Desert Companion: August-September 2022 by Nevada Public Radio

2022 FA L L C U LT U R E GUIDE

ONES TO WATCH

TOP DOCTORS + TOP DENTISTS

PLUS

These rising talents bring fresh perspectives in art, literature, film, music, and more Filmmaker

SINAI BASUA

MEN IN FLIGHTS

The real Topgun of Fallon UNCAGED

The problem with wildlife in Vegas FUN IN FUNERAL

Taking the road death travels

Now everyone knows… Southwest Medical congratulates our 2022 Top Docs. Your dedication and commitment to providing southern Nevadans the health care they want, the way the want it—just as we’ve done since 1972—encourages all of us.

Nicholas A Tibaldi, MD Gastroenterology

Blair Duddy, MD Pediatrics

Margaret Hwang, MD Pediatrics

Valeria Asimenios, MD Internal Medicine

Neil Braunstein, MD Rheumatology

702.877.5199 | smalv.com

Southwest Medical and Optum Care are proud to sponsor the 2022 Top Doctors and Top Dentists issue. And we thank all of the healthcare heroes throughout our community. ©2022 Southwest Medical Associates. All rights reserved.

…What we’ve known all along. Optum Care congratulates our specialists on this year’s list of Top Docs. Your leadership and example bring out the best in everyone around you.

Russell Gollard, MD

Optum Care Cancer Care

Erik Kubiak, MD

Optum Care Orthopaedics and Spine

Ritchie Stevens, MD

Radiation Oncology Centers

Beau James Toy, MD

Radiation Oncology Centers

Sarah Ryan, MD

Urology Specialists of Nevada

Jeffrey Wilson, MD

Urology Specialists of Nevada

Jason Zommick, MD

Urology Specialists of Nevada

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VOLUME 20 ISSUE 4 D E S E R T C O M PA N I O N . C O M

Aug/Sept ALL THINGS

FEATURES

TOP DOCTORS AND TOP DENTISTS The valley’s best professionals in medicine and dental care

FALL CULTURE GUIDE

Live art is (really, fully, finally!) back

COMMUNITY

The Gas Station fuels growth in local hip-hop and film By Sin á Tes Souhaits

TUNES

Music lovers tell what they’re loving now By Zoneil Maharaj and Gabriela Rodriguez

Q&A

30 years on the job, this director still weeps (with joy!) at shows By Heidi Kyser

Meet the groups battling period poverty By Anne Davis

Phyllis Barber’s new book questions its way to the divine By Scott Dickensheets

Sorry, Not Sorry owns the social space By Nick Barnette

FILM

How to expand an adult film business? Better stories By Josh Bell

BOOKS

TRENDS

WRITER IN RESIDENCE

Unleashing the truth about Las Vegas’ wildlife obsession By Krista Diamond

DINING

Tiny Aroma Cocina goes big on flavor By Jason Harris

DEPARTMENTS 36

FLIGHT

The real Topgun lives in Fallon By Michael Hanson

ONES TO WATCH

ART

A desert visionary finally gets her due By Scott Dickensheets

Get out your telescope, ’cause you’ll wanna track these rising stars

( EXTRAS ) 6

2022 FA L L C U LT U R E GUIDE

Zach Mendez

SENSE OF PLACE

The east side church parking lot that paved the way to transgressive creativity

ONES TO WATCH PLUS

These rising talents bring fresh perspectives in art, literature, film, music, and more Filmmaker

SINAI BASUA

MEN IN FLIGHTS

The real Topgun of Fallon UNCAGED

The problem with wildlife in Vegas FUN IN FUNERAL

U.S. $4.99

C O M PA N I O N

A U G U S T/ S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

( COVER ) PHOTO BY

EDITOR’S NOTE

8 | DESERT

TOP DOCTORS + TOP DENTISTS

AUG/SEPT 2022

Taking the road death travels

D RACU L A : A L I C I A L E E ; FO O D : S A B I N O R R ; J E T: M I C H A E L H A N SO N

HEALTH

CONTRIBUTORS GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ is a California transplant turned Las Vegas local who writes about the overlooked and under-covered pockets of art, entertainment, and music in the valley. Her favorite topic: local bands and musicians who deserve recognition well beyond social media. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from UNLV, where she wrote for The Scarlet and Gray Free Press. She enjoys traveling and makes it her mission to the find the best dive bar in every city she visits.

BYEEEE T

his is my last issue of Desert Companion. (Boom, needle scratch, mic drop, gasps and murmurs ripple through the crowd!) Gawd, I’ve had such fun, such fulfillment, but it’s time for a break and something new. The deathless mandates of capitalism will vacuum my mind and body back into the labor force soon enough, so I’m taking a slacky sabbatical-type pause thang while I still have the fortitude to withstand the suction. The privilege of serving as editor of Desert Companion represents the culmination of a squiggly Vegas journo career arc I certainly never planned and probably never deserved. I started with self-published punk and skate ’zines in the ’80s, lucked into the alt-weekly explosion of the ’90s, and then, in 2010, CEO Flo Rogers and Director of Development Melanie Cannon gave me and impossibly talented Art Director Christopher Smith a chance to grow Nevada Public Radio’s nascent city-regional magazine. We leaned into their vision of Desert Companion as a vehicle to celebrate, explore, and explain our fascinating city — in a manner ennobled by the mission of public radio. Over the last 12-plus years, I hope we brought you some reliable measure of delight, pleasure, wonder, edification, or fruitful consternation. I hope we helped to vividly and richly articulate Las Vegas’ sometimes elusive sense of place. Along the way, we somehow managed to attract insane talent, the true engine of this magazine: Scott Dickensheets, Scott Lien, Brent Holmes, and dozens of brilliant writers, artists, and photographers. And last but most definitely not least, we were blessed with Heidi Kyser, who will serve as Desert Companion’s interim editor. Knowing that she’ll be taking the reins assures me that my tenure as editor is ultimately a foundational Phase 1 for the magazine’s exciting future. Heidi’s voracious curiosity, passion for storytelling, and blazing intellect will only steer Desert Companion onward and upward. I’m so stoked. I’ll finally get to read Desert Companion as a subscriber and see what the fuss is all about. I love you, Las Vegas. Andrew Kiraly editor

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NICK BARNETTE is a writer and translator based in Las Vegas. He’s a recent graduate of UNLV, where he received an MFA in poetry. His work has appeared in Cold Mountain Review, Grist, Southland Alibi, and on the Nevada Humanities website. Prior to living and studying in Las Vegas, Barnette served as a Fulbright Fellow in Athens, Greece, where he worked as an educator. His writerly preoccupations include pop culture, LGBTQ issues, food, and travel. ZONEIL MAHARAJ is a freelance journalist and social media consultant. He runs the Instagram account @dtlv, a hybrid news and community platform. He previously served as the digital director of Vegas Seven magazine (RIP) and the social media editor for The California Sunday Magazine (also RIP) and Pop-Up Magazine. He’s written for The Guardian, ABC News, Las Vegas Weekly and Marriott Traveler, among others.

A N D R E W K I R A LY : C H R I S T O P H E R S M I T H

Editor’s Note

Mark Vogelzang Favian Perez EDITOR Andrew Kiraly ART DIRECTOR Christopher Smith DEPUTY EDITOR Heidi Kyser SENIOR DESIGNER Scott Lien EDITORIAL INTERNS Anne Davis, Lourdes Trimidal PUBLISHER

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF REVENUE

Desert Savvy Design

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Allison Hall, Kim Treviño REVENUE SYSTEMS COORDINATOR

Marlies Vaitiekus Kim Treviño

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER WEB ADMINISTRATOR

Stanley Kan

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Nick Barnette, Josh Bell, Krista Diamond, Scott Dickensheets, Michael Hanson, Jason Harris, Brent Holmes, Zoneil Maharaj, Mike Prevatt, Sin á Tes Souhaits, Oona Robertson, Gabriela Rodriguez

Schilling Horticulture Group landscape CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Tim Bower, Delphine Lee, Bronson Loftin, Anthony Mair, Zach Mendez, Sabin Orr CONTACT EDITORIAL: Heidi

Kyser, (702) 259-7855; heidi@desertcompanion.com FAX:

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Desert Companion is published bimonthly (woot!) by Nevada Public Radio, 1289 S. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89146. It is available by subscription at desertcompanion.vegas, or as part of Nevada Public Radio membership. It is also distributed free at select locations in the Las Vegas Valley. All photos, artwork and ad designs printed are the sole property of Desert Companion and may not be duplicated or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The views of Desert Companion contributing writers are not necessarily the views of Desert Companion or Nevada Public Radio. Contact us for back issues, which are available for purchase for $7.95.

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LAMAR MARCHESE president emeritus C O M PA N I O N

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A LL THINGS LTURE, IDEAS, CUD OTHER F O O D , A NT O U S E WAYS Y THIS CIT

No Brakes Necessary COMMUNITY

The Gas Station Studios began as a music production spot — but it’s gaining momentum as a North Las Vegas creative hub BY

Sin á Tes Souhaits

Tyler Gaston and Tiana Shai

ucked away on Losee Road’s automotive corridor, The Gas Station Studios has nothing to do with cars — but everything to do with fueling local talent. That was the aim of Tyler Gaston when he launched the North Las Vegas music production business with his spouse and business partner Tiana Shai in 2016. “It was really important for me to bring quality, professionalism, and production value to North Las Vegas,” he says. “Because I care about our stories and what we bring to music.” Also known as King Gas (adapted from a nickname he earned as a UNLV football defensive lineman), Gaston has considerable Vegas roots and a respectable production résumé. He’s worked PHOTOGRAPHY B ronson Loftin

with artists ranging from Adina Howard to Tech N9ne to Adrian Crutchfield (Prince’s saxophonist). Songs that Gaston has produced have been licensed to popular shows such as Love After Lockup, All-American, and United Shades of America. But his ambitions for The Gas Station Studios have always gone beyond merely turning out songs, albums, and podcasts; from the start, he’s envisioned the studio as a fertile creative hub for the valley’s hip-hop and R&B community. “It’s about bringing more opportunity to the city,” Gaston says, “and showing young people here that it’s not far-fetched to have a career in music or the arts.” A U G U S T/S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

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That ambition drove Gaston and his team earlier this year to begin producing The Blueprint — think Tiny Desk Concerts for local talent — as well as hosting events such as the increasingly popular The Cookout, a live battle-rap series. He’s also deployed The Gas Station as a classroom, teaching music production classes to youth enrolled in Clark County’s gang intervention program. It’s little surprise that The Gas Station has since become a waypoint through which anyone interested or invested in the Vegas hip-hop scene passes. “It’s ironic that the Entertainment Capital of the World doesn’t actually facilitate the growth of entertainers and artists, people who add to that economy,” Gaston says. “I see The Gas Station as a model for other businesses that are not only creating jobs in this industry, but also building a pathway for local creatives to work in digital media and film without having to relocate to a city like L.A.” Film too? That’s right. Now The Gas Station is really kicking into high gear: Gaston and Shai recently opened an entirely new wing next door that hosts a complete film studio with seven individually themed sets. After purchasing the building, Gaston and Shai spent the last five months renovating and redesigning the space with their business manager, Damian Hicks. What had previously been a mechanic’s shop now features multiple film sets, including a jungle-themed room with four walls of artificial greenery, a mock courtroom and jail cell, and a room dubbed “The Matrix” with a wall full of LED screens. They’ve also got two more sets under construction. “Being artists ourselves, it was fairly easy to pinpoint what was missing here in the valley,” Shai says. “Jail cells and prison sets are one of the most popular concepts for hip-hop visuals, but before we built ours, the closest one was in L.A. Similarly, when looking for locations with lush greenery to shoot my video, we couldn’t find a suitable place nearby.” Other sets in the film studio follow a similar stylistic intent — to fill the visual concept gaps in the Vegas production scene, and to make each set immersive and flexible enough to serve everyone from content creators to professional filmmakers. A number of artists and filmmakers have already used the new film wing to produce short-form projects and music videos, including a new video for Adina Howard’s “Keep Lookin.” One of the initiatives Gaston and Shai are most excited about is their plan to work directly with UNLV’s Department of Film and young, aspiring filmmakers throughout the valley. “Through our outreach in the community — from the projects produced here to the platforms we make to share and promote those projects — we can highlight the way that Vegas culture is built by creatives from the inside,” Gaston says. “There’s so much beyond the Strip.” Whether The Gas Station is pumping out new films, developing Vegas’ next breakout artist, or showcasing local talent at live events, Gaston hints that the studio’s evolution into a North Las Vegas cultural hub has only just begun. “Without giving the plans away, we have a few ideas about how we can make The Gas Station a space where people in the community come together not just to create culture, but to enjoy it as well.” ✦

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Now Hear This TUNES

Two Vegas music-lovers riff on their favorite local acts and albums of the moment BY

Zoneil Maharaj AND Gabriela Rodriguez

POP

YEYO

This band dropped on my radar by accident a while back. They were playing an opening-act slot at a local show, and completely captivated the crowd (and me) with their R&Binfluenced bedroom pop. Choice track: “Tonight,” from their 2020 album Teenage Dream. It’s soulful and sentimental, dreamy and intimate. GR

HIP-HOP

WAVE MMLZ

“I’m the golden child out the Silver State.” That’s from the opening track of Alexander Decatur, the latest EP from Wave MMLZ. He’s a triple threat — he came up out of the hardcore scene playing drums in Imperial Tide before trying his hand at rapping and making beats — and he’s been batting a thousand ever since. Choice track: “Craig / FR.” In a deadpan stoner drawl against a boom-bap track, Wave MMLZ raps about Craig Discount Mall and having a “homie off of Oakey,” celebrating the less glamorous corners of Vegas with pride. ZM

HEAR MORE Listen to Zoneil and Gab discuss the bands — and play outtakes from their favorite tracks.

D E S E R T C O M P A N I O N .V E G A S

ROCK

SECOS

TRIP-HOP

RED DRAGONS

B A N D A N D A L B U M A RT: CO U RT E SY O F T H E A RT I ST S

This duo is made up of producer Scartoon and singer Audrey Brazelle. They’re a little indie, a little electronic, a little downbeat. Their songs are anchored in these deep, heavy drums and brazelle's haunting, ethereal vocals. Choice track: “Observer,” their latest single, feels like you’re walking alone in a big city at night. ZM

Remember that too-coolto-care sound of the early 2000s, brought to you by The Strokes and Interpol? Secos delivers that New York sound to the desert with songs that are upbeat and playful, but also mature and assured. Choice track: “Rewind,” from their 2022 self-titled album. The song’s bright melody is a perfect frame for the deadpan vocals of lead singer David Candelas, who might just be our own Julian Casablancas. GR

HARDCORE

THE HATE

Formed in 2018, The Hate isn’t new to the hardcore scene, but their sound is still shaking things up. Oh, it’s certainly hardcore — screamy, shouty vocals, blasting drums, hooky breakdowns — but The Hate’s brand

CHILL

VIAJE NAHUAL

RAP

ITSRAYIGUESS When I heard Ray Is My Last Name, the latest project by rapper ItsrayIguess, I was stunned by how polished, complete, and, well, how perfect it sounded. Ray Is My Last Name serves as the 28-year-old rapper’s origin story, rich in emotion and vivid autobiographical detail. Better yet, he’s got an incredible ear for beats. Choice track: “Balance.” Don’t be fooled by the bouncy UK garage/house feel; in this track, he grapples with real stuff, from politics to racism. ZM

Imagine dreamily cruising around your neighborhood on a bicycle on a carefree Sunday morning. That’s what the chill ballads of Viaje Nahual sound like — though they might surprise you, too, with some psychedelic surf-rock-inspired jams as well. Choice track: “Brownies,” their recent single. With its sing-song Spanish vocals and shimmery guitars, it charms its way into a danceable organ jam. GR

of this punk subgenre boasts a polish and discipline like few other local acts. Choice track: “White Noise,” from their self-titled EP. Rife with chuggy riffs, it builds to an almost operatic interlude with a chorus that’s hard not to sing — uh, make that scream — along to. GR

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of three buildings: Ham Concert Hall, Judy Bayley Theatre, and the Black Box. That’s a lot of carpet to be cleaned and HVAC units to be serviced. Have the nuts and bolts of running a facility diminished your love of it? It’s a different component, but the nuts and bolts of running the facility also brings me a lot of joy. There’s so much performance art out there. How do you choose your shows? The artist management companies come to me with a plethora of ideas. So, I plow through them. I engage the rest of the team. We ask the community, our donors, faculty. I’m always interested to see what is out there that they might be interested in. … The concert hall does limit us, because we can’t fly (vertically move scenery on and off stage via a rigging system above). Technology has become a major player in how shows are produced. With our building being 46 years old and not being able to keep up to speed, that has limited our ability to have some of the more advanced productions.

he story of Lori Cobo’s 30-year career at UNLV’s Performing Arts Center is a romance. A classically trained pianist who started playing at 7, Cobo was raised by parents who took her to the opera and symphony. But she truly fell in love with theater in 1983, the year after graduating from high school. While working as a PAC usher, she stood in the balcony one night listening to the National Symphony Orchestra and was completely transported. Marked by the experience, she tried to study nursing but, after barely a year, switched her major to theater. She worked at Bally’s for a few years after college before making her way back to the PAC. Like that rare couple who gets married right out of high school and stays together till old age, Cobo rose through the center’s ranks from the box office to the executive suite. Now executive director, she’s still moved to tears by a symphony. Just after announcing the PAC’s 46th season, Cobo shared her passion for the job with Desert Companion. An edited excerpt of the conversation follows. What is it about the theater that gives your life meaning? There is nothing like live theater. I can’t watch movies based on musicals like Les Miserables, Rent, and The Producers. Being

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Q&A

Nothing Like It

As executive director of UNLV’s Performing Arts Center, Lori Cobo leads from the heart BY H E I D I KYS E R

able to sit in a venue and see what’s happening on stage and feel what those people are giving you is just ... It’s a very emotional experience. As a pianist, does part of your love of theater come from being on stage? Oh, no. I did recitals in school, but it terrified me. And it still does to this day. With the exception of close family, if there’s anybody else in the house, I won’t sit down to play piano. I see a file over your shoulder called “bar operations.” The PAC consists

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You have made community education one of your missions as executive director. How does that work? I always ask the artists we bring if outreach can be part of the contract. I want to make sure that we give our kids in the community the opportunity to have art as part of their background and their upbringing, because it’s so important. A few years ago, we took violinist Taylor Davis to Pinecrest Academy, and she performed for all of third and fourth grade. Most of the guitarists do master class opportunities for both high school students and the kids here at UNLV. When the mariachis were here, a local high school group performed as the opening act. For this year’s Zephyr — a Whirlwind of Circus with Cirque Mechanics, not only are we doing a school district performance on Friday morning, but they’re also doing master classes for the Department of Dance and the Department of Theater. Why does young people hearing a musician or seeing a play matter? If you don’t give kids the ability to open their minds through the creative process, whether it be music, theater, dance, or some other art, you’re really hindering their ability to express themselves and to see the what’s good in the world. When there’s so much darkness and negativity out there, to take that beauty, that light away from them — it’s not fair. ✦ PHOTOGRAPHY B ronson Loftin

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Five years later, Nevada’s cannabis industry shifts from its initial growth boom to its next phase: growing up BY

Lissa Townsend Rodgers

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Dignity for All. Period. H E A LT H

Menstrual poverty endangers women's health and demoralizes the vulnerable. Here’s how the community is working to solve it BY

Anne Davis

eep it quiet, try not to complain, don’t let it affect your productivity, carry on as usual … That’s an unwelcome and anxious stream of thought many women have every month — but it’s particularly unwelcome and anxious for women facing period poverty. Period poverty refers to a chronic lack of access to feminine hygiene products, as well as an absence of sanitary conditions for using those products. Period poverty and the stigma around it have always been a problem, but in recent years, it’s become a focus for women’s health advocates who feel the issue has been dismissed and overlooked for too long. “This is for real, it’s a substantial issue,” says Captain Lisa Barnes, executive director for all of Southern Nevada’s Salvation Army branches, which serves thousands of homeless Nevadans each year. “Period supplies are usually the least donated item when the community comes together.” Why? Donors simply aren’t aware of the need. Add to that lack of

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awareness the effects of COVID — think supply-chain issues, stockpiling behavior, and unemployment — and Barnes says the period poverty problem is particularly “magnified” in Las Vegas. Having access to pads or tampons is about more than just comfort. The dangers of period poverty are real. “People who are experiencing period poverty are either using things that are not meant for your period, or they’re using things that are meant for your period, but for too long,” says Wendi Schweigart, founder of Las Vegas charity Project Marilyn, which distributes more than 1,700 period kits a month around the valley. “(Period poverty) causes everything from mild infections to upsetting fertility.” Southern Nevada is facing a bigger period poverty problem than most people realize. According to Kotex’s Alliance for Period Supplies, almost one in seven females 12-44 years old live below the federal poverty level in Nevada, putting them at greater risk of period poverty than their higher-income contemporaries. Nationally, two in five women say they’ve struggled to buy feminine hygiene supplies because they’re financially unable to. This puts some women in an unfair position — for example, having to choose between feeding their children or buying tampons. For many, the decision is obvious. “We make sacrifices,” Schweigart says. “Anyone that’s in that caregiving role is just going to do that.” That’s why legislation such as SB415 is so crucial, says former Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel; she was a primary sponsor of the 2017 bill that abolished the “tampon tax.” Approved as Question 2 by 56 percent of voters in 2018, the legislation has made Nevada only one of 23 other states to do away with the sales tax levied on all feminine hygiene products. “This bill addressed an issue that has really just been ignored across the board,” Spiegel says. “If you’re only earning 54-82 percent of what your male counterparts are earning, you don’t necessarily have the same disposable income and the same discretionary income as somebody who’s earning 100 percent of what they should be earning for their job.” A more recent piece of legislation, AB224, aims to address another shocking statistic: one in four young people in America miss school because of lack of access to period products. AB224, signed into law by Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2021, aims to erase period poverty among middle and high school students by requiring schools to stock free feminine hygiene supplies in bathrooms. ILLUSTRATION D elphine Lee

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UNLV students such as Miah Strellnauer are also on the front lines of the effort to expand access to period products for local pupils. As the outgoing president of the American Medical Women’s Association, a student organization on the UNLV campus, Strellnauer and her fellow AMWA members organized a period product drive last year. Collecting enough for more than 115 kits, the association distributed them to both a local homeless shelter and UNLV’s Women’s Research Institute of Nevada office, so students can stop by anytime to grab free hygiene supplies. “If this is one thing that we can fix,” Strellnauer says, “I think that’s awesome.” Yet, according to Schweigart of Project Marilyn, period products themselves are only one piece in the puzzle of period poverty. A bigger challenge is addressing the psychological impacts that a lack of access to period supplies has on women.

“We want our clients to know you are worthy to hold your head high — to get out there and get that job, to take care of your family, to take care of yourself,” Schweigart says, “and that starts with the very basic necessities, and one of those is period supplies.” Barnes agrees. “When we address those needs before they become catastrophic, we continue to remind people of their dignity, and that they’re not a lesser human because this is a need in their life.” Access to period supplies is expected to expand in the future, depending the generosity of the Las Vegas community. “A lot of times people aren’t meeting a need, because they just don’t know,” Barnes says. “But what’s so beautiful about Southern Nevada is that I’ve been able to serve in this capacity in lots of different cities, and I have never seen a community rally and support like Southern Nevada. Folks here care.” ✦

Q: Which popular Nevada Public Radio event is coming back to Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas on September 26?

Body Movin’ PROFILE

Derrick Butler brings humor and compassion to the weighty job of ferrying the dead

“

Gabriela Rodriguez

People aren’t meant to see these things. No one likes to think about death, so we are ignored.” Meet Derrick Butler, a normal guy in his mid-twenties who enjoys video games, skateboarding, and grabbing beers with friends. He also happens to be a person who gets called to pick up the bodies of those who’ve passed. Some call them undertakers, body transporters — even weirdos or freaks — but the official job title is Removal Technician. Butler has reported to the scene of murders, car accidents, hospice care, suicides, and death by natural causes. People of all ages, sizes, and walks of life eventually succumb to the hands of death, and it’s Butler’s job to take them from there. He comes from a family of caregivers, his late mother a registered nurse and his father a retired police officer. During the illness that led to his mother’s death, Butler discussed his interest in becoming a mortician with her. She jokingly told him, “Everyone’s dying to get in!” Her passing motivated him to begin his journey into the world of death. He plunged in, having no idea what to expect. As with any occupation, a body transporter has certain duties at the top of their daily to-do list. Butler begins by reviewing scheduled cremations at the funeral home where he works. He does a “minimum prep,” which starts with verifying the identity of the person on the slab, matching their face with a provided photo and checking their name tag. Funeral homes may offer cosmetics and hair washing, usually done when there is a viewing service prior to cremation. Some other gruesome, day-to-day details: the deceased’s mouth is sewn shut and “contacts” with little pricks are placed under their eyelids to keep them closed.

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“Sometimes they even have to plug up your butt if you leak too much!” Butler laughs. After the initial run-through, he sits back and waits for pick-up assignments from the call service. When he gets back to the care center with a body, he is responsible for unwrapping it and documenting the physical details of the deceased. A checklist helps with this step. “For example,” he says, “if someone has an IV, you’re going to want to check that off, because if the hole is open, the embalming fluid will drip out. It’s good to let the embalmer know to put a little dab of super glue to avoid that.” The transportation van Butler drives can hold up to four bodies, separated by a lift and gurneys. Removal technicians are responsible for cleaning out their van weekly and the processing center (called a “care center”) daily. Butler emphasizes how important it is

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for hospital workers to leave the deceased alone to avoid a messy situation when he removes a body. “It’s hard enough dealing with skin slips, blood purging, and the weight and smell of a person,” he says. The body bags that hospitals use rip easily, which can result in fluids spewing out while in transport and the mortuary cooler. “People leak all the time,” he says. “Their body just releases everything — it’s unavoidable. And it’s our job to clean it up.” Asked about the smell in the cooler, Butler says it’s not that bad, because it’s about as cold as a restaurant refrigerator. But he can’t avoid the unforgettable stench of decomposition at the initial pick up. He gives smoking some credit for helping him deal with that. The pay certainly isn’t helping much. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers make an average of $23-$26

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dollars an hour. However, Nevada death care wages are on the lower end, at only $14$16 dollars an hour. These numbers were last updated in May 2021, but in Butler’s experience, not much has changed. Negative stigma is one barrier to fair compensation, he says. There are no formal education requirements (other than a high school degree) to become a removal technician, but employees do need to abide by local and state laws, as well as company procedures, to properly care for the deceased. At the same time, death care is an emotionally and physically demanding job. (Butler jokes that it’s a great workout.) The grisly responsibilities and low wages can lead to quick burnout. During Butler’s first few months in the industry, he saw some twenty people come and go. But a certain kind of person, who can stomach the job, may stick around and last for years. Butler PHOTOGRAPHY C hristopher Smith

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says he relies on his coworkers and father to get through it. For him, the hardest part of the job is dealing with the families of the deceased. “You never know how the family is going to react,” he says. “Sometimes a family member becomes aggressive when you need to take their loved one away, almost wanting to fight me. Others are nonchalant about it.” Yet families also offer an opportunity for one of the job’s rare rewards. Butler feels it’s important to be there for them, showing empathy and respect. He’s even had to face the reality of death within his own circle. Butler recalls the time he saw an old friend while picking up their deceased grandparent. The two men embraced and laughed at the randomness of bumping into each other under such circumstances “I’m getting to an age where I’m going to start running into people I know,” Butler jokes. Clearly, for this Removal Technician, a dark sense of humor is a job requirement. ✦

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FILM

Porno Goes Emo When local gay adult film company Helix Studios removed the sex from its films, it romanced a whole new market BY JOSH BELL

n the Coen Brothers’ 1998 noir comedy The Big Lebowski, affable main character The Dude (Jeff Bridges) visits avant-garde artist Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore), who shows him a clip of a porn film featuring two people involved in his labyrinthine kidnapping investigation. A leering man enters the apartment of two beautiful women, deA U G U S T/S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

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to watch on Amazon Prime Video. “Heidi’s abilities at managing these things and knowing how to put them together and make them appeal to an audience have really proven helpful,” Miller says. “She’s from the independent film world, so she knows exactly what we’re looking for,” says Roman, who works with his director husband, Alex Roman, on every Helix production. “It’s been an awesome collaboration.” For the Romans, who went to film school together and came to the adult industry from a background in documentary filmmaking, working with Moore has been a return to their roots. “Once we got to Las Vegas, and we were hiring new editors, we came across Heidi, and Heidi was from our world,” Casey Roman says. Helix’s YouTube channel has nearly 150,000 subscribers, and their videos regularly get tens of thousands of views. “I wish I had 100,000 subscribers to the porn site,” Miller says. Plenty of devoted viewers now know Helix productions primarily as lighthearted, romantic gay movies without any hardcore sex. Although Helix has done well at industry honors including the Grabby Awards and the GayVN Awards, they remain unique among adult companies in creating mainstream-friendly versions of

H E L I X P H OT O S : C O U R T E S Y O F H E L I X S T U D I O S

claring that he’s a repairman from the cable company. “You can imagine where it goes from here,” Maude scoffs. “He fixes the cable?” The Dude responds. The joke, of course, is at the expense of the flimsy plots of typical adult movies. But for Las Vegas-based gay adult film company Helix Studios, there has been a surprisingly lucrative alternative market for movies in which characters, well, fix the cable. “We’ve always tried to distinguish ourselves from all the other people in the business by creating something that we consider to be a little bit more valuable,” Helix owner Keith Miller says. From its earliest days, Helix has paid closer attention to the narrative content of its films than most HELIX STUDIOS adult film companies do. The cast and crew That effort has hit new of Return to Helix heights since the company, Academy on set founded in Florida in 2002, relocated to Vegas in 2017. A year later, local independent filmmaker Heidi Moore joined Helix as an editor, and her creative contributions have opened up Helix’s movies to a whole new audience. “The scripts were really bad,” Moore says of the Helix movies she was editing when she first started. “That was our weakest link forever,” producer Casey Roman says. “We would take a script and completely have to rewrite it.” “I wished that I could at least go through and fix them up,” Moore recalls. “So one time I finally did, and showed them, ‘Here’s an example of what I mean.’ From then on they had me writing all the scripts.” With her experience in self-distributing independent films, Moore also expanded on Helix’s practice of posting short, nonexplicit clips to YouTube. “Let’s make a normal movie where the sex scenes happen to be real, and then we can edit a version where we take out the sex scenes, and then we can put them on Amazon Prime and YouTube storylines that can be packaged without the and all of that.” X-rated material that’s hosted exclusively So now, Helix movies such as Quiet on on Helix’s site. Quiet on Set played in local Set, which Moore wrote based on her exfilm festivals including the Las Vegas Queer periences working on independent films, Arts Film Festival and the Nevada Women’s have completely separate existences as Film Festival. Helix productions such as mainstream, nonexplicit films. Moore writes The Lake House, Happy Campers, and the scripts that feature far more dialogue and series Helix Studios Presents are available emotion than typical adult content, with full

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Desert Lifescaping BOOKS

From her Boulder City upbringing to her Mormon adulthood, writer Phyllis Barber has always been a ‘creature’ of the desert BY

Scott Dickensheets

s a kid, Phyllis Barber fell from her bike onto a dirt road near Boulder City, dust and pebbles embedding in the skin of her thighs, “blood and gravel tangling together until I couldn’t tell what was my leg and what was the desert” — which was only the most blatant of the many ways this arid landscape (not to mention falling) became a part of her. It took hold in more crucial, long-term, life-altering ways, too, which is a lot of — but not nearly all of — what her new book, The Precarious Walk: Essays from Sand and Sky, is about. Barber will be familiar to some readers from 1992’s How I Got Cultured: A Nevada Memoir, part of the contemporary Nevada canon. She’s since written two follow-up memoirs, Raw Edges and To the Mountain: One Mormon Woman’s Search for Spirit. The pieces collected here source from across that same time span, and bear on some of the same concerns: growing up in the deserts around Boulder City and Las Vegas; being the daughter of a mother disappointed by the smallness of her life; an unabashed love of music and dance; leaning into and cautiously away from her inherited Mormon faith. Wherever these essays roam, the desert is never far from Barber’s mind, and the first section of The Precarious Walk is devoted to it. She recalls her Boulder City childhood, thrilled that she could say “dam” all the time, testing the mouthfeel of a swear word signifying damnation. Visiting the dam, she scanned its smooth surfaces for lumps marking bodies in the concrete. Years later, a bike ride to the ruins of St. Thomas finds her musing on history — her great-great grandfather was among St. Thomas’ first settlers — ecology, hydrology (“A land short on water, but the word short is too generous”), and more. Austere, unpredictable, scoured to some eternal essence by erosion, for Barber the desert can’t help but be immanent with spirit. “Of course there is another world,” the poet Max Ritvo once wrote. “But it is not elsewhere.” And so, filtered through the memories of old sermons and church teachings, for her this landscape “explains God, heaven, and hell with no words, no scriptures, no ideologies.” Barber’s writing is often sharp: Of Boulder City she writes, “One could almost smell the town’s respectability.” Yes! Exactly! Now and then a cliché gums things up: “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” A few times, she tries to match the mythic resonance of the desert by affecting a poetic viscosity that sometimes intensifies the reading experience but occasionally gels her sentences into awkward shapes. I didn’t hate it; your tolerance may vary. The second section is more miscellaneous, with travels and portraits — “The Knife Handler” is a particularly affecting account of attending church with a rural Southern artisan she’s just met — and lots of dancing. She compulsively visits churches. In an

PHYLLIS BARBER: COURTESY TORREY HOUSE PRESS

their movies. “The majority of them, when they talk to me about it, go, ‘Why are you doing that? Why are you doing so much extra work?’” Miller says of his peers in the adult industry. “We make an actual movie, and then just make the sex scenes real. No one else does that,” Moore says. That also means that the performers in Helix films get to do far more than might be expected of other porn stars. “Our models tell us that when we post the non-sex versions of our films on YouTube or wherever, they can show their parents,” Casey Roman says. “It legitimizes it, like they’re doing something bigger and more important, reaching out to a larger audience.” That helps Helix retain talent, too. “We’ve had models come back to us wanting to start filming again because, ‘I want to do a movie,’” Miller says. For Moore, working at Helix has opened up a whole new avenue of her career as an independent filmmaker. She’s still awaiting the release of her latest horror film, Kill Dolly Kill: Dolly Deadly 2, from legendary underground distributor Troma Entertainment, but in the meantime she’s working more than ever. “I get two scripts a month produced that I write, so I’m constantly writing and editing full-on films,” she says. “This is something that I know a lot of my friends who are in independent filmmaking would love to be doing.” She’s even recruited some of those friends as actors. “Because I work in the film community in town, I have a lot of friends who are actors, and they came and acted in the movies. It’s a paid gig, and they’re not in the sex parts.” Miller sees Helix eventually expanding into a multifaceted LGBTQ media company, mixing adult films with mainstream productions. The Romans, too, see no limits to the kind of stories they can tell at Helix. “Literally any idea we can think of, we can turn it into something for work,” Casey Roman says. Plenty of people may still scoff, like Maude Lebowski, at the idea of porn movies being artistically valuable and entertaining to watch, but Moore knows not to listen to them: “I’ve had a lot of people tell me, ‘Oh, I could never do that.’ And it’s like, you don’t know what I do.” ✦

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essay about writing, she’s particularly good in the way that the writer and her material conspire to devise the self that will write that material. What coheres all this is the presence — up close or at a remove, but always there — of her faith. If, as I do, you flinch when someone talks directly and unapologetically about his or her belief in God — if you’d just rather not hear it — consider yourself warned. But not warned away. Throughout, Barber is upfront about her spirituality, but never dogmatic. Indeed, while we’re right to be skeptical of religion’s role in America these days — it often seems to exist mostly to apply a Biblical shimmer to the necrotizing politics of the right — Barber shows how, at the individual level, it can bestow dimensionality to one’s life and perceptions. And she exhibits an appealing independence of spirit. The title essay finds her straining against the received dictates of her LDS upbringing; she will always question her way toward the divine, wherever that takes her: “It was necessary and compulsory to find my way to God by myself.” So she will consult with shamans in South America, attend a Gullah church in South Carolina, and play piano for a Baptist congregation in backwoods Arkansas. She’s familiar with the Eastern texts. At no point does the reader feel Barber is busking for her church; she’s making room within a system she wants to belong to, but on her own terms. From an anecdote about tumbling bloodily into a mountain stream, “The Art of Falling” builds into an extended riff on the many meanings of “falling.” Falling down. Falling from grace. Falling in love. Falling off of a motorcycle, as she once did, the whole essay capillary with gradients of meaning, building to her implied challenge: What’s more important about a fall, the hard landing — or that fleeting instance of suspended gravity when you’re aloft with the birds and the angels? What can you pull from that moment to make it worth the splat? To the extent that she’s able to answer that question, she has the desert to thank. Because of it, she tells us, “I’m a creature who has found a way to live in the midst of challenges.” ✦

Save the Date!

Saturday, September 24, 2022 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin® Join us for this free, family-friendly outdoor event that promotes being a caring neighbor. Beloved PBS KIDS characters Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat will be on stage for guest appearances throughout the day!

Sponsorships and Vendor Booths Available! Vendors will have the opportunity to engage with an estimated 7,500 event attendees and align their brand with trusted children’s programming on VEGAS PBS KIDS. To sign up, please visit:

vegaspbs.org/bemyneighborday Respectful Sponsor

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The Precarious Walk: Essays from Sand and Sky By Phyllis Barber Torrey House Press, $18.95

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FOOD + DRINK

Betting on the Food DINING

At Aroma Latin American Cocina, Chef Steve Kestler spins diverse flavors into a delicious new concept BY

Jason Harris

IN THE RAW Aroma's ceviche mixto marinated in "tiger's milk," a vibrant citrus sauce

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sabin Orr

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y the time this story runs, Aroma Latin American Cocina should have a proper sign out front. Since it opened in November, the tiny eatery has had only a simple banner hanging outside. A few doors down from a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym and a beauty supply store, the tiny café doesn’t stand out from its neighbors. It’s nearly impossible to see from the street. And, on top of all this, chef Steve Kestler is serving dishes unfamiliar to many American palates. You could predict Aroma would be another shuttered restaurant before too long. If it weren’t for one thing: The food is incredible. What Kestler is doing at his tiny Green Valley storefront is as exciting as any new concept on or off the Strip. It evokes Jamie Tran’s opening of The Black Sheep off Durango and Warm Springs in 2017. Vietnamese comfort food with French influences wasn’t something Las Vegas diners were accustomed to. The Black Sheep was also in a hard-to-find strip mall stuffed with other businesses. But the food was different, dynamic, and worth seeking out. Word quickly spread. Now Tran is a James Beard finalist, who had a respectable showing on Season 18 of Top Chef. Aroma Latina American Cocina is in different part of town, Kestler is cooking a different style of cuisine, and he hasn’t had the publicity that Tran has. But it seems inevitable that once people find Kestler and

Aroma, they’ll be fans. Kestler, 40, spent years in high-end kitchens, including Bouchon, Bazaar Meat, and EDO Tapas & Wine before striking out on his own with the Maize St. food truck. It was in the world of mobile eateries that he met Yasser Zermeno. The two teamed up for Aroma, with Kestler running the back of the house while Yasser handles the business. The pair’s goal was to find an affordable space, which, in the current market, wasn’t easy. So, they took the hidden storefront,

rebuilt the interior themselves, including the handmade lighting fixtures and host station, and let their food do the talking. Aroma offers a tour of Latin American cuisine, which sounds both buzzy and overambitious. Usually, when a chef tries to combine dishes from different countries in one menu, they suffer from a lack of focus and cultural background. Kestler is an exception, however. Born in Guatemala, he serves dishes from his home country, as well as dishes from Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. And, like the dishes from his former kitchen-mate at EDO, Oscar Amador, many of the plates have a heavy, thoughtfully executed Asian influence. Unlike Mexican or Peruvian cuisine, Guatemalan food hasn’t cracked the American mainstream, but it’s intriguing to imagine FLAVOR WITHOUT BORDERS Top, Aroma’s mangonada salad is like a Latinized carpaccio; left, lomo saltado Nikkei, a beef tenderloin dish with Asian flair; below, pork belly tacos with guacamole and pickled onions

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PHOTOGRAPHY S abin Orr

what Kestler will introduce to the Las Vegas culinary scene. Consider his Guatemalan enchiladas: “If you go out to the street in Guatemala, you’ll see these ladies on the corner with giant baskets of tostadas,” he says. “They’ll have the pickled beets, the cabbage, the meat with tomato sauce. That dish, I’m not doing anything different with it. It’s just pure nostalgia from back home.” The crunchy tostada, the acidic beets, the flavorful beef picadillo and the sharp cotija cheese are tied together with a hard-boiled egg that adds a rich throughline bite after bite. Often, Kestler takes an ingredient or experience and puts his own spin on it. The mangonada salad, for instance, is both simple and complex with just five ingredients — mango, jicama, greens, cashews, and chamoy vinaigrette — that undergo a sophisticated preparation. Inspired by snacks he’s found in the Mexican market near Aroma, Kestler slices the mango thin, creating an exotic carpaccio. Then, he sous vides it overnight with chamoy seasoning, giving the fruit layers of flavor that are reinforced by the vinaigrette. The jicama and cashews also are dusted with chamoy, intensifying the flavor profile and adding texture. It’s a provocative plate, something not often said about salad. Such attention to detail is a hallmark of Kestler’s cuisine. To cook his 15-ingredient mole, he says, is a 10-minute process, but prepping those ingredients takes 12 hours. He uses it in a number of dishes, including a short-rib taco with escabeche that’s stunning to look at and even better to taste. Peruvian food offers a natural opportunity to incorporate Asian influences, because there’s a large Japanese population in the South American country; the two cuisines have intertwined for more than a century. Kestler’s nod to the traditional fusion is lomo saltado Nikkei, featuring beef tenderloin, beef jus reduction, peppers, tomatoes, onions, fried potatoes in aji amarillo cream, and acidic sushi rice — a mixture that blends harmoniously. Aroma Latin Cocina is just getting started. As diners continue to find it and Kestler incorporates more dishes into the menu, excitement should build. “We bet not on the location,” he says, “but on our ability to produce good food. Eventually people will know and find us.” In a town full of foodies, it seems like a safe bet. ✦

AROMA LATIN AMERICAN COCINA 2877 N. Green Valley Parkway 702-547-0474

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Ice Cream Social TRENDS

What accounts for Sorry, Not Sorry Creamery’s viral success? Social media savvy topped with deliciously decadent ice cream BY

Nick Barnette

ometimes, all it takes is a wall. A fun, f lashy wall that lures Instagrammers and TikTokkers, creates irresistible buzz, and hopefully attracts lines that stretch around the block. In the case of Sorry, Not Sorry Creamery, two walls of theirs have been splashed over my Instagram feed time and time again: One wall features a sprawling, whimsical mural from local artist Pretty Done, and the other sports a smiley face rendered in glowing pink neon. With its cute, clean aesthetic and baby-shower color palette, the recently opened ice cream shop totally pops on Instagram, which should come as no surprise: Sorry, Not Sorry’s cofounder Drew Belcher also happens to run one of Las Vegas’ most successful Instagram foodie accounts, @unlokt. He knows better than anyone how to turn customers into viral marketers who can’t pass up the chance for a fun selfie. “If you look at the characters in the Pretty Done mural, everything has a little meaning. There’s a lot of Vegas innuendos and references,” Belcher explains. “Once people are standing in line, you want to give them something to do, and you want to see if they can provide some sort of marketing for you for free.” Belcher didn’t achieve his mastery of generating social media buzz overnight. He started Unlokt 10 years ago as an iPhone app to showcase local eats. He then launched an Instagram account to promote the app. That account ballooned into its own foodie phenom that today has more than 400,000 followers. After years of posting about the Vegas food scene, Belcher developed

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Unlokt into a marketing agency that currently works with 58 clients, including buzzy restaurants such as Good Pie and Truffles N Bacon Cafe. So why launch an ice cream shop? Isn’t Belcher rolling in the dough as a foodie influencer turned marketing impresario? Not as much as you might think. Belcher points out that today’s social media supernova means there’s a glut of would-be influencers crowding the market. “With every single foodie in Las Vegas or just on Instagram in general, there’s not really money to be made per se,” he says. “A lot of the time, these restaurant owners are so spoiled because they’re entirely built

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off the back of these Instagram influencers now for pretty much pennies, nearly chump change. Instagram influencers are literally changing the dynamic of these businesses — increasing the sales, increasing the following, and literally growing their brand for peanuts. They’re just so excited and happy to do it.” Even with 1.3 million followers on his Unlokt TikTok account, Belcher says he only makes “a couple hundred bucks a month from the Creator Fund.” That’s one of the reasons Belcher, along with partners Tim Dang and Kevin Whelan, decided to open a brick-and-mortar shop of their own. “I got tired of growing these brands and PHOTOGRAPHY S abin Orr

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blowing them up, and then getting fired six months or a year in after getting so attached to these brands emotionally,” Belcher says. “I said, ‘You know what, instead of making all these other restaurant owners all this money, why don’t I throw my hat in the ring and really utilize what I’ve learned building a brand on social media?’” Of course, he also recognized that he had to have a great product. “We wanted to make sure that we actually had not only a good aesthetic, but we had to have the best ice cream you can physically possibly make. And that’s what we did.” Sorry, Not Sorry sources its dairy from Scott Brothers Dairy, the same farm from which Portland-based ice cream phenomenon Salt & Straw gets its dairy. “Scott Brothers Dairy is the number-one dairy farm in the entire United States, out of Chino, California,” Belcher says. “It’s a 110 year-old dairy farm with 18 percent butterfat. Any more butterfat and legally you would have to call it custard.” A sampling of Sorry, Not Sorry’s selections proves that Belcher isn’t just talking hype. The richness of the dairy elevates traditional flavors such as Mint Chocolate Chunk and complements the jammier flavors of their Crunchy PB&J and Strawberry Balsamic with Black Pepper. My personal favorite, Churros and Fudge, is a vegan, oat milkbased flavor that’s just as velvety as its dairy-based counterparts. “You’ll see stunt food, the crazy viral items, on Instagram, but is it good?” Belcher says. “It may get people in the door, but getting them to come back over and over is the dilemma that a lot of restaurant owners find themselves in.” At Sorry, Not Sorry, the design choices are attuned to smartphone snappers, but it’s the craft creamery’s product — served traditionally in a cup or cone with few frills — that will keep the foodies flocking back. Sorry, Not Sorry’s Instagram account, which has only been active for two months, already has more than 22,000 followers. But it’s a good bet that the new creamery’s rising profile on social media won’t just be a fleeting five minutes of Insta fame: Belcher and his team already have two more Sorry, Not Sorry Creamery locations in the works. ✦

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nce, I saw a coyote outside of a Target in Las Vegas. He was confident, smiling, eyeing the street and waiting to cross. He understood the traffic patterns. His resemblance to my tan-colored, pointy-eared dog was spooky. My dog who, on hot summer mornings, skitters with glee across the polished marble floor of the Bellagio, past Hermès, toward the craps tables. He likes the sound of slot machines, the scent of strangers’ suitcases rolling past him at eye level. Outside of Caesars Palace, he kisses tourists’ palms like a priest offering communion. “Are you on vacation?” they ask him. I tell them no; we live here, he’s a Vegas dog, a city dog. He prefers brunch on Fremont Street to hiking in the Spring Mountains. He refuses to swim in Lake Mead, sulks in the dirt on camping trips, as if he is wondering when we will return to a place where waiters pass him strips of bacon under a white tablecloth. He likes traffic, trash, parking garages. My dog is a Vegas dog. Except no, not really. He’s a German shepherd mix, a breed that, according to the American Kennel Club, traces its lineage back to a 19th-century dog in Thuringia named Horand von Grafrath. Horand and his descendants were bred to watch over sheep in cold, foggy meadows. Unlike the coyotes in Las Vegas, they were designed to live elsewhere. ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

In January 2022, a mountain lion was shot by police officers in a Las Vegas backyard. The homeowner who spotted the animal told the Las Vegas Review-Journal she was afraid to let her granddaughter ride her bicycle outside again. A few months later, a mountain lion was found sleeping in another Las Vegas backyard. Nearby schools went into lockdown. Officers were called to the scene. But the mountain lion ran away. The woman who first spotted the 70to 80-pound animal spoke with bewilderment when she told 8 News Now, “That’s the scary part, that it’s still on the loose.” Mountain lions are native to the Mojave Desert, but you’re not supposed to see them. They hunt at night. They don’t roar. They’re solitary, elusive, lethal. But in recent years, people have been encountering them in Las Vegas. Drought conditions have made prey scarce in mountain lions’ preferred habitat, forcing them into the city, where the same people who would gladly buy tickets to see a tiger on the Las Vegas Strip are astonished — and inconvenienced — by their existence.

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A field guide to the native and non-native animals of Las Vegas (including us humans) BY

Krista Diamond

People in Las Vegas are beginning to talk about mountain lions the way they’ve long talked about coyotes. But unlike mountain lions, coyotes aren’t coming into the city because they’re being forced out of nature; they’re coming into the city because they like living here. Coyotes are omnivorous, opportunistic. They eat rabbits, rodents, deer, insects, grass, and fruit, among other things. They can live in cold and warm climates. They can live among bears and wolves. They can live with us. And they’re smart. According to National Geographic, humans kill about 500,000 coyotes annually — but it doesn’t matter much; when their population is depleted, they respond by producing larger litters. When ranchers shoot at them and miss, it only teaches them how to avoid being shot at again. Some people buy spiked Kevlar vests to protect their small dogs from coyotes. Some people try to kill them. They curse them out when they see them trotting through neighborhoods. I hate these coyotes, they say. But they keep building golf courses and parks, planting trees, and creating artificial ponds.

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Coyotes have outsmarted us, or perhaps we are just very dumb; if we hate them so much, maybe we should stop constructing the exact environments where they thrive. ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

Flamingos are not native to Las Vegas, and yet there is a flock living behind the eponymous hotel alongside brown pelicans, turtles, albino catfish, sturgeons, and koi. When I first moved to Vegas, I used to visit them at night. Leaning against the pink railing that barely separated us, I could sense them in the silent dark. It was a paradox: The blush of their feathers seemed like a showgirl’s costume. But the air was damp and rich, containing the smell of something too wild to ever be commodified. And still, people feel entitled to the animals at the Flamingo. In 2012, three drunk Berkeley law students named Eric Cuellar, Justin Teixeira, and Hazhir Kargaran entered the wildlife habitat. They chased a 14-year-old helmeted guineafowl named Turk, caught it, strangled it, and decapitated the bird while tourists looked on from the buffet. ILLUSTRATION T im Bower

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inventories captive marine life, Following their arrests, Cuellar traces her lineage back to the and Kargaran were sentenced Gulf of Mexico, but she was to community service and reborn on the Las Vegas Strip. quired to pay small fines. Teixeira, This is the fourth Her parents, Huf-n-Puf and the man who had beheaded the of six columns Lightning, were born on the bird, was sentenced to four years in which Krista Las Vegas Strip. Her daughter, of probation after completing Diamond explores Lady Ace, was born on the Las a prison boot camp program. the intersection Vegas Strip. What does it mean According to his LinkedIn, he where Las Vegas, to be native when you’re a dolcurrently works as vice president pop culture, media phin living in a tank at a casino, of marketing for JPMorgan Chase myths, and urban performing tricks under the hot & Co. in London. Guineafowls are legend meet. Krista Mojave sky as tourists watch, native to Africa. Turk was the only is an MFA candifrozen margaritas sweating one at the Flamingo. date in UNLV’s in their hands? What does it A little more than a mile down Creative Writing mean to be a creature native the road lies the MGM Grand, program. Her work to the ocean when the desert where a pride of 20 lions rotated has appeared in is all you’ve ever known? Four in and out of an enclosure on The New York generations of dolphins have the casino floor for 13 years. I Times, HuffPost, lived on the Las Vegas Strip. I’ve only saw them once, but the Electric Literature, only been here for seven years, fever dream lingered: a tawny Narratively, and and I have the audacity to call lion behind a glass wall, massive elsewhere. myself a local. head on massive paws, claws In Las Vegas, we like the contracting and releasing as he animals we import, cage, and use for endreamed, mere feet from the gift shop. In tertainment. They are sacred to us. The 2010, a male lion lunged and bit a trainer flamingos are the Flamingo. The lions are inside the MGM habitat. The enclosure MGM Grand. The dolphins are the Mirage. was soundproof, so no one could hear the But turning a wild animal into a corporate man screaming. The video poker machines symbol is not love, no matter how beautiful outside the clear walls purred and sang, disthat animal looks when he waves his rosy pensing and collecting money. When asked wings in the heat, lets loose a roar that about the incident by ABC News, celebrity unlocks something within you, breaches zookeeper Jack Hanna said of the lions: the surface of the pool, appearing poised “I wouldn’t say they shouldn’t be there.” to take flight. Oh, but we love them so much, In 2012, the MGM Grand renovated and we tell ourselves, so much that we rattle replaced the lion habitat with a nightclub. their cages when they refuse to pose for The lions were sent away. It wasn’t that the photos, we complain when they are not resort had realized it was inhumane to keep interesting enough or pretty enough, we them; they had simply become superfluous enter their habitats to touch them, to chase to the corporate vision. them, to demand more. We love them very The animals at Siegfried & Roy’s Semuch when they entertain us, when they cret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the pretend to be in on the joke. Our love is Mirage face a similar fate. In 2021, Hard conditional. We want to control how they Rock International purchased the Mirage get here, where they will live, and how they with the intent to remodel it and build a will behave. We don’t want them showing guitar-shaped room tower. A Change.org up in our neighborhoods, unannounced. petition was quickly launched to save the artificial volcano outside of the hotel, but ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ public outcry over the fate of the resort’s tigers, leopards, lions, and bottlenose dolOnce, I heard a coyote howling from a phins seemed nonexistent, save an article drugstore parking lot. It was late summer, this year from the Nevada Current, which not quite dawn yet. Silence for a moment, noted the dolphins in particular would and then the responses began. Coyotes probably not fit with the Hard Rock brandhave about a dozen different vocalizations. ing. Much like the lions at MGM Grand, the I heard them all: yips, barks, lonesome Mirage’s animals just don’t seem to align wails, frenzied laughter. Their collective with the marketing plan anymore. noise was chaotic, but their intention was In April, a 13-year-old dolphin named anything but. They were conducting a cenBella died of gastroenteritis at the Mirage. sus, I realized. They were saying I live here Ceta-Base, a non-profit organization that again and again. ✦

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heading to Safeway for groceries. No one seems to notice the rumble over the rooftops, even when it turns into a roar. They load fertilizer into flatbeds or chat outside the post office, never so much as pausing as the sky tears open above them. The out-oftowners are easy to spot because they are the ones looking up, but for locals, it’s just another day at “the base,” which is what they Far from the hype of Hollywood, elite pilots take to the skies call the Naval Air Station Fallon, home to in Fallon to train the next generation of combat aviators the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School — aka Topgun. Known as the PhD By Michael Hanson program of naval fighter combat, the school was moved from its original home at INCOMING Miramar in San Diego in 1996 and Summer days seem longer in Fallon, t’s a typical June day in Fallon, where An F/A-18 E brought to Fallon, where it eventualwhere the corn grows knee-high by the sky hangs sapphire blue and the Super Hornet ly became part of the Naval Aviation the Fourth of July and weekends are truck tires whine along Route 95. A returns to NAS Fallon Warfighting Development Center. spent watching rodeos over rounds lush little oasis in the middle of the with two Fightertown USA was replaced by of light beer at the Churchill County high desert, Fallon is known as Nevada’s laser-guided training Small Town USA, and with the latest Fairgrounds, which also hosts the salad bowl. The air here is moist with the rounds on the Top Gun movie only adding to years Cantaloupe Festival and County Fair scent of alfalfa and cow shit, and like other left wing. of misconceptions and mythmaking, each August. farm towns of fewer than 10,000 people, it’s one thing remains clear: The real Topgun is And yet, if a “highway to the danger zone” the kind of place where the beef tastes better a long way from the beaches of San Diego. A exists in real life, it’s the 95 into Fallon. because you know the ranchers who raised it, long way from Hollywood, for that matter. People in town go about their daily errands: the same way you know the people pumping Nineteen thousand feet up, it’s another picking up feed, chasing down tractor parts, your gas or pouring your morning coffee. FLIGHT

THE REAL TOPGUN I

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PHOTOGRAPHY M ichael Hanson

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FLIGHT

day at the office for Lieutenant Graham “Bones” Stapleton and his new Topgun students. Up here, Fallon is nothing but a little green blip in a sea of brown and beige. At 32 years old, Stapleton has been a Topgun instructor for three years, and he’s just received a fresh crop of “studs,” which is what they call their pupils. Today’s exercise is a 9K perch, which is the first flight in the basic fighter maneuvering, or dogfighting, phase of the syllabus. It’s the first “hop” that students execute with a Topgun instructor, and they are usually very nervous. The setup is fairly simple, as far as one-on-one fighter combat goes, with the student’s jet in an offensive position about a mile and a half behind the instructor. On paper, the student’s goal is to “stay offensive,” or to stay behind the instructor. Stapleton’s goal is to neutralize the student, which typically happens when seasoned instructors square off with new pupils. Stapleton remembers what it was like for his first air-to-air hop as a student, the near-crippling nerves that curdled in the bottom of his stomach, and after three years of instructing, he always bears that in mind. For today’s exercise, both instructor and student are flying identical F/A-18 E Super Hornets. They are flying “slick,” which means all external stores have been stripped

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off their aircraft: no centerline tanks, no ordnance pylons. It’s an unusual configuration for fleet aviators, but they do this to force students to fly timely mechanics. Errors are more pronounced, which makes them easier to learn from. “Viper One, speed and angles left,” Stapleton says into his mic, beginning a communication cadence to initiate the “set,” which is Navy talk for drill. “Viper Two, speed and angles right,” his student says. “Check tapes H.U.D.” This is to ensure the aircraft’s recording system is on, which will give valuable information for the debrief later. “Tapes,” the student says. “Check left 50,” Stapleton says, signaling his student to place their jet 40 degrees off his tail, giving them the offensive position. “Reverse,” the student says, letting Stapleton know they are in position. From here, the student counts down the beginning of the set. “Viper Two in from 2.0…1.9…1.8…” When the student closes the distance to 1.5 miles, or 9,000 feet, they begin the drill with one last communication. “Fox Two,” they say — signaling that the fight is on. With the student immediately on his tail, Stapleton begins a defensive maneuver by executing a break turn to the right, pulling as hard as he can on the stick. Right away he can

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tell he has caught his student “behind the jet,” meaning that the student is not keeping up with the changing relationships between the two aircraft. Dogfighting is all about energy management, and with the F/A-18s flying slick, the angles are tighter than the student is used to, causing them to underestimate their airspeed and begin their turning pull early. Within seconds, the student is pointing at Stapleton instead of flying wide around his wing line, causing them to collapse the range and pass directly behind Stapleton’s aircraft with too much energy, essentially forfeiting the tactical advantage. Having seen this a dozen times before, Stapleton instinctively unloads his aircraft out of its turn, resets the stick, and reverses. All of a sudden, instead of the student being squarely behind and forcing Stapleton into an evasive dive, the two are locked in a side-by-side arc, swirling slowly downward. At this point, Stapleton cues his helmet to deploy a simulated AIM-9X sidewinder missile at his student’s aircraft, all the while gauging whether they know what to do or if they are “lost in the sauce,” and as the jets approach the hard deck of 9,000 feet, Stapleton makes a final aggressive maneuver, gaining a last-second advantage. For Stapleton, it doesn’t get better than this. He knows the student has made a fatal

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THE OTHER JET SET Clockwise from far left: An F/A-18 E Super Hornet starts up in front of Hangar 5; an F-16A Fighting Falcon, one of the aircraft instructors fly against students; Lt. “Bones” Stapleton; and three F-35 Lightning II fighter jets waiting to launch on a sortie.

error, and in an instant, he will send a burst of simulated cannon fire straight through their cockpit. Unlike the movies, however, Stapleton doesn’t showboat. Sure, a healthy amount of confidence is essential for a job like this, but he never seeks to embarrass, and for most students, this is a one-time error that soon gets corrected. But still, killers will be killers. In fact, Stapleton doesn’t just relish the kill; he “cherishes it.” The kill is what he lives for. It’s a deep, carnal satisfaction all good fighter pilots thirst for. The mission of Topgun is “to win in combat,” and achieving victory requires split-second decisions — how quickly can you spot a deviation? How quickly can you capitalize on an opponent’s mistake when you’re going 400 knots, when you’re “under G,” the increased gravity draining blood from your head and specifically from your eyes, causing you to see stars, a blackness forming at the bottom of your sightline and, like a bathtub filling up with water, slowly rising until you lose vision or pass out completely? How quickly? This entire exercise takes about 90 seconds, in which both aircraft have descended 10,000 feet. They complete the set a few more times before heading back to base, always executing their landings as if plopping down onto a carrier.

On the ground, Stapleton peels off his helmet and visor, revealing his long face and brown hair which, with years of stress, is going gray above the ears. After completing his shutdown procedures, he steps onto the flight line and walks toward Hangar 5, a gearhead’s dream of fighter jets with panels pulled off, tool chests wheeled here and there, mechanics using highly customized tools to replace highly customized parts. Like cars, jets have scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and the goal for the flight crew is to never have a breakdown in the air. Even though pilots tend to get all the attention, it takes hundreds of man-hours from hundreds of people to make this operation possible, from the mechanics to the operations managers to the oxygen equipment technicians. After giving one of the mechanics a customary nod, Stapleton strides into the flight equipment shop, which is essentially a locker room where the pilots keep all their gear. He hangs his helmet on a peg on the wall, along with his G-suit, harness, and survival vest. He then walks to the Fleet Training Building, stepping through an airlock into fresh air-conditioning, which feels cool on his skin after being out in the Fallon sun. Stapleton remembers the first time he walked through these doors as a student. He’d heard all the stories, all the legend and lore. He knew that the Navy only sends 36 fighter crews to Topgun each year, so

when he was first accepted as a student, his highest priority was not screwing it up. He also had a lot to live up to. Originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, he grew up listening to jets take off at O’Hare International Airport, living the life of a conventional White Sox-worshiping Midwesterner. But it seemed he was always destined to become a pilot. His father was a naval aviator, having flown helicopters off the USS Enterprise in the ’80s before retiring as a commander in the reserves. His grandfather on his mom’s side was a first-generation American from Hungary who flew float planes as a 20-year-old in the Pacific Theater of World War II. His other grandfather was a radio operator on a B-17 in Korea, and Stapleton will never forget sitting at the foot of his chair listening to the story about the time his grandfather was flying over enemy territory with a busted-up engine, flames wrapping around the wing and fuselage. The crew had opened the bomb bay doors and were staring out into the darkness, wondering whether they would have to bail out over hostile territory. Luckily, they made it back to a friendly airfield, but the story always stuck with young Stapleton, which is part of the reason he decided to join the Navy. After flashing his badge at the security desk, he hangs a left past a 25-millimeter MiG-29 cannon mounted on a wooden

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FLIGHT frame, the words “Check your guns at the door” inscribed below. The Fleet Training Building is full of jokes like this. There’s a wooden replica of an F/A-18 cockpit with the master arms switch stuck on Arm. The commanding officer has a flag on his office wall that reads “Go Navy: Beat China.” There are also some more serious pieces of military memorabilia — vintage pistols, mounted rapiers. There’s a poster of Vince Lombardi with a quote about what it means to be number one, and in the hallway hangs a photo of every class to have graduated since 1969. Every now and then there’ll be a comical movie reference, a gag photo of Tom Cruise or Val Kilmer hung in a place it obviously shouldn’t be, but for the most part, Topgun students and staff try to distance themselves from the films as much as possible. Anytime someone says they have the “need for speed” or that the “plaque for the alternates is down in the ladies’ room,” they are issued a fine for quoting the original movie. And though there is some customary office banter, it’s all business when class is in session. On a typical day, students wake up around 3 a.m. for a 5 a.m. mass briefing, where they give instructors the day’s activities. This role reversal is essential for the way Topgun functions, which isn’t necessarily to develop elite fighting units, but elite flight instructors. Throughout the 13-week program, students will become proficient in air-to-air, air-to-surface, and maritime strike mission sets. They will learn how to fly them; they will learn how to teach them. This includes daily briefs, in-flight training, three- to five-hour debriefs, and extended simulator time. About halfway through the course, they do what’s called the “MiG Killer” event, where students take off solo and arrive somewhere on the range at a specific time and place with no idea who or what they are about to fight. It could be an F/A-18 E, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, or even an F-22 Raptor. This teaches them to account for anything, and after that exercise, the staff brings in a veteran who has seen actual combat and downed an enemy aircraft. They used to be WWII or Korean War aces, but since there aren’t many of them left, it could be a Vietnam War vet, or someone who has seen modern combat. On the last day of training, students do a grad strike event, where they all square off against all the instructors at once, with the students trying to strike a target and the instructors trying to defend it. It’s a chance for them to harness everything they’ve learned and put it into practice — a student

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vs. instructor buzzsaw that acts as the climax to the course. If students meet “the bar,” or the standard and attitude expected of Topgun graduates, they can invite their family and loved ones to Ault Auditorium in the Topgun Fleet Training Building, where they shake the Admiral’s hand and take a class photo. The staff also does a private ceremony where each student receives their Topgun patch, after which they will always be known as “patch wearers,” a symbol of their time in the program. The most common misconception is that they’ve reached the top of the pyramid, that they’ve finally arrived, but in truth, Topgun is just a stop along the way. From here, most of them will head out to various weapons schools to train the fleet. Some, like Stapleton, will be asked to join the staff at Topgun, and the fact that he’s been through it makes him perfect for the job. As he heads to debrief the day’s exercise, Stapleton remembers what it was like the first time he did a 9K perch set as an attacker. Like his student today, he also pulled early and got reversed on by the instructor, ending up defensive. He remembers thinking he would never make it through the 13 weeks having failed so miserably on Day One. But, as with most pursuits, failure is the only way to learn, and Topgun is the ultimate pressure cooker. No one goes easy on themselves here. Everyone is on point all the time, whether flying or studying or eventually teaching. Instructors work upward of 15 hours a day when class is in session and are routinely told not to come in on Christmas, which most of them attempt to do anyway. From the staff to the students to the flight crews, these aviators are truly “not in the business of good enough,” and as Stapleton heads to the debrief, he is thinking about the best way to relate this to his students when he passes his commanding officer in the hall. “Hey Bones,” his CO says. “Remember you have an interview later today. That reporter is coming up from Vegas.” “Can’t wait,” Stapleton jokes, letting out a noticeable sigh. It’s funny because in Fallon, where most people have a relative or friend who works on base, where most people have seen an F/A-18 so many times that they don’t even look up when they come screaming overhead, there’s nothing overly sexy about Topgun. It’s not like the movies. There’s no cocktailing on the flight deck, no measuring each other’s missiles. In fact, the mission is far more sobering. The truth is, they’re flying the most advanced war machines ever created, and if the day ever comes, they will be asked to take lives,

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something each pilot must reckon with privately. There are no simulated threats in combat. The weapons are real, and so are the people flying the aircraft. Some of them might suffer lifelong emotional and psychological trauma, which can happen in training as well as combat. Some of them might head out for a mission one day and not come home. Despite Fallon being a cowboy town, at the real Topgun there are certainly no cowboy antics. But how do you explain that to a reporter? How do you explain that you don’t crave the limelight; that in fact, you don’t appreciate you and your colleagues being portrayed as a bunch of macho fighter bros junked up on adrenaline who like to stand tall for the cameras and wax poetic about how lonely it is at the top of the heap? Maybe past generations were like that, the people Ehud Yonay wrote about in his original “Top Guns” for California magazine in 1983, the article on which the original film was based. That was a different time, a time before the internet, before anyone could be the main character of their own personal movie. When YouTube or Instagram can place anyone inside the cockpit of a fighter jet, how do you explain what it really feels like to strap into a machine with more than eight tons of thrust and blast off, hair on fire, the earth and everyone on it becoming just a blur? And how could you honestly explain, without coming off the wrong way, that you wish no one even knew about Topgun or Fallon or any of it; that if you could have your way, you wouldn’t have to talk to reporters or do television interviews; you wouldn’t have to answer the same stupid questions every time you sat at a bar: Have you ever done a flyby? Do you really play volleyball in jeans? In a perfect world, you wouldn’t be symbolized as a counterpunch to waning American masculinity, as a prototypical alpha male with a do-or-die attitude, as the sole sovereign to the Kingdom of Winning. In a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to do any of that stuff. You could just fly fighter jets and teach others how to fly them, and no one would even know about it. But that’s not the world Lieutenant Graham Stapleton lives in. As flawed as the Hollywood rendition of his profession is, it’s part of the culture now, and despite how cartoonish it makes him look, it works wonders for recruitment. The Navy needs a face, after all, and today, that face is him. “Another reporter?” he says to his CO, running his hand through his hair. “Those people never get it right.” ✦

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A TOWERING SPIRIT A new museum finally gives Rita Deanin Abbey her due as a visionary Nevada artist and tireless interpreter of the desert BY

Scott Dickensheets

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he boggling variety, the dramatic productivity, the cornucopian muchness — that’s the first thing that hits you about the late Rita Deanin Abbey as you move through the new Rita Deanin Abbey Museum: As an artist, she contained multitudes. There’s a lot going on here. In the facility’s 12 galleries you encounter paintings in more distinct modes than you can keep track of, as well as sculptures in half-a-dozen more, as well as an expansive selection of drawings, assemblages, prints, enamels, pounded metal, cast bronze, carved wood, cut Plexiglass, poured resin. Then there are the massive black steel sculptures outside. Unless you’re familiar with Abbey — and odds are you’re not — it might not be easy to collate it all around a legible aesthetic throughline. But trying to do just that is what makes the museum experience fun. Abbey, who died last year at age 90, was “the most important unknown artist in Southern Nevada,” as arts scene observer Patrick Gaffey said in her Review-Journal obit. If you’ve been to the Summerlin Library, you might’ve seen “Spirit Tower,” her large metalwork guarding the entrance; members of Temple Beth Sholom have long congregated in the light of her 16 extraordinary stained glass windows there. But otherwise, as Gaffey, noted, “she kind of intentionally stayed out of the limelight.” “My energies,” Abbey once said, “have always gone into making art rather than promoting it.”

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REACHING HIGHER Rita Deanin Abbey at work on her 1974 piece, “Bridge Mountain,” a series of five acrylic-on-canvas panels. It was installed in the lobby of UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre and hung there for many years.

So that’s what the museum is here to do. I spent a recent morning wandering its 10,500 perfectly lighted, marble-floored square feet with museum director Laura Sanders, trying to get a bead on Abbey and her work. I knew the barest few biographical details: Professionally, she kept the Abbey surname of her first husband, noted environmental author and desert crank Edward Abbey (Desert Solitaire, The Monkey Wrench Gang); early on, she was the only woman on UNLV’s art faculty, teaching until 1987; and that she worked constantly. “She worked in every medium you can think of,” Sanders says. The 175 works on display are just a portion of what’s on hand — Abbey kept way more art than she sold — and the exhibits will be freshened from time to time. Our first stop is a room largely devoted to pieces that front Abbey’s deep connection to the desert. One wall is dominated by the 10-by-30-foot painting “Bridge Mountain,” which once hung in UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre. Its desert associations emanate from its sere yellows, its nightfall blue, its touch of red, and from the abstracted geology implicit in its forms; it feels desert-like in a way entirely in sync with the intuitive, rather than theory-driven, way that Abbey worked. (Making no preliminary drawings, she just barged into a piece to see what happened.) She often created in series, and some of the pieces in this gallery are from a set titled From Desert to Bible Vistas: gestural abstracts that tint her love of nature with her enduring interest in Jewish spirituality. Nearby hang a set of “crushed landscapes,” rectangles of crumpled dark metal. It’s only when you look at them as if looking down at them that it clicks — they’re abstracted aerial topographies. “If you fly over Nevada or the desert Southwest,” Sanders says, “you’ll see this.” Indeed, the saturating importance of place is the second thing that hits you. “Nature has had the greatest influence on my work,” Abbey said in 2003. “I have explored desert landscapes and have been deeply affected by rock formations, vistas, sunsets, plant and wild life, rivers, the colors and textures of canyons. These places communicate and resonate with my own nature.” One of her six books was Art and Geology: Expressive Aspects of the Desert (co-authored with scientist G. William

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ART

❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ THE MUSEUM ITSELF is as much outside the mainstream as its subject. It’s not located Downtown or in a tony Summerlin commercial district — it’s not in any commercial district. Rather, somewhat improbably, it sits next to the home she shared with her husband, Robert Rock Belliveau, on a large, sculpture-dotted parcel in a rural neighborhood off of Ann Road, one clearly not overseen by a heavy-handed HOA. Visitors began trickling into its nine-space parking lot in January, by appointment only, though Sanders says the museum is pursuing a zoning adjustment that would allow people to visit more freely. Officially the culmination of 10 years of effort by Abbey, Belliveau, and the family foundation, the museum as an idea goes back as far as the early 2000s, according to Katherine Plake Hough, former chief curator at the Palm Springs Art Museum, a longtime friend of Abbey’s, and co-curator — with the hands-on, perfectionist Abbey herself, of course — of the exhibits inside. (Indeed, she says, Abbey was involved in every aspect of the place, from the architecture to the grounds.) The two met when Hough curated a 1988 Abbey retrospective in Palm Springs — Abbey wasn’t wholly opposed to putting her work out there, of course, and over time participated in many group shows and 50 solo exhibits — and they became friends. Sanders, too, had a long history with Abbey, serving as her archivist from 1990-

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2006. “I feel like I got a master’s degree in abstract art,” she says with a laugh. This brings to mind a story from artist Michael McCollum, who joined the UNLV art staff in 1969, fresh from the MFA program at the University of California, Berkeley. Knowing he needed to brush up on color theory, he sat in on one of her classes. “I learned so much and got so excited by it,” he recalls, “I asked if I could take her class. It changed my life.” In part, he says, that was because of her skill at interacting with students; don’t take her preference for solitary time in the studio to mean she had no people skills. “She was absolutely approachable,” McCollum says. Formidable, too, Fox adds: “I knew if we were going to have a conversation, we were going to have a serious conversation.” She was in some ways a path-breaker, for a while the lone female on UNLV’s art faculty. “And then,” Fox notes, “she picks up a welding torch.” Steel sculptures of such brute physicality (“Hidden Pass,” for example, weighs 22 tons), especially given Abbey’s small stature, must’ve been somewhat incongruous at a time when large-scale metalworks were mostly a guy thing. (Fox writes that she had to assemble her pieces in the school’s engineering workshops, the art department not being set up for such work.) She didn’t make a big deal of it, though, or sublimate feminist point-making into her art. “Rita spoke about it with me,” says Fox, now director of The Center for Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art. “She was very aware of it, but didn’t talk about it a lot; she didn’t want to create more obstacles for herself.” Says Sanders, “She just wanted to get on to the next exploration.”

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❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ THE MUSEUM CONTAINS separate galleries devoted to Abbey’s early landscape abstractions, to works that center her Jewish heritage (including her original stained glass windows for Temple Beth Sholom), to figure drawings, to her late work — large organic abstracts that revel in bold lines and an exuberant precision — and much more. But not nearly all. “We weren’t able to represent every series she’s ever done,” Hough says. The two spent 2017-2020 editing Abbey’s vast trove toward a usable selection. “I tried to get her to pick her favorites, on a scale of 1-10. Give me your eights, nines, and 10s.” Hough laughs. “To her, all of them were nines or 10s; she didn’t have any specific favorites.” Hough made the final cut herself. Built into the museum’s flow are moments of bracing juxtaposition: As you leave the dim gallery devoted to The Black Series — works that, in a nod to volcanic geology, completely eschew color — it’s a trippy vibe shift to encounter “Celebration,” a pop-bright assemblage of cut Plexiglass that looks like the cover of the grooviest album the Grateful Dead never recorded. McCollum proclaims himself a fan of her early landscape abstractions, and the room devoted to them is compelling. “Taos Mountain,” for example, oscillates between visually suggesting an actual New Mexico landscape and capturing an emotional response to it. Part of your enjoyment as a viewer comes from your brain’s disorientation as it works out the dissonance between those visual and limbic responses. Or, as Hough puts it, “She doesn’t paint the river. She paints what it feels like to be in the river.”

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Fiero), which paired her artworks with photos of geological features in a harmonic convergence of shared forms. “Land is not simply a subject for Abbey, but a major fact of her life that she examines daily,” William L. Fox wrote in his 1999 book Mapping the Empty: Eight Artists and Nevada. Its chapter on Abbey is a solid introduction to her work and methods. By the time we move through a couple more galleries, I’ve also noticed what’s not on display. You will search these walls in vain for encrypted political messaging; there are no socially urgent -isms, no “interrogations,” “critiques,” or “interventions.” Thanks to Abbey’s self-imposed distance from the art world, her work opts out of our screen-optimized culture which so often — subtweeting Jeff Koons/Damien Hirst here — mistakes novelty for distinction. As with a deep-cave fish, her work has evolved in its own way, untainted by the market hustle. And her aversion to hyping what she made means that most of it, of whatever vintage, will be brand new to the rest of us.

COLOR, TEXTURE, AND FORM Clockwise from far left: A view of the main gallery featuring “Centaurus”; outdoor sculpture “Snakewash”; a view of the the hallway gallery, “Holocaust” sculpture; “Origins of Being” painting; “Temple of the House” painting; “Hidden Pass” sculpture

But then the museum serves up oddball moments like “Centaurus,” a life-size bronze humanoid figure, roped with strange musculature and wearing a horse skull (“I get to dust him,” Sanders says with a smile). It’s not easy to square the big fella with, say, the pensive acrylic washes of “Gathering” (from her Desert Space series) or the frantic jabbing oils of “Summer Lightning” (from the Arches National Monument series) or even to link those with the formal gravitas of the big steel “Holocaust” in the sculpture garden. What, finally, are you to make of all this variousness?

Let’s let Abbey field that one: “I strive to discover these forces through deeply felt distinctive images rather than consistency of style,” she’s quoted as saying on one of the many wall cards that bring her voice into these galleries. “My love of color, texture, and form, my curiosities, intuition, observations, and need for discovery keeps me from repeating what no longer seems challenging.” From some angles, the Rita Deanin Abbey Museum probably looks like a beautifully realized vanity project, conceived by the

artist and completed by her family in loving homage to its matriarch. I ask Hough what she thinks gives it a wider import than that. Her answer: It’s the reintroduction of a serious, one-of-a-kind artist who spent so many productive years off the grid. “She hasn’t really been discovered. The museum showcases an artist whose body of work is unbelievably creative, distinct, and imaginative. It’s not derived from anyone else’s work. And this will be discovered.” In addition to serving as the legacy of one creative life, her art — with its full embrace of nature, its fluid adaptability, its multichannel curiosity, its restless creativity, its insistence on doing everything her way — furthermore proposes an enviable way of being in the world, whether you’re artist or not. That, for what it’s worth, is my takeaway. Our tour ends with a peek into Abbey’s studio, maintained largely as she left it; I don’t know if its sense of bustling Abbeyian productivity is something they’ve actually managed to preserve, or if that’s just the impression I lug in from the galleries. But it’s not a stretch to imagine her strolling in, removing her signature sunglasses, and picking up a paintbrush — or a clay-sculpting wire, or a hammer, or a carving knife, or a welding torch — and getting to work on something new. ✦

RITA DEANIN ABBEY MUSEUM

5850 N. Park St. ritadeaninabbeymuseum.org To arrange a visit: 702-658-5097 or 702-600-0838

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How the Top Doctors Were Chosen

astle Connolly Top Doctors is a healthcare research company and the official source for Top Doctors for over 25 years. Castle Connolly’s established nomination survey, research, screening and selection process involves many hundreds of thousands of physicians as well as academic medical centers, specialty hospitals and regional and community hospitals all across the nation. The online nominations process — located at nominations. castleconnolly.com ‚— is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country. Once nominated, Castle Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers follow a rigorous screening process to select Top Doctors who meet the Castle Connolly standards. The research team also identifies Castle Connolly Rising Stars, who are peer-nominated doctors who meet most of our Top Doctor criteria, but are earlier in their career. Careful screening of doctors’ educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result - we identify the top doctors in America and provide you, the consumer, with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in our online directories and national and regional magazine “Top Doctors” features. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors or Rising Stars. Physicians selected for inclusion in this magazine’s “Top Doctors” feature also appear online at castleconnolly.com, or in conjunction with other Castle Connolly Top Doctors databases online on other sites and/or in print. Castle Connolly was acquired by Everyday Health Group (EHG), one of the world’s most prominent digital healthcare companies, in late 2018. EHG, a recognized leader in patient and provider education and services, attracts an engaged audience of over 60 million health consumers and over 890,000 U.S. practicing physicians and clinicians. EHG’s mission is to drive better clinical and health outcomes through decision-making informed by highly relevant information, data, and analytics. EHG empowers healthcare providers, consumers and payers with trusted content and services delivered through Everyday Health Group’s world-class brands including Everyday Health®, What to Expect®, MedPage Today®, Health eCareers®, PRIME® Education and our exclusive partnership with MayoClinic.org.® Everyday Health Group is a division of Ziff Davis (NASDAQ: ZD), and is headquartered in New York City.

Medical specialties are listed alphabetically. Doctors are listed alphabetically beneath those specialty areas, with subspecialties below that. Note that some physicians may require referrals.

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TOP DOCTORS 2022 The 330 best physicians in Southern Nevada, as chosen by their peers Allergy & Immunology Victor A. Estrada, MD Southern Nevada Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 2821 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 735-1556 Allergy-Adult & Pediatric, Food Allergy, Nasal Allergy, Skin Allergies Joel Katz, MD Allergy & Asthma Center 2625 Box Canyon Drive (702) 360-6100 Food Allergy, Immunotherapy, Insect Allergy, Asthma A. Sean McKnight, MD Allergy Partners of Nevada 2485 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 212-5889 Allergy, Asthma, Immune Deficiency Bob K. Miyake, MD Allergy Partners of Nevada 2485 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 212-5889 Asthma David H. Tottori, MD Tottori Allergy & Asthma Associates 4000 East Charleston Boulevard, Suite 100 (702) 240-4233 Asthma & Allergy, Food Allergy, Eczema Sandy Yip, MD Southern Nevada Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 2821 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 735-1556 Allergy-Adult & Pediatric, Food Allergy, Nasal Allergy, Skin Allergies Cardiac Electrophysiology Robert Lewis Baker, MD Nevada Cardiology

Associates 3201 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 400 (702) 796-7150 Sudden Death Prevention, Radiofrequency Ablation, Atrial Fibrillation Arjun V. Gururaj, MD Nevada Heart & Vascular Center 401 North Buffalo Drive, Suite 100 (702) 227-3422 Arrhythmias, Catheter Ablation, Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation Niuton Koide, MD Las Vegas Heart Associates 2880 North Tenaya Way, Suite 100 (702) 962-2200 Arrhythmias Foad Moazez, MD Nevada Cardiology Associates 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 460 (702) 233-1000 Arrhythmias, Pacemakers/ Defibrillators Cardiovascular Disease Sean S. Ameli, MD Ameli-Dadourian Heart Center 400 South Rampart Boulevard, Suite 240 (702) 906-1100 Cholesterol/ Lipid Disorders, EchocardiographyTransesophageal, Preventive Cardiology, Hypertension Keshav Chander, MD Smart Heart Care 8970 West Tropicana Avenue, Suite 6 (702) 473-5333 Cardiac CT Angiography, Echocardiography Richard Chen, MD Nevada Cardiology Associates 3201 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 400 (702) 796-7150 Coronary Artery Disease, Interventional Cardiology, Angioplasty & Stent Placement, EchocardiographyTransesophageal Berge J. Dadourian, MD Ameli-Dadourian Heart Center 400 South Rampart Boulevard, Suite 240

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(702) 906-1100 Peripheral Vascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology Vanessa Gastwirth, MD Nevada Cardiology Associates 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 460, (702) 233-1000 Samuel E. Green, MD Nevada Cardiology Associates 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 460, (702) 233-1000 Nuclear Cardiology, EchocardiographyTransesophageal Thomas L. Lambert, MD Cardiology Specialists of Nevada 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 135, (702) 598-3999 Interventional Cardiology, Heart Failure Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Debora A. Barney, MD Center for Emotional Health 6284 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 110 (702) 257-0140 Autism Spectrum Disorders, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders Child Neurology Monica M. Chacon, MD Neurology Center of Nevada 2430 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, (702) 247-9994 Neurophysiology, Epilepsy Colon & Rectal Surgery Ovunc Bardakcioglu, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Surgery 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 160 (702) 671-5150 Minimally Invasive Surgery, Colon & Rectal Cancer, Robotic Surgery, Hemorrhoids Calvin D. Lyons, MD Colon and Rectal Clinic of Las Vegas 2121 East Flamingo Road Suite 200 (702) 685-5668 Anorectal Disorders, Colon & Rectal Cancer, Minimally Invasive Surgery Dermatology Miriam Bettencourt, MD Thomas Dermatology 6170 North Durango

Drive, Suite 140 (702) 430-5333 Melanoma, Mohs Surgery Michael G. Bryan, MD Las Vegas Skin & Cancer Clinics 880 Seven Hills Drive, Suite 260, (702) 588-6730 Hair & Nail Disorders, Mohs Surgery, Skin Cancer Victoria G. Farley, MD Vivida Dermatology 2110 East Flamingo Road, Suite 213, (702) 255-6647 Cosmetic Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery, Acne & Rosacea, Psoriasis Douglas Fife, MD Vivida Dermatology 6460 Medical Center Street, Suite 350 (702) 255-6647 Mohs Surgery Lionel J. Handler, MD Strimling Dermatology, Laser & Vein Institute 10105 Banburry Cross Drive, Suite 350 (702) 243-6400 Pediatric Dermatology, Laser Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery Mac L. Machan, MD Vivida Dermatology 6460 Medical Center Street, Suite 200 & 350 (702) 255-6647 Mohs Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, Skin Cancer Surgery Robert B. Strimling, MD Strimling Dermatology, Laser & Vein Institute 10105 Banburry Cross Drive, Suite 350 (702) 243-6400 Mohs Surgery, Laser Surgery, Cosmetic Dermatology, Varicose Veins Candace Thornton Spann, MD Couture Dermatology & Plastic Surgery 9950 West Flamingo Road (702) 998-9001 Hair Loss in Women, Acne, Facial Rejuvenation, Botox DevelopmentalBehavioral Pediatrics Mario J. Gaspar de Alba, MD UNLV Medicine Ackerman Autism Center 630 South Rancho Drive, Suite A, (702) 998-9505 Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADD/ADHD

Diagnostic Radiology Rajneesh Agrawal, MD Desert Radiology 2020 Palomino Lane, Suite 100 (702) 759-8600 Neuroradiology, Interventional Radiology Ashok Gupta, MD Desert Radiology 2020 Palomino Lane, Suite 100 (702) 759-8600 Abdominal Imaging Dianne Mazzu, MD Desert Radiology 2020 Palomino Lane, Suite 100 (702) 759-8600 Body Imaging, Mammography, Ultrasound, CT Scan Alan Weissman, MD Desert Radiology 2020 Palomino Lane, Suite 100 (702) 759-8600 Cancer Imaging, Musculoskeletal Imaging, Nuclear Medicine Lisa K. Wong, MD Desert Radiology 2020 Palomino Lane, Suite 100 (702) 759-8600 Pediatric Radiology Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Brian A. Berelowitz, MD 653 North Town Center Drive (702) 804-9486 Diabetes Amber Champion, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Endocrinology 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 290 (702) 671-6469 Diabetes, Thyroid Disorders Kenneth Izuora, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Endocrinology 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 290 (702) 660-8658 Diabetes W. Reid Litchfield, MD Desert Endocrinology 2415 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 434-8400 Diabetes, Thyroid Disorders Quang T. Nguyen, DO Las Vegas Endocrinology

Gastroenterology

229 North Pecos Road, Suite 100 (702) 605-5750 Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome, Nutrition & Obesity

Tarek Ammar, MD Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada 9260 West Sunset Road, Suite 306 (702) 483-4483 Endoscopic Ultrasound, Pancreatic & Biliary Disease, Colon & Rectal Cancer, Digestive Disorders

Omid O. Rad Pour, MD Palm Medical Group 9280 West Sunset Road Suite 306 (702) 696-7256 Diabetes, Metabolic Disorders, Thyroid Disorders

Gary Chen, MD Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada 9260 West Sunset Road, Suite 306 (702) 483-4483 Digestive Disorders, Barrett’s Esophagus, Celiac Disease, Colonoscopy

Family Medicine Kimberly Adams, MD Total Wellness Family Medicine 5225 South Durango Drive (702) 253-9355 HIV/AIDS, Adolescent Medicine, Sports Medicine, Chronic Illness

Vishal Gandotra, MD Vegas Gastroenterology 5701 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 201 (702) 750-0313 Colonoscopy, Endoscopy

Herve Bezard, MD Family Doctors of Boulder City 895 Adams Boulevard (702) 293-0406

Nikhil Karanth, MD Digestive Associates 870 Seven Hills Drive, Suite 201 (702) 633-0207 Liver Disease, Endoscopy

Nancy C. Chu, MD Siena Hills Primary Care 2789 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 614-0850 Telemedicine

Andrew I. Kim, MD Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada 9260 West Sunset Road, Suite 306 (702) 483-4483 Colonoscopy & Polypectomy, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Barrett’s Esophagus, Swallowing Disorders

Michael Gunter, MD Canyon Trails Family Practice 7455 West Washington Avenue, Suite 445 (702) 804-5138 Primary Care Sports Medicine Jenny C. Ha, MD Siena Hills Primary Care 2789 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 614-0850 Telemedicine Sungwook S. Kim, MD Brighton Family Medicine 1720 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 140 (702) 566-5445

Gregory M. Kwok, MD Gastroenterology Associates 6950 South Cimarron Road, Suite 200 (702) 796-0231 Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Shari Klein, DO 8571 West Lake Mead Boulevard, Suite 100 (702) 545-0283 Concierge Medicine

Wai Li Ma, MD GI Excellence 9260 West Sunset Road, Suite 203 (702) 476-2822

Darren Rahaman, MD Nevada Health Centers 1799 Mount Mariah Drive (702) 383-1961

Frank J. Nemec, MD Gastroenterology Associates 6950 South Cimarron Road, Suite 200 (702) 796-0231 Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders, Digestive Disorders

Lara Wenner, MD Intermountain Healthcare 1302 West Craig Road, Suite A (702) 473-8380 A U G U S T/S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

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David Quan Shih, MD Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada 9260 West Sunset Road, Suite 306 (702) 483-4483 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Barrett’s Esophagus, Peptic Ulcer Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Infectious Disease Fadi El-Salibi, MD 825 North Gibson Road, Suite 311, (702) 776-8300 HIV/AIDS Brian J. Lipman, MD 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 307 (702) 909-7170 HIV/AIDS, Pneumonia

Christian Diaz Stone, MD Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada 9260 West Sunset Road, Suite 306 (702) 483-4483 Inflammatory Bowel Disease/Crohn’s, Colitis, Digestive Disorders, Colon & Rectal Cancer

Ronald A. Shockley, MD Infectious Disease Partners 3483 South Eastern Avenue, Floor 2 (702) 309-2311 HIV/AIDS Chukwudum Uche, MD Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine Clinic 6088 South Durango Drive, Suite 100 (702) 380-4242 HIV, Hepatitis, Travel Medicine

Nicholas A. Tibaldi, MD Southwest Medical Associates 4750 West Oakey Boulevard, (702) 877-5199 Hemorrhoids, Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis Geriatric Medicine Esteban Hennings, MD Humanitas Primary Care 3201 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 512 (702) 685-7700 Hand Surgery Andrew J. Bronstein, MD Bronstein Hand Center 10135 West Twain Avenue, Suite 100, (702) 458-4263 Wrist Reconstruction, Elbow Surgery, Pediatric Hand Surgery, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Olivia J. Wang, MD Bronstein Hand Center 10135 West Twain Avenue, Suite 100, (702) 458-4263 Hand & Wrist Surgery, Sports Injuries, Upper Extremity Surgery

Russell Gollard, MD OptumCare Network of Nevada Cancer Care 3175 Saint Rose Parkway, Suite 200, (702) 724-8787

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Internal Medicine

Interventional Cardiology

Valeria Asimenios, MD Southwest Medical Associates 4835 South Durango Drive, (702) 877-5199

John B. Bedotto, MD Intermountain Healthcare 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 320, (702) 534-5464

Navid Kazemi, MD Nevada Cardiology Associates 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 460, (702) 233-1000 Arrhythmias, Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Failure James A. Lally, MD Heart Center of Nevada 700 Shadow Lane, Suite 240, (702) 384-0022 Arrhythmias

Mohammed Najmi, MD 9120 West Post Road, Suite 104, (702) 463-3333 Chronic Illness, Eating Disorders, Nutrition

Sanjay Malhotra, MD Nevada Heart & Vascular Center 4275 Burnham Avenue, Suite 100, (702) 227-3422

Russell N. Neibaur, MD Concierge Care Physicians 2450 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 150 (702) 990-0622

Cres P. Miranda Jr, MD Nevada Heart & Vascular Center 401 North Buffalo Drive, Suite 100, (702) 227-3422 Coronary Angioplasty/ Stents, Preventive Cardiology

Aditi Singh, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Internal Medicine 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230 (702) 671-5060

Hematology

Raji Venkat, MD Dignity Health Medical Group 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 101 (702) 616-5801

Kathleen Wairimu, MD Infection Doctors 2810 West Charleston Boulevard Suite 48, (702) 343-7610

Rama Harouni, MD Harouni Concierge Care 8960 West Tropicana Avenue, Suite 100 (702) 385-9505 Preventive Medicine, Concierge Medicine

James Vahey, MD Hand Center of Nevada 8585 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 100 (702) 798-8585 Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery

John A. Varras, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Internal Medicine 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230 (702) 671-5060 Weight Management, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Preventive Medicine

Sandhya Wahi Gururaj, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Internal Medicine 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230 (702) 671-5060 Preventive Medicine, Hypertension

Lawrence S. Copeland, MD 653 Town Center Drive, Suite 101, (702) 485-2791 Concierge Medicine

David Fadell, DO Hand Surgery Specialists of Nevada 9321 West Sunset Road (702) 645-7800 Trauma, Arthritis, Elbow Surgery, Shoulder Surgery

Candice H. Tung, MD Jerry Schwartz & Associates 7395 South Pecos Road, Suite 102, (702) 737-8657 Concierge Medicine, Diabetes

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Janmejay J. Patel, MD Intermountain Healthcare 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 320, (702) 534-5464

Maternal & Fetal Medicine Lauren E. Giacobbe, MD High Risk Pregnancy Center 2011 Pinto Lane, Suite 200 (702) 382-3200 High-Risk Pregnancy, Ultrasound Wilson H. Huang, MD High Risk Pregnancy Center 2845 Siena Heights Drive, Suite 350, (702) 382-3200 Prematurity/Low Birth Weight Infants, Ultrasound Brian K. Iriye, MD High Risk Pregnancy Center 2011 Pinto Lane, Suite 200 (702) 382-3200 Prenatal Diagnosis, Ultrasound, Diabetes in Pregnancy, Multiple Gestation David N. Jackson, MD High Risk Pregnancy Center 2011 Pinto Lane, Suite 200 (702) 382-3200 High-Risk Pregnancy Manijeh Kamyar, MD High Risk Pregnancy Center 2011 Pinto Lane, Suite 200 (702) 382-3200 High-Risk Pregnancy Stephen M. Wold, MD High Risk Pregnancy Center 2011 Pinto Lane, Suite 200 (702) 382-3200 High-Risk Pregnancy Medical Oncology Fadi S. Braiteh, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 3730 South Eastern Avenue, (702) 952-3400 Gastrointestinal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colon & Rectal Cancer Stephani Christensen, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 1505 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 130, (702) 856-1400 Breast Cancer Khoi M. Dao, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 108 (702) 952-3444 Hematologic Malignancies, Colon Cancer, Lung Cancer Muhammad S. Ghani, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 2460 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, (702) 822-2000

Breast Cancer, Bone Marrow Transplant, Colon Cancer, Lung Cancer Oscar B. Goodman Jr, MD/PhD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 100, (702) 952-1251 Genitourinary Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Bladder Cancer Liawaty Ho, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 3730 South Eastern Avenue, (702) 952-3400 Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lymphoma Regan Holdridge, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 1505 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 130, (702) 856-1400 Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Colon Cancer Karen S. Jacks, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 100, (702) 952-1251 Breast Cancer, Gynecologic Cancers, Hematology Clark S. Jean, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 7445 Peak Drive (702) 952-2140 Hematologic Malignancies, Leukemia & Lymphoma H. Keshava-Prasad, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 3730 South Eastern Avenue, (702) 952-3400 Leukemia & Lymphoma, Lung Cancer, Palliative Care Edwin Kingsley, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 3730 South Eastern Avenue, (702) 952-3400 Hematologic Malignancies Anthony V. Nguyen, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 1505 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 130, (702) 856-1400 Gastrointestinal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Anemias & Red Blood Cell Disorders Rupesh J. Parikh, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 108 (702) 952-3444 Hematology

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Ramalingam Ratnasabapathy, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 2460 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, (702) 822-2000 Wolfram E. Samlowski, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 100, (702) 952-1251 Melanoma, Sarcoma, Kidney Cancer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma Hamidreza Sanatinia, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 100, (702) 952-1251 Hematology James D. Sanchez, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 7445 Peak Drive (702) 952-2140 Leukemia & Lymphoma, Lung Cancer Anuradha Thummala, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 7445 Peak Drive (702) 952-2140 Restituto Tibayan, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 2460 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, (702) 822-2000 Nicholas J. Vogelzang, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 3730 South Eastern Avenue, (702) 952-3400 Prostate Cancer, Mesothelioma, Kidney Cancer, Genitourinary Cancer Ann M. Wierman, MD 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 200, (702) 7493700 Breast Cancer, Lymphoma, Lung Cancer Steven W. Yates, MD Intermountain Healthcare Oncology Hematology 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 140, (702) 735-7154 Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Elmer S. David, MD A Las Vegas Medical Group 4043 East Sunset Road (702) 733-0744 Neonatal Nutrition

Nephrology Adin Boldur, MD Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada 500 South Rancho Drive, Suite 12, (702) 877-1887 Hypertension, Kidney Failure Jay K. Chu, MD Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada 500 South Rancho Drive, Suite 12, (702) 877-1887 Radhika R. Janga, MD Nevada Kidney Disease & Hypertension Centers 5815 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 110 (702) 732-1586 Samuel A. Kantor, MD Nevada Kidney Disease & Hypertension Centers 1581 Mount Mariah Drive, Suite 150, (702) 851-7766 Kidney Disease Bindu Khanna, MD Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada 500 South Rancho Drive, Suite 12, (702) 877-1887 Fluid/Electrolyte Balance, Glomerulonephritis

Vincent Yang, MD Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada 7316 West Cheyenne Avenue, (702) 877-1887 Diabetes, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease, Kidney Stones

Zoltan Mari, MD Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health 888 West Bonneville Avenue (702) 483-6000 Movement Disorders, Parkinson’s Disease

Suite 420, (702) 255-2022 Pregnancy

Neurological Surgery

Christopher Milford, MD Valley Oaks Medical Group Specialty Care Clinic 701 Shadow Lane, Suite 170 (702) 387-1757 Clinical Neurophysiology, Electromyography (EMG)

Donna M. Miller, MD For Women OB/GYN 861 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 131 (725) 777-0414 High-Risk Pregnancy, Pap Smear Abnormalities, Menopause Problems

Derek A. Duke, MD The Spine & Brain Institute 861 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 200 (702) 896-0940 Brain & Spinal Surgery, Spinal Surgery Jason E. Garber, MD Las Vegas Neurosurgical Institute 3012 South Durango Drive (702) 835-0088 Spinal Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery, Spinal Surgery-Complex, Peripheral Nerve Surgery Michael E. Seiff, MD The Spine & Brain Institute 8530 West Sunset Road, Suite 250, (702) 851-0792 Brain & Spinal Surgery, Chiari Malformations, Minimally Invasive Surgery Neurology

Lawrence M. Lehrner, MD Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada 500 South Rancho Drive, Suite 12, (702) 877-1887 Chronic Kidney Disease

Samir Bangalore, MD Nevada Neurosciences Institute 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 101, (702) 961-7310 Epilepsy

Deepak Nandikanti, MD Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada 500 South Rancho Drive, Suite 12 (702) 877-1887

Shanker N Dixit, MD Neurology Center of Las Vegas 2480 Professional Court (702) 381-6065 Clinical Neurophysiology, Stroke, Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders, Headache

Chidi C. Okafor, MD Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada 500 South Rancho Drive, Suite 12, (702) 877-1887 Hypertension, Dialysis Care, Dialysis-Peritoneal Syed I. Shah, MD Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada 500 South Rancho Drive, Suite 12, (702) 877-1887 Transplant MedicineKidney Marwan Takieddine, MD Nevada Kidney Disease & Hypertension Centers 2450 Fire Mesa Street, Suite 110, (702) 853-0090 Hypertension, Cholesterol/Lipid Disorders

Lydia B. Estanislao, MD 4206 West Charleston Boulevard (702) 331-6709 Eric Farbman, MD Roseman Medical Group 5380 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 120 (702) 463-4040 Parkinson’s Disease/ Movement Disorders, Huntington’s Disease, Deep Brain Stimulation, Alzheimer’s Disease Le Hua, MD Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health 888 West Bonneville Avenue, (702) 483-6000 Multiple Sclerosis, NeuroImmunology

Staci L. McHale, MD New Beginnings OB-GYN 8850 West Sunset Road, Suite 110, (702) 740-0500 High-Risk Pregnancy

Abraham J. Nagy, MD Nevada Headache Institute 400 South Rampart Boulevard, Suite 295 (702) 432-3224 Headache

Edmond E. Pack, MD Women’s Health Associates of Southern Nevada 2580 Saint Rose Parkway, Suite 140, (702) 862-8862 Minimally Invasive Surgery, Endometriosis, Gynecologic Surgery, Robotic Surgery

Dylan P. Wint, MD Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health 888 West Bonneville Avenue, (702) 483-6000 Neurodegenerative Disorders, NeuroPsychiatry, Cognitive Impairment-Mild, Behavioral Neurology

Tammy Reynolds, MD Women’s Health Associates of Southern Nevada 2880 North Tenaya Way, Suite 420, (702) 255-2022 Jacob Skinner, MD Complete Care ObGYN 1528 West Warm Springs Road, Suite 100 (702) 213-5601 Obstetrics Only

Nuclear Medicine Bharat Reddy Mocherla, MD Las Vegas Medical Research 8530 West Sunset Road, Suite 300, (702) 750-0222 PET Imaging, CT Scan

Ophthalmology Brian Alder, MD Shepherd Eye Center 6850 North Durango Drive, Suite 404 (702) 731-2088 Corneal Disease

Obstetrics & Gynecology Amit Garg, MD Women’s Health Associates of Southern Nevada 2580 Saint Rose Parkway, Suite 140, (702) 862-8862 Menstrual Disorders, Pregnancy, Women’s Health

Charles M. Calvo, MD Retina Consultants of Nevada 3006 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 710 (702) 369-0200 Retinal Disorders

Nadia A. Gomez, MD UNLV Medicine Women’s Healthcare, OB/GYN 3196 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 303 - Floor 3 (702) 660-8658 Minimally Invasive Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Tubal Ligation Reversal, Pain-Pelvic

Joyce H. Cassen, MD/PhD Shepherd Eye Center 6850 North Durango Drive, Suite 404 (702) 731-2088 Carolyn Ann Cruvant, MD Shepherd Eye Center 6850 North Durango Drive, Suite 404 (702) 731-2088

Kevin Hsiung, MD Complete Care ObGYN 1528 West Warm Springs Road, Suite 100 (702) 213-5601 Menstrual Disorders, Pregnancy, Women’s Health

Mark W. Doubrava, MD Eye Care for Nevada The Lakes Business Park 9011 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 101, (702) 794-2020 LASIK-Refractive Surgery, Cataract Surgery, Corneal Disease & Surgery, Cornea Transplant

John V. Martin, MD Women’s Health Associates of Southern Nevada 2880 North Tenaya Way, A U G U S T/S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

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Eissa Hanna, MD Wellish Vision Institute 2555 Box Canyon Drive (702) 733-2020 Cataract-Complex, Intraocular Lens, Multifocal IOL

Tushina A. Reddy, MD Shepherd Eye Center 6850 North Durango Drive, Suite 404 (702) 731-2088 Ravindranath Reddy, MD Shepherd Eye Center 6850 North Durango Drive, Suite 404 (702) 731-2088 Eyelid Surgery/ Blepharoplasty

Jeffrey Hart, MD Center For Sight 5871 West Craig Road (702) 724-2020 Rodney Hollifield, MD Retina Consultants of Nevada 653 North Town Center Drive, Suite 518 (702) 369-0200 Retina/Vitreous Surgery

Adam J. Rovit, MD Shepherd Eye Center 6850 North Durango Drive, Suite 404 (702) 731-2088 Emily Schorr, MD New Eyes 2020 Wellness Way, Suite 402, (702) 485-5000 Cornea Transplant

Judy C. Liu, MD Retina Consultants of Nevada 3006 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 710 (702) 369-0200 Retinal Disorders, Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Eye Disease/Retinopathy, Retinal Vascular Diseases

Grace S. Shin, MD Ideal EyeCare 6028 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 101 (702) 896-2020 Pediatric Ophthalmology, Cataract Surgery, Glaucoma, Macular Disease/Degeneration

William N. May, MD Wellish Vision Institute 10424 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 100 (702) 733-2020 Cataract Surgery, Dry Eye Syndrome, LASIKRefractive Surgery, Cornea & External Eye Disease

Surjeet Singh, MD Nevada Eye Physicians 1505 Wigwam Parkway (702) 896-6043 Cataract Surgery, LASIKRefractive Surgery, PRKRefractive Surgery

Steven N. Montgomery, MD Shepherd Eye Center 3575 Pecos-McLeod Interconnect (702) 731-2088

Matthew Swanic, MD Las Vegas Eye Institute 9555 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 260 (702) 816-2525 Cataract Surgery, Corneal Disease, Glaucoma, LASIK-Refractive Surgery

Timothy Perozek, MD See Right Now 653 North Town Center Drive, Suite 212 (702) 982-1360 Glaucoma, Diabetic Eye Disease/Retinopathy, Intraocular Lens Replacement

Robert B. Taylor III, MD Shepherd Eye Center 6850 North Durango Drive, Suite 404 (702) 731-2088

Matthew Pezda, MD Retina Consultants of Nevada 3006 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 710 (702) 369-0200 Diabetic Eye Disease/ Retinopathy, Macular Disease/Degeneration, Retinal Disorders, Retinal Vascular Diseases

Raymond Theodosis, MD Shepherd Eye Center 6850 North Durango Drive, Suite 404 (702) 731-2088 Kent L. Wellish, MD Wellish Vision Institute 2110 East Flamingo Road, Suite 211 (702) 733-2020 Corneal Disease & Surgery, LASIK-Refractive Surgery, Cataract Surgery, Dry Eye Syndrome

Helga F. Pizio, MD New Eyes 2020 Wellness Way, Suite 402, (702) 485-5000 Cataract Surgery

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Jason Craig Wickens, MD Retina Consultants

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of Nevada 653 North Town Center Drive, Suite 518 (702) 369-0200 Retina/Vitreous Surgery, Macular Degeneration, Trauma C. Edward Yee, MD Las Vegas Ophthalmology 2980 South Jones Boulevard, Suite A (702) 362-3937 Corneal Disease & Surgery, LASIK-Refractive Surgery, Cornea Transplant Meher Yepremyan, MD Retina Consultants of Nevada 653 North Town Center Drive, Suite 518 (702) 369-0200 Retinal Disorders, Retina/ Vitreous Surgery Orthopaedic Surgery Hugh Bassewitz, MD Desert Orthopaedic Center 2800 East Desert Inn Road, Suite 100 (702) 731-4088 Spinal Surgery, Spinal Disc Replacement, Scoliosis Gregory T. Bigler, MD Knee & Shoulder Institute 9499 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 200 (702) 933-9393 Shoulder & Knee Surgery, Arthroscopic Surgery, Arthritis, Sports Medicine Andrew Cash, MD Desert Institute of Spine Care 9339 West Sunset Road, Suite 100, (702) 630-3472 Spinal Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery Robert Jeffrey Grondel, MD Orthopaedic Institute of Henderson 10561 Jeffreys Street, Suite 230, (702) 565-6565 Arthroscopic SurgeryShoulder, Sports Medicine, Cartilage Damage & Transplant, Shoulder Surgery Steven R. Hoer, MD Orthopaedic Institute of Henderson 10561 Jeffreys Street, Suite 230, (702) 565-6565 Joint Replacement, Shoulder Surgery, Knee Surgery, Hip Surgery Erik N. Kubiak, MD OptumCare Network of Nevada Orthopaedics and Spine

4750 West Oakey Boulevard, Suite 1A (702) 724-8877 Reconstructive Surgery Michael Miao, MD Desert Orthopaedic Center 2800 East Desert Inn Road, Suite 100 (702) 731-4088 Arthroscopic SurgeryShoulder, Arthroscopic Surgery-Knee, Sports Medicine, Reconstructive Surgery Karen S. Myung, MD Children’s Bone & Spine Surgery 1525 East Windmill Lane, Suite 201, (702) 434-6920 Scoliosis, Hip DisordersPediatric, Spinal Disorders, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Jason H. Nielson, MD Children’s Bone & Spine Surgery 1525 East Windmill Lane, Suite 201, (702) 434-6920 Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Pediatric Sports Medicine, Dance Medicine, Arthroscopic Surgery-Hip Bernard C. Ong, MD 8551 West Lake Mead Boulevard, Suite 251 (702) 796-7979 Joint Replacement, Sports Medicine, Fractures, Knee Reconstruction Deirdre D. Ryan, MD Children’s Bone & Spine Surgery 1525 East Windmill Lane, Suite 201, (702) 998-5200 Neuromuscular Disorders, Trauma, Foot Deformities Roman Sibel, MD Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Institute 3175 Saint Rose Parkway, Suite 320, (702) 997-9833 Foot & Ankle Deformities, Charcot Foot, Clubfoot, Diabetic Leg/Foot David G. Stewart Jr, MD Children’s Bone & Spine Surgery 1525 East Windmill Lane, Suite 201, (702) 434-6920 Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Scoliosis, Fractures-Complex & Non Union Michael D. Thomas, MD Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center 7455 West Washington Avenue, Suite 160 (702) 258-3773

Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Scoliosis, Spinal Deformity Troy S. Watson, MD Desert Orthopaedic Center 2800 East Desert Inn Road, Suite 100 (702) 731-4088 Foot & Ankle Surgery Richard S. Woodworth, MD Desert Orthopaedic Center 2800 East Desert Inn Road, Suite 100 (702) 731-4088 Hip & Knee Surgery, Joint Replacement, Shoulder Surgery, Sports Injuries Joseph Yu, MD Total Sports Medicine & Orthopedics 10105 Banburry Cross Drive, Suite 445 (702) 475-4390 Sports Medicine, Joint Replacement, Shoulder & Knee Surgery, Cartilage Damage Otolaryngology Jo-Lawrence Bigcas, MD UNLV Medicine Ear Nose & Throat Clinic 5320 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 250 (702) 671-6480 Head & Neck Cancer & Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Thyroid Cancer & Surgery Christine Mirabal, MD Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants of Nevada 3195 Saint Rose Parkway, Suite 210, (702) 792-6700 Ear Disorders, Nasal & Sinus Disorders, Throat Disorders Matthew Ng, MD UNLV Medicine Ear Nose & Throat Clinic 5320 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 250 (702) 992-6828 Neurotology, Skull Base Surgery, Otology, Acoustic Neuroma/Schwannoma Sean David Palacios, MD Nevada Ear & Sinus Institute 3692 East Sunset Road (702) 735-7668 Neurotology, Hearing & Balance Disorders, Skull Base Tumors, Sinus Disorders/Surgery Walter W. Schroeder, MD Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants of Nevada 3195 Saint Rose Parkway, Suite 210, (702) 792-6700

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Head & Neck Surgery, Nasal Surgery, Throat Disorders Robert C. Wang, MD UNLV Medicine Ear Nose & Throat Clinic 5320 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 250 (702) 671-6480 Head & Neck Surgery Randall T. Weingarten, MD Southern Nevada ENT 10410 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 110 (702) 617-9599 Head & Neck Surgery, Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery, Sinus Disorders/ Surgery Larry Yu, MD Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants of Nevada 3195 Saint Rose Parkway, Suite 210, (702) 792-6700 Nasal & Sinus Disorders Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery Sina Nasri-Chenijani, MD Lubritz & Nasri Physicians 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 340, (702) 732-4491 Head & Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Voice Disorders, Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery Robert J. Troell, MD Beauty By Design 53754 Apache Road, Suite 101, (702) 242-6488 Facial Plastic Surgery, Eyelid Surgery/ Blepharoplasty, Rhinoplasty, Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Pain Medicine Daniel L. Burkhead, MD Innovative Pain Care Center 9920 West Cheyenne Avenue, Suite 110 (702) 684-7246 Pain-Chronic, PainInterventional Techniques, Sciatica Ho Viet Dzung, MD Innovative Pain Care Center 9920 West Cheyenne Avenue, Suite 110 (702) 684-7246 Pain-Back & Neck Anthony Ruggeroli, MD Ruggeroli & Helmi Pain Specialists 6070 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 100

(702) 307-7700 Pain-Musculoskeletal, Pain-Interventional Techniques Katherine D. Travnicek, MD Pain Institute of Nevada 7435 West Azure Drive, Suite 190, (702) 878-8252 Pain Management Pediatric Cardiology Ruben J. Acherman, MD Children’s Heart Center Nevada 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 230, (702) 732-1290 Neonatal Cardiology, Arrhythmias, Fetal Echocardiography William J. Castillo, MD Children’s Heart Center Nevada 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 230, (702) 732-1290 Fetal Cardiology, Echocardiography William N. Evans, MD Children’s Heart Center Nevada 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 230, (702) 732-1290 Alvaro Galindo, MD Children’s Heart Center Nevada 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 230, (702) 732-1290 Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Catheterization Gary A. Mayman, MD Children’s Heart Center Nevada 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 230, (702) 732-1290 Fetal Echocardiography Abraham Rothman, MD Children’s Heart Center Nevada 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 230, (702) 732-1290 Interventional Cardiology Pediatric Gastroenterology Howard I. Baron, MD Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition Associate 3196 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 309 (702) 791-0477 Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders Elizabeth Mileti, DO Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition Associates 3196 South Maryland

Parkway, Suite 309 (702) 791-0477 Rebecca L. Scherr, MD UNLV Medicine Pediatric Clinic 1524 Pinto Lane, Floor 3 (702) 660-8658 Nutrition Pediatric HematologyOncology Alan Ikeda, MD Cure 4 The Kids Foundation 1 Breakthrough Way (702) 732-1493 Bone Marrow Transplant, Sickle Cell Disease, Gene Therapy, Stem Cell Transplant Pediatric Infectious Disease David Di John, MD UNLV Medicine Pediatric Clinic 1524 Pinto Lane, Floor 3 (702) 944-2828 Vaccines, Travel Medicine Pediatric Nephrology Michael O. Aigbe, MD Children’s Nephrology Clinic 7271 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 110, (702) 639-1700 Kidney Disease, Kidney Failure, Hypertension Pediatric Pulmonology Craig T. Nakamura, MD Children’s Lung Specialists 3196 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 400 (702) 598-4411 Asthma, Lung Disease, Sleep Disorders/Apnea, Cystic Fibrosis David P. Parks, MD UNLV Medicine Pediatric Clinic 1524 Pinto Lane, Floor 3 (702) 660-8658 Lung Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Pneumonia Pediatric Surgery Nicholas F. Fiore Jr, MD Pediatric Surgery Associates 653 North Town Center Drive, Suite 412 (702) 233-8101 Michael Scheidler, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Pediatric Surgery 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 110 (702) 650-2500 Trauma

Margaret Hwang, MD Southwest Medical Associates 2704 North Tenaya Way, Suite 1500, (702) 877-5199

Pediatric Urology Jessica T. Casey, MD Children’s Urology Associates of Las Vegas 6670 South Tenaya Way, Suite 180, (702) 369-4999 Reconstructive Surgery, Hypospadias, Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR), Robotic Surgery

Henry Ky, MD Desert Valley Pediatrics 10105 Banburry Cross, Suite 370, (702) 260-4525 Kim M. LaMotte-Malone, MD Anthem Hills Pediatrics 871 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 141 (702) 566-2400

Clare Close, MD Close Pediatric Urology 2653 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 220-4006 Congenital AnomaliesGenitourinary, Fetal Urology, Hypospadias, Undescended Testis

Kami Larsen, MD Nevada Health Centers 98 East Lake Mead Parkway, Suite 103 (702) 868-0327

Andrew H. Hwang, MD Las Vegas Pediatric Urology 653 North Town Center Drive, Suite 407 (702) 728-5686 Transplant-Kidney

Beverly A. Neyland, MD UNLV Medicine Pediatric Clinic 1524 Pinto Lane, Floor 3 (702) 944-2828 Ryan M. Nishihara, MD Meadows Pediatrics 9030 West Cheyenne Avenue, Suite 120 (702) 436-7337 Adolescent Medicine

James C. Plaire, MD Children’s Urology Associates of Las Vegas 6670 South Tenaya Way, Suite 180, (702) 369-4999 Undescended Testis, Incontinence, Congenital Anomalies-Genitourinary

Fatehali G. Peera, MD UNLV Medicine Pediatric Clinic 1524 Pinto Lane, Floor 3 (702) 944-2828

Pediatrics James A. Bakerink, MD Wee Care Pediatrics 4785 South Durango Drive, Suite 101 (702) 889-8444 Newborn Care, Preventive Medicine, Adolescent Medicine, ADD/ADHD

Wesley Robertson, MD Sunshine Valley Pediatrics 7455 West Washington Avenue, Suite 300 (702) 363-3000 Dodds P. Simangan Jr, DO UNLV Medicine Pediatric Clinic 1524 Pinto Lane, Floor 3 (702) 944-2828

Douglas H. Barlow, MD Anthem Hills Pediatrics 871 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 141 (702) 566-2400

Huynh-Truong P Vu, MD Anthem Pediatrics 2510 West Horizon Ridge Suite 130, (702) 263-7800 Preventive Medicine

Blair Duddy, MD Southwest Medical Associates 2704 North Tenaya Way, Suite 1500, (702) 877-5199 Diabetes, Nutrition

Laura H. Weidenfeld, MD Sunshine Valley Pediatrics 9091 West Post Road (702) 363-3000

Diane S. Goebel, MD St. Rose Pediatrics 8980 West Cheyenne Avenue, (702) 564-8556

Rabbi Zia, MD Desert Valley Pediatrics 10105 Banburry Cross, Suite 370, (702) 260-4525

Pamela Greenspon, MD Desert Valley Pediatrics 10105 Banburry Cross, Suite 406, (702) 260-4525 Nutrition, Newborn Care

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Bevins K. Chue, MD Rehabilitation Specialists of Henderson 1669 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100

Heath H. Hodapp, MD St. Rose Pediatrics 2350 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, (702) 564-8556 A U G U S T/S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

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Suite 130, (702) 822-2100 Microsurgery

(702) 386-1041 Hospital Medicine, Arthritis, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Neuromuscular Disorders

Christopher Khorsandi, MD VIP Plastic Surgery 2779 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 608-1318 Cosmetic Surgery, Breast Augmentation, Hand Surgery

Andrew B. Kim, DO Desert Orthopaedic Center 2800 East Desert Inn Road, Suite 100 (702) 731-4088 Musculoskeletal Injuries, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain Management

John M. Menezes, MD UNLV Medicine Plastic Surgery Clinic 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 190 (702) 671-5110 Craniofacial Surgery, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery

Nianjun Tang, MD Relevium Pain Specialists 6064 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 100 (702) 940-8007 Pain Management

Stephen M. Miller, MD 8435 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 100 (702) 369-1001 Cosmetic Surgery-Face & Breast, Liposuction & Body Contouring, Hair Restoration/Transplant

Plastic Surgery Richard C. Baynosa, MD UNLV Medicine Plastic Surgery Clinic 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 190 (702) 671-5110 Breast Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery

John J. Minoli, MD Minoli Plastic Surgery 5735 South Fort Apache Road, Suite B (702) 463-3369 Facial Plastic Surgery, Rhinoplasty, Eyelid Surgery/Blepharoplasty, Botox

Hayley Brown, MD Desert Hills Plastic Surgery Center 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 406 (702) 260-7707 Arthur M. Cambeiro, MD SurgiSpa 2370 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 130 (702) 566-8300 Facelift, Liposuction & Body Contouring, CoolSculpting, Breast Augmentation

Brandon Reynolds, MD Reynolds Plastic Surgery 5550 Painted Mirage Road, Suite 217 (702) 410-9800 Breast Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Breast Reduction, Cosmetic Surgery-Face & Body, Skin Cancer Reconstruction

Christopher R. Costa, MD Platinum Plastic Surgery 870 Seven Hills Drive, Suite 101, (725) 600-4477 Facelift, Rhinoplasty, Fillers & Injectables, Brow Lift

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD Las Vegas Plastic Surgery 6140 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 100 (702) 450-0777 Botox, Breast Augmentation, Breast Cosmetic Surgery, CoolSculpting

Michael C. Edwards, MD Plastic Surgery Vegas 8530 West Sunset Road, Suite 130, (702) 822-2100 Breast Reconstruction & Augmentation

Lane Smith, MD Smith Plastic Surgery 7650 West Sahara Avenue (702) 838-2455 Breast Augmentation, Facelift, Liposuction & Body Contouring, CoolSculpting

W. Tracy Hankins, MD Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates 60 North Pecos Road (702) 948-7595 Cosmetic Surgery-Face & Breast, Liposuction & Body Contouring

Samuel Sohn, MD Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates 60 North Pecos Road (702) 948-7595

Terrence B. Higgins, MD Plastic Surgery Vegas 8530 West Sunset Road,

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Cosmetic Surgery-Breast, Body Contouring after Weight Loss, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Botox Psychiatry Alison Netski, MD UNLV Medicine Mojave Counseling 6375 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite A-100 (702) 253-0818 Psychosomatic Disorders, Geriatric Psychiatry, ADD/ ADHD, Psychiatry in Physical Illness Aaron Ritter, MD Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health 888 West Bonneville Avenue, (702) 483-6000 Pulmonary Disease Nisarg Changawala, MD Lung Center of Nevada 9280 West Sunset Road Suite 312, (702) 737-5864 Emphysema, Lung Cancer John B. Collier, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 125, (702) 869-0855 Critical Care, Lung Disease, Sleep Disorders/ Apnea Joaquim Tavares, MD United Critical Care 6040 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 100 (702) 476-4900 Asthma, Emphysema, Critical Care, Lung Cancer George S. Tu, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 125, (702) 869-0855 Sleep Disorders/Apnea, Emphysema, Pulmonary Fibrosis John J. Wojcik, MD Lung Center of Nevada 9280 West Sunset Road Suite 312, (702) 737-5864 Lung Cancer, Critical Care Radiation Oncology Michael J. Anderson, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 108 (702) 952-3399 Head & Neck Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Brachytherapy, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT)

Andrew M. Cohen, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 7445 Peak Drive (702) 952-2140 Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) Dan Lee Curtis, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 655 North Town Center Drive, (702) 233-2200 Prostate Cancer, Brachytherapy, Head & Neck Cancer, Skin Cancer Farzaneh Farzin, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 3730 South Eastern Avenue, (702) 952-3366 Breast Cancer, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery Raul T. Meoz, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 100, (702) 952-1251 Brachytherapy, Stereotactic Radiosurgery Susan A. Reisinger, MD GenesisCare 2851 North Tenaya Way (702) 894-5100 Breast Cancer, Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Brain Tumors, Prostate Cancer Matthew W. Schwartz, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 108 (702) 952-3444 Breast Cancer, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer Michael T. Sinopoli, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 7445 Peak Drive (702) 952-2140 Prostate Cancer, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Stereotactic Radiosurgery

624 South Tonopah Drive (702) 463-9100 Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy, Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) Paul Treadwell, MD GenesisCare 2851 North Tenaya Way, Suite 100, (702) 243-3340 Pediatric Cancers, Breast Cancer, Gynecologic Cancers, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility Jeffrey Fisch, MD Green Valley Fertility Partners 2510 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 201, (702) 722-2229 Infertility-IVF, Menstrual Disorders Eva D. Littman, MD Red Rock Fertility Center 9120 West Russell Road, Suite 200 (702) 262-0079 Infertility-IVF, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Egg & Embryo Freezing, LGBT Family Building/Planning Bruce S. Shapiro, MD/PhD Fertility Center of Las Vegas 8851 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 100, (702) 254-1777 Infertility-IVF Rheumatology Neil Braunstein, MD Southwest Medical Associates 4750 West Oakey Boulevard, (702) 251-3670 Autoimmune Disease, Fibromyalgia Michael E. Clifford, MD 7151 Cascade Valley Court, Suite 103, (702) 944-5444 Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus/SLE, Osteoporosis

Ritchie Stevens, MD Radiation Oncology Centers of Nevada 3980 South Eastern Avenue, (702) 463-9100 Brachytherapy, Prostate Cancer, Gynecologic Cancers

Johnson C. Kay, DO UNLV Medicine Department of Internal Medicine 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230 (702) 660-8658 Autoimmune Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus/SLE, Sjogren’s Syndrome

Beau James W. Toy, MD Radiation Oncology Centers of Nevada

Dodji Modjinou, MD Dignity Health Medical Group

D E S E R T C O M P A N I O N .V E G A S

10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 203 (702) 616-5915 Arthritis, Autoimmune Disease

Department of Surgery 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 160 (702) 671-5150 Breast Cancer & Surgery

Ewa Olech, MD Cathedral Rock Medical Center 7200 Cathedral Rock Drive, Suite 110 (702) 489-4838 Rheumatoid Arthritis

Peter A. Caravella, MD Las Vegas Surgical Associates 8930 West Sunset Road, Suite 300, (702) 258-7788 Vascular Surgery

Elham Taherian, MD Dignity Health Medical Group 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 203 (702) 616-5915 Arthritis, Autoimmune Disease Sports Medicine Brian A. Davis, MD Intermountain Healthcare 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 426, (702) 968-3240 Sports Injuries, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Timothy James Trainor, MD Advanced Orthopedics & Sports Medicine 7195 Advanced Way (702) 740-5327 Arthroscopic Surgery, Shoulder & Knee Surgery, Shoulder Arthroscopic Surgery, Fractures Randall E. Yee, DO Advanced Orthopedics & Sports Medicine 7195 Advanced Way (702) 740-5327 Arthroscopic Surgery, Cartilage Damage & Transplant, Knee Surgery Surgery James Dee Atkinson, MD Surgical Weight Control Center 2850 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 313-8446 Bariatric/Obesity Surgery, Laparoscopic SurgeryAdvanced, Minimally Invasive Surgery Annabel Barber, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Surgery 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 160 (702) 671-5150 Robotic Surgery, Colon & Rectal Cancer & Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery Jennifer Baynosa, MD UNLV Medicine

Sean D. Dort, MD Southern Nevada Surgery Specialists 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 201 (702) 914-2420 Souzan El-Eid, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 100, (702) 255-1133 Breast Cancer & Surgery, Cancer Surgery Daniel Kirgan, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Surgery 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 160 (702) 671-5150 Cancer Surgery, Breast Cancer & Surgery, Melanoma, Sarcoma Deborah Ann Kuhls, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Surgery 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 160 (702) 671-5150 Trauma, Critical Care Allan David MacIntyre, DO Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center Burn and Reconstructive Center 3186 South Maryland Parkway, (702) 961-7552 Burn Care, Wound Care Fikre A. Mengistu, MD Southern Nevada Surgery Specialists 10001 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 201 (702) 914-2420 Nancy Rivera, MD Desert Surgical Associates 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 217, (702) 369-7152 Breast Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Hernia, Trauma/ Critical Care Irwin B. Simon, MD Vegas Valley Vein Institute 2450 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 341-7608 Minimally Invasive Vascular Surgery, Vein Disorders,

Varicose Veins, Hair Restoration/Transplant Darren W. Soong, MD Surgical Weight Control Center 2850 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100 (702) 313-8446 Bariatric/Obesity Surgery, Laparoscopic SurgeryAdvanced, Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally Invasive Surgery Michael G. Wood, MD Dignity Health Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery 7190 South Cimarron Road (702) 829-4259 Cardiac Surgery-Adult, Heart Valve Surgery, Thoracic Aortic Surgery, Heart Valve Surgery-Mitral

Charles R. St. Hill, MD UNLV Medicine Department of Surgery 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 160 (702) 671-5150 Cancer Surgery, Gallbladder Surgery, Hernia

Urogynecology/Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery

Francis W. Teng, MD Advanced Surgical Care 3150 North Tenaya Way, Suite 508 (702) 838-5888 Bariatric/Obesity Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, Robotic Surgery Margaret A. Terhar, MD Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada 1505 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 130, (702) 369-6008 Breast Disease, Breast Surgery Timothy W. Tollestrup, MD 3035 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 120 (702) 666-0463 Peripheral Nerve Surgery Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery Neel V. Dhudshia, MD Cardiovascular Surgery of Southern Nevada 5320 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 282 (702) 737-3808 Cardiothoracic Surgery Quynh Feikes, MD Cardiovascular Surgery of Southern Nevada 5320 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 282 (702) 737-3808 Cardiothoracic Surgery, Endovascular Surgery, Esophageal Surgery Juan Enrique Martin Jr., MD Cardiovascular Surgery of Southern Nevada 5320 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 282 (702) 737-3808 Cardiac Surgery, Heart Valve Surgery-Aortic,

Erectile Dysfunction, Kidney Stones Sarah Ryan, MD Urology Specialists of Nevada 2010 Wellness Way, Suite 200, (702) 877-0814 Urology-Female, Incontinence Michael P. Verni, MD Urology Center 653 North Town Center Drive, Suite 302 (702) 212-3428 Pediatric Urology, Endourology

Geoffrey C. Hsieh, MD Women’s Cancer Center of Nevada 3131 La Canada Street, Suite 241, (702) 693-6870 Urogynecology, Pelvic Reconstruction, Incontinence-Urinary, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair

Jeffrey R. Wilson, MD Urology Specialists of Nevada 2010 Wellness Way, Suite 200, (702) 877-0814 Robotic Surgery, Kidney Stones

Urology

Jason Zommick, MD Urology Specialists of Nevada 58 North Pecos Road (702) 877-0814 Prostate Benign Disease (BPH), Vasectomy & Vasectomy Reversal

Scott Baranoff, MD Las Vegas Urology 9053 South Pecos Road, Suite 2900, (702) 735-8000 Impotence, Incontinence, Urologic Cancer, Kidney Stones Joseph V. Candela, MD Las Vegas Urology 7500 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 200, (702) 233-0727 Urology-Female, Urologic Cancer

Vascular & Interventional Radiology Steven H. Davis, MD Red Rock Radiology Endovascular Clinic 7130 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 101, (702) 304-8135 Angioplasty & Stent Placement, Chemoembolization & Tumor Ablation, Radiofrequency Tumor Ablation

Sheldon J. Freedman, MD 653 North Town Center Drive, Suite 308 (702) 732-0282 Erectile Dysfunction, Vasectomy-No Scalpel, Kidney Stones, Prostate Cancer

Aaron Peterson, MD Red Rock Radiology Endovascular Clinic 7130 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 101, (702) 304-8135

Vijay Goli, MD Las Vegas Urology 7200 Cathedral Rock Drive, Suite 210 (702) 233-0727 Kidney Stones, Incontinence-Male & Female, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Prostate CancerCryosurgery

Vascular Surgery Earl Cottrell, MD General Vascular Specialists 7200 West Cathedral Rock Drive, Suite 130 (702) 228-8600 Endovascular Surgery, Varicose Veins

O. Alex Lesani, MD Las Vegas Urology 7150 West Sunset Road, Suite 200, (702) 233-0727 Reconstructive Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Urinary Reconstruction

Bruce Hirschfeld, MD General Vascular Specialists 7200 West Cathedral Rock Drive, Suite 130 (702) 228-8600 Endovascular Surgery, Varicose Veins

Lawrence H. Newman, MD Las Vegas Urology 7150 West Sunset Road, Suite 201, (702) 316-1616 Bladder Surgery, Prostate Benign Disease (BPH), A U G U S T/S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

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How the Top Dentists Were Chosen

his list is excerpted from the 2022 topDentists™ list, a database which includes listings for more than 140 dentists and specialists in the Las Vegas metro area. This list is based on hundreds of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers. The complete database is available at www.usatopdentists.com. For more information call 706-364-0853; write PO Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; email help@usatopdentists.com or visit www.usatopdentists.com. SELECTION PROCESS

“If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?” This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and of course physical results. The nomination pool of dentists consists of dentists listed online through the American Dental Association, as well as all dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their

knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating the other nominees. Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline cases are given careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received and status in various dental academies can play a factor in our decision. Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists. Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in Nevada. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate, and useful list of dentists available anywhere.

DISCLAIMER This list is excerpted from the 2022 topDentists™ list, which includes listings for more than 140 dentists and specialists in Southern Nevada. For more information call: 706-364-0853 or email help@usatopdentists.com or visit www.usatopdentists.com. TopDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2011-2022 by topDentists, LLC, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

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Dental Anesthesiology Amanda J. Okundaye 9500 West Flamingo Road 310-486-6656 anesthesiabydramanda.com Endodontics

Ronald R. Lemon University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine 1001 Shadow Lane, MS 7422 702-744-2731 Jason T. Morris Nevada Endodontics 2510 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 200, 702-263-2000

Benjamin J. Barborka Las Vegas Endodontics 6655 West Sahara Avenue, Suite A-106 702-876-5800 lvendo.com

Kathleen F. Olender* Desert Dental Specialists 7520 West Sahara Avenue 702-384-7200, dds-lv.com

Kristen Beling Sunset Endodontics 54 North Pecos Road, Suite B, 702-436-4300 sunsetendo.com

Douglas R. Rakich Endodontic Associates 6950 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 125, 702-869-8840

W. Scott Biggs Micro Endodontics of Las Vegas 7120 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 100 702-463-5000 lasvegasendo.com

Daniel I. Shalev Nevada Endodontics 2510 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 200, 702-263-2000 Ryan C. Shipp Shipp Endodontics 9053 South Pecos Road, Suite 3000 702-798-0911 shippendodontics.com

William D. Brizzee Las Vegas Endodontics 6655 West Sahara Avenue, Suite A-106 702-876-5800 lvendo.com

General Dentistry

Matthew O. Cox 8460 South Eastern Avenue, Suite B 702-492-6688 coxendo.com William J. Dougherty, Jr. Sunset Endodontics 54 North Pecos Road, Suite B, 702-436-4300 sunsetendo.com John Q. Duong Lakeview Dental 2291 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 104 702-869-0001 David C. Fife Fife & Steffen Endodontics 1975 Village Center Circle, Suite 110 702-360-2122 drdavidfife.com Adam Gatan Seven Hills Endodontics & Microsurgery Center 2810 West Horizon Ridge Parkway Suite 200 702-384-0053 lvrootcanal.com Chad R. Hansen Las Vegas Endodontics 6655 West Sahara Avenue, Suite A-106 702-876-5800 lvendo.com

Stanley S. Askew Island Dental Center 9750 Covington Cross Drive, Suite 100 702-341-7979 islanddentalcenter.com Steven A. Avena* 3117 West Charleston Boulevard 702-384-1210 stevenavenadds.com Stacie Baalbaky Elite Family Dental 7835 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 28 702-898-8448 elitefamilydental.com Will Baalbaky Elite Family Dental 7835 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 28 702-898-8448 elitefamilydental.com Peter S. Balle* Balle & Associates 2801 West Charleston Boulevard Suite 100 702-877-6608 balledds.com Laurie S. Bloch-Johnson* Exceptional Dentistry 9501 Hillwood Drive, Suite A, 702-463-8600 drlauriesmiles.com

Darin K. Kajioka Endodontics of Las Vegas 9750 Covington Cross Drive, Suite 150 702-878-8584 endodonticsoflasvegas.com

Derryl R. Brian Nevada Trails Dental 7575 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 101 702-367-3700 nevadatrailsdental.com

*denotes cosmetic dentistry services

D E S E R T C O M P A N I O N .V E G A S

Pamela G. Caggiano* Excellence In Dentistry 321 North Pecos Road, Suite 100, 702-732-7878 pamelacaggianodds.com Colin M. Campbell* Saint Rose Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 780 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 110 702-387-5900 strosedental.com Sandra Chan Moore Family Dentistry 10624 South Eastern Avenue, Suite N 702-407-6700 lvsmiles.com Guy L. Chisteckoff* Island Smiles Cosmetic & Family Dentistry 8940 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 100 702-270-6501 islandsmiles.org Kenneth M. Cox 6615 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 102 702-866-9311 parkviewdentallv.com Chris S. Cozine 8579 South Eastern Avenue, Suite A 702-739-8289 cozinedental.com Jason L. Downey* 8876 Spanish Ridge Avenue, Suite 100 702-871-4903 smileslasvegas.com Mark D. Edington* Modern Dental Care 9895 South Maryland Parkway, Suite A 702-372-4069 moderndentallv.com Barton H. Foutz Foutz Family Dentistry 2510 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 100, 702-792-5929 foutzdental.com John T. Gallob UNLV School of Dental Medicine 1707 West Charleston Boulevard, Building D 702-671-5175 unlv.edu/dental Amy A. Gearin* Gearin Dentistry 1975 Village Center Circle, Suite 160 702-367-4040 dramygearin.com Irwan T. Goh* Smiles by Goh 2653 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 110 702-732-3754 smilesbygoh.com Steven L. Hardy Paradise Family Dental 6825 Aliante Parkway 702-294-2739 drstevehardy.com

George Harouni* 731 Mall Ring Circle, Suite 201, 702-434-9464 georgeharounidds.com

Ronald R. Marshall 6891 West Charleston Boulevard, 702-255-6768 rrmsmile.com

Gregory M. Heideman 6950 West Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 150 702-304-1902 lhdentalcare.com

George J. McAlpine University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine 1700 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 290 702-671-5130 unlv.edu/dental

Bernard Roy Hurlbut UNLV School of Dental Medicine 1006 Shadow Lane, Suite MS7410 702-774-2687 dentalschool.unlv.edu Emily R. Ishkanian Flores Family Dental 6536 North Decatur Boulevard, Suite 120 702-242-3373 floresfamilydental.com Brian R. Karn* Encore Dentistry 9406 West Lake Mead, Suite 105, 702-331-9966 drkarn.com Thomas P. Keating* Keating Dental 880 Seven Hills Drive, Suite 240, 702-454-8855 keatingdds.com James G. Kinard* 2780 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 20 702-719-4700 William P. Leavitt University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine 1001 Shadow Lane 702-774-2641 dentalschool.unlv.edu Ton V. Lee Summerlin Smiles 9525 West Russell Road, Suite 100, 702-579-7645 summerlinsmiles.com Robin D. Lobato* 9061 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 101, 702-877-0500 drlobato.com Nicholas E. Lords* Rainbow Park Dental 2950 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 200 702-227-6510 Spencer Luth Luth & Heideman Dental Care 6950 West Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 150 702-304-1902 lhdentalcare.com Kent A. Lysgaard Lysgaard Dental 2911 North Tenaya Way, Suite 101, 702-360-9061 drlysgaard.com David L. Mahon Siena Dental 10075 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 107 702-567-0000 sienadental.com

D. Kevin Moore Moore Family Dentistry 10624 South Eastern Avenue, Suite N 702-407-6700 lvsmiles.com E. Orlando Morantes* 3412 North Buffalo Drive 702-794-0820 morantesdds.com Michael Most* Most Dental 6392 Spring Mountain Road, 702-871-0304 mostdental.com Johnny E. Nassar Smile Design Center 10120 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 375 702-361-9611 smiledesigncenterlv.com Jorge Paez* Nevada Dental Esthetics 5864 South Durango Drive, Suite 100 702-744-8007 lasvegas-cosmeticdentistry.com William G. Pappas 7884 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 100 702-367-7133 Sam Partovi Desert Smiles Dental 10175 West Twain Avenue, Suite 120, 702-202-2300 desertsmilesdental.com Marielaina Perrone 2551 North Green Valley Parkway, Suite A-405 702-458-2929 drperrone.com James B. Polley* 1875 Village Center Circle, Suite 110, 702-873-0324 drpolley.com John M. Quinn Smiles for Life Family Dentistry 8930 West Sunset Road, Suite 190, 702-795-2273 lvsmilesforlife.com Richard A. Racanelli Stunning Smiles of Las Vegas 6410 Medical Center Street, Suite B 702-736-0016 lvstunningsmiles.com

Craig R. Rose Rose Family Dentistry 8490 South Eastern Avenue, Suite C 702-914-0000 rosefamilydentistry.com

Johnathan White* Aesthetic Dentistry 8084 West Sahara Avenue, Suite G 702-823-3000 jbwhitedds.com

Douglas D. Sandquist* Sandquist Dentistry 2650 Lake Sahara Drive, Suite 160, 702-734-0776 sandquistdds.com

Joseph A. Wineman* Wineman Dental 1701 North Green Valley Parkway, Suite 4-D 702-270-4800 winemandental.com

Tammy Sarles 8650 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 101 702-869-0032 mydesertbreezedental.com

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Michel Daccache 1701 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 520 702-750-9444 nevadaoms.com

Nathan D. Schwartz Henderson Family Dentistry 537 South Boulder Highway, 702-564-2526 hendersonfamilydental.com

Mark I. Degen Red Rock Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Centre 4730 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 390 702-253-9090 redrockomsc.com

A. Thomas Shields Shields Family Dentistry 653 North Town Center, Suite 508, 702-228-8777 shieldsfamilydentistry.com Patrick A. Simone* 70 North Pecos Road, Suite A, 702-735-2755 patricksimonedds.com

Jesse J. Falk Canyon Oral & Facial Surgery 6200 North Durango, Suite 100 702-867-2763 canyonofs.com

Luke Simonis 7425 West Azure Drive, Suite 110, 702-878-4397 CHdentist.com

Ryan Gibson Gibson and Leavitt Oral & Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery 670 South Green Valley Parkway, Suite 115 702-685-3700 ryangibsonoralsurgery.com

Susan S. Smith* 8275 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 101 702-967-1700 susansmithdds.com Zachary Soard Dentistry for Families 1306 West Craig Road, Suite H, 702-633-4333 dentistryforfamilies.com

Steve J. Huang Henderson Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center 1701 North Green Valley Parkway, Suite 2-E 702-270-2999 oralsurgeryhenderson.com

Stephen W. Spelman* Willow Springs Dental 3450 South Hualapai Way, 702-871-6044 stephenspelmandds.com

Gregory J. Hunter Nevada Oral & Facial Surgery 6950 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 200 702-329-7554 nevadaoralandfacialsurgery.com

Bradley S. Strong* 2931 North Tenaya Way, Suite 200, 702-242-3800 bstrongdds.com Michael J. Tomita Island Dental Center 9750 Covington Cross Drive, Suite 100 702-341-7979 islanddentalcenter.com

Brendan G. Johnson Nevada Oral & Facial Surgery 6950 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 200 702-329-7554 nevadaoralandfacialsurgery.com

Karen T. Tran Lakeview Dental 2291 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 104 702-869-0001 James J. White* 1140 North Town Center Drive, Suite 170 702-562-8833 jameswhitedds.com A U G U S T/S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

Katherine A. Keeley 2649 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 102 702-263-9339 drkeeley.net

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Matthew M. Kikuchi Kikuchi Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center 5765 South Fort Apache Road, Suite 110 702-876-6337 omssnv.com Bryce Leavitt Gibson and Leavitt Oral & Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery 670 South Green Valley Parkway, Suite 115 702-685-3700 ryangibsonoralsurgery.com Carlos H. Letelier The Center for Oral Surgery of Las Vegas 10115 West Twain Avenue, Suite 100, 702-367-6666 lasvegasoms.com

Eryn E. Ence Ence Orthodontics 8490 South Eastern Avenue, Suite A 702-260-8241 vegascoolsmiles.com

Robert H. Thalgott Chenin and Thalgott Orthodontics 1945 Village Center Circle, Suite 110, 702-364-5100 thalgott.com

Jedediah M. Feller Feller Orthodontics 2871 North Tenaya Way 702-341-8668 fellerorthodontics.com

Mark Truman Truman Orthodontics 10000 West Sahara, Suite 110, 702-360-9000 trumanorthodontics.com

Michael C. Gardner Leaver & Gardner Orthodontics 6005 South Fort Apache, Suite 100, 702-602-9066 leavergardner.com

Zachary B. Truman Truman Orthodontics 10855 South Eastern Avenue, 702-221-2272 trumanortho.com

John C. Griffiths Las Vegas Braces 8710 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 150 702-256-7846 lasvegasbraces.com

Jeff E. Moxley Moxley Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 3663 East Sunset Road, Suite 403 702-898-8350 drjeffmoxley.com

R. Cree Hamilton Hamilton & Manuele Orthodontics 401 North Buffalo Drive, Suite 220, 702-243-3300 hamiltonortho.com

Patrick A. O’Connor O’Connor Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon 630 South Rancho Drive, Suite B, 702-870-2555 drpatrickoconnor.net

Blaine R. Hansen Hansen Orthodontics 3600 North Buffalo Drive, Suite 110, 702-568-1600 hansenortho.com

Daniel L. Orr II Medical Education Building 2040 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 201 702-383-3711, orrs.org

Scott E. Leaver Leaver & Gardner Orthodontics 6005 South Fort Apache, Suite 100, 702-878-0764 leavergardner.com

Steven A. Saxe Advance Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 1570 South Rainbow Boulevard 702-258-0085 nvjawdoc.com

James K. Mah University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine 4505 South Maryland Parkway, 702-774-2535

Orthodontics Brian Chamberlain Super Smile Orthodontics 7090 North Durango Drive, Suite 120 702-645-5100 supersmilevegas.com

Jeremy S. Manuele Hamilton & Manuele Orthodontics 401 North Buffalo Drive, Suite 220, 702-243-3300 hamiltonortho.com

Victoria Chen SIGNIFICANCE ORTHODONTICS 6018 South Fort Apache Road, 702-213-9247 significanceorthodontics.com

Carey B. Noorda Okuda & Noorda Orthodontics 1701 North Green Valley Parkway, Suite 1 702-737-5500 drnoorda.com

David A. Chenin Chenin Orthodontic Group 10730 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 100 702-735-1010 cheninortho.com

Alana Saxe Saxe Orthodontics 3555 South Town Center Drive, Suite 104 702-541-7070 saxeortho.com

April J. Cole Chenin Orthodontic Group 10730 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 100 775-461-1180 cheninortho.com

Douglas K. Simister Las Vegas Braces 8710 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 150 702-256-7846 lasvegasbraces.com

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Ashley E. Hoban Summerlin Pediatric Dentistry 635 North Town Center Drive, Suite 104 702-838-9013 summerlinpediatricdentistry.com Dawn L. McClellan Dental Care International 1750 Wheeler Peak Drive 702-272-1100 dcare.org

Richard Webster Webster Orthodontics 7603 Grand Teton Drive, Suite 110, 702-819-9921 webster-ortho.com

Elizabeth J. McGee Pediatric Dental Care Associates 6365 Simmons Street, Suite 100 702-449-7657 pediatricdentalcareassociatesaliante.com/

Fenn H. Welch Welch Orthodontics 8551 West Lake Mead Boulevard, Suite 261 702-240-2300 welchortho.com

Todd S. Milne Children’s Dental Center 2085 Village Center Circle, Suite 120 702-240-5437 cdclv.com

Lance L. Whetten 4540 South Pecos Road 702-436-0999 whettenfellerorthodontics.com

Manny Rapp, Jr. Adaven Children’s Dentistry 2843 Saint Rose Parkway, Suite 100, 702-492-1955

Tracy D. Wyatt Wyatt Orthodontics 7550 West Lake Mead Boulevard, Suite 6 702-242-9777 wyattorthodontics.com Pediatric Dentistry Bryan Q. Bui Cavitybusters 6910 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 104 702-362-5437 cavitybusters.org Ryan S. Bybee The Kid’s Dentist 375 North Stephanie Street, Suite 211 702-454-1008 kidsdentistofhenderson.com

Gary D. Richardson Adventure Smiles 8995 West Flamingo Road, Suite 100 702-838-5437 adventuresmiles.com Joshua L. Saxe A Childrens Dentist 8710 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 100 702-255-0133 achildrensdentist.com Michael D. Saxe A Childrens Dentist 8710 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 100 702-255-0133 achildrensdentist.com

Alice P. Chen Red Rock Kids Dental 11700 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 180 702-242-2436 redrockkidsdental.com

Maryam Sina Dentistry for Children 2551 North Green Valley Parkway, Suite 400A 702-342-0075 kidstoothdrs.com

Jeffrey A. Cox Anthem Pediatric Dentistry 10400 South Eastern Avenue, 702-531-5437 apdkids.com

Periodontics

Chad W. Ellsworth Anthem Pediatric Dentistry 10400 South Eastern Avenue, 702-531-5437 apdkids.com

David A. Arpin* Desert Dental Specialists 7520 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 1 702-384-7200 dds-lv.com Edilberto De Andrade Anthem Periodontics and Dental Implants 2610 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 202 702-270-4600

Ryan S. Gifford* Periodontics Unlimited 3811 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 201 702-259-1943 lvperio.com Allen W. Huang* Significance Dental Specialists 2430 East Harmon Avenue, Suite 6 702-733-0558 sdsdental.com Curry H. Leavitt Red Rock Periodontics & Implantology 7475 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 101 702-834-8900 redrockperio.com Brian Mantor Periodontics Unlimited 3811 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 201 702-500-1742 lvperio.com James K. Rogers Canyon Ridge Periodontics 3575 South Town Center Drive, Suite 110 702-966-0300 canyonridgeperio.com David J. Trylovich* Periodontics Unlimited 3811 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 201 702-259-1943 lvperio.com Prosthodontics Gary Braun UNLV School of Dental Medicine 1001 Shadow Lane C/O GPR, 702-774-5134 Evangeline Chen Greater Las Vegas Dental 8867 West Flamingo Road, Suite 100 702-880-5858 greaterlasvegasdental.com Nelson D. Lasiter Dee for Dentist 8772 South Maryland Parkway 702-586-7800 deefordentist.com Marco T. Padilla* Clear Choice Las Vegas 6460 Medical Center Street, Suite 300 702-430-2372 clearchoice.com/ locations/dental-implants-las-vegas/ Steven L. Rhodes 501 South Rancho Drive, Suite E-29, 702-384-4896 srhodesdds.com

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NEVADA BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS

Music by Franz Liszt Choreography by Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.

October 6–9, 2022

“Spectacle of an order seldom seen today… exquisitely beautiful and atmospheric.” — NEW YORK TIMES

(702) 749-2000 • NevadaBallet.org

PHOTO BY JERRY METELLUS

A NI O M P

S DE ERT

CULTURE GUIDE compiled by A N N E DAV I S SCOTT DICKENSHEETS

“Hortua Inhospitalario” by David Lozano, part of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art’s ambitious fall show, Notes for Tomorrow

A N D R E W K I R A LY H E I D I KYS E R L O U R D E S T R I M I DA L

A U G U S T/ S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 D E S E R TC O M PA N I O N .C O M

AUG U ST 9

JAZZ WITHOUT BORDERS

What’s jazz? What’s not jazz? The debate has been raging (well, uh, okay, mildly percolating among a small group of interested parties) since the birth of the celebrated musical form. Trumpeter Bijon Watson and singer/songwriter Niles Thomas want to weigh in with their final answer: It’s all jazz — so can’t we all just get along? Questioning the idea of limiting categories and exclusive subgenres in this dynamic art form, the two launched the Jazz Republic Entertainment Group to encourage listeners and artists to ditch the labels and get back to the music. Their Jazz Republic Concert series, presented locally by KUNV 91.5 FM,

showcases talent from across the jazz spectrum to promote this quintessentially American music form, whatever the style. This concert features saxophonist Tom Luer, acclaimed for his nimble versatility — a welcome virtue in the Jazz Republic’s genre-bending vision of the dynamic jazz art form. (AK) Myron’s in The Smith Center, 7p, $39-49, thesmithcenter.com

seems perfectly suited to Shamir’s complex personal mythology. The Vegas Shamir returns to is much different than the Vegas of 2014; then again, Shamir is, happily, much different too. (AK) The Space, 9p, $20-35, thespacelv.com SEPTEMBER 9

FLAMIN’ FLAMENCO

AUG U ST 1 2

We Have Liftoff

You haven’t heard of StarBase? What planet are you living on?! The event venue tucked behind Allegiant Stadium is fast becoming a Gen Z hotspot and hangout, with its funkily themed rooms, Insta-friendly visual vibes, and programming that embraces LGBTQ youth. Its One Helluva Friday series has blown up too, and

deservedly so. It’s a three-phase event that features “What the Hell Happened?,” a TED Talk-style speaker series; “Hella Expressions,” an open mic showcase, and the Comet Comedy club, which invites local comics to bring the funny. The next installment of One Helluva Friday is

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August 12. If you miss it, don’t fret — this popular series blasts off monthly. (AK) StarBase, 7p, free, starbaselv.com AUG U ST 1 6

RETURN OF A HOMETOWN TALENT

Shamir broke out of Vegas in 2014 with his impossibly sunny, bouncy smash single, “On the Regular.” It was a hit, but it also presented a creative conundrum: How does a restlessly protean musical artist explore and experiment when fans might just want more hooky hits? Shamir shrugged and forged forward, putting out a slate of solid, challenging albums in subsequent years that ditched easy pop conventions in favor of a bewitching, ragged-edged, basement-party electro-pop that

Antonio Rey’s Latin Grammy-winning 2020 album is titled Flamenco Sin Fronteras (Flamenco Without Borders), and that perfectly describes Rey’s commanding virtuosity — his forceful but fluid, dreamily expansive flamenco seems to know no limits. (AK) UNLV’s Artemus Ham Concert Hall, 7:30p, $30, unlv.edu/pac SEPTEMBER 17

ALL AMERICAN Remember when patriotism was an earnest sentiment marked by a sense of collective goodwill and belief in national possibility? Me neither! But the Las Vegas Philharmonic remembers. This fall concert will celebrate the OG spirit of America with four works by four diverse American composers: Festive Overture by William Grant Still; Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra by Wynton Marsalis; Hot-time Dance by George Antheil; and Grand

O N E H E L L U V A F R I D A Y C O U R T E S Y S T A R B A S E ; A N T O N I O R E Y C O U R T E S Y U N LV C O L L E G E O F F I N E A R T S

music

Retro Future SEPTEMBER 29

The twangy cosmopolitan technicolor soul of Khruangbin sounds like a stray transmission from an alternate timeline where shag carpets and polyester slacks never went out of style. The live show promises to be a chill, dancy cosmic wormhole, but if you can’t make the show, check out the Houston-based band’s “Shelter in Space” playlist generator on their website. Whether you’re cooking, painting, drinking, or coming down from psychoactive agents, you’re sure to find your own private musical UFO. (AK) Brooklyn Bowl, 8p, $49.50-75, brooklynbowl.com

Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé. (AK) Reynolds Hall in The Smith Center, 7:30p, visit lvphil. com for ticket info K H R U A N G B I N : J A C K I E L E E Y O U N G ; F I N A L F A N T A S Y V I I I C O U R T E S Y U N LV C O L L E G E O F F I N E A R T S

SEPTEMBER 25

CYMBAL-CLASH OF THE TITANS

In this celebration of Jewish composers, the Nevada Chamber Orchestra is hitting all the heavy-duty icons in what promises to be a rousing afternoon concert: works by George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Irving Berlin, and Aaron Copland. (AK) Summerlin Library, 3p, free, lvccld.org

slow-motion, cinematic, stylized fantasy monster violence amid a surging musical score. I had little idea what the hell I was watching, but damn if it wasn’t utterly compelling. No wonder that the Final Fantasy game series has long since become a global franchise — and a lifelong obsession for millions of gamers worldwide. You don’t have to be a fan of the game to appreciate its signature music —

gusty and high-flying, tumultuously sentimental — but it’s a sure bet fans of the long-running game series will flock to this concert by the New World Players chamber ensemble, which will perform selections from composers Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta, and more. Leave your controller at home — but you’ll be forgiven if your twitchy fingers scream

OCTOBE R 1

Game On! Nerd confession: I remember the first time I saw a limit-break attack sequence on Final Fantasy VIII. It was otherworldly —

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to mash buttons. (AK) UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall, 8p, $45-85, unlv.edu/ pac OCTOBE R 15

COMIN’ DOWN THE MOUNTAIN

This Las Vegas Philharmonic delivers a dose of Americana in this fall concert with songs inspired by bluegrass, folk, and our sacred music tradition, including Jennifer Higdon’s

earthy Concerto 4-3, a work inspired by the Smoky Mountains. The headliner piece is none other than Aaron Copland’s high-spirited Appalachian Spring Suite. (AK) Reynolds Hall in The Smith Center, 7:30p, visit lvphil.org for ticket info OCTOBER 22

MUSIC TO YOUR EYES

The most famous of J. Seward Johnson’s bronze sculptures are celebrated for a reason — they’re slices of Americana in action, capturing everyday people doing everyday things. (Others, like the monumental The Awakening, are just as celebrated for their epic sweep and scale.) But what might his works sound like? This multisensory concert,

theater & dance NOW YOU SEE HIM

N OV E M B E R 6

As Indie as It Gets

The best way to describe the bratty, manic tendercore of L.A.’s Illuminati

Hotties is to imagine a sun-dappled confetti flume of ’zines, cassettes, skateboard parts, Pee Chee folders, and puffy stickers shooting out of your speakers and right into your glittery heart. Oh, it’s incredibly smirky and precious, but also hooky and boppy as hell. May contain songs with titles like “Joni: LA’s No. 1 Health Goth.” With opening acts Enumclaw and Guppy. (AK) The Space, 8p, $21-$36, thespacelv.com N OV E M B E R 2 8 - 3 0

JAZZ IT UP This three-day jazz festival will feature sounds served up by the often-underrated talent at UNLV performing classic and contemporary

jazz tunes. (AK) UNLV’s Black Box Theatre, $10 per night, 702-895-2787 DECEMBER 10

VERY VERY MARIACHI

Want to make any song sound better? Mariachify it. “Happy Birthday”? Give it some horn-bomp! “Stairway to Heaven”? Could definitely be livened up with some spirited gritos. “Jingle Bells”? Decades overdue for some brassing up. In this holiday show, the Latin Grammy-nominated Mariachi Herencia de México will break out Mexican and American seasonal classics, which please please please hopefully includes “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” (AK)

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UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall, 7:30p, $20-50, unlv.edu/pac DECEMBER 11

Fives Times the Brass The cleverly named Pentagogical Brass Band is composed of five brass-wielding music teachers, and in this concert, they’ll be schooling the public with a selection of holiday music. Some Pentagogical Brass members are retired educators; others are still happily brassing it up in the classroom. In any case, this classy show of brass should be music to your ears. (AK) West Charleston Library, 2p, free, lvccld.org SEPTEMBER 9 AND 10

SEPTEMBER 29OCTOBE R 23

Forget Success. Murder is the Best Revenge

Topher Payne describes his play Angry Fags as a dystopian revenge tragedy, and it reads like the cathartic squirm-watch we all need now. A conservative candidate enlists the help of right-wing extremists to unseat a lesbian state senator — a mundane plot in the context of today’s headlines, but there’s more. Dog whistling, a

M A R I A C H I H E R E N C I A D E M É X I C O C O U R T E S Y U N LV C O L L E G E O F F I N E A R T S

Sounds for Sculpture, just might have the answer. Composed by jazz vibraphonist Christian Tamburr, the songs in Sounds for Sculpture are inspired by 10 of Seward’s iconic pieces, and meld jazz, and pop in expressing Seward’s artistic vision. Oh, and the talent on stage will truly make his art sing: Clint Holmes on vocals, Dominick Farinacci on trumpet, and Mike Dobson on percussion and sound effects. (AK) Myron’s in The Smith Center, 6p and 8:30p, $39-55

There’s a guy hanging around the park, eavesdropping on people’s conversations and suddenly appearing to help when a situation merits it. But here’s the thing: He’s not a creeper! He’s the mysterious main character in Asylum Theatre’s upcoming play, Complemento, written by Colombian playwright Rafael Guizado, translated by his daughter and local writer, director, and actor Gigi Guizado, and directed by Asylum’s artistic director Sarah O’Connell. (HK) Winchester Dondero Cultural Center Theater, 7 and 2p, $20, asylum theatre.org

hate crime, aforementioned revenge … Did I mention it takes place in the American South? Yeah, this dark comedy has it all. (HK) Majestic Repertory Theatre, 8 and 5p, $20-40, majestic repertory.com SEPTEMBER 30OCTOBE R 9

ELIMINATING THE IMPOSSIBLE

SEPTEMBER 30

LIFE AND DEATH Another ripped-fromthe-headlines drama, Jane Martin’s 1994 Pulitzer Prize finalist Keely and Du lays bare the essential conflict over abortion through a suspenseful tale showing the lengths both sides will go to preserve what they see as fundamental rights. A Public Fit presents the play as a staged reading, but don’t let that deter you; the company has a long track record of making these slightly stripped-down versions every bit as emotionally compelling without the changing of sets. And note: It’s one night only. (HK) Clark County Library, time TBD, free, apublicfit.org

OCTOB E R 14 -15

POWER TRIPLE In line with its usual modus operandi, Contemporary West Dance Theatre’s Fall Concert Series #16

will push the boundaries of Las Vegas performance. This year, the company is presenting a trio of works: Bolero, choreographed by CWD founder and

artistic director Bernard Gaddis; Coup de Grace by Tommie-Waheed Evans; and an all-female interpretation of Dreamtime by Elisa Monte. Gaddis

OCTOBE R 6 -9

The Bite Stuff You don’t have to like ballet to enjoy the hell out of Dracula,

what with its dark, foggy set, creepy classical music, over-thetop costumes, and flying main character. But if you are a fan of dance, you will absolutely devour Ben Stevenson’s choreography set to the music of Franz Liszt. Nevada Ballet Theatre first thrilled crowds with the ballet about love, lust, and — yes — bodily autonomy, in 2018. Since then, Steven Goforth, who played the lead with a combination of physical intimidation and emotional fragility, has retired, opening the door to a fresh interpretation. (HK) Reynolds Hall in The Smith Center, 7:30 and 2p, $35.95-154.95, thesmithcenter.com Also upcoming: The Nutcracker (Dec. 9-24), Blue Until June (Feb. 18-19)

A N G R Y FAG S C O U R T E S Y M A J E S T I C R E P E R T O R Y T H E AT R E ; D R AC U L A : A L I C I A L E E

You can soothe the residual trauma from Majestic’s Angry Fags (or the daily scroll through your Twitter feed) with the balm of the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre’s more lighthearted fare, opening the following day: Brian Guehring’s Sherlock Holmes and the First Baker Street Irregular, directed by Marcus Weiss. Nothing like a nice little English mystery to help you forget the raging dumpster fire that is U.S. politics. (HK)

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 2 and 7p, $6, rainbow company.org

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OCTOBE R 14 N OV E M B E R 6

IT POURS A Public Fit turns to another Pulitzer Prize nominee, Richard Greenburg’s Three Days of Rain, for its first staged production of the 22-23 season. Toggling between two time periods, the play tells the story of three children, their parents, and the legacy of close, complicated relationships. First staged in 1997, the story’s appeal is evident from its ability to draw Julia Roberts to New York for her Broadway debut in a 2006 revival that also starred Bradley

Cooper and Paul Rudd (but nevertheless left critics unimpressed). (HK) Super Summer Theatre, 4340 S. Valley View Blvd., #208, 7 and 2p, $25-40, apublicfit.org Also upcoming: Brilliant Adventures (Jan. 27-28), An Oak Tree (Feb. 3-27)

OCTOB E R 21 -22

AWESOME BLOSSOM

UNLV Dance kicks off its fall concert series, In Bloom, with Orchestra 5. The collaboration between the dance department and the UNLV Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ukrainian-born Taras Krysa, reimagines

Ballet Russe’s 1910 work Firebird, set to an Igor Stravinsky score. (HK) Artemus Ham Concert Hall, UNLV, 7:30 and 2:30p, $18, unlv.edu/ dance DECE M B E R 2 -11

BREAKING THE GLASS

Local writer, director, and performer

Maythinee Washington brings her unique vision and powerful voice to Lewis Carroll’s classic novel with her staged interpretation, Alice’s Wonderland: An Original Adaptation. The Rainbow Company Youth Theatre presents this new, ensemble-driven production, which promises to put a new spin on well-known characters, such as Alice and the Mad Hatter, and keep families talking about it long after the curtain drops. (HK) Charleston Heights Arts Center, 7 and 2p, $6, rainbow company.org DECE M B E R 9 -1 8

Everything New

What’s a young girl to do when her mother passes away and her father is going through disconcerting changes — including marrying

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Who doesn’t enjoy a good hobbling? Especially when it’s embedded in the totally plausible plot of a crazed superfan getting revenge on a celebrated novelist for killing off her favorite character in his latest book (after he has an accident right in her neck of the woods!). But, while the sledgehammer scene may be the most memorable from the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery (or the ax scene, in the case of the novel), there’s a heap of spine-tingling storytelling happening before and after that iconic act of violence. Las Vegas Little Theatre takes up the torch, so to speak, presenting William Goldman’s theatrical version of the horror story just in time for Halloween. (HK) Las Vegas Little Theatre Main Stage, 3920 Schiff Drive, 8 and 2p, $30, lvlt.org Also upcoming: The Foreigner (Sept. 9-25), 1940s Radio Hour (Dec. 2-18), Lombardi (Jan. 20-Feb. 5)

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promises an evening filled with “the raw power of dance, infused with originality and beauty.” (HK) Charleston Heights Arts Center, 7:30p, $15-30, lvdance.org

a new woman and moving the family to Brooklyn? In her 1995 drama Crumbs From the Table of Joy, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage used this plot, and the questions it raises, to probe a pivotal moment for Black Americans in 1950s New York. Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents the still-resonant play about how people adapt to a world changing around them. (HK) Judy Bayley Theatre, UNLV, times TBD, $10-25, unlv.edu/nct Also upcoming: The Cherry Orchard (Oct. 7-16)

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SIX INCHES FORWARD AND FIVE INCHES BACK Raucous glam rock meets riveting personal tragedy in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, John Cameron Mitchell’s story of Hansel, a gay man who undergoes gender transition surgery to escape East Germany as the wife of an American soldier. The surgeon botches the operation, setting Hansel, now Hedwig, on a path of self-discovery in the United States. Majestic

Repertory Theatre brings the musical that inspired the 2001 film back to the stage, where the anger, longing, and (eventually) forgiveness of that one vexed inch can be felt — up close and personal. (HK), Majestic Repertory Theatre, 8 and 5p, $25-45, majestic repertory.com

visual arts THROUGH OCTOBE R 20

BETTER LATHE THAN NEVER

Wood artist Scott Sturman is a process guy. “While all my pieces start with an idea and then some type of plan ... I never know the final outcome until the very end.” The process dictates in real time what moves to make, what techniques to try, what mistakes to keep. Not unusual for, say, a painter. Less common when you’re dealing with tree flesh. See the results in Wood of Wonder. (SD) City Hall Grand Gallery, free, arts lasvegas.org AUG U ST 4

TAKE ME TO (WHAT’S LEFT OF) THE RIVER Here’s a prime chance to see how art about a catastrophe measures up to the real thing: Along the Colorado marks one year since the river’s first official shortage was declared.

All Good Things THROUGH OCTOBER 13

The problem with the city’s annual Celebrating Life! exhibit is its title — and that exclamation point. Together they prime you for a roomful of treacly odes to joy, all the more so since it’s an exhibit of work by seniors. So you don’t expect the boggling intricacy of Bobbie Ann Howell’s cut-paper mind-blower, or the avant-garde mystery of Kevin Buckley’s collage, or David Seidner’s high-spirited assemblage, or the lacquered beauty of Robin Stark’s ceramic “Bird Box.” This show gathers Celebrating Life!’s winning entries — and is itself quite winning. (SD) City Hall Chamber Gallery, free, artslasvegas.org

Of course, the situation has gotten way suckier since. So the task assumed by curator Sapira Cheuk’s exhibit is to cut through our shrieking anxiety about having sand pour from our faucets to tell us something new about the river, its use, commodification, politics, and especially its scarcity. She’s tapped artists from the seven

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Colorado River Basin states to do just that. (SD) Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, through September 28, free, nevada humanities.org AUG U ST 5

A PAIR TO DRAW TO A dual show featuring Dray Wilmore and Kd Matheson: Two OG Vegas artists, one with an unmistakable,

swinging urban vibe, the other trafficking in spacey oneiric mystification. What unites them is (a) the primacy of wild imagination, unconstrained by theory or academic rectitude; and (b) that they each work in black-andwhite, which this show will emphasize. (SD) Priscilla Fowler Gallery, through August, free, priscillafowler.com

AUG U ST 6

DOORS OF PERCEPTION

AUG U ST 11

THE FACE IS MORE THAN JUST THE FRONT OF YOUR HEAD

“I have an insatiable appetite for color,” Las Vegas artist Suzanne Acosta tells us on her website, “which I use intensely and relentlessly.” Expressive and emotional, color should serve her goal for Until It Speaks Back: creating portraits that capture the subjects’ psychological depths. (SD) Centennial Hills Library, through October 25, free, lvccld.org AUG U ST 29

What Does Family Mean? Drawing on her own experiences in a

Looking Behind, Looking Ahead AUG U ST 29

Post-pandemic we’re all about getting back to normal — but we can’t pretend the world hasn’t changed. That’s the core truth of Notes for Tomorrow, a sprawling exhibit hosted by the Barrick Museum and assembled by 30 curators from 25 countries that refracts “the new global reality” through the lenses of art. Spirituality, politics, collective memory: Each is an emphasis as the exhibit sifts the recent past in search of “a guiding perspective for the future.” (SD) UNLV’s Barrick Museum, through January 28 (reception September 2, 5p), free, unlv.edu/barrickmuseum

multiracial family, Nevada State College prof Erika Abad has curated Two Cultures, One Family: Building Family, Finding Home as a way to examine how we deal with questions of family, gender, identity, and reproductive justice. Lots of variety here — sculpture, paintings, poetry, textiles, ’zines, videos — much of it by local artists you’ll recognize. (SD)

UNLV’s Barrick Museum, through January 28 (reception September 2), free, unlv.edu/ barrickmuseum SEPTEMBER 2

KEEPING IT REAL The old-school painterly realism of George Strasburger’s canvases has an enormous throwback appeal: no nods to screen-optimized pop

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culture here, nor to visual trendiness, nor our metaphorizing cultural irony. Just patiently rendered humans doing actual human things in the flux of emotional, political, psychological, and biblical factors that makes up their lives. (SD) Sahara West Library, through November 26 (reception September 8, 5p), free, lvccld.org

SEPTEMBER 7

BEAKY BLINDERS Most of us consider pigeons vermin, but local artist Myranda Bair — for whom nature has long been a fascination — wants to flip that bird. She sees in them characteristics of us: “We chastise a creature who builds homes, co-parents, and provides for their mates and offspring — a life we strive for ourselves.” The six artists in Some Pigeons I Know explore those surprising commonalities. (SD) Sahara West Library, through December 13 (opening reception September 8, 7p), free, lvccld.org SEPTEMBER 26OCTOBE R 6

REMEMBERING THE LOST

You can load up on as much “Vegas strong” swag as you want, but

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Once you begin to suss its possibilities, “the other door” turns out to be quite a pliable concept around which to organize an exhibit: alternate pathways, untaken opportunities, unfortunate choices, life-altering diversions. You never know what the artists — working in any and all media — in this gallery’s annual Use the Other Door show will bust out, which is the fun of it. (SD) Core Contemporary, through September (opening reception August 6, 6p; closing reception September 30, 6p), free, core contemporary.com

the scars of the Oct. 1 shooting will always run deep. There’s no pat cure for an unspeakable tragedy, but coming together as a community in the spirit of artistic sharing can certainly help. This Oct. 1 fifth anniversary exhibit will feature Art of Healing murals by local students and artists, as well as a selection of quilts from the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center. (AK) Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery (reception October 1, 6:30-11a), free, clarkcountynv.gov OCTOBE R 7

DELIGHTFUL MONSTERS COURTESY ZOE CAMPER; KEYS TO YOUR SOUL COURTESY LAS VEGAS CLARK COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT

... And Not a Moment Too Soon! It’s been almost a decade since Miguel Rodriguez had a solo show of his sculpture — too damn long. (He’s been working on public and private commissions.) The drought ends with Open Sesame. “The theme is pretty fluid still,” he reports, but he’s definitely feeling the groove — “it’s the first time in a long time that I’ve consistently made work that I want to see, without having anyone else’s vision involved” — so it’s a sure bet it’ll be good. (SD) Priscilla Fowler Fine Art, through October, free, priscillafowler.com OCTOBE R 7

ART TO COME OUT TO

Gallerist Nancy Good doesn’t shy away from art that grapples with

social reality — think back to 2021’s in-yourface gun-carnage exhibit American Roulette. In the case of OUT of This World!, Core’s second annual LGBTQI+ Coming Out Month exhibit, the nominal subject is a joyous one: celebrating who you are. But you can be sure that implications of social struggle will be provided by our current era of “Don’t Say Gay” bills and trans-rights rollbacks. (SD) Core Contemporary, through November 4 (opening reception October 7, 6p; closing reception November 4, 6p), free, core contemporary.com OCTOBE R 24

OCTOBER 27

ALL THAT AND A PHOTOGRAPHER, TOO You may remember Denise Scott Brown as one of the authors of the classic architectural text Learning from Las Vegas; she’s been an important American architect and theorist, sadly under-recognized thanks to the fame of her husband, Robert Venturi. This brief exhibit, Wayward Eye, reveals her not only to have been a perceptive photographer, as well, but, as one critic noted, displays a talent that infused so many of her achievements: “an uncanny ability to know where to look.” (SD) City Hall Grand Gallery, through October 29, free, artslasvegas.org

‘You Use Works of Art to See Your Soul’ — G.B. Shaw

In 1907, a Massachusetts quack suggested that the human soul weighs 21 grams. If the collages in Jamie Kovacs’ new exhibit, Keys to Your Soul, don’t attempt spirit- quantification at quite that level, they are meant to measure the soul in other ways: “Where is your soul at this present time? What do you want to become of your soul?” How will you answer? (SD) Centennial Hills Library, through January 10, free, lvccld.org

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DELIGHTFUL MONSTERS VISIT VEGAS! Zoë Camper’s work fizzes with a carbonat-

ed whimsy that, unless you’re a humorless high-art mandarin, and we know that you’re not, is impossible to resist: It’s a mashup of giant monsters — happy ones — and Las

DECEMBER 9

Beyond the Second Dimension Best known for politically aware, media-savvy installations and objects, artist Chad Scott has assigned himself a different challenge for this exhibit: Can he apply enough “labor-intensive, repetitive mark-making” to a two-dimension sheet of paper that it assumes the

character of a textured, three-dimensional form? Because the results will appear in an art gallery, you can probably guess the answer, but you should still see for yourself. (SD) Sahara West Library, through February 25 (opening reception December 15, 7p), free, lvccld.org

books & ideas SEPTEMBER 1

MOB RULE The mob: Glamorous? Evil? Terrifying? Fascinating? Maybe all of the above? UNLV Associate Professor of History Michael Green will cover all the angles in this installment of Las Vegas Stories that promises to dive into what life was really like when the mob ruled Sin City. (AD) Clark County Library, 7p, free, 702-507-3459

Southwest Storyteller SEPTEMBER 29

Journalist John Glionna has traveled the world on the hunt for compelling stories, and in the past several years, he’s focused a lot of his writerly attention on the Southwest, turning out vivid pieces about the lesser-traveled corners of Nevada (including — plug! — many such stories for Desert Companion). Loner desert artists, traveling preachers, and rural high-school athletes are just a few of the characters you’ll meet in his new anthology, Outback Nevada: Real Stories from the Silver State. Glionna will read from his new book and sign copies. (AK) The Writer’s Block, 7p, free, thewritersblock.org

OCTOBE R 20

Sonic Boom

From lounge acts and indie gigs to epic arena shows and over-the-top Strip spectacles, music is a vital part of Vegas’ entertainment DNA. In the upcoming literary anthology Neon Riffs and Lounge Acts: Las Vegas Writers on Music, 12 of the valley’s finest scribes consider the role of music in our civic mythos. At this event, you’ll hear anthology contribu-

tors — including Jason Bracelin, Wendy Randall, Brian Garth, and Betty Burston — read from their musically minded stories and essays. (AK) Clark County Library Theatre, 7p, free, lvccld.org OCTOBE R 22

KICKING IT WITH KID CONGO

I love a good comingof-age story — and the fact that this one is written by legendary rocker Kid Congo Powers (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Cramps, The Gun Club) only sweetens the deal. Powers will be reading from and signing his new book, Some New Kind of Kick, in which he recounts navigating life in the L.A. punk scene of the ’70s as a queer Chicano teenager. (AD) The Writer’s Block, 7p, free, thewriters block.org OCTOBE R 22

NERDS IN TENTS The annual City of Las

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Vegas- and Nevada Humanities-sponsored trip down a bookworm hole this year features romance writers Xio Axelrod and Rachel Van Dyken, feminist theologian Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez, memoirist Reyna Grande, and comedian Eric Wareheim — so far. Bigger names will be announced soon. The one-day event offers everything from author talks and book signings, to writing workshops and children’s sing-alongs. (HK) Fifth Street School, all day, free, lasvegasbook festival.com N OV E M B E R 3

Mic Check If the prospect of reading your soul’s deepest poetic outpourings aloud in front of an audience fills you with knee-knocking terror, Poetry Promise’s open mic night sounds like a great place to launch your spoken-word career amid a support-

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Vegas architecture, rendered in gothically detailed pencil and emerging from an elaborate mythology we can’t summarize here. Plus, because she’s as delightful as her work suggests, Camper turns her drawings into ethically sourced, slow-fashion wearables. (SD) Core Contemporary, through December (opening reception November 11, 6p; closing reception December 30, 6p), free, core contemporary.com

ive group of listeners. Check out their description: “Bring words, bring memories, make noise, make friends … Share your poetry and writing in a fun, safe, encouraging environment.” Sign us up! Note: this event also takes place Sept. 1, Oct. 6, and Dec. 1 (AK) West Charleston Library, 6:30p, 702-507-3964 N OV E M B E R 5

DASH AND SPLASH COURTESY CITY OF LAS VEGAS

ADAPT ABILITY

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 7p, $5 recommended, lasvegasnevada.gov

family & festivals AUG U ST 13

GO OUT WITH A SPLASH

Whether you’re soaking up the sun on

a beach trip or avoiding the heat with some epic binge-watching, you can’t beat that carefree feeling of freedom that summer brings. As fall approaches, why not make one last splash at the pool? Actually, make that a last run at the pool: The Pavilion Center Pool is hosting Dash and Splash, a 1.5-mile run from the pool to the Veterans Memorial Park, which continues to a 300-meter swim at the pool. It’s a two-for-one exercise kind of deal — and a literal race to the end of summer. (LT) Pavilion Center Pool, 8a-10a, $15, lasvegasnevada.gov S E PTE M B E R 16 -1 8

Life is Beautifully Back, Baby Life Is Beautiful is a signature DTLV music

Rebekah Taussig’s 2020 essay collection Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body redefined ableism through trenchant reflections on her own experiences as a paralyzed person. This winter, the City of Las Vegas will bring together local storytellers for a return of its live StorySLAM event inspired by the book — which is also the subject of the city’s National Endowment for the Arts-funded Big Read. (HK)

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festival, sure, but it’s also much more than that: Comedians, thinkers, podcast hosts, and other talents round out this annual three-day event. If you’re looking to inject some euphoric art and culture into your fall season, get your tickets before they’re snapped up. (AD) Downtown Las Vegas, lifeis beautiful.com SE PTE M B E R 23 -24

PARTY WITH THE PLANTS

Calling all plant moms and dads! The Las Vegas Plant Festival is back this year for two days of botanist bliss. Best of all, you don’t have to have a green thumb to enjoy it. The succulent tables are my personal favorite, but you might find you’re drawn to the living plant wall (very IG friendly), the plant swaps, or even the plant-themed tattoo

booth that’ll provide you with a permanent souvenir. (AD) Arts District, Friday 6p-midnight, Saturday 10a-2p, free, facebook.com/ lvplantfest/ SEPTEMBER 24

WÜRST TIME EVER Four thousand brats and sausages — and dozens of grills at the ready. What’s the wurst that could happen? Sunrise Rotary’s annual Würst Festival Fundraiser is a special sausage fest that supports community events in Boulder City. In addition to the food and drink, there’s also the Würst Dam Car Show, boasting hundreds of classic cars, and a silent auction featuring items from local merchants. (LT) Boulder City’s Bicentennial Park, Saturday 10a-10p, free, bcsr.org/ wurst-festival

OCTOBE R 1

For the Love of Japan Japanophiles rejoice: Clark County Library District has brought back its annual Teen Anime Fest, which is a fun and kid-friendly festival for shinnichi from grades 6-12. If that sounds right up your anime alley, make sure to stop by to enjoy the food trucks, anime workshops, traditional Japanese taiko drum music, and (most importantly) try your hand at dressing up as your favorite character for the cosplay contests. (AD) Sahara West Library, 10:30a-4p, free, lvccld.org

DESERT DREAMS If you’ve ever wanted to experience that scene from Tangled — you know, the one with the floating lights above the water, where Flynn Rider and Rapunzel sing the iconic “I See the Light” — the Rise Festival is a must-go. When the sun sets, lanterns will be lit up one by one and set aloft, filling the sky with hopes, wishes, and dreams. Better yet, the festival has partnered with Leave No Trace to ensure those hopes and dreams don’t litter the desert. (LT) Jean Dry Lakebed, 3p-10p, $79-$119, risefestival.com OCTOBE R 8-9

FALL FOR THE ARTS

After a long, hot summer, the

Knights to Remember OCTOB E R 7-9

The Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival gives us desert commoners the chance to travel back to a time when “golden knights” didn’t refer to a hockey team. This fair has all the things a good Renaissance festival should: period-accurate foods (i.e., more than just turkey legs and ale), costume vendors, perfumers, woodworkers, toy makers, demonstrations, music, and much more. (AD) Sunset Park, $8-$15, sunsetparkd.com/ren-fair

Summerlin Festival of Arts is exactly the breath of fresh air we need. This long-running festival has fun activities for parents (dining, shopping, art and craft displays) as well fun stuff for kids (activities, fun food, face-painting, and more). (AD) Downtown Summerlin, 10a-5p, free, summerlin.com

OCTOBE R 15

Veg Out If you’re a veggie-lover tired of having to hunt for vegan or vegetarian eats at traditional food festivals, the Vegas VegFest is right up your alley. Featuring music, kid-friendly activities, speakers, and more than 100 vegan food vendors, you can veg out to

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your heart’s content. (AD) Clark County Ampitheater, 11a-6p, free, vegas vegfest.com OCTOBE R 22

BREWING UP SOME FUN

Beer. Barbecue. Backyard brewery. Say that three times fast and you’ll be transported to the 10th

annual Downtown Brew Festival, which is bringing in more than 200 craft beers from more than 60 breweries. With great food and music, it’ll be a night of brewing up some boozy fun. (LT) Clark County Amphitheater, 5p, $50-$115, downtownbrew festival.com N OV E M B E R 2

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

The city’s annual Dia de los Muertos Festival celebrates dearly departed family and friends in a big, bold, colorful way. It’s nothing less than a celebration of life with food, music, art, and plenty of children’s activities. (LT) Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza, 5p, free, lasvegas nevada.gov

AG E O F C H I VA L R Y R E N A I S S A N C E F E S T I VA L : @ P H OT O F M

OCTOB E R 7- 8

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Ones toWatch

THESE FRESH FACES IN THE ARTS SCENE ARE SHAKING THINGS UP IN FILM, MUSIC, THEATER, AND MORE

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Singing His Heart Out or Pouring Himself into a Character, He’s Always Fearless

D A KO TA RENTERIA actor, musician

RECENT LAS VEGAS ACADEMY graduate Dakota Renteria is literally one to watch as I write this. He’s in New York City competing in the Jimmys, a choir-camp-meets-Broadway affair officially called the National High School Theater Awards, and I’m compulsively checking Instagram to see if he wins. Ninety-two high school students from around the country have been selected by participating theaters in their region — ours is The Smith Center — to spend eight days being groomed and trained by Broadway professionals before vying for scholarships and, perhaps more importantly in their presumed line of work, recognition. “Obviously, I would love to win,” Renteria says. “That would be amazing. But honestly, if I can just learn a bunch and make some great connections with people in this industry, no matter what the outcome is, the opportunity is the most amazing thing I could have ever asked for.” To help prepare the 18-year-old tenor, The Smith Center arranged for him to get coaching from someone who knows a thing or two about musical theater: Clint Holmes. “The thing that excites me the most about Dakota is his imagination and willingness to be fearless,” Holmes says. “When you take a young person going to New York to do something like this, as a casting director or as an adjudicator, what you’re looking for is someone who makes the material their own. And he can do that. And he will do that.” Post-production update: Renteria was among the eight Jimmy Award finalists, but was not a winner. But in any case, he’s got a solid fallback. Starting in August, he’ll be attending Baldwin Wallace University

portrait by A N T H O N Y M A I R

in Ohio, majoring in a musical theater program that boasts 100 percent of its graduates over the last decade being signed by agents. How did a born-and-bred Las Vegan land on a path to the Great White Way? It started when he was seven years old, he says, after seeing a cousin perform in a musical. Over the years, he tried sports and other extracurriculars, but nothing appealed to him as much as singing. And when did he know it was his calling? “This might be a little funny,” he recalls, “but when I was younger, I played the role of Shrek in a production of Shrek The Musical.” With its over-thetop accent, makeup, and costuming, the role showed him just how fun theater can be. But his family’s awe and pride sealed the deal: “That was like, ‘All right. This is what I’m gonna do. This is what I have to do.’” Since then, Renteria has been in many shows, the most recent of which was the musical version of Tim Burton’s 2003 film Big Fish at LVA, where he played a father who tells tall tales in a misplaced attempt to inspire his son. He says he used his vexed relationship with his own father as an entrée into the character. “I thought about what I wanted in a father and what it meant to be a father,” he says, “and put that into Edward Bloom to make my version of the dad I never had, I guess.” If a show isn’t available to pour his heart into, Renteria can turn to his personal passion for writing and singing country music. And if that fails, there’s always his Rubik’s Cube. Obsessed with the tactile brain teaser since a young age, he can now solve it in 11 seconds. Let’s see how many Jimmy Award contenders can do that! Heidi Kyser

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Embracing Creativity as a Social Practice, They’re Blurring the Line Between Life and Art HUE IS SITTING ON a cooler with the top half of their body encased in medical-grade plaster, with only a small hole at the bottom of their nose open for air to pass through. After the cast dries, the four pieces — front and back legs, front and back torso — will be put together and filled with a colorful paint prepared by Hue’s project collaborator, Fractal Frank. This particular sculpture, funded by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council, is about human energy. “Energy isn’t something we can see with our eyes, but it’s what pulls and pushes us towards and away from certain places, people, objects, and relationships,” Hue says. “I wanted to propose, through sculpture, what the physical manifestation of energy can look like.” Hue emerges from the plaster cocoon matted with Vaseline and plaster bits, and I can’t help feeling like this is the art, this moment I am witnessing. After all, Hue is constantly blurring the lines between life as art and art as life. Hue is a multidisciplinary artist who works with everything from video to textiles, but their most important medium might be people. Hue is a dedicated artist of social practice — a term rooted in 1960s activism that ties together community, situation, and place, and directly relates to the people viewing the art and the space it is in. For Hue, that social practice is embodied in the Cloud House, a community-focused creative space that is the cornerstone of Hue’s art/life practice. It’s attached to the multigenerational home where Hue lives. “The Cloud House, in layman English, is a free art space and resource space in the middle of the suburbs in Las Vegas,” Hue says. It also functions as a commentary on Las Vegas’ fascination with imitation and impersonation. “I was looking at monumentality, specifically of Las Vegas. Las Vegas is like a plaster mold of every monument in the world, like Caesars Palace, or the Great Pyramid of Giza, and I wanted to make my own monument, which is to the sky.” Today Hue is being encased in plaster — but tomorrow they might be designing garments or teaching dancers how to unlearn their habitual movements, which is part of Hue’s next project, “an exploration of murmuration and synchronicity and reincarnation through the human form.” Then the Cloud House’s open hours will begin, and Hue will roll up the garage door adorned with clouds painted against a soft blue sky. A neighbor may come by to paint, or borrow a book from the library, or learn how to sew. It’s all part of Hue’s generous, noble idea of what art can do. Oona Robertson

HUE multimedia artist

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She Turns Poetry Into Performance — and Uses Her Voice to Elevate the Literary Community

ELLE HOPE poet

THERE’S SOMETHING BRACING about the poetry of Elle Hope. Her poems are earnest and direct. They feel spontaneously composed, and thus more tangible and immediate. As a spoken-word artist, she doesn’t so much perform her pieces as manifest them. During a reading, she’ll phase fluidly from speaking to singing to rhyming in sudden cascades — not for the sake of spectacle or novelty, though. The interludes of song, rhyme — and in some cases, dance — just seem to be what the poetry wants. “I feel like music is a key component to my sense of flow,” Hope says. “I’m not a rapper by any means. However, when I’m writing these pieces, there’s this natural flow that comes to them, and that helps me create these waves while I perform.” It’s no surprise to learn, then, that long before she discovered poetry and spoken word, Elle Hope was captivated by musicals. As a kid, she adored brassy Broadway classics and over-the-top Disney songfests. As a high-schooler in Tucson, Arizona, she sang in choir and was a proud theater nerd. But those were other people’s songs, other characters’ stories, other writers’ words. In her senior year, she discovered poetry slams — and her powers of creative expression felt ignited. She moved to Las Vegas in June 2016. Her calling as a poet was confirmed after one particular performance. “I shared a piece one night, and someone said to me after, ‘Your words, they really connected to me on a deep level,’’’ Hope recalls. “It was at that moment I

portrait by A N T H O N Y M A I R

realized I could write my own stories. I was so used to telling other people’s stories through scripts and plays, but I felt like I wasn’t able to develop myself as a person.” Getting personal opened a channel of emotional connection with the audience. Hope devoted herself to the craft and the community. She hit open mic events hard with her rhythmic spoken-word pieces about love, relationships, and body positivity; she trekked regularly to L.A. via Greyhound to network with other poets; and she launched her own literary collective, Spotlight Poetry, which organizes readings and publishes poets’ work. In the classic Vegas spirit of reinvention, Hope wrote her own story, minting herself as a magnetic, fast-rising star in the local slam scene who champions diversity, empowerment, and acceptance. “She’s a powerhouse,” says fellow performer Monarch the Poet. “Her voice always carries a sense of urgency, but also there’s compassion in it, too. And with Spotlight Poetry, she’s cultivated a culture that’s very accepting. Whether it’s your first time on stage or your thousandth time, she’s gonna love you and support you.” Hope has taken the show on the road, too: In late June, as “poetry mom,” she led a team of Vegas poets who performed at the Utah Arts Festival. “As long as you are speaking your truth, you will always be embraced by the poetry community,” Hope says. “Everyone’s cheering each other on. There’s no jealousy, there’s no envy. We’re united as a community, and that community is growing.” Andrew Kiraly A U G U S T/ S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2

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MOST LOCAL DJS WILL TELL YOU they want to make music as much as they want to spin it. Some find their way into remix work. Others manage to collaborate with bigger names, or go the do-it-yourself route with hardware such as Ableton Live. Still, when it comes to original material, Las Vegas DJs collectively don’t have much. And yet, Downtown house DJ JP Bueno — aka Lone Plan — managed to pound out seven of his own tunes for his debut collection, Departure, and it’s exceptional in its status as a rare local electronic house/techno album and in its craftsmanship. It was almost 10 years into his DJ career before Bueno purchased so much as a synthesizer, curious if he could springboard from the sounds he was spinning. So he began by playing live keyboards for local bands like Kurumpaw. Then, he enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, where he not only learned about musicology and production, but also how to properly play the piano. Soon after, original material began to emerge from those keys. You’d never know from the subtle grooves on Departure that Bueno obsessively tinkered his with songs — so much so that he didn’t think he’d ever feel comfortable releasing them. “I felt like if I showed my music to people (who) are close to me, they’re just gonna be nice,” Bueno says. “(But) there was this guy that I met from France. He was staying at my place, and he saw my stuff and asked, ‘Oh, do you make music?’ I said yeah, so I showed it to him. And he’s like, ‘Yeah, you should put it out.’” Which he finally did — not with the help of anyone in the music or nightlife industries, but with the apps Fiverr and Amuse to secure, respectively, an engineer for mastering and a publisher to release and distribute the music. Now what? Bueno wants streamers to find and embrace his music; Amuse is tasked with getting him playlist placement. And he really wants gigs. But Las Vegas’ musical landscape isn’t hospitable to acts like Lone Plan; neither clubs nor rock venues book live electronic dance music, certainly not the kind of atmospheric space disco Bueno composes. So he’ll have to stick to desert parties for now. Ultimately, Bueno will have to do something he’s never done before: promote himself. Fortunately, he’s already done the hard part: arming himself with a hypnotic work such as Departure — which, come to think of it, is mistitled. It sounds more like an arrival. Mike Prevatt

LO N E PLAN electronic musician

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@ 1 8 B P H OT O G R A P H Y

This DJ Went Back to School — and Learned the Art of Mesmerizing Space Disco

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Their Own Inner Electricity Illuminates Every Powerful Subject

SINAI BASUA filmmaker

IN SINAI BASUA’S CARRIAGE, there’s an avid intensity, a crackling, live wire attentiveness, grounded by a gentle, reassuring smile and easy-going attitude. This internal voltage is what powers their art. Basua’s current work, This is How We Live, is a series of intimate video portraits created amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With a focus on the creative lives of queer people and artists of color, Basua produces bright sparks of cinema in a profoundly compelling manner. Each short film offers perspective on and comprehension of a unique individual by showing how their lives incorporate art. Done in collaboration with cinematographer Rudy Plaza, Basua’s work feels luxurious. Slow-motion pans through spaces, interwoven with focused interviews, frame the subject in soft pantomime. “QPOC are naturally creative,” Basua says. “It feels like home, like they are more passionate. I’m fascinated by the queer experience, and being a person of color, that’s a huge experience itself. It’s important to me to show their minds.” The subjects themselves give the work strength. Multidisciplinary artist Adriana Chavez provides glimpses into her creative practice; photographer Julia Gray grapples with the subjects of gender and identity in their image-making; artistic entrepreneur Valerie Stunning draws the viewer to the intersection of sex work and ice cream. The series only includes

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eight total, yet it elegantly depicts the Las Vegas zeitgeist, so thoroughly peopled with unique and divergent dreamers. It takes a great deal of self-belief to make any kind of art, especially film about subjects that rarely receive the attention they deserve. When meeting Basua, each subject spoke at length about their relationship with addiction, their sense of place in the world, and their creative motivation. They strike me as self-constructed human beings imbued with the joy and certainty that engenders. “I’ve always been impressed by the curious way Sinai sees the world,” says artist, friend, and curator Quindo Miller. “Their video work is often surreal and absurd, but always has an innovative element of keeping it cool.” Looking beyond This is How We Live into Basuas’ earlier efforts, you find similar lavish qualities. What previous pieces like “Pancakes” lack in sophistication, they make up for in askew humor. Basua’s cinematic progression suggests they’re poised to become an earnest, original storyteller in whatever medium they work in. “I’d like to collaborate with more filmmakers,” they say, pondering the future, “and continue This is How We Live. I also want to expand into sculpture and design.” Sounds simple enough, coming from an emergent artistic powerhouse. Brent Holmes

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SENSE OF PLACE

DS churches are architectural bemusements in our Las Vegas jumblescape of insistent suburban banality. Among the strip-malled swaths spilling through the valley that express or aspire to little beyond consumer convenience, LDS churches bring a little curious tension, a little variety, to the jigsaw puzzle of our urban grid. These bricky redoubts of solemn posture are tonically prim and somewhat jarring, like hospital corners on an air mattress. Except for this one at 4040 E. Wyoming Ave. that is special to me. It is 1988, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has unwittingly produced one of the best skate parks on the east side. It is a refuge, a carnival of concrete in a world where our deck stickers proclaim, “Skateboarding is not a crime!” — which means, of course, Our holy shred zone that skateboarding is a crime. With reliable irregularity, we get chased away of the east side by every stripe of miserable asshole rent-a-cop from shredding at strip malls, BY Andrew Kiraly schools, office parks, and industrial backlots. The LDS church on Wyoming is a blessed safe zone. And a blessed skate zone. The church has winged concrete accessibility ramps for launching fat airs, expansive sidewalks for wheelie manuals, and luxurious runs of rich, oily asphalt for exhilarating slides. The bushy parking lot medians demand to be ollied, there are stair drops for smacking bonelesses, and a low red curb at the top of a smooth grade for the most viscerally satisfying slappy grinds I’ve ever experienced. Skate bros and skate legends

SKATE CHURCH

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rolled through here: Danny B., ponytail flying, launching melon-grab airs over the accessibility ramps. Shockhaired Kevin S. unveiling ho-hos in the west lot — that’s a board-balancing circus handstand that took skateboarding into the realm of acrobatic street theater. Stephen P. aka Step-Hop, with his trademark mouthful of baby aspirin for achy teeth he couldn’t afford to fix, pulling off brutal wallies on the sharp-edged brick dumpster enclosure. Boyde W. nose-manualing damn near the entire perimeter of the church. Sundays were off-limits, obviously, the grounds and parking lot hopelessly throttled with worshippers. Otherwise, though, the church seemed to quietly percolate with vague administrative burblings from a handful of figures sporadically coming and going in sensible cars. Arguably, we spent more time there than any member of the Mormon faith; frequency and familiarity bred a sense of ownership. In a very particular dimension, the church became ours. Sure, skateboarding is not a crime, but you’re deluding yourself if you don’t think it’s a vital gateway to creative mischief and (mostly) innocent skullduggery. That’s kind of the cosmic purpose of skateboarding: Before it was a billion-dollar sport, it was a personal growth course in seeing what anarchic fun you could improvise amid the bullshit fiats of gravity, authority, insensate suburbanity. Skateboarding’s punk-adjacent ethos and lessons in physical courage emboldened us, and soon we were scaling the church roof for 15-foot acid drops and ollies, or taking dares to slip through an occasional unlocked door to sneak through the halls and frolic pointlessly but exuberantly in the echoey gymnasium. In our enthused heathen disregard, we embraced the physicality of the church, made our incursions, took over, converted it. It will always be Skate Church to me. ✦

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