2025-06-19-Las-Vegas-Weekly

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INTERIM PUBLISHER

MARIA BLONDEAUX

maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR

SHANNON MILLER

shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

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

Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

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

Sta Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers KYLE CHOUINARD, GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, KATIE ANN MCCARVER

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

O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

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

Marketing Art Director BROOKE LAUREN EVERSON

Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS

Contributing Graphic Designers WESLEY GATBONTON, CHRISTINA TRIMIDAL

Photo Coordinator LAUREN VINTON

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Associate Publisher ALEX HAASE

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN

Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON

Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator APRIL MARTINEZ

Event Sales Coordinator MELINA TAYLOR

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

Senior Tra c Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Tra c Coordinator KIMBERLY CHANG

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP

CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

Chief Operating O cer ROBERT CAUTHORN

Director of Human Resources SHANNA CHAVEZ GRAY

Chief Financial O cer STEVE GRAY

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY

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All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3.

ADVERTISING DEADLINE

EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.

16 FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE

At-home exercises can help keep you in shape this summer.

The seemingly impossible is possible in Vegas—you can buy a home.

26 NEWS

Local o cials have passed safety measures after an increase in fatal crashes with e-bikes and e-scooters.

32 THE STRIP New Kids on the Block kick o their residency at Park MGM.

34 COMEDY

Ti any Haddish brings her famously unfiltered persona to Wynn.

36 SCENE We had to see for ourselves what the claw machine arcade craze is all about.

38 FOOD & DRINK

Miami’s Havana 1957 transports guests to Cuba’s Golden Age at Flamingo.

J. Rich brings a large-scale kickback to Swan Dive, local o cials host a free Juneteenth celebration and more happening this week.

Las Vegas Weekly’s June 12 issue included a story that said Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a bill that would have limited corporate ownership of housing. The governor did not veto the bill. Instead, Republicans voted against the bill, and it did not receive enough votes to pass.

New Kids on the Block. (Courtesy)

Guaranteed Prizes

Get an age-appropriate prize after completing each

Receive a book buck just for signing up! Use it to redeem an item from your local library bookstore. Every eligible participant receives additional prizes for each level completed.

Drawing Prizes

Participants will be entered at the completion of each level for bigger and better prizes! Drawing prize winners are randomly selected in August 2025 from eligible completions.

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 TheLibraryDistrict.org/SummerChallenge or scan this QR Code:

EVENTS FOR KIDS:

Adam London

Comedian & Magician

Ages 3 – 17

June – July

Mutiple times and locations

Justin Roberts & The Not Ready For Naptime Players

Singalong Concert

Ages 3 – 8

Tuesday, July 1

11 a.m. & 4 p.m.

Summerlin Library

Scan

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

Prismatic Magic

Laser Light Shows

Ages 3 – 17

July 16 – 18

Mutiple times and locations

EVENTS FOR TEENS:

Clay Creations - UNR Extension - 4H

Teens learn to work with clay

Ages 12 – 17

Clark County Library

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, July 7 at 1 p.m.

Clark County Library

Monday, July 28 at 12 p.m.

Windmill Library

EVENTS FOR ADULTS:

Writing Workshop: Past Travels with Joylynn Ross

Storytelling Workshop

Ages 18+

June & July

Mutiple times and locations

Astrology Talk

Presented by Kate Swick

Ages 18+

Friday, June 27

11 a.m.

Sunrise Library

Saturday, June 28

11 a.m.

Centennial Hills Library

Classical Guitar Workshop with Kyle Khembo

Ages 18+

July 18 – 21

Mutiple times and locations

SUPERGUIDE

NEVADA WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL

Thru 6/22, times & venues vary, nw est.com

HENDERSON JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL

6 p.m., Water Street Plaza, cityofhenderson.com

IGBO LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Thru 6/22, times vary, Gold Coast, igbo.org

BARRY MANILOW

Thru 6/21, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com

THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS

6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com

TACOS & TINIS

6 p.m., La Neta Cocina y Lounge, lanetacocina.com

ARIES SPEARS

Thru 6/21, 7:30 p.m. (& 6/20-6/21, 10 p.m.), Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguyscomedy.com

DIRTYSNATCHA With BadKlaat, Subfiltronik, 10 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com

D|K|OXY

10 p.m., Discopussy, posh.vip

THURSDAY JUNE 19

FRIDAY JUNE 20

ZOUK ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND

We know you’re already headed to Zouk at Resorts World for our annual Best of Vegas bash on June 26 (tickets at eventbrite.com) so you might not be thinking of hitting the same club this weekend, but you won’t want to miss this. Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub mark their fourth anniversary party with performances from Luke Alexander, DJ Snake and Kaskade, culminating in Saturday night’s album release party for Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter VI. The stunning combination of talent and technology has made Zouk a critical Vegas experience, and these events will showcase that. 6/20-6/21, times & prices vary, Zouk Nightclub & Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com. –Brock Radke

& THE TIJUANA BRASS

WEIRD AL YANKOVIC 8 p.m., & 6/21, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com

JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS

8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. SEATTLE STORM

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

POD MEETS WORLD LIVE

10 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com

KENNY CHESNEY

8 p.m., & 6/21, Sphere, ticketmaster.com

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

8 p.m., & 6/21, 6/25, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com

8:30 p.m., & 6/21, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com

BROADWAY’S ROCK OF AGES BAND

8 p.m., Event Lawn at Virgin, etix.com

RESTLESS ROAD

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

JEEZY

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

STEVE AOKI

DJ SUSAN

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

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

KAI WACHI

With Ember, Janyx, Brandonnogood, 10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us

10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com

(Courtesy/Dewey Nicks)

JUNE 21

SINCERELY NOSTALGIA WITH J. RICH

Over the last few years, DJ Jazlyn Rich (J. Rich, for the uninitiated) has been on a non-stop ride. The local hitmaker has anchored afterparties for Usher. She’s spun trick-shot soundtracks for the Harlem Globetrotters. And now, she’s back with a fresh edition of her throwback dance party, Sincerely Nostalgia. Consider it a large-scale kickback, bringing the grind-worthy sounds of classic pop and hip-hop heavyweights back to the dancefloor. Expect some Usher, maybe a bit of Nelly and other nostalgic favorites. J. Rich will spin a set along with DJ Allie CNTRS and Andy Oowops, so bring your boogie shoes. 9 p.m., $10, Swan Dive, posh.vip. –Amber Sampson

LAS VEGAS JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL

LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC: TERRY FATOR & FRIENDS

ROBIN THICKE

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

9 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience. com

BAYSIDE

VEGAS KNIGHT HAWKS VS. IOWA BARNSTORMERS

6 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com

RON WHITE

8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com

MELODY SWEETS

8 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com

FIRE & DESIRE FIREFIGHTER BACHELOR AUCTION

KAOS at Palms, theburnfoundation.

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

With Smoking Popes, 7 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us

SIMPLE FISHES

With Switterbeet, Beach Smoke, Drive By Cinema, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm

ALICE WHITFIELD

8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com

ALESSO

11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com

TIËSTO

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

With T.S.O.L., 7 p.m., Event Lawn at etix.com

DANCE GAVIN DANCE

SADDLE CLUB WITH DJ DU

With DJ Lucky Lou, Absent Mynded, 11 a.m., Daylight Beach Club, daylightvegas.com

With The Home Team, Belmont, Dwellings, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com

NE-YO

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

G-EAZY

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

At a time when civil liberties are under attack, it’s important to take a moment to look back at moments in history where these tenets prevailed. Juneteenth, a day marking the end of slavery in the United States, is one of those moments we should honor and learn from. While it’s being observed on June 19 this year, Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy, Las Vegas Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong and North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela GoynesBrown are co-hosting this free, ticketed weekend event, with musical performances from Tweet, Darnel Alexander, Rae Milli, Kyss & the Squad and Unc & the Nephews. “More than just a celebration, this festival is a powerful a rmation of resilience, a recognition of the sacrifices made and our strive for a more inclusive future for all of Clark County,” McCurdy says. 4 p.m., free, World Market Center, june19lv.com. –Shannon Miller

SUPERGUIDE

SUNDAY JUNE 22

(Wade Vandervor/Sta )

MONDAY JUNE 23

CONCACAF GOLD CUP

4 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. INDIANA FEVER Noon, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com

INFERI

With Vitriol, Greylotus, Demon King, Within Oblivion, 7 p.m., Swan Dive, dice.fm

RICHARD MANN Noon, Fergusons Downtown, fergusons downtown.com

YING YANG TWINS

Noon, Daylight Beach Club, daylightvegas.com

SAN HOLO Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com

DJ BRITLEE

11 a.m., Daydream Pool Club, themresort.com

MARC STOUT

With DMTRI, Chris Garcia, Xenaa, 1 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com

ALTEGO

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

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

MICHELLE JOHNSON

7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com

EXHIBIT: CREATIVITY IS A NEW FORMULA FOR LIFE

Described as an exhibition of experiments in creativity by local and international artists, this initiative was produced by the Augmented Society Network and its co-founder, Las Vegan Zoe Camper. The organization’s mission is to connect creative thinkers from around the world and explore the evolution of technologies to understand how they influence society. This new touring exhibition similarly explores creativity “as a vital life force, and to consider how it can shape not just our individual lives, but our shared future.” Thru 9/12, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Historic Fifth Street School, augmentedsociety. org. –Brock Radke

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

SWIMDUSTRY WITH JD LIVE 10 a.m., Palms Pool, palms.com

DJ SHIFT

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

CORY MICHAELIS

With Tony B., thru 6/29, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com

GREG WARREN

With Paul Farahvar, Steven Roberts, thru 6/25, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.mgm resorts.com

GOLD RUSH

10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com

SUPERGUIDE

TUESDAY JUNE 24

HUMAN NATURE

Thru 6/26, 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com

TELEKINETIC YETI

With Temple Of The Fuzz Witch, Graveflower, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm

& JULIET

Thru 6/29, 7:30 p.m. (& 6/28-6/29, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES

Thru 6/28, 7:05 p.m. (& 6/29, 6:05 p.m.), Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com

ALESSO

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

PANCHIKO

WEDNESDAY JUNE 25

(Courtesy/Adam Alonzo)

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. CONNECTICUT SUN

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

JEFF WITTEK

7 p.m., Wiseguys Town square, wiseguyscomedy.com

COMPOSERS SHOWCASE

9:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com

EMPIRE RECORDS

With Ilan Dvir-Djerassi, 6 p.m., Downtown Summerlin, summerlin.com

EMPTY SHELL CASING

A ghost band reborn, Panchiko, whose dusty 2000 CD was rescued from a U.K. thrift-bin in 2016, sounds like Radiohead’s emo cousin drowning in reverb ... and that’s a compliment. That cult EP D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L went viral two decades later, triggering a digital manhunt by fans of the project. After a four-year online search, Panchiko came back, gloriously confused but eventually jumping back into the studio. This year’s full-length album Ginkgo is a shimmering shoegaze comeback that proves lost time doesn’t dull the soul. Catch OG members Owain Davies and Andy Wright live at Area15. Come for the lore, stay for the fuzzed-out serotonin. 7 p.m., $30+, the Portal at Area15, area15.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez DO IT ALL DO IT ALL

With I Promised The World, Fifteen Rhema, Kiowa, Febuary, Deathtape, 5 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, dice.fm

THE WAY UP With Ono Kimono, Mother Dessicant, Decaying Tigers, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm

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

FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE

WORKOUT

BREAK A SWEAT

RETREAT FROM THE SUMMER HEAT, BUT STAY ACTIVE

LOW INTENSITY

For those who may be nursing an injury or just looking to take it easy, Vaughan recommends bodyweight exercises.

While hibernation season for most mammals is winter, for us Las Vegans, it’s summer. We stock up on supplies, post up in our air-conditioned environments and wait it out until it’s safe to go back outside.

Summer can be a long period of inactivity for our bodies. But it doesn’t have to be. According to Forget the Gym founder and personal trainer Dave Vaughan, there are a lot of easy workouts you can do indoors with little to no equipment. Here are his recommendations for low, medium and high-intensity workouts.

“I [would] have them do bodyweight squats. And I don’t necessarily mean going down to 90 degrees or sitting in a chair. People who are inflexible can start with quarter squats or half squats and gauge where they are.”

Other mild bodyweight exercises include wall and counter pushups. And don’t forget to exercise your balance.

cises include wall and counter

“Something that people need to work on, especially when they’re older, is balance. Stand on one foot. Try to stand for 30 seconds on one side, 30 on the other,” he says.

And don’t forget your core workout. Plank pose is perfect. “Core strength is important— it’s not just abs, it’s actually lower back muscles and obliques,” Vaughan says.

MEDIUM INTENSITY

To up activity while indoors, Vaughan recommends exploring free boxing apps or yoga apps like Yogafit, Simply Yoga and Yoga-Go. You can also make it a game with Wii, active virtual reality games or Dance Dance Revolution Circuit training is another great way to get your heart rate up. Vaughan says “tri sets”—

three exercises with little to no rest in between—are a good place to start.

“It’s easy to check o . A good visual. And you can feel accomplished,” Vaughan says.

Vaughan’s ideal beginner tri set (“for somebody in their 40s or 50s who sits in a chair a lot”), is to start with 10 to 15 chair squats, followed by holding a plank pose for at least 30 seconds, followed by eight to 12 burpees.

“You can do a version of the burpee minus the pushup and jumping. So you squat down on the floor, walk yourself out to a pushup position, walk back and stand up,” he says.

HIGH INTENSITY

For those looking to do cardio and strength training from the comfort of their home, Vaughan

tri set. Maybe do the full burpee, and repeat the set one to two more times. Or you can do a set of three new activities following the first set.

“It’s just moving from one thing to the next and it’s more about having a structure.

Cardio comes from rhythmic exercises,” he says. “You’re just trying to get that heart rate up and keep it at a certain point.”

Stairs, pushups, crunches, balance exercises and even some yoga moves can be incorporated into tri sets. These kinds of exercises have benefits that you don’t always find using machines at the gym.

Courtesy/Shutterstock

OTHER INDOOR WORKOUT IDEAS

Several public indoor pools throughout the Valley charge less than $5 per day to swim laps and o er monthly passes and memberships. These include Aquatic Springs, Desert Breeze Aquatic Center, Henderson Multigenerational Pool, Heritage Park Aquatic Center, Hollywood Aquatic Center, Pavilion Center and Whitney Ranch.

For a one-time investment in a yoga mat (we found one for $17 on Amazon), you can become a yogi with free apps and Youtube classes. We recommend Yoga with Adriene and YogaEasy.

“Training with your body weight makes you a little bit more athletic. As we get older or as we sit, we start to lose balance and flexibility. By the time we’re 45, it gets challenging. So it’s more preventive ... and is good for functionality in day-to-day life,” Vaughan

–Shannon Miller recommends building on the aforementioned it’s more preventive ... and says.

There’s always the traditional gym membership, and there’s no shortage of options. The most cost-effective might be EOS’ $10 monthly rate. The most luxurious would have to be Life Time, which has a monthly membership rate of $329.

Walking pads can help you get your steps in during summer, and good ones like Sperax’s go for about $150. You just have to take into consideration whether the dimensions will fit in your home and the pad’s weight capacity to determine if it’s right for you.

A first-time homebuyer’s guide to making the impossible possible in Las Vegas

Buying a townhouse in 2022 was one of the most frustrating, financially confusing and emotional things I’ve ever done. I still half-joke that it was a traumatic experience, and three years later, I’m not sure it wasn’t. But here’s the way I made it through: I had help. My mom had years of experience under her belt as a real estate agent and a vice president at a homebuilding company. Without her, I would have thought closing on a property was nearly impossible.

Unsurprisingly, I’m not alone. Many first-time homebuyers don’t realize there’s a full support system available—agents, lenders and local programs designed to help you figure it all out and get you in the best mental and financial shape to become a homeowner.

“In a lot of [housing] markets June is the busiest month of the year, and here it’s actually the slowest,” says local real estate agent Mike Kruse. “Because of the heat the first couple weeks [of summer] it’s 100 degrees and people don’t go looking at houses. So, if you’re looking to get a better deal, June is the perfect time to buy a home.”

In other words, fewer people are shopping because of the unbearable weather. But if you can stand the heat, that means more inventory, more breathing room, and more chances to score.

GET HOME

(Photo Illustration)

FINANCIAL FOUNDATION

Before you start scrolling through Zillow listings at 2 a.m. or pinning dream bathrooms on Pinterest, pause. Buying a house, townhouse or condo starts with your credit score and whether you’re actually mortgage-ready.

”Each [mortgage loan] product might have a different credit score requirement. People aim to have the highest credit score possible, that’s typically going to lead to, in some cases, a better term program,” says Daniel Lorenger, senior vice president and regional retail mortgage manager for Nevada State Bank. “But I would say in that 620-plus credit score range, there’s usually a good mix of products available.”

Then there’s the big, looming myth: the down payment. Programs like Federal Housing Administration loans require as little as 3.5% down, and some loans offered by private lenders may offer even lower down payment options.

“The biggest misconception with first-time homebuyers is that they have to have a large down payment. And that’s not the case,” says Kruse. “The general rule is you need 3.5% down, but in certain circumstances, you can do even less.”

Lorenger backs that up. “We also have a Nevada State Bank product, called an affordable mortgage loan, which will allow for 3% down and also has lender-paid mortgage insurance.”

Of course, down payments aren’t the only costs you need to be aware of. There are the not-so-fun fees that go into closing on your property: appraisal, escrow, title, origination.

“Talk to a real estate agent that’s willing to help you,” Kruse advises. “There’s always some ways to make things more affordable—whether it be negotiating closing costs or ... interest rate buydowns to make the monthly payments cheaper.”

And a word to the wise before you tour a single dwelling: get pre-approved. Having that loan approval from your lender allows you too keep your expectations in check and avoid the disappointment of looking at homes that are outside your price range.

HOUSE HUNTING

This is where things get exciting, and where first-time buyers can easily become overwhelmed.

“Truthfully, with interest rates going up, it has gotten a little bit tougher as far as getting a great deal,” says Kruse. “However, inventory is up, so there’s more selection.”

That growing inventory is a mix of new builds and resale homes, giving buyers more options across price points.

“When it comes to the price ranges in the current market, in Henderson, you’re looking at $350,000 to $450,000. In North Las Vegas, you can get in for under $400,000. And in central areas like the Huntridge District, you can find a decent home for $350,000 to $375,000.”

Looking for a new build without the high HOA bill? He recommends Cadence in Henderson. “You can get into a master-planned community without high fees,” Kruse says.

Townhouses, meanwhile, are quickly becoming the starter home of choice. “If you’re willing to do a townhouse in the mid $300s, that’s really a good deal,” he says. “Townhouses have become entry-level housing here in Las Vegas.”

Most importantly, be smart. If a listing feels too good to be true, it probably is. “Get a home inspection,” Kruse emphasizes. “Always.”

And if the first deal doesn’t land? “Sometimes it takes a while to find the right home. If you find a home that you think is great but you’re not able to negotiate the right deal, don’t get disappointed. It just means there’s another home out there waiting for you.”

YOUR CEILING AND FLOOR HERE TO HELP

More help is available to first-time buyers in Nevada than most people realize. From down payment assistance to financial literacy programs, the support system is real and ready.

Lorenger points to nonprofits like Nevada Partners, Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada and Chicanos por la Causa. “Those types of organizations do homebuyer education classes. Typically, we provide the links to do it online if they prefer or refer them over to one of the nonprofits to sign up for an in-person class,” he says. These classes cover everything from property taxes and homeowners’ insurance premiums to refinancing and more—details often overlooked by first-timers.

Additionally, they can uncover some first-time homebuyer financial assistance programs that could help ease the cost of closing. The Nevada Housing Division (NHD), a resource created by the state to aid low- and moderate-income buyers purchase a home, has various programs that may work for your situation.

These resources aren’t just helpful; education is often the difference between a delayed dream and a signed mortgage.

(Photo Illustration)

Years after closing on my home, here’s what I wish someone had told me—homeownership in Las Vegas is within reach for more people than we realize. The resources are here, professionals are ready to help and the market timing might actually be in your favor (see sidebar on page 23).

But Lorenger’s warning is worth heeding: “Everybody has a certain amount of things that they want to do in their lives, outside of just owning that home, right? Whether it’s going out for dinners or entertainment or whatever. Having a detailed conversation about their budget and what they realistically want to spend on a house, versus trying to qualify for the most house that they can get can sometimes leave someone house poor.”

Don’t let the mortgage pre-approval become a ceiling; let your actual lifestyle needs set that ceiling. Yes, you might qualify for a $400,000 home, but if a $320,000 townhouse leaves room for the life you want to live, that’s your sweet spot.

As for timing the market, forget the crystal ball approach. Interest rates will do what they do, but if you find a home that fits your budget and you’re financially solid, waiting for perfect conditions might mean missing your perfect house.

The learning curve is steep, sure. But remember: every current homeowner started exactly where you are now, armed with nothing but questions and determination. Your starter home is out there, and in the city’s unique market, this just might be your moment to find it.

MAKING MOVES IN THE CURRENT HOUSING MARKET

To get an idea of just how volatile the housing market has been since the pandemic, look at what happened in 2021 and 2023. According to Las Vegas Realtors, 2021 was a record year for existing home sales with more than 50,000 homes sold. Just two years later, the organization saw the lowest sales since the Great Recession of 2008.

Now in 2025, after the first three months showed record-high prices for single-family homes, LVR is saying home and condo prices are stabilizing. At the same time, an increase in the number of units for sale and slowdown of sales pace are good signs for buyers.

“We haven’t switched over to a complete buyer’s market yet. [But] sellers are willing to negotiate. They are out there. They want to sell as well,” says LVR Vice President Stephanie Grant. According to data from LVR’s Multi-

ple Listing Service, home prices were at a record high of $485,000 for the first three months of 2025, and have since come down to $480,000 in April and May. The median price for condos sold in May was $307,000, which is down from October 2024’s record high of $315,000.

This is more of an indication of a market that is “leveling out” than it is a sign of an ongoing downward trend in prices.

“We don’t see prices coming down any time soon, unfortunately. Interest rates will definitely help make payments a little more manageable,” Grant says.

As of press time, the Federal Reserve was expected to leave the interest rate at its current 4.25%-4.5% range at its June 17-18 meeting.

It’s intuitive to wait until interest rates come down to buy. But in Grant’s 24 years of experience in real estate, she has seen this lead to buyers rushing the market.

“It’s great to have a lower interest rate. But when the interest rates come down, the buyers come out. So you’re going to have competition ... where you’re going to have multiple offers and buyers bidding out other buyers,” she says.

“If they’re able to get in now, sit in the property for maybe a year or two and refinance when the rates come down, at least they’re already in the house rather than trying to fight two, three, four other buyers to get in.”

Grant encourages home seekers to act now, invest in homeownership and work toward their goals.

“If you want to get into a home, it’s out there and it’s available. Get with a lender, get with a realtor, they can guide you and help you to get into that home. It’s possible,” she says. –Shannon Miller

IN THE NEWS

LEGISLATURE

Lombardo vetoes voter ID bill

An attempt by Nevada Democrats to compromise with Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo by attaching voter ID requirements—a longtime wish of the GOP—to Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager’s bill to expand ballot boxes has fallen short.

Yeager’s bill would have ensured at least 10 mail ballot drop box locations in Clark County and five in Washoe County between the end of early voting and Election Day.

“I wholeheartedly support voter ID and am appreciative of the effort to codify it into statute,” the governor wrote in his veto message of Assembly Bill 499. “However, this bill is not entirely consistent with the constitutional amendment that Nevada voters

will consider again in 2026.”

Nevadans in 2024 overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative to require an ID to vote in person or by mail. It requires two approvals by voters, and will again be on the ballot in 2026.

Lombardo argued that Yeager’s version of the legislation would create a two-tier system between in-person voting, where an ID would be required each time, and voting using a mail ballot, which could still be accepted with just a signature match.

“This inconsistency undermines the principle of uniform voter verification. Voter ID is essential for ensuring election integrity, and it should be applied consistently

$9.4 B

across all voting methods,” the governor wrote.

But Lombardo said the bill would “authorize the use of ballot drop boxes in a way that could increase the risk of ballot harvesting.”

“While I am amenable to expanding access to ballot drop boxes, such expansion must be accompanied by appropriate and effective security measures,” Lombardo said in the veto message. “My office proposed language to the bill’s proponents that would have addressed these concerns.”

Lombardo reiterated in a social media post that his office “offered common-sense improvements” that went ignored. –Kyle Chouinard

SPORTS EICHEL MAKES THE CUT FOR TEAM USA

Coming off perhaps his finest season as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Jack Eichel was one of the first six players named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team this week, designated to compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Games in February in Italy. It’s the first Olympic selection for Eichel, the 28-year-old forward from Massachusetts who skated with the U.S. team in the 4Nations Face-Off earlier this year.

–Brock Radke

House Republicans voted to claw back $9.4 billion in already-appropriated funding from National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting Service and international aid. House Republicans passed the White House’s rescissions package on June 12. The legislation is now with the Senate, which needs a simple majority to pass it.

HOT SHOT
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police stand along Las Vegas Boulevard near the federal courthouse Downtown during the “No Kings” protest on June 14. Of the thousands who attended, police said 15 were arrested including four juveniles. Find our writeup and more photos at lasvegasweekly. com
(Steve Marcus/Staff)

FULL THROTTLE

Valley residents and officials grapple with a surge in

I was walking down a sidewalk in Chinatown with a friend last month when we were blindsided by a speeding electric scooter. We were turning right at an intersection when a teenage rider ran into her, knocking her onto the pavement and launching himself onto the side of the roadway.

electric bike and scooter fatalities

My friend suffered extensive bruising that still hasn’t fully healed, while the rider narrowly avoided being struck by a car. A few quick web searches suggested the incident was part of a greater local trend.

As of June 8, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has responded to 10 fatal accidents involving e-bicycles or e-scooters so far this year—up from just four through this point in 2024 and matching or surpassing the 2022 and 2023 totals. Many non-fatal cases also go unreported, according to a 2022 report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The dangers are clear. A 2024 study from UC-San Francisco found that, among the more than 86,000 national reports involving these vehicles from 2017 to 2022, the number of respective e-bike and e-scooter injuries increased annually by about 100% and 45%, respectively.

Policymakers in Clark County and Henderson recently took steps to address the issue by approving new ordinances regulating e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, off-road motorcycles and similar vehicles.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones led the push to establish new policies for the Strip and the county’s parks and unincorporated areas after an announcement about park expansion plans led some residents to reach out about excessive e-bike speeding at Mountain’s Edge Regional Park. The changes passed unanimously on May 6 and took effect May 21.

“It’s something that’s very prevalent in Southern Nevada and across the county, and we really needed to fix this issue before we moved on to expansion,” Jones says.

The county now categorizes electric vehicles based on class, limits operators to 15 miles per hour and generally prohibits any e-bikes in parks unless they feature pedal-assist technology—meaning they still require some human effort to operate. All e-bikes and e-scooters are banned on the Strip and in other unincorporated county lands unless explicitly specified via signage.

In county parks, all minors must wear a helmet, while riders of all ages need to equip a bell or horn, front lighting, rear reflectors and adequate brake systems. Firsttime violators face a $150 fine, with subsequent offenses ranging from $300 to $600. Parents and guardians are also held liable for underage speeders.

Jones also wanted to extend the ordinance to county roadways but says they lacked authority due to existing state law.

“There are provisions in statute that limit how far local jurisdictions can go. We talked to legislators, but it was kind of too late to try and put something like that together last minute,” Jones says, referring to Nevada’s legislative session that ended June 3.

(Photo Illustration)

The Henderson ordinance, which passed in December, prohibits most motorized bicycles, scooters, skateboards, motorcycles, dirt bikes and go-karts in its parks and non-designated trails. Electric motorcycles are also banned on public roadways.

Henderson’s park ban also doesn’t include e-bikes with pedals but differs from Clark County in that it applies to any personal electric vehicle with a throttle, Henderson Assistant Director of Community Development and Services Ian Massy tells the Weekly.

“We’ve had serious injuries. We’ve seen them on the news around the entire Valley. We need parents to be involved and understand that these are motorized vehicles that have the same risk of injury and death as a car,” Massy says.

Henderson Police Sgt. Richard Paul would also like to be able to enforce on public roads. The city saw two e-scooter fatalities in those spaces last year, while Paul says the HPD has responded to 23 e-bike and e-scooter collisions so far in 2025.

Rider education remains paramount. The LVMPD hosted its own safety event for young riders last month, while Boulder City started a program in April. Joe Cantalicio—owner of the Las Vegas-based electric vehicle outlet WheelZen Rides—launched a recurring youth safety seminar on May 3.

“It’s becoming more and more prevalent as technology is becoming cheaper. More young adults and unlicensed drivers are operating these things just as if you were in a car, which creates an unsafe environment,” Paul says.

Without state intervention, Paul is limited in his ability to help curb the issue. If he does make a stop, he says he takes the opportunity to educate the rider and contact a parent if they’re underage, adding that the HPD also works with local middle schools to promote safety.

Cantalicio personally knew 22-year-old Christopher Soto, who was riding an e-scooter with his 14-year-old brother, Carlos, on March 24 when he was struck and killed by a car near Warm Springs Road and Torrey Pines Drive. Soto died at the hospital, while his sibling was critically injured.

“To be honest, I had a talk with my wife about how I almost feel like I should just close it down. I don’t want blood on my hands. That’s not why I opened this shop,” Cantalicio says.

Instead, he decided to help mitigate the risks through education, with the next safety seminar coming sometime in July. Although he still touts small electric vehicles as environmentally friendly and financially affordable, he also says they’ve grown increasingly powerful in recent years—with some “high-performance machines” capable of reaching up to 80 miles per hour.

“They need to start regulating them according to power or motor size and move toward an open-type registration system,” Cantalicio says.

Until then, local officials are using the authority they do have to keep riders safe.

“This is not the solution. This is a step towards bringing awareness and education,” Massy says.

“We’ve had serious injuries. We’ve seen them on the news around the entire Valley. We need parents to be involved and understand that these are motorized vehicles that have the same risk of injury and death as a car.”
– Ian Massy, Henderson assistant director of community development and services
Joe Cantalicio hosts a youth safety seminar at his store WheelZen Rides in Las Vegas on May 3. (Courtesy)

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SPORTS

Raiders center Jackson Powers-Johnson could be on a path to greatness

Maxx Crosby was wrecking one period of the Raiders’ practice during the recently concluded mandatory minicamp, blowing past o ensive linemen to supply pressure and intercepting a screen pass from quarterback Geno Smith that he returned for a touchdown.

Only one member of the Raiders’ o ense proved willing to stand up to Crosby’s ensuing trash talk— center Jackson Powers-Johnson. The 328-pound, second-year player out of Oregon shoved Crosby and sparked a typical practice skirmish between the o ense and defense.

The coaches broke up the con ict quickly and there wasn’t much to it, aside from the fact that Powers-Johnson was the player who felt compelled to bark back at the face of the Raiders’ franchise.

“He loves to be jacked up and red up,” coach Pete Carroll said of Powers-Johnson. “He’s got that kind of energy about him. It’s in his makeup. It’s nothing we gave him. He brings that to us. When we have guys like that, we play o of them.”

In just a year, the 2024 second-round pick has already become a favorite among the fan base and his teammates. He’s been among the most visible members of the silver and black in the community after moving to Las Vegas during the o season.

Powers-Johnson has done everything from auctioning o a marquee experience at the Silver & Black Gala at Allegiant Stadium (a road trip with the team next season) to debuting his own custom-made “Big Jax Burger” at local spot Bar Code Burgers.

If the 22-year-old can make the sophomore-season leap Carroll says he expects, Powers-Johnson could be the rare interior o ensive linemen to reach for NFL stardom.

“I’ve hammered down a routine,” Powers-Johnson said. “I’ve lost 10 to 15 pounds—faster, stronger, you get a lot better at technique ... so I think I’m going to make a great jump and give it the best I’ve got and have some fun with it.”

Powers-Johnson rst endeared himself with an aggressive mindset as a rookie, once memorably declaring his favorite part of football is, “running

o the ball killing people.” His play gave even more reason for excitement as the year stretched on.

He ranked in the top 41% of o ensive lineman by Pro Football Focus’ grading metrics including the top 22% in run blocking. Those are extremely encouraging rates for a rookie, especially one who was mostly playing out of position.

Powers-Johnson logged 114 more snaps at guard than center. The Raiders ceded the center job to former franchise staple Andre James until he went down with an injury midway through the season. Former coach Antonio Pierce had a di erent o ensive lineman warm up to replace James, which made Powers-Johnson furious, as he recalled on a recent episode of Crosby’s podcast The Rush.

“I’m like, ‘f**k this,’” Powers-Johnson said on the podcast. “So I went up to AP and I was like, ‘Coach, respectfully, I’m going to play f**king center.’ I won the Rimington (Trophy, for the best center in college football). I can do this and I don’t care what you say.”

Pierce relented, and Powers-Johnson spent most of the rest of the season at center. The o ensive line was still mediocre, but it improved with Powers-Johnson manning the middle.

Las Vegas averaged an NFL-worst 3.6 yards per carry last year, and it’s not all on rookie phenom Ashton Jeanty and free-agent signed speedster Raheem Mostert to turn it around in 2025. Led by Powers-Johnson and longtime franchise left tackle Kolton Miller, the o ensive line is putting the responsibility on its own shoulders.

“You’ve got to run the ball to be able to win the game, and that’s been impressed on us every single day,” Powers-Johnson said. “And I think we’re taking a lot of pride in that, like we’ve seen the stats of the worst rushing team in the NFL. I see it as an opportunity to get those numbers up.”

(Doug Murray/ AP Photo)

THE STRIP

THEY’LL BE LOVING YOU FOREVER

The New Kids on the Block can’t wait to show their fans the best time ever in Las Vegas

After their time atop the charts in the ’80s and ’90s and years pursuing individual projects, the New Kids on the Block reunited in 2008 and embarked on a series of successful tours that qualified the pop group as a natural choice for a Las Vegas Strip headlining residency. And yet it hasn’t happened until now, at Dolby Live at Park MGM. In this candid conversation with Donnie Wahlberg, we found out why this is the right time for NKOTB to bring The Right Stuff to Vegas, and why everything the beloved boy band does is all about the fans.

Was this a long time coming? There must have been opportunities in the past for a New Kids Vegas residency.

There were discussions, off and on, but for us the time just didn’t seem right. But what Vegas is now compared to when we were kids is incredible. We’ve watched Vegas grow up right alongside us. It is the place, the epicenter of entertainment. Vegas could have disappeared as technology came into play and people have access to so many things, but somehow it managed to survive all these changes. So to go now, when Vegas is at the height of its magic and powers, it’s such an honor and a treat. It’s inspiring to us. We’re stepping into a city that

on any given night you can go watch somebody who’s a new artist on top of the world, or a legendary artist that’s been in the game for decades, and we can learn something from all of them and be inspired by all of them.

There was a period where the group was apart for a long time. Did you feel back then that there was zero chance of coming together, or did you suspect there would be opportunities to do it again?

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

If I’m honest, I always thought there was a chance we would get back together again. I had to fully immerse myself into acting to have a career and I had to put New Kids aside. But I remember being on a set, filming a miniseries in Morocco, and I was sitting in a helicopter flying over the desert. I was sitting with the door open and my feet hanging out, and I just started crying, because I was thinking about the guys and wishing I could share this experience with them. There were always moments like that where I’d think, one day we can do something again. So when it came, I was all in, I was so committed. People in my acting world thought I was crazy and told me, “You worked so hard to get this

career off the ground and now you’re going back to a boy band?” And it was like, yeah, and it’s going to be better than before, and it’s going to make my acting career better. I just believed it. And the fans needed it back in their lives just as we did. We were right, we did need each other again. When did that become your reality, that you really understood how devoted and affectionate these people are?

June 20-21, 25, 27-28 (& select dates thru February 28), 8 p.m., $79+. Dolby Live, ticket master.com

I think we always discovered that on a deeper level every time we’d go out [on tour]. I think we have the greatest fans in the world right now, and yet somehow, we’re going to get to Vegas and realize that as much as we think we know, there’s another level we didn’t consider that they didn’t reveal to us. They make this all worthwhile. When we made the decision to go to Vegas, we considered them, and is this the time our fans are ready for this? They can have the best of times, enjoy Vegas, reconnect with other fans they are friends with. They always surprise us, so it’s important for us to surprise them.

Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.

From left, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight and Danny Wood. (Courtesy/Paris Visone)

FAMOUSLY UNFILTERED

TIFFANY HADDISH June 27, 8 p.m., $61-$213. Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com.

You have an unscripted show in the works with Peacock called Ti any Haddish Goes O . How will that di er from other projects?

But she’s also the woman who grew up visiting the rodeo in Brawley, California with her family. She even took a trip to Nashville’s Music City Rodeo and hung

book, but she’s far from predictable. She’s a Grammy-winning comedian, a celebrated author and a Hollywood actress who still owes us Girls Trip 2. out backstage with Tim McGraw.

to always tell them, “I’m gonna take

There are layers to Haddish’s famously un ltered persona. Ahead of her Encore Theater debut on June 27, she got about friendship,

real with the Weekly bucket lists and more.

I love that Instagram video you filmed with Tim McGraw, where you raved about his cologne. He

seemed pleased with that.

So it’s me and my real friends, friends of mine since I was like, 13 … and we are going to Africa. When I was a kid, I used you to Africa.” I’m very big on if I say it, that’s what it’s gonna be. And it might take me 30 years, but we’re gonna do it. So we did it. It was a spiritual experience for us, a journey that I think every girlfriend group should take.

Comedy queen Ti any Haddish is just getting started

He did smell good, and he looks great

for his age. But I was like, dang, my you’re not Black? He was telling me being a cowboy. He used to ride bulls

brother is lighter than you. Are you sure about being on the ranch and all of that, and do rodeos when he was a teenager.

We’ll have to have you out for our National Finals Rodeo in December.

If y’all invite me out, I’m there. He

didn’t even invite me. I was just in Nashville, and I did [ with Jenna Bush Hager. Then somebody was like, “There’s a rodeo in town.”

The Today Show]

I haven’t been to a rodeo in years.

Something tells me you aren’t the mechanical bull-rider type.

Oh, but I am a mechanical bull-rider type at a bar. Then I give a little extra something to the operator, so they’re not tossing me around like a crazy person. If you ever see me in a competition for bull-riding, double check to make sure I didn’t cheat.

Do you prepare for performing in Vegas any di erently than you would for other cities

? Vegas

thought I was. (Laughs.) I’m not the

Now, I’m not gonna lie to you, I thought I was gonna be on some hoe s**t. I thought I was gonna be hooking up with some African king. But then I realized that I’m not the hoe that I ) I’m not the freak-a-leek I thought I could be. I do have a very strong moral compass. And it really showed me that who I associate with really does a ect how I move.

I de nitely keep it kind of general. But then there’s certain things about Vegas that, even if you just got there, you’re going to realize, so those things I talk about—the commonality of Vegas and why we all come here. It’s fun land, and if you don’t behave yourself appropriately, you could turn into a donkey, just

bad stu because I did not include my friends in the equation.

I realized what great friends I have, and how I’ve kept these women close to me all these years, and it’s probably saved me so much misery. Even though I’ve experienced a healthy amount of misery. When I was sitting back looking at it, I probably experienced all that friends in the equation.

Girls Trip 2 ing? Is the Flossy Posse getting back together?

Yes, the Flossy Posse is coming back together! That is happening, that script is … they said they’ve got it where they wanted. Now they’re just trying to gure out scheduling, shooting and all

So is really happening? Is the Flossy Posse getting back together? scheduling, that stu .

want to check o your professional

Is there anything left that you want to check o your professional bucket list?

tell a Black man’s story, but to tell a Black woman’s story, that’s super dif-

I want to be in the WWE one time. I want to wrestle. I want to do quite a few biopics. I don’t know why it’s so hard to get funding to tell our stories, but ... It’s not hard to get funding to tell a Black man’s story, but to tell a Black woman’s story, that’s super difcult. I don’t understand why. Maybe I’m just asking the wrong people. … Oh, and I want to be in the Olympics, in any capacity. I don’t care.

if you don’t behave yourself appropriately, you could turn into a donkey, just like in that movie Pinocchio. It’s about having boundaries and whatnot. But I plan on talking about a lot of things.

Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.

202 5

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SUBMI TY OURNOM INA TI ONS H ER E

The claw machine arcade craze has us snagged

The crane machine—also known as claw machines, crane games and, in Japan, as “UFO catchers” due to their proclivity for aerial abductions—first gripped the public imagination in the early 1900s. Even now, it’s not hard to see their appeal. Crane machines offer what seems like an outsize reward for a small cash outlay; they give the illusion of being a skill game, even though you could do the exact same thing twice and get different results; and they compel you to spend until you got what you want. Vegas knows machines like that. We have buildings full of them.

I gave up on crane machines a long time ago. Most frustrating game in the arcade, next to Tempest. But that was before the Japanese took this American invention, dipped it in kawaii, and returned it to America as entire arcades of crane machines full of stuffed toys, figurines, snacks and key rings. Japan-inspired crane machine arcades are popping in Vegas like so many uncaptured Pokemon. There are nearly 20 of them now spread across the Valley, from Pick Me Claw Arcade in North Las Vegas to Wolf Claw Arcade on the edge of Seven Hills. And

SCENE

Vegas isn’t alone in this UFO catcher invasion: Last January, a TimeOut New York article described arcades as “NYC’s hottest spot[s] right now,” which seems unlikely, but it’s a nice thing to say regardless.

As near as I can tell, all these arcades operate similarly. You pay for a plastic tray of tokens, play the cranes and try, try, try to get the goodies. That’s about all I knew about claw arcades before a friend and I visited The Claw (theclawus.com) at Flamingo and Decatur. (The Toy Story-reminiscent name intrigued me: “The claaaaaaw!”) We walked into the place with confidence and swagger, determined to take down a childhood nemesis. We would best the crane. Those off-brand Pokemon and Stitch toys (Pokemoon? Starch?) would be ours.

What I wasn’t prepared for was how truly nice the experience was. My friend and I began with 23 tokens for $20; we would refill our token tray two more times. We didn’t even mess with the key rings. We picked our toys—a Pikachu, lots of adorable animals inexplicably wearing suits resembling other animals, and a furry, anthropomorphic slice of bread with the word “bread” helpfully embroidered on its torso—and commenced to craning.

While the crane machine hasn’t changed too much from its time in Japan—it now boasts better lighting and plays an upbeat tune, though the claw still doesn’t grab all that tightly—the

experience surrounding these machines, at least at The Claw, is much improved. Helpful employees wearing anime pins hover unobtrusively nearby as you play, and the second they hear or see you getting frustrated, they pop the door open and rearrange the toys to make for an easier grab. Sometimes, all you need to do is just tip them into the chute. You collect so many toys that the staff provides you with a big bag to stuff them in—and you can even trade up for larger toys stacked behind the counter. Crane arcades, unlike casinos, want you to win, or at least appear to.

The crane machine arcade experience is hugely popular with kids and families, but there’s something weirdly cosmopolitan about going there after dark, when teens and a smattering of unashamed adults hold court. TimeOut New York may have slightly overstated the adult popularity of these arcades, but they didn’t understate it, either. America, and Las Vegas, is grabbed and down the chute.

A view inside The Claw arcade, 4850 W. Flamingo Road. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

TASTEFUL RECOLLECTION

Miami’s Havana 1957 refines Cuban cuisine for the Las Vegas Strip

Ropa vieja. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

Las Vegas and Havana were cut from the same cultural cloth. Both cities experienced a Golden Age of glitz in the 1950s, drawing the likes of Liberace, Nat King Cole and the Rat Pack to their posh nightclubs and luxurious hotels. Havana had the legendary Tropicana cabaret club. Las Vegas had the Copa Room. They both had the mob.

With that bit of history to chew on, it’s no wonder Havana 1957 at the Flamingo feels so distinctly like home. The Cuban eatery, a Vida & Estilo Restaurant Group staple in the Miami area since 2010, opened on the Strip in 2024, joining five other outposts on the East Coast.

Through bright flavors and authentic recipes, Havana 1957 recaptures the essence of Havana in its heyday. All the trappings of a tropical paradise are here: swaths of palm trees painted on the walls, gorgeously framing the space; red accents and checkered flooring distinguishing the stage, where live jazz bands and Latin lounge singers croon us back to the glory days of Cuba. It’s sexy, and so is the food, if you can believe it.

Chef Julio Martinez suggests kicking off dinner with a broad taste of Cuba. The Cuban Combo ($38) samples a bit of everything—deep-fried ham croquettes, truffled yuca fries, savory pork chunks—but the fresh mahi-mahi tropical ceviche ($26) rocked the table.

The crispy ropa vieja empanadas ($18) also shined as finger foods. Martinez says the kitchen slow-cooks flank steak for three to four hours, simmered in a zesty blend of tomato criolla sauce to pack in flavor. Havana 1957 offers a larger entree of that meat as well, paired with white rice and black beans.

“We’re doing the beans from scratch. We don’t buy anything from cans. We have a group of staff that prepares everything twice a day, so everything is made daily at the restaurant,” Martinez says. “What we’re trying to do is guarantee that the guests coming from Vegas to [Miami] or from here to Vegas, they always find the same flavor.”

The menu does a fine job of keeping its Cuban cuisine simple and flavorful.

The Pollo Havana 1957 ($38) cribs from a Cuban family recipe with spicy Caribbean notes. Cuban sandwiches ($26) come with a generous mountain of mojo pork. And the seafood truly feels like a catch, especially when ordering Faroese salmon ($38) that’s been drizzled in herb oil, or pineapple-glazed lobster tails ($70).

The restaurant’s cocktail program also sings with sophistication. Several kinds of mojitos—from the Hennessy Blueberry ($22) to the spiced-rum Mojito Royal ($21)—activate vacation mode, while signatures like the Spicy Guava Margarita and Cuban Mule ($21) offer a familiar fix.

When you’re done feasting, pop over to Cortadito Coffee House next door.

V&E opened it in conjunction with Havana 1957, and the restaurant’s breakfast options pair nicely with it. The hospitality group also owns Cafe Americano inside Caesars Palace, so the java’s legit. Havana 1957 tastefully represents its roots, in both flavor and feel. And while the Golden Age is long gone, this restaurant seems focused on forging a new one.

DINING

NOTES

Rivea closes, Nudo and Zaytinya open and more

Rivea at W Las Vegas, the 64th-floor restaurant from the legendary Alain Ducasse, will close on June 22. Before it became Rivea in 2015, it opened in 2004 as Ducasse’s Mix concept. Future plans for the space have yet to be announced, but the adjacent Skyfall Lounge remains open daily.

Spiegelworld has crafted another dining experience for the Las Vegas Strip, but as usual, it’s not just a restaurant. The Party at Superfrico opens July 10, a chef’s choice three-course menu from executive chef Mitch Emge to complement rotating live entertainment hosted by Laurie Hagen five nights a week in the new Blue Room at the Cosmopolitan. Reservations can be made at spiegel world.com.

Sahara recently announced chef Kwame Onwuachi’s new restaurant set to open later this year at the north Strip property will be Maroon, a Caribbean steakhouse and “an incredible opportunity for me to honor my Jamaican heritage, provide exciting flavors, and tell my story to an entirely new audience,” Onwuachi said in a statement.

Local hospitality icons Michael and Jenna Morton have opened Nudo Italiano in Southern Highlands at 4390 W. Cactus Ave. It’s open daily at 4 p.m. and there’s more info at nudolv.com. The José Andrés Group’s Zaytinya has opened at the Forum Shops at Caesars, a Mediterranean concept that originally launched in Washington, D.C. in 2002. Get a look at zaytinya.com.

Al Solito Posto at Tivoli Village continues its new series of complimentary curated tasting events with beverage curators on June 19 (whiskey with Springbank Distillery) and June 26 (Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Beverages).

The inaugural list of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants will be unveiled at Wynn on September 25. This live ceremony will mark the first time the 50 Best organization debuts a restaurant ranking specifically for the United States, Canada and parts of the Caribbean. –Brock Radke

Tropical ceviche. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
Nudo Italiano. (Courtesy/Chris Wessling)

PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES “LUXURY

LIST”

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Mythologist Joseph Campbell planned his influential work during a five-year retreat, reading for nine hours a day. He was supremely focused. I recommend a similar foundation-building project for you, Aries. The coming months are an excellent time to establish the groundwork for what you want to do for the rest of your long life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In Japan, komorebi is the dappled sunlight streaming through leaves. Use this as your inspirational metaphor. Tune in to the soft illumination glimmering in the background and be alert for flickers that reveal useful clues. Trust the indirect path and the sideways glance; what is loud and blatant is likely not for you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Sampo of Finnish folklore is a magic artifact that generates wealth, but only when shared. I believe you are close to acquiring a similar treasure, Gemini. It may be an idea or project that radiates generosity, but it cannot thrive in isolation. To work its magic, you must share the wealth.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Tides don’t ask permission; they ebb and flow with an ancient gravitational intelligence. You, too, harbor such tidal forces, Cancerian, synced with your deep emotional power. It’s crucial now to be aware of your inner rhythms. Trust their timing and harness their tremendous energy for your own cycles of renewal.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The ancient Korean art of keum-boo fuses pure gold to silver, making it seem to bloom from within. Let this be your metaphor. You have the skill to blend two valuable things into a synergistic new asset. The only thing that could derail you is the worry that you lack the power. Expunge that worry.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Some Indigenous cultures track time by natural events: “the moon when the salmon return,” and so on. Try this approach, Virgo. Your rigor will benefit from more intuitive choices and organic timing. Tune out the clock and listen for the hush before a threshold opens. Heed the Greek concept of kairos: the prime moment to act.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Botanists speak of “serotiny,” a plant’s ability to delay seed release until conditions are right; some pinecones only open after a fire. What latent brilliance in you has been waiting for this moment? The coming weeks offer the catalytic heat or disruption needed to unleash your fertile potency.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your superpower is detecting what unfolds beneath the surface, but now you must redirect your attention. Use your X-ray vision to see what lies at the horizon and beyond. Can you sense the possibilities percolating at the edges of your known world? Your educated guesses will be as good as prophecies.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): At age 30, after seeing an Impressionist exhibit, Wassily Kandinsky abandoned a law career to study art. He went on to have an influential, decades-long career. You may soon encounter inspirations of a similar caliber, Sagittarius. They may not be as drastic, but they could revitalize your life forever.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Nile’s annual flood brought both disruption and renewal, washing away debris and depositing fertile silt. You will soon experience a metaphorical flood: a surge of new ideas and feelings that unsettles your routines. Focus on the richness this influx brings. The flow will ultimately uplift you, even if it’s messy at first.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Medieval stonemasons laid foundations for cathedrals they would never see completed. You are invited to do similar work whose fruits may not ripen for a while. A conversation or new habit could become a key inheritance for your older self. Your prime offerings are seeds for the future; attend to them with reverence.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In frigid regions, some glaciers sing as they shift and melt, emitting groans and pulses. Your soul will have a similar inclination as an old logjam thaws within you. This is a very good thing. Don’t try to translate the mysterious too quickly. Listen to the story your inner rumblings tell.

BACKSTORY

YOUTH-LED DEMONSTRATION | JUNE 11, 2025

Some 50 people turned out for a youth-led demonstration against the Trump administration’s destructive and arbitrary anti-immigration policies, now exacerbated by Gov. Joe Lombardo’s veto of a bipartisan bill that would have prohibited federal immigration enforcement authorities from entering Nevada’s public schools without a warrant. Two police officers followed the block-long march Downtown at a respectable distance, mostly to insure no one suffered in the heat. In the Las Vegas Sun, reporter Hillary Davis quoted 16-year-old organizer Kumei Norwood on the importance of engaging kids on immigration issues: “They came to America for a better opportunity, and they’re not being given that,” Norwood said. “We’re growing up in this world, and we need to be aware of what’s happening.” –Geoff Carter

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