2026-05-14-Las-Vegas-Weekly

FAVORITE CREW. BETTER VIEW. SKY ON CUE.

Cowboys and counterculture. Wildlife and wilder tales. Open roads and open hearts. Nevada gives you more than places to go, it gives you stories to tell together. So grab the crew, pick a road, and see where it leads.

Go on. Get a little out there.

EDITORIAL

INTERIM PUBLISHER

MARIA BLONDEAUX

maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR

SHANNON MILLER

shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com)

Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Staff Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)

Staff Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA, HILLARY DAVIS, KATIE ANN MCCARVER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT

Office Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Las Vegas Weekly Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Marketing & Editorial Designer CHRISTINA TRIMIDAL

Contributing Graphic Designers WESLEY GATBONTON, THERESE BAUTISTA

Photo Coordinator LAUREN VINTON

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

Associate Editor of Social Media EM JURBALA

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Associate Publisher ALEX HAASE

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN

Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON, MELINA TAYLOR

Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator APRIL MARTINEZ

Event Sales Coordinator YAZMINE VALMONTE

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Multimedia Production Designer MARISSA MAHERAS

Senior Traffic Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Traffic Coordinator KIMBERLY CHANG

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP

CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN

Director of Human Resources SHANNA CHAVEZ GRAY

Chief Financial Officer STEVE GRAY

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY

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Las Vegas, NV 89193

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ON THE COVER

18 HONKY TONKIN’

New country bars like Luke Combs’ Category 10 will soon join an already lively local saloon scene.

COVER ART Photo by Wade Vandervort

14 THE WEEKLY Q&A

Fremont Street

Experience CEO Cliff Atkinson aims to keep Downtown fun and affordable.

26 NEWS

With voting maps under partisan attack across the U.S., Nevada officials stand firm.

30 SPORTS Can “Wild Bill” Karlsson help return the Knights to the Western Conference Finals?

32 MUSIC

EDC headliners from John Summit to Noizu are playing sets far outside the Speedway oval.

34 THE STRIP

Shania Twain talks about the Academy of Country Music Awards, Blake Shelton and more.

38 FOOD & DRINK

NYC import Sartiano’s Italian Steakhouse brings refined flavors and sizzle to the Wynn.

SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY MAY 14

PORTER ROBINSON

11 a.m., Tao Beach, taogroup.com.

BASSRUSH POOL PARTY

With Alison Wonderland, Level Up, more, noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

BASSCON POOL PARTY

With Clawz, AudioFreq, more, 1 p.m., Swim & Social at the Strat, eventim.us.

BASSRUSH MASSIVE

With ATLiens, Bou, Gorilla T, more, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

SANTANA

7 p.m., & 5/16-5/17, 5/20-5/21, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

WHISKEY JAM

With Avery Anna, The Band Perry, more, 8 p.m., Ole Red, olered.com.

MEMORIALS & HOLY F---

The recently relocated Swan Dive is alive and kicking with a packed calendar of indie headliners. Canadian quartet Holy F--- gets the weekend started with its fuzzed-out brand of electronic noise. But before you even think about skipping its opener, allow us to introduce you to Memorials. This buzzy U.K. duo has a trained ear for the experimental, fusing funky percussion with glossy psych-pop and choral harmonies (See: “In the Weeds”). Touring behind its latest album, All Clouds Bring Not Rain, Memorials champions a sound that’s an inventive treat to take in, once you give it a chance.

8 p.m., $25-$28, Swan Dive, etix.com.–Amber Sampson

FRIDAY MAY 15

ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL

Thru 5/17, 7 p.m., Las Vegas Motor Speedway, electric daisycarnival.com.

NO DOUBT

8:30 p.m., & 5/16, Sphere, ticketmaster.com.

BLAKE SHELTON

8 p.m., & 5/16, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

LADY A

8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.

JOSIAH SISKA 10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, tixr.com.

GOO GOO DOLLS 8:30 p.m., & 5/16, 5/20, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: HANSEL & GRETEL 7:30 p.m. (& thru 5/24, times vary), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.

ZEDD 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com.

NOIZU & BOLO Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

Courtesy/Chase Lauer

DJ SNAKE 11 a.m., Tao Beach, taogroup.com.

FISHER 11 a.m., Omnia Dayclub, taogroup.com.

WAX MOTIF 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

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

The American Country Music Awards & 95.5 The Bull present Lee Brice on opening night of the Downtown Rocks Summer Concert Series at the Fremont Street Experience. The free concert series brings chart-topping artists to the heart of Downtown Las Vegas all summer long under The Canopy™ at the iconic Fremont Street Experience. All summer, all wecome, all free. Vegasexperience.com/dtr/.

MUSIC PARTY

SPORTS FOOD COMEDY MISC ARTS

SATURDAY MAY 16

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS

Time TBD (if necessary), T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

LAS VEGAS SILVER STARS VS. KANSAS CITY GLORY

KHALID

7:30 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.

ACM BEACH BASH FT. KEITH URBAN

With Flatland Cavalry, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, more, 6 p.m., Mandalay Bay Beach, axs.com.

6 p.m., Mater Academy Football Stadium, lvsilverstars.com.

LAS VEGAS ROTARY CLUB CELEBRATE AMERICA 250 7 a.m., Springs Preserve, lasvegasrotary.com.

AREA15 BLOCK PARTY

6 p.m., Zone 2 Area15, area15.com.

PAUL ANKA

7:30 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com.

FATHER JOHN MISTY

With David Vandervelde, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

MARCUS MILLER 4 p.m., Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, clarkcountynv.gov.

FLOETRY

With Raheem DeVaughn, Teedra Moses, 8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

Courtesy/Keith Pelzer

JAREZ 8 p.m., Side Lawn at Sunset Station, ticketmaster.com.

WAITRESS

With Spring Breeding, Stolen Street Signs, 7 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com.

LIFE BY MUSIC CONCERT FT. OTHERWISE

With Bryan Hopkins, Guilty Party, 54 Degrees North, 7 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

DEFEATED SANITY

With Vulvodynia, Organectomy, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventim.us.

MADELINE GOLDSTEIN

With More Ephemerol, Three Rounds, 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm.

RÜFÜS DU SOL 11 a.m., Omnia Dayclub, taogroup.com.

CALVIN HARRIS 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

ILLENIUM 11 a.m., Tao Beach, taogroup.com.

MATHAME

With Christoph, noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

S U P E R G U I D E

SUPERGUIDE

SUNDAY MAY 17

ACADEMY OF

MONDAY MAY 18

MAHI 10 a.m., Palms Pool, palms.com.

MELROSE AVENUE With Autumn Kings, Stray View, 6:30 p.m., Bizarre Bar, dice.fm.

ROMEO SANTOS &

INOCULATION With Noxis, Hands Of Oblivion, TBS13, 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm.

THE CAROLE KING & JAMES TAYLOR

3 & 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

MARTIN GARRIX With Justin Mylo, 11 a.m., Omnia Daylub, taogroup.com.

MARSHMELLO Noon, Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

STEVE AOKI 11 a.m., Tao Beach Daylub, taogroup.com.

SOFI TUKKER 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

ALEJANDRO SANZ 8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.

SCHOOL OF NEVADA BALLET

THEATRE: FANTASY & FAIRYTALES 6:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

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

ALEX G With Agriculture, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

NIGHTOSPHERE With Theredsea, Sleep Dept, 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm.

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

DJ SNAKE 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

DAVID GUETTA 10 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

DO IT ALL

SUPERGUIDE

TUESDAY MAY 19

RITA LIM

7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

SENSA MOTION

8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventim.us

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES Thru 5/23, 7:05 p.m., Las Vegas Ballpark, axs.com.

YUNGBLUD

8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.

FRANKIE MORENO

7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

CHEERLEADER ROADKILL

With Awannabe, Sap, 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm.

WEDNESDAY MAY 20

BUCKY HEARD & JOHN WEDEMEYER

8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com

TWO FRIENDS

10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

DEVILLE

9 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com.

TECHNO TACO TUESDAY FT. FRANKIE BONES

EDC will be all wrapped up by the time Tuesday rolls around, but there’s one more EDC Week event to check out and it’s something of a landmark local dance party. Tino Gomez and Lance Le Rok launched Techno Taco Tuesdays in 2014 at Tacos & Beer on Paradise Road and established a rock-solid foundation for electronic music, techno and tech-house in the local scene, while bringing international and underground DJs—artists you wouldn’t find at the Strip nightclubs—into the Vegas mix. The 12-year anniversary bash at Discopussy stars “the godfather of American rave culture” Frankie Bones, with support sets from Le Rok, Badbeat and F3R. 10 p.m., $26, Discopussy, tixr.com. –Brock Radke

JONAS BROTHERS

8 p.m., & 5/22-5/24, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

Strip exec Cliff Atkinson on his exciting move to the Fremont Street Experience

BY BROCK RADKE

Veteran Las Vegas hospitality leader Cliff Atkinson took over as president and CEO at the iconic Fremont Street Experience in February, an interesting move for an executive who had been entrenched in luxury casino properties on or near the Strip for the better part of his 14 years in Southern Nevada. Atkinson has been president at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Fontainebleau Las Vegas and Luxor Hotel & Casino.

So how does he feel now that he’s gone Downtown to the city’s original neon drag? “Just really excited,” he says. “I was down here scooping ice cream for Ben & Jerry’s free cone day and it was incredible to actually hear from customers how much they love being Downtown and under the canopy.”

Atkinson believes FSE is going through a bit of a renaissance as tourism moves through a period where visitors are really hunting for value, and he’s got a point. The open-air promenade lined with casinos just announced its annual Downtown Rocks free summer concert series, opening May 15 with country star Lee Brice, then celebrated Cinco de Mayo with more free, live entertainment that began at noon, on a Tuesday.

We checked in with the new prez to see what else he’s working on Downtown.

You were at Virgin and Fontainebleau prior to this, properties that have been going through changes and building their profile in Las Vegas. What were the lessons learned? Absolutely. With every opportunity, I’m always learning. I’ve been doing this for over 30 years and I spent half my hospitality career with one company, Mandarin Oriental, which moved me to Vegas and taught me that Las Vegas is just different from any city where that company also operated. It’s different from anywhere on the planet. You have to think the way Las Vegas operates. What’s exciting about this opportunity is that it’s Downtown—the history of Las Vegas is here and still being created here and it is the authentic, genuine experience.

It’s also different because of the collaboration along Fremont Street, which is nothing like being on the Strip. At the end of the day, everyone’s trying to get customers into properties, that’s the mission. But Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience—which just celebrated its 30th anniversary in December—has been working together and sharing that agenda of getting people to visit while doing what individual casinos do. That is different from the Strip and neighbor competing with neighbor. Downtown is really an experience as a collective and the individual, unique resorts. I have nine casinos on my board, and all of them are uniquely different and fantastic.

What is it about the Fremont Street Experience that

keeps visitors coming back after all these years?

The thing that stands out the most is you’re never going to have the exact same experience twice. It’s a dynamic corridor you can compare to only a handful of places, Times Square, Bourbon Street, Broadway in Nashville. Fremont Street is walkable, the properties are close together, and people always like the value—not just recently,

there’s always been high value. There’s a pretty diverse range of hotels, restaurants and bars, and people like that and they like the adventure of walking Fremont.

Everyone wants to feel like they’re getting a deal, and that truly is in the DNA of Downtown, but now more than ever it’s appreciated by our customers.

So how do you move something so unique yet

familiar into the future without sacrificing those expectations of comfort?

We’re not launching something brand new. We’ve been here a long time. There’s a formula that works.

There’s a couple things I’ve found in my first 60 days on the job. People love the free entertainment and the campaign of “Always on” is meaningful. Whether you’re coming for a conven -

tion or a weekend, you’ve gotta come Downtown because there’s always something different to see and we really are always on. Free, live entertainment 365 days a year?

That’s really important. And instead of thinking about what we could change about that, I feel like, let’s do more. Get the party going earlier.

My job is to enhance what we have and add some new things along the way.

As country music surges in popularity, Las Vegas embraces its honky-tonk roots with longtime local staples and new celebrity bars

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

Sailor step, pivot, shuffle. Or was it forward rock, coaster and then pivot? The line dance instructions come fast and a little unforgiving. I turn to my right and try to mimic the gal next to me. She looks to me for the same guidance—poor choice—and we both share a laugh before scanning the floor for someone who’s clearly in step.

It doesn’t take long to spot the experienced dancer at this weeknight hoedown. She knows all the steps, but more importantly she knows when to break them. A little flair here, a twist there. But me? I stick to the basics.

This is, in every sense, my first rodeo, at least when it comes to a line-dancing lesson at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country. I post up toward the back in an effort to minimize public humiliation—a noble but doomed strategy. A few pivot turns later and I’ve drifted, like an amateur in open water, straight to the front of the class, on full display.

Not that it matters. This roomful of people stomping and sliding across the floor aren’t here to judge. They’re here for the same reasons I am: to have fun, to learn a dance, to surrender to the rhythm and to soak in the scene of one of Vegas’ most

popular country bars.

It’s still early at this beloved Town Square honky tonk, but you can feel the room buzzing with the promise of something rowdy. Cowboy-booted guys and gals saddle up to open tables. There’s talk of a bikini bull-riding contest at midnight, and DJ Manda Ryan, who also runs the dance lessons, expertly spins a setlist that draws people to their feet. In no time, cell phones disappear into the back pockets of bootcut jeans, and the dance floor fills up with two-steppers moving under a glittering disco ball while platform dancers giddy-up.

Institutions like Stoney’s serve as a reminder that our country scene is humble, yet growing stronger. In recent years, Vegas has wrangled the attention of globally recognized country stars. In 2024, the Strip saw two celebrity owned country bars open— Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, followed by Jason Aldean’s Kitchen and Bar. And by the end of this year, we’ll have another one with Luke Combs’ Category 10. As country music surges in popularity, Las Vegas is evolving into a country bar capital.

With National Finals Rodeo operating here for more than 40 years, the wildly popular annual Cowboy Christmas gift show, the Professional Bull Riders Championship, and the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards returning after a three-year stint in Texas, Las Vegas prides itself on being a destination for country-adjacent events.

But the backbone of this growing phenomenon is undoubtedly the local community that keeps country alive year-round.

When it comes to country bars, the town’s big three are Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, Gilley’s and Losers Bar. They all have their respective legends and have only grown deeper connections with regulars over the years.

“Everybody who’s a resident of Vegas has a Stoney’s story. And that hasn’t changed in all these years,” says Paul Lowden Jr., president of Porchlight Hospitality, the parent company of Stoney’s.

Stoney’s debuted in 2007 at Town Square, and has since expanded to North Las Vegas with its Stoney’s North Forty location inside Santa Fe Station. Now, it’s making a third home at Sunset Station in Henderson, slated to open later this year.

And it’s all thanks to live music. The brand found its footing and really took off when it added concerts to its programming.

“We found a special area with new artists and emerging bands,” says Lowden. “If you want to see the next Luke Combs or Morgan Wallen, you’re going to get a chance to see them at Stoney’s before they play at T-Mobile [Arena] or Allegiant [Stadium].”

don’t belong. But that’s simply not the case. Diversity in these spaces is at an all-time, welcoming high. We don’t have numbers to back that up— all it took was getting out and seeing it for ourselves.

Historically, that openness isn’t new; it’s foundational. Vaqueros were the first cowboys, and country music, long considered a working-class genre, has always drawn from artists of color. The Spanish guitar and the African banjo, for example, were essential to what the genre eventually became.

“There’s more accessibility to country than there ever has been. I think that just attracts more country appreciators and fans to Vegas,” says Lowden. “But at Stoney’s, we specialize in our locals. Most of our business comes from our neighbors here in town, so we do kind of have our own niche community.”

That evolution has created a cult of regulars who’ve happily spent their time and dimes at the boot-scooting bar, not only having fun but finding long-lasting connections.

It’s worth noting that Stoney’s Town Square has 18-and-over shows, which is hard to come by with the standard of 21-and-over events in town.

The genre has a long-standing lineage of fandom that trails back generations. It’s easy to see how getting into this scene can feel intimidating or perhaps make you feel like you

Local couple Sylvia Johnson and Bryce McEachern are a testament to this. After months of being each other’s bar crush, and with a friendly push from Johnson’s friend, the pair eventually succumbed to the meet-cute and began their romance. Three years later they’re engaged, with the bar’s longtime DJ set to play at their wedding—a full-circle moment rooted in the scene that began with them getting out on that dance floor.

“Country dancing used to be dancing for people that can’t dance,” says McEachern. “Some of the line dances used to be pretty easy—you could get a few drinks in you and get out on the dance floor. Now there are a couple where you better be sober when you learn it.”

What’s kept them coming back to Stoney’s isn’t just their love story. It’s the sense of community that this crowded honky tonk offers.

“We’ve made friends with people we’d never expect to be friends with,” Johnson says. “Like a couple that’s 30 years older than us—that’s

the community. There’s such a wide range.”

Stoney’s may be the heartbeat for locals, but the scene wasn’t built on one dance floor alone.

The original Gilley’s opened December 1998 at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino and ran until the property closed in 2007. Three years later, it found a new home at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, where it has since become a muststop for visitors looking for an Americana fix.

Losers Bar at MGM Grand offers a more intimate alternative. A favorite among traveling country folk, it pairs live music with a laidback atmosphere that keeps the night going without the scale of a mega-club.

But now the scene has

entered a new phase, with country superstars wanting in on the action. Beyond our slice of desert, country’s grip on the mainstream has only tightened in recent years. It’d be blasphemous to call it “up-and-coming,” since country has been embedded in American culture for more than a century. But today, it’s evolving into a true melting pot of sounds and influences, giving quite literally everyone something to latch onto.

Last year, Opry Entertainment Group—the developers behind Ole Red on the Strip—unveiled plans to open a second country themed establishment at the Flamingo.

Category 10, the first Vegas location of the franchise founded by Luke Combs in Nashville in November 2024, is scheduled to open on the Strip in Fall 2026.

Category 10 will launch just two years after OEG opened Ole Red, and sits less than a mile away, but it just goes to show that the demand is there—and the appetite for more country bars is only growing. (By the way, the original Ole Red is on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, a district of honky-tonk bars locals have nicknamed “Nashvegas.”)

At a March panel, Combs and Colin Reed, executive chairman of OEG’s parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties, gave a clearer sense

of what’s coming next. In front of media and fans who were in town for Combs’ hit-filled show at Allegiant Stadium, the pair detailed the three-story structure of Category 10.

Hurricane Hall takes up the first floor, with its main dining area, central stage and dance floor. The second floor, The Still, will feature a bourbon bar and outdoor patio. And The Eye, on the rooftop, will kick things up a notch with a DJ booth and sweeping views of the Strip.

If there’s anyone who under stands country bar culture, it’s Combs. Before he sold out stadiums, he actually worked in the bar industry. The “Be by You”

“We want to focus on ... ‘The country lifestyle community.’ ... Rednecks just want to come in here and drink and listen to music. That’s what we want to go down at Category 10.” - Luke Combs

star, pleasantly humble in person, shared how he not only ran the door at a tavern in Boone, North Carolina, in college, but he also lived in the apartment above it.

“Let’s just say the establishment that I was an employee of was not exactly in the same realm as this,” Combs says with a laugh. “I’m working there as a bouncer. I’m learning guitar. I hadn’t played a show yet and I remember asking my boss, ‘I would love to play music here,’ and he said, ‘Well, we have in

switch to playing at his bar.

“And ultimately, that’s what we want out of this. We want to focus on, as Colin likes to say, ‘The country lifestyle community,’ or whatever it is. Rednecks just want to come in here and drink and listen to music,” says Combs. “That’s what we want to go down at Category 10. It’s no different than that premise. It’s just on a different scale.”

The business model seems to be working. But will another artist-driven concept keep the attention of the thousands who come to Vegas every year?

“This man’s a superstar. He’s very different to the vast majority of artists,” says Reed. “The way to sustain this business is you deliver great service. You deliver great food. You deliver great booze. And the quality of music that we put on that platform is sustainably good ... the experience has to be excellent every single day and that’s what we will do.”

Continued on page 22

Even beyond the Strip, cultural momentum is taking shape. Station Casinos, attuned to shifting appetites, has moved to meet the moment, installing Stoney’s at Sunset Station and pursuing another large-scale country outpost to anchor the expansion of its newest property.

Moonshine Flats, the concept developed by Good Time Design Hospitality Group, is slated to arrive at the Durango Resort in 2027. The San Diego bar, long a fixture of the Gaslamp District, has built its reputation on its strain of exuberant, high-energy boot-scootin’ across an

expansive dance floor, paired with a steady stream of notable live acts. For Ty Hauter, the company’s owner, the move into Las Vegas represents less of a gamble and more of an inevitability.

“I think people want a certain level of production. Just opening a country bar and throwing a band on the stage, or some line dancing, that’ll only work for a while,” says Hauter. “We’re all going to bring something different, but at the same time, I think we’re going to stand out from the others because our production is so high. We live and breathe this stuff and it’s not just a nameplate.”

The ambition is sweeping. The venue, as currently

COUNTRY BARS

conceived, will span nearly 30,000 square feet, with a large performance stage, multiple bars, an outdoor patio, and enough activities to keep patrons partying well into the night. Programming will cast a deliberately wide net, balancing live music with late-night DJ sets in hopes of cultivating a devoted local following.

“What Durango gave us was the opportunity to appeal to the locals, the people that you’re going to see week in, week out,” he says. “We’re going up in size, which allows us to present bigger shows ... to take what we have and put it on a bigger platform in a town known for entertainment. I want to play with the big boys,

but I also want to have the flavor of what we’re all about.”

For visitors and residents alike, the horizon appears newly crowded with options, even as familiar standbys continue to hold their ground. There is, in this moment, a sense of expansion without abandonment.

I left Stoney’s that night with a curious mix of bravado and nostalgia, like a million-dollar bullrider in borrowed boots, already anticipating a return. Charley Crockett played on the drive home, and I admit, it felt good to play the part of an urban cowboy. It feels better, still, to recognize the deeper context that made the experience even possible.

IN THE NEWS

The controversial Enhanced Games arrive at Resorts World this week

Coming to a purpose-built venue behind Resorts World on May 24, the Enhanced Games are a daylong high-performance sports event featuring 50 athletes competing in swimming, track and weightlifting, with one key difference from other such events: Athletes are allowed, even encouraged, to use performance-enhancing substances—testosterone, anabolic steroids (such as nandrolone), peptide hormones and growth factors, hormone and metabolic modulators, and stimulants (such as Adderall). It stands in opposition to competitions like the Olympic Games, which has banned such substances.

Backed by a consortium that includes Palantir’s Peter Thiel, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al-Saud and Donald Trump

BASKING IN THE BLING Las Vegas Aces players A’ja Wilson, right, and Jackie Young are presented with their 2025 WNBA Championship rings before the team’s home opener against Phoenix at T-Mobile Arena on May 9.

(Steve Marcus/ Staff)

Jr., the Enhanced Games are positioning themselves not just as a sporting event, but as a promotional function for longevity medicine telehealth platform Enhanced Inc.; as a scientific demonstration of what these substances are capable of when their use is carefully monitored; and as a rebuke to the under-compensation of amateur athletes, says Chris Jones, Enhanced Games’ chief communications officer.

“Our athletes are paid salaries that are typically, depending on where they’re from, three to five times more than what they would get from the governing [athletic] body of their respective country,” Jones says. “They include health insurance, which many of them have never had in their lives.”

Aron

D’Souza, founder of Enhanced,

considers the games part of his mission “to build a new superhumanity.”

“Athletes are adults ... and they have a right to do with their body what they wish,” D’Souza told the Australian Associated Press in 2023. “No government, no paternalistic sports federation, should be making those decisions for athletes—particularly around products that are FDA regulated and approved.”

“What’s coming to Las Vegas I would call a bit sporting event, a bit music festival, and a bit WWE,” says Jones, noting large cash prizes for athletes who break performance records and a closing ceremony scheduled to feature The Killers. For more information on the Enhanced Games, visit enhanced.com. –Las Vegas Weekly Staff

ARTS New murals coming to Historic Westside

The long-neglected Historic Westside will have more eyes on it in the near future with the development of a new mixed-use apartment complex and the installation of four murals. Curator Chase McCurdy of ThirtyThree Gallery and Las Vegas-based artists Courtney “Yard$” Haywood and landry Randriamandroso will create the murals that go with the concept “Past — Present — Future— Forever.” The murals will be displayed on the four-story, 104-unit apartment building from Cherry Development, which McCurdy called a “marquee project” in the Historic Westside’s ongoing redevelopment. “Both artists have previously executed celebrated murals within the 89106, demonstrating their profound ability to visually translate the authentic character of the Westside,” he said in a statement. –Shannon Miller

Lineup

for AMAs at MGM Grand

After leaving California and coming to Las Vegas for the first time last year—at Fontainebleau—the American Music Awards will land at its biggest venue ever, MGM Grand Garden Arena, on May 25. And its recently announced lineup of performers is appropriately arena-sized: Katseye, Sombr, Teddy Swims, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, Twenty One Pilots and Hootie & the Blowfish are all scheduled to hit the stage, with Queen Latifah hosting. Additional performers and presenters are yet to be announced, and tickets are available at axs. com –Brock Radke

May 15 to July 15

All participants ages 0 – 17 receive a book reward, and participants ages 18+ receive a Book Buck that can be redeemed for any one item at any Library District bookstore. Participants of all ages also receive a voucher for five free boneless wings from Wingstop. Then, when you complete the challenge, you will receive a voucher for a free treat from Freed’s Bakery, one free personal pizza from Pizza Hut, and your choice of one of these cool rewards: KIDS & TEENS AGES 0 – 17

ADULTS AGES 18+

Why Nevadans should care about the Supreme Court dismantling protections for fair representation of Black voters

BY TYLER SCHNEIDER

Several Southern states are moving to redraw voting maps amid upcoming elections. The Republican-led efforts in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina were given the green light after the Supreme Court’s conservative majority dealt a ruling that significantly weakened the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Regarded as the legislative crown jewel of the civil rights era, the law prohibited voting procedures that discriminate based on race while strengthening equal representation for voters of color. The Supreme Court significantly narrowed those protections on April 29 in a 6-3 ruling that the creation of a majority-Black Louisiana congressional district in 2024 was an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.”

Since that decision, Republicans in Tennessee have reshaped a U.S. House map to their party’s advantage, helping President Donald Trump in his efforts to hold onto Republican majorities in Congress

in the November midterm elections. In Louisiana, Republican officials have suspended the state’s U.S. House primary with the intent to do the same. And as of press time, lawmakers in several other states in the South were working on redrawing— pending legal challenges—majority African American districts that have traditionally elected Democrats.

“People are concerned [that] as time goes on, that what’s happening in Louisiana could reach here eventually, and that more states start participating in that,” says Craig Knight .

The general manager of KCEP Power 88—whose thoughts and opinions in this article are his own and not that of the radio station— recalls his parents’ generation’s fight for civil rights. At 61 years old,

he says it was “not that long ago” that the Voting Rights Act passed.

“I was born in the end of 1964, so when the civil rights movement was going on. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 happened. I like to say that for my generation, our parents and grandparents had us in mind when they were doing this. And to be in our 60s and to see this happen is heartbreaking, it’s disheartening, and it’s sad,” says Knight. “I feel like something was taken away from us, that we worked so hard to obtain and to accomplish.”

In the dissenting opinion, Justice Elena Kagan said the majority had effectively “eviscerated” the Voting Rights Act.

In a statement to the Weekly , Nevada Democratic U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, called it a “direct attack on voting

rights, fair representation, and Black political power.”

“This is about power: who has it, who gets locked out, and who gets to shape the future. We’ve seen this playbook before when those in power fear the voice of the people, they change the rules,” Horsford said.

“But this should concern every American. If politicians can rig maps, gut voting protections, and roll back economic inclusion to entrench themselves, then democracy itself is on the line.”

The Supreme Court case in question, Louisiana v. Callais, resulted from a challenge to Louisiana’s creation of a second majority-Black congressional district to comply with what a federal judge said the Voting Rights Act required. In the court’s majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito argued that the Bayou State was not required to do so— even though Black residents make up one-third of its total population.

In the wake of the decision, Nevada officials and advocates are

reacting with concern and caution, warning that voting rights and representation in the Silver State are also at risk.

WILL PARTISAN REDISTRICTING HAPPEN IN NEVADA?

Nevada last updated its congressional maps in a 2021 special session of the Legislature. With a Republican governor and a Democrat-majority Legislature, it seems less likely to redraw new boundaries until at least 2031, when federal law requires it based on 2030 Census data. However, the ruling’s broader legal implications could still reach the Silver State in ways that are harder to predict.

the Supreme Court ruling, noting that the three justices President Trump appointed in his first term— Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett—cemented a conservative supermajority that has consistently ruled against voting rights protections.

Nevada Sen. Dina Neal a Demo-

As a former attorney who earned her Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center in Louisiana, what really struck her about the Supreme Court’s most recent decision was just how far Alito’s majority opinion went in its characterization of the South—as though the protections in the Voting Rights Act were no longer needed. In it, Alito wrote that “vast social change has occurred throughout the country and particularly in the South, which have made great strides in ending

putting politics and identity ahead of fair representation. Nevadans, like all Americans, deserve maps that reflect their communities and not political lines drawn to meet racial targets.”

THE PATH FORWARD

Communities of color have surmounted voting barriers in the 20th century as well as the 2020s. Take for instance in 2020, when Trump’s Postmaster General cut back on the number of mail sorting machines it used—increasing the chances of mail ballots (widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic) going uncounted.

Knight says many callers to the radio station and people in his community expressed this fear. So KCEP partnered with the county and activated a ballot drop-off drive-through to ensure the community that their votes were secure. Hundreds participated.

Now faced with the Supreme

currently dominated by a Republican majority in both chambers.

“The thought is, if we can turn out for the midterms and help with a shift in the House and Senate, then that can probably help start reversing some of the things that are in place now,” Knight says. “The feeling is that we have to get it done this midterm. Otherwise the thought and the feelings are that this could be our very last time that we will have the right to vote or freedom to vote. This might be the last time we have an election.”

Horsford is calling on his peers in Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore much of the federal oversight of state voting laws lost to Supreme Court actions. Though it’s passed the House twice, the bill remains stalled in a polarized Senate.

Shannon Miller contributed to this story.

Golden Knights turning heavily to a healthy William Karlsson to extend Stanley Cup Playoff run

BY CASE KEEFER

As William Karlsson closed in on a return to the ice for the first time in six months at the onset of the Vegas Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks, coach John Tortorella pleaded patience.

Tortorella cautioned the 33-yearold veteran could have some rust and might need a game or two at minimum to get back up to full speed. Karlsson was less concerned with an adjustment period.

“A (hat trick), six assists, something like that,” Karlsson said with a smirk when asked his expectations for his first game back since suffering an undisclosed lower-body injury on November 8.

Neither extreme has played out in the fan favorite, original Golden Knight’s first four games back, but Karlsson’s play has closer mirrored his own optimism than his coach’s pragmatism.

He failed to score a goal in the stretch but created several dangerous chances, banked two primary assists, and looked in vintage, lockdown form defensively. With the Golden Knights’ recording strong possession metrics with “Wild Bill” on the ice, he’s already re-established himself as one of the team’s best forwards.

Karlsson, who’s scored the third-most postseason goals (31) in franchise history behind captain Mark Stone and 2023 Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault, finds himself back in a familiar situation. He’ll have an outsized

impact on how far Vegas can go in the postseason after splitting the first four games with Anaheim in the best-of-seven series.

“It’s the playoffs so there’s no waiting around and easing in,” Karlsson said. “You’ve got to get into it.”

Tortorella seems to have come around on that thinking too, having nearly doubled Karlsson’s ice time in games three and four after giving him only 11 minutes in his debut. He also moved Karlsson up to the second line alongside Mitch Marner and Brett Howden midway through Game 2 and has stuck with the trio.

Karlsson had one of the prettiest assists of the postseason in a 4-3 game four loss when he stopped on a dime behind the net and back handed the puck to Howden right in front of Anaheim’s net. In game three, Karlsson drew attention to himself in a similar spot before dropping a no-look pass that Marner finished to complete a nat ural hat trick in a blowout 6-2 win.

“It’s been really easy to play with him,” Marner said of Karlsson. “He makes a lot of great plays. It seems like he’s always in a great spot defensively with his feet and his stick.”

Tortorella openly marvels at the player Karlsson has become in nine seasons with the Golden Knights. The pair were together for three seasons with the Colum bus Blue Jackets from 2014-2017.

Tortorella was among the Blue Jackets’ decision-makers that struck a deal with Vegas to take Karlsson in

the expansion draft. Karlsson scored a franchise record 43 goals in his first season in Las Vegas.

“I called Bill and said, ‘Did I screw up?,’” Tortorella reflected. “Because I’m not sure what he had for stats with us (in Columbus). We had a great conversation and he said, ‘No, everything I’m shooting is going in the net.’”

Many were skeptical Karlsson would play again this season, but he began traveling with the team for the first-round series against Utah and practicing with the affiliate Henderson Silver Knights. That got him on track to be a constant against the Ducks.

Vegas is looking to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the fifth time in franchise history, and like all the previous trips, they’ll need

Karlsson at his best to get there.

“It’s been a long journey but now I’m here,” he said. “I always had the goal in the back of my head that I wanted to return, and I always believed, so that kind of helped me along.”

The best EDC Week sets to experience outside of the Speedway

BY TYLER SCHNEIDER

No exaggeration: Electric Daisy Carnival is one of the hottest tickets in town. Las Vegas’ largest electronic dance music festival sells out months in advance, well before any artists are even announced. But with a packed EDC Week (May 13-19, edcweek.com) of shows spread across a number of iconic Las Vegas venues, there are plenty of places to get your party on if you’re skipping the fest. Here are some of our favorite sets of the week.

Armin van Buuren

Over three decades, Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren has garnered accolades and influence through both his music and the ongoing A State of Trance radio show that’s made him a godfather of the trance subgenre. This year’s Sunday set at EDC’s Kinetic Field main stage marks his fifth consecutive and 12th overall appearance in the lineup—more than all but Tiësto and Cosmic Gate—but not until after the master of euphoric anthems sets the pace at Omnia this Thursday. (May 14, 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com) Listen to: “On & On”

Hardwell b2b Maddix

Hardwell is another Dutch DJ with a longhistory at EDC, playing the festival six times between 2012 and 2018. This year’s Saturday set at Kinetic Field marks his first EDC Vegas appearance since 2018, following a hiatus that broke with the 2022 release of Rebels Never Die. His Thursday night headlining set at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center—a back-to-back billing with fellow countryman Maddix—is fittingly also part of the official EDC pre-party. (May 14, 9 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, dlvec.com) Listen to: “Call Me a Spaceman”

Bolo the DJ

After a Friday warmup, San Diego-based Latin soundsmith Bolo the DJ is also doubling up on Saturday sets—hitting both Virgin’s pool and EDC’s Stereobloom stage in the same day. Best known for blending the percussive flavors of his own Hispanic heritage with EDM subgenres like house and techno, his catalog last grew with the 2026 single “Move Like That.” Everything seems to be pointing to a breakout year for the local favorite, who’s set to share the Virgin stage with Bradeazy, Jaden Bojsen, No Thanks and Rommii. (May 16, 11 a.m., Virgin Hotels, edcweek.com) Listen to: “Vámanos De Fiesta”

Mathame

Brothers Matteo and Amedeo Giovanelli—the former a film director and the latter a trained violinist—united under the Mathame moniker in 2013 while living in near-total isolation at the foot of Mount Etna in Sicily, where they helped their family run its bed and breakfast on the slopes of the island’s active volcano. That origin yielded the moody and cinematic sonic landscapes of their 2023 debut project, Memo—a high-concept, story-driven sci-fi escapade. The next leg of their journey starts Saturday at Ayu Dayclub, ahead of an appearance at EDC’s Quantum Valley later that night. (May 16, noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com) Listen to: “Believe”

Noizu

U.K.-born, LA-based producer Jacob Plant—better known as Noizu—isn’t yet as prominent a name for casual fans as other artists on this list. But many savvy ravers in Las Vegas are already well aware of his grinding, grooving techhouse stylings, thanks to the consistent local presence he’s built as a Zouk Group resident. On Friday, he’ll pair up with Bolo the DJ to bring the house from the familiar confines of Ayu Dayclub, followed by a Saturday billing at EDC’s Stereobloom stage. (May 15, 2 p.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv. com) Listen to: “Summer 91 (Looking Back)”

John Summit

Chicago-born John Summit quit his accountant job to pursue music full time in 2019, dropping his debut single “Deep End” the following year. By 2024, Summit’s reach extended to Coachella and Madison Square Garden, with Rolling Stone crowning him “the hottest name in dance music.” After releasing his second album, Ctrl Escape, last month, the anticipation for his bass-laden, tech-house jams has never been greater. He’ll hit EDC’s Kinetic Field stage on Saturday and LIV Beach on Sunday, with the intimate setting of the latter offering a compelling argument for skipping the Speedway. (May 17, 11 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com) Listen to: “Where You Are”

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Country pop icon Shania Twain on hosting her first ACM Awards and the new artists who do impress her much

t last, Shania Twain has returned to Las Vegas—even if only for one night. The queen of country pop, who has held down three successful Strip residencies, will host the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17 for the first time. This year’s performers include Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson and many more.¶ Ahead of her big debut, Twain spoke with the Weekly about hosting, her love for Sabrina Carpenter and the possibility of a dream duet with Shelton.

You’ve had a really strong connection to Las Vegas throughout your career. How does it feel to return to host this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards?

It feels really good. I’m always happy to be in Vegas anyway, because it’s my entertainment home. There’s no better place to have the ACMs than Las Vegas. I’ll be really happy to be there representing country music, representing the artists, the performers [and] welcoming the audience who are watching from all over the place. I just feel that I’m hosting my own home in my own hometown of entertainment, if that makes sense. It’s fitting.

I love the friendship you’ve cultivated with Sabrina Carpenter. Do you ever see echoes of your early career in how she’s navigating country and pop?

Oh, she is so country. I know she’s pop but …I love Dolly [Parton] so much, and this is why I’m saying it. But I feel like Sabrina Carpenter is a reincarnation of Dolly in real time. I really mean that in the most complimentary way. She’s been working on her career for such a long time. That’s somebody that is long overdue for being at the top. And I would love to see her like, come on, bring on the country girl.

With so many up-and-coming country artists entering the scene, who’s impressing you these days?

Well, it’s hard to avoid Ella

Blake Shelton was a surprise addition to the ACM Awards lineup. I know you’re a big Blake fan. Is there any chance you’ll stop by his Ole Red bar after the show? Maybe you could get that duet you’ve

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Tailgate Beach Club arrives as a sports oasis, just in time for an action-packed season

ports fans in Las Vegas face a special dilemma around this time. With the NBA and NHL playoffs heating up, the FIFA World Cup around the corner and Wimbledon on the horizon, how does one choose between the game and the dayclub during an action-packed summer? Enter Tailgate Beach Club, a new sports-themed oasis at Mandalay Bay bringing the stadium experience to you.

After 10-plus years as the famed Daylight, Tailgate Beach Club emerges as Clique Hospitality’s newest concept geared toward sports fans looking to take their viewing habits poolside. Craig O’Keefe, chief operating officer at Clique, says the decision to retire Daylight stemmed from a desire to do something different in a scene that’s already oversaturated.

“It’s getting back to fun versus trying to compete with massive DJs on the Strip,” O’Keefe says. “I always think there’s a place for that, especially in Las Vegas, both at the dayclubs and the nightclubs. But

and chug cams. And O’Keefe says they’re working to install a Bet MGM kiosk for live sports betting.

For O’Keefe, Vegas’ evolution into a “crazy sports mecca” opens up a new lane for Tailgate, one that enables the beach club to embrace our love for the game and the contagiously social atmosphere that makes spectator sports so thrilling. The fact that it’s minutes away from Michelob Ultra Arena, home of the Las Vegas Aces, positions it as a unique afterparty zone, especially with O’Keefe noting the club stays open until the last game of the night.

BY AMBER SAMPSON

TAILGATE BEACH CLUB Mandalay Bay, 702-632-4700, tailgatebeachclub.com. ThursdaySunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

As part of Tailgate’s transformation, three massive LED screens spanning over 125 feet now offer unobstructed views with zero sunlight glare. And Tailgate’s soundsystem booms with courtside arena acoustics. Daylight’s gorgeous central pool remains but everything from stage lighting to paint colors has been redone. It now boasts a distinct resort-like feel, with shades of cerulean blue and coral freshening up a space that once hosted huge DJ acts. Make no mistake though, Tailgate will bring the party. Sports fans are fiercely devoted to their teams and even moreso to their pregame rituals.

Tailgate’s drink and food menus are built around that energy.

Elevated bar bites like the flame-grilled sliders, grilled mahi mahi tacos and cheesy quesadilla will keep you full through the final buzzer. And a lengthy list of specialty cocktails—traditional mojitos, Moscow mules, paloma twists and the like— should wet your whistle.

If that’s still not enough to get you off the couch, Tailgate celebrates its grand opening on May 16 with a performance from Snoop Dogg, with Fat Joe scheduled to perform on May 23 and popular reggaeton party Perreoland returning on May 24. Take a dip. Watch a game. You’re already home.

Sartiano’s brings Manhattan steakhouse confidence and refined Italian indulgence to Wynn

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

ailing from New York City, Sartiano’s Italian Steakhouse makes itself right at home within the lavish Wynn Resort. As one of the most anticipated openings of 2026, it’s already raising the bar for fine dining, inviting serious food lovers and celebrities to indulge in a hearty yet elevated menu.

The brainchild of legendary chef and three-time James Beard Award winner Alfred Portale, Sartiano’s exudes luxury and refinement from the moment guests arrive. It carries all the familiar signals of downtown Manhattan power dining—glossy wood, low lighting and the property’s 18-hole golf course serving as a stunning backdrop through the windows.

There are dishes on this

menu that force the entire table into silence for a moment, and the fluke crudo ($32) is one of them. If there’s crudo on a menu, it’s getting ordered—no debate. Sartiano’s version features delicate slices of summer flounder curled into ribbons and dressed in a sharp lime vinaigrette. Jalapeño, radish, and thin crescents of cucumber cut through the richness with just enough heat and crunch to keep the dish vibrant. It disappears fast.

Further down the menu, the burrata di Puglia ($27) and meatballs ($28) deserve your attention. The burrata arrives impossibly soft and rich without becoming heavy. The meatballs are deeply savory, a bite that reminds you why Italian-American cuisine

SARTIANO’S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

Wynn, 702 770-3463, wynnlasvegas.com

Wednesday & Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5-10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 5-10 p.m.

became immortal in the first place.

Then there’s the beef program, which feels engineered to impress even the most jaded steakhouse regular. Cuts are sourced from respected family ranches across the country, including a hulking 40-ounce dry-aged Bistecca Fiorentina ($235) from Washington’s Double R Ranch, carved tableside with enough ceremony to make nearby diners stop and stare.

The American Wagyu selections push things even further. There’s a buttery filet mignon from Akaushi Reserve in Texas ($94) and a deeply marbled New York strip from Snake River Farms Gold in Idaho ($145).

Additional secondi, like the heritage chicken ($49), are not to be overlooked. Roasted to golden perfection and served with a deeply nutty marsala mushroom jus, the dish stays true to its humble roots. The contorni, or side dishes, complete the experience. The potato purée is buttery decadence, while grilled asparagus provides the punchy green balance the meal needs.

You’d also be remiss to skip dessert. Stick with the classics and order the tiramisu, or end the night on a sweeter note with the butterscotch budino—a layered, velvety pudding topped with whipped cream and crunchy candied pecans.

When the occasion calls for an exemplary dining experience, Sartiano’s knows what you need and serves it to you on a silver platter before you can even think of it.

PREMIER CROSSWORD “SPICE

UP YOUR SOLVING” BY

FRANK LONGO

BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Naturalist John Muir once climbed a 100-foot Douglas fir during a storm to experience the gale’s exhilaration and sensory richness. I’m not counseling you to take foolish risks, Aries, but I would love for you to explore what truths become available when you put yourself in the path of intensity.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Soil biologists say a teaspoon of earth contains billions of organisms working in cooperative networks. Your immediate future has this quality. Beneath the surface, beneficial processes are generating fertility and possibility. Your role is simply to have faith as you maintain the conditions that allow this mysterious abundance to do its work.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I suspect you would benefit from engaging with a friendly devil’s advocate or two in the coming weeks. Engage with affectionate skeptics who respect you but want to help you grow. If you can’t find one, argue with yourself. Entertaining contrary thoughts will yield unpredictably huge benefits. Don’t let your habitual self get away with its usual rationalizations.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The North Star serves as a fixed marker for navigation. What serves as your symbolic North Star, Cancerian? What’s the steady, orienting force that helps you decide where and how to move next? Now is an auspicious moment to tend to and revitalize your bond with this central source of direction.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Since the 1950s, researchers have grown high-quality synthetic diamonds from small seed crystals. Let this be your metaphor. In the coming weeks, the forces of destiny will align if you nurture the parts of your life hat are most like a diamond. Facilitate the development of your valuable beauty.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Scientist Stuart Kauffman theorizes that living systems are healthiest when they operate near the “edge of chaos.” There’s a critical zone between rigid order and unstructured randomness where complexity and adaptability can flourish. Your task is to cultivate this territory. Create sweet spots where structure and spontaneity synergize, then abide there for a while.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Choose two small and specific ways you’re going to stop pretending. One example might be how you respond when someone asks how you’re doing. Another may be an opinion you’ve been softening to keep the peace. Or maybe there’s a desire you’ve been downplaying because it feels impractical or too revealing. Call this “incremental precision liberation.” Do it casually, without melodrama.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Primatologist Frans de Waal noted that chimpanzees rebuild trust through grooming and kind gestures after discord. Borrow their primate wisdom. Navigate through conflict, then instigate generous acts of rebonding. Don’t sulk, be evasive or go silent. Be creative as you work to replenish what was damaged.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The wandering albatross travels vast distances by surfing air currents rather than flapping. I suspect you’ve been working too hard. Less strenuous exertion, more gliding, please. Figure out where life’s tides are already moving, then position yourself to get carried along.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Tuvan throat singers can produce multiple tones simultaneously, harmonizing with themselves. Most of us never discover this because we never try. What other multidimensional capacities are you neglecting because you haven’t tested your limits? Experiment now to discover aptitudes you assumed were beyond you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Mercator map enables straight-line navigation but famously distorts the size of landmasses. Every map privileges certain truths while warping others. Examine your own mental maps, Aquarius. Consider if you would benefit from redrawing your visualizations of the world.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Perfectionism rarely improves performance; it typically triggers paralysis. Rebel against this trend. Cultivate a relaxed devotion to being “good enough” while enjoying yourself. Move away from

Look Better. Feel Younger. Heal Faster.

JOB LISTING

EID NEVADA CRITICAL CARE, PLLC DBA

United Critical Care seeks NeuroIntensivist (Hospital-Based) in Las Vegas, NV. May involve various unanticipated locations within the same metropolitan area. Responsible for diagnosing and treating Adult Critically ill patients. Req: Medical Degree (or foreign equiv); NV Med Lic or Eligible for NV Med Lic; Completion of Internal Medicine Residency & advanced fellowship training in Neuro Critical Care.

To apply send resume to smurdock@unitedcriticalcare.com reference code 007

JOB LISTING

FINANCIAL COMPLIANCE MANAGER (Las Vegas, NV)

Dvlp & maintain internal control systms to safeguard co. assets, ensure compliance w/ GAAP acctg stds, & support operational efficiency. Enhance the co’s fin’l planning, analysis, & reporting processes, ensuring timely & accurate delivery of mgmt information. Lead & perform internal audits reviews to assess the effectiveness of fin’l & operational controls that complies w/ SOX 404 & GAAP compliance. Analyze bus. performance metrics, identify key fin’l drivers, & provide insights & recommendations to senior mgmt.

Send resume to: Richtech Robotics Inc., 2975 Lincoln Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89115

“HARMONIC ASCENSION” BY

CLIFF GARTEN | CAROLYN G. GOODMAN PLAZA

| MAY 7, 2026 The campus of the City of Las Vegas’ new Civic Center—a hive of government offices located adjacent to City Hall and the Municipal Courthouse, all of which frame a large public space, the Carolyn G. Goodman Plaza—is rapidly becoming an open-air gallery of sorts. Joining works by Sebastien Courty, Gig Depio, Fawn Douglas, Krystal Ramirez and Valentin Yordanov, Cliff Garten’s soaring, translucent metal sculpture “Harmonic Ascension” is intended to be evocative of “the rhythm and energy of Las Vegas, while offering a moment of pause and contemplation in the new civic heart of the city,” said Garten. “The sculpture draws from familiar cultural forms of music and entertainment and transforms them into something open to interpretation.” It now awaits your own interpretation of its ascending lines. –Geoff Carter

JUNE 11 - JULY 19

Discover the World’s Largest Soccer Tournament at Las Vegas’ Premier Viewing Destination. Whether you are taking in the electric poolside atmosphere at Stadium Swim or experiencing the unmatched energy of the World’s Largest Sportsbook, every match plays center‑screen with full‑game audio.