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New Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd fires away at Michelob Ultra Arena in a preseason game. (Wade Vandervort/Sta )
COVER ART Photograph by Christopher DeVargas ON THE COVER
28 NEWS
Nevada’s cultural institutions pick up the pieces after the Trump administration slashed their funding.
Explore the real-life inspirations for the celebrated role-playing game Fallout: New Vegas
30 SPORTS
Las Vegas Aces Allstar newcomer Jewell Loyd can help bring them back to the top.
32 MUSIC
EDC returns to the Speedway with a new stage celebrating African artists.
34 NIGHTLIFE
Palm Tree Beach Club emerges with immersive performances and tropical atmosphere.
36 THE STRIP Hit podcast Crime Junkie tells true crime stories live at Resorts World.
38 FOOD & DRINK
Catch the Valley’s newest elite Neapolitan-style pizza at Solamente on West Sahara.
Tchami, Biscits and Malaa spin at Virgin Hotels’ EDC pool party, Tennis plays one of its final sets at Swan Dive and more happening this week.
THURSDAY MAY 15
MONICA MACANSANTOS
Author of the acclaimed 2022 story collection Love and Other Rituals and a recent Black Mountain Institute Shearing Fellowship recipient, Monica Macansantos isn’t sure she can write a memoir just yet. “I’m still unable to see my life as an entire story,” she says in a BMI video shot in the aisles of Seafood City in Las Vegas’ newly christened Filipino Town. That setting is doubly appropriate, as her new collection of essays Returning to My Father’s Kitchen is both a revealing portrait of this Filipino author’s life and a collection of flavorful, richly satisfying prose—less a memoir, more of a feast. She’ll discuss the book and its themes with James Beard Award-winning essayist Kim Foster at this UNLV-sponsored event. 7 p.m., free. Majestic Repertory Theatre, tinyurl.com/bmimonicamacansantos. –Geo Carter
PORTER
ROBINSON
11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup. com.
PINNACLE CIRCUIT HORSE SHOW Thru 5/18, times vary, South Point Arena, pin naclecircuit.com
NEVADA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: HAMLET Thru 5/17, 7:30 p.m., Cornerstone Park, humanitix.com
NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: DANCE LAB Thru 5/17, 7:30 p.m. (& 5/17-5/18, 2 p.m.), Troesh Studio Theater, thesmithcenter. com
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS
6:35 p.m. (& 5/16-5/18, times vary), Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com
DEAD & COMPANY Thru 5/17, 7:30 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster.com
BARRY MANILOW Thru 5/17, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com
SANTANA 7 p.m., & 5/17-5/18, 5/21, House of Blues, concerts.live nation.com
THE GO-GO’S 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com
SHAKEDOWN VEGAS
With Randy Crawford, Delilah’s Dead, more, thru 5/18, times vary, Tuscany, shake downvegas.com
ACTORS 8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
BASSRUSH POOL PARTY
With Andy C, Basstripper, Jessica Audi red, more, 11 a.m., Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com
DABIN & SAID THE SKY 11 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
SARA LANDRY & NICO MORENO 9 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, factory93. frontgatetickets. com
BASSRUSH MASSIVE With Ahee, Kompany, Ray Volpe, Sol, more, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com
ODESZA With Phantoms, 10 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
EXCISION & SULLIVAN KING 10 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
ARMIN VAN BUUREN
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
JOHN SUMMIT & DOM DOLLA 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
SHINGO NAKAMURA 9 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com
STOOG3S 10 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com
SHLOMO & BASSWELL With Basswell, Is He Izzy?, Pharma, 11:30 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
FRIDAY MAY 16 MUSIC PARTY
THE FRAY With The Strike, 8 p.m., Bel-Aire Backyard, axs.com.
TENNIS
Tennis is saying goodbye. After 15 years of making music that felt like diary entries dressed up in indie shimmer and synths, the musical lovechild of husband-wife duo
Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore is taking its final bow. Down in the Garden, their farewell record, doesn’t scream or plead, it just understands. It knows what it means to grow up with someone, to make something beautiful together, and then let it go. This last tour isn’t a victory lap—it’s a love letter, sealed and sent. If their music ever found you in a quiet moment, now’s the time to return the favor. 7 p.m., $35, Swan Dive, swandivelv.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez
ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL
Thru 5/18, 5 p.m., Las Vegas Motor Speedway, lasvegas. electricdaisycarnival. com
JOSH GROBAN 8 p.m., & 5/17, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com
SAMMY HAGAR
8 p.m., & 5/17, Dolby Live, ticketmaster. com
TOM JONES 8 p.m., & 5/17, Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com
MADNESS 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.live nation.com
JAKE MATTHEW 10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, tixr.com
TAMIR
HENDELMAN TRIO
7:15 p.m., & 5/17, Vic’s, vicslasvegas.com
THE BRONX WANDERERS Thru 5/18, 7:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com
NIRVANAMANIA With Pure Sport, Heroine Honey, 7 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
MOJO JUJU
7 p.m., the Barbershop, thebarbershoplv.com
SCHOOL OF NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: BROADWAY 6:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com
TIËSTO 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com
ARGY With Black Circle, 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
HUGEL 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
JAMES KENNEDY 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
(Courtesy/Ryan Reichert)
SUPERGUIDE
CONFESSION POOL PARTY
EDC isn’t so much a weekend festival as it is a town takeover. EDC Week has been in full swing, with over 100 mega-DJs hosting pool parties and exclusive club events on and o the Strip. Think of it like NBA All-Star Weekend, but for ravers. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has been a basecamp for a lot of those performances as the o cial Hotel EDC, and it’s revving the excitement with a high-profile pool party hosted by Parisian producer Tchami and his record label, Confession. Rising tech-house talent Biscits also joins the fun, along with France’s bass-house boss Malaa, house duo Walker & Royce and Vegas native Carrie Keller. 11 a.m., $33, The Pool at Virgin, edcweek.com.
–Amber Sampson
Rebecca Black, 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
TIM ALLEN 9 p.m., David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com
SCHOOL OF NEVADA BALLET
THEATRE: NEXTGEN25 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com
DISTURBED With Daughtry, Nothing More, 6:30 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com
ERIC PRYDZ 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com
KYGO 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com
DJ SNAKE With Bontan, noon, Ayu Dayclub, zouk grouplv.com
DAVID GUETTA 11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
SPOTLIGHT EVENT
CRIME JUNKIE PODCAST LIVE
Award-winning podcasters Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat are coming to Las Vegas for the Crime Junkie Life Rule #10 Tour. This once-in-a-lifetime live show gives you an up-close experience with your favorite podcast and deep dives into a case you need to hear. The tour features a live show with Ashley and Brit as they cover a case packed with twists and turns. Join Ashley and Brit live and in-person for this unforgettable true crime experience. 8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.
HIPPO CAMPUS With Hot Line TNT, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster. com
EVE 6 8 p.m., Sunset Station Side Lawn, ticket master.com
ICONS OF MOTOWN 8 p.m., Veil Pavilion, silver toncasino.com
EMMALINE 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
DEZ HOSTON With The Eras of Taylor, DJ Jace, 3 p.m., Exploration Peak Park, my mountainsedge. com
DREAMSTATE With Cosmic Gate, Laura Van Dam, Lauren Mia, Le Youth, Trance Wax, 11 a.m., Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com
THE CHAINSMOKERS 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
BIG SEAN 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
DJ PAULY D 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
LEE DAGGER 9 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com
KATY PERRY With
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY
UNCLE WAFFLES
Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
INSOMNIAC RECORDS
POOL PARTY
With Francis Mercier, Amémé & Wakyin, Calussa, Amal Nemer, 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com
DIPLO
Noon, Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
ALESSO 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com
AFROJACK
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. EDMONTON OILERS Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
JEFF DUNHAM 8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com
ORION SUN With Chlothegod, 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com
EXHIBIT: AMERICAN DUET: JAZZ & ABSTRACT ART
Thru 6/1, daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, bellagio. mgmresorts.com
MONDAYS DARK
8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com
STEVE HOFSTETTER
7:30 p.m., Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguys comedy.com
KASKADE
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
TYGA 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
JOHN SUMMIT 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
* Spotlight events are sponsored
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS Thru 5/22, 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com
JIMMY POWERS & THE HANG DYNASTY 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com
BPR BRASS BAND 8 p.m., Fat Cat Lounge, fatcatlv.com
CARLOS MENCIA 10 p.m., & 5/21, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com
MARTIN GARRIX With Justin Mylo, 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightlub, taogroup.com
HAMILTON
7:30 p.m. (& thru 6/1, times & dates vary), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
JANET JACKSON
8:30 p.m., & 5/24-5/25, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
BRUNO MARS 9 p.m., & 5/245/25, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com
TRAVIS CLOER 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
DJ FRANZEN 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
DJ OPTIC 10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv. com
SPOTLIGHT EVENT LOOK AHEAD
SATURDAY MAY 24
ELECTRIC FEELS INDIE ROCK + ELECTRONIC DANCE PARTY
Experience a dance party where the best of indie rock and electronic music collide under the stars. Happening Saturday, May 24 at Area15’s A-Lot, this traveling party experience is known for turning up the energy with all your favorite festival anthems. Expect a night of euphoric drops, neon vibes and non-stop dancing with fellow music lovers. 5/24, 9:30 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, area15.com.
Christensen)
SELF-CARE & LEISURE
CREATING TO COPE
Downtown’s Arttherapy Café o ers tips on using art to improve your mental state
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
When it comes to mental relief, sometimes the fix isn’t in a pill bottle or a meditation app—it’s in a brushstroke. A messy one, a colorful one, a big or small one is fine. It’s not about being good. It’s just about being honest.
some paint and
Leah Devora owner of the new Arttherapy Café & Gallery Downtown, knows a thing or two about this. She’s not here to analyze or fix you. She’s here to hand you some paint and let you rediscover your inner child while allowing yourself a break.
“We serve art as the main course,” she says. “I wanted to appeal to people who want healing on an emotional level, spiritual and physical release it with art.”
Devora’s personal journey, which involves working as an art therapy guide with foster children and at-risk individuals as well as dealing with her own personal traumas, has showed her the power that simple creativity can have to heal and manage inner turmoil.
Here are her tips for unwinding and destressing with art.
Let the process be the therapy.
Instead of focusing on what you’re creating, think about how you’re creating. The act of brushing, smearing or scribbling is where the healing begins. Devora encourages you to lose yourself in the motion, not the outcome. “A lot of people don’t realize until they start working with art or any other physical mediums like sculpture, how much of a release is in your endorphins, in your brain,” she says. “And when you’re feeling depressed and down, it helps to just draw and throw paint.”
It’s a refreshing take on creation given our collective tendency to overthink and overplan. But once you get past the initial block, you’ll be able to channel free-flowing creativity.
If you’re feeling unsure of where to start, Devora suggests asking yourself what color you feel like today. Oftentimes that simple question can snowball into a spontaneous range of reflective thoughts and can help pinpoint exactly what you’re feeling. “I get people who come in and say they have no idea what to do,” she explains.
“That’s fine. We do anything. I give them paint, di erent colors, and ask then, ‘What are you feeling today?’ We meditate, we pick a color mode, and we work expressively.” That freedom to choose, to feel, and to respond is what makes the experience therapeutic. And while it may feel silly at first, once you identify and correlate colors with emotions, it will become natural to match one with the other.
Reconnect with your inner child.
Devora says many people walk through the door convinced they aren’t creative and can’t even draw a stick figure. Her response is to get them to draw that stick figure. What follows is often surprising, even to the artists themselves.
“When you’re a child, you’re free. You’re just making art. No one’s telling you that you can’t do things yet,” she says. “And then as you get older, you kind of shut down emotionally.” From paint throwing to expressive painting to pet portrait work, art can help with reconnecting with your inner child. “You come here to be yourself and be at peace,” Devora says. And sometimes, peace looks like splattered neon acrylic on a canvas you never planned to fill.
3 art projects to help you unwind
We could all stand to take a deep breath and decompress. Devora has three simple projects that can help:
Grab some paint and just move your hand.
Head to Blick Art Materials or Michael’s and pick up a cheap paint set and a brush. Nothing fancy. “Start playing with the paint, just playing and getting used to your hand moving back and forth,” says Devora. “And if you’re feeling adventurous, close your eyes and keep going. It’s a good way of channeling out anything.”
Turn your junk mail into a work of art.
Don’t toss out those ads and in-mail o ers, tear it up into little pieces and create a story. Whether it’s a magazine, old receipts, or whatever’s lying around, turn it into a collage. Devora says that this is an easy way to create a vision board. Don’t overthink it, just stick the pieces together and see what happens.
Zone out with a mandala book.
Buying a mandala coloring book is one of the easiest ways to recoup your mental energy after a long week. Although the intricate designs might look intimidating, it’s surprisingly soothing. Grab some markers or colored pencils and just start filing in the shapes. “It’s a great way of focusing without pressure,” says Devora. –Gabriela Rodriguez
BY AMBER SAMPSON, GEOFF CARTER & TYLER SCHNEIDER
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS
Embark on a NewFallout: Vegasscavenger hunt as the hit video game celebrates 15 years
New Vegas portrays Nipton as a smoking wreck, claimed by Caesar’s Legion. Bodies are scattered everywhere—cruci ed, beheaded, burned—save for a few “lottery winners” who are anything but lucky. Real-life Nipton and its New Vegas are in similar locations (sorta), but the similarities end there. The real Nipton is charming, with a historic hotel and trading post and large-scale art pieces from Burning Man (but no actual burning men). Many of its residents are circus performers with Spiegelworld, who bought the town for $2.5 million in 2022. Ironically, when it did, the sale of California lottery tickets was temporarily suspended. They’re back now, so we hope you get lucky.
Faithfully modeled after Goodsprings’ Pioneer Saloon, New Vegas’ Prospector Saloon is one of the rst locations a new player encounters in the Mojave Wasteland. The re- al-life version, which houses an impressive fan-made shrine, also hosts an annual Fallout fan celebration that drew more than 6,000 people in 2024 and is set to return for its fourth iteration November 14-16. The immersion extends to a real-world maintenance worker named Gordie Siddons, who was immortalized in the game as the dynamite-slinging Easy Pete. –Tyler Schneider
You won’t (hopefully) encounter any Super Mutants inhabiting this rustic lodge like they do in New Vegas, but it’s a gorgeous respite, nonetheless. Flanked by snow-capped mountains and ponderosa pines, the Retreat on Charleston Peak is a short, 45-minute venture out of the city, and it’s brought faithfully to life as Jacobstown in New Vegas. Lodge residents like Lily, a retired Super Mutant assassin who’s relatively peaceful when she isn’t wielding her deadly gardening glove, should make your stay memorable. –AS
Missionaries built the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in 1855 to make use of a spring-fed creek that once ran adjacent to the site—creating a rare oasis in the harsh Mojave landscape. That history extends to New Vegas, where a post-nuclear humanitarian faction called the Followers of the Apocalypse uses the fort as a medical hub. There, characters like Julie Farkas and Arcade Gannon work to restore the scienti c knowledge of their pre-war forefathers and provide aid to the wasteland’s most vulnerable survivors. –TS
A mashup of Vegas iconography, the motel-based settlement of Novac memorably includes a massive T-Rexshaped watchtower named Dinky. Its closest real-world counterpart is a similar statue that can be found guarding the front lawn of Steve Springer, a Henderson man who transformed his home into the dinosaur-themed Shan-Gri-La Prehistoric Park in 2006. “Tex” is now a regular stop for Fallout tourists. “Fans have given it a life of its own,” Springer says. –TS
This historic landmark formed the nation’s largest reservoir and also happens to be the site of New Vegas’ nal feud, “The Battle for Hoover Dam.” It’s truly an underrated location, as vault dwellers too busy dodging bullets in this big faction ght will see. Not only does New Vegas feature the engineering marvel in its entirety but the actual Hoover Dam Visitor Center, the tur- bine power plant where you can take real-life tours and the expanse of Colorado River owing past the concrete.
Upstream is also Lake Mead, where New Vegas curiously in- cludes a submerged plane—a reference to a real Boeing B-29 bomber that crashed into the lake in 1948. –AS
Summer Challenge
Sign up for the Library District’s Summer Challenge program to enjoy reading whatever you like and participate in fun events to win great prizes!
For details on these events and to see many more, go to
FOR
Uncle Ty-Rone: Kids Comedian & Ventriloquist
Ages 6 – 11
Friday, May 16 at 4 p.m.
West Las Vegas Library
Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Clark County Library
123 Andrés GRAMMY and Latin Grammy-winning duo
Ages 0 – 5
Saturday, May 24
1 p.m. East Las Vegas Library
4:30 p.m. Whitney Library
Circus of Bubbles with Kirk Marsh The art of bubble-making combined with lights and music Ages 3 – 12
May 30 & 31, June 1-5 Mutiple times and locations
Scan here for event details TheLibraryDistrict.org/
Clay Creations - UNR Extension - 4H Teens learn to work with clay Ages 12 – 17
Clark County Library
Tuesday, May 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24 at 1:30 p.m.
Paint Pouring With Vibes DIY Studio Teens learn to work with clay Ages 12 – 17
Monday, June 9 at 1 p.m.
Centennial Hills Library
Monday, June 16 at 1 p.m. Enterprise Library
Monday, June 23 at 1 p.m. Sunrise Library
Professional Poetry 101
A workshop with Clark County Poet Laureate
Ashley Vargas Ages 18+
Thursday, May 29
11 a.m.
Centennial Hills Library
Saturday, May 31
11 a.m.
Mesquite Library
Jay Cameron –African Diaspora Travels
World traveler, speaker, author & radio personality
Ages 18+
Friday, June 13
2 p.m.
West Las Vegas Library
Keahloa Hawaii’s First Poet Laureate Ages 18+
Saturday, May 17
11 a.m. Workshop Spring Valley Library
3 p.m. Performance Windmill Library
Nevada’s cultural programs and institutions pick up the pieces after the Trump administration slashed funding
OH, THE
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
For ve days last June, the Las Vegas-based Nevada Women’s Film Festival displayed ashes of what founder Nikki Corda believes is its potential to become “the premier women’s lm festival in the country.”
Thanks largely to ample funding Corda leveraged through a combination of grants and private donations, the 2024 festival celebrated its 10th anniversary by screening more than 100 lms “by and about women” for the second consecutive year. Supplemental programming like the Young Filmmakers’ Workshop also thrived in what she calls “the most comfortable year for us, ever.”
Naturally, Corda thought that 2025 would mark another major step forward in the festival’s growth. But her outlook changed in early April, when Nevada Humanities, a main source of funding for the festival, received a letter stating that its ve-year general operating support grant funding had been terminated.
It was part of a coordinated move by the Trump administration, in apparent conjunction with the so-called Department of Government E ciency (DOGE), to cut grants that had for decades been distributed by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to regional a liates like Nevada Humanities. In a news release, the NEH stated that the reason for the cuts was to “ensure that all future awards will ... not promote extreme ideologies based upon race or gender, and ... help instill an understanding of the founding principles and
HUMANITIES
ideals that make America an exceptional country.” According to reports, the canceled grants will be used to pay for Trump’s proposed “National Garden of American Heroes.”
Nevada Humanities drew roughly 75% of its $1.5 million annual budget from the NEH funds that have been terminated. Most of that funding helps support “innovative, humanities-based projects created primarily for Nevada audiences,” including the Nevada Women’s Film Festival. The nonpro t depends on Nevada Humanities for about the same percentage of its yearly operating costs. It has received more than $50,000 from the council since 2017, including a maximum allocation of $7,500 last year.
Now, they’re both scrambling to make what little they have left go a long way.
“The main cut for us was to our tech crew, who were willing to take a hugely reduced pay cut that they don’t deserve. We’ve also had to scale back our programming from over 100 lms to about 47 and reduce the festival from four days to three. For us, that’s huge, and obviously not ideal,” Corda says.
Over the last three scal years, Nevada Humanities executive director Christina Barr has overseen the disbursement of $628,953 in NEH funding to major Las Vegas cultural institutions like the Discovery Children’s Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Nevada Ballet Theatre, the Neon Museum and the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, and specialized groups like the Henderson Writer’s Group, Poetry Promise and Writing Downtown Las Vegas. Now, she’s been given no choice but to suspend its
grantmaking program inde nitely.
“That federal support touches almost everything we do, so we’ve had to kind of triage our work a little bit and see what we can pare down in the budget,” Barr says. “We’ll have to gure out how to move ahead in a scrappy way, but our board has chosen to ght and keep rolling as best we can.”
That decision to tough it out gained some pow-
That decision to tough it out gained some powerful backing on April 30, when the Mellon Foundation donated $15 million in emergency funds to the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Nevada Humanities is guaranteed to see $200,000 of that, with another $50,000 contingent on its ability to raise matching funds through private donations by December 31.
“This gift from the Mellon Foundation is going to help stabilize us in the short term so we’re able to sustain ourselves for a few months longer while we exhaust every e ort we can to have our funding returned to us. I think of it as a bridge that’s going to help buy us some time as we let the various e orts that may be happening at the national level play out,” Barr says.
Another reason to remain hopeful arrived May 1, when the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association led a joint lawsuit against DOGE and the NEH that contests those departments’ constitutional authority to impose those cuts without congressional approval.
Barr says Nevada Humanities has also appealed the NEH cuts, but adds that she’s skeptical it will be granted.
“We have requested due process from NEH regarding the sudden termination of our general operating support grant. NEH has informed state humanities councils that we will not be o ered an appeal process at all. This is surprising, since it is my understanding that this process is required by law,” Barr says.
In the meantime, Corda, too, is doing her best to roll with the punches. The 11th annual Nevada Women’s Film Festival is still set for June 19-22, and the show must go on—with or without federal money.
“I’ve said before that we wouldn’t even have a lm festival if it wasn’t for Nevada Humanities, especially in some of the early years, when the only revenue we had came from them,” Corda says. “They’ve been instrumental for us being able to produce this for the community, and because of them, we’ve been able to become one of the longest-running lm festivals in the state. We’re not going to let this stop our dreams now.”
Barr laments that the cuts came just as Nevada Humanities “really came into our next plane of maturity,” but is committed to keeping the ship a oat.
“We actually budgeted for two new full-time employees this year. Obviously, we won’t be lling those positions anymore, but we’re very grateful for the Nevadans in every corner who have been generously donating their time and money to help us in this moment,” Barr says. “We’re going to do our best to keep this moving no matter what. With the support of the community, I think we can rebuild.”
Las Vegas Aces hope All-Star newcomer Jewell Loyd can help bring them back to the top
Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd plays against the Phoenix Mercury at Michelob Ultra Arena on May 6. (Wade Vandervort/Sta )
BY CASE KEEFER
A big, bold message plastered on the wall near the entrance of Las Vegas Aces’ Henderson headquarters and practice facility reads, “the standard is excellence.”
Based on what coach Becky Hammon and the longtime star players on the twotime WNBA champion franchise say, those words weren’t always heeded last year. That’s changed throughout training camp ahead of the 2025 season.
New trade-acquired, veteran guard Jewell Loyd, for one, says the simple credo is an inspiration every day going into practice.
SPORTS
“You’re constantly reminded of all these things,” Loyd said. “We’re trying to hold everyone accountable. No one is o the hook, and I think that’s a good mindset to have.”
The Aces’ mission to become the WNBA’s rst three-peat champions in 25 years fell short in 2024 when they lost in the playo semi nals to the eventual champion New York Liberty. Hammon immediately credited the failure to the Aces losing their “edge,” a concern she had voiced all season.
engaged in occasional shouting matches. The hope is that it’s making them better prepared for a 13-team league that looks more competitive than ever before.
The critiques that Hammon freely shared about her team a year ago have withered.
“They are not lacking any edge or re or mental approach this year,” Hammon said. “This year, it’s not going to be a problem. That’s all I can tell you.”
They’ve sought to try to get it back this o season as re-igniting the hunger for greatness and history became the impetus of everything, including personnel decisions.
Many lauded trading for Loyd because of her decorated career that includes leading the league in scoring in 2023, winning a pair of titles in 2018 and 2020 and making six All-Star teams.
But what made the former Seattle Storm staple a t in the minds of Hammon and the front o ce was her mentality. The 31-year-old has spent a decade in the league but still doesn’t feel like a nished product.
The fate of the Aces may therefore be determined by the stylistic t with Loyd in the backcourt. She takes the spot of Kelsey Plum, who had formed the WNBA’s most accomplished Big Four alongside unstoppable center A’ja Wilson, do-everything wing Jackie Young and consummate point guard Chelsea Gray. Las Vegas tried to keep the sharpshooting/ facilitating Plum with a one-year, supermax deal but she turned down more money in search of a fresh start and became the other centerpiece of the three-team deal that landed Loyd. The Aces sent Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, which shipped the Storm its No. 2 overall WNBA Draft pick (eventually used on French center Dominique Malonga).
“It’s just e ort and hard work,” Loyd said. “You can bring that out. We know we can score. We can do all these things on the other end but to have that mindset and really stress on defense, we’re challenging each other (to do that) every day.”
There’s not much of a sample yet but, in the Aces’ pair of preseason games, Loyd made four of her eight three-point attempts and occasionally spelled Young by taking on the toughest defensive assignment. Las Vegas won both games.
Like the Aces, Loyd might not be coming o her ideal season. Her production was down a year ago, but there were extenuating circumstances.
She accused the Storm’s coaching sta of bullying and harassment, though a league investigation found no violations. The Aces are still involved in litigation of a similar manner from alleged misdeeds three years ago with former Sixth Woman of the Year award winner Dearica Hamby. Both Las Vegas and Loyd are eager to move on from the past. That’s part of the reason why they believe they’re a perfect pairing.
“For me, it’s making sure this year, I still have the joy playing basketball,” Loyd said. “It’s de nitely back. I just want to have fun and honestly continue to be the best version of myself I can be every day.”
The games of Plum, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2017, and Wilson, the overall No. 1 draft pick in 2018, were natural complements that led the Aces to championships in 2022 and 2023.
Loyd faces the challenge of developing a similar chemistry with the three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player Wilson as soon as possible.
“I’m always going to compete,” Loyd said. “I’m always going to make sure I’m in shape. I’m going to talk when I need to. I think my e ort and actions of how I show up speak a lot. I’m still learning.”
Loyd’s drive has created a new spark in practices, and not always in a pretty way.
She said teammates have regularly gotten frustrated with each other and
It’s going to take some humility, as Loyd must accept she’s no longer the rst option like she’s been the past two seasons in Seattle. Playing next to Wilson will also put pressure on Loyd’s three-point shooting, which plummeted to an ine cient 27.8% last season for her worst mark since she was a rookie, to optimize spacing.
But most of all, in Loyd’s mind, she must continue to level up her defensive game. The Aces still had the WNBA’s top o ensive rating a year ago; it’s defense where they were more middling.
LAS VEGAS ACES MAY SCHEDULE
May 17 10 a.m., at New York Liberty on ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+
May 20 — 4 p.m., at Connecticut Sun on Vegas 34
May 23 — 7 p.m., vs. Washington Mystics on Ion
May 25 — 3 p.m., at Seattle Storm on Vegas 34
May 30 — 7 p.m., at Los Angeles Sparks on Ion
Tickets for home games at Michelob Ultra Arena start at $16 at axs.com.
MUSIC
EDC’s new Ubuntu Stage will showcase a mix of established and emerging African DJs
EDC May 16 -18, 5 p.m., three-day passes sold out, Sunday-only passes $280+. Las Vegas Motor Speedway, lasvegas. electricdaisy carnival.com.
DISGUISE DJS
Five masked musicians to see at EDC 2025
I HATE MODELS
The French DJ and producer has concealed his identity from the start, opting for a simple, over-the-mouth-mask though his sound is anything but ordinary. I Hate Models shines when he’s at his heaviest, penetrating ears with an abrasive rush of industrial techno. Cuts like “Werewolf Disco Club” and “Forgotten Future” belong on just about every EDC pre-game playlist. Sunday, May 18, 9:30 p.m. at Circuit Grounds Stage
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
EDC is already the largest electronic dance music festival in North America, but that hasn’t stopped its organizers from raising the bar for a 2025 crowd that’s expected to rival the population of Sacramento at about 525,000 attendees.
To accommodate the 250-plus artists slated to play at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway May 16-18, the EDC team partnered with South African education nonprofit Bridges for Music to add a record-setting 16th stage to the mix. Set within the Nomadsland area of the festival grounds, the Ubuntu stage was designed to showcase a fresh blend of established and emerging African DJs representing subgenres like Afro-house, Amapiano and 3-Step.
HORSEGIIRL
Now here’s a mystery DJ who’s fully embracing the bit. After galloping into our hearts with the exquisitely catchy “Material Hor$e” and “My Barn My Rules,” the Berlin-based Horsegiirl has emerged as an EDM force, reigning in the camp to produce pop-tinged pony bangers worthy of dancing to. Saturday, May 17, 1:45 a.m. at Bionic Jungle Stage
(Courtesy)
(Courtesy/Chris Pearce for Insomniac Events)
(Courtesy/Billy Leach)
The concept began to take shape about a month before last year’s EDC even started, when Bridges for Music founder Valentino Barrioseta received a phone call from a business partner named Sonny Moore—better known to the world as the nine-time Grammy-winning DJ, Skrillex.
Moore, a longtime supporter of Barrioseta’s Bridges Academy music school in Cape Town’s Langa township, wanted to introduce him to Insomniac founder and EDC head honcho Pasquale Rotella. It didn’t take long for the pair to hit it off.
“It happened in quite a casual way,” Barrioseta recalls. “[Rotella] was curious about our organization and wanted to know more about what we do. We ended up talking about this idea of bringing the sound of the township to EDC, and he immediate-
ly jumped on it and said they’d make it happen.”
The trio set out to develop a stage that would introduce American audiences to the “rawness, authenticity and vibrancy” of a typical Langa township street party. The name Ubuntu, which Barrioseta says comes from an African word meaning “I am, because we are,” seemed like a natural extension of that vision.
“This isn’t the shiny, glossy kind of stage that’s filled with pyroworks and lasers. It’s a much more intimate space that’s all about the music, the message and the talent we have here in Africa,” Barrioseta says.
The lineup will feature 21 sets, including performances by UK trailblazer Kitty Armor, South Africa’s DJ Lag and Sunday headliner Uncle Waffles, an Eswatini native who has helped
MALAA
Fans have been speculating about Malaa’s identity for years but here’s what we know: He’s a beatmaker with an affinity for ski masks and gritty basslines (See: “Notorious”). He and French mega-DJ Tchami have been collaborating on the project No Redemption and they’ll bid farewell to it after a special B2B at this year’s EDC, so don’t miss it. Saturday, May 17, 3:30 a.m. at Circuit Grounds Stage
pioneer an Amapiano subgenre that’s known for incorporating elements of deep house, soul and jazz with its signature log drum and melodic synth sounds. She’ll follow a pair of unknown special guests who will anchor the Friday and Saturday sets.
Barrioseta hopes their inclusion at EDC will inspire his students—who primarily hail from South African neighborhoods still haunted by the residual effects of apartheid—to continue chasing their dreams of joining the next great generation of African EDM acts.
“A lot of these kids are making beats out of little shacks, on an old laptop that may be refurbished or donated,” Barrioseta says. “We want them to understand that part of the global appeal of dance music is that you don’t need a band or fancy recording studio to
BLACK TIGER SEX MACHINE
Montreal’s reigning trio of cool cats sport some of the sickest illuminated masks around—and have the music to match. BTSM’s sound claws its way out with a screeching, viral intensity, especially on sonic epics like “Mind Expanding” and “Protocol.” The trio’s live set takes that to another level with theatrical, brain-warping visuals. Sunday, May 18, 2:50 a.m. at Circuit Grounds Stage
make a track that travels the world.”
In the meantime, Barrioseta expects Ubuntu’s debut to mark another watershed moment for the African EDM scene.
“We always say the drums come from Africa because the reality is that everything stems from this continent,” he says. “It was just a matter of time before there was going to be an explosion of dance music coming from here, and we’re all very excited about it.”
UBUNTU STAGE:
AfroMantis Collective, Andre Power, Aqutie, Da Capo, Dee/ Ma, DJ Lag, Drėėėmy, Eli Fola, Jon Casey, Karaba, Kasango, Kilimanjaro, Kitty Amor, Meedy and Pizzi, One Tribe Presents (Amémé & Baron), Sarz, Uncle Waffles plus special guests.
GESAFFELSTEIN
Gesaffelstein’s dark and distinctive influence can be heard on everything from Lady Gaga’s Mayhem to The Weeknd’s My Dear Melancholy. He’s a conductor of moods, and the same can be said onstage, where he’s been known to rock stunning, chromatic costumes and masks to create an eerie, almost inhuman, statue-like appearance. Saturday, May 17, 12:45 a.m. at Cosmic Meadow Stage–Amber Sampson
NEW WAVE
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Summer arrives before we’re ever truly ready. One minute it’s sweater weather, and the next, you’re shoulder deep in the pool.
Palm Tree Beach Club is our newest seasonal relief. The poolside oasis debuted at MGM Grand on May 3, taking over the former Wet Republic space with a star-studded party led by Norwegian hitmaker Kygo, whose Palm Tree Crew collaborated with Tao Group Hospitality to create the next-generation Las Vegas dayclub.
“Wet Republic had a great run,” says Jason Strauss, co-CEO at Tao Group. “We just felt it was time to be relevant with the times and give the place its well-deserved rebirth.”
The venue now embraces a tropical, dreamy aesthetic that’s more Palm Springs than EDM gladiator pit. With lush plant life, pink and green pastels and clean-lined cabanas, the reimagined 60,000-square-foot venue will make you forget you’re in the middle of the desert.
Palm Tree Beach Club revitalizes the dayclub scene with tropical and immersive elements
The upgrades mirror that immersive vision.
“We’ve lowered the DJ booth height, and we built a lot more seating areas around the booth. Now you’re almost in the booth with the DJ,” says Strauss. “Ten years ago, I think it was more about a performance. Now it’s really about being a part of the party.”
and coconut water.
PALM TREE
But if there’s anything you must try, not just for the taste but to snap a picture for the ‘Gram, it’s a fresh coconut (with or without the booze). Sip on it as you lounge about on your daybed or dance poolside to a stellar lineup of DJs.
BEACH CLUB
This transformation extends to the menu, where tuna poke tostadas and mini lobster rolls serve as poolside finger foods. And the drinks match that tropical vibe without laying on too much sugar. The Agave Glow menu introduces heat and brightness with The Firewalker, a cocktail of Casamigos jalapeño tequila, mezcal and green poblano liquor that’s balanced with lemon-lime soda and a squeeze of fresh citrus. Other sips, like the Smooth Sailing, provide a refreshing punch to the taste buds with Hennessy VS, Grand Marnier, pineapple
Tao Group mainstays like Tiësto, Fisher, DJ Pauly D and Steve Aoki are locked in, but the club isn’t just chasing marquee names. Thanks to Palm Tree Crew, the venue aims to bring in a steady stream of unexpected guests and new talents all summer long.
“Guys like Martin Garrix have been playing here for probably over 15 years [and] now have a brand-new car to drive, and they’re super excited,” Strauss says.
From the service to the decor to the food and beverage program, Palm Tree Beach Club is curated to give you an unforgettable summer experience.
Resident DJ Kygo takes to the piano during grand opening weekend at Palm Tree Beach Club.(Courtesy/Denise Truscello)
VEGAS INC’s 2025 Women Inspiring Nevada awards aim to identify and highlight women in the community who exemplify determination, leadership and ambition. If you know an extraordinary woman who should be recognized, nominate them today!
Vegas-born Solamente Pizza is making a delicious name for itself
DINING NOTES
Pisces at Wynn, Naughty Patty’s at Cosmo, Blue Orchid Thai Kitchen and more
(Courtesy/Steve Legato)
ONLY OUTSTANDING
Pisces Bar & Seafare has opened at Wynn in the prime restaurant space formerly held by Lakeside. Chef Martin Heierling returns to the Strip to helm the kitchen, which focuses on fresh seafood from the Mediterranean, shared dishes and craft cocktails. Pisces is open nightly for dinner at 5 p.m.
Blue Orchid Thai Kitchen has opened at 10516 Las Vegas Blvd. South, a new concept from the creators of local favorite Pin Kaow and veteran chef
Steve Piamchuntar. It’s open daily from noon until 10 p.m. and more info can be found at blueorchidthaikitchen. com
Roy Choi continues his cookbook tour for The Choi of Cooking with a stop at his Park MGM restaurant Best Friend on May 20 at 6 p.m. Guests can pre-purchase a cookbook ($45) for him to sign at parkmgm.mgmresorts. com and there will be limited copies available at the event.
Left: Solamente’s Meat Lovers pizza, with pepperoni and sausage. Below: The A.P.B., stacked with arugula, prosciutto and burrata.
FOOD + DRINK
Las Vegas Distillery is celebrating National Craft Distillery Day on May 22 with free interactive tours offered to the first 30 guests that sign up at one of four different times at lasvegasdistillery. com/visit.
Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar at Mandalay Bay is kicking off summer with My Tai, a tropical pop-up experience with lush Polynesian decor and rum and fresh fruit-for-
BY JIM BEGLEY
Remember the pandemic? It might feel like it was five minutes ago or five years ago, but we can likely agree not much good came from it—other than binge-watching all the shows.
Las Vegas has at least one outstanding outcome from that era. While we were all housebound, special education teacher Ethan Spiezer made the most of his time, teaching himself how to craft a sourdough crust combining a half-dozen different flours in the quest to create what he calls contemporary Neapolitan-style pizza.
Spiezer’s journey eventually landed him at Jolene Mannina’s groundbreaking Downtown restaurant incubator Vegas Test Kitchen. While it’s no longer with us, its legacy lives on in the brick-and-mortar locations it spawned, including local favorites Yukon Pizza, Stay Tuned Burgers, and Spiezer’s Solamente Pizza.
(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
After outgrowing a shared Town Square space, Solamente has landed its own street art-adorned eatery with limited seating—but an arcade game!—on West Sahara. It’s here where Spiezer is dishing out some of the Valley’s best pizzas on a leavened sourdough, the Schrödinger’s cat of crusts—soft and airy while also simultaneously crispy and flaky. If asked, he’ll tell you it’s all about oversaturating the dough, but
ward cocktails. Also: Hawaiian pupu platters. It begins May 23 and runs through the summer.
Naughty Patty’s, the smashburger joint coming soon to the Cosmopolitan, is having a one-day pop-up preview on May 24 at 6 p.m. at the Block 16 Urban Food Hall. The first 25 fans in line will be added to Patty’s Naughty List for exclusive access to complementary burgers for one year.
I think it’s black magic ... exceedingly delicious black magic which also happens to be gluten-intolerant friendly.
Solamente’s pies run the gamut from traditional such as the Pizza Margherita ($20) and Pizza Pepperoni ($21), the latter of which is loaded with garlic, to more unorthodox offerings such as the Pizza Cacio E Pepe ($18)—a simple cheese pie laden with pepper—and the Australian-inspired Pizza Daniel Gigi ($22). The Gigi is particularly unique, foregoing traditional red sauce for horseradish butter and topped with prosciutto, arugula and truffle oil. Its spice cuts through the toppings’ umami and richness for a wonderfully balanced pizza.
And if you’re a garlic stan, congrats, because it abounds on the menu. My other favorite is garlic-packed, the Pizza Spicy Special ($20), adorned with pepperoni, Calabrian peppers and hot honey. Garlic also contributes to the well-balanced Pizza Pesto Sausage ($20) with a nutty pesto base, savory sausage and bright honey-whipped ricotta.
Solamente Pizza translates from Italian to “only pizza” which is an apt menu description. It serves a small number of other dishes— think sandwiches and salads—but I have yet to overcome my pizza fixation to try them. I suspect you’ll find yourself with a similar infatuation.
Diane Mina, aka the Brunch Queen, is bringing Diane’s Bloody Mary Brunch Party to Bardot Brasserie at Aria on May 24 at 9 a.m. Her signature bloodys and other fresh cocktails will pair with savory dishes from Bardot’s menu, and music and sing-along moments for guests will round out the fun. Reservations can be made at aria.mgmresorts.com –Brock Radke
JOB LISTING
Audiologist position available in Las Vegas, NV. Duties include: Provide audiological care for patients with hearing loss and related disorders, including: cleaning ear canals, fitting and adjusting hearing aids, and performing real ear measurements. Provide auditory and aural training, rehabilitation, and counseling. Operate audiometric equipment and interpret results. Provide quality care and after care of dispensing services such as hearing tests, hearing aid fittings, education and best-practice training for hearing aid users. Perform checks on hearing aids and other amplification devices. Troubleshoot, repair and clean hearing aids and earmolds. Build rapport with patients through touchpoints, third party referrals, and wellness events. Leverage HearingLife’s product portfolio to meet patient needs. Oversee recordkeeping activities to ensure accuracy and maintain sufficient inventory. Lead team members to increase proficiency through daily clinic huddles, active schedule management, and appointment confirmation calls. Develop multi-step care plans to deliver effective treatments for patients. Focus on quality patient care through active listening and understanding patient needs. Educate patients on the benefits of Hearing Life hearing aids. Support Telehealth initiatives (Remote Care) to expand patient care. Ensure timely entries of patient outcome notes in record database. Perform other similar, related tasks as needed. Requirements include: Must have a Doctor of Audiology or the foreign equivalent. Must have at least one year prior full-time experience as an audiologist. Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a Dispensing Audiologist license in accordance with state requirements. Send resumes to: Audiology Services Company USA, LLC d/b/a HearingLife, 580 Howard Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873. Jobsite: Las Vegas, NV.
JOB LISTING
Veterinarian (Henderson, NV) Animal Care Clinic Inc., dba Horizon Ridge Animal Hospital - Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery. Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper. Reqs: Masters in Veterinary Studies; Must have General Veterinary, Veterinary Dentistry, and/or Veterinary Surgery experience. $81,411/yr. Send resume to animalcareclinicinc@gmail.com
JOB LISTING
SQA Engineer for gaming and technology services company. Position duties are utilizing Jenkins, TFS, Kubernetes, Postman, JMeter, Appium and software test tools & applications to design & implement manual & automated scalable software tests for web-based & standalone applications in Agile & Scrum environments including performing design & code reviews; creating test plans and environments; troubleshooting software functionalities & architecture; performing product document reviews. Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering or related field and 5 years’ experience in the job duties as stated. Position is with IGT located in Las Vegas, NV with 5% domestic travel. Send resume to IGT by email to Kristen Phillips at Kristen.Phillips@igt.com. Please indicate SQAE in response.
BACKSTORY
(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
BOEING 747 AT AREA15 | MAY 12, 2025 When Area15’s 10-acre expansion opens later this year—an expansion that will add Universal Horror Unleashed, the Museum of Ice Cream and more attractions to the retail and interactive entertainment complex—it will feature a restaurant inside this (obviously) decommissioned 747 jumbo jet, which traveled to Burning Man as an art car built by Bay Area group Big Imagination. Area15 acquired it from the late Tony Hsieh’s estate and are in the process of making it ready for passengers. They’re contemplating whether or not to leave a grafitti tag on the fuselage that reads “MOOP”—Burning Man-speak for “matter out of place,” which isn’t exactly a compliment. But it’s got a place now, and soon, it’ll embark on an entirely new and unexpected journey. –Geoff Carter
