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Las Vegas resorts show locals love with special o ers for summer stays.
COVER ART Photograph courtesy/Clint Jenkins
20 FEATURE A slew of new grocery stores can play a role in feeding the Valley’s food deserts.
26 NEWS Catholic Charities gets creative to serve seniors on its growing meal delivery waitlist after budget cuts.
28 SPORTS Will Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel be the dynamic duo the Golden Knights need?
30 MUSIC AEG and Clique Hospitality dip into poolside concerts at Bel-Aire Backyard.
34 SCENE
Whether you reach for the mic or shy away, karaoke awaits at a variety of venues.
36 FOOD & DRINK
Las Vegas chef Josh Smith reinvents classics at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak.
Pro athletes compete for charity at Las Vegas Ballpark, Fresa’s Skate Shop relocates to Fergusons with a mini festival and more this week.
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EVENTS FOR KIDS:
Adam London
Comedian & Magician
Ages 3 – 17
July
Mutiple times and locations
John Lewit
Kids’ Magician
Ages 5 – 11
July
Mutiple times and locations
Scan
May y 15 5 –– July y 31 15 – 31
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 TEENS:
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
Clay Creations - UNR Extension - 4H
Teens learn to work with clay
Ages 12 – 17
Clark County Library
Tuesday, July 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 22 at 1:30 p.m.
RTF Mobile Gaming Truck
Gaming with PS5, Nintendo Switch, XBOX Series S, and more!
Ages 12 – 17
Tuesday, July 15
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Paint Pouring With Vibes DIY Studio
Teens learn to work with clay
Ages 12 – 17
Monday, July 28 at 12 p.m.
Windmill Library EVENTS FOR
ADULTS:
Classical Guitar Workshop with Kyle Khembo
Ages 18+
July 18 – 21
Mutiple times and locations
Writing Workshop: Past Travels with Joylynn Ross Storytelling Workshop
Ages 18+
July
Mutiple times and locations
Beginner-Friendly Dance Class
Ages 18+
July
Mutiple times and locations
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY JULY 10
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS THE MUSICAL
Thru 7/12, 8 p.m., Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, supersummertheatre.org
EXHIBIT: STORIES FROM BACKSTAGE: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL IN LAS VEGAS
Thru 7/17, Mon.-Thu. 7 a.m.-
5:30 p.m., Las Vegas City Hall Grand Gallery, neonmuseum.org
NBA SUMMER LEAGUE
Thru 7/20, times vary, Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com
WORLD TABLE TENNIS
U.S. SMASH
Thru 7/13, times vary, Orleans Arena, ticketmaster.com
CORE JINGLE IN JULY
6 p.m., Beverly Theater, corewecan.org
FRANKIE MORENO
6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com
CHARLOTTE REINA & SAM NICHOLSON
8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com
DUSTBOWL CHAMPION
With Casket Cassette, Floats, Francia & Laguna, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us
T-PAIN
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
JERMAINE DUPRI
10:30 p.m., Tao Nightcub, taogroup.com
FRIDAY JULY 11
BACKSTREET BOYS
Thru 7/13, 8 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster.com
FRESA FEST
In case you haven’t heard, Fresa’s Skate Shop has moved from Main Street to Fergusons and it’s taking over the Downtown destination with Fresa Fest. The free, all-ages event features vendors, music and, of course, sales on skates and accessories. Live music will come from garage rockers The Hideaway, punk band We Might Die, the Dollheads and more. Zine makers and henna artists will be on hand, as well as baked goods for sale and live painting. It’s a community celebration you won’t want to miss. 6 p.m., free, Fergusons Downtown, fresasskateshop.com. –Shannon Miller
KELLY CLARKSON 8 p.m., & 7/12, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com
NAS WITH THE LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC 8 p.m., & 7/12, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com
YUNG BAE 11:30 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15. com
HUNTER HAYES
8 p.m., the Railhead, ticketmaster.com
JULIA COLE
10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, tixr.com
TONI BRAXTON & CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER
8 p.m., & 7/12, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com
MICHAEL LONGFELLOW & DEVON WALKER
7 & 9:30 p.m., & 7/12, Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy. com
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub (& 7/13, 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club), taogroup.com
METRO BOOMIN 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
BATTLE FOR VEGAS
The legendary Reggie Jackson, who played for your Athletics in Kansas City and Oakland during his remarkable career, will throw out the first pitch and serve as honorary co-captain in this year’s Battle For Vegas softball fundraiser in Downtown Summerlin. The Vegas Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel and the Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers will lead the two squads in the main event, bookended by a home run derby and postgame fireworks. Proceeds for the VGK Foundation will be distributed this year to the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, Make-A-Wish Nevada, Best Buddies and Assisting Lives in Las Vegas. 6 p.m., $35+, Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke
GARY OWEN
8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com
LAS VEGAS ACES VS GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES
1 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com
MUSTANG CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
6 p.m., South Point Arena, ticketmaster.com
DESERT OPUS: SUMMER OF SCHUBERT
2 p.m., Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum, ritadeaninabbeymuseum. org
SAM FELDT 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
ODDYSSEY NOIR 10 p.m., Area15, area15. com
S U P E R G U I D E
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY JULY 13
TYGA 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup. com
112 Noon, Daylight Beach Club, tixr. com
G-EAZY
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynn social.com
GOSPEL BRUNCH
10 a.m., House of Blues, ticket master.com
SUMI JO 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs. com
BRIT FLOYD
7:30 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs. com
KROMI
11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
MONDAY JULY 14
ULTIMATE VILLA FINALE WATCH PARTY
5 p.m., Stadium Swim, circa lasvegas.com
DJ BAMBOOZLE
10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com
RONDELL SHERIDAN
With Robert Mac, Kathleen Dunbar, thru 7/16, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.mgm resorts.com
LUENELL 10 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticket master.com
DARA JAZZLYN 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz. com
BASTILLE DAY
CELEBRATION
4 p.m., Marche Bacchus, marchebacchus. com
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY JULY 15
TALIB KWELI
With J Rawl, Solene, 9 p.m., Wax Rabbit, waxrabbitlv.com
JUICY J
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup. com
FM PROPHETS
10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesand dollarlv.com
CARLOS MENCIA
10 p.m., & 7/16, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com
ALEX REYMUNDO
10 p.m., & 7/16, LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com
FREESTYLE CHESS
WEDNESDAY JULY 16
(Courtesy/Frank Lebon)
LADY GAGA
8 p.m., & 7/18-7/19, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
After bringing Freestyle Chess to Germany, France and South Africa, the unique style of gameplay that randomizes the starting position of pieces is holding its first-ever tour in the U.S. at Wynn Las Vegas. The tour kicks o with “Chesstival” on July 13, featuring current and former NBA players in a knockout-style tournament where $50,000 in total prize money will be donated to the charity of the winner’s choice. It continues with the main tournament July 16-20 and o ers $750,000 in prize money for each event. Immersive production, live commentary and storytelling bring the game to life. Check and mate. Thru 7/20, times vary, $100+, Wynn, freestyle-chess.com. –Shannon Miller DO IT ALL
SPRING VALLEY KICKBACK
With Jonny Hazard, 6 p.m., Downtown Summerlin, summerlin. com
MÙA HÈ
RUC RO 11
8 p.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv. com
DEAD BUTTERFLIES With Phoebe Chat, Callmepretty, Machinedeath, Betweenthedogs&I, Withaheavyheart, 5 p.m., Taverna Costera, posh.vip
SCOWL With Glixen, 6:30 p.m., Grey Witch, seetickets.us
SELF-CARE & LEISURE LIFE
ALL THE FUN, CLOSE TO HOME ALL THE FUN, CLOSE TO HOME
Find the right summer staycation deal for you and yours in Las Vegas BY
BROCK RADKE
Consumer financial services company Bankrate conducted a summer travel survey that found only 46% of adults in the U.S. are planning to travel this summer due to higher costs, and one in 10 Americans are sticking close to home instead with a staycation.
With numbers like that impacting Las Vegas tourism and hotel business, resorts all over the Valley are bending over backward to attract summer guests, including local staycationers.
Las Vegans are pretty savvy about planning such a stay, which can be as easy as picking out your favorite destination and browsing for the best rates and o erings. But we’re always ready to lend a helping hand, so here’s a collection of summer deals all over town to spark your staycation search. Keep in mind, these varying deals are subject to availability and blackout dates, and some rates require minimum stays.
You may have heard that Resorts World is o ering free parking for all guests through August 28, but that’s only the beginning. Special o erings just for locals who sign up for Genting Rewards include a 20% discount on hotel rooms; a 20% discount at several stellar restaurants including Bar Zazu, Crossroads and Junior’s; free entry at Zouk Nightclub on Thursday nights; and 20% o select services at the award-winning Awana spa. Resort pool day passes ($15-$40) are also available to locals without a hotel room. rwlasvegas.com
RESORTS WORLD
The expansive neighborhood resort South Point has a special summer staycation o er that’s tough to beat: A one-night stay at $105 (Sunday through Thursday) or $175 (Friday and Saturday) available through September 6, with $25 slot play, two drinks at the pool and resort fees included. southpointcasino.com
Circa’s All-In Summer Hotel Package is back, available for reservations through September 4. The $400 deal includes a 2-night stay, $100 dining and beverage credits, and a daybed at Stadium Swim. Resort fees and taxes are included with this one. circalasvegas.com
The classic Downtown destination Golden Nugget is wiping away resort fees for reservations through June 30, 2026, in case you want to delay your staycation—but you must book by July 31. There’s free parking for hotel guests and rewards for those who book online, and The Tank pool (the one with the sharks) has brought back its Night Swim party every Friday and Saturday all summer long. It starts at 7 p.m. and admission is free. goldennugget.com
Get o the beaten path at Downtown Grand, where the Sun, Stay and Save package o ers two nights at $129 (weekdays) or $250 (weekends), including drink tickets and dining credits. The rooftop Citrus Grand Pool Deck was recently remodeled and cabana rentals start at $150 food and beverage minimum purchase. downtowngrand.com
The Palms also wants you to stay cool this summer, o ering 30% o room rates and tossing in a brunch bu et to sweeten the pot. Regular o ers for locals include 20% o your stay, 20% o spa services, $6 movie specials, assorted food and drink and free entry to Ghostbar. palms.com
Sahara Las Vegas o ers Nevada residents no resort fees on reservations through August 28, with rates starting at $59 Sunday through Thursday and $139 Friday and Saturday. Also available: free room upgrades, cabana and daybed discounts at the pool, discounted tickets for Magic Mike Live and at the Amina spa, and free valet and self parking. saharalasvegas.com
+ More deals (see page 18)
SILVERTON
South of the Strip, the Silverton has long been a locals favorite for so many reasons. Its new Swimmin’ Hole pool is reserved for hotel guests—unless you’re local, 21 and older and want to purchase a day pass Monday through Thursday for $25 (a half day pass, 4-9 p.m., is just $15). silvertoncasino.com
(Courtesy/Anthony Mair)
DURANGO
Since it’s still the newest neighborhood resort, Durango might be the staycation hot spot this summer and its Summer Dreamin’ package can save you up to 30% o room rates. Of course, Station Casinos maintains the Nevada Locals StaCation deals at its properties for discounted rates and no resort fees. stationcasinos.com
The Plaza’s new all-inclusive hotel package is available through August 30 and starts at $125 per person, o ering breakfast and dinner from its casino restaurants, bottomless drinks at two casino bars, no resort fees, early checkin and 25% o drinks at the pool. plazahotelcasino.com
The M Resort in Henderson is waving resort fees all summer when booking direct and o ering 30% o room rates for locals. themresort.com
If you are taking your brood to the Strip this summer for a staycation or just a day trip, the always familyfriendly Circus Circus has a new Family Circus Pass available for locals through August 10 for the 5-acre Adventuredome amusement park. The purchase of one regular
Adventuredome wristband pass ($60) will receive four junior wristbands for free—a value of $120. circuscircus.com
Members of the MyTI Guestbook & Treasury Players Club programs can enjoy deluxe rooms at Treasure Island starting at $79. All hotel guests this summer can use free valet and self parking and take advantage of new happy hour specials at Las Vegas Yacht Club. treasureisland.com
The Strat ’s Summer of Value promotion is bringing back old-school Vegas prices through August 28, with $49 midweek and $99 weekend room rates with taxes and fees included. Use the code SSOV25 when booking and also receive free admission to the Observation Deck and a $25 dining credit. And locals always get free self parking at the Strat. thestrat.com
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas o ers up to 35% o room rates for locals plus no valet or parking fees, and the oStrip spot also continues its Fourth of July sale and Sunlit Stays package with discounted rooms and beverage credits for those looking for poolside relief. virginhotelslv.com
MGM Resorts International is wooing summer guests with limited-time pricing on room packages across its Las Vegas destinations— Bellagio, Aria, Cosmopolitan, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM , New York-New York , Luxor and Excalibur Booking a minimum two-night stay will earn you up to $150 in food and beverage credit, while other packages can get you free tickets to shows like Mad Apple, David Copperfield, Blue Man Group or Tournament of Kings mgmresorts.com
(Photo Illustration)
Can a grocery store surge help provide for the food deserts of Las Vegas?
BY BROCK RADKE
In Las Vegas today, where the talk of the town usually circles around tourism, sports, entertainment and real estate trends, you wouldn’t expect buzz to be generated by grocery stores. But that’s been the case this spring and early summer.
Wildly popular Asian market H Mart made its debut in Las Vegas in April on Decatur Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. On the same day, multinational discount supermarket chain Aldi opened two stores in Henderson and North Las Vegas, then opened a third in May on southwest Rainbow Boulevard. Also in May, Whole Foods relocated its always-packed market just outside the boundaries of Summerlin (on Charleston Boulevard) into Downtown Summerlin proper (at Sahara and Town Center Drive).
Mostly because it’s been one of the country’s fastest growing metros for the better part of the last 40 years, the Las Vegas Valley has consistently attracted regional and national grocery chains, providing residents with plenty of options at different price points. But this recent surge has barely chipped away at a prominent issue surrounding this industry in Southern Nevada.
A food desert is generally defined as an area where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food options. A truer definition depends on the community. Three Square, the nonprofit food bank serving the residents of Lincoln, Nye, Esmeralda and Clark counties, recognizes 16 food deserts in Clark County—10 in the City of Las Vegas—and focuses on people who live a mile or more away from a fresh food provider.
“Our definition of a food desert is expanded to include families who don’t own a personal vehicle and are at least half a mile away from a fresh food provider,” says Lisa Segler, chief operations and strategy officer at Three Square. “And to be a provider, you have to offer something like produce or dairy
items, not just shelf-stable items.”
Many food deserts are urban, low-income areas that do not provide incentive for grocers to open a new market in the neighborhood. This has long been an issue in Downtown Las Vegas, a high-traffic area where new residential developments are progressing quickly and plenty of businesses are attracting local consumers.
In her State of the City address on April 30, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley mentioned plans for a grocery store at Symphony Park as part of the 32-story Cello Tower and Origin development, a shopping, retail and dining district expected to bring more than 400 residential units Downtown.
That luxury development recently broke ground and sounds a lot like Downtown Summerlin, which could attract a national grocer like Whole Foods or something similar. But it’s years away and might not ultimately serve all the area’s residents.
Whether it’s income demographics or a lack of residential density, the numbers usually don’t add up in areas considered to be food deserts.
“As long as I’ve been on the council, I’ve been asking [the Department of] Economic Development what will it take, how can we get them, and going to different places to scout them and pitch our city and our Downtown,” says Ward 3 City Councilwoman Olivia Diaz. “We are super excited about what’s happened in the Arts District and more residential being added [Downtown] and all of this justifies our narrative that we need more grocery store offerings.”
The city’s Department of Economic and Urban Development is constantly working to bring new developments Downtown but the city does not own the land or the buildings that are for lease. It’s more about connecting developers with potential tenants.
“The city has been trying to ensure no community goes without decent offerings and that’s why Mario’s Westside Market was relocated, to make sure it could be bigger
and more successful,” Diaz says.
“One in six individuals in our community are facing hunger and one in five are kids. About 377,000 people in our community don’t know where their next meal is coming from.”
–Lisa
Segler, chief operations and strategy officer, Three Square
In her own ward, homegrown supermarket chain La Bonita is set to open a new store in the long-vacant former Kmart building on East Bonanza Road at Nellis Boulevard. Expected to arrive in October or November, it’ll be the eighth location for La Bonita in Las Vegas.
“They’re going to bring their flagship here, with a taqueria, juice bar, meat and cheese areas, that great produce section that’s something everyone is always attracted to, and a bakery,” Diaz says. “What made it attractive was looking at those demographics, which are over 70% Latino. This is a Latino specialty grocer that knows what Latinos are purchasing and making in their homes.”
Shawn Eddy, regional vice president at Aldi, says Las Vegas is a significant part of the company’s national expansion and a fourth Aldi store on South Decatur will be open by the end of the year.
“When it comes to choosing sites, we consider several factors, but the bottom line of it is convenient locations for shoppers to support high-volume traffic daily,” he says. “The reception in Vegas has been as outstanding as we could have hoped. There’s a knowledge of us in the market from people who lived elsewhere in the country and we are absolutely excited about the initial reception.”
The Aldi model is built on offering
The new Whole Foods in Downtown Summerlin. (Courtesy)
high-quality products at lower prices, certainly attractive to most shoppers these days no matter the neighborhood demographics.
“It’s a predominantly private-label selection ... you can save up to 36% on the average grocery list without sacrificing quality,” Eddy says. “Another thing unique to us is the quarter cart system, where you deposit a quarter to unlock your cart and get it back when you’re done, which we do to prevent theft of carts and not spending time chasing carts around so we can focus on in-store operations and customers.”
California-based Grocery Outlet recently opened two more stores and now operates five in the Vegas Valley. It’s a relatively new arrival to the area (2022) and also operates with a different approach.
“It’s about how we buy and how we sell,” explains Layla Kasha, chief marketing officer. “We source half our product opportunistically, looking for product forecast mistakes from suppliers. You might see a box of Cap’n Crunch with Santa on the front but it’s on our shelves in March or April. We’re getting a really good deal when we buy that, it’s a great
product with great shelf life, it just has the wrong holiday on the box.”
Grocery Outlet turns that discount around to customers, she says, so a product like that box of cereal might be 99 cents compared to $5.99 in the regular grocery store. “And our stores are independently owned and operated, so the owners are part of the community where they live, the fabric of the neighborhood. It allows them to be hyperlocal in what they source, and better decide how to participate as part of the community—what food banks and schools to sponsor.”
Grocery Outlet’s first five stores are well-distributed throughout the Valley, from North Las Vegas to Blue Diamond Road, with a sixth set to open later this year. Three of its markets opened in former 99 Cents Only store locations. Replacing that kind of retailer with a fresh food provider is a crucial step in some communities.
“We were able to move faster in Las Vegas based on that deal with those store locations,” Kasha says. “We do go into a lot of food deserts, places where the only grocery store is too far or there’s only one. We get
excited about adding optionality and variety and bringing deals to communities that are underserved.”
Of course, pressing for new retail development and bringing more grocers to communities in need is not the only way Las Vegas is battling the food desert effect. Three Square is incredibly quick and versatile when it comes to forming strategic partnerships with practically every grocer in town—especially new arrivals like Aldi—to conduct its food rescue program, which gathers millions of pounds of unsold product each year and delivers to nonprofit and faith-based organizations for direct distribution to the community. The food bank does the same thing with surplus prepared foods from banquets and conventions at Las Vegas Strip facilities.
Three Square also capitalizes on all available data to strategically establish prime locations for its distribution pantries, looking closely at the churches, community centers and other partner sites to “look and see where folks are visiting, how far they have to travel beyond their neighborhoods and what gaps exist,” says Segler.
Customers shop during the opening of a Grocery Outlet on North Nellis Boulevard. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
“We sat in a meeting recently with multiple partners in which [a retail grocer] had reached out looking for new locations to open, and wanted to know where the best places could be,” she continues. “We are able to overlay these maps and this data and say, here are the locations in need, here’s where we don’t have a physical [distribution] location or mobile unit, and we can use the food desert map on top of this and really see where those gaps exist. Then we can come back and say, here’s where you can make the biggest impact if you want to open a location.”
Like local governments, Three Square has no control over where Grocery Outlet or Aldi or Whole Foods might open their next store. But they can point companies in the right direction based on plenty of data and share a powerful community network. And in Las Vegas today, where things aren’t getting easier for most residents, that information and those resources are even more important.
“The Map the Meal Gap data just released by Feeding America does show that food insecurity is significantly worse,” Segler says. “One in six individuals in our community are facing hunger and one in five are kids. About 377,000 people in our community don’t know where their next meal is coming from.”
On top of that, organizations like Three Square are experiencing federal funding cuts. Segler notes one of the food bank’s lost streams equals about two million pounds of food, and the food bank is estimating it will have to make up for a total of five million pounds this year.
“So the need is increasing. With supply chains and tariffs and policy changes and government funding changes, we’re in new territory,” she says. “Three Square stands ready for what is to come and will do everything in our power to feed the community ... and we know our community absolutely shows up every time we have a crisis, always comes together to help those in need. This city gives generously and this time is no different.”
For questions about food assistance, call the Three Square call center at 702-765-4030.
For volunteer or donation inquiries, call 702-644-3663 ext. 349 or email volunteers@threesquare.org.
Food
insecurity per zip code ranked by insecurity rate
Source: threesquare.org
IN THE NEWS
THE CENTER STEPS UP AS FEDS CUT LGBTQ YOUTH SUICIDE HOTLINE
Starting July 17, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer offer the “Press 3” option that connected LGBTQ+ youths to specially trained counselors. This dedicated line, developed in partnership with the Trevor Project—a nonprofit organization providing crisis intervention and suicide-prevention services for LGBTQ+ young people—served as a crucial safety net for vulnerable youths nationwide.
As federal resources vanish, local organizations like the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada are filling the gap.
The Center’s reach is substantial. In 2023, more than 780 youths participated in its programming, according to its most recent impact report. More than 320 attended youth-focused events including its prom, Thanksgiving dinner—where free meals are provided to kids and families—and Pride for Kids, an event celebrating LGBTQ+ children ages 5 to 11.
Beyond programming, the Center provides essential services: assisting 96 people through name and gender marker change clinics for transgender and nonbinary individuals; serving more than 230 crisis clients through emergency housing, transportation and food assistance; and facilitating more than 9,640 community referrals.
“Our message to young people in Southern Nevada is this: You still have a place to turn. The Center remains committed—now more than ever—to providing a safe, welcoming
BY THE NUMBERS
114,500
space with the support and services that help LGBTQ youth thrive,” said John Waldron, CEO of the Center.
The federal funding loss represents a significant blow to crisis intervention efforts. Nearly 50% of the LGBTQ+ youth specialized services’ contact volume was handled by the Trevor Project, which in 2024 helped more than 231,000 crisis contacts and trained nearly 250 crisis counselors and operational support staff. Federal data shows the lifeline served nearly 1.3 million callers since its inception.
A 2024 survey from the Trevor Project found that 66% of LGBTQ+ young people in Nevada reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety, and 60% reported symptoms of depression. About 45% of LGBTQ+ youths in Nevada had “seriously considered suicide” in the past year, including 52% of those identifying as transgender or nonbinary; 14% of LGBTQ+ youths in the state had attempted suicide.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said over $33 million has been spent to support the subnetworks as of June.
The main 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will still be available for people to call or text. In its statement, SAMHSA noted that it would “focus on serving all help seekers,” including LGBTQ+ youths who used the 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3 option” prior to the notice. –Grace Da Rocha
“One week [Trump]’s saying he’s going to help out the farmers and the hotel companies, the next week he’s saying they’re going to find and deport every single person here that is undocumented.”
–Ted Pappageorge, secretarytreasurer of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226
That's the number of Nevadans expected to lose health insurance due to cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act in the "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by Congress on July 3, according to estimates from the Joint Economic Committee – Minority. President Trump signed the multi-trillion dollar tax breaks and spending cuts bill into law on July 4.
HOT SHOT
Wang Chuqin from China, No. 2 in men’s singles table tennis worldwide, competes in the World Table Tennis United States Smash at the Orleans Arena, continuing through July 13.
(Courtesy)
Catholic Charities’ Meals on Wheels launches new campaign to curb waitlist
SERVING SENIORS
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
As Nevada’s senior population continues to grow, so do waitlists to apply for local senior food assistance initiatives like the Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada’s Meals on Wheels program.
Since 1975, the nonpro t organization has leveraged grants and private donations to deliver pre-packaged meals to residents over 60 years old who are homebound due to illness or disability. Today, it enlists nine drivers to serve more than 2,400 clients each week.
But with a nearly 20% decrease in its budget for the scal year that began July 1, and the looming threat of additional federal funding cuts,
Catholic Charities itself is now in need of a helping hand.
President and CEO Sara Ramirez says the reduction partly stems from federal cuts issued earlier this year by President Trump’s Department of Government E ciency. While she says the cuts primarily a ected the nonpro t’s refugee resettlement program, other programs like Meals on Wheels were also impacted.
As a result, she says the nonpro t now has less money to accommodate the more than 1,000 seniors who are on the program’s growing waitlist.
“As a whole, food insecurity across the United States is on the
rise. Every statistic shows us that, and the number of phone calls that we receive from new individuals seeking our services is another afrmation that this is true,” Ramirez says.
Last year, the Catholic Charities Board of Trustees foresaw the need to expedite the Meals on Wheels waitlist. Members jumped at an o er from fellow member Tom McCormick—president of local homebuilding company Touchstone Living—to ra e o a brand-new home to mitigate the gap.
“It was the result of the need to really raise some more dollars outside of federal, state and local government funding that could help
us sustain ourselves proactively. We would love to raise a little over $700,000,” Ramirez says.
Tickets are being sold through July 31, with the nal drawing set for early August. The winner—who must be present in Nevada when they purchase their entry—will be able to choose between the three-bedroom home in North Las Vegas or a $250,000 cash prize.
The creative solution is one of several local campaigns intended to help o set growing food insecurity among seniors.
According to Feeding America’s 2025 Map the Meal Gap Report, Nevada’s 2023 food insecurity rate for adults 60 or older was 9.5%, meaning more than 75,000 elder Nevadans lacked access to the nutrition required to meet their basic needs. Seniors with a disability are nearly three times as likely to fall under that de nition.
In Las Vegas, disabled seniors like former teacher Beverly Blake, 79, continue to depend on Meals on Wheels to help them overcome these barriers. She’s been a client “on and o ” for over 15 years now, but her needs recently surged after a stroke left her in a wheelchair.
In that span, Blake says she’s seen Catholic Charities make a continuous e ort to incorporate healthier options and a greater variety of o erings.
“When I was working at a preschool, I did their meal planning for them. So, I know exactly what to look for, and Catholic Charities really does bring us good food. It’s never too salty or spicy—just like you’d make for your mother,” she says.
The Meals on Wheels team also features a sta nutritionist who ensures the meals don’t include unhealthy levels of sodium and sugar
and customizes plates for seniors with speci c dietary needs. They also provide additional supplemental items like fruit, vegetables and a gallon of milk, with pet food available upon request.
The service is about much more than sustenance. One of Blake’s favorite aspects of the program lies in the camaraderie she gains from her delivery drivers.
“When you live alone, it’s so nice to have visitors and so wonderful to know that somebody with a good heart cares and wants you to have a good meal,” Blake says. “And on your birthday, they’ll bring you a piece of cake. That makes you feel real—like you’re a person and somebody remembers you. I know it sounds silly, but it’s exciting.”
Ramirez says Blake’s experience is far from an outlier.
“We don’t just drop it o at the front door. If they’re okay with it, we also come into the home and do safety checks. We nd that 99% of them will say yes, because many of them are craving that connection to the community,” she says.
For Ramirez, the most important component of the program is that it “allows somebody to age in place.”
“Some individuals don’t have disposable income coming in because they’re retired or on Social Security. And when they can’t drive or cook, meal delivery is the next best option, because they won’t have to go to a state Medicaid-assisted living facility,” Ramirez says. “They also get to retain their independence, which is so important in our lives.”
While Blake calls Catholic Charities’ Meals on Wheels “the best thing that happens to old people, period,” it’s one of several local nonpro ts focused on reducing senior food insecurity in the Valley. Among the key players is Three Square Food Bank, which o ers assistance through collaborations with DoorDash’s Project DASH and East Valley Family Services’ Golden Groceries program.
Another notable example is the Just One Project’s Senior Nutrition
When government cuts happen, the demand for our services doesn’t go down.”
–Sara Ramirez, president, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
and Wellness program, which served more than 13,000 seniors in 2024.
With the Meals on Wheels waitlist expected to continue to grow, Ramirez remains optimistic that the ra e will help the program and its clients navigate an uncertain future. She adds that all of the funds raised will bene t that mission.
“When government cuts happen, the demand for our services doesn’t go down. One of the main reasons we’re doing this ra e is to get people o that waitlist, because we haven’t and won’t cut back on our clients,” Ramirez says.
Meanwhile, while Blake is thankful to have Meals on Wheels as a lifeline, she says she’s also starting to worry about the impact that proposed federal cuts to government assistance programs like Medicaid and Medicare could have on seniors like her.
“If I didn’t have my Social Security, my [social security income] and my Medicaid and Medicare, forget it. I wouldn’t make it. I’d be out the street in a wheelchair with my dog,” Blake says. “So, I do get political, but that’s only because I give a darn.”
To enter the drawing, visit catholiccharities.com/events/newhome-ra e.
The
Meals on Wheels program delivers food to seniors. (Courtesy)
DYNAMIC DUO
DYNAMIC DUO DYNAMIC DUO DYNAMIC DUO DYNAMIC DUO
Mitch Marner
Jack Eichel
Mitch Marner
and Jack Eichel look ingrained as the Golden Knights’ go-to pair for years to come
BY CASE KEEFER
Two days before news of the trade sending Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights became o cial and public, word began to spread around the team.
Before Marner was fully aware anyone outside of his inner circle and the Golden Knights’ front o ce knew about the impending move, he received text messages from two of his teammates-to-be. One of them was from a fellow multi-time NHL All-Star, center Jack Eichel.
“I’m very excited to start working with him and try to gure out the chemistry quickly and get that rolling,” Marner said of Eichel. “I’ve talked to a couple guys that have been his teammate before, and they’ve just said unbelievable things about him.”
The Golden Knights have to hope the pair of 28-year-olds taken within two picks of each other at the top of the 2015 NHL Draft—Eichel went second overall and Marner fourth—can discover that level of camaraderie.
The future of the organization now depends on it.
Eichel and Marner are all but entrenched as the faces of the franchise for nearly the next decade.
Marner arrived to Vegas via signand-trade agreement with Toronto on an extension that runs through the 2032-2033 season for a total of $96 million. Eichel, still currently under contract for next season, will almost surely get his own maximum eightyear deal in the coming months that will run through the 2033-2034 campaign for an equal or larger amount.
Together, the two players will take up more than a quarter of the Knights’ salary-cap space allotted for the whole team.
That means they must produce at an elite level. The good news is, they’ve done nothing in their careers so far to suggest they won’t, and if anything, could conceivably get better playing next to each other as they get deeper into their primes.
Marner nished fth in the NHL last season with 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists). Eichel was eighth with a Vegas franchise record 94 points (28 points, 66 assists) despite missing a handful of games to injury down the stretch.
Players like current captain Mark Stone—the only non-Eichel Knight to ever nish in the top 10 of Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player) voting—and former standout Jonathan Marchessault—the team’s all-time leading goal scorer—have helped give Vegas some starpower skaters over the years.
But it’s never gone into a season with a pair near as explosive as Eichel and Marner like it will when the 20252026 schedule begins in October.
“I don’t know that they’ll play together (on the same line),” Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “Those are going to be decisions that (coach) Bruce (Cassidy) makes.”
Cassidy may mix and match like every coach, but it’s hard to imagine Marner and Eichel won’t spend signicant time on Vegas’ top forward line.
Even if he does decide to split them up, Marner and Eichel will log minutes together on the power play and penalty kill.
There are concerns that come with placing so much emphasis on two players, namely that they’re both among the best passers in the league but have therefore been too willing to defer to teammates with games on the line. Neither Eichel nor Marner have shown the killer instinct to consistently keep pucks for themselves
“IT GIVES US ANOTHER NO. 1 STAR AT THE FORWARD POSITION, WHICH WE FEEL IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK IT IMPROVES OUR TEAM TREMENDOUSLY.”
-GENERAL MANAGER KELLY MCCRIMMON
and throw them on net when their teams need goals the most.
“Somebody’s going to have to shoot,” McCrimmon jokingly acknowledged when asked about the pair’s stylistic t.
The slot next alongside Marner and Eichel on the hypothetical Golden Knights’ top forward line might now be one of the most advantageous roles in the NHL. Ivan Barbashev is the likeliest candidate to ll it, though the Golden Knights could conceivably also give Pavel Dorofeyev—who scored a team-high 35 goals last year—a look there.
But Dorofeyev has matched well with Stone, who will presumably continue to anchor the second line. The 33-year-old Stone remains a pillar of the franchise and one of the better players in the NHL, but he’s struggled with injuries and has started to show some decline that will almost surely accelerate in the remaining two years on his contract.
The Golden Knights needed another do-it-all force next to Eichel to compete at the highest reaches of the Western Conference, and they couldn’t have done any better than Marner—the NHL’s consensus top available player this o season.
The presence of Marner and Eichel places them among the favorites to reach the Stanley Cup for years to come. Whether the Golden Knights actually get there will come down to whether the duo can gure out how to maximize their partnership.
“It gives us another No. 1 star at the forward position, which we feel is really important,” McCrimmon said. “I think it improves our team tremendously.”
POOLSIDE SOUNDS
The Fray performs at Bel-Aire Backyard (Courtesy/Chelsa Christensen)
AEG and Clique Hospitality dip into off-Strip concerts at Bel-Aire Backyard
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Conditions are finally right for a poolside concert season at the Durango. The Station Casinos property opened in late 2023, missing a peak band-booking window. But this summer, Clique Hospitality and AEG Presents have joined forces to launch Bel-Aire Backyard’s Poolside Concert Series, a locals-focused live music experience under the stars.
Clique has transformed the Durango’s outdoor oasis over the last few months, with buzz-worthy acts like The Fray and Thievery Corporation performing across Bel-Aire’s lush lawn. And with Dashboard Confessional (July 12), The Struts (September 12), and Band of Horses and Iron & Wine (September 27) on the calendar, there’s plenty of musical excitement coming up.
“You’re able to have an intimate experience back there—1,800 people can really pack it out. It doesn’t feel overly crowded, but surprisingly from a band’s perspective, they’re looking out at a sea of people with a beautiful blue oasis behind them and the Durango Casino as the backdrop,” says Mustafa Abdi, senior director of nightlife marketing at Clique. “It’s a pretty view. I recall the touring manager of The Fray shooting me a text message saying ‘You guys have something special here.’”
What Abdi describes isn’t new to Vegas—it’s a revival of something special that once thrived on the Strip. Back in the day, live music lovers flocked to the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool every summer. For years, the venue hosted top-tier entertainment, bringing Coachella-bound bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Haim to its outdoor stage.
Poolside concerts of this caliber were magical— so much that even industry veterans like AEG Presents’ Bobby Reynolds couldn’t resist them.
“I used to go see shows at the pool at
the Hard Rock way back in the day. I used to see and produce a lot of shows at the Mandalay Beach. I used to go to the Cosmo pool … and I would always enjoy myself out there,” says Reynolds, senior vice president at AEG. “I’ve been in the business for a while, but until I came out here, I never really saw real bands playing at a pool, and I always thought it was really cool.”
When Reynolds met up with Abdi to check out new nightlife and restaurant concepts at Durango, the nostalgia hit like a head rush.
“He came by Bel-Aire Lounge when we first opened. I initially gave him a tour of the lounge, our restaurant, Mijo, and Wax Rabbit,” Abdi says. “We did a little lap around the pool, and I just saw Bobby’s eyes open up when he saw that back lawn. He was like, ‘Have you thought about doing concerts out here?’”
Thus, Bel-Aire Backyard’s poolside shows were born, AEG’s first off-Strip live concert series—and probably not the last.
“It ain’t easy balancing a beautiful day at the pool then telling the hotel guests they need to go somewhere else for a couple hours while we flip the room,” Reynolds says. “But we’ll do it out here, knowing as a local, how much I love going out to pool shows, and knowing how much I love going to Stations properties. I just thought it’d be a perfect marriage.”
The value of an off-Strip series is unparalleled, Reynolds says. “If you can save yourself forty bucks on parking and save another forty or fifty bucks on paying less for food and drink but you’re still getting an incredibly great product, not only is it good for the locals, it’s good for us.”
As an added bonus, concertgoers have free access to Bel-Aire Backyard’s spacious pool, “So this is definitely my chance to plug for the people, come in your swim trunks and feel free to cool off,” Abdi says.
PLANTING SOULFUL SEEDS
We the Beat fills an important niche with R&B-focused Paradice Festival
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Each year, Las Vegas’ festival calendar grows. But between the annual rock and dance juggernauts, R&B, soul and funk festivals feel few and far between.
Until now. Downtown will soon welcome us into Paradice, a one-day festival featuring soul revivalists group Thee Sacred Souls, fast-rising R&B star Ravyn Lenae, Colombian psych outfit Balthvs and more on September 27. (Tickets starting at $86 are available at paradicefest.com.)
After years of booking undiscovered gems, local creative collective We the Beat will finally have a chance to host its own festival, in partnership with the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.
“We’ve seen this music, this genre, this community, do so well on a smaller level,” says Kirk Reed, co-founder of We the Beat. “I was a director of marketing at Brooklyn Bowl when Thee Sacred Souls first started selling out that venue, and I just couldn’t believe that so many people ... came out and loved real soul music like that.
“We saw this bubbling genre community in Vegas that didn’t have its own festival on a big stage, and we thought Downtown was perfect for it.”
We the Beat excels at booking artists before they break big. Reed sees Paradice as a golden opportunity to scale that approach.
“We’re not just doing it because we think it’ll sell,” he says. “We really see a lot of these artists getting bigger. Like Balthvs—why can’t they be as big as Khruangbin? It’s just about giving them a platform and a stage.”
Paradice will likely be one of the last times we see “Love Me Not” singer Ravyn Lenae before she sells out arenas. And it’s a chance to discover Vegas’ Johnny Ruiz & the Escapers, Peruvian chica band LA LOM and singer-songwriter JMSN.
“This isn’t just a one-time thing,” Reed promises. “We want this to be the first year of something that grows into something bigger and annual.”
(Courtesy/Slumpt Media)
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WE’VE GOT BARS
SMELLY CAT KARAOKE
(Wade Vandervort/Sta )
SCENE
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
From dive bar stages to private rooms, Las Vegas has the perfect karaoke spot for every type of singer and non-singer
Karaoke is an unavoidable pastime, especially in Las Vegas where tourists and locals alike participate to either lose their dignity or claim their moment of fleeting fame. This act of vocal mimicry isn’t about good singing. It’s about the uninhibited and often embarrassing freedom of absolutely butchering a song in the name of fun. Whether you’re drowning in soju courage in a private room or performing in a bar full of people who couldn’t care less, it’s cathartic.
Karaoke started in Japan in the early 1970s. The word itself, a blend of kara (empty) and okesutora (orchestra), perfectly captures the essence of the act: It’s a stripped down, barebones performance with your voice supported by nothing but a backing track. What started in late-night backrooms quickly became a global phenomenon, eventually seeping into cities like Las Vegas.
From the dive bars in Chinatown to the glitzy casinos that pretend they’re too fancy for this kind of thing, karaoke is everywhere. But who are you when you step up to the mic?
There’s the guy who actually knows how to sing and commits a little too much. Those types earn standing ovations and probably some thrown cash for their trouble. Then, there’s the rest of us, the ones that some friend, co-worker or acquaintance talked into singing after a few stiff ones. We’re sweating through our worst rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” trying to convince ourselves we’re having fun while the crowd winces in painful silence. And let’s not forget the person who shows up and instantly knows they’re the headliner of the evening. No drink needed; they just grasp the crowd with their unflinching stardom.
There are many moving parts to a great karaoke experience. This list should help you decide where to hang when you need to belt out a tune.
FOR THE BAR-ROOM BARITONE: DINO’S LOUNGE
A mainstay of Downtown Las Vegas since 1962, Dino’s Lounge isn’t just one of the city’s oldest dive bars, it’s a beloved karaoke destination with deep roots. The no-frills, 24-hour bar features a permanent stage prominently located near the entrance, making it impossible to miss the action. Whether you’re a regular or just passing through, Dino’s offers a nostalgic, no-judgment space to grab the mic and sing your heart out well into the wee hours. 1516 Las Vegas Blvd. South, dinoslv.com.
FOR THE PRIVATE ROOM SINGER: J KARAOKE
Looking to switch up your typical night out? Head to Chinatown and explore the private room options at J Karaoke. This popular spot offers a variety of room sizes to suit groups of all kinds, along with curated menus of drinks and small bites that can be ordered directly to your room. With a robust selection of songs and the comfort of privacy, this venue is ideal for birthday parties, low-key celebrations or a spontaneous night of fun. 3899 Spring Mountain Road, 702-586-1142.
FOR THE STRIP SONGBIRD: SMELLY CAT KARAOKE
Part tourist attraction, part musical fever dream, Smelly Cat is one of the newest karaoke joints where the main character syndrome hits hard. Nestled in the Grand Bazaar Shops, this place doesn’t charge a dime to get up and perform. Simply hand over your three-song wishlist, wait your turn, and soak in the show. Emcees wield crowd participation signs like traffic cops, stage props encourage theatricality, and if you’re lucky, a live band might join you. You don’t come here to be subtle. You come here to be seen. 3619 Las Vegas Blvd. South #100, smellycatvegas.com.
FOR THE SLOPPY SERENADE: CAT’S MEOW
Located above the glowing madness of Neonopolis, Cat’s Meow is karaoke’s answer to Mardi Gras. It’s loud, messy and fueled by a 2-for-1 happy hour (5-8 p.m.). Drinks are served up fast and loose and once the mic gets passed around, it’s all over. You’re either singing, dancing, or shouting along until that 2 a.m. lights-up moment hits. This isn’t for the timid. It’s for the brave, the buzzed and the beautifully unhinged. 450 Fremont St. #201, catsvegas.com
Bourbon Steak’s Black Angus ribeye, grilled branzino, hamachi tostadas, tuna tartare and bruléed Basque cheesecake.
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
FOOD + DRINK
RAISING THE STEAKS
BY SHANNON MILLER
Come for the classics, stay for the innovation. That’s the philosophy behind Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak at Four Seasons, which prides itself on its modern reimagining of the American steakhouse.
All the hallmarks are there—expertly crafted cocktails and wine pairings, top-shelf cuts like Creekstone filet mignon and, of course, whipped potatoes. But beyond these beloved staples, creativity defies expectations.
“It’s taking something that’s very cozy and comfortable that people know, and flipping it on its head,” says executive chef Josh Smith.
Take for example the creamed spinach pop tart, a savory confection with comté cheese and bechamel packaged in puff pastry ($23).
“That just took over. We wound up getting the spinach souffle off the menu. And now the pop tart [version] is in New York, Southern California and all the other Bourbon Steaks,” Smith says.
Although there are 11 other Bourbon Steaks across the country, Mina and Smith take the Vegas location “personally.” Smith, a born-andraised local who has worked under culinary dynamos Jacques Van Staden and Andre Rochat, teamed with
Mina to set up this venture as a “test kitchen” where experimentation and imagination meet fine-tuned structure and quality control.
It’s not their first team-up. Smith worked for Mina in 2005 at Seablue at MGM Grand, where he started as a sous chef and quickly rose to become the youngest to hold the title of executive chef in the Mina Group. He also left his mark on Estiatorio Milos when it was at the Cosmopolitan, and at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago before returning to Las Vegas in 2014 to help Mina open Bardot Brasserie at Aria.
After a departure and four years at Delilah at Wynn, Smith is back with Mina at Bourbon Steak, which opened in December. While the space oozes elegance with velvet and leather-lined seats, various chandeliers and a backlit bar that reaches the ceiling, it also has pops of playfulness—deep blue walls, floral and animal prints and a sparkling red piano at the center of the lounge.
The scene is set for steakhouse dinners that are anything but ordinary. Maine lobster, wild mushroom and black truffle takes pot pie ($112) to a whole new level. English pea agnolotti ($65) elevates the humble pasta with Cypress Grove fromage blanc. And Vegas decadence is evident in the 40-ounce “smoke show” tomahawk steak ($335).
The locals’ prix fixe menu—a secret for those who know ($85)— starts with an amuse bouche duck fat fry trio. Appetites are further whet with a choice of mini hamachi tostadas, tempura squash blossoms or mini crab cakes. For an entree, the Black Angus ribeye satisfies, as does grilled branzino and roasted
Chef Josh Smith puts a creative spin on classics at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak
chicken. And for dessert, diners can choose between warm beignets with aged butterscotch sauce or a brûléed Basque cheesecake. Smith is keenly aware of Vegas’ culinary prowess, and ensures that comes through in his food.
“There’s always going to be
something that we’re catching on fire tableside, carving, smoking, salt crust,” he says. “There’s the competitive part of being creative, too. If you’re just regurgitating ideas that other people have, I think [people] can see right through that.”
Josh Smith (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES
BY FRANK LONGO
from an Italian aperitif [France]
Seek the affection of
1,002, to Caesar
of UTEP
34 Tehran-based flag carrier
37 Padre Pio star LaBeouf
38 Org. against smuggling
39 Behave [Ecuador]
42 Tirana’s nation: Abbr.
43 Ocean off Ga. 44 -- und Drang
45 “The Beehive State”
Download for a Nook
1 Young fellow 2 Baton Rouge sch. 3 Hearing thing
4 Cross-country jaunt on snow
5 Long story of heroic deeds
6 Robust
7 Speaking wildly
8 Mongrel mutt
9 Grande of pop, to fans
10 “-- and the Jets” (Elton John hit)
11 Email clutter
12 Kuwaitis, e.g.
13 Station with a sliding pole, maybe
Rocker Hendrix
Brunch dishes with
[Italy]
Here, in Arles 104 Adjust the pitch of
Horace’s Ars --
In the past, in the past 108 Alternative to venison [Togo]
Actress Gibbs of The Jeffersons
Laos locale
Disk in a hockey rink 115 What nine of this puzzle’s long answers have 121 Abound (with) 122 “Got it!” 123 Singer Janelle 124 “... and vice --” 125 To be, to Caesar
Ticked (off)
Makes flush
1950s Ford
Added from the clipboard, as
Goings-on
Window-wiping
BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the days before lighthouses, coastal communities used “fire beacons”—open flames—to guide sailors. Be a “fire beacon,” Aries. Your brightness and warmth will guide others through their uncertainties. You may also find your own path more clearly as you help others navigate. Your steady presence is valuable. Burn with purpose and keep your gleam strong.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): My friend Arisa’s ancestry spans Ukraine, Indonesia, the Choctaw nation and the Great Lakes region. Her husband Anselme’s includes Japanese, Italian, and French heritage. Their wedding celebrated these diverse cultures with multilingual toasts and vows from various religious traditions. Seek similar cross-fertilization in the coming weeks. It’s an excellent time to weave rich, diverse textures into your life.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I foresee a future with equal leadership roles for women, matching incomes and childcare time, widespread female orgasms, and men recognizing the danger of misogyny. Until then, use your tender ingenuity to strengthen female opportunities and power. This is always crucial for your well-being, but even more so now.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In Yoruba cosmology, ase is the sacred life force animating the universe, a divine energy humans can harness with ardent intention to shape reality. You are especially aligned with ase now. Your words are significant, your actions impactful. You have the power to speak your truth robustly. What you command with love and clarity will carry enduring potency.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Medieval bestiaries described unicorns as fierce, wild, real but hidden creatures, visible only to the pure of heart. You now have a chance to enter a potent “pure heart” phase. Cleansing yourself of irrelevancies and recommitting to your deepest yearnings and authentic self-expression may lead you to your own equivalent of a unicorn.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Buddhist monks create intricate sand mandalas, meticulously working for days or weeks. Once complete, these beautiful masterpieces are typically swept away. This practice reveres the impermanence of all things, appreciating beauty without attachment. Is there something you love that you should release? An act of sacred relinquishing?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Glassblowers shape molten sand with breath and fire, knowing it’s pliable only while hot. Wait too long, it stiffens; push too soon, it collapses. Recognize which life areas are now at the right temperature to reshape. Impeccable timing is crucial. When will you apply the flame of your willpower? Don’t wait until the opportunity cools.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I’m plagued by obsessive urges,” says my artist friend Fatima, “but I’ve retrained myself to focus on creative obsessions for my art, not anxious ones that disorder my life.” I recommend that strategy. Your imagination is especially rich; channel its beautiful, unruly power into noble goals.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Igbo of Nigeria say, “ogwugwu na-adi n’ulo”—the medicine is in the house. Healing doesn’t always come from afar; it may be hidden among the familiar, waiting to be acknowledged. Look close to home. What unnoticed or underestimated thing might be the cure or inspiration you’ve overlooked? How can you repurpose what you already have?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Celebrate Be Your Own Best Helper Day, Capricorn. Divest from yearnings for someone to clean up after you or guess your needs. Vow to expertly take care of yourself from now on. Dare to imagine the feeling of being your own best helper.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Ancient astronomers considered stars “incorruptible,” their movements unchanging, their lights stationary. We humans are the opposite, with inconsistency. You are now poised to thrive on this truth. The inevitability of change can be a treasured gift, offering chances to revise needed plans and release unhelpful roles.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The axolotl, an amphibian, never outgrows its larval form, retaining youthful traits and remarkably regenerating limbs, spinal cords, and brain parts. Let the axolotl inspire you. Your magic will come from being like an axolotl: strange, playful,
BACKSTORY
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
AFTER THE WIND STORM | EAST TROPICANA AVENUE
| JULY 2, 2025
“Microburst” is what they called it, but the wind storm that hit parts of the Valley on July 1 left mega-destruction in its wake. The phenomenon where rain evaporates before hitting the ground, cooling the air beneath and causing it to sink and accelerate rapidly—up to 70 miles per hour in this case—resulted in more than 60 downed power poles mostly along East Tropicana Avenue and South Jones Boulevard on the west side of town. At its peak, 30,000 customers were without power due to damaged power lines that took around-the-clock NV Energy crews about three days to repair. Clark County’s Office of Emergency Management sprung into action to activate cooling stations, emergency shelter at the Las Vegas Convention Center and pet storage areas for those left without electricity and AC. –Shannon Miller
BLONDIES SPORTS BAR & GRILL LOBSTER ME QUAY SANDBOX VR STEVE MADDEN THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF TIPSY ROBOT U.S. POLO ASSN. WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS WETZELS PRETZELS +MORE
