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T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S

COVER STORY

18 THE FUTURE IS COMING

The Las Vegas Raiders’ salvation could rest on the shoulders of rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

COVER ART Courtesy Las Vegas Raiders

10 SUPERGUIDE

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FALL OBSESSIONS Experts are ready to teach you to tumble, twist, swing and fly at Las Vegas Circus Center.

ART Follow street art collective ISI Group’s journey from galleries to corporate walls.

NEWS Learn about Flock license plate cameras in Las Vegas: What they do, how many there are and who’s using them.

MUSIC Chicago duo Drama brings worldly sounds and “Platonic Romance” to the Paradice Festival.

THE STRIP Franky Perez and his big band are bringing back a bygone era of Vegas showmanship. FOOD & DRINK Crystina Nguyen helms Durango Social Club’s kitchen with Vietnamese comforts.

Farruko and many more Mexican Independence Day shows, poetry in the Historic Westside, JMSN at Fergusons Downtown and more this week. Want More? Visit lasvegasweekly.com. Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby plays to the crowd at Allegiant Stadium before a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 27. (AP Photo/ Jeff Lewis)

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SUPERGUIDE

*Spotlight events are sponsored

THURSDAY SEPT 10

CARÍN LEÓN Thru 9/13, 8 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster.com. BIG BLUES BENDER With Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, more, thru 9/13, times vary, Westgate, bigbluesbender. com. DEEP PURPLE 8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com. STABBING WESTWARD With Acumen Nation, 16 Volt, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. HAIL THE SUN With A Lot Like Birds, Blight Town, Murals, 7 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.

JMSN JMSN’s “Love Me” has proven to be one of the year’s more enduring musical resurrections. Originally released three years ago, the track has found renewed cultural currency through its recurring virality across social media. The Albanian-American singer, songwriter, and producer possesses a captivating tenor that moves effortlessly between the sensuality of R&B and the rawer textures of his recent rock explorations. His refusal to remain stylistically circumscribed is precisely what makes JMSN so compelling and so broadly accessible. This Friday, We The Beat brings the genre-defying artist to Fergusons alongside Chicago-based songwriter Samy Sharif, an emerging voice in his own right. 8 p.m., $35+, Fergusons Downtown, tickets.wethebeat.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez

FRIDAY SEPT 11 MANÁ 9 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. CRISTIAN CASTRO 8 p.m., & 9/12, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com. MARCO ANTONIO SOLÍS 8 p.m., & 9/12, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

FELIPE ESPARZA 9 p.m. (& 9/12, 10 p.m.), MGM Grand Theater, mgmgrand.com. ALFRED ROBLES 10 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

GODSMACK With Stone Temple Pilots, 8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.

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

ARTEMAS With Henry Morris, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. KATCHAFIRE 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, ticketmaster.com.

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

DO IT ALL

GABRIEL IGLESIAS 9 p.m., & 9/12, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

MATUTE 8:30 p.m., & 9/12, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS Thru 9/12, 7:05 p.m. (& 9/13, 12:05 p.m.), Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com.

S U P E R G U I D E

WWE-AAA TRIPLEMANÍA 34 7 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.

DEORRO 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com. HONEYPACQ 9 p.m., Rouge Room, rougeroomlv.com.

S P OT L I G H T E V E N T BARRETT-JACKSON COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION See hundreds of the most sought-after collector vehicles cross the auction block September 10-12 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center as they sell to the highest bidder. Experience all the event has to offer—browse the sponsor displays, Exhibitor Marketplace and enjoy the fan zone and a festival of food and beverages. Adult tickets start at $23 with special pricing for students, seniors, military and first responders. Children 12 and under are free with adult tickets. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Barrett-Jackson.com

Courtesy

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MUSIC

PARTY

ARTS

SPORTS

FOOD

COMEDY

MISC

SATURDAY SEPT 12 BOXING: RYAN GARCIA VS. CONOR BENN 5 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, ticketmaster.com.

LOS ÁNGELES AZULES 8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.

ZOÉ 8 p.m., the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com. JOSÉ MARÍA NAPOLEÓN 8 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com. OHGEESY With Mike Sherm, Kalan.FrFr, 03 Greedo, more, 7 p.m., Orleans Arena, ticketmaster.com. PARADICE FESTIVAL With Kaytranada, Drama, more, 5 p.m., Sandbar at Red Rock, ticketmaster.com. MARIACHAZO 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com. GRUPO DUELO 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com. PROTOJE 8 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience.com. TOO $HORT & WARREN G 7:30 p.m., Palms Pool, palms.com. LOST IN DREAMS With ARMNHMR, Paper Skies, Pauline Herr, more, 6 p.m., Craig Ranch Amphitheater, eventim.us. Courtesy

SIN CITY SPEAKS San Diego-based poet Rudy Francisco has won national and international slam awards for spoken word. UNLV professor Javon Johnson has authored academic critiques and edited literary collections, as well as earned accolades in the slam world. Shanna Christmas has released an hourlong comedy special and brought stand-ups from across the country to Las Vegas. And DJ Kelly J has graced the airwaves of local radio with her presence and talents. Mix these cultural powerhouses together and you get an unforgettable night in the Historic Westside featuring live poetry by Francisco and Johnson, hosted by Christmas and soundtracked by Kelly J. 7 p.m., $15, West Las Vegas Theatre, lasvegasnevada.gov. –Shannon Miller

HERMANOS ESPINOZA 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

LAS VEGAS SOUTHERN SOUL & BLUES III 7 p.m., Orleans Showroom, ticketmaster.com. LV PHILHARMONIC: STUDIO GHIBLI IN CONCERT 7:30 p.m. (& 9/13, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. ULTIMATE WING DOWN 4 p.m., PT’s Ranch, ptstaverns.com. TEO GONZÁLEZ & JORGE FALCÓN 10 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com. TOMMY DAVIDSON 8 p.m., the Railhead, ticketmaster.com. JASHN SOUTH ASIA FESTIVAL 5 p.m., UnCommons, uncommons.com. BOLERO THE SHOW 7:30 p.m., Plaza Showroom, plazahotelcasino.com. KYGO 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com. TIËSTO 11 a.m., Omnia Dayclub, taogroup.com. AFROJACK 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com. CHENCHO CORLEONE 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com.

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SUPERGUIDE

MUSIC

SUNDAY SEPT 13

PARTY

ARTS

SPORTS

FOOD

COMEDY

MISC

MONDAY SEPT 14

MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com. MAGIC & MARTINIS 7 p.m., Clique Lounge, cliquelv.com. MAYCE GALONI With John Joseph, Jason Cheny, Daphnique Springs, thru 9/20, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com. JERRY PELLEGRINO 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com. DJ DYNAMIQ 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

SODA STEREO 8 p.m., Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

S U P E R G U I D E

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS 1:25 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. CHUY LIZARRAGA & JULIO PRECIADO With Luis Angel, 8 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. PALOMAZO NORTEÑO 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.

LOS TUCANES DE TIJUANA 8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.

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

YOLANDA DEL RIO 8 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com.

STREET MOB TAKEOVER With Chuyin, Clave Especial, more, noon, Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com.

ALAN PARSONS LIVE PROJECT 7:30 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com. MARSHMELLO 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

DO IT ALL FARRUKO Deseo Latin Sundays at Caesars Palace stronghold Omnia has long been the epicenter of reggaeton, cumbia, salsa, bachata, and any other Latin sounds on the Strip. Of course it’s going off for Mexican Independence Day weekend, centered around a live performance from Farruko, who recently teamed with Sean Paul for an electrifying co-headlining show in Toronto. The Puerto Rican rapper/ singer remains one of the most influential figures in reggaeton and once anchored the Calibash Latin music fest in Las Vegas. 10:30 p.m., $34-$54+, Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com. -Brock Radke

Soda Stereo courtesy Nora Lezano; Farruko AP Photo/Amy Harris

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SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY SEPT 15

S U P E R G U I D E

JUSTIN CREDIBLE 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.

SPORTS

FOOD

COMEDY

MISC

WEDNESDAY SEPT 16 LATIN HERITAGE PARADE 6 p.m., Downtown Summerlin, summerlin.com. SANTANA 7 p.m., & 9/17, 9/19-9/20, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

SQUEEZE With Adam Ant, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. Courtesy/Remi Vision

FRANKIE MORENO 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.

AFTER DARK BY NIGHT KAP 7 p.m., Wax Rabbit, waxrabbitlv.com.

ARTS

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

PHANTOM PLANET 7 p.m., B Side at House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

EL GRITO MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION 5 p.m., Las Vegas Civic Center, lasvegasnevada. gov.

PARTY

JIAOYING SUMMERS 7:30 p.m., Copa Room, eventbrite.com.

ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ With Camila Fernández, 9 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.

DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Thru 9/20, 7:30 p.m. (& 9/199/20, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.

MUSIC

AARON ARCHER & BRIDGET REILLY 8 p.m., the BackSpace, thespacelv.com. BATTLE OF THE FANS 7 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com. NYJAH 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com. CLOSE FRIENDS ONLY 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

DO IT ALL

SUNDAY EXPRESS

OCTOBER 21 - NOVEMBER 1

A CAMERON MACKINTOSH & LW ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION

BROADWAY SERIES SPONSORED BY

702.749.2000 | TTY: 800.326.6868 or dial 711 | Group Inquiries: 702.749.2348 | 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106

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Run away and join the Las Vegas Circus Center BY GEOFF CARTER

There’s a scene in nearly every old James Bond movie where 007 walks through an underground room—or hollowed-out, dormant volcano—that’s full of people training. They’re determined and energetic with great skin. They throw knives; they fire laser guns; they shout “hyah!” in unison. Without these warriors, Bond can’t hope to save his girlfriend from Blofeld. That’s how I feel touring the Las Vegas Circus Center. A training space for the circus arts that accommodates both amateurs and experts—the Circus Center positively vibrates with volcano-lair energy, determination, grace and skill. Considering how big a role circus acts play in our city’s entertainment landscape—from Absinthe to O —what’s happening here feels foundational to Vegas. Michelle Hunt, who co-founded the Las Vegas Circus Center with husband Brand Hunt in December 2018, walks me around. It’s Saturday morning, a busy time for the facility, and there’s a lot happening at once. A teenage capoeira class is to my right; just ahead, a professional duo trapeze act; to my left, flying trapeze artists train. Deeper inside the facility are contortionists, acrobats on aerial silks, kids doing flips on trampolines, a young man spinning in a Cyr

wheel (that big metal hoop-looking thingy) and a woman hanging, rather elegantly, by her hair. “Our coaches are mostly professional performers, passing on their love of circus arts to the next generation,” Michelle Hunt says. “That generation can be motivated by the pros because they get to see them training at the same time.” The Hunts founded the Circus Center out of necessity: They wanted a place where their kids could learn a wide variety of circus arts. “There wasn’t a place that had everything. A place that met the requirements for a professional to train, but also had space for recreation— kids, people that just want to try something new. We wanted a place that we could do both, so people could be inspired and inspire each other.” When Hunt talks the next generation of performers, she’s not necessarily talking about just the kids. Circus Center casts a wide net, catching everyone who takes a swing on the trapeze. I ask her if a certain Weekly writer, now in his late 50s, could train in circus arts if he were to “gain upper body strength, as well as lower body strength.”

To my surprise, Hunt nods vigorously: “Our oldest is 78. He’s a flying trapeze student. The youngest that we take would be two. They do the capoeira, the only class we have for someone that young.” Meaning: By the time you read this, there’s a nonzero chance I’ve run away and joined the circus. And you can, too. Every Saturday, the Circus Center offers the Circus Experience, a beginner’s class for students 8 and above. For a reasonable $50, you get 90 minutes of assorted circus training, which could include an introduction to aerial arts (“usually aerial hoop,” Hunt says), an intro to trampoline and trampwall (big on Instagram these days), and the classic flying trapeze. The trapeze alone looks to be worth the money all by itself. During my tour I see nearly a dozen people trying out the trapeze, all safely harnessed, all laughing as they fall into the big net. They’re all in. “It’s a great intro program. Anybody can start anything,” Hunt says. “It gets you in shape real fast.”

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Photos by Steve Marcus

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Circus Center’s aerial arts classes include static trapeze, aerial hammock, lyra (aerial hoop), Spanish web (an aerial rope variation), dance trapeze and more. Aerial silks and recreational flying trapeze are recommended for beginners.

LAS VEGAS CIRCUS CENTER 6425 S. Jones Blvd. #102, 702-324-7287, lasvegascircuscenter.com. Monday & Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The center will train you in parkour, acting for performance, capoeira and —wait for it—how to dominate on a ninja warrior course. Forget Cirque du Soleil; master this stuff, and the world of international espionage would be lucky to have you.

Circus arts needn’t go over your head. The Circus Center offer classes in tumbling, contortion, tightrope walking, hand balancing, skating, unicycling, clown/ character work and more. And who doesn’t want to bounce on a trampoline?

MORE PLACES TO LEARN CIRCUS ARTS Acro Gymnastics Las Vegas agclasvegas.com Aerial Athletica aerialathletica.com Shine Alternative Fitness shinealternativefitness.com

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RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW

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Sep. 13 vs Miami, 1:25 p.m. Sep. 20 at LA Chargers, 1:05 p.m. Sep. 27 at New Orleans, 1:25 p.m. Oct. 4 vs Kansas City, 1:25 p.m. Oct. 11 at New England, 10 a.m. Oct. 18 vs Buffalo, 1:25 p.m. Oct. 25 vs LA Rams, 1:25 p.m. Nov. 1 at NY Jets, 10 a.m. Nov. 8 at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. Nov. 15 vs Seattle, 1:05 p.m. Nov. 22 at Denver, 1:25 p.m. Nov. 29 at Cleveland, 10 a.m. Dec. 13 vs LA Chargers, 1:05 p.m. Dec. 20 vs Denver, 1:25 p.m. Dec. 27 vs Tennessee, 1:05 p.m. Jan. 3 at Arizona, 1:05 p.m. TBD at Kansas City, time TBD

KIRK COUSINS

KLINT KUBIAK

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AP photos/Photo illustration

BY CASE KEEFER The high point of Fernando Mendoza’s first four months with the Las Vegas Raiders came in the 22-year-old’s first preseason game. The top overall NFL Draft pick threw for 97 yards on five drives, including a highlight 19-yard completion to rookie classmate Malik Benson, and a touchdown, just barely missing a second score on a possible mistake by receiver Deven Thompkins. Mendoza couldn’t hide his excitement after the game against the Arizona Cardinals as he sped into the news conference room grinning and fidgeting at the podium off of what he called “an invigorating experience.” But that’s where the celebration would end. Mendoza had no plans to decompress after his debut, despite his family being in town to watch the game, and didn’t even claim the touchdown ball, signing off on the receiver who caught the pass—Jack Bech—having it instead. Asked how soon he would review the game film, the typically overpolite Mendoza jerked back and acted like it was a foolish question. “Oh, definitely right after this,” Mendoza said. “I have nothing else to really do tonight.” That’s what the Raiders’ brass likes to hear, an example of why the team is so bullish on the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Playoff champion emerging as the leader to turn the long-suffering franchise around. The belief in the 6-foot-4, 236-pound Miami native hasn’t remotely waned after an uneven

training camp and preseason. Mendoza has encountered a lot more speed bumps on the field in the NFL so far than he did a year ago when he led Indiana to becoming the first-ever 16-0 Football Bowl Subdivision championship team. He threw an interception in each of the second two preseason games against the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers, and in a joint practice with the former. Turnovers, both interceptions and fumbled snaps, were a near daily occurrence for Mendoza in the Raiders’ own practices, too. Those issues may have squandered the slim chance he had to overtake veteran free-agent signing Kirk Cousins as the Raiders’ starting quarterback going into the regular-season opener on September 13 hosting the Miami Dolphins. Minority owner/de facto president of football operations Tom Brady, general manager John Spytek and coach Klint Kubiak had all intimated they preferred not to start a rookie quarterback immediately anyway. But that messaging started to change slightly after Mendoza flashed against the Cardinals, with Kubiak saying he didn’t want Cousins or any of his players to feel “comfortable” in their roles. Cousins will start for now, but the future of the franchise is looming. Mendoza will in all likelihood take the field sometime over the course of the Raiders’ 17-game regular season in his rookie campaign. “I’m happy with where he’s at but we’ve just got to keep pushing him to be better,” Kubiak said. “He’s got to be ready to go from

square one. Nobody ever puts you out there when they think you’re 100% ready. Whether you’re a coach or a player, you just have to be ready.” Kubiak particularly said Mendoza needs to get better under pressure after he took a leaguehigh 14 hits in the preseason. But the quarterback’s on-field results haven’t been all bad. He’s ripped some unbelievable throws and has shown playmaking ability on his feet, including a spin move on a scramble for a seven-yard gain on a broken play against the 49ers. But the Raiders’ biggest source of confidence in Mendoza is his diligence. Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko described Mendoza’s preparation as “phenomenal.” Mendoza has logged as many hours at team headquarters in Henderson as anyone on the team. When his family visited for the Cardinals’ game, he encouraged them to explore the Strip, enjoy the best restaurants and attend The Wizard of Oz at Sphere without him. He was busy. Mendoza did purchase a home locally with part of his $57 million rookie contract, but it sits mostly unfurnished despite the fact that he moved in well before training camp. The only time he really ventures out is to attend Catholic church every Sunday. “He’s in the building studying late at night, things like that,” Benson said. The Raiders’ fanbase almost unanimously rejoiced when the team landed the No. 1 overall pick at the end of last season, but a fatalistic minority exercised caution. The franchise has drafted so poorly over the

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years that some remain skeptical of any pick it makes. The draft curse started around 2007, the last time the Raiders held the first pick. They selected LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, whom many regard as the biggest bust of all time. Tales from Russell’s rookie season are fraught with red flags like the big-armed playmaker spending minimal time at the facility, failing to study his playbook and neglecting his nutrition. Mendoza is the first quarterback the Raiders have selected in the first round since then—alltime franchise passing leader Derek Carr was taken early in the second round in 2014—and his approach couldn’t be more different than Russell’s. Mendoza credits part of his appreciative mentality to the time he spent buried on the depth chart at the University of California, Berkeley, where he started his college career. “It’s a great blessing and I’m very grateful,” Mendoza said of his journey to the NFL. “Being able to get to this point, that third-string quarterback at Cal would not have believed where we are now. However, now that I’ve been able to be blessed with great teammates, coaches, and given this opportunity, I need to take full advantage of the opportunity and make sure that I best serve my teammates.” Kubiak said the most encouraging part of Mendoza’s training camp was the ability he showed to bounce back from adversity. That checked out at practice, where a mistake would often preface some of his best throws, usually to Benson. “There’s been highs and lows, but I believe from the first day of training camp to (the end), I’ve exponentially been a better quarterback, although it might not seem like it on paper or on the stat sheet,” Mendoza said. “I’m very grateful for the

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highs and lows of training camp, and I believe I’m growing a lot as a player because of the great coaches, great teammates, and great organization I’m a part of.” The hurdle now becomes continuing to grow without as many reps. The week-to-week focus in practice will be getting Cousins ready as long as he holds onto the first-string job. Mendoza has created time to get in extra work so far though. He called third-round drafted offensive lineman Trey Zuhn to take snaps late at night at the team hotel when the rookie class was stationed there for minicamp. He’s also often stayed on the field to throw after practice, when most of his teammates have already retreated to the locker room. He won’t shy from sacrifice, even if it means something like getting limited time with his family, who traveled 2,500 miles to catch his first game. “I know they had a blast,” Mendoza said of his family’s first extended stay in Las Vegas. “And they look forward to the next time. They say, whether I play or not, they want to come back out again.” How long they’ll have to wait to see him play is to be determined, but it may not be long. The Raiders will be tempted to turn to Mendoza at the first sign of struggles for Cousins, and it’s likely there will be struggles with the team only favored in three games all year. The opportunities to see Mendoza competing in the Silver and Black almost certainly won’t be limited in the coming years. The Raiders are convinced they have the right quarterback to lead them to their first playoff victory since 2003, if not further someday, and they haven’t seen anything yet to make them fear otherwise.

RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW

RAIDERS BANKING ON DRAFT CLASS BEING SPECIAL BEYOND JUST FERNANDO MENDOZA BY CASE KEEFER The No. 1 overall draft pick might not have been the Raiders’ most impressive rookie of training camp and the preseason. Las Vegas is taking it as a positive sign that quarterback Fernando Mendoza got some real competition for the honor from a trio of draft classmates—second-round safety Treydan

AP photos/Photo illustration

MIKE WA S H I N G T O N JR.

Stukes, fourth-round running back Mike Washington Jr. and sixth-round receiver Malik Benson. The best way to jumpstart a franchise rebuild is to hit on a draft class—especially one coming in alongside a new coach like this year’s group will do with Klint Kubiak—and the Raiders are cautiously optimistic they may have done so. “I see a group of young men that are maturing into professionals and kind of willing to pay the price that it takes to stay here and be a part of a winning culture,” general manager John Spytek said of his second draft class. But he’s also still prioritizing patience. Stukes, previously a three-year captain at the University of Arizona, is the only Day 1 starter of the eight rookies to make the official 53-man

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roster going into the season. He could be a staple for years to come in new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard’s scheme, given a versatility that’s seen him line up everywhere from the linebacker box to a traditional free-safety spot in the back. Stukes struggled in coverage at the start of training camp but caught fire in the final couple weeks to beat out incumbent starter Isaiah Pola-Mao for the starting safety spot next to playmaking veteran Jeremy Chinn.

Washington, an Arkansas product, is a de facto starter on offense as he will split carries with 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty, who’s expected to return from an ankle injury in time for the September 13 opener against the Dolphins. Before training camp, Kubiak spoke of wanting to use Jeanty as a workhorse, every-down back, but Washington flashed too many times in the preseason—averaging 6.2 yards per carry with a handful of explosive carries—to ignore. Kubiak has now pledged to “use them both.” Benson won’t get as many touches as Washington, but he’s done enough to carve out a role in the offense, especially if and

MALIK BENSON

when Mendoza takes over at quarterback. Mendoza, who rose to stardom at Indiana last year, and Benson, who went to Oregon, may have been Big Ten rivals a season ago but have now developed an undeniable chemistry. The only concern is that Benson’s training camp trajectory went the opposite way of Stukes’ rise. Benson made some mistakes down the stretch—prompting Kubiak to call out “needing more” out of the whole receiver group—after starring for the first few weeks. The other primary rookie to watch is third-round offensive lineman Trey Zuhn. The reigning SEC Offensive Lineman of the Year from Texas A&M has played center, guard and tackle in the

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preseason. Kubiak said he had never seen a rookie blocker as versatile as Zuhn, and the coaching staff is comfortable with him filling in at almost any spot. Cornerbacks Jermod McCoy, a fourth-round pick out of Tennessee, and Hezekiah Masses, a fifthround pick out of California, both competed for the No. 2 cornerback starting spot before ultimately losing out to second-year player Darien Porter. But they’ll get more looks during the season. Fifth-round safety Dalton Johnson, Stukes’ “best friend” from Arizona, projects as mainly a special teams player in his rookie season. The only bad news from the class is that third-round edge rusher Keyron Crawford out of Auburn tore his Achilles in the final preseason game, and will be out for the year. That leaves seventh-round defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland as the only draft pick to get cut, though the Raiders did sign him to their practice squad. Mendoza may be the headliner, but the Raiders are hopeful the whole rookie class will be looked back on as foundational to their long-term success.

TREYDAN STUKES

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RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW

MAXX CROSBY

BY CASE KEEFER One of the first times Raiders superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby lined up and looked back at new free-agent linebacker Quay Walker this summer, he started laughing. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Walker was taken aback. “What are you laughing at, bro?” Crosby remembers Walker asking. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Crosby responded, “I’ve never seen a linebacker that big. I’ve never played with a linebacker that looks like the size of me.” Walker concluded, “No, bro, it’s going to be different.” The Raiders’ defense has stayed relatively consistent over the previous four seasons compared to all the turmoil and changes that have happened around it. The unit became the backbone of the team under former defensive coordi-

nator Patrick Graham, who stayed on under three different head coaches, before bolting for the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. In steps former defensive line coach Rob Leonard, who’s keeping some of Graham’s principles but upending a lot more. Expect the Raiders’ stop unit to now look more like the Seattle Seahawks’ defense that just won the Super Bowl with non-traditional setups and disguised coverages. Before coming to Las Vegas, Leonard worked under current Seattle coach Mike Macdonald on the defensive staff of the Baltimore Ravens. It’s a scheme that’s also comfortable for Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, who was Macdonald’s offensive coordinator with the Seahawks last year.

One tenet of the system is being able to create consistent pressure from the front-line players without blitzing as much as most NFL teams. That’s where Crosby should shine as one of the league’s pre-eminent pass rushers. So many of Crosby’s long-sought wishes for the defense were granted this offseason that it’s hard to believe the biggest story of it was his rescinded trade to the Ravens. Crosby has spoken highly of Leonard ever since he became his position coach in 2023. Meanwhile, fellow edge rusher Malcolm Koonce has been a longtime running mate that Crosby has continued to express confidence in despite injuries and underperformance. The Raiders resigned Koonce to a oneyear, $11 million deal while also bringing him former Indianapolis Colts’ first-round pick Kwity Paye on a three-year, $48 million contract at the position. They also splurged at linebacker after years of getting by on the cheap at the position. General manager John Spytek gave former University of Georgia teammates Walker, previously with the Green Bay Packers in the NFL, and Nakobe Dean, a former Philadelphia Eagle, three-year contracts worth around $40 million apiece. Dean will wear the designated green-dot helmet on the field to hear one-way communication with the coaches, establishing himself as the leader of the defense next to Crosby. “Confidence, a little bit of swagger,” Leonard described Dean and Walker. “They’re just the true essence of football players. They’ll call you out on BS and they see things for what they are.” Crosby is carrying a similar mentality into his eighth professional season after Baltimore said he failed a physical coming off knee surgery and sent him back to Las Vegas. The Ravens initially agreed to pay two first-round picks in exchange for him. Crosby disputed that he was ever off schedule to return at 100% for Week 1, and has since recommitted to the Raiders while vowing Leonard’s new defense will bring the best out of him. Crosby has said he will no longer talk about the trade fallout publicly but sometimes can’t help himself. “Of course it was added motivation,” Crosby said. “But it’s beautiful at the same time. I love being doubted. I love being told I can’t do something because I know I’m going to go to the end of the world and make it happen.”

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N E W S

IN THE NEWS

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T H E

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KISS CAM

The Office of the Clark County Clerk held Love at the Ballpark on August 30, celebrating Las Vegas as the “Wedding Capital of the World.” Nearly 140 couples who married or renewed their vows in Clark County gathered at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin to enjoy America’s pastime and relive their big day with a group vow renewal ceremony during the game’s fifth inning. (Courtesy/David Becker for Wedding Capital of the World)

TRANSPORTATION

ZOOX BEGINS AUTONOMOUS RIDES TO LAS VEGAS AIRPORT Zoox is the first company to offer fully driverless ride-hailing service at Harry Reid International Airport, where officials said the company began operations September 1. Officials said Zoox riders can be picked up and dropped off at both terminals. At Terminal 1, drop-offs are at the departure level near check-in, while pickups are below baggage claim on Level 0. At Terminal 3, both pickups and drop-offs are outside baggage claim on Level 0. The autonomous ride-hailing

company began charging passengers August 10 after receiving the first commercial exemption for “a purpose-built autonomous robotaxi” from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fare structures operate similarly to other ride-hailing and taxi services, with a base price that increases based on distance and time traveled. Destination fees, including for trips to or from Harry Reid International Airport and high-traffic areas like the Sphere, could also be added alongside

applicable taxes, officials noted. Prior to clearance to run the airport routes, officials said Zoox spent several months testing vehicles and mapping roads near the airport to meet the county’s service requirements. “The introduction of autonomous service is an important first step in understanding how this technology can operate alongside the many modes of transportation that serve our airport today,” James Chrisley, Clark County director of aviation, said in a statement. –Grace Da Rocha

HENDERSON

Fitness-centered entertainment complex set to open

Courtesy

Born from a private-public partnership between the City of Henderson and KemperSports, Henderson Sport & Social has announced its grand opening will take place on October 16. Open to the public with no membership required, the 180,000-square-foot facility on St. Rose Parkway will feature four convertible basketball courts, turf fields for indoor soccer and football, gathering and event spaces, a fitness center with group classes, an arcade and a two-story laser tag arena. Additionally, a child-watch area will provide flexibility for families while they enjoy the venue’s offerings, according to a news release. The jointly funded $70 million complex is owned by the city and operated by Kempersports, reflecting the city’s “ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life of its residents by creating new opportunities for recreation, entertainment and community engagement,” the release said. –Shannon Miller

ENTERTAINMENT

T-MOBILE ARENA SPACE RENAMED PARAMOUNT+ PLAZA The two-acre Las Vegas Strip outdoor entertainment space previously known as Toshiba Plaza has been renamed Paramount+ Plaza after a new partnership between T-Mobile Arena and streaming platform Paramount+. The plaza, known for a decade as the primary gathering point for fans before, during and after Vegas Golden Knights games, concerts and other events at the arena, will make its debut as Paramount+ Plaza during Zuffa Boxing’s Garcia vs. Benn fight week activities with the ceremonial weigh-in on September 11. –Staff

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Flock’s automatic license plate readers: What are they, how many are in Southern Nevada, and what are the risks?

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

BY TYLER SCHNEIDER From Orwell’s 1984 to Batman’s unethical sonar system in The Dark Knight, the fear of a mass surveillance state has long lived through fictional warnings of a far-off danger. Today, these anxieties seem far more plausible in an age dominated by AI, algorithms and, more recently, street cameras operated by companies like Flock Safety. Typically fastened to poles, streetlights or patrol cars, these AI-assisted devices— known as automatic license plate readers (ALPRs)—take a snapshot of every passing license plate, along with timestamps, locations and vehicle descriptions. The data is compiled into vast shared networks that can be searched by participating law enforcement agencies during investigations. With more than 135,000 ALPR cameras now active in the U.S., including 120,000 operated by Flock, residents of at least 36 states have vandalized cameras with saws, spray paint and even bullets. The trend reached Reno and Carson City last month, accentuating the issue in a state that currently has no laws with regard to ALPR use. Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Neva-

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da, hopes state leaders are paying attention. “Let’s say you want to go to a healthcare facility, a place of worship or a protest. Do you really want the government to know that? These are the types of issues that should give everyone pause for concern,” he says. SOUTHERN NEVADA Based on public data, there are now hundreds of ALPRs across the Valley—a count that includes more than 200 linked to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, at least 72 more in Henderson, an unknown number in North Las Vegas, plus additional systems maintained by private and commercial parties. Officer Roberto Vaquera of the North Las Vegas Police Department tells the Weekly his agency “doesn’t currently own or operate” Flock cameras, adding that the department can still access information in Flock’s systems through law enforcement partnerships. When reached for comment, LVMPD directed the Weekly to its Flock-operated transparency portal, which cited upwards of 2.3 million vehicles detected by 207 agency

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cameras in August alone. Officers searched the database 3,700 times in that span, while Flock’s AI automatically flagged over 12,000 passings against its “hot list” of stolen or wanted vehicles. Sheriff Kevin McMahill has previously defended use of the technology, noting that it doesn’t use facial recognition and limits Flock access to legitimate law enforcement efforts. LVMPD’s usage began under former sheriff and current Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2019 but surged after a 2023 agreement with Flock gave the department access to 200 additional cameras. The expansion was primarily funded by private donations funneled through the nonprofit LVMPD Foundation, allowing it to bypass approval from public officials. The Clark County School District Police Department has separately leveraged the same network since 2024 through a data sharing agreement with Flock and the LVMPD Foundation. An August policy memo limited access to investigations tied to a specific case number, using cameras owned by outside agencies rather than on district property. After The Nevada Independent broke the news of the arrangement, CCSD paused its usage and declined to provide further comment while it completes a review of the policy. Haseebullah says “there’s a likelihood” the ACLU of Nevada will file litigation over the matter. THE ISSUES Haseebullah ties his objections to Fourth Amendment protections against “unreasonable searches and seizures,” while rejecting the common defense that “there’s no reasonable expectation of privacy in public places.” “Our argument now is starting to morph because we’re not talking about isolated locations. It’s creating a network by which there’s no privacy anywhere the moment you leave your house,” he says. Cases of misuse—including dozens of national examples of officers using the Flock database to stalk ex-partners, or instances where agencies have shared information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—have deepened those fears. In one example from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a Texas deputy was able to access more than 83,000 cameras nationwide through a single search that was initially logged as a missing person case but was actually an investigation of a self-managed abortion.

The Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus raised its own concerns in late August, urging Nevada agencies to suspend Flock usage until state lawmakers act following investigations in California, Illinois, Virginia and Washington over using local ALPR data for immigration-related searches. THE FUTURE On August 13, Flock announced it would implement a new privacy policy next year that would shorten the default data retention period from 30 days to seven. But departments like LVMPD—which keeps its data for 90 days—aren’t required to abide. However, the new policy will make it mandatory for officers to provide a case number for each search. Flock directed the Weekly to its FAQs webpage in lieu of comment. State lawmakers are facing increased pressure to act. In late August, the Nevada Legislature’s Joint Interim Standing Committee on the Judiciary voted to request draft legislation dictating ALPR use ahead of the 2027 session. Democratic Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch recently told the Nevada Current she intends to bring her own bill forward, while Haseebullah says the ACLU of Nevada plans to lobby legislators to draft a bill taking a harder line on the issue. “We’re in favor of an outright ban, not mild guardrails,” Haseebullah says. “I don’t think you can meet in the middle when it comes to surveillance technology.” The debate now extends to the gubernatorial race. Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat challenging Lombardo for governor, said in a recent interview with The Nevada Independent that he wouldn’t support Flock use until Nevadans are offered adequate privacy protections, while Lombardo expressed support for the cameras when paired with “strong safeguards.” While Nevadans seek answers, at least 144 jurisdictions have already canceled license plate reader contracts, according to the Institute for Justice. In August alone, Florida removed license plate readers on state highways, Texas halted ALPR funding and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley opened a probe into Flock’s records. “Every argument given by a tech company or government requires inherent trust in the government to not violate your civil liberties,” Haseebullah says. “The means don’t justify the end by any stretch of the imagination.”

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HOW LAS VEGAS’ NEW TRAFFIC PILOT PROGRAM DIFFERS In May, the Las Vegas City Council unanimously approved a 12-month “advanced traffic safety analytics” pilot program utilizing 12 rented traffic cameras to record speed, red-light violations and vehicle classifications to help curb dangerous accidents in the future. The $402,080 contract went to Ludian, a Henderson-based transportation consulting firm that previously worked with the Regional Transportaiton Commission of Southern Nevada. The program won’t maintain records of specific license plates and passengers or result in citations, city officials said. City officials say it’s a response to the 53,102 total crashes recorded in Las Vegas between 2018 and 2022—resulting in an average of one fatality per week. City spokesperson Jace Radke tells the Weekly camera installations at strategic intersections—including Charleston Boulevard and Main Street and Rancho Drive and Oakey Boulevard—are still underway. “This is not Flock camera usage, and this data is the city’s and the city’s only,” Councilman Brian Knudsen said ahead of the vote, noting that he understands “nobody wants to be Big Brother.” –Tyler Schneider

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Local art collective ISI Group has spent 15 years turning blank spaces into intriguing works of art BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

ISI Group founders Dana Anderson, left, and Philip Limon at the Palms’ Brenden Theatres. (Photos by Steve Marcus)

For 15 years, ISI Group has been altering the visual language of Las Vegas. The local arts collective has made a practice of inserting artists into the city’s blank spaces and connecting underground talent with the industries that keep our town in business. Its preferred medium may be paint, but its real project is fostering community. Co-founded by Dana Anderson and Philip Limon, ISI Group takes its name from its governing philosophy: Industry supporting industry. The phrase is both mission statement and organizational blueprint, describing a sprawling network of artists, tattooers, graffiti writers, nightlife figures, businesses and cultural strays whose paths might not otherwise intersect. The idea took shape at Cornerstone Gallery, a former Arts District site owned by Limon, a devotee of the more clandestine corners of contemporary art. For roughly six years, beginning in 2009, Cornerstone operated as a gathering place for hundreds of emerging artists and the people who orbited them. Anderson, then working in an art-affiliated role at

Palms and bartending at Beauty Bar, visited frequently. “I had been to Cornerstone many times, and I just felt like that was the gallery that I would seek out when I’d go to First Friday, because the art was more of what I was into,” Anderson says. He and Limon recognized a mutual opportunity, and developed the concept of connecting people through others’ art. One of ISI Group’s first events took place at Beauty Bar, and for a while, live activations were the engine of the operation. “When I say the reaction was powerful ... there was this crossover between artists. That kind of thing was built off of us putting them in a room for the first time,” says Limon. It’s since hosted recurring events like Second Sunday at Container Park, Third Thursday at Cornish Pasty, the Vegas Made Art Auction and more. But eventually, those events began generating something more permanent: mural commissions. With a growing rolodex of artists, ISI was uniquely positioned to turn vacant walls into large-scale

canvases. “We didn’t plan on any sort of void filling,” says Anderson. “I think it was just, let’s do something f---ing cool and have fun with it and allow it to organically grow.” The results have become part of the city’s unofficial visual identity. Take Trenton Larson’s psychedelic takeover of the Arts Factory’s Charleston Boulevard-facing wall. It’s a riot of diagonal stripes, bursting with color and the emphatic declaration “Love Las Vegas.” “That took 27 days and nights,” Limon says. “That was lasers and projectors and miles of tape and gallons of paint.” Then there’s Tewsr’s work at Evel Pie, whose front and back murals have been repainted four times—less an artwork than a living landmark, continually refreshed against the wear and tear of the city’s weather. “There are certain landmarks that we’ve had on our hands,” Anderson says. Among them is Brenden Theatres, where ISI helped transform

the interior into something resembling an urban alleyway. The concept initially surprised the duo, but after clarifying what, exactly, the corporation was asking for, the project moved forward. The walls were subsequently covered in graffiti, much of it created by writers whose identities remain a mystery. “Every single piece in the Brenden Theatres is done by an illegal graffiti writer,” Anderson says. “Every single person that painted in there, we couldn’t tell you their real name.” That tension—between the illicit and the institutional—is perhaps the most ISI thing about ISI. Its client list now includes Formula 1, the NFL, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Sahara and T-Mobile Arena, alongside Vegas fixtures like Lee Canyon, Downtown Project, Atomic Golf and Area15. Now, in what feels like a natural next step, ISI is turning its attention toward the spaces that don’t necessarily have the budget—or the institutional cachet—to commission art. Enter Art Ev-

erywhere, the collective’s newly launched nonprofit initiative, which aims to raise funds to bring murals and other curated work to local shelters, schools, and overlooked corners across the Valley. The initiative kicks off with the Art Everywhere Mural Festival on October 17 in Downtown’s DT-Alley, bringing 40 live-painting artists alongside local businesses including the Griffin, Taco Escobar, Corduroy and others. “We have public walls that we have our eyes on, and if we can raise X amount to get X amount, that would be great,” Limon says. “Whether we want to do five walls or if we can afford to do 10 next year, that’s what will be the first thing in action for Art Everywhere.” For ISI, the ambition is less about adding another mural to the city than changing who gets to have one. After 15 years of turning corporate commissions, nightlife spaces and neglected walls into canvases, the collective now aims to make art feel less like an amenity and more like a public utility.

The Neon Museum’s Movies Tour unveils the magic behind some of the most memorable movie moments set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas. From classic films to modern blockbusters, The Neon Museum becomes a reel of memories, transporting visitors into the heart of the movies.

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PARADICE FESTIVAL September 12, 5 p.m., $96+. Sandbar at Red Rock, paradicefest.com.

a’el Shehade and Via Rosa of Chicago-based duo Drama have the kind of musical chemistry artists long for in love songs. Shehade produces rich, hypnotic melodies, and Rosa lends the warmth and sensuality behind the mic. Now they’re bringing that chemistry to the second edition of We the Beat’s Paradice Festival, a homegrown celebration of funk, house, soul and R&B, alongside Kaytranada, Collect 200, Dmtri and Hooper at Red Rock’s Sandbar on September 12—just one stop in a busy year that includes a new upcoming EP and Christmas tracks. Your new album is called Platonic Romance. How does the notion of that fit into the context of what Drama normally writes about? Via Rosa: Even though I write a lot of love songs … sometimes the experiences aren’t necessarily my own. Me and my friends, we share therapy sessions in some aspects. When we talk to each other, it feels like therapy, and so we share stories with each other about our life, and some of the stories end up being about my friends and family. That title we came up with when we were on tour in 2019 with SG Lewis. That tour actually was the first tour we did where it really felt like the whole crew just had each other’s back. …I feel like that is me and Na’el’s relationship with each other, because that’s my brother. I don’t know what I would do without him, and our friend group that we work with. We platonically love each other so much.

Courtesy

The Chicago-based duo on the joy of platonic love and music transcending language ahead of its Paradice Festival debut BY AMBER SAMPSON

Na’el Shehade: I buy Via flowers on Valentine’s Day because I love her. That’s my homie. Not everything needs to be romantically involved. Via wrote the album, in terms of lyrically, but it involves love from so many different angles. You have love as friends. You have love as romantic love, and then you also have this breakup love. It revolves around universal love. What’s a musical instinct you’ve learned about each other over time? NS: I know certain chord progressions that she likes, and I know cer-

tain melodies that she likes. I let her do her thing, but also try to guide her in a way. I try to take what’s in her brain, and I try to deliver that on a track. My job as a producer is to take her ideas and bring them to life, lyrically, and make sure that they sound as great as possible. VR: I’ve learned that Na’el really likes to take a record from A to Z. In order to get there, he needs his alone time. So, you can’t pressure him. You can’t ask him when it’s gonna be done. He needs time to sit and breathe with the record before he can take it all the way to the letter Z.

“Yalla Habibi” on Platonic Romance was sung in Arabic. And you just released “Noche,” a Spanish song. What inspires you to go multilingual on tracks? VR: When we had the “Yalla Habibi” song, Na’el had a specific vision in mind. He was like, “I think you should write a song or sing in Arabic, and I was just like, “You’re crazy. I don’t even speak Arabic.” He said, “We’ll figure it out.” I listened to the song. I wrote a poem in English, and then I had a friend whose father is a poet and speaks Arabic translate it. I sang it to the melody that I had written in English, and it just kind of worked. We sat for maybe even a week, maybe longer, getting the pronunciation right because I was so nervous. People loved it, and we had this other beat, the “Noche” beat, and for some reason, something told me to sing in Spanish. You just have a feeling like this is what this song needs.

Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.

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Entertainer Franky Perez restores intimacy to the Vegas residency at Treasure Island BY AMBER SAMPSON

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must go on

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Group photo courtesy Kimberly Ring; individual photo by Anneli Adolfsson

n The Return of the Vegas Showman, a new resiwith an artist. I wanted that to be what we bring. I dency at Treasure Island Theatre, local rock legend want to be on a first name basis with people.” Franky Perez puts his star power to work. Everything about the show—from the lighting to Moody basslines and a horn section kick in behind the showgirls to the band—has been built around Perez’s crooning vocals. He’s a vision of suave in his intimacy, not spectacle. Perez says the show could black suit, opening with the first few lines of Jay-Z have leaned on the elaborate tech inside Mystère’s and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild.” But just custom-built showroom. But The Return of the Vethen, his large band, The All Nighters, shifts into the gas Showman is about “old-school showmanship,” funkadelic riffs of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” It’s the kind that makes audiences feel connected one of several mashups that unfold over the instead of distant. night—David Bowie’s “Fame” bleeding into There’s a scrappiness to the show that FRANKY PEREZ AND THE ALL Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty,” The Beatles’ keeps it fresh. Much of that comes from NIGHTERS “Blackbird” transforming into a festive Perez’s own upbringing as a Las Vegas musiSelect ThursCuban anthem. cian. The frontman has been touring since days, 7 p.m. $25. As he swings his hips to a chorus of he was 18. Treasure Island Theatre, congas and sleek piano notes, Perez looks “Back then there weren’t any venues to play. treasureisland. completely at ease up there. If anything, So we would take generators and go out into com. he’s basking in a spotlight he’s become intithe desert and play shows,” he says. “We did mately familiar with after years of performwhatever it took to put a show on. And I’ve ing, contributing songs to FX’s Sons of Anarchy and taken that with me to this day.” touring with the Finnish metal band Apocalyptica. Perez has been busy outside of his residency show. But beneath the horns and hip swaying, Perez anHe was invited back to perform on Jimmy Kimmel gles toward a simpler goal, one that harkens back to a Live! for the second time this year, and he recently golden age of entertainment. released Dámelo, a new genre-blending album. “There used to be a time in Vegas where someone “I still feel the same hunger I did when I was 18, would come from the Midwest, or they’d come from looking for a record deal. But my priorities have back east and go, I’m gonna go to Vegas, I’m gonna changed,” Perez says. “My entire goal is to bring peogo get a great meal, have a great drink, and then I’m ple together and to entertain people. If I can help you gonna go see Dean. I’m gonna go see Frank. I’m gonna forget your debts or your issues in your relationships go see Sammy,’” says Perez. “There was a relationship or whatever it is for 75 minutes, then I did my job.”

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THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!

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Crystina Nguyen takes up residence at Durango Social Club with Vietnamese comfort food BY SHANNON MILLER

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Dearly loved among Las Vegas’ dining community for her style of cooking and hospitality, Crystina Nguyen didn’t always embrace the nickname “Mama.” “For years, I was pushing that name as far away as possible. … [But] everyone, everyone—I mean, 80-year-old master [sommeliers] were calling me Mama. It became so repetitive, I just finally had to accept it,” she says. “I got my nickname because I’d always cook. And all the local chefs like Brian Howard or Justin Kingsley Hall would come by, and I would pack them a package or feed them. … I was never judgmental. I tried to be there for everyone I possibly could. It’s a hard industry, and I feel very blessed and grateful that so many people, from bartenders to

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Photos by David Farris

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servers to chefs, turn to me.” The newly minted executive chef at Dan Krohmer’s Durango Social Club took over the kitchen in July, marking a shift from a pop-up model with guest chefs to a more permanent identity as a Vietnamese restaurant. With decades of experience, Nguyen has overseen front- and back-of-house operations at former Chinatown staple District One, beverage for Green Valley Ranch and Bin 702, and a pop-up concept of her own at Vegas Test Kitchen. Her extensive résumé spans neighborhood favorites to Strip restaurants. Regardless of her chameleon-like ability in different settings, her food is grounded in her desire to nurture guests and give them a sense of home.

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Bò Né

DURANGO SOCIAL CLUB 3655 S. Durango Drive #29, 725-205-9846, durangosocial.com. Wednesday-Saturday, 5-9 p.m.

A visit to today’s Durango Social Club starts with the rotating soup of the day—which on the day of our visit was congee, a savory rice porridge with cilantro, scallions and fried shallots—and Mama’s Goi salad ($21) with shrimp, shredded chicken, fried tofu and cabbage tossed with peanuts and a house vinaigrette. Hearty yet fresh delights follow, like the crispy fried turkey spring rolls ($16) served with lettuce, herbs and nuoc cham; or thit kho ($28), coconut-braised Duroc pork belly served with white rice and pickled vegetables. Dessert, Vietnamese egg coffee pie ($10), should not be forgotten. With daily specials and a changing menu revolving around seasonal ingredients, the ultimate goal is comfort. “The way that I treat my guests is exactly how I would treat you if you were to come into my home. And it works. … They’re not strangers after they leave here. And that’s where I think hospitality comes in,” Nguyen says.

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

Villa’s Tacos has opened its first location outside of Los Angeles at the Durango Resort’s Eat Your Heart Out food court. Maiz Mama, a new casual concept specializing in handmade tortillas and trompo-roasted meats, has opened at 5045 W. Tropicana Ave. Master Kim’s Wagyu House, an extension of local favorite Master Kim’s Korean BBQ, has opened at Palace Station. Meráki Greek Grill has opened its 10th local location at 1685 E. Cactus Ave. in Henderson. Finney’s Crafthouse is set to open September 21 at Downtown Summerlin, the first location outside California for the neighborhood eatery serving comfort food craft beer. The historic El Cortez has announced an “early fall” opening for Alex Prime, a “luxury New York-style steakhouse.” Leading the new concept is former Wolfgang Puck executive David Robins and executive chef Joe Swan. Significant Other Kitchen & Cocktails, created by locals Mike and Kristi Austin with restaurateur Matthew Silverman and chef Matthew Piekarski, is set to open in October on Sunset Road across from Harry Reid Airport. The Forum Shops at Caesars is planning to welcome legendary San Francisco Cantonese restaurant R&G Lounge “later this year.” BLVD Las Vegas on the Strip has revealed more details about its upcoming dining lineup, which will include new locations of Pepper Lunch, Mothership Coffee, GoGreek and the Tenshou Collection, the multi-concept Japanese experience featuring sushi, tempura, yakitori, kaiseki and more as well as Bar Centifolia, an intimate cocktail bar led by acclaimed Tokyo bartender Yuzo Komai. They are expected to open in the first quarter of 2027. –Brock Radke

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE BY KEVIN MURRAY GUEST COLUMN

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ffordable housing is often discussed as an economic issue, but it is also one of the most urgent public health issues facing Nevada today. Every day at SilverSummit Healthplan, we see firsthand how housing instability impacts physical and mental health, medication compliance and healthcare access. The reality is simple: If someone does not have a stable place to live, it becomes incredibly difficult to stay healthy. Lack of housing is a critical factor in health-related social needs because it directly impacts an individual’s ability to access care, manage medications and maintain stability in daily routines. For individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, even basic aspects of managing their health can become difficult. They may not have a place to keep medications, rest and recover, maintain a healthy diet or consistently access transportation to appointments. When basic needs like shelter and food security are uncertain, healthcare, routine and recovery often become secondary priorities. Housing instability can also take a tremendous toll on mental health. Anxiety, depression, PTSD and substance use disorders are common among vulnerable populations facing housing insecurity. As stress increases and people lose access to stable environments and coping mechanisms, their overall health can decline. Stable

Desert Pines redevelopment project (Courtesy)

housing creates the foundation people need to focus on recovery, reconnect with care and begin rebuilding their lives. From a healthcare perspective, investing in affordable housing is also an investment in lowering long-term healthcare costs and improving community outcomes. People with stable housing are more likely to engage in preventive care, manage chronic conditions and avoid costly emergency room visits and hospitalizations. While housing investments may not always produce immediate financial savings, the long-term return can be seen in improved health outcomes and reduced strain on high-cost systems such as ERs and emergency services. That is why collaboration among healthcare providers, housing organizations, policymakers, nonprofits, municipalities and business leaders is so important. No single organization can solve this issue alone. At SilverSummit Healthplan, we partner on projects that go beyond simply building housing and instead focus on building healthier communities. One example is the new Desert Pines redevelopment project in East Las Vegas, a $500 million mixed-income and mixed-use community

that will provide more than 1,500 housing units alongside educational opportunities, retail, open space and supportive community services. SilverSummit is partnering with community organizations and developers on this initiative to help ensure the project addresses broader health-related social needs and supports long-term community well-being. This type of collaboration reflects the future of healthcare and housing in Nevada—one where stable housing, healthcare access, workforce development and supportive services work together to create healthier communities. Nevada continues to face a critical shortage of affordable housing, with more than 78,000 additional units needed statewide to meet the needs of residents. The impact of this shortage extends far beyond housing alone, affecting healthcare access, workforce stability and overall economic well-being. Stable housing is foundational to improved health outcomes, stronger mental health and longterm community resilience. To make meaningful progress in public health, Nevada must continue to address housing instability not just as a housing challenge, but as a core healthcare priority. Kevin Murray is the manager of housing and justice systems for SilverSummit Healthplan.

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