Issuu

Merry! Hour m p 7 m p 5 T H- U SUN

it w n o s a e S y a id l o Jump Start The H

y t h g Nnd au a Nice y lt a i c e Sp s l i a t k c Co

AY MUSIC ID L O H D N TS A IDAY TREA L O H IDAY BAR! Y L O O J H N E P U POPAT OUR NEW

hours

em v o N , y a d i r F

For Table Reservation

DAY

& SUN THURSDAY

5PM - 11PM

URDAY T A S & Y A D FRI - CLOSE 5PM

n i g n i h g i e Sl ber 27 7 0 2 .7 9 7 .7 8 7 7

I VAT E FOR PR R O T U YO .7550 NUE BU CALL 702.797 E V R O F RINGS GATHE

11011 W CHARLESTON BLVD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89135

Everyone’s happiness is essential. Your health and well-being are essential to us. So we’re making it easier for you to visit one of our 5 local neighborhood dispensaries, talk in-line with a cannabis consultant while you wait, or use our convenient curbside pick-up service. And, we even accept debit cards. How happy are you now? WE ARE OPEN ON THANKSGIVING! Check out essencevegas.com to see a list of weekend deals.*

IN-LINE CANNABIS CONSULTS

CURBSIDE PICKUP

DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED

essencevegas.com @essencevegas_

*While supplies last. Select brands/products apply. Cannot be combined with other discounts/deals. Keep out of reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older.

LAS VEGAS PAIUTE CIGAR SHOPPE OR SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP

LAS VEGAS PAIUTE OR SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP

PREMIUM CIGARS & ACCESSORIES

PER CARTON* (CIGARETTES ONLY)

*Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes contracted brands. Excludes bundles & individual sticks from bundles, cigarettes, mass market and pipe tobacco. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies or digital copies accepted. EXPIRES 11/30/2020. LVW

*Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes filtered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit 1 discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. EXPIRES 11/30/2020. LVW

15% OFF

3 OFF

WE WILL BE CLOSED THANKSGIVING DAY & will open on Fri, 11/27 from 8am to 6pm

CHEYENNE

EXPIRE S 11/30!

$34.99*

FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON $3.79 PER PACK OFFER EXPIRES 11/30/2020

EDGEFIELD

24/7

$39.49*

$40.29*

FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON

$4.39 PER PACK *PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

$4.49 PER PACK

LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBAL SMOKE SHOP & CIGAR SHOPPE MON-SUN 8AM TO 6PM SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP & GAS STATION MON-SUN 6AM TO 7PM • PAY-AT-THE-PUMP OPEN 24/7

PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER KATIE DIXON katie.dixon@gmgvegas.com EDITOR SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Managing Editor/News DAVE MONDT (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) Deputy Editor GENEVIE DURANO (genevie.durano@gmgvegas.com) Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writers HILLARY DAVIS, JUSTIN EMERSON, MIKE GRIMALA, BRYAN HORWATH, SARA MACNEIL, C. MOON REED, JOHN SADLER, RICARDO TORRES-CORTEZ, LESLIE VENTURA Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JOHN FRITZ, CASE KEEFER, WADE MCAFERTY, KEN MILLER, JOHN TAYLOR Library Services Specialist/Permissions REBECCA CLIFFORD-CRUZ Office Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Designer IAN RACOMA Multimedia Manager YASMINA CHAVEZ Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER Digital Marketing Intern EM JURBALA

FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES WE ENCOURAGE THE USE OF FACE MASKS

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

LOSE THE QUARANTINE WEIGHT ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶

Initial Medical Consultation Full Body Composition Analysis EKG (if required) RX for (3) month Appetite Suppressants (12) Weekly B12 Injections Bi-Weekly Body Composition Analysis Medication for (3) month treatment

395

External Content Manager EMMA CAUTHORN Special Publications Manager JENNIFER INABA Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD Publication Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA Account Manager DAWN MANGUM Senior Advertising Managers BRIANNA KOURETAS, SUE SRAN Account Executives BRITTANY BURRIDGE, MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, ALEX TEEL Events Manager SAMANTHA PETSCH Marketing Coordinator KIMBERLY ALVAREZ

PRODUCTION Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Marketing Art Director DANY HANIFF Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS Traffic Coordinator JEANNE GLEESON

CIRCULATION Director of Circulation RON GANNON Route Manager RANDY CARLSON Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN Editorial Page Editor RIC ANDERSON

ON THE COVER Photo Illustration

NEW PATIENTS ONLY, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS.

www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

3365 E FLAMINGO ROAD STE 2, LAS VEGAS, NV 89121 4966 S RAINBOW BLVD STE 100, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 2275 Corporate Circle Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 (702) 990-2550 www.lasvegasweekly.com www.facebook.com/lasvegasweekly www.twitter.com/lasvegasweekly

All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3. ADVERTISING DEADLINE EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.

Steven Tsang, D.O. Board Eligible Osteopathic Medicine

Carrie Ash-Mott, M.D. Board Certified Family Medicine

Laura Addis, D.O. Board Certified Internal Medicine

Mike Wong, D.O. Board Eligible Osteopathic Medicine

Now Open and Accepting New Patients 5 Locations Now Open!

At Partners in Primary Care you'll experience care that makes you feel good

Fremont Street 1766 East Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89104

about your choice of doctors. You'll leave every appointment knowing you

North Rainbow 3129 North Rainbow Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89108

Primary Care is there for you 24-hours a day.

South Nellis 2875 South Nellis Blvd., Suite 3 Las Vegas, NV 89121 South Rainbow 915 South Rainbow Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89145 Spring Valley 4001 South Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89103

were heard and all your questions were answered. Getting in to see the doctor is easy and if you need to talk to a doctor after hours, don't worry — Partners in

Stop by any of our 5 open locations or call 702-357-9784 to schedule a VIP tour or visit SeniorFocusedLasVegas.com for more information. Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm

Visit us on Facebook for activities and events

We accept Aetna and Humana Medicare Advantage plans. Effective January 2021, we will also accept Alignment Healthcare and Allwell Medicare Advantage plans. Partners in Primary Care does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711). 注意：如果使用繁體中文，可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711).

GCHKUAHEN

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

11.26.20

GOVERNOR TIGHTENS RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES AS VIRUS SURGES Gaming establishments, bars, restaurants and other businesses throughout Nevada will be capped at 25% capacity in an attempt to limit the spread of the surging coronavirus, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced November 22. The changes went into effect November 24 and will continue for at least three weeks, Sisolak said during a video news conference broadcast on the governor’s YouTube channel. The broadcast originated from the governor’s mansion in Carson City, where Sisolak continues to recover from his own bout with COVID-19. Event gathering sizes, including at churches and resort showrooms, will be dropped from a maximum of 250 attendees to 50, or 25% of fire code capacity, whichever is less. “We’re not at [the virus’] mercy,” Sisolak said. “We can do so much if we just all work together and everybody does their part.” Restaurants and bars that serve food are moving down from 50% capacity and are required to take reservations, with no more than four people per table. Walk-in diners will not be allowed. In addition, adult and youth sports tournaments—many of which are conducted on weekends— will be paused. Retail establishments including indoor malls and grocery stores can continue operating at 50% capacity, and hair and nail salons will not be affected by the newest round of regulations. Fitness centers will be required to adhere to the 25% of capacity cap, and clients at those centers must wear a mask at all times unless they’re pausing their workout for a drink. –John Sadler

WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD EV E N TS T O F O L L OW A N D N EWS YO U M I SS E D

The Las Vegas Raiders came within minutes of sweeping defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City when tight end Jason Witten caught the go-ahead touchdown pass November 22 at Allegiant Stadium. The Chiefs marched downfield, though, and scored a touchdown with 28 seconds remaining for a 35-31 win. (Photo by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

11.26.20

IN THIS ISSUE

10 16 24 32 36

Cover story: Even in 2020, there’s a lot we’re thankful for Shopping: Tips for the foodie on your holiday list The Strip: Reflections on Zumanity, gone after 17 years Food & Drink: Din Tai Fung’s famed dumplings are here Sports: UNLV’s men’s basketball team aims high

HE SAID IT

STORIES FROM LAST WEEK THIRD VACCINE SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE, CHEAPER Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said November 23 that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90% effective, giving public health officials hope they might soon have access to an inexpensive vaccine. Unlike those tested by Pfizer and Moderna, the AstraZeneca vaccine doesn’t have to be stored at ultra-cold temperatures, making it easier to distribute. It also would cost about $2.50 per dose, as little as a tenth the cost of others. FIRST JEOPARDY! GUEST HOST: WHO IS KEN JENNINGS? Jeopardy! record-holder Ken Jennings will be the first in a series of interim hosts replacing Alex Trebek when the show resumes production November 30. Producers announced November 23 that Jennings, who won 74 games in a row and claimed the show’s “Greatest of All Time” title in a competition last year, will host episodes that air in January. A long-term host to replace Trebek, who died from cancer November 8, will be named later.

“Mr. Room Rater, is it possible now that the election is over to rate rooms on a non partisan basis? Are you a room rater or a hyper partisan person that is the problem? We need less hyper partisanship on backgrounds at this time for our country.” –Jeb Bush, tweeting November 21 in a reply to a Twitter account called Room Rater that critiques rooms of TV guests on political talk shows

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

CHINA AIMING FOR THE MOON China launched an ambitious mission November 23 to bring back rocks and debris from the moon’s surface for the first time in more than 40 years—an undertaking that could boost human understanding of the moon and of the solar system in general. If successful, Chang’e 5 could pave the way for bringing samples back from Mars or even a crewed lunar mission. LET THE TRANSITION BEGIN The General Services Administration ascertained November 23 that President-elect Joe Biden is the “apparent winner” of the November 3 election, clearing the way for the start of the transition from President Donald Trump’s administration and allowing Biden to coordinate with federal agencies on plans for taking over on January 20.

Warnings from public health officials urging Americans to limit gatherings this holiday season amid a surge in U.S. coronavirus cases aren’t stopping the White House from planning a host of festivities and holiday parties in the midst of a pandemic. The November 23 delivery of an 18-and-a-half-foot-tall Fraser fir by horse-drawn carriage, met by a maskless first lady Melania Trump, signaled the kickoff of the usual array of White House holiday events that will include the annual turkey pardon and Christmas and Hanukkah events. The decision to move forward with indoor gatherings and project a sense of normalcy comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, top White House advisers and public health professionals across the nation have been pleading with Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving or spend the holiday with people from outside of their households. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Associated Press)

LAS VEGAS STRIP SHOWS ADJUST TO NEW RESTRICTIONS Extravaganza, the production show that opened March 14 at Bally’s and squeaked out a single performance before the coronavirus shuttered all entertainment on the Strip, returned to the stage November 23 and is set to stay open despite temporary new restrictions limiting audiences to just 50 people. At least 13 prominent shows reopened in October and November, and several comedy clubs have resumed entertainment as well. Now they’re shuffling plans again in order to stay onstage; some are opting to take a three-week break in the hopes of returning soon. Both Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International provide statements noting that ticketed entertainment offerings at their resort venues are being evaluated, and changes in schedules and ticket prices are likely. At Caesars Palace, Absinthe is planning to keep the show going for 50 guests through December 15. At the Strat, the L.A. Comedy Club will continue its nightly lineup of live performances at a lower capacity, while the musical tribute MJ Live will be on hold for at least three weeks. The Fantasy revue at Luxor, which moved into a larger theater for socially distant audiences of 250 upon reopening less than three weeks ago, also announced it would go dark for the pause. This Is Christmas, an original holiday production set to open November 27 at the Venetian Theater, has canceled all planned shows, with the cast and crew “hopeful” the show can be brought back for the 2021 holiday season. –Brock Radke

5-MINUTE EXPERT

11.26.20

Great in Vegas Desert Fruit Trees

SWEET REWARDS

After years of research, The UNR Extension Research Orchard recently released its “Evaluations and Recommendations for Southern Nevada 2020.” Here’s which fruit trees—beyond citrus—it says do and don’t work well in Southern Nevada, based on both fruit quality and tree health, according to that report.

Apricots “Most apricots do well in Southern Nevada and are flavorful.”

STONE FRUITS Peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots are all considered stone fruits because of the giant seed at their center. They all do well in the desert, albeit with some heat stress, according to a video by Nicole Hansen, an instructor with YHEP (Youth Horticulture Education Program), which is part of the Extension program. “All fruit trees in the desert require maintenance, but this is particularly true of stone fruit trees,” she says. You’ll need to plan for proper pruning, fertilization, soil sulfur to combat our high pH and protection from sun damage.

Growing fruit trees in the desert is tricky but doable. Here’s what to do BY C. MOON REED

ure, the nearest grocery store produce section is brimming with a cornucopia of fruit. And sure, it’s convenient, inexpensive and available year round. Nevertheless, the human psyche can’t resist the romance of trying things the hard way. And we can’t deny the childlike joy of stepping into the backyard to pluck a ripe, juicy grapefruit. Thus, we present to you this explainer on growing fruit in the desert.

How to Start

If you’re new to gardening, committing to a tree can be quite intimidating. Any type of citrus fruit is generally a good bet. And if you buy from one of the local nurseries, such as Star or Moon Valley, employees will be happy to tell you everything you’ve always wanted to know about plants. The University of Nevada Reno’s Extension program is also an invaluable resource. It runs the Master Gardeners of Southern Nevada program, keeps a research and demonstration orchard in North Las Vegas (4600 Horse Drive, 702-786-4361) and offers classes to the general public, along with information online (bit. ly/36SYqZm). The Master Gardeners Tree Fruit Orchard also hosts seasonal sales of fruit trees. We also recommend joining local social media groups dedicated to fruit growing. There, you’ll be able to trade tips with other locals, share war stories and sometimes even swap plants.

Aprium An apricot/plum hybrid that does “extremely well” in Southern Nevada.

BASIC CARE

Protect against the sun. Just like our skin, the delicate bark of a fruit tree can suffer from sun damage. Don’t spray on sunscreen, but do paint the trunks—and any stem larger than a pinky finger—with a 50/50 water/ light-colored outdoor latex paint mixture. This can also help protect from pests. Prune. Nobody wants to use a ladder to harvest their afternoon snack. The general rule is to prune fruit trees to keep them low and wide, keeping the fruit within reach. You’ll also want to keep the center of the tree pruned so the sun and air can reach the necessary tree parts. Prune trees during their winter dormant season, which is generally January and February. The goal is to have a small tree with a high fruit yield. Where to plant. Fruit trees need full sun, at least eight hours a day. Even if a baby tree is small today, plan ahead by giving it enough space to grow to its full adult size. Fruit trees need lots of water and also good drainage. Norm Schilling of Schilling Horticulture suggests planting a fruit tree near a grassy lawn if you happen to have one, because both are thirsty. Don’t plant a fruit tree too close to traditional desert plants, which can become waterlogged by runoff from the fruit tree.

11.26.20

Nectarines The best variety for Southern Nevada is the Arctic Star.

Cactus and Nopal Both the cacti and the fruit are great for eating.

Peaches A winning choice for Las Vegas gardens.

Figs Most do well here, but they need more water than most fruit trees.

Persimmon “Excellent quality” but requires extra care.

Grapes Both table and wine grapes do well here, though they might require bird netting.

Plums Requires protection from borers.

Maybe in Vegas

Jujube (aka Chinese Date or Indian fig) It’s “drought-resistant and virtually pestand disease-free.”

Pluot (sweet apricot-plum hybrid).

■ Apples Specifically Dorsett Golden, Pink Lady, Mutsu, Fuji, Granny Smith and Sundowner. “Not all apples do well in Southern Nevada,” says the UNR Extension, so make sure to plant a top variety like those listed here. ■ Blackberries They “struggle in this climate and soils but produce acceptable fruit.”

NEED HELP? The Master Gardeners of Southern Nevada offer a wonderful (and free!) community service. Master Gardeners help fulfill their volunteer commitment by staffing a gardening help and information line. If you have a gardening question, no matter how big or small, call 702-257-5555 or email lvmastergardeners@unce.unr.edu.

Pomegranate It can be grown here as a trunk or a tree.

Quince shrub Does well in our climate.

Avoid in Vegas

■ Cherry “Not reliable” here; it’s too dry and warm. ■ Raspberry shrub “This climate causes poor production and poor quality.”

SIZES

Ultra-dwarf (3-6 feet tall/wide). Great for a container or patio garden. Dwarf (8-10 feet tall/wide). Ideal for Vegas backyards. Semi-dwarf trees (12-15 feet tall/wide). Good for desert backyards. Standard (18-30 feet tall/wide). Unwieldy, so they’re best avoided.

PITFALLS • Fruit trees are thirsty creatures. • Beware of external attacks. Your Garden of Eden will also be a paradise for insects, birds and rats. Covering fruit in organza bags will help protect them. • Be ready to pick up fallen fruit and to deal with more fruit than you can handle.

WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT FRUIT ■ Juice it ■ Can it ■ Make it into jam or jelly ■ Cook it in a pie ■ Make fruit-infused vodka (a great holiday gift) ■ Make homemade fruit ice cream or ice pops ■ Dehydrate it for snacks ■ Make it into candy or homemade fruit chews ■ Gift it to friends

(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

Asian Pears Their trees do well in our heat but produce smaller fruit here than elsewhere.

5-MINUTE EXPERT

4444 10

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

11.26.20

EVEN IN A TOUGH YEAR, HERE ARE

THINGS

By Las Vegas Weekly Staff

Health care workers, who do their jobs with a smile on their face despite the long hours and the daily risks they face.

Teachers, for adopting new ways to educate and keep kids engaged, even as they deal with their own coronavirus-related difficulties.

weâ€™re thankful for

Anybody and everybody working in the Vegas hospitality industry. You are the bedrock that keeps this town standing.

Our pets, for keeping us company when we canâ€™t see other people.

(in no particular order)

Curbside pickup. This should be a thing even after the virus is long gone.

The poll workers who volunteered amid a pandemic.

Bicycles.

11.26.20

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Pizza. Just all of it. This year has been like a tournament of comfort foods, and pizza wins.

The availability of recipes on the internet.

People who wear masks (and do it properly—over the nose, please!).

Legal cannabis. And dispensaries that deliver it to your door, which still amazes us a little.

Tech that keeps us in touch, from FaceTime and Zoom to our smartphones and laptops themselves.

DR. BRIAN LABUS, UNLV PROFESSOR AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EXPERT “I’m thankful for the UNLV School of Public Health graduate students who have made our student-run contact tracing team a reality. Many of them started by volunteering in the early days of the pandemic, simply because they wanted to help. We started with a budget of zero and a handful of students, and have built a paid team of nearly 200 students that investigates hundreds of cases per week. I am incredibly proud of them all, and they inspire me every day.” Good Pie and Circa (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

The new carpool lanes on the 15 and 95. Once Raiders games have crowds, you’ll fall in love with them, too.

Our climate, which allows us to continue spending time outdoors while folks around the country bundle up.

Circa Resort, for showing that even in the worst of times, Vegas pushes ahead.

11I

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

16.

Our queer, trans, nonbinary, BIPOC and LGBT friends and family, for their courage and strength.

11.26.20

17.

Music, art, television, movies, books … and the endlessly creative folks who continue to generate them.

18.

Telemedicine. During a year in which a doctor’s office or hospital was the last place you wanted to be, the effort of our medical community to provide care over video calls has been a massive boon.

19. 20. 21. Delivering With Dignity, for getting meals to home-bound seniors and others.

Low interest rates, which have provided flexibility for homeowners—and home buyers—during an otherwise brutal economic time.

The opportunity to slow down, take long walks and appreciate friends and family (from a distance).

22. Sourdough bread, the unofficial mascot of 2020.

24. 25. The expansion of outdoor dining.

DEREK STEVENS, OWNER OF THE D, GOLDEN GATE AND CIRCA “This has been a challenging year to say the least, but through it all, I watched as the people of Vegas banded together. The resiliency of our city makes me proud, and I’m grateful to be part of a leadership community that will work side by side to bring Vegas back stronger than ever in 2021.”

All the rescue groups who’ve worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep animals safe and connect them with forever homes.

11.26.20

23.

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. Tourists, for continuing to pour money into our economy.

Ample amounts of toilet paper on grocery store shelves. Let’s keep it that way.

Southern Nevada’s many naturally beautiful spots, from Red Rock to Mount Charleston and beyond, for bringing us needed reprieve from the uncertainty and stress.

Bandcamp, which provides an easy way for Vegas artists to get their music heard, even when they can’t tour or perform.

Alcohol.

People who sincerely exude kindness over judgment.

Derek Carr (Steve Marcus/Staff)

LAURA MARTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PLAN (Progressive Leadership Alliance of America) “I am thankful for PLANistas who have shown resilience and love in the face of a pandemic and continued police terrorism. I’m thankful for a community who holds each other so we can thrive together with dignity.”

Our new pro football team, for providing weekly distraction from the tough stuff. Roll on, Las Vegas Raiders!

Mental therapy, which can truly change one’s life for the better—and keep a hard life from turning much worse.

13I

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

33. Postal service workers and other delivery drivers.

11.26.20

34.

Las Vegas’ small businesses, which have weathered unendurable hardship by adapting on the fly.

35.

J Dapper, for doing the (seemingly) impossible: acquiring the Huntridge Theater and moving forward with plans to revamp it.

SONIA EL NAWAL, CHEF AND OWNER OF ROOSTER BOY CAFÉ “I’m thankful for my incredible staff and customers that keep showing up and supporting Rooster Boy Café during these difficult times, keeping our restaurant in business and a roof over our heads. Because of them, we have been able to continue adapting and serving the community.” Huntridge Theater (Wade Vandervort/Staff); J Dapper (Sun file)

36.

The unbelievably generous folks comprising the local restaurant industry, many of whom have donated time, money and energy to help the community even as their businesses struggled, and in some cases, failed.

37.

Backyards and swimming pools.

38. Yoga.

11.26.20

39.

Activists, for showing up and speaking out against injustice, even in the face of violence.

40.

Three Square, which has continued to feed Southern Nevada during this difficult year.

41.

Grocery store workers, for risking their own health every day to make sure we all have food to eat.

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

15I

42. 43. 44. Las Vegas Weekly’s delivery drivers.

Our loyal readers. That’s you!

Progress, no matter how small.

Giving thanks amid a very tough year Ashley Farkas, the executive director of public relations at MGM Resorts International, tested positive for COVID-19 in March, just as the city was shutting down. “I quarantined for 14 days and let the virus run its course,” she says. “Little did I know this would only be the start of what was to come.” In late August, Farkas felt fatigued and developed a 103 fever that would not break. She was tested for COVID again, but it came back negative. Shortly after Labor Day, she fainted and was taken to the emergency room. “I was told I had acute myeloid leukemia—a blood and bone marrow cancer,” Farkas says. “There was no time to think or comprehend anything—the lab results came back at a ‘critical risk’ level, and doctors immediately rushed me to the ICU floor.” Farkas, who’s also a yoga instructor, spent a total of 36 days in isolation at Sunrise Hospital

while she received treatment. Her family and friends fundraised more than $18,000 in her name for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, running blood drives, sending Farkas cards and messages and organizing a car parade when she got home. Farkas still has a long journey ahead, including chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, but she’s keeping a positive mindset. And this Thanksgiving, she says she’s grateful for so much. “I’m most thankful for the kind and generous hearts of humanity,” she says. “Even in the most trying of circumstances in 2020, people have come together to support one another. I’ve seen large and small organizations put together teams to pack and deliver food to those in need; watched colleagues recommend job opportunities to those seeking new employment; saw Facebook groups formed that raised funds to

donate PPE gear to hospitals; witnessed friends reaching out to one another to ask how they can help; learned about a neighbor helping another neighbor take care of her elderly father; and the list goes on. “And personally, I’m grateful to have so many people in my life—friends, colleagues, family, friends of friends and even complete strangers—implement or participate in initiatives that support me and others fighting cancer. To sit from my hospital bed and watch as these groups came together to unite for a common purpose has filled me with hope and love, along with reminding me that what they were doing is what life is all about: providing a gift to another that can never be repaid.” A blood drive in Farkas’ name will take place December in Nashville. To donate locally, visit vitalant.org. –Genevie Durano

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

11.26.20

TASTY GIFTS

All images courtesy

Holiday suggestions for your favorite foodies BY GENEVIE DURANO

Gift Baskets from Valley Cheese & Wine Food gifts are the best kinds to give, as the possibilities to delight are endless. Take Valley Cheese & Wine’s curated themed baskets—they hold the store’s top offerings of artisanal cheeses, wine, cured meats and other treats. Your recipient can get a Taste of Spain ($75) or a Taste of France ($100), or even a paella dinner kit ($125). Want to really impress? The Truffle Lovers basket ($250) will make someone’s holiday extra merry. 1570 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway #140, 702-341-8191, valleycheeseandwine.com.

Founders Coffee You know what else fits perfectly in a stocking? A bag of java. Get one to gift at Founders Coffee, which has become one of the Valley’s most beloved caffeine spots, offering handcrafted lattes, blended frappes and more. Founders recently opened a second location in Henderson, where you can also find gift-ready items like hats, hoodies and tees. 6410 S Durango Drive #100 & 3512 St. Rose Parkway #101, founderscoffeeco.com.

Holiday Nog from Ellis Island In a year that’s been anything but normal, it’s nice to know that there’s one thing you can still count on: Ellis Island’s beloved Holiday Nog ($7 by the glass, $35 by the bottle). Only 5,000 bottles will be produced this year, so get your hands on one before they’re gone. Available at Ellis Island, the Mt. Charleston Lodge and Village Pub locations. Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, 4178 Koval Lane, 702-733-8901, ellisislandcasino.com. Big Boy Pants from Crafthaus Brewery If you have a craft beer lover on your list, CraftHaus has the ultimate stocking stuffer: the Big Boy Pants ($30), three 12-ounce cans of 13% ABV barleywine sure to ward off the winter chill. Upon receiving this festive cylinder featuring the big man himself, your giftee will believe in Santa all over again. It goes on sale November 27, with pickup dates from December 11-23. 7350 Eastgate Road #110 & 197 E. California St. #130, crafthausbrewery.com.

Anything from Sparrow + Wolf Pantry A meal at the Chinatown spot always leaves you a feeling a little wistful that you can’t eat chef Brian Howard’s food every single day of your life. But with staples from Sparrow + Wolf’s Pantry, you honestly could. From premium oysters and a dry-aged porterhouse to fresh-baked bread and assorted charcuterie, along with cocktails and wine, the Pantry is your one-stop shop for a bespoke holiday party. And for dessert, Sparrow has collaborated with Pop N Pies for some truly outstanding dessert, perfect for gifting or keeping to yourself. 4480 Spring Mountain Road #100, 702-790-2147, sparrowandwolflv.com.

11.26.20

17I

C R E AT E D A N D P R E S E N T E D B Y DK LAS VEGAS

NEW REAL ESTATE HOME TYPES TO KNOW +

As real estate offerings evolve and change, so does the vocabulary to describe them. “Adding new descriptors to the condominium lexicon(there are lofts, townhomes, flats and more), we have additional home types to look for, namely penterraces and live/work studios,” said Uri Vaknin, partner at KRE Capital, which owns the DK Las Vegas portfolio of condos. “These spaces represent how people want to live today, and they’re making for beautiful, contemporary homes.”

LIVE/WORK SPACES

With an increased number of individuals working from home, live/ work studios are in high demand — from small home office areas to entire studios for those who need more space. “We’ve introduced The Studio Collection–Creative Two-Story Live/Work Spaces that feature a work studio on the bottom floor and the loft-style condo upstairs,” Vaknin said. These spaces are optimal for artists, architects, designers, attorneys, shop owners and anyone who benefits from having a studio to create in. “Being able to work downstairs and live upstairs can be a game changer—you no longer have to travel across town to your workplace, everything is centralized and convenient,” Vaknin said.

PENTERRACES

Combine the size and amenities of a penthouse with the benefits of a terrace, and you get a penterrace. “Penterraces are popping up around the country. We see people coming from single family homes that want outdoor areas but don’t want an entire yard to take care of,” Vaknin said. “Penterraces afford outdoor space with a fraction of the maintenance. We upgrade the finish level of these spaces to larger, two-story condos that feel like a penthouse on the terrace level.” A penterrace on the pool level offers additional benefits, as residents are able to exit their private terrace straight on to the pool deck.

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE TODAY LUXURY CONDOS FROM THE LOW $200s TO OVER $1 MILLION D! OL %S 92

ONE LAS VEGAS LUXURY 2 & 3-BED + DEN RESIDENCES FEATURING THE PENTHOUSE COLLECTION MINUTES FROM ALLEGIANT STADIUM THEONELV.COM | 702.848.7236

JUHL LOFT-STYLE FLATS, TWO-STORY BROWNSTONES, PENTERRACES, LIVE/WORK & PENTHOUSES IN THE HEART OF DTLV JUHLLV.COM | 702.690.4944

O U R H O M E S H AV E T H E “IT” FACTOR H O M E O F F I C E S & F L E X S PAC E L A R G E T E R RAC E S & B A LCO N I E S R E S O RT P O O L S & C A B A N A S F U L L S E RV I C E CO N C I E R G E S TW O - STO RY F I T N E SS C E N T E R S C E N T RA L LO C AT I O N S C LO S E TO E V E RYT H I N G

Penterraces are great for people with families and those who like gardening and spending time outside. In addition, they can be a special bonus for those who enjoy hosting. It is an ideal location for outdoor dining and intimate parties, allowing your guests to mingle on an open-air terrace. With plenty of room for a full dining set, whether for a classy soiree or family potluck, these unique, hybrid spaces offer a range of opportunities.

VA FINANCING APPROVED! LOW DOWN PAYMENT OPTIONS

SCHEDULE YOUR PRIVATE PRESENTATION TODAY CALL FOR LIMITED-TIME INCENTIVES!

PRICING SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SEE AGENT FOR DETAILS. A DK LAS VEGAS LLC COMMUNITY. NORTHCAP COMMERCIAL | LICENSE # B.0143037

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

11.26.20

READ THE ROOM

Curate a home library that’s both useful and beautiful

LOCKDOWN LIBRARY The pandemic has increased the importance of the home office, Tik says. And whether you have a full wall of tomes or just a single shelf, the office is a great place to store your books. Additionally, they make for a great Zoom background. “It’s something nice to look at,” Tik says. “It’s not too busy, and it’s always a good conversation starter.”

BY C. MOON REED

ver since the Beast wooed Belle with his epic home library, it’s been clear that a few well-placed books can have a major aesthetic impact. Not to mention, they’re fun to read. “Creating a library can be really a focal point for a home and special to the homeowner,” says Victoria Tik, the Las Vegas-based principal designer and founder of Aesthetik Design. The presence of books can make a house a home. They project a sense of warmth and coziness, and they reflect their owner’s personality: aspirations (those classics you hope to one day read); interests (say, those gardening howtos); and cherished memories (that story you’ve read a thousand times). Still, it’s been a weird time for physical books. The internet and smart devices have shrunk most everybody’s collections. “Bookshelves are getting smaller and smaller nowadays,” says Elise Kotelnikova, the Las Vegas-based interior designer and founder of the Luxe Interior. While she still holds a special place in her heart for those fairy-tale libraries with floor-to-ceiling shelves, Kotelnikova says smaller libraries allow for fun design innovations. She suggests floating bookshelves; custom bookshelves with glass doors; shelves made from nontraditional materials such as European-style lockers; and the addition of LED lighting that’s placed under shelves.

HOW TO DISPLAY YOUR BOOKS ■ Start with a purge. There’s no need to go all Marie Kondo and eliminate everything you own, but it couldn’t hurt to donate a few books you no longer want. “Narrow it down to a smaller selection,” Tik advises. “Unless you want to keep all of them, and that’s fine, too.” ■ Separate by type. Cookbooks go in the kitchen, Tik says. Similarly, children’s books go in kids’ rooms. Divide out any specialty books— woodworking manuals, for example, might go in the garage. Everything else will constitute your library. ■ Consider hardbacks versus paperbacks. For the optimum in elegance, Tik likes to display only hardback books. She even removes the dust jackets for a cleaner look. She stores paperbacks in “nice decorative boxes.”

11.26.20

19I

■ Pick an organizational principle. If aesthetics are your priority, display your books by color and group by size. If you care more about practicality, sort your books by topic, author, genre and/or alphabetical order. Kotelnikova, who admits to being a little OCD when it comes to organization, suggests organizing your bookshelf the same way that you would your clothes closet: “They have to be organized by color and by size.” ■ Add decorative items. There’s no law requiring a bookshelf to house only books. Create visual interest by mixing in tchotchkes, like souvenirs from past trips, little sculptures and small framed photos. Tik says bookends are nice if you just want to display a few books in a prominent place, such as on a desk or a credenza. ■ Make it your own. Here’s your chance to be creative. Play with the way you display your books. “I don’t mind having my books a little bit messy—some stacked, some laying flat,” Tik says. ■ Don’t worry too much. Since it’s just items sitting on a shelf, there’s no huge commitment required. Change it all up again in six months, or sooner if the pandemic has you bored.

WHERE TO BUY BOOKS

The Writer’s Block bookshop Downtown is a great all-around, indie-owned shop. The knowledgeable staff will help you find whatever you’re looking for. (519 S. 6th St. #100, thewritersblock.org) If you’re just looking to bulk up your collection cheaply—say you want to focus on acquiring a rainbow of books for aesthetic purposes—Tik suggests hitting up neighborhood thrift stores. Locally owned Amber Unicorn used bookstore is going out of business and selling its enormous collection at a discount, so that could be a great spot from which to build a collection fast. (2101 S. Decatur Blvd. #14, 702-648-9303)

The Writer’s Block (Miranda Alam/Special to the Weekly)

(Shutterstock)

■ Add missing pieces. Now that you know what you’ve got, you can better see what’s not there. While book collections are exceedingly elastic— they look great no matter how many or how few books you own—take this as a fun opportunity to buy the books you’ve been coveting. ■ Choose your shelves. Bookshelves are highly versatile. No matter your style—traditional, contemporary, industrial-chic—you can find shelves to match your home’s aesthetic. According to the designers we interviewed, floating shelves are very popular. Tik says built-in shelving is also surging in popularity, after going out of style for a long time.

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

LV W C U LT U R E 1 1 . 2 6 . 2 0

BINGE THIS WEEK

STAGED Actors David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Michael Sheen (Frost/ Nixon) are isolating at home, bored and restive. A director comes to them with an idea: Why not rehearse a play over Zoom, and be ready to stage it when the lockdown is lifted? And it all goes disastrously downhill from there. Hulu.

TV PODCAST

THE SECRET ROOM Open the door to The Secret Room podcast and you’ll find a wealth of take-it-to-the-grave stories. In each episode, personable host Ben Hamm interviews regular people about their deepest, darkest secrets. Protected by anonymity, the storytellers share outrageous experiences, about topics including drug addiction, undercover fetish modeling and even, for a special Halloween edition, the accidental haunting of a library. The stories are honest and wrenching. You’ll feel wonder and empathy. And if you’re inspired, you can share a secret for a potential future episode at thesecretroompodcast.com/sharesecret. Thesecretroompodcast.com. –C. Moon Reed

SHOW

TRAVIS CLOER Arguably no former Strip musical remains as beloved as Jersey Boys, and its long, successful run at Palazzo and Paris planted plenty of talented artists in Las Vegas. The endlessly charismatic Travis Cloer first joined the Broadway cast before shipping out to the desert, and he ended up setting a record as the longest-running actor to play Frankie Valli in the show worldwide. He’s been active this year with livestreams and drivein shows, along with releasing a new album this month, and you can catch his Broadway and More performance at cozy off-Strip supper club the Vegas Room. November 27, 6:30 p.m., $79, thevegasroom.com. –Brock Radke

THE CROWN A family with a history this long—37 generations spanning more than 1,200 years—is rife with intrigue, but for Netflix’s purposes, the House of Windsor, established in 1917, is its most fascinating chapter, with Queen Elizabeth II (still reigning after 67 years) at its center. The fourth season of The Crown picks up the storyline in the 1970s through the early ’90s and introduces some of the most fascinating characters in modern British history: Camilla Parker Bowles, Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana and William and Harry. Not even the gilded palaces and outsize pageantry of this sumptuous show can hold a candle to the human drama that most of us remember unraveling in real time, re-created here for our binge-watching pleasure. Netflix. –Genevie Durano

11.26.20

LV W C U LT U R E

SINCE I LEFT YOU Before Australian group The Avalanches releases third album We Will Always Love You on December 11, head back to this debut LP, which dropped 20 years ago this week. The plunderphonic dance masterpiece hasn’t aged a moment.

Emma Corrin as Princess Diana in The Crown (Netflix/Courtesy)

OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

EXERCISE

TRUTH SEEKERS

YOGA WITH ADRIENE

Whenever Simon Pegg and Nick Frost team up—as they have in Shawn of the Dead and other films—great comedy results, but also great genre storytelling. Happily, that’s the case with Truth Seekers, a new Frost/Pegg comedy-horror series that’s not only solidly funny, but resoundingly creepy. Over the course of eight tightly plotted episodes, paranormal investigator and broadband installer Gus (Frost) and his assistant Elton (Samson Kayo) chase the unexplainable while helping their boss Dave (Pegg) bump up England’s broadband coverage. Amazon Prime. –Geoff Carter

From the opening guitar strums to Adriene Mishler’s signature greeting—“What’s up, party people?”—there’s something comforting that brings us back to her YouTube channel (and our mats) day after day. Since founding the YWA community in 2012, the Austin native has gone on to launch an online subscription service and app named after her mantra, “Find What Feels Good.” But hundreds of free 10- to 45- minute videos still populate her YouTube channel with new ones being added, helping to combat chronic lower and upper back pain, alleviating mood swings and more. Youtube.com/ user/yogawithadriene. –Leslie Ventura

THANK YOU NEVADA FOR SAYING YES ON QUESTION 2 PAID FOR BY NEVADANS FOR EQUALITY

now slicing

extraordinary order at capriottis.com for pick-up or delivery

LV W C U LT U R E

11.26.20

Zumanity was so much more than a show

(Pierre Manning/Courtesy)

f you make the right choices, one night in Las Vegas can change your life. “People say the craziest things to me. One woman from somewhere in the Midwest sent me a message years ago, saying our show completely changed al. “When you come to see the show, I’m inviting you her sexually,” says Christopher Kenney, who created into my world, and my world is very different from your the emcee drag character of Edie and portrayed the world,” Kenney says. “I want you to meet what I think is “Mistress of Sensuality” in Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity the most fabulous group of creatures in the world.” for more than 12 years. “She always felt like she had to One of its best-known original acts featured two men be a certain kind of woman, or no man would find her engaged in an intense, almost balletlike battle. The attractive. She was incredibly insecure, and something climactic ending finds the warriors locked in a kiss. about Zumanity made her feel sexy. … She said she was In Zumanity’s earliest days, a few guests would often having more sex and was happier than she’d ever been react by walking out of the show, offended, sometimes in her life. And that’s so wonderful.” muttering homophobic slurs. That’s not the kind of change you expect from a Las “I was told that happened a lot more before I got Vegas show. But it’s not an uncommon reaction there,” Kenney says. “But all of that slowly to Zumanity, which opened in 2003 at the New stopped over the years. It was amazing. I’m York-New York Hotel & Casino. It’s last perforsure people still think it, but they didn’t say it mance was on March 14. anymore, which was nice. It felt like the world Cirque announced last week that Zumanity may be growing and changing, becoming more will not return, informing the cast and crew loving and accepting.” of about 120 of the permanent closure on the It’s rare when a Las Vegas show can serve as a same day. Few things are truly shocking these barometer of societal change, but that’s just one days, and a big show ending during a pandemic reason why Zumanity was special. Cirque prothat has absolutely crushed Las Vegas can’t ductions are known for fitting uniquely brilliant THE come as a complete surprise. (Zumanity is artists into anonymous roles. Zumanity put INCIDENTAL the second big show to close; Le Rêve did so in the cast’s personalities on full display. Before TOURIST August). Edie, New York City drag performer and cabaret BY BROCK RADKE But for Kenney and other artists, it still came singer Joey Arias emceed. Different acts were as a shock. “I was just not prepared at all. I just introduced by their names—sometimes characnever thought Zumanity was in a position to close or ter names and other times real names—and there was that it was even a thought. It wasn’t like we had a weak direct interaction with the audience. show.” That personal recognition also strengthened the A statement from a Cirque du Soleil spokesperson family feel for performers and crew members. Wassa said the decision to end Zumanity was a mutual one Coulibaly, a dancer from Senegal, was part of the origibetween Cirque and MGM Resorts, the result of many factors including the impacts of the pandemic on the entertainment landscape and market in Las Vegas: “We have reviewed our portfolio of shows and how we move forward. MGM Resorts has expressed their intent to explore other programming in that theater space, which they will announce in the coming months.” Just days later, MGM announced ventriloquist and singer Terry Fator—whose headlining gig at the Mirage ended earlier this year—will perform a limited engagement in the New York-New York theater from November 26 through the end of the year. Originally intended to be Cirque’s exploration of sensuality, romance and eroticism, Zumanity was groundbreaking and somewhat controversial when it officially opened on September 20, 2003. Like any production that achieves longevity, significant changes were made in its early stages and over the course of its long run, but it has always been provocative. “You have to go too far before you know what too far is,” director of creation Andrew Watson told the Las Vegas Sun in April 2003. After its initial breakthrough, and as audiences became accustomed to the sexy side of Cirque, the show grew into something more celebratory and inspiration-

11.26.20

LV W C U LT U R E

25I

nal cast and performed with Zumanity for 10 years. She spent that time learning from her peers and growing as an artist. “It was the first time I had seen such a wide variety of people from all over the world coming together and working so beautifully together, and also just sitting together doing our makeup and laughing and having conversation,” Coulibaly says. “I can’t describe the feeling of uncovering this world, and after it was over, I realize this was the most amazing time of my life. It’s not like this everywhere else.” Zumanity’s creative collaboration inspired her to reach beyond. “It made my whole career, my decision to stay in Vegas, to open a theater and keep being an artist,” says Coulibaly, who operates the Baobab Stage theater and café and its adjacent Wassa Boutique at Town Square. Over the course of 17 years, Zumanity has affected many more people than those sitting in a theater on the Strip for one night. It has impacted the local community and the greater, globe-spanning idea of Las Vegas, and its message was undeniably one of love and acceptance. Maybe other shows have done that, but Zumanity will always be special. “A lot of us really gave part of our lives to the show,” Coulibaly says. “They brought together different people from all around the world with different experiences and allowed them to be creative in their own ways, and then you’re given this platform to let out all this creativity. That’s what made it so unique.”

Zumanity at New York-New York (Pierre Manning/Courtesy)

LV W C U LT U R E

11.26.20

NEW FOR THE NIGHT Zouk Group aims to reinvent Vegas nightlife at Resorts World BY BROCK RADKE

ike travel, tourism and hospitality in general, the Las Vegas nightlife industry has been decimated by the pandemic. But as with other parts of the big Vegas machine, it’s poised for a powerful comeback. Long before we knew anything about COVID-19, every time a notable Vegas nightclub would close—the most recent example being the infamously huge and short-lived KAOS at the Palms—commentators would trip over themselves to declare the end of days. And then another new venue arrives, continuing the constant evolution of this particular portion of Vegas entertainment.

Resorts World, the first brandnew major casino resort on the Strip in more than a decade, wouldn’t be building nearly 100,000 square feet of this stuff for a summer 2021 opening if Vegas nightlife didn’t have a bright future. And it wouldn’t be partnering with one of the world’s fastest-rising nightlife groups to do it. “We wanted a partner that understands the assets we bring to the property, and how they will work in conjunction with the overall resort experience,” says Andrew Li, CEO of Singapore-based Zouk Group. “We see ourselves as part of the Resorts World Las Vegas team and vice versa. As our first project in the

REDTAIL

11.26.20

LV W C U LT U R E

AYU DAYCLUB

FUHU A rendering of Zouk Nightclub’s entrance (All renderings courtesy/ Resorts World)

U.S., where better to make our mark than the entertainment capital of the world, and the biggest opening that Las Vegas has had in the last decade? Everything that Resorts World is bringing to the table is fresh and exciting, and we can’t wait to be part of that vision.” The 29-year-old Zouk Group is already a global operation in the nightlife, entertainment and dining sectors, with concentration in Singapore and Malaysia. In addition to its multiple brands and ownership

of the Five Guys burger franchise, it operates the ZoukOut music festival and programs cruise ships owned by Resorts World’s parent company, Genting. At the $4.3 billion, 3,500-room Resorts World across the Strip from Wynn, Zouk will create what Lynn describes as “an ecosystem of immersive entertainment and lifestyle concepts,” consisting of four distinct environments: the Vegas version of Singapore’s Zouk Nightclub; AYU Dayclub, designed to transport guests

from the desert to Southeast Asia’s idyllic islands; a social gaming bar called RedTail, another Singapore transplant built around versatile programming, drinks, shareable food and giant beer pong; and high-energy restaurant FUHU, serving aromatic crispy duck, lobster noodles and more. “We are bringing the best of our portfolio, and we can’t wait for you to experience it,” Li says. Technology is at the center of Zouk’s approach, particularly at the nightclub venue, which will be able to transform and reinvent itself based on the theme of the night, Li says. The actual size of the club will also be adjustable. Combine this partnership with the property’s team-up with AEG on the innovative, 5,000-seat Theatre at Resorts World, and it’s easy to view this master plan as the next step for the Strip. “Resorts World aims to reinvent the traditional integrated hospitality experience in Las Vegas across every sector, including nightlife,” says Scott Sibella, president of Resorts World. “We will introduce a world-class entertainment complex with a variety of unmatched nightlife experiences for our guests and visitors.”

27I

LV W C U LT U R E

11.26.20

E Trevor and the Joneses (Sandy Fallon/Courtesy)

Vegas band Trevor and the Joneses releases new tunes while waiting to perform BY LESLIE VENTURA

n the three years since Trevor and the Joneses released their sophomore album, the psychedelic indie band has continued to experiment and grow, leaning into more unique arrangements and instrumentation. That evolution is palpable on TATJ’s latest EP, Get It!, released in October. “I’m just trying to make as many records as I can before I die,” the 33-year-old Jones says. The group’s singer and primary songwriter says he has spent the past few years recording and tinkering in his home studio and expanding on the sounds of 2017 LP Take You to Stay. “The circumstances were pretty chaotic and weird,” Jones says of that second album, released on September 21, 2017. “I had just decided to put it out without warning, and I started sending things out and then started hearing about the shooting the next day.” With the city in mourning, Jones shifted his focus away from his new record. And now, three

years later, he finds himself releasing music during ment-wise,” he says. “On the second one, we added another trying time—amid a surging pandemic. keyboards. And now I’ve been trying to collect as “I took a lot of time off purposely many other instruments as I can. … from shows to record, and we were There’s funkier things entering the getting back into shape and ready to equation.” play [live] …” Jones says. Though the band’s music has Now, Trevor and the Joneses always been rooted in classic rock, are taking a different approach, June single “Anywhile” and the Get trickling out singles and EPs before It! EP hint at Brit-pop influences, dropping a full-length album in with flashes of Oasis, The Brian 2021. “These three songs [from Get Jonestown Massacre and even Of It!] will wind up on [that] album,” Montreal. Jones explains. With live music on hold for the With a studio inside his home, foreseeable future, Jones and his TREVOR AND THE JONESES Jones says the main difference bebandmates are keeping busy in the Trevorandthejoneses.com tween his old recording process and studio. And when venues eventually Trevorjones.bandcamp.com the new one is having “everything reopen, they’ll be ready. “Personfully realized, [as opposed] to writally, I never get tired of recording ing as I’m recording and getting to experiment.” things, so I’m lucky that way,” Jones says. “But I’m “The first album is entirely guitars, instruitching to destroy a stage.”

FRIDAY

gifT GIVEAWAY FRIDAYS • 5:30PM - 7:30PM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27

Smart Vac 5:30PM – 7:30PM EARN 2,500 POINTS TO RECEIVE GIFTS. Visit the Silver Sevens 2nd Floor Event Room. Gifts may vary from images shown.

HO L I DAY

Donate a new toy for $5 Free Play! NOVEMBER 20 – DECEMBER 12 Proceeds to benefit The Las Vegas Salvation Army. See Player Services for complete details.

Must be 21 or older. See A-Play® Club for complete details. 4100 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89169

silversevenscasino.com

LV W C U LT U R E

11.26.20

MAKING GOOD Desert Arts Action Coalition blends activism and advocacy with Nevada’s art world

BY C. MOON REED

ack before the unpredictability of the past four years—before a pandemic, norm-breaking presidency and runaway political polarization—a small group of Las Vegas artists sat in a living room discussing the storm on the horizon. The 2016 election season was in progress, and they wanted to do something to make a difference. So these concerned creatives—or “bleeding-heart weirdos,” to use the ironic words of one member—founded the Desert Arts Action Coalition. “The first meeting was like four of

us sitting in a room together being like, ‘Can you believe this? OK, well, what do we got to do?’” artist and founding DAAC member Brent Holmes says. “Then it slowly grew, and in the last year, it started to take more shape—with the election, with COVID, with all the crises that were going on, everybody wanted to step up.” The question of whether artists should pause their painting of pretty pictures in order to join the fray might seem like it’s still under debate … at least to casual observers. But it’s long been solved. Every aspect of art is

political—from which artists become famous to which subjects they choose to where their art is displayed, and on and on. With all that in mind, DAAC’s stated mission is being “dedicated to equality, empathy, justice & liberty, and to protecting democracy, the environment & one another.” The group members—all part of the Nevada arts community, either as artists or patrons—include Holmes, Wendy Kveck, Demecina Beehn, Denise Duarte, Rebecca Gabrielle Hanley and many others.

“The whole idea is, we as artists start to fulfill our obligation as social actors and cultural actors and actually help build a better world,” says Holmes, who has done a variety of things for DAAC over the years, including graphic design, photography, marketing and communications. The hybrid arts and activism organization has supported both political and artistic causes. Past initiatives have included “get out the vote” campaigns; arts advocacy; signmaking events; and flyers for protest groups. Artist and DAAC member Beehn

11.26.20

LV W C U LT U R E

31I

Assemblyman Tick Segerblom speaks to an Arts Factory crowd prior to the 2019 legislative session. (Wendy Kveck/Courtesy)

A logo for the 2017 What Can I Do? Resistance Expo, created by Eric Vozzola (Courtesy)

cites one big achievement. At the most recent state legislative special session, DAAC was able to quickly acquire 350 signatures for a letter to Gov. Steve Sisolak. They requested more arts funding, while taking into consideration budgetary cuts. Beehn says that the arts shouldn’t be the first thing sacrificed for belt-tightening, because it contributes significantly to the GDP, often more so than more “traditional” industries such as agriculture or transportation. “I think our success is us really starting to, over the past few years, pull the

art community together and help bring much more of a political focus to the world that we do,” Beehn says. Because of their unique role as something of a support organization, Holmes says, DAAC has become more “reactionary” than other, more traditional groups. “A lot of activist organizations have a solid five-year plan,” Holmes says. “We’re like, ‘Who’s doing what, and where can we help out?’” So how might DAAC change now that its initial catalyst is leaving the White House to be replaced by a Democratic president? Holmes says the mission will remain unchanged. “First and foremost, we’ve done more work on a local level than a federal [one],” Holmes says. He says that while he expects the new administration to be less antagonistic to the cause, he doesn’t anticipate a magic shift toward progressive goals like universal health care and Indigenous rights. “I don’t think anybody is sitting there going, ‘Yeah, we can all take a break.’” Beehn says she has learned a lot about how the city functions since joining DAAC, including “where we can expand, where we’re lacking and how we’re different from other cities. Vegas is a weird city where you don’t even know whether the mayor is a Democrat or Republican,” Beehn says. “People often just try to stay apolitical. But we can’t. We have to advocate.” One of DAAC’s upcoming projects features a collaboration with

the Forced Trajectory Project and Families United for Justice. They are curating a gallery exhibition shining light on the victims of police brutality at West Las Vegas Library. They are speaking with victims’ family members and sharing their stories. Beehn says she can’t share many more details, because the planned January show is still in the early stages, but the hope is to pair artists

with families to create new works around their lived experience. Beehn says that through DAAC, she has seen how many local organizations are already aligned with the art community’s ideals. And so the new goal is to see “how can we cross-pollinate, share our resources and help strengthen the voice of our community.” It seems that they are already well on their way.

A button and postcard advocacy workshop at the 2017 What Can I Do? Resistance Expo at the Culinary Union Headquarters (Wendy Kveck/Courtesy)

LV W F O O D & D R I N K

11.26.20

DUMPLING DELIGHT Cult favorite Din Tai Fung lands in Las Vegas BY GENEVIE DURANO

(Din Tai Fung/Courtesy)

he excitement over Din Tai Fung finally opening a Las Vegas outpost was palpable when it was announced last year. The dumpling house has quite the following, stretching across 13 countries (including locations in California, Oregon and Washington state; Din Tai Fung expanded to the U.S. 20 years ago from its native Taiwan). The one inside Aria, which debuted in October, is Din Tai Fung’s largest U.S. spot. Taking up the space that was formerly Aria Cafe, it’s a minimalist dream, with soaring ceilings and a 40foot glass wall overlooking Vdara and Nancy Rubins’ “Big Edge” art installation. The dining space is just as serene, featuring cliffs made from hundreds of stacked stones and paintings by artist Parker Ito.

But it’s Din Tai Fung’s food that draws the crowds, and while the Aria branch is vast, reservations are recommended due to COVID-19 capacity restrictions. Besides, this is a meal you’ll want to savor and slow play, and there are many menu standouts you should order and share with a dining companion or two. All are served family style and in reasonable portions, which allows for more palate experimentation. You’re here for the dumplings, of course, but start with a trio of salads— cucumber; seaweed and bean curd; and wood ear mushroom ($7 each)—that set up the meal quite nicely. They all have a bright, vinegary tang and interesting texture, and are good to keep on the table as you make your way through more dishes. Soup is a must, particularly the House Jidori Chicken Wonton ($14). The broth’s crisp and clear, and the wontons perfectly cooked, tender without being mushy, filled with top-quality chicken meat. Nothing at Din Tai Fung is overly seasoned or too salty, setting it apart from other Chinese restaurants. You’ll find the strongest umami punch in the noodle dishes, like the Noodles With Diced Beef and Szechuan Peppers ($13). Otherwise, the quality of the ingredients and the craftsmanship of the dumplings gets to shine through. Which brings us to the soup dumplings, or xiao long bao, for which Din Tai

Fung has garnered a cult of worshipers among the food-obsessed. There are several versions on offer, but the most popular are the Kurobuta Pork ($10) and the Crab & Kurobuta Pork XLB ($13). Each comes in a six-piece steamer, uniformly made with 18 folds apiece. Eating them requires some technique: Pick one up with your chopsticks, bite off a bit of the top wrapping and slurp the soup inside, then dip the rest in a concoction of vinegar and soy sauce before devouring it whole. It truly is one of most addictive things on earth. And good luck if you can eat them as fast as the dumpling artists make them: They produce around 10,000 a day, and you can watch the whole process through the gallery window on the way into the dining room. There are other items on the menu worth considering beyond the xia long bao, like the Shanghai rice cakes ($15), available in pork, shrimp and vegetarian varieties. Din Tai Fung also serves many types of fried rice and noodles, and the buns ($7) are exceptional, served two apiece in pork, chicken, vegetable or mushroom form. As filling a meal at Din Tai Fung might be, don’t skip dessert, which looks like its savory counterparts—either in wonton or bun form. You’ll find familiar Asian meal enders like sweet taro and red bean mochi, but chocolate also figures in prominently. Bite into a chocolate bun ($8) and you’ll get a warm gush of molten sweetness. Wash it down with a lovely jasmine tea, and you’ll understand why Din Tai Fung is loved the world over.

DIN TAI FUNG Aria, 702-590-8650. Monday-Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

11.26.20

LV W F O O D & D R I N K

33I

LV W F O O D & D R I N K

11.26.20

HENDERSON HAPPENING Biscuits & Bourbon bolsters Water Street’s expanding scene BY BROCK RADKE

f you thought Water Street was starting to look a little cozy, check out the Southern hospitality and comfort-food fare at Biscuits & Bourbon. Originally announced as an “urban lounge” with live entertainment, the homey breakfast-and-barbecue joint next door to Mojave Brewing Company shifted to the “social kitchen” tag when it opened in late summer. The reclaimed wood designs on the wall and industrial-chic vibe give the new space a lived-in feel, as if someone with a killer biscuit recipe took over your favorite downtown bar. Those biscuits ($1.50) are the place to start, whether you’re having weekend breakfast, a leisurely weekday lunch or sharing smoky meats for dinner. Try a butter and jam flight with the tender-crisp beauties, or fill them with eggs, gravy, cheese, sausage or other favorites as a biscuit cup ($1-$1.50). Fried chicken and waffles with apple-bacon syrup ($10), brisket potato hash ($13), cinnamon French toast ($8) and a trifecta of skillet bennies ($10-$12) round out the breakfast offerings. Later, when a respectable bourbon selection and signature cocktails like the Smoke Wagon Mule ($10) and apple cider punch ($9) come into play, it’s time to get your ’cue on. Start with smoked chicken wings with B&B’s signature Alabama-style white sauce ($13) before diving into pulled pork, St. Louis-style spareribs, 10-hour beef brisket or pork belly burnt ends, available by the pound or on multi-meat platters ($18$49). There are four other house-made barbecue sauces to sample, something for every taste: ancho-sage vinegar, golden mustard, bourbon honey and desert heat. A creamy kale coleslaw and Goldfish-topped mac and cheese complete the feast. With the recent opening of Lifeguard Arena on Water Street, this steadily blossoming downtown stretch is sure to be catapulted into the spotlight. You might want to get a taste of B&B before it’s discovered by the masses.

BISCUITS & BOURBON 109 S. Water St., 702-986-0307. Wednesday-Friday, noon-10 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Brisket, burnt ends, mac and cheese and more at Biscuits & Bourbon (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

11.26.20

LV W F O O D & D R I N K

35I

Cochinita pibil torta (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Letty’s brings Leticia’s Mexican flavors Downtown BY LESLIE VENTURA

n 1964, Chef Leticia Mitchell’s father brought her family from Mexico City to Las Vegas to pursue his career as a musician on the Strip. Now, more than 50 years later, Mitchell is a household name in the Mexican food scene since opening her first restaurant, Leticia’s Mexican Cocina, in the northwest Valley in 2009. After that original location closed due to a rent increase, Mitchell joined into a partnership with Station Casinos, operating restaurants at Santa Fe Station and Fiesta Henderson (the latter is currently closed due to COVID-19). In February, Mitchell signed the

Birria quesataco (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

lease for a third operation, Letty’s de Leticia’s Cocina, a fast-casual Downtown restaurant at the former site of popular eatery El Sombrero. But a month later, the pandemic brought

that to a screeching halt. tle crema and your choice of protein, “We were supposed to open in the quesataco ($4), which took the April, but we didn’t open until Septop prize on Best in Chow’s 2014 Las tember 1,” Mitchell says. “We rode it Vegas Taco Wars episode, is a must. out and held on.” Tortas are where Letty’s truly Now, Downtown is home to the big stands out, fusing authentic Mexican and bold flair for which Leticia’s is flavors with unique ingredient comknown. “My mother was my heart binations, like the chilaquiles verand soul and inspiration,” sion ($8), which combines LETTY’S Mitchell says. “She was the ranchera, tomatillo or molé DE LETICIA’S life of the party, and she sauce with refried beans, creCOCINA taught me everything. It was ma, cotija cheese and tortilla 807 S. Main St., 702-476-9477. our dream to open a restauchips in a traditional botillo. Sunday-Thursday, Also notable: the Cubano rant.” 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; The menu at Letty’s is ($13), a protein monster of a Saturday-Friday, 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. significantly smaller than sandwich loaded with adobo the enormous ones at the capork, serrano ham, chicken sinos, but there’s still plenty and a grilled salchicha (hot to excite the taste buds. Aperitivos, dog), topped with grilled Oaxaca or small eats, are an affordable way cheese, avocado and chipotle aioli. to sample the menu, from lime cevWhether you choose more tradiiche ($8), shrimp cocktail ($5) and tional items or opt for less familCarlito’s seasoned fries with chorizo, iar dishes, everything inside the Oaxaca cheese and two eggs ($6). Downtown eatery—from horchata to Move down the menu to the salsa—is made fresh daily. Whether taquizas for Letty’s signature tacos, it’s Leticia’s or Letty’s, Mitchell says served on fresh, fluffy tortillas made she wouldn’t put her name on it if in-house. With seared cheese, chipoweren’t.

LV W S P O R T S

11.26.20

DREAMING OF THE DANCE Could this be the season UNLV’s men’s basketball team returns to the NCAA tournament? BY MIKE GRIMALA

t has been almost 10 months since fans last saw UNLV’s men basketball team in action, and judging by the potential on the roster, it might have been worth the wait. The 2020-21 squad could be the program’s best in almost a decade if everything goes right. Here are five key numbers to monitor as UNLV looks to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.

34.5

UNLV’s best 3-point shooter last year, Elijah Mitrou-Long, hit 34.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc. The national average was 33.5%, meaning that aside from the since-graduated Mitrou-Long, the rest of the UNLV roster shot below average from the 3-point line. That’s not good. Coach T.J. Otzelberger will have more shooting at his disposal this season. Three newcomers have already shot better than 34.5% somewhere at the college level: Junior guard David Jenkins hit 45.3% in his most recent season at South Dakota State, sophomore forward Moses Wood made 37.3% at Tulane, and junior forward Edoardo Del Cadia shot 37.7% in junior college. That’s more like it. More shooters will mean more spacing, and if there’s one thing Otzelberger knows how to do, it’s exploit open space to create efficient offense. Last year’s squad had to become a grind-it-out team in order to win, but the 2020-21 version should score at a higher rate and be more fun to watch on the offensive end of the floor.

DEVIN TILLIS

Out of the 13 scholarship players on the roster, six are true freshmen. That means nearly half of this year’s roster will be young, scrawny players who’ll need a map app to find their way to the Thomas & Mack Center on opening night. Not every freshman will earn a defined role, but UNLV does need to get some production from that group. Forward Devin Tillis looks to be the most ready to contribute right away, thanks to his toughness and passing, and guard Nick Blake— the highest rated of the freshmen—is too talented not to get 10-15 minutes per game. The rest of the guys—center Jhaylon Martinez, forward Reece Brown and guards Donavan Yap and Isaac Lindsey—are question marks, and they probably will be for the entire season. They might help on some nights and be liabilities on others. It will be up to the coaching staff to navigate that on a nightly basis, not ideal for a team with designs on contending for the Mountain West Conference title.

11 & 10

That’s the number of 20-point games David Jenkins and Bryce Hamilton put together, respectively, during their most recent college seasons. Jenkins averaged 19.7 points at South Dakota State in 2018-19, and Hamilton scored 16 per game for UNLV last year (which he bumped up to 20.9 in conference play), so UNLV will have a pair of flamethrowers running the wings this year. But how much is too much? The game is still played with only one basketball, so will there be enough touches, shots and points to go around? To hear Otzelberger tell it, junior Marvin Coleman will play the key role in keeping the star scorers happy. “[Coleman] has got to be our catalyst, and he has got to command the game,” Otzelberger said of his trusted point guard. “If those guys don’t touch the ball for a period of time, it doesn’t make the offense flow the right way, so Marvin’s job is to make sure he commands everybody else.”

11.26.20

LV W S P O R T S

37I

BRYCE HAMILTON

Las Vegas lines up to kick a PAT against Kansas City, November 22 at Allegiant Stadium. (AP/Photo Illustration)

■ LAST WEEK: CHIEFS 35, RAIDERS 31 The Raiders played one of their best games of the season, but it wasn’t enough to beat the defending Super Bowl champions for a second time this season. The Raiders made one too many mistakes defensively, including a blown coverage by safety Johnathan Abram on the game-winning touchdown catch from Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Offensively, they were spectacular, with Derek Carr throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns on 23-for-31 passing.

DAVID JENKINS

0.99

UNLV allowed 0.99 points per possession last year, which ranked the team 186th in defensive efficiency. There just weren’t a lot of lockdown defenders on the team, and it took almost half the season before the majority of the roster bought in and really gave 100% at that end of the court. In terms of defense, the talent level isn’t dramatically higher this season, but a player like sophomore guard Caleb Grill should provide some tenacity on the perimeter. The coaching staff is also relying on senior center Mbacke Diong to finally put it all together and provide a rim-protecting presence in the paint. Diong likes what he has seen of his team in practice so far. “The defense will be the anchor of this team. We will score off our defense,” Diong said. “In practice right now, everything is about defense. Our offense will flow from the defense.”

It has been seven seasons since UNLV last made the NCAA Tournament, the longest postseason drought since the program came into existence in 1969. So, does this team have a chance of snapping that unsightly streak? It’s possible. The best shot will be through winning the conference tournament and earning an automatic bid, especially after the COVID-19 outbreak forced the team to cut some of the marquee nonconference games out of its schedule. UNLV was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West, but the teams perceived to be the top three—San Diego State, Utah State and Boise State—aren’t perfect by any means. If UNLV can shoot the ball markedly better than it did last year, defend the perimeter and rebound above its size, this team has an outside chance of dancing in March.

Devin Tillis (UNLV Athletics/Courtesy); Bryce Hamilton, David Jenkins (Wade Vandervort/Staff) (Photo Illustration)

RAIDERS

Report

■ THIS WEEK: RAIDERS (6-4) AT FALCONS (3-7) When: Sunday November 29, 10 a.m. Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium TV: CBS (channel 8) Radio: 920-AM & 92.3-FM Betting line: Raiders -3, over/under 55.5 Opponent: Atlanta is 3-2 under interim coach Raheem Morris, who took over for Dan Quinn, fired after an 0-5 start. Talent-wise, the Falcons are better than their record; they have an explosive offense behind former MVP quarterback Matt Ryan, and a stout rush defense. They’ve just found ways to lose games, enduring three of the season’s most memorable collapses. In two of them—against the Cowboys and Bears—they blew leads of at least 15 points in the final seven minutes. Most recently, Atlanta allowed Detroit to drive 75 yards in 64 seconds to score a game-winning touchdown with no time remaining. Injuries: The Raiders’ COVID-19 list is as long as its current injury report. Right tackle Trent Brown, defensive end Clelin Ferrell, linebacker Cory Littleton and cornerback Lamarcus Joyner missed the Chiefs game with the virus, but there’s a chance all of them could be back against the Falcons. On the injury front, offensive tackle Sam Young (knee) and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (ankle) hoped to play against Kansas City but were inactive. With another week to rest, they should be ready. –Case Keefer

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

11.26.20

As most businesses feel pinch of pandemic, golf sees surge in popularity

BY BRYAN HORWATH

onda Henderson is no stranger to the golf course. Golfers don’t qualify to play in major tournaments like the U.S. Senior Women’s Open—which Henderson did in 2019—without spending lots of time on the links. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, regulars like Henderson, a Las Vegas resident, have had more company than usual on the course. “I think people are playing golf now instead of spending time on some of the other diversions they used to be able to do,” Henderson said. “I know that more of my friends are playing more golf now because they can.” In many ways, golf is a perfect activity for COVID-19 times. It’s played outdoors, usually in small, socially distanced groups. “In my opinion, we’ve seen one of the biggest influxes of new golfers or people returning to the game since Tiger Woods,” said Jim Leisenring, general manager of Angel Park Golf Club. Rounds of golf played, according to research firm Golf Datatech, were up 22% in August in the Las Vegas area when compared with the same month last year. Las Vegas golf writer and historian Brian Hurlburt said the pandemic, which has brought periods of idle time for many, has created an opportunity for the industry. “For the past 10 or 15 years, it’s been a common refrain from golfers to say they don’t have four or five hours to play,” said Hurlburt, founder of the website Las Vegas Golf Insider. “Now, people relish that opportunity to be outdoors, to be doing something for several hours. They have the time now.” In mid-March, like most other businesses in the

state, Nevada golf courses were ordered closed by Gov. Steve Sisolak, though they were allowed to reopen several weeks later. Some restrictions remain in place at the courses, including a one-person limit for golf carts, and the requirement that players wear face coverings inside the clubhouse and on their way to the first tee. Because visitation to Las Vegas—one of the top golf tourism destination cities in the West—is down significantly this year, many golfers populating courses are locals.

That’s even been true on the Strip, according to Wynn Golf Club executive director Brian Hawthorne. “Interestingly, we have seen a heavier local presence,” Hawthorne said. “Whether you can attribute that to folks who might normally take off for the summer and didn’t this year and might have some money to spend on a unique golf experience, I’m not sure. Quite frankly, we’ve seen more activity here lately than we probably could have ever imagined.” Since golf courses can run the gamut from the public and affordable to the exclusive and expensive, business levels experienced by different operations can vary. But even during the hot summer, business was booming, several course officials said. “It’s happening because of a pandemic, but I think it will continue to be a good thing for the game of golf,” said Tony Blasius, general manager at Las Vegas city-owned Durango Hills Golf Club. “Right now, the weather is almost perfect, and answering phones, for us, is nuts. It’s that busy.” In August, for the second straight month, every state in the continental U.S. witnessed a rounds played increase of at least 2%, according to Golf Datatech. At the Las Vegas Golf Superstore on Dean Martin Drive, employee Greg Kozlowski said he has noticed more golfers in their 20s and 30s. “We’ve seen a lot of young people who have picked up the game, but we’ve also seen a lot of people in their 50s picking it up,” Kozlowski said. “We’ve seen a lot more women, too. It seems like a lot of ladies are playing the game again, which is great for our sport going forward.”

Tourists playing at Angel Park Golf Club (Steve Marcus/Staff)

home means nevada for the holidays. Life may look and feel a little different this holiday season. However, lucky for us, Nevada won't. In fact, perhaps this year presents the perfect opportunity for an unforgettable right-here excursion. To stay “home” and venture out-safely-among some stunning Silver State scenery to make the kind of lifelong, only-in-Nevada memories that your family will cherish. (Plus, of course, to snag a few made-in-Nevada goodies along the way.)

This year, give your family the gift of Nevada. DiscoverYourNevada.com/Holiday

SOLDIER MEADOWS HOT SPRINGS, FEATURING MUDPOT NATURAL MUD MASK, FROM BLACKROCKMUD.COM

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

11.26.20 challenge and click on Run for Las Vegas.

VegasInc Giving Notes The Salvation Army Southern Nevada announced the completion of two safe houses to be used for the organization’s SEEDS (Saving, Empowering, Educating and restoring DreamS) of Hope program serving victims of human trafficking. Funding for the houses was provided by a grant from the MGM Foundation, which also supported an additional case manager. The homes were renovated and furnished with the help of Walker Furniture & Mattress. SEEDS of Hope serves about 25 victims of trafficking with ongoing case management and support. These new homes are expected to serve 10-15 clients for a year.

PRIVATE

GUN SAFETY

CLASSES Friendly 1-on-1 Beginner and Intermediate Gun Safety Classes NO EXPERIENCE? NO PROBLEM! Our instructors are trained to assist beginners and we love assisting new gun owners CALL TO BOOK 702

757-6746 BOOK ONLINE

THERANGE702.COM

Communities in Schools of Nevada received a $1.9 million Engelstad Foundation grant to be split over three years. It’s the foundation’s third three-year cycle of giving to CIS of Nevada, representing a collective donation of more than $3.2 million. The grant will support the expansion of the CIS Integrated Student Supports model into four “challenge schools”—Gene Ward Elementary School, Walter V. Long Elementary, Sedway Middle School and Rancho High School. In addition, the grant funds the CIS Academy program at Rancho. Nevada State College received a $50,000 donation from the Gene Haas Foundation, a philanthropic organization within Haas Automation, which is also opening a manufacturing facility in Henderson. The donation was designated to help students through the impact of COVID-19—be it the loss of income, paying bills or other needs. Bank of America partnered with eight local nonprofits to provide 74,000 face masks. This donation is part of a nationwide effort to distribute nearly 4 million PPE masks to communities disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus, including communities of color, and is connected to the bank’s $1 billion, four-year commitment of additional support to help communities address economic and racial inequality accelerated by a global pandemic. The masks will be distributed to the following organizations: Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, Communities In Schools of Nevada, Delivering With Dignity, Hispanic Taskforce, United Way of Southern Nevada, US Vets, YMCA of Southern Nevada and Nevada Health Centers. Cox and the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation teamed up to help support Clark County School District educators with grants to upgrade their technology as they teach students through distance learning. Through the Teacher Education Grant, Cox will

provide 100 teachers with complimentary high-speed internet service for up to nine months to cover the 2020-21 school year. The Vegas Golden Knights Foundation will provide each with a $250 gift card to use toward technology and education tools that aid with virtual teaching. The combined value of the 100 grants is nearly $143,000. Nevada Equality hosted a drive-thru, contactless back-to-school event, donating more than 250 backpacks. It also opened the Henderson Equality Center, featuring tutoring, advocacy and resources. The Engelstad Foundation donated its fourth of five installments of a multiyear gift with monies supporting programs and services at Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada. VMSN provides integrated health care to those who can’t access it. During the pandemic, VMSN also received grant support from Wells Fargo Foundation and Direct Relief in partnership with CVS, aiding VMSN in offering telehealth appointments for patients. Serving Our Kids Foundation, a local nonprofit that feeds and serves the weekend nutrition needs of several thousand homeless and at-risk children, has been selected as the beneficiary of the Gone for a Run virtual race—part of a national five-city challenge series by the family-owned apparel company of technology and products that celebrate and support a running lifestyle. People can sign up through December 31 to contribute to the Las Vegas leg and the foundation. To register or for information, visit goneforarun.com/custom-race-cities-

The Professional Women in Building Southern Nevada, a council part of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, awarded $23,000 to 10 young female recipients through its Building Hope Scholarship. The organization annually raises money to support educational opportunities for female students who are interested in pursuing professional development, education and certification in fields of study relative to the building industry. Scholarship recipients were awarded between $2,000 to $2,750 each. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation donated $2,000 to the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation. Funds will be used to promote literacy and learning among new and ongoing youth literacy programs. Dunkin’ franchisees and restaurant team members celebrated National Coffee Day on September 29 by donating coffee and donuts to employees at Southern Hills Hospital and St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena Campus. City National Bank donated over 3,600 school-supply kits to schools in eight states as part of its 12th Annual Back-to-School Drive. In Southern Nevada, the bank donated to Helen Jydstrup and Lincoln elementary schools. The school-supply kits include erasers, highlighters, round-tip scissors, paper, pencils, folders, notebooks, pencil sharpeners, rulers, crayons, glue sticks, three-ring binders and more. The Walmart Foundation granted $300,000 to the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities and Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy to research how well existing disaster management and planning systems in Nevada and Arizona are serving Latinos and Native Americans living in urban areas.

Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, Martin-Harris Construction and a host of partners, including GTI Nevada and GSL Electric, granted a local child’s wish for an outdoor play area. Nicolas is a 4-year-old with respiratory failure, which has forced him to spend most of his life in the hospital, dependent on breathing equipment and undergoing numerous surgeries. This new space allows him to play outdoors safely. (Courtesy photo)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WADE VANDERVORT

LV W P U Z Z L E & H O R O S C O P E S

PREMIER CROSSWORD

11.26.20

“EASY-PEASY” BY FRANK LONGO

HOROSCOPES

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 26 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “A little too much is just enough for me,” joked poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. He was probably right to risk going a bit too far, because he was learning so much from surpassing his previous limitations and exploring the frontiers outside his comfort zone. Now here’s your homework: Identify two actions you could take that fit the profile described here. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Biologists believe that no tree can grow more than 436 feet tall, that gravity is too strong for it to pump enough water up from the ground to its highest branches. Keep that in mind as a useful metaphor during the next 10 months. Your assignment is to know when you have reached a healthy level of being bigger and stronger and taller. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): There is a kind of seaweed that researchers at Oregon State University say tastes like bacon and is healthier than kale. It’s a new strain of a red marine algae called dulse. You, too, are primed to discover a fine new substitute—something to replace a pleasure or resource that is gone or taboo or impossible. What could it be? CANCER (June 21-July 22): By age 49, author Norman Cousins had been struck with two debilitating diseases. Physicians gave him a 1 in 500 chance of recovery. He tried to cure himself through “laugh therapy” and positive selftalk, among other ways. He lived lustily for another 26 years and wrote books about health and healing. So perhaps we should pay attention to his belief that “each patient carries his own doctor inside him.” LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be extra regal and majestic in the coming weeks. You have a poetic license to be a supremely royal version of yourself. Keep in mind, though, that non-Leos hope you will be a noble and benevolent sovereign who provides enlightened leadership and bestows generous blessings. That kind of behavior will earn you the right to enjoy more of these lofty interludes later. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your task in the coming weeks will be to deepen and refine your relationship with the old days and old ways—both your own past and the pasts of people you care about most. Take advantage of the cosmic rhythms to reinvigorate your love for the important stories that have defined you and yours. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Those who build walls are their own prisoners,” wrote author Ursula K. Le Guin. She continued, “I’m going to fulfill my proper function in the social organism. I’m going to unbuild walls.” Unbuilding walls is your prime assignment in the coming weeks. Create extra spaciousness and forge fertile connections. Foster a rich interplay of diverse influences.

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Conceptual framework 7 Nickname of jazz pianist Earl Hines 12 Cat feature 16 Mailbox item: Abbr. 19 Cajoles 20 Backcountry 21 Actor Alan 22 Before 23 Saving a Hilton from being demolished? 26 Rove (about) 27 Eisenhower, informally 28 Dawn deity 29 Country that’s the setting of a story told by Jesus? 31 Confusion when a golfer can’t find the club for the green? 36 2000-15 CBS show 37 Two racing Unsers 38 Strike — (do some modeling) 39 Admission of defeat 41 “The way things now stand ...” 44 Road named for a head of state? 50 Intent 53 Golf average 54 Mental sharpness 55 Santa — winds 56 One who’s bad at playing practical jokes? 62 Richard of The Jackal 63 Former AT&T rival 64 Creepy 65 Tax audit org. 66 Hunchback creator Victor 67 Belgian river 68 Favorite crucifix style?

74 “I see!,” facetiously 77 Match units 78 Cruise of Top Gun 79 Actress Bette 83 No, in Fife 84 DVR choice 85 Evangelizing in remote areas? 89 Fast internet svc. 90 Final words from a bully 92 Tirana’s nation: Abbr. 93 Picnic pest 94 Subatomic matter that may or may not exist? 101 Penn & Teller: _ (TV series) 102 Maui “hello” 103 Hunter constellation 107 Three in “minimum” 108 Big tea vessel 110 Aviator who was really courageous? 114 Little squeeze from a fuddy-duddy? 118 Grain variety 119 NASA’s Eagle, e.g. 120 Suffix with resin or riot 121 Forehead border you had before you started going bald? 126 _ kwon do 127 Coal source 128 Door reply to “Who’s there?” 129 Most current 130 Antiquated 131 Fax, e.g. 132 “The battle —!” 133 Provides, as with power DOWN 1 Italian tenor Tito 2 Devise, as a plan 3 Would really rather not

4 Application filename extension 5 Actor Gibson 6 According to 7 Not stale 8 Vienna’s nation: Abbr. 9 Two after uno 10 Persists in discussing 11 Thomas — Edison 12 British bye-byes 13 Perp’s excuse 14 Revered one 15 Narrow road 16 Groups of trial lawyers 17 Fleeting quality 18 Comic Foxx 24 Mythical bird 25 Bitterly cold 30 Jungle den 32 Recipe qty. 33 Always 34 Assistance 35 Bullring holler 40 Sky light 41 40-Down studier’s sci. 42 Eyelid malady 43 One of a flight of steps 45 MPG monitor 46 USA’s Uncle 47 A Gershwin 48 Be an omen of 49 Feudal vassal 50 Big galoot 51 Outrage 52 Impair 57 Frank Sacks’ _ the Unicorn 58 Plunk lead-in 59 Helpful hints 60 Get it wrong 61 “— Be My Girl” (top 5 tune for the O’Jays) 66 Source of CBD oil 67 “Right on!”

69 Ancient Egyptian god 70 Dwarfs’ count 71 Vodka brand, familiarly 72 In support of 73 Govt. health agcy. 74 “— you act now ...” (infomercial segue) 75 Is unrivaled 76 Hardly ever employed 80 By way of 81 Hostel 82 Mil. officer 84 Bean curd 85 Touch 86 Traitor 87 Yale alum 88 The Good Doctor airer 91 Virgin Mary’s mother: Abbr. 95 Actress Lanchester 96 Many #1 songs 97 Calder Cup rink org. 98 Writer Santha Rama _ 99 Email giggle 100 Verdi’s “_ tu” 104 Instead (of) 105 Danish port 106 Big Apple MLB squad 108 Coll. in Philly 109 Made grain-sized 111 Skater Sasha 112 Python in The Jungle Book 113 Scrabble 4-pointer 114 Hernando de — 115 Engine stats 116 A Great Lake 117 Roman 402 122 Sydney’s state: Abbr. 123 Non- — food 124 Sprinted 125 “Inc.” relative

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If you can’t help me grow, there’s no point with you being in my life.” Singer and actress Jill Scott said that. It’s an especially apt principle for you to wield right now. The coming weeks will be a potent time to catalyze deep learning and interesting transformations in concert with your hearty allies. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “You live best as an appreciator of horizons, whether you reach them or not.” Those words from poet David Whyte would be a perfect motto for you to tape to your bathroom mirror or nightstand for the next 30 years. Your ability to achieve small day-by-day successes depends on how well you keep the long-range view in mind. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sensible author E. M. Forster (1879–1970) said, “Passion does not blind. No. Passion is sanity.” That’s the opposite of what many poets and novelists have asserted through the ages. But for you in the coming weeks, passion will help you see clearly and keep you mentally healthy. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Alpine swifts are small birds that breed in Europe during the summer and then migrate to Africa for the winter. Ornithologists were shocked when they discovered that at least some of these creatures fly for more than 200 days without ever landing on the ground. They’re not always flapping their wings—sometimes they glide—but they manage to do all their eating and drinking and sleeping and mating in mid-air. It’s important for you to not act like the alpine swifts in the coming months. Plan to come down to earth regularly. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): There’s substantial evidence that when people talk to themselves out loud in the midst of doing a task, they improve their chances of succeeding at the task. Have you ever heard athletes giving themselves verbal encouragement during their games and matches? They’re using a trick to heighten their performance. Experiment with this strategy in the coming weeks. Increase your brainpower by regularly offering yourself encouraging, supportive instructions. It’s fine if you just sort of whisper them, but now and then, bellow them.

Introducing

Select Elite Live Oil Available at

Curaleaf Blvd. 1736 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 727-3187 Store Hours: 9am â€“ 3am daily

Acres 2320 Western Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 399-4200 Store Hours: 7am â€“ 3am daily

curaleaf.com/locations/#nevada | selectbetter.com For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Keep out of reach of children.

@curaleaf.usa | @select.better

@curaleafNV

Curaleaf Nevada

Discover

STADIUM SWIM The only place in Vegas you can lounge poolside, year-round is Stadium Swim. Chill in one of our six heated pools, two hot tubs, mega-screen entertainment, and stunning cit y views.

C I RC A L A S V E GA S .CO M

Circa Las Vegas is a 21+ experience. We encourage you to gamble responsibly. For problem gambling, call the Problem Gamblers Helpline at 800.522.4700.