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18 STANDOUT AWARDS
The eighth annual Sun Standout Awards recognize the best in high school athletics throughout the Valley.
14
FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE
How to become a runner no matter your age or experience level, plus DIY recovery hacks.
38 NEWS
Las Vegas’ tourism industry faces uncertainty under volatile federal policies.
40 MUSIC
The 25-year-old Punk Rock Bowling takes over Downtown, plus Grey Witch aims to become a Henderson hotspot.
44 THE STRIP
A sensory-rich exhibit and restaurant await at Fantasy Lab’s Colors of Mexico.
48 FOOD & DRINK
James Trees’ new French spot Bar Boheme is an Arts District jewel.
SNL’s Marcello Hernandez brings golden-retriever energy to the Chelsea, the BigHorn Rodeo bucks stereotypes and more this week.
COVER ART Photographs by Christopher DeVargas/Photo Illustration
DIPLO With ItsMurph, 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
FAT JOE
10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
No bull, rodeo’s a rough sport. But it’s a hell of a lot of fun to watch. That’s why the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association has kept its BigHorn Rodeo a community-wide tradition since 1996. The inclusive celebration bucks stereotypes, showcasing the raw power of seasoned bronc riders and leaving bigotry and bias in the dust. The show kicks o with the Rodeo Idol singing contest and free rodeo school, followed by bull-riding, barrel racing, roping competitions and down-in-the-dirt goat-dressing for the camp of it all. Live performances by female impersonators like Kenneth Blake, wig designer of RuPaul’s Drag Race Live, should also keep your boots scootin’ all weekend long. Thru 5/25, times vary, $20-$30, Horseman’s Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road, ngra.com. –Amber Sampson
SATURDAY MAY 24
JANET JACKSON
8:30 p.m., & 5/25, 5/28, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com
ALIEN ANT FARM & JET 8 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience.com
BOB MOULD With Jonny Two Bags, Red Shift, 8 p.m., Downtown Container Park, seetickets.us
SNOOP DOGG Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com
MARCELLO HERNANDEZ
He’s not just Domingo. Marcello Hernandez may be the anchor of one of Saturday Night Live’s most viral recent sketches, but the 27-year-old Miami native and third-year castmember is no onehit wonder. In writing about his blossoming SNL fan-favorite status, Vogue notes, “There may be no man on earth with stronger golden-retriever energy.” (For the record, our favorite Marcello is his “Couple You Can’t Believe Are Together” with Jane Wickline on Weekend Update.) Vegas gets to catch all that energy through enthusiastic stand-up material about being a mama’s boy, a baseball fan, and why Latin food rules (“I’ve never heard anybody go, ‘Yo quiero Cracker Barrel.’”) at the Cosmo this week. 8 p.m., $56-$164, the Chelsea, ticketmaster. com. –Brock Radke (Courtesy/)
TY DOLLA SIGN Noon, Daylight Beach Club, daylightvegas. com
MARSHMELLO 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
FISHER 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com
DAVID GUETTA 11 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
LIL WAYNE 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
YEAT 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
8 p.m., BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com
EXHIBIT: ROAD WORKS RON DORSON Thru 6/22, times vary, Summerlin Library, thelibrary district.org
MICHAEL RICHTER 7 p.m., the Barbershop, thebarbershoplv. com
MIKEY FRANCIS 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
MICHAEL LOFTUS With Tom Thakkar, thru 6/1, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com
(Courtesy/Mike Stein and David Herrera)
WEDNESDAY MAY 28
IANN DIOR
7:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
ANDREW SILVA With Northporch, Jan Jan, Lexi Pifer, 7 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
JIM GAFFIGAN Thru 5/31, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. PHOENIX RISING FC 7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc.com
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Thru 5/31, 8:05 p.m., Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, super summertheatre.org
VELVET HOSS 10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv.com
FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE RUNNING
little something it
At the age of 47, I joined a running club, participated in several 5K races, stacked up my weekly mileage with the help of a coach and completed my rst half-marathon. But when I returned to training after a little time o , something very common for new runners happened to me—I got hurt. Running changed my life for the better, so it was beyond frustrating to be stuck on the sidelines. Perhaps because I was athletic in my younger days, I didn’t really plan to become a runner—I just bought some shoes and hit the trails. But doing the right things to prevent injury and be able to keep moving is essential. It’s not just stretching, hydrating and following a plan. It’s about giving your body the proper fuel and preparation when
HOLD THAT EASY PACE.
you’re not running.
WALK IT OUT.
in Las Vegas for several years, crafting gardless how in shape or out of shape
Four-time marathoner and Road Runners Club of America certi ed coach Michelle Cupersmith has been working with runners of all abilities in Las Vegas for several years, crafting custom plans for plenty of beginners. “I really like to push the idea that forward is a pace,” she says. “No matter how we’re getting there, running, jogging, walking, the goal is to keep moving forward. Even if you have a background in cycling or swimming, running is high impact on the joints and muscles, so regardless how in shape or out of shape you might think you are, it should be a process to get to the point of running 20 or
Most people have become aware of the great health benefits of walking every day. Cupersmith gets her runners started with two to three-mile walks. If you haven’t been active, “we want the muscles and bones and heart to get indoctrinated into movement slowly,” she says. “Too much too soon is when things start to hurt.” From there, she guides clients into fast-walk intervals and expands into jogging.
Take it slow. That’s the top tip. Here are some ner points to get you started in your
30 minutes without stopping.” new life as a runner.
A beginner’s pace means you want to be able to hold a conversation while you’re running. “Everyone wants to go fast … but running is a game of consistency and patience. And the body is going to take as long as it’s going to take no matter how quickly the mind wants to go,” she says.
INCORPORATE STRENGTH TRAINING.
Cupersmith says strength training is something most runners don’t think they need, even though it’s proven to increase speed and endurance and help ward o injury. “You’re building the supporting muscles which help you perform better as a runner,” she says. “If my athletes can’t get it into their day, I reduce their run time. It’s that important.”
How to become a runner no matter your age or experience level
SLOW AND STEADY
RUN TOGETHER.
You can find a group or club like I did, or you can create one with a friend or two, but running with others makes everything easier.
Thrifty therapy
Supplement your training with these DIY running recovery hacks
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
Whether you’re brand new to running, an occasional jogger or a daily trail trekker, the sport can be a surprisingly expensive pursuit. Your best investment to ward o injury is to replace your shoes every 300 to 500 miles. Beyond that, a foam roller is an undeniable asset, but there are also some e ective DIY recovery hacks you can implement at home.
Frozen water bottle
IT’S HOT. PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
“Sometimes people think they are too slow, but I’ve rarely met a runner who’s faster who doesn’t want to run with somebody else, go at a slower pace and enjoy the run and conversation,” Cupersmith says. “You’re vulnerable when you run, tired and stressed, and it’s a good time to connect with someone else who is going through it. And it makes it more fun, like anything else.”
be sure to use protection
Probably starting next month, you’ll see runners training for the Las Vegas Marathon in October … if you get up early in the morning. Beating the sun is the best way to go, but be sure to use protection (hat, glasses, sunblock) and always bring as much water as you can conveniently carry, “even if you don’t think you need it,” Cupersmith says. Running in the heat also means running slower to take care of your body, which is working harder in the summer.
For plantar fasciitis and other nagging foot ailments, freeze a nearly full plastic water bottle and use it to roll your arches on the floor for about 15 minutes at a time. Repeat this multiple times per day, if needed.
Ice-cup massage
Similarly, fill a paper cup about halfway with water and let it freeze. When you need it, tear o the top half and spend about five to 10 minutes massaging your problem area in a circular motion with the exposed ice. This is especially great for knee pain.
Tennis, golf, lacrosse and softballs
If you’re su ering from sore or tight muscles, you may already have a solution in your shed. Use a frozen golf ball to roll out acute foot pain or try a room temperature lacrosse or softball for calf tightness. Though they o er less flexibility, rolling pins and thinner PVC pipes also work in a pinch.
Belt or towel stretch
Take an old belt and loop it into itself. You now have an adjustable band to stretch your hamstrings, calves and quads, or even work on dynamic hip mobility. Lay down, loop it around your foot and stretch your leg muscles or Achilles as needed. A towel may also work.
STEADY WINS
Recognizing achievement in high school athletics
BY RAY BREWER AND HILLARY DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS
The Sun Standout Awards lit up the South Point Showroom May 19, celebrating the best in prep athletics from the past year. Honorees included a coach claiming a record 15th state championship, a female flag football star who led the nation in rushing, and a record-breaking cross country phenom. Since 2016, our ESPY-inspired recognition gala has become the glittering finale to each school year
SUN STANDOUT AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
It’s rare for a high school freshman to make the varsity team. It’s rarer for that freshman to dominate older competition. And it’s virtually impossible to accomplish what SLAM Nevada’s Manuel Saldate and Liberty High’s Melvin Whitehead did over the past four seasons on the wrestling mat.
They became Nevada’s 40th and 41st four-time state wrestling champions—a feat unseen in large schools since 2010.
Whitehead compiled an astounding 211-11 career record without losing to any Nevada opponent. This season, he went 54-1 with 50 pins to cap a career that included nine All-American honors and placing third among 60 competitors at the prestigious Doc Buchanan Invitational.
“The plan was to dominate from day one,”
Whitehead says. “I knew I had the discipline and dedication to do it.”
Saldate established a new state record with 228 career victories, also never losing to Nevada competition. He excelled beyond high school by winning the under-20 Greco-Roman nationals last month.
Under Saldate’s leadership, SLAM Academy captured its fourth consecutive 5A state championship with a record 280 points and eight individual champions.
Both wrestlers have secured rare collegiate scholarships—Whitehead to Arizona State and Saldate to Oregon State.
Of his success, Saldate said, “it’s part of the process to get to another goal” of winning a collegiate title.
MANUEL SALDATE SLAM & MELVIN WHITEHEAD Liberty
HANK GREENSPUN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
KAREN WEITZ Centennial
Season after season, Karen Weitz watched her talented Cheyenne High girls basketball team falter in the state tournament against Reno opponents. For two decades, Northern Nevada’s iron grip on state championships remained unbroken. The pattern forced the coach to analyze what made these northern programs so formidable. Her conclusion was simple yet profound: they never stopped playing.
When Centennial High opened its doors in 1999, Weitz seized the opportunity to implement year-round training. The transformation was swift and decisive—within just a few seasons, Centennial captured the state title with a perfect record, finally shattering the north’s long-standing dynasty.
This winter, she hoisted her 15th state championship trophy, extending her own Nevada record.
“It has nothing to do with me. I can care less if we win another one,” Weitz says. “But it’s stu that you always hear from past players. It’s one of the most memorable things that’s ever happened in their life. OK, that’s a pretty cool feeling to give somebody.”
Her résumé speaks volumes: nearly 800 victories, multiple national rankings for Centennial, selection as a McDonald’s All-American Game coach, and enshrinement in the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame.
Perhaps her most groundbreaking achievement came three years ago when Centennial tapped her to lead its boys program as well. She joined an exclusive club as one of only two women nationally coaching boys high school basketball.
While Weitz acknowledges the significance of breaking this barrier, she maintains a characteristically straightforward perspective. Basketball, in its essence, remains basketball.
(Karen Weitz by Wade Vandervort)
GAME OF THE YEAR
SILVERADO VS. CORONADO BASKETBALL
With 1.3 seconds left in the playo showdown, Travis Fralin stood at the free throw line, Silverado’s championship hopes resting on his shoulders as they trailed top-ranked Coronado by one point.
This spot had been Fralin’s nemesis. During the regular season, he’d gone a dismal 3-for-13 at the line against Coronado, each miss tracked by relentless fans on a whiteboard monument to his struggles.
As the referee delivered the ball, the gym erupted into deafening noise. Breathing deeply, Fralin blocked out the chaos. Two perfect arcs, two swishes. Nothing but net.
Silverado had done the impossible—a 59-58 victory that entered the pantheon of Nevada high school basketball classics. The 23rdranked Skyhawks, who barely made the tournament due to another school’s forfeits, had toppled the state’s best team.
The final minute unfolded like a Hollywood script.
Down four points with under 60 seconds to play, Kayden Goss sparked the comeback with a steal and two perfect free throws. On the next possession, his 3-pointer gave Silverado a one-point lead.
Coronado answered with Jonny Collins carving through defenders with an acrobatic layup to reclaim the advantage.
Instead, it set the stage for Fralin’s redemption. Drawing contact with seconds remaining, the rest became Nevada basketball immortality.
MOMENT OF THE YEAR
BRAY’ANA MILES
Democracy Prep
Facing a three-point deficit against reigning state champion Bishop Gorman in the state semifinals, Democracy Prep’s Bray’ana Miles embraced the pressure of the final moments. Though the designed play called for her to distribute the ball, Miles recognized the opportunity as time dwindled.
With confidence, she moved beyond the 3-point line and released a perfect shot that swished through the basket, igniting wild celebration throughout the crowded gym and extending the game to overtime.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
AIYANA CASTRO Arbor View
FINALISTS
HUDSON FALB
The Meadows School baseball
Assists at Miracle League
Las Vegas, a baseball group for special needs youth, visits Sunrise Children’s Pediatric Hospital patients, and serves with Young Men’s Service League.
YESHUA VILLATORO
Aiyana Castro dedicates herself to addressing the needs of children and teens in her community. As an Arbor View junior cheerleader, she spearheaded a successful fundraising drive that collected 1,800 bras for homeless teens through Project 180, an organization serving homeless youth.
“It’s very important to be out participating in the community and to be involved,” Castro emphasized. of
Castro also organized a toy drive benefiting children in hospice care, ensuring that siblings of the patients received gifts as well. Her commitment extends to volunteering with Projects 4 Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
UNSUNG HERO
On a sweltering spring day approaching 90 degrees, Mike Yamamoto diligently prepares the Liberty High track for an upcoming meet.
He meticulously assembles equipment, ensuring everything is perfectly arranged for the athletes’ optimal experience.
For Yamamoto, this dedication reflects what he values most about his work: Being part of the Liberty family.
“Even though this is a big school, it’s a small community,” he says. “I love the culture here.”
Yamamoto wears many hats at Liberty.
He serves as athletic trainer, supporting athletes through preparation, treatment and recovery. Additionally, he works as the school’s head groundskeeper, maintaining athletic fields and school grounds to impeccable standards.
Yamamoto prefers to work quietly behind the scenes, shunning recognition. His humility is so profound that upon learning of this award, he urged colleagues in the Liberty High athletic department to select someone else more deserving.
“This was unexpected because I am always behind the scenes,” he said.
Chaparral volleyball
Runs Yeizha’s Closet, a nonprofit sending essential supplies to international orphanages; prepares meals for homeless young adults, and coaches middle school volleyball.
DANECCA TALBOT
Desert Oasis track
Leads community service initiatives including food drives, blood drives and environmental cleanups.
FINALISTS
Western
Avila served as athletic secretary and interim director while coaching Western’s cheerleaders, inspiring students through her leadership and dedication.
DAVID CUNNINGHAM
SLAM Nevada
Since 2018, “Pops” Cunningham has reliably transported teams, maintained buses and supported field trips—not bad for someone in his 80s.
RIKKISHA “RIKKI” DUNLAP
Desert Oasis
Dunlap, Desert Oasis High’s campus monitor, saved a choking sta member and coaches championship teams while providing security and mentorship to students.
MIKE YAMAMOTO Liberty
CANDICE AVILA
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
FEMALE
AYANNA WATSON Bishop Gorman
When you enter the season as the reigning state player of the year, one could argue there’s not much more to accomplish. Then again, talents like Bishop Gorman volleyball’s Ayanna Watson are rare.
Watson had a state-best 705 kills at seven kills per set in repeating as state player of the year. Even more impressive: She had a kill percentage of 55% to lead Gorman to another state championship.
Watson added 386 digs, 44 service aces and 40 blocks in being named first-team All-American by Prep Volleyball.
“My mindset this year was di erent,” she says. “(The success) gave me more confidence.”
Watson is considered the nation’s No. 4 recruit for the class of 2026. She’s also part of the United States’ under-19 team and committed to the University of Pittsburgh.
FINALISTS
EMMA HERPIN
Faith Lutheran basketball
First-team all-state selection averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds per game, carrying the Crusaders to the state semifinals.
TAYLOR JOHNS
Palo Verde softball
Had 43 hits in 91 at-bats, including 12 doubles and seven triples. Batted .642 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in Palo Verde’s undefeated championship season.
SAMANTHA MANZO
Palo Verde
flag football
Class 5A Player of the Year led Palo to state title with 2,500 yards, 27 touchdowns o ensively and 88 tackles, five interceptions defensively.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FEMALE
KENAN DAGGE Desert Oasis
Kenan Dagge didn’t just win the state cross country meet—he dominated it, setting a new state record in the process. His blistering time of 15 minutes, 28.3 seconds on the 5K course at Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City was 28 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor and the fastest ever recorded in a postseason meet, according to the NIAA. It was also the third-fastest time in the decades-long history of the course—a performance so electrifying that spectators said it looked like he was sprinting the entire way.
I’YANNA JONES Western
third-fastest time in the decades-long history of
“I’m competitive and want to win every race,” said Dagge, a senior.
He also won three events at the state track meet, carrying Desert Oasis to the championship. He captured the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter titles. His time of 9:03.84 in the 3,200 established a new meet record.
Next up: Dagge will compete at the collegiate level for Georgetown.
FINALISTS
GAVIN FLICKINGER
Coronado soccer
Powered Coronado to the state title with Nevada records: 60 goals, 36 assists. His 156 points ranked fifth nationally.
AJ TUITELE
Mojave football
USC-bound defender tallied 167 tackles (37 for loss) while guiding Mojave to Class 4A state championship. Notched double-digit tackles 10 times, twice reaching 20.
TATE SOUTHISENE
Basic Academy baseball
The state’s top player hit .495 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs and 50 runs scored. Considered the 53rd prospect for the MLB draft.
(Gavin Flicklinger by Wade Vandervort)
I’yanna Jones is a three-time state medalist in wrestling, capping her high school career this year as the runner-up in the 135-pound weight class. She’s also a cross country runner, cadet colonel in the Air Force Junior Reserve O cers’ Training Corps, honor student who is second in her class with a 4.931 weighted GPA, persistent and resilient.
When her mother died unexpectedly two years ago, she said she wanted to work harder to reach the goals she had planned to achieve with her mom at her side. When her dream school, the U.S. Air Force Academy, denied her because she has asthma and exercise-induced bronchospasm, she applied to Harvard University next—and got in.
She’ll attend in the fall, where she will study government before applying to law school. She aims to be a judge.
“I know that I have really high goals, and those goals require hard work,” she said.
–Hillary Davis
SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR MALE
JERRAD BARCZYSZYN Shadow Ridge
Jerrad Barczyszyn is a four-year varsity bowler and this year’s 5A boys’ individual state champion, as well as a Shadow Ridge valedictorian whose weighted GPA is at the school district cap of 4.95. He volunteers at the pro shop at Red Rock Lanes, his home alley, where he enjoys helping out novice bowlers.
His parents are teachers.
“They’ve always pushed me and they’ve taught me how to push myself,” he said.
He admitted that he can be tough on himself, but “I like success.”
He showed this in the final frame of this year’s championship game, when he picked up a spare by taking down the 10th pin. It was a tight game and that was the throw he needed to clinch the title.
He will attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix in fall to study psychology and forensic science with the goal of being a crime scene analyst or toxicologist. –Hillary Davis
KEITH FRIDRICH
Faith Lutheran boys tennis
First-year head coach led Crusaders to 17-0 record and state title. Assistant since 2009, Fridrich recorded 600th career win.
COACH OF THE YEAR
WES PACHECO Mojave Football
Wes Pacheco’s initial season leading the Mojave football team in 2019 wasn’t necessarily about the results on the field. The Rattlers, after all, only had one victory.
“The immediate goal was to create a culture that enabled success to happen,” Pacheco said. “Success had to mean different things. Are we doing things the right way? Are we academically eligible? Are we disciplined and have respect? If you develop that success, the next type of success is winning.”
RISING STAR
Top
freshman or sophomore
THADDEUS THATCHER Arbor View
Thaddeus Thatcher had missed enough football games. His freshman season of 2023 ended with a broken collarbone. Some of his middle school tenure was disrupted by COVID-19. And before that, he lived through a lengthy hospitalization fighting leukemia.
He finally played a full season last fall, and certainly made up for lost time in passing for 3,271 yards and 34 touchdowns to lead Arbor View to the state championship game.
His season started by passing for 583 yards and four touchdowns against a respectable California squad, including leading Arbor View to an elusive victory over Liberty, and was punctuated with a pair of five-touchdown game performances.
He was, without question, that state’s top quarterback.
“I definitely processed things quicker this year,” said Thatcher, a four-star recruiting prospect who is committed to the University of Utah. “I had a bigger focus on preparation, like breaking down film. That helped me be the best version of myself.”
The strategy worked—Mojave went 12-1 last fall and won the first state title in the school’s 30-year existence. They outscored opponents 408-103 and went five weeks without giving up a point.
“Working with these kids, I’m living every coach’s dream,” he says. “To see them have success—that’s my reward.”
TIFFANY RICHARDSON
Legacy basketball
Legacy’s only coach for 20 years, Richardson and her compassionate leadership have earned universal respect. This season, she cemented her tenure by capturing the school’s first state championship.
BRETT TERRY
Sierra Vista wrestling
Led Mountain Lions to consecutive 4A state titles and 27-1 record in dual meets over the past three years.
MICHAEL EDWARDS
Doral Academy
Red Rock golf
Led Doral Red Rock to a second-straight state championship with a third-place finish at the state meet.
AARON MCMORRAN
Desert Pines basketball
Averaged 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals per game in a freshman season against Class 5A competition.
HARRISON SMITH
Bishop Gorman wrestling State champion at 165 pounds with 50-10 record. Won 5A Southern Region title. Has 100-plus career victories in two seasons.
TOLLER TRUMMELL
Foothill volleyball
Logged 154 kills at an e cient 33% hitting percentage, while demonstrating defensive excellence with 126 digs.
FEMALE
RISING STAR
Top freshman or sophomore
DANIELLE MORALES Arbor View
In an era where high school athletes increasingly specialize in a single sport, Arbor View sophomore Danielle Morales stands out as a remarkable exception. She doesn’t merely participate in three sports for the Aggies—she dominates in each one.
On the soccer field, Morales netted 16 goals while delivering 10 assists in earning first-team all-state honors.
Transitioning to flag football, she led the nation in rushing with an astonishing 3,300 yards, added 1,100 receiving yards, and scored 34 total touchdowns.
Her athletic prowess continued on the track, where she was part of two relay teams winning state titles to help Arbor View win the team championship.
Morales believes her sports complement each other, particularly in competitive situations. Her speed serves as a game-changing advantage across all disciplines.
“I’ve always been real fast—in all sports,” she says. “And I’ve always been competitive.”
FINALISTS
SLOANE MERRELL Centennial softball
Batted .475 with seven homers, 25 RBIs and 27 runs. Posted a 2.18 earned run average with 126 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched.
BRYN NEIBAUR Foothill volleyball
All-state selection tallied 359 kills, ranking top10 in Nevada, plus 76 aces and 289 digs. Also won state with Foothill flag football.
REMI RICE
Palo Verde tennis
Didn’t drop a match all season in winning the Class 5A state title. Helped Palo Verde win the team crown.
NATION WILLIAMS Centennial basketball
State Player of the Year averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game in leading Centennial to the state championship. Rated as the nation’s No. 11 recruit for the class of 2027.
(Bryn Neibaur by Wade Vandervort)
TEAM OF THE YEAR CORONADO BOYS SOCCER
The foundation of the Coronado boys soccer dynasty was built before they stepped onto the field. Having grown up playing together, these teammates share a connection that transcends strategy—a chemistry they credit as the driving force behind their historic achievements.
This brotherhood propelled the Cougars to their second consecutive state championship with a 28-0 record. Their dominance speaks through statistics: a state-record 169 goals while conceding just 10, complemented by 20 shutouts.
Their 30-game winning streak stands unmatched in Nevada history, while a No. 3 national ranking cements their place among America’s elite programs. They also secured the Nevada academic state title.
Top Drawer Soccer captured the accomplishment: “The season Coronado just completed may go down as the best in American soccer history.”
FINALISTS
FAITH LUTHERAN BOYS TENNIS
Undefeated 5A state champions dominated with exceptional talent—eight starters reached state tennis quarterfinals, with Nolan Dubay and Beckham Butler claiming the doubles title.
MOJAVE FOOTBALL
Class 4A state champions dominated with a 408-103 scoring margin across 12 victories, including five straight shutouts to secure their first title in 30 years.
SLAM NEVADA WRESTLING
Earned fourth consecutive state title decisively, scoring record-breaking 280 points—more than double the runner-up’s 130. With eight champions, 12 finalists, SLAM ranked 30th nationally.
IN THE NEWS
ECONOMY
EGG PRICES SLIDE AS NEVADA LAW AND FEDERAL ACTION EASE SUPPLY STRAIN
Egg prices across the United States have fallen significantly in recent months, with Nevada consumers seeing an even steeper decline.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Tuesday, the national average price for a dozen Grade A eggs decreased by 17.8% from March to April, dropping to $5.12 from March’s record high of $6.23.
After the Nevada Department of Agriculture suspended the state’s cagefree egg requirement in late February, egg prices in Southern Nevada plunged nearly 50% within two months, according to a department report.
Before the suspension, Las Vegas residents were paying an average of $10.45 per dozen eggs—more than 75% above the national average. By April, local prices had fallen to an average of $5.62 per dozen, significantly closing
the gap with national prices.
Assemblyman Howard Watts III, D-Las Vegas—who co-sponsored Assembly Bill 171 allowing the suspension of the cage-free egg requirement—said the report was evidence the policy had been a success, even when accounting for the nationwide price decline.
“This temporary measure is going to continue to be in effect for another month or two, and I think we’re going to continue to see positive results,” Watts said.
American Farm Bureau Federation economist Bernt Nelson told CNN early last month that the national price drop was due to a steep decline in cases of bird flu, and that trend has continued, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The USDA found 23 million birds
affected by avian flu—one chicken testing positive means all of them on a farm are culled—in January. By April, that number had fallen to around 1 million.
While the United States manages the outbreak, overseas suppliers have helped ease shortages. Egg imports increased by 500% from January to February, when the U.S. imported the equivalent of around 12 million dozen egg containers, according to the USDA.
The state Department of Agriculture expects prices to drop throughout the cage-free moratorium, which ends in June. The national downward trend “means that, hopefully, after the end of the 120 days, we’ll be in a good place, which is exactly how the law was designed to work,” Watts said.
–Kyle Chouinard
“Venezuelans still face dire and unimaginable conditions as a result of the Maduro regime’s brutality and oppression. TPS has allowed law-abiding Venezuelans to escape political violence and economic collapse, and legally live in the United States and contribute to our economy. It’s outrageous that the Supreme Court is allowing Donald Trump to end this protection and send Venezuelans back into harm’s way.”
–U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a lower court’s decision to block President Trump from revoking Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans.
ENTERTAINMENT
American Music Awards at Fontainebleau to honor Janet Jackson
The American Music Awards, produced by CBS and Dick Clark Productions and typically held in Los Angeles, hasn’t occurred since 2022. But the show is back in a big way this year, landing in Las Vegas on Memorial Day at Fontainebleau. And it’ll have plenty of Vegas flavor: former Strip resident headliner Jennifer Lopez will host, and current Resorts World star Janet Jackson will receive the ICON Award for “undeniable cultural and global influence over the music industry.”
The AMAs will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ at 5 p.m. May 26, and tickets to the show are available at ticketmaster.com
RAVE RECAP
“Anime Baes” pose during the first night of EDC 2025 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on May 16. Read our recap at lasvegasweekly. com
(Steve Marcus/ Staff)
NEWS
CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE
Las Vegas tourism industry faces uncertainty under divisive federal policies
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
The year 2024 served as a victory lap of sorts in the Las Vegas tourism industry’s recovery from the pandemic. Emboldened by its rst-time status as the host of the Super Bowl, Las Vegas set a high mark in visitor spending for the third consecutive year, pulling in $55.1 billion from a visitor count that fell just 800,000 people shy of the 42.5 million who came here in 2019.
Early reports from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) indicate that 2025 may mark a departure from this trend. Through March, year-over-year visitation was down 6.9% when compared to the rst three months of 2024, while 3.7% fewer passengers ew to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Hotel occupancy has also taken a slight hit, while gaming revenue at Strip casinos was down 4.8% in March as compared to last year.
It’s too early to tell if this lull will mark the end of Las Vegas’ recent tourism boom, but it’s notable in that it seems to coincide with President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. His tari -fueled trade war has eroded consumer con dence, while his divisive immigration policies and talk of installing Canada as the 51st state have yielded lower passenger counts on popular Mexican and Canadian airlines.
In turn, LVCVA CEO and President Steve Hill says the organization and its “partners in the resort industry” are expecting a “downtown this summer.”
“That downturn could be relatively shallow and relatively short-lived, or there could be decisions that are made that exacerbate it,” Hill tells the Weekly. “At the core of what we think is happening right now is that consumer con dence is down pretty signi cantly.”
The Nevada Legislature’s Economic Forum— ve independent economists tasked with formulating tax revenue projections to aid the state’s political leaders in budget-crafting—also appears to be bracing for impact. On May 1, the group decreased its forecast for the upcoming biennium
by $191 million.
Economist and UNLV professor Stephen Miller points out another useful metric in a collaboration between the International Monetary Fund’s World Uncertainty Index, a measure of consumer con dence that he says is now “the highest it’s ever been.”
Trump’s tari rollout, which was o cially announced April 2 but frequently alluded to during and after the 2024 election, is playing a sizable role in the swing, he adds. On May 12, Trump reduced a 145% tari on Chinese imports to 30% for a 90-day period in a move that created even more uctuation in an already unpredictable trade landscape.
“The major e ect of the tari s was the fact that the administration was putting them on, taking them o , changing the size, raising and lowering them and making special deals. That uncertainty is playing havoc with the markets,” Miller says.
The outlook for international air-travel is similarly discouraging. In March, the number of tourists visiting via Air Canada decreased by 5.9% compared to 2024, while Aeromexico recorded a 17.9% year-over-year reduction. On May 6, Canadian carrier WestJet Airlines announced that it was suspending its route from Edmonton, Alberta to Las Vegas in July and August. Domestic airlines like American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue and Southwest have opted to pull their 2025 forecasts altogether.
According to the LVCVA, one in every eight visitors in 2023 and 2024 came from abroad. Miller says the “biggest contingent” of them come from Canada.
“We’re getting very strong signals that Canadians are pissed and they’re not going to come to Vegas,” Miller says.
Hill says the initial booking numbers for the next few months con rm that these gures are likely to continue to shrink in the second scal quarter. According to LVCVA data, more than half of Las Vegas’ 2024 visitors either planned or booked their trip more than one month in advance.
“All of them at this point are probably concerned, in that same kind of level as March, about the summer months,” Hill says of resort industry stakeholders. “We see slower bookings as we head into summer. We’ll see how that translates into what actually happens.”
The LVCVA has budgeted accordingly. Last week, when board members revealed the preliminary budget for the 2026 scal year, it included a $51 million de cit with a general fund balance that dipped below $100 million for the rst time since the 2022 scal year. Despite those reductions, it also calls for a $37 million increase for advertising.
Hill cites two reasons behind investing in advertising.
“One is the concern around a potential slowdown and the need to push harder. The other is that we have been able, because of the big investments in Formula 1 and the Super Bowl in particular, to amplify the marketing around those big events,” he says.
Miller, who predicted late last year that a COVID-related restructuring of the local labor market would put a damper on tourism and gaming revenue in 2025 and 2026, says the industry may have no choice but to gear up for the long haul as Trump’s federal policies play themselves out.
“You can do everything in the world to try to insulate yourself from downturns, but in our economy, we’re so reliant on the leisure and hospitality sector that, if visitors don’t come, you’re sort of dead in the water,” Miller says.
Hill admits that Las Vegas resorts are dealing with a relatively unprecedented phenomenon.
“We haven’t seen anything like this before. Certainly not in recent times, and not for these reasons,” he says.
Still, he believes Las Vegas’ tourism industry is well-equipped to survive an extended lag because it entered 2025 in “exceptional nancial shape” and has long displayed a knack for overcoming economic challenges that are “much worse than what we’re seeing right now.”
Summer Challenge
Sign up for the Library District’s Summer Challenge program to enjoy reading whatever you
EVENTS FOR KIDS: EVENTS
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
Science Heroes Live Science Experiments
Ages 6 – 11 June 9 – 14
Mutiple times and locations
Fyütch
Children’s Hip Hop Artists
Wednesday, July 30
Concert for ages 5 – 17
10:30 a.m. at Windmill Library
Teen Workshop for grades 6 – 12
4 p.m. at Whitney Library
Thursday, July 31
Concert for ages 5 – 17
10:30 a.m. - at Whitney Library
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.
Tuesday, July 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 22 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
Monday, July 7 at 1 p.m.
Clark County Library
Monday, July 28 at 12 p.m.
Windmill 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
Writing Workshop: Past Travels with Joylynn Ross
Storytelling Workshop
Ages 18+
June & July
Mutiple times and locations
Jay Cameron – African
Diaspora Travels
World traveler, speaker, author & radio personality
Ages 18+
Friday, June 13 2 p.m.
West Las Vegas Library
Sarah Penner
Meet the author of “The Lost Apothecary”
Thursday, June 26
6 p.m.
Sahara West Library
ROCK RETROSPECT IN
Punk
Rock Bowling’s Shawn Stern shares his five favorite moments from the last 25 years
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Punk Rock Bowling turning 25 still strikes festival founder Shawn Stern as a pleasant surprise.
“It started o as a bowling tournament, which was really just an excuse for us to go to Vegas and have a party,” says Stern, of the hardcore punk band Youth Brigade. “We had a couple of shows, but it wasn’t a festival. It was much more intimate, and it was a lot more about hanging out with everybody. … It was an opportunity for us all to get together, let loose and do some crazy stu .”
DOWNTOWN WELCOMES
IGGY POP’S 2017 HEADLINING SET.
LAURA JANE GRACE AND A WILD POOL PARTY IN 2012.
Today, Punk Rock Bowling is still that—and so much more. The raucous Downtown weekender, set to return May 24-26, has evolved into a yearly punk pilgrimage, bolstered by music, bowling, pool parties, poker and noteworthy club shows. Ahead of the madness, we caught up with Stern, who shared his five favorite moments from the last 25 years.
“[One of] the first shows that she did solo as Laura Jane Grace was in 2012 at the Beauty Bar. That was awesome. T.S.O.L. in 2012 also played the festival, which is great, but then they played a pool party at the Gold Spike. That was nuts. People were jumping o the balcony into the pool. It was crazy.”
“We’ve been fans of his forever, and he’s an inspiration, one of the earliest people playing punk rock. I remember running out to where the photographers are allowed to go, but all the photographers had been kicked out. It was just my niece there. She was about 15 or 16 at the time, and I ran up and said, ‘Just keep taking pictures. You don’t understand. This is really a big deal.’ But [Iggy] really got it. He knew, ‘I gotta play the classics,’ and he did.”
(Courtesy/Rob Wallace)
(Courtesy/Andrew Repcik)
BOOKING THE LEGENDARY
DEVO.
“We saw them here in LA at the race track. ... We thought, man, we’ve gotta get Devo. When we started advertising, there were a bunch of people saying, ‘Devo? That’s not punk rock.’ I said, you guys are crazy. I saw Devo in 1979 at this little club in LA. They were one of the most punk rock bands I’ve ever seen. That band started in the early ’70s. They were trailblazers. They put on such a great show. Everybody was singing along. But that’s the funny thing, people are talking smack, and then you see them all singing along!”
CATCHING THE QUEEN INROCKABILLYOF 2013.
THE SPECIALS’ SHOW-CLOSING SET OF 2019.
(Courtesy/Andrew Repcik)
“I won’t say it was one of [lead vocalist] Terry Hall’s last performances but it was definitely near there, because he passed away … a couple years later. The two-tone ska scene, and specifi- cally The Specials, were an inspiration for us, because of all the Rock Against Racism shows they did, the message that they had, and seeing this integrated band was so awesome. Ska music, it’s such fun, happy music, and they just were one of the best bands.”
PULLING NO PUNCHES
Lambrini Girls ’ Phoebe Lunny talks satire and playing to multigenerational crowds
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Satire-soaked lyrics and in-your-face noise might be the trademark of female-forward punk bands like Mannequin Pussy and Amyl and the Sni ers. The U.K.’s Lambrini Girls are taking those to another level.
“Being tongue in cheek, incorporating satire is a great way to disarm people,” says Phoebe Lunny, vocalist and guitarist of Lambrini Girls. “You can grab them by the shoulders, scream in their face and be like, ‘Wake up people!’ Make them laugh and people tend to open up a bit more, kind of like buying them dinner before you f**k them.”
LAMBRINI GIRLS
May 24, 4:10 p.m., Monster Street Party Stage
Heaps of blush-worthy lyrics define the band’s discography, but they also make us giggle. Lambrini Girls’ instrumentation also rips in such a fast and loose fashion, it becomes substantially catchy. From their latest album, Who Let the Dogs Out, the track “Cuntology 101” is the girls’ proclamation that they’ll be taking part in debauchery on their own terms.
The rowdy duo will make its Las Vegas debut at Punk Rock Bowling on May 24. And between Lunny’s brash delivery and bassist Lilly Macieira’s nervy energy, there couldn’t be a better shake-up for Punk Rock Bowling, as they have been for other fests.
“A lot of people were like, ‘Wanda Jackson?’ But she was amazing. She played at Backstage Bar, and the place was packed, and she’s tiny. It’s so hard to see her, but she put on a great show. At that time, she was probably in her mid 70s.”
“There’s a festival in Blackpool [U.K.] called Rebellion and that’s an example of intergenerational punks,” says Lunny. “We played and all the old geezers, they f**king hated it. They were like, ‘What is this sh**? These girls need to put their clothes back on.’”
BOOTSY COLLINS
CLUB SHOWS TO CATCH
Bootsy Collins, one of the baddest funk bassists around, had a starring role in Parliament-Funkadelic, and that grooving excellence will rekindle at PRB’s kick-o party.
The funk conductor leads the procession with support from Fishbone’s Angelo Moore (also known as Dr. Madd Vibe), legendary guitarist Micki Free and others. May 22, 8 p.m., Fremont Country Club. –Amber Sampson
BOB MOULD
The Minnesota punk vet, whose bands Hüsker Dü and Sugar influenced a generation of acts, has stayed on top of his craft over these last 45 years. His melodic, guitar-driven hooks have powered 15 albums, all of which speak to Mould’s pursuit of innovation and the urge to tell his story. Witness this legend with Social Distortion’s Jonny Two Bags and more. May 25, 10 p.m., Downtown Container Park. –AS
A TRIBUTE TO THE SPECIALS
The ghost of two-tone rises: Lynval Golding, original axeman and vocalist of The Specials, leads a spirited ska revival, backed by The Aggrolites and a galley of ska lifers, Mephiskapheles, the Toasters and more. It’s punk, reggae, sweat and soul in one rude boy seance. Skank like your boots are on fire. May 24, 9:30 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool Deck at Downtown Grand. –Gabriela Rodriguez
LEE FIELDS
A living legend, Lee Fields croons like a man possessed, with pipes forged in the ’60s and pure heartbreak etched in every note. Over a career spanning five decades, he’s not only shared the stage with the greats, he’s kept the flame going. Shannon & the Clams bring doo-wop garage psych rock, and The Luxuries round it out with surf-rock swagger. May 25, 9:30 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool Deck at Downtown Grand. –GR
(Courtesy/Harv Frost)
From the creators of Red Dwarf and Fat Cat comes Grey Witch , where live music, food, drinks and magic collide
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Some places simply click from the moment you walk in. Natalie Burge and Russell Gardner know this feeling well. Their bars—the punk rock tiki spot Red Dwarf and the soulful blues and jazz bar Fat Cat—impart a palpable sense of intentional craft.
For Burge and Gardner, it’s not just about the drinks, the crowd or the music—it’s about creating a sanctuary. And now, they’re bringing that vision to Henderson with Grey Witch.
The concept behind the venue is all about balance—a yin-yang of sorts.
“The Grey Witch comes from the balance of good and evil, like white magic and black magic,” says Gardner. “One side will be lighter, with fairies, colorful, alive things. The other side will be darker, more witchy, more weird.”
The space re ects the duality. The front room—a whimsical, overgrown post-apocalyptic
DETROIT COBRAS
May 27, 7 p.m., $25. Grey Witch, 722 W. Sunset Rd., dice.fm
SPELLBOUND
library—welcomes diners of all ages with its low lighting, taxidermy, leather and wooden booths and makeshift replace. The bar area promises to be a darker, more mysterious realm whose design evokes a sense of eerie intrigue. But the real magic lies hidden behind the front room’s replace. Through a hidden door, a speakeasy called Dark Arts awaits, o ering bespoke cocktails and an intimate, reservations-only vibe.
As a whole, Grey Witch is a showcase for the wild imagination of its creators and Gardner’s talent for craftsmanship. But there’s more than just aesthetics at play. The venue is designed with a purpose: to create a haven for music and community. The music venue itself has a 375 to 400-person capacity, and Gardner and Burge are committed to making the space work for the bands that will play there.
“We’ve had very large bands play Red Dwarf because they want to do something cool and unique or di erent, or they get recommended from people that have played there,” Gardner says. “Hopefully that will continue here. It will just be with bigger national acts.”
The venue’s sound system is “overkill” for the space, ensuring that the experience will be topnotch, no matter the genre.
The location was a personal choice for Russell,
who spent much of his youth in Henderson. “This area is industrial, a little beat-up, but there’s a ton of neighborhoods around here. It just made sense,” he says. And given the space’s history as an all-ages venue—once called Ozone in the late ‘90s and early 2000s—the evolution feels natural to him.
Burge agrees. “I’ve brought almost all the promoters I know into the space already so they can see it, because I believe that [music] community we have here runs the gamut of genres. So does this spot,” she says.
That genre and all-ages inclusivity will be key at Grey Witch, as will food and drink: Red Dwarf’s signature Detroit-style pizza, wings, and housemade chips, and an ever-rotating selection of beers and cocktails.
And the live music programming is already shaping up as an eclectic mix. The opening night all-ages show, presented by Dirty Rock and Roll Dance Party, features the Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, The Implosions and DJ Jacob Savage. And that’s just the beginning. From all-ages concerts to DJ nights, markets and more, Grey Witch and its founders want to o er something for everyone.
“It’s not just a business for us,” says Russell. “It’s a labor of love.”
Russell Gardner and Natalie Burge. (Wade Vandervort/Sta )
TRADITION VIVID
Exploring Colors of Mexico by Fantasy Lab, a sensory-rich exhibit and restaurant
(All photographs by Bronson Loftin/Courtesy)
Cantarito de Catrina Alebrije Dream
Chicharrón de ribeye
Día de Muertos
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Walk into Colors of Mexico at the Fashion Show mall and you’re stepping into a living, breathing piece of the country. The 20,000-square-foot exhibit, which opened in November, pulls you into an immersive world with the vibrancy of a bustling mercado.
Designed by Mexico City-based Fantasy Lab, each of the seven exhibit rooms serves as a homage to different regions of Mexico and the unifying traditions throughout the country. A $15 ticket gets you entry and credit toward food, drink and merchandise inside, ensuring you leave with more than just pictures for the ’gram.
As a Mexican American, the experience felt both familiar and revelatory. There’s comfort in seeing echoes of my own upbringing, but also moments where my own culture surprises me, even as I thought I knew it all. It surprised my mother, too. Prior to my visiting the exhibit, she had just returned
from a two-week trip to the motherland. When she stepped into Colors of Mexico, she was speechless. The exhibit didn’t just mirror the Mexico she knew, it reinvented it. The twinkling lights in the firefly forest room were multiplied by the thousands against mirrored floors and walls. And mottos and jokes in Spanish were illuminated on colorful plexiglass in the fiesta room.
It captured her childhood memories with an artistry that was both playful and nostalgic, making her want to snap a hundred pictures at every turn, lost in a version of Mexico that inspired and sparked her creativity.
Likewise, Colors of Mexico’s restaurant brings regional richness to the table. Think of it as a culinary tour through the country’s diverse foodscape.
From the North (Del Norte), you’ve got the chicharrón de ribeye, a crispy, fatty, indulgent bite served over a bed of fresh guacamole. It’s simple yet elevated. In the heart of the country (Del Centro), you’ll find the creamy rajas con crema, a comforting, rich dish that mixes roasted poblanos with a luscious cream sauce. And the South (Del Sur) shines with dishes like cochinita pibil, slow-cooked pork wrapped in banana leaves and marinated in achiote and citrus, which practically melts in your mouth. And let’s not forget the drinks. Sure, you can always count on a classic piña colada or margarita, but the stars here are the cantaritos, a refreshing mix of tequila, citrus and soda served in a clay cup, and the carajillos, a sweet espresso and Licor 43 concoction that doubles as an after-dinner pick me up.
MUST-SEE ROOMS
ALEBRIJE DREAM
A stunning tribute to the brightly colored mythical creatures of Mexican folk art, with larger-than-life figures that feel like they’ve jumped out of a neon dream.
DÍA DE MUERTOS
A moving display of one of Mexico’s most iconic celebrations, filled with ofrendas, marigolds and a sense of remembrance that’s both festive and somber.
COLORS EXPERIENCE
A space that captures the essence of joy and festivity across the country—taken from a soaring bird’s-eye view, you’re swept into the best and most beautiful parts of the country, from its warm beaches to grand cityscapes.
James Trees’ new French spot Bar Boheme is an Arts District jewel
BY GEOFF CARTER
The butter alone. If for no other reason—and there are plenty of other reasons, mes amis—you should visit Bar Boheme for a crackly baguette with a generous pat of Beurre de Rodolphe Le Meunier, a salted, positively velvety butter (88% butterfat!) that is, as our server put it, “basically a cheese.” The taste is rich, decadent, and a promise of things to come. Everything at Bar Boheme is a decadence. Everything is velvet.
Boheme’s food is begins to get out there, both will likely require reservations. C’est la guerre.
There is no wrong place to begin, France’s nest butter notwithstanding. Try a cocktail from Jonah Gibbs’ terri c beverage program, which has been o and running for several months at Petite Boheme next door.
magic. The steak frites, available with an 8-ounce Bavette ($52), an 8-ounce let mignon ($68) or a 32-ounce dry-aged entrecote (ribeye, $155), are seared to tender, buttery perfection, and the pommes frites are triple-fried and taste like they were picked and sliced just minutes before.
A co-venture between chef James Trees and managing partner Keith Bracewell, Bar Boheme’s French menu bears a strong spiritual connection to Trees’ other Arts District favorite, Esther’s Kitchen. Both spots reclaim unusual buildings (Esther’s, a former furniture warehouse, Bar Boheme, a former garage) and make them into warm, inviting spaces with distinctive personalities and vibe, and both draw heavily on locally sourced ingredients and homegrown talents. And, once news of how good Bar
BAR BOHEME 1401 S. Main St., 702-8486823, bar bohemelv. com. Daily, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
The Citron et Basilic ($16), with Lillet Blanc, basil eau de vie and a kiss of dry vermouth, is as perfect a martini as has ever been made. It primes you for the mouthwatering terrines, canapes, soups and salads that top the menu, and for the outstanding seafood plates. You can’t go wrong with one of Boheme’s seafood towers, priced “petite” ($76) to “grande” ($195) and positively bursting with fresh, bright avors: A scallop crudo with apple, grape, tarragon and verjus; a lobster cocktail with avocado and grapefruit served with fried Saltines; both east and west coast oysters and more.
Mary’s Duck ($45), served with Thumbelina carrots and an orange jus, guratively melts in the mouth. Other temptations include a red winebraised Boeuf Bourguignon ($48) served with pommes de terre au chèvre, and a Gnocchi a la Parisienne ($32) with melted leeks and a chervil bourson mushroom crème.
plates.
Chef Sean O’Hara and chef de cuisine Jordon Dunewood ensure that the entrees and “plats principaux” have their own
The entry level doesn’t have to be high as that, however. I can easily imagine grabbing a seat at Boheme’s bar and ordering the much talked-about burger, with its 7-ounce prime brisket and chuck patty, caramelized onions, New School American cheese and those nice, crunchy frites ($29), maybe even adding a sunny side egg for an additional $5. Or perhaps the onion soup ($21), topped with Emmentaler, Gruyère and Esther’s pillowy, perfect sourdough. Or you can simply order something intriguing from Elliot Erickson’s terri c wine list, take a healthy and intentional sip, and see where that leads you. At the very least, you’ll get an immediate craving for the city’s best bread and butter.
Lillet Blanc, basil eau de vie
ABOVE Bar Boheme’s La Petite Seafood Tower BELOW Mary’s Duck (Wade Vandervort/Sta )
