All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3.
ADVERTISING DEADLINE EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.
17 C-SUITE HONORS
COVER ART Photo by Wade Vandervort
For the fifth annual C-Suite Honors, Vegas Inc recognizes a distinguished group of executives who help shape Southern Nevada’s business landscape and community.
Don Logan President and COO, Las Vegas Aviators
8 Ali Wong returns to Encore Theater, Cali Tucker takes over at Aliante, tennis at T-Mobile Arena and more this week.
14 ENTERTAINING
How to throw the perfect watch party for the upcoming Academy Awards.
34 NEWS Nevada’s unregistered vehicle problem is driving up already high insurance rates.
40 NIGHTLIFE
Viking Mike’s brings something entirely fresh—mountain vibes and more!—to the Arts District.
42 COMEDY Stand-up standout Shapel Lacey brings a di erent perspective to Wiseguys.
44 FOOD & DRINK Neighborhood favorite Hearthstone is back home at Red Rock Resort.
Straddling between Portland and Seattle, Marble is the kind of young band that feels bigger than the rooms it’s playing. The altrock sextet is touring behind its latest EP, what i love and leave behind, a tightly wound dispatch from the emotional deep end where inner turmoil simmers, swells and finally forces personal transformation. “Kill your garden” captures that push and pull best, pairing atmospheric sprawl with an urgency that refuses to let up while still being incredibly catchy. As local support, Pure Sport leans into its signature corporate core punk, while The Red Sea bathes post-punk yearning in a synth-driven pulse.
She may be from Nashville, but Cali Tucker is a Vegas mainstay. This week alone, the country-pop songstress will take the stage at the new Wineaux in Summerlin, at One Steakhouse at Virgin, and at the glamorous Delilah at Wynn—but first, she’s headlining again at Aliante Casino’s comfy showroom. Tucker has country in her blood as her mother charted tracks as La Costa and her aunt is the legendary Tanya Tucker, but she’s developed her own sound that stretches across genres. “People are being touched by country music now more than ever, because country is allowing these di erent sounds and di erent vibes to really infiltrate this genre and bring more of a wider audience,” she told us in 2024. Catch her live and find out how she’s continuing to evolve. 8 p.m., $43$59, Access Showroom, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke
RUGBY LEAGUE LAS VEGAS
4 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. NEVADA
7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. COLORADO EAGLES
6 p.m. (& 3/1, 5 p.m.), Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
STEAM FAMILY FEST: ELECTRIC CITY
8:30 a.m., Neon Museum, neonmuseum.org.
THE CHEESE STORE OF BEVERLY HILLS POP-UP Noon, Grid Iron Grill at Red Rock Resort, redrockresort.com.
DESERT OPUS: AN AMERICAN SOUNDSCAPE
4 p.m., Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum, ritadeaninabbeymuseum. org.
THE HEAD AND THE HEART
With Tyler Ballgame, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
HAYDEN COFFMAN
10 p.m., Stoney’s North Forty, tixr.com.
MAMA I’M A BIG GIRL NOW
With Kerry Butler, Laura Bell Bundy, Marissa Jaret Winokur, 5 & 8 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
BRAD WILLIAMS 7:30 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
JOHN CAPARULO
7:30 & 9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmels Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.
BRAD GARRETT
With Je Leach, Dean Delrey, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com.
MARTIN GARRIX 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com. DO IT ALL
SUPERGUIDE
CHARLY JORDAN
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.
VANDOLIERS
With Leaving Springfield, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm.
ATSUKO OKATSUKA
7:30 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
MISHA BROWN
6 p.m., Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.
LUENELL
9:30 p.m., & 3/2, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.
VINNIE FAVORITO
8:30 p.m., Notoriety, notorietylive.com.
MGM SLAM
Las Vegas has a history of tennis that predates the current “Sports Capital of the World” stu , and this week o ers an opportunity reconnect with those roots. Top-ranked men’s pros Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Casper Ruud, Nick Kyrgios, Joao Fonseca, Gael Monfils, Lorenzo Musetti and Alexander Bublik will compete for a $1 million prize in the third annual MGM Slam at T-Mobile Arena, an action-packed oneday tournament that will also be broadcast on the CW Network. “It’s always fun to play in these formats that we’re not used to, which can potentially be really exciting for the fans watching,” Fritz, the No. 1-ranked American player, said in a statement. “It’s more exciting because the pressure is higher and you really have to perform in that short window.” 4 p.m., $89+, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. –Brock Radke
EXHIBIT: LURE OF THE LAND: WOMEN ARTISTS ON SOUTHERN NEVADA Thru 3/26, daily 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Henderson City Hall, cityofhenderson.com.
EXHIBIT: SOULFUL CREATURES Thru 9/13, daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, bellagio.com.
ST. BALDRICK’S KICKOFF 6 p.m., Composers Room, thecomposersroom. com.
JUSTIN MYLO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
JULIAN MIRANDA 6 p.m., Composers Room, thecomposersroom.com.
BYRON KENNEDY
With John Hilder, thru 3/8, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com.
CHRIS TOFIELD BAND 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.
DAVID BLAINE
8 p.m., & 3/6-3/7, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
SÉRGIO AND ODAIR ASSAD
7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu.
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. BOISE STATE 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS
7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
JAZZ VEGAS ORCHESTRA
7:30 p.m., Notoriety, notorietylive.com.
TONY DABAS 9:30 p.m., Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.
CHRIS GARCIA 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.
Courtesy/Fadi Kheir
HOW TO THROW A WATCH PARTY FOR THE OSCARS
BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS
For the first few months of the year, gatherings are about sports. From the Super Bowl to the Olympics to March Madness, we love to post up in front of the TV with a buddy and a bucket of snacks. But for those who would rather watch perfect physical specimens parade in couture and stilettos than jerseys and ski boots, there’s the Academy Awards, coming up on March 15. Make Hollywood’s biggest night a decent-sized one of your own and throw your own Oscars party.
ENTERTAINING PARTY
A general Hollywood glamor vibe is the easiest to pull o : Invite guests to don those fancy ‘fits they never wear and pose in front of a Dollar Tree tinsel backdrop before settling in with Champagne, popcorn and Conan O’Brien’s opening monologue. You can also choose a specific film as inspiration.
How faithfully you follow a theme can vary. You may choose to plan a snack and a
T-shirt based on it. Or you can go all out with a themed menu, specialty cocktail and character costumes. Consider what you have time for. This year’s nominees can provide some ideas. Sinners lends itself to Southern delights such as fried catfish and chicken wings; Sista Kim’s Kitchen (2570 E. Tropicana Ave., instagram. com/sistakimskitchen) or Gritz Cafe (1911 Stella Lake St. #150, gritzcafe. com) can hook you up with takeout. Crack open a bottle of whiskey and, once the awards have been handed
out, have a dance party. Marty Supreme calls for New York deli standards such as pastrami and knishes with cheesecake for dessert; CinCityCheesecakes (2987 Las Vegas Blvd. North #17, cincitycheesecakes.com) o ers multiple sizes and flavors from apple crumble to white chocolate. A pingpong table is probably out, but rubber band paddleball toys are nice party favors. You can also look to classic cinema. Federico Fellini’s epically chic La Dolce Vita grants the opportunity to eat Italian food and drink wine
while wearing sunglasses. Throwback '80s and '90s teen comedies like Sixteen Candles or Clueless feature big party scene inspo. Sci-fi space flicks from Forbidden Planet to Star Wars can be celebrated with brightly colored beverages and gelatinous desserts.
If you’re just sitting at home alone on the couch, you can put on a bathrobe, pour a few small beers and have your own One Battle After Another shindig. Or, set the scene for your own F1 party by blocking your front door with wire fencing.
The awards themselves can also provide menu ideas. Strip dining hero Wolfgang Puck has been catering the Governor’s Ball (the o cial Oscars after-party) for over three decades. The o erings are mostly elevated comfort food: lobster corn dogs and “bougie tots,” aka tater tots topped with sour cream and caviar … dishes designed to please
someone who’s spent the last two months dieting their way into a size 4 Chanel. Consider it an opportunity to create your own Hollywood version of a Vegas bu et. If you’re entertaining on a budget, both Grocery Outlet and Aldi both o er reasonable prices on staples as well as spread-elevating bites such as Japanese corn mu ns shaped like ears of corn or Girl Scout cookie cupcakes. For beverages, bubbly in a flute is a staple of any tinseltown celebration, whether Champagne,
Prosecco, cider or ginger ale. Martinis are a classic that can be pre-mixed by the pitcher and rendered more of-the-moment with savory garnishes like cornichons or stu ed olives. Another beverage to preprepare (and pre-portion) is Jell-o shots, which you can buy in the store or make in your favorite colors and flavors, with or without edible glitter. And an assortment of sodas and seltzers o er choice for your alcohol-abstaining guests and mixers for those who are indulging.
A little action keeps guests engaged through a few dozen envelope openings. Of course you can have everyone fill out a ballot with their predicted winners and give a prize for the most correct guesses. You can also create a bingo game with an online card generator. Enter the nominees and perhaps a few other events that might happen during the ceremony, such as “God thanked in speech” or “joke flops” or “facelift male” or “Leonardo DiCaprio’s date was born after he received his first Oscar nomination” (which was in 1993, so you could probably make that the free space). After all, whether it’s the awards or the awards party, no one likes going home empty handed.
As one of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities, many have already discovered Cadence is a unique and special place. With its combination of value, lifestyle and community; it’s the perfect place to address your future. If you haven’t visited…come and see.
Follow a walkway. Explore Central Park. Marvel at the views. Tour model homes. Meet potential neighbors. Because once you’re here, we’re confident you’ll want to address your future too.
As the only top-tier research university in Southern Nevada, UNLV is building an unstoppable workforce. We’re engineering ways to harvest water and combat drought. We’re training educators and health professionals to fill the gaps in our systems. We’re partnering with businesses to expand and diversify our economy. It all adds up to a $3.2 billion economic impact in Southern Nevada.
We’re Rebels and Rebels Make It Happen.
A LETTER FROM OUR SPONSOR
A LETTER FROM OUR EDITOR
Congratulations to the 2026 class of C-Suite honorees.
Each year, Vegas Inc recognizes a distinguished group of executives whose leadership helps shape Southern Nevada’s business and community landscape. This year’s honorees represent a wide range of industries and organizations, from construction to nonprofit leadership, reflecting the depth and diversity of our region.
Beyond their professional accomplishments, these leaders have made a meaningful impact on our community. Their contributions influence how we live, work, learn and connect, while also strengthening our economy and our institutions.
We extend our sincere thanks to this year’s sponsors, Nevada State Bank and Deloitte. I’d also like to thank Resorts World, which once again hosted the C-Suite Honors celebration for the fifth consecutive year. Our partners play an important role in making this program possible, and we are grateful for their continued support.
To the 2026 C-Suite honorees, thank you for your leadership, vision and commitment to Southern Nevada.
Associate Publisher & Special Publications Editor
Dear honored guests and community leaders,
On behalf of Nevada State Bank, it is our privilege to sponsor the 2026 C-Suite Honors, a celebration recognizing the exceptional leadership shaping the future of Southern Nevada. I would like to congratulate this year’s honorees and celebrate the positive impact they have on our business community, their clients and their employees. Each honoree is a remarkable leader whose vision, resilience and dedication uplift our region.
At Nevada State Bank, we believe strong leadership is the foundation of a thriving economy and a vibrant community. Nevada was built by people who weren’t afraid to look for new ways of doing things—from creating thriving cities in the barren desert to building a world-class resort destination in what was once a dusty railroad town. The individuals honored not
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR HOST
Thank you to Michael Crome, chief financial officer for the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium. A 2022 C-Suite honoree, Crome hosted the fifth annual C-Suite Honors at Resorts World Las Vegas.
only guide their organizations with purpose and integrity, but also champion initiatives that create jobs, support families and strengthen the fabric of Southern Nevada. Their work reflects the same values we have upheld for more than 65 years: commitment to local business, exceptional service and a passion for our community.
Nevada State Bank is proud to support an event that shines a spotlight on leadership excellence and fosters meaningful connections among the executives, partners and stakeholders who drive our region’s continued growth. We also thank Greenspun Media Group and Vegas Inc for including us in this event and for their ongoing efforts to support and provide resources to Southern Nevada companies. Once again, we extend our sincere congratulations to this year’s honorees and thank them for their exceptional service to our community.
With appreciation,
Terry Shirey President & CEO
Nevada State Bank
Sallie Doebler
CEO Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE
Sallie Doebler leads the growth of the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, an independent nonprofit created to strengthen quality-of-life initiatives for Las Vegas residents through public-private partnerships with the City of Las Vegas. In her role, Doebler works with business, foundation and community partners to fund programs aligned with city priorities.
Since becoming CEO in 2023, Doebler has secured nearly $3 million in cash and in-kind private sector contributions. Those funds support mobile pre-K buses serving underserved neighborhoods, transportation services connecting individuals experiencing homelessness to medical and social services, and expanded pet services at the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center. The Mayor’s Fund has also supported youth street hockey camps in partnership with the VGK Foundation and commissioned a series of outdoor murals in the Historic Westside that highlight local history.
Prior to joining the Mayor’s Fund, Doebler served as vice president of corporate partnerships for the Vegas Chamber and was the 2011 president of NAIOP Southern Nevada, where she helped found the Developing Leaders Institute.
Katie Grimes trains with dedication and focus, knowing she has a team that believes in her. At Nevada State Bank, we bring that same commitment to your financial relationship —taking the time to understand your goals and providing the tools to help you grow and achieve them. From world champions to working families, you deserve a bank that believes in you.
KATIE GRIMES Olympic Medalist & World Champion Swimmer nsbank.com/GoGrimesGo
Karen Rubel
President Chapters Health West
Interim Executive Director
Nathan Adelson Hospice
With more than two decades of leadership in nonprofit health care, Karen Rubel has played a prominent role in the development of hospice care across Southern Nevada. Rubel’s executive leadership was shaped during her time as CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice, where she oversaw operations, administration, major gift fundraising and strategic planning. Her work focused on strengthening partnerships with major donors and health care entities while guiding hospice operations.
Earlier this year, she was appointed president of Chapters Health West, a newly established division of Chapters Health System. In that role, Rubel leads western operations for the nation’s largest nonprofit hospice network, bringing together four nonprofit hospice organizations—including Nathan Adelson Hospice—under a unified structure. She continues to support Nathan Adelson Hospice in an interim executive director capacity. Rubel also remains active in the community, serving on multiple boards, including Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada and Nevada Donor Network. She was recently appointed to Nevada’s Funeral and Cemetery Services Board.
John Rhodes, M.D.
President and CEO
Southwest Medical and Optum Nevada
A lifelong Nevadan, John Rhodes, M.D., has dedicated his career to strengthening Southern Nevada’s health care system. As president and CEO of Southwest Medical and Optum Nevada, he leads one of the state’s largest integrated medical groups, with a focus on expanding access to care and addressing long-term workforce needs.
Since joining Optum in 2013, Rhodes has focused on tackling the region’s chronic physician shortage by building sustainable pipelines rather than relying on local recruitment alone. He has led efforts to bring new physicians to Southern Nevada from outside markets and has also helped create Optum’s Physician Pathways Program to support physician development. Designed for final-year residents, the program introduces physicians to practice settings across primary care and other specialties and has since been adopted in other Optum markets nationwide.
Beyond his professional work, Rhodes was instrumental in creating Faith Lutheran’s Mark 10:14 Program, which supports students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and remains actively involved with the initiative.
BOYD GAMING IS PROUD TO CONGRATULATE
M.J. Maynard-Carey
CEO
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
As CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, M.J. Maynard-Carey oversees transit services, traffic management, roadway funding and long-range transportation planning across the Las Vegas Valley. Her leadership has guided the agency through periods of rapid growth and evolving transportation needs.
Among her accomplishments, Maynard-Carey introduced the RideRTC smartphone app, oversaw the largest transit service expansion in the agency’s history, expanded bike share and e-bike programs, and advanced On Board, the region’s comprehensive mobility plan. She has also supported a traffic signal technology pilot that responds to real-time incidents and the introduction of Nevada’s first hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. More recently, she helped secure roadway funding to support construction and maintenance needs over the next decade.
Alongside her work at the RTC, Maynard-Carey serves on the board of Workforce Connections and is a member of the Mob Museum advisory council. Her past service includes board roles with Three Square, Hope for Prisoners, Henderson Libraries and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Scott Rosenzweig President and CEO Make-A-Wish Nevada
Since becoming president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Nevada in 2021, Scott Rosenzweig has led the organization through a period of sustained growth and expanded reach.
From 2023 to 2025, the chapter delivered record-breaking years in both revenue and wishes granted. In 2024, he also oversaw the reunification of the Southern and Northern Nevada chapters, restoring a single statewide organization and strengthening service delivery across the region.
Rosenzweig’s leadership is reflected not only in the numbers but in how the organization engages donors and the broader community. Fundraising events play a central role, including the Fashion Luncheon, which typically raises more than $1 million annually, and Walk for Wishes, which draws more than 3,000 participants and raises more than $500,000. Strategic partnerships also support fundraising, including Allegiant’s $1-per-year lease of space for the organization’s headquarters, The Wishing Place.
With Rosenzweig at the helm, Make-A-Wish Nevada continues to expand wish granting across the state, turning more wishes into reality for children and families.
Healer. Role model. Leader.
Our community care champion
Congratulations to John Rhodes, M.D., 2026 Vegas Inc. C-Suite Honors recipient.
Across more than four decades of health care experience, Dr. Rhodes has demonstrated his unshakable devotion to healing in his community. He is a passionate physician, dedicated mentor, leader in programs for students with disabilities, and now a steadfast executive at the helm of Optum Nevada as President and CEO. For Dr. Rhodes, service is the cornerstone of his leadership, and compassion at the heart of his mission.
Kim Virtuoso
Chief People Officer
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Staffing one of the largest resort openings on the Las Vegas Strip required recruiting thousands of employees within a compressed timeline and Kim Virtuoso led that effort as chief people officer for Fontainebleau Las Vegas. She joined the organization during its pre-opening phase in 2022 and oversaw workforce planning ahead of the resort’s December 2023 debut.
Virtuoso led the recruitment of 6,500 employees and managed a hiring process that drew more than 300,000 applicants. She also oversaw the integration of technology into talent acquisition, including a conversational hiring platform called Morris that streamlined screening and scheduling while preserving the personalized candidate experience. The approach supported large-scale hiring while aligning staffing decisions with the resort’s service standards. Following the opening, Virtuoso has focused on employee engagement and recognition initiatives for Fontainebleau’s workforce.
Outside of her role at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Virtuoso serves as vice chairwoman of the Civil Service Board for the City of Henderson and teaches leadership and communication courses at UNLV.
Uri Clinton
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Boyd Gaming Corporation
Uri Clinton serves as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Boyd Gaming Corporation where he oversees the company’s legal, corporate governance and regulatory compliance functions. He has held senior legal and operational roles across the gaming industry for nearly two decades and joined Boyd Gaming in 2021.
Clinton also leads Boyd’s business development department. In 2024, the company began a $750 million resort development in Norfolk, Virginia that is scheduled to open in late 2027. This is the first major new development since Clinton assumed oversight of the role and represents a significant expansion of Boyd’s national footprint.
Clinton grew up in Las Vegas’ Historic Westside and remains closely connected to the community through long-standing education-focused efforts. In 1997, he founded the Joyce Anderson Memorial Scholarship, which provides annual scholarships for at-risk students who participate in the UNLV Upward Bound program. Clinton completed Upward Bound himself in 1990 and continues to chair and fund the scholarship.
Don Logan
President and COO Las Vegas Aviators
Despite numerous changes in ownership, affiliates and team names, Don Logan has been with the Las Vegas Aviators consistently since joining the organization as an account executive in 1984. With Logan serving as president since 2000, the franchise has experienced continued success on and off the field.
During his tenure, Logan has been named the Pacific Coast League’s Executive of the Year three times, a recognition that reflects both competitive performance and organizational stability. In 2019, he oversaw the opening of the Las Vegas Ballpark. The premier facility began a new chapter for the franchise that has since earned broad industry recognition. Beyond game day, the Las Vegas Ballpark also serves as a year-round community asset that hosts nonprofit, civic and corporate events.
As Las Vegas prepares for the arrival of Major League Baseball, Logan serves as an advisor to the Athletics as they get ready to relocate, playing an active role in the city’s evolving baseball landscape.
Jason Strauss
Co-CEO Tao Group Hospitality
As co-CEO of Tao Group Hospitality, Jason Strauss has helped shape immersive hospitality destinations that blend dining, entertainment and design. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a single venue into a global portfolio spanning five continents, with Las Vegas serving as a long-standing base for its operations.
Strauss guided Tao Group through key periods of expansion, including Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s acquisition of a majority stake in 2017, its later sale of that stake, and the company’s integration with Mohari Hospitality in 2023. Strauss boasts more than 20 years of leadership in Las Vegas, where he has helped establish the city as a global epicenter for hospitality-driven entertainment and culinary innovation. The upcoming opening of Omnia Dayclub represents the largest investment in the company’s history.
Beyond business, Strauss serves on the board of Inspiring Children Foundation and supports community efforts through Tao Group Hospitality Cares, backing organizations focused on youth development, food insecurity and health initiatives.
Vincent Tatum
President Grand Canyon Development Partners
Vincent Tatum serves as president of Grand Canyon Development Partners where he leads development and construction management operations for large-scale commercial projects across Southern Nevada. Before he was named president in 2023, he served nine years as executive vice president, helping guide the firm’s growth and overseeing complex projects from preconstruction through completion.
Tatum brings nearly two decades of experience in commercial construction, with expertise spanning project management, capital investment management, construction sourcing procurement, logistics and risk management. His professional foundation was shaped by service as a U.S. Army officer, where he managed logistics, construction and coordination for major training exercises. This experience continues to inform his approach to planning and execution in the private sector.
In addition to day-to-day operations, Tatum is active in workforce development and industry education, mentoring students and young professionals pursuing careers in construction and project management. He recently served on Nevada’s Commission on Construction Education and works closely with the Nevada Contractors Association.
Congratulations to Sallie Doebler, CEO of the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas Life
Thanks to your efforts and leadership, City of Las Vegas residents enjoy a higher quality of life!
—Eleanor Roosevelt
IN THE NEWS
ENVIRONMENT
Environmentalists seek federal protections for rare Red Rock sunflower
Environmentalists are petitioning federal authorities to protect a rare yellow sunflower threatened by the millions of visitors in Red Rock National Conservation Area each year.
The Center for Biological Diversity and Save Red Rock last week asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Red Rock sunflower for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The flower is found only in Southern Nevada, and conservationists warn that heavy foot traffic from Red Rock’s nearly three million annual visitors is putting the species at risk.
“It’s lucky that the Red Rock sunflower grows on public lands safe from development, but they’re not protected from visitors. We need fast action to make sure this beautiful species doesn’t disappear on our watch,” Megan Ortiz, a staff attorney at the Center for Biologi-
BY THE NUMBERS
cal Diversity, said in a statement.
A member of the sunflower family known scientifically as the Helianthus devernii, the perennial Red Rock sunflower grows to be around 102 centimeters tall with slim green stalks, vibrant yellow petals and a bulbous golden center full of tiny florets that attract pollinators.
Its population is concentrated at three small desert springs within the Calico Basin, one of the most popular “and degraded” spots in Red Rock, according to the 36-page petition. Fewer than 1,000 of the plants remain in the wild, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit environmental organization that aims to protect endangered species and their habitats.
The Center for Biological Diversity said heavy visitor traffic in Red Rock
Canyon has led to the creation of unofficial trails, which cut through the sunflower’s habitat. Horses and hikers have unintentionally introduced dozens of invasive plant species to the area, while threats like climate change and excessive groundwater pumping could eliminate the small patches of water the sunflower lives off.
In their petition, organizers wrote that the Bureau of Land Management— which operates the conservation area— needs additional resources to erect fencing around Red Rock sunflower populations.
The environmentalists believe that listing the flower under the Endangered Species Act and designating critical habitat “will provide the increased protections and funding which are so gravely needed to ensure the species’ survival.” –Grace Da Rocha
The increase in intake at the Animal Foundation in 2025. The Valley’s only openadmission shelter also reported a 15% increase in dog surrenders, 25% increase in cat surrenders and 44% increase in other animals surrendered, like rabbits and rodents, last year.
ACM AWARDS TICKETS ON SALE
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards show will take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, accompanied by two events on the Strip, according to a news release.
ACM Awards Week ticketed events include an up-close performance by Riley Green and other unannounced musicians at Topgolf Las Vegas on May 15, as well as an outdoor concert with “country music’s rising stars” at Mandalay Bay Beach on May 16. While the Awards show musician lineup is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, tickets to the show and associated events go on sale to the public on February 27 at axs.com –Staff
GOLDEN BOY
Jack Eichel celebrates after Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime for the first U.S. gold medal since 1980 at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy on February 22. Eichel and Noah Hanifin represented the Vegas Golden Knights on Team USA, two of eight Vegas players competing in the Olympics.
(Photo AP Photo/ Petr David Josek)
INSURANCE IMPACT
unregistered vehicle problem
is driving up its already high insurance rates
work recently I saw a speeding driver without a license plate narrowly avoid sideswiping another vehicle. Sights like this have become “normal” since I moved to Nevada, and I’m not alone in noticing them.
Because the DMV requires residents to present proof of auto insurance to register a vehicle, Decker says drivers without plates are also far more likely to be uninsured, which only contributes to rising premiums in a state that already ranks among the most expensive in the country.
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles chief compliance o cer J.D. Decker often gets texts from personal friends about the issue, which he says has grown much bigger since pandemic-era state o ce closures led the DMV to implement a grace period for drivers with expired tags. Afterward, many drivers chose to forego renewing altogether.
Flooded with calls about the trend, Decker’s team launched the
“The problem is, the people that don’t have insurance in Nevada are not having any less accidents than the people that do,” Decker says. “That means the cost of insurance for those of us that are carrying it go up to pay for all of the things that the people that don’t have insurance are doing.”
Online nancial data broker LendingTree ranks Nevada’s auto insurance rates as the highest in the U.S., with an average full-coverage policy of $335 per month—or $370 in Las Vegas—far exceeding the national average of around $200.
responses in four months— with about 80% of them in Clark
DMV’s new online registration spotter system in October to give residents a way to report sightings of moving vehicles with missing, fraudulent or illegal out-of-state license plates. It’s garnered 32,710 responses in four months— with about 80% of them in Clark County. Decker calls it the “ rst public reporting system in the country.”
“We knew there was some public interest, but we had no idea there was as much as there is, which does validate that it’s a huge problem,”
According to the Nevada Division of Insurance, the cost of an average policy will go up by nearly 6.5% this year, impacting more than 570,000 policyholders statewide who already saw their average rates increase by 13.7% in 2025. The department’s 2025 Insurance Market Report cites higher vehicle prices, increased repair costs and rising vehicle thefts, auto insurance fraud cases and insurance company loss ratios as key drivers.
Decker says. “And most people driving around without
Decker says. “And most people driving around without a plate or a tag are also often the ones you see driving around recklessly. They’re having hit and run accidents and generally advertising that they’ll ee from police if they’re pulled over.”
Jim Grant, an industry veteran of nearly 30 years and co-owner of the Henderson-based independent agency Get Help With Insurance, Inc.,
agrees with many of those causes, noting that uninsured vehicles are “one of the biggest drivers of rising prices.”
Drivers can opt for uninsured motorist coverage to protect themselves if they suffer bodily injuries in a collision with an uninsured driver. Unlike in other states, however, Grant says that optional protection—which typically costs an extra $150 to $250 annually—doesn’t extend to vehicle damage in Nevada.
Grant adds that the higher rates are also influenced by the “billions” insurance companies lost during the pandemic, leading them to spend the last few years playing catch-up. Another major factor is that Nevada’s attorney penetration rate on auto insurance claims—or the frequency that lawyers get involved after an accident—is above 75% compared to the national average of 15%. Many companies avoid operating in the Silver State altogether.
“The attorneys’ presence drives up the premiums because it’s going to cost more for the insurance company. The other thing that does is reduce competition. So, although we do have a lot of companies, there’s still not as many here,” Grant says.
In other words, fewer insurance companies, combined with a sizable number of uninsured motorists and the higher frequency of accidents in Clark County, contribute to a cycle that keeps rates high.
INCREASED ENFORCEMENT
For those who can’t afford the costly auto policies required to register their vehicle, driving around plateless—or even using a counterfeit tag—is frequently the alternative. And while the data the DMV collects through its registration spotter isn’t by itself a means of finding and penalizing those drivers, it does offer a starting point through which statewide law enforcement agencies can better collaborate to curb the issue.
“One of the ways we use the data is to collate it by county, which will help the counties identify that there might be a problem locally and potentially justify more resources and enforcement activity in that area,” Decker says.
Decker’s enforcement team of 30 sworn officers writes over 1,000 citations annually, but they don’t have the capacity to tackle the problem alone. Because law enforcement can’t issue a citation unless the vehicle is moving, the DMV shares its database with other agencies like LVMPD for a greater chance to catch violators in action.
“My officers have and regularly will pull information from the database, but we also can’t even get to the vehicles that were reported by the public without getting tied up with the stuff that we see on our own out on the street. The problem isn’t very hard to find,” Decker says.
For drivers who are uninsured, unregistered or both, Decker has a simple message.
“There are mechanisms in the law to encourage people to maintain registration and insurance, and the penalties are designed to make it more expensive to not do that,” he says. “Overall, it’ll just end up costing you more.”
Photograph by Steve Marcus/Photo Illustration
RATE REDUCTION TIPS
Jim Grant, co-owner of the aptly named Henderson insurance agency Get Help With Insurance, Inc., offers a few pointers for reducing your auto premiums over time.
n BUILD CREDIT
This one might seem obvious, but Grant notes that maintaining “continuous, good credit” is an especially important factor for insuring Nevadans. Based on 2023 data, he says the average premium for an in-state policyholder who had poor credit and a clean driving record was about $3,300, while someone with a DUI conviction and “excellent” credit paid around $2,050. “You would think the person with the DUI would be paying more,” he says. “But that’s just not the way the insurance companies do it in Nevada.”
n
HIGHER LIMITS
For those who can afford it, opting for plans with higher liability limits can save money in the long-term. “People who carry high liability limits for a long period of time are going to pay a lot less over the course of a lifetime than people who have the state minimums,” Grant says.
n
SWAP SPARINGLY
It may be tempting to switch plans when your current policy expires, but much like a business that’s hiring, Grant says insurance companies value consistency. While it’s OK to browse rates, he suggests waiting a year or more between swapping. “When insurance companies do a quote, one of the questions they ask and find out through reporting is, how long have they been with their current company? The person who tends to stick around for a little longer also tends to get the better rate,” Grant says.
FINISHING PUSH
Vegas Golden Knights have “work to
do”
as NHL season resumes after Olympic break
BY CASE KEEFER
The Golden Knights broke for a two-week Olympic pause on a high, having clobbered back-to-back rivals (the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings) to reassert themselves alone back at the top of the Paci c Division standings.
Coach Bruce Cassidy cautioned the Golden Knights might “lose their rhythm,” after 20 days away, but he’s determined to remove any rust as quickly as possible. Vegas might control its destiny in the Paci c and the No. 1 playo seed that would come with a second-straight divisional crown, but they’ve got a way to go to meet the standard he set to start the season.
“Our expectation was we’d be one of the Stanley Cup favorites,” Cassidy said before departing for the Olympics in Milan, Italy, where he was on Team Canada’s coaching sta . “It’s up to people to decide for themselves whether we’re a favorite, a contender or whatever. But that’s a level we want to get back to, and we’ll have 25 games to do that.”
The Golden Knights returned to action this week at the Los Angeles Kings to start a fivegame road trip. They don’t have a game scheduled at T-Mobile Arena until March 6 hosting the Minnesota Wild.
Fifty-seven games are completed out of the 82-game schedule but it hasn’t been a smooth ride for Vegas, which sits with a 27-16-14 record. That’s
good enough to put the Golden Knights four points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers in the Paci c, but they wouldn’t even be in a playo spot if they played in the Eastern Conference.
“Our division maybe isn’t as strong as some of the others ... but there’s still good teams in it, and for whatever reason, each of us has had their ups and downs,” Cassidy said. “But I can only control what we do. We’ve been grinding.”
Cassidy admitted to thinking the Golden Knights had “turned a corner” with a seven-game winning streak in early-to-mid January but extended losing stretches came both before and after the tear. That means Vegas hasn’t yet put together an extended period as strong as the one Cassidy is calling for before the playo s.
Goaltending might be the biggest culprit for having so far fallen short. Starter Adin Hill missed most of the rst half of the year with a lower-body injury and has looked shaky at best since returning. Backup Akira Schmid has outplayed Hill in a teamhigh 29 starts but still rates well below average compared to the rest of the NHL.
Controversial free-agent signing Carter Hart struggled in his rst NHL action in nearly two years and is now hurt.
There will be fatigue elsewhere as the Golden Knights sent nine players to the Olympics—tied for the second-most in the NHL behind the back-toback Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers’ 10.
Jetlag and tired legs won’t be the only immediate hurdle; the slate of opponents is also unforgiving. In the rst nine games back from the break, the Golden Knights face only one team currently out of a playo spot (the Washington Capitals, which have a better record than Vegas) and one team with a negative goal di erential (the Detroit Red Wings at -1).
Cassidy’s focus on nishing strong to win the Paci c isn’t just coach-speak—it might be essential to the team’s cup dreams. There appear to be four other main contenders in the Western Conference this season—Edmonton, Colorado, Minnesota and Dallas.
Getting the Paci c’s top spot is the only way to ensure home-ice advantage against Edmonton, which knocked Vegas out of the postseason last year en route to winning the West for the second straight year.
Slipping all the way to No. 4 like the Golden Knights did two years ago would be particularly damaging. Vegas would then need to in all likelihood beat three teams from the aforementioned group just to get to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Golden Knights were just e cient enough to put themselves in a bene cial position going into the nal part of the season; now they must capitalize on it.
“We’ve got work to do if we want to get back to where we started the year,” Cassidy said.
Vegas Golden Knights center Kai Uchacz (77) sends the puck down ice against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on February 5. (Photo by Steve Marcus)
MARCH 19-21, 2026
CATCH EVERY GAME, EVERY SHOT. EVERY UPSET.
•Wall-to-Wall Big Screens
•G ame-Day Food & Drink Specials
•B etting Station •VIP Booths - Giveaways
RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW IN THE
JOOBILEE March 5, 6 p.m., free with RSVP. Maxan Jazz, eventbrite.com
King Hannah and performing at Swan Dive, Taverna Costera, Grey Witch and other local venues of note.
Vegas-based indie rock band
Joobilee finds its groove on first collective EP, The Weight of Quiet Things
BY AMBER SAMPSON
When indie rock band Joobilee plugs in at the Alamo Rehearsal Studios, you don’t just hear it, you feel it.
Vocalist Jordan Hayes, her shock of orange-red hair the color of an unlit matchstick, steers the melody of “Dandelion’s Basement” over languid basslines by Josh Zhuelsdorff. It’s a deceptively calm start, one that unravels at the chorus with Xavier Reed’s blistered drumming and a thunderclap of keys from Liam Mullen. Guitarist Aus-
tin Longworth joins Hayes on the mic, a levee of emotion breaking between the two as they sing at full volume.
They’re so in tune, so harmoniously aligned, it’s hard to believe it all started as a one-woman show.
“Everyone adds their own voice to Joobilee,” says Hayes, who founded it in 2022. “When I first started the project, I was taking on a much more folk route but my goal was to make it more rock. I just wasn’t able to do it on my own. Austin’s math-
rock guitar, I feel like a lot of people pick up on that.”
A guitarist since age 10, because his dad believed he was “too small to play football,” Longworth met Hayes and Reed while working at an organization that taught music to autistic children. Reed and Zhuelsdorff had performed in bands together previously, and Mullen met Hayes through her boyfriend. By 2024, Joobilee re-emerged as a full band, opening for fast-rising indie bands like
The band recorded its first collective EP, The Weight of Quiet Things, with Vegas’ Electric Shop Recording, and it already feels like an instant, indie classic. On opening track “Farewell,” Hayes’ vocals beautifully assert themselves over shimmering keys and a soundscape of light jazz. “Death of a Trapeze Artist” favors gingerly strummed chord progressions and a swooning atmosphere. Meanwhile, “F**k You,” a closer written by Zhuelsdorff, delivers a wash of shoegazey noise beyond the choruses’ explicit sendoff. And Hayes’ vocals never seem too out of place with that. She’s been an adaptable singer since childhood.
“I’ve been singing since I was six years old. … I was classically trained. Originally I started singing in opera. Then I went from opera to jazz, but I wasn’t fully invested in those things because I was so young,” she says. “I was listening to f**king bubblegum pop. Then when I was in middle school, I started getting into Radiohead, the Cranberries and all of that stuff.”
The band’s love for Radiohead, Crumb, Hers and Geese continues to shape its sonic narrative. Mullen says their new material in the works even has shades of Cocteau Twins. But when they perform at Maxan Jazz on March 5, they’ll draw from a lot of Hayes’ older stuff, the new EP and of course, their onstage chemistry.
“It’s like a transcendental moment,” Longworth says. “There’s no words necessary, and everyone can lock eyes or not and it just all falls into place.”
Includes an initial consultation with a licensed medical provider, a full physical exam, complete body composition analysis, and your first dose of medication.
New patients only, cannot be combined with other offers
2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:
3365 E. Flamingo Road, Ste 2 Las Vegas, NV 89121 4966 S Rainbow Blvd STE 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118
This reimagined main room features a next generation audiovisual experience, highlighted by the largest LED screen in any U.S. nightclub. Las Vegas’ most advanced 8K display measuring 35 feet pairs with a dynamic kinetic centerpiece, cutting edge lighting, and laser systems to seamlessly blend music and visuals into an unforgettable environment. Ideal for corporate events, networking functions, and private celebrations alike, the venue offers full-service dining, premium bottle service, and a high energy atmosphere that transforms any gathering into an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience.
VIKING
MIKE’S
1500 S. Main St., viking mikes.com
Wednesday–Sunday, 4 p.m.–12:30 a.m.
BY GEOFF CARTER
From the name, you might reasonably expect Viking Mike’s to be full-on longships and horned helmets. Yes, the “Alpine yurt bar,” recently opened in the Arts District, has hand-carved Norse totems anking its front door. Its cocktail list is a proper aquavit delivery device, with several tasty drinks based on the caraway-forward spirit. The circular “yurt” room, with its exposed wood beams, is serving Oslo. And Scandinavian-styled design touches and special e ects manifest themselves throughout. Taxidermy deer heads keep sentinel watch, the Northern Lights shimmer over the bar, and a sharp blast of arctic air hits you in the entryway, which is technically a walk-in freezer.
BY THE
“Alpine yurt bar” Viking Mike ’s brings the mountain to you
But in creating Viking Mike’s, operating partners Dan Coughlin (Le Thai) Jerad Howard (Vesta Co ee Roasters) and Michael Stoll didn’t aim for absolute verisimilitude. Yurts are from inner Asia; the closest Nordic equivalent is probably the lavvu, like the North American tipi. And Vikings never wore horned helmets; someone made that up for an opera. (Anthropologists, feel free to slide into my DMs.) There isn’t even a Viking Mike; Coughlin, Howard and Stoll named the bar for a non-Viking friend named Mike, in hopes of getting him to stay in Vegas. (He didn’t, though Howard says no less than ve other Mikes worked for the bar at opening.) Instead, they aimed squarely for a feel-
ing—a vibe unlike anything else in Vegas, roughly based on a similar yurt bar just outside of Park City.
“There’s something about a round structure that’s very communal and very di erent. It has a di erent type of social energy to it,” Howard says. “We really wanted to try to recreate that.” It does. Winter or summer, Viking Mike’s will feel like a mountain escape. The drinks—particularly the Cosmopolitan-inspired Yggdrasil ($17), with its blend of scotch, housemade krupnikas (spiced honey liqueur), Gilka Kummel herbal liqueur and cranberry juice; the Valkyrie, a “Viking gimlet” ($18) with Becherovka, vermouth, tonic, spruce, lemon and, naturally, aquavit;
Photos courtesy/Stan Lee
and the Lunch Box Nog ($14), literally a bottle of Hood River Distillers’ cinnamon and peppermint Ullr Nordic Libation upended in a box of Yoo-hoo chocolate milk—have the feel of beloved classics kissed by a glacier.
The beer list runs from an $8 Donna’s pickle beer to a $135, 750 milliliter Cantillon Ashanti, a Belgian Lambic ranked an “outstanding” 94 on BeerAdvocate. The German and Alsace wine list is deep and impressive, featuring a 2021 Egon Muller Scharzho erger Riesling ($318), a Koehler Ruprecht Chardonnay Kabinett ($36) and more borderline unpronounceable revelations. And yes, my little Loki, there’s a mead list, which begins with a 750 milliliter Dansk Mjod Odin’s Skull
($65) and only gets more Valhalla from there.
Also, don’t Odinsleep on the food. The house bratwurst ($15), served with curry ketchup and mustard, savory potato “house browns” ($9) and curated Alpine cheese plate ($16) are splendid complements to Viking Mike’s unique cocktails, decor and feel. It all comes together in a comfortable camaraderie and sense of place you’d never expect to nd in one of the hottest cities in the U.S. The spirit of the hospitality is established the second you enter through the arctic “walk in”: Take o your woolen cloak, loosen your axe and stay a while.
“The idea is to reset your expectations at the door,” Howard says, politely tipping his horns.
cocktail
Mikkel-Tai cocktail
SHAPEL LACEY
March 5, 7 p.m., $25. Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.
PUNK SPIRIT MEETS STAND-UP AS SHAPEL LACEY HITS WISEGUYS
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
All roads lead to comedy for acclaimed jokester Shapel Lacey— even if they detour through a mosh pit, a cheer mat, or the sun-bleached streets of Mesa, Arizona.
At 15, Lacey was adopted by a white family, a shift that rerouted his adolescence into skate and punk culture. He played in a band. He chased the noise. He followed a crush straight into competitive cheerleading, which landed him a full-ride scholarship to the University of Louisville.
“Hardcore is what I enjoy being a patron of ... being in the pits and all that. But the performative aspect of cheerleading is what gave me the con dence to just go onstage,” says Lacey, who will perform at Wiseguys comedy club at Town Square on March 5.
What started as a teenage infatu-
ation stretched into a 13-year commitment. He became an award-winning cheerleader, mastering the mechanics of spectacle, timing, projection and the art of commanding a crowd.
Comedy, on the other hand, started as a dare. In college, someone challenged Lacey to try stand-up. He felt the potential immediately. But it wasn’t until years later, after committing full time in 2010 and stepping away in 2013 after his brother’s death, that his calling was clari ed. Friends nudged him onto a stage back home in Arizona.
“I didn’t think I was going to get back onstage,” he recalls. “They were like, hey man, you’re going up tonight. If they had asked me if I wanted to, I would’ve said no. But there was something about saying, ‘You’re going up,’ that made me
attack it. When I got onstage that time, that was when I felt like, oh, this is my life. This is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Lacey now lives in Los Angeles, tours relentlessly and pops up on Comedy Central and at LA’s Laugh Factory. He also guest stars on podcasts like Theo Von’s King and the Sting, Bein’ Ian with Jordan and the weekly music podcast HardLore.
“I hate podcasts. I hate it. It drives me crazy because I’m sick of talking that much,” he says. “I don’t even talk that much to my friends. I don’t mind being a guest, but doing my own? I don’t like it.”
Instead, he journals.
“I’m not writing anything funny. It’s one outlet to let everything out,” he says. “Then from that, I realize what’s interesting and take it from there.”
His comedy sets strike a balance between confession and controlled detonation, spiraling through topics of anger management and adoption. Razor-sharp crowd work brings the audience into the moment.
O stage, he fronts the hardcore band Mad Peaceful, a side quest featuring comics and musicians embedded in LA’s scene. And you can count on Lacey’s tour stop at Wiseguys delivering the same energy as your favorite band.
“If someone’s buying a ticket to come see me, then I’m going to give it my all to make sure they have the best night that they can have,” he says. “Bands really beat themselves up onstage to give us the best performances that they can, especially in the hardcore world ... I guess I pull that into my stand-up.”
FULL VOLUME FUNNY
(Courtesy/Clint Jenkins)
BY BROCK RADKE
Even though it was located in a fancy casino resort in Summerlin, Hearthstone always felt like a cozy neighborhood restaurant—almost like dining at an old friend’s house.
After almost a decade serving friends and families at Red Rock Resort, it closed in 2023 to make way for something new. But now it’s back again, in the same space, and the neighborhood couldn’t wait to return.
“We knew we were going to be busy, but ... I’ve been doing this for 22 years and I’ve never really seen anything like this kind of sustained volume and interest right out of the gate,” says executive chef Jason Janson. “It’s great to have people who are excited, to have that built-in following already.”
Created and operated by Clique Hospitality, Hearthstone has been resurrected with a heavy dose of familiarity, but also splashed with new vibes and flavors—something new and something old.
The comfortable yet classy dining room has been redesigned by Celano Design Studio Co. with a mixture of homey elements: sandy walls, teal wainscoting, layers of leather, woven fabrics and mismatched chairs. That long, popular bar is back and bigger than ever, and the $1 oyster Wednesdays are coming back, too.
Janson, who has cooked in Las Vegas at acclaimed restaurants from José Andrés and Marc Vetri, says feedback has been overwhelmingly positive on the look and feel of the new Hearthstone, which just opened in late January.
“As far as food, we want to be respectful to nostalgia,” he says. “There are probably four or five things that are direct translations from [the original menu] and another half-dozen things were on that menu but we developed the recipe from scratch.”
So your favorite apple and quinoa salad ($18) and yellowfin tuna pizza ($27) with truffle aioli will be just as you remember. The bacon-wrapped dates ($15) and rustic beef-and-pork meatballs ($18) might be a bit different ... and better than ever.
But don’t get caught up in that nostalgia or you’ll miss out on pizza topped with eight-hour slowcooked beef short rib ($23) or the ultimate shareable family dinner, the Bucket of Fried Chicken ($48), which comes with buttermilk biscuits, honey butter, coleslaw and a variety of house-made sauces.
“It’s a really cool presentation and it has some scratch-made biscuits I’m very proud of,” says Janson. “That dish is something we really took the time to develop. It was a lot of work.”
Dining news
The new Drink Las Vegas festival, Five Guys at the Plaza and more
MGM Resorts is launching Drink Las Vegas this year, a beverage and spirits festival set to take place September 24-27 at Bellagio, Aria, Cosmopolitan and Park MGM. Approximately 50 different events are planned for multiple venues, bringing together chefs, mixologists, sommeliers and celebrities “to celebrate modern beverage culture through education sessions, tasting experiences, and brand showcases.” More details will be announced soon at drinklasvegas.com
Five Guys is set to open a burger joint on the casino floor at the Plaza this summer. But first, it will debut a hot dog cart outside of the Carousel Bar under the Downtown casino’s dome on Main and Fremont streets this spring.
More great food is coming to the Resort at Summerlin’s Neighborhood Food Hall in mid-March. LA street-food favorites Tacos 1986 and For The Win smashburgers are set to join the lineup.
You may have noticed
Fatburger has closed at Green Valley Ranch Resort’s food court. Do not fret: legendary LA burger stand Irv’s Burgers is set to take its place this spring, after first expanding to Las Vegas at Durango Resort and the Miracle Mile Shops. Washington, D.C.-based growing franchise &pizza is set to open its first West Coast location at the Rio this spring.
Park on Fremont has boosted its brunch offerings with Rosé All Day on Saturday and Bottomless Burgers & Bloodys on Sunday. Both feature bottomless cocktails and shareable menus available from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The Lilli pop-up residency at Durango Social Club is introducing a new walk-in experience on March 6. The Bar at Lilli, offered Friday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m., offers six seats and a limited selection of elevated light bites inspired by the nightly tasting menu, alongside curated wines and cocktails.
Also at DSC, get ready for a one-day pop-up from Milkfish Bakeshop and James Beard Award semifinalist Kimmie Mcintosh on March 2 with seatings at 5 and 7 p.m. You’ll enjoy four savory and four sweet dishes, plus Filipino-inspired cocktails for $45. Go to duran gosocial.com for reservations.
–Brock Radke
In Real Life bike ride
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2026 LATE NIGHT TRAILHEAD
Come hang out with Connor Fields, host of Outdoor Nevada, and join us on a morning mountain biking tour! A beginnner, intermediate and advanced level tour will be available.
Scan the QR code to learn more and sign up or go to: vegaspbs.org/outdoornevada
At Funky Frostwich, we blend bold flavors, vibrant colors, and handcrafted cookies to create frozen treats that guests talk about long after the party ends.
Perfect for weddings, showers, corporate events, birthdays, fundraisers, pop-ups and private parties.
Sr. Software Developer (2 openings) in Las Vegas, NV: Design, develop and maintain high-performance backend systems in cloud environments. Perform technical and functional analysis of backend systems and provide professional solutions to system and coding issues for optimal performance. Design complex database schemas (SQL & NoSQL) and implement scalable data models. Conduct code reviews for junior developers, provide technical support on code quality and design patterns. Req: Master’s degree or equiv. in Computer Science, Information Systems Technology or related. Strong skills in programming, debugging and troubleshooting software applications; proficiency in Java, JavaScript, Spring Boot, Python, SQL, AWS, Postman, Jira and In-depth knowledge of web systems, APIs and data structures. Send resume to Simple Max Tech LLC, 8860 S Maryland Pkwy, Suite 108, Las Vegas, NV 89123
