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PUBLISHER
MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com
EDITOR
SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)
Contributing Writers KYLE CHOUINARD, GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, HAAJRAH GILANI, MIKE GRIMALA, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, AYDEN RUNNELS, JACK WILLIAMS, ILANA WILLIAMS
Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT
O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE
Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)
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Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS
Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
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All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3.
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SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY JAN 2
FRIDAY JAN 3
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
EXHIBIT: LOVE OF BEADS BY CRISTINA RAMOS
Thru 1/7, times vary, East Las Vegas Library, thelibrarydistrict.org
DJ MONDO
10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup. com
DJ SHIFT
10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taogroup.com
LADY LIKE: RETRO MODERN BURLESQUE
8 p.m., & 1/3, 24 Oxford, etix.com
DR. HARPO & THE ACE-TONES
8 p.m., Fat Cat Lounge, fatcatlv.com
DON BARNHART & FRIENDS
Thru 1/5, 7 & 9 p.m., Hennessey’s Tavern, deliriouscomedyclub. com
SATURDAY JAN 4
50 CENT 9 p.m., & 1/4, PH Live, ticketmaster.com
JANET JACKSON
8:30 p.m., & 1/4, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
LANA DEL RABIES
With God Is War, Spelling Hands, Roman Candle, Lords Of Death, Echoes Of Amara, 7 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm
KENAN THOMPSON PRESENTS YOUR VOTE, THEIR VICTORY
5:30 p.m., & 1/4, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com
7 & 9:30 p.m., & 1/4, Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguyscomedy.com
SAM FELDT
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
AMAL NEMER
10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com
CHARLY JORDAN
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
YO YOLIE
10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
DJ CLA
10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taogroup.com
BENNY BENACK III
Jazz up 2025 right off the bat with a Downtown weekend stint from Emmy-nominated trumpeter and singer
Benny Benack III, who has performed with acclaimed groups Postmodern Jukebox and the 8-Bit Big Band. As a trumpet soloist, he’s taken the stage with the likes of Josh Groban, Ben Folds and Ann Hampton Callaway, and he shows off his full musical skill set on recently released full-length Third Time’s the Charm. If you missed him on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert—and you’re not planning to catch him at the iconic Blue Note in New York City for a February jazz brunch—make your reservation now at Vic’s. 7 p.m., & 1/4, free, Vic’s, vicslasvegas.com.
–Brock Radke
STEVE HOFSTETTER
Self-proclaimed “near Michael Rapaport look-alike” Steve Hofstetter does the touring comedy thing a little differently. He first gained attention through viral videos of his room work, and even though he’s long since moved beyond social media into broadcast, he still gets traction through his 800,000+ subscriber YouTube channel, where you can watch him roast hecklers at will. He only goes where he’s wanted; if one of his shows sells less than 50 tickets, he refunds everyone’s money and moves on to the next gig. And when he wants to draw attention to himself, he goes all-out: His 2006 album Cure for the Cable Guy depicts a doll of that down-home comic hanging by a coaxial cable. Something tells us this show at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will be memorable. 8 p.m., $32-$142, 24 Oxford, etix.com. –Geoff Carter
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. BUFFALO SABRES
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SAN JOSE STATE
3 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com
LON BRONSON BAND
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com
WILD CHILD
7:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
BE QUIET AND DRIVE
8 p.m., Dive Bar, dice.fm
FRANCIA With Girls Club, 7 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
PURE SPORT
With Sticker, Rugburn, Style Cramps, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv. com
MIKEY FRANCIS 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
ROB GUSON 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY JAN 5
MONDAY JAN 6
KYM WHITLEY
One of our favorite resident comedians, Luenell, is taking a break from her Sunday and Monday night gig at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club along the Linq Promenade. But don’t worry, she’ll be back in March, and in the meantime, actress and stand-up force Kym Whitley will step in. She’s one of those entertainers who seems to have been in more films and TV shows than she hasn’t, going all the way back to Martin, Married ... with Children and Moesha, and more recently in Act Your Age, You People and The Neighborhood. Whitley is also a two-time NAACP Image Award winner for her Two Funny Mamas podcast, co-hosted with Sherri Shepherd. She’s going to have a lot to say, and it’s all going to be funny. 9:30 p.m., & 1/6, $31-$67, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS Time TBD, Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS
5 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com
SANDY & THE KNIGHTCAPS 7 p.m., the Underground, themobmuseum. org
AMIRI PAUL 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com
EXHIBIT: PORTRAITS OF LIFE BY RENATA BOSNJAK Thru 1/14, times vary, Summerlin Library, thelibrary district.org
EXHIBIT: BIRTHED FROM THE SOIL BY IYANA ESTERS Thru 1/22, Mon.-Fri. 1-5 p.m., Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, nevada humanities.org
DJ E-ROCK 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
TRIXX With Patrick Garrity, thru 1/12, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com
JEFF RICHARDS With Orlando Leyba, Kathleen Dunbar, Jason Cheny, 7 & 9:30 p.m., & 1/7, Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com
DO IT ALL
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY JAN 7
EXHIBIT: SPILLING OUT OF THE UNCONSCIOUS BY DAVID MIVSHEK Thru 3/11, times vary, Spring Valley Library, thelibrary district.org
STEVE AOKI
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
SPIRIT OF THE KING Thru 1/9, 7 p.m., Notoriety, notorietylive.com
MICHAEL SOMERVILLE With Rob Sherwood, Traci Skene, thru 1/12, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com
VICKI BARBOLAK
7 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster. com
DO IT ALL
WEDNESDAY JAN 8
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. COLORADO STATE
6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. ONTARIO REIGN
7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com
NATE BARGATZE
7:30 & 10:30 p.m., & 1/10-1/11, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
COMPOSERS SHOWCASE 9:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
(Wade Vandervort/Sta )
DJ FRANZEN 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
ENTERTAINING MOCKTAILS
Make your own delicious NA cocktails
BY DIANA EDELMAN
Partaking in Dry January? You’re de nitely not alone in forgoing alcohol. But why skip the experience of enjoying a quality drink in a fun atmosphere?
I’m not talking about Shirley Temples. Beverages like non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits saw a 35% boost in sales in 2023, according to global marketing research rm Nielsen IQ.
“It’s an exciting time right now,” says Mariena Mercer Boarini, master mixologist for Wynn Resorts.
“What I love about the current cli-
Tea time
To make your own mocktails, Mercer Boarini suggests using tea because the tannins can mimic flavors of bitters and create a mouthfeel similar to aged spirits.
SPRY JANUARY
mate of drinking culture is, you don’t need a reason [not to drink alcohol] these days. … Now it is an acceptable part of culture. And a lot of that is having options available [so] people don’t feel othered.”
With two decades as a mixologist under her belt, she cites consumers’ growing mindfulness toward health as a catalyst for the zero-proof industry. And beverage programs have adjusted to the change in preferences by including more mocktails on menus.
“Now, [mocktails] can be nuanced and interesting and curated to pal-
ates,” Mercer Boarini says.
Most importantly, they provide an opportunity to get creative at home. You’re choosing a healthier option, after all, so you might as well lean into it.
“Key in on your creativity and
what you love,” Mercer Boarini says. “From there, that passion is e usive and starts growing. Think like cooking—what avors do you love? What cultures do you want to make cocktails from? Start building from there.”
JANUARY
Play with the palate
Not into sugary drinks? Swap out the sweet with umami and other flavors. Mercer Boarini’s go-to is a drizzle of sesame oil on top of the drink to add depth and an earthy taste.
Go-to mocktails
Looking for a crowd pleaser? Take ginger beer and orange tea, cranberry and rosemary to make a flavorful winter mule. For palomas, mix together Fever-Tree sparkling pink grapefruit soda and CleanCo tequila.
Make a toast
When it comes to non-alcoholic sparkling Champagne or wine, Mercer Boarini recommends Lyre’s Classico.
Lyre’s also has an Italian spritz that can be mixed with non-alcoholic sparkling wine, for those who want an Aperol spritz experience.
“This NA sparkling is my personal favorite for a celebratory cheers,” she says. “It emulates and tastes like Champagne. The mouthfeel and aromas really takes the place of Champagne and you can drink it straight as a toast, or it is really fun to experiment with.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS
Find the right fi tness facility for your goals and needs
NEW YEAR NEW GYM
BY LAS VEGAS WEEKLY STAFF
The statistics will vary, but it’s a well-known fact that January is the peak month for new enrollment in gym memberships across the country (increasing around 12%). Also unsurprising: About half of those new enrollments stop going to the gym within six months, according to industry experts. ¶ Put yourself in a position to succeed by being careful when selecting the right gym for your individual needs. If you have some experience and self-motivation, a general fitness facility with all the bells and whistles might suit you best. If you’re a fitness newbie, perhaps a training-oriented experience will get you moving in the new year. Here’s a selection of some of the various gyms around the Valley to start your research.
GENERAL FITNESS
LIFE TIME
With locations in Summerlin and Green Valley and a Durango-area facility on the way in 2026, this resort-style o ering is one of the most comprehensive gyms in Southern Nevada. They o er a vast number of classes and amenities, and it’s priced accordingly. 121 Carnegie St., 702-802-7300; 10721 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-228-2611; membership starting at $329, lifetime.life.
TORTUREGYM
A boutique, bodybuilder-focused gym known for great equipment. 7965 S. Rainbow Blvd. #115, 702-272-1977, membership starting at $129.
24-HOUR FITNESS
SUPER-SPORT
2090 Village Center Circle, 702-360-2408, membership starting at $20, 24hourfitness.com.
DRAGON’S LAIR GYM
7850 Dean Martin Dr. #506, 702-462-6545, membership starting at $125, thedragonslairgym. com.
LAS VEGAS
ATHLETIC CLUB
Multiple locations, membership starting at $15, lvac.com.
PLANET FITNESS
Multiple locations, membership starting at $15, planetfitness.com.
EOS FITNESS
Multiple locations, membership starting at $10, eosfitness.com.
ANYTIME FITNESS
Multiple locations, membership starting at $50, anytimefitness.com.
TRAINING GYMS
FIT CLUB
This gym o ers daily and weekly classes, memberships and personal training, with an emphasis on energetic service and nightclub-like vibes. 4525 W. Hacienda Ave. #2, 702665-4115, day pass available for $30, fitclubvegas.com.
CIRCUIT FITNESS
With customizable plans for weight loss, muscle gain, prenatal and postpartum programs and more, this boutique gym focuses on circuit training—a series of multiple exercises with little rest—and personal attention to get clients to their goals. 5970 S. Fort Apache Road #101A, 702-202-1504, membership starting at $98, circuitfitnesslv.com.
ORANGE THEORY FITNESS
Multiple locations, membership starting at $79, orangetheory.com.
CAMP RHINO
Multiple locations, membership starting at $71, camprhino.com.
IVI PERFORMANCE
10630 Dean Martin Dr. #100, 702-462-2537, membership starting at $175, iviperformance.com.
REAL RESULTS
1 S. Main St., programs and prices vary, realresultsfitness.com.
POWERHOUSE GYM
1950 S. Rainbow Blvd. #105, 702-444-4018, membership starting at $80, phg-las.com
SPECIALTY GYMS
XTREME COUTURE MMA
Founded by fighting legend Randy Couture, this gym o ers classes and instruction for youth and adults in boxing, wrestling, cross-training, cardio kickboxing and more, getting you in shape even if you have no plans to step into the octagon. 4055 W. Sunset Road, 702-616-1022, programs and prices vary, xcmma.com.
THE RIDE PREMIUM INDOOR CYCLING
4245 S. Grand Canyon Dr. #116, 702-202-1229, classes start at $25, theridecycling.com.
10TH PLANET JIU JITSU
4533 W. Sahara Ave., 702-337-1029; 1225 W. Warm Springs Road #140, 702-337-1029; membership starting at $175, 10thplanetlasvegas.com.
SYNDICATE MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
6315 S. Rainbow Blvd. #104, 702-838-8008, membership starting at $174, syndicatemma.com.
UFC FIT
UNCONVENTIONAL
5651 Centennial Center Blvd., 725-228-7165, membership starting at $24, ufcgym.com.
LAS VEGAS PILATES
120 S. Green Valley Parkway #184, 702-914-9944, classes starting at $20, lvpilates.com.
PURE BARRE
725 S. Green Valley Parkway #130, 702-558-4149; 1875 Festival Plaza Drive #220, 702-525-3454, membership starting at $139, purebarre. com.
TRUFUSION
Multiple locations, membership starting at $79, trufusion.com.
LAS VEGAS CIRCUS CENTER
This massive southwest facility o ers programs for professional performers as well as beginning adults and kids, with classes in tumbling, trampoline, aerial arts, trapeze, parkour and much more. 6425 S. Jones Blvd. #102, 833324-7287, programs and prices vary, lasvegascircus center.com.
POLE FITNESS STUDIO
4265 S. Arville St. Suite A, 702-878-7653, classes starting at $25, polefitnessstudio.com.
SHINE ALTERNATIVE FITNESS
6415 S. Tenaya Way, 702-685-1864, classes starting at $33, shine alternativefitness.com.
RED ROCK CLIMBING CENTER
8201 W. Charleston Blvd. #150, 702-254-5604, membership starting at $68, redrockclimbing center.com.
REFUGE CLIMBING & FITNESS
6283 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-383-0175, membership starting at $68, refugeclimbing.com.
World Acro
6625 S. Valley View Blvd. #242, 702-728-8659, membership starting at $90, worldacrolv.com.
From vital community infrastructure to electrifying arcades, here are the things we’d like to see in Las Vegas in 2025 and beyond
... AN EASIER DAMN COMMUTE.
Like everyone else I complained about roadwork on Charleston Boulevard. Cursed the orange cones. Yelled “It’s a [expletive] ZIPPER MERGE,” like that mattered to anyone. But then, one day, the work was done. And as I drove through the Medical District on new, glassy-smooth asphalt—past widened sidewalks, improved lighting and landscaping, and even that relocated “Free Aspirin and Tender Sympathy” vintage neon sign—I realized it was worth the su ering. New Charleston makes me happy. It makes my car happy.
I’m hopeful I’ll get that feeling again in 2025. The Nevada Department of Transportation says that the I-15 Tropicana Interchange Project—a gridlock producer so e ective and proli c it’s invaded my dreams—should wrap up late this year. (In fact, according to NDOT’s i15trop.com website, the freeway portion of the work should be completed by this spring.) The widening of I-15 south, from Sloan Road to Warm Springs Road, should be complete by December. And the Regional Transportation Commission’s Maryland Parkway project— adding dedicated bus and bike lanes, 10-foot-wide sidewalks, improved lighting and more shade trees to that midtown thoroughfare—is moving along rapidly, with a projected nish date in fall 2026.
But more and bigger roads don’t make a city better. We also need some roads to shrink down a bit—looking at you, Boulder Highway—so pedestrians can cross without fear of being mowed down by a 22-year-old doing 110 in a rented exotic. (RTC CEO Dave Swallow describes wider sidewalks and slimmer roadways as a “visual hug” that encourages drivers to slow down.) And we need a rapid transit solution, light rail or otherwise, that encourages mass commuting and saves us the cost of an Uber ride to the airport. (Teslas in tunnels probably ain’t gonna cut it.) Do some of these things, and maybe, we’ll look kindlier on the cones. In retrospect. –Geo Carter
... MORE THEMED ATTRACTIONS.
For crying out loud, we had a pirate ship! The good old days of themed Las Vegas brought us Buccaneer Bay at Treasure Island, not to mention Luxor’s Nile River ride and a Wet ’N Wild near the Sahara. I’d give anything to get that fun back. Here’s a start: Let’s replace the Las Vegas Monorail with a lazy river. And how about we establish a nice, climate-controlled zoo? Finally, I wish for a Disneyland. So much land is being built upon for housing Californians. Let’s add one more attraction to make ’em feel at home. –Amber Sampson
... SOMETHING BETTER THAN LAST IN THE NATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
According to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development de nition, “a ordable housing” means residents are paying no more than 30% of income on rent, utilities and other home expenses. Nevada has had the worst a ordable housing shortage in the nation for several years, according to reports from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Speci cally, Las Vegas has been at the top of the list of worst shortages in the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., with only 13 a ordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income households. (“Extremely low-income” means either at the federal poverty guideline or at or below 30% of area median income. More
than 91,000 Nevada renter households are considered extremely low-income.)
Since 2022, Clark County has invested more than $200 million to build and rehabilitate almost 5,000 a ordable housing units in Southern Nevada, which is a great start. But more than 78,000 units are needed to meet the demand of extremely low-income families in the region, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
To address such a dire need, it would make sense to keep funding a ordable housing development, and also to address the root of the shortage. According to developers, some of the biggest barriers to building a ordable housing are zoning—which local governments can facilitate—and
limited land availability. Nevada’s governor and federal delegation have honed in on the state’s abundance of federal land as prime for a ordable housing development. State representatives are also looking at cracking down on out-of-state investors who are driving up housing costs.
We wish for these initiatives to be successful in creating practical, a ordable housing. We also wish for more immediate relief for families who are struggling with their housing expenses, in the form of expanded housing vouchers through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and in the form of robust rental assistance programs across Southern Nevada. –Shannon Miller
... THE RETURN OF NEON REVERB (AND THE BUNKHOUSE).
Nearly all the music festivals and residencies that come to Vegas are tourist-facing. Sometimes that works in our favor—try getting night-of-show tickets to David Byrne anywhere else in the country—but for the most part we don’t have a say in who plays here. That’s what made the Neon Reverb music festival—and the Bunkhouse Saloon, where that festival belonged—so truly special. The likes of Phoebe Bridgers, The Drums, Foxygen, La Sera, Jay Som, Wavves and more played for us, and only us. We need that again. –GC
I WISH FOR ...
... MORE DRIVETHRU HEALTHY SPOTS.
There’s a moment during every other workday when I’m drowning in fast-food revulsion. The Wendy’s is close enough to practically hear the grease sizzling, but I’m yearning for something fresh, crisp and vibrant. If someone could just invent a drive-thru chain for healthy bowls—real ingredients I can gobble up without the soggy, plastic-wrapped shame—I’d be in nirvana. –Gabriela Rodriguez
... MORE COOLING.
... MORE POCKET PARKS AND DOG PARKS.
Let’s talk about dog walks, the unshakeable joy of seeing your dog’s face light up as they sprint on a patch of grass. But when your closest park is a ten minute drive away, the magic wears o fast. I’m not asking for a nature preserve, just a small patch of grass with a few trees sprinkled throughout, placed in those areas of the Valley that have had to go without. –GR
We really need to do something about this heat. Las Vegas’ vast amounts of asphalt and other impermeable surfaces trap the sun’s heat, causing an “urban heat island” e ect where the urban core is much hotter than the surrounding sweltering desert. What’s worse, it prevents natural nighttime cooling; those impermeable surfaces continue to release heat at night, a time we’d much rather be cooling o from the blistering daytime temperatures.
The experts say one of the best things we can do to combat this is plant more trees. Along those lines, Clark County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to give away 4,500 trees by spring. More of that, please! Another solution pushed by environmental groups is to build solar canopies over parking lots in the city, rather than out in the desert. Not only would solar canopies help make your walk from the grocery store to the car much cooler, they would generate renewable energy for the city. –SM
... AROUNDTHE-CLOCK CONVENIENCE.
There are still a few here and there. Some of the grocery stores stay open around the clock. Many bars run 24 hours; Blueberry Hill, Denny’s and Norms serve 3 a.m. breakfasts; and it goes without saying that the casinos never close. But listen: There used to be 24-hour businesses all over Vegas—grocery stores, dry cleaners, even a round-the-clock record store. (That would be Odyssey Records, near what’s now the Arts District.) This onetime 24-hour town needs to re-engage. –GC
... NO MORE CONCERT TICKET FEES FOR LOCALS.
Concerts are a gamble. You’ve saved, you’ve scraped, you’ve pinched pennies just to get that ticket, and then—bam—service fees, handling fees, and hell, fees for the fees! The local economy thrives on entertainment, but locals are getting gouged, not just for the ticket, but for every scrap of paperwork that comes with it. Let’s ditch these additional costs so local fans who want to go to more shows can get in the door without the financial body slam. –GR
... LOCALS TO GO TO VEGAS SHOWS MORE OFTEN.
Las Vegans love to reminisce on the good old days when parking was free everywhere and access to the wonders of the Strip came easier and cheaper. We love old-school spots and wish our bygone favorites were still around, but let’s admit that maybe we talk about them more than we patronized them. Vegas entertainment keeps getting bigger every year, but there are still plenty of traditional shows that are keeping this iconic city’s fabulous legacy alive—and maybe it’s our duty as locals who love this part of our city to go back and enjoy these shows again, and to tell our friends around the world how much fun we had. And it’s a great way to connect to Vegas in a deeper way, because the talented entertainers in these shows are people who live here and probably patronize your business. They participate in charitable projects and they contribute their art to our community, probably popping up in their own performances in casino lounges and indie venues like the Space or Notoriety. And to give this wish a little boost, here are some of our favorites … go check ‘em out:
Zombie Burlesque at V Theater at Planet Hollywood, tickets starting at $60, vtheater.com
All Shook Up at Alexis Park Resort, tickets starting at $38, allshook uptribute.com
The Mac King Comedy Magic Show at Excalibur, tickets starting at $45, mackingshow. com
Tape Face at MGM Grand, tickets starting at $49, mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com
Blue Man Group at Luxor, tickets starting at $49, luxor.mgmresorts. com.
Jabbawockeez at MGM Grand, tickets starting at $49, mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com
Miss Behave’s Mavericks at the Plaza, tickets starting at $35, mavericksdtlv. com
Mad Apple at New York-New York, tickets starting at $49, cirquedu soleil.com.
Soul of Motown at Westgate, tickets starting at $30, ticketmaster.com
Vegas! The Show at V Theater at Planet Hollywood, tickets starting at $60, vtheater.com
Wow: The Vegas Spectacular at Rio, tickets starting at $46, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke
I WISH FOR ...
... AN ARTS ECOSYSTEM
THAT
A COLLEGE TOWN FEEL NEAR OUR
UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGES.
I want a distinct social scene. I want a sorority row. I want to see the area surrounding a campus oozing its academic and coming-of-age culture. I want a beer district, a cozy college co ee house and enough road real estate for safe biking. Make it an a ordable place to live. Make it a community. –AS
SUPPORTS INDEPENDENT ART AND THEATER.
There’s no shortage of creativity. A new generation of Vegas artists and performers is itching to share their vision. And Vegas still has an Arts District, at least in name. But Vegas’ homegrown arts scene is in considerable peril.
Earlier this year, the Weekly spoke with artist and gallerist Priscilla Fowler, and Daz Weller, executive director of Vegas Theatre Company, both of whom have seen their venues hit with rising rent costs. Priced out of operation, Fowler’s ne art gallery eventually had to shut its doors, as did Nancy Good’s Core Contemporary space at Commercial Center—stark reminders of what happens when the arts aren’t supported by the community. Without more patronage for these independent galleries and theaters, the heart of local art is in serious danger of atlining. –GR
...ROLLING BACK THE FORUM SHOPS TO 1999.
There was a dream that was Rome. It was a place where we could grab lunch at Lombardi’s, browse the Warner Bros. Studio Store and the three-story FAO Schwarz, ride the Race for Atlantis motion simulator, then drop a couple hundred bucks on music at the Virgin Megastore. I will see that Rome again ... but not yet. Not yet. –GC
... MORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
According to a 2024 report from Mental Health America, Nevada ranks last of all U.S. states for prevalence of youth mental illness and access to care. When it comes to adults, the state doesn’t fare much better, ranking 48th. This is largely because of a severe shortage of behavioral health providers. According to a 2022 presentation from the state Department of Health and Human Services, Nevada had 10.3 clinical professional counselors for every 100,000 people, well below the national average of 45.4. The state falls below the national average for psychologists, psychiatrists and licensed clinical social workers, too.
We can’t just wish for all those professionals to suddenly appear and start working in our state, so our wish right now is for state lawmakers to create incentives for behavioral health providers to stay in the state. Increasing funding and expanding telehealth, especially in rural areas, would be a good move, too. –SM
... MORE ARCADES.
Losing Las Vegas’ last GameWorks in 2021 cut deeper than a corrupted save le on the nal boss. Chinatown’s Game Nest has proven a family-run, independent arcade can thrive—even without a bar. So let’s start playing around with the idea of more arcades per capita. Make America game again! –AS
... A COMPLETE VEGAS RETAIL EXPERIENCE.
There was a time when Vegas didn’t have IKEA, Crate & Barrel, Daiso, Aldi or H Mart, but now we have them all. Now we’d love to see a Uniqlo at Town Square or Downtown Summerlin, and a Porto’s, wherever the hell it wants to be. –GC
IN THE NEWS
“Today, we are taking an important and sensible step to pause new oil and
gas
leasing to ensure that we have the science and public input necessary to inform proposed protections of the Ruby Mountains area for future generations.”
— Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Deb Haaland at the announcement of the agency initiating consideration of a 20-year withdrawal of the Ruby Mountain area in Northeastern Nevada from future oil, gas and geothermal development
HOT SHOT USC wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) leaps as Texas A&M defensive back BJ Mayes (20) tackles him during the second half of the Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on December 27. USC won, 35-31. (Wade Vandervort/sta )
The Golden Knights host the Bu alo Sabres on January 4 at 7 p.m.
STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
SPORTS
UNLV hockey takes down national champs
UNLV’s hockey team made history against the University of Denver on December 28.
In the exhibition matchup, the Rebels “shocked the world” by defeating the defending national champions, 7-6, in a shootout on the Pioneers’ home ice. Denver is ranked No. 5 nationally.
It is believed to be the first time that an American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) team has defeated an
BY THE NUMBERS
$2.6M
NCAA Division I team. The last time UNLV played Denver was on October 1, 2022, and the Rebels lost, 10-0.
The victory is a significant stepping stone in UNLV’s effort to become an NCAA Division I program. The team has put together an advisory committee, scouted land for a larger arena and financially analyzed what it would take for UNLV hockey to make the jump. –Jack Williams
That’s the cost of a Southern Nevada Water Authority project to maintain weirs—speed bumps that reduce erosion—along the 12-mile Las Vegas Wash, which carries treated water to Lake Mead. Starting in January, the project will remove vegetation overtaking and causing cracking of the concrete weirs.
COMMUNITY
Miracle on Main Street
Troy Heard calls it a “Christmas miracle.”
After finding his Arts District-based Majestic Repertory Theatre looted on Christmas day, Heard created a GoFundMe to replace around $10,000 of stolen equipment: computers, a soundboard, iPads and other musical gear.
Dozens of donors smashed the goal in under 24 hours.
“It’s not just one person giving $10,000. It’s a lot of people giving $5, giving $10. … Just to see hundreds of people come together for that,” he said, pausing as he choked up. “It really gives me pause.”
Heard, Majestic’s artistic director, first noticed the burglary early December 25 after stopping by to wrap a gift he had gotten for the theater’s stage manager.
“Walking in, everything seemed fine until I got to a place where we’ve got a bunch of lockers—all the locker doors are open,” he said. “And just bit by bit, I see that’s out of place, that’s not right.”
Heard called Metro Police
but said they never showed after hours of waiting. He told the Weekly he filed a police report.
The burglary was similar to what other small businesses in the Arts District have recently dealt with, he added.
A hair salon just a few doors down was ransacked this month and three other nearby small businesses have been burglarized this year, KLAS-TV reported.
As a nonprofit organization, the theater is used to relying on the public for financial help, but this year has been different.
In September, Majestic opened Scream’d, an unauthorized musical parody of the ’90s cult classic horror film Scream. On top of a pile of regional awards, Scream’d was a box office hit.
But with the theater’s next show, a production of Cabaret, only a couple of weeks away, Heard said the theater had to “go back to that well” and ask for the local community’s help. Donations didn’t just come
from Las Vegas, however; they came from across the country.
“Those are people who followed us because of Scream’d … who have never set foot here who give because they like the actors. They like the people they’ve encountered on social media,” Heard said. “That just now speaks to something larger than I can even fathom.”
When the fundraiser hit its initial $10,000 goal, Heard turned off donations. But after people started messaging him saying they wanted to donate anyway, he reopened the page. The GoFundMe had raised more than $19,000 as of noon December 30.
Additional funding will go toward upgrades and development for the local theater, he wrote on the fundraiser’s page.
“Some people have an opinion of Las Vegas being this really down-and-dirty town that’s cold and unfeeling,” Heard said. “But then something like this happens and you see what a strong community it actually can be.” —Kyle Chouinard
Nevada Assemblywoman Selena La Rue Hatch hears from constituents every year when it’s time to change their clocks at the start or end of daylight saving time.
“Every time we change the clocks, forward or back, I receive a slew of emails from upset citizens asking, even begging, for us to stop this practice,” said La Rue Hatch, a Reno Democrat. La Rue Hatch is reigniting the attempt to end daylight saving with Assembly Bill 81 that calls for exempting Nevada from federal daylight-saving time requirements. Her bill, which was prefiled December 9 ahead of the legislative session starting in early February, proposes that Nevada remain on standard time all year.
Daylight saving, when clocks are set an hour ahead of standard time to provide longer evening sun exposure from March to November, has long been criticized for the disruptions people experience during the switch.
Christopher Kearney, chair of UNLV’s psychology department, said there were pros and cons to remaining on standard time throughout the year.
He said there was evidence that time change affects people’s overall mood and sleep patterns. But some people, especially late risers, may also experience mental health issues from less sunlight exposure.
“You can’t necessarily say that one is better than the other,” Kearney said. “All I can really say is that when the time is switched, it can be disruptive for some people, absolutely.” —Haajrah Gilani
DESERT HARVEST
High-tech Zion Urban Farm empowers North Las Vegas community to tackle hunger
BY SHANNON MILLER
Inside Zion United Methodist Church in North Las Vegas is a high-tech lab ready to empower the community with education on how to grow your own food sustainably in the desert.
“We can grow with 95% less water indoors,” explains Amber Bosket, chief operating officer of the environmental consulting and research company Energy Tree, which partnered with Zion United and the City of North Las Vegas to develop the lab, called the Urban Center for Advanced Agricultural Technologies (UCAAT). Along with the 1.5-acre Zion Urban Farm, the lab will help address hunger in the surrounding neighborhood and create training opportunities.
In partnership with the church, Energy Tree has been teaching community classes on hydroponics and advanced agriculture methods since early 2022. Now, with grant funding, the Urban Center for Advanced Agricultural Technologies is ready to scale up the classes and number of students it can teach.
The $1.5 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant was appropriated through the City of North Las Vegas, allowing Zion and Energy Tree to expand its lab space to accommodate eight students at a time and pay for other facility and equipment upgrades including microscopes and iPads.
“You’re expanding people’s knowledge [of] science and technology. If [you’re] going to grow in this box, [you] have to know the difference between nitrogen and phosphorus and potassium … copper and boron,” Bosket says.
The UCAAT is getting ready to launch classes in spring 2025. The intent is for people to be able to replicate these agricultural techniques in their homes and other parts of town, as well as support workforce development for commercial-scale indoor agriculture throughout Southern Nevada. The education compo-
nent will be overseen by Growing Gears, which integrates science and technology in workforce development, and the University of Nevada, Reno Extension.
Wilson Ramos, community services and engagement director for the City of North Las Vegas, says there’s “empowerment” and “generational change” in training community members to grow their own food.
“This is our step into the future, allowing for individuals to learn how to sustain produce and fresh goods like this on their own. So the component of education is going to be highly important,” he says.
The UCAAT and Zion Urban Farm are situated in a neighborhood where there is limited access to healthy foods. According to Three Square Food Bank, the ZIP code where Zion is located has one of the highest food insecurity rates in the Valley at 22.6%, meaning that more than one in five residents has difficulty getting enough food to sustain a healthy lifestyle.
“We’re considered a food desert. That term is used to describe when more than 10% of the population doesn’t have access to a vehicle and lives more than a mile from a grocery store,” says Bosket, who was on the Governor’s Council on Food Security in 2018-2019.
Without access to enough healthy foods, chronic diseases are more prevalent. According to a 2017 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is “strongly related” to the likelihood of chronic disease in general. According to Bosket, the census track where Zion is located is in the 94th percentile for diabetes and the 96th percentile for low life expectancy.
“The current trajectory of where we’re at is not sustainable,” Wilson says. “We want to see our community prosper and thrive. And they can’t if these options for technologies and advancements in our agriculture aren’t there.”
GROWING FOOD IN A FOOD DESERT
Inside a geodesic dome under development on the grounds of the 1.5-acre Zion Urban Farm on an overcast 61-degree day, it feels about 20 degrees hotter inside the dome. When the structure is completed, the temperature will be regulated to grow tropical crops.
“We’re going to create an atmosphere in here [with] fog and misting systems to keep the humidity. It’s basically the idea of solar distillation, so we can create water,” says Corrie Bosket, CEO of Energy Tree.
With the use of advanced technologies, the dome will be a “winery for lettuce” and the perfect environment to grow strawberries, he adds.
“We’re able to increase food production in a very small square footage. And that’s our goal,” Corrie Bosket says.
Expected to be up and running by spring 2025, it could serve as a model for the region to start producing food closer to home.
Southern Nevada has never been seen as a destination for growing fresh produce. According to scientists with Energy Tree, the Mojave Desert, where Las Vegas is located, receives less than five inches of annual rainfall, which is almost 90% less than the annual average. Poor soil and extreme heat also make it difficult for traditional methods of agriculture to succeed, resulting in the vast majority of the Valley’s food being transported hundreds of miles from where it is grown.
But advanced agricultural technologies like indoor growing with hydroponics make farming possible in the desert. The Zion Urban Farm alone is capable of producing up to 4,000 pounds of sweet potatoes in a season.
Growing food closer to where it is consumed can be an effective way to combat food insecurity and its associated poor health outcomes.
Zion Urban Farm offers garden
OPPOSITE PAGE:
TOP Zion Urban Farm’s greenhouse, geodesic dome and garden beds.
BOTTOM LEFT Energy Tree
COO Amber Bosket stands near a hydroponic system inside the Urban Center for Advanced Agricultural Technologies in North Las Vegas.
BOTTOM RIGHT Energy Tree
CEO Corrie Bosket shows a geodesic dome under development at Zion Urban Farm. (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
PLUS!
See page 42 for a close up of the hydroponic systems the UCAAT uses to grow lettuce and other produce.
programs to seniors through a partnership with Centerwell Senior Primary Care, which works with seniors on Medicare plans, and Martin Luther King Jr. Senior Center, which is just around the corner from the farm. Centerwell has sponsored several beds at the farm, where their members can grow and harvest their own produce.
“We know that diabetes affects a lot of our seniors, and the lower income they are, the more likely they are to have some sort of chronic disease or illness … specifically because they have less access to fruits and vegetables,” says Shaun Conry, associate director of field sales and marketing with Centerwell.
“If they’re going home with sweet potatoes, kale, fresh watermelon and corn … they’re not buying snacks at Green Valley Grocery … the Dollar Generals or Dollar Trees where they’re getting high-carbohydrate and high-sugar things.”
Over the course of Centerwell’s two-year partnership with Zion Urban Farm, seniors have had access to better nutrition, Conry says, adding that members self-report feeling better about what they’re eating. He sees it as a model that should be replicated at other community centers.
“If you imagine if every church or community center in the area had some sort of way to facilitate the growth of organic fruits and vegetables, all of a sudden these people are going to have less need to go out and search for those other things,” Conry says.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9
IMMERSIVE GAME DAY EXPERIENCE
BIG GAME BASH
Sit outside and straight on the field to experience the biggest game of the year in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Feast on a variety of mouth-watering fare provided by delicious food trucks and enjoy a highenergy atmosphere with giant screens broadcasting the game while surrounded by enthusiastic fans cheering. Live odds are provided by Circa | Sports ® . Private man caves and tables are available for reservation.
Reserve Your Seat at DowntownWatchZone.com
THE ULTIMATE WATCH PARTY
Grab your favorite jersey and share the celebration of football’s grandest spectacle at World’s Largest Sportsbook. Choose from a variety of seating options whether it’s enjoying the game stadium-style in the grandstands, on a comfortable recliner or in the elite Circa Club. Relish in a vibrant scene where the passion for the game unites everyone creating an atmosphere charged with excitement.
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ALL OTHER PARTIES OUT OF THE WATER
Make a splash at an unforgettable Big Game watch party where the electric poolside atmosphere doesn’t stop. Boasting a 143 ft screen that towers over six pools, creating a dynamic backdrop against the Vegas skyline. Watch the game from the comfort of a reserved cabana, chaise lounge, or day bed. Opt-in to relax in a temperature-controlled pool while watching an eyecatching pyrotechnics display.
Your Seat at
THE NEWEST WATCH PARTY ON THE BLOCK
This high-energy sports bar is outfitted with plenty of screens and seats to catch the Big Game. Cheer on your team to victory where the atmosphere pulses with anticipation as twenty-two screens beam the game live. With bustling activity you’ll find fans decked out in team colors creating a dynamic energy that sweeps through the crowd. The spirited scene delivers extraordinary camaraderie of fellow fans coming together, making every touchdown and interception a shared celebration. See you there, eh? Reserve Your Seat at TheD.com
COMEDY
UNITED BY LAUGHTER
Red-hot comedian Nate Bargatze starts his 2025 world tour at Wynn
BY JULIE SEABAUGH
Nate Bargatze’s 2024 Be Funny Tour broke attendance records at 20 arenas across the country, selling 1.2 million tickets as Pollstar’s top-earning comedian in the world—and 12th among all tours including music.
Along with multiple stand-up specials (including the latest Netflix show Your Friend, Nate Bargatze), a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album and two Saturday Night Live hosting gigs—including this past October during the sketch institution’s 50th anniversary season—he even had his own Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas CBS holiday special with Lorne Michaels, which he calls “the most fun I’ve had of anything in my career.”
NATE
for comedy right now. You can see how stand-up is in a really good spot, and a lot of people are interested in it. They have so much comedy there at the Wynn and also at the other hotels, and so it’s just a perfect mix. As someone that lives in Nashville, another hot city for comedy, I feel like Vegas is obviously very hot for comedy as well.
Any favorite places you always like to hit when you’re in town?
BARGATZE
January 8, 10-11, 29, 31, & February 1, times vary, $115-$150. Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com.
Before Bargatze’s literary debut Big Dumb Eyes: Stories From a Simpler Mind comes out May 6, he kicks off his 66-date Big Dumb Eyes world tour with residency dates this month at the Wynn’s Encore Theater.
How have you seen Vegas comedy audiences change over the years?
When I first started coming to Vegas, it really was a lot of corporate gigs. I’ve been at the Comedy Cellar, but I’ve since been at the Wynn for years, and this is really my first big go at it.
There’s a lot that’s changed now. I feel like when I go, people are there to see me. But there’s a big appetite
There’s Javier’s at Aria. I’m a big fan; love going there. I honestly stay at the Wynn quite a bit. The golf course there is nice, and I’m a big golfer, so I’ll play there. Usually you have a bunch of comedy buddies there. We just walk around and have fun, hang out at the pool, and then go do the show then gamble a little bit. Nothing really too crazy.
After Las Vegas your tour goes to Europe and the United Arab Emirates. No matter what is happening in the world, no matter how dividing our differences may seem, what is it about live stand-up comedy that helps people unite?
I think it’s because you’re in the moment; you’re in there together. It’s this idea that you’re getting caught up in the moment that’s so beautiful, and that’s what makes stand-up so great. And that’s what makes Vegas great. It is all live. So you bought tickets, you go to your seat, you’re going to watch your performance where you get swept up in the beauty of it all. It just makes it a special night.
PRETTY IN PINK
Lisa Vanderpump serves up vintage Flamingo flair at the new Pinky’s
BY AMBER SAMPSON
When it comes to celebrity restaurant concepts, Lisa Vanderpump rules the Strip. In the last few years, the reality TV star and restaurateur has expanded her culinary empire to include Vanderpump Cocktail Garden, Vanderpump à Paris and now Pinky’s at the Flamingo.
Building off the success of her first few ventures, Vanderpump hits her stride in just about every way with Pinky’s, bringing intentionality to what could have easily been just another notch in her Vegas portfolio. Naturally, we’ve come to expect a certain amount of character from her restaurants. Vanderpump à Paris executed on its Parisian villa theme. Vanderpump Cocktail Garden nailed the allure
of a nighttime garden bungalow. And Pinky’s, to a staggering degree, reimagines Flamingo’s golden era of grandeur in tasteful Art Deco design.
Those familiar with Vanderpump Rules will recall Vanderpump’s Beverly Hills mansion, Villa Rosa, making several stunning cameos in the reality show. Pinky’s shares similar star appeal, beginning with its gorgeous indoor terrace. An atrium oasis just about covers the central brunch area, nature reclaiming the sunny room with mature trees and floor-to-ceiling windows. That ambiance seamlessly feeds into a separate dining space, where gold accents and feathered brass make Pinky’s seem oddly in its prime, even when it’s busy feeling like a moment out of time.
Chef Josh Grimes, who also
worked at Vanderpump Cocktail Garden, strikes a balance between playful bites and classy cuisine at Pinky’s. For the general wow factor, order charcuterie in a birdcage ($45) for the table, followed by a round of martinis, because Pinky’s has a fleet of them. Espresso martinis feel all the rage these days, but when’s the last time you had one with caviar or everything bagel spice? Also, Pinky’s has an astounding number of margaritas and spritz options, like the cotton-candy topped Daddy Issues (Vanderpump’s take on a French 75) and the JailBird ($25), a sweet peach old fashioned. Most of the “main squeezes” on the menu—namely the Wagyu sliders ($23) and mini lobster rolls ($27)—serve as fine finger foods, but the star of shareables has to be the deviled egg gardens ($23).
FOOD + DRINK
HALL OF FAMOUS FOODS
Ivan Ramen is one of those restaurants that foodies are absolutely obsessed with. New York-born chef Ivan Orkin lived in Japan in the 1980s while teaching English, came back to the states and went to culinary school and worked in some major NYC restaurants, then moved back to Japan and opened his first ramen shop in Tokyo. It became one of the most prominent eateries to help spark the modern global ramen craze, and Orkin eventually returned to New York and brought Ivan Ramen with him in 2013.
Not only are these whole deviled eggs, but they’re a rich assortment of caviar, smoked salmon, bacon, blue cheese and more. It’s possible to graze on these all night, but save some room for a little vintage Vegas fare. Pinky’s Mob Wife Era shots ($80) can prime you up for an evening out on the town and its classic take on a shrimp cocktail ($24) pairs as the perfect bite. Of course, staples like Vanderpump’s famous goat cheese balls ($23) will always be favorites, but some dishes here are steadily rising up the ranks. Turns out, Vanderpump’s reality TV shows aren’t the only things worth binging.
Highly acclaimed yet casual culinary concepts like this one have made their way to Las Vegas in recent years as part of the current food hall trend. Now it’s Venetian’s turn to take a crack at it, and Ivan Ramen is just one of the drool-inducing shops set to open at Via Via, a food hall coming to the Strip resort in mid 2025.
Also joining in: James Beard-nominated chef Mason Hereford’s New Orleans hot spots Turkey and the Wolf and Molly’s Rise and Shine; second locations for UnCommons imports B.S. Taqueria and All’Antico Vinaio sandwiches; LA’s Howlin’ Ray’s Nashville-style hot chicken; NYC’s organic and all-natural Scarr’s Pizza; and craft cocktail bar Close Company, a new concept from the innovative creators of Death & Company. –Brock Radke
Ivan Ramen
(Courtesy/Daniel Krieger)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
The Raiders will not employ a fifth coach since moving to Las Vegas five years ago before the 2025-2026 NFL season begins. They will by the end of it.
LAS VEGAS ACES
SPORTS BY CASE KEEFER
Here’s what 2025 could bring for the Golden Knights, Aces, Raiders, Las Vegas Grand Prix and more
Team owner Mark Davis will decide to stick with current coach Antonio Pierce for another year after some promising signs at the end of the 2024-2025 season, but the Raiders’ results won’t improve much in the next campaign.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The 2022 and 2023 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces are currently the third choice in the betting odds to win the 2025 WNBA title at 4-to-1.
Every year is a big year in sports for Las Vegas, as the city continues its decade-long boom on the courts, fields, rinks and tracks.
Big events from across the sports world keep rolling into town, but that’s no longer all Vegas relies upon for its biggest sporting moments. Nowadays, we make our own defining memories with locally based teams and venues to rally behind.
So for this year’s annual predictions piece, let’s go through a handful of our biggest teams and staples and guess what the next 12 months will bring.
Having lost their chance to select their preferred rookie franchise quarterback by decreasing their draft position with late-season wins, the Raiders use their ample salary-cap space to instead heap a mammoth contract on free agent Sam Darnold. The move will be promising after Darnold leads the Minnesota Vikings to Super Bowl 59 where they lose to the Baltimore Ravens in the first-ever all-purple version of the game at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
But the Raiders don’t have the infrastructure of the Vikings to help Darnold succeed as much, and Pierce’s in-game decision-making continues to cost them in close games. Davis decides to move on from Pierce with the Raiders sitting at 4-8 heading into December.
General manager Tom Telesco is retained, especially after hitting on another first-round draft pick of Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks to go with this season’s rookie sensation, tight end Brock Bowers.
During their Stanley Cup-winning run in 2023, the Golden Knights held off the Edmonton Oilers on the final day of the regular season to win the Pacific Division and then beat them in a second-round playoff series.
This year will be a repeat, only in reverse.
The Oilers have clearly demonstrated that they’re the team to beat in the Western Conference, but the Golden Knights are no easy out. Vegas will stay in contention for another divisional crown until the bitter end when Edmonton finally clears them.
The Oilers will then exorcise some postseason demons against the Golden Knights in the second round with a seven-game series win.
Vegas will come in as a trendy upset choice after dispatching a hot Vancouver side in the first round and lead in the Edmonton series after three games. But not even a prime Jack Eichel and a few modest reinforcements acquired at the trade deadline for the Golden Knights can overcome the Oilers’ lethal duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
That price plummets quickly once the regular season begins in May. The Aces will be back with a vengeance to show that their dynasty isn’t over yet.
Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson can’t match the historical dominance of her 2024 season, but she’ll remain the best player in the world and the pieces around her will recover from a relative down year.
Veteran point guard Chelsea Gray will show she has at least one All-Star season left in her while forward Jackie Young will put together the most consistent campaign of her career to merit MVP consideration of her own.
The Aces and defending champion New York Liberty renew their rivalry in the 2025 WNBA Finals. New York will narrowly earn homecourt advantage in the regular season, but Las Vegas ultimately claims another championship on its rival’s home floor at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
FORECASTING
ATHLETICS
The A’s, with their most competitive roster in years, will be a smash hit in their first year playing at their temporary home of Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. City officials from the California capital will push to keep the franchise, but it will quickly become clear that’s not happening.
Groundbreaking for New Las Vegas Stadium (the venue’s working title) at the site of the former Tropicana occurs before the end of the summer after much-maligned A’s owner John Fisher and his team navigate the final financing hurdles.
The project will be on track for its planned 2028 opening as a location on the Strip with an onsite resort and $380 million in public funding is too appealing and tantalizing to Major League Baseball to let fall through.
UNLV SPORTS
The Lady Rebels fall short in the Mountain West Conference regular season but make it three straight conference tournament championships to again reach the NCAA Tournament. But a more negative streak also persists there, as they lose in the first round for the third straight year, this time to No. 5 seed Iowa.
The men’s basketball team fails to reach the “Big Dance” for the 12th consecutive year after finishing sixth in the Mountain West regular season, and moves on from coach Kevin Kruger in the offseason.
Football still has the most momentum of all UNLV’s major sports and, though it’s not entirely halted in the 2025 season, new coach Dan Mullen can’t pick up exactly where the outbound Barry Odom left off. The Scarlet and Gray reach bowl eligibility for the third straight season, but don’t advance to the Mountain West championship game where Boise State knocks off Air Force before leaving for the Pac-12.
AUTO RACING
No one would have expected the Las Vegas Grand Prix to produce three different winners in its first three years considering it launched during the height of Max Verstappen’s dominance with Red Bull Racing.
But that’s exactly what happens when legendary driver Lewis Hamilton, who showed perhaps the purest speed in the 2024 local race before Mercedes teammate George Russell ultimately won, prevails in his new Ferrari ride on November 22, 2025.
NASCAR is typically the more parity-fueled of the two major racing leagues, but ironically, not in Las Vegas. Chevrolet wheelman Kyle Larson wins his third Cup race in his last four tries at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Pennzoil 400 on March 16, 2025.
But Larson is beaten out by Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron when NASCAR comes back around for a playoff race, the South Point 400, on October 12, 2025.
SPORTS
HEALTH CARE
Ryan Latoski, simulation maintenance coordinator for Touro University Nevada, demonstrates the cricothyrotomy task trainer, a device used to simulate insertion of an endotracheal tube into a person’s airway. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
TOURO STUDENTS GAINING EXPERIENCE WITHOUT RISK
BY GRACE DA ROCHA VEGAS INC STAFF
Touro University’s clinical simulation center is the first in Nevada to achieve full accreditation from the prestigious Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
It’s another critical step in helping prepare students at Nevada’s largest medical school to grow the local health care industry. Nevada’s health system ranks 41st nationally, according to a 2024 report from nonpartisan organization the Commonwealth Fund.
“It truly says that you’re meeting, yes, of course, not just the bare minimum standards, but hopefully going above and beyond those to really ensure that your students are getting everything they need for their education to achieve mastery for them,” said Casey Maurice, director of the Michael Tang Regional Center for Clinical Simulation.
The center, one of two medical simulation centers in Nevada, supports the university’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Health and Human Services by providing hightech learning opportunities such as high-fidelity manikins that can sweat, cry and even react to doses of medication.
Students can also gain experience through structured clinical experiences, where parttime employees at the simulation center will
memorize scripts and act like they have specific ailments. The students then check symptoms, diagnose the “patient” or help them with treatment as if it were a typical doctor’s office or physical therapy visit.
The simulation center in recent years has added mixed-reality headsets that work with its labor and delivery manikin so students can “see inside of” the laboring mom during the delivery process.
Maurice said this simulation center serves as “kind of a bridge from the classroom” to a health care setting, where many patients may experience anxiety. Practicing these sorts of skills in school can help students be more confident going into the workforce and know how to perform tasks safely, she explained.
Two years ago, the simulation center achieved provisional accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), which promotes the use of simulation technology to “improve performance and reduce errors in patient care,” according to the organization’s website. Its membership includes physicians, nurses, researchers, educators and other health professionals from around the globe.
Maurice and her team began the accreditation process a few years before getting the provisional accreditation in 2022. They used
feedback from the organization to implement new strategies before applying for full accreditation.
To meet the standards for accreditation, simulation centers must submit numerous documents to the Society for Simulation in Healthcare’s Board of Review showing they comply with the organization’s core and teaching standards. These documents include the center’s mission, learning activities and floor plans of educational spaces, among others. A site visit from the review board is also required.
Desiree Deangelo, an osteopathic medicine student, said the simulation center “has been an invaluable resource for my medical education” because practicing on the manikins “has helped me refine my diagnostic, procedural and communication skills without the pressure of real-life consequences.”
Some of her favorite learning experiences include watching a simulated birth, and repeatedly practicing cardiovascular life support, which helped her improve each time.
“After the end of each simulation, we discussed what went well, and what we could improve upon for each scenario,” Deangelo said. “The opportunity to receive feedback and reflect on my performance further ensures I am more capable for the real world on my rotations.”
Since earning accreditation, Touro University has received “lots of calls” from other simulation centers looking for advice, Maurice said. She sees this accreditation and these collaborations with outside agencies as a huge plus for Nevada.
“It’s awesome to know that it’s getting better for my family, my friends, my kids; that when I go and I see some of my providers in the hospital systems or the doctor’s offices, it’s a surreal feeling to see them and know, hey, they made it, they’re there, they’re doing this and the lives that they’re impacting from it,” Maurice said.
VEGAS INC NOTES
Spotlighting the best in business
FundNV, a for-profit pre-seed venture capital fund, launched its second round of investments that will ultimately invest $2 million in scalable, early-revenue Nevada-based startups. It will invest $100,000 per startup in at least 20 Nevada companies over the next 32 to 48 months, double the amount of the first round of investments that began in 2020 and funded 19 companies over four years. The investments will be matched by Nevada’s State Small Business Credit Initiative program, leading to a total of $4 million being invested in the state’s startup economy.
SR Construction, a general contractor, completed the construction of West Henderson Hospital in Henderson. The seven-story facility featuring 150 inpatient beds broke ground in March 2022 and opened for patients in December 2024. It features an ER with 36 bays, extensive cardiology services, radiology lab, pharmacy, inpatient dialysis, the Da Vinci V advanced robotic surgery system and a range of surgical services. The facility is planned for growth to 450 beds.
Pompey Entertainment announced a strategic merger with Hey Vegas TV Together, these two entertainment entities will become Hey Media, a platform for artists and performers to reach global audiences through podcasts, original content, live-streamed events, print publications and other innovative media avenues.
The Downtown Vegas Alliance, a nonprofit organization that connects its members and downtown stakeholders to influence growth in the heart of Las Vegas, honored
gaming icon Kenny Epstein, CEO and chairman of the El Cortez, with the Richard Worthington Legacy Award at the organization’s 16th anniversary celebration. The award, named after the organization’s founder and first board chair, signifies commitment to improving downtown Las Vegas; serving as a unifier and convener of people, ideas and business; and raising one’s voice as an advocate for the city. Epstein is the second recipient of the award. Mayor Carolyn Goodman was the inaugural winner.
The Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix Pit Building was recognized with the 2024 Best Project Award from Engineering News Record Southwest region in the Sports and Entertainment category. FEA Consulting Engineers provided mechanical, plumbing, low voltage, environmental and lighting services for general contractor, the Penta Building Group, and lead architect Klai Juba Wald Architecture + Interiors. The F1 Pit Building serves as the starting and ending point of the Las Vegas F1 Circuit and is where cars receive service throughout the race.
MDMeals, a Las Vegas-based online delivery service offering dietitian-approved meals curated for chronic health conditions, is now serving select states across the Western U.S.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has ranked Meadows Bank the 16th SBA 504 Lender nationwide for the fiscal year ending September 30. Additionally, the bank has been named the No. 1 SBA 504 Lender in Nevada and No. 2 in Utah for fiscal year 2024.
BACKSTORY
URBAN CENTER FOR ADVANCED AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES | NOVEMBER 27, 2024 No, it’s not an upscale lettuce boutique. The Urban Center for Advanced Agricultural Technologies (UCAAT) in North Las Vegas shows the community how to live farm-to-table— vertically, that is. The high-tech lab inside Zion United Methodist Church teaches workshops on hydroponics, or growing plants without soil. Indoor farming means crops like lettuce, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers don’t have to be fazed by extreme drought or climate, and they don’t have to be transported from hundreds of miles away. We can grow our own fresh, green things right here in the desert. –Shannon Miller
