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‘TIS THE SEASON FOR SPLENDOR
Escape to Winter Wonderland at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, featuring the Strip’s largest ice rink, a festive pop-up bar, holiday entertainment including Jennifer Hudson and Derek Hough, Santa Brunch, and more.
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SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY DEC 19 FRIDAY DEC 20
DEREK HOUGH: DANCE FOR THE HOLIDAYS 8 p.m., BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS VS. PHILADELPHIA WINGS
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. VANCOUVER CANUCKS
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: HOLIDAY HOOPS CLASSIC Times vary, & 12/20, South Point Arena, ticketmaster.com
NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: THE NUTCRACKER
7:30 p.m. (& thru 12/27, times vary), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com
GARTH BROOKS
8 p.m., & 12/21-12/22, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com
HUMAN NATURE
6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com
HEYZ
With Hostage Situation, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us
8:30 p.m., & 12/21, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster. com
THE BRONX WANDERERS Thru 12/22, 7:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster. com
MEDUZA
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv. com
YOI TOKI With Engelwood, 9 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com
PATRICK WARBURTON
It’s that voice. Deep, borderline a ectless. He’s employed it, winningly, in animation—The Emperor’s New Groove, The Venture Bros., Family Guy—and in conjunction with his towering physicality and perfect deadpan expression in Seinfeld, The Tick, A Series of Unfortunate Events and Disney’s Soarin’ attraction. (Watch the Funny Or Die clip “Rollercoaster Safety with Patrick Warburton” to get the whole package: The e ortless way he gets laughs by accenting his sentences in unexpected places, and stopping a skit dead to just stare his way out of it.) Warburton could get laughs simply by reading a terms of service contract, but he’s also got jokes, damn good ones. Go hear ‘em. 7 p.m., & 12/21, $35, Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguyscomedy.com. –Geo Carter
SATURDAY DEC 21
(Steve Marcus/Sta )
1 LAS VEGAS HOPEFUNDRAISER
Local artists and entertainers team up Downtown to raise awareness about homelessness in Las Vegas at this event, which asks for donations to benefit the Nevada Homeless Alliance as well as new or gently used scarves, hats and gloves to be distributed to those in need. Comedian Derrick Brown emcees while live music lights up the stage from local soul outfit The Dead Money, singer Hal Savar, Zerzura, EVR, Vero and more. 8 p.m., $15+, Backstage Bar & Billiards, dice.fm –Brock Radke
JONATHAN LEE
8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com
JENNIFER HUDSON 8 p.m., & 12/22, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com
BEAR GRILLZ
With Vastive, Perry Wayne, 8:30 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com
THE PENDLETONS With Damned By The Night, Witches Ride, Belfry Bats, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com
UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER CABARET
8 p.m., Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory. com
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. SEATTLE KRAKEN 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UC RIVERSIDE 2:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com
MAZ JOBRANI 8:30 p.m., & 12/22, Summit Showroom, ticketmaster.com
E-40 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
DJ C-LA 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
LVP PARTY 2024 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
DRAXX
With Danco, Nezz, Sam Van Decks, 11 p.m., La Mona Rosa, seetickets.us
VIVA EL PERREO PAJAMA PARTY
With DJ Susie, 10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
SUPERGUIDE
(Wade Vandervort/Sta )
LAS VEGAS SINFONIETTA: A NIGHT IN VIENNA Vienna was a center of music and culture in the 19th century and would have been an elegant place to spend Christmas. The Las Vegas Sinfonietta promises to transport audiences there with the timeless music of Johann Strauss and his son, Johann Strauss Jr. “Our holiday concert is more than a celebration of Johann Strauss’ iconic waltzes and melodies, from The Blue Danube to Die Fledermaus, it’s an invitation for the community to come together in joy, elegance, and tradition,” said Sinfonietta Maestro Taras Krysa. “Las Vegas deserves a classical holiday event of this caliber, and we’re honored to inaugurate what we hope will become a cherished tradition for years to come.” Featuring world-class musicians, the Sinfonietta will pair with dazzling vocalists from Vegas City Opera for an unforgettable performance. 3 p.m., $40, Clark County Library Theater, lasvegassinfonietta. com. –Shannon Miller
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 1:25 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY DEC 24
EXHIBIT: BIRTHED FROM THE SOIL BY IYANA ESTERS
S U P E R G U I D E
Earlier this month, Reno-based folk and traditional visual artist Iyana Esters was selected as the recipient of the Nevada Arts Council’s Nevada Heritage Fellowship. The self-taught photographer’s work captures the human connection with nature and focuses on themes of gender, ancestry and the Afrodiaspora by using di erent photographic processes. “For me, visual storytelling isn’t just about capturing moments, it’s about igniting imagination, nurturing self-worth through culture, and sparking a deeper look within,” Esters said. “Nevada holds a rich tapestry of Black history that deserves to be seen and celebrated, and I’m grateful to contribute to that legacy.” Her photo exhibition, Birthed From the Soil, also opened in the Las Vegas Arts District this month and continues into the new year. Thru 1/22, Mon.-Fri. 1-5 p.m., free, Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, nevadahumanities.org. –Brock Radke
FILM: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Noon, Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater. com
KATHLEEN DUNBAR
With Forrest Shaw, Chris Storin, Gary Cannon, 7 & 9:30 p.m., & 12/25, Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com
EDWIN SAN JUAN
With DJ Sandhu, thru 12/29, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com
BIJAN
MORTAZAVI, TOHI, MORVARID, LIT REEEZY, OMID
8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com
LVP PARTY 2024 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
WEDNESDAY DEC 25
GLITTERING LIGHTS Thru 1/5, times vary, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, glitteringlights lasvegas.com.
TOURNAMENT OF KINGS: ‘TWAS THE KNIGHT 6 & 8:30 p.m., Excalibur, excalibur.mgm resorts.com
WORLD OF ILLUMINATION: CANDY RUSH Thru 12/29, times vary, M Resort, worldof illumination.com
ENCHANT CHRISTMAS Thru 12/29, times vary, Las Vegas Ballpark, enchant christmas.com
SWAYZE & FRIENDS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, the sanddollarlv.com
Why a home gym can be a low-pressure path to getting fi t
BY JASON R. LATHAM
The gym isn’t for everyone. That’s okay. Memberships are expensive, and we’ve already got so many subscriptions to manage. Plus, there’s the added pressure to actually go, and who has time for that?
You don’t have to sign o on the idea of going to the gym or working out around other people, but you can start building a tness foundation at home.
“People hold themselves to higher standards when others are watching,” explains certied personal trainer, Purple Reign performer and Las Vegas SoulCycle instructor Amber Strauser. “At home, you can create a safe space that gives you good vibes.”
Strauser converted her threecar garage into a home gym during the pandemic. It’s since become a solo and group tness business, RedHot Box, where members get the bene ts of a personal trainer and gym-like camaraderie without the intimidation factor that often comes with the weight room.
Where do I build my home gym?
The most important factor in creating a home gym is “it’s got to be a place where you want to go and want to be,” Strauser says.
“Put things in your space that motivate you, things you love, things that inspire you—whatever is going to get you into that space to move your body, because you gotta want to be there,” she explains.
That means incorporating things you’d bring to the gym anyway but feel good having at home, like a workout playlist or a new workout outfit.
Build your media room
(see page 20)
How long should my workout last?
A large setup can be intimidating, so start with adjustable dumbbells for versatility and progress.
“You can do so much with just a couple of dumbbells, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space,” Strauser says, adding that compound exercises—squats, overhead presses, chest presses—will utilize the most muscles in a given movement.
Basic everyday movements, such as walking up a flight of stairs or getting up from a chair, can also be re-created as workout routines to improve mobility and strengthen muscles.
Many of us don’t have time for two-a-day workouts, but twice a week?
“You want to shoot for 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity,” Strauser says. “Maybe two days of high-intensity workouts, then just take it easy for three days of just walking.”
Strauser is a big advocate for walking. And why not? All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. It’s that easy, and that’s never going to change. They’re not going to invent new walking.
“Shoot for 30 minutes per day of walking,” she says, “a longer duration of a lower impact exercise.”
The more the merrier… when it feels right
Working out with a friend or a small group of friends can eliminate the intimidation factor that keeps so many people out of the gym. There’s an extra motivational boost that comes with it, Strauser explains, because you’re getting real encouragement.
Statistically, Strauser says more calories are burned during a group workout because people know others are watching.
At the end of the day, your fitness journey is your own. When you’re ready to bring more people into the mix, go for it. Just remember that showing up is its own victory.
“Everyone wants to be better and do better,” Strauser says. “Exercising your body is a no-judgement zone. It’s an investment in yourself.”
MEDIA ROOM HOME LIFE
MY SPACE
Essentials for movie and game rooms
BY JASON R. LATHAM
Man cave. Dude den. Command Center. These are real terms used to describe modern movie and gaming rooms—fortresses of solitude (that’s another one) where you can retreat, relax, and rewatch a movie you’ve seen 40 times. But this time in 4K!
I’ve never cared for “man cave” or “bro zone” or similar monikers. My preference is “parlour” with a “u” because it invokes a more sophisticated, elegant enclave for escape—the kind of place where you can unwind in a high-back Chesterfield chair with a snifter of iced Cointreau while Dooley Wilson sings “As Time Goes By.” That’s just my vision. Yours can be anything you want, and if you’re dreaming of the perfect movie and gaming room, these are the essentials:
DRAW ATTENTION WITH SMALL DETAILS
This is your escape, so you want it to feel uniquely you. Wall décor can include art you create yourself or pieces that reflect your personality. There’s no shame in covering the walls in movie posters, just make sure they’re framed properly. Scatter the rest of the room with eye-catching and thought-provoking items, like Dwayne Johnson’s autobiography, The Rock Says… (for the jokes!) or Joanna Woolfolk’s Sexual Astrology, the ultimate coffee table conversation starter.
SIT ON IT
A premium gaming setup requires a premium seat, preferably six to nine feet from your screen. Herman Miller, Secretlab, and RESPAWN are among the most well-regarded makers of ergonomic gaming chairs. But if watching movies and sipping cocktails like a polished, stand-up citizen is what you prefer, go for the aforementioned Chesterfield or something mid-century modern. If you’re in host mode, invest in a second chair and a small Tuxedo sofa. Keep the brochure nearby so you can boast about the comfort, style, and functionality before directing everyone’s attention to that evening’s screening of Deadpool & Wolverine
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
When you’re shopping in this category, prepare to hear or read the word “immersive.”
A lot. The best media room setups have a high-quality sound system — think Dolby Atmos or 5.1 (five speakers and a subwoofer) or 7.1 surround sound. For your screen, opt for a wall-mounted 75-inch (‘cause you’re worth it) display with a high refresh rate and low input lag for gaming. Make sure to go with ambient lighting for atmosphere and, importantly, minimal glare.
CHOOSE YOUR BORDERS
For the perfect media room, you must prioritize design, starting with your walls and floor. Why? Acoustics. Your heart may be set on a single color (don’t choose black) or wood paneling (Midwest basement den?), but try a damask pattern or textured wallpaper. Textured surfaces are preferable for sound absorption, and carpeting, a throw rug and even curtains can help reduce echo. You can go further with bass traps and foam treatments, if you insist. But you’re making a media room, not a recording studio.
(Shutterstock/Photo
NEVADA STATE MUSEUM LAS VEGAS FROM FOSSILS TO FOLIES
Wander
NEVADA STATE MUSEUM LAS VEGAS FROM FOSSILS TO FOLIES
Wander among ancient fossils, colorful mineral specimens, antique slot machines, 19th-century farming tools, and extravagant showgirl costumes — artifacts which illustrate Las Vegas’ rise into the metropolitan gem we know today.
MORE THAN JUST A TRAIN RIDE
LasVegasNVMuseum.org
lives on as the Boulder City Railroad’s excursion train—a scenic 45-minute, seven-mile roundtrip rail ride, located less than 30
CHECK OUT MORE ON BOULDER CITY STATE RAILROAD
BoulderRailroadMuseum.org
Railroad’s excursion train—a scenic 45-minute, seven-mile roundtrip rail ride, located less than 30
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Vegas’ Jewish community embraces Hanukkah traditions
new
and old
The Valley’s cultural diversity truly shines during this season of holidays
You don’t need us to tell you Las Vegas is a melting pot. From East Las Vegas to the Historic Westside, our city is teeming with many different cultures, each with its own seasonal traditions. This time of year is a wonderful time to celebrate the diversity of our Valley and to observe how different communities celebrate. While the following roundup is in no way comprehensive, it gives a peek inside the customs of a few of the cultural groups that call Vegas home. Happy holidays!
Although it’s considered a minor holiday, Hanukkah is often categorized as “the Jewish Christmas” because it happens in December. That misconception may be more prevalent this year as Hanukkah starts on the evening of December 25; the Jewish calendar is lunisolar, so the holiday doesn’t occur on the same days every year.
“So some will have Christmukkah this year, since it overlaps,” explains Rabbi Sanford Akselrad of Congregation Ner Tamid. “It’s rare, but it does happen every so often.”
The coinciding holiday schedule has also grown the custom of gifts, he says. “Because of the influence of Christmas in America, Hanukkah has developed the tradition of giving presents, with the eighth night being the big present. When I grew up, I got presents, but my dad was born in 1921 and did not grow up getting presents. But there has long been the Hanukkah gelt, the little coins, and the remnant of that custom are the little chocolate coins given
to kids.”
Other accompanying traditions include foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) and the display and lighting of the menorah, a symbol of God’s light, the resilience of the Jewish people, and “human beings and their ability to embrace faith and fight for ideas they believe in,” Akselrad says.
This month, Congregation Ner Tamid has already held its Hanukkah Bazaar celebration, but more holiday programming is on the way. Its Hanukkah family service is set for 6:15 p.m. on December 20, and it’s joining with Chabad of Southern Nevada and Midbar Kodesh Temple to present a menorah lighting event on December 26 at 4 p.m. at the District at Green Valley Ranch. There will be plenty of jelly doughnuts along with music and a performance from the Dancing Dreidels, and another lighting event is planned for Downtown Summerlin December 29 at 4 p.m. –Brock Radke
(Photos Courtesy/Leslie T. Snadowsky)
One of the biggest celebrations of the year for Hispanic Catholics is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Considered a saint, Our Lady is another name for the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. According to Catholic tradition, she appeared in a suburb outside of Mexico City in 1531 to the Native American peasant Juan Diego, who had recently converted to Catholicism.
“That’s where everything started, when it comes to the conversion of the Indigenous people of Mexico to Catholicism,” says Father Tony Udoh of Holy Family Catholic Church in East Las Vegas, where 80% of parishoners are Hispanic.
Prior to the apparition, Spanish missionaries were unsuccessful at converting the Native Aztecs to Catholicism. But after Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared—with Native features including dark hair and skin— about six million converted to the faith, Udoh says.
Today, 43% of Hispanic adults identify as Catholic, according to Pew Research Center. And Latinos are twice as likely than U.S. adults overall to identify as Catholic.
“The image of Our Lady spoke so much to the Natives, who could understand the whole message in different ways. [It] spoke to them as their queen, in that sense,” Udoh says. “Our Lady of Guadalupe is, for them, not just a religious image, but a cultural image.”
To mark the event, Holy Family Catholic Church began celebrations on December 11, with traditional food, mariachi music, Indigenous music and dances and prayer. Udoh describes it as a “big festival” punctuated by Mass at 10 p.m., followed by “mañanitas” at 5 a.m. the following morning.
“It’s actually singing a happy birthday song [and] the traditional songs of the Blessed Mother. … They do that for an hour, then after that, we have
Hispanic Catholics rejoice in the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mass. … And at 7 a.m., we have dancing, bringing it into the hall, and breakfast and tea, coffee and pan dulces.”
After the morning celebration and mass, the church closes again until 4 p.m. “And then we start again with the dancing, music and food,” Udoh says, followed by a reenactment of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, followed by an evening Mass.
With all the festivities, it’s no wonder that the vigil and feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe marks the time of highest church attendance at Holy Family, attracting many more than the 3,500 families who attend Mass regularly.
“Most people just come for the celebrations. People who have not been to church for the whole year will come for Our Lady of Guadalupe. And some may not even identify themselves so much as Catholics, but they identify themselves as Guadalupaños,” Udoh says.
And while the celebrations are great fun, they’re meant to spread a deeper message of love and unity, regardless of cultural identity, he adds.
“Each culture is unique. … Celebrating that diversity in unity is such a beautiful thing. And seeing the beauty of other cultures and other people’s ways of life is such an inspiration. I wish that everyone could really see that, and celebrate with others and bring forth that love that Jesus brings to the world during Christmas,” he says. –Shannon Miller
Alicia Vega, left, of Danza Azteca, prepares for a procession during the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe at Holy Family Catholic Church December 11, 2024.
(All photos Steve Marcus/Staff)
Indigenous groups create space for craftsmakers and vendors during the holiday season
The holiday season isn’t just about the rush of consumerism—it’s about tradition, community and culture.
For Native communities, the holidays are celebrated through events that center family, culture and the shared joy of giving. This year, two Indigenous-led markets highlight how these traditions are more than just shopping, they’re ways to connect with history, build community and pass down cultural practices.
At the fourth annual Native and Decolonial Market on December 14, hosted outside Starboard Tack by Fifth Sun Project, the focus was on bringing together Native creatives and fostering a spirit of mutual aid.
“We wanted to honor and respect the way that people operate their business,” says Eztli Amaya, co-founder of the organization.
The market offers a platform for vendors to sell their crafts for cash and allows for trading and bartering. It not only provides a space for vendors to sell beadwork, pottery and other artwork, but also invites community members to exchange goods and services.
“The whole concept of that was
having unlimited options so no one gets left behind,” Amaya says. “If they can’t afford something, they can also feel like they’re giving back.”
In addition to shopping, attendees could donate to Fifth Sun Project’s annual holiday toy drive, which started November 27 and is collecting donations through December 20. Toys are distributed to undocumented and Indigenous families in the community, Amaya says. The initiative also worked with local food pantry the Solidarity Fridge in collecting ingredients and making meal kits for single parents and the needy.
Over in North Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Indian Center’s Holiday Market, held on December 7 at the College of Southern Nevada Cheyenne Campus, has been a staple of the city’s holiday season for seven years. According to Rulon Pete, executive director of the center, the event offers a chance for families to come together and enjoy each other’s company.
“This is an opportunity for families
to gather … to eat, to laugh, to enjoy ourselves,” Pete says. “It’s a difficult time for many individuals, especially for natives, whether it’s on the reservations or in an urban city. Economically, it can become a burden because they may not have enough money for toys and whatnot.”
With 500 to 1,000 people attending each year, the market serves as a vital community event where Native American artists can sell their work and connect. In parallel with the Fifth Sun Project’s initiatives, the goal is to create space for this community to come together in a spirit of solidarity regardless of financial status.
These Indigenous-led markets provide a much needed return to roots.
“We want everyone to feel included,” says Amaya, solidifying that these events are celebrations of giving, not just receiving. –Gabriela Rodriguez
(Photos Courtesy)
Finding purpose in the principles of this joyous and refl ective holiday
For nearly 60 years, African-Americans have upheld the week-long tradition of Kwanzaa, reflecting on seven positive principles as they feast and spend time with family.
“The purpose of Kwanzaa, as it was created by Dr. [Maulana] Karenga in 1966, is to give African-American people a set of principles that they can live by daily. The principles are designed to celebrate family, community and your culture,” says Ellis Rice, a Las Vegas performing artist, director, producer and teacher who has taught Kwanzaa practices at the West Las Vegas Arts Center and throughout Las Vegas.
The basis of Kwanzaa rests on seven principles: unity (Umoja in Swahili), self-determination (Kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (Ujima), cooperative economics (Ujamaa), purpose (Nia), creativity (Kuumba) and faith (Imani). Seven symbols are used to set the table for the holiday, beginning with a woven mat called a mkeka. Next comes the kinara, a candle holder for the mishumaa saba, which is a set of seven candles. Each candle represents a di erent day and principle. The middle black candle, symbolizing Unity, is used to light the first day.
“Then you have the muhindi, which is the corn. You have three ears of corn, minimum of three. You have one ear for each child in your family, and then one extra ear represents the children in the community, since we’re all responsible for raising the children in our community,” Rice says. “Another one
is the mazao, which is the fruits and vegetables, representing the harvest.”
During the week, families sip from the kikombe cha umoja, or unity cup, and pour libations in honor of their creator and ancestors, Rice says. Children will also receive gifts (zawadi) in recognition of what they’ve accomplished over the year. It’s also common for African-Americans to don traditional dashikis over the week of Kwanzaa.
Rice stresses the importance of applying the principles of Kwanzaa 365 days a year, not just for the week. His Kwanzaa table, for instance, never comes down.
“Mine is up all year ‘round. … Because I’m Black all year ‘round,” Rice says. “That’s the thing. How are you gonna believe in unity just during the week of Kwanzaa? How are you gonna believe in self-determination just during the week of Kwanzaa? … If we don’t get people to understand that, it is no better than Halloween.”
So how can you celebrate the principles of Kwanzaa? Is there a neighbor you could help? A Black business you could support?
Here’s an idea: Join Rice at his Embracing Kwanzaa in Everyday Life workshop at the West Las Vegas Arts Center (947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., artslasvegas.org) on December 19. The West Las Vegas Library Theater will also host a Kwanzaa celebration on December 28, where the community will gather for libations, a performance by the West Las Vegas Arts Center’s drum ensemble and much more. –Amber Sampson
(Photos Courtesy)
(Courtesy)
Ethiopian Americans gather with family and friends for Genna
Southern Nevada is home to an estimated 40,000 Ethiopian Americans who have their own customs and ways of celebrating the holidays. Many of them are Christian or Muslim, and they tend to blend traditional customs with some American influences.
“Ethiopians follow their own calendar, so many of the holidays they celebrate (Christmas, Easter and New Year) fall on a di erent date than the American date,” explains Mulugeta Abera, secretary for the Ethiopian Community Center of Las Vegas. Christmas, or Genna, is celebrated on January 7. Many Ethiopians attend church services, and wear traditional habesha kemis, a dress that is typically white with unique and custom embroideries. They also often feast on doro wat, a spicy chicken stew, and various lamb stews.
“Ethiopians typically buy whole chicken and lamb for the holidays. It is tradition for the men to go to the farms here and bring it back to the family to cook—a remnant of customs back home. It is also to ensure the meat is kosher or halal,” Abera explains.
Another popular Ethiopian food often present at these gatherings is injera, a spongy, flexible bread used to scoop and sop up stews and other foods. It is traditional to hand feed others using this bread, to show a ection.
“We call it ‘gursha,’ which means one bite. That is our strategy to show our love,” Abera says. –Shannon Miller
The Holoholo Market brings Vegas’ islanders together for the holidays
“Holoholo means to go for a stroll,” says Tiarre Norwood, founder of the Holoholo Market. “That’s kind of the vibe of my market. It’s very easygoing, very laid-back. Everybody finds a seat in the grass and listens to the music, eats their food. … You just happen upon it, and it becomes the highlight of your day.”
Coming to Fergusons Downtown on Saturday, December 21, the holiday edition of Holoholo Market (pronounced with the long o sound: “hohloh-hoh-loh”) is at its heart the same event as the outdoor market’s monthly version: It’s a celebration of, and gathering place for, “all of the Asian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian vendors that we have out here [in Vegas]
… giving them a platform, making us feel like we’re back home in Hawaii,” Norwood says. Not for nothing have local Hawaiian residents nicknamed this city the “Ninth Island”; according to the New York Times, Vegas’ population of Hawaiian natives and other Pacific Islanders grew by 40% between 2011 and 2021.
During the holidays, Holoholo blends its AANHPI community aspect with a holiday celebration. Santa will be on hand, of course, but the real attraction is live music from Bryson Morales, who will sing traditional Hawaiian music and Disney ballads (“He also sometimes duets with his sister and sings songs in actual Hawaiian language, which is beautiful and
kind of unheard of for somebody so young,” Norwood says), as well as the “island reggae vibes” of local faves HaleAmanO. Norwood also hints that there will be a different kind of hula performance—“Like a hula workout, a sort of interactive performance with hot hula fitness and live Hawaiian music,” she says.
When that hula workout inevitably works up your appetite, Holoholo will be ready with lots of ono eats on offer. (Long o again; think “delicious” or “craveable.”) Norwood can’t yet say exactly what will be cooking on December 21, but she can guess. “Typically, we have plate lunches, which anyone from Hawaii would know what that is,” she says. “You have your rice,
Lunar New Year Festival 2025 shines on an ascending Vegas neighborhood
This coming year on the Chinese lunar calendar is the Year of the Snake, but here in Vegas, it’s also the year of Chinatown and of its main arterial, Spring Mountain Road. Locals know and love Chinatown, but they’re hardly alone.
“Tourists are finding it,” says Catherine Francisco, president of the AAPI Chamber, of Chinatown’s rising popularity. “The small businesses [tell] me 50% of their revenue comes from tourists. We want to showcase Chinatown.”
The Chamber and Clark County are working together on a redevelopment plan to improve the neighborhood’s streets and infrastructure, kicking o with a spectacular Lunar New Year celebration on February 1. Lunar New Year Festival 2025 will incorporate both the parking lots and businesses of Chinatown Plaza and Shanghai Plaza, plus an entire block of Spring Mountain from Wynn Road and Arville Street.
with anime-covered itashas and Fast & Furious-like JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles; a mahjong component, held in partnership with Allied Gaming’s World Mahjong Tour; a zodiac village sponsored by Afterlife Tea and Boba Room; a special edition of Anime Night Mart and much more.
Vegas’ Lunar New Year Festival has been growing in popularity year over year— Francisco notes that the last festival, held over two days at UnCommons and Chinatown Plaza, drew more than 15,000 people—and to see the event fully realized in Vegas’ booming Chinatown is an exciting prospect. It’s a tantalizing peek at the more walkable, more easily navigated Chinatown that’s on its way.
corn, meat, mac salad and maybe noodles. We’ve also had pasteles, which is sort of like a Puerto Rican spin on a tamale that’s common in Hawaii.
“And Sweet Kings are always here,” she adds, referring to the mother and daughter business that produces Hawaiian candies here in Vegas. “They do something called Li Hing Mui candy. It’s basically like a plum powder sprinkled on top gummy candies. It’s got a sweet-sour kick.”
The holiday Holoholo Market runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free. But if interest in the holiday market continues to grow, Norwood says, she’d love to introduce
a certain nighttime element someday soon.
“I think of the Honolulu City Lights,” she says. “Every year, it’s just lit up—full huge decorations everywhere. … It’s just gorgeous. I told my husband this year, ‘I really want to emulate that here. I want to bring the Honolulu City Lights to Downtown.’ And he was like, ‘Tiarre, slow down’ [laughs].
“Next year, that might be something I do in the Alley across from Fergusons. … I know that a lot of the Ninth Islanders and people from Hawaii that live here now would fall in love if they could see what we have back home, here.” –Geo Carter
footprint will also
Scheduled from noon to midnight, the festival begins with Chinatown’s first-ever Lunar New Year parade. As with festivals past, there’ll be lots of live entertainment, dragon dances, lantern displays, an alley of food trucks and activities for children. The larger footprint will also allow for a car show
“Just imagine [utilizing] that section of Spring Mountain and the parking lots of Chinatown Plaza and Shanghai Plaza, and just bringing the community out,” Francisco says. “The goal is, when they think of Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year, they’re going to want to celebrate it in Las Vegas [with] Chinatown’s small businesses.”
–Geo Carter
(Photos Courtesy)
BY BROCK RADKE
JANET JACKSON AT RESORTS WORLD THEATRE
The pop icon’s 2019 run at Park MGM was one of our favorite Strip residencies of recent years, rapidly reeling off her many, many hits with stylish stage design and classic choreography. We’re expecting similar stellar presentation now that she’s back in Vegas to kick off a new, hopefully longer-lasting residency on December 30 and 31 at Resorts World—and if you can’t catch her on New Year’s Eve, 2025 dates run into Valentine’s Day. axs.com
ANYMA AT SPHERE
Melodic house and techno producer and DJ Matteo Milleri, aka Anyma, becomes the first electronic music artist to take over Sphere, with his “End of Genesys” engagement running December 27 through January 1. Additional shows are scheduled for January 10 and 11, and each concert brings different standout supporting acts; on New Year’s Eve, Swiss duo Adriatique and U.K. rising star Massano will perform. Given Anyma’s multidisciplinary, technology-minded approach to live performance, these performances are sure to continue the expanse of what can be accomplished at Sphere. ticketmaster.com
Jason Derulo at Voltaire at Venetian, December 28 & 29, voltairelv.com.
Duran Duran at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau, December 29 & 30, ticketmaster. com.
50 Cent at PH Live at Planet Hollywood, December 27, 28, 30 & 31, ticketmaster. com.
Bruno Mars at Dolby Live at Park MGM, December 27, 30 & 31, ticketmaster. com. Creed at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, December 30 & 31, ticketmaster. com.
The Bronx Wanderers at the Showroom at South Point, December 31, ticketmaster. com.
The Righteous Brothers at the Grand Ballroom at South Point, December 31, ticketmaster. com.
Presley Tennant at Stoney’s North Forty, December 31, stoneys northforty.com.
The Down South Jukers at the Composers Room, December 31, thecomposers room.com.
Imagine Dragons at Venetian Theatre at Venetian, December 31, ticketmaster.com.
(Eric Ray Davidson/Courtesy)
MORE!
LIL WAYNE AT DRAI’S
TIËSTO AT LIV
Capping off an incredible year for one of the Strip’s most celebrated nightlife figures, Tiësto will pace the party at LIV Nightclub for Fontainebleau’s second New Year’s Eve bash in Las Vegas. The 55-year-old Dutchman spent his year rocking an unprecedented multi-club residency here at LIV and Tao Group venues, so it only makes sense for him to close out 2024 in grand style. livnightclub.com
Nothing against Kendrick Lamar—who will perform at Allegiant Stadium next year—but it certainly would have made sense to have New Orleans native Lil Wayne headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show at the Caesars Superdome. Maybe the next best thing to that mega-gig could be New Year’s Eve on the Las Vegas Strip, kind of a second home for Weezy, who will be back at Drai’s to celebrate the arrival of 2025. draisgroup.com
Calvin Harris at LIV at Fontainebleau, December 29, livnightclub. com.
T-Pain at Zouk at Resorts World, December 31, zoukgrouplv. com.
Steve Aoki at Omnia at Caesars Palace, December 31, taogroup.com.
The Chainsmokers at XS at Wynn, December 31, wynnsocial.com.
DJ Pauly D at Hakkasan at MGM Grand, December 31, taogroup.com.
Tyga at Jewel at Aria, December 31, taogroup.com.
Eric Forbes at Ghostbar at Palms, December 31, palms.com.
O.T. Genasis at Tao at Venetian, December 31, taogroup.com.
Alesso at Marquee at Cosmopolitan, December 31, taogroup.com.
Dirty Disco with Doc Martin, Porky & more at Terrace Afterhours, December 31, terraceafterhours vegas.com.
JACKPOT FESTIVAL AT DOWNTOWN
LAS VEGAS EVENTS CENTER
RVLTN and the DLVEC team up for the third annual Jackpot on December 27 and 28, an 18-and-over dance party featuring sets from Rezz, Slander, Crankdat, A Hundred Drums, Alleycvt, Emorfik & Muerte, Space Laces and more. rvltnevents. com.
NYE TIME OF YOUR LIFE AT FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE
There’s a lot to be said for partying on the Fremont Street Experience, the official New Year’s Eve party of the City of Las Vegas. The neon scene, atmosphere and your fellow revelers should be more than enough to get you Downtown, but there’s also a diverse slate of live entertainment from Flo Rida, Locash, Bow Wow, Trick Daddy, Dylan Marlowe and more. vegasexperience.com.
NYE 2025 Masquerade at Area15, December 31, area15.com.
Cozy’s NYE Countdown to 2025 at Brooklyn Bowl, December 31, ticketmaster.com.
Reggae Fest New Year’s Eve All Black Affair at House of Blues, December 31, houseofblues.com.
Countdown in the Clouds at Legacy Club, December 31, circalasvegas.com.
The Great Gatsby Party at Voltaire, December 31, voltairelv.com.
2025 New Year’s Eve Celebration at Sahara, December 31, sahara lasvegas.com.
Party at the Top at the Strat, December 31, thestrat.com.
New Year’s Eve 2025 at Foundation Room, December 31, houseofblues.com.
Midnight in Munich at Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas, December 31, hofbrauhaus lasvegas.com.
(LFDC Studios/Courtesy)
(Courtesy)
Ignite The Spirit
Join us this holiday season as we bring the magic of Christmas to The Canyon! Stand beneath a majestic 24-foot tree at Eagle Point, perched on the edge of the canyon, and capture the ultimate holiday photo. Experience the spirit of the season as festive decorations sparkle throughout the Grand Canyon West. Come celebrate with us and create unforgettable memories with the holiday picture of a lifetime!
SCAN TO START YOUR CANYON ADVENTURE!
IN THE NEWS
“Having Lombardo permit the president to use (the) Nevada National Guard, it’s a danger. It basically brings the border to our community, and we’re not a border state. … It mostly is going to instill a whole lot of fear in people, more fear than there already is.” – Alissa Cooley, managing attorney at the UNLV Immigration Clinic, reacting to Gov. Joe Lombardo signing a letter with 25 other Republican governors endorsing President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration plan. Read more at lasvegassun.com
Hicks (13) shoots over Pacific forward Elias Ralph (2) on the way to a UNLV win during the Jack Jones Classic at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson on December 14. UNLV defeated Pacific 72-65. (Steve Marcus/ Sta )
BY THE NUMBERS
That’s how much new federal funding is going toward expanding access to distance learning and skills training for Nevadans living in rural areas, according to an announcement from U.S. Senator for Nevada Jacky Rosen. The funding will be used to equip sites to deliver associate and baccalaureate level instruction in career and technical education, health science, mathematics, science, business and computing, humanities and social sciences, fine arts and community education.
Dan Mullen (left), new head coach of the UNLV football program, shakes hands with Erick Harper, director of athletics, during a media conference at the Fertitta Football Complex practice fields on campus at UNLV on December 13. (Brian Ramos/Staff)
EDUCATION
NSU growing
New UNLV football coach Dan Mullen will earn $3.5 million per year for the next five years, making him the highest paid coach in school history in any sport, according to his contract provided by the university.
Mullen agreed to become UNLV’s head coach on December 12 and he was introduced at an on-campus rally on December 13. Mullen coached 13 years at Mississippi State and Florida and compiled a 103-61 record with 11 bowl appearances.
Mullen’s yearly salary is double what former coach Barry Odom earned at UNLV in 2024. Odom went 19-8 in two years before leaving for Purdue, where he will make $6.5 million per year.
As part of Odom’s contract, he and Purdue paid UNLV a buyout of $3 million, which afforded athletic director Erick Harper extra resources to go after Mullen.
“A couple of years ago, it would have been a pipe dream for UNLV to attract this young man,” Harper said. “I always thought if there is a chance, I’m going all in on this guy. And it worked.”
Mullen’s contract is structured to pay him $400,000 per year in base salary, plus an additional $3.1 million for “media and public appearances.”
Harper also took precautions to protect UNLV in case Mullen leaves for another job before his contract expires. If Mullen is hired away by a power-conference school before December 2025, he will owe UNLV $7 million. That buyout decreases by $1 million per year through the end of the contract. If Mullen were to leave for another non-power conference job, it would cost him $5 million for the first year and decrease by $1 million per year.
Mullen will receive a reten-
tion bonus of $100,000 if he is still at UNLV after the second year of his contract, and $200,000 after each of the third and fourth years.
As is standard, Mullen’s contract is also loaded with performance-based bonuses. He would receive $25,000 for leading UNLV to the Mountain West championship game, and another $50,000 for winning it. A Mountain West Coach of the Year award would bring him $25,000, while a bowl appearance would entitle him to $75,000. If Mullen were to take the Scarlet and Gray to the College Football Playoff, he would receive a bonus of $100,000.
Mullen is now the Mountain West’s highest paid coach, by a fair margin. Colorado State’s Jay Norvell makes $1.8 million per year, while San Diego State’s Sean Lewis makes $1.75 million. –Mike Grimala
Dan Mullen to be highest-paid coach in UNLV history New mental
Bridge Counseling, Southern Nevada’s first urban Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, is opening a new residential treatment facility on McLeod Drive offering inpatient care to individuals in need of mental health and addiction treatment. The expansion of the organization’s two other locations allows them to serve more clients, and includes a kitchen that will provide meals for residential clients and serve as a job training site for individuals in the Clark County Crisis Stabilization Program. Staff and officials will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 19. –Staff
Nevada State University is looking to triple its enrollment in the next 20 years, launching an initiative this fall to expand its Henderson campus with the development of about 450 acres into classrooms, student housing and sports complexes.
This fall, the Henderson institution had about 7,500 students. By 2047, the “SMART Growth Initiative” enhancement plan calls for accommodating 20,000 students.
The college has maintained over 7,000 students for the past four years, but after being permitted last year to change its name from Nevada State College to Nevada State University, officials believe it could gain around 5% more students in the five years following. That means it will outgrow its current space.
“Our land really is a blank canvas that we can build the future university on,” President DeRionne Pollard said of expanding on the current 60-acre layout.
With the plan’s adoption, the city has moved on to updating its comprehensive College Area Plan and any area zoning, convening a task force to help oversee the project, creating a new brand for the area and outlining a process for tracking the implementation of items within the plan.
Pollard additionally formed a board of trustees to help guide the campus’s development and ensure it aligns with the university’s academic mission and Nevada’s workforce development goals.
–Grace Da Rocha
THANK YOU TO OUR CUSTOMERS, CURRENT AND FUTURE.
As 2024 comes to a close, all of us at Föhse want to take a moment to thank you, our incredible customers for being the driving force behind our success. Whether you’re a grower, business owner, or innovator, your passion and trust have fueled our mission to deliver the most advanced LED lighting solutions on the market. Together, we’ve brightened countless spaces and cultivated stronger, more sustainable results. For that, we’re endlessly grateful.
This year has been one of innovation, growth, and connection, and it’s all thanks to your belief in what we do. From the glowing feedback you’ve shared to the partnerships we’ve strengthened, every milestone we’ve achieved has been a shared one. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to continue growing with you in the future—lighting the way to even greater success, together.
WAIT, WHAT HAPPENED?
SUPER BOWL ECONOMIC IMPACT TOUCHES DOWN
Prior to the 2024 Super Bowl, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) estimated the big game would have a total economic impact of $799 million. And that was the number we used in our story about the economic impact of colossal sporting events.
But according to a study done by local research rm Applied Analysis for the LVCVA, the actual total was closer to $1 billion. And the LVCVA reported net visitor spending of more than $600 million.
“In addition to selling out the 62,000 seats at Allegiant Stadium, more than 260,000 football fans who didn’t have a Super Bowl ticket traveled to Las Vegas simply because the game was held here,” CEO and president of the LVCVA Steve Hill said in a statement to the Weekly.
The game turned out to be the most-watched telecast in history, with more than 123 million viewers.
BRIGHTLINE WEST BREAKS GROUND
After lawmakers had been trying to make it a reality for 25 years, a high-speed rail project has nally broken ground in Southern Nevada. The all-electric 218-mile Brightline West rail to connect Las Vegas with Rancho Cucamonga (and with greater Los Angeles via Metrolink connections) put its rst shovels into the ground on April 22 this year. According to the company, the project is expected to be completed by 2028, in time for the Olympics in Los Angeles.
Las Vegas Weekly produced a feature story about Brightline West after the Nevada Department of Transportation received $3 billion for the project from the federal government back in December 2023.
After it broke ground in spring, the project received yet another $3 billion federal grant in September 2024, providing a signicant boost to the $12 billion project’s funding—the rest of which is expected to be raised through private investors.
“The Super Bowl and Las Vegas turned out to be a match made in sports heaven ... and Taylor Swift is welcome back anytime,” Hill said.
Hill said.
Revisiting the top 5 news stories from 2024
BY SHANNON MILLER
Other details to be worked out include the cost of tickets. Brightline founder Wes Edens told the Los Angeles Times that tickets to ride Brightline West could cost around $400. Brightline’s website says tickets will be priced “on par with the cost of gas and parking” you would otherwise spend driving your own car.
will cost driving your own car.
NEWS 2024
VEGAS BREAKS ITS HEAT
RECORD
We lived through the hottest day on record in Vegas. On July 7, the temperature reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Shortly after in the Weekly, we talked about how this wasn’t a coincidence—how climate change is the cause for climbing temperatures each year, as well as increased workplace safety complaints and even deaths.
During 2010-2016, the Clark County Coroner’s O ce recorded an annual average of 50 heat-related deaths. During 20172023, that average nearly quadrupled to 187. As of December 2, the Clark County Coroner’s O ce had recorded 491 heat-related deaths in 2024 alone.
AREA15 GETS A THEME PARK-SIZED EXPANSION
In May, the Weekly ran a cover story about Area15, calling it a “new kind of Vegas theme park,” although it’s not exactly a theme park. But after some developments this year, it very well could become one.
As for workplace safety complaints to Nevada’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the agency has seen a 177% increase in average annual heat-related complaints during 2020-2024 compared to the ve years prior.
pared to the ve years prior.
Fortunately, Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations in November led a heat illness regulation that is now in e ect. The regulation requires businesses with more than 10 employees to perform a one-time job hazard analysis to assess work conditions that could lead
Fortunately, Nevada’s businesses with more than
a one-time job hazard analysis to assess work conditions to heat illness.
NEVADA SWINGS RED
For the rst time in two decades, Nevada swung red in a presidential election. President-elect Donald Trump won the state by just over three percentage points in the 2024 general election. (In 2016 and 2020, he lost to the Democratic presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden by just under three percentage points.)
Trump didn’t prevail statewide—Clark and Washoe counties chose Kamala Harris—and Nevada’s three Democratic U.S. House Representatives retained their seats, as did Sen. Jacky Rosen.
Developer Fisher Brothers got approval from the City of Las Vegas in October for a 35.5-acre tourism improvement district, allowing them to utilize a portion of newly generated sales tax in the development to pay for infrastructure improvements like new water and sewer lines and parking garages.
In an interview the morning that presidential election results were released, UNLV associate professor of political science Dan Lee attributed the results to perceptions of the economy being top of mind for voters.
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 o ce space and 100,000 square feet of Universal Horror Unleashed—Universal’s rst-ever yearround horror experience slated to open in 2025.
“The main, fundamental thing when you’re trying to predict presidential elections is the economy,” Lee said. “At the end of the day, we had a sitting Democratic president [and] people perceived the economy to not be doing well, so they were going to vote for a Repub-
lican.”
JENNIFER HUDSON
December 21 & 22, 8 p.m., $65-$250. BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.
QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS
Jennifer Hudson wraps a holiday tour with two shows at Fontainebleau
(Courtesy/Greg Swales)
BY BROCK RADKE
In case you haven’t been participating in Christmas this year, you may have missed the fact that Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award-winning singer, actress and producer Jennifer Hudson has taken over. After releasing her first holiday album The Gift of Love, she’s performed at both the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center
“I’m a holiday fanatic,” Hudson tells the Weekly “It’s always been a dream of mine to do a holiday album and I’m glad I finally got to create it.”
Now she’s bringing her holiday spirit to the Las Vegas Strip, and you better watch out: “If you’re not one of those people who’s into the holidays, by the time I’m done, you will be.”
Since you’re a holiday fanatic, how difficult was it to choose the right songs for the album?
That’s what took the longest time, because every time that would come around, I’d get overwhelmed. It finally came down to which ones are personal to me. “The Christmas Song,” I grew up listening to my grandma playing that every Christmas. “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” every young girl in the church choir sang that. “Carol of the Bells” is what we sang in high school. Each song is a piece of me in some way.
Are you able to maintain your own holiday traditions this year between all these big shows and events?
I’ll be home in time for Christmas. We’ve been working all year long and we’re getting closer and clos-
er, but we’ll make it. As long as we can bring the family together, that’s the most important thing, and that’s tradition enough for me. We just get to do it on a bigger scale this year.
You’ve had Mariah Carey as a guest on your talk show, and she used to do Christmas concerts every year at Caesars Palace when she had a residency there. I always wondered why there weren’t more Las Vegas holiday shows like that one because it’s such a festive place already. Is an annual holiday show in Vegas something you’d be open to?
I think you just gave me a new dream. I didn’t think of that. That’s a great idea. I like it.
How are things with your talk show? Are you enjoying the evolution of that project? And has working in TV had some sort of impact on the way you put together your live performances? Oh yes, everything. I’m like a sponge, I just absorb it and it comes out in some form. It’s all storytelling, putting things together conceptually, and it’s been teaching me all about those elements. Even when recording songs on an album, putting that sequence together, thinking about the context of why am I singing this, it’s helping me see things in a more well-rounded way. Every time I come out [on the TV show] it’s like, am I dreaming? Is this real? It still feels very surreal in a lot of ways. But the biggest difference is I finally get to sit on the couch. [Laughs.] In my normal work, I don’t get to sit on the couch and talk, and I love talking. If I’m not singing, I’m talking.
Our favorite music, art, performance, drinks and culture stu from the fairly fabulous year of 2024
Brock Radke
Managing Editor
Concert: Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, February 11 at Allegiant Stadium No, I did not witness this event in person, but you didn’t need to be in the stands at Allegiant to recognize that all-around elite entertainer Usher, on the heels of his groundbreaking R&B residency shows at Caesars Palace and Park MGM, was the perfect choice to spice up the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas. In sports bars and living rooms across the country, a large population of
women (and men) who don’t normally watch the big game—and may have tuned in mainly to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift—screamed like adolescents when Usher took o both his shirts
during “U Got It Bad.” When’s the last time the halftime show elicited that response?
Song: “Die With a Smile” by Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga We refuse to believe this perfectly calibrated, Grammy-nominated pop anthem with rocket-powered harmonies was not born out of the fact that both Bruno and Gaga have been Dolby Live resident headliners for years. And we keep rewatching the YouTube video of the duo’s unannounced August performance of the song at their Strip home, both to reinforce the Vegasness of
“Die With a Smile” and because we’re working on it for karaoke.
Sports event: A’ja Wilson’s MVP The Las Vegas Aces may have fallen short of an historic three-
peat this year, but nothing could take away from Wilson’s once-ina-lifetime season that saw the superstar break all kinds of statistical records and win an Olympic gold medal. Grabbing the WNBA MVP award that should have been hers last season was the icing on the cake.
Shannon Miller
Editor
Strip show:
Lady Gaga: Jazz & Piano
One of the highlights of my year was watching Lady Gaga sing “Fly Me to the Moon” sans mic. Her voice filled the 6,400-
seat Dolby Live theater, captivating each and every one of us. What also made that show so special was that it was the last scheduled installment of the pop star’s Jazz & Piano show after it had been running for five years. Shortly after the finale, rumors spread that Gaga might move into the Sphere next time. One way or another, let’s hope she gambles on Vegas again.
Concert: Missy Elliott, July 13 at T-Mobile Arena
Missy Elliott’s first (you heard it—FIRST) headlining tour, Out of This World, hit
Usher by Wade Vandervort; A’ja Wilson by John Locher/AP
Photo.
the Strip this year and although we kind of knew what to expect from the hip-hop legend, nothing could have prepared us for what we witnessed.
Openers Timbaland, Busta Rhymes and Ciara would have been enough on their own, but when Misdemeanor took the stage, she transported fans to the far reaches of her galaxy. From “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” to “Lose Control,” we got to live out the music and choreography in Missy’s universe, if only for one night.
loss and of being older, and feelings of failure. … But we approached it with a sense of playfulness … using melody and humor in the album to make it not just dark, but also light,” Tucker told the Weekly before the band’s Brooklyn Bowl show. While anyone else might have folded under the weight of such a tragedy, Sleater-Kinney followed up the album with a raw and electric live performance. I’m still swooning over Brownstein’s guitar solo during “Jumpers.”
Theater production:
Cluelesque
Cocktail: Espresso Martini at Las Vegas Distillery
The drinks at Las Vegas Distillery are stiff, and the competition for which one you should drink is stiffer. But in our estimation, the espresso martini rises to the top. The star of the show, the coffee liqueur, is crafted from LVD’s white rum and features anaerobic-processed coffee beans roasted and cold-brewed by Henderson’s Dark Moon Coffee Roasters. It’s enhanced with Belizean cacao, Mexican vanilla and unrefined Louisiana cane sugar—but not too much. Throw in some LVD vodka and espresso, and you have a perfectly balanced after-dinner drink.
came in, another neighborhood spot to enjoy the traditional flavors Las Vegas has come to love— and more square footage in which to relax and enjoy Li’s famous xiao long bao steamed dumplings.
Amber Sampson Staff Writer
Concert: Julia Jacklin, April 18 at the Beverly Theater
with Jacklin, who, between songs, shared anecdotes from her trips to Vegas. Towards the end, she invited fans out of their seats for her final songs. And we’d gladly welcome her back.
Concert: Nas with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, August 29 at Encore Theater
Strip show: Colin Cloud: Mastermind
Concert: Sleater-Kinney, February 29 at Brooklyn Bowl
As Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein, better known as Sleater-Kinney, were cutting their album Little Rope, Brownstein’s mother and stepfather died in a car crash. “There’s a lot of themes of
In the board game Clue, players shed clues as to who the killer is. And in burlesque, dancers shed clothes. Combine the two, and what do you get? A naughty murder-mystery striptease where the performers were just as in the dark as the audience when it comes to the identity of the murderer. Cluelesque creator Simone Skold wrote different endings for different performances. After launching in January, the production returned in May, and we’re hoping Vegas Theatre Company resurrects it again.
Neighborhood restaurant: Shanghai Taste Southwest
Chef Jimmy Li has earned the respect of the local community and the James Beard Awards, which nominated him as a semifinalist in 2023 and 2024. His restaurant Shanghai Taste, originally opened in 2019 in the bustling Shanghai Plaza, is a hot spot for Chinese customers, locals and tourists—so hot that it outgrew its kitchen and needed a second location. That’s where Shanghai Taste Southwest
I knew I loved this Aussie from the moment she took the stage— and forgot her guitar. We were treated to a private and personable evening with Julia Jacklin, who could’ve launched a mini residency anywhere. The fact that she picked a spot as locally loved as the Bev—and with opening act Shamir—speaks to her dedication of doing Vegas right. The night felt every bit like a fireside chat
The live symphony honored every syllable of this masterful performance of Illmatic, magnifying Nas’ memoir of the projects with woodwinds and whisking violins. Meanwhile, the rapper muscled through his tongue-twisting catalog with stamina only a legend of his magnitude could muster.
Album:
The Life I Stole by Lennon Roach
This Southern rocker blew in from Alabama a few years ago, fitting in almost instantly with the local music scene. Roach, who dedicated 20 years of his life to the military, vowed to create an album chronicling that experience and its struggles. The Life I Stole is the pinnacle of that. Recorded at the beloved Sonic Rodeo, it serves as a swan song of Roach’s former life, twanging with sharp licks and his distinctive vocal power.
Living up to his reputation as the “closest thing to a real-life Sherlock Holmes,” Colin Cloud casually blew a few dozen minds at his debut Strip show at Harrah’s. The master mentalist is a keen room reader, able to decipher body language and unlock the very mysteries of your mind if given the opportunity.
Nightlife event: The opening of Bruno Mars’ Pinky Ring at Bellagio I can’t be the only one who experienced a little “24K Magic” at Mars’ new cocktail lounge. Pinky Ring’s no cellphone policy gave me a taste of what Las Vegas lounges used to be like. It’s amazing what can happen when a roomful of people aren’t concerned with trying to film the perfect reel. We drank, we
LOOKING BACK AT IT
danced, we talked, and Mars’ touring band, the Hooligans, also made living in the moment quite easy.
Nightlife event:
The opening of Las Vegas’ first non-tribal cannabis lounges
Now that the smoke has cleared, I can confidently say adding Thrive’s Smoke & Mirrors and Planet 13’s Dazed to our rotation has been wonderful. As younger generations drink less and smoke more, these lounges have opened new avenues of nightlife. Mixologists have gotten more creative with THC-infused mocktails and different forms of live entertainment have found new homes—and we’ve got high hopes for the future.
Strip show: Belle De Nuit
at Caesars Palace. The Killers locked in their legacy with this one.
Geoff
Carter Senior Editor
Concert:
Jungle and LCD Soundsystem, September 27-28 at Life Is Beautiful’s Big Beautiful Block Party
The Block Party was a hot ticket—literally; the Plaza’s outdoor events center was broiling. But that didn’t stop these two superpowered dance bands, playing back-toback, from igniting a disco inferno. We danced until we got lightheaded, caught a breath and resumed.
Art exhibit: Poets and Saints Maybe by Shan Michael Evans
Shan’s crisp, colorful graphic style, usually seen at mural size, translated beautifully to tiny wooden blocks. I bought a few of them, which I intend to use to begin building a more vivid, more caring world.
Art exhibit: Contemporary Ex-votos: Devotion Beyond Medium
times, the dancing queens, the everlasting night fever— and packs it into a high-tech box that bursts with energetic performance and visual dazzle. And the NYC-inspired diner next door ain’t half-bad, either.
New York’s Studio 54 experienced a glorious rebirth with this glittering production at Venetian. Belle De Nuit checked all the boxes of cinematic, disco-dotted fashion burlesque as dancers pranced the catwalk of Voltaire in couture that would make Grace Jones gasp.
Cultural event: The Killers residency
The Killers have been on the run for some time, playing sold-out arena tours around the world. But this August, our hometown heroes finally came home to the Colosseum
Neighborhood restaurant: Summer House From the moment you walk in, Summer House places you on an extended vacation. The room itself gorgeously amplifies that feeling with natural beams of sunlight and its coastal California cuisine drives it home.
Dish: Fat Banh Mi-Ki at Fat Sal’s Fat Sal’s magnum opus of sandos is as complex as they come. A spin on a traditional banh-mi, the Fat Banh Mi-Ki packs on Szechuan slaw, Vietnamese pickled veggies and thinly sliced ribeye, with the added bonus of mozzarella sticks. It’s spicy, it’s tangy, it’s extra. Most of all, it’s addictive.
Concert: Hans Zimmer, September 29 at Resorts World Theatre
The Oscar-winning composer of The Lion King, Dune, Inception and more performed his matchless film music with the help of a group of virtuoso musicians the size of a small town. We were pinned to our seats by the spectacular sight of their sound.
Nightlife event: London Elektricity at Discopussy Rat-a-tat-a-tata-tat. Foundational drum-and-bass talent Tony Colman paid a rare visit to Vegas, and Discopussy was the perfect spot for his lightning-speed soul music. If I didn’t picture lasers and a glowing octopus when I listened to London Elektricity before, I sure do now.
This show of devotional art was sugar for the eyes and music for the soul. Put another way: When artworks by Justin Favela, Dan45 Hernandez, Daisy Quezada Ureña, Krystal Ramirez, Xochi Solis and more are hanging in the same room, be in that room.
Strip show: DiscoShow Spiegelworld’s newest production takes the entire disco era—the good
Downtown show: Miss Behave’s Mavericks Amy Saunders’ “flirty, filthy and fabulous” variety show moved from Cheapshot to the Plaza’s vintage Vegas showroom and immediately became this town’s absolute must-see … again. And there’s killer discounts for locals, so you’ve no good excuse not to see it. Go tonight.
Cultural event: The destruction of the Mirage volcano
In our hearts, the volcano is still there, still spewing tall flames and coconut scent on the hour. It was … no, no, we’re still not ready to talk about it. This one cut deep.
Cultural event: John Waters at the Las Vegas Book Festival
Ostensibly, the director of Pink Flamingos and Hairspray came to Vegas to chat up his novel Liarmouth, but he mostly talked about smut, obscenity and self-indulgence— and how much we need them, especially now. It was glorious.
Neighborhood restaurant: Amari Italian Kitchen & Wine Shop
Went there for the fresh-baked focaccia, panseared branzino and crispy eggplant pizza, but stayed for the amaro. Might actually move in just to be close to that wall of Italian liqueur.
Neighborhood restaurant: The new location of Esther’s Kitchen
The packed Arts District favorite moved into a larger space while keeping its intimacy and charm ... and, most importantly, that overachieving kitchen and bar.
(Sleater-Kinney by Chris Hornbecker, Julia Jacklin by Ian Racoma; Colin Cloud and Summer House by Christopher DeVargas; Contemporary Ex-Votos by Marcus Chormicle/Courtesy; Esther’s Kitchen by Wade Vandervort)
LOOKING BACK AT IT
Cocktail: Higher Ground at Smoke & Mirrors
This green tea elixir—Sobreo matcha, agave nectar, green tea, jasmine lemon wedges, rosemary sprigs and ginger beer— is splendid even without a 2.5 to 5 milligram cannabis infusion, and more so with it.
Corlene Byrd Art Director
Cultural event: The Super Bowl takeover
We’ve seen big statues before
and we’ve seen footballs before. Why was this so exciting? Colorful signs sprawling across the pedestrian bridges, the Bellagio fountain transforming into the CBS Sports broadcast stage, and the sides of the Strat and Caesars Palace lit up with projection-mapped motion imagery ... I mean, really, they could be showing movies on those things every day. What’s stopping us? Get some popcorn and food trucks, and let’s do this more often.
Concert: Tears for Fears, October 30 at BleauLive Theater
I can’t be the only one that feels a specific sense of comfort and relief when the legends keep legending. The visuals were like eye candy coming out of a giant eyeball pouring straight into this mad world. With their latest albums Songs For a Nervous Planet and The Tipping Point, Tears for Fears not only still hit the right nerve with gorgeous memorable hooks, but it’s confirmed—I’m still head over heels for these guys and I will continue to sow the seeds of my love for them. Take that, bucket list.
Cultural event: Goodbye to Mirage & Tropicana
We lost two paradises this year, the only time we can really say it plural. Did we really need to get rid of the Mirage landscape? Was that necessary? How did the repurpose and recycle craze not apply here? Did anyone even start a petition? I realize we have several hotels and resorts that are giving Brady Bunch Hawaiian vacation, but Mirage really felt like a paradise oracle, and we really shouldn’t be messing with oracles. It could be bad luck. Tropicana was a bit more Gilligan’s Island-core, so as much as I’ll miss it, I have faith that the skippers, millionaires, movie stars and professors will resurface.
Gabriela Rodriguez Staff Writer
Song:
“Pain Elemental” by Khasm
“Pain Elemental” is a savage, gut-punching anthem from Khasm’s Theater of War—a blistering mix of sludge, hardcore and spiteful energy that proves why this local band’s unrelenting grind has earned its fandom.
Concert: Los Bukis, May 8 at Dolby Live
Los Bukis’ residency felt like a personal revelation. The first all Spanish-speaking residency on the Strip resonated deep in my bones and connected generations of families in the crowd. Watching these legends perform the songs that shaped my childhood cracked me open and left my mom teary eyed. It was decades of history playing out in real time.
Band: Post NC
Post NC has had a breakout year, from dropping a killer EP to touring everywhere—Japan, San Antonio, Chicago and beyond. They’ve really locked in as a serious band no matter how meme-forward their social media suggests. They continue to blend improv jazz, math rock and lo-fi chaos into their signature “nutcore” sound. From the first time I saw them at Huntridge Tavern last year to their Swan Dive gig last month, I’ve always left their sets mindblown.
Concert: Best Friends Forever Fest, October 11-13 at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center
At Best Friends Forever, a very specific ear was treated to a time capsule. The lineup, a blend of mid-’90s emo royalty—Cap’n Jazz, Sunny Day Real Estate, Braid— brought back the angst-filled adolescent despair we all thought was lost. Unwound and The Blood Brothers ruled the main stage while fresh-faced bands like Pool Kids and Sweet Pill proved the genre’s heartbeat hasn’t died.
Album: Niteswimmer by Qnc Dayz
Qnc Dayz rolls deep with Alchemist-esque samples, layering rich
dusty beats under his smooth, soulful flow. This six-track jammer feels like digging through crates and finding a treasure chest of laid-back wisdom and raw, timeless funk—a refreshing escape.
Nightlife event: 2x4 Vinyl Nights at Hard Hat Lounge
Burgers, beers, records. What more does one need to fulfill a Friday night outing? Started by record lovers Dalton Campbell and Christian Torres, 2x4 Vinyl Nights held every First Friday features a rotating lineup of local DJs spinning deep cuts on four decks, all homie-curated. It’s the perfect mix of music, drinks and community.
Nightlife event: GrapHouse Wrestling
GrapHouse is noholds-barred, pure, unfiltered mayhem. Fans crowd ring-
side, dodging flying props, shouting praise for their favorite sweaty wrestler and stepping out of the way as the talent brings the match outside of the ring. It’s glorious, gritty, unpredictable fun.
Cultural event: Substance opens in Downtown Las Vegas Neonopolis is a smorgasbord of nightlife destinations but Substance takes the cake as this year’s premier spot for RVLTN’s electro gigs and Altura’s Latin night parties. If you’re looking for a new place to hang and dance Downtown, go here.
Theater production: Abandon
This was my first introduction to local theater and just, wow. The kinky horror production from
Vegas Theatre Company tells the tales of the Marquis de Sade through quick vignettes, and even with a lack of dialogue, the performance fully shook me to my core with a display of psychological terror and bloody acts.
Dish: Fish and chips at the Codfather
If you’re craving golden, crispy goodness, look no further than the Codfather. What began as a hole-in-the-wall chippy expanded to a larger eatery this year, but the quality of the fish and chips remains as stellar and fresh as ever.
Theater production: Back to the Future: The Musical
The Back to the Future musical at Reynolds Hall was a time-traveling treat for anyone who grew up with the
iconic film. With catchy songs, a visually stunning stage setup and spot-on character quirks, this adaptation delivered a heavy dose of nostalgia.
Cultural event: 20th annual Dam Short Film Fest
Boulder City’s Dam Short Film Fest continues to be a designated cultural hub for cinephiles and casual movie watchers. The thematic program showed nearly 150 short films with genres ranging from horror to comedy to documentary, and even after all that, we still wanted more.
Dish:
Meatballs at Esther’s Kitchen
These standout, succulent beef and pork meatballs are laid on a bed of basil ricotta and served with two pieces of charred house-made sourdough. Simple perfection.
Ian Racoma
Senior Designer
Art Exhibit: Scripted Spaces by Eri King
Eri King introduced me to the concept of endurance art, an act in which the artist spends hundreds of hours on methodical work. In Scripted Spaces at ASAP Gallery, King painstakingly paints dizzying
patterns inspired by casino carpets, playing cards flowing in unison (as if you had just beaten solitaire on Windows 95) and Roman architecture and statues. The limited palette between the works unifies the pieces, yet the puzzling patterns disorient the viewer and cause us to wander aimlessly in the gallery—the same optical manipulation casinos use to keep guests on property. King demonstrates a deeper visual understanding of Las Vegas and has made work that elevates the mostly overlooked, ignored and stepped on, yet subconsciously persistent, element in the casinos of this city.
Cultural Event: 100% totality solar eclipse
The term “eclipse chaser” refers to the idea that a person becomes so enamored, so awestruck after viewing an eclipse the first time, they will do everything in their
power to see it again. This year’s eclipse—which crossed from Mazatlán on April 8 through Austin and Dallas, Texas, ending a little past Burlington, Vermont—will be the last one to conveniently hit Central or North America for at least 20 years. With a small group of friends, I started planning a year and a half in advance to see it. We spent months deliberating on a location that would give us the best chance to see it without clouds blocking the view. We decided on Mexico, because even if there were clouds, at least we would be on the beach. The feelings of insignificance and nothingness wash over you when you see this cosmic event; you really see your place in the universe. Yet it is not hopelessness that you succumb to, rather feelings of gratitude that you have been blessed to be born on this planet and surrounded by people that feel you are important enough to share this experience with. Immediately after it was over, a first timer in our group shouted “Let’s go to the next one!” and a new eclipse chaser was born.
Higher Ground and Super Bowl signage by Brian Ramos; Los Bukis by Eduardo Cardoza/Courtesy; Mirage and QNC Days, and Substance by Wade Vandervort; Codfather by Christopher DeVargas; Eri King/Courtesy.
WADE VANDERVORT
2
3 Breakdancer Ronnie Abaldonado, who was a commentator for the 2024 Olympics, poses for a photo.
1 Local musician Jarred Cooper (from Mercy Music) and his baby Lydia.
Tyler Coon as Sir Venceslav Nalovac, left, does battle with Nicholas Curto as Duke Sir Victor Romonov at Sunset Park. The characters are part of the Aragon Empire, a guild at the annual Age of Chivalry festival.
1 Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov (35) is slow to get up from the ice after a goal by the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 25. 2 The Tropicana’s Paradise Tower begins to fall as the hotel is imploded on October 9. The casino was leveled to make space for a baseball stadium for the Athletics and a new Bally’s resort. 3 Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) defends against Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) during the second half of an WNBA basketball game at Michelob Ultra Arena on June 21.
1 Susan Canaday
one of
nor adjustment.
2 The Matachines de Ciudad Juárez, also known as Danza del Carrizo, honor and preserve their culture through dance. 3 Enzo Cinquegrana, blacksmith, works in his shop at LV Iron & Steel. 4 Local musician Mike Esquilin performs on a pedestrian bridge over Las Vegas Boulevard near Park MGM.
Henry reaches into
her miniature creations, a Parisian café, to make a mi-
BRIAN RAMOS
1 George Russell, driver for Mercedes, takes the first place podium at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. 2 United Airlines employees demonstrated nationwide and at Harry Reid International Airport as they announced a strike authorization on August 28. 3 Fernando Alonso, driver for Aston Martin, pinches the cheeks of Max Verstappen, driver for Red Bull, after Verstappen’s fourth consecutive world championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 23.
New Year’s Eve and Las Vegas are an iconic pairing, a combination of neon lights and new beginnings. The Las Vegas Strip is known for its boisterous end-of-year celebrations, entertainment offerings and all-night revelry. This New Year’s Eve, celebrate the start of 2025—the quarter-century—at Resorts World, where propertywide offerings are available so patrons can start the new year the right way.
RESORTS WORLD THEATRE
Resorts World Theatre boasts only the biggest names year-round, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Janet Jackson will launch her all-new Las Vegas residency by headlining the 5,000-seat venue from 8 to 10 p.m. Dec. 30 and Dec. 31. JANET JACKSON: LAS VEGAS, presented by AEG Presents, will run for eight additional performances in the new year, including Valentine’s Day. Purchase tickets on the Resorts World website. VIP packages offer exclusive seating, entry, food and beverage, and souvenirs.
ZOUK NIGHTCLUB
Whoever said you can’t celebrate the New Year before the last day of the year? Get the party started early at Zouk Nightclub, which will kick off its New Year’s Eve celebrations Dec. 27.
DUKE DUMONT
English DJ Duke Dumont, known for hits like “Need U” and “Won’t Look Back,” will get the party going at Zouk in the week leading up to New Year’s Eve.
JANET JACKSON
Jackson, known for hits like “That’s The Way Love Goes” and “Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” is a five-time Grammy Awardwinning singer-songwriter.
All performances run from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tickets can be purchased on the Resorts World website, including a NYE All Access Pass that allows fans entry to each event.
CLOSE THE NIGHT AT THE CASINO
Celebrate the New Year to the tune of Kool & The Gang at this groovy, vibrant and funky celebration at the Resorts World casino. The exclusive event will start Dec. 31 at 10 p.m. and is open to only 500 invited guests. Attendees must be 21 years of age.
ILLENIUM
With millions of monthly listeners on Spotify, Illenium is an increasingly household name and sure to bring fan-favorite songs to Zouk.
WINING, DINING AND RECLINING
Entertainment isn’t all Resorts World has to offer partygoers this New Year’s Eve. Start 2025 with celebrations at the hotel and casino’s array of world-class restaurants and bars. Enjoy divinely made seafood at AQUA or have your choice of steaks at Carversteak. Both restaurants, as well as Bar Zazu, Brezza and Crossroads, will open at 5 p.m. and remain so until well into the night and new year.
For those who want to get a head start, Eight Cigar Lounge, Gatsby’s Cocktail Lounge and Genting Palace will be open all day Dec. 30 and Dec. 31. Each food and beverage venue offers a uniquely luxurious and tasteful experience.
Finally, if you prefer rest and relaxation to revelry or raves, take advantage of New Year’s Eve offerings at Miss Behave or AWANA Spa. The former can pamper guests for the night of celebration ahead as they sip on specialty cocktails, while the latter promises a peaceful spa treatment. Both facilities will be open all day Dec. 30 and 31.
MEDUZA & JAMES HYPE PRESENT OUR HOUSE
The “eve” of New Year’s Eve promises entertainment like no other from these two house artists from Italy and the United Kingdom, respectively.
T-PAIN
Grammy Award-winning artist T-Pain will play not once but twice at Zouk to celebrate the new year, starting Saturday and closing with 2024 on New Year’s Eve.
BY JIM BEGLEY * PHOTOS BY WADE VANDERVORT
Bramàre
bramare.com
In a Strip-vibe space nestled into the Collective—the burgeoning, culinary-centric strip mall on Paradise Road—Bramàre combines familiar-yet-fanciful Italian classics with a cutting-edge cocktail program. Executive chef Joe Valdez impresses with arguably the Valley’s best Caesar salad, grilled broccolini better than any vegetable should be, and a funky, meaty 28-day dry-aged Flannery steak worth sharing, while Constantin Alexander’s libations rank among the most creative in town.
Endo Las Vegas
instagram.com/endo.lasvegas
Mitsuo Endo’s groundbreaking Aburiya Raku heralded Vegas’ stellar Japanese dining scene. Now, mere steps away, he’s opened his eponymous Endo Las Vegas, a postage stamp-sized theater where he personally hosts a half-dozen guests twice nightly. It’s a tough seat to score and comes at a steep tariff. But if you get a Golden Ticket, you’ll be rewarded with the most exquisite and rarefied experience to arrive in Vegas in recent memory with a multi-time James Beard nominee personally preparing dinner with specifically sourced ingredients directly from Japan. This is special-occasion dining at its finest.
LA CASA DE JULIETTE
Esther’s Kitchen
estherslv.com
OK, so this isn’t really a “new” restaurant as much as it is a relocation and expansion of a Downtown stalwart. But the more spacious setting, just around the corner from the original, gives James Trees and his crew the opportunity to both expand the menu and welcome in more diners—not that any of this has changed his stance on offering Esther’s best dish, the citrusy black garlic radiatore, outside of lunch and brunch. My life hack? Order one to eat-in and another to go.
Bazaar Mar
thebazaar.com
Bazaar Mar, José Andrés’ latest Strip effort in the old Wolfgang Puck space at the Shops at Crystals, is a complement to his majestic, meat-centric Bazaar Meat. It’s a bit of a Mediterranean seafood market where the daily fresh catch is displayed on ice and offered in a variety of preparations. But in typical Andrés fashion, seemingly simple fare isn’t what it seems. The Anchoas Don Bocarte, anchovy with smoked butter on bread, doesn’t sound eventful, but might very well be the city’s best bite of the moment.
Cin-Cin Brewhouse & Seafood Bar
cincinbrewerylv.com
While brewery food tends to be better-than-average fare, rarely does it veer from pub favorites. Enter downtown’s Cin-Cin Brewhouse, where sashimi is served seamlessly alongside stouts. Cin-Cin tends to incorporate Asian ingredients into their brews, complementing the seafood-centric selection. Meaty seasoned cabbage is an addictive epiphany, while drunken oysters are perfectly apropos in a brewery. This a true hidden treasure.
Kyu
kyurestaurants.com
Fontainebleau’s late 2023 opening delivered a strong culinary lineup to the Strip. Of the bunch, the most interesting is Kyu, the Asian barbecue/woodfired concept. Ranging from Thai pot rice rife with crispy nurungji, addictive Krunchy Kale, and broiled king crab legs, the menu delivers fun food in a festive setting conducive to large groups. It’s a local’s excuse to traipse the Strip.
La Casa de Juliette
lacasadejuliette.com
This is the restaurant no one knew they needed. The Sand Dollar Lounge team has opened a go-to destination in a part of the Valley (Centennial Hills) devoid of one, while executive chef Eduardo “Lalo” Saavedra remains true to his roots, delivering accessible-yet-elevated Mexican fare. He’s making a killer vampiro and frankly deserves recognition alone for masterminding crab chorizo, a dish that must be tasted to be believed.
Liquid Diet
instagram.com/liquid.diet.dtlv I’m cheating with this one because it opened in late 2023 and it’s not a restaurant but rather a cocktail bar. However, given the culinary focus on its cocktails—and my pure fascination with the place—I’m sure you can forgive me. I assure you that once you’ve downed a horseradish shot, served with a tomato water back, you’ll never doubt me again.
BRAMÀRE
ESTHER’S KITCHEN
LIQUID DIET
BY CASE KEEFER
USC nishing its season in the Las Vegas Bowl makes for a full-circle moment in more ways than one.
The Trojans will be playing at Allegiant Stadium for the second time this year when they face the Texas A&M Aggies in the 2024 edition of the annual game on December 27. They started the season in the same building by knocking o another SEC opponent, LSU, 27-20 in the Vegas Kicko Classic.
But that was with quarterback Miller Moss, who was later benched and entered the transfer portal.
season-ending loss to Notre Dame.
“Obviously you can’t turn the ball over in these big moments and let the team down, especially the seniors, but I’m grateful for the opportunity that coach gave me. I’m looking forward to moving forward.”
Forward momentum is what should make USC vs. Texas A&M one of the best matchups of bowl season.
Bowl games have taken another hit in terms of prestige this season with the advent of the new 12-team College Football Playo , but matchups pairing the sport’s two new super conferences (the Big Ten and SEC) will be prime attractions.
This year’s Las Vegas Bowl brings one of the best non-playo matchups of college football’s postseason
Liberty High grad and former UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava has since taken over and will make his fourth start in cardinal and gold, and rst at Allegiant since the 2023 Mountain West Conference Championship Game, against Texas A&M.
“There’s a lot to learn from within these past three games that I’ve played,” Maiava said at a news conference after a 49-35 regular
The showdown between the Trojans and Aggies is the rst of four such games.
Few programs in college football are more committed from a resources standpoint than USC and Texas A&M, with both teams eyeing the expanded playo in the years to come.
The Trojans were eliminated from contention early this season as the victory over LSU proved the high
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, left, tries to get past Nebraska defensive back Ceyair Wright during a game on November 16 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
point of an otherwise forgettable 6-6 campaign. Texas A&M didn’t nish all that much better at 8-4, but were alive with a chance to reach the SEC Championship Game and earn an automatic playo bid until a 17-7 loss to rival Texas in the nal week of the regular season.
“Anyone who knows the inside of this program knows and is condent in the direction this is headed,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we had an opportunity to do something really special this year and we couldn’t close on it. So that will haunt me, that will haunt us, that will haunt the players. We had chances and we didn’t get it done. Unfortunately, that’s part of football and that’s part of life, but it doesn’t make it any easier and it doesn’t make it acceptable.”
USC might have the bigger names in the transfer portal between Moss, receiver Kyron Hudson (who had one of the catches of the year
against LSU at Allegiant) and defensive tackle Bear Alexander (who left the team midseason) but Texas A&M has been a ected too.
Connor Weigman, the Aggies’ original starting quarterback before being benched for Marcel Reed, and former top 100 recruit defensive lineman Mack Sylla headline Texas A&M’s list of outgoing players.
There’s been talk of both programs targeting top-tier portal talent of their own, including at quarterback, but for now it appears Reed and Maiava will have the rst crack at next year’s roles. They’re both electric, as they’re as proven on the ground as runners as they are as passers.
“Especially the way (Maiava played against Notre Dame), that was the best we’ve played o ensively all year,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “That’s a really good defense that we did some pretty good things against, so I thought he stepped up and played some
really good ball. I was impressed in how he handled the whole way and how he handled our team in terms of being a leader and being a steadying presence. That’s what that position asks you to do, and I thought he answered the call.”
There’s been speculation about whether Riley will remain at USC after having so far failed to live up to the expectations of a 10-year, $110 million contract he signed three years ago.
The Trojans’ high mark under Riley to this point might have been reaching the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game at Allegiant where the team could have claimed a spot in the old, fourteam College Football Playo . But Utah crushed USC 47-24, and it’s been all downhill for the program since then.
Meanwhile, Elko has gotten mostly positive reviews after his rst regular season on a relatively modest six-year, $42 million deal. But he took falling short of the
playo hard, saying, “It sucks and there’s no sugarcoating it. There’s no soft words around it. We had our opportunities and we didn’t get it done.”
The Las Vegas Bowl will have to su ce as a consolation. Riley said the focus of bowl week will be developing the younger parts of his roster, which is surely similar to Elko’s mindset.
Maybe those younger players will stick around and deliver one or both of these programs to the top of the sport where they ultimately envision themselves belonging.
“There are times we could have played better, sure,” Riley said. “There are times we could have coached better. Did we miss some opportunities? Yes, we did, but we laid it on the line every single week and my message to the guys was, ‘You continue to do that in your life, you continue to do that in this football program, the things you want will come.’”
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed rolls out to pass against Auburn on November
(AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
In 2025, Goodwill of Southern Nevada celebrates five decades of service to our state’s four southernmost counties.
We thank the donors who trust us to be good stewards of their generosity.
Shoppers whose patronage supports our nonprofit social enterprise.
Partners and funders that are essential to our programs of service.
Career and job seekers, individuals living with disabilities, and others who rely on us to help them achieve their full potential.
And our team members, who make a difference every day.
We owe this milestone to our region’s strength, vibrance, and ingenuity, which have illuminated our way for fifty years.
Thank you. It is a privilege to work for our community.
We focus on being real, being approachable to our guests, consistent in the offerings we have. And we know that we’re the tallest observation tower in the U.S., so we know there’s a lot of eyes that come to this property.”
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER
VEGAS INC STAFF
Golden Entertainment earlier this year named Skylar Dice senior vice president and general manager for the Strat.
He previously served as vice president and assistant general manager at the property.
Vegas Inc sat down with Dice, who has more than two decades of experience in the gaming industry, to learn more about his plans and what visitors to the longtime Strip staple can expect.
What are you excited about in this new role at the Strat?
I’m going to be focusing on improving the overall service of the property. That’s what we’re looking forward to this coming year, is having a consistent identity with the service. That’s something that’s important for the property. And a lot of it just speaks to who we are as a property and who Golden Entertainment is as a company. We focus on being real, being approachable to our guests, consistent in the offerings we have. And we know that we’re the tallest observation tower in the U.S., so we know there’s a lot of eyes that come to this property. We want to give them a great experience once they get here.
Q+A: SKYLAR DICE
Focus on customer service gives the Strat opportunity to capitalize on Las Vegas’ unique tourism offerings
There have been some extensive changes to the Strat over the past couple of years. Can you talk about what you think sets it apart?
One of my favorite things to do is to have someone who has not been to this property for quite some time, meeting them at the front entrance and walking them through the property, and just seeing the look on their face, because they don’t expect what they come in and see, with the renovations that we’ve done to the casino floor, the new restaurants that we’ve added—that’s exciting to see.
We’ve got great team members who have been here for many years, and they’re really bought into the service culture that we’re putting in place here. There are new shows that we have on property as well. We’ve got Rouge for our late show, Iluminate, and Terry Fator joined the property for his show earlier this year. There’s a lot of things to be excited about here.
There’s been a lot of changes on the Strip in the past few years. With the landscape evolving, how do resorts have to respond?
When I came on property, (we were) just coming out of the pandemic. So just to see the evolution, it’s been incredible. And yeah, having Resorts World (and) Fontainebleau open on the north end of the Strip— Sahara is right down the street from us, as well—we’re starting to see a lot of movement on the north end of the
Strip, and that’s fun to see because of the unique situation that we have, positioned as the gateway to the Arts District. So, we’ve got the culmination of the north side of the Strip and the Arts District coming together right at our property. It’s just fun to see the improvement in the local area and being part of the business owners in the community who really care about this neighborhood and are helping make this be a great part of the Strip again.
What plans are there for the future of the Strat?
Our biggest current focus is bringing more special events and activations to the property. We hosted our second annual Pink Party for (National Finals Rodeo) up in the tower. That was a great experience.
We know we have a unique building that draws people here. So, it’s really finding new, unique ways to activate this property. We had our emo night, where we had Hawthorne Heights and a few other bands heading into the When We Were Young weekend. So really finding unique, different ways to activate different assets we have at the property. We’re excited to have that, along with our Chinese New Year celebration with the Lohan School of Shaolin, the Scale the Strat through the American Lung Association. There are so many cool activations that we have.
As gaming, and particularly sports betting, continues to grow outside of Las Vegas, how do you see it affecting attraction to Strip resorts?
The unique thing about Las Vegas is, even when you do have this widespread proliferation of sports betting throughout the country, (it) still becomes the premier destination for that.
We had a big group here that came in from a jurisdiction that (has) sports betting. But they come here because this is the destination. They want to get a group together. They’re here for a birthday party. That’s the unique angle that Las Vegas has going for it, is that, even with sports betting in some of these other places, it’s still bringing awareness and this really becomes the area where everyone wants to come for their big occasion. Growing the gaming market is good overall. And that’s what we’re seeing from it.
What would you want someone to know about why they should visit the Strat?
We’ve got a ton of different great options, whether it be the great shows, the SkyJump attraction, the Big Shot at the top.
These restaurants, between Top of the World, Chi Asian Kitchen, PT’s ... there’s so much to do here. And the level of service that you’re going to get is really personalized. We’re small enough to be able to give that feeling of belongingness to our guests.
Keeping up with changes in technology, enforcement, sports betting, economy are keys to success in gaming
BY GREG BROWER, CONNOR SHEA AND SALMA GRANICH
As another successful year for the gaming industry draws to a close, trends suggest that the future will see continued growth, especially in terms of emerging technological advancements, evolving consumer preferences, focused regulatory enforcement and new cross-industry collaborations. Here are five specific areas of development to watch in 2025.
TECHNOLOGY
Perhaps the easiest future trend to identify each and every year is that technology will continue to rapidly evolve. In fact, the high-speed pace of technological advancement is redefining every facet of the industry, and those who fail to recognize this and take proper advantage of it risk falling behind those who do. Specific technology trends requiring close scrutiny include mobile gaming, blockchain, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.
As a subset of the AI technology trend, casino operators are likely to focus on leveraging the use of AI-enabled analysis to offer more personalized offerings, such as custom-tailored experiences ranging from specific game recommendations to customized risk-management strategies. Simi-
larly, AI will also play an increasingly critical role in casino digital loyalty programs with the ability to create unique promotions and offer real-time insights into patron behaviors and decision-making, thereby allowing operators to maximize the impact of marketing programs at the most micro level. ChatGPT might summarize it this way—the past year alone has seen an unprecedented increase in the use of AI, which is all but guaranteed to grow in the future.
SPORTS BETTING
Since the Supreme Court eliminated the federal roadblock back in 2018, sports betting has steadily grown toward becoming a $10 billion industry, with no signs of slowing down, and is only becoming more ingrained in the sporting lives of Americans. Expanded markets, more creative in-game options, increased collaboration and cross-marketing between operators, leagues and competitors all seem to be part of the near-term future. Next year is also likely to see some smaller, independent sports betting platforms disappear from the marketplace, due to significant barriers to profitability and the continuing dominance of few big operators at the top of the heap.
ENFORCEMENT
The past year saw some significant anti-money laundering-related enforcement actions by both federal and state regulatory authorities, including a record-amount penalty and a first-ever felony conviction of a casino executive. This trend is likely to continue as the adherence to strict compliance is increasingly seen by regulators and legislators as the price to be paid for the rapid spread of legalized gaming.
In response, operators are well-advised to review every aspect of their compliance program in order to abide by all legal, ethical and regulatory standards, from AML and Know Your Customer procedures to data protection, privacy and everything in between.
RESPONSIBLE GAMING
As state legislatures around the country continue to consider expanding the universe of legalized gaming, they will also focus on attempting to mitigate the so-called “evils” associated with it; hence, legislative and regulatory efforts to encourage “responsible gaming” initiatives.
In the United States, we continue to have a patchwork of state laws and regulations that vary greatly in effectiveness from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The old debate between individual
freedom and the public good is likely to continue, with policymakers continuing to trend toward robust self-exclusion programs that allow individuals to restrict themselves without affecting the rights of others.
THE ECONOMY
After a more or less good run over the course of the past 30 years and a record-setting post-COVID-19 rebound, the gaming industry is entering 2025 with an overall macroeconomic picture that has some warning signs.
Macroeconomic predictions are more like a compass than a GPS, but the second half of 2024 seems to have revealed some headwinds, especially for land-based operators, with slower growth and several markets reporting downturns. Given that consumer confidence seems to be down despite strong employment rates, future demand looks uncertain.
Tariff talk by the president-elect won’t help, as higher tariffs will likely act as a tax on consumption across the board, including discretionary spending on things like gaming and travel, potentially causing consumers to cut back.
Finally, the prospective economic landscape and seemingly all-but-certain impending changes at federal regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission could pave the way for mergers and other acquisitive activity throughout most industries, including the gaming sector.
While the above developments seem to be safe bets for the coming year, the only thing we know for sure is that 2025 will, as always, present other developments that are entirely unpredictable today. For the gaming industry, like most others, one constant is change, and those industry members who are able to quickly and efficiently adapt to the change, even if they can’t entirely anticipate it, will be at a competitive advantage as a result.
Greg Brower is a shareholder and Connor Shea and Salma Granich are both associates at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.
MARKET DATA ANALYST
Compile sales data; Leverage data to support business teams.
MAIL RESUME TO JOB SITE: Richtech Robotics Inc 4175 Cameron St., Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89103 No calls
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Ask an Attorney:
Ben J Bingham, Esq.
Question:
Can a dashcam strengthen my car accident case in Las Vegas?
Answer:
Dashcam footage can be invaluable after a car accident. Here’s how it can help your case:
• It provides a clear, unbiased record that helps establish fault and validates your version of events. It can also provide evidence on driver behavior, environmental factors, and time stamps to determine fault, especially in multi-vehicle accidents
• It helps clarify disputed fault cases, hit-and-runs, reckless driving, rearend collisions, T-bone accidents, parking lot incidents, lane changes, pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcycle accidents, and road rage incidents
• The footage helps insurers quickly assign fault, leading to faster resolutions and protection against wrongful claims
• Not only are dashcams legal in Nevada (as long as windshields and windows are unobstructed for clear visibility under NRS 484D.435), but their footage is admissible in court if it’s outside the vehicle However, passengers must be informed of any recording, especially audio if the accident happened inside.
To protect your rights and ensure a strong claim, contact an attorney. Scan here to learn more:
and
VEGAS INC NOTES
Spotlighting
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation welcome Katie Bremer to the organization as a physical therapist. She has extensive experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and provided therapies to professional athletes at the UFC Performance Institute while completing her clinical rotations.
Southern Hills Hospital became one of the first hospitals in the world to perform spine surgery utilizing revolutionary robotic-assisted technology. Dr. Kornelis Poelstra performed the procedure, which leverages advanced intraoperative imaging and precise guidance to assist surgeons in performing minimally invasive spine procedures.
Grand Canyon Development Partners, a commercial development and construction management firm, hired Robert Blecker as senior project manager. Blecker has over 15 years of experience in architecture, design and project management leading complex hospitality and entertainment developments. His portfolio includes spearheading high-profile projects such as Resorts World Las Vegas and the Sahara casino remodel.
care programs with hands-on experience, the opportunity to practice teamwork, and the chance to encounter various stages of medical procedures or situations.
Resorts World Las Vegas announced the formation of a board of directors, with industry veteran Jim Murren as chairman and Alex Dixon as CEO. The members of the board assumed their roles on December 4 and Dixon will assume his position January 16. Murren previously served as CEO and chairman of the board of directors at MGM Resorts. Dixon is currently CEO at Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association. The board also include A.G. Burnett, a partner at McDonald Carano; Michelle DiTondo, Avion Consulting; and Kong Han Tan, president, chief operating officer and executive director of Genting Berhad, the holding company of Resorts World.
Touro University Nevada’s Michael Tang Regional Center for Clinical Simulation has been granted full accreditation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare’s Board of Review, making it the first simulation center in Nevada to receive this distinction. The simulation center is a comprehensive learning environment that supports the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Health and Human Services, providing students across health
Rampart Casino announced the launch of Rampart Online, bringing fast-paced 5 Card Draw Poker to mobile devices across Nevada. The new multiplayer app lets anyone play real-money games anytime, anywhere in the state, featuring rapid-fire action and enhanced payouts—including Royal Flush bonuses up to $4,500.
The Ferraro Group, a public relations and public affairs firm, hired Mckenzie Papa as a public relations account executive in the Las Vegas office. She will assist with the development and implementation of public relations efforts, media relations, social media and community outreach campaigns for various clients.
