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18 FACTORY SETTINGS
As G2E rolls into town, a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the making of a slot game.
14 ENTERTAINING
Chef Gina Marinelli shares tips for hearty cooking and a recipe packed with fall flavors.
26 NEWS
A new virtual reality learning center is set to prep UNLV students for an evolving job market.
28 SPORTS At UFC 320, local champion Merab Dvalishvili goes for a 14th straight victory.
32 STAGE Su s puts the timely topic of voting rights to catchy music at the Smith Center.
34 PRINT For 20 years, the Black Mountain Institute has incubated bold ideas from writers.
36 FOOD & DRINK Nom Wah brings NYC dim sum tradition to Summerlin.
Majestic Repertory Theatre delivers the macabre with Empanada Loca, classic cars and horror celebrities convene at Silverton, and more this week.
COVER ART Illustration by Brooke Lauren Everson
Aristocrat Gaming’s The Baron Upright cabinet game at the facility in Henderson.
BLACK MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE
OLE RED
SUPERGUIDE
EXHIBIT: REMEMBERING
1 OCTOBER
Thru 10/9, Mon.Thu. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Clark County Government Center, clarkcountynv.gov
LIONEL RICHIE
TRULY BOOK TOUR
8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
IN THIS MOMENT
With Dayseeker, The Funeral Portrait, DED, 6:30 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com.
POPPY
6 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
SICKICK
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
SIPPY
With Sketch Muzik, BLKSHP, 10 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com
LNY TNZ
With Cuhboom, Blackbox, Hollow, 10 p.m., Discopussy, posh.vip
DO IT ALL
THURSDAY OCT 02
THOMAS RHETT 8:30 p.m., & 10/4, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.
FRIDAY OCT 03
EAGLES
8:30 p.m., & 10/4, Sphere, ticketmaster.com.
ROD STEWART
7:30 p.m., & 10/4, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
THE BEACH BOYS 8 p.m., & 10/4, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
MÖTLEY CRÜE
8 p.m., Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
ROBIN TROWER
With Katy Guillen & The Drive, 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
AIR SUPPLY 7 p.m., & 10/4, Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
DAVID NAIL 8 p.m., Side Lawn at Sunset Station, ticketmaster.com.
POP 2000 TOUR
With Chris Kirkpatrick, O-Town, BBMAK, Ryan Cabrera, LFO, 8 p.m., Event Lawn at Virgin, etix.com.
RISE FESTIVAL Thru 10/5, times vary, Jean Dry Lake Bed, risefestival.com
THE EHRLICH BROTHERS 8 p.m., Orleans Arena, ticketmaster.com.
POWERSLAP 15 6 p.m., Cobalt Ballroom at Fontainebleau, axs.com
HENDERSON HOT ROD DAYS 5 p.m. (& 10/4, 9 a.m.), Water Street, cityofhenderson.com
HALLOVEEN AT THE MAGICAL FOREST Thru 10/5, 5:30 p.m. (& select dates thru 11/2), Opportunity Village, opportunityvillage.org
KEHLANI 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
ELIMINATE With Hekler, Vulpiix, Ontap, 10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO 7:30 & 10:30 p.m., & 10/4, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
PRESEASON: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
Courtesy
SATURDAY OCT 04
NIGHTMARE IN VEGAS
Spooky season is here, and what better way to kick it o than with a horror convention? Nightmare in Vegas promises to bring classic cars and a slew of celebrities from some of your favorite frightening creative endeavors including Dr. Chud from the Misfits, Andrew Bryniarski from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Miko Hughes from Pet Sematary, Junko Bailey from The Grudge and Kevin Keppy from Smile. The family-friendly experience will also have vendors, live music and entertainment. Don your costumes and rev your engines! 2 p.m. (& 10/5, 10 a.m.), $30-$99, Silverton, nightmareinvegas.com. –Shannon Miller
ERYKAH BADU
8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.
UFC 320
3 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
ART IN THE PARK
9 a.m., & 10/5, Boulder City, bchcares.org
FALL FEST
11 a.m., Lee Canyon, leecanyonlv.com
NEVADA CONSERVATORY THEATRE: THE UNDERPANTS
2 & 7:30 p.m. (& 10/5, 2 p.m.), Alta Ham Fine Arts Black Box Theatre, unlv.edu
CIRQUE MECHANICS: TILT! A CIRCUS THRILL RIDE
2 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu
PAUL MCCARTNEY
8 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.
THE BROWNING
6 p.m., 24 Oxford, seetickets.us.
MEGAN MORONEY
With Solon Holt, 8 p.m., & 10/5, Theater at Virgin, ticketmaster.com.
WAKA FLOCKA Noon, Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup.com
JOHN SUMMIT 11 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
ELECTRIC FEELS
9 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, area15.com
TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
RICK ROSS 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
SANZU 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com
CRANKDAT 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
THE CHAINSMOKERS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
JAMES KENNEDY 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
BANG OUT 11:50 p.m., Atomic Saloon, spiegelworld.com
S U P E R G U I D E
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY OCT 05 MONDAY OCT 06
HOZIER With Amble, 7:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
GOSPEL BRUNCH 10 a.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com
UB40 With The English Beat, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY’S OCTOBER OUTTURN
3 p.m., Tres, eventbrite.com
JEFF DUNHAM
8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.
AYYBO 11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
HUGEL 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
EMPANADA LOCA
Playwright Aaron Mark’s deliciously macabre Empanada Loca returns with actress Amanda Guardado at the center of this one-woman show, directed by Troy Heard. The plot follows Dolores, a promising young woman now living in the tunnels of Manhattan after falling into a web of drugs and crime with her boyfriend and serving prison time. The horror heats up as Dolores recounts her dark past, including her life as a “masseuse” in the basement of her friend’s empanada shop that’s suddenly pumping out more “meat” pies than ever before. Inspired by the infamous demon barber Sweeney Todd, Empanada Loca serves up immersive horror on a silver platter. 5 p.m. (& select dates thru 10/21), $50, Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory.com. –Amber Sampson
EXHIBIT: STARR ART BY RINGO STARR Thru 10/15, times vary, Animazing Gallery, animazing.com
MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com
DJ E-ROCK
10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
SHANG With Patrick DeGuire, thru 10/12, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com.
RIVER SPELL
10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY OCT 07 WEDNESDAY OCT 08
JADU HEART
England’s indie electronic duo Jadu Heart fully understands the assignment of immersion. Diva Je rey and Alex Headford unfold their albums like chapters of a larger tome. They’re written in a language of gauze-like dream-pop, lush synths, interstellar pop interludes and pain. Latest album Post Romance picks up after Je rey and Headford decided to separate after nine years, wounds still fresh and indescribably evident in melancholic tracks like “Post Romance.” It doesn’t get any more raw or immersive than that— and they’ll put it all out on the stage at Swan Dive. 8 p.m., $22, Swan Dive, swandivelv.com.
–Amber Sampson
CRIMSON RIOT
With Eastbay, Junky58, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com.
10 p.m., & 10/8, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. LA KINGS
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
EXHIBIT: FINDING BEAUTY WHERE WE ARE BY MEGAN OETTINGER LITTLE
Thru 10/19, Spring Valley Library, thelibrarydistrict.org
TIANO
7 p.m., Composers Room, thecomposersroom.com.
OFF THE RAILS
7 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, thesanddollarlv.com.
CAITLIN PELUFFO With Tom Rhodes, Peter Revello, Chris Clarke, thru 10/12, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.
ESCOBAR
10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
ENTERTAINING RECIPES
Chef Gina Marinelli shares simple and sublime seasonal
dishes
BY BROCK RADKE
The weather should be turning cool and crisp soon—let’s hope—and the impending arrival of fall has us thinking about all the comfy, cozy dishes we love: rich pastas, tender braised meats, sumptuous stews and more.
Two of our favorite Summerlin hot spots to get such craveable seasonal fare are La Strega and Harlo Steakhouse & Bar, both helmed by longtime local chef Gina Marinelli. It’s no surprise that she’s just as big a fan of fall as the rest of us.
“I love the produce and seasonal ingredients, but I also love the cooking style,” Marinelli says. “The one-pot dishes, the braising, the slow and low. … It’s great because you’re coming from summer where it’s about quick grilling, marinating, and making these bright, colorful things. Now you’re making your whole kitchen smell so great and it’s all about building levels of flavor.”
Marinelli generously shared some fall cooking tips, favorite simple dish suggestions, and even a knockout recipe to try next time you’re hosting friends.
SIMPLE AND HEARTY
For a one-pot wonder anyone can handle—and a dish that’ll feel a bit fancy and impress guests—Marinelli offers a chickpea stew that can be augmented with clams (see recipe in sidebar).
“I like to do a lot of seafood, and this one’s easy because you throw the shellfish in at the end and serve with a crusty bread,” she says. “I don’t like to use a lot of cream when I cook. It becomes a crutch. So this one has a lot of olive oil to help make the chickpea puree super creamy and delicious.”
EAT LIKE A CHEF
Cassoulet is a peasant dish from Southern France, a soulful and slow-simmered combo of beans; a super savory meat like sausage, duck or chicken thighs; wine and/or stock; vegetables; and often topped with breadcrumbs.
“It’s every chef’s goto dish and it’s so cozy, and much more simple than it seems,” Marinelli says. Pick your favorite ingredients, soak your beans overnight and throw it together on a weekend, and let the hours on the stove make it beautiful.
SMART SUBSTITUTION
“I love risotto this time of year. You can do any flavor, you can’t go wrong, and it’s so warm in your tummy,” says the chef, though she acknowledges that home cooks are often intimidated by the Italian rice dish because it seems easy to over or undercook and mess up that creamy texture.
“I tell people to use farro. It’s hard to overcook that grain. It’s a lot more forgiving, and quicker. Just boil it first then cook it with whatever type of ingredients and flavors you want.”
FANTASTIC FOOTBALL FOOD
We agree wholeheartedly with Marinelli when it comes to the best dish to share for a football game watch party.
“It’s chili, just the best,” she says. “You can start it the night before. You can go very simple, or make some extras like cornbread. You can do different layers of toppings and everybody loves it. It gets better as it sits and simmers. And if you have it with a couple of beers, it’s even better.”
INGREDIENTS
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 shallots, chopped
2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
10 little neck clams
1 cup kale, chopped
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup clam juice
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 cup + 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 sprig thyme
2 slices sourdough bread
STEPS
Begin by making a chickpea puree with a food processor or blender with 1 can of chickpeas and 1 cup of olive oil (add water if it’s too thick).
Once you have a sauté pan nice and hot, add the clams and steam them with white wine. Once the shells open, add 2 tbsp. olive oil with garlic, shallots and thyme and simmer. Once the aromas start to hit, add kale, clam juice and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and cook down. Add the other can of chickpeas and the chickpea puree, fold together, finish with butter and season to taste. Serve with grilled or toasted crunchy sourdough bread.
Gina Marinelli’s Clam and Chickpea Autumn Stew
What it takes to create exciting and e ective slot machines for today’s casinos
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
You’re on the tail end of an evening ight to visit Las Vegas for the rst time. After hours of soaring over sparsely illuminated desert, your plane nally descends over Lake Mead as a sea of neon suddenly emerges on the horizon.
When you deboard, the rst thing you see are clusters of slot machines scattered throughout Harry Reid International Airport. They’re di erent than the traditional mechanical slots you’ve seen in movies, with massive screens and endless bells and whistles.
While the 1,400 machines at the airport may seem a bit excessive, they’re actually just a tiny chunk of the 107,757 games that can be found throughout the whole of Clark County. Many more await at your chosen resort, where you’ll peruse hundreds of titles before nding one that piques your interest.
It’s a ashy sensory overload like you’ve never experienced. You win some and lose slightly more, but the outcome pales in comparison to your own creeping curiosity. Where exactly do all these machines come from?
Aristocrat’s 14 physical slot machine models, better known as cabinets. From there, quality assurance pros test the nal products before a spinning robot wraps them up for added protection during shipping.
“We have materials own in from our suppliers from all around the world. When it comes here, we do what we call integration,” chief supply chain o cer Deanne McKissick says, motioning to several dozen massive warehouse shelving units. “For a cabinet, we start with a big core piece of metal. We then put on the monitor, the button deck, the toppers, and get it ready for the end customer before it goes on to ground transportation.”
Finished Aristocrat electronic gaming machines—EGMs—can weigh between 300 and 665 pounds and stand six to nine feet tall. Everything is madeto-order for each casino operator.
With the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) industry event returning to the Las Vegas Strip this week—October 6-9 at Venetian—the Weekly takes your behind the scenes to get the inside scoop on that exact question.
NUTS, BOLTS, BELLS & BARS
Our journey through the slot machine’s lifespan begins at Aristocrat Gaming’s 389,500-square-foot Las Vegas Integration Center (LVIC) campus in Henderson. Opening last fall and now home to 200 of the Australian company’s 1,200 Valley-based employees, the facility doubled production capabilities in a space that spans the size of seven football elds. Here, oor assembly workers shu e across 12 production lines with ve to eight stations each, while programmers and graphic artists plug away in adjacent workshops. All in all, they’re collectively tasked with piecing together everything that’s needed for each of
“We have two parts of our business. In one, we’ll maintain ownership of the cabinets and service them ourselves. Or a property can buy the cabinet and game and do their own maintenance,” McKissick explains. “Percentage-wise, it’s still mostly buy. I want to say the big casinos own about 80%. But the properties will have a budget for both, and they often buy or order on di erent schedules.”
A machine will typically remain on a casino oor for about 20 years, McKissick adds, but the game it hosts can change over time.
“You can put di erent discs into your Xbox to play di erent games, and the same thing is true on a slot machine. We typically ship it with a game, but we can also do what we call a conversion, where we’ll burn another game to replace the old one,” McKissick says.
Cabinets and games are all exclusive Aristocrat technologies and intellectual properties, but the nishing touches for each unit are determined by the purchaser.
“A lot of them will standardize their own look and feel through what’s called a laminate. We and all our competitors use the same laminates—it could be a lighter wood, a gray or a red, depending on the customer—and I think there are over 200 varieties in total,” McKissick says.
PULLING THE LEVERS
A new game has quite a journey ahead of it before it can even reach the manufacturing stage. The industry has almost entirely moved away from traditional coin-operated, reel and lever-based machines in favor of large touchscreen monitors and cashless betting, leading to a greater variety and complexity of o erings.
At the UNLV International Gaming Institute’s Center for Gaming Innovation, program director Daniel Sahl has spent the last 11 years preparing the next generation of slot innovators for this relatively recent shift.
“When you look at the machines today, some would say they look substantially di erent, but even though they’ve evolved, that fundamental concept of symbols aligning on a pay line to get a winning outcome remains tried and tested,” Sahl says. “What I say to my students is, don’t ignore what works, because it’s worked for a very long time.
“The question then becomes, how do we make an alteration or innovation that builds o what we know works and is fun, but also adds a new twist or level of excitement for the players? I wish I knew what that secret sauce was.”
G2E will allow many of Sahl’s pupils to attend free of charge, where they’ll soak in exciting industry developments that will include roughly 160 new Aristocrat titles. According to Matthew Primmer, chief product o cer, each new Aristocrat concept is completely developed in-house across 12 studios, by teams ranging from 35 to 250 employees.
“We design the way the cabinet looks and do all the engineering and manufacturing,” Primmer says. “From a game standpoint, we also build the operating system that they all run on, and each game is like a di erent app. All the colors, graphics and sounds are hand-drawn or recorded by artists, animators, internal musicians and software and sound engineers.”
Some games begin as original intellec-
Inside the Aristocrat Gaming showroom (Photo by Wade Vandervort/ Photo illustration)
tual properties, while others spawn from licensed collaborations with influential franchises like HBO’s Game of Thrones, Hasbro’s Monopoly, and even the NFL.
In the former group is Dragon Link, which launched in 2016 and has since become “probably the most successful game in the market,” according to Primmer.
“There’s a lot of nuance to it, but it’s also very simple and is easy to understand. I think a big part of it is that what you see is what you get. It’s a little bit like playing tables, where they don’t hide the money.”
On the other end of the spectrum, licenses with major media franchises help bring in new players by merging familiar characters and stories with a “slight iteration” of that world that can include, as explored through that game’s unique winning animations, bonus rounds and artistic direction.
“For most people, if you’ve watched a series like Game of Thrones, you’ve probably watched them all. So, how do you show someone who’s watched every
episode something really cool and different? We love those sorts of challenges,” Primmer says.
OUT FOR A SPIN
Aside from the initial technical processes of determining a game’s principal functions and mathematics, the craft of successfully fusing those factors with a seamless game world lies in the hands of creatives.
Former Aristocrat graphic artist Joyce Rainbow recalls working on everything from in-game illustrations to chair artwork for titles like Buffalo Grand and The Walking Dead with its Studio 54 team from 2014 to 2019.
“Something very interesting about what I learned in that role was that we aim to tell a story, and the story component always comes with the player’s goals,” Rainbow says. “Maybe you’re chasing a jackpot, or trying to get three symbols aligned to win a free spin. Along the way, the background will physically change, and you’ll be taken to a different, unique location in that game.”
Rainbow’s job entailed far more than just sketches and symbols. As her team developed The Walking Dead slot game, her role included watching episodes over and over to pick out clips for win sequences.
“Going back to that storytelling aspect, we wanted to make sure that the higher the reward the player earns, the more of a treat that they got, something really flashy and very entertaining,” she says. “We even designed the lighting effects on the cabinets to match the colors of the artwork on the screen, especially if there’s a win celebration.”
Her studio also “got really good at designing gold,” she adds with a laugh. “There were also a lot of bright, saturated colors and particle systems, which generate the sparkle animations and other effects you’ll see that really attract people to play.”
Artists are also encouraged to source inspiration from the real world, whenever possible.
“If we saw something that’s external that we can take pictures of and bring in new textures and flavors to the game, we’d do it,” Rainbow says. “If there’s a game with some exotic animals, we’ll go to a zoo to study their animation behaviors.”
In general, convincing world-building is a foundational part of the experience. To ensure that their characters are “as lifelike as possible,” Primmer says studios will often utilize modern technology like green screens.
“You’ve got to get them into the story and quickly understanding what they’re trying to achieve and why they should care about whatever the character is,” Primmer says.
These factors all came together in Aristocrat’s flagship Buffalo series, which debuted in 2007 and has since encompassed 30 sequel releases—or what the industry refers to as “derivatives.” Primmer says the original game “really took off in Nevada before anywhere
Gaming machines at Aristocrat’s Henderson facility (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
else,” which helped Aristocrat become a big fish in the industry.
“We study buffalo to get the movements right to make them feel true, and the well-known call where he yells out ‘Buffalo’ was also created in-house. One of our employees couldn’t get the right sound, so he just made it himself,” Primmer says. “It’s been yelled millions of times now, and we actually just got that registered as an audio trademark.”
BONUS ROUNDS
After a game is coded and the cabinet is assembled and shipped, the players themselves largely have the final say on that title’s future. When a successful new entry like Buffalo is created by Aristocrat—or competitors like Konami Gaming— it’ll likely yield many subsequent sequel releases.
differently,”
Konami president and UNLV alum Tom Jingoli expects to see one of the titles his company will debut at G2E—a new slot game called Money in the Bank—follow a similar trajectory.
“When we develop a new game, we call it a parent. So, you’ll have a parent title like Money in the Bank, and then there will also be derivatives that you can release underneath it that are really critical to the success of that game,” Jingoli explains. “The safe time to develop a parent is probably a one-year cycle, but the derivatives should take at least half that amount of time for deployment and approval.”
In an industry where rival companies scramble to differentiate themselves in a largely static platform like slots, a fresh and exciting take will also frequently draw imitators.
“It’s really a copycat industry. When somebody comes up with a concept, everybody else will kind of knock it off, provided there are no patent or IP rights around that,” Jingoli says. “That’s why, when you go into a casino, a lot of games will have the same types of features on them, but will all do things just a little bit
For Sahl, the result of this incremental innovation and subsequent emulation is best gauged on the casino floors.
“Every now and then, you do see a sort of bold new pattern that can be revealed over time to players. It’s a bit of a change, and sometimes that really sticks with the player. When that happens, you’ll know, because you’ll see newer machines adopting more of those designs,” Sahl says.
In what Jingoli describes as a “relatively flat” market, being the first to unveil a quality variation on an established concept like slots is everything.
“While there are a few new territories and markets that are coming online, in general, there’s not a whole lot of expansion and growth going on right now,” he says. “For us, the way we typically grow is by having a superior product. We gain market share by placing more products on our floor than our competitors—and that’s a direct result of product performance.”
PAYOUTS
G2E vice president Korbi Carrison says the convention has been “home to almost every exciting announcement around slot machines and their innovation” since its inception in 2001. This year, it’ll host global industry leaders from 120 countries and territories.
“Bringing slot technology to a casino floor is a multi-layered process. From cabinet development to building out payout percentages and even the machine’s animation, every detail is meticulously planned. We apply that same care when building out G2E’s offerings,” Carrison says.
For McKissick, this “opportunity to bring customers in from all around the world” is akin to “the Super Bowl of gaming.”
And while the four-day affair is paramount to success, Primmer adds that it’s still just one major
stepping stone to the end goal of delivering an “enjoyable entertainment experience” for casino floors in Las Vegas and everywhere else.
“There are a lot of people who’ve played slot machines for a long time and know what they like, and there are a lot of others who just want to explore,” Primmer says. “One thing we know about all players is that they don’t like to be told what to do. For us, while we sell to the casinos, the players are the ones who make the decisions as to what’s popular. We need to get them excited to sit in front of a game and continue to delight them enough that they’ll come back.”
For more on G2E, see page 40.
Aristocrat’s
The Baron slot machine (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
WE ARE THE STORY OF LAS VEGAS.
Discover our history through the stories of past and present.
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IN THE NEWS
Las Vegas Weekly wins big at statewide awards
Las Vegas Weekly snagged 29 awards, including nine first place honors, at the Nevada Press Foundation’s Awards of Excellence in Fallon on September 20. Greenspun Media Group also notched 21 awards for daily newspaper the Las Vegas Sun and six for Las Vegas Magazine, and the Sun’s Hillary Davis was honored with one of the Outstanding Journalist awards.
Weekly editor Shannon Miller was
recognized with first-place awards for a feature on climate change and its wide-ranging impacts in the state, coverage of underserved communities, and education reporting. Arts and entertainment editor Amber Sampson won first-place awards for a feature on the Killers’ residency and for an arts and culture profile on a visiting author. And the magazine’s events team was awarded first place
for its 2024 Vegas Inc Women Inspiring Nevada celebration.
Nevada Press Foundation executive director Brian Allfrey said the awards recognized the “incredible talent and dedication” of journalists working in Nevada. “These awards reflect the critical role Nevada journalists play in keeping our communities informed, engaged, and connected,” he said. –Staff
Bally’s plans Strip resort alongside A’s ballpark
Bally’s Corporation plans to develop a resort on the Las Vegas Strip at the site of the demolished Tropicana Las Vegas, sharing a 35-acre campus with the planned Las Vegas Athletics stadium. The project, dubbed Bally’s Las Vegas, calls for two luxury hotel towers with 3,000 rooms combined, a 2,500-seat entertainment venue and more than 500,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment space, Bally’s said in a news release. The resort will also feature a casino and VIP access to the adjacent Major League Baseball stadium. The $1.75 billion, 33,000-seat ballpark will be ready by March 2028. Bally’s is submitting the project for entitlements to Clark County and expects to break ground in the first half of 2026. –Ray Brewer
“These practices are just one step toward housing justice and stronger tenant protections ... . We need to continue to ... hold these landlords accountable for unsafe homes, skyrocketing rents and cruel evictions.” –Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada organizer Tamara Favors in response to Assembly Bill 121, which protects renters from certain fees, going into effect on October 1.
HOT SHOT
The last remnant of the Dunes’ famed marquee was relit on September 26 at the Neon Museum. The restoration was made possible with the support of designer Roger Thomas of the Thomas & Mack families. Once hailed as the “miracle in the desert,” the hotel and casino was the 10th to open on the Las Vegas Strip in 1955 and housed landmark shows including Minsky’s Follies, the city’s first topless revue, as well as showgirl spectacular Casino de Paris. It was imploded in 1993 to make way for Bellagio.
After a buzz-worthy first year, the Neon City Festival returns November 21-23 with a raft of A-list artists, including legendary hip-hop group De La Soul, poppunk band Good Charlotte, alt-rockers Breaking Benjamin, indie pop outfit Fitz and the Tantrums, dance music icons Two Friends and Deadmau5, and many more. Founded by casino mogul Derek Stevens with support from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Neon City Festival made waves as a free, fenceless Downtown takeover in 2024. Find the full lineup at lasvegasweekly.com.
–Amber Sampson
Photo by Wade Vandervort
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at The Library District
SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 15
Hispanic Heritage Oral History Project
Thursday, October 2
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, October 3
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tuesday, October 7*
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
East Las Vegas Library
Record your stories to enrich and help future generations understand Hispanic history.
*Visit our website for more dates.
Age Group: Teens & Adults
Salsa Yoga
Saturday, October 4
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Windmill Library
Spice up your flow with this unique class that blends soulful stretching with upbeat, salsa-inspired choreography.
Age Group: Adults
Little Artists – Justin Favela’s Piñata-Style
Saturday, October 4
Saturday, October 18
11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Sahara West Library
Little ones will enjoy ministorytime, learn about an artist, and then create artwork!
Age group: Toddlers, Preschoolers & Kids
Flower Portals of Iztacalco
October 4, 11, 18, 25 & November 1
Fridays from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
East Las Vegas Library
Help create a floral portal for our Día de Muertos festival.
Age Group: Teens & Adults
Día de Muertos:
Acrylic Painting
Sunday, October 5
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
East Las Vegas Library
Paint a glowing calavera (skull) using stencils and glow-in-the-dark paint.
Age Group: Teens & Adults
Noche de Música: A Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Friday, October 10
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
West Charleston Library
Join Gregory Maldonado and the Nevada Chamber Orchestra for an unforgettable evening of classical elegance and Latin flair.
Age Group: Teens & Adults
Flavio Enchanted Flutes
Saturday, October 11
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Windmill Library
Sunday, October 12
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
West Charleston Library
Friday, October 17
7 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Whitney Library
Enjoy enchanting and exotic South American Flute music.
Age Group: Adults
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A Tribute to Astor Piazzolla: In Concert
Thursday, October 16
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Sahara West Library
Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla revolutionized traditional tango music with jazz and classical music elements.
Age Group: Adults
Fiesta FolkloricoA Celebration of Culture and Dance!
Saturday, October 18
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
West Las Vegas Library
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
West Charleston Library
Enjoy a journey through Mexico’s rich dance traditions.
Age group: Teens & Adults
Astor Piazzolla en 1971.
New virtual reality center to prepare UNLV students for evolving job market and high-tech future
Bo Bernhard, vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement at UNLV, wears tracking devices and a virtual reality headset while playing an archeological adventure game in a free roam pod at the Dreamscape Learn Center.
(Photo by Wade Vandervort)
BY GRACE DA ROCHA
Imagine the possibilities of applying extended reality technology to higher education. Instead of sitting through a lecture or reading from a textbook about art history, students could be whisked away to the ancient Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul.
Now that UNLV has opened the Dreamscape Learn Center, that scenario has become reality. The virtual reality space will serve as the hub for the university’s extended reality technologies.
“Many of our students, along with myself, have never been to Turkey and may never visit in our lives. But through this technology, we’re able to learn about the history and architecture of the Hagia Sophia almost as if we were there,” says Aundrea Frahm, director of immersive learning at UNLV.
Other programs include an 18-module Alien Zoo Biology application, which complements foundational life sciences courses, and a VR experience where a professor can take all students to 12 di erent locations, from the Colorado River to the Oval O ce to the moon.
UNLV hosted a ribbon cutting on September 22 for the center. It’s part of a wider e ort by UNLV to emerge as a frontrunner in the immersive learning movement.
E orts to open the Dreamscape Learn Center began in spring 2023, when university o cials sought to explore how they can combine technology with learning opportunities to increase academic performance. In July 2024, UNLV announced it would be entering a partnership with the education technology company Dream-
scape Learn to bring its virtual reality software to Las Vegas.
Virtual reality (VR) is one part of the extended reality, or “XR” umbrella, which inclues augmented reality and mixed reality, explains Frahm. It allows users to create and enter virtual spaces through the use of technology such as specialized headsets with goggles and earphones, and body trackers for hands or feet.
Frahm, an art professor with more than 10 years of experience, previously opened the virtual reality and augmented reality Innovation Studio at Southern Utah University. She was hired last October to lead the inaugural team tasked with bringing immersive technology to UNLV and expanding opportunities for alternative forms of learning.
“Today’s students grew up with cellphones and tablets in their hands. And as Generation Alpha rises, many of them will have been exposed to screens from just a few months old. This is a cultural shift in how people grow up and engage with the world—students are used to learning, exploring and engaging through a screen that teaches, shows and speaks to them,” Frahm says.
The 4,000-square-foot facility, tucked in the back of the second oor within UNLV’s Lied Library, has ve rooms. A spacious welcome center with a dedicated student sta er greets those who walk in.
In a 16-seat classroom, each seat is equipped with HTC Vive virtual reality goggles that can run the aforementioned programs. In the back is a exible collaboration space and a free-roam pod, where students can put on the VR goggles and sensors for their hands and feet to get a four-dimensional experience. Students can feel the oor shake under them or a cool breeze through their hair as they play through 15-minute
“This is a cultural shift in how people grow up and engage with the world— students are used to learning, exploring and engaging through a screen that teaches, shows and speaks to them.”
–Aundrea Frahm, director of immersive learning at UNLV
games such as Curse of the Lost Pearl, an Indiana Jones-style adventure game.
The center also includes a content development center used by the six-student team that Frahm says has been working to create more educational programs for UNLV to use. Through that, students will build skills in areas like coding and three-dimensional asset creation.
Since construction was completed in February, Frahm and her team have had more than 175 students and faculty try the VR technologies. This fall, six faculty members will integrate the Dreamscape Learn Center into their classroom curriculum.
With the center o cially open at UNLV, the university has become the second institution in the nation—after Arizona State—to establish a facility for VR technology. Dreamscape Learn CEO Josh Reibel says research of the ASU student body showed that students who enrolled in introductory biology courses that used the technology were almost two times more likely to receive A grades on their laboratory assignments.
It’s all to prepare for the ever-evolving future on the horizon—one where future hospitality majors could be using virtual hotel lobbies to simulate real-life situations on the job, says UNLV acting executive vice president and provost Kate Hausbeck Korgan.
“The future is here, and it is born out of the computer era and the emergence of virtual reality. It’s at this intersection that we need Dreamscape, our tremendous partners in this endeavor, and the promise of digital immersive learning,” she said at the ribbon cutting.
“These are not just demonstrations of technology. … They’re portals to possibilities for our students, for how they imagine their own future, and how we prepare them to be successful in the high tech world that they’ll encounter when they leave our university.”
MACHINE’ ROLLS ON
Local champion Merab Dvalishvili goes for 14th straight victory at UFC 320
BY CASE KEEFER
A video of Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili swimming the entire length of Circa’s longest pool at Stadium Swim underwater without taking a breath—and still looking refreshed while exing at the end—went viral before his last ght.
Some casual sports fans might have suspected the video was altered or a product of arti cial intelligence. But those who follow mixed martial arts came away unsurprised.
The 34-year-old Dvalishvili has worked his way to the top of the sport by employing quite possibly the most impressive cardio ever witnessed in the UFC’s octagon.
Dvalishvili’s ghts typically feature endless parades of pressure exerted on his opponents—jabs, takedowns, groundand-pound strikes and more, all thrown in rapid succession. The locally based bantamweight champion gets to show o his exhausting approach in his third title defense on October 4 at T-Mobile Arena in the co-main event of UFC 320 against kickboxing specialist Cory Sandhagen.
“He’s the clear contender,” Dvalishvili said of Sandhagen in a news conference after his last victory. “He has a good style, a good ghter. He has a lot of wins. He’s beaten a lot of good guys in this division. I’m sure MMA fans want to see this ght.”
Dvalishvili couldn’t be more right about the demand for his showdown with Sandhagen.
The bout seems to have garnered more excitement from hardcore ght fans than the main event light heavyweight rematch between rivals Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira remains one of the UFC’s biggest stars but got neutralized by Ankalaev’s wrestling in a unanimous-decision upset loss at T-Mobile in March to lose his championship belt. It was a dull ght without a lot of action, and there’s not much reason to believe their second meeting will be much di erent.
Conversely, it would be a shock if Dvalishvili and Sandhagen didn’t provide reworks—especially with the champion vowing in interviews that he will stand and trade with the challenger. Sandhagen doesn’t believe Dvalishvili’s promise and thinks even if he sticks to it, he’ll reverse course after taking a couple shots.
“That’s not going to be fun for him,” Sandhagen said in a Q&A session with fans and media over the summer.
Sandhagen has amassed six knockouts, including over former yweight champion Deiveson Figueiriedo in May, to propel him to this title shot, and ve performance bonuses in his seven-year, 15- ght UFC career.
Dvalishvili only has one knockout in his stint in the octagon. The Tbilisi, Georgia, native has separated himself more with control and volume in notching 13 straight victories and currently occupying the No. 3 position in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
“I think Merab has some of the best o enbeen able to show through the (Umar Nurmagomedov) ght that I have some of the best
“I think Merab has some of the best o ensive wrestling in the sport, but I think I’ve been able to show through the (Umar Nurmagomedov) ght that I have some of the best defensive wrestling in the sport,” Sandhagen said. “It’s going to be a challenging ght. I’ll get tired. I’ll be ready for that.”
UFC 320 October 4, preliminary card 3 p.m., main card 7 p.m., $313+. T-Mobile Arena, axs.com TV: ESPN+, Disney+, FX and UFC Fight Pass.
Dvalishvili surpassed UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre in the company record book for most career takedowns after his last ght, a submission victory over Sean O’Malley in June. He’s now got 97 all-time takedowns and should be likely to clear the 100 milestone
June. He’s now got 97 all-time takedowns and should be likely to clear the 100 milestone the for more punishment.
Some of the UFC’s most notorious wrestlers are accused of taking the ght to the mat and stalling to bleed the clock, but that’s not Dvalishvili. He’ll do all the damage he can for a few seconds and then let his opponent up
His persistence in the cage matches his background. Dvalishvili immigrated to New York in 2014 precisely to pursue his professional ghting dreams, but then promptly lost two of his rst three bouts in the regional Ring of Combat promotion.
He considered retirement and going full-time in the construction jobs he was working on the side before giving fighting one last chance.
Dvalishvili has never looked back since, eventually becoming the Ring of Combat champion to catch the eyes of the UFC, where he similarly lost his rst two ghts.
On the verge of being released from the promotion seven years ago, he began pushing his training harder to lay the groundwork for developing his current reputation as the UFC’s top athlete in terms of endurance. The pursuit for perfection eventually brought him to Las Vegas, where he bought a home and joined the team at one of the sport’s top gyms, Syndicate MMA.
The highlight of his career so far was dethroning O’Malley via unanimous decision to become champion at the most expensive UFC card ever, its $20 million production spectacular at Sphere in September 2024. But he’s won two more times since then, upsetting the previously unbeaten Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision and stopping O’Malley in a rematch to build his pro le higher.
Dvalishvili’s upward trajectory and the stylistic intrigue with Sandhagen has helped build UFC 320 into a can’t-miss event, as even UFC President Dana White struggled to contain his excitement when he announced the pairing this summer.
“That is a badass ght,” White said. “It should be a fun one.”
Merab Dvalishvili faces Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena on October 4. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The
time has
arrived for Automatic at Swan Dive
BY SHANNON MILLER
Fresh off the heels of its third album, Is It Now?, Automatic leans into the political conversation without being too moralistic. The trio’s international tour with LA postpunk band Sextile, which stops at Swan Dive on October 9, reacts to the state of the world but isn’t too heavy handed in telling you how to deal with it.
“We wanted to tap into what’s happening right now in the country. There’s a lot of anxiety among the collective,” says synth player and vocalist Izzy Glaudini.
OFF THE RAILS
Local improv trio Post NC makes wordless music an ongoing conversation
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Sometimes, all it takes to find your favorite new band is wandering into the right watering hole. That’s how I first discovered Post NC, a wildly improvisational fusion trio that refuses to be pigeonholed.
Crammed into a dark, smoky corner of the Huntridge Tavern, the group was impossible to ignore. Their music had captured the crowd’s attention, and the bizarre spectacle unfolding onstage kept them put. A man in a banana suit stood motionless in the background, staring unblinking straight ahead for the entire set while Post NC jammed out in a seemingly never-ending fashion. I was dumbfounded by the unblinking bit (which follows the band to all their public appearances including the photo above), and stayed for the entrancing sound.
The band emerged in late 2021 and quickly became a standout in the local music scene for its lyric-less yet engaging jams.
“It’s just improvised music. A lot of people gravitate toward the term ‘fusion,’ but it’s more about the conversation we’re having with each other,” says Leo Berenguel, keyboardist.
That conversation—organic, real-time experimentation—has become the band’s signature. It’s a dialogue where each musician is essential, constantly pushing the boundaries of live performance.
When Berenguel and guitarist Samuel Ramirez met in college, their shared background in jazz laid the foundation for the band. But the trio’s lineup, completed by drummer Dan Duran, pulls from a plethora of influences, including math rock, progressive metal, lo-fi and more. To this day, they’re still discovering new ways to play.
“This past tour we came across a lot of different genres,” says Berenguel. “As long as it really spoke to us ... how it resonated, how it moved our heads, how it moved our souls.”
The band leans into its eclecticism. Its latest EP, Greatest Xmas Hits Vol 2, captures that improvisational magic in seven tracks. But like any conversation worth having, Post NC is best experienced live. Where the music goes next is anyone’s guess and that’s exactly the point.
“When you’re writing political music, there’s the Bob Dylans and the Leonard Cohens, and then there’s Devo. There’s many different ways to approach it,” she continues. “I think we want to do it in a non-judgmental [way]. More just showing what is going on, not necessarily preaching.”
Is It Now? uses the same analog tape-recording methods that Glaudini, drummer Lola Dompé and bassist Halle Saxon have become known for in their previous works. Singles like “Mercury,” “Lazy” and “Black Box” share a warm, minimalist sound that’s both absorbing and danceable. Meanwhile, the lyrics about drones (“MQ9”), the political influence of oil (“The Prize”) and America’s involvement in endless wars (“Terminal”) serve sharp commentary with a groove.
The past and future may have us feeling paralyzed. But Automatic’s new album draws us into the present with music that compels us to move forward.
AUTOMATIC
With Sextile, the Opera. October 9, 8 p.m., $25-$30. Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
Courtesy/ Erica Snyder
Courtesy
Suffs puts the endless fight for voting rights to catchy music
BY GEOFF CARTER
Suffs, the two-time Tony award-winning musical about the fight that led to the constitutional right of women to vote, comes to the Smith Center as both voting rights and the performing arts face strong headwinds.
Earlier this year, the Author’s Guild declared that the Trump administration is “undoing 250 years of freedom of expression in the arts and humanities” through defunding, mass deportation and bullying. Not long after, the ACLU warned that the far right’s efforts to suppress the vote in swing states could result in a “patchwork of democracy where your rights depend on your ZIP code and your skin color.”
“One of the things that I love about Shaina Taub’s writing is these songs are never like, ‘We did it!’ It’s always about carrying the movement forward and being on the path of progress,” Pekel says.
Beginning at the 1913 National American Woman Suffrage Association convention and continuing into the Equal Rights Amendment of the 1970s, Suffs follows both the fight and its suffragist fighters—Terrell, Stevens, Alice Paul, Carrie Chapman Catt, Ida B. Wells, Lucy Burns, Ruza Wenclawska, Inez Milholland, Mollie Hay, Alva Belmont— through setbacks, internecine conflicts and personal struggle.
Suffs has more heavy lifting to do than Shaina Taub, the author of its music, lyrics and book, probably intended when she penned a musical inspired by suffragist Doris Stevens’ 1920 memoir Jailed for Freedom, which was given to her by show producer Rachel Sussman. But Victoria Pekel, who portrays both Black suffragist Phyllis Terrell and a young activist named Robin, says that the show has shoulders strong enough to bear the load.
Taub’s award-winning songs keep the show steadily on the march.
Suffs is personal to everyone it touches. Pekel, who recently graduated from Yale with majors in political science and theater studies, is excited to see this history so widely and popularly shared.
“The details of the suffrage movement weren’t really taught in elementary and middle school history classes,” she says, adding that cast members formed a “Suffs book club” to further their understanding of the time period covered in the show: “We share some of the biographies
and autobiographies of the characters that we’re playing, so that we can all really hear their words straight from them.
“These women know that they are not the enemy of each other, and they want the same things, though they have different ideas about how to get there,” Pekel continues. “That is so relevant right now—finding common ground with each other, feeling a sense of community and understanding that there’s power in uniting with people who are different than you.”
Sadly, that message grows more relevant by the day. But Pekel says that Suffs’ ideas are finding receptive ears at every turn. It’s giving her hope.
“People are shocked by how relevant the show feels,” she says. “They can’t believe some of these debates were happening 100 years ago and that we’re still having them today. Younger audiences, especially young women and girls … I’ve seen so many people have an emotional reaction to seeing the people who fought and sacrificed for their lives, which is really beautiful.”
Courtesy/The Smith Center for the Performing
Join us Friday, October 10 officially proclaimed Junior Achievement Day in Las Vegas — for a spirited evening of wine, beer, andspirits tastings, gourmet bites, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes fashion experience with designer Sondra Falk Couture.
Friday, October 10
7:00 - 10:00 PM (VIP entry at 6:00 PM)
Junior Achievement Inspiration Center 4440 E. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89121
October 4, 2025
Black Mountain Institute celebrates 20 years of making space for writers and thinkers
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Widening one’s worldview begins with conversation and exposure to varying walks of life. Black Mountain Institute, an international literary center, understands this well and has steadily stoked a fire of intellectual and cultural growth for 20 years.
Founded in 2006 by former UNLV President Carol C. Harter, BMI quickly became a sanctuary not just for writers, but for the ideas that challenge, explore and transform.
“It’s humbling to think that my first BMI event was almost 20 years ago,” says Joshua Chévere Cohen, a former high school attendee who now serves as the institute’s marketing and communications manager.
persecuted writers.
“Those two initiatives, IML and City of Asylum, were wrapped into BMI,” says Cohen. “Those things feed into the early story of BMI and are central components of BMI as it exists today.”
In the two decades since, BMI has continued to evolve, offering a mix of live and virtual events, book signings and thought-provoking public conversations. Its Shearing Fellowship provides two writers with a nine-month residency in Las Vegas to focus on their craft while developing community-focused projects.
BLACK MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE
4505 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-895-5542, blackmoun taininstitute. org.
“From my high school student brain perspective, it was a lot. The level of discourse in the room was humbling. It made me want to engage in these ideas in a deeper way,” he says.
His words underscore BMI’s role as a cultural catalyst, an incubator where local and global perspectives collide and push boundaries. When the International Institute of Modern Letters (BMI’s predecessor) welcomed its first City of Asylum fellow to Las Vegas in 2000, the city became the first in the U.S. to join this global program that provides refuge to
But it’s not just about the writers who come to BMI, it’s about the broader community. BMI’s Community Partnerships program invites locals to pitch creative projects, offering funding and support for work that’s already in motion.
“That’s just one way of us trying to inject some energy into work being done by others,” Cohen says. “We’re not driving the bus, so to speak, when it comes to culture in Las Vegas. That work is already being done by artists and creatives.”
Colette LaBouff, BMI’s executive director, sees this as a crucial piece of the institute’s ongoing mission. “The idea of involving more people in thinking about what is relevant for the community is huge for us right now,” she says.
BMI’s staff of six continue to connect the throughline of the founder’s initial mission: to imbue the public with ideas while supporting those who generate them. Twenty years in, BMI has woven itself into the fabric of Las Vegas’ cultural landscape and the world of literature.
Upcoming BMI Events
StraightioLab with Special Guests Vegas Theatre Company October 15
A Conversation with Meera Subramanian and Neal Thompson Virtual October 22
Libros & Chisme Book Club: Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
The Writers Block October 30
An Evening with Maz Jobrani and Maryam Ala Amjadi UNLV’s Philip J. Cohen Theatre November 18
A Conversation with Johanna Hedva and Isle McElroy Virtual November 19
UNLV Ph.D. student Heather Wells Peterson with author Sabrina Imbler (right) at Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum
(Courtesy)
A CENTURY OF DIM SUM
Nom Wah brings its New York legacy to Las Vegas
BY GENEVIE DURANO
For 105 years, Wilson Tang’s family has been folding dumplings, steaming buns and serving up “a little bit of heart” to New Yorkers. For the first time in its storied history, Nom Wah—the first and oldest dim sum restaurant in the U.S.—is expanding west at the JW Marriott resort in Summerlin.
“This restaurant brand has been in my family forever, and it’s really an honor to be able to bring a taste of New York to the suburbs of Las Vegas,” Tang says. “I think the easy choice would have been doing something in San Francisco and LA, but I think I’m drawn to a smaller market in some way, and ... where there is also a large Asian community as well.”
What sealed the deal for Tang was the community feel at the Summerlin location. “During our numerous visits, what I saw were the people who lived in the neighborhood. And that really hits home for me, as a dad, as a community person, that’s really what I’m doing it for,” he says.
The original Nom Wah Tea Parlor opened during Prohibition, survived the Great Depression, World War II and countless waves of gentrification. It has been a neighborhood landmark, serving generations the same hand-folded dumplings from a family recipe.
Nom Wah’s famous dumplings ($9-$10)—the pork, chicken and shrimp varieties that Tang says “put us on the map”—anchor the offerings alongside soup dumplings ($9) and bao buns ($10-$14). The Peking duck buns ($14) are especially notable; tender, shredded duck tucked into a soft bao might be one of the most flavorful bites you’ve ever had. Dip everything in the house-made dumpling sauce—a little salty, a little tangy, a little spicy, all perfectly umami.
While the menu isn’t extensive, classic dim sum dishes like pork and shrimp siu mai ($9.50) and scallion pancakes ($9) are here. The turnip cakes with a taro crust ($9.50), with their contrasting textures and gentle flavor, are a standout. Vegas-exclusive menu items include wonton noodle soup ($15) and lo mein noodles ($13), with intentional nods to our gambling culture.
“Wontons or dumplings are very auspicious because they look like gold nuggets,” Tang says. “And noodles—the more noodles you eat, it’s good luck, prosperity, long life. So we’re instituting some auspicious foods for the gamers coming to the hotel.”
Dim sum, literally meaning “to touch the heart,” represents a dining philosophy that prizes conversation over speed, community over convenience. It’s a tradition Tang takes serious-
ly while embracing the necessary evolution of a modern eatery. The counter-style seating with red barstools evokes an old-school tea parlor, creating an intimate and nostalgic atmosphere that feels like a time capsule from Manhattan’s Chinatown. After more than a century of serving one neighborhood, Nom Wah is finally ready to share its family secrets in ours.
“At the end of the day, we’re really just trying to bring a slice of Chinese-American dim sum from New York to Vegas,” Tang says.
TOP Shrimp dumplings, Peking duck buns, pork and shrimp siu mai, pork dumplings and turnip cakes with taro crust
BOTTOM Wilson Tang, owner and CEO of Nom Wah (Photos by Christopher DeVargas)
BRUNCH BLITZ
Ole Red ’s rooftop fi res up an all-you-can-eat feast for game day
BY AMBER SAMPSON
On lazy Sunday mornings in fall, only two things can drag us out of bed before noon: football and brunch. Luckily, Ole Red’s Honey Bee Brunch tastefully combines the two with a $30 allyou-can-eat tailgate edition that feels like a score.
Ole Red’s spectacular rooftop hosts this weekend brunch, giving guests a panoramic view of the Strip and the Bellagio’s dancing water show. Live country acts perform just after 11 a.m., with seasonal games broadcast all around the restaurant and bar. Pre-game accordingly with some Ole Red cocktails like the Truck Stop Margarita or the espresso Rodeotini before fueling up at the table. Strong appetites will love the Bu alo chicken empanadas, a u y pocket of shredded chicken, blue cheese and creamy Bu alo dip. The chorizo potato skins also work as a Mexican-inspired blend of favorites—egg, chunky guac, russet potato and crumbly cotija cheese. Ole Red breaks brunch tradition in a few areas, like the 18-hour smoked brisket hash. It’s still a holiday of carbs, but instead of russet potatoes and bell pepper, Ole Red tackles it with crisped tater tots, shishito peppers and queso fresco. It’s a touchdown dish, embodying that hearty homestyle cooking of the South. Dessert demands nothing short of the strawberry and cream cheese French toast. It might seem like an indulgent shareable, but you’ll forget being a team player once you bite into that pillowy, cinnamon-dusted toast and caramelized dulce de leche on top. Game day can’t come soon enough.
Photo by Wade Vandervort
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VITALITY CHECK SPECIAL
G2E KEEPS MOMENTUM AS IT MARKS MILESTONES
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF
Las Vegas prepares to welcome the gaming industry’s biggest gathering as the Global Gaming Expo marks a remarkable milestone—25 years of bringing the world’s gaming community together.
The numbers tell the story of G2E’s magnetic pull: more than 25,000 attendees journeying from more than 120 countries to converge on the entertainment capital.
This isn’t just another trade show—it’s the epicenter where “deals get made,” the latest innovations are introduced and the gaming industry looks ahead to the future, said Maureen Beddis, senior vice president of membership and events at the American Gaming Association, which co-owns the G2E franchise with global event organizer RX.
“G2E is really a show for the industry, by the industry,” Beddis said.
Beddis cited association data showing record revenue in the industry for the last four consecutive years, with 2025 on track to be another record-breaking year. Kicking off October 6 at the Venetian this year, G2E has mirrored that momentum in the industry, she said, from the number of its exhibitors to the educational sessions it offers.
“The show continues to grow, and that
growth is not just in people and exhibit floors, but also it’s a growth in the number of topics and the types of things that we’re getting to talk about throughout that conference and education program,” Beddis said, noting topics like prediction markets and mental health.
Though gaming has grown significantly in the last quarter century, Beddis noted that Las Vegas remains the industry’s undisputed capital. It makes the most sense for G2E to be in the Entertainment Capital of the World year after year, she said.
“Las Vegas really represents a great intersection of sports and entertainment and hospitality and gaming,” Beddis said.
Christian Smith, vice president of marketing and research at Las Vegas-based slot-machine designer Bluberi, compared G2E to the company’s Super Bowl, describing the convention as the company’s primary product showcase of the year.
For Bluberi, Smith said, G2E is the gaming manufacturer’s opportunity to demonstrate how it differs from its competitors, to pull back the curtain on its design process and to tell the story of its games “built for today’s play.”
“You’ve got to have the story,” Smith said. “You’ve got to understand the whys. That’s one thing that we always try to answer is, ‘Why did we make this game? Why are we going after the
players we’re going after?’”
This is a particularly special year for Bluberi, which Smith said recently secured its Nevada gaming license.
“It’s exciting that we’re able to engage with actual local Las Vegas customers now, and talk about when our product’s actually going to be coming to their market,” said Smith, who noted that Bluberi takes pride in routinely working with local Las Vegas vendors on its G2E booth, as well. “That is the biggest gaming market in the world.”
Unlike other industries, where show floors like that of G2E can seem abstract, Smith said, G2E is mere yards away from the Venetian casino and many of the very products it presents.
The gaming association works closely with members and key partners—like the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, Global Gaming Women and the Indian Gaming Association—to stay on top of trends and relevant issues and avoid sharing the same content year after year.
The same goes for the reimagining of G2E’s show floor, which this year will include “the Strip,” a large space dedicated to smaller activations, photo opportunities and more. The 2025 show will also feature the first-ever U.S. Dealer Championship, featuring nearly three dozen dealers from various operators across the country.
Participants will go through rigorous challenges designed to evaluate their technical mastery, customer engagement abilities and the exceptional service standard that defines world-class gaming experiences today, Beddis said.
“That gives us an opportunity at G2E to maybe spotlight an area of the industry that doesn’t usually get talked about on the show floor,” she said, “And certainly it gives us an opportunity to celebrate some of those people who are interacting with consumers; who are experiencing gaming today on a day to day.”
EGT booth at the 2023
G2E Global Gaming Expo at the Venetian.
(Photo Sun File)
Invictus Energy donated $1,500 to Doral Academy Red Rock to help fund band students’ upcoming trip to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Voices Rising, the signature fundraiser for Jeremiah Program Las Vegas, celebrated the power of mothers’ voices and recognized three of Southern Nevada’s most influential leaders. Maria Jose Gatti, vice president of philanthropy and community engagement at MGM Resorts International; Clark County School District trustee Tameka Henry; and state Sen. Lori Rogich were honored as 2025 Champions for Change for their leadership and commitment to creating positive, lasting impact in their communities.
GiGi’s Playhouse Las Vegas, a Down syndrome achievement center, raised more than $200,000 at its third annual I Have a Voice gala at the Palms. The
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Search Marketing Strategist (Las Vegas, NV) 1Point3Acres, LLCAggregate data & news from various media sources. Capture trends & identify hot topics for Chinese American community. Requires Bachelors in Market Research, Econ, or related & Fluency in Chinese language. Send resume to 1Point3Acres, LLC, 2300 West Sahara Ave., Ste 800, Las Vegas, NV 89102.
evening also honored Dr. Mark Nunes of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation with the Impact Champion Award and recognized community advocates, including Joseph Harwell, a teacher at Pinecrest Sloan Canyon, who received the first-ever Community Champions Award for his dedication to inclusion and friendship. The gala was made possible thanks to sponsors such as Interblock Gaming, the Speech House, BMM Testlabs, Durham Law, Leavitt Family Law, Caesars Reno, Ainsworth, Tangam Systems, JJ Gaming, Golden Route Operations, Eclipse Gaming and Macquarie.
Heritage Homes of Nevada has launched in Henderson. The company’s announcement includes its flagship communities: Alta Vista, Amira Vista, Cipriani Villas, Terra Rosa and Valencia Heights. Two homes in Alta Vista are already slated for completion in early 2026. Initially, the builder is o ering
12 base floor plans, each fully customizable, giving buyers the freedom to design residences as unique as their lifestyles.
Cory Frank, vice president of business development and project management at Nigro Construction, was appointed to the board of directors at Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. He brings more than 15 years of commercial construction expertise and a passion for community service to the role.
Clark County Credit Union appointed Creson Oakley as its first business development and financial education specialist. Oakley began her career as a teller in 1992 and advanced through a variety of roles. She will focus on building and strengthening relationships with the credit union’s select employee groups, nonprofit partners, local government and business organizations.
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Senior Application Developer (Las Vegas, NV) Analyze and translate highly complex business requirements into extensible, scalable and maintainable enterprise applications, and assist in writing functional documents and technical specifications. Design, develop, test, implement, and support Python, Java, and C# applications that are built to support and streamline business operations. Design, develop and modify existing software applications and database to support various internal and external windows/ web-based systems and AI robotics applications. Implement all quality assurance processes including periodic reviews and transitions to ensure the end product fulfills the project objectives. Monitor and identify gaps in current processes and devise corrective measures to achieve quality assurance and software database security. Salary range: 110,802 to 115,000/year. Send resume to: HR, Richtech Robotics, Inc. 4175 Cameron St, Ste 1, Las Vegas, NV 89103.
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MGM Resorts Satellite, LLC seeks a Digital Software Senior Engineer I in Las Vegas, NV to manage and execute the design, development and delivery of technology that enables great customer experiences. Remote Work Permitted. Approved remote states include Nevada, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Apply online at https://careers.mgmresorts.com/global/en job number: 266748 or E-Mail resume to resume@mgmresorts.com and reference job number: 266748.
