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PUBLISHER
MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com
EDITOR
SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)
Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)
Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com)
Contributing Writers KYLE CHOUINARD, GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, HAAJRAH GILANI, MIKE GRIMALA, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, JACK WILLIAMS, ILANA WILLIAMS
Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT
O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE
Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)
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Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS
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DIGITAL
Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON
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ADVERTISING & MARKETING
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Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART
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16 FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE
After House Republicans put forward a budget resolution asking for approximately $880 billion in cuts presumably from Medicaid, Nevadans and lawmakers push back. 22 ON THE COVER
Historic local venues have stories to tell.
COVER ART
Erick
10
Tips for picking up pickleball, plus cool places to do yoga.
32 NEWS
36 SPORTS
Your best bets for the NCAA hoops tournament.
38 SCENE
The Women’s Hospitality Initiative aims to empower the next generation of female industry leaders with a new conference and gala.
42 ART Artist
James
the veil between art and viewers in her first solo exhibit at Left of Center Gallery.
48
FOOD & DRINK
Longtime local sandwich institution P.O.P.S. celebrates National Cheesesteak Day this week.
The Sin Sity Sisters host the Red Dress Event for their 20th anniversary, Dom Kennedy brings West Coast rap to the House of Blues and more this week.
Want More? Visit us at lasvegasweekly.com.
THURSDAY MAR 20
FRIDAY MAR 21
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. BOSTON BRUINS
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
DEAD & COMPANY
Thru 3/22, 7:30 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster. com
WILL SMITH
7:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
MELVIN SEALS & JGB
11 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com
SHAKEDOWN
VEGAS With The Deadgummits, Mojave Blue, more, thru 3/22, times vary, Tuscany, shakedownvegas. weebly.com
JIM HENSON’S LABYRINTH: IN CONCERT
7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com
ALISON WONDERLAND
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
ALESSO
10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
(The Smith Center of the Performing Arts/Courtesy)
DOM KENNEDY
As the weather warms up, there’s no better soundtrack for cruising with the windows down than Dom Kennedy’s II: From the Westside, With Love. The Los Angeles native has been a cornerstone of the California hip-hop scene for years, but his presence now spans well beyond the West Coast. With his e ortless flow, sun-kissed beats and homegrown storytelling, Kennedy’s music is the essence of LA. Last year, at Kendrick Lamar’s “Ken & Friends” pop-up show, Mustard brought out Dom to perform “When I Come Around,” and the crowd responded with that unmistakable LA hype, proving that the rapper’s impact is as strong as ever. 8 p.m., $49, House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez
DANZIG
With Down, Abbath, Cro-Mags, 6 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com
ROD STEWART
7:30 p.m., & 3/22, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com
MAROON 5
8 p.m., & 3/22, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com
GANJA WHITE NIGHT
7 p.m., & 3/22, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, seetickets.us
BERT KREISCHER
8 p.m., & 3/22, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
NATE BARGATZE
7:30 p.m., & 3/22, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
NIKKI GLASER & DAVID SPADE
8:30 p.m., & 3/22, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com
CHELSEA HANDLER
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. SAN DIEGO GULLS
6 p.m. (& 3/22, 1 p.m.), Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com
DIPLO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
LIL WAYNE 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
E-40
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
MANN 10 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com
DUBFIRE 10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
GAWM & GLADEZ With Heklr, Shoku, MGMA, 10 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com
SATURDAY MAR 22
SAWEETIE Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
ONE NIGHT FOR ONE DROP
5 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, onedrop. org
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. DETROIT RED WINGS
5 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
NEW VISTA BREW’S BEST CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
2 p.m., Downtown Summerlin, newvistanv.org
PAUL ANKA
7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com
THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS
With The Summer Set, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com
KILLER QUEEN 8 p.m., M Pavilion, ticketmaster.com
VINCENT INGALA 8 p.m., Club Madrid, ticketmaster.com
THE BAD PLUS 5 & 8 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com
THE FAINT
JOHN SUMMIT 11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
SOFI TUKKER 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
DEADMAU5 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
DAVID GUETTA 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
RICK ROSS 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
TYGA 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
ANATTA
With JMartinez & Sammy V, Jimii, more, 11 p.m., La Mona Rosa, seetickets.us
With Plack Blague, Close to Modern, 8 p.m., Backtage Bar & Billiards, seetickets. us
GIMME GIMME DISCO 9:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com
The Sin Sity Sisters want to celebrate their 20th anniversary with you. Formally known as the Las Vegas order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the local LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit has raised more than $1 million for its AIDS Drug Assistance Program since it launched the campaign in 2008. But the Sisters don’t plan on slacking on their fundraising e orts—or wardrobes—anytime soon. For its upcoming fundraiser, the 17th annual Red Dress Event, the group promises “a night of dancing, light bites and incredible entertainment, with everyone dressed in their most creative red outfits.” 7 p.m., $75+, the Usual Place, sinsitysisters.org. –Tyler Schneider
*Spotlight events are sponsored
EXHIBIT: OUR 9TH ISLAND
Thru 5/11, Mon.Thu. 7:30 a.m.-
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. DETROIT RED WINGS
5 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
LAS VEGAS
SINFONIETTA: MOSTLY BACH
3 p.m., Clark County Library, eventbrite. com
A NIGHT OF POP AND SOUL
With Mackenzie Sol, Sian Michelle, 7:30 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com
YO YOLIE
11 a.m., Liquid Pool Lounge, taogroup.com
ODD MOB
Noon, Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
HOUSE OF WAX
With Angelo Robledo, Funky Ruben, 10 p.m., Oddfellows, oddfellowslv.com
5:30 p.m., Henderson City Hall, cityofhenderson. com
EXHIBIT: FORGOTTEN CONNECTION BY ANNAMARIE
LAO CARLEY Thru 4/18, times vary, East Las Vegas Library, thelibrarydistrict. org
CHELSEA GRIN
MONDAYS DARK
8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com
KIM LEE
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
MURDA BEATZ
10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
RESTAURANT & BAR EXPO
With Shadow of Intent, Signs of the Swarm, Disembodied Tyrant, 6 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com
Bar & Restaurant Expo returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center March 24–26. The game is changing—rising costs, shifting trends and new challenges are everywhere. It’s time to adapt, evolve, and dominate. Join more than 13,000 bar and restaurant pros from across the country to sample bold new flavors, explore cutting-edge tech, gain insights from hospitality legends, and network with people who get it, all with one goal: running a more profitable business. Save 30% o new passes with code TAPIN. Get yours at barandrestaurantexpo.com Thru 3/26, times and prices vary, Las Vegas Convention Center, barandrestaurantexpo.com.
(Courtesy)
CARLOS MENCIA 10 p.m., & 3/26, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com
SERPENTINE FIRE 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS Thru 3/27, 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com
SONIA BARCELONA 7 p.m., Composers Room, thecomposers room.com
DJ PAULY D 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs. com
JAZZ VEGAS ORCHESTRA & SHERRIE MARICLE
7 p.m., Myron’s, the smithcenter.com
BACK SPACE SESSIONS With Scorpio, B. Rose, Xander, 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com
TEASE ON THE ROCKS 8 p.m., Swan Dive, eventbrite.com
UNLV SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: UNLV CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNERS
7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu
DJ FRANZEN 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
L’CORE 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
BY BROCK RADKE
Pickleball has become ubiquitous. The fast-paced, low-impact sport has taken over court spaces at parks, gyms and other recreational facilities, and more newbies are giving this game a chance every day.
The Downtown Las Vegas hub for pickleball is the Plaza Hotel & Casino, which has 13 rooftop courts where locals get a discount on fees and free beginner’s classes are taught every Saturday at 9 a.m. The Plaza just hosted its rst three-day Nike Pickleball Camp this past week.
Local pro Steve Cole leads those classes and has been participating in the sport for 11 years. He shared some tips with the Weekly for those interested in joining the craze and hitting the courts.
There are “pickleball shoes,” athletic shoes marketed specifically for pickleball, but tennis shoes or other lightweight cross trainers will also provide the cushioning, support and shock absorption needed to play the game and avoid injury. Just make sure you’re wearing court shoes and not a leftover pair of sneakers. “You’ll want to treat it like the sport it is to avoid injuries in the beginning,” says Cole.
invest in athletic eyewear, but other than court shoes and comfortable, paddle and balls. “The investment is for pared to other sports,” Cole says. “You and balls are relatively inexpensive. That [low cost] is another good
Some beginners may need to can get a good
The classes at the Plaza focus on how to move within the court, which comes easily to anyone with racquet sports experience but also quickly to rookies, Cole explains. “It’s not a lot of running, just good court positioning. There’s lateral movement but your forward movement is no more than 15 feet. The baseline is 22 feet, so when you’re playing doubles, it’s only 10 feet across that you’re covering.”The pickleball court’s kitchen, nearest the net, is a zone where players cannot volley the ball, so that space reduces the size of the court significantly; it’s already one and a half times smaller than a tennis court.
Shutterstock/Photo Illustration
Plaza Hotel & Casino
1 N. Main St., daily 9 a.m.-7 p.m., plazahotelcasino.com
(Photo Courtesy of Plaza Hotel & Casino)
Sunset Park
Pickleball Complex
2601 E. Sunset Road, daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m., clarkcountynv.gov.
Vegas Indoor Pickleball
7575 W. Sunset Road #110, daily 7 a.m.-11 p.m., vegasindoorpickleball.com.
Durango Hills Park
3521 N. Durango Drive, daily 7 a.m.-11 p.m., lasvegasnevada.gov.
The Picklr Henderson
1450 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m., thepicklr.com.
“That’s why we want you to get comfortable first with the rules, a little strategy and court awareness, how to hit the ball.” going + Cool places to do yoga (see page 18)
PLAYING IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN
The flow of the game will feel familiar and natural to most beginners, but pickleball scoring is a bit di erent from other sports. You can only win points on your serve, and the first team to 11 wins but you must win by two. Classes like those at the Plaza go a long way in taking the intimidation factor out of trying something new.
“When you get started and you don’t know how to play, especially if you’re going out to public courts against experienced players, it can be a little intimidating,” Cole says.
THERE’S A REASON IT HAS BECOME SO POPULAR SO FAST
The social aspect of pickleball is the engine that has driven it to 311% growth in the last three years, as documented by a recent Sports & Fitness Industry Association report. There are now more than 16,000 places to play across the U.S., and new or coming-soon facilities in the Las Vegas Valley like Chicken N Pickle, The Picklr and Electric Pickle. “If you talk to your neighbors, co-workers and relatives, somebody you know is playing pickleball,” Cole says. “The reasons why so many people are coming to our sport is it’s a very easy game to learn, it’s low impact so any age group can play, and it’s just very enjoyable, social and interactive.”
BY SHANNON MILLER
The beautiful thing about yoga is, you can do it just about anywhere— at home, at work, at the airport … the list goes on. That being said, you need to know at least a few moves in order to practice. And luckily for us Las Vegans, there are plenty of opportunities to learn in person.
Do your downward dog among potted desert plants and decorative ironworks. Cactus Joe’s plant nursery has a yoga class every Saturday at 8 a.m. guided by Astrid Rudin. Participants should bring a yoga mat and water. No advance registration is required. free, 12740 Blue Diamond Road, cactusjoeslv.com.
On March 23 at 6:30 p.m., Fergusons Downtown hosts an hour-long silent yoga sesh with instructor Aja Marie. Headphones are provided to help get you in the zone. The venue also plans to host yoga each month through June (April 25, May 25 and June 29) and will continue in fall. $25, 1028 E. Fremont St., fergusonsdowntown.com.
Do mountain pose while looking at an actual mountain—Red Rock Canyon—from the meadow at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. You’ll want to check the park’s social media for the schedule of Saturday and Sunday classes. The next class is March 30 at 11 a.m. It’s $10 per car for Nevada residents to enter the park and $15 for non-residents. Qualified volunteer instructors accept donations. Participants should bring a yoga mat
and water. No advance registration is required. 6375 Highway 159, instagram.com/spring mountainranch.
There’s a lot of movement at Green Valley Ranch Resort, where two different types of yoga sessions are offered: full moon and weekend warmup. Full moon classes are scheduled on April 10, May 15 and June 12 in the evening so that you can appreciate the celestial event in the backdrop. Weekend warmup classes are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. starting April 12 through May 31. Both classes take place on the pool deck. free, Green Valley Ranch Resort, RSVP at greenvalleyranch.com.
Certified instructor Emily Hoover is guiding gentle yoga at James I. Gibson Library in Henderson every second and fourth Friday of each month, starting with April 11 and April 25 at 11 a.m. Learn easy and mild techniques for stretching and strengthening in this class. No advance registration is required. free, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway, hendersonlibraries.com. After the winter snow melts, Lee Canyon will continue its summer mountainside yoga classes, where yogis can enjoy a free, one-hour vinyasa class inside a grove of aspen trees. Attendees should bring their own mat and water and dress appropriately for lower temps, 30 to 40 degrees cooler than Las Vegas at 8,660 feet of elevation. Check Lee Canyon’s website for dates and to register. free, 6725 Lee Canyon Road, leecanyonlv.com.
BY GEOFF CARTER & GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
The phrase “dive bar” first appeared in New York newspapers in the late 1800s. It was used to describe the bars opening in cellars formerly needed to support wood-burning ovens, reclaimed in the name of booze. You had to “dive” below street level to access them. One of the most famous of these—Dug’s Dive, owned by a former slave named William Douglas and used as a stop on the Underground Railroad—operated in Bu alo, New York for decades, long enough for the name to come to represent a greater whole.
Las Vegas has little history, and even fewer basements. So, in talking about our city’s dive bars, we need to be specific. (And also careful: Over time, the phrase “dive bar” has become somewhat interchangeable with “smoked toilet that serves drinks.”) Vegas’ best dives aren’t below our streets, but they are mostly hidden away from our tourist corridors. They aren’t necessarily historic spots, but they’re getting close; many of the bars on the following pages are more than 50 years old. And most of them don’t self-identify as dive bars—a distinction that’s earned, not claimed. They just know what they are.
Vegas’ best dives are di erent from one another in significant ways. They may share some uniting characteristics—a ordable drinks, aged fixtures and décor, neon signage advertising domestic beers—but each one has its own personality, shaped in part by those who have claimed it as their local watering hole.
On that note, here are the Vegas dives we’d rather be at right this second, and a consideration of the vibes, both tangible and intangible, that make them great. Every one of them is an institution, and every one of them is the kinda place we’d walk into and boldly proclaim, “Drinks for everybody,” without worrying if we could afford to do it. These are the bright spots of Vegas’ underbelly. Long may they dive.
Before there was an Arts District in this city—hell, before this city even really felt like a city—there was Dino’s. It was, and still is, the place you inevitably end up near the end of a memorable night you’ll never remember. On those magic evenings, you slowly realize you’ve been belting out songs on this stage for a solid hour—Dino’s is pretty much Vegas’ bar karaoke capital—and the bartender has entered you in competition for the bar’s celebrated “Drunk of the Month” status. You have arrived. 1516 Las Vegas Blvd. South, dinoslv.com –Geo Carter
EST. 1962
If you’re not paying attention, you’ll stumble out of Huntridge Tavern with the unforgiving sun smiting you like a bad hangover. This windowless, 24-hour watering hole has been the refuge of the thirsty and penniless since long before Anthony Bourdain gave it national attention in 2014. But be warned: The cigarette smell will cling to you long after you’ve gone home, so dress accordingly. It’s just part of the charm that makes this place what it is. We consider it an
1116 E. Charleston Blvd.,
EST. 1962
With decades of drunken sunsets and sunrises hammered into their walls, the row of strip clubs and dispensaries on Industrial Road is a haven for those who aren’t ready to call it a night. A few years back, the Hard Hat Lounge was resurrected by owner Frank Sidoris and spun into a revamped version for a new generation of barflies. But two things haven’t changed: Sidoris preserved the 1962 mural by Frank and Vickie Bowers, and the Hard Hat remains dedicated to serving industry workers and locals. 1675 S. Industrial Road, hardhatloungelv.com. –GR
EST. 1966
The part of Vegas that includes UNLV’s main campus and the swank Paradise Palms neighborhood is sometimes called Midtown by real estate agents and such, but they could just as easily call it “the Champagne’s District,” because it’s a true reflection and distillation of what makes that part of our urban core so damn wonderful. From its perfectly preserved midcentury décor—love that flocked wallpaper—to its lively and good-lookin’ crowd of college students and mellow-aged hipsters, Champagne’s is of a splendid vintage. 3557 S. Maryland Parkway, champagnescafe.vegas. –GC
EST. 1969 Rusty Spur Saloon is the kind of place that tells you everything you need to know without saying a word. The tiny bar sits in the no-man’s land between a truck stop and motel, a spot where locals and strangers alike come for one thing: a no-frills drink at a price that won’t make you wince. Inside, the walls are a cluttered collage of music flyers, old license plates and humming neon signs. Outside, a silver-painted unicorn with a PBR stamp on its ass stands guard—enough reason to stop. 8025 Dean Martin Dr., ins tagram.com/rustyspursaloonlasvegas. –GR
EST. 1976
There are plenty of glittering temples of excess in this town, each with their own neon promises of luxury and indulgence, but Stage Door Casino cuts right to the chase. The building’s wraparound marquee beckons you in with “$5 PATRON SHOTS”, “DISCOUNT LIQUOR” and “ATM”— everything your soul needs. This bar, casino, liquor and convenience store has been holding it down for 48 years, since the twilight days of Sinatra and the Rat Pack. But today, it’s the ol’ reliable $3 beer and hot dog combo that keeps us coming back. 4000 Linq Lane, stagedoorcasino.com. –GR
EST. 1976
If you haven’t visited this perfectly-preserved 1970s fern bar—haven’t yet sat in one of its earth-toned booths, eyed the lazy-turning water wheel, grooved to its live jazz and blues, ordered up a stiff drink and one of its enormous signature burgers—then your Vegas experience is incomplete. The Dispensary Lounge is a quiet stalwart of Vegas hospitality. It makes you feel like you’re in a Scorsese-directed movie about our city from the second you walk in the door. 2451 E. Tropicana Ave., thedispensarylounge.com. –GC
Stage Door Casino (Christoper DeVargas/Staff) Dispensary Lounge,
EST. 1992
This tattooed punk bar is practically a heritage site—not just for the city, but for punks, nightflies and weirdos the world over. And we’re way into it. We’ve dropped thousands of dollars into its jukebox, playing hardcore punk and big-band jazz; we’ve seen hundreds of bands on its tiny stage, from the Supersuckers to Guitar Wolf; we’ve gulped down gallons of its proprietary shooter Ass Juice (still served “ass cold”). It never closes and it never lets up. The Double Down goes and goes and goes. 4640 Paradise Road, doubledownsaloon.com. –GC
The area where East Naples Drive meets Paradise Road and University Center Drive in Las Vegas has colloquially been known as the Fruit Loop for decades due to its concentration of LGBTQ businesses and nightlife. On March 17, Nevada Sen. Fabian Doñate introduced legislation that would recognize it as a historic landmark in Clark County. In a Senate Committee on Government Affairs hearing, Doñate said the process began
after he was tagged in TikTok reels depicting pedestrians in the area “darting across the street because there was no crosswalk available to them.” His initial concern over safe infrastructure led him to learn more about the historical significance of the neighborhood and pen the bill. If it passes, Fruit Loop business owners would collaborate with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Nevada Division of Tourism “to enhance its visibil-
ity,” with costs underwritten by the Lambda Business Association.
“The recognition aims to preserve the legacy of the Fruit Loop and encourage the ongoing advocacy for the area’s cultural and historical significance,” Doñate said. Several prominent local LGBTQ stalwarts also spoke in support, including Rob Schlegel, former publisher of the Fruit Loop-based queer newspaper, the Las Vegas Bugle –Tyler Schneider
GenBioPro, the Nevada pharmaceutical company that makes and distributes a generic version of the medication abortion drug mifepristone, has joined the Food and Drug Administration in a lawsuit to protect access to the drug that’s become a major method of ending a pregnancy in the United States. Their opponents, attorneys general from Missouri, Kansas and Idaho, are looking to roll the clock back to 2016 by reversing nearly a decade of FDA rulemaking.
Those Republican attorneys general want to limit the timeframe people can use the drug, mandate follow-up visits, require people to pick up the drug in person, and kill the generic version that GenBioPro distributes.
“We remain concerned about extremists and special interests’ attempts to undermine the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory authority,” GenBioPro CEO Evan Masingill wrote in a statement. “GenBioPro remains committed to using all legal and regulatory tools to protect mifepristone.”
But what seems like a common goal between the FDA and GenBioPro, which is the sole U.S. manufacturer of generic mifepristone, may not last long.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, said at his confirmation hearing that the president wanted him to look into the drug’s “safety issues.”
“Trump has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate it,” Kennedy said. “Whatever he does, I will implement those policies.”
In U.S. trials, mifepristone, one half of the abortion pill regimen, resulted in a successful abortion over 97% of the time, according to the FDA.
Along with Kennedy’s comments at his confirmation hearing, the new administration has struck a cold attitude toward abortion. Dr. Marty Makary, Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, said he has “no preconceived plans on mifepristone policy” when pressed by Democrats at his confirmation hearing.
The FDA did not respond to multiple requests for comment. –Kyle Chouinard
HOT SHOT
NASCAR Cup Series driver
Josh Berry celebrates at Victory Lane after winning the Pennzoil 400 race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 16.
(Steve Marcus/ Staff)
BY THE NUMBERS
54
That’s how many inches of snow Lee Canyon has received after winter storms this month, as of March 18.
Saddle up! Beyoncé is bringing her Cowboy Carter tour to Allegiant Stadium on July 25. The global superstar recently added nine new dates to her stadium run, following a history-making sweep at the Grammys.
With the release of 2024’s Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé became the first Black woman to win Best Country Album. She also took home Album of the Year that night. The album, which features collaborations with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Miley Cyrus, has garnered praise for how it transcends genre, seasoning country customs with Beyoncé’s own style of cowboy. General tickets go on sale March 25 at ticket master.com. –Amber Sampson
Nevadans prepare for potentially devastating cuts to Medicaid
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
Nearly 800,000 Nevadans are covered by Medicaid, a federal health insurance program used by one in five Americans who would otherwise struggle to afford medical care.
The program helps provide vital medical services, like the medication that Manuel Santamaria, a Las Vegas-based father of three, says that he uses for his 16-monthold daughter, Luna. After Luna’s birth— also covered by Medicaid—doctors discovered that she had an autoimmune disease known as psoriatic arthritis.
One of her treatments uses a topical steroid called Clobetasol, which Santamaria says prevents Luna’s skin from breaking out in “itchy patches of pink, scaly skin.”
“It comes in small tubes, so you’ve got to kind of ration it to make it last,” he says. “If we were to pay out of pocket, it’d easily be about $450 per month just to get that cream.”
Coverage for that medication and countless other essential services for disabled, pregnant and low-income people could be threatened after the House of Representatives on February 25 passed a budget resolution that calls for $880 billion in cuts from programs administered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid.
The cuts are intended to help offset a $4.5 trillion pool that President Trump and Republicans are seeking for tax cuts. While the White House maintains that its goal of “eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government” won’t come through slashing Medicare or Medicaid, the numbers indicate that the cuts would almost certainly have to come from the latter.
Before any cuts can become official, the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate will have to reconcile differences between their respective budget resolutions and agree on a single, unified version. But congressional Democrats have wasted no time sounding the alarm.
On March 17, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., toured the Nevada Health Centers (NVHC) Martin Luther King Family Health Center in Las Vegas to speak
with administrators and nurse practitioners about how the potential cuts could impact their system and the 40% of their patients who are enrolled in Medicaid.
J.C. Flowers, NVHC’s vice president of operations, expressed concern that cuts could force his team to scale back some operations across the system’s 20 facilities, five mobile units and specialty services like maternal screenings, homeless outreach and a residency program designed to bolster the state’s understaffed medical workforce.
“If the funding is cut, can we support all of our locations? I hate to speculate on that, but there’s a significant ripple effect that could be very impactful to the populations we serve,” Flowers said. “That makes us all very nervous.”
Cortez Masto reiterated that the cuts could be “devastating.” According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), 42% of enrolled Nevadans stand to lose their health care if they were implemented.
“NVHC would have to look at restructuring their locations and their accessibility to patients,” Cortez Masto said. “Our health care system would be strained beyond capacity, primary care for Nevadans could become unaffordable and they’ll get sicker more often. Their only options then will be to go to urgent care or the emergency room, filling up beds and further stressing our care facilities.”
State lawmakers have also responded to the potential cuts. After the state Department of Health and Human Services estimated that Nevada could lose nearly $1.9 billion in federal Medicaid funds over the next two years, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo on February 26 sent a letter to members of the Legislature assuring them he was “actively engaged in conversations” with the White House and federal officials about Nevada’s concerns about the potential Medicaid rollbacks.
“An abrupt reduction in federal funding would not only disrupt care for those who rely on Medicaid, but would also destabilize public and private health care providers, leading to workforce reductions,
“We’re talking about individuals on every side of the living spectrum, and this really does mean life or death for some families who would have to rely on emergency rooms to receive care where they are.”
-Catherine Nielsen, director of the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
service limitations and financial strain on already overburdened health care facilities,” Lombardo said in the letter.
Although elderly and disabled patients make up just 14% of Nevada’s Medicaid enrollees, their cumulative expenditures account for 32% of the program’s total spending in the state, according to an August 2024 KFF fact brief. Catherine Nielsen, director of the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, says cuts would likely have to include at least some elderly and disabled people if Republicans want to reach their budget goals.
“We understand eliminating waste and reducing redundancy, but we’re talking about people who did not have a choice in what they are experiencing. Individuals with disabilities, pregnant women and lower-income families are going to be the ones that are most impacted by this,” Nielsen says.
Nielsen commended Lombardo for taking a stance against his own party’s leadership on the issue, which she says is particularly “non-partisan” and impacts everyone. She adds that her daughter, a diabetic, also relies on Medicaid to acquire insulin.
“This isn’t blue, this isn’t red ... we’re talking about individuals on every side of the living spectrum. And this really does mean life or death for some families who would have to rely on emergency rooms to receive care where they are,” she says. “Right now, there’s a lot of fear, concerns, questions and misunderstanding—and our state legislators’ hands are tied because they don’t know what to expect at the federal level. If it happens, we’re going to see families choosing to put health care second.”
Though U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, a sixthterm Republican representing Nevada’s primarily rural northern half, acknowledged in a recent statement that the cuts aren’t “the ideal situation,” he also voted in favor of the budget resolution that included them. His Democratic counterparts from Nevada, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. Susie Lee and Rep. Steven Horsford, joined their colleagues in voting against it.
Hundreds of people have assembled at Amodei’s Reno office multiple times since February to protest his vote and perceived lack of communication with constituents. More than 134,000 of his constituents are enrolled in Medicaid, according to KFF.
A regional overview of the biggest sports betting event of the year, the NCAA Tournament
Odds to win: No. 1 seed Auburn +105 (i.e. risking $100 to win $105), No. 2 seed Michigan State +480, No. 3 seed Iowa State +550, No. 4 seed Texas A&M 12-to-1, No. 5 seed Michigan 22-to-1, No. 6 seed Ole Miss 21-to-1, No. 7 seed Marquette 23-to-1, No. 8 seed Louisville 18-to-1, No. 9 seed Creighton 31-to-1.
Overall top seed Auburn was historically dominant for most of the season but enters the tournament looking vulnerable after three losses in its last four games.
BY CASE KEEFER
Your bracket might be busted by the end of the rst weekend, but sports betting always o ers the opportunity to buy back in.
Not only will betting lines and proposition markets be open on every game of the NCAA Tournament, but future odds will also update after every round. That means you never need to be out of the action as long as you have a handle on what teams to bet on or against.
Here’s a quick region-by-region overview of the tournament to help with some quick thoughts on most of the contenders. Regional odds are openers from before the tournament from Boyd Sports, with all teams available at 50-to-1 or lower listed.
The Tigers couldn’t have asked for a softer landing spot to work through their issues. A potential second-round game against Louisville less than 100 miles from the Cardinals’ home gym in Lexington, Kentucky, looks tricky, but a task the Tigers’ and National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome should be able to handle.
Texas A&M was one of the three aforementioned teams to knock o Auburn, but it took the Aggies’ best e ort of the year in a home game. Don’t expect a repeat if they match up in the Sweet 16.
Michigan State, the Big Ten regular-season champions, are dangerous but more o ensively limited than its lofty seed implies. Iowa State is the second-best team in this bracket at its peak, but those days have passed after losing Durango High graduate/former UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert to injury and also seeing point guard Tamin Lipsey hobbled.
Auburn would really have to fumble not to come out of the South and it’s been too reliable on the season as a whole to call for such under-performance. Pick: Auburn +105
Odds to win: No. 1 seed Florida -120 (i.e. risking $120 to win $100), No. 2 seed St. John’s 6-to-1, No. 3 seed Texas Tech +550, No. 4 seed Maryland 10-to-1, No. 5 seed Memphis 100-to-1, No. 6 seed Missouri 13-to-1, No. 7 seed Kansas 14to-1, No. 8 seed Connecticut 26-to-1.
Florida is the hottest team in the country after running through the SEC Tournament and odds re ect as much.
For the rst time this year, the Gators are favored to win the national championship at most sports books with odds as low as +250. Typically, it’s not wise to buy on a team at the height of their market rating. And Florida should have plenty of landmines to navigate to reach the Final Four.
St. John’s might be the most fundamentally sound team in the nation led by National Coach of the Year candidate Rick Pitino, but struggles to score as consistently as other contenders. Maryland is ultra-athletic but overly reliant on freshman big man Derik Queen. Two of the top four favorites to win the title coming into this season are in this region in Kansas (the preseason No. 1) and Connecticut (the backto-back champions). Either could be formidable if they leave behind disappointing regular seasons.
The best non-Florida team on the oor, however, has been Texas Tech. The Red Raiders’ statistical pro le is muted because of time missed by standout duo Darrion Williams and Chance McMillian but they’re both reported to be healthy for the tournament. Pick: Texas Tech +550
Darrion Williams
Odds to win: No. 1 seed Duke -135, No. 2 seed Alabama +430, No. 3 seed Wisconsin 11-to-1, No. 4 seed Arizona +750, No. 5 seed Oregon 32-to-1, No. 6 seed BYU 20-to-1, No. 7 seed St. Mary’s 24-to-1, No. 8 seed Mississippi State 40-to-1, No. 9 seed Baylor 36-to-1, No. 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth 34-to-1.
The status of Duke forward Cooper Flagg’s left ankle might be the most important factor of the whole tournament.
If the likely National Player of the Year and top overall NBA Draft pick remains sidelined with a sprain like he was in the nal two games of the ACC Tournament, the Blue Devils could be in trouble as soon as the second round. Either talent-rich Baylor or havocminded Mississippi State will not be an easy matchup without Flagg.
If Flagg is ne by tipo , then Duke should roll through the East. It could even breeze to the national championship as it’s both the most talented team in the nation and the side with the fewest aws in its statistical pro le.
Alabama would need to turn a game into a 3-point shootout and hope to get lucky to beat Duke. Wisconsin would need an transcendent individual performance from breakout senior guard John Tonje, who’s been the second-best player in this region.
The bottom of this bracket could also set up for a Cinderella run with both St. Mary’s and VCU checking a lot of the boxes as capable mid-major threats with slow-paced, defensive-centric styles. Pick: Wisconsin 11-to-1
Odds to win: No. 1 seed Houston +135, No. 2 seed Tennessee +350, No. 3 seed Kentucky +850, No. 4 seed Purdue 15-to1, No. 5 seed Clemson 14-to-1, No. 6 seed Illinois 10-to-1, No. 7 seed UCLA 21-to-1, No. 8 seed Gonzaga +850. Houston has quietly won 13 games in a row and been every bit as dominant as fellow top seeds Auburn, Duke and Florida.
The Cougars just didn’t get any reward for it. If the Midwest plays to form, Houston will have the toughest path of any No. 1 seed by the betting market.
A potential second-round matchup with Gonzaga is particularly troublesome. The Bulldogs lost a bunch of close games this year but sit as a top 10 team in the nation by most e ciency metrics. Purdue is another side that grades out better analytically and was unlucky to lose 11 games this season. Tennessee was in the running for a No. 1 seed until the nal week of the regular season. One of the biggest deterrents to its case was that Kentucky beat it twice. Oh, and the Wildcats also defeated Duke in the non-conference. Houston can’t a ord the type of o night that has sunk previous championship aspirations. The good news is, the Cougars haven’t fallen victim to many in winning 27 of its last 28 games. Pick: Houston +135
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
In every working kitchen from the corner diner to Michelin-starred restaurants, women provide the heartbeat. They’re stirring, chopping, seasoning and serving, often without the recognition they deserve. But a local organization aims to change that.
Since its inception five years ago, the nonprofit Women’s Hospitality Initiative (WHI) has been a beacon for women in the hospitality and food and beverage industries, pushing to close the stark gender gap in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Although the pandemic briefly delayed plans for a full rollout, the initiative has not only persevered but grown, now relaunching a mentorship program to inspire the next generation of leaders.
Launched in February 2020, the WHI’s roots extend back to a February 2020 screening of Joanna James’ 2018 documentary A Fine Line at UNLV. James is CEO of MAPP (short for “Mentorship, Advocacy, Purpose and the Power of community”), a nonprofit that also advocates for women in the culinary and hospitality fields.
“(A Fine Line) is about the disparity of women in the hospitality industry in making it to the executive level,” says Kristin Whittemore, co-founder of WHI. “The basis of her movie is that 50% of culinary students are female, but of that 50%, only 7% make it to the executive level. So why does that happen? Where’s the fall-off?”
Learning about that gap spurred Whittemore and a group of local hospitality professionals—including Elizabeth Blau, Jolene Mannina and Mary Choi Kelly— to form WHI and begin taking steps to spark change in the industry.
This year marks a pivotal moment for WHI and MAPP, with the inaugural WHI conference to be held alongside its second Legacy Gala. The two-day conference aims to inspire and connect professionals at all levels, from independent restaurants to corporate foodservice directors and chefs.
Conference attendees will be treated to a packed agenda featuring keynote speakers like Lin Jerome, co-founder of Café Lola; Monica Moradkhan, VP of community relations at Wynn Resorts; and Alex Dixon, CEO of Resorts World.
Whittemore says the event will include mentorship opportunities on leadership, personal branding, marketing, public relations, even real estate. And all are welcome.
“Chefs, food and beverage directors, hotel managers, corporate food service, people just coming out of college ... We’re trying to make it something for everyone,” Whittemore says.
A key highlight of the conference will be the chance for attendees to tailor their experience through a personalized agenda accessed via a QR code, which will guide them to the most relevant panels, Q&As and breakout sessions.
The Legacy Gala, which concludes the conference, will celebrate the five-year anniversaries of both WHI and MAPP. The evening will feature bites and sips from more than 40 women-led restaurants, bars and bakeries, with all proceeds benefiting both organizations. Participating local hospitality stars include Gina Marinelli, Nicole Brisson, Dani Garcia-White, Daniela Romero, Kimmie McIntosh and Kristina Nguyen.
“We’re in [UNLV’s] College of Hospitality ... I think we’ll have about 55 food and beverage stations,” Mannina says. “So you’re kind of going through the school to see everybody, and to kind of graze and pick. It’s very personable.”
With its growing network, the WHI is poised to elevate the conversation about gender equality in the culinary and hospitality industries.
“The want was there. The need was there,” Whittemore says. “How can we support each other, so that we can promote each other at the same time?”
+With spring break and summer just around the corner, the Las Vegas Strip is once again gearing up to be the ultimate destination for tourists and locals looking to beat the heat with a seemingly countless array of pools. Resorts World Las Vegas, located on the northern end of the Strip, has a well-rounded and unique résumé that makes it a top competitor for pool-goers in the months ahead. Whether an adventure for the whole family, a private refuge of relaxation, or a chance to party all night, Resorts World is ready with a variety of poolside options and other amenities.
The Main Resort Pool is considered the heart of the Resorts World pool complex. Although it’s actually composed of three separate pools, guests can still count on a special and unified swimming or sunning day at the Main Resort Pool. Grab a bite at Agave Bar and Grill just steps away from the water, or reserve a daybed for a more personalized experience. Poolside art and unrivaled service guarantee an environment of rest and relaxation for guests in or out of the pool. And if you do choose to reserve a daybed, it’s yours for the day.
Las Vegas is the Entertainment Capital of the World and its pools are no exception. For those who don’t want to miss out on the party scene, the Athena Infinity Ultra Pool at Resorts World is the place to be. The space includes the Strip’s first 21-plus infinity pool, dripping with opulence, and a second pool with in-water seating, food and beverage options all day. Add to it digital art shows and unforgettable concerts. For the utmost comfort, guests can reserve daybeds and party bungalows.
The aptly named Cabana Pool offers more than a dozen private cabanas for guests, palm trees and a round swimming pool to cultivate a feeling of being on an isolated, peaceful tropical island. The pool has a slew of deck chairs for guests at Crockfords (part of LXR Hotels & Resorts), and a private and shaded space for maximum tranquility. With comfortable amenities, such as a private dedicated server, complimentary refreshments, a refrigerator and more, the Cabana Pool experience sets a new standard for unwinding and offers a level of sublime seclusion difficult to find elsewhere, especially on the bustling streets of the Strip.
A destination for all ages, the fun-filled Family Pool makes it possible for every member of the family to enjoy pool season. Guests can swim, play or bask in the fresh air and sun on one of the many lounge chairs, or take advantage of food and beverage options at the nearby snack bar, Bites. Three private cabanas with televisions, couches, misting fans and additional amenities are available to upgrade any family’s experience. Whatever your preference, this pool has the potential to forge many new and exciting memories for your family.
Las Vegas artist Q’shaundra James ’ first solo exhibit at Left of Center Gallery urges us to look beyond ‘the veil’
BY AMBER SAMPSON
More than a century ago, renowned Black scholar and NAACP founding member W.E.B. Du Bois introduced us to “the veil.” The concept, first mentioned in a 1903 collection of essays titled The Souls of Black Folk, describes a psychological barrier between the Black and white community. Through the veil, white Americans struggle to see Black people outside of the narratives they create for them. Through the veil, Black Americans struggle with how they see themselves.
In her first solo exhibit at Left of Center Gallery, local artist and educator Q’shaundra James challenges us to look beyond that veil, aiming to address the stereotypes we perpetuate and the lens in which we view her art. In the early days, James’ portraits of Black subjects—from little girls in ballerina buns to chocolate-toned women with afros—would stop art critics cold, and for all the wrong reasons. The artist often fielded questions about why she was painting Black people at all. Was it a political statement? A portrait of Black struggle? Her stunning techniques always felt secondary.
your white counterparts, and they start talking about, ‘Wow, look how beautiful her dress is … or look how smooth the artist painted her skin.’ Then when they get to you, they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a little Black girl. She must be struggling with her looks in this Eurocentric society.’ They would come to those conclusions, and it was usually about an inferiority complex that they were projecting onto the people I was painting.”
THE VEIL Artist talk March 29, 1:30 p.m.; closing reception April 5, noon. Left of Center Gallery, 2207 W. Gowan Road., leftof centerart.org.
“There were a lot of preconceived notions that it had to be about tragedy, abjection, Black trauma,” says James. “I had these expectations that were being put on me, and I hadn’t even found my voice as an artist.”
After discovering Du Bois’ teachings, James recognized what she’d been experiencing. To demonstrate, she created an installation for her exhibit, tasking participants to sit in a chair shrouded in fabric. As you sit, you’re forced to peer through a literal veil, into a mirror that projects a distorted version of you. It’s an uncomfortable exercise, but it drives home the concept in a tangible way.
“I think about my paintings as being like Harry Potter paintings— they’re alive. And I figure, how would they feel if they could actually hear and understand what people are saying when they start discussing them?” she says. “How sad it would feel if you’re on display with
In her Left of Center exhibit The Veil, on display through April 5, James restores agency to the subjects in her paintings, equipping them with artifacts that protect and connect them to their true selves. For instance, James’ piece “Wand of Discovery” depicts a young Black girl wielding the majestic Moon Stick from the hit series Sailor Moon. In the magic-filled manga, protagonist Usagi discovers she’s a reincarnated princess. Much in the same way, James seeks to remind the child of her own divinity. “That little girl, if somebody were to sit her down and introduce her to her heritage, outside of how academia teaches it, she would discover how divine her roots are,” James says.
Throughout the exhibit, James leaves breadcrumbs of her own identity. One room projects a timelapse video of her painting process. In another, she honors ancient African history with a graphite drawing of a woman from the Hausa tribe in Nigeria; the metal frames she created in shape of the group’s architecture. There’s even a nod to her love for comic books, as an issue of Black Panther makes its way into a painting.
By lifting the veil, James provides clarity to work that’s often misunderstood. When one looks at paintings now, like “The Gathering,” in which she depicts a multigenerational family sitting around the living room in front of an old sound system, perhaps they won’t see Black people at all. They’ll see a memory.
“We have a lot in common,” James says. “The domesticity is universal, regardless of race.”
Las Vegas teacher and poet Aaliyah Fafanto gives a glance into the Black female experience with debut fi lm Black Butterfl y
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Aaliyah Fafanto has a smile that could light up a room. As it happens, that smile shines its brightest when she talks about education. The UNLV curriculum analyst and poet recognizes the unique responsibility she has to this next generation and her role in inspiring it however she can.
“Teachers, we pour into our children, and as an educator myself, I realized a big gap that we had,” says Fafanto, who has taught middle school history and various college courses. “I was one of the only Black teachers, so the task is even heavier on my shoulders because I have to be a positive representation. I have to be a positive influence, and I have to reflect to them on what they could be while I’m still figuring it out.”
Achieving that is no easy feat. So to do it properly, Fafanto looked to female leaders
in her community— including artist, curator and CSN creative writing professor Erica Vital-Lazare; Tonya Walls, founder of Code Switch: Restorative Justice for Girls of Color; and even Fafanto’s own mother— for the answers. Black Butter y, her rst documentary, is the uplifting result of those discussions. Through the eyes of ve local Black women, Fafanto tells the story of their trials and transformations.
BLACK BUTTERFLY
community-wide lm that will air at Left of Center Gallery on March 22. It chronicles the four stages of metamorphosis, with each woman sharing what it took to get to that place in their lives. Fafanto, as a rsttime lmmaker, captures what it is to be a Black woman in a delicate but un inching way.
March 22, 2 p.m., free. Left of Center Gallery, 2207 W. Gowan Road, leftof centerart.org.
“We often see people in their complete wholeness, but the road to reach your full potential can be tough,” Fafanto says. “By highlighting their journeys, I hope to offer others comfort and show that, despite the struggles, they can still reach their full potential.”
Fafanto says Black Butter y originally started as a side project to share with her students. But it’s since evolved into a
Many of the women in her documentary have su ered loss. They’ve navigated teen parenthood, or they’ve felt othered. But those traumas hardly de ne them. They’re but a chapter in a story that’s still being paged through.
Over the production of this lm, Fafanto says she’s learned a lot about herself and “how much I needed and still need women in my life,” she says. “I’m never gonna get to a point in my life where I don’t need community. That’s this lm, through and through.”
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New England clam chowder. Neapolitan pizza. Tijuana-style tacos. Hawaiian poke. Las Vegas o ers all of these regional food favorites in a variety of venues, and so many more. It’s rare when a local restaurant becomes the consensus pick for a single, speci c dish.
P.O.P.S. is that rare jewel. If you’re not getting your Vegas cheesesteaks from the iconic A-frame building at Decatur and Alta, what are you even doing?
since day one, so our regulars recognize those faces. And our loyalists come back for the consistent product they can rely on to satisfy their cravings. If it’s not right, we will always remake it for you.”
Spoiler alert: It’s right. The No. 32 is the top seller, shaved ribeye with peppers, mushrooms and cheese—your choice, plus with or without onions—pressed into a soft, toasty roll.
BY BROCK RADKE
“You can’t miss us,” says second-generation owner Christina Walton. Opened in 2002, P.O.P.S. is renowned for its authentic Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwiches and beloved for staying open around the clock, but service and consistency keep the people coming back, she says.
“We have employees who have been with us
P.O.P.S. (which stands for Pride of Philly Steaks) sells an average of 2,000 cheesesteaks every week, along with favorite sides like mac and cheese bites, chili cheese fries and mozzarella sticks, all best consumed hot and fresh on the patio. (Although the eatery recently locked into DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub.)
With warming weather, it feels like the right
P.O.P.S.
501 S. Decatur Blvd., 702-878-6444, popscheesesteaks.com.
Daily, 24 hours.
time to return to that patio, but more importantly, it’s cheesesteak season. National Cheesesteak Day is March 24 and P.O.P.S. is celebrating by hosting its second annual cheesesteak eating competition that Monday at 3 p.m. The winner gets free steaks for a year, but we’re all winners as these superior sandwiches will be available all day for $10.
“We’ll have 15 to 20 people competing to nish a two-foot cheesesteak in 10 minutes or less, and last year someone actually nished. If no one nishes, rst place will go to the person who is closest,” Walton says, adding that guests that day can expect some fun giveaways and special merch.
It sounds like a party that shouldn’t be missed, but every day is cheesesteak day in Las Vegas thanks to the enduring presence of this satisfying slice of Philly.
Las Vegas’ latest residency isn’t from a legacy musician, but a culinary venture from … a streaming service?
After decades of facilitating casual, couch-laden date nights, Netflix decided it was time for a side quest. Netflix Bites, a new restaurant from the 300 million-plus subscriber platform, is now open for business at MGM Grand. Inspired by the success of its six-week LA pilot pop-up in 2023, Netflix comes to the Strip for a yearlong visit, equipped with a full menu where each entry is a nod to one of its signature shows.
It’s easy to spot even among the hustle, bustle and glitz of MGM’s casino floor. A pair of large red lips beckon guests to a mirrored tunnel laced with multicolored lights designed to emulate the feel of the Netflix launch screen. The interior is dotted with cozy booths, original paintings of iconic characters and neon signs referencing trademark catchphrases.
A visit from the Weekly sta
yielded a clear favorite in the Squid Game-inspired Seoul, Rok: Bulgogi Tacos ($25), an ode to Korean barbecue featuring beef brisket, Oaxaca cheese and kimchi. Meanwhile, nearby tables were littered with heavy hitters like the Grand Line Showboat ($65), a One Piece-themed sushi platter, and Red Bite, Green Bite ($26), a fried chicken dipper complete with a spinning wheel that decides which sauce you’ll try next, just like in Squid Game
The interactivity continues with Is It (Cheese) Cake ($14), one of six desserts; it tasks one with—you guessed it—identifying a real cake slice from an identical decoy. Wash it all down with your choice of 10 cocktails, including a nonalcoholic option. The Mind Flayer—a bourbon, blackberry and ginger-based mix topped with an unexpected wad of cotton candy—is one of several Stranger Things standouts here. –Tyler Schneider
NETFLIX BITES MGM Grand, 702-891-7335, netflixbites.com Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 7 a.m.-midnight.
*MUST BE 21+
FREE LIVE POOLSIDE VIEWING free parking
March 20-23
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