skull when I have a genuine Bamboo Ben molded skull-encrusted cave?”
Regardless, a salute is in order. Stray Pirate, celebrating its oneyear anniversary this October, is the first of several new tropically inspired bars that have washed ashore in the last year, joining established spots like Frankie’s Tiki Room and the Golden Tiki.
Tiki culture has seen its ups and downs in the last 90 years, but island-style drinks and decor have evolved as cocktail culture gets more complex and our thirst for a vacation in a glass intensifies.
Todo Bien, billed as a “tiki tequilería,” arrived at UnCommons in March. Meanwhile, Glitter Gulch Tiki, a kitschy new lounge from Nacho Daddy, has staked its claim on Fourth Street near the Fremont Street Experience. All three bar operators do tiki a bit differently, and for that reason, they also have varied opinions on why it’s so popular and fun to execute.
For Paul Hymas, co-owner at Glitter Gulch Tiki (113 N. 4th St., glittergulchtiki.com), the allure all comes down to the experience.
“If you go to a speakeasy, it’s more about the intimacy and the social aspect of it,” Hymas says. “I think tiki bars are very similar, where they’re usually not super-big, they’re drink-focused and they usually have booths or seating arrangements meant for people to sit and talk.”
Hymas worked with two consultants, including the previously mentioned world-famous tiki designer Bamboo Ben, who created the bar’s neon-splashed, retro-Vegas interior.
“It’s an oxymoron to have a tiki bar in the desert, so that’s how we
The Flash Flood at Glitter Gulch Tiki. (Courtesy/Shane O’Neal, SON Studios)
came up with the Glitter Gulch idea, because Glitter Gulch used to be referenced for the entire area,” Hymas explains. “What’s a tiki bar that Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack would hang out at? What would it look like? When you actually go into the place, there’s going to be some very traditional key elements. But we’re still Vegas. Even though it’s a tiki bar, we still have some velvet, we have a fair amount of gold.”
For Matty Salazar, managing partner at Todo Bien (8533 Rozita Lee Ave. #110, todobientiki.com), the transportive nature of a tiki bar is what “ties into me still being a child at heart.
“I honestly feel like it’s the escape,” says Salazar. “It’s the reason why we go to Disneyland. It’s the reason why Rainforest Cafe was so big. Nothing was really super-great about that, but it’s the transportation, the wow factor when you go in.”
At Todo Bien, imbibers get immersed into the thicket of a Mexican jungle, with a conservatory-like layout of lush plants. Salazar, whose family is from Mexico City and northern Chihuahua, views the decor and agave-based menu as an homage to his upbringing and all the flavorful recipes that were passed on.
“A lot of the winter drinks are really going to showcase a lot of these really old recipes,” Salazar says.
“My biggest things were showing our culture in a new light, and obviously tying it in with something that I love, with the spirit that I love, too. Before any of this came and I was just a tiki fan, I was not a big rum or gin person, so I was always asking to substitute.”
That is one major bonus of the modern tiki Renaissance: drink diversity. As much as we love a good rum punch, island-style cocktails have gotten a little more balanced
and interesting. Take for instance, Stray Pirate’s Get It Kraken, which “uses coconut, kaffir lime leaf and lime juice. That’s three ingredients towards tom kha soup, if you’re into Thai food,” Gutierrez says.
Stray Pirate (1321 S. Commerce St., straypirate.com) also offers a Spare the Sugarcane drink section with decidedly less sweeteners. But that doesn’t mean the ingredients get any less dynamic. In some cases, a Stray Pirate cocktail can call for up to nine ingredients.
“I’m a firm believer that drinking should be fun. I definitely believe in having things that automatically look appetizing, without forcing the guests to Google an ingredient,” says Gutierrez. “This whole tropical scene, it’s all these fun flavors like guava, strawberry, pineapple and pomegranate. Who doesn’t like that little guilty pleasure of drinking something that’s fun?”
Stray Pirate’s Mai Tai and Zombie. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
The Cantarito at Todo Bien. (Courtesy)
EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR
Lofty goals are still attainable after UNLV’s first loss of the season
UNLV Rebels running back Jai’Den Thomas (9) runs the ball during the first half against Syracuse on October 4 at Allegiant Stadium. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
BY MIKE GRIMALA
UNLV is not going to have a perfect season. ¶ The undefeated dream came to an end on October 4 when the Syracuse Orange edged the Scarlet and Gray 44-41 in overtime. The loss dropped UNLV to 4-1 on the year and caused it to tumble out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll. ¶ UNLV had earned its first placement ever at No. 25 but now re-enters the realm of the unranked.¶ But the season is far from over. The team can still achieve all of its loftiest goals.¶ Stakes remain high as the season rounds into the midway point. UNLV coach Barry Odom said as much after the Syracuse defeat, even as he had admitted his players were “gutted” by the failure to beat a third Power Five conference opponent. ¶ “This game won’t define us, but how we respond will,” Odom said. “We will work, we’ll get back at it and we’ll make sure that we find a way to go play our best ball next Friday night.” ¶ Here are six reasons to stay aboard the UNLV hype train.
BIG GAMES AHEAD
Sure, it won’t be as glitzy without a Top 25 ranking or an unblemished record, but UNLV’s clash with Boise State on October 25 is still going to carry major Mountain West implications.
To a lesser extent, the same could go for the team’s November 22 trip to San Jose State, and then there’s always the finale against in-state rival UNR looming on November 30.
Whether it’s about the conference standings or a good old-fashioned battle for the Fremont Cannon, UNLV still has a bushel of meaningful games remaining.
OFFENSE COMES ALIVE
UNLV’s “go-go offense” was decidedly stop-and-start through the first three weeks of the season, but a quarterback change from Matthew Sluka to current starter Hajj-Malik Williams appears to have jolted life back into coordinator Brennan Marion’s high-powered system.
In two games with Williams at the helm, UNLV has scored 100 combined points (with the offense scoring 79 of those points). Williams has been fantastic, accounting for six passing touchdowns and two rushing scores while completing 82.9% of his throws.
The go-go is fast-paced, frenetic, and, once again, fun to watch.
FIRST TITLE?
UNLV has never won the Mountain West championship despite being a founding member of the conference back in 1999. The Scarlet and Gray came close last year, when they not only made it to the title game but hosted it after running up a 9-3 record (6-2 MWC). A resurgent Boise State squad beat them, however, to keep the UNLV football trophy case empty.
Odom and his crew have a great shot to rectify that this season. A non-conference loss to Syracuse doesn’t change the fact that UNLV is 1-0 in the Mountain West and may be the most league’s most talented team.
Don’t be shocked if UNLV is right back in the title game when December rolls around.
STAR POWER
Simply put, when’s the next time UNLV is going to have a duo like Ricky White and Jackson Woodard?
White is one of the most electrifying offensive players in the nation, with 388 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and few can touch his special-teams exploits, where he’s got two punt blocks and another touchdown. Woodard is the defensive star, flying sideline to sideline and stuffing the stat sheet (45 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions).
The two seniors are never more than a few snaps away from doing something spectacular, and that’s worth attention alone.
STRONGER SUPPORT
UNLV announced an attendance of 31,329 fans for the Syracuse game, the second-highest mark for a regular-season contest since the team moved to Allegiant Stadium. And given that the record holder (35,193 vs. Iowa State in 2021) was mostly due to fans of the visiting team, it’s fair to say support for UNLV football has never been more enthusiastic.
After seeing the fans turn Friday’s game into a legitimate homefield environment, Odom said one loss shouldn’t dampen that excitement.
“The city of Las Vegas has been wonderful to us,” he said. “The energy helped us, and I was very thankful for what we have done in 21 months to turn this into that. We will only grow (the fan support) from here.”
PLAYOFF PICTURE?
Though it may not feel like it right now, with the Syracuse setback still fresh, UNLV’s playoff hopes are not entirely dead.
One loss doesn’t necessarily eliminate a Group of Five team from the College Football Playoff picture. Boise State also has a non-conference loss, and the Broncos are still operating as though they’re in the mix, so UNLV should, too.
What the loss does is erase UNLV’s margin for error. The Scarlet and Gray will have to win every remaining game, including potentially having to beat Boise State twice (once in the regular season and again in the Mountain West championship) if they want to reestablish themselves as playoff contenders.
One Group of Five conference representative is guaranteed to make the new 12-team playoff, and no one would have a resume as strong as UNLV’s if it can beat Boise twice.
It’s not going to be easy, but there’s a lot of season left to play and UNLV is still positioned to make it a memorable one.
UNLV FOOTBALL REMAINING SCHEDULE
Oct. 11 at Utah State
Oct. 19
COMMUNITY FOCUS HAS MADE VEGAS TEAM PRO SPORTS’ SPONSOR KING
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF
Research by SponsorUnited shows the Vegas Golden Knights have the most sponsorship deals in the National Hockey League.
Of nine markets across North America and Europe that the sports and entertainment marketing platform studied for its rst State of the Market report, the Golden Knights also had the most sponsorship deals of any professional sports team tracked—nearly 200 partnerships.
“We’ve tried to be creative and be very exible,” said Keith Baulsir, senior vice president of global partnerships for the Vegas Golden Knights. “And … we love having a variety of partners, maybe two or three in a certain vertical or category—where, in a bigger market, you might only have one big exclusive partner.”
Las Vegas’ homegrown hockey team bene ts from some unique factors when it comes to sponsorships, including the rapid growth of the city and its sports scene, its space in state-of-theart T-Mobile Arena and more, said Bob Lynch, founder and CEO of SponsorUnited.
The Golden Knights also entered the market at a time when sports betting was becoming much more accepted, Lynch said.
“I think that the Vegas Golden Knights were really smart early on not to try to get in the proverbial bed with one particular big partner in that space,” he said. “The relationships matter so much beyond sponsorships related to hospitality and the other dollars that kind of come with those relationships.”
The Golden Knights’ strategy when they launched revolved around the understanding that Las Vegas is only the 40th-largest market in the U.S. and the second-smallest in the NHL, Baulsir said. That meant being community-fo-
cused and building partnerships with local companies, Baulsir said.
“We really pride ourselves on being Vegas-born, being the only team in the market that’s born here, originated here, from day one we were founded here in Vegas,” he said. “And with that, we also really enjoy working with local Vegas-born companies, and we probably have more mom-and-pop type companies than other sports teams in the country have.”
Despite their location in the 40th-largest market, Lynch said, Las Vegas sports teams can go to bigger brands and strike a deal because of how many people nationwide travel there.
“There’s a tremendous amount of people coming into these markets for big events,” he said.
Smaller companies may not be able to a ord sponsorship in the sports realm in other markets or even with other teams in Las Vegas, which is not the case for the Golden Knights’ local partners, said Baulsir, who noted that the team’s entry point is lower than any other hockey teams.
Even at about six gures, he estimated, the buy-in cost to be a partner of the Golden Knights is still less than many sports teams.
“It gives our partners, very much, just a big platform and … a megaphone to make some
noise about their brand,” Baulsir said, adding that sponsorship deals also drive revenue for the Vegas Golden Knights organization and often engage or bene t fans. “And that’s important to them. We tailor those packages. We come up with unique ways for them to do that, that align with their business.”
In addition to big brands like MGM Resorts International, Toyota and Anheuser-Busch, he said, the hockey team also partners with Las Vegas-based Green Valley Grocery, Lee’s Discount Liquor, Pinkbox Doughnuts and dozens of others.
More than 40% of Golden Knights sponsors are based in Las Vegas, a number that—for comparison—is only 28% of the Las Vegas Raiders sponsorship makeup, according to SponsorUnited.
In its report, the Stamford, Connecticut-based company analyzed how that “strong local backing has made the Golden Knights the top team for sponsorships in both the NHL and Las Vegas.”
“We’re open for business,” Baulsir said. “We’re open to talking to anyone. And not every company is going to end up working with us, but we’d love to learn more about members of the community, (the) business community, and we’d love to try and nd a way to partner with anyone that’s out there.”
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Tanner Pearson (70) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) skate after the puck during an NHL preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 25. (Steve Marcus/Sta )
VEGAS INC NOTES
Jewish Nevada has hired Sari Mann as director of legacy and endowment. Her responsibilities will include cultivating relationships with donors, managing endowment funds and ensuring the growth and sustainability of the organization’s financial resources. Mann previously served as the Nevada and Utah director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for 14 years.
CarePartnersMD, led by internal medicine physician Nathalie Majorek, has opened its practice at 851 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 255, in Las Vegas. CarePartnersMD offers prioritized primary care medicine, tailored wellness plans, advanced health screenings, medical assessments, diagnostic tests to enhance early issue detection and additional measures outside the scope of a traditional primary care visit.
Ferraro’s Ristorante announces it has been recognized as a Tripadvisor 2024 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award recipient. Ferraro’s reviews earned it a spot in the top 1% of eateries globally.
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa has appointed Eric Lhuillier as executive chef, leading the launch of a new fall-inspired menu at Hawthorn Grill Lhuillier previously was executive chef at Peter Luger Steakhouse and executive chef at Wally’s Wine & Spirits at Resorts World.
Colliers announced the acquisitions of a two-parcel infill logistics portfolio spanning the Las Vegas and Henderson markets. Vice chair Michael Kendall and senior vice president Gian Bruno of the firm’s West Industrial Capital Markets Team marketed the portfolio and led the disposition and acquisition processes
for all involved parties. Vice chairs Dan Doherty and Paul Sweetland, executive vice presidents Jerry Doty, Chris Lane, Brian Riffel and vice president Tyler Jones provided local market expertise. The first project, Airparc Heights, is a six-building Class A business park at 3225-3255 Sunridge Parkway and 1065-1085 Alper Center Drive in Henderson. The second is a two-building, 153,368-square-foot property at 6620 Escondido St. in Las Vegas, acquired by BKM Capital Partners
Naylor & Braster, Attorneys at Law, is expanding its team with the addition of law clerk Kelly Scarborough, who graduated from the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV in May. Scarborough’s responsibilities include legal research, drafting and assisting with litigation matters. She previously served as a law clerk for American Homes 4 Rent and WynnBET.
OCT 16 - 26, 2024 MAR 26 - APR 5, 2025
PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES
FRANK LONGO
ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may be tempted to spar and argue more than usual but I hope you sublimate those tendencies. The same hot energy that might lead to excessive skirmishing could just as well become a driving force to create robust harmony and resilient unity.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Question: “How do you express your love with maximum intelligence?” Answer: “Before you ask your allies to alter themselves to enhance your relationship, you ask yourself how you might alter yourself to enhance your relationship.”
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 1819, Gemini entrepreneur Francois-Louis Cailler became the first chocolatier to manufacture chocolate bars. His innovation didn’t save any lives, but it was a wonderful addition to humanity’s supply of delights. I invite you to seek a comparable addition to your own personal world. What splendid resource can you add to your repertoire?
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ayurnamat is a word used by the Inuit people. It refers to when you long for the relaxed tranquility that comes from not worrying about what can’t be changed. In the coming weeks, you will not just yearn for this state of calm, but will also have a heightened ability to achieve it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Healing will be more available to you than usual. You’re extra likely to attract the help and insight you need to revive and restore your mind, soul and body. To get started, identify two wounds or discomforts you would love to alleviate. Treat this process as not a somber struggle, but as a celebration of your mounting vitality.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Beatles were the best-selling band of all time, yet none of four members of the band could read music. Their brilliance was intuitive and instinctual. Is there a comparable situation in your life, a task or skill that you do well despite not being formally trained? I invite you to fill in the gaps in your education.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 2010, Edurne Pasaban became the first woman to climb the world’s tallest 14 mountains. In 2018, Taylor Demonbreun arrived in Toronto, completing a quest in which she visited every sovereign nation on the planet in 18 months. Be inspired by these heroes as you ruminate about what frontier adventures you will dare to enjoy during the next six months.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Alnwick Garden is an unusual network of formal gardens in England which hosts 100 species of toxic plants like hemlock, strychnine and deadly nightshade. Use this as a metaphor as you take inventory of influences that are not good for you. Every now and then, it’s healthy to acknowledge what you don’t need and shouldn’t engage with.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian Tom Rath is an inspirational author who has managed to stay alive with a rare disease. He writes, “This is what I believe we should all aim for: to make contributions to others’ lives that will grow infinitely in our absence.” That’s always good advice, but I believe you will have a special capacity to dispense your gifts to those who need them.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn writer Susan Sontag was an entertaining commentator on the gritty hubbub of popular culture. One of my favorite quotes: “I like to feel dumb. That’s how I know there’s more in the world than me.” She made sure her curiosity and open-mindedness flourished by always assuming she had much more to learn.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Salem Witch Trials were ignorant prosecutions of people accused of practicing witchcraft. The modern holiday Freethought Day on October 12 encourages us to love using logic and to honor the value of critical thinking. You Aquarians are my choice to host this year’s revelries. Show us what it looks like to be a lucid, unbiased observer of reality.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): YouTube presenter Andy George decided to make a chicken sandwich from scratch. He grew wheat, ground it into flour, and used it to bake bread. He milked a cow to make cheese and butter. He got sea salt from ocean water and grew a garden of lettuce, cucumber, tomato and dill for toppings. Finally, he went to a farm and bought a chicken. I’m not suggesting you do something similar. Rather, I’m encouraging you to be thorough as you solidify your foundations. Be a connoisseur of the raw materials that will assure future success.
SEVEN LIONS RUSSELL DICKERSON
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