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18 SPECTACULAR STAYS
Take a look at some of the most stylish and stunning hotel rooms in Las Vegas today.
COVER ART Christopher DeVargas/ photo illustration
14 HOME LIFE Five hard-to-kill houseplants with care tips from Mojave Bloom Desert Nursery & Decor.
26 NEWS
The Lou Ruvo Center uses art to open the minds of people living with dementia.
30 SPORTS Why the best in the business A’ja Wilson deserves another MVP award.
32 MUSIC
EDM titans Insomniac and Tomorrowland team up for the Unity series at Sphere.
36 PRINT
The Book Shelf’s Jen Castagno shares great reads with Vegas’ first mobile bookstore.
40 FOOD & DRINK
Dan Krohmer’s Durango Social Club invites guests to slow down and savor the moment.
Ashlee Simpson opens her Voltaire residency, Summer of Ska makes a stop at Grey Witch and more this week.
Jackie Gaughan Suite at El Cortez (Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
Thru 10/21, times vary, East Las Vegas Library, thelibrary district.org
TRASHY ANNIE
With Newslang, Superhiro, 8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com.
KURT TRAVIS & GEOFF RICKLY
7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.
NICKY ROMERO
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
LOS DUTIS With Cuhboom & Leah York, DJ T3kno & Bl4ze, 10 p.m., Discopussy, posh.vip
COONE
With Krispy the Kid, AlexIXXX, 10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
ASHLEE SIMPSON
During the height of 2004, when Disney darlings like Hilary Du had MTV’s Total Request Live on lock, Ashlee Simpson emerged out of the shadows with an attitude and edginess that recalled Joan Jett more than Lizzie McGuire. As the baby sister of “Irresistible” pop icon Jessica Simpson, Ashlee disrupted the status quo, making rock-spiked pop anthems on her debut album, Autobiography, which fans saw come together on her reality TV series The Ashlee Simpson Show The wailing chorus of “Lala” still makes us want to scream into a void, and “Pieces of Me” sends memories flooding back of Simpson’s complicated onscreen romance with “On the Way Down” heartthrob Ryan Cabrera. We’ll surely relive those moments as Simpson dives into her I Am Me residency at Voltaire. And though she’s all grown up, her music still strikes a resonant chord in time. 10 p.m., $95+, Voltaire, voltairelv.com. –Amber Sampson
(Courtesy/Chris Pizzello)
INSOMNIAC & TOMORROWLAND: UNITY
With Chase & Status, Kaskade, Eli Brown, thru 8/31, 11:15 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster.com.
PANTERA
With Amon Amarth, King Parrot, 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
CLIPSE
With Earthgang, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
KAYZO
SOUL INVASION WEEKENDER
With Norman Carter, Dennis Walks, Templars, more, thru 8/31, 9 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventbrite.com.
HAARPER & SHAKEWELL With Lie, 6:30 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.
KILLER DWARFS
8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, dice.fm.
YACHTZILLA
7 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool Deck, eventbrite.com.
T-PAIN
With Hivemind, Samplifire, more, 7 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, seetickets.us.
THE WALLFLOWERS
With Ted Sablay, 8 p.m., M Pavilion, ticketmaster.com.
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
BIG SEAN
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
THE ALTONS & THEE SINSEERS
7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com DO IT ALL
With Acraze, 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
LIL JON
11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com
ZEDD
11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com
SUMMER OF SKA
KASKADE
Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com
FRENCH MONTANA
Noon, Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup.com
LIL WAYNE
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
SUBTRONICS
STEVE AOKI
10 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
BEAR GRYLLZ
10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
Vegas has a lot of homegrown talent to be proud of, and the ska scene is no exception. What started in the east side house show scene has grown into a Southwest tour this year. Produced by Kcita Studios and local recording and promotional company Good Girlfriend Records, the Summer of Ska has legs in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and of course, Las Vegas with New Jersy-based, reggae-tinged Hub City Stompers headlining and local skankers Los Ataskados supporting. With 12 other bands on the lineup and influences ranging from cumbia to emo to hardcore to reggae, “there’s a band for everyone,” says Good Girlfriend’s Tommy Nicholson. “Unity has always been the message. Summer of Ska has helped bridge gaps and build relationships with touring bands. Vegas isn’t a town worth skipping.” All ages are welcome to jump into the pit. 3 p.m., $15-$40, Grey Witch, goodgirlfriendrecords.com. –Shannon Miller
BRUNO MARS
p.m., & 8/31, 9/3, Dolby Live,
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY
JOHN CRIST
8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
THE BASEMENT YARD PODCAST
LIVE
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
SPONGE
With Ugly Kid Joe, Our Lady Peace, 7 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, experience.com.
HUNXHO
DEADMAU5
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
METRO BOOMIN
DIPLO
With ItsMurph, 1 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
vegasarea15.com.
With Bino Rideaux, 10 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, FIA Noon, Palms Pool, palms.com
I AM RADIANT FASHION SHOW
NELLY Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com
CHINGY
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
Noon, Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com DO IT ALL
PREMIER SPEEDCUBING LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
The local nonprofit B.E. A S.H.E.R.O. Foundation, which works to assist and empower youth in vulnerable situations and survivors of tra cking, is getting a boost from actor Kevin Bacon’s on this year’s annual fashion show and fundraiser, set for Sunday at the Fashion Show mall on the Strip. Six Degrees selected the Vegas nonprofit as one of six nationwide organizations to be featured
sixdegrees.org in the Purpose,
Produced campaign launching during Ad Week in New York in October, shining an extra wide spotlight on SHERO’s e orts in tra cking prevention. Expect extra brightness for the fashion show, featuring local teens walking the runway (and styled by Macy’s) on their path to becoming community leaders. 2 p.m., $25+, Macy’s at Fashion Show, sherofoundation.org.
–Brock Radke
Noon, Downtown Container Park, speedcubingleague. org.
EXHIBIT: FROM NOTHING TO SOMETHING BY DAVID LEISEROWITZ Thru 10/5, times vary, Windmill Library, thelibrarydistrict.org
EXHIBIT: HOME IS A PLACE ROOTED INSIDE MY THROAT BY SCRAMBLED EGGS Thru 10/25, times vary, Sahara West Library, thelibrarydistrict.org
JACQUEES
Noon, Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup.com
MIKEY FRANCIS 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com
AUSTIN MILLZ 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com
DJ FRANZEN 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
CHLOE HILLIARD With Jamie Wolf, Eddie I t, Chris Clarke, thru 9/7, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.
(Courtesy/Nik Freitas)
GROWING
THAPPINESS PLANTS
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
he relentless desert heat in Las Vegas might have you questioning whether you can keep anything alive inside your home or in your backyard. But owning plants doesn’t have to be a lesson in frustration. Adding greenery to your space is not just a way to beautify your home, it’s also a hobby that connects you to your environment and teaches you about nature’s resilience.
forgiving with watering. They handle a variety of light conditions,” she says. This lush, vining plant can easily grow in both low and bright light settings, making it ideal for homes with limited sunlight.
At Mojave Bloom Desert Nursery & Decor, owner Norm Schilling and assistant manager Aysia Tamules have decades of experience and are happy to share their horticulture wisdom. From outdoor trees that thrive in the heat to indoor houseplants that are practically impossible to kill, here are ve plants to consider adding to your home environment.
HEARTLEAF PHILODENDRON
The heartleaf philodendron is a must have for those looking for a simple, forgiving plant to start their indoor plant journey. Tamules swears by it. “They’re hearty and pretty
5 HARD-TO-KILL PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME
most forgetful plant owner.
Watering: Water when the soil feels dry.
Watering: Let the top third of the soil dry out before watering again.
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light but can handle lower light conditions as well.
Light: Low to bright indirect light.
Tip:
Tip: A wonderful hanging plant or shelf companion, it’s perfect for someone who just wants to ll their space with some e ortless greenery. If you have cats, be aware that philodendron are poisonous to them.
CEBU BLUE POTHOS
A relative of the classic pothos, the Cebu blue o ers striking blue-green foliage that’s more dramatic than your typical houseplant. It’s easygoing in terms of care, making it a great addition to any home, even for the
DRACAENA
Tip: Cebu blue is a fast grower, great for those who want to see their plant ourish quickly. Same as philodendron—heed that pothos are poisonous to cats.
Water when the indirect light.
This minimalist beauty has become a favorite for its sleek, tree-like structure and forgiving nature. Over time, the dracaena can grow into a small tree, making it perfect for a statement piece in any room. “A lot of people are really just digging them for the minimalist, Dr. Seuss vibe,” says Tamules.
Watering: Water when the soil is dry to the touch.
Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can adapt to
lower light environments.
Tip: Ideal for modern interiors, the dracaena can become a sculptural element in your home. Just make sure it gets enough light to keep its vibrant and spiky leaves.
WHERE TO FIND YOUR NEXT
PLANT BABIES
CACTUS JOE’S NURSERY
12740 Blue Diamond Road, 702-875-1968, cactusjoeslv.com.
ROOTING FOR YOU 2380 N. Bu alo Dr. #115, 702-445-6903, rooting-4u.com.
DWARF OLIVE TREE
If you want a tree that thrives in a pot, the dwarf olive is your best bet. This compact tree not only produces olives, but also is remarkably droughttolerant, making it perfect for your patio or backyard.
1028 E. Fremont St. #116, 702-786-5971, lvplantcollective.com.
IRON ROSE PLANTS AND VINTAGE
525 Nevada Way, Boulder City, 702-721-7696, ironroseplantsandvintage.com.
Watering: If you keep it in a pot, water it one to two times per week. If it’s in the ground, every couple of weeks will su ce. Keep in mind it will pull some water from nearby plants.
Tip: A little olive tree like this could serve as a centerpiece for your garden or patio, creating a Mediterranean feel.
TOTEM POLE CACTUS
Sculptural, towering, and tough as nails, the totem pole cactus is a thornless plant that demands attention. It looks like melted wax, with arms that gradually grow and spread, making it a visual anchor in your outdoor space. According to Schilling, it thrives in both full sun and partial shade, making it a versatile, beginner-friendly plant.
Watering: Cacti are famously low maintenance so water sparingly.
Sunlight: Tolerates both direct sunlight and light shade.
Tip: Think of it as living art.
Vertical cacti like the totem pole add an aesthetic touch, whether you’ve got a contemporary desert garden or a classic xeriscape setup.
BEYOND LUXURY WITH PERSONALITY TO SPARE: TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT SOME OF THE MOST STYLISH AND SPECTACULAR HOTEL ROOMS IN LAS VEGAS TODAY
Photography by Christopher DeVargas
IMPERIAL SKY VILLA AT WESTGATE
westgateresorts.com
As part of Westgate’s Year of Elvis Celebration, the historic property that once was the International Hotel has introduced the renovated Imperial Sky Villa—where Elvis Presley lived during his legendary seven-year residency there.
These one-of-a-kind accommodations allow fortunate guests the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a pop-culture icon and his legendary Las Vegas years. Of course the decor includes photos from his first performance in 1969 to his unforgettable “Aloha from Hawaii” press conference at the International Theater, in which it was announced that Elvis would be the first ever to do a worldwide live concert via satellite. Perhaps only in Graceland could visitors be this immersed in Elvis’ spirit and legacy.
You can’t sleep in the King’s bed, but you can certainly sleep in one of the three king beds or two double beds in the suite’s spacious 13,200 square feet. Sitting at the top of the resort with private elevator access, the villa is large enough to entertain up to 200 people— which you should definitely do, as each of the four bedrooms has a jacuzzi and gas-lit fireplace. Out of five bathrooms, two master suite bathrooms feature marble-walled showers, double vanities, walk-in closets and his-and hers-toilets. A private courtyard with a pool and lawn space round out the luxury amenities, while floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the city. –Shannon Miller
ONE 80 SUITE AT RED ROCK RESORT
redrockresort.com
The seven spectacular suites on the top floor of Red Rock are all mindblowing, setting a new standard for off-Strip fanciness. But the pick of the litter is the One 80, a 7,500-square-foot, two-bedroom space that gets its name from its panoramic views—you get to check out the Strip lights and the natural wonders of Red Rock Canyon from the same spot. A pool table, fireplace and jacuzzi in the master suite make it a peerless place to entertain or celebrate the most special of occasions. –Brock Radke
by
Photos
Christopher DeVargas
THE EMPATHY SUITE AT PALMS
palms.com
Designed by artist Damien Hirst during the Station Casinos remake of this unique resort and maintained by Palms ownership the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, this one-of-akind space offers two bedrooms and a private pool and terrace with unrivaled Vegas views, completely and inescapably drenched in Hirst’s vision. The sharks suspended in formaldehyde, the jewel-encrusted pill cabinet, the multicolor polkadots framing that pool view ... it’s like no other suite here or anywhere else, and totally by design. –BR
Courtesy
CROCKFORDS PALACE AT RESORTS WORLD
rwlasvegas.com
It was the backyard that did it. Knowing Crockfords is the most luxurious of the three Hilton hotel brands brings grand expectations, all of which will be surpassed once you step foot into this 7,000-square-foot, four-bedroom palace. Each of the bedrooms is a master suite unto itself, complete with their own spa-inspired bathrooms (think soaking tubs and Theraguns). There’s also a cinema-style media room, stocked bar, game room and formal dining room. It’s impressive, but you’ll never want to leave once you spend some time in the outdoor sanctuary, a spacious retreat with a full-sized pool and a comfy patio kitchen. This would be the Vegas vacation of our dreams, and we haven’t even considered all the wonders of Resorts World waiting outside these doors. –BR
Photos by Christopher DeVargas
ELITE SUITES
JACKIE GAUGHAN SUITE AT EL CORTEZ
elcortezhotelcasino.com
From the giant metal “J” and “G” that serve as the suite’s door handles to its marbled pink bathtub, toilet and bidet, there may be no better-preserved artifact of pre-boom Vegas than this 2,800-square-foot, 15th floor suite, where pioneering Downtown casino owner Jackie Gaughan and his wife Bertie lived for 30 years. Built in 1980, the Gaughan suite seemingly anticipates the great rose gold craze of the mid-2010s—Bertie strongly favored pink, and the suite is primarily that color with lots of gold accents—and boasts lots of closet space (it was a residence, after all), a curved, padded bar tucked into a corner of the living area and multiple balconies with spectacular city views. Nearly all of its furniture and fixtures are original—love the swan-shaped bathroom faucet—with modern televisions the only real concessions to 21st century tastes. And it’s extremely photogenic; multiple music videos were shot here, most notably Ellie Goulding’s 2015 hit “On My Mind.” –Geoff Carter
NOBU PENTHOUSE AT NOBU HOTEL AT CAESARS PALACE
nobuhotels.com
So we once went to a party thrown by Spiegelworld at this swanky Japanese penthouse, and we will confess: The thought of skipping the celebratory production of Absinthe downstairs and continuing to chill on the Strip-front terrace—maybe in the jacuzzi?—crossed our minds more than once. Sleek, modern and utterly relaxing, this three-bedroom masterpiece is the exclusive jewel of the first-ever Nobu Hotel, and it feels separated from the Vegas craziness even though it’s ridiculously close to the Colosseum and all the action at Caesars Palace—because in the end, you don’t want to skip that stuff. It’s just nice to have an opulent escape. –BR
Photos by Christopher DeVargas
IN THE NEWS
New federal law cuts red tape for future growth at Apex
Management of the 18,000 acres making up the Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas has changed hands multiple times over the last few decades, muddying the local permitting process and stalling potential new development.
North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown previously described yearslong waits for the Bureau of Land Management to sign o on requests to build roads and extend basic utilities. But recently passed legislation championed by U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez
Masto and Rep. Steven Horsford, both Democrats from Nevada, should streamline the process.
On August 25, both representatives joined Goynes-Brown to celebrate the new law, which President Donald Trump signed last month.
“The site didn’t just lack critical infrastructure, we lacked the autonomy or the ability to x it … It’s literally day one of brand new opportunities,” Horsford said.
The legislation gives the city of North Las Vegas and the Apex
Industrial Park Owners Association further authority to issue utility and infrastructure-related permits without dealing with the federal government’s delays, Cortez Masto said.
On top of the eight million square feet of industrial space already constructed, Goynes-Brown said 32 million square feet are in the “pipeline.” The mayor said lling that land with businesses is projected to bring in 32,000 full-time jobs, with average annual wages paying around $67,000. –Kyle Chouinard
Paradice festival launches public art initiative
Paradice, the new R&B-focused festival taking over the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center September 27, has unveiled a restored, painted piano that will migrate to the Arts District. At Legacy Club atop Circa on August 23, the project was presented in partnership with Paradice producer We The Beat and Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. Donated by the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center, the piano has been transformed into a playable work of art by Las Vegas-based artist Daniel Esparza. It is available to view at Main Arts District Gallery through September 27 and then will move to Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. –Sta
“We are going to stand up to those intimidation tactics. The Legislature and the governor have given me a mandate to make sure that we make voter data as secure as possible, because without secure data, we cannot have secure elections.” –Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar in response to the Department of Justice seeking information on likely sensitive voter data. The DOJ’s request came after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in March, which has since been blocked in court, that would require a passport or similar document to register to vote.
GAME ON Las Vegas’ Global Gaming League, an esports and entertainment organization consisting of celebrity team owners and their roster of players, kicked o SZN Zero at the HyperX Arena at Luxor on August 23, with guest appearances from Flavor Flav, Rich the Kid and more. T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Grizzlies and Ne-Yo’s Gentleman’s Gaming Team faced o in a series of video games for the league’s first competition of the season. (Photo by Steve Marcus
)
MIRAGE ARTWORK ON AUCTION
Hard Rock Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, which is replacing the shuttered Mirage, is hosting an online auction of more than 300 pieces of artwork from the Mirage.
The auction features frontof-house and back-of-house items and statues including bronze mermaids and brass dolphins that welcomed guests for three decades at the resort.
Absentee bidding is available through September 19 with live bidding beginning September 20 at 10 a.m. To register and view items, visit prime-auctioneers.liveauctioneers.com/ catalog/371792_historic-mirage-collection-hits-the-auction/. –Sta
NORTH LAS VEGAS
(Courtesy/Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas)
Painting with purpose
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
If you met Nancy Nelson anywhere but the Cleveland Clinic
Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s Opening Minds Through Art program stimulates locals living with dementia
Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, you’d hardly suspect that she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2013.
“I was jarred in ways that I really never knew,” Nelson says of the day that changed her life. “Within days, I started waking up between three and five in the morning because words were coming to me. I would just write and write and write. I couldn’t write chapter books because I couldn’t keep the thoughts together, but I could write poetry.”
She went on to publish many of those late-night scrawlings in her first poetry collection, Blue. River. Apple., which she named after the three words doctors asked her to
remember as part of the diagnostic process. Although the longtime Valley resident, now 81, was eventually handed a “better diagnosis” of mild cognitive impairment in 2018, her family history of Alzheimer’s led her to continue to combat the threat of fading memories through art.
Lately, Nelson has been getting her fix at Opening Minds Through Art, a new Lou Ruvo Center offering that pairs people living with dementia with a volunteer—usually a local high school or college student—who helps them create a series of artistic projects over the course of eight weekly sessions.
Las Vegas’ first batch of Opening Minds Through Art courses began this summer after Lou Ruvo Center community engagement program manager Verla Niebuhr
leveraged a post-pandemic grant to bring the nationally-touted program—first developed in 2007 by Dr. Elizabeth Lokon at the Ohiobased Miami University Scripps Gerontology Center—to the Valley.
“The world of people with dementia shrinks a lot after a diagnosis, and having social opportunities is really important, because isolation is a killer for the brain. You need to be out there and engaged,” Niebuhr says.
Opening Minds Through Art undoubtedly offers this sense of community, but it’s also purposefully designed to help dementia patients tap into some of the senses that remain strong long after they’re diagnosed.
“Art and music live in a different part of the brain, and that creative part of us stays alive until the very end—even in people with demen-
At left, Nancy Nelson works on an art project with volunteer assistant Riannon Stocklen at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health on August 5.
Photos by Christopher DeVargas
tia,” Niebuhr says. “Interestingly enough, people who have never even done art previously in their lives can sometimes thrive creatively once they develop dementia. We’re all artists, but we tend to put up our own barriers and get more self-conscious as we mature. This seems to fade away once you develop dementia, because what you think you can’t do just doesn’t occur to you anymore.”
At the final August 5 regular session, Nelson channeled her inspirations into an inkblot painting she titled “Purple Perseverance.”
Just across the table, Rosemarie Berger, 85, worked on her own piece with College of Southern Nevada freshman Jaimie Rendon.
While Nelson is fully aware of
her relationship to the disease and an outspoken advocate for “daring to do dementia differently,” Berger’s daughter and full-time caretaker, Laura Berger, jokingly says Rosemarie “missed the meeting” on her own diagnosis.
Rosemarie’s condition can sometimes blur her ability to recognize her daughter or the caretaker role she took up three years ago, but Laura shakes it off with poise and good humor as the pair continue to “create new memories” together.
“It’s just like the tables have turned. She raised me, and now I’m raising her,” Laura Berger says. “This journey has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done—testing my strength, patience and heart in
“Art and music live in a different part of the brain, and that creative part of us stays alive until the very end —even in people with dementia.”
– Verla Niebuhr, community engagement program manager
ways I could have never imagined. But it’s also been the most rewarding experience of my life—filled with moments of connection, gratitude and deep love.”
In time, Laura Berger and the volunteer Jaimie Rendon both found that Rosemarie’s participation in Opening Minds Through Art and another music therapy program at the clinic seem to have had a profound impact on her ability to recall previously dormant memories.
“When I first started working with Rosemarie, she was very closed off. She didn’t want to do any of the art and would just keep telling me about how her parents are in town, even though they’ve passed,” Rendon says. “When I finally got her to participate in the third week, she suddenly remembered that her daughter is living with her and taking care of her and that her parents are dead. It was so eye opening and amazing, even if it only lasted for 30 minutes.”
Niebuhr has seen plenty of similar stories unfold during Opening Minds Through Art’s inaugural run, which is set to conclude with a final showcase on September 15. She plans to bring it back for another eight weeks in February and March and believes the program will continue to grow here if she’s able to recruit a larger class of volunteers.
In the meantime, Nelson intends to stay busy with her dementia advocacy group, Dangle and Dot, which works to challenge the stigmas associated with dementia through public speaking and other outreach campaigns. In her own time, she also participates in scientific studies on the conditions she and her Opening Minds Through Art peers are living with.
“I never say I have it, I only say I’ve been diagnosed. Even though I know it, I tell myself I don’t have to ingest it and own it,” Nelson says. “I want to help people, and by helping others, I feel better. That’s a gift for me, and I am beyond grateful for it all.”
Participants and volunteers at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center work on a project during an art program that focuses on people living with dementia.
A’ja Wilson has reclaimed her standing as the best player in the world and deserves another MVP award
BY CASE KEEFER
One of the best defensive players in WNBA history, the Atlanta Dream’s Brittney Griner, was determined not to give Aces star A’ja Wilson an easy look as the final minute approached of an August 19 game at Michelob Ultra Arena.
The 6-foot-9 Griner succeeded in getting the 6-foot-4 Wilson to settle for a fadeaway jumper, but it didn’t matter. Wilson nailed what wound up to be the game-winning shot and final points in a 74-72 Las Vegas victory.
“I knew once I got the ball, I had to shoot it,” Wilson said afterwards.
On the other end of the floor in the final possession of the game, Wilson clung to Griner to help turn away any thought of an entry pass and boxed the veteran out to prevent a second-chance scoring opportunity.
Wilson has been outstanding even for her world-class standards during a three-week stretch that has turned the Aces’ season around. The 29-year-old has excelled in every area to lift the Aces from potentially missing the playoffs to fighting for home-court advantage in the first round as the regular season winds down.
The victory over the Dream was the Aces’ eighth straight, and as of press time, Las Vegas had notched 10 straight wins heading into a game in Chicago on August 25.
Wilson is also making individual history seemingly on a nightly basis. She coincidentally surpassed Griner in the Dream matchup for most 30-plus point, 10-plus rebound and five-plus block games in WNBA history with her third ever. Four games before, she became the first player ever in the league to record a 30-point, 20-rebound game in a victory over the Connecticut Sun.
“I don’t let the milestones go by (without enjoying them) because I don’t take this game for granted at all,” Wilson said.
But it seems like the WNBA, if not the sports world as a whole, is taking Wilson’s brilliance for granted.
She’s gotten praise for her recent tear, but not enough. She’s reasserted herself in a tier of her own as the best player in the world and should be treated as such. Most notably, Wilson is not garnering the WNBA Most Valuable Player award buzz that her performances warrant.
She’s the third choice in the betting odds at a price of 6-to-1 at BetMGM, behind Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier and Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas.
The 28-year-old Collier is having an outstanding year and edges Wilson in points and assists per game for the league’s best team, but she’s missed a handful of recent games with an ankle injury.
The 33-year-old Thomas is smashing records of her own, having recently become the first WNBA player to ever post triple-doubles in three straight games and has become the face of the turnaround Mercury. But neither traditional statistics nor more modern all-encompassing numbers paint her as anywhere near as impactful as Wilson or Collier.
Wilson seems to be a victim of her own suc-
cess, as the defending and three-time former WNBA MVP.
The awards voting base has been notoriously reticent about giving the same player back-to-back MVP nods. It hasn’t happened since the first two years of the league in 1997 and 1998 when the Houston Comets’ Cynthia Cooper was too clear of a choice to deny.
Wilson was already victimized by the trend in 2023 when she controversially finished third behind the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Thomas, then with the Sun.
It might be even harder for her this year because a fourth MVP award would break a tie with Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson to give Wilson the most in WNBA history.
But that shouldn’t factor into the decision. The Aces’ overall dip from their back-toback championship form in 2022 and 2023 shouldn’t matter either.
Think of how far they would have fallen without Wilson, who’s now single-handedly elevating a flawed and aging roster back into contention. She’s playing better than ever, and that’s remarkable given her career.
“They’re bringing double teams to her, triple teams to her and she’s having to navigate that and play out of it,” teammate Jackie Young said recently. “She’s still able to put up insane numbers every night.”
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson is fouled going to the basket against the New York Liberty at Michelob Ultra Arena on August 13. The Aces won, 83-77.
(Photo by Steve Marcus)
EDM titans Insomniac and Tomorrowland go b2b for Unity at Sphere
BY GEOFF CARTER
Two households, both alike in dignity. The name you know, Insomniac, produces Electric Daisy Carnival, the electronic dance music festival that draws more than 500,000 attendees annually. Insomniac’s European cousin, Tomorrowland, produces an EDM fest of nearly equal size every year in Antwerp, Belgium. If you’re aware of the two festivals—maybe even attended both—you’ve no doubt wondered what it would be like to see these two standard-bearing fests go b2b. We’re about to find out.
Insomniac x Tomorrowland: Unity, beginning August 29, is a series of nine shows that draws on the creative energies of both organizations and channels it through the world’s most technically advanced music venue. (Even their mascots—Insomniac’s owl, Tomorrowland’s butterfly—are mixing it up; you can catch them having a meet-cute on the venue’s iconic exosphere. Described in a press statement as “a transformative journey through music, storytelling and technology,” Unity promises hours of dazzling visuals, immersive sound and head-
lining sets by superstar artists—equal parts EDC and Tomorrowland, swirling together in a massive psychedelic snowglobe.
Opening weekend brings drum and bass powerhouse Chase & Status on August 29, the progressive house mastery of Kaskade on August 30, and the relentless techno of Eli Brown on August 31. Everyone seems prepared to scale up their enthusiasm to match their surroundings.
“I’m beyond excited to step into Sphere and work with the canvas stretching 160 feet above me,” said Kaskade in an email statement. “This venue offers a one-night home for my music like we’ve never had. Immersive sound and visuals [are] an extension of the path I’ve been on for years, but now this will take it to a whole new level. I can’t wait to take everyone on a ride.”
French trap mastermind DJ Snake opens the next weekend of shows on September 19, followed by the future house of Alan Walker on September 20. September 26 brings an amazing tech-house b2b of Meduza and James Hype, followed September 27 by LA-based “heaven trap” duo Slander (Derek Andersen and Scott Land). And the series ends strong with hard techno
maven Sara Landry on October 17 and experimental dubstep/riddim scientist Subtronics, who’s literally living a wish: “In 2023 I posted it was a dream of mine to play Sphere, and here we are now,” the Philadelphia DJ said via email.
“It’s going to be so special, in a truly immersive way, and to do it with two of my favorite promoters as well—I can’t wait,” Landry said. The Amsterdam-based creator of “witchy warehouse techno” is fully in the spirit of the occasion: In a recent Instagram post, she’s levitating Sphere between her hands like a crystal ball.
Unity won’t replace Electric Daisy Carnival or Tomorrowland, despite its high-tech upgrade. There’s something to be said for experiencing techno outdoors; Earth is, after all, the first immersive environment we know. But the opportunity to experience a festival-sized vibe in a contained, controlled space is too enticing for both attendees and performers to pass up.
“Ever since this venue opened its doors, we have been plotting on how to make something special happen,” said Slander in a statement. Insomniac and Tomorrowland are opening that circle.
INSOMNIAC X TOMORROWLAND: UNITY August 29-31, September 1920 & 26-27, October 17-18, 11:15 p.m., $114+. Sphere, unityxsphere.com
Jen Castagno shares great reads on the road with Las Vegas’ fi rst mobile bookstore, the Book Shelf
BY AMBER SAMPSON
“What do you recommend?” It’s a question every book lover yearns to hear. And for Jen Castagno, owner of the Book Shelf, Las Vegas’ rst mobile bookstore, it’s a question that never gets old.
“This is my favorite question. Okay, what are you into? What do you like? I can kind of narrow it down,” Castagno says. “Then I say, if you like it, send me a DM on Instagram. They’ll send me messages like, ‘You recommended this book, I loved it so much. What’s next?’ That brings me this immense amount of joy to get to do that.”
Castagno, a Las Vegas native who taught English for nearly 10 years, launched the Book Shelf in 2024, transforming a
trailer into a cozy reading nook on wheels. Like the magical wardrobe of Narnia, those trailer doors open into another world. It’s brightly lit, air-conditioned and stocked with curated books, from children’s fairy tales to fantasy novels.
“I want it to be like, I’m gonna go to my best friend’s house, I’m gonna look at her bookshelves and pick out a book that I like. That’s the feeling I want when someone’s inside,” Castagno says.
Jen Castagno, owner of the Book Shelf (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
What inspired you to make the leap from teaching to running a bookstore on wheels?
I feel like that’s every reader’s dream, to own a bookstore and read all day long. It always felt like this very distant, non-attainable type of dream. But the year I quit teaching, I got really bored [laughs]. I went from having so much to do, and then … what am I supposed to do with my free time? I rekindled my love for reading. I’d always been a reader. But that year, I rediscovered how much I loved reading. I read 50 to 60 books that year. So I was like, I’m going to start this Bookstagram account, so I can tell everyone what I’m reading. And that’s what brought me to the Book Shelf.
What happened then?
My whole content was now book content, so I was getting little mini bookstores and all these other readers. Something popped up on my page one day and it was a mobile bookstore in Cincinnati. Right around this time is when the new Matilda movie came out on Netflix, and they had their little library-in-a-van thing. So ideas started forming, and I was like, how fun would that be? Independent bookstores, we just don’t have very many. We have a very small amount for such a huge city. We have the Writer’s Block but it’s Downtown. Where I live, that’s a 30-minute drive. So having this mobile aspect, I felt would be really cool, because then I could serve other parts of Vegas. It gave me something that having a brick-and-mortar store wouldn’t allow me to do, to reach a broader audience.
What was the renovation like?
Oh, it was blood, sweat and tears. I have a friend who has an Instagram DIY page, and she does the coolest projects around her house. She was the first person I told that I was going to do this. I said, “Hey, I need your help doing something.” And she’s like, “I hope it’s building a library in your house.” I’m like, “Even better!” [laughs]. She was kind of the mastermind behind it. I wanted it to not feel like you were in a trailer. I wanted it to feel cozy. I didn’t want to see a lot of the trailer aspects on the inside, so everything’s covered. I really wanted it to feel like this transformative thing. You step inside and you’re ... in a tiny bookstore right now.
How you’re serving various parts of town now is kind of how our local libraries started, with bookmobiles.
Has your experience as a teacher influenced your approach as a bookseller?
It definitely does. I always felt like I wanted to know what the kids were reading, what I could recommend to them. We’re gonna read Frankenstein, but we’re also gonna read this other really cool book that is new and popular right now. There was a year that I read 100 books … and I just have this knowledge of books. I feel like it’s going to waste unless I do something with it. So everything that’s stocked in the Book Shelf is very much me and is curated by me. I hand-select every single book, books that I’ve read, books that I’ve loved, books that my close friends have read.
A more curated book-buying experience might be enough to entice young readers who are glued to their phones.
Absolutely. Since 2020, when we were all forced to pick up some new hobbies and you’d be okay with being home, reading really gained that popularity again. It’s always been popular. We’ve always had readers. But I feel like now I have so many friends who read, where I don’t feel like they did five or six years ago. It has gained this popularity thanks to BookTok, Bookstagram. I was in the Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Twilight, midnight releases, golden era of books. There was such big hype, and you wanted to get that book the day it came out. I feel like that’s happening again.
Some would say brick-and-mortar bookstores are a dying breed. What keeps you hopeful?
I do see more brick-and-mortar stores popping up around Vegas, like Buffy’s Book Boutique. Mad Red Books just opened in July. Xoxo Books is in Henderson. Henderson is doing great; they’re getting all the bookstores. Vegas, we are not doing great over here. So I would love to see more pop up. But there’s always the worry that the more we have, the less special they get.
What I really love about being mobile is that I’m not stuck in one spot. I can serve all different places. Like The Little Mermaid, I want to be where the people are. And so I bring the books to you. When I go pop up at a business, I want it to be a local business. I want it to be something that’s Vegas homegrown. There’s such a strong community out there in Vegas that is so supportive and so willing to shop local, even if that means spending a couple more dollars. They want to feel like, “I am supporting Las Vegas. I’m supporting my local community,” and that is a better feeling, I think, than sending my money to Amazon.
The Book Shelf travels around the Valley every week, including stops at farmers markets, festivals and book club nights. We caught up with Castagno to find out how it got moving and what it means to the community. instagram.com/thebookshelf.vegas
I get told that constantly by a certain age of people who will say, “Oh my gosh, back in our day here in Vegas, we would have the bookmobile, and it would come around to our schools, and we would check out our books.” I get such positive feedback from this older generation. This is almost nostalgic to them.
TABLE FOR 40
Tuna carpaccio (Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
BY GENEVIE DURANO
For food lovers seeking something beyond the ordinary night out, chef and restaurateur Dan Krohmer has created Durango Social Club, an intimate culinary experience that feels less like a restaurant reservation and more like scoring an invitation to the most coveted dinner party in the neighborhood.
The acclaimed chef behind Other Mama has always been driven by creating the most meaningful experience for guests while showcasing the food he’s most passionate about. To achieve this vision, he realized he needed optimal conditions—knowing exactly who’s coming and when they’re arriving so he could plan and make every detail count.
Thus, Durango Social Club was born. It operates just three nights a week—Thursday through Saturday— with a single seating of 40 guests. Dinner is $85 per person. Reservations open one month in advance.
The evening at Durango Social unfolds like a carefully orchestrated symphony. Doors open at 6 p.m. for wine and cocktail hour, complete with a complimentary arrival cocktail and snacks. “Obviously, guests are going to be hot, probably
just nishing up from work,” Krohmer notes about locals arriving after the workday. “Me personally, I would like a cold cocktail in my hand as soon as possible.”
At 7 p.m., the ve-course tasting menu begins. August’s lineup showcases Krohmer’s Northern California-in uenced cooking philosophy: seared duck carpaccio with pickled peppers and maitake mushrooms followed by cioppino brimming with scallop, snapper, shrimp and blue crab. The progression continues with Utah Valley Ranch stu ed quail, then Creekstone Farms Zabuton steak with bone marrow croutons and béarnaise, concluding with stone fruit galette and wild honey ice cream.
“It’s simple, it’s product-forward,” Krohmer says of his culinary approach. The menu changes monthly, responding to what’s available from local farms and ranches. Wine director Renato Lebron curates an ever-changing selection of rare, low-intervention wines designed to complement each dish speci cally. At $60 for ve pairings, the program is an exceptional value.
But the real magic happens in the open kitchen, where guests witness the culinary performance.
“People come up and see what we’re doing. We can talk about
DURANGO
SOCIAL CLUB
3655 S. Durango Dr., 725-2059846, duran gosocial.com Reservations only, Thursday-Saturday, doors at 6 p.m.
where the products are coming from. We can give them little tastes of things,” says Krohmer.
The psychology behind the experience is deliberate. From the carefully curated playlist to the cadence of the courses, every element serves the larger goal: for guests to slow down and savor the moment. After the nal course, complimentary after-dinner snacks—bright cheeses, warm almonds, chocolate bark— encourage lingering. The whole experience takes about two hours or so, but in truth, guests should not mind the time and simply give in to the evening.
“My favorite part was that nobody rushes to get out of there,” Krohmer says. “It feels a little bit more European.”
Krohmer has been in this business long enough to recognize how preferences have evolved. These days, diners want memorable moments, not just meals.
“I feel people are more thoughtful and aware of how they’re spending money,” he observes. “They want to feel special, and they want someone to be really attentive.”
At 45, and with his place secure in Las Vegas’ culinary rmament, Krohmer has found his sweet spot: creating experiences for his fellow locals. When asked how he wants people to feel when they leave, his answer is simple: “Appreciated and loved.”
Dan Krohmer throws an intimate dinner party at Durango Social Club
Durango Social Club (Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
