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EDITOR
SHANNON MILLER
shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
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EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)
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20 ENTERTAINING
Hosting a watch party at a local venue takes game day to a whole new level.
As the annual Sin City Classic descends on Las Vegas, local LGBTQ leagues continue to set the standard for inclusion year-round.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley aims to tackle homelessness and cheer on regional development in the year ahead. 22
ART Illustration by Ian
10
32 NEWS
34 MUSIC
Baseball player turned singer-songwriter Quinn Ayers pens diaristic tunes that stick around.
36 ART
Local photographer
Petit Monstre tells visual stories in the Oh Those Feels exhibit at Whitney Library.
38 FOOD & DRINK
José Andrés expands on his Vegas excellence with Bazaar Mar at the Shops at Crystals.
Majestic Repertory Theatre stages the musical Cabaret, Vegas Valley Winery celebrates its seventh anniversary and more happening this week.
Bazaar Mar’s The Modifier (Courtesy/Katrina Frederick)
Racoma
SUPERGUIDE
CABARET
Wish it were purely a historical piece, but alas. John Kander and Fred Ebb’s 1966 musical Cabaret, about a nightclub performer, a lovelorn writer and the rise of Nazism during the last days of Germany’s Weimar Republic, always seems to comment on the world we live in no matter when it’s staged, because we’ll always su er fascism and we’ll always turn to art to help defend against it. Majestic Repertory Theatre, ever ready to confront and inspire, presents an immersive staging of this classic, with choreography by Tracey Langran Corea, music by Laurence Sobel and direction by company founder Troy Heard. 7 p.m., & select dates thru 3/9, $50-$60, Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory.com.
–Geo Carter
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com
MOLCHAT DOMA
With Sextile, 7 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, area15.com
CLINT HOLMES
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com
QUEENS ORDERS
With Zerzura, AYCE Orchestra, 8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
D-MILES
10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taogroup.com
LAS VEGAS FASHION
COUNCIL LITTLE
BLACK DRESS EVENT
6 p.m., TPC Summerlin, lasvegasfashioncouncil.com
8:30 p.m., & 1/18, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com DO IT ALL
COLLECTIVE SOUL
EAGLES
8:30 p.m., & 1/18, Sphere, ticketmaster.com
ISLEY BROTHERS
8 p.m., & 1/18, Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com
NORA EN PURE
With Le Youth, Grish, 7 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, seetickets.us
RICHARD BONA 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com
AMIDY
With Egzod, 9 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com
DEREK JONES
10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, tixr.com
HOWIE MANDEL & ARSENIO HALL 9 p.m., & 1/18, David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com
JEFF ARCURI 7 & 10 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
OPERA LAS VEGAS: OPERA LEGENDS IN BLACK 7 p.m., Whitney Library, operalasvegas.com.
LADIES FIRST WITH C&C MUSIC FACTORY’S FREEDOM WILLIAMS With DJ Jenna Palmer, 10 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com
TWO FRIENDS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
TWINSICK 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
MISC
SATURDAY JAN 18
26TH ANNUAL VEGAS VIKING
LODGE OF THE SONS OF NORWAY LUTEFISK DINNER
2 & 5 p.m., Boulder City Elks Lodge, vegasvikings.org.
INTER MIAMI CF VS. CLUB AMÉRICA
7 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS VS. SAN DIEGO SEALS
7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com
LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC:
DVORAK’S NEW WORLD SYMPHONY
7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
THE PA’AKAI WE BRING
10 a.m., Troesh Studio Theater, thesmithcenter.com.
LIONEL RICHIE
8 p.m., & 1/19, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
CHELSEA HANDLER
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
HOL!
With Gentlemens Club, Shiverz, 7 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, seetickets.us
BONE
THUGS-N-HARMONY
8:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com
AMBROSIA
8 p.m., Chrome Showroom, ticketmaster.com
JAE DOUGLASS & QUINN AYERS
With Gabby Silver, 8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
VEGAS VALLEY WINERY ANNIVERSARY PARTY
LA STORY With Loco, Paradise Vultures, Sex to Love, At Odds, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, dice.fm
T-PAIN
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
When sommelier and food and beverage executive Charlie Peters went to start a winemaking school, he found out that Nevada had a law prohibiting anyone from operating a winery in a county with over 100,000 people. Undeterred, he lobbied the Legislature, which in 2005 passed legislation to undo the obscure and arbitrary law. Even though Peters is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through Vegas Valley Winery, which is throwing a classic Vegas-style party to celebrate its seventh anniversary this year. The casino-themed party will feature entertainment and of course, award-winning, locally produced wines. Guests are encouraged to dress in old Vegas-inspired cocktail attire in black, white, red and gold (think the Rat Pack and Ann-Margret). VIP guests get pre-party admission, access to a charcuterie station, a port-tasting station, a dessert table and exclusive tastings. 7 p.m., $35-$85, Vegas Valley Winery, eventbrite.com. –Shannon Miller
JEEZY
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
DIPLO
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
STEVE AOKI
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
RIVA STARR
10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com
DJ SCOOTER 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
(Courtesy/Denise Truscello)
SUPERGUIDE
FILM: THE ATOMIC CAFE
Documentary filmmaker Kevin Ra erty was a bomb-thrower. Over the course of his storied career, he directed keen-eyed examinations of the tobacco industry (1999’s The Last Cigarette) and white supremacist groups (1991’s Blood in the Face), and as a cinematographer, he taught the craft of directing to Michael Moore over the production of his first film, 1989’s Roger & Me. But the biggest bang Ra erty ever made was The Atomic Cafe, his 1982 film about America’s flirtation with nuclear warfare, told through an artfully assembled collage of propaganda footage from the Cold War era. It’s as funny as it is terrifying. 6 p.m., $13, Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater. com. –Geo Carter
With Ryan Belleville, Hunter Hill, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com.
ALEX REYMUNDO
With Steven Roberts, thru 1/26, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, best vegascomedy.com.
VELVET MOON BAND 6 p.m., Composers Room, the composersroom.com
EXHIBIT: ILLUSION AND REALITY BY EMIL FU Thru 1/28, times vary, West Las Vegas Library, thelibrarydistrict.org DO IT ALL
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY JAN 21
GIRL IN A COMA
WEDNESDAY JAN 22
THE KILLERS
8 p.m., & 1/24-1/25, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
SHANIA TWAIN
8 p.m., & 1/24-1/25, PH Live, ticketmaster.com
KODO 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com
BUDDHA TRIXIE
6:30 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com.
RORSCHACH TEST With There Is No Us, 8 p.m., Dive Bar, dice.fm.
This scrappy San Antonio girl trio, whose cheeky name is inspired by the first single from The Smiths’ Strangeways, Here We Come, seems to have made a full recovery with the announcement of a new album and its first Vegas show in more than a decade. Girl in a Coma took the 2010s by storm with a torrent of indie rock hits, catching the eye of music icon Joan Jett, who signed the band to her Blackheart Records label. The band has supported numerous artists on tour, including Morrissey, Sia, and Tegan and Sara. And as they make their way to Swan Dive, they’ll be joined by Elevated Undergrounds, a homegrown rock quartet and its fearless, back-bending frontwoman Gabbi Fisher. We wouldn’t advise you miss it. 8 p.m., $25, Swan Dive, dice.fm. –Amber Sampson
FRANKIE MORENO
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com
KEITH THOMPSON’S PIANO PARTY
RITA RUDNER Thru 1/24, 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.
DILLON FRANCIS
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
6 p.m., Composers Room, thecomposersroom.com
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. WYOMING
8 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com
JOHN
JOHN CAPARULO
9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.
JUSTIN CREDIBLE
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
JOHN FOGERTY
8 p.m., & 1/24-1/25, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE SHOES
SOLE MATES
Find the perfect shoes for your fi tness journey
BY GENEVIE DURANO
With the new year come the resolutions—eat better, get more exercise. The best place to start is right out your front door, and luckily for us desert dwellers, right now is the best time for outdoor activities. There’s no shortage of options either, from hiking and rock climbing to running and power-walking around town. When it comes to performance and injury prevention, what you put on your feet matters more than you might think. Whether you’re hitting the court, scaling a mountain or logging miles at Red Rock Canyon, choosing the right footwear is key.
Take running, for example. Frank Luyando, store manager at Red Rock Running Company in Henderson, says that the No. 1 misconception about running shoes is that any one brand or style is the best because word of mouth told you so or it’s trending on social media. “Everybody’s di erent. You could be from the same family—mother, daughter, father, son—everyone’s gait and life experiences change their footwear needs.”
The terrainyou train on matters signi cantly. Trail running shoes, with their aggressive polyurethane tread designed for dirt and rocks, can actually be dangerous on city sidewalks. “It’s similar to how you wouldn’t want to use snow tires on regular streets,” Luyando says.
This same principle applies to other sports: soccer cleats designed for grass elds di er from those meant for arti cial turf, while approach shoes for rock climbing feature entirely di erent grip patterns than a traditional hiking boot. Basketball players need high-top shoes with excellent ankle support and cushioning for jumps, while tennis players require shoes with superior lateral support and non-marking soles for quick directional changes. Weightlifters bene t from at, stable soles that provide a solid foundation for heavy lifts, contrasting sharply with the specialized spike patterns needed by track athletes.
Shoe longevity varies by activity
Shutterstock/Photo Illustration
Discover exciting walking trails (see page 18)
and intensity, too.
While runners typically follow a 500-mile rule (though this varies by shoe type), court shoes might need replacement based on signs of lateral wear. And climbing shoes could require resoling long before the upper shows wear. Luyando recommends that dedicatmaintain a rotation of di erent pairs to prevent injury, as “shoes do take on our bad habits.”
sta conducts comprehensive gait analyses, examining footfall patterns, biomechanics and existing medical conditions. This 15-20-minute assessment considers factors such as arch type, pronation (how your ankle exes) and past injuries to determine the most suitable options.
erent “shoes do take on our bad habits.” year, the choice becomes even more
If running is calling to you this year, the choice becomes even more nuanced. Modern running shoe technology has made signi cant strides, particularly in combining stability with lightweight design. “In the past, most shoes were built for either speed or stability—you’d have a heavier shoe if you had more unstable needs,” Luyando says. “Now, stability shoes weigh just about an ounce more than their neutral counterparts.”
Whether you’re running your rst 5K or are an experienced marathoner, it’s a good idea to consider a professional tting. At specialty stores like Red Rock Running Company, the
But don’t let the technicalities sideline you before you even hit the road. In fact, Red Rock Running Company is shifting the very de nition of what it means to be a runner.
“A runner isn’t just somebody going for a marathon specialty time,” Luyando says. “A runner is somebody who’s decided they want to move— whether that’s a server walking 30,000 steps during their shift or a 60-year-old woman coming out of physical therapy who just wants to walk again. The most important thing is that we start moving.”
For those interested in joining the running community, Red Rock Running Company hosts running clubs at all four of their Las Vegas locations throughout the week. These inclusive 5K runs welcome participants of all experience levels and typically last 30-40 minutes. Check the schedule at rrrc.run.
FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE WALKING TRAILS
SCENIC STEPS
Walking might just be nature’s perfect exercise: It’s accessible to most people of all tness levels and doesn’t require fancy equipment. And the benets are many: Regular walks can chase away the blues, helping to reduce anxiety and depression. They’re also a powerful weapon against type 2 diabetes, helping to regulate blood sugar levels, and can even help reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Ready to take the rst step? Here are some great walks to take around town.
Wetlands Park Nature
Preserve Loop
Explore this easy 2.1-mile loop trail with a paved, accessible path featuring scenic ponds and overlooks, with boardwalks and railings throughout. Generally considered an easy route, it takes less than 45 minutes to complete. The trail is open year-round and is popular for birding, hiking and running. Note that pets are not allowed on this family-friendly trail.
Pittman Wash
An accessible 8.5-mile paved path perfect for cyclists, runners and walkers, this Henderson favorite features smooth concrete surfaces and gentle grades, making it ideal for wheelchairs and strollers. Enjoy yearround access, ample parking and dog-friendly areas for o -leash adventures.
Explore these iconic local walking trails this year
Exploration Peak Park
This short but rewarding 0.9-mile moderate trail in Mountain’s Edge rewards you with spectacular Strip views from its summit. Start at the 80-acre park featuring a western town, Indian village, archaeology dig site and water play area, perfect for family exploration before or after your trek.
Eagle’s Nest Trail
This moderate 2.7-mile trail in Mount Charleston winds through pinyon-juniper woods and o ers stunning views of Kyle Canyon’s south rim, which stretches from the Valley to La Madre Mountains, Gri th Peak and Charleston Peak. Best visited from April through October, the trail welcomes leashed dogs and takes about 75 minutes to complete.
Grand Circle Loop Trail
For the mother of all walking trails, this 11.5-mile loop trail in Red Rock Canyon takes an average of five hours to complete, so if you’d like to take it on, pack a lunch (and plenty of water) and start early. The Grand Circle loop is the longest trail in the park and can be traveled clockwise or counterclockwise. The best reward for completing it besides the stunning views? Bragging rights. –Genevie Durano
Historic Railroad Trail
This easy 4.1-mile gravel path near Boulder City features five massive tunnels carved for Hoover Dam’s construction in 1931. Along this preserved railway route, enjoy Lake Mead views, abundant wildlife and desert
(Shutterstock/Photo
Pick the perfect venue for your group
Choosing the right spot is crucial. Look for a venue with a reputation for stellar service, great food, and state-of-the-art viewing setups.
Zach Jukel, VP of marketing for Carver Road Hospitality and Flanker Kitchen & Sports Bar at Mandalay Bay, suggests starting with award-winning locations.
“If they’re award-winning, they have enough cachet on their property where they have planning down to a science,” he says. For smaller groups, casual spots with a few screens might do, but if you’re hosting a crowd (10-15 people or more), it’ll be worth finding a venue that o ers customized services like private dining rooms or VIP areas.
Book early Planning ahead is crucial for securing the best location.
We suggest getting a firm headcount and start calling around for open availability.
“The time of year plays a part, but typically, I would say to book a few weeks in advance or a month’s notice because of how packed and how crazy NFL season is,” Jukel says.
PARTY SPOTS
Not sure where to host your away-fromhome football bash? Try any of these favorites.
WATCH
ENTERTAINING PARTY
GAME TIME
How to plan a football watch party outside your home
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
With the NFL playo s in full swing, there’s no better excuse to rally your crew for a high-stakes game-day celebration. While cheering from the comfort of your couch is always an option, hosting a watch party at a local venue with all the bells and whistles takes the experience to a whole new level and will upgrade you to G.O.A.T status within your gridiron clique. If you haven’t a clue where to start, we’re here to help.
OUR PICKS FOR WATCH
Set the scene
Don’t forget the vibe—watch parties are about more than just the game. If you’re planning for big events like the Super Bowl, consider a place that o ers extra entertainment, like pre-game or after-party events with live DJs. And considering Vegas’ reputation for being a party destination, there will be plenty of options to choose from. Event coordinators at each Strip property can help with this.
Get comfortable
Get comfortable
For a truly immersive experience, look for venues with large, high-definition screens with booming sound systems. For example, at Flanker, you’ll find 50+ HD TVs, including a massive 30-foot LED screen, plus private dining rooms with their own TVs and sound systems. These rooms are a great option if your group has diverse interests, such as some people wanting to enjoy the game while others prefer something like karaoke.
Aces & Ales 2801 N. Tenaya Way, 702-638-2337, acesandales.com.
Big Dog’s Brewing 4543 N. Rancho Dr., 702-368-3715, bigdogsbrews.com.
Born and Raised Multiple locations, bornandraisedlv.com.
Four Kegs 276 N. Jones Blvd. #B, 702-870-0255, fourkegs.com.
The Front Yard Ellis Island Casino, 702-733-8901, ellisislandcasino.com.
The right menu
The right menu
Game day and great food go hand-inhand. Opt for a menu that balances classic snacks with hearty options. Burgers and chicken wings are fan favorites, but consider shareables like family-style nachos and a variety of dips for grazing throughout the game. A well-curated beer selection is also essential, so look for venues that o er rotating seasonal drafts, beer towers and a craft cocktail menu.
General Admission Uncommons, 725-780-1098, generaladmissionlv. com.
Jackpot Bar and Grill 4485 S. Jones Blvd., 702-463-0333, jackpotbarlv.com.
Mabel’s Bar & Q Palms, 702-944-5931, palms.com.
Go big or … stay close to home
Game day and great hand. Opt for a property can help with this.
If you’re looking to skip the Strip and keep things local, Vegas’ neighborhoods are chock full of hidden gems that deliver all the excitement of a game-day rager without the crowds. From cozy bars to casual eateries, these places o er the perfect balance of bites, sips and a laidback atmosphere. For a more personalized experience, ask about private viewing rooms or reserve community-size tables for you and your crew.
SuperBook Westgate, westgateresorts.com.
RedTail Sports Bar Resorts World, 702-676-7802, zoukgrouplv.com.
Tailgate Social Palace Station, 702-221-6513, tailgatesociallv.com.
(Shutterstock/Photo
SIN CITY CLASSIC, LAS VEGAS BEAVERS SOFTBALL TEAM
ON THE SAME TEAM
(Courtesy/Sin City Classic)
The annual Sin City Classic and local sports organizations strive to make a more inclusive playing field
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Well before Las Vegas gained major league sports teams, the Valley already had a strong reputation as a sports destination—which extended to the LGBTQ+ community. For the past 17 years, Vegas has faithfully hosted the world’s largest annual LGBTQ+ sporting event, known as the Sin City Classic, bringing thousands of athletes and allies together for friendly competition and connection each January.
The multi-day tradition has evolved tremendously since 2008, when the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) founded the event as a 70-team softball tournament then known as the Sin City Shootout in Las Vegas. The nonprofit, which has served LGBTQ+ athletes in the LA metro area since 1978, had hopes of hosting a largescale event that could present a safe
space for sport.
What GLASA didn’t anticipate was the amount of appreciation for an atmosphere that embraces all athletes.
The Sin City Classic, which returns for a citywide takeover January 16-20, has expanded its mission of inclusivity to support 23 sports and more than 10,000 LGBTQ+ athletes and allies today.
“For a lot of folks, they come and it’s the one place where they get to compete. We kind of live in a bubble in California, so we forget that people don’t all live in places that are accepting or have opportunities,” says Jason Peplinski, co-executive director of the event. “Lots of folks come and it’s the time they get to be on a gay team, play a sport … and just frankly be themselves and be out where they are.”
Over the course of four days, the Sin City Classic transforms Las Vegas into a different kind of sports town. Competitions spread far
and wide as players flock to local schools, softball complexes, parks, tennis courts and recreation centers around the Valley to compete in everything from kickball and indoor rowing to pickleball and ultimate frisbee. This year, the classic has also added women’s basketball to the mix. And other sports such as wrestling and games of bridge and darts will take place at the Flamingo.
Peplinski says it’s not uncommon for spectators to show up and watch the sporting events happening in Henderson and Summerlin, and definitely those on the Strip.
Because the Sin City Classic does promote inclusive play, Peplinski says participants are also encouraged to register as they identify in terms of gender, orientation and skill level. In 2023, the festival also partnered with Kicking Out Transphobia to host its first all transgender and nonbinary soccer match, and there’s more events like that to come.
(Courtesy/Sin City Classic)
“That’s really important to us,” Peplinski says. “We also have done a lot of outreach to grow the Women+ events and Women+ sports. Then also, in the last couple of years, we’ve really put a focus on providing programming for our sober folks.”
CeCe Anthony, a Las Vegas softball player who has participated in the Sin City Classic and three Gay World Series, says the value of sports is that you don’t need to pack into a noisy club to find connection. It’s one of the
few social scenes “not centered around a hookup,” and yet it provides something crucial.
“As important as it is for us to have diversity in all the spaces, sometimes when you’re part of a marginalized group, it’s nice to have a space where you’re with like people who have at least a shared experience,” says Anthony.
Growing up with a father in the Air Force, Anthony moved around a lot. But her one constant was always sports.
A few years ago, she settled
in Las Vegas after moving back and forth between California and Oklahoma, during which time she says she experienced both sides of the cultural spectrum. Anthony discovered the Las Vegas Gay Softball League, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ sports organization that’s been pitching inclusion since 2009, shortly after her arrival. She’s been playing on a women’s and co-ed team every season since.
“I am thankful for the league, most definitely, because it allowed me to find community,”
Anthony says. “It’s nice to have a space, again, where you can be as LGBTQ as you want or not, but you just get to be you.”
“The diversity of the community is amazing, too,” she adds.
“You’ve got a lot of brand-new players. You’ve got young players who’ve never played before. You’ve got experienced players. You’ve got old folks like me that are just trying to still have some fun.”
The Las Vegas Gay Softball League embraces all skill levels through a division system spanning amateur, recreational and
(Courtesy/Sin City Classic)
SIN CITY CLASSIC KICKBALL
SIN CITY CLASSIC
January 16-20, sincityclassic. org.
NEVADA GAY RODEO BIGHORN RODEO
May 23-25, ngra.com.
LAS VEGAS GAY SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Registration soon for spring and fall seasons, lvgsl.com.
highly competitive tiers.
After the Sin City Classic has come and gone, local LGBTQ+ leagues continue to set the standard for inclusion year-round. In many cases, they buck stereotypes. The Nevada Gay Rodeo Association (NGRA), a volunteer-run fixture of the local rodeo scene since 1992, leads the way with Memorial Day weekend’s BigHorn Rodeo. The NGRA adopts an inclusive set of rules across the board, with men and women competing in the
same rodeo events.
“We’re working hard to keep it at the forefront here in Nevada and make sure that we find people who want a place to belong. Because I’ll tell you the truth, gay rodeo is not as much about the sports as it is the camaraderie,” says Douglas Graff, rodeo director for the BigHorn Rodio, part of the International Gay Rodeo Association.
“If you come to a gay rodeo and you get behind the shoots, there’s a tremendous support network of people trying to help you be the
best that you can be. Even though you’re competing against each other—there’s still that level, you still want to win—but the amount of support, helping people and getting people involved and not discouraged is huge.”
After attending his first gay rodeo in Los Angeles in 1994, Graff was eager to get involved. While living in Michigan, he helped get the first Michigan Gay Rodeo off the ground and later started competing. At 27, he rode his first steer, and by 29, his first bull.
ON THE SAME TEAM
“When I was coming of age, I struggled, because I came from the country and I couldn’t quite put gay and country together. And then when I found gay rodeo, it all just was perfect,” says Graff. “I realized how important it was to have something you can belong to. And I don’t care if it’s softball or kickball or volleyball or whatever, when you belong to something, it’s important for your well-being.”
Graff’s bull-riding career sadly ended in 2006 after he shattered his pelvis. But that injury didn’t break his spirit. With the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association, he helps keep the excitement of rodeo alive in and out of the arena. Adding on to the exhilaration of bareback bronc riding and bull-riding, the NGRA’s BigHorn Rodeo features fun “camp” events, like
a community goat-dressing competition that anyone from the stands can join.
“It’s intended to be a starter event for people to get involved and get signed up, get in the dirt. If we can get them in the dirt, we can get them hooked,” Graff says. “We’ve had people that started doing goat-dressing and ended up riding bulls and broncs three years later.”
Preserving the legacy of gay rodeo has always been top of mind to the NGRA, especially since this year marks the 50th anniversary of Nevada’s first gay rodeo, which started in Reno in 1975. Graff recognizes rodeo as a rough and risky sport, but the NGRA has also fought to make gay rodeo a safe space for the community. The NGRA also raises funds throughout the year to help local organizations
and continues to pour resources back into the competition riders and ropers look forward to every year.
Graff’s reason for staying in gets at the heart of why anyone, regardless of how they identify, chooses a sport and a team and
sticks with them, even through injury and hardship.
“They say, if you’re a friend for more than 15 years, you’re really family,” he says. “So I have a huge family after 30 years of being in this, and that’s why I keep doing it.”
(Photos Courtesy/Kristopher Minnich)
“Participation
in sports provides kids with invaluable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, discipline and cooperation—fundamental lessons that every young person deserves the chance to experience.”
– Silver State Equality director André C. Wade
BY BROCK RADKE
The idea of athletic competition is inherently inclusive; let’s get everyone together on the field and see who wins. But the reality seems very different and quite complex.
Welcoming environments for people of all abilities, identities and backgrounds must be constructed. The playing field must be leveled again and again, because all athletes do not have the same opportunities and resources. True fairness requires sensitivity, communication and respect. It’s a lot of work … thoughtful work. What if we could reduce it back down, start fresh with getting everyone together on the field—everyone—and just see who wins?
Politicizing sports has never really worked out for the athlete, but it certainly exacerbates the complexities that already exist. Unfortunately, it’s happening now in our state. Last week, Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony announced the creation of his “Task Force to Protect Women’s Sports,” which aims to “collaborate with athletes, coaches, educators and policymakers to promote policies that prioritize
fairness, protect women’s safe spaces, uphold opportunities for women, and preserve the integrity of competition.”
But there’s nothing in that statement about preventing trans athletes from participating in organized sports, the actual goal of the task force. In fact, last week’s announcement doesn’t even acknowledge the existence of trans women participating in sports; Anthony instead states: “Nevadans have made it clear that they do not want men taking female athletes’ spots on sports teams …”
This is where the sensitivity, communication, and most importantly, respect, should come into play.
In a statement to the Weekly one day after the task force announcement, Silver State Equality director André C. Wade said: “Barely into the new year, anti-LGBTQ+ politicians and policymakers are wasting no time in attacking Nevada’s transgender community rather than addressing the pressing issues that matter most to Nevadans. Instead of tackling the real problems in our state, [Anthony] has chosen to follow the lead of extremists in Washington, D.C., using transgender youth as political pawns in a shameful
display of divisive politics.”
This all comes just a few months after NCAA athletes at the University of Nevada, Reno, made national headlines for boycotting a women’s volleyball match against another college team whose roster allegedly included a transgender student athlete. Nevada was forced to forfeit the match.
One of the athletes who led the boycott is a member of the new task force. Henderson resident and former NCAA champion swimmer Marshi Smith is the chair of the group, and a co-founder of the local Independent Council on Women’s Sport, an organization that has supported lawsuits against the NCAA and Mountain West Conference by the UNR athletes.
This is a complicated game. Athletes’ concerns about competition should not be dismissed without careful consideration, but the integrity of the competition itself is corrupted when athletes are not allowed to participate.
For the athlete, there is nothing else. Whether you are competing against another person, another team, or only with yourself, the sport is not just the most important thing, it is the only thing. The skills
developed through countless hours of work and displayed during competition are the very definition of the athlete.
And sports are important to all of us. Even if we’re not participating, we know—certainly here in Las Vegas—how these activities bring us together, unite communities and build crucial connection. No one should be denied access.
“Participation in sports provides kids with invaluable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, discipline and cooperation—fundamental lessons that every young person deserves the chance to experience,” Wade continued in his statement. “Beyond the field, sports also contribute significantly to students’ overall well-being, fostering better mental health, boosting academic performance, and enhancing self-esteem and confidence.
“Our schools should be focused on providing the best possible education and helping to improve the well-being of all students, not actively harming students’ mental health and creating a hostile environment by singling out certain individuals. Every child deserves equal access to these opportunities.”
Denying access to competition betrays the soul of every athlete
SPORT IS FOR ALL
sktchevents.com|@sktchevents|info@sktchevents.com
IN THE NEWS
“Our elders and families living on reservation lands in Death Valley rely to this day on the water of the Amargosa River that is under threat in this region. This is a fight for our identity, our sovereignty and our survival. The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe will not stand by while the water that sustains our sacred traditions and future generations is stolen or poisoned. Today’s action is a crucial step forward, but we will not rest until these lands and waters are fully protected.”
— Mandi Campbell, tribal historic preservation officer of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, commenting on the U.S. Department of the Interior temporarily pausing new mining claims in 269,000 acres of public land in the
VEGAS FIREFIGHTERS
ASSIST CALIFORNIA
As of January 12, two strike teams from the Las Vegas Valley have been deployed to Southern California to help with the Eaton fire near Pasadena and the Palisades fire near Malibu and Beverly Hills. A total of 45 personnel from the Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and Henderson Fire Department are providing support and resources.
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Amargosa River watershed in Nevada and California.
POLITICS
The Southern Nevada Health District is urging residents to take precaution as cases of respiratory illnesses—influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—spike in Clark County.
To combat respiratory illnesses, the health district recommends people get vaccinated for the flu, COVID-19 and RSV and wash their hands frequently with soap and water.
Those who are experiencing symptoms (chills, fatigue, cough, runny or stu y nose, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, and headaches) should seek treatment, especially if they’re at a higher risk of experiencing severe illness, health district o cials said. And if you are sick, stay at home.
They added that immunocompromised individuals are advised to take extra precautions in public, such as wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask.
The health district said it has recorded 438 influenza-related hospitalizations and seven deaths for the flu season running from October through May. By comparison, it reported 294 influenza-associated hospitalizations and 13 deaths a year ago.
Of more than 5,000 COVID-19 tests taken in Nevada over the past two weeks, roughly 3% of them were positive, health district o cials said. –Grace Da Rocha
AI-powered hotel to usher in a new kind of Vegas hospitality Health district: Respiratory illness rising in Clark County
As visitors repeatedly return to Las Vegas, locals who work at resorts get to know them better and better. But why shouldn’t that same experience extend to someone’s first time in town?
That’s the leading philosophy behind Otonomus Hotel, a new property opening near Allegiant Stadium in May. Its owners believe it’s the first “AI hotel.”
“The days of the one-sizefits-all experience in hospitality is really antiquated,” said Steve Escalante, vice president of business development for the holding group that owns Otonomus. “The spirit of the concept is really to create and provide, through technology, a much more personalized experience for the user.”
With Vegas’ incredibly high gaming revenue, the city acts as a gaming testing ground for the rest of the country. Now, the tech industry is breaking into the city—something witnessed at the mega CES technology show that took place
at the Las Vegas Convention Center January 7-10.
If some of these tech companies get their wish, robots will be cleaning floors and making deliveries, conferences will take place with real-time translation into dozens of languages, and stays in Las Vegas will be more personalized than ever.
For guests at Otonomus, the customization starts before they check in with a gamified questionnaire and continues as the hotel’s “O Brain” scrapes data throughout people’s stay.
That means remembering details like your preferred co ee order, room temperature and which direction you like your windows facing. Guests will interact with the AI through the hotel’s KEE app, which Escalante called a “24/7 butler in the palm of your hands.”
If guests come back, whether a month or year later, what the “O Brain” learned last time will be put to work again.
And unlike most hotels, the management systems that run
the property aren’t separated. Instead of the front desk having to call housekeeping to get a towel upstairs, guests can request one in the app and send it directly to the necessary sta .
Part of the company’s future may also be in licensing. Escalante said many hotels “are very intrigued with what we’re doing” and have “a lot of interest.”
“But for right now, we really want to perfect and refine not only the concept but the technology before deploying it at scale,” he said. “That’s where we’re at now because we really care about the experience and what we’re doing.”
Escalante said Otonomus considered including robots in its upcoming hotel, adding that the company believes they’re “part of the wave of the future,” but that they wanted to emphasize the “human touch.”
The 300-unit property will operate with around 30 human workers, he said.
–Kyle Chouinard
Former GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown will serve in the Trump administration, the president-elect wrote in a Truth Social post on January 9. Brown, who lost to incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., in November, was tapped by President-elect Donald Trump for Under Secretary for Memorial A airs at the Department of Veterans A airs. The position oversees national veterans’ cemeteries, maintaining over 150 cemeteries that provide burial services for U.S. veterans and certain members of their family.
Announcing his pick, Trump lauded Brown’s time in the military and said this would be a continuation of his service.
“Sam will now continue his service to our Great Nation at the VA, where he will work tirelessly to ensure we put America’s Veterans FIRST, and remember ALL who served,” Trump said on Truth Social. Brown, a former Army captain and Purple Heart recipient, served in Afghanistan, where a roadside bomb detonated under his vehicle’s fuel tank and left about 30% of his body scarred.
“To my fellow veterans,” Brown said in a statement on X. “I’ve got you.”
The Senate will be responsible for confirming Cabinet nominations, including the position Brown is being considered for.
If the Senate confirms the nominations, Brown will serve alongside Trump’s VA pick to lead the agency, former Georgia Republican Rep. Doug Collins. –Haajrah Gilani
Trump taps Sam Brown for VA
(Steve
NEW YEAR, NEW MAYOR
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley ‘hits
the ground running’ after swearing in
BY GRACE DA ROCHA
It’s been a busy new year for Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley.
Since taking office in December, Berkley—former Nevada Congresswoman and former senior vice president of the Touro University system—has led her first city council meeting, met with her government affairs team to discuss bill drafts for the state Legislature, and even rung in the new year with rapper Flo Rida on Fremont Street.
The Weekly sat down with Berkley to discuss her priorities for 2025, issues like homelessness and regional development and more.
Having just been sworn in on December 4, you’re in the midst of onboarding with the city. Is there any department that you’re looking forward to meeting with, or any specific issue you’re wanting to talk about?
Of course, working with the city manager’s office to conclude the Badlands [golf course] saga; that was the first order of business and I’m very happy that I was able to fulfill a campaign promise to get Badlands off the table.
I am [also] looking forward to meeting with the department heads regarding the Animal Foundation and what the city will be doing to protect abandoned and abused animals, and what we can do to help educate our fellow citizens on what they can do to help protect our four-legged friends. I’m talking about spaying and neutering, microchipping (and) getting rid of backyard breeders.
Also, I’m looking forward to talking to the city directors regarding the
Courtyard [Homeless Resource Center] and what we are going to do to address the homeless challenge that we have in the city. Nobody should be living on the streets, but what can we do as a city is to ensure that we can provide mental health therapy, addiction therapy and work with the homeless in an effort to get them off the streets and self-sustaining.
What kind of community outreach do you plan on doing as mayor?
I definitely want to do either a biweekly or a monthly press conference that’s open to all of the press, free wheeling, no restrictions. I think that’s very important, and we’ll be initiating that probably no later than March.
Also, I want to start going into the different wards. I understand that Mayor [Carolyn] Goodman used to, once a month, go into the different wards with the city councilperson from that ward, and just have a conver-
sation with our mutual constituents; what’s on their mind, what are their needs ... so I plan to start initiating that also no later than March.
Former Mayor Carolyn Goodman did a lot in her final months as mayor to address the homelessness issue, including to update the controversial camping ban. How do you plan to address the issue?
Of course, the vote on the camping ban came before the city council before I became mayor, but I would have supported it had I been in office. I will be working very closely with the Courtyard to see exactly what services they are providing and how we can improve the services that we deliver to the homeless population.
What I think is very important [is] working collaboratively with the other jurisdictions in Southern Nevada so we can come up with solutions that work across jurisdictional lines. You know, I have very close relations with the county commissioners, North Las
Vegas City Council and mayor, Henderson City Council and mayor. When I was CEO of Touro University, we worked very closely with the Henderson city government.
I believe that the relationships that I’ve developed throughout the many decades will be to the benefit of certainly the City of Las Vegas, but reaching out and collaborating with other elected officials who are tasked with running their cities and county, I think, would be very beneficial to all the people that live in Southern Nevada.
Speaking of working with the other jurisdictions, a bunch of regional projects were announced last year, such as the children’s hospital in the southwest valley. Are there any regional projects, either within the city lines or outside of it, that you’re really excited to see?
I’ve been a proponent of a children’s hospital since I ran Touro University.
CITY OF LAS VEGAS PRIORITIES FOR THE LEGISLATURE
The Nevada Legislature convenes on February 3, and cities across Nevada are finalizing bill draft requests—essentially laws they would like to see passed. Here are the bill draft requests the City of Las Vegas has on deck.
We need one. On a personal level, my son, Max, was born with spina bifida. There was nobody here in Southern Nevada that could perform the operation that he needed, so we had to go to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for Max’s spina bifida to be corrected.
Even though the proposal for the children’s hospital is not located in the City of Las Vegas, it will benefit everybody in Southern Nevada. Consequently, I would be supportive of that on behalf of the city.
Same thing with sports teams. I don’t know what other sports teams will be coming to Southern Nevada. I mean, we’re already the gaming capital of the world, the entertainment capital of the world and rapidly becoming the sports capital of the world. But I don’t think anybody can go to a Raiders game or a Golden Knights game and not think that this is a benefit to everybody that lives in Southern Nevada. So technically, they may not be located within the boundaries of the city, but it still benefits all of us, right?
Affordable housing projects
Senate Bill 28 proposes a higher threshold for the average of total gross income of families within an affordable housing project, raising the limit from 60% to 120% of the median gross income for the county based on estimates of the current median gross family income in the U.S. from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. It also sets requirements for a local government to order an affordable housing, fixed guideway, high-capacity transit, multi-family housing or transportation project—most notably that it be in an area designed for transit opportunities or another land use matching with the local master plan.
Land use planning
The planning commission of a city or county is mandated to develop a master plan for the area’s physical development, and Senate Bill 48 would revise the conservation, housing, land use and safety elements of these plans. It asks for a conservation plan that addresses the sustainability of natural resources and a plan to address homelessness, among others. The bill would also create three more requirements—economic, education and public health elements—and establish that local governments must review ordinances within a year after passage to ensure they align with the master plan.
Medicaid coverage
Up to 90 days of medical respite care for people experiencing homelessness would be covered by Medicaid, if federal dollars are available, according to text in Senate Bill 54. Services covered must include case management; behavioral health support; food and housing; storage and management of medications; transportation for medical appointments; care before or following a medical procedure; evaluation, assessment and “immediate” interventions for other life factors; and care for substance use disorders.
–Grace Da Rocha
Mayor Shelley Berkley, left, is sworn in by former Nevada Supreme Court Justice Michael Cherry, right, at Las Vegas City Hall on December 4, 2024. Berkley’s husband, Dr. Lawrence Lehrner, stands by. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
8 p.m., $15, Swan Dive,
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
Ex-baseball player Quinn Ayers pens diaristic songs that stick around
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Midway through Quinn Ayers’ woozy, acoustic cut “801/970,” he receives a voicemail from an old flame.
“I wish things could’ve turned out differently between us. But I was never able to understand you on an emotional level, because you never allowed it to happen,” a woman says over the line. “I want you to know that showing your emotions with people isn’t always showing vulnerability. It’s so necessary.”
That message, Ayers says, inspired the title for Necessary Emotions, a confessionally charged project that sees the Las Vegas musician battling with bouts of anxiety and the emotional entanglements of his past. He recites moments from raw memory, as though prying open an old locker he hasn’t allowed himself to touch for some time.
“I don’t feel like I’ve ever really been a journaler, but I’ve always treated my music as such. Every song is an entry, and the date may vary on it,” says Ayers.
If that’s true, then Ayers’ story as a musician—and former baseball player who started cutting demos in his dorm at the University of Northern Colorado—could fill pages. Everyone expected the third baseman to follow in the footsteps of his father, who’d attended UNLV and been drafted to the Chicago Cubs.
“But I just kind of fell out of love with baseball,” says Ayers. “I hit a crossroads
of, did I want to do it professionally? And I just didn’t. Outside of baseball, it was always music for me.”
Already a natural writer, Ayers picked up music like a familiar, broken-in glove. In 2019, he released the sunny hip-hop track “Lemonade,” followed by a string of finely produced singles that have evolved with his tastes. His style varies by the project, with some cuts like “I Hate You I Hate You,” recalling all the languid trap-pop of Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleeding; others like “Ilyaways!” delivering a catchy, pitched-up house party vibe; and “Want You Need You” placing Ayers’ melodic cadence over marching percussion and warm acoustics.
The singer-songwriter dips in and out of genres with an admirable amount of ease, having grown up listening to everything from Coldplay and The Fray to the Ying Yang Twins and Ray Charles.
“I don’t think anyone has really found their sound until they’ve experimented with everything,” Ayers says. “I don’t ever want to close that door, because I like so many types of music.”
Ayers is currently working on a new alternative project, tentatively titled If You Even Care, and prepping for his next show at Swan Dive on January 18. If he continues at this rate, 2025 could be his breakout year. But he’s adamant about letting it happening organically.
“There’s a lot of artists that buy numbers to look the part. I’ve always been a big advocate against that. I’m not doing this s**t to get fame and get a bunch of likes and get a bunch of comments,” Ayers says. “When I do a show and I see someone singing the lyrics back that obviously resonated with them, that’s the best thing ever about music. We’re sharing the same moment. We’re singing a song that you know and that I created out of nothing. That’s where music is the most beautiful to me.”
MUSIC QUINN AYERS With Jae Douglass. January 18,
swandivelv.com
OPTICAL ANECDOTE
F.L.Y. (Petit Monstre)
ART
Petit Monstre tells arresting visual stories in Oh Those Feels at Whitney Library
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
At the Whitney Library, if you know where to look, you’ll find something that grabs your attention. Not in the way a piece of loud, flashy art might, but in the quiet way that only the most arresting portraits can.
To the left of the main entrance, tucked away from the aisles of books, photos are hung with a deliberate simplicity—no frills, just light, shadows and human form. The work of local photographer Petit Monstre—aka Ryan Alexander— consists of ten images plucked from his photo book Oh Those Feels
With an ambition to launch a men’s fashion blog with his best friend, Monstre found himself toggling with his first camera back in 2016.
“In the process of just learning how to use the camera, I kind of fell
into photography,” he says. “I started off doing street photography. So at first, I was never taking pictures of people; it was just spaces. And then I decided to place people in those spaces.”
His approach to shooting isn’t about perfect composition, or glam shots taken in front of a studio backdrop. Rather, he leans on visual narration and storytelling.
“I try to kind of come up with a concept or a theme, and then I will try to find someone who fits that,” says Monstre. “It’s more like a movie, you don’t pick just anyone to play a role. They have to look a certain way, fit your story.”
The concepts go further than who’s in front of the lens. They’re about the space around them, the light that plays on their form, and
the moment when everything falls into place. Monstre feels most comfortable shooting out in the real world—on the street, under blaring sun, in the spaces where light and shadow duke it out. His subjects aren’t posed mannequins. They’re real people, just existing in the moment.
Take “Ye Do I Walk.” A man in a yellow jersey, one foot still in the sunlight, the other swallowed by the dark, steps beneath the underbelly of a freeway. It’s all tension and contrast— half in, half out. The image could be a metaphor for a hundred different things, but you’re welcome to sit with it and come up with your own.
Then there’s “F.L.Y.,” a moment suspended in time, where a model,
chin resting lightly on her hand, gazes slightly upward as a plane flies overhead. The proximity between her and the aircraft is uncanny and feels cinematic—it’s perfectly timed and has a sense of something imminent and untold.
In “My Dear Melancholy,” a model’s tattooed neck and chest are highlighted by warm light as they tilt their head back, surrendering to the gleam. It’s a tender, undeniably human moment.
The Oh Those Feels exhibit tells a story without words while nodding to the people and places of this city.
“To me, you can leave the viewer to create their own story behind the image,” he says.
PETIT MONSTRE: OH THOSE FEELS Through February 4; Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; free, Whitney Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.
Titles from left to right: Over it/Under par, Ye Do I Walk, Nirvana (Courtesy/Petit Monstre)
José Andrés expands on his Vegas excellence with Bazaar Mar
SEA CHANGE
Key lime beach (Courtesy/Katrina Frederick)
BY JIM BEGLEY
Recently awarded with the Presidential Medal of Honor, José Andrés is a culinary icon whose humanitarian reputation has grown almost as fast as his restaurant empire. The recent opening of the Bazaar Mar/Bar Centro duo on the Las Vegas Strip expands his local presence to a sextet of venues, including the Sahara’s mind-blowing Bazaar Meat. And if early meals are any indication, Andrés is not resting upon his laurels, even while he furthers World Food Kitchen and his other charity e orts.
When you have a successful concept, it serves you to rinse and repeat. With this in mind, think of Mar as the seafood-centric younger sibling of Bazaar Meat. Whereas Meat is Andrés’ ode to the classic steakhouse, Mar is his nod to a Mediterranean sh market with the daily catch proudly displayed on ice outside the kitchen; with that in mind, keep an eye out for sta members occasionally misting the seafood. And while Meat has a hunting-lodgegone-awry motif, Mar is airy and ocean-like on the mezzanine overlooking the spacious Crystals mall, in the space where Wolfgang Puck’s Cucina used to reside.
The menu contains some José hallmarks—nutty jamón Ibérica de bellota with pan con tomate, José’s tacos, his liquid olives—but with the seafood focus, the menu runs the gamut from common (think sea scallops and monk sh) to obscure (cockles, anyone?) aquatic o erings. You’ll certainly nd something to pique your interest.
I suggest starting with kueh pai tai ($14) as your opportunity to explore southeast Asia, a spicy sweet shrimp and peanut- lled pastry shell indigenous to Malaysian hawker stands. Cobia ceviche ($28) makes playful use of liquid nitrogen with a frozen rose of leche de tigre, while abalone
FOOD & DRINK
and shiitake ($32) is a study in contrast with the subtle shell sh coupled with umami-laden mushrooms. And the blue n tuna and fried egg ($26) requires a steady hand, rolling the paper-thin, dashi-doused chu toro around the comically tiny fried eggs.
The menu exudes Andrés’ typical playfulness. The California “funnel cake” ($18)—the quotation marks are chef’s—is a California roll masquerading as the state fair favorite, a crispy, nori-infused funnel cake topped with king crab and tobiko. The buttery Alaskan king crab chawanmushi ($28), a Japanese egg custard, is delivered in a crab-shaped dish, as if you’re cracking the crustacean yourself to devour its tomalley, while the bagel and lox ($14), a playful take on the New York deli classic, is a cream cheese-stu ed and lox-layered air bread shaped like salmon itself. These presentations are so much more natural than many
MAR
The Shops at Crystals, 702-803-1100, thebazaar.com
other Insta-ready restaurants. Strip seafood restaurants allowing for a variety for preparations aren’t uncommon, but where else would sashimi be an option? Your server will advise you as to which preparation method applies to what catch —turbot sashimi is unfortunately not an option but sendai is—but where else can you get whole sh sashimi in a ne dining setting? Just another way Mar di erentiates itself.
And then there’s the single best bite on the menu, and quite possibly across the Valley right now: the Anchoas Don Bocarte ($26). Nothing could sound simpler: an anchovy on bread with smoked butter. But the sh’s saltiness atop the subtlely smoky spread is an epiphany which demonstrates that even intertwined among all the fanciful presentations and obscure ingredients, Andrés understands simple is sometimes best. It’s why he continues to be so successful, even as he expands his domain.
BAZAAR
Bazaar Mar interior (Courtesy/Katrina Frederick)
River trout cone (Courtesy/Katrina Frederick)
BRING THEM BACK
The Raiders are turning over their coaching sta , front o ce and probably the roster this o season, but should re-sign these fi ve free agents
BY CASE KEEFER
A day before he was ultimately red as the Raiders’ coach, Antonio Pierce described one upcoming meeting as “critical” to set the team on the right path heading into the o season. Pierce said he, general manager Tom Telesco (who was also red four days later) and owner Mark Davis must sit down and “really look at” all the veterans whose current contracts expired at the end of the 2024-2025 season.
“It’s got to make dollars and sense for everybody, not just the Raiders, but for the players as well, understanding the business side of that,” Pierce said. “But these gentlemen, I thought all year, played their tails o . Some are deserving of a (new) contract, and others we probably have to move on from.”
Pierce and Telesco won’t contribute anymore, but those player personnel decisions still loom every bit as large as the coaching and general manager searches for their replacements currently grabbing all the attention.
Las Vegas has 27 players hitting free agency at the start of the new league year on March 12, including a whopping 18 who started at least one game over the last two seasons.
The new, to-be-announced coach/ general manager duo, along with Davis and minority owner Tom Brady, must pick the right ones to bring back to set the team up for success going into the 2025-2026 season.
Here are ve free agents they should prioritize keeping in silver and black.
MALCOLM KOONCE
The Raiders added 14 players to injured reserve over the course of last season, but Pierce said the first hurt the worst. The 26-year-old Koonce tore his ACL in practice three days before the Raiders’ first game, and Pierce felt the defense never recovered. The former third-round pick out of the University of Bu alo broke out at the end of the 2023-2024 season with six sacks in four games, and Pierce was convinced Koonce would be even better this season. Koonce can still hit his sky-high potential, and now he can do it on a cheaper deal coming o an injury.
It’s a cruel reality but the Raiders might not have been able to a ord Koonce if he played well this season. They might have needed to spend capital elsewhere with superstar Maxx Crosby and former first-round pick Tyree Wilson already at Koonce’s position.
But now Koonce figures to be a ordable, and his upside remains intact despite the disappointment of missing so much time.
EDGE RUSHER K’LAVON CHAISSON
Crosby has made some rumblings on his podcast The Rush that he might be unhappy and looking to move teams this o season. If that happens, locking up Chaisson to rotate with Koonce and Wilson next year is a no-brainer.
Even if things are smoothed over with Crosby, Chaisson should still be a candidate to return for a second season with the Raiders. A team can never have enough competent edge rushers in the modern NFL, especially a team stuck in the treacherous AFC West.
Chaisson showed he can be more than that in silver and black with five sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and two passes defended. It’s hard to believe Chaisson was considered a bust after being taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, considering the way he played this season.
Las Vegas gave him a third chance and cashed in. Jacksonville declined to exercise Chaisson’s fifth-year rookie option last year and then Carolina cut him out of training camp.
But some highly-talented players just need to find the right place, and Las Vegas looks like the right place for Chaisson.
EDGE RUSHER
LINEBACKER DIVINE DEABLO
Las Vegas’ top two linebackers from the past two years, Deablo and Robert Spillane, are both set to hit free agency.
Spillane is the more decorated player as he broke out in Las Vegas especially in the 20232024 season, where he was a team captain and might have deserved to be a Pro Bowler. But Spillane is also more athletically limited than Deablo, older and will merit a larger contract.
Las Vegas needs to rebuild through youth, and locking up a 29-year-old like Spillane—who might not fit in every scheme—with a multi-year deal seems unwise. The 26-year-old Deablo is just hitting his prime, and his coverage skills as a former safety at Virginia Tech make him the more versatile option.
Fans may miss Spillane’s intensity on game day, but he was the perfect fit with Pierce and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. That might not be the case with the new coaching sta .
SAFETY
ISAIAH POLA-MAO
In the Raiders’ penultimate victory of the season, three years’ worth of hard work with the franchise paid o for Pola-Mao, who emerged as the player of the game in a win over the Jaguars.
He became the first Raider since Hall of Famer Charles Woodson 25 years ago to force a pair of fumbles that led to takeaways in the same game. The former undrafted free agent out of USC spent much of his rookie season on the practice squad and then played mostly special teams in his second campaign.
But he got his shot on defense this year after starting strong safety Marcus Epps tore his ACL in Week 3. The drop-o from Epps to Pola-Mao wound up negligible, if not nonexistent.
Between Epps, fellow safety Tre’von Moehrig and slot cornerback Nate Hobbs, the Raiders have three higher-profile defensive back free agents than Pola-Mao. But both Moehrig and Hobbs discussed exploring their options and could command a big raise.
Pola-Mao will account for a much smaller portion of the salary cap, and could make a bigger impact.
GUARD JORDAN MEREDITH
The Raiders’ interior o ensive line improved dramatically later in the season when they stumbled upon the trio of Meredith at left guard, Jackson Powers-Johnson at center and Dylan Parham at right guard.
There’s no reason to mess with the combination going into next year. Parham still has a year left on his rookie deal while Powers-Johnson is signed through 2027, leaving Meredith the only question mark.
The former undrafted free agent Meredith had exclusively been a backup before this season so perhaps the Raiders envision upgrading to someone with stronger athletic traits. But even then, Meredith could be useful as a utility lineman ready to come in at any position—especially in the interior spots—in case of injury.
Like Chaisson and Pola-Mao, the 25-yearold Meredith is a promising player the Raiders helped develop this season. The organization should have some natural curiosity to see how far they can take him.
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER
VEGAS INC STAFF
The Vegas Chamber recently launched JobX—an online platform that not only provides job seekers with insight into the most in-demand careers in Southern Nevada, but also a quiz to determine with which job they may have the most compatibility.
Vegas Inc sat down with Vegas Chamber President and CEO Mary Beth Sewald to learn more about JobX, and how it may benefit employees, employers and economic development in Nevada overall.
Can you give me an introduction to what JobX is?
It’s a new job-education platform that was designed to help anybody looking for a job in Southern Nevada learn more about in-demand careers and industries in our region. You think about folks everywhere, from high school graduates to college graduates all the way to somebody who is further along in their career, but they just think, “I’d really like an opportunity to try something new.” And how do you even know what are the big, high-paying jobs or industries out there where people are hiring? And this all started during the pandemic, when folks were being laid off or let go from the hospitality industry. We said, “We need to create a platform, because our unemploy-
Q+A: MARY BETH SEWALD
Chamber of Commerce’s new job-matching tool has potential to reshape workforce in Southern Nevada
ment rate is skyrocketing, and we’re going to need to help people get up-skilled or re-skilled, and because they’re going to have to work.” And so JobX really does give the Southern Nevada community one central hub for finding new opportunities and getting access to valuable information across all of these career fields. When you get into the portal, you take a quiz, and it will ask you questions about your interests and things that you’re good at, your skill set— but mostly about your interests and different things that help determine what would be a good job for you.
How did JobX come about, and what collaboration was necessary to make the platform happen?
It’s been a huge process. The chamber—we didn’t have the resources to create something like this, so we found out about a grant through Clark County that was specifically tailored for something like this. So it was kind of like the stars aligned for us, and we applied for the grant. The chamber has never had a grant before. We’d never applied for one, much less gotten one. And so it was a real learning curve for us to know first how to apply for one, but then how to deliver on one and how to execute on it. So once we got the grant, we said, “OK, now we have to put the structure together.” So we ended up partnering with the Abbi Agency, and they have been stellar to work with. And after meeting, we just
created what we wanted it to be, and then also the functionality of it, because from a user standpoint it has to be easy to navigate. So it’s been just a huge project, but we’re really thrilled to have gotten it over the finish line.
What’s the range of jobs and industries that JobX will place people in?
We’re focusing on the 20 most in-demand career occupations in Clark County. And we’ve done a lot of research on what those are. The roles range anywhere from software development to paralegals, plumbers—teaching assistants are huge. Nurse practitioners. I mean, the medical field is in huge demand in Southern Nevada. So it’s a fairly wide range of occupations. If I were a job seeker, I would say, “Wow ... if these are the in-demand occupations, as soon as I get my certificate or my education, then my chances of getting a job are really good.” And it’s probably going to be a higher-paying job than average.
How will this specifically benefit employers in high-demand fields, in addition to potential employees?
It’ll really benefit the employers, because they just are looking for a talented and skilled and ready workforce. ... Recent numbers show that Southern Nevada added about 41,000 or so jobs in the last year. That’s a lot. That’s about a 3.5% growth rate. It’s kind of intuitive. It’s driven a lot by construction or in government
sectors, too. But, in spite of that, our unemployment rate is still pretty high. It’s higher than the national average, so now, more than ever, it’s important to give job seekers in that resource to help in their job search, and that will just help the employers fill those positions.
How do you see this building up Southern Nevada’s economy in the long-term?
First and foremost, we want to help our businesses that are already here in Southern Nevada. But beyond that, the chamber also works with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development; we work with the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance on economic development. That means, obviously, bringing companies to relocate in our state. One of the things that they ask us, they’ll say, “Well, what are your schools like? What are your churches like? What’s your job force? What’s your job market like? What are your workers? Am I going to be able to hire people to do the jobs that I have?” And so that’s another really black-and-white and vivid example of why we need an upskilled workforce and a ready workforce for jobs of all kinds.
How can people access JobX?
It’s really easy to find online—jobx. vegas. The journey is easy, which is one of the things that we wanted. I won’t spend any time on something that’s difficult to figure out.
Mary Beth Sewald (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
VEGAS INC NOTES
Highlighting the best in business
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa announced four appointments to lead its food and beverage operations. Lawrence Close joins as assistant director of food and beverage, bringing more than three decades of hospitality expertise to the resort. Leading the culinary team as executive chef, Joseph Hamel brings more than 29 years of professional cooking and kitchen management experience. Dan Boyer was recently named general manager of the resort’s Hawthorn Grill. He has worked in Las Vegas’ food scene for three decades, most recently at Echo and Rig Steakhouse. Jim Seely rounds out the team as marketing manager, leveraging more than 20 years of hospitality and marketing expertise.
NAIOP Southern Nevada, a commercial real estate development association, appointed its 2025 board of directors, with Matthew Hoyt, vice president of finance and operations at LaPour, assuming the
role of president. Officers and executive committee include: Steve Neiger, CCIM, CAST, president-elect; Phillip Dunning, CCIM, Panattoni Development Company, treasurer; Lisa Brady, Prologis, secretary; Cassie Catania-Hsu, CBRE, immediate past president; Jamie Thalgott, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, executive at large; and Tom van Betten, executive at large. Directors for 2025 include: Sabrina Borghoff, Martin-Harris Construction; James Bristow, Midnight Sun Consulting; Tim Castello, CCIM, Castello Group; Patti Dillon, SIOR, Colliers; Marianna Hunnicutt, Kimley-Horn and Associates; Amanda McCauley, Schnitzer Properties; David Strickland, Thomas & Mack Co.; Dan Tuntland, DJT Real Estate; and Katrina Bruce, NAIOP Southern Nevada Chapter executive.
In its next step as a Charter School Authorizer, Henderson is now accepting notices of intent from committees to
form charter schools within the city. Notices of intent are due by January 30 and must be submitted using the city’s online submission form. Official applications will be accepted April 15-30. For more information, go to cityofhenderson.com
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced that Emily Dyer and Brooke Holmes will become shareholders. Dyer is a commercial litigator with experience representing clients in a variety of disputes. Holmes has extensive expertise and experience in commercial real estate, zoning and land use matters.
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation appointed Leean Hernandez to its board of directors. Hernandez has more than two decades of experience in accounting, auditing and financial management, including as chief financial officer for the Women’s Resource Medical Centers of Southern Nevada.
BACKSTORY
CES AT LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER | JANUARY 8, 2025 | It looks like a flying car from The Jetsons, but it’s technically a motorcycle. The Aptera electric vehicle, which made an appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, plugs in to charge like any other EV. The defining feature is the vehicle’s 700-watt solar technology that, according to the company, enables up to 40 miles of sun-powered travel daily in addition to its fully charged 400-mile range. It also features a three-wheel design and teardrop shape, which apparently extend the driving range and efficiency. George Jetson should be so lucky to have one of these parked in the family garage. –Shannon Miller
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
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