2024-03-07-Las-Vegas-Weekly

PUBLISHER

MARK DE POOTER

mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

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

Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Deputy Editor SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com)

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

Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers EMMA BROCATO,GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, AYDEN RUNNELS, RHIANNON SAEGERT, DANNY WEBSTER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT

O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

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

Senior Designer IAN RACOMA

Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF

Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN

Account Executives MARY CHARISSE DIMAIN, LAUREN JOHNSON, ANNA ZYMANEK

Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ

Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON

Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS

Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

Senior Tra c Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Tra c Coordinator ALEX HAASE

Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

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Chief Operating O cer ROBERT CAUTHORN

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EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.

SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY MAR 07

THE DEFINITIVE OPPENHEIMER

In just a few days we’ll find out if the expected occurs and Christopher Nolan’s epic film about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project will sweep the Academy Awards. (Its 13 nominations put it just behind three movies tied for the most noms with 14.) For a di erent and likely more important perspective on this historic moment, Emmy-winning filmmaker John Else’s The Day After Trinity is widely recognized as the quintessential Oppenheimer documentary, and the Atomic Museum is hosting a conversation called The Definitive Oppenheimer with Else, including film clips, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Beverly Theater. The discussion will also include Else’s equally acclaimed film Wonders Are Many: The Making of Doctor Atomic, which references the 2005 opera featuring Oppenheimer as the main character. It all reveals how much fascinating art has been inspired by the birth of the Atomic Age, and it’s safe to assume this exploration of history and cinema will connect the significant dots to Las Vegas as well. 6 p.m., $38, Beverly Theater, atomicmuseum.vegas. –Brock Radke

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com

ADAM CAROLLA

7:30 & 9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com

NICKY ROMERO

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

ALOK

10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com

HVDES & HI I’M GHOST

10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us

MIKE ATTACK

10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taogroup.com

DJIBRIL N’DOYE: PRESERVATION OF LIFE, ART & CULTURE

Thru 3/23, Wed.-Fri. noon-4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Left of Center Gallery, leftof centerart.org

BARRY MANILOW

Thru 3/9, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

SHAWNA KENNEY: REFLEXXIONS

Thru 3/18, Mon.-Tue. & Thu.-Fri., noon-8 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Punk Rock Museum, thepunkrock museum.com

UNLV CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY: BOOKENDS II

7:30 p.m., Lee and Thomas Beam Music Center, unlv.edu

PLAN YOUR WEEK AHEAD

FRIDAY MAR 08

NICKI MINAJ

With Monica, 8 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com

VOCTAVE

7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

8 p.m., & 3/9, 3/13, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

NEW EDITION

8 p.m., & 3/9, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

KYLIE MINOGUE

9:30 p.m., & 3/9, Voltaire, ticketmaster.com

CHICAGO

8 p.m., & 3/9, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

BEACH BUMS With Pudgel, Spelling Hands, 7:30 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com

FIRST FRIDAY

5 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas, ffflv.org.

OAKLAND A’S VS. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

6 p.m., & 3/9, Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com

HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS

7 p.m. (& 3/9, 3 p.m.), Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

CHRIS REDD

7 & 9:30 p.m., Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguyscomedy.com.

ART OF THE WILD

With Azzecca, Mahmut Orhan, WhoMadeWho, Guy Gerber, Bedouin, Hugel, Desh, 7 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com

DEADMAU5

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

STEVE AOKI

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

JAMES KENNEDY

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

UNLV OPERA

THEATER: LE COMTE ORY 7:30 p.m., & 3/9, Judy Bayley Theatre, unlv.edu LUKAS NELSON & PROMISE OF THE REAL

7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com

S U P E R G U I D E

SUPERGUIDE

DOM DOLLA

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

SATURDAY MAR 09 S U P

JOHN SUMMIT

11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnight club.com

TWO FRIENDS

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

ART OF THE WILD

With Xeena, Yulia Niko, Ahmed, Spins, Jan Blomqvist, Damian Lazarus, Vintage Culture, Chris Garcia, 7 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial. com

TIËSTO

With Luis Torres, 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com

ILLENIUM

10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com

JEEZY

10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, drais group.com

MARK SHERRY

With Jay Sanada & Nyte, 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. DETROIT RED WINGS

7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com

THOSE HAPPY DAYS CAR SHOW

9 a.m., Clark County Government Center, umcsn.com

311 8:30 p.m., & 3/10, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com

THE IRISH TENORS

7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall Hall, thesmithcenter. com

BRASS TRANSIT

8 p.m., M Pavilion, ticketmaster.com

DECEITS

With Past Self, Spelling Hands, Close To Modern, 9 p.m., Dive Bar, facebook.com/ DiveBarLV

THE CROWN SYNDICATE With Dominick Muzio, 9 p.m., Vegas Stand Up and Rock, vegasstand upandrock.com

OV SULFUR

With Mental Cruelty, Ghost Bath, Extermination Dismemberment, 7 p.m., the Usual Place, dice.fm

( Courtesy )

PLAN YOUR WEEK AHEAD

SUNDAY MAR 10 MONDAY MAR 11

OPERA LAS VEGAS SILVER ANNIVERSARY SALUTE

Founded in 1999 by Mark Thomsen, educator Paul Kreider and soprano Gloria Marinacci Allen, Opera Las Vegas has been engaging diverse audiences in opera for 25 years. For its silver anniversary, the company is taking over Myron’s at the Smith Center for a reprise of the most glorious moments in its production history. The program will include soprano Cecilia Violetta López, tenor John Riesen and baritone Brian James Myer accompanied by pianist Deborah Gordillo. Plan on hearing soaring vocalism in selections from Rigoletto, The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, Cinderella, The Elixir of Love, Carmen, La Bohéme and Madama Butterfly, and a look forward to the company’s next 25 years. 3 p.m., Myron’s, $40-$95, thesmithcenter.com. –Shannon Miller

SOUTHERN NEVADA MUSICAL ARTS SOCIETY: SPRING MASTERWORKS

3 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu

VAVO

Noon, Encore Beach Club, wynn social.com.

DJ FIVE

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

FRANK MARINO’S DIVAS, DRAG & DRINKS

4 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.

ART OF THE WILD: RÜFÜS DU SOL

With Sahar Z, Chloé Caillet, DJ Harvey, Bob Moses, Colyn, Fergie, 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com

LUENELL

9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com

DJ SHIFT

10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com

Y.L. DOUGLAS & FRIENDS 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com

FILM: THE ZONE OF INTEREST Director Jonathan Glazer unmasks the mundanity of evil in this hard-tostomach Oscar nominee. The 2023 film, based on a 2014 novel by Martin Amis, follows married couple Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig as they settle into their dream home, located next door to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Höss plays a dutiful Nazi commandant and father, whose day’s tasks of ensuring the kids get out for a nice swim are juxtaposed against picking out new crematoriums and enabling and participating in the monstrosities of the Holocaust that live next door. It’s a tough but important watch, as we’re reminded in these scenes of how the evil half lives and why history should never be doomed to repeat itself again. Thru 3/14, times vary, $10, Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater. com. –Amber Sampson

S U P E R G U I D E

Rüfüs Du Sol (AP Photo)

SUPERGUIDE

TUESDAY MAR 12 WEDNESDAY MAR 13

TYGA 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com

MPH 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com

JOHN CAPARULO

9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com

SHANG Thru 3/17, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com

MIKE MERRYFIELD With Brendan Eyre, Kathleen Dunbar, thru 3/17, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com

PAC-12 MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Thru 3/16, times vary, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com

TWIN TEMPLE 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com

MANIA: THE ABBA TRIBUTE 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com

BOOM BOOM: EVOLUTION OF A CRIMINAL MIND WITH MIHAIL BILALOV 7:30 p.m., Judy Bayley Theatre, unlv.edu.

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

FORESTER 9 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com

DO IT ALL

HITTING THE HIGH NOTES

Vegas entertainer Daryll Borges revisits his finest moments with Opportunity Village’s musical program

(Steve Marcus/Staff)

expandHowcanLasVegasphilanthropicandsustainitsculture?

BY BROCK RADKE

here may be no destination as welcoming as Las Vegas, but as a place to live and work and grow—a true home—it’s a bit elusive. Las Vegas takes a while.

New residents might hear this from longtime locals: It takes a couple years to get used to it, and we’re not talking about the summertime heat. There’s something about this place that requires patience for meaningful connection … but once you’ve found it, it tends to click into place. You discover your community or culture or cause, and now you’re invested. Being local means making a contribution.

It sounds pretty normal, actually. Maybe Las Vegas is not all that unique in this way, but the important difference is this: This place desperately needs you to find that meaningful connection. It’s the only way it will become the Las Vegas we all want it to be.

“I’ve been here more than 35 years and one observation I’ve made is the fact that we are a community of people from elsewhere, right? The fundamental psychology of our community still seems to be that we occupy the community as a rental car rather than our own car,” says Punam Mathur. “You ask someone where they’re from, and the answer is, ‘Cleveland, but I’ve been here 25 years.’ At what point do you change allegiance from Cleveland to here?”

Currently the executive director of the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation and a board member at the Moonridge Foundation, Mathur has long been a leader in Las Vegas, including executive positions at MGM Resorts International and NV Energy. The Wynn foundation’s mission is focused around serving at-risk youth in Clark County and offsetting the effects of poverty in public schools by providing resources from basic

needs to intense case management.

The Moonridge Foundation, established by Julie Murray’s Moonridge Group consulting firm, programs the annual Philanthropy Leaders Summit forums in Las Vegas and Reno (among other initiatives), bringing together funders, corporate leaders and

community advocates. “What the summit does is it recharges folks, clarifies in our own minds what the next level is going to be,” Mathur says. “It brings together in one space people who don’t come together very often … and there’s a rejuvenation that happens.”

It brings together locals who are making a contribution and provides opportunity for collaboration among those who have decided to change their allegiance to Las Vegas, no matter where they came from or how long ago they arrived. Gatherings like these are crucial for community growth because as a young city, the Las Vegas metropolitan area doesn’t have a large number of the traditional bedrock organizations that fuel philanthropy and social services in older or larger cities.

“It’s part of the maturing process. If you go to Boston, there are just dozens of big foundations helping make a difference,” says Bob Brown, president and CEO of Opportunity Village, one of Southern Nevada’s most prominent nonprofit organizations that just

happens to be celebrating 70 years in 2024. “You just don’t have that here at this point and it is … partly because you have a lot of people here who came from other places, and sometimes they retire and go back. And it’s interesting that a lot of that money follows them.

“Now you’ve got more folks who have been born and raised here, this is their community, and you’re going to see a lot more of that in future years, people making money and keeping it here. And you see it starting with more younger people being more entrepreneurial in the community and connecting with and helping nonprofits.”

Opportunity Village has been serving local people with disabilities since 1954 through workforce development and employment, inclusive housing, arts and social recreation and other programs, and is recognized for funding its programming through social enterprises and events like HallOVeen, the Great Santa Run and the Magical Forest. It’s continuing to grow this year with its first new location in three years, the East

(Brian Ramos/Staff)

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY

Las Vegas Neighborhood Club on Bonanza Road, which opened in February. Next up will be a fall groundbreaking for the $55 million Northwest Community Center and Betty’s Village North project, near the Beltway and Decatur Boulevard.

Many Las Vegans can identify Elaine Wynn as a philanthropist or have heard about Opportunity Village’s mission or participated in one of its events. Most Las Vegans would probably say their community is a generous one, especially when times get tough during a global pandemic or after a tragedy like the October 1 shooting.

But anecdotal information can’t paint a clear picture of what kind of philanthropic culture exists in Southern Nevada, and how it can be supported and sustained moving forward. Nevada Grant Lab, a nonprofit founded in 2020 to help other nonprofits as well as local governments and state agencies maximize federal funding, offers vital info through its 2023 Nonprofit Sector Analysis report.

While there are thousands of registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Nevada, approximately 660 of them have recorded any significant measure of economic activity.

“That speaks to how there are a lot of people motivated to do something good, but there’s a big gap between the ambition and the ability to do it,” says Miles Dickson, CEO and president at Nevada Grant Lab.

And that’s why his organization was created; despite its high needs, Nevada has historically secured some of the lowest amounts of federal grant funding in the country. Grant Lab aims to collaborate with organizations, corporations and citizens to streamline the complicated process of applying for federal grants, and to build the overall giving capacity in the community through education.

“Government funding is the bedrock of how we pay for things, from the arts to affordable hous-

ing to workforce development. If we’re missing the bedrock, we don’t have anything to build on,” Dickson says. “More philanthropy is great, but if we’re trying to really move the needle, we need funding from all of the above sources.”

The report compares Las Vegas to similar cities across the country— San Antonio, New Orleans and Orlando—and finds that Las Vegas has the smallest nonprofit sector. New Orleans has approximately 51 active nonprofits per 100,000 residents, more than three times the representation in Las Vegas (15 per 100,000). And while nonprofits here may have similar assets and revenues as their national counterparts, since there are far fewer organizations in Las Vegas, the impact across the region is substantially challenged.

Certainly there are nonprofits

-Miles Dickson, CEO and president, Nevada Grant Lab

that are thriving, but for this dimension of the community to grow along with the rest of Las Vegas, we need more of that success, and that means building stronger, sustainable organizations. Nevada’s nonprofit sector is undersized, underfunded and understaffed, according to the Grant Lab report, and Dickson says the amount of funding the state is missing out on is fundamentally undermining this community’s ability to grow and serve its residents.

“What people in Southern Nevada don’t realize is all that traditional money that might be available in Alabama or Illinois or some other place is generally available to anyone,” says Beverly Rogers, chairman of the Rogers Foundation. “There are many corporate foundations where the money is good all over the country—Ford, Gates, thousands more, and there are directories to point to the people there.

“Southern Nevada receives the least amount of federal grant money of anybody in the coun-

try and has for the last 50 years, because no one applies for it. We walk away from money every year.”

The Rogers Foundation, one of the largest privately funded charities in the state, focuses on creating educational and artistic opportunities for Clark County students and teachers. It offers college scholarships for Clark County public high school students and supports Educate Nevada Now, the CORE program at several schools, and the Black Mountain Institute at UNLV.

And last year, Rogers opened the Beverly Theater, a new home for film, literature and music in Downtown Las Vegas. So far, it’s proved to be a cultural dynamo.

“This is without a doubt the most gratifying thing I have ever seen that I’ve been a part of,” she says of the theater. “It’s the grand piece of the arts portion of our mission, other than what we do specifically for students who are art students.”

Rogers and Dickson agree that there are some serious state government and policy issues that are stifling philanthropic and charitable efforts (and that’s the focus of Educate Nevada Now, a policy organization working for fair and equitable education in Nevada).

Dickson says the nonprofit sector is overtaxed and small, and so organizations haven’t been able to invest in essential areas like donor and federal funding acquisitions.

“Many of us have been working in the Legislature for years to move forward, and we’ve made progress but haven’t seen the results of that progress yet,” he says.

Reshaping state policies that govern giving and nonprofits is a “very long fight,” Rogers says, but another challenge that could yield quicker results is the effort to build connectivity and collaboration. Technology and social media have made it easier for neighbors to become funders, for people to easily find worthwhile causes and organizations to which they’d like to donate time or money. Founda-

Rendering of Opportunity Village’s East Las Vegas Neighborhood Club. (Courtesy/Opportunity Village)

LAS VEGAS

tions and nonprofits are starting to make better use of new tools as well, and those connections should extend beyond the sector, Dickson says.

“There is a lot of opportunity for more partnerships and collaboration between local and state policy makers and philanthropy. They feel very disconnected right now,” he says. “It’s about recognizing if we want to something on a certain topic, there’s not just one nonprofit that’s going to do that, it actually takes all these people together … across multiple jurisdictions. We’re really leaning into the intersectionality of these issues and recognizing if you really want to make progress in this region, it takes all of us together sitting around the table, figuring it out and executing it.”

Back at Opportunity Village, Brown notes that executives from some of the larger local nonprofit groups meet up in the CEO Exchange, banding together to talk about job fairs, overall advocacy and social issues that cross over into

different groups’ areas of focus.

“There’s not a competitive nature to it—you get that in the private sector. It’s about how many people can we help,” Brown says. “We have a lot of different facilities and other organizations use them and are really involved.”

Sustainability requires planning for the future, and although great demands are placed on local organizations to generate real-world results today, there’s an obvious

volunteer opportunities,” says Julian High, president and CEO of UWSN. “This has been part of United Way for a number of years and we sort of reactivated it after COVID.”

Shelby Sutter is a board member for the Young Leaders Society and says the giving group members share a passion for advancing community solutions in Southern Nevada. “I think the pandemic kind of left a hole for young people to come into the giving space and actually see what happens from the ground up,” she says. “I got to participate in grant reviews as a [new] donor, and now being on the board, we are building up that education and awareness and just getting everybody back out there saying we’re here, we haven’t stopped, we’re back post pandemic and we’re bringing our friends.”

Sutter notes YLS is big on embracing those modern trends like crowdfunding and social media activism, recognizing these new ways to bring someone into the world of charitable service.

“One thing I love about this group is the energy and desire to be connected to the work, and that’s really important,” says High. “If people can see and touch where their dollars go, they’re more likely to lean into making things better. It’s something I’m always in awe of, the energy and commitment from this YLS group to be in touch with the work, and that portends well for United Way and for the Valley.”

emphasis on building for tomorrow. Another of the Las Vegas Valley’s most prominent groups, United Way of Southern Nevada, recently relaunched the Young Leaders Society, a burgeoning network of young professionals dedicated to serving the community.

“It’s an amazing group of people all under 40 who have committed to a giving threshold to support United Way in addition to doing some direct engagement with

It sounds a lot like an example of the next generation of Las Vegans demonstrating their allegiance to the community, identifying their true home, and realizing what it takes to make things better and help those around them. Whatever bedrock exists, there are layers being built.

“We’re on our way,” Sutter says. “We don’t have the same stories or the extremely long history some of those other cities have, but I don’t think it matters when you have people who are top-notch. We care. We’re motivated, driven, passionate and resilient, and we’re here. It’s happening.”

Members of United Way’s Young Leaders Society. (Courtesy/Opportunity Village)

FEATURE

-Julian High, president and CEO, United Way of Southern Nevada

ADVENTURE CALLS. BIG AND SMALL. EXPLORE IT ALL.

Nevada is home to stunning state parks, crystal-clear lakes, haunted ghost towns, wicked rock climbing, starstudded night skies and so much more. From quick day trips to uncommon overnighters, the Silver State is yours to explore. Go on—get a little out there.

NEWS IN THE

FACULTY ALLIANCE CALLS FOR REGENT’S RESIGNATION OVER TRANSPHOBIC COMMENTS

The Nevada Faculty Alliance is demanding that Regent Patrick Boylan resign, saying comments he made March 1 about the transgender community during a quarterly Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents meeting violated the board’s anti-discrimination resolution.

The alliance, in a statement, said Boylan “directly attacked thousands of members of the NSHE community.”

Boylan described transgender athletes as “a man masquerading as a woman.” He boldly proclaimed that his comments were protected by the First Amendment and offered no apology when questioned during public comment by a student, instead barking: “That is the way I see it, that is the way I say it,” according to a video archive of the meeting.

He also said, “If he has not had his you-know-what cut off or anything, he’s still a man.”

The Anti-Discrimination Resolution was adopted September 9, 2022, saying “the Board recognizes its resounding responsibility to the NSHE community, the State of Nevada, and its higher education families throughout the nation to denounce any words or actions with discriminatory intent or effect, and such efforts are exemplified by the leadership and representations of its Regents.”

“In reference to certain statements that were made during the Board of Regents’ most recent quarterly meeting, we offer our strong support to any individuals who felt excluded, offended or disrespected by any comments made during the meeting,” the Board wrote in a letter to campus communities signed by Chairwoman Amy Carvalho and Vice Chairmen Jeffrey Downs.

Calls Tuesday to Boylan were not returned. –Ray Brewer

1IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

RECOGNITION FOR A VEGAS CLASSIC

The Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge was awarded the James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classics Award, which recognizes locally owned restaurants that “serve quality food, have timeless appeal, and reflect the character of their communities.”

It joins over 100 restaurants that have received the award since the category was introduced in 1998.

2

RIO RENOVATION

The Rio has joined Hyatt’s brand amid a $340 million renovation. A multiphase transformation is underway at the 2,500-room resort as the hotel transitions into the Destination by Hyatt brand this fall.

2024 FORMULA 1 TICKETS

Tickets for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix will go on sale March 25 at 10 a.m. Nevada residents will receive early access March 22 at noon. General admission ranges from $150 to $1,050 at ticketmaster.com.

RECORD WINDS The National Weather Service recorded wind gusts of 68 miles per hour at the Harry Reid International Airport climate station on March 2, the highest March gust measured since 1985.

Las Vegas leaders and library officials held a celebratory groundbreaking for the West Las Vegas Library on February 27. After serving the community for 50 years, the branch is getting a 41,178-square-foot expansion, as depicted in this artist’s rendering. (Photo courtesy of the Library District)

SECURITY IS TOP OF MIND FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS

Clark County is having regular election security meetings with state and federal officials leading up to the November general election to strengthen safety measures for poll workers and voters, said Lorena Portillo, the Clark County registrar of voters.

Portillo said these meetings—including in December with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security—started ahead of the presidential preference primary last month and will

be ongoing to discern what election officials “would be up against” with physical safety and cybersecurity measures.

The 2023 Nevada Legislature passed Senate Bill 406, which makes it a felony to intimidate, coerce or cause any other “undue influence” on any election workers in the state. Portillo said the passing of the law was “a big sigh of relief” for the workers in the county’s election office.

–Ayden Runnels

POLITICS

COURT RULING FUELS WORRY IN POST-ROE AMERICA

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled February 20 that frozen embryos in test tubes should be treated the same as a child or gestating fetus under the state’s wrongful death statute—a move that has since led at least three Alabama fertility clinics to pause services related to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, while the ramifications of the ruling are sorted.

And while it appears IVF will remain readily accessible in Nevada, the Alabama ruling has sparked a political frenzy in a presidential election year. A movement in the Alabama Legislature to shield fertility clinics from prosecution and civil lawsuits is being fasttracked to become law.

“They will find any excuse they can to not support giving women, couples, many people who are struggling with fertility, having access to what I believe is important treatment,” said Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., who added her two children were conceived through IVF. –Casey Harrison

driver Kyle Larson celebrates on Victory Lane after winning the Pennzoil 400 on March 3 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was his second consecutive win in Las Vegas and third overall at the track. He led 181 laps and swept the stages. (Steve

THAT’S HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED A RUGBY MATCH MARCH 2 AT ALLEGIANT STADIUM. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, IT WAS THE BIGGEST CROWD EVER AT A GAME IN THE U.S.

NASCAR

Marcus/Staff)

BY SHANNON MILLER

If you’ve been living under a rock like a desert tortoise, you might have missed that Nevada is part of a federal plan to reduce carbon emissions and ght climate change by transitioning to a 100% renewable energy power grid by 2035. The nationwide goal was set by the Biden-Harris administration and bolstered by Congress’ Energy Act in 2020, which calls for permitting 25,000 megawatts of solar, wind and geothermal energy projects by 2025.

With about 80% of the land in Nevada federally managed—and its obvious desert climate—the state is a prime site for renewable energy developments. And while renewable energy is an important part of the climate change puzzle, residents near established and potential sites have sounded an alarm on negative impacts.

As the federal government prepares to update its roadmap for solar energy projects, some Nevadans push back against large-scale development

asking them to consider the “peril Nye County’s largest community faces” and reject any solar project applications that would a ect the Pahrump Hydrographic Basin, the town’s main groundwater source.

Nye County already has taken issue with water use for the construction of the 3,000-acre, 500-megawatt Yellow Pine solar project in Clark County, 10 miles southeast of Pahrump. According to o cials, a pending application for the 2,400-acre Rough Hat Clark solar project could further a ect the Pahrump Valley’s groundwater supply. And Nye County has no authority regarding solar development in Clark County along the Nye County border.

ment, current trail routes or the future of outdoor recreation.

“Nye County must be part of the discussion regarding solar projects within our county, even on state and federal-managed lands.”

Clark County o cials had no comment on Nye County’s request to deny or re-site solar applications within the Pahrump Hydrographic Basin.

Candela Renewables, the developer of the proposed 400-megawatt Rough Hat Clark project, says the project’s need for water would be only temporary.

After hearing concerns from Pahrump residents, the Nye County Board of Commissioners sent a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners in January

“We do not have development agreements with these two projects, so [Nye] County and [the] community have no direct nancial bene t. They could also have a detrimental impact on our infrastructure and emergency services,” Nye County commissioner Debra Strickland said in a statement to the Weekly. “Another concern is the placement of solar elds and how to best mitigate any negative impacts on the environ-

THE WESTERN SOLAR PLAN

Leaders and residents of Nye County aren’t the only folks sounding an alarm on utility-scale solar development. Conservationists are concerned about the impacts it has on natural landscapes, plants and wildlife.

Kevin Emmerich, former park ranger and co-founder of the conservation watch group Basin and Range Watch, says solar has been developing rapidly in Nevada and transforming the landscape for more than a decade.

“Right around 2009, under the Obama administration, was the rst land rush to put a lot of largescale green energy on public lands. We took a look at the map ... and just about all of the public lands had some sort of solar application on them,” Emmerich says.

“The water needed for the Rough Hat Clark Solar Project is a short-term, temporary use primarily for dust control during construction. The water would be purchased from an existing allocation, meaning that the project would not be a new source of water withdrawal from the basin,” CEO Brian Kunz said in a statement to the Weekly. “Once the project begins operation, water needs drop signi cantly and are mainly for sanitation for the operations crew. Panel washing is infrequently, if ever, needed.”

GREENING PAINS

GREENING PAINS

During the Biden-Harris administration alone, 47 renewable energy projects have gone forward nationwide, adding 11,236 megawatts of clean energy to the grid, or enough to power more than 3.5 million homes, according to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

And Nevada’s landscape is

expected to change even more.

The BLM in January announced it is advancing four new renewable energy projects in the state, including the proposed Rough Hat Clark project and the proposed 1,635-acre, 200-megawatt Dry Lake East solar project 10 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Also in January, the BLM announced it’s updating the roadmap for solar energy development across the West. Originally created during the Obama administration in 2012, the Western Solar Plan has been that roadmap for a dozen years. The new proposed updated plan expands to 11 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming).

The agency has proposed ve alternatives that vary in the amount of public land that would be opened up to renewable energy development. The most extreme alternative would make 55 million acres available, while the least extreme alternative would make 8.4 million acres available.

Under the BLM’s “preferred alternative,” 22 million acres would

be made available to utility-scale solar development across the 11 states. Of those 22 million acres, an estimated 700,000 acres would be needed to meet energy goals set by the Department of Energy.

“The problem with the plan is that it has a really big political mandate to approve something like 700,000 acres of additional solar on public lands. That’s about 1,000 square miles, and we think that’s a lot,” Emmerich says.

He adds that he understands the urgency of cutting emissions and addressing climate change, but the development of renewable energy is coming at the expense of the natural environment.

“We noticed a lot of green groups were really con icted on this issue because they’re worried about climate change. And we have to do something about that. But, we have always felt … that green energy needs to go on more disturbed lands and rooftops.”

Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, says the draft plan doesn’t include enough protection for sensitive ecosystems found in Nevada’s public lands.

“Across all ve alternatives is this set of ‘exclusion zones.’ And the exclusion zones … largely consist of previous designations … national monuments, national conservation areas … places that already can’t have solar,” he says. “So the exclusion zones aren’t actually protecting anything, because they’re almost all places where solar can’t be built right now.

“They are leaving all sorts of sensitive ecosystems on the table for solar. Most of the wild lands of Southern Nevada that aren’t already a park or a wilderness are targeted for development.”

The BLM claims the draft updated Western Solar Plan directs development to areas that have “fewer sensitive resources, less con ict with other uses of public lands, and close proximity to transmission lines.”

The BLM used $4.3 million from the In ation Reduction Act to invest in the updates to the Western Solar Plan. “This investment is helping improve the solar development application process by providing developers with better predictability, while also maintaining su cient exibility

to address site-speci c resource considerations,” reads a statement from the agency.

Donnelly says he believes there is a way forward with solar, but it’s going to take a “drastically di erent approach.”

“There is a way forward, and I think many of us working on this do support some amount of public land for solar, if it’s done in the right way, in the right places,” he says.

The BLM said in a statement to the Weekly, “Although the Western Solar Plan does not evaluate project-speci c impacts from individual proposals, the BLM will require that the appropriate project-speci c reviews and robust public and tribal engagement are performed on each solar application the agency receives.”

The proposed update to the Western Solar Plan, o cially called the “Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development,” is open for public comment on the BLM’s website through April 18. A nal version of the plan is expected by late 2024.

DRIVING INNOVATION

UNLV growing into a tech hub with new Advanced Engineering Building

(Photographs by Brian Ramos/Staff)

NEWS

BY GRACE DA ROCHA

Mugundan Prakash moved to the United States from India last July to complete his degree, and he couldn’t imagine doing it at a better place than UNLV, he said. The 21-year-old graduate student, who majors in electrical engineering, has spent the past couple of months working on a drone that can test the soil of places affected by wildfires.

Fellow graduate student Breanna Geller, a computer science major, has taken more to land-based inventions. Her work involves creating an autonomous race car, and her current goal is to create a team on campus that travels internationally with their creation—roughly the size of a remote-controlled (RC) toy car. It’s the first invention of its kind at UNLV, she said.

Geller and Prakash began their graduate projects late last year, and while their disciplines may not have merged previously, they’ll have more opportunities now with the completion of UNLV’s Advanced Engineering Building.

“It’s awesome,” Geller said of the new building. “I think there’s a lot of ingenuity in the building and they had so many great ideas … (and) it’s super nice to have somebody next to you who’s an electrical engineer and be like, ‘I don’t know what this does, can you explain it?’”

The Advanced Engineering Building (AEB) bolsters UNLV’s effort to become a technology hub for the state.

On February 23, UNLV debuted the building—a three-story, 52,000 squarefoot “idea incubator and innovation generator” constructed next to the Thomas T. Beam Engineering Complex toward the northeast corner of campus.

The structure, with its sleek, metallic design and many open windows, adds to the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering that was established in 1976.

University officials and state leaders believe the Advanced Engineering Building will “drive innovation” in Southern Nevada. A 25% increase in the enrollment of engineering and computer science students is expected by 2030, said College of Engineering Dean Rama Venkat.

“This Advanced Engineering Building will allow us to sustain our growth and support our vision for a bright and excit-

ing future for the college, the campus and the community,” Venkat said.

Venkat, who gave remarks at the building’s opening ceremony, said the new building was “designed to be student-centered and collaboration focused,” with open wet and dry laboratories for students to share research.

The computational and dry lab will be used for projects on emerging securities technologies including robotics, circuit design and cybersecurity, whereas the wet labs will provide space for research on water resources management, energy solutions and biomedical applications.

There’s also the first-of-its-kind flexatorium classroom, a spacious lecture hall with auditorium-style seating that folds up to convert the classroom into an event or research space when needed. Geller, who works in the flexatorium, said she often uses the room to set up the track for her autonomous race car.

Another highlight is the collaborative Maker Space—with 3D printing and laser cutting technology among others as well as “accordion-style” doors to help students easily transport their projects—or the drone aviary for students to practice in sectioned-off flight space.

The building will also be a boon to UNLV and Southern Nevada as a whole, Venkat explained. About two-thirds of UNLV engineering graduates will find well-paying technology jobs in Nevada, and research done in the Advanced Engineering Building will “fuel the creation of startups in the valley,” said Venkat.

Venkat expects that faculty, which received $17 billion in research grants last year, the largest in the college’s history, will gain even more support through the work they can do in this new building. He expects by 2030 to pull in $25 billion in research grants.

In remarks given at the grand opening, UNLV President Keith Whitfield said the building will be a hub for innovations and solution-based research.

“The ideas and the research that are going to come from this building are going to be able to drive solutions and innovations that are going to forge pathways that allow us to adapt, thrive and overcome,” Whitfield said. “This state-of-the-art facility reflects the university’s commitment to

TOP UNLV recently held a grand opening event to mark the arrival of the new Advanced Engineering Building, a 52,000-squarefoot facility near the Cottage Grove parking garage.

BOTTOM LEFT

Some of the classrooms and labs at the new building.

staying at the forefront of technological advancements.”

He added that the AEB will not only provide classroom space for students, but also will provide them with more opportunities for success as well as access—to both modern tools and collaborative projects.

The building won’t be open for classes until fall 2024, but students have already begun making use of the space for their projects, or even just to study.

On the day of the grand opening, Prakash had his soil-testing drone placed on a standee atop a new desk within the AEB’s second floor. It had only been a few weeks since he moved from the Science and Engineering Building into the AEB and some of his equipment was still stowed away in cardboard boxes.

BOTTOM RIGHT Mugundan Prakash, an electrical engineering graduate student at UNLV, shows off his current drone project at the Advanced Engineering Building.

“No matter whatever the things we need, they’re getting us all the things. … We are able to work on our project very quickly, which makes the completion of the project easy,” Prakash said of his experience moving into the Advanced Engineering Building, noting that the cutting-edge tools and large spaces help. The projected growth rate for technology jobs in the United States over the next 10 years is nearly twice the national jobs rate, according to the 2023 State of the Tech Workforce report done by CompTIA, an information technology certifying organization. About 48,600 people in Nevada held a technology job or worked in the industry last year, with software and IT support specialists being the most common roles.

Local leaders believe that sector is set to grow, especially as Southern Nevada welcomes more companies into the region—like Haas Automation and Brightline West—and utilizes the expanding tech industry to diversify the economy.

“We know that Las Vegas is known around the world as the entertainment and sports capital of the world, but now for generations to come, we will also be known as the hub for cutting-edge science and technology,” said Nevada Congresswoman Susie Lee at the opening.

FEATURING:

SE LECT OP E N BA R

ALLYO U C AN EAT

MORNIN G, EV ENING ,&

FULL DAYSESSI ON S

STAR TS THU RSDAY M AR CH21

LOCATE D IN SIDET HE F RO NTYARD

MUSIC

ARENA FESTS AND TINY

LOCAL

Viaje Nahual, Twist Off, Sonia Barcelona and More

Twist Off and The Dollheads are two of the latest local bands to announce festival news, with the alt-rock trio making its Punk Rock Bowling debut on May 24-27, and The Dollheads, a promising young trio of teens, returning to the UK this August for Rebellion Festival. February also proved to be a fruitful month

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

311 keeps the music coming for pure fan satisfaction

DESKS

BY BROCK RADKE

When you think of the music of 311, what specific sounds cluster in your brain? Is it the positively charged, crunchy chord raprock that propelled the Omaha outfit into the mainstream with its self-titled “blue album” in 1995? Or do you more strongly recall reggae-tinged chill tracks like “Amber” and “I’ll Be Here Awhile,” both from 2001 album From Chaos?

“These questions make me think of that ’96-’97 era, that big, breakthrough blue album, and how those songs were very compact and tailor-made for playing live,” says lead singer and guitarist Nick Hexum. “Then we followed that up with Transistor, a much more experimental album. We were going against whatever industry expectations there were, but we also kind of said, let’s not worry about playing it live, let’s just make a really trippy album.”

He says taking musical risks and traveling more creative roads resulted in a bit of confusion and polarization at first, “but that became one of our most beloved albums by fans because of that creativity. And we figured out how to do those songs live even though that was not the intent when we wrote them.”

but I think we’re best known for our energetic live shows, and we just keep finding ways to fine-tune them and make them more rocking.”

The group is also known for 311 Day, its annual fan-servicing mini-fest performed on or around March 11, typically taking place in Las Vegas on even-numbered years and onboard a Caribbean cruise on odd ones. The band returns to Dolby Live at Park MGM for two nights of music this weekend, and Hexum says the venue is a favorite for 311 and its fans.

“The technology at Park MGM is amazing,” he says. “It’s great because we can really create an immersive experience with all those screens and really take our fans on a trip.”

311 March 9-10, 8:30 p.m., $100+.

Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com

“Prisoner” and “Beautiful Disaster” are two such songs, live favorites that 311 has tweaked and twisted on stage through the years. And though dabbling in varied rock genres has spurred some misinterpretation about the band from part-time listeners, the identity of 311 today is anchored in capable and compelling concert performances.

“I’ve had people go, ‘311, aren’t you guys a ska band?’ No, that’s not a word I would use to describe us,” Hexum laughs. “We still have some mellow moments in there,

for Latin psychedelic rockers Viaje Nahual, who will share a stage with Interpol at the Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on May 10. Secos acquired a similar buzz last year when it played a sold-out show with Keanu Reeves’ Dogstar at Brooklyn Bowl. The Mexican alt-rock band made Vegas proud with a recent sesh on Jam in the Van (stream it on-

line, it’s worth the click), and they are currently shooting their shot in NPR’s Tiny Desk contest.

Fingers crossed.

as rapper Ekoh, arguably one of the hardest working musicians in town, announced he’s collaborated with Vans on a custom-made Heart Hop Ekoh shoe, which was available at his Denver show in February. Additionally, he’ll hit the road with From Ashes to New for the second leg of the acclaimed rock band’s Blackout Tour Part 2.

311 has long nurtured a strong following in Las Vegas, constantly returning to town to satisfy locals who remember those mid-’90s glory days; all those songs, rocking and mellow, were ubiquitous on the powerhouse of the era, Xtreme Radio 107.5 FM. But a Las Vegas residency probably isn’t in the cards for the nomadic crew. Always busy traveling and touring, 311 is planning to release a new album this year, just returned from a run in Japan, and also just taped an NPR Tiny Desk concert.

“It’s definitely unusual to be playing in an office cubicle, to not have any effects at our disposal, just singing into a room mic,” Hexum says of that unique experience. “It’s like, how’s that gonna sound? But I heard the mix back and I’m really stoked on it. And people love to see the stripped-down nature of it, which is why they get such a wide variety of talent, from rappers to little indie punk bands to Adele. It’s a cool concept and I’m glad we got asked to do it.”

STREAM THIS Dimples Music’s Sin City Diaries EP, for fans of H.E.R., Summer Walker and Ella Mai; Kenyadda’s “Diamond in the Rough,” for fans of Denzel Curry and J. Cole; and Tanna Marie and Chris Ivan’s “Escape,” for fans of Honey Dijon and Jessie Ware. –Amber Sampson

311 (Courtesy/Brian Bowen Smith)

Calling

APRIL 6 | 1PM – 4PM

TURNTABLE TITANS

Sundown Soul Club aims to connect us through rare grooves

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

When someone asks, “What’cha know about this, kid?” in the realm of music, it can be taken one of two ways. It can be spoken dismissively, questioning your musical knowledge, or it can be tinged with admiration, acknowledging that you know a track that holds value and cool points. Sundown Soul Club (sundown-soulclub-lasvegas.com) embodies that latter brand of admiration, where music isn’t just entertainment but a profound expression of self, continuous discovery and education. In spinning their rare records, these DJs prove that they care more about sharing the music rather than guarding it.

The local collective is made up of both veteran disc jockeys and passionate vinyl enthusiasts. Pulling from their personal wax museums, the group gathers at the Gri n twice a month to drop the needle on the sounds of past and present.

During its midweek front room listening party, it’s common to see bodies gathered around the turntable deck with a drink in hand, bobbing their heads deep in trance, only breaking to discuss or ask what’s currently being played amongst each other. And you’re sure to hear songs that’ll stop you in your tracks and have you saying “damn’”while attempting to Shazam in secret. (If you want to prep your ears for the night with some deep cuts:

We caught “Please Wait for Me [My Darling]” by The Masters of Houston, ”Love Me When I’m Down” by Soul Inc., and “[Ride On] Iron Horse” by The Marlboro Men.)

“It’s hard, trying to nd people in this city that are like-minded to play this kind of music,” says McKenny Corbin (who DJs under McNasty). “Funk is its own reward … this is very much a labor of love.”

McNasty might say it’s di cult to nd like-minded music a cionados, but Sundown Soul Club was founded through natural mutual connections. Paola Puente (Double Peas), Harry Abraham III (DJ Harry A), Herman Chavez (Sin City Soul), Daisuke Arikawa (DJ Ari) and David Ha ner (Cool Hands) found each other through record store visits, DJ events and casual introductions. After a few backyard record hangs, the decision to keep the party going was a no-brainer, and the refreshing authenticity of the organic music they’re playing is something the city craved.

“We’re in such a quick society now that you can make a song in your living room on a laptop,” says DJ Harry A. “Whereas the stu that you’re hearing here on these vast records, are real instrumentation, real orchestration, real lyrics, real arrangements—and not only does it sound good but when

somebody listens, it’s like an education.”

And they all play their own styles. Harry A jokes that he plays music for the ladies, real dance-y jams that get the party going. DJ Ari loves to spin soulful reggae. Sin City Soul is renowned for playing his deep soul. Double Peas has a collection that touches all genres and decades. McNasty likes to play anything funky and soulful no matter its release date. And Cool Hands, owner of Friends of Sound Records, is known for playing disco. Widening its already expansive spectrum of music sharing, SSC also invites local and out of state spinners to guest DJ, sparking an abundant group of admiring listeners.

“A lot of the music that myself and my crew play is not something that’s easily obtainable,” says Double Peas. “It’s really cool to see that resurgence. I was waiting for it to hit our town and instead of waiting, we created it.”

What went from being an intimate listening party with friends has grown into a community of folks who also want to dig on tunes and ri about their favorites. DJ Ari, who’s spun for 25 years and in Vegas for the past eight, perhaps has the de ning comment on the mission: “I’m Japanese, so I can’t speak [English] very well,” he says, “but I’m here for the music.”

(Left to right) DJ Ari, Sin City Soul, Double Peas, Cool Hands, McNasty, DJ Harry A (Courtesy/Daniel Auyon-Carrillo)

SUNDOWN SOUL CLUB March 8, 9 p.m., free. The Gri n, sundown-soulclublasvegas.com.

THE RING OF POWER

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

Professional wrestling is many things. It’s a soap opera with a referee; a theatrical exhibition of strong bodies slamming against each other before a worldwide fandom; and a money-making marketing blitz. When it rst achieved mainstream success in the 1980s and '90s, wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin were familiar names whether you watched their highly-animated matches or not.

And it only continues to grow. Last month, Net ix signed a deal with industry giant WWE to move the Monday Night Raw programming to the streaming platform. Sean Durkin’s acclaimed drama The Iron

Vegas’ GrapHouse wrestles with building its local brand while giving back

GRAPHOUSE PRESENTS: MOMENT4LIFE

March 8, 6 p.m., $25, Fergusons Downtown, graphouse.net.

Claw, released in December by A24, delves into the legacy of a family of wrestlers, the Von Erichs. And the Net ix comedy series GLOW o ers a ctionalized account of the now-defunct, Las Vegas-based Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling circuit.

O -screen, however, wrestling has continued to build its audience, nding new homes in varied pockets of the world. Las Vegas’ GrapHouse is one of the many pro wrestling o shoots creating its own in-ring melodramas, while simultaneously pushing for inclusivity and dignity.

“There’s this old guard way of thinking with a lot of old wrestling promoters where you have to pay your dues and get walked on

before you get an opportunity,” says GrapHouse organizer Christopher Mounts. “There were frustrations coming from the kids about not being booked properly, being paid late or not at all. We decided we had to be the antithesis of that.”

Founded by Jody The Wrestler (now known as Jody Himself), Sandra Moone, Lazarus and Adriel Noctis—with Mounts joining later—GrapHouse has been a beacon of change and a solid source of entertainment since 2021. From its humble beginnings in a mall, the group has since found a home at Fergusons Downtown and its matches are nothing short of exhilarating and chaotic.

Attendees are welcomed to stand

ringside and fully immerse themselves in this sport without rules. You might catch a spritz of water from a dramatically tossed cup or make way as the athletes tumble out of the ring to nish the match on the ground, but that’s the fun of it.

Central to GrapHouse’s ethos is prioritizing gender inclusivity and safety. “We are a huge proponent of what they call intergender matches,” says Mounts. “I don’t think that men should just be wrestling men and women should just be wrestling women—if you’re going to be in a physical sport, nine times out of 10 you’re able to hold your own, so why not put you with people that are going to push you to be a better talent?”

Now in its third season, GrapHouse continues to rede ne the scene with a commitment to community engagement. Alongside thrilling matches and storytelling, the group has expanded its impact beyond the ring. Organizers forged partnerships with local charities and initiatives, dedicating space at their events to raise awareness and accept donations. And its night market is a hub of local vendors o ering diverse goods. From handmade crafts to tasty bites, the free market adds an extra layer to the already dynamic atmosphere.

Mounts says it’s common for wrestling promoters to borrow ideas from their competition—theirs is not the only wrestling organization in Vegas—but he hopes GrapHouse’s competitors adopt their e orts to give back. “It’s time for us to start rallying behind our communities that have rallied behind us for so long,” he says.

Holding bouts at Fergusons positions GrapHouse to draw audiences from a wider demographic, and coupled with top-notch production values, it guarantees an unforgettable event for both newcomers and seasoned wrestling enthusiasts.

“I don’t know if Vegas has always been a wrestling town, but I can con dently say for the last six years there’s been an uptick,” says Mounts. “It’s really lit a re—but competition only breeds excellence, right?”

(Courtesy/Jayson Martinez)

A SLICE OF EVOLUTION

John Arena on the art and craft of pizza making

BY GENEVIE DURANO

For John Arena, pizza making is a vocation that chose him as much as he’s chosen it.

Las Vegas’ preeminent pizzaiolo came to Las Vegas from New York City with his cousin Sam Facchini and they opened their first pizza shop in 1980. That venture eventually turned into Metro Pizza, and the third-generation pizzaiolo blew wide open the craft in this desert outpost, introducing Las Vegans to his fami-

ly’s New York pizza traditions.

Metro Pizza, of course, is a local legend (seven locations and countless awards, metropizza.com) and now Arena has gone coastal—to Dana Point, specifically, opening Truly Pizza last year, a craft-focused artisanal pizzeria that evokes the Amalfi Coast and is blessed with the culinary bounty of California.

How Truly Pizza came about is a story of serendipity and lifelong friendship. In 1980, a high schooler

named Donna Baldwin happened upon Arena’s pizza shop and loved it so much that she got a job there. They remained friends and she went on to a career in the hospitality industry at the Mirage and Bellagio, working for Steve Wynn. When she retired, she moved to California, but she never forgot those early days at Arena’s pizza shop.

“She called me one day and said, ‘Hey, you know we had a lot of fun working together in pizza business

… let’s open up a pizzeria.’ And we did,” Arena says. “It’s been a dream. Donna is like a unicorn investor; she gave us all the resources that we needed to do something that was really special.

“Chris Decker and I, with the help of Michael Vakneen, collaborated on the food and Donna worked on the design and conceptualization, along with real estate developer Steve Muller. We worked on the menu together and it was two years before

we actually got it open. It’s been a phenomenal success.”

Truly Pizza is the pizzeria for its location, just like Metro Pizza is the right pizzeria for Las Vegas, Arena says. He is guided by the philosophy of what a pizzeria can mean to a neighborhood, and Baldwin and Muller wanted something that their neighbors would love coming to.

“A pizzeria, if done correctly, is a gathering point and touchstone for families,” Arena says. “It’s a way

of coming home; it reinforces the fact that you’re truly home wherever home is for you.”

Speaking of coming home, Arena will be the keynote speaker at the International Pizza Expo & Conference this year, taking place March 19-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. One of the topics he will be discussing is finding unwavering inspiration and motivation in the incredibly challenging restaurant industry. Arena has much to say on the issue, given the years he’s been at his craft.

“I try to remember the excitement I had the first time I made my first commercial pizza that got sold when I was 13,” he says. “I marveled at the fact that something I made with my hands was going to become someone’s meal. Every time I touch dough, now 56 years on, I still feel that excitement.

“But also, to be honest, I’m getting older and I have Parkinson’s disease, which slows me down a little, but not too much. What I try to do is think about the excitement I had when I made my first pizza and the reverence I would feel if it were my last.”

The craft of pizza making, in the end, is about change. Every slice is a singular expression and a reminder that, like the dough that Arena has shaped into countless pies, we are always evolving, inevitably so.

“People will come into the pizzeria sometimes and they’ll say, ‘Oh your pizza is different today than it was last week or last year. My pizza is different from even an hour ago.

That’s because it’s alive and it’s changing and it’s evolving. But more than that, I’m changing. The next time I make a pizza, I’ll be a slightly different person. The next time you eat a pizza, you’ll be a slightly different person,” he says. “Everything we do, by its very nature, is a one-off, including this conversation.”

FOOD & DRINK

PROST TO 20!

The one and only Hofbraühaus celebrates two decades in Las Vegas

 You don’t need to see the numbers to know how much fun has been had at Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas in the last two decades, but let’s throw a few stats out just for fun: Almost a million gallons of beer served, enough to fill up nearly two Olympic-sized swimming pools, and roughly 175 tons of sauerkraut sold ... which makes a lot of sense, because this is the only place I eat sauerkraut. It’s just not the same if you’re not at the first and only true Bavarian beer hall, feasting on that uniquely sour, crispy cabbage on a giant platter with smoked pork loin, pork roast, smoked sausage and mashed potatoes.

Hofbräuhaus is a must during Oktoberfest, but it’s a party every day at this institution loved by locals and tourists alike. It opened on January 31, 2004, and it kicked off a year-long celebration on that day this year by tapping the first keg of the winter dark wheat beer and recognizing five employees who have been on the team all 20 years.

Another big bash for VIPs and dignitaries is coming up this month, but there’s even more fun in March with St. Patrick’s Day, when a menu of Irish-German fusion dishes (corned beef brisket with steamed cabbage, bread and butter pudding with whiskey sauce) will be paired with Hofbräu beer imported from Munich. Then on Easter Sunday, March 31, the special menu includes Black Forest ham and asparagus soup, breaded chicken with Yukon Gold potatoes and Hollandaise sauce, and crêpes filled with vanilla cream and strawberries.

All year long, a different featured schnitzel will be available for $20 on the 20th of each month. And if you can pry yourself away from those frosty Bavarian brews in those mighty mugs, be sure to try the anniversary cocktail, Prost to 20—made with Kinky fruit punch, grenadine, Starry and pineapple juice, served in a hurricane glass—which is also on tap throughout 2024. –Brock Radke

HOFBRÄUHAUS LAS VEGAS

4510 Paradise Road, 702-853-2337, hofbrauhauslasvegas.com

Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Siegfried Fischbacher at a keg tapping event in 2016. (Courtesy/Hofbraühaus)

Metro Pizza founder John Arena at his Centennial Hills restaurant. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Drop in STEAM:

Snap Circuits

March 8 & 9

Blue Diamond Library

AGE GROUP: ALL

Mountain Crafts:

Craft Tuesdays

Tuesdays, All Day

March 12, 19 & 26

Mt. Charleston Library

AGE GROUP: ALL

Hydroponics Open House –Demo & Q&A

Tuesdays, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

March 12, 19 & 26

Centennial Hills Library

Age Group: All

Youth 3D Printing Certification

Wednesday, March 13

4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

West Las Vegas Library

AGE GROUP: TWEENS, TEENS, KIDS

LEGO Mindstorms

Wednesday, March 13

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Rainbow Library

AGE GROUP: TEENS

Throwback Thursday:

Macrame Rainbows

Thursday, March 14

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Rainbow Library

AGE GROUP: TEENS

Woodburning Bookmarks

Friday, March 15

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Mesquite Library

AGE GROUP: ADULTS

Maker March Build a Bridge Challenge

Saturday, March 16

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Moapa Town Library

AGE GROUP: TWEENS, TEENS, KIDS, ADULTS

Crafternoon:

Pressed Flowers

Sunday, March 17

3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Enterprise Library

AGE GROUP: TWEENS, TEENS, ADULTS

Make It Mondays:

Drop-In Art

Monday, March 18

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

West Charleston Library

AGE GROUP: KIDS

D.I.Y. Library Tote Bags

Tuesday, March 19

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Mesquite Library (Learning Center)

AGE GROUP: ADULTS

Tots + Tools

Wednesday, March 20

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Sunrise Library

AGE GROUP: TODDLERS, PRE-K

Crochet Club

Wednesday, March 20

5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunrise Library

AGE GROUP: TEENS, KIDS, SENIORS, ADULTS

Adult’s Cricut 101

Thursday, March 21

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Meadows Library

AGE GROUP: ADULTS

Throwback Thursday: 90’s Boondoggle Keychains

Thursday, March 21

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Rainbow Library

AGE GROUP: TEENS

School Age Program: Balloonarama

Thursday, March 21

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

West Charleston Library

AGE GROUP: KIDS

3D Printing Certification Course

Tuesday, March 26

3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Rainbow Library

AGE GROUP: TWEENS, TEENS, ADULTS

West Las Vegas Library Maker Fair

Wednesday, March 27

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

West Las Vegas Library

AGE GROUP: ALL

10+ Robotics Workshop

Wednesday, March 27

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Summerlin Library

AGE GROUP: TWEENS

Throwback Thursday: Flipbook Animation

Thursday, March 28

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Rainbow Library

AGE GROUP: TEENS

Sticker Making with Cricut

Thursday, March 28

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

East Las Vegas Library

AGE GROUP: TEENS

D.I.Y. Book Sleeves

Friday, March 29

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Mesquite Library

AGE GROUP: ADULTS

MAN

SPORTS ON A MISSION

UNLV football defensive leader Jackson Woodard is ready to build on last year’s breakthrough

BY RAY BREWER

UNLV football player Jackson Woodard settled in at his apartment near campus on Swenson Avenue after the team returned to town last November following a win at Air Force. He noticed there was a persistent light shining into his unit. He opened the window to realize it was the LED display coming from the nearby Sphere, or as Woodard calls it, the “greatest video screen in the world.”

It was another reminder that Woodard was no longer in Greenbrier, Arkansas, where his family has a cattle farm on many acres in a city of about 5,000 residents, and where his childhood pet pig, Calvin, awaits his visits.

“It still happens to this day when I’ll be driving at nighttime and I’ll look at the Strip and be like, ‘Wow, I’m in Las Vegas right now,’ ” said Woodard, who transferred last January from the University of Arkansas. “Never in my wildest dreams did I dream of being in Las Vegas. Another one is driving past Allegiant Stadium and realizing that’s our base. That’s where people come to watch us play.”

The Rebels are sure glad

he’s here. The linebacker had 116 tackles last fall in UNLV’s breakthrough season—and he wants more. The program started spring practice March 2 looking to build off last year’s 9-5 season, which included a share of the Mountain West Conference regular-season title but left a lot of meat on the bone with three losses in a row in November and December.

A 49-36 defeat to Kansas at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix leaves plenty of motivation for Woodard and his defensive teammates because they allowed Jayhawks quarterback Jason Bean to pass for 449 yards and six touchdowns. Woodard has watched the game a few times trying to analyze what didn’t work.

“I tend to watch the games a little too much just critiquing myself, especially when I do bad,” he said. “We didn’t need to watch the film to realize what we needed to do to win. We knew exactly what went wrong when it comes to miscommunication, not running to the ball and not finishing. So I think going into this season we just need to be disciplined, be consistent and ultimately swarm to the ball. I mean, if one guy

misses a tackle, the next guy’s there. And if that guy misses, the next guy’s there.”

The Rebels’ stable of “next guys” was upgraded in the offseason by UNLV coach Barry Odom and his staff—with an assist from Woodard. The Rebels grabbed at least four defenders from the NCAA Transfer Portal who are expected to make over the defense, all of whom Woodard had a hand in recruiting. His message: Come to UNLV and become a pro.

That could be the path Woodard is taking after his historic 2023 season, when he was second in the Mountain West in tackles and was named Newcomer of the Year.

That honor next season could go to one of the four defenders joining Woodard— including defensive backs LaDarrius Bishop and Malik Chavis from Arkansas, and Jalen Catalon from Texas, to aid the secondary that was exposed in the bowl game. The Rebels additionally added a pass rusher in Jackson State transfer Antonio Doyle Jr., who also spent two seasons at Texas A&M.

“I knew this would happen under coach Odom,” Woodard said of the program’s trans-

formation in the coach’s first season. Woodard followed Odom, formerly the Arkansas defensive coordinator, when he got the UNLV job.

“I believe in him more than anybody when it comes to football and building a team.

So I knew under him, we’d have a winning team and a winning program,” Woodard continued.

Mike Scherer, the UNLV defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, has worked with Woodard since they were both in the Arkansas program. Woodard’s dedication to the craft—from countless hours studying film to training behind the scenes—is what sets him apart, Scherer said. It also makes him a great leader.

“It’s his work ethic,” the coach said. “Every single day he is one of the hardest workers on the team. It’s in his personality to lead the team.”

Scherer said UNLV had “just a good enough season last year to come up short” and said the sky’s the limit in the second year under Odom. Woodard has his eyes fixed on something more: the playoffs.

The NCAA is debuting a 12-team playoff next season with an automatic bid going to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The Mountain West, which UNLV competes in, is considered part of that group, meaning a league title for UNLV could also mean a playoff berth.

“We have a mission,” Woodard says, “which is to go win a championship. That’s the standard and we are going to accept nothing but the standard. As a team, we’re all going to be on that same mission.”

(Steve Marcus/Staff/Photo Illustration)

STATE IN POSITION TO MAKE MOST OF BOOM IN MANUFACTURING

BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF

Las Vegas is at the forefront of a nationwide manufacturing “resurgence,” a new study shows.

The Las Vegas, Henderson and Paradise region was the fastest-growing manufacturing center among large cities since 2018, according to a recent report by Zetwerk, a global manufacturing firm. The study, which looked at manufacturing across the U.S., also noted that Nevada has seen the greatest increase in manufacturing employment since 2018.

“The growth of the manufacturing industry is particularly significant because it signifies economic vitality and job creation,” Anirudh Reddy, business head of Zetwerk-North America, said in an email. “Manufacturing jobs often provide higher wages compared to other sectors, contributing to increased prosperity for individuals and communities. Additionally, a thriving manufacturing sector boosts overall economic productivity and competitiveness on both a state and national level.”

Though the report shows that California and Texas are the overall leading states for manufacturing in the U.S., Reddy said Nevada “stood out” for manufacturing employment growth, with a substantial amount of the latter taking place in the Las Vegas area, specifically.

“Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise recorded a notable surge in manufacturing employment …

the highest among large metros nationwide— suggesting a growing manufacturing presence in the region,” he said.

Perry Ursem, senior vice president of business development for the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, noted that manufacturing has a decades-old history in Las Vegas, and the sector is continuing to grow across different disciplines.

A lot of businesses that may have moved overseas in the 1980s and ’90s are now returning to the U.S., Ursem said, which is likely so they can get manufacturing closer to the consumer and stay up-to-date with trends. Las Vegas stands out in particular, he said, because of its overall proximity to southwest cities.

“Our location in Las Vegas—we have access to approximately 60 million consumers within a one- to two-day truck travel out of Vegas … going toward California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and even further north,” he said.

Nevada is home to manufacturers across industries, from advanced technology to food production, said Michael Cymbrowsky, manufacturing business adviser at Manufacture Nevada, the state’s branch of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network—a U.S. Department of Commerce-funded initiative that aims to advance manufacturing nationwide.

The region is also attractive to manufacturers for its dry climate, Ursem said, and the fact that

it’s adjacent to California, which is home to one of the largest economies in the world. Manufacturers in Southern Nevada can easily do business with California, Ursem said, without actually having to be in that state.

“And when you think of all the tax costs and regulatory impacts that California has, what better than to be in a place like Southern Nevada?” he said. “And literally within the four-hour truck travel to Los Angeles, you can access that customer base, that marketplace, but then come back to the safe haven that Southern Nevada—but more importantly, Nevada—is known for: lower costs, a lot less regulation, much more business friendly.”

One of the industry “verticals” that the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance is focusing on with regards to manufacturing, Ursem said, is the lithium battery space. Nevada is unique in that it’s one the first states to have the opportunity to house all seven phases of activity in lithium battery manufacturing—from mining extraction to recycling of lithium, he said.

“We have the lithium,” he said. “Now it’s a matter of processing it to make it usable. But again, as that develops and evolves, how does that become an opportunity for us to attract businesses in the lithium-ion battery space, to grow that industry and continue to diversify our economy?”

Manufacturing helps make the community more sustainable, and creates jobs, Ursem said. Additionally, the more manufacturing that’s brought to Southern Nevada, the more it will shield the region from the economic “ebbs and flows” of recessions and pandemics, he said.

“So, when you think of the manufacturer, it’s beyond just that company,” Ursem said. “Again, it’s all of those resources coming in, and then all of the other services in the community that support those people living in the area to support that manufacturer to do its job.”

VEGAS INC NOTES

Highlights of the best in business

Ashton Bray, a performer in Fantasy at Luxor, was named the show’s new performance director. Bray, who originally joined the cast in 2012 as a dancer, will oversee performance elements of the show, such as scheduling rehearsals and teaching choreography. Her responsibilities also include updating the show’s script based on set and cast changes, providing staging notes, and communicating between the cast and lighting, sound and wardrobe crews.

Communities In Schools of Nevada, a nonprofit focused on keeping kids in school, was awarded a five-year, $11,852,258 grant from the United States Department of Education as part of a nearly $74 million expansion in the Federal Full-Service Community Schools grant program. CIS of Nevada brings $1.5 million of other funds to support the overall project, or about 13% of the project cost, bringing the total invest-

ment to just over $13 million with 87% of the project being financed with federal money. CIS of Nevada serves 110 schools in the Clark, Elko, Humboldt and Washoe County school districts.

The Farmhouse Kitchen, inside Gold Town Casino in Pahrump, celebrated its grand reopening February 20. It introduced an expanded menu with new dishes that reflect the restaurant’s commitment to hearty farm fresh fare.

Gov. Joe Lombardo appointed Dr. Vicki Mazzorana to the Cannabis Compliance Board. Mazzorana has served as an emergency physician for nearly three decades, and she has served as a ringside physician for the Nevada State Athletic Commission since 2008. Additionally, Mazzorana serves on both the National Disaster Medical Team, as well as on Nevada’s Search and Rescue Team. The Cannabis Compliance Board

MGM Resorts International Operations, Inc. has the following position in Las Vegas, NV. Senior Data Engineer II to lead, manage and execute the designing, development and operationalization of data integration, engineering and data platform services to support enterprise data programs. Work from home benefit available within a reasonable commuting distance of the Las Vegas, Nevada Office.

Apply online at https://careers.mgmresorts.com/global/en job number: 246628 or E-Mail resume to resume@mgmresorts. com and reference job number: 246628.

was established through Assembly Bill 533 during the 2019 legislative session and consists of five board members appointed by the governor.

The Henderson Fire Department has been named a recipient of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold achievement award for its dedication to providing prompt, evidence-based care. The department also received recognition for the Heart Attack Honor Roll.

Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit rebuilding communities in need, partnered with Lowe’s to provide essential home repairs for six families and community improvements in a Las Vegas-area neighborhood. Additional sponsors and partners include CreditOne Bank, ADT, Affordable Tree Service, Republic Services, City of Henderson, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada’s John C. Kish Club.

7 - 9 PM | JUNE 28

Las Vegas Weekly’s 2024 Best of Vegas celebration, where you can bet on a good time!

Early bird tickets on sale now

Secure your tickets at:

LasVegasWeekly.com/BestOfVegas2024

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

Vegas Inc is seeking nominations for the 2024 Angel Awards. These awards recognize Southern Nevada’s most philanthropic businesses and nonprofits. Nominate to help us honor the kindness and generosity of some of the community’s most service-minded individuals and organizations.

DEADLINE APRIL 1

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS HERE

LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM/ANGELAWARDS

MARCH 20–24 & 28–31

Get ready to make a splash as we celebrate the madness of basketball, and the thrill of victory, where the only thing hotter than the competition is our grill. With heated pools & cabanas, game-time snacks and drinks, and an epic 143ft screen to watch simultaneous game action - there’s simply no better place to be.