2026-06-18-Las-Vegas-Weekly

ENTERTAINMENT

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)

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Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

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ADVERTISING & MARKETING

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PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

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LAS VEGAS WEEKLY

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26 SUMMER UNLOCKED

Is there a more poetic summer escape than an afternoon of ice skating?

30 NEWS

Morris (AP Photo/ Amy Harris/Invision) Want More?

Preview a packed summer concert season, from Kali Uchis to Usher to Interpol.

Federal staffing cuts could leave Nevada firefighters with less support during a drought-stricken season.

32 SPORTS Rookie Treydan Stukes could make a big impact for the Raiders this season.

34 DAYLIFE

Battle of the pool clubs: The M Resort’s DayDream vs. Rouge Room’s La Plage.

36 SCENE

Learn how to enjoy cigars the right way at Resorts World’s Eight Lounge.

38 FOOD & DRINK Sushi chef Jae Doan’s first restaurant shows her calm resolve and high ambition.

Henderson’s Juneteenth Festival, the Aces take on Liberty at home, Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen lands at the Smith Center and more to do this week. and more to do this week.

SCAN TO BUY TICKETS

PRESENTED BY

SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY JUNE 18

FRIDAY JUNE 19

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. ROUND ROCK EXPRESS

Thru 6/20, 7:05 p.m. (& 6/21, 12:05 p.m.), Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com.

FALLOUT FRINGE FESTIVAL

Thru 6/25, times & venues vary, falloutfringe.org.

BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON

Thru 7/12, times & days vary, majestic repertory.com.

STEVE FALCON’S COMEDY HYPNOSIS HOUR

9:30 p.m., Underground Theater at MGM Grand, mgmgrand.com.

FILM: GRIT

11 a.m., Las Vegas City Hall, lvmfi.org.

OFF THE WALL COMEDY

With Ronn Vigh, Mary Upchurch, Liz Stone, 7:30 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com.

OUR LADY PEACE With The Verve Pipe, 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

SQUID PISSER

7:30 p.m., Dive Bar, shazam.com.

SECRET GARDENS With Space Weather, Post NC, 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm.

REAPER

10 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com.

JANELLE JAMES

9 p.m., MGM Grand Theater, mgmgrand.com.

BRAD GARRETT Thru 6/22, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com.

KENNY CHESNEY

8 p.m., & 6/20, 6/24, Sphere, ticketmaster.com.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

8 p.m., & 6/20,

MICHELLE JOHNSON

7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.

JOE PETERS

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

MARTINI MASTERS

8 p.m., Caspian’s Rock & Roe, caspianslv.com.

KEHLANI

10:30 p.m.,

JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL

The City of Henderson’s Juneteenth Festival, presented in partnership with the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation of Nevada, starts at 6 p.m. at Water Street Plaza Friday night, a celebration of music, culture and community spirit featuring performances by Syndee Winters (The Lion King), spoken word artist Johnny Lee Chapman III, and a capella group Street Corner Renaissance. But there’s more: Juneteenth in the Present: An Art Exhibition has already been on display at Henderson City Hall, an exploration of “the meaning of freedom and the ongoing journey toward equality through a powerful collection of visual artworks.” It will be there though July 20, and on Saturday, June 21, a community reception for the exhibit will include an appearance by award-winning singer, songwriter and poet Dr. Brittany Soul Sharp. Free, cityofhenderson. com. –Brock Radke

JORDAN DAVIS

8 p.m., Sunset Station Amphitheater, ticket master.com.

SATURDAY JUNE 20

MEGA BLOCK PARTY

With Tritonal, more, 6 p.m., Area15, area15.com.

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS

VS. ORANGE COUNTY SC 7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc. com.

REBEL SOULJAHZ

With Sons of Zion, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

PABLO CRUISE & PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE

7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

BUCKETHEAD 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.

CHRISTOPHER

WILLIAMS

4 & 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

SUGAR RAY 7:30 p.m., Sahara Pool, ticketmaster.com.

ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD

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

THE BUILDERS AND THE BUTCHERS

With Little Foot, Yes Ma’am, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, dice.fm.

ANDRES With Resilia, Lilac Kings, Same Sun Here, 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm.

BOP TO THE TOP 8 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

COCO MONTRESE

10 p.m., Gatsby’s Cocktail Lounge, gatsbysvegas.com.

MURRAY SAWCHUCK

7 p.m., & 6/21, South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

BOLERO THE SHOW 7:30 p.m., Plaza Showroom, plazahotelcasino. com.

THE CHAINSMOKERS

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

ALESSO

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

MARTIN GARRIX

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

TIËSTO 11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com.

SNAKEHIPS

2 p.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

HUGEL

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

GORGON CITY 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

BANG OUT 11:55 p.m., Atomic Saloon, spiegelworld.com.

SPICE, SMOKE & SPIRITS

Barbecue is the ideal bourbon pairing—or is it the other way around?— and you can see how they complement each other at Las Vegas Distillery’s Spice, Smoke & Spirits class with chef Jared Brinkman. Learn how to create a custom barbecue spice blend, chow down on a three-course lunch catered by Henderson’s SMKD BBQ and top off your tastebuds with a curated spirit tasting featuring the distillery’s limited-edition bourbon. Two cocktails are included with the ticket. Take your time, enjoy an ambient tasting room and savor the flavors. Noon, $90, Las Vegas Distillery, lasvegasdistillery. com. –Shannon Miller

SUPERGUIDE

SUNDAY JUNE 21

DECEITS & PAST SELF

MONDAY JUNE 22

Los Angeles post-punk duo Deceits arrive at Grey Witch with a romantic strain of melancholy shaped through nostalgic yet luminous melodies, shadowed atmosphere and dance-minded instinct. Following the release of If There’s No Heaven… in 2023, the band has continued to expand its catalog with a steady run of singles, refining a sound that channels longing, movement, and late-night euphoria in equal measure. Joining them are local K-goth outliers Past Self, whose darkwave blends shimmering synth textures with bilingual lyricism and a distinctly resistant spirit. Together, the pairing promises a night steeped in nocturnal mood, drawing Henderson’s goth faithful toward the dancefloor. 7 p.m., $25+, Grey Witch, dice.fm. –Gabriela Rodriguez

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES

1 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.

DJ GOODVYBE & HALAU/HAKA

11 a.m., Palms Pool, palms.com.

FATHER’S DAY WITH THE LVA JAZZ TRIO

11:30 a.m., Vic’s, vicslasvegas.com.

THE SYN-PHONICS

7 p.m., the Underground, themobmuseum.org.

FATHERS & SONS YACHT ROCK BRUNCH PARTY

9 a.m., Hard Rock Cafe, cafe.hardrock.com.

CEDRIC GERVAIS

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

KROMI

11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com.

DJ J-NICE

9 p.m., Kassi Beach House, kassibeach.com.

11 a.m., Liquid Pool Lounge, taogroup.com.

EXHIBIT: AFRICAN AMERICAN COTILLIONS

Thru 8/4, daily 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Clark County Museum, clarkcountynv.gov.

EXHIBIT: AROUND THE TABLE

Thru 8/26, Mon.-Fri. 1-5 p.m., Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, nevadahumanities.org.

PROBLEMS

With Llover, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com.

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

GEOFF KEITH

With Kevin Shea, thru 6/28, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com.

DJ LUCKY LOU 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com.

JUSTIN CREDIBLE 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com. DO IT ALL

SUPERGUIDE

TUESDAY JUNE 23

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. NEW YORK LIBERTY

7 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.

SERPENTINE FIRE

7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

DONNY EDWARDS Thru 6/25, 7 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

CJ SCALA 9 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

ALICIA KEYS’ HELL’S KITCHEN Thru 6/28, 7:30 p.m. (& 6/27-6/28, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 24

MOONSHINERS With 241Z, 6 p.m., Downtown Summerlin, summerlin.com.

MIMI AND THE RIVERIA’S 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.

CARLOS MENCIA 9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s

AMIRI PAUL 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com.

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

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

Courtesy/Marc J Franklin

HONEY DIJON

Fusing runway with roof-raising dance music is no easy feat. House legend Honey Dijon makes it look like light work, spinning disco-infused beats that could soundtrack a drag ball as seamlessly as New York Fashion Week. June 25, the Portal, area15.com.

-Amber Sampson

ASAP ROCKY

Following his first album in eight years, Pretty Flacko embarks on his world tour with all the charismatic spectacle we’ve come to expect from the Harlem rapper-fashionista. We still haven’t met anotha mf-er fresh like him. June 26, MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.

–Tyler Schneider

Your curated guide to the hottest shows of the season you can’t miss

BY LAS VEGAS WEEKLY STAFF

SUMMER WALKER

The “Girls Need Love” singer hits T-Mobile Arena amid an 18city trek celebrating her Over It trilogy. Armed with confessional R&B, the poetic powerhouse brings her stories of love and heartbreak to the stage. June 26, T-Mobile Arena, ticketmaster.com.

-Gabriela Rodriguez

KEYSHIA COLE

Few artists turn heartbreak into anthems quite like Keyshia Cole. The Grammy-nominated R&B songstress brings her signature rasp and emotional candor to Encore Theater, revisiting the love, loss and hard-earned wisdom that define her catalog. June 26-27, Encore Theater, ticket master.com. -GR

CONNOR PRICE & NIC D

Connor Price and Nic D each brought their own strengths to a partnership that’s yielded a viral fandom. This recipe, paired with the novelty of playing at Durango’s poolside stage, will undoubtedly bring good vibes. June 28, Bel-Aire Backyard, axs.com. –TS

ROSALÍA

Even before pop visionary Rosalía dropped her latest album, Lux, the world was already keen to her superstardom and her instinct for bending the possibilities of songwriting. Born on the outskirts of Barcelona and classically trained in flamenco, she finds her flame in everything she touches. On Lux, sounds drift between opera, sweeping orchestral arrangements, electronica and avantpop. It’s a breathtaking work of art that reveals where her undying creative heart lies. Witness the visual splendor of this ambitious project brought to life on stage. June 27, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. -GR

NATION OF LANGUAGE

The three-piece NYC-based band that Stereogum calls “an ultra-consistent force” and Pitchfork calls “lean and understated” comes to the resurrected Swan Dive, a perfect room for Nation of Language’s chilly yet soulful synth-pop. Swan Dive 2.0 boasts an outstanding sound system and a spinning disco ball, plus it shares a space with Ugly Duckling Karaoke Lounge. What more could you want from a perfect 1980s throwback evening? “Inept Apollo,” “Sole Obsession” and “On Division St” will absolutely kill in this great-sounding room. July 10, Swan Dive, etix.com. -Geoff Carter

TURNOVER

More than a decade after Peripheral Vision sent listeners drifting down a hazy rock spiral, Turnover returns with their sixth studio album, deepening the introspective songwriting that transformed them from former punks into indie rock cult favorites. July 1, the Portal, area15.com. –GR

DON TOLIVER

Don Toliver hit a new milestone with the January release of his fifth studio album, Octane After topping the charts for the first time, the smooth Houston trapper pulls up with plenty left in the tank. July 3, MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com. –TS

NATE SMITH

If you haven’t yet explored the Resorts World Live music lineup—new to the resort this year—here’s an excellent opportunity. Rising singer/songwriter Nate Smith brings his Long Live Country Rock and Roll tour to a cool venue to celebrate Independence Day. July 4, Zouk Nightclub, rwlasvegas. com. –Brock Radke

MARY J. BLIGE

Decades after Mary J. Blige dropped What’s the 411?, we’re still reciting “Real Love” and recalling how her cathartic catalog got us through tough times. Experience it all over again during this rare residency run. Select dates through October, Dolby Live, ticket master.com. –AS

A BOOGIE

WIT

DA HOODIE

From Soundcloud to chart-topping workhorse, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has made a career of bringing the energy. Don’t miss a unique chance to catch the melodic Bronx rapper’s Better Off Alone tour in an intimate setting. July 11, Theater at Virgin, axs.com. –TS

MAREN MORRIS

The genre-blurring Grammy winner follows up her acclaimed Dreamsicle tour with the Dreamgirl summer run, including a stop at Cosmo. Since this year marks the 10th anniversary of her debut album, Hero, expect a powerhouse mix of songs from across her catalog. July 15, the Chelsea, ticket master.com. –BR

ED SHEERAN

The English hitmaker recently parted with the record company he’s been signed to for 15 years. As he tours his eighth studio album, catch the end of an era that saw Sheeran’s rise to global stardom and the release of “Thinking Out Loud.” July 18, Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. -Shannon Miller

OLIVIA DEAN

The British singer-songwriter navigates her second album, The Art of Loving, with the sonic sophistication of a woman well beyond her 27 years. It’s a masterclass in neo-soul, lovely and warm on deeper cuts like “A Couple Minutes,” with the occasional plunge of pop on favorites like “Man I Need.” Well-versed in romance, Dean’s music yearns openly. It’s confident even when she sounds her most broken. And every diaristic detail, every flirtatious quip feels like a shared piece of lore we’re lucky she let us in on. You won’t regret bearing witness to this brightly burning star. July 18, MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com. -AS

ELLA MAI

The R&B singer-songwriter tours her “most vulnerable project” to date, Do You Still Love Me?, with special guests Ama and Girlfriend. Embodying a domestic goddess in “Little Things” and invoking Destiny’s Child in “Tell Her,” the Grammy-winning artist offers a peek at yet another side of herself. July 24, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com. -SM

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS

The All-American Rejects made an unexpected splash by performing in bowling alleys, barns and small college venues last year. Now that the dirty little secret is out—along with their latest album, Sandbox—it’s time to relieve your 2005 fever dream all over again. July 25, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com. –TS

KALI UCHIS & MARIAH THE SCIENTIST

No matter their distinct cultural roots, beloved singers Kali Uchis and Mariah the Scientist meet in a shared language of modern R&B and lush emotional unveiling. Their For The Girls tour frames that overlap as both alliance and contrast, a dialogue between sultry haze and clarity. Fresh off a 2026 BET Awards Best Collaboration nomination for “Is It a Crime,” they extend that chemistry into a live setting where intimacy becomes scale and vulnerability reads as spectacle. August 8, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. –GR

AC/DC

Learn the truth for yourself: “Highway to Hell,” “Thunderstruck,” “You Shook Me All Night Long” and many other karaoke classics all came from the same unhinged Australian band. The Pretty Reckless complete a solid metal bill. August 1, Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. –GC

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

The perpetual indie darlings return to the Theater at Virgin in support of brand-new album I Built You A Tower, though the crowd-pleasing Ben Gibbard and company are sure to decorate their set with gems from Plans, Narrow Stairs, Kintsugi and more. August 6, Theater at Virgin, virginhotelslv.com. –GC

KAROL G

Following the triumph of Mañana Será Bonito, Karol G enters her next chapter with Tropicoqueta and the confidence of a generational star. Her Las Vegas stop offers a chance to witness an artist navigating the space between mass-cultural phenomenon and personal storyteller. August 7, Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. –GR

MORRISSEY

What’s to say about Moz that 14 solo albums, a debatable number of Smiths albums (do we count the non-album singles compilations?) and seemingly countless hits collections can’t? The man’s his own radio station. Expect to hear at least five songs you like. August 14-15, 18-19, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. –GC

ROGER DALTREY

Sir Roger Daltrey seems sweet on Las Vegas, considering it’s the only city where he’s playing multiple nights on his U.S. solo tour. Don’t miss the chance to catch one of rock’s most enduring voices perform hits from his catalogue as well as the Who’s classics.

August 26, 28-29, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. -SM

CHRIS BROWN

The “R&B” in this tour’s title stands for Raymond and Brown, the last names of two of the genre’s definitive stars of the past 25 years. Usher has established himself as a proven Vegas commodity after two successful Strip residencies, and while casual fans might dismiss Brown’s popularity, his Breezy Bowl world tour from last year was reportedly the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo Black American male artist. And they’ve already collaborated on tracks like “Party” and “New Flame,” so there’s ample opportunity to join together onstage and satisfy both fan bases over Labor Day weekend. September 5-6 & 18, Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. –BR

Get ready for one of the biggest Mexican Independence

thing—when León becomes the first Latin artist to headline Sphere, closing

with seven shows sure to be among the year’s highest

the game forward. Something tells us his first solo tour in five years is going to work out for him—and us. September 6, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. –TS

MANÁ

dodged the smoke,

continues to push

Generations of Latinos know every word of Maná’s “Oye Mi Amor,” even if the exact moment of discovery has faded into memory. And as the first Spanish language group ever nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they’ll relive their cherished catalog once again. September 11, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. –GR

INTERPOL

With Julie. August 16, 8 p.m., $75+. Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

Interpol ’s Daniel Kessler reflects on a new album and nearly three decades of the band’s evolution

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

Courtesy/Eliot Lee Hazel

Any notable era of rock music history is time-stamped not by a block of years but by certain bands. Interpol is of that caliber. Emerging from New York City at the turn of the millennium, the band helped ignite and carry the torch for one of the most significant post-punk and indie-rock revivals in modern music.

Its sophomore album, Antics, has the power to instantly transport you to a smoky dive bar in some NYC borough, American Spirit in one hand and millennial optimism in the other. From frontman Paul Banks’ illustrious baritone to the band’s icy musical precision and tailored aesthetic, Interpol cultivated a sound and image that felt effortlessly cool. More than two decades later, it still is.

Ahead of the band’s stop at the Theater at Virgin on August 16, the Weekly spoke with founding guitarist Daniel Kessler about Interpol’s upcoming album, creative longevity and what it means to watch a new generation make these songs their own.

What can you tell us about your new album, The Mirror Weighs a Ton? How does it compare to Interpol’s older records?

One, it’s finished so that’s good, but I feel like it’s a step forward. [It] certainly feels like the next chapter ... a lot of sounds and aesthetics and atmospherics that have maybe never been a part of an Interpol record, or it’s been a long time since we’ve incorporated those kinds of sounds. Then there’s a few things that are familiar, certain kinds of upbeat songs as far as feeling like Interpol.

I’ve always liked how the band balances an atmosphere of sound and melody in this distinct way. Where do you guys pull inspiration from when you’re writing?

When I’m personally writing on songs and things like this, I’m not thinking about other music. I’m not thinking about what’s existed before, or conceptually too much. When you put us all in the room, working on these songs, it’s sort of off to the races, where we’re just thinking about where we want to take them, and performing more than actually discussing them. It feels vital to us and important to us and urgent to us and intense, because we really care about what we’re doing. There’s so much chemistry when we’re writing ... I don’t say it’s effortless, but the creativity and chemistry is effortless.

We worked with a good friend of ours, Andrew Wyatt, who’s a great musician, great producer, and working with him, he’s like a very different force to have in the room. But he felt like a big part of the record.

After nearly three decades as a band, how have you seen Interpol’s audience evolve?

Man, it’s just so crazy to say almost three decades. The mindset is the same sort of mindset we had when we were first starting out. It’s never felt like work, and it’s never felt like something that we have to do as much as we get to do. Artistically, I think it’s really important to feel like the thing you’re currently working on is the best you’ve ever done. Otherwise, what’s the point?

It’s really bananas to look out in audiences and see people who weren’t even born when Turn On the Bright Lights came out. It’s an incredible privilege to still be do-

ing this and to be playing shows and seeing people who probably maybe liked us on the first or second record and then they have kids, and now the kids are into us. It’s a rare place to be, and like I said, a privileged one.

To many, Interpol is considered a foundational band. What’s that like for you?

It’s nice to be thought of as a foundational band. It’s hard for me to say such, but it is nice when someone who’s you know, maybe 20 years old or a teenager and is clearly touched by our band or into our band. It’s stuff that we created so long ago, that’s somehow resonating with them, it’s really a difficult thing to do.

It’s also really incredible that all these bands that were talked about from New York in the early 2000s, their music still sounds amazing, and they’re still really talked about in the same terms. Who would’ve thought back then that it would be this 25 years later.

How do you keep this experience creatively fulfilling after all this time?

It’s not lost to me that this could just stop. ... I love writing songs as I did when I was a teenager and it hasn’t stopped, the well’s never really been dry there.

We’re only doing this because we want to be doing this. It’s a need, and that’s something we do have in common; it’s a deep need to do. And it’s a great feeling when you do come up with something new and then it gets illustrated in a way that’s so joyous to you and you’re so happy with the result, well, it’s almost like a drug and you want more of that.

Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.

Money’s tight right now. Gas is so expensive that we usually coast from Town Center to Rainbow. And that’s why these free concerts—most of them outdoors—are such a vital civic good: They can fill in the parts of your summer lost to shrinkflation. The Downtown Rocks series at the Fremont Street Experience brings shows by Finger Eleven (June 27), George Birge (July 4), Sleeping With Sirens (July 11), Mayday Parade (August 8) and Story of the Year (August 22).

The Sunset Jazz Series at Sunset Station welcomes Adrian Crutchfield (June 20), Patrick Lamb (July 18) and Nicholas Cole (August 15) to the resort property’s side lawn. Fergusons Downtown presents its usual curated lineup of singer-songwriters: Richard Mann (June 20), Sarah Somebody (June 21), Greyson Bos (June 27) and Ella Preslyn (June 28). The lawn at Downtown Summerlin offers upbeat sounds to cap off a shopping day: Moonshiners and 241Z (June 24), Lyte Bryte and Rustyn Vaughn (July 1), Envy and Andrew Diessner (July 8), Louder Than Luck and Justin Centeno (July 15), and Jeremy Cornwell and Ilan Dvir-Djerassi (July 22). And the ever-dependable Las Vegas-Clark County Library District mixes it up with indoor shows by Medusa (July 25, Clark County Library), Juadines (July 31, Windmill Library) and Mike Oregano (August 9, Windmill Library). That’ll help us coast through the summer.

– Geoff Carter

BY GENEVIE DURANO

Step inside City National Arena on a summer afternoon when it’s 110 outside and the Strip is a shimmering mirage in the distance, and the first thing you feel is the cold. Not air-conditioning cold—we’ve all got that. This is the kind that makes you pull your fleece a little tighter and reminds you that summer, brutal as it is, isn’t inescapable. It’s just inescapable out there.

If you’ve got ice fever, City National Arena is the place to channel it. I recently took the adult Learn to Skate program at the Vegas Golden Knights Skating Academy, a seven-week course that uses the Learn to Skate USA curriculum and covers the

fundamentals. No experience necessary, just a willingness to wobble a bit until you find your feet over your skates.

My skating history is modest. Back when I lived in New York, I’d loop around the parks in winter—nothing serious, just enough to say I could do it. When I moved to Las Vegas, I took up hiking and forgot all about those skates in the garage. Then came the Winter Olympics, and I remembered I still had them. Donate or dust them off? That’s when I found out about the Learn to Skate program and figured: with summer coming, why not learn a new skill that’ll get me out of the heat?

Carolyn Mortenson, senior director of skating programs for the Vegas Golden Knights

Skating Academy, has watched the appetite for skating in Las Vegas grow into something she couldn’t have predicted when she joined the program in March 2021. Our hometown heroes deserve a lot of the credit.

“When the Golden Knights became a franchise, if you weren’t a hockey fan, you became one,”

Mortenson says. That fandom found its way to the rinks—not just the kids, but adults who had never considered lacing up before.

Mortenson recommends figure skates for beginners over hockey skates. The balance comes more naturally, and the blade sits differently underfoot. As for falling? “You’re gonna fall,” she says, “and you’ll get right back up.”

The very first thing I learned in class was

exactly that: how to fall and get back up safely. From there it was marching across the ice, then gliding, then swizzles, then something that almost resembled skating backwards.

What surprised me most was how completely the ice takes over your attention.

I’m a hiker—Red Rock is practically my backyard, and I can scramble up those rocks with muscle memory to spare. The ice is a different world entirely. Every brain cell is occupied: march, glide, bend your knees, arms out, don’t look down. Each lesson runs just 30 minutes, but the concentration makes it feel twice as long and twice as good.

“We always need to exercise our brain,” Mortenson says. “We need to go out and learn new skills as we’re getting older, so we keep it working.”

She compares it to learning a dance routine count by count. It’s the same satisfaction when a thing finally clicks into place. And the benefits carry: Balance built on a blade shows up on trails, on stairs, in the small physical negotiations of everyday life.

Ice skating is an old pleasure, and an enduring one. It trends up every hockey season and every four years when the Olympics put it center stage—who can watch Alysa Liu’s gold-medal performance at the Milan Games or Ilia Malinin’s impossible quad axel and not feel awe at what the human body can do?

For us locals, the bar is lower but the feeling is the same. All we need to do is step on the ice and feel the cold rush of joy in the middle of the summer heat.

Vegas Golden Knights Skating Academy at City National Arena citynationalarena.com

America First Center in Henderson (Photo by

Steve Marcus)

CITY NATIONAL ARENA

Even if lessons aren’t on your agenda, these rinks welcome everyone for public skating, and they’re a genuinely good way to beat the heat

The VGK practice facility in Summerlin has some of the smoothest ice in town, favored by figure skaters and hockey enthusiasts alike. Watch the city’s littlest ice shredders twirl, spin and stick-handle their way around the rink. Afterward, grab pizza upstairs at MacKenzie River and browse VGK gear at The Arsenal on your way out. 1550 S. Pavilion Center Dr., city nationalarena.com.

AMERICA FIRST CENTER

The practice facility for the Henderson Silver Knights on Water Street draws smaller crowds than its Summerlin sibling but delivers the same quality ice, plus a cozy little pub inside if you need to warm up after your session. 222 S. Water St., Henderson., americafirstcenter. com.

HYLO PARK ARENA

For serious hockey types, this northwest-side rink is all skate, no frills—and parking is free. It’s also home to SkateDaddy, where you can shop for skates and apparel or get your blades sharpened before hitting the ice. 2400 N. Rancho Dr., hyloparkarena.com.

LAS VEGAS ICE CENTER

This west-side community rink on Flamingo is a neighborhood staple—popular for kids’ birthday parties, open for public skate daily and stocked with a snack bar for mid-session refueling. 9295 W. Flamingo Rd., lasvegasice.com.

IN THE NEWS

INFRASTRUCTURE

Regents set to vote on new

Months after shelving the idea over parking concerns, UNLV is back on track to host a Vegas Loop station, with the Board of Regents set to decide next week whether to approve a deal with the Boring Company.

The updated proposal introduces paid parking at the site and new revenue-sharing with UNLV, a shift officials say could help deter longterm airport parking that previously derailed the project, though enforcement limits beyond campus remain.

If approved, the agreement would clear the way for a campus station connecting UNLV to the expanding underground transit system. The Vegas Loop currently operates 11 stations across Las Vegas, primarily

Boring

Company tunnel station at UNLV

plans to expand to as many as 104 stations spanning 68 miles of tunnel.

Regents reviewed the proposal last week and are expected to take it up again at a special meeting on June 22. Clark County approval would also be required before construction could begin.

Under the proposed agreement, the Boring Company would build a station on the western edge of the Thomas & Mack parking lot near the Campus Services Building. The company would cover all construction costs. UNLV would own the station once completed, while the Boring Company would operate it and retain authority over future modifications.

The proposal has drawn opposition from some students, who raised environmental and safety concerns

during public comment to the regents last year.

State regulators have cited The Boring Company for hundreds of environmental violations and missed inspections tied to its Las Vegas operations. Nevada OSHA issued a $112,508 citation in 2023 tied to alleged severe chemical burns; that case remains under review. A larger $425,595 citation involving burned firefighters was later withdrawn by the state.

The Boring Company says it is ready to move forward if approvals are secured.

“Once we get through this vote and we get our county permit, we’ll start construction ASAP,” project manager Tyler Fairbanks said. – Grace Da Rocha

DINING Wynn chef Sarah Thompson wins James Beard Award

Sarah Thompson, executive chef at Casa Playa at Wynn Las Vegas, was recognized with the James Beard Award in the category of Best Chef: Southwest at the annual awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago June 15. The accolade marked the first time in 15 years that a Las Vegas chef has won the award. Thompson was one of three Las Vegas finalists in this year’s Beard Awards. She first came to Las Vegas from New York City with the ATM Group to help open Elio at Encore in 2020, and when that restaurant—the first Mexican restaurant at Wynn—closed and transformed into Casa Playa, Thompson stayed on to lead the kitchen. Casa Playa has since earned a reputation for its innovative coastal cuisine as one of the best Mexican restaurants in Las Vegas. –Brock Radke

Courtesy Galdones Photography/James Beard Foundation

OPENING DOORS

Lisa Vanderpump, center, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, second from right, and Caesars Entertainment executives celebrate the grand opening of the Vanderpump Hotel Las Vegas on June 11. Formerly the Cromwell, it marks the first hotel venture for the English-born Bravo TV star and restaurateur.

(Steve Marcus/staff)

ENTERTAINMENT

MAGIC SPECTACLE

NOW YOU SEE ME LIVE COMING TO MGM GRAND

Hollywood magic has hit the Strip. After successful runs in Sydney, Perth and Singapore, the illusionist spectacle Now You See Me Live will debut in the U.S. at MGM Grand on October 15 through January 5. Based on Lionsgate’s hit heist films starring Jesse Eisenberg and Dave Franco and from the creators of The Illusionists, Now You See Me Live summons the “Four Horsemen” for an evening of spell-binding stage magic. The core four include Italian escape artist champion Andrew Basso; Gabriella Lester, who successfully escaped Houdini’s famous upside down straight jacket at 14; Adam Trent, a master of sleight of hand; and reality breaking illusionist Enzo Weyne. Other special guests will be rotated in. Tickets for Now You See Me Live go on sale June 22 at ticketmaster.com. –Amber Sampson

READTO WIN! 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.

Buckets N Boards A hilarious and high-energy show chock-full of amazing percussion, ridiculous songs, spectacular tap dancing, and inventive instrumentation.

Tuesday, June 23 at 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.

Whitney Library

Tuesday, June 24 at 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.

West Charleston Library

All Ages

Dreamcatcher by Leland Faulkner

Traditional tales will be brought to life through modern storytelling.

Thursday, June 25 at 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.

Sahara West Library

Friday, June 26 at 11 a.m.

East Las Vegas Library

Ages 5 – 11 Anime Your Way with Carlos Nieto* Learn how to create unique characters!

Multiple dates & locations in June Ages 12 – 17 Paige in Full with Paige Hernandez*

Move your body in this beat-filled visual mixtape that blends poetry, dance, media, and music.

Tuesday, July 14 at 4 p.m.

West Charleston Library

Ages 12 – 17

Scan here for event details

and tricks to master exposure and composition.

June 22 at  6 p.m.

June 27 at 3:30 p.m.

Tapahonso* – Lecture

Firefighters expect “unprecedented” wildfire season across Nevada after restructuring of federal agencies, job cuts

BY TYLER SCHNEIDER

Firefighter Shane Kelly has spent nearly two decades defending Nevada from wildfires. As the fire prevention lead for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service’s Southern Nevada district, the Winnemucca native is now doing his part to equip the state against what’s projected to be one of the most impactful fire seasons in recent memory.

“In Southern Nevada, our fire season starts earlier than the rest of the state by about one to two months,” Kelly says. “We get the problem first, meaning we’re sometimes the litmus test for how the rest of the state is going to look later.”

In 2026, that litmus test is already reading hot. In a May 20 briefing, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and state officials warned that current conditions—driven by ongoing drought and record-low mountain snowpack—are likely to lead to what State Forester Ryan Shane dubbed “a pretty unprecedented year.”

According to a June 1 report from the National Interagency Fire Center, fuels across the southern Great Basin region, which includes Nevada, are close to record dry levels, with fire dangers running four to six weeks ahead of schedule.

Nationally, more than 2.4 million acres had already burned by the end of May—nearly double the 10year average.

Nevada’s wildfire season—which typically lasts from May through October—looks poised to arrive earlier and hit harder. A warmer winter led to statewide snowpack readings that in March were just 10% to 30% of normal levels. This, coupled with consecutive years of near-or-above average rainfall, has led wild grasses and shrubs to grow quicker and dry out faster, especially in Northern Nevada. The resulting landscape is primed to burn.

In Southern Nevada, where vegetation is less abundant, Kelly says grasses are growing “in places [they] haven’t been in the past.”

“Anytime you’ve got a consistent fuel bed of grass like that, you’re going to have problems, even with just a light wind,” he adds.

In late May, Southern Nevada enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions, prohibiting open fires, fireworks and using certain equipment on public lands. By then, Nevada had already surpassed 75 wildfires. According to Shane, 579 fires consumed 450,000 acres statewide in 2025. More than half were caused by humans.

Nevada’s fire management network is simultaneously navigating additional challenges that have nothing to do with weather.

The first is a sweeping reorganization of the federal wildfire response system itself. In January, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced it was establishing the U.S. Wildland Fire Service—consolidating firefighting duties previously shared by the BLM, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs under one roof.

Kelly’s team—which handles fire prevention and investigation for a larger Southern Nevada district that also includes separate hazardous fuels and fire suppression staff—is now operating under that new structure.

“The team is smaller than you think. I worked for the BLM—what we’re now calling legacy BLM— before the Wildland Fire Service came to be,” Kelly tells the Weekly “Historically, my team is only me and two others, and we investigate all the wildland fires on federal lands in Southern Nevada.

“As the [Wildland Fire Service] continues through this transition, we expect the investigations staff to grow [or] merge, but we have not made it to that phase yet, and I am not aware of a timeline.”

Not yet included in the Wildland Fire Service is the U.S. Forest Service, which requires Congressional approval to merge with the new agency. In March, the Trump administration relocated the Forest Service’s headquarters from Washington D.C. to Salt Lake City.

The workforce is another issue. According to an April analysis from Prospect Partners and Hawkeye Strategies, the Trump administration has cut more than 6,000 public land jobs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Nevada alone. That includes 469 in Nevada last

year—a reduction of nearly 25%— while Southern Nevada saw losses close to 50%. The cuts also included around 25% fewer emergency dispatchers, who are tasked with coordinating fire emergency response efforts.

In a June 2 wildfire briefing hosted by the Center for Western Priorities, 45-year wildland fire veteran Bobbie Scopa explained the larger impact of the thinning workforce.

“We think about the helicopters in the air and the hotshots cutting line,” Scopa said. “But the dispatchers, logistical support and incident management teams come from all parts of the land management agencies. They cannot be successful without having the whole organization behind them.”

In the same session, Andrea Delgado—former deputy regional forester with the U.S. Forest Service— said wildfire mitigation efforts like prescribed burning fell 35% in 2025 compared to 2024, amounting to 1.4 million fewer acres treated.

“This is the crucial work that creates defensible space,” Delgado said. “It’s what gives our wildland firefighters access and a fighting chance.”

Trumps’ U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz pushed back on that figure while testifying before Congress on June 4, telling legislators that treatment levels remained within their normal fiveyear range.

The long-term impact of staffing cuts remains to be seen.

For Nevada homeowners, shifting insurance policies are another concern. In January, following the Nevada Legislature’s 2025 passage of Assembly Bill 376, the Silver State became the first in the country to allow insurance companies

to omit wildfire coverage from standard homeowner policies.

According to the Nevada Division of Insurance, the number of homeowner policies that were canceled due to wildfire risk had already grown by 82% between 2022 and 2023, while declined applications rose from 2,400 to roughly 5,000.

Meanwhile, NV Energy—whose equipment manages wildfire risk along many of the state’s transmission corridors—is now seeking state approval of a proposed $500 million wildfire liability insurance fund that would be primarily footed by ratepayers. Southern Nevada residents could pay roughly 21 cents more per month under the plan.

While Nevada’s major wildfires primarily occur further north, the smoke they produce can still significantly reduce air quality in the Valley. Beyond that, Kelly— who helps coordinate local fire response and prevention efforts with the Southern Nevada Fire Operations Group—says locals tend to underestimate other risks.

The communities he watches the closest include Mesquite, Logandale, Moapa, Blue Diamond and Pahrump. But fires can still break out within Vegas’ urban core, with Kelly pointing to a recent blaze near the Whitney Mesa Trailhead as an example.

More than 90% of wildfires in the region are caused by humans— above the national average of roughly 80%. Most are preventable, with Kelly citing off-road vehicle use and target shooting as leading causes.

“People often shoot into an area that has a lot of grass, and it’s also rocky. That’s a worst-case scenario,” he says, advising those venturing onto public lands to keep a shovel and a few gallons of water on hand just in case.

Current fire restrictions and updates can be tracked at nevada fireinfo.org

STOKED ON STUKES

Treydan Stukes could be positioned as Raiders’ most

impactful rookie going into next season

BY CASE KEEFER

The Raiders’ war room, packed with team executives and coaches, celebrated enthusiastically on back-to-back nights to start the NFL Draft two months ago.

Draft coverage aired the usual procession of handshakes and hugs after the franchise drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, but the excitement might have been even higher near the start of the second round the next night. That could be because there was also relief, as the Raiders traded back two spots to the No. 38 overall pick to acquire additional capital while still securing their target—defensive back Treydan Stukes, known as a longtime leader at the University of Arizona.

“You’re going to be a captain here too,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak told Stukes on the phone call to inform him he was being drafted. “I know you’ve been a captain three different times. We need another captain here.”

Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and national championship last season at Indiana, has dominated discussion related to the Raiders’ rookie class. But Kubiak and his staff seem to believe that they secured cornerstone players on both sides of the ball to help implement the identity they’re trying to build long-term starting with their upcoming first season.

It’s no coincidence whom Mendoza found stationed next to him in the Raiders’ locker room when he arrived for rookie camp a week after the draft.

“My locker mate right now is Stukes,” Mendoza said. “So, to have him next to me, battling him and seeing such a great player on the other side of the field and just all the defensive players, it’s been great. I think it’s going to really test the offense and especially the offensive rookies, and I look forward to all of us growing together and best serving the organization.”

The Raiders have since completed their offseason program, with

mandatory minicamp from June 9-11 capping a seven-week run of practices where they only seemed to grow more bullish on Stukes’ potential.

While Kubiak and Co. have preached patience at quarterback and given no indication they plan to start Mendoza right away, the philosophy appears different on defense.

Stukes has primarily run with the first-time defense ever since showing up to the team’s Henderson headquarters, even while Mendoza has almost exclusively played behind veterans Kirk Cousins and Aidan O’Connell.

Stukes will have the inside track on claiming a starting spot when training camp commences in late July in part because of his versatility. The NFL announced Stukes as a safety when he was drafted, but he perhaps played more at nickelback during early practices and has even lined up as a hybrid linebacker on occasion.

“Wherever I can fit best and help the team win some games, that’s what I’m going to do, baby,” Stukes said.

He’s got a perfect mentor in veteran Jeremy Chinn, who’s made a career out of being a do-it-all defensive back including in his first season with the Raiders a year ago.

Having multiple shapeshifting players on the back end is important in a new scheme defensive coordinator Rob Leonard envisions being attack-oriented and well-disguised on a down-bydown basis.

Stukes also has his “best friend” alongside him as the Raiders picked Arizona position-mate Dalton Johnson in the fifth round on the draft’s third day.

“I honestly just spent the whole call screaming on the phone,” Stukes recalled ringing Johnson right after he was drafted. “I’m just screaming, ‘No way, no way,’ because I just couldn’t believe it. So, when we got on the phone the next day, we had calmed down a little bit. It was still a shocking moment, but we’re super thankful.”

Stukes rarely hides his emotion, and one of his scouted strengths is the ability to pull that same passion out of teammates. It’s as big of a reason why the Raiders drafted him as his success on the field, which was substantial and included an All-American nod last season.

Don’t be surprised if in a couple years, it’s Mendoza and Stukes leading the Raiders onto the field at Allegiant Stadium as the offensive and defensive captains.

“He’s going to come in immediately and compete to play, bring some leadership, bring some communication ability,” Raiders assistant general manager Brian Stark said of Stukes. “As good of a player as he is, as talented as he is, he’s that good, or better, of a person. We’re bringing a lot to that room, not just in ability, but in character, leadership and work ethic. We’re really excited about him.”

Dip details: The M’s adults-only pool club returns for the season with a brilliant blue beachside refresh, new cabana furniture and sprawling daybeds to burn through those lazy afternoons by the water.

Vibe check: Partitioned off by a grove of palm trees, DayDream functions as a poolside reprieve from all the noise. Sinking into that infinity edge pool on a generously mild summer day feels luxurious when you consider all of the packed partying on the Strip. Order yourself some poolside nachos and a Watermelon Mint Breeze with Bacardi and Absolut because now you’re living. An open format DJ weaving funky cuts of Luther

Vandross with Whitney Houston and Jack Harlow makes soaking in the scene even easier. It’s laid-back. Strangers are super social but not pushy. A lone wolf pool-hopper could thrive in this element.

Pool perks: DayDream’s $30 cover also grants you access to the M Pool. It’s still family friendly, but the massive outdoor screen and jacuzzis serve as a nice bonus. There’s also a $249 VIP pass that gives Nevada residents unlimited access to both pool experiences with single-use passes for guests. And on Thursdays, locals receive half-price admission.

The verdict: Locals who want to relax more than rage, this one’s for you.

DayDream vs. Rouge La Plage : Which off-Strip 21+ pool day is right for you?

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Dip details: Rouge Room already established itself as an off-Strip DJ destination with its late-night Rouge Noir lounge parties. Now, it’s conquering the daytime with Rouge La Plage, a 21+ experience bringing a stacked lineup of electronic dance music artists to the pool deck. Think of it as your own personal beach club, where touring hitmakers like Surf Mesa soundtrack your day in the sun.

Red Rock Resort, rougeroomlv.com Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Pool perks: Rouge La Plage’s Soleil Sundays offer a much-needed reset from our wild ways. These weekly recharges start June 28, with live DJs spinning melodic tunes as you sip on half-off spicy Bloody Marys and replenish with a power bowl.

The verdict: If you’re a music lover who craves the energy of daylife without the overcrowding, this one’s for you.

Vibe check: La Plage nails the atmosphere of an elevated off-Strip oasis. It’s bright with an oceanfront aesthetic, accented by plush furniture and towering mature trees. Weekend vibes here vary depending on the day, and the cover starts at $30. Fridays demand a daybed for lounging. It’s an escapist afternoon. But come Saturday, we’re letting loose. In fact, Darius pulls up poolside with a disco-packed white party on June 20. This is a place to be seen but also to dance.

Learn to roll, pair and properly enjoy a cigar with

expert guidance from Eight Cigar Lounge

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

Traditional cigar lounges carry an air of mythology. The dark wooden accents, leather upholstery and suited men conversing quietly as clouds of smoke drift out add to the intrigue. It’s a scene frozen in time, preserved behind a layer of ritual and exclusivity.

At Eight Cigar Lounge inside Resorts World, that image is dispersed.

The atmosphere is polished without feeling precious—more modern than mythologized. It’s a relaxed space tailored to tobacco and spirits but also conversation. Regulars mingle with first-timers, and curious newcomers can leave with a deeper appreciation for what goes into a good cigar.

According to general manager Ian Floranza, that accessibility is intentional. Through events such as vinyl listening nights and Cigar 101 classes, Eight Lounge has built an environment that welcomes anyone interested in indulging and learning about the craft. So how does one light up?

“The first thing you need is a blade, and the traditional blade that they have for cutting tobacco is called a chaveta,” says Floranza.

From there, the process unfolds with patience and precision. Tobacco leaves are selected for three distinct roles. The filler forms the core, the binder holds everything together, and the wrapper provides much of the cigar’s character.

“The wrapper gives the cigar about 85 to 95 percent of its flavor,” he says.

The filler is bunched and compacted, then wrapped with the binder before being placed into a mold for several hours. Once the shape is set, the wrapper is applied and the cigar is capped

EIGHT CIGAR LOUNGE Resorts World, 702-676-7405, eightloungelv.com. Daily, noon-2 a.m.

or finished with a twisted pigtail. Then comes the hardest part: waiting.

Floranza explains that aging can take anywhere from four to seven years. During that time, the tobacco develops harmony and balance. And proper storage matters, too. Cigars should rest at 70 percent humidity and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally inside a Spanish cedar humidor.

But of course, not everyone has years to spare.

For those ready to light up immediately, Eight Lounge’s walk-in humidor offers a range of options from brands including Arturo Fuente, Ashton, Drew Estate, Ro-

meo y Julieta, Montecristo and Cohiba. An evening at the lounge often starts with a drink. Once a guest settles on a whiskey, bourbon or cocktail, the staff can guide them toward a cigar that fits the moment. A bourbon carrying notes of vanilla and oak might find company in a cigar with touches of leather and sweet cream. A fruit-forward cocktail may call for something bright and citrus-driven. Whether you handcraft your blend at home or seek the expertise of the pros, the centuries-old tradition of savoring tobacco remains a profoundly rich and ritualistic experience.

Set aside plenty of time.

“It’s going to last forever so it’s a commitment once you light it,” says marketing representa tive Angel Gonzales. Depending on the cigar, a smoking session can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half.

Don’t inhale cigar smoke into your lungs. Instead, draw the smoke into your mouth and focus on the flavor and aroma before exhaling.

Take your time lighting it.

Before taking your first puff, “toast” the foot of the cigar by holding it at a slight angle and rotating it slowly over the flame to get an even burn.

Hold it however feels comfortable.

Unlike the mafia bosses in the movies who hold their cigars with a classic thumb and forefinger pinch, you can actually hold a cigar however it feels comfortable to you.

Rotate as you smoke.

Giving the cigar about a quarter turn every few puffs can help maintain an even burn and prevent one side from burning faster than the other.

Avoid squeezing the cigar.

Holding it too tightly can damage the wrapper and affect airflow.

Don’t clench the cigar with your teeth.

Biting down on the cap can unravel the wrapper and make for a less enjoyable smoking experience.

Smoke slowly.

Frequent puffing can cause a cigar to burn too hot, which can alter its flavor and create a harsher smoking experience.

Let it go out naturally.

You don’t have to suffocate the cherry to put out a cigar as you might do with a cigarette. If you leave it alone, it’ll go out within a couple of minutes. –Gabriela Rodriguez

Chef

Jae Doan sets the bar high for Doanburi —and follows through

BY SHANNON MILLER

From the moment you walk in the doors at Doanburi, a sense of calm pervades. Light and dark wood and gold and leather accents line up in perfect harmony.

On the uncluttered shelves behind the backlit bar, each bottle is neatly in its preordained place. And behind the sushi counter, chef Jae Doan looks up from her skillful knifework every now and then, with a slight smile and no trace of worry on her face.

“In sushi, we have a mentality that everything needs to be calm. When you’re not calm, everything collapses,” she says. “I trained myself to not look stressed because for sushi chefs, it’s a show.”

Doan and her partner, Katie Ray, opened Doanburi in the southwest valley in January, transitioning from a cloud kitchen that since 2023 had built its reputation on high-quality, precisely plated, home-delivered sushi. Prior to that, Doan worked at the popular Ra Sushi at Fashion Show mall, under the legendary Masaharu Morimoto, and as sushi sous chef at Mizumi at Wynn.

For 13 years, she and Ray have been dreaming about opening a restaurant showcasing their version of hospitality. The dream has come true, evident through Doanburi’s elegant menu. Everything from soy sauce to simple syrup is homemade, and many ingredients are imported from Japan. Each dish is a work of art—the tweezers and edible flowers are out.

“The eye eats first,” Doan says.

Even simple vegetables are transformed and elevated, like cucumber salad ($9) with yuzu vinaigrette and sesame seeds. Hokkaido uni toast on homemade brioche ($39) whets the appetite with a taste of the sea. The gorgeous ama ebi scallop caviar ($45) with sweet shrimp, quail egg, truffle oil and truffle salt comes in a treasure box for a stunning reveal and preparation. Wagyu

makes several appearances—perhaps the most notable in the Surf & Turf roll ($45) with lobster tempura and

And true to Doanburi’s beginnings, the sushi is top-notch, from the shiromi carpaccio appetizer ($25) to limited-supply Treasure Boxes of nigiri, sashimi and chirashi ($70-$90).

Don’t skip dessert—the Japanese strawberry shortcake ($18) is a perfectly sweet and fruity indulgence.

When Doan got her start, she was one of the first female sushi chefs on the Strip.

“I had to work with colleagues who

believed that this was a man’s job. For me to be a young female and their leader, it was tough for them to listen to me [and] hard for them to swallow,” Doan says, adding that people thought she was crazy when she left to start her own project.

Despite the naysayers, Doan stuck with the sushi delivery business and adhered to an incredibly disciplined regimen, “working in a 200-squarefoot room every day,” she says. “You have to come in with hope.”

She carries that dedication into Doanburi, where she works seven days a week, making everything from scratch with the most premium ingredients she can get.

“Just follow your dream. Don’t let anybody tell you what not to do,” Doan says. “Believe in yourself, but at the same time, do the work. When what you say is not what you do, it’s not OK. Give [the customer] what you show in pictures.”

“Coming in to our 10th year, it’s time to up the game,” says Nick Brink, general manager of wildly popular Chinatown bar The Golden Tiki. “We’ve just rolled out the biggest renovation we’ve ever done of our cocktail and food program.”

THE

3939 Spring Mountain Road, 702-222-3196, thegoldentiki.com. Daily, 24/7.

If you love the Golden Tiki for its mai tais, celebrity shrunken heads and maximalist décor, don’t worry. They’ve kept all those elements and introduced some new, lighter snacks reflective of the dining-forward neighborhood, including curried cashews($8), gochujang cucumbers marinated in Korean chili ($6), and a crab Rangoon dip with pita chips and sweet chili ($14).

They’re strong companions to the new cocktails, which slyly subvert your idea of what a tiki drink can be.

Take the A Negroni Killed My Pet Lizard ($16). Del Maguey mezcal, Tra-Kal Patagonian Spirit, Italicus, bergamot, Crème de Mure and more mix with Campari into a bittersweet remedy that could resuscitate that lizard. This Is My Boomstick ($16) combines Zaya rum, Laphroaig Islay scotch, cinnamon, lemon, bitters and Chinese five spice into a tart mind-opener as smoky as Bruce Campbell’s shotgun.

The Aku Aku Lapu ($16) pays homage to the Stardust’s tiki spot with a powerful, one-and-done dosage of three rums—Lemon Hart 151, Don Q Gold and Planteray Dark—with lemon, Avua falernum, pineapple, grapefruit and orange. And the Trial By Fire ($16) brings whiskey to the tropics: Hurst Knoll 101 rye, Brother’s Bond bourbon, coconut liqueur, Chardonnay syrup, pineapple, lemon and chocolate bitters. And it’s served flaming, because some traditions must be honored. –Geoff Carter

PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES

METAL MUSIC”

FRANK LONGO

KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Mathematician Paul Erdős lived without a permanent address, publishing over 1,500 papers. Was his minimalism deprivation, or liberation from everything that didn’t serve his purpose? In the coming weeks, you have permission to be ruthless about your priorities. What are you maintaining out of habit rather than conviction?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A friend once told me about a creative writing class where he realized the teacher worked far harder at teaching than he did at learning. Please don’t indulge in a similar laziness. Your educational opportunities are currently richer than usual. To extract the full benefit, match the vigor of your teachers, whether they are human, animal or environmental.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Migrating monarch butterflies take four generations to reach Mexico, navigating thousands of miles to trees they’ve never seen. Similarly, I suspect you are carrying inherited navigational wisdom you didn’t realize you possessed. Pay attention to inexplicable certainties and trust the directions that arrive without logical explanation.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A large earthquake redistributes stress along a fault rather than relieving it evenly. You recently experienced a similar metaphorical shake-up. Identify where some areas of your life are now more vulnerable while others are more stable. Read the landscape before making your next move.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Songbirds practice their melodies while asleep, replaying patterns that help them maintain and refine their tunes. You are engaged in a similar type of unconscious learning. Your deeper intelligence is gathering information and uncovering insights while dreaming. Expect these subconscious clues to fuel your upcoming breakthroughs.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The best concert halls achieve perfect acoustics through strategic irregularities rather than uniform smoothness. Your life is currently too routine in some areas and too haphazard in others. Introduce productive unpredictability into stale relationships, and add inventive structure to efforts that have become shapeless. Don’t aim for total order or complete randomness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Have you ever been ambushed by unexpected gratification emerging from subtle miracles, like a loved one finally grasping a truth? I foresee at least three such blessings for you in the coming weeks. To ensure you recognize them, don’t get distracted by gaudy prizes. Be nimbly alert for subtle breakthroughs.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Emily Dickinson, Octavia Butler and Lucille Clifton all generated fierce, visionary creative work while facing limited circumstances or heavy daily responsibilities. The moral of the story is that buoyant power can flourish anywhere. If conditions seem imperfect right now, trust that your resilience can compensate for external obstacles.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Our tongues are primed to heal astonishingly fast thanks to dense blood vessels and saliva’s repair proteins. I suspect your psyche now possesses this exact type of high-level healing power. Launch a phase of accelerated repair over the coming weeks, and call on every possible form of therapeutic assistance to aid the process.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Now is an ideal time to clear out old romantic karma. Consider performing a simple DIY ritual to release the painful memories and leftover grudges that tug at your intimate connections. The coming weeks are also favorable for discarding rigid beliefs that block you from experiencing full-bodied sensual delight.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I suggest you adopt an honorary title like “Charm Weaver” or “Emissary of Radiance” to inspire your actions. Infuse your daily conversations with sparkling harmony, fling out extravagant compliments, and pose clever questions that spark fresh ideas. Many unexpected perks will flow your way as you stir up this lyrical mystery.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Is there a childhood dream you are ready to revive on a higher octave? The question isn’t whether you can go back and duplicate it, but rather: What is the mature, wiser, present-day version of that

Identify that core desire and take one concrete step toward it this week.

JOB LISTING

PACIFIC SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, LAS VEGAS, NV

Digital Solutions Lead: Design and develop insurance digital solutions for Property and Casualty lines of business. Requires: Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related and five years experience as Programmer, Product Specialist, Project Manager, or related. Salary: $163,405/yr. Ref job #BD37996.0155.

Software Quality Assurance Engineer and Test Analyst: Develop and execute software test strategies, test plans, and test cases. Requires: Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Information Technology, Engineering (any), or related and five years experience as Test Analyst, Projects Associate, or related. Salary: $119,704/yr. Ref job #PD37996.0144.

E-mail resume to Victoria Harris, vharris@pacificspecialty.com, include job number

JOB LISTING

EID NEVADA CRITICAL CARE, PLLC DBA UNITED CRITICAL CARE

seeks Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialist in Las Vegas, NV. May involve various unanticipated locations within the same metropolitan area. Treat and care for all patients with diseases or disorders of the lungs and human internal organ system. Req: Medical Degree (or foreign equiv); NV Med Lic or Eligible for NV Med Lic; Completion of Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

To apply send resume to smurdock@unitedcriticalcare.com reference code 013

JOB LISTING

SR. HR ADVISOR, PITNEY BOWES INC., LAS VEGAS, NV.

Consult w/ mgrs./dirs. & all lvls. of emps. re employee relations, performance mgmt., emp.-focused initiatives, conflict mgmt., & org. restructuring. Resolve complex employee relations issues, incl. on-site investigations. Assoc. deg. or equiv. in Bus. Admin., HR, or rltd. fld. & 5 yrs. exp. as HR Specialist or rltd. role. Req. 5 yrs. exp. w/: employee relations investigations; drafting HR policies/practices & HR compliance; HR systems/processes; Canadian emps./HR reqs.; 3 yrs. exp. supporting large hourly employee base in warehouse, mfg., or distribution envt.; 3 yrs. exp. working across multiple sites/states in person & virtually; & 2 yrs. exp. leading leadership & development training. Salary at least $113k/yr. Resume to kathryn.carrigan@ pb.com & ref. Job Code O062026A.

JOB LISTING

CREDIT ONE BANK

seeks Advanced Analytics - AVPs in Las Vegas, NV to lead a team to create, manage, and enhance sophisticated statistical models and tools that increase customer card value and usage.

Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com REF# 59378

SIGMA DERBY HORSE RACING GAME The mechanical horse racing game Sigma Derby has found a new home. After decades of entertaining guests at The D Casino & Hotel, this 1980s-era attraction—the last remaining game of its kind in Las Vegas— moves to Las Vegas’ oldest casino, the Golden Gate. (It made its way up Fremont Street early this week, accompanied by six miniature ponies ... though they weren’t quite this miniature.) Sigma Derby’s name says it all: Players select the horse they believe will cross the finish line first, placing wagers ranging from one cent to two dollars. The game’s stadium-style layout features multiple viewing stations, creating a communal experience centered around good old-fashioned analog fun. We wager you’d like to play. –Shannon Miller

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