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Experience our new destination for after-dinner drinks, post-show celebrations or a night out you won’t forget.
PUBLISHER
MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com
EDITOR
SHANNON MILLER
shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)
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ADVERTISING DEADLINE
EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE LIBRARY DISTRICT
BALLET PERFORMANCE
Performers from The Nevada Ballet Theatre will honor Black artists who have shaped our cultural landscape.
Saturday, February 1
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Summerlin Library
BLACK GIRL MAGIC
Vegas City Opera performs works from Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, and more.
Friday, February 2
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Windmill Library
Saturday, February 22
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
West Charleston Library
Sunday, February 23
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Summerlin Library
STREET ART PORTRAITS & CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT
Kids are invited to celebrate self–love and create street art self–portraits
Wednesday, February 5
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
West Las Vegas Library
STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE A CAPELLA DOO–WOP SINGERS! Enjoy music from days gone by.
Friday, February 7
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Summerlin Library
Saturday, February 8
2 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Whitney Library & 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
West Charleston Library
MOLODI A HIGH–ENERGY, INTERACTIVE, RHYTHMIC EXPERIENCE
The ensemble takes body percussion to the extreme.
Wednesday, February 12
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Windmill Library
RHYTHMS OF HERITAGE WITH AALIYAH FAFANTO
Experience the rich African drumming traditions and cultural history in this immersive workshop.
Sunday, February 9
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Clark County Library
Scan QR code for even more events & programs in February.
Sunday, February 16
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sahara West Library
SOCIAL PROTEST IN SIN CITY: HOW THE 1969 UPRISING DEFINED THE POST–CIVIL RIGHTS ERA
Enjoy a powerful lecture by Dr. Tyler Parry.
Friday, February 28
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Whitney Library
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY THROUGH MUSIC
Nevada Chamber Orchestra will highlight the works of historically significant black composers.
Friday, February 28
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Neon Museum, 2023. (Wade Vandervort/Sta )
26 NEWS
As local governments move to criminalize homelessness, new shelters and services are announced.
The Neon Museum aims to expand its mission while keeping its glowing heart.
30 MUSIC Planet Desert Rock Weekend returns with an international feast of heavy psych, doom and stoner rock.
34 SCENE
Vegas-born crew
Full Force celebrates 30 years of breaking, growth and influence.
36 STAGE
Kimberly Akimbo playwright David Lindsay-Abaire introduces his hopeful work to the Smith Center.
38 FOOD & DRINK
Caramella brings a groovy taste of Italy to Planet Hollywood, plus Golden Gai provides a hidden escape at the Venetian.
40 SPORTS
The Desert Dogs’ Jack Hannah is determined to turn the team into a National Lacrosse League contender.
Vegas City Opera sinks its teeth into Dracula, chef Angie Mar celebrates Lunar New Year at Wynn and more this week.
With Lauren Rochelle, Jaclyn Marfuggi, Jamal Coleman and more, 8 p.m., Bagelmania Backroom, siegelsbagel mania.com.
PLANET DESERT ROCK WEEKEND Thru 2/2, times & venues vary, eventbrite.com
CHRIS LUNO
With Grish, 8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
With December’s Nosferatu reigniting an interest in Dracula, Vegas City Opera o ers its own take on the Count with two stagings of 7 Sins So Deadly. Starring soprano Ginger Landvan Buuren and featuring the first-ever fully-staged version of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Del Tredici’s “Dracula” as well as other decadent contemporary music selections, this production weaves a provocative narrative traversing the seven deadly sins and ultimate redemption of the soul. As part of the nonprofit’s mission to tell stories through opera in an accessible way, student tickets are free 20 minutes before 7 p.m., & 2/1, $25-$40, Charleston Heights Arts Center, vegascityopera. org. –Shannon Miller
7 p.m. (& 2/1, 2 p.m.), Clark County Library, apublicfit.org
MARIAH CAREY
8 p.m., & 2/1, 2/5, Dolby Live, ticketmaster. com
SHANIA TWAIN
8 p.m., & 2/1, 2/5, PH Live, ticketmaster. com
TEARS FOR FEARS
8 p.m., & 2/1, 2/5, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster. com
STYX
8:30 p.m., & 2/1, Venetian The-
EARL TURNER
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
TREY LEWIS
10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, tixr.com
JIMMY HOPPER 7 p.m., Composers Room, the composers room.com
VEGAS THRILL VS. INDY IGNITE
7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
NATE BARGATZE
7:30 & 10:30 p.m., & 2/1, Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com
CHASE B 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub. com
atre, ticket master.com showtime.
RAPHAËL FEUILLÂTRE
THEE SACRED SOULS Souldies has long been the heartbeat of Southern California, and Thee Sacred Souls are the genre’s modern-day torchbearers. Last January, while on tour for their self-titled debut, the San Diego trio sold out Brooklyn Bowl, delivering a performance so mesmerizing it was impossible to choose which member of their seven-piece ensemble to focus on. As we wrote in our review, “The view nearly didn’t matter because this was a feast for the ears.” Now, armed with sophomore album Got a Story to Tell, the band returns with new sounds that retain that signature retro-soul groove that first hooked us. For those catching them on tour, Thee Sacred Souls are also donating proceeds from their Got a Story to Tell shirts to wildfire relief e orts, supporting underfunded communities displaced by the fires in LA. 7 p.m., $214, Brooklyn Bowl, ticket master.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez
7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu.
MUSIC PARTY
SPORTS ARTS FOOD COMEDY MISC
SATURDAY FEB 1
RAY VOLPE
With Dion Timmer, Tynan, VRG, 7 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, seetickets.us
CRASH TEST
DUMMIES & STEVEN PAGE
8 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com
BLASTOYZ
9 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com
CALABRESE
With Zombeast, Dark Ride, Damned By The Night, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm
COLD CAVE & KONTRAVOID
8 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us
FEMMES OF ROCK
6 & 8:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmith center.com
FLOYBOY
With Current Blue, Aisa, Cam, more, 9 p.m., Swan Dive, posh.vip
With Grish, Jay Sanada, 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us
NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: ALL THAT JAZZ 7:30 p.m. (& 2/2, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UNR 2 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.
LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS VS. GEORGIA SWARM 7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
ZAYN
It’s tough stepping out of the shadow of one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. But when Zayn chose to leave One Direction to pursue a solo career, he did so with the intention of making music he wanted to listen to. His 2016 debut, Mind of Mine, traded One Direction’s endearing pop tunes for a sexier R&B record. Lust had entered the chat with his first single “Pillow Talk,” and before he knew it, Zayn had become a worldwide sex symbol. The U.K. star’s features with Syd and Kehlani demonstrate how well his vocals can play with others, but he’s also a powerful soloist, as you’ll soon discover when he performs Room Under the Stairs live. 8 p.m., $60+, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com. –Amber Sampson
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY FEB 2
MONDAY FEB 3
JEFF DUNHAM
8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster. com
VINNIE FAVORITO
9 p.m., Notoriety, noto rietylive.com
VEGAS THRILL VS. ATLANTA VIBE
5 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
KATRINA BREE
10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com
ANGIE MAR’S LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY
The chef and restaurateur behind New York City’s stylish Le B. and the Beatrice Inn is bringing her annual Lunar New Year party to the Las Vegas Strip for the first time, and Wynn’s posh Delilah supper club is the ideal destination.
“I have always loved the allure, glamour and drama of Las Vegas, so it’s fitting to host the first [part] outside of New York City at Wynn,” said Angie Mar, who participated in last year’s inaugural Revelry culinary fest at Wynn. Food will be the star, including Mar’s specialty dim sum creations, Beijing-style duck carved to order, and fried chicken with Ossetra caviar and nori. DJ duo The Muses will set the vibe along with performances from Delilah’s rotating roster. 7 p.m., $500, Delilah, wynnlasvegas.com. –Brock Radke
EXHIBIT: UNCHARTED TERRITORIES BY CIDA DE ARAGON Thru 2/22, times vary, Sahara West Library, thelibrary district.org
EXHIBIT: LAYERS OF PERCEPTION BY NICK GIORDANO Thru 3/23, times vary, West Charleston Library, thelibrarydistrict. org
DJ E-ROCK
10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
DENISE FULEIHAN
7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com
GREG WILSON With Jeremy Curry, thru 2/9, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com
SAM FEDELE With Dave Burleigh, Murray Valeriano, thru 2/5, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com
DO IT ALL
BAY FACTION 7 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. BOISE STATE 8 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
THUY
7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
MICHAEL GRIMM
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
LOUD LUXURY 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
8 p.m., & 2/7-2/8, the Colosseum, ticketmaster. com
8:30 p.m., & 2/7-2/8, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
COWBOY BEBOP LIVE 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
RICH VOS
With Jenny Zigrino, Brian Scolaro, LeClerc Andre, thru 2/9, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com
THE UNDISPUTED BIG GAME DESTINATION
Grab your gameday crew and lock in for the biggest game of the year at the All-New SAHARA Las Vegas. We’ve packed the entire weekend with epic feasts and can’t-miss special guest appearances across the property! Make your Big Game experience a signature win at SAHARA. Enjoy FREE Valet and Self-Parking saharalasvegas.com
Hosted By: Common Kings pregame with: bo jackson
La Concha lobby at the Neon Museum (Sta /Steve Marcus/Photo Illustration)
BY GEOFF CARTER
My rst visit to the spot that would become the Neon Museum was on July 12, 2001, or so my photo archive tells me. On that day, I went to the Young Electric Sign Company’s (YESCO) “boneyard,” then a dirtand-gravel lot, and took a few photos through the chain-link fence. I’m looking at them right now—photos of retired signs from Sassy Sally’s, the Landmark, the Sahara and others, all in various states of rust degradation and benign neglect. YESCO employees had them neatly arranged for viewing, despite the fact the boneyard wasn’t open to the public.
I said this to Neon Museum executive director Aaron Berger during a seated chat in that exact same boneyard, now home to one of the city’s premier cultural attractions. His face lit up: “Wow, I’d love to see those photos.” And a few days later, I told the same story to YESCO’s Je Young, now executive vice president of the family company that stored those signs in that yard to begin with. Young laughed and said, “Good thing you weren’t arrested.”
Point is, I had a Neon Museum story and shared it. Over the course of our interviews, Berger and Young each told me stories of their own. Every sign you see on a tour of the Neon Museum—and the properties behind those signs, and the city that hosted those properties—has a tale worth telling. And if you’ve taken a tour of the boneyard, you know it’s the stories, above all else, that stitch together all those glass-and-metal hunks of intellectual property.
Some guests add to those stories,
eshing them out with little-known details. Berger had only been on the Neon Museum’s sta for a few months when he welcomed U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen for a visit. He o ered to give her a tour of the museum, and the Nevada delegate replied: “Let me give you a tour.”
“It was this moment of, ‘Wait a minute. I am not the most knowledgeable person,’” Berger says. “Everyone has their own incredible story about Las Vegas.”
Those stories are at the heart of the reason why the Neon Museum is em-
Young Electric Sign Company’s “boneyard” in 2001 (Courtesy/Geo Carter)
barking on a phase of sweeping growth.
Last summer, the museum announced its intention to relocate from its current Las Vegas Boulevard North location to the Arts District, moving to a new home constructed by developer J Dapper. The relocation, which Berger can’t yet discuss in detail—“We’re still conducting our due diligence,” he says—will effectively triple the museum’s size, providing a much-needed increase in guest capacity: The museum had to turn away 30,000 visitors in 2023 alone.
The move will also provide indoor display and classroom space, a workshop where visitors can see neon signs being restored or made (or make one themselves), and much more space for many, many more signs: According to Berger, we’re only seeing 35% of the museum’s total collection at present.
Young says that YESCO is ready to help make more signs display-worthy, and to assist in fortifying and moving the museum’s existing signs, some of
which will need to be disassembled and transported in pieces.
“We’re all very anxious to help how we can as we approach this massive project of moving the museum. It’s going to require everyone’s attention, not only the contractors like us, who are going to work on the science, but the other mobilization teams that will come and do their thing, the designers and architects and the general construction [crew],” Young says. “Aside from that, we’re going to need the support of the state, support of the city and the support of residents and fans all over the world, so that this museum, in its final state, serves the needs of the community the way we all hope it will.”
But that’s still a long way off, at the other end of a process of planning, contracts and construction. The first and arguably most significant thing the Neon Museum wants to expand is its thematic focus.
On December 23, the museum shared a new, more wide-ranging mission statement: “The Neon Museum illuminates the cultural essence of Las Vegas by sharing iconic signage, diverse collections, and stories that define its vibrant
Liberace Museum sign (Courtesy/The Neon Museum)
past, present, and future.”
“This expanded mission statement allows us to become ‘the museum of Las Vegas,’” said Berger in the December statement. “With that direction, we can enlighten more people on even more aspects of what makes this city one of the most sought-out destinations in the world.”
Proof of that new direction is coming immediately. This February, the Neon Museum teams up with Cirque du Soleil to present Stories from Backstage: Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, an interactive exhibit celebrating the entertainment company’s three decades on the Strip. The show features iconic show costumes, including Mystère’s “Red Bird” costume and the “Moonhead” piece from O, plus makeup designs, 3D-printed textiles and more.
The Neon Museum and Cirque du Soleil have had a strong relationship for a while, Berger says. In October 2023, Cirque participated in Duck Duck Shed, the museum’s annual four-day celebration of Vegas’ iconography and architecture. (A “duck” is a building whose shape tells you what it is, while a “shed” relies on signage to identify itself. The Sphere is a duck; Area15 is a shed.) Cirque invited DDS attendees backstage at O to meet its wardrobe artists, choreographers and performers, and to gain a perspective on one of their biggest productions that they couldn’t otherwise get, even from the best seats in the house.
Cirque and the Neon Museum intend to bring that experience to everyone who visits Stories from Backstage at Las Vegas City Hall’s Grand Gallery from February 10 through May 1.
“Stories from Backstage is a curated storyline that focuses on the people that make a Cirque du Soleil performance such an amazing, delightful experience,” Berger says. “It begins with the measurement of a person and how they’re outfitted into their costume, shows how they’re trained to do makeup—they do all their own makeup for each show—[and] it goes into the number of Olympic athletes that we have living in Las Vegas because of Cirque. It’s an incredible perspective. … Hopefully, after you see this show, you’re going to have a
Cirque costumes (Courtesy/The Neon Museum)
whole new appreciation for what goes into these productions.”
While the words “neon” or “sign” are absent from that description, this new emphasis on storytelling doesn’t feel too far removed from what the museum does now. Tim Burton’s 2019 Neon Museum show, Lost Vegas, was as much about his Vegas movie Mars Attacks! and the music video he made for The Killers as it was his fanciful childhood memories of a bygone Strip era. The Moulin Rouge sign, a highlight of the boneyard tour, opens up stories not just about its creator Betty Willis—who also designed the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, as well as Downtown’s Blue Angel—but about racist segregation in Vegas, and the role that integrated casino played in ending it.
And the sign that’s arguably become the visual centerpiece of the collection, the 80-foot-tall guitar-shaped sign that fronted the former Hard Rock Cafe location on Paradise, affords the museum guides several storytelling avenues from which to choose. They can talk about the guitar that inspired it, a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe owned by Pete Townshend; they can talk about the legacy of the Hard Rock brand, soon to grace a fourth Vegas property; or they could talk about the sign itself, as Jeff Young does when he relates a conver-
70 grand.’ So, we’re like, ‘Okay, good, good, good.’ We came back with our proposal, which was almost $300,000. And he said, ‘Gosh, what are you doing to me? Whoa, talk about killing the deal.’ And we said, ‘Oh, don’t worry. We’ll lease it to you.’”
That’s another big part of the reason why YESCO and the Neon Museum have such a cozy relationship, and why the museum will continue to receive new signs well into the future. YESCO created the boneyard because they “didn’t have the heart to throw this stuff away,” Young says. (There are signs in the museum’s collection, many of them, that were made by Young’s father and grandfather.) And the company’s current arrangement with many Vegas properties bearing their handiwork is like the one they had with Hard Rock: YESCO pays for construction of the sign, leases them to the property, and reclaims them when the property no longer wants it, or no longer exists. One restoration fundraiser later, the Neon Museum has a new attraction and a new set of stories.
One such storyteller has arrived the week Berger and I have our interview: The five-foot-tall “LVIII” sign that stood on the corner of Fourth and Fremont Streets during the week of Super Bowl 58. “This will enable us to collect and tell stories about the Raiders, about the Golden Knights, the Aces, the Rebels—the entire history of sports in Las
Moulin Rouge sign (Staff/Wade Vandervort)
Hard Rock Cafe sign (Staff/Steve Marcus)
Vegas,” Berger says.
He adds that if anyone would like to add to the museum’s storytelling base, there’s a booth inside the museum’s Paul Revere Williams-designed lobby building where visitors can do just that. Nicknamed RACHEL—short for “Record And Collect Historical Experiences in Las Vegas”—Berger describes the booth almost as he would a confessional, but with a verbal wink.
“It can be as salacious as you want,” he says. “We have some fantastic stories. We were able to put RACHEL inside the Tropicana for the last 10 days of operation, and we captured 90 stories in those 10 days. For museums to do an oral history, to do 90 oral histories, you’re looking at 40 years, because it’s so expensive and it takes so much time. With RACHEL, we’re able to really capture a great cross section of people, which we’re really excited about.”
He’s also excited for the next Duck Duck Shed event, which happens April
24-27, and for the next two signs funded through the museum’s sign restoration program, the Dunes and Binion’s Horseshoe. (The Frontier, the Green Shack and Wee Kirk o’ the Heather chapel still need restoration funds; visit neonmuseum.org/neon-sign-restoration-program for details.)
Berger is especially sensitive to the plight of retired neon signs as they’re replaced by newer, more energy-efficient and arguably more versatile LED signage, from Vegas to New York’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, in and of itself: without LED, “the Sphere would never have happened,” as Young points out.
But Berger stresses that the Neon Museum will always put its namesake element at the center of everything it does. Every story it tells will begin with a soft-glowing light turning on.
“We will always maintain the sign collection. We’ll continue to grow that sign collection,” Berger says. “But we
also want to look at other collections from historic properties that are out there, whether they’re menus and placemats and things like that, or costumes [from] stage residencies. That change is what is allowing us to do the Cirque du Soleil exhibition.
“I like to think about it this way. In the 1950s, you’re driving through the desert, and you see your first neon sign at night across this desert sky. It’s so, so dark, and you see this orange glow off in the distance. Well, that was a beacon, right? That was something to tell you that this is a place to rest, a place to eat, a place to have fun, a place to spend the night. You knew that there was something up ahead, because there was a beacon in the horizon. I think the Neon Museum is also that beacon, and our job is to make sure that we’re providing that light and that ongoing feeling of the respite that you’ve been looking for.”
Archival photos of YESCO’s early years (Couresty/YESCO)
Lighting of the Super Bowl LVIII sign (Staff/Steve Marcus)
+Throughout this year, Goodwill of Southern Nevada is celebrating 50 years of style, service and sustainability that have made the “Smiling G” a mainstay throughout the region. Since its founding in 1975, while technology, music and fashion have dramatically changed, the charitable nonprofit’s mission has remained true as its impact has grown with Las Vegas. The people, partners and purpose that have made Goodwill a pillar of our community will be celebrated throughout the milestone year through a Golden Anniversary Gala, monthly in-store fundraisers for 12 local nonprofits and three store openings.
Since Goodwill of Southern Nevada opened its doors, donations to the nonprofit’s thrift stores have fueled community programs that help people who want to work gain employment and reach their full potential. At the heart of Goodwill’s vision are three pillars: style, service and sustainability.
Goodwill pioneered the thrift shopping spirit of combining vintage and unique fashions into one-of-a-kind looks that stand out from the crowd. You never know what treasures will show up on the sales floor at the 17 Goodwill stores throughout Southern Nevada. Goodwill GOLD members enjoy discounts, weekly color tag sales and other rewards.
SUPPORTING OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY
Local artists and fashion designers rely on Goodwill stores for raw materials upcycled into show-stopping creations. This anniversary year, Goodwill of Southern Nevada will continue to partner with organizations dedicated to Las Vegas’ burgeoning creative community.
CREATED AND PRESENTED BY GOODWILL OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Revenue from the sale of clothing and household items donated to Goodwill fuel community programs that for decades have had a profound impact on Southern Nevada residents. Goodwill serves a wide range of career services for individuals living with disabilities, veterans transitioning to postmilitary careers, and people overcoming barriers to employment and thriving careers. Career coaches have long provided personalized guidance, while in recent years, train-to-hire programs at the Goodwill Training Academy provide community members with accelerated learning in health care and entertainment. In 2023, more than 7,600 individuals received free career services.
Shopping at Goodwill isn’t just about finding a good deal or contributing to the community, it’s also about abstaining from fast fashion and its many negative environmental impacts in favor of a more sustainable, affordable alternative. By extending the life of existing clothing you:
1. Decrease water consumption typically used in the creation of new textiles.
2. Reduce energy consumption required to manufacture clothing and accessories.
3. Divert tens of millions of pounds annually from local landfills.
IN THE NEWS
“President Trump is pardoning violent criminals who assaulted police officers and attempted to overturn a fair and free election. This is an insult to law enforcement across the country and an endorsement of political violence. The very least my Republican colleagues can do to back law enforcement is to support this resolution.”
—U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., referencing a resolution that she, U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and 44 of their colleagues introduced condemning the pardons of individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers on January 6, 2021.
HOT SHOT
Vegas Golden Knights right wing
Keegan Kolesar falls in front of Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight during the first period at T-Mobile Arena on January 26. The Knights defeated the Panthers 4-1.
(Steve Marcus/ Staff)
NEW VEGAS LOOP STATION
The Elon Musk-owned Boring Company’s network of underground tunnels just expanded with a station at Westgate Las Vegas. The Vegas Loop network also includes stations at Resorts World and the Convention Center. Clark County and the City of Las Vegas have approved 68 miles of tunnel for the Vegas Loop.
The Vegas Thrill hosts the Atlanta Vibe at Lee’s Family Forum on February 2 at 5 p.m.
New Nevada hotline to report crimeshate
BY THE NUMBERS
Nevadans who feel they are the victim of a hate crime can report the incident to the state via a new hotline launched today by the state Attorney General’s Office. The hotline will refer victims to services—including law enforcement—to provide assistance, Attorney General Aaron Ford’s office said in a news release. However, the reporting system will not send information to law enforcement, the office said.
“This hotline is a vital resource that will help ensure that hate crimes do not go unreported in our communities,” Ford said in a statement.
The U.S. Department of Justice documented 116 hate crimes in Nevada 2023, 65 of which were based on race or ancestry.
The state received $1,164,424 from the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines to fund the program. The hotline can be reached at 775-687-4283 or 775-687-HATE. –Staff
$15.3M
IMMIGRATION
TRUMP’S
That’s how much United Way of Southern Nevada and the Nevada Department of Education provided for scholarships through the Nevada Ready! State Pre-K program. Forty-eight Southern Nevada preschool centers were selected for the grants, which are expected to help 1,819 students enroll in preschool for free or at reduced cost.
IMMIGRATION POLICY HAS CCSD SCHOOLS IN LIMBO
Clark County School District principals are looking for guidance on how to respond should federal immigration agents arrive on campus conducting deportation efforts, a possibility now that the President Donald Trump’s administration has repealed a policy restricting immigration arrests at schools and other “sensitive” areas.
CCSD released a statement in December—before Trump was sworn in for his second term— saying that “CCSD schools are safe places for all students and their families, and all children have a constitutional right to a public education,” with a reference to a 2017 school board resolution that said the district was committed to students regardless of immigration status.
But the resolution, passed in the early days of the first Trump administration, cited an Obama-
era policy in place at the time that restricted agents’ ability to enter school campuses and other sensitive spots like churches and hospitals.
In a statement, the district said it is not responsible for enforcing federal immigration law and that if any law enforcement officer or government agent arrives at a school that staff should verify their identity and ask why they’re there.
If there is a concern over the person’s identity or the reason for their visit, then staff should contact school police.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued the directive Monday repealing the restrictions that “thwart law enforcement in or near so-called ‘sensitive’ areas.”
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the
2 3 DINNER AND A SHOW
Netflix and MGM Grand have announced Netflix Bites, a restaurant offering dishes based on favorite shows like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Squid Game and more. Located on the casino floor, the restaurant is slated to open February 20. Reservations are available at priceless.com.
department said in a statement. “The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
Two principals told the Las Vegas Sun after Homeland Security’s announcement that they had heard nothing from the district since December’s statement, which contained no specifics or direction.
One principal added that some of their colleagues were concerned, and principals had been asking for district guidance on the matter since November. The Sun agreed not to name the principals.
The Pew Research Center estimates that as of 2022, 8.8% of households in Nevada had at least one undocumented immigrant, and 13.9% of Nevada schoolchildren had at least one parent who is an undocumented immigrant—both the highest percentages in the nation. –Hillary Davis
FROZEN MARVELS
The Museum of Ice Cream announced a 30,000-square-foot location coming to Area15, complete with immersive entertainment, the world’s first ice cream buffet, themed hotel rooms, an ice cream cake wedding chapel and more. According to a news release, it’s set to open in 2026.
LABOR Striking workers at Virgin Hotels ratify contract
The longest strike in decades by Culinary Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 is over after 69 days.
A January 22 vote among workers to ratify a five-year contract with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas was unanimous, according to a social media post from the Culinary Union. The post did not provide details about the new contract.
Union officials had repeatedly said they were seeking a contract similar to recent multi-year extensions agreed to with Strip resorts. Those deals called for wage and benefit increases, enhanced safety protection for workers and workload reduction.
“Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and the Culinary and Bartenders Unions are pleased to be moving past their contract negotiations as each looks forward to fostering a positive and collaborative working relationship for the benefit of all team members at the property,” the union and off-Strip hotel-casino said in a joint statement.
Union members had been working without a contract since June 1, 2023. About 700 workers were on strike, the union said.
The previous proposal from Virgin Hotels amounted to a $0.30 increase to hourly wages each year of the five-year contract.
When the strike started in November, Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge called the offer a “slap in the face.” It was the union’s first open-ended strike in 22 years.
“Parties are committed to the resolution of our dispute and to maintaining a union standard at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas that provides for its team members’ families and fosters a better community for all,” the joint statement said. –Kyle Chouinard
A couple packs up their belongings during Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom’s media walk-through by the La Villa Mobile Home Park on September 23, 2024. (Brian Ramos/Staff)
HELPING THE UNHOUSED?
As Clark County’s camping ban goes into effect, officials tout new and existing services for the homeless
BY SHANNON MILLER
Clark County’s camping ban ordinance goes into effect this week on February 1. The new law makes it a misdemeanor to camp, lay down, sleep or store personal property in public places. Anyone in violation of the law can be sentenced to 10 days in jail and receive a fine up to $1,000 if convicted.
Very few people showed up for public comment on Election Day, the day the ordinance passed with a 6-1 vote. But several voices stood out in criticism of the bill.
“Being homeless should not be a crime, and this criminalizes homelessness. … Is this who we really are? Is this who we want to be as a
community?” said Scot Rutledge, chairman of Hopelink of Southern Nevada, which provides financial assistance and case management to those living in poverty.
According to the ordinance, the law will not be enforced if there are no available shelter beds and if the individual is having a “mental health medical emergency.” According to county staff, it is intended to direct homeless individuals to services, and “an individual can avoid enforcement by moving from and not returning to the location of the violation.”
Commissioner William McCurdy II, who cast the only dissenting vote, asked to push out the enactment day
out of concerns that some social services that the county had approved were not yet ready for clients, and that law enforcement personnel weren’t prepared to enforce the new law.
“I just ask that we take a hard look at what we’re doing and ask ourselves, are we moving too fast? And do we have the pieces in place to ensure that folks are guaranteed placement and our law enforcement partners have the ability … to communicate in real time to determine and assess … referral to the facility? Are they equipped to do that? Do they have the medical expertise to do that? I’m going to say at this juncture that they don’t,” McCurdy
said.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department did not respond to a request for comment, but officer Matt Kovacich with the LVMPD Behavioral Health Unit told commissioners there are seven members on Metro’s Homeless Outreach Team that will transport individuals “if they want housing and they want the ability to get help.”
“We have social workers embedded in our unit from Clark County that can help bridge that gap so that it’s not everything just falls on law enforcement,” Kovacich said.
Commissioner Tick Segerblom, who introduced the ordinance, and other commissioners have responded to criticism by pointing to county investments and social services for the homeless population. That population has grown by 55% since 2021, according to data from the Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care, the regional body that plans and coordinates funding for homeless services and housing. A point-in-time census found more than 7,900 individuals experiencing homelessness on one night in January 2024.
“Now, we have services. Before, it was just like ‘You’re on the sidewalk. It’s illegal. If you don’t move, we’re going to arrest you;’ we couldn’t say ‘We have a place for you to go, we have services for you,’” Segerblom told the Weekly, referencing a similar camping ban ordinance that the City of Las Vegas passed in 2019.
“So I think that’s the biggest difference right now. We actually are starting to build the infrastructure so that it’s not quite as cruel. … I’ve seen a lot of just intractable issues where people just don’t want services and don’t want to leave wherever they are, or want to move into the neighborhoods. And frankly, that’s not acceptable.”
The Supreme Court in June 2024 ruled that camping bans didn’t violate the eighth amendment against cruel and unusual punishment, clearing the way for Clark County’s ban and others in Nevada. Since that ruling, the City of Las Vegas has updated its
2019 ban to remove a provision that the ban wouldn’t be enforced if there weren’t any available shelter beds. And in January, the City of Reno expanded the enforceable area for its camping ban from Downtown to all of Reno.
What homeless services exist?
Clark County currently has one navigation center, which can house 70 adults at a time and limits stays up to 30 days, and six non-congregate shelters, which provide short-term temporary housing (individual rooms) totaling 1,688 beds. The county also contracts with organizations that provide emergency shelter and other services. According to a presentation from county staff, the county also provides 2,762 beds through permanent supportive housing programs—long-term housing with supports for individuals who have experienced homelessness for more than 12 months.
“The county has made extraordinary investments in non-congregate shelters and also a navigation center. And so, we have a shelter and facilitated process to bring people in to have some basic assessments, get their IDs and to get them into a pathway toward permanent and stable housing,” Clark County Director of
Social Service Jamie Sorenson told the Weekly in a September interview, when Segerblom announced the camping ban ordinance.
Sorenson added that Clark County’s 2024 point-in-time homeless census showed there was a 40% increase in “sheltered” homeless individuals and only a 7% increase in unsheltered individuals since 2023.
“So it shows that our investment is having an impact and leading people toward a pathway,” he said.
Clark County also has made investments in eviction prevention by expanding its rental assistance programs in 2024 to include funding for those who may be facing eviction, but have not yet received an eviction notice, and to assist households experiencing financial hardship.
What’s coming online?
At the November 5 Board of Commissioners meeting, the county approved more than $251 million to develop four additional non-congregate shelters. Those shelters should be open by 2027, according to Sorenson.
Clark County also unanimously approved the investment of $20 million for a 96-bed substance addiction treatment center to provide detox and residential treatment. The county has also partnered with University
Medical Center to open a “crisis stabilization center” for those who need immediate behavioral health services. The center is expected to open by February 2025, according to county staff.
Gov. Joe Lombardo in his State of the State address earlier this month announced that the Office of Economic Development has formally approved the Campus for Hope. The 26-acre facility, which will be located on Charleston and Jones Boulevards west of the Las Vegas Medical District, “will provide life-changing resources for those experiencing homelessness,” he said. According to the project’s website, nevadahope.org, the campus will have 900 beds and 300 employees.
The project is based on San Antonio’s Haven for Hope shelter and services center. According to a 2023 report from Haven for Hope, the nonprofit has reduced the prevalence of homelessness in Downtown San Antonio by 77% since they started operating in 2010, and 91% of “Haven graduates” transitioned to stable housing after one year.
Funding for the Campus for Hope is outlined in a bill that passed in the 2023 Legislature and allocated $100 million to a matching fund for development, to be matched by Las Vegas resorts. The legislation provides that the state will provide matching funds of $15 million per year if participating local governments match that $15 million per year, for a total of $30 million for annual operations.
Several Las Vegas resort executives testified in support of the bill. Nevada Resort Association CEO Virginia Valentine said in a statement that the Campus for Hope would be a “comprehensive program for our community’s most vulnerable.”
Clark County on November 5 unanimously approved a shared services agreement between Clark County, the Campus for Hope Foundation (which is slated to oversee development and operate the Campus for Hope) and the participating cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson.
Rendering of Campus for Hope (Courtesy Overland)
MUSIC
DESERT REVIVAL
Planet Desert Rock Weekend returns in 2025 with an international feast of heavy psych, doom and stoner rock
BY AMBER SAMPSON
As music festivals jockey to stay afloat among rising production costs, one party in the desert simply won’t dry up. Planet Desert Rock Weekend, a riff-heavy fest born out of a love for stoner rock, doom and heavy psych, returns with 20 bands performing non-overlapping sets across four nights at two Las Vegas venues.
“This music really holds onto the organic side … of rock ’n’ roll,” says creator and curator John Gist, who has brought stoner rock pioneers Brant Bjork and John Garcia of Kyuss and spinoff bands like Los Angeles’ Nebula to the PDRW stage.
“There is a lot of uniqueness to what this is about, and I think we cover in these 20 bands a pretty good range within the heavy rock, heavy-psych scene that really exemplifies a nice sampling.”
This year’s bill will be topped by legacy desert rock band Unida, followed by the fuzz-saturated sounds of Sons of Arrakis, a Montreal-based sci-fi rock band inspired by Frank Herbert’s Dune, Los Angeles stoner metalheads Fireball Ministry (performing for the first time since 2019), Italy’s heavy-psych rockers Mr. Bison, Swedish psych-prog outfit JIRM and countless more. For Last Call night on February 2,
Vegas-based guitarist Jason Walker, a PDRW regular who has toured with Gene Simmons’ band, will riff through Soundgarden’s 1991 album Badmotorfinger and older tunes from its catalog. Gist’s addition of eight international bands also means that for some—Belgium’s Fire Down Below, United Kingdom’s Sergeant Thunderhoof and Germany’s Samavayo, JIRM and Sons of Arrakis—PDRW will mark their United States debut.
He’s allotted longer set times to make those trips feel worthwhile. Events also take place at night to give people time to relax and explore.
This year’s PDRW will welcome festival goers from more than 32 states and five countries, who will descend upon the Usual Place and Count’s Vamp’d for rare sets they likely won’t see anywhere else in the States.
“We’ve really made it difficult for bands to come over here and even make sense of things financially. Our market has shifted out of these genres so much that when they do these things, it’s just an honor,” Gist says. “This whole thing is risky for every person involved in the creation of this, that includes the bands, and that’s why I have to make it special.”
Sons of Arrakis (Courtesy/Nicolas Bondu)
Unida (Courtesy/Courtney Ware)
JOHN GIST’S THREE MUST-SEE ACTS
JIRM
“They’ve been around for a dozen years, and are out of Sweden, which, in the heavy rock underground scene, Sweden is like a mecca. It’s so amazing how they can range from sounding like [Swedish progressive metal band] Opeth to something like this. JIRM is a psychedelic adventure that has such an epic, majestic sound to them.”
GODZILLIONAIRE
“Godzillionaire features the frontman from the ’90s band Paw. They had a big song called ‘Jessie.’ Mark Hennessy is the frontman, and they’ve put together a great sound that really is genre-bending. … He brings soul into it, a driving force with full-throated vocals.”
SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF
“I would say they might be the band that most people are coming directly for. They just put out an album that was on so many people’s end-of-the-year list for 2024. Dan [Flitcroft] is an amazing singer and his lyricism really revolves around folklore and storytelling of the British nature.”
SPACE JAZZ
February 5, 7 p.m., $35, House of Blues, livenation.com. JIRM (Courtesy/Sebastian Bularca), Godzillionaire (Courtesy/Jason Dailey) Sergeant Thunderhoof (Courtesy/Kieran Gallop)
Bebop Bounty Big Band brings Cowboy Bebop ’s legendary score to life at House of Blues
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Bebop, the jazz style, might’ve existed for decades before Cowboy Bebop the show, but let’s be real: In the universe of Shinichirō Watanabe’s iconic 1998 anime, one does not exist without the other. Cowboy Bebop—the space-faring, bounty-hunting odyssey set to some of the slickest jazz ever recorded—might have the celestial thrills and zippy characters like Spike Spiegel and Faye Valentine, but the show’s beating heart is its soundtrack. And now, thanks to the Bebop Bounty Big Band, you can experience it live, without ever having to dodge space criminals or fire a single shot.
COWBOY BEBOP LIVE
For the uninitiated, Cowboy Bebop’s opening number “Tank!” is a samba-jazz fusion that dares you not to move your feet. The track’s brash, bold horn lines and extended sax solo are a siren call to the bebop universe itself, an endless immersive realm built from the effortless improvisations of its jazz roots. While its signature energy sets the tone for the series, the score never stays in one place. From smooth blues to frenetic funk, the sound evolves across genres with each episode, creating an emotionally complex soundtrack that remains unmatched in its diversity.
Yoko Kanno’s visionary composition, performed by her band Seatbelts, was the driving force behind the series’ sound. Kanno and the Seatbelts wrote the pieces without seeing the visuals of the episodes, giving them an unparalleled creative freedom to experiment. This improvising spirit, a defining feature of bebop jazz, runs parallel to the very essence of the show—Spike’s “whatever happens, happens” attitude, and the free-wheeling lives of the bounty hunters.
Performed by the 14-piece Bebop Bounty Big Band, the February 5 performance is slated to be a celebration of the high-octane jazz that made this anime such a cultural touchstone. After a successful 2024 tour, the ensemble is hitting the road for another 30-plus date run. With world class musicians handpicked by the event’s curator and band leader Corey Paul, this is your chance to hear another universe come to life. So, 3…2…1, let’s jam
(Courtesy)
$800,000
BREAKING POINT
BY SHANNON MILLER
When Ronnie Abaldonado started Full Force dance crew with his older brother and their friend Rock Gallego in Las Vegas in 1995, he had no idea how far it would go. Just 12 years old at the time, he was inspired by legendary breakers like the Bronx’s Rock Steady Crew, which dominated the breaking scene in the ‘80s and went on to franchise multiple groups worldwide. But he couldn’t foresee that Full Force would go on to create a legacy of its own.
“My older brother [Rodolfo Jr.] had a vision. … He wanted to expand Full Force, so
that we went global and had different chapters. And I was the complete opposite. I felt that we were a smaller crew, and I just loved the camaraderie,” says Abaldonado, now 42.
“My mentality growing up with the first generation of Full Force was, if it ends, it ends here. It dies with us. I didn’t think about longevity.”
Thirty years later, Abaldonado realizes his older brother was right. Members from Full Force would move to San Diego and go on to form the Jabbawockeez, which won season one of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew in 2008 and later became known as the first dance
crew to headline a Las Vegas Strip show in 2010. The Jabbawockeez continue to influence Vegas’ entertainment scene with their show Timeless at MGM Grand.
Members also would go on to form Super Cr3w, which won the second season of America’s Best Dance Crew. Abaldonado refers to Full Force as the “origin story” for both Jabbawockeez and Super Cr3w, having established a style and standard for them to go on and leave their mark on the world of breaking.
But it’s not just about what they’ve done; Full Force is forward thinking about what
Vegas-born crew Full Force celebrates 30 years of dance, growth and influence
they’re going to do for future generations.
“The only way we keep our legacy alive is if we recruit new members,” Abaldonado says.
One of the newest members, 25-year-old Kobe Hall, says he was inspired by Full Force’s originality from a young age. Growing up on Guam, his dreams of moving to Las Vegas and dancing professionally were fueled by the crew. A meeting with Abaldonado convinced him to make the move, which he did in 2022. Months later, he “battled in” to Full Force (which is a breaking crew’s way of initiating new members). After much hard work and
dedication, today he dances professionally on the Strip and competes in national breaking competitions.
“It’s great to represent the new generation of the crew. But I have to be responsible, because of everything they’ve built up for us so far,” Hall says. “There’s a certain standard that I try to keep myself at. I also push boundaries, because Full Force has created so many of the things that have become the foundation of what breaking is today. And I feel like it’s my job to continue that legacy for the generations to come.”
Full Force is honoring that legacy with their 30th anniversary celebration on February 2 at Ahern Hotel. Hosted by Ivan Manriquez (aka Urban Action Figure) and local emcee Arturo Cecena (aka MP Art), the event will feature a two-on-two youth competition for ages 15 and under, a one-on-one adult competition and a three-on-three adult competition, all with cash prizes. Prelims will run 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the main event starting at 6:30 p.m.
(Action shots, courtesy)
LEFT Full Force crew. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
TOP RIGHT Lukas Galante MIDDLE, BOTTOM RIGHT Ronnie Abaldonado
Kimberly Akimbo playwright David Lindsay-Abaire introduces his hopeful work to the Smith Center
PLAYING FOR TIME
BY GEOFF CARTER
The title character of Kimberly Akimbo is a teenager aging prematurely due to an unnamed, progeria-like condition. She faces the challenges common to young adults—family dysfunction, self-determination, rst love— while confronting her own mortality; she’s 16 years old going on 65. Yet for all this heavy baggage, Kimberly is upbeat and hopeful, as is the ve-time Tony Award-winning musical that surrounds her. The author of Kimberly Akimbo’s book and lyrics, David Lindsay-Abaire, took a moment to talk about the musical’s in uence and themes on the eve of its seven-show run at the Smith Center.
This is Kimberly Akimbo’s rst national tour. How’s the road trip going so far?
It’s been amazing. The response has been terri c, and it’s a really great production. You know, when you leave Broadway, you think, are we going to lose that spark? Is it going to be as good as it was on Broadway? And it has been that, and then some. Has taking the show beyond Broadway
changed your perception of it?
It’s been incredibly gratifying to see it play the same as it has in New York. … You don’t know how other people are going to respond to the strange tone of the play. It’s not a straightforward comedy and it’s not a straightforward drama; it really lives between those two places. It can be tricky for an audience to sort out exactly what the show is sometimes. … You can go see it on Wednesday and feel the audience not knowing what it is and then guring it out by the third scene, and then see it on the next day, and [that audience] knows from the very beginning that it’s okay to laugh and that it’s equally sad at the same time.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO
hard to not lose the things that Jeanine and I both liked about the play, while totally reinventing it by adding these songs and expanding the cast, and it’s just a completely di erent animal now, but the seed of it is still there ... It’s an exciting thing to take something that I thought I knew, inside and out, and completely transform into something new.
February 4-9, times vary, $35$173. Reynolds Hall, thesmith center.com.
Kimberly Akimbo was originally a play; your collaborator Jeanine Tesori suggested it could be put to music. Was that a di cult thing to do?
It was an amazing thing to do, because it was a play that I had enough space and time away from that I could reinvestigate it. We worked
Kimberly, the character, stays positive in bad circumstances. Can we follow her lead? Is storytelling enough to lift us up in hard times?
Oh, gosh, I had an answer, but you used the word enough. Is it enough? God, I hope it helps. I know that when I see a show, just for those two-and-a-half hours, I leave the world and I go to a di erent place. Sometimes it’s a place that’s similar to this world and sometimes it’s di erent, but I always feel a connection between myself and what’s happening on stage, and it gives me hope; I feel healed by it. And I walk out of the theater feeling like, I don’t know, maybe things aren’t so bad after all. It certainly helps to soothe a little bit.
PASTA & PARTY
Caramella brings a groovy taste of Italy to Planet Hollywood
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Tao Group Hospitality has left its luxurious stamp on too many concepts to count. The Tao touch is evident in all the little details: lush decor; intimate, if not outright sexy atmosphere; the unspoken expectation that you’re here to dine, but in a few hours you’ll be ready to dance. Beauty & Essex, Lavo, Stanton Social Prime—they all have those details. The company’s newest Italian concept, Caramella at Planet Hollywood, undoubtedly does too.
The shoe-shuffling sounds of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” pouring steadily out of Caramella’s speakers should have been the first sign. That exquisite taste in ’70s funk and soul—the very kind that put B.T. Express’ “Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied)” on the map and on this playlist—matches the character of Caramella as a whole. Underneath a flattering, tangerine-hued glow, it embodies all the swagger of a Tuscan trattoria in its 1970s groove era.
pungent kick of jalapeño and chimichurri—makes it a knockout.
It’s easy to feel the same about Caramella’s Duroc pork tenderloin ($43), a marbled pork with an earthy sweetness from the marsala sauce and wild mushrooms. Trust us, it’s fantastic.
Before your pasta course, cleanse the palate with some cocktails. For a freshen-up, try the Crimson & Clover ($22), a mix of vodka, ginger beer, blood orange and lemon; or if you want something a little more daring, order the Dirty Caramella ($22), which pairs vermouth and pickle brine with vodka and basil.
A few fixtures stand out right away: the wall sconces that feature primates studiously reading books, the curious cheetah statues guarding areas around the room, the outdoor terrace overlooking the north end of the Strip, and the Italian candy shop at the front, concealing a hidden lounge straight out of Saturday Night Fever. And we haven’t even gotten to the food yet.
First things first: Don’t skip the apps. Caramella’s herby and fragrant veal meatballs ($21) come packed full of ricotta and mozzarella, and they’re so tasty it’s tough to share, so order multiples. Then there’s the crispy porchetta ($26), a fatty pork dish that might not be for everyone, but the way this version is served—topped with a
You can opt to add shaved truffles to just about anything on the menu, but it’s a real flavor magnifier with the rigatoni alla gricia ($35). This dish features savory bits of guanciale (pork cheek) and crumbly Pecorino in a white wine sauce and pleasantly al dente pasta. The only thing that would make this dish better is if it were bottomless. Yet it might have met its match with the hearty cavatelli Bolognese ($39). Never has a bowl of pasta tasted so silky, so creamy, so flavorful, and Caramella makes the cavatelli in-house.
Grilled and fire-roasted seafood and steaks all make the cut of greatness, too. There’s filet mignon ($68), a two-pound lobster Arrabiata ($75), a 14-ounce New York strip ($72) you can order with bone marrow, and much more. The Wagyu steak fries ($18) is a side dish that belongs with any of them, potatoes deep-fried in beef tallow. If that weren’t indulgent enough, Caramella serves a foot-long slice of cheesecake ($25), assuming you’ve saved room for dessert. Like any great ’70s song, Caramella has found its groove. Let’s hope it keeps this dance up forever.
HIDDEN DELIGHTS
Golden Gai Cocktail Club brings Shinjuku style to the Palazzo
BY SHANNON MILLER
Like our own Fremont Street or “Glitter Gulch,” Tokyo has a little pocket once known as a red light district. Though prostitution was outlawed in Japan in the 1950s, people still stand in the doorways in the winding alleys of the Golden Gai bar district in Shinjuku ward, beckoning passersby, promising them a good time if they step inside.
Now, a little slice of Golden Gai is available at the Venetian just steps inside Wakuda’s wandering hallway. The new Golden Gai Cocktail Club is dimly lit with neon accents and lanterns covered in netting. Artist Shohei Otomo’s contemporary works give cyberpunk and anime vibes, including a kimono and aviators-clad geisha baring her teeth as she plays ping pong.
Like the Shinjuku bars, this one feels intimate with just seven tables, but Golden Gai is elevated for Vegas-style nightlife. An outdoor patio with a view of the Boulevard provides additional seating. Inside, live DJs inject energy into the space. Behind the bar, a wall of spirits reaches the ceiling.
Their seasonal menu of
alcoholic beverages, all priced $22, is nature-inspired, with ingredients like ripe peach and premium Japanese whisky. The Golden Gai Cure is a concoction of Toki whisky, lemon, honey and candied ginger. The Sleepy Kaiju refreshes with mezcal, Japanese melon liqueur, yuzu, lime, agave, cucumber and shiso. For a more boozy and direct cocktail, try the Ancient Lore, a Japanese version of an old fashioned with Toki, absinthe and angostura bitters.
The bite-sized food menu also satisfies, as you would expect from a kitchen connected with the international fine-dining establishment that is Wakuda. Juicy morsels of marinated Jidori chicken breast are pounded flat, breaded and fried for delectable nuggets served with yuzu ranch and microgreens ($15). Atop contrasting crispy rice, soy caramel spicy tuna melts in your mouth ($24). Japanese Wagyu katsu is a hearty slider with tonkatsu sauce, Japanese mayo and crunchy lettuce ($16). And don’t forget the handrolls from the sushi bar.
Filled with delights and surprises, Golden Gai is worth venturing a little out of your way.
GOLDEN GAI Venetian, 702-665-8592, venetianlasvegas.com. Sunday-Monday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 5 p.m.midnight; Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.
DOGGED APPROACH
Star forward Jack Hannah determined to turn Desert Dogs into a National Lacrosse League contender
(Courtesy./Lucas Peltier)
SPORTS
BY CASE KEEFER
Everything feels different for the Las Vegas Desert Dogs this season.
The local professional franchise’s third season in the National Lacrosse League is under way with an overhauled roster. Only five players remain from the initial Desert Dogs’ squad that emerged out of the 2022 NLL Expansion Draft.
That includes 25-year-old Jack Hannah, who leads the team with 17 goals and 35 points.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native and University of Denver graduate was initially drafted to the now-defunct Panther City (Fort Worth, Texas) Lacrosse Club, but never suited up until the Desert Dogs acquired his rights.
That gives Hannah a unique perspective on the local team’s progression and an extra motivation to turn it into a winner. Las Vegas has missed the playoffs in it is first two seasons— eight out of 14 teams advance—but eyes making a push before the 2024-2025 regular season ends in mid April.
The Desert Dogs currently sit at 2-5 but Hannah is confident the team’s best days are ahead at its new home, Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, after two years at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.
We caught up with him to talk about the move in venues, the team’s potential, his lacrosse journey and much more.
It’s not easy starting your career with an expansion franchise, but what have you enjoyed most about the process over the last three years?
My favorite part has just been building the whole thing from scratch. It was an honor to be on that first team and get selected in the expansion draft. From there, we’ve gotten kicked in the teeth quite a few times when we feel like we’re going to win games. But that’s part of the growing process, which has overall been great. We feel like we’re really on the cusp of being a really good team.
You’ve now won two of your last three games heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Georgia Swarm. What’s gone right and how can you build on it?
This year we brought in 15 new guys on the roster, so while we continue to grow with the couple of us that have been here from the start, we have a lot of a new chemistry to figure out. I think it hurt us early in the season. That feeling of a losing culture can grow and it’s hard to overcome. But we had to re-evaluate and understand we’re a new group. We’re still learning even though we know we’re a much better team.
We have a ton of skill but it’s about putting it together and finding our roles. I think we’re doing a good job of that. That’s what we’ve slowly started to do here.
Have you seen growth in the local fan base and new lacrosse fans?
Year one, when we did our season-ticket holder events and signed things, you’ve got to have something to talk about, so I’d always ask, “Hey, have you seen a lacrosse game before?” It was an overwhelming amount of people that hadn’t. Now, in year three, we have a lot of the same season-ticket holders coming back. I hear stories from people like, “Year one we bought season tickets and haven’t been able to unhook ourselves,” or “I came to a game last year and now I have season tickets.” I think the community in Henderson is rallying behind us. A lot of people enjoy it. It was pretty clear last game (a 12-10 win over the San Diego Seals on January 18) with a sellout crowd. I know it was (team minority owner Wayne) Gretzky jersey night so that brought a lot of people, but it was a loud building. It couldn’t have been more exciting.
When we were on the Strip, you’d see the season-ticket holders coming, but we were grabbing a lot of people who were on the Strip for whatever reason and found their way to a lacrosse game. That’s fun. I enjoyed that as well, but there’s something great about seeing the same faces that are coming back game after game and continuing to enjoy it at Lee’s Family Forum.
You mentioned Gretzky but he’s not the team’s only celebrity owner (two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash and two-time major-winning golfer Dustin Johnson also have shares). Have you interacted with those guys?
about lacrosse is a surreal feeling. I think it’s really cool to see prominent athletes in other sports support lacrosse and know it’s an awesome sport to be around.
How have you grown as a player from your rookie season?
DESERT DOGS REMAINING HOME GAMES
FEB. 1
vs. Georgia Swarm, 7 p.m. on Fox 5 and ESPN+
FEB. 14
vs. Vancouver Warriors, 7:30 p.m. on Fox 5 and ESPN+
MAR. 1
vs. Halifax Thunderbirds, 7 p.m. on ESPN+ and Silver State Sports and Entertainment Network
MAR. 7
vs. Rochester Knighthawks, 7:30 p.m. on Fox 5 and ESPN+
APR. 6
vs. Toronto Rock, 2 p.m. on Fox 5 and ESPN+ and SSEN
APR. 18
vs. Calgary Roughnecks, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and SSEN
Tickets range from $29-$169 available at lasvegasdesertdogs.com and axs.com.
I’ve gotten to meet all the owners and it’s been pretty cool. All the Canadian guys were super-pumped to meet Gretzky but I was personally pumped to meet Steve Nash, being a basketball guy. They’re all very cool and they’re all involved. They want to know more about the game. Getting to chop it up with Wayne Gretzky about hockey and him asking you questions
I didn’t know as much as a rookie. It’s a big learning process catching up to these guys that have played box lacrosse (as opposed to the more traditional field lacrosse in America) their whole lives. I’ve got a lot more confidence this year. I’d say Jonathan Donville, who we picked up from Panther City in the Dispersal Draft, is a heck of a player. He’s one of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around so he’s helped me a ton. When I was a rookie, I was playing hard and learning as I was going, but I’ve gotten to the point where I feel pretty comfortable with the game, comfortable controlling the game and knowing how to win. We’re getting there. I don’t think I’m close to my ceiling yet. I want to keep getting better, keep growing, but it’s a good feeling to have improved so far.
What’s your proudest lacrosse accomplishment so far?
It’s a weird answer because it has nothing to do with pro or college lacrosse, but my senior year of high school, we beat the private school in town that a bunch of kids from my public school transferred to. They thought it would help them go play lacrosse in college because they thought the program was way better than ours. My junior year, they finally allowed us on their schedule to play them and we lost by four or five. But my senior year, we had eight guys who started at my high school starting on their team. They ended up winning the state championship, but on one Friday night in Milford, Ohio, we beat them 15-5. It was awesome. It was the best win of my career.
How much have you carried that underdog mentality into your time with the Desert Dogs with sights on pulling off another shocking upset?
That’s the plan. If we get an NLL Cup in our hands, that will jump to the top of my list pretty quickly.
TTOUCHLESS CAR WASH ROOTED IN HENDERSON COMMUNITY AIMS TO BRANCH OUT
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
he new, state-of-the-art 24-hour car wash in Henderson—powered by artificial intelligence and fully touchless—is looking to team up with the community and ultimately be a local car wash, and an alternative to a slew of national chains, said Benjamin Ralphs, president of Scotty’s Car Wash.
“We’re community driven,” said Ralphs, who lives only minutes from the new car wash on Eastgate Road, “since we live and breathe in that community.”
The local aspect of the company was on full display this month at a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and the grand opening, where a portion of the proceeds went to Las Vegas nonprofit Life By Music.
Scotty’s Car Wash has also partnered with the nearby Coral Academy of Science and other organizations, Ralphs said.
“All the folks that actually work at the car wash, including myself and a couple of people that work there on the more executive end, we all live in Henderson,” he said. “And so this is home for us.”
Scotty’s being a local company isn’t the only way it stands out from other car washes, Ralphs said. For example, Scotty’s doesn’t use a conveyor belt and pulley system like most express car washes, in order to take better care of customers’ tires and rims.
The car wash has a touch-free option that uses high-pressure, turbo oscillating nozzles that go back and forth over a vehicle with hot water, soaps and detergents, tire shines, waxes
and graphene—a material Ralphs emphasized is important to repel dirt and debris from the vehicle when it drives away from the wash.
“And you can layer that,” he said. “So the more you come, and the more you get more and more coatings of graphene on your vehicle, the less and less it takes to clean your car. So that’s a big aspect of the chemistry for car washes, which is important as well.”
The company knew touch-free car washes were a need in the market, because some consumers don’t want brushes hitting the vehicle. The brushes at Scotty’s are catered to a soft touch, Ralphs said.
The full-service car wash also has vacuums available at all hours of the day, and a glass building that allows customers to get a car wash without driving into a dark tunnel—as is characteristic of most venues.
While employees will be on-site at Scotty’s during traditional business hours, customers can also do everything they need to at a kiosk or on an app, Ralphs said. License plate readers can identify member vehicles and activate the car wash automatically, as well.
“We have used AI on many aspects of our car wash,” Ralphs said. “We optimize the chemical usage by using our AI to determine what (are) ideal concentrations for each stage of the wash, and then that helps us reduce waste and ensures that we have a consistent quality of soaps and detergents every single time that a car goes through our car wash.”
Jason Hill, a Henderson resident who lives near Scotty’s, said the car wash is built so it can accommodate larger vehicles, and he is grateful for the lack of a pulley system that can cause damage to a car’s alignment and other features.
The company is also more personable than others he has been to, Hill said.
“Jim, one of the engineers, he’s there every single time you come through,” he said. “He greets you with a smile. He walks you through the process.”
Though the Scotty’s Car Wash in Henderson may be the first, Ralphs said it is by no means the last. He hopes to grow the company and open more in neighboring suburbs and beyond, Ralphs said.
“It’s been a pretty good success for us,” he said. “We are growing every single month. (We’re) trying to make it a family-friendly, community-driven car wash, but we have plans to open a few more Scotty’s in the next few years, for sure.”
Scotty’s Car Wash in action. (Courtesy)
VEGAS INC NOTES
Nevada State University’s School of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Business has announced the launch of its inaugural External Advisory Council, composed of leaders from a variety of industries and disciplines across Southern Nevada. It will serve as a bridge between the School of LASB and the broader community, offering guidance, fostering partnerships, and creating new opportunities for students, faculty and staff. The council’s members will advise on networking, experiential learning, mentorship, and fundraising initiatives. The inaugural set of council members includes: Bo Bernhard, vice president of economic development at UNLV; Malika El Bakkal Lees, vice president and community manager at JP Morgan Chase; Zach Bradford, co-founder and CEO of CleanSpark; Leo Murrieta, executive director of Make the Road Nevada; Grace Njoroge, education director at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum; and Doa Ross, deputy
HELP WANTED
Clinical Reviewer
(Job Location - Henderson, NV / Telecommute OK): Data mining medical records to look for Medicare Risk Adjusting diagnoses. Req’d - BS, Doctor of Medicine or related.
Send resume to P3 Health Partners, Marci Milstead, 2370 Corporate Cir, #300, Henderson, NV 89074
general manager of engineering for the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority
Nevada Donor Network promoted Jason Mahfood to executive vice president and chief financial officer. Mahfood has served as chief financial officer since 2014 and will now take on additional responsibilities as executive vice president. He previously served as treasurer of NDN’s governing board.
The West Henderson Fieldhouse, an indoor sports and family entertainment complex, moves forward following city council approval of the design and construction. Whiting-Turner Contracting Company and Klai Juba Wald Architecture + Interiors were awarded the agreement. The complex was initially introduced for public feedback May 21 and was unanimously approved at the July 2 City Council meeting. The
160,000-square-foot, two-level facility will be built behind Chicken N Pickle on St. Rose and Maryland Parkways and will offer parks and recreation programming, youth sports activities, camps and clinics.
Henderson’s new city manager and CEO, Stephanie Garcia-Vause, has taken the oath of office. She has served nearly three decades with the city, most recently as assistant city manager and chief operating officer, and previously as director of community development and services.
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar announced the appointment of Deanna Reynolds as deputy secretary of state for commercial recordings. Reynolds joined the office in May 2023 as portfolio manager for Project Orion, the overhaul of Nevada’s business licensing portal. She previously worked for over two decades in project management.
PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES
BY FRANK LONGO
BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): I invite you to keep your community fully apprised of what’s happening in your life. Proceed on the assumption that sharing your plans and changes with others will generate harmony and support. You may discover that keeping your community in the loop will strengthen your bonds and sweeten your endeavors.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A regular guy named Jesse Ronnebaum bought an old painting at a yard sale for 50 cents. For the next ten years, it hung on the wall in his living room. Then he discovered it was worth a lot of money. In the coming months, Taurus, hidden value will no longer be hidden. You will potentize neglected sources of wealth and finally recognize subtle treasures.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I cherish mysteries that thwart attempts at rational explanation. In accordance with astrological omens, Gemini, I invite you to specialize in tantalizing and unsolvable enigmas in the coming weeks. Your soul needs rich doses of provocative riddles, mysterious truths and fun puzzles. Exult in the liberating declaration, “I don’t know!”
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Wherever you wander, be alert for signals that remind you of who you used to be. This will stimulate your creative speculation about who you want to evolve into during the next few years. As you ruminate about your history, you will get inspirations about who you want to become. The past will speak vividly, in ways that hint at your best possible future.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Express your beauty to the max—be bold and vivid and radiant—but also provide plenty of space for your allies to shine. Be your authentically amazing self, but create boundaries that allow others to be their amazing selves.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Many of you Virgos are skilled at being self-sufficient. But sometimes this natural strength warps into a hesitancy to ask for help and support. And that can diminish your ability to fulfill your ambitions. My goal in the months to come is to celebrate and nurture your self-sufficiency even as I coach you to be dynamic about gathering all the assistance you can.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the coming days, you are likely to be the beneficiary of uncommon luck. The only kind of karma that will be operating in your vicinity will be good karma. X-factors and wild cards will be more available to you than usual. Your timing will be impeccable, and your intuition will be extra incisive. If anyone in your sphere is prone to feeling envy because you’re flourishing, your charm will defuse it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here are three questions to ruminate on: 1. What resources are you afraid you will run out of or squander? 2. What if your fear of running out or squandering these resources obstructs your ability to understand what you need to know and do so that you won’t run out or squander them? 3. How can you dissolve the fear and feel confident that the necessary resources will keep steadily flowing in, and you will use them well?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Most stars have at least one companion star. Our sun is in the minority. Might our sun eventually link up with a compatriot? Unlikely. But in contrast to our sun, 2025 will offer you a significant diminishment in your personal loneliness quotient. If you crave more camaraderie and togetherness, the coming months will be a favorable time to seek them out.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the coming weeks, your authenticity will be your greatest strength. The more genuine and honest you are, the more life will reward you. Be alert for situations that may seem to demand camouflage when in fact they will ultimately reward your complete transparency. You will be most powerful and attractive as you allow yourself to be fully seen.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the coming weeks, you will have an uncanny multi-dimensional awareness that helps guide your travels. And you will make steady efforts to ensure that your magical ways of knowing are grounded in earthy rhythms.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In some Polynesian cultures, there is a belief that one’s mistakes can cause physical sickness. Hawaiians traditionally have employed a ritual remedy for such ills called ho’oponopono. It includes acts of atonement, forgiveness and correction. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to carry out your own version of ho’oponopono, Pisces.
BACKSTORY
PRACTICE
RUN AT WHITNEY MESA BMX TRACK IN HENDERSON | It’s the fastest track in the nation, according to USA BMX. The Whitney Mesa BMX track at Whitney Ranch Recreation Center hosted the Gold Cup Qualifier Triple Race on January 26, where these riders were warming up. It’s open to anyone with a USA BMX membership, and hosts clinics, practices, races, and occasionally, Olympic gold medalist Connor Fields. The City of Henderson offers free one-day memberships to new riders. Ride on! –Shannon Miller
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
Make a splash at an unforgettable Big Game watch party where the electric poolside atmosphere doesn’t stop. Boasting a 143ft 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 eye-catching pyrotechnics display.
