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PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Deputy Editor SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com) Contributing Writers EMMA BROCATO, GRACE DA ROCHA, HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, RHIANNON SAEGERT, DANNY WEBSTER Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT Office Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Senior Designer IAN RACOMA Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN Account Executives MARY CHARISSE DIMAIN, LAUREN JOHNSON, ANNA ZYMANEK Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB Events Manager HANNAH ANTER Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

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This week at UnCommons

Sat 2/17

AAPI Lunar New Year Campus Wide 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Sun 2/18

Brunch & Good Vibes @ The Sundry 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Sun 2/18

All-Day Happy Hour @ Amari 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Fri 2/23

Snow Moon Revival @ The Assembly 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

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IN THIS ISSUE T

PLAN YO U R WEEK D! AHEA

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

Mystic Falls Park (Courtesy)

08 18 28 30 36

SUPERGUIDE

Catch some Laughs After Dark, Desert Dogs lacrosse, dance pool parties at the Marquee Dayclub Dome and more this week.

ON THE COVER

COVER STORY Classic Vegas will never go out of style, and we’ve got a list of favorite places and shows for you to experience, including the expanded Golden Steer Steakhouse.

GOLDEN STEER photo by Wade Vandervort

NEWS

Social media has a detrimental—sometimes even lethal— effect on children. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford wants to hold social media companies accountable.

FILM

Now in its 20th year, Boulder City’s Dam Short Film festival is going strong. Learn what makes this festival a favorite of cineastes and filmmakers alike.

FOOD & DRINK Palette Tea Lounge is the Valley’s latest must-try dim sum experience, and Curry Pizza House combines favorite flavors in a fresh new way.

SPORTS

From NBA to NASCAR and golf to baseball, there’s plenty more captivating wagers to be made now that the Super Bowl is behind us ... but we’ve got a great football bet, too. WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.

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

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SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY FEB 15

S U P E R

S U P E R G U I D E

G U I D E

CANDACE GARLOCK: DAILY NODES Thru 3/27, Tue.-Fri. 1-4 p.m. (by appointment), Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, nevada humanities.org. DAM SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Thru 2/19, times and venues vary, Boulder City, damshortfilm.org. U2 8 p.m., & 2/17, 2/18, Sphere, ticketmaster.com.

GRAHAM DECHTER Thru 2/17, 7:30 & 8:45 p.m., Vic’s, vicslasvegas.com. DJ PAULY D 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com. CASH CASH 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. HEKLER With Gawm, Sqishi, Danco, 10 p.m., We All Scream, see tickets.us. JUSTIN CREDIBLE 10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taogroup.com.

BARRY MANILOW Thru 2/17, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

EL TRI 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

LAUGH AFTER DARK Over the past year and a half, LAborn independent comedy company Laugh After Dark has organically gained popularity across various online platforms, with some projects even reaching No. 1 on iTunes. The group has recently shifted focus to Las Vegas with a new series showcasing local comedy talent. Join stand-up sensations Spiro, Lizz Hader, Chris Bennett, Mike Kramer, and Brandon Hahn at the Vegas Theatre Company in the Arts District for a night of laughs and be part of the excitement as this live recording is slated to be shared on Tubi, Amazon, Sirius XM and more. 7 p.m., $15, Vegas Theatre Company, laughafterdark. com. –Gabriela Rodriguez

F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .

(Courtesy/Alex Lora)

VEGAS THRILL VS. OMAHA SUPERNOVAS 7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs. com.

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

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FRIDAY FEB 16

COLTER WALL With Vincent Neil Emerson, 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster. com. MATISYAHU 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster. com. ZEKE BEATS 9 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com. CUMBIA FEST With Vilma Diaz y la Sonora, Rocio la Dama de la Cumbia, La Luz Roja, 8 p.m., Veil Pavilion, silvertoncasino. com. DREW BALDRIDGE 10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, stoneysrockin country.com. SYMPHONIC ROCKSHOW 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, the smithcenter.com. ADELE 8 p.m., & 2/17, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com. NIGHT RANGER With Stephen Pearcy, 8 p.m., & 2/17, Strat Theater, thestrat.com.

EXCISION 7 p.m., & 2/17, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, dlvec.com. MATT FRASER 8:30 p.m., & 2/17, Summit Showroom, ticketmaster.com. LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS VS. PHILADELPHIA WINGS 7 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs. com. UNLV HOCKEY VS. OREGON 7:30 p.m., & 2/17, City National Arena, rebelhockey. com. BRINCOS DIERAS With Jose Luis Zagar, Kevyn Contreras, 7 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com. BILL MAHER 8 p.m., & 2/17, David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand.mgm resorts.com.

DO IT ALL

S STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.

DEADMAU5 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

WIZ KHALIFA 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

CRISKO With Ikyvky, Lexto, 10 p.m., Cheapshot, seetickets.us.

R G

BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO JR. 7 p.m., & 2/17, Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.

U I D

YDG With Kliptic, NMLV, 11:45 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us.

E (Courtesy/ The Smith Center for the Performing Arts)

MUSIC

PARTY

ARTS

SPORTS

FOOD

COMEDY

MISC

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

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SUPERGUIDE SATURDAY FEB 17

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S U P E R G U I D E

U I D E

ROAD TO EDC It’s time to start thinking about Electric Daisy Carnival. We’re not talking about your tickets and your Speedway camping reservations; you’ve already taken care of that. We’re talking about getting in the mood, and the Marquee Dayclub Dome is the place to catch those vibes this weekend. Insomniac’s Road to EDC takeover returns for the President’s Day weekend, starting with a daytime progressive house session with Audien on Friday, February 16. But we are totally focused on this Saturday party with Tao Group resident Erick Orrosquieta, aka Deorro, a DJ and producer known for blending disparate electronic genres—very much like the EDC festival experience itself. Considering that Deorro’s working on a new, very personal album at the moment, we’re expecting some especially fresh tracks on top of the Cosmopolitan. 11 a.m., $20-$40+, Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com. –Brock Radke TOUCH SENSITIVE 4 p.m., We All Scream, tixr. com. SOFI TUKKER 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com. SIDEPIECE 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub. com.

MUSIC

(Courtesy)

ELECTRIC FEELS INDIE ROCK DANCE PARTY 8 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, area15. com.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. CAROLINA HURRICANES 7:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UNR 8:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets. com.

Q 11:30 p.m., Gipsy, seetickets. us.

UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. AIR FORCE 5 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets. com.

AMY GRANT 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster. com.

SKYLINE SIPS 2 p.m., Legacy Club, circa lasvegas.com.

PARTY

ARTS

GRUPO BRONCO 7 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs. com.

SPORTS

TEMPTATIONS REVIEW 8 p.m., M Pavilion, ticketmaster. com. SHIP WREK 9:30 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15. com. THE CENTURIES 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesand dollarlv.com.

FOOD

SUNDAY MOURNING With High Sierra Club, The Dollheads, Hunter’s Briefcase, 5:30 p.m., Rockstars of Tomorrow, rockstarsof tomorrow.com. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.

COMEDY

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FESTIVAL 10 a.m., Springs Preserve, springs preserve.org. DAVID BLAINE 8 p.m., & 2/18, Encore Theater, ticket master.com.

MISC

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SUNDAY FEB 18

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

MONDAY FEB 19

TOOL 8 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

S FILM: ONE FROM THE HEART REPRISE Deep in Francis Ford Coppola’s filmography, between Apocalypse Now and The Outsiders, you’ll find One from the Heart, a big-budget musical that features acclaimed performances by Teri Garr and Raul Julia, a score and songs by Tom Waits and a sumptuous look courtesy of three-time Oscar winner Vittorio Storaro. While the film is set entirely in Las Vegas, not a frame of it was shot here; Coppola rebuilt Fremont Street inside a massive soundstage. Perhaps that’s why the movie flopped, nearly bankrupting Coppola in the process. In any case, Vegas forgives him the oversight, and gladly accepts this 4K remaster of a forgotten work from a master filmmaker who has never been afraid to bet the house. Thru 2/20, times vary, $10, Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater.com.

CELEBRACIÓN LATINA 3 p.m., Nicholas J. Horn Theatre, eventbrite. com.

FRANK MARINO’S DIVAS, DRAG & DRINKS 4 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.

(Courtesy/Travis Shinn)

MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com.

RICK ARROYO LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE 1 p.m., the Bootlegger, bootlegger lasvegas.com.

GOV’T MULE 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticket master.com.

DAMIAN & STEPHEN MARLEY 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, con certs.livena tion.com.

CARMEN’S LOVE BRUNCH With Skye Dee Miles, 11:30 a.m., Composers Room, thecomposers room.com.

F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .

CHASE B 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub. com.

ALLAN HAVEY With Nick Griffin, Ty Barnett, Kathleen Dunbar, thru 2/24, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster. com.

DUSTIN YBARRA With Jimmie JJ Walker, Jimmy Shinn, thru 2/25, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.

R G

JOE SOUL 9 p.m., Easy’s Cocktail Lounge, easysvegas.com.

LIL JON 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com.

D DO IT ALL

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SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY FEB 20

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S U P E R G U I D E

G U I D

DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY Dixie Longate is a force of nature. The drag persona of actor and writer Kris Andersson is a fast-talking, gum-chewing gal hailing from a Mobile, Alabama trailer park. She was the top selling Tupperware representative in the U.S., at one point. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2008 for her off-Broadway show. She captivated audiences in their homes during the pandemic with Dixie’s Happy Hour. And now, she’s coming to Las Vegas to regale us with down-home tales, raunchy jokes and food storage tips. Thru 2/24, times vary, $50, Troesh Studio Theater, thesmithcenter.com. –Shannon Miller

BROOKS NIELSEN 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.

CHICAGO 8 p.m., Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

SNAKEHIPS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

MATT FARRIS Thru 2/22, 8:30 p.m., Gilley’s, gilleyslasvegas. com.

ZUEZEU 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

BROOKE WILKES 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.

SOUL FUSION 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com. WES WINTERS 7 p.m., Composers Room, the composers room.com.

(Courtesy/The Smith Center for the Performing Arts)

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

WEDNESDAY FEB 21

ROB GUSON 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com. HYROGLIFICS With Chieeff, Brock G, 10 p.m., Discopussy, disco pussydtlv.com.

DO IT ALL

MUSIC

PARTY

ARTS

SPORTS

FOOD

COMEDY

MISC

UPCOMING EVENTS

SCAN TO PURCHASE TICKETS

LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

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THE PLAY’S THE THING P E O P L E

Matthew Morgan and his collaborators are serving up Shakespeare one shot at a time

Matthew Morgan (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

T H E

W E E K L Y

Q & A

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LV W C OV E R S T O R Y

BY GEOFF CARTER “One man in his time plays many parts.” That’s from act 2, scene 7 of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. It also neatly describes professional actor, director and clown Matthew Morgan, who has been on Vegas’ stages pretty much constantly since moving here roughly eight years ago. Morgan has appeared in Strip shows like Absinthe and Opium, but if you’re truly fortunate, you’ve seen him in the independent productions he’s created with his wife and artistic collaborator Heidi Brucker Morgan—among them 2019’s Weekly Best of Vegas winner The Princess Wendy Late Night Tease Room and the ongoing Shotspeare (shotspeare.com). A raucous take on the Bard that requires the players to pound shots and follow the edicts of a gameshow-like “Wheel of Soliloquy,” Shotspeare delivers Shakespeare’s works through a filter of bizarre, slapstick and often raunchy humor, while still earnestly celebrating their artistry. In fact, the Morgans love Shakespeare to the point that they co-founded, with collaborators including the City of Henderson and producing director Michael Rice, the nonprofit Nevada Shakespeare Festival (nevadashakespearefestival. com). Morgan, the NSF’s artistic director, granted the Weekly an audience to talk art and ale. How did Shotspeare come to be? It came from the idea of doing Shakespeare in a bar, like a band’s set: “I want to do a whole play in 45 minutes like a band would do, and then the next band can come on. We’ll do a drinking game, and it’ll be just chaos for 45 minutes with some Shakespeare.” We premiered in Los Angeles in late 2010, early ’11, with a local group of collaborators and people I’d worked with for a long time. After the first show, we were like, “Oh, this is special.” The value of the characters became more important as the play went on. The drunker we got, the more we were like, “Don’t improvise.” All we had was to fall back on was the language, which is incredible source material. … It’s just so rich. It’s deep. It’s poetic. It’s lovely.

Come for the comedy; stay for the prose. That’s the hook. Initially, the game was “how much alcohol can we all consume and still do the play?” The answer is, we can consume a lot of alcohol and still do it. But it’s all a ruse. … I want to do Shakespeare for people who don’t like it, would never pay to see it, don’t understand it and don’t care. That’s who I want my audience to be. The hook of the drinking and all the nonsense and chicanery is just a guise to get the audience to pay attention [to] the story, the relationships, the characters, all that stuff. That’s the rich goods of Shakespeare. And that motivated you to found the Nevada Shakespeare Festival? Yeah, I saw an opening. I read an article a number of years ago, preCOVID, that talked about the Utah Shakespeare Festival and that 25,000 people drive from Las Vegas to Cedar City, Utah every summer to [attend]. And I was like, “Well, okay, let me have half of those people.” There’s a market here. Then there’s youth engagement— students and kids. Shakespeare is

Shotspeare does Othello (Courtesy/Michael Rice)

more of a dying breed than some other theater art forms, because it’s a classic and, you know, classics can seem boring. I feel like there’s a great opportunity to introduce young people to it, to say that it doesn’t have to be boring at all. And guess what? You can cut it, change it, adapt it, swap genders and do anything you want to it. Speaking of, I heard a bustling rumor that the NSF is working on a slightly remixed Titus Andronicus. We’re in rehearsals now. The show runs March 28 to April 6 in Cornerstone Park, in a big circus tent. It’s sort of a “grindhouse” adaptation of the play, half slasher and half revenge thriller. I’m really leaning into that aesthetic, because it’s a heavy play. I don’t know how familiar you are with it, but it’s pretty gory. It was one of Shakespeare’s most produced plays during his lifetime because it was so intense. So, it’s got that sort of shock

value: “How do you sell tickets to our movie theater that’s dying because people are moving out to the suburbs?” So that’s the take, a sort of ‘70s/80s corporate cocaine kind of play [laughs]. … There’s lots of heads and hands cut off, tongues cut out and all kinds of gory stuff. Whoa! We definitely have a disclaimer. I was at a high school the other day talking to the drama teacher and I was like, “Oh yeah, we have this program. We’ll get you guys in there ... Maybe just the seniors.” But we’ve said this about all of Shakespeare’s plays: they are for everyone. Some of them deal with more grown-up subject matter than others. My seven-year-old will be there; he’s pretty open to it. We leave it open to the families to decide what they want to do. This one will definitely be one for the books. We have a pretty phenomenal cast, and we’re super excited about it all.

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

C O V E R

S T O R Y

GOLDEN STEER 308 W. Sahara Ave., 702-384-4470, goldensteerlasve gas.com. Daily, 4:30-9:45 p.m.

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After a recent expansion, Golden Steer prospers and maintains its timeless charm

(Wade Vandervort)/Staff)

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ Celebrated jazz singer and pianist Nat King Cole once famously crooned, “Unforgettable, in every way, and forevermore, that’s how you’ll stay.” We understand he was writing about a boundless romantic love, but considering his reputation of being a repeat diner at the Golden Steer, we can’t help but wonder if “Unforgettable” is an ode to this legendary Las Vegas institution. And what’s not to love? Since its opening in 1958, this steakhouse has become renowned for it charm and nostalgic glamor. It reflects the town’s rich history—a history which still draws millions of visitors to the desert for a taste of the timeless sophistication it embodied. There are whispers of secret escape doors built for mob getaways, a steadfast dress code and a prestigious list of famous musicians, actresses, politicians and athletes who frequented the chophouse on West Sahara—and their legacies endure in framed photos hung above their preferred leather booths. But at its core, the Golden Steer is best known for its barely-altered food and drink menu and its heightened hospitality. Let the suited and knowledgeable waitstaff guide you and trust their suggestions; after all, they’re the pros here. The tableside Caesar salad is a delicious and suitable precursor to the main attractions— high grade, 35-day wet-aged cuts of beef, succulent seafood and traditional, yet exceptional spuds and greens. And we insist on trying the tableside flambéed Bananas Foster or Cherries Jubilee. In 2001, just months before the September 11 attacks, the storied steakhouse changed hands, transitioning from the founding ownership of Joe

Kludjian to Dr. Michael Signorelli. Although the business faced challenges in the aftermath of the tragedy, it gradually rebounded and regained momentum. Fast forward to 2019, when Signorelli enlisted the help of his only child, Amanda Signorelli, and her husband Nick McMillan, to become co-owners of the establishment, with the couple taking charge of day-to-day operations. “It was a big surprise, and was not something I was anticipating,” says Amanda Signorelli. “But I jumped in, because at the end of the day, the Golden Steer is a legacy. It’s something that has not only historic significance, but it also has a truly emotional significance for many people.” The family navigated the classic restaurant’s surge forward until their efforts were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting another set of challenges. These circumstances not only sparked a fight for survival for most restaurant businesses, they also inspired operators to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. “When COVID came, frankly, it unblocked more potential for the Golden Steer,” says Signorelli. “Before then, we were too afraid to try things— we treated the brand as too precious to be able to push ourselves to do things that could change.” The Steer’s reputation relied heavily on word-of-mouth marketing. But in 2020, the staff took the steps to share the restaurant’s story online. Signorelli says the steakhouse was an early adopter of TikTok, despite others categorizing the app as something just for kids, rather than an influential marketing platform.

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“Next thing we know, it blew up,” she says. “I’ll never forget, we had a gentleman from Alaska who was 60 years old and when he called to make a reservation he said, ‘I want to make sure I order the TikTok lobsters.’” In the following six months, lobster sales soared by 450%, and naturally, an influx of patrons were scrambling to secure reservations. The newfound online presence created even higher demand for this quintessential Vegas experience, and the restaurant struggled to satisfy the increase in reservations and accommodate large parties in its existing space. So the Golden Steer embarked on its first expansion in nearly 50 years, acquiring the neighboring space, a former falafel shop, to add approximately 1,000 square feet. This move allows an additional 65 diners and a space to cater to groups and private events. To preserve the institution’s heritage, Signorelli and McMillan took meticulous measures, including creating custom wooden door frames to match the original design and

millwork; sourcing 1980s lighting fixtures that matched archived photos; and hiring the stained glass manufacturer who worked on the original space. They even ensured that popcorn ceilings were installed to maintain consistency with the restaurant’s aesthetic. “We found photos, again, from special archives of the whole shopping center,” says Signorelli. “We noticed that there were rock pieces that were styled on the facade of the space. When we were ripping down the stucco we discovered that rock, scrapped all our plans to do the brick and decided to restore the front.” The completed project was unveiled in November, and while the exterior and interior decor maintain the vintage swagger, the inner workings and communications have been modernized. The team has grown from 35 to 100 employees since 2019, all of whom have embraced and been trained on the history of the steakhouse; their storytelling abilities are an integral part of the

guest experience, Signorelli says. She added that the expansion has only heightened the staff’s focus on the Steer’s guests and adding personality to the service. They’ve also made slight tweaks to the menu. The wine list grew from two pages to four, and select mocktails are available. That garlic butter from those TikTok lobster videos is now added to some of the vegetable dishes. Other than creative tweaks, the Golden Steer stays true to the original culinary standards that have sustained its popularity through the decades. “The more people who hear about the restaurant and hear about the legacy, the more they’re learning about Vegas,” says Signorelli. The city is certainly not short on great dining destinations where you can enjoy a steak, but this is a living piece of history. While Las Vegas continues to grow around the Golden Steer, the Signorelli family is keeping with the times and remaining unforgettable.

Steak, lobster and more at the Golden Steer. (Wade Vandervort)/Staff)

Due to popular demand, Dita Las Vegas: A Jubilant Revue recently extended its run at the historic Jubilee Theater inside Horseshoe Las Vegas. The Dita Von Teese-starring vehicle continues through June and shifts to four nights a week in March (ticketmaster.com). The success of this new vision of burlesque— which uses classic showgirl costumes from the iconic Jubilee, performed in this showroom for decades—proves there’s an appetite for nostalgic Vegas experiences, and it might be growing. It’s not the only show that calls back to a bygone era. The Rat Pack is Back is still onstage at the Tuscany’s Copa Showroom Theatre (ratpackisback.com) and All Shook Up at Alexis Park Resort may be the last man standing when it comes to Elvis tribute shows (allshookupvegas.com). We love the vintage variety and all-ages access of Wow: The Vegas Spectacular at the Rio, which opened in 2017 (riolasvegas.com). And don’t forget Vegas! The Show, which sings and dances through the story of entertainment in this town at the V Theater at Planet Hollywood (vtheater.com). It’s also kept our iconic showgirls onstage, where they belong, for nearly 15 years now. A meal and some cocktails at a classic spot might be the easiest way to time-travel, and not every old-school restaurant has been around forever. Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse at the Flamingo (caesars.com/flamingo-las-vegas) opened in 2020 and celebrates Old Vegas in a colorful and sophisticated way. Barry’s Downtown Prime (barrysdowntownprime.com), found under the Vegas Vickie sign inside Circa, has stylish swank to spare, and it also arrived in 2020. But there’s just something about dining in a place that has seen Vegas change through the years; eating linguine and clams at Piero’s (pieroscuisine.com) like so many celebrities, elected officials and mobsters have done; or feasting on crab cakes and veal piccata at Michael’s Gourmet Room (southpointcasino.com), a dining room that was rebuilt in replica when it moved from the Strip to the South Point. Plenty of lounges, bars and casinos maintain the magic. Is there any place more Vegas than the Bootlegger (bootleggerlasvegas. com), with its live entertainment, late-night energy and stellar Italian food? What about the Fireside Lounge at the Peppermill (peppermilllasvegas.com), a beautiful snapshot of kitsch? Frankie’s Tiki Room (frankiestikiroom.com) is one of our all-time favorite places to lose track of time, and the Mint (theminttavern.com) has vibes and martinis all its own, right next door to the Golden Steer. Just being on the casino floor at Westgate is a throwback experience, and you can double down by seeing a show at the International Theater where the real Elvis and Liberace did their things (westgateresorts.com). The same can be said for the Plaza Downtown (plazahotelcasino.com), which has evolved and modernized without losing its classic character. –Brock Radke

(The Mint by Christopher DeVargas; Carousel Bar and Peppermill Fireside Lounge by Wade Vandervort)

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(Courtesy)

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Mystic Falls Park (Courtesy)

In 1994, Sam’s Town introduced an expansion to its locals-friendly hotel and casino: a 10-story hotel tower with a breathtakingly massive, glassroofed atrium called Mystic Falls Park. The 25,000-square-foot atrium, surrounded by guest rooms, restaurants and shops, features tree-shaded paths and a multi-story waterfall. And no matter how many times you’ve visited Mystic Falls, you’re never fully prepared for the moment this serene environment is transformed by music, theatrical lighting, animatronic forest creatures and (checks notes) frickin’ lasers. “And, of course, you have the singing grizzly bear,” says David Strow, VP of corporate communications for Sam’s Town parent company Boyd Gaming. “It’s

unique, to say the least.” At 30 years old, the nearly-incomparable Mystic Falls Park fountain and light show is a local institution worth celebrating. It’s existed as long as the automated Strip spectaculars that inspired its creation, and has even outlasted some of them—Treasure Island’s pirate battle, for one, and soon, sadly, the Mirage’s volcano. Generations of locals have taken out-of-town friends to Mystic Falls. (“You’re not gonna believe this.”) And families have added the show to their holiday traditions, when a special version of the show has those animated critters dressed up in Santa hats. If you haven’t seen it, you need to get into your car right now and go. Grab a seat at the Ram’s Head Bar, or stand right in front of the

Falls, where their spray may grant you “exceptional good luck and good fortune.” The show runs three times daily Monday through Thursday, at 6, 8 and 10 p.m., with an additional 4 p.m. show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; for best results, go after sunset. We could continue to try to explain the charms of this singularly weird and wonderful attraction, but we’ll come up short. You have to go into the woods yourself. “This really is a hidden gem,” says Strow. “People don’t expect that you would find this type of family-friendly entertainment experience on Boulder Highway, but it’s been there for 30 years now, and it continues to draw local residents every single day.” –Geoff Carter

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Fixed at the heart of the Caesars Palace casino since 1970, Cleopatra’s Barge was definitely one of the last jewels of its era, a must-visit for those who appreciate what Las Vegas used to be. It hosted many star entertainers in its tenure, including the return of Wayne Newton just before it shuttered for good in 2020, and the golden statue stretching off the tip of the barge (yes, there was an actual boat built in the lounge, with actual water below it) famously beckoned casino passersby to enter and enjoy. It was one of one. The essential lounge space is about to begin a new life as Caspian’s, a place for cocktails, caviar,

Rendering of Caspian’s. (Courtesy/Celano Design Studio)

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Champagne and, thankfully, live music. Clique Hospitality operates some of our favorite Vegas venues, like the rockin’ Barbershop speakeasy at the Cosmopolitan and the new Easy’s lounge at Aria, so we trust these guys will create a fitting replacement for the Barge. The design is “an homage to Art Deco’s Parisian roots” with blue velvet curtains, oversized couches and a dramatic gold chandelier— sounds pretty Vegasy. Set to open this spring, Caspian’s could prove that you don’t have to be old to be old school. It only takes a little glimmer and glamor from the past to get our attention. –Brock Radke

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for show times and tickets

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

IN THE

1 NEWS

UNLV students helped the Food Recovery Network rescue 4,000 pounds of surplus food from the Bullseye Event Group’s Players Tailgate party at Super Bowl 58. The student-led national nonprofit collected prepared foods, uncooked proteins, dairy, produce and grains for local nonprofit the Just One Project.

OVERDOSE DEATHS INVOLVING FENTANYL ON THE RISE

N E W S

Between 2020 and 2023, the number of overdose deaths among Clark County residents involving the use of fentanyl with methamphetamine or cocaine nearly doubled, rising from 73 deaths to 144. The Southern Nevada Health District is urging heightened public awareness of the dangers of mixing stimulants with highly potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. “For people who do not use opioids regularly, using stimulants that are adulterated with fentanyl places them at a higher risk of overdose,” reads a statement from the health district. Fentanyl test strips allow people to test drugs for traces of fentanyl, which can be deadly even in small amounts. The health district provides fentanyl

SUPER BOWL FOOD WASTE

test strips without a prescription, as well as free nasal naloxone (Narcan) at 280 South Decatur Boulevard. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, including heroin and fentanyl, when given in time. Free injectable naloxone can also be obtained at the Trac-B Impact Exchange Harm Reduction program’s storefront (6114 West Charleston Boulevard) and at seven public health vending machines. The locations of these machines are available at harmreductioncenterlv.com/impact-exchange-vending-machines. “Naloxone should be given in response to any suspected overdose as a means of reversing any possible opioid effects. It’s also important to call 911 for additional medical treatment,” the health district says. -Staff

MAYOR’S COMMENTS ON A’S RILES SOCIAL MEDIA

June 30, 2026, if he is fired “for convenience,” or for no given reason. Such a payout would have been worth about $950,000 in salary alone. A future vote is contingent on Board Counsel negotiations regarding compensation. Jara remains in his current role until the matter is resolved. It is unclear when the item will return to the School Board and when he would depart. –Hillary Davis

The Clark County School District Board wants Superintendent Jesus Jara to go but with payout terms to be determined. The board voted 5-2 on February 7 to conditionally terminate Jara for convenience, with the district attorney to negotiate alternative terms. Under his current contract, which was last renewed in 2022, Jara would be due a payout of yet-to-be-earned salary and benefits through his contact expiration date of

According to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, conservation efforts in 2023 by Nevada, Arizona and California resulted in the states having the lowest consumptive water use since 1984. Last year, they committed to conserving 3 million acre-feet of water in Lake Mead by the end of 2026.

HOT SHOT

CCSD SUPERINTENDENT’S TERMINATION APPROVED

SAVING WATER

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman was a popular topic on the web February 6 following an interview saying she hoped the Oakland Athletics could organize a deal to remain in the Bay Area instead of moving to Southern Nevada. In a podcast on Front Office Sports, Goodman said she believes the A’s should stay in Oakland if owner John Fisher, President David Kaval and Oakland’s city government can work out a stadium deal. She

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ACCORDING TO STUBHUB, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A SUPER BOWL 58 TICKET WAS $8,600.

FOSTER CARE RESOURCE FAIR

Clark County Department of Family Services and the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada will host a community resource fair February 22 from 5 until 8 p.m. The event will provide essential resources and information for families interested in becoming foster caregivers. COMMUNITY

Jamaine Ortiz, left, takes a punch from WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez during a fight February 8 at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay. Lopez retained his title with a unanimous decision. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

explained that many Bay Area fans want the team to stay in California and that “they deserve to have their team.” She later clarified her comments in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing that she is “excited about the prospect of Major League Baseball in Las Vegas” and that the “Las Vegas A’s” could become a reality “that we will welcome to our city.” Major League Baseball in November unanimously approved the Athletics’ relocation bid from Oakland to Las Vegas. –Grace Da Rocha

Attendees gather at a party for former President Donald Trump on February 8 at Treasure Island after Trump won the Nevada caucuses that day. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

TRUMP WINS CAUCUSES AS STATE GOP HOLDS CARDS CLOSE TO THE VEST Nevada Republicans said they decided to hold privately run caucuses to choose their presidential nominee because it would be a safer, more transparent contest than the state-run primary held two days before. The state GOP’s website says its caucuses offer, among other things, “transparent tabulation.” But the transparency ended shortly after the event started February 8 at nearly 50 sites around Southern Nevada, when party workers told assembled media they had to leave. “No media or recording is allowed,” said Rachel Fredriksen, caucus site team leader, instructing a reporter to leave the Cambridge Recreation Center near East Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway. Journalists intended to watch the nominating and results tabulation, hoping to see how counting paper ballots from the less than three-hour caucus was more efficient than electronic voting systems and mail ballot processing employed by the Nevada Secretary of State and the Clark County Election Department.

One caucus worker, when a reporter introduced herself as a member of the media, interrupted her by saying, “No, nope. We are too overwhelmed.” The caucus result was predictable: Former President Donald Trump defeated a long-shot challenger to earn Nevada’s 26 delegates at the Republican National Convention this summer. At a caucus celebration party at Treasure Island that night, Trump made an unfounded claim that the turnout passed the record from the 2016 GOP caucus, when more than 75,000 votes were cast in Trump’s initial White House bid. “You have to have strong borders and you have to have free, fair and honest elections,” Trump said. “And we don’t have either … we have to protect our democracy.” But Trump also thanked voters and conceded the path to the presidency will likely run through Nevada. “I just want to really thank the great people of Nevada. ... If we win this state, we easily win the election in November,” Trump said. –Casey Harrison

DEVELOPER’S PLANS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACE SKEPTICISM A Las Vegas developer wants to build an affordable-rent apartment building in the Whitney area of Clark County, but some neighbors are raising concerns it could drag down property values and attract “bad actors.” To the contrary, developer George Gekakis and backers of the $32 million project said it would help clean up the area and combat homelessness. “We are going to revitalize that area,” said Ridge Claridy, director of grants and compliance with Help of Southern Nevada, which assists needy people with direct services, training and referral to community resources. “It’s not a homeless shelter. It is not going to be a resting place with people bringing in carts, things like that,” Claridy said. The project, which will be seeking federal grant money to help build it, is called Tropicana Trails and is planned for near Boulder Highway and Tropicana Avenue. Gekakis described the area as a challenged neighborhood that had a significant number of homeless camps. –Emma Brocato

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DIGITAL DANGERS

evada is taking on three social media companies in state court over alleged harms to youth mental health and well-being. Attorney General Aaron Ford announced on January 30 that his office, in conjunction with three private law firms, filed civil actions against five social media platforms— Snapchat, TikTok and Meta-owned Facebook, Instagram and Messenger—alleging that the platforms’ algorithms “have been designed deliberately to addict young minds … and caused young people harms to mental health, body image, physical health, privacy and physical safety.” Ford tells the Weekly that, through these legal actions, his office is working to address addictive features of social media and its negative impact on youth. And time is of the essence—it’s one of the reasons Ford decided to go it alone in these legal actions instead of signing onto a mulitstate lawsuit filed in federal court in California in October. “We’ve alleged violations of Nevada law … and we think that Nevada judges should be the ones who make those important decisions,” Ford says. “We have the ability to get to trial quickly in Nevada, which is important because the epidemic is getting worse, not better.”

(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

M E N T A L

H E A L T H

Nevada attorney general’s lawsuits against social media companies underscores impact on youth

BY SHANNON MILLER

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Ford’s office is arguing that social media companies violated Nevada laws on deceptive trade practices, product liability and negligence. The legal actions play out against a backdrop of increased calls for accountability from social media companies. At a January 31 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, CEOs from major social media companies apologized to family members whose children had died due to factors including drug overdoses and suicide. “Obviously, Mr. [Mark] Zuckerberg’s apology is something of note. But we think there’s much to be done yet to ensure that children will be protected from these harmful products,” Ford says. “We’re looking for things like time restrictions and additional parental controls. We want to be certain that there are changes to account creation and maintenance, including improvements to existing age restrictions and age verification enhancements; make publicly available data and research; and also establish third-party monitors to ensure that these products are proper for use by our youth.” If the attorney general’s office wins in court, Nevada’s settlement could then be used to address the alleged harms of social media. “What I wanted to do is to be able to afford the resources so that experts in the area … can be able to utilize these resources in order to help our youth recover from, for lack of a better phrase, what they’ve been subjected to.” WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY Not only is the youth mental health “epidemic” getting worse, as Ford says; it’s been going on for quite some time. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy first sounded the alarm on a “national youth mental health crisis” in December 2021 and in May 2023 issued an advisory on the risks social media poses to adolescents. The advisory acknowledges that a “lack of access to data and lack of transparency from technology companies have been barriers to understanding the full scope and scale of the impact of social media on mental health and well-being.” The surgeon general’s advisory

“We’ve alleged violations of Nevada law … and we think that Nevada judges should be the ones who make those important decisions. We have the ability to get to trial quickly in Nevada, which is important because the epidemic is getting worse, not better.” -Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford

points to several scientific studies showing correlations between social media and cyberbullying-related depression, body image, disordered eating and poor sleep quality. It also cites cases in which childhood deaths were linked to suicide- and self-harm-related content and risk-taking challenges on social media platforms. Southern Nevada school psychologist Jessica Shearin remembers the first time she realized social media could be extremely dangerous for kids. Six years ago, she had an encounter with a group of fifth-grade girls who were in a “Snapchat suicide pact.” “They were all saying that they wanted to die by suicide; they all wanted to harm themselves. And we were facing a pretty big issue. … Snapchat deletes the messages either immediately, or within 24 hours. So we didn’t have any physical evidence of it,” Shearin says. “Finally, one or two of them came forward. We were able to get to the root of the problem. And that was my first experience where I was like, ‘Wow, these kids are getting very savvy with social media and using it in a way that is really detrimental.” Unfortunately, it’s not an isolated incident. Social media has been used to share self-harm and suicide-related content, which can “normalize” these behaviors for adolescents, according to the Surgeon General. For example, the blackout challenge, which circulated on TikTok daring users to hold their breath or choke themselves with household objects until they passed

out, has been connected with the deaths of several children. Shearin, who is also the president of the Nevada Association of School Psychologists, says she and her colleagues are also seeing higher rates of anxiety and depression in adolescents. “They’re using this as a medium to get some feelings out or look for social acceptance … [But] social media can create this sense of comparison. And through the act of always comparing … they’re creating an entire reality from that. And that leads to self-critical thoughts,” she says. It’s not just psychologists who’ve noticed a connection between social media and poor mental health outcomes. The Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention has adjusted its training programs to focus on “the pervasive influence of social media and the internet on suicide over the past decade.” The adjustment was prompted by an investigation of 44 deaths by suicide that found “electronic device addiction” to be a contributing factor in several of the deaths. “In June 2019, the Office of Suicide Prevention took a significant step in acknowledging the impact of social media on suicide. This realization stemmed from an in-depth investigation into 44 deaths by suicide which occurred in Clark County between 2016 and 2018. The Clark County Child Death Review team meticulously examined these cases, uncovering electronic device addiction as a contributing factor in several instances,” the Office of Suicide Prevention said

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in an email to the Weekly. Shearin says research has likened excessive use of social media to addiction. Features like endless scrolling, disappearing content, likes, shares and push notifications are designed to keep the user on the app. Moreover, such addiction studies have focused mostly on adults. Less is known about the impacts on the developing brains of adolescents. “For an adult with a fully developed frontal lobe … we see adults are becoming addicted to social media platforms. … That’s what’s so scary, is we have no idea what this does to a developing brain,” Shearin says. She adds that even though people have become more aware of the harms of social media, it’s difficult to establish direct connections between too much social media use and poor health and safety outcomes. “Social media companies need to be held accountable for what they’ve created, and how children have been able to access it. But, it’s so hard to point to it and say, ‘Yes, I 100% know definitively that this child is acting this way, because they spend this much time on their phone.’” The Weekly reached out to the social media companies Meta, Snapchat and TikTok for their comments on the Nevada litigation. A Snapchat spokesman provided the following statement. “Snapchat was intentionally designed to be different from traditional social media, with a focus on helping Snapchatters communicate with their close friends. Snapchat opens directly to a camera—rather than a feed of content that encourages passive scrolling—and has no traditional public likes or comments. While we will always have more work to do, we feel good about the role Snapchat plays in helping close friends feel connected, happy and prepared as they face the many challenges of adolescence.” TikTok declined to provide a direct comment and directed to policies listed on their website including age-restricted features, content levels, parental controls, screen time management tools, community guidelines and enforcement measures. Meta did not respond to a request for comment.

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F I L M

FOR THE LOVE OF FILM Dam Short Film Festival celebrates 20 years

Molly Muse and Britt Harris in Dam Short Film Festival entry Ghost Town. (Courtesy)

C U L T U R E

BY SHANNON MILLER Every February for the past 20 years, Boulder City has hosted international filmmakers and thousands of attendees at the Dam Short Film Festival. And while some things have changed over the years, festival co-founder Lee Lanier is most proud of how it has stayed the same. “What I consider special is the fact that it’s inherently the same festival it was 20 years ago,” Lanier says. “The festival has been in 3 different locations, has been virtual, has screened over 2,500 films from almost every country in the world, has had countless volunteers, staff and board members work to make it a reality. Yet, the core mission has stayed the same. The Dam Short Film Festival has no agenda other than screening the best short films we can find that we feel our audiences will enjoy.” This year, that agenda will be realized with more than 140 short films screened at the Elaine K. Smith Center February 14-19. Genres include animation, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, international, sci-fi, Nevada, romance and underground. Awardees will be selected based on

audience votes. “On paper, objectively, Dam Short Film Festival It’s not just audiences that enjoy the programgave us the most for future projects and collaboming. Over time, the Dam Short Film rations. There’s some kind of alchemy Festival has become a filmmaker with it and the times of filmmakers DAM SHORT favorite, as well. FilmFreeway, a site it attracted,” Harris tells the Weekly. FILM FESTIVAL Thru February 19, used by filmmakers to submit works to “Having that be the first stop for our $13-$150, Elaine festivals, includes Dam Short in its top film was like just, you know, rocket jetK. Smith Building 100 ranking. pack to strap on and keep going.” in Boulder City, “As a short filmmaker, I’ve experiHarris and Muse will return to Dam damshortfilm.org. enced the frustration of traveling to a Short this year to screen a new film, film festival, at great cost, just to find Ghost Town, and to help celebrate the that the festival presented a subpar screening festival’s continuing influence. experience. There are many things that can ruin a “Dam Short felt like filmmaker camp. We met screening, such as bad projection, poor audience a ton of people we’ll be friends with for the rest turnout, dull Q&As or general miscommunication,” of our lives. And we’re actively collaborating with Lanier says. them now,” says Muse. Filmmakers agree. In 2023, first-time festivalSunday night’s award presentations will be livesgoers Britt Harris and Molly Muse won the award treamed, and winning films will be rescreened in for Best Drama with Wrap Me In a Sheet. They say two special programs on Monday. Outside of the their attendance and recognition at last year’s fesscreenings, events are planned all around Boulder tival has led to other collaborations, and propelled City, including a filmmaker meet-and-greet, coffee the creative duo’s filmmaking career forward. with filmmakers and a mixer at Beer Zombies.

YÄCHTLEY CRËW The Titans of Soft Rock

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 16 & 17

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FEBRUARY 17

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FEBRUARY 18

HERE TO Scan & see how Palms does entertainment.

4321 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103

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M U S I C

TRIUMPH IN LAS VEGAS C U L T U R E

Wu-Tang Clan smashes opening weekend of historic hip-hop residency

BY AMBER SAMPSON

as Vegas made a whole lot of history this past weekend. Along the Strip, football fans, proud locals and celebrities huddled around Allegiant Stadium and its adjacent venues for the city’s first Super Bowl. Mere miles away and two nights earlier, music lovers were also busy celebrating as the Wu-Tang Clan, one of the most influential rap groups of all time, kicked off Las Vegas’ first full-fledged hip-hop residency at the Theater at

Virgin Hotels on February 9. Just after 9:35 p.m., the pioneering East Coast emcees—RZA, GZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Cappadonna, Masta Killa, Raekwon and Young Dirty Bastard (son of the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard)— took the stage like a band of ninjas in their black and yellow hoodies and white masks, quite literally ready to bring the ruckus. They prowled the stage, blowing through the tongue-twisting rhymes

of “Protect Ya Neck” and “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit” with an unfettered finesse, enhanced by a live band and a troupe of dancers. Like a group of seasoned athletes, members of the crew tagged themselves into each verse, ganging up on lines with a collective shout, assigning a primal sort of power and vitality to them. Young Dirty Bastard took that energy and bottled it as an animated image of his father, springing up and down and swoop-

ing in like a hurricane on grimy favorites like “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” leaving a flurry of bars in his wake. Method Man couldn’t seem to contain his excitement either, as he grinned from ear to ear and flashed his abs to the crowd. Dollar bills rained down in the background as he ran point on “C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)”, and let it be noted that not a soul in that room was ready for that one. Personality preceded each verse

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HALEAMANO The Wu-Tang Clan performs at the Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on February 9. (Courtesy/Patrick Gray of Kabik Photo Group)

REGGAE, ROOTS AND R&B IN LAS VEGAS

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17 A 6PM LIVE AT WINCHESTER THEATER

for these stars, who also leaned into their kung-fu-inspired roots with a cinematic interlude that featured a bare-chested samurai. Those moments, plus Wu-Tang’s roast-heavy onstage monologues, gave the residency a theatrical flair. But those who came for a grimy, no-frills rap show received it, as the clan unleashed their lyrical acrobatics without a single backing vocal. Pure, unfiltered flow is hard to find these days, but WuTang barely missed a beat or a bar.

Towards the end, RZA paid tribute to the last 50 years of hip-hop and those we’ve lost since then. Together, the room recognized fallen soldiers like Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., DMX, Biz Markie and ultimately, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004. “Throughout hip-hop … we’ve lost so many things to foolish acts, guns and drugs. And even though WuTang is a part of the streets, we use our arts and our music to escape the

streets,” RZA said. “This anger that young people have inside of them, it needs an outlet. I advise us as a culture, as a community, to give our youth a better outlet for their anger and their violence, and we can make a better f*cking culture, aight?” Closing out the 78-minute set with a Champagne shower, the hip-hop collective concluded its Vegas residency debut in style and with more substance than we could have ever hoped for.

HALEAMANO

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S T R I P

RIO REBOOT An iconic Las Vegas resort is reclaiming its mojo with a series of renovations

C U L T U R E

BY ROB KACHELRIESS No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The Rio Hotel & Casino is looking a bit different these days— even from a distance. The property is actively testing new programmable LED lighting, which has given the colorful exterior a fresh look, along with a recent paint job and the pending arrival of upgraded marquees. It’s more than a touch-up. Dreamscape bought the Rio from Caesars Entertainment in 2019, but didn’t take over operations until late 2023. Now untethered, the new owners are enthusiastically re-energizing a resort that’s been around since 1990. “We’re purposely trying to go about our busi-

ness humbly and quietly to get this asset back to its rightful place within Las Vegas, and how it was viewed in its heyday,” says Dreamscape founder and CEO Eric Birnbaum. Dreamscape could’ve shut down the Rio to do all the renovations at once, but opted for a phased-in approach that gradually makes its way from one end of the property to the other. An early project to revamp the 1,500 rooms in the Ipanema Tower with contemporary decor and furnishings should be complete by March. “Our smallest room is still a suite at approximately 600 square feet,” Birnbaum says. “The rooms are quite large, so it’s just a more modernized, updated experience that we think is elevated within the market.” The hotel business, which operates in partnership with Hyatt, complements 250,000 square feet of newly renovated convention space and a casino floor that’s had at least 500 slot machines replaced. The Canteen Food Hall is the first high-profile eatery to emerge in the Rio’s new era, combining six culinary concepts in a relatively intimate fast-casual environment. In a sign of the times, the food hall fills the space formerly home to the resort’s shuttered buffet. The food hall matches the Dreamscape philosophy, prioritizing comfort and familiarity with subtleties that make all the difference in the

world. Tender Crush has plump chicken tenders, including a spin on Nashville Hot that’s more about flavor than temperature and indulgent boardwalk-worthy doughnuts made with biscuit batter. Nama Nama, which occupies a circular counter in the center of the food hall, uses only claw and knuckle meat for its lobster hand rolls (sliced into smaller pieces for takeaway orders to preserve texture). Attaboy Burger has a Texas Toast sandwich that’s like a burger and grilled cheese in one, plus local Big Dog’s root beer on tap for ice cream floats. Southland Burrito Co. uses Sonoran-style wheat tortillas, which generate a nice char when grilled. The signature broth at Shogun Ramen simmers in pork bones for two days, emerging with robust collagen-rich flavor. Tony Luke’s grills cheesesteak ingredients slowly, loads the sandwich, then flips it over to soak the juices together. Next up for the Rio is a brand-new Starbucks and a refresh of KJ Dim Sum. The lobby cocktail lounge formerly known as iBar will have an all-new elevated identity by summer. Executives are eager to resurrect the Wine Cellar with the possibility of adding spirits. Management won’t confirm or deny a rebrand of VooDoo Lounge and its gorgeous rooftop perch on the 50th floor of the Masquerade tower. Birnbaum is more open about discussing the renovated pool deck, which has new landscaping, chairs and cabanas while resurrecting the waterfall features popular in the Rio’s early years. “There were water features all over the place that had been left to die,” the CEO says. “So we’re bringing back some life to the entire 150,000-square-foot pool deck.” If you want to check out the changes yourself, parking is still free.

(Left) A rendering of Rio’s new Canteen Food Hall; (above) Tony Luke’s pizza steak sandwich. (Courtesy)

C U L T U R E

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

ART AND DIM SUM

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BY GENEVIE DURANO

Palette Tea Lounge brings out the beauty of a classic Chinese meal

im sum is one of those choose-your-own-adventure meals where enjoyment is heightened the more people you bring to the table. I’ve spent many a Sunday morning with my family, sipping cups of hot tea and eagerly waiting for those trolleys loaded with bamboo steamers full of dumplings and other delicacies, the lazy Susan spinning round and round as we

laugh and talk over one another. It’s as convivial a meal as you can get, and now, there’s a new player in Chinatown. Palette Tea Lounge is the third location of Palette Tea House, the San Francisco restaurant from the Ng family, Hong Kong immigrants who want to share the experience of yum cha, the Chinese tradition of a tea gathering. Palette Tea House, as its name suggests, elevates the dim sum experience

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F O O D to an art form. The murals on the walls depict bucolic scenes of misty coasts, and colorful lanterns with Chinese characters hanging from the ceiling. On the table, every place setting has an artist’s palette with five wells, to be used for five sauces—soy sauce, spicy mustard, sriracha, sweet-and-sour and cilantro. There are no roving trolleys here; instead, there’s a laminated menu with a dry-erase pen so you and your

A dim sum spread at Palette Tea Lounge (Courtesy)

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D R I N K Palak paneer pizza (Courtesy)

tablemates can make your selections. The front of the menu features signature and classic dim sum selections. While you don’t get the instant gratification of a dim sum cart, our selections came out promptly, each one beautifully presented. There’s such artistry in dumpling folding, and at Palette Tea Lounge, you can witness the chefs at their craft through the glass-fronted prep area. The signature dim sum calls to us first. The lobster har gow ($13), three to a serving, comes with a clever butter ampule for injecting, while the xiao long bao ($8) is accompanied with traditional black vinegar—but in gelatinous spheres. On the more classic side, the pork and shrimp siu mai ($8) does not disappoint. The pan-seared chicken pot stickers ($8) are a bit on the bland side, but dipped in the palette of sauces, it finds its stride. The radish cake with XO sauce ($10) is a marvel of taste and texture. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, it’s the perfect vehicle for a shot of umami, courtesy of the XO. The crispy unagi rice crepe ($12) is another table pleaser, pillowy soft sheets wrapping the salty unagi, drizzled with a sweet soy concoction. We wrap up the dim sum tour with steamed vegetable bao ($8), which comes in a plate of three. Two of the baos appeared to have kale and the third was stuffed with mushroom. All are delicious. Though traditionally eaten for breakfast and lunch, dim sum is served all day here. The rest of the menu offers classic regional Chinese fare, albeit with a modern twist. (See: XO Wagyu beef fried rice and black truffle crispy duck fried rice.) Seafood is also a draw at Palette Tea Lounge. Live Dungeness crab is shown to the patrons before it’s taken to the back to be stir-fried or curried. Just don’t get too attached, because the next time you see your little crustacean friend, it will be on a dish— artfully presented, of course.

PALETTE TEA LOUNGE 4601 Spring Mountain Road, 702-888-3626, palettelv.com. Wednesday-Monday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; 5-10 p.m.

CURRY ON A SLICE

Pizza is your new favorite way to consume Northern Indian flavors BY SHANNON MILLER  Owner Aman Kahlon is merging nostalgic flavors with present trends at Curry Pizza House. The fast-casual franchise out of California moved in right across the street from UNLV in November, serving Northern Indian recipes atop a pizza crust reminiscent of naan. “I grew up eating Indian food, and I knew the flavor profiles,” Kahlon says. “That was a great way of taking this next generation, the Gen Z and the millennials and introducing them to these Indian flavor profiles that we are kind of lacking out here.” Those flavors leave an impression. Tandoori chicken pizza comes with white garlic sauce, cheese, bell pepper, red onion, diced tomatoes, cilantro, and juicy, perfectly spiced chicken. There’s also a masala chicken version topped with curry sauce. “We’re highly detail-oriented when it comes down to the recipes and making sure that the product is fresh every single day,” Kahlon says. For vegetarians, must-try

items include aloo gobhi pizza with curry sauce, marinated potatoes, cheese and fresh cilantro. Oven-charred marinated cauliflower and red onions tip the deliciousness scale on this one. There’s also the chili paneer pizza with curry sauce, bell pepper, diced tomatoes, green onion and fresh coriander, with the star being the masala paneer cheese that is marinated for at least 24 hours. Pizza prices range from $18 for a 10-inch pie to $40 for an extra-large 18-inch. Wings and an assortment of satisfying grub from creative garlic sticks to baked masala chips and samosas round out the menu. A refreshing mango lassi is the cherry on top. Curry Pizza House is also getting licensed to serve beer, wine and margaritas. “It’s supposed to be where you can watch the game and enjoy a drink and some pizza,” Kahlon says. Sounds like another winning combination.

CURRY PIZZA HOUSE 4700 S Maryland Parkway #110, 702-790-8277, currypizzahouse.com. Sunday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 a.m.

VOTE NOW F O R L A S V E G A S W E E K LY ’ S BEST OF VEGAS 2024 L A S V EG A S W E E K LY.C O M / B E STO F V EG A S 202 4

N O M I N AT I O N S O P E N U N T I L MARCH 1ST

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

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VARIETY PACK What to bet with the NFL heading into offseason mode? Here’s a grab bag of suggestions

XANDER SCHAUFFELE

JAMES HARDEN

C U L T U R E

BY CASE KEEFER The most popular sports betting season of the year wrapped up on Super Bowl Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs came back to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 as 2-point underdogs at Allegiant Stadium. But the conclusion of the 2023-24 NFL campaign doesn’t mean it’s time for most sports bettors and bookmakers to pack up and go on vacation until training camps start back up this summer. On the contrary, the next few months of the sports betting calendar are jam-packed with gambling opportunities. Nothing may bring the sheer one-day betting volume of the Super Bowl, but tickets will still be printing and apps will still be clicking. Need a wager to stay in the action? Here are suggestions on futures bets on seven different major sports or sporting events coming up, after digging through the odds on all eight licensed betting apps in Nevada.

CALEB LOVE

GOLF:

COLLEGE BASKETBALL:

Arizona to win the NCAA Tournament at 12-to-1 (BetMGM)  March Madness is technically an even bigger betting event than the Super Bowl if judged in its three-week totality. This year’s version should be particularly compelling, with a handful of teams that have flashed elite potential, but no one looks as versatile and overwhelming as the Wildcats. Arizona has the athleticism to beat opponents in transition, the physicality to win rebounding battles and the shooting ability to run up the score. The challenge will be maintaining it all for six straight games to win its first title since 1997, but at these odds, it’s worth the risk.

Xander Schauffele to win the Masters at 28-to-1 (Boyd Sports)  The 2020 Olympic gold medalist is known as one of the best golfers in the world to have never won a major, with many wondering if it will ever happen. Schauffele’s reputation is not being able to finish in the biggest moments, but that’s unfair and history is littered with players who eventually win big. If the 30-year-old Schauffele breaks through at any major, it’s likely to come at Augusta National. He’s finished in the top 20 in four of the past five years at the Masters, including three top-10 finishes and two top-five placements. The Masters is a betting bonanza, but the time to get the best value is in the months leading up to the event, which is scheduled to begin April 11 this year. Schauffele at this high of a price is a good example.

NBA:

Los Angeles Clippers to finish regular season as Western Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed at +260 (i.e. risking $100 to win $260) (Caesars/William Hill)  Ever since the Clippers settled down and figured out their rotation after the blockbuster trade for former Most Valuable Player James Harden, they’ve been far and away the best team in the West. No one can match either their efficiency or their starpower with Harden creating a quartet of longtime standouts alongside Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook. The Western Conference playoffs will be rugged with competition and it’s hard to expect the older Clippers to stay healthy for two straight months in the more demanding postseason, but betting them this way avoids that potential pitfall.

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N O I S E

(AP Photo/ Photo Illustration)

PATRICK MAHOMES

LEON DRAISAITL

CHRISTOPHER BELL

AUSTIN WELLS

NFL: NHL:

Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup at +850 (Boyd Sports) and Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup at 10-to-1 (Caesars/William Hill)  Most sportsbooks have seven or eight teams at the top of the board in the 6- to 10-to-1 range, but these two should stand above the rest. Take away mediocre starts from both, and they’ve been the best teams in the NHL from a statistical perspective. Florida actually eclipsed expectations early considering it was dealing with so many injuries out of last year’s Stanley Cup Final run. Now the Panthers are healthy. The Oilers were dreadful to start the season, with goalie Stuart Skinner struggling to rediscover his form from last year and coach Jay Woodcroft’s message not getting through. But Skinner is now rolling and the whole team has responded to a coaching change from Woodcroft to Kris Knoblauch.

MLB:

New York Yankees to win the World Series at 10-to-1 (SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas)  The Dodgers stole all the offseason headlines with a parade of big-time moves, including signing two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, wooing Japanese mega-prospect Yoshinobu Yamamoto and trading for ace pitcher Tyler Glasnow. But the Yankees didn’t do so bad either, with a massive trade for perennial All-Star outfielder Juan Soto and the free agent signing of veteran pitcher Marcus Stroman. The Dodgers are the team to beat, but their +350 price is nearly three times lower than the Yankees’ odds. That’s too large of a gap, especially considering Ohtani will pay more dividends later in his record-breaking deal when he can both pitch and bat. The former Los Angeles Angel will only be hitting this year coming off elbow surgery.

NASCAR:

Christopher Bell to win Cup Championship at 12-to-1 (STN Sports)  The nation’s biggest auto-racing organization strategically stages its biggest event one week after the Super Bowl, with the Daytona 500 scheduled for February 18. Bell might be worth a look there too at as high as 22-to-1, but it’s better value to bank on him emerging as a first-time overall Cup champion. All the chatter around NASCAR is that Toyota has caught if not surpassed rival manufacturers Ford and Chevrolet coming into the new season. The 29-year-old Bell has been the surest Toyota driver long-term the past couple years, having twice reached the Cup championship Final Four. Now squarely in his racing prime, he’s set up to finish the job this year.

Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl 59 at 9-to-1 (Circa Sports) and Patrick Mahomes to win NFL Most Valuable Player at +750 (Caesars/William Hill)  The Chiefs feel inevitable, don’t they? As long as Mahomes is around, they are far and away the likeliest champion each and every year. Don’t take the “three-peat” declaration the star quarterback made at Allegiant Stadium after Super Bowl 58 lightly. Kansas City should be better on offense next year with young stars like Rashee Rice and Isiah Pacheco on value rookie contracts and likely to improve. The defense has some question marks—led by the free agency of dynasty centerpiece/all-world defensive tackle Chris Jones—but the Chiefs always seem to figure those out eventually. NFL betting season never truly ends, with sportsbooks sating demand by constantly posting odds looking ahead. The Chiefs’ historic run atop of the NFL may not be ending any time soon, either.

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VEGAS INC BUSINESS

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BIOTECH STARTUP AIMS TO MAKE BIG IMPACT HERE AND NATIONWIDE BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER

C B U S I N E S S

VEGAS INC STAFF

ontrary to what many people think, there are only about 2,000 medicines approved by the Federal Drug Administration for people. And a quarter of those are biological products, or “biologics,” including vaccines, gene therapy, tissues and similar medicines—like insulin, for example. Using unique technology, Las Vegas-based startup Heligenics Inc. aims to improve the performance of biologics. Since its launch seven years ago, the company has produced at least 25 new drugs. “When [people] take insulin, they just take the raw form that comes out of the human, but it’s well-known that through a little bit of fancy protein-engineering, you can make a form of insulin that performs way better—maybe it lives in your blood five times as long,” said Martin Schiller, founder and CEO of Heligenics. According to the company’s website, Heligenics tests how all the genetic variants of a given gene “functionally impact, en masse, live human cells.” “The biggest discovery in drug development is called High Content Screening, introduced about four decades ago, and all drug manufacturers (have used) it since it was introduced,” said Schiller, who is also the executive director of the Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine at UNLV. “But the gap here is that there’s no High Content Screening for biologic drugs—and that’s what we have the unique capability of doing.” To carry out its mission, Heligenics has partnered with Roseman University to work out of the nearly 70,000 square feet of wet lab and office space at its Summerlin campus. A wet lab is specifically designed for biosci-

Roseman University of Health Sciences (Courtesy)

ence, says Jeffery Talbot, the vice president for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies at Roseman. “We think that, partnering with companies like Heligenics, we can provide an even richer educational environment for our students—a training environment where, for example, graduate students can participate with the company in the work that they are doing, which gives them cutting-edge skills, real-life experience, even before they graduate,” Talbot said. “We think those things are critical.” Southern Nevada increasingly has opportunities to contribute to the evolving biotech industry, which Talbot emphasized is fast-growing. “Heligenics—that’s a very exciting company at an exciting time of their growth,” he said. “And they were being courted by entities outside of Nevada to relocate. And by providing them space at our campus that met their needs, we could take a startup company—a Nevada startup—to keep it in Nevada, so it can grow in Nevada.” Tina Quigley, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, said that in addition to the wet lab space at Roseman, Southern Nevada’s workforce is also attractive to biotech companies. “And, of course, they are a diversification from … hospitality and gaming, which means that as they arrive here—to do an analogy—we are diversi-

fying our 401(k) portfolio,” she said. “We are diversifying and becoming a more secure economy, so that way when we do have bubbles and bursts with our primary industry, it isn’t felt as strongly as it has been in the past.” The biotech industry is growing globally, she said, and Las Vegas is poised to be a competitor within it. Though some people may consider a biotech company based in Southern Nevada rather than Silicon Valley to be at a disadvantage, Schiller said Heligenics’ location allows it to influence the growing health care system in Las Vegas. There’s a couple of different paths that Heligenics could walk from here, Schiller said, including taking its first drug to market and using the guaranteed revenue from that product to fund the additional growth of the company. The ideal outcome would be to take a few drugs forward and partner with existing drug manufacturers to have the same impact that a company like Pfizer has, he said, so that Heligenics’ technological approach to drug discovery becomes industry-wide as quickly as possible. “Our company and our advisers and directors and colleagues all think that, within a decade, all pharmaceutical companies will be using our approach to make new drugs,” Schiller said. “So we think we’re going to have a very big impact.”

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TECHNOLOGY

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We have to be careful not to overly confuse the outputs of generative AI with the capacity of the human brain. Perhaps one day in the distant future, computing power may enable similar outcomes, but for today, the power of the human spirit and creativity are unmatched.”

Q+A: ROBERT RIPPEE

For businesses as well as societies, innovation never stops, and isn’t something to fear but rather to adapt to

BY VEGAS INC STAFF

obert Rippee has been a central figure in the development of the Black Fire Innovation Hub since its inception. As executive director, Rippee is responsible for guiding the hub’s programming and curriculum, which is designed to ignite innovation and push forward technologies in hospitality, gaming and entertainment. He answered questions from Vegas Inc about artificial intelligence and building a culture of innovation. With CES having recently concluded in Las Vegas, was there anything specific that you found exciting at the show? The push for digital transformation and automation has become a strategic imperative for most industries, including those in hospitality and gaming, to not just stay competitive but also to drive innovation in addressing ongoing challenges and seizing new opportunities. Generative AI is revolutionizing content generation, data analysis and the customization of customer interactions. Robotics has rapidly progressed, filling essential roles from security to customer service, thus ensuring that businesses maintain continuity and enhance their competitive edge. Do people overestimate the impact of artificial intelligence? Is fear over

the way it will impact the job market justified? That is a very difficult question to answer. I believe the answer lies in understanding the impact of technological advancement in general and not just AI. The impact of technology on the job market is multifaceted, serving as both a disruptor and a creator of new career paths. As automation and digital tools streamline or replace routine tasks, certain jobs are being phased out, compelling the workforce to adapt through reskilling and upskilling. Concurrently, technology is the bedrock of novel industries and job roles, ranging from cybersecurity experts to data scientists, app developers and sustainability managers. It catalyzes entrepreneurship, enabling the launch of innovative startups and services. AI applications are at the core of these novel industries and entrepreneurial trends.

restaurants, shops, and attractions is quite low. This is where AI could step in, with the potential to revolutionize the tourism experience by breaking down language barriers.

Specific to hospitality, how do you see technology advancing and serving Las Vegas tourists? Let me share an idea: Generative AI is making significant strides in transforming how content is created, data is analyzed, and customer interactions are personalized. To illustrate, consider a South Korean tourist navigating the bustling Las Vegas Strip. Currently, the likelihood of encountering promotional materials in Korean or finding staff members fluent in the Korean language or the cultural nuances across the numerous hotels,

How can businesses balance the need for experimentation and the potential for failure while maintaining the stability of ongoing operations? In The Innovator’s Dilemma, a seminal work by Dr. Clayton Christensen published in 1997, he dissects the reasons behind the failure of businesses to innovate, pointing out that an over-commitment to the status quo often overshadows the impetus for change. He suggests that successful companies typically adopt one of two strategies: outsource innovation to a

Discuss the intersection between technology from a science/research perspective vs. from an artistic one: Is science taking its lead from art, or is art being produced in reaction to technological innovation? I believe it is a convergence rather than a taking of the lead. Think of it as technology supplying the canvas and the paints, but it is still up to human creativity to create the art. We have to be careful not to overly confuse the outputs of generative AI with the capacity of the human brain. Perhaps one day in the distant future, computing power may enable similar outcomes, but for today, the power of the human spirit and creativity are unmatched.

dedicated external team that can develop and test ideas without constraints, or cultivate an internal team focused exclusively on innovation, operating with a degree of autonomy from the main business operations. While these approaches may be well-suited for large, publicly traded gaming companies, small to medium-sized businesses can benefit from this wisdom. How do you foster a culture of creativity and innovation within a hospitality organization, encouraging team members to contribute and embrace new ideas? Cultivating a culture that prizes creativity and innovation requires engagement at all levels, from the highest echelons of the boardroom to the dynamism of the front-line workforce. For the leadership, endorsing a high tolerance for the risks associated with innovation must be a deliberate strategy. The nature of innovative and disruptive ideas means their return on investment is unpredictable—that’s what makes them groundbreaking. On the ground level, it’s about empowering the front-line employee to scrutinize existing problems and opportunities to enhance customer engagement, understanding that the usual way of doing things might not always be the best. Successful entrepreneurs are characterized not by their immediate success but by their resilience and ability to view failure as a catalyst for change rather than a dead end.

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

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The new Patient Protection Commission members, appointed by Gov. Joe Lombardo, are: Bayo Curry-Winchell, Wenette Simons, Jalyn McKelleb, Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Bethany Sexton, Walter Davis, Andria Peterson and Floreine Kahn.

VEGAS INC NOTES Highlights of the best in business

Three members of Las Vegas Realtors were elected to serve on the 2024 executive Board of the Las Vegas chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management. They are: Natalie Allred, 2023 president of the Commercial Alliance Las Vegas; Joshua Campa, 2024 president-elect of LVR; and Angelina Scarcelli, immediate past president of CALV. Other IREM officers and board members elected to serve that organization in 2024 include: President Samantha Rupert, Vice President of Membership Anesha Choice, Vice President of Education Sunshine Bono, Past President Robert Perkins, Treasurer Jennifer Torres, and Execu-

tive Board Member Brenda Lovato. Opportunity Village announced its 2024 board of directors for the nonprofit’s two governing bodies. Bob Glaser, senior vice president and senior client strategist at BNY Wealth Management, was named chairperson for the Opportunity Village Board of Directors, taking over for Sarah Guindy, who served for two years. W. West Allen, an intellectual property and federal court attorney with Howard & Howard, will continue as chairperson for the nonprofit’s foundation board. The board of directors also welcomed new members Kelsey Stegall, Jessica Lucero, and Brian Kleven. In addition, Jeremy Aguero and Marc Badain moved from the board to the foundation board. Las Vegas public relations and marketing firm Connected Communications promoted Emily Hollister to public relations and social media specialist. Hollister

joined the firm in 2023 She has helped clients earn national and local media placements, while also implementing effective social media strategy through content creation. The fifth All’Antico Vinaio location in the United States and first in Nevada is now open at UnCommons. The Florence, Italy-founded shop is open for dine-in and takeout from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Downtown Vegas Alliance, a nonprofit organization that connects its members and Downtown stakeholders to influence growth in Las Vegas, announced that Audrea Hooper joined the organization’s board as engagement chair. Hooper brings more than 15 years of experience executing large-scale events, brand awareness campaigns, tours, festivals, product launches, exclusive private parties and more to the role.

IT WMS Analyst (North Las Vegas, NV). Tapestry, Inc. The position will be responsible for providing Warehouse Management systems support to the Global Fulfillment Operation. This role will be required to understand the business needs of these areas and to design and implement the appropriate technology solutions. Salary from $100,000 to $130,000 Please email resumes to talentrecruiter@coach.com ref job #SV918467

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PREMIER CROSSWORD “UNIVERSITY SUBSTITUTES” BY FRANK LONGO

HOROSCOPES WEEK OF FEBRUARY 15 BY ROB BREZSNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Some stories don’t have a distinct and orderly beginning, middle and end. And then there’s the fact that the beginning of a new story is implied at the end of many stories. Keep these ruminations in mind. You will be in a phase when it’s essential to know what story you are living in and where you are located in the plot’s unfoldment. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): As I meditate on your destiny in the near future, I sense you will summon extra courage, perhaps even fearless and heroic energy. Maybe you will audaciously expose corruption and deceit, or persuade a friend to not commit self-harm, or speak bold thoughts you haven’t had the daring to utter before. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Lately, you have been learning more than you thought possible. You have surpassed and transcended previous limits in your understanding of how the world works. I will love it if you continue your pilgrimage out there beyond the borders for a while longer. CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the coming weeks, you will feel more at home in a situation that has previously felt unnerving or alien. You may assemble a strong foundation for an experimental fantasy. Or perhaps you will engage in imaginary travel, enabling you to wander widely without leaving your sanctuary. Or all of the above. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Of your hundreds of wishes and yearnings, Leo, which is the highest on your priority list? What are the sweet, rich, inspiring experiences you want more than anything else in life? I invite you to compile a tally of your top three longings. You are in a phase when focusing and intensifying your intentions will bring big rewards. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Actor and travel writer Andrew McCarthy hiked across Spain along the famous pilgrimage route, Camino de Santiago. On the way, he realized how fear had always dominated his life. “I think travel obliterates fear,” he testified. I recommend applying his prescription to yourself in the coming months.

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Small, sticky sheets 8 Sentimental souvenir 16 Bit of aquatic flora 20 In hitting position, in baseball 21 Haphazardly 22 Ringing thing 23 Providence university founded to educate Dracula? 25 Not phony 26 Auld lang -27 Wed. preceder 28 Stale 29 Passover bread 30 Pixieish type 32 Nicer than a Madison university? 38 Actress Anderson 41 Jeans, e.g. 42 Ridden horse 43 Located on a Somerville university’s campus? 46 Pooh or Yogi 48 Encyclopedia unit: Abbr. 50 Clueless 51 Cruise of film 52 Mine metals 54 Baseball Hall of Famer Tony 56 Some Siouan people 58 Shakur of hip-hop 62 LAX stats 64 Little -- (Hairspray girl) 65 Certain till bill 66 Title of a picture album featuring an Atlanta university? 70 Paella veggie 71 Singer Abdul 72 Org. offering tows 73 Inadequate leader of a Durham university? 80 Easter meat

83 Santa -- (desert winds) 84 Tart garnish 85 Italian actress Sophia 86 NFL coach Don or Mike 88 Fort Knox bar 90 -- deck (cruise ship part) 92 Cup edge 94 Actress Lena 95 Loud noise 96 Mega melee 98 Unable to escape from a New York university? 103 Routine 105 Animals of a region 106 Pretenses 107 Houston university attended for four complete years? 112 Tattoo fluid 113 Make ecstatic 114 “Way cool!” 115 Tazo drink 117 Intolerance star Lillian 120 TV imp Simpson 121 Leave a New Haven university with no exit fee? 127 Kin of -trix 128 Able to do no wrong 129 Swiveled 130 Big name in private jets 131 Used a sieve on 132 Partner of Hutch DOWN 1 Alehouses 2 Nashville’s Grand Ole -3 Wall builder, e.g. 4 Moist wipe

“Son of,” in Arabic names 6 Successor of Roosevelt 7 Malty brew 8 Kit -- bar 9 Biblical verb ending 10 Sooner than, in verse 11 -- -Man (arcade game) 12 Hair nets 13 Past puberty 14 Organizing expert Marie 15 First-aid pro 16 Chafe 17 Golf great called “The Merry Mex” 18 Like many a bored person’s eyes 19 Permit 24 Early car inits. 29 Subway system 31 Winter woe 33 Mil. missions 34 Fissure 35 The Yoko of “Dear Yoko” 36 Beetle Bailey dog 37 Troop gp. 38 Plane flier 39 “La, -- to follow so” 40 Sternward 44 Dog in Oz 45 X-rated stuff 46 Actress Mary -Hurt 47 Actor Morales 49 Like loafers 53 Fix 55 Peru’s capital 57 Went swiftly 59 Burst open, as corn 60 Lab gel 61 Very mean 63 Eye carefully 67 Lug 68 In addition

69 Gobbles up 70 Cali currency 73 Installed, as carpet 74 Totally wipe out 75 Document of English liberties 76 Metric mass, in brief 77 Give forth 78 Nixing mark 79 City in Oklahoma 80 Hawaiian dancers’ garments 81 Wonderland girl 82 Long, thick heads of hair 87 Wishing to receive 89 Stale 91 Royal name of Norway 93 Sow or boar 97 Figure skater Midori 99 Arles assent 100 Don Lemon’s channel 101 Chiang -- -shek 102 Rapa -- (Easter Island) 104 No longer ill 105 Hat for Frank Sinatra 107 Mutinous sort 108 Former senator Lott 109 Spiteful sort 110 Home for a 93Down 111 Messy stacks 116 Dismounted 118 Search for 119 Lamarr of Algiers 121 Mil. enlistees 122 Mentalist Geller 123 Khaki cousin 124 Certain till bill 125 Bouquets-to-order co. 126 Mendes of Hitch

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the natural world, there are four partnership styles—including the parasitic variety, in which one living thing damages another while exploiting it, and the symbiotic, which is beneficial to both parties. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to take an inventory of your alliances and affiliations—and begin to de-emphasize, even phase out, all but the symbiotic ones. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Author Dan Savage says, “I wish I could let myself eat and eat and eat.” He feels envious of those who have no inhibitions about being gluttonous. I authorize Savage and all Scorpios to temporarily set aside such inhibitions. Free yourself to ingest big helpings of food and drink—as well as metaphorical kinds of nourishment like love and sex and sensations and entertainment. Allow yourself to play around with voraciousness. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Dear Wise Gambler: You rank high in your spacious intelligence, intuitive logic and robust fantasy life. But your ability to discern between wise and unwise gambles is diminished by your tendency to get so excited by big, expansive ideas that you neglect to account for messy, inconvenient details. And it’s especially important not to dismiss or underplay those details in the coming weeks. If you include them in your assessments, you will indeed be the shrewdest of wise gamblers. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Golfer Tiger Woods holds numerous records and has won scores of tournaments. On 20 occasions, he has accomplished the most difficult feat: hitting a hole-in-one. But the weird fact is that there were two decades (1998–2018) between his 19th and 20th holes-in-one. I suspect your own fallow time came in 2023, Capricorn. By now, you should be back in the hole-in-one groove, metaphorically speaking. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I expect you will enjoy more peace and love than you’ve had in a long time. Glory will stream your way, too, but it will be graceful, never bitter. The effects will be heightened if you express principled resistance to tyranny. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Please do what’s necessary to become a potent magnet for marvelous interruptions, sublime interventions and blissful intrusions. And make yourself into a provider of those healing subversions, too.

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SUPER BOWL LVIII | APPLE MUSIC HALFTIME SHOW Super Bowl halftime shows in recent years have toggled between buzzed-about cultural moments (Rihanna in 2023 and the Dr. Dre-anchored group in 2022) and somewhat polarizing performances (The Weeknd in 2021 and Maroon 5 in 2019). Usher’s show at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, equally inspired by his Strip residency and his coming of age in Atlanta, was something else, a consensus smash that reaffirmed his superstar status and R&B supremacy. And why would anyone expect anything other than a full entertainment spectacle from the first Super Bowl in Vegas? –Brock Radke

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