BREEDERS’ CUP VIEWING PARTIES
2 Fantastic Days of Championship Racing at Del Mar
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCT. 31 & NOV. 1
Grand Ballroom • Doors Open at 9 am (Closes After the Last Breeders’ Cup Race Each Day)
FREE HANDICAPPING SEMINAR
Friday, October 31 • Grandview Lounge • 6 pm
Hosted by Ralph Siraco with Handicappers Jon Lindo & Jonathan Hardoon
Betting Stations & Kiosks • Food & Drink Specials • Prize Giveaways on Saturday
Seminar Will be Streamed on South Point Studio’s You Tube Channel
Ralph Siraco
Jon LindoJonathan Hardoon
INTERIM PUBLISHER MARIA BLONDEAUX maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com
EDITOR SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)
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Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com)
Contributing Writers KYLE CHOUINARD, GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, KATIE ANN MCCARVER
Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT
O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE
Las Vegas Weekly Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)
Marketing Art Director BROOKE LAUREN EVERSON
Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS
Contributing Graphic Designers WESLEY GATBONTON, CHRISTINA TRIMIDAL
Photo Coordinator LAUREN VINTON
Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
DIGITAL
Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON
Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Associate Publisher ALEX HAASE
Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN
Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON
Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB
Events Manager HANNAH ANTER
Events Coordinator APRIL MARTINEZ
Event Sales Coordinator MELINA TAYLOR
PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX
Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY
Production Manager BLUE UYEDA
Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS
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Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE
GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP
CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN
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LAS VEGAS WEEKLY
P.O. Box 94018
Las Vegas, NV 89193
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14 WEEKLY Q&A UNLV Immigration Clinic attorneys advocate for the most vulnerable as they face political headwinds head-on.
The annual Las Vegas Lowrider Supershow is a showcase for a rich local car culture.
COVER ART Photo courtesy/Shane Monahan
28 NEWS
Southern Nevada’s transgender patients face limited options for gender-a rming care.
32 SPORTS Jack Eichel’s big contract extension could be a boon for the Golden Knights.
34 MUSIC
Tribute band 80’s Station has kept the music of the MTV era booming for 30 years.
38 NIGHTLIFE
From Ghost Noodles to disco bathrooms, Downtown’s new Pachi-Pachi is a real trip.
42 FOOD & DRINK
Veteran restaurateurs bring approachable Italian to Southern Highlands with Nudo.
ComplexCon struts into the Las Vegas Convention Center, Laugh After Dark ComedyFest takes over Downtown and more this week.
1964 Chevrolet Impalas from the Majestics Las Vegas club are shown Downtown.
(Photo by Wade Vandervort)
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAYOCT 23
STEREOPHONIC
Thru 10/26, 7:30 p.m. (& 10/25-10/26, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
HAUNTED HARVEST Thru 10/26, times vary, Springs Preserve, springspreserve.org.
RADICAL ALLEN: BRINGING RADIO TO THE STAGE
Thru 10/25, 5:30 & 7:30 p.m., Club Villa Medusa, hitusaradio.com.
INSANE CLOWN POSSE
6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
STEVE AOKI
10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
SICKICK
10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
HOSTAGE SITUATION
With Decadon, Honey D, Dubecho, 10 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com
RATTLESNAKE
With Cuhboom, Iky Vicky, Mila, 10 p.m., Discopussy, posh.vip DO IT ALL
THE CULT & DEATH CULT
8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com.
ALANIS MORISSETTE
8 p.m., & 10/25, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
LIONEL RICHIE
8 p.m., & 10/25, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
TEARS FOR FEARS
8 p.m., & 10/25, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE
8:30 p.m., & 10/25, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
TESLA
7:30 p.m., & 10/25, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
HUMAN NATURE Thru 10/26, 7:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.
MAGIC
7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
THE AQUABATS
With Homegrown, Mike V & the Rats, Left Alone, 6:30 p.m., Event Lawn at Virgin, etix.com.
CURRENT JOYS
8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.
Courtesy/Brandon Carter
THE OUTLAWS
8 p.m., Chrome Showroom, ticketmaster.com.
KEVIN JAMES
10 p.m., & 10/25, Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION
MEANS TO ME
FRIDAY OCT 24
MAXWELL
With Lucky Daye, 8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.
7 p.m., & 10/25, 10/27 (& 10/26, 2 p.m.), SST Studio Theater, apublicfit.org.
RICK ROSS
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
G-EAZY
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
TIËSTO
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
METRO BOOMIN
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
FLOSSTRADAMUS
10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
ROB BASE
10 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com
SATURDAY OCT 25
COMPLEXCON
The fashion, hip-hop and pop culture festival known as ComplexCon finally made its debut in Las Vegas last year, where marquee billings like Travis Scott, Playboi Carti and Metro Boomin lent credence to an event that already seemed tailor-made for Sin City. The hype continues this year with a 10th anniversary iteration that’s set to feature more than 300 participating streetwear brands and designers; headlining acts like Young Thug, Peso Pluma, Central Cee, Ken Carson, Yeat and 2hollis; high-profile industry panels; 30-plus food vendors; and complementary aesthetics from the mind of first-time artistic director Daniel Arsham. Whether you’re a sneakerhead, rap aficionado, foodie, or some combination thereof, there’s a little something for everyone at this scene-shaping cultural exhibition. 11 a.m., $150-$600, Las Vegas Convention Center, complexcon.com. –Tyler Schneider
LAS VEGAS
HBCU CLASSIC:
GRAMBLING STATE VS. JACKSON STATE
3 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.
DOWNTOWN
BREW FESTIVAL
5 p.m., Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, down townbrewfestival.com.
WITCHES
WHO BRUNCH
11 a.m., La Neta, lanetacocina.com.
DON’T TELL COMEDY
9 p.m., Punk Rock Museum, donttellcomedy.com.
SESAME STREET LIVE
2 p.m., Orleans Arena, ticketmaster.com.
STREET LEAGUE
SKATEBOARDING
11 a.m., SK8 Lot at Las Vegas Convention Center, streetleague.com.
CARIDAD NIGHTMARE ON FREMONT
STREET SHUFFLE
7:30 p.m., We All Scream, eventbrite.com.
JEFFREY WANDS
7 p.m., & 10/26, Notoriety, notorietylive.com.
VINTAGE & VINYL OUTDOOR MARKET
10 a.m., Downtown Grand, downtowngrand.com.
LOUIS YAN
8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.
ZUCCHERO 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
GRUPO METAL
With Chris Perez, Diabolyk, 8 p.m., Veil Pavilion, silvertoncasino.com.
PATRICK LAMB
8 p.m., Side Lawn at Sunset Station, ticketmaster.com.
N8NOFACE
With Slay Squad, Spelling Hands, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, dice.fom.
WOLF & BEAR
With Andres & Lucrecia, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.
JOHN MAUS
7 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com.
LIL WAYNE
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
JAMES KENNEDY
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
DOS LONELY
BOYS & DETLEF
10 p.m., Rouge Room, rougeroomlv.com
TYGA
10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY OCT 26
THE LAST SHOW
6:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
STRUNG OUT
With Agnostic Front, Murphy’s Law, La Armada, 6 p.m., Swan Dive, dice.fm.
NEVER EASY & MAX DIAZ
7 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm.
WAKA FLOCKA
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
DUSTIN LYNCH
With Vavo, 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
LARRY JUNE
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
FLEX & KEN-Y
With Kale, 9 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us DO IT ALL
LAUGH AFTER DARK COMEDYFEST
Laugh After Dark ComedyFest takes over Las Vegas for its fourth year, bringing three packed days of stand-up, independent film screenings and industry programming to the Strat’s LA Comedy Club and the new Third Street art campus in the Arts District. The festival showcases more than 40 comedians, with nightly performances filmed live for Laugh After Dark’s viral-worthy stand-up specials. By day, Third Street transforms into a space for independent film, featuring shorts, series, horror selections, panels with filmmakers and more. Fueled by fresh voices and unfiltered talent, ComedyFest is exploding. Whether you’re chasing the next big name or just looking to laugh until it hurts, this is where it all goes down. Noon, $38-$97, Third Street & LA Comedy Club, eventbrite.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez
EXHIBIT: THE NEW DEAL IN THE NEW WEST Thru 3/23, Thu.-Mon. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Nevada State Museum, lasvegasnvmuseum.org.
LENNY SCHMIDT
With Karen Rontowski, Luca Ferro, thru 10/30, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com.
THE TWO LIPS
7 p.m., B-Side at House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
STATESIDE
With Super Sometimes, MSMRS, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm.
MONDAY OCT 27
6
FEED THE BLOCK WITH DIPLO
p.m., Fremont East, feedtheblock.com.
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY OCT 28
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
Thru 10/30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.
CLINT HOLMES
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
PIXEL GRIP
With Psymon Spine, 7 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com.
KEITH THOMPSON’S PIANO PARTY
6 p.m., Composers Room, the composersroom.com.
RAY LAU
7 p.m., Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.
ALESSO
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com DO IT ALL
WEDNESDAY OCT 29
DAVID STANLEY: MY BROTHER ELVIS
5 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
SARAH’S STRIP WITH SARAH HESTER ROSS
7 p.m., Composers Room, thecom posersroom.com.
OUTBOX OCTOBER HAUNTED FILM EXPERIENCE
7 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.
MARINELLI BROS. CIRCUS
Step right up and experience the magic of Marinelli Bros. Circus, a new experience dazzling audiences in Las Vegas at Craig Ranch Regional Park October 29-November 3. The brand-new sister unit of Circus Vargas seamlessly blends tradition with innovation, o ering an unparalleled and thrilling experience for all ages. Audiences can immerse themselves in the intimate performance, feeling like part of the excitement as worldrenowned performers showcase jaw-dropping acts, heart-pounding stunts, mesmerizing artistry and hilarious clown antics. It’s a spectacular celebration of wonder, talent and fun—perfect for families, date nights, and anyone who loves live entertainment. marinellibroscircus.com.
MIND’S EYE
With Hot Flash Heat Wave, Deceits, 8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com.
AYCE ORCHESTRA
8 p.m., Fat Cat Lounge, fatcatlv.com.
DISCIP
10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
*Spotlight events are sponsored
PRO BONO PROS
Mural by Izaac Zevalking at Recycled Propaganda
UNLV Immigration Clinic lawyers Alissa Cooley Yonesawa and Melissa Corral defend the most vulnerable as they face political headwinds head-on
BY SHANNON MILLER
There are about 220,000 undocumented immigrants in Nevada. According to Pew Research Center, one in 10 Nevada households includes an unauthorized immigrant. Immigrants are part of the fabric of our community, attending schools, contributing valuable work and supporting our local economy.
But President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a promise of mass deportation, is seeking to tear that social fabric. His administration has ramped up enforcement across the state and in Southern Nevada, where 443 people are in immigrant detention as of September 15, according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
“One of the questions we ask in all of our [surveys] with folks in detention is, how did you end up in ICE detention? And we’re hearing people just stopped on the street, dropping their kids off at school, people leaving their house, people getting pulled over by the police for no license during a traffic stop,” says UNLV Immigration Clinic managing attorney Alissa Cooley Yonesawa.
Attorneys at the clinic, which is part of William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV, defend “the most vulnerable” in removal proceedings—“folks who are in ICE detention, adults and unaccompanied children.”
Deputy managing attorney Melissa Corral says the current administration’s policy of mandatory detention takes no consideration for constitutional rights.
“Some of our clients are in this limbo where we won bonds for them, and they haven’t been released. Now, we have this task of filing habeas petitions in federal court,” Corral says. “We have clients that have committed no crimes. ... We need to stop saying he’s going after criminals.”
The duo are members of a team of five attorneys who are the only pro bono deportation defense attorneys for detained individuals in Nevada. The Weekly sat down with Cooley Yonesawa and Corral to discuss how they became involved in the clinic, the growth in demand for defense services and the current immigration landscape.
You are both William S. Boyd School of Law alums. Alissa, you became manager of the Immigration Clinic in 2021, and Melissa joined in 2022. At one point, you were students at the clinic. How did that experience help shape your career and yourself as an attorney?
MC: When I did the Immigration Clinic, we were put in court right away. ... And my professor, Director [Michael] Kagan and the other adjunct professor at the time, pulled me aside and said, you can really do this. You’re good at it. ... You can talk to people on a level that I will never be able to. You talk to them in Spanish. They see the way you look; their defenses are going to come down. ... [With] him telling me that, my career shifted completely. After that, it was like, OK, this is exactly what I want to do.
AC: I wanted to be a public defender, to defend the Constitution and hold the state to their burden. ... And then I did the Immigration Clinic. I ended up falling in love with it because it was every reason why I wanted to do criminal defense and be a public servant. It applied in immigration, too. The Constitution needs to be protected even more because, in immigration proceedings, if you can’t afford [an attorney], you’re out of luck. The government can go unchecked in a situation like that. ... So I decided to shift.
AC: We [used to have] a team of eight lawyers. And now, we have a team of five attorneys, but only four can do detained work. [So] we have an increase in calls, but we also have less attorneys who can help. And the demand is higher than it’s ever been—more people in detention to the point where there aren’t even beds for them.
In June, the Supreme Court gave Trump and federal agencies the green light to detain people based on their race, language or where they work. The high court froze a lower court’s ruling against the practice of “roving patrols.” How do you think it affects the immigration landscape?
MC: Do I think this decision makes it worse for people [of color]? Definitely. It has been a conversation in my family about, should we talk in Spanish? Should we go to these places? ... Those are sad conversations that I never thought I would have to [have], especially in a country that is all about liberty and freedom.
Those interested in donating to UNLV Immigration Clinic can visit law.unlv.edu/ clinics/ immigration.
Immigration is the Trump administration’s top priority, and a large part of that is sending ICE and other federal agents into communities to crack down and, as the president’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said, “go out there and arrest illegal aliens.”
How has this affected your workload?
AC: Immediately; it increased by three times. We were getting three times the number of calls, from folks in detention in particular. As of July, it was four times the amount [we’d usually get].
At the same time, the Trump administration canceled the Immigrant Justice Corps fellowship grants that make up about one-third of UNLV Immigration Clinic’s funding.
AC: I think that will result in more people being not “the worst of the worst.” We’re already seeing that about 70% of people in ICE detention, at least in Nevada, are not the worst of the worst. They have no criminal conviction, or it’s very minor from a long time ago. I think it’s just “arrest whoever you think looks like a bad hombre,” which is anybody with brown skin. Mistakes will be made [on] people who have status, who are citizens.
What’s something you wish people knew about immigration law?
AC: It’s not easy. “Get in line” is a common soundbite from people who are opposed to illegal immigration. I really wish people would find more information before saying things like that, because sometimes, there’s no line for people to get into. “Do it the right way” doesn’t exist for certain kinds of people. When you say [that], you’re speaking from a place of privilege. We’re all part of the same community. We’re all neighbors.
Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.
Melissa Corral (right) and Alissa Cooley Yonesawa (Photos by Steve Marcus/ photo illustration)
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of a glistening hand-waxed ‘64 Impala rolling low and slow through Las Vegas— maybe bouncing on hydraulics, maybe just stunting under the desert sun— you know it’s more than just a car. It’s a statement. It’s a whole mood, a moving piece of art built with chrome, sweat and generational pride.
LAS VEGAS LOWRIDER SUPERSHOW
October 25, 11 a.m., $55+. Las Vegas Convention Center, lowriderex perience. com.
Lowriding has never been about speed, or ash for ash’s sake. It’s not some macho pissing contest with turbo engines and in ated egos. It’s deeper than that. It’s lifestyle over hobby, culture over clout. It’s a growing world watered by the look, sound and standards of its past. And in Vegas, the scene is alive and well, held down by families, clubs, and communities who’ve made the craft their way of life. From engraved chrome to plush velour interiors, the details aren’t just exes, they’re love letters. At shows and on the streets, lowriders stop people in their tracks, whether they understand the story or not. And make no mistake, there’s a story. One that started in LA, traveled through neighborhoods via the pages of Lowrider Magazine and eventually bounced its way into the hands of new generations, and today, cruises through Las Vegas with the same steady elegance it always has.
Rolling through time:
The history of lowriding
Lowriding was born in resistance. In the 1940s, Mexican American youth in East Los Angeles began customizing their cars as a form of self-expression and rebellion. While most of America was idolizing fast hot rods, young Chicanos chose a di erent route by dropping their cars closer to the ground, cruising “low and slow,” and claiming space in a country that often tried to push them out of the frame.
Members of Majestics Las Vegas with their 1964 Chevrolet Impalas and 1980 Chevrolet Caprice
(Photo by Wade Vandervort)
The earliest lowriders, often wartime surplus vehicles or family hand-medowns, were transformed with what was available: lowered suspension, whitewalls, fender skirts and pinstriping. But as the culture grew, so did the creativity. Murals, custom upholstery interiors, metal ake paint jobs, and engraved chrome became the norm, turning these cars into moving pieces of Chicano art.
But this cultural evolution didn’t go unnoticed by authorities. In 1958, California passed a law making it illegal to drive a car that sat lower than the bottom of its wheel rims, a thinly veiled attempt to criminalize a growing movement. But lowriders got innovative. Builders began installing hydraulic lift systems, borrowed from aircraft technology, to temporarily raise their cars to legal height when necessary. That workaround not only dodged the law but birthed one of the most iconic elements of lowriding: the bounce.
Hydraulics turned into a competitive art form of their own. “Car hopping” became a crowd favorite, with competitions measuring how high a ride could jump o the ground using hydraulic pressure. This subculture of innovation and showmanship laid the foundation for what lowriding is today, an intersection of engineering, aesthetic and de ance.
By the 1970s, lowriding had exploded far beyond East LA with the founding of Lowrider Magazine in 1977, a documented celebration of the cars, the culture and the people who kept it alive. The magazine passed through barbershops, prisons, garages and living rooms, serving as the Bible for generations of builders and admirers alike.
At the same time, lowrider culture became a lifestyle that extended beyond the cars. The fashion—creased Dickies, custom initial belts, Pro Club heavyweight tees, Nike Cortez sneakers—became visual markers of identity. The soundtrack is a blend of funk, soul, and freestyle, but especially “oldies but goodies,” a phrase coined by radio legend Art Laboe, who gave a voice to the community with
his on air dedications.
Lowriding continued to spread, eventually reaching cities like Las Vegas and even going global. But even as the culture traveled, its core stayed rooted in tradition: family, pride, craft and community.
Generational pride
For Cesar Arias, president of the Las Vegas chapter of Majestics Car Club, lowriding isn’t a pastime, it’s his family’s legacy.
Arias, who was introduced to the culture while incarcerated, recalls ipping through Lowrider Magazine and being struck by the craftsmanship of cars built by elite clubs like Majestics, Good Times and High Class.
“When it got to my cell, I started looking at the magazine,” he said. “What interested me was building a car to the highest standards, getting it fully chromed out, all the motors. I don’t like murals and all that stu . I like them
murals and all that stu . I like them plain Jane, original style.”
turned into a multi-generational com-
Today, that early fascination has turned into a multi-generational commitment. Arias owns two standout vehicles: a burnt-orange 1964 Impala named Against All Odds, and a meticulously restored 1960 Impala in a light blue nish. His story mirrors many others within the culture. Through him, this
Majestics Las Vegas
(Photo by Wade Vandervort)
Majestics Las Vegas (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
passion has extended to the next generation. His sons, Cesar and Ralphie, are both active members of the Majestics Las Vegas chapter. One drives a luxury sport Monte Carlo built for hopping competitions; the other, a 1967 Impala passed down from his father.
Even Arias’ longtime partner, Meli Gee, has embraced the lifestyle with her own 1964 Impala, named Hpnotiq.
“I see way more women in the lowrider scene now,” Arias said. “It’s even better now, because they’re involved.”
For many lowrider families, the culture is passed down not just through stories or photographs, but through shared time in garages and at car shows. Children learn early how to care for vehicles, install hydraulics, and understand the pride tied to craftsmanship. In these households, cars are inherited, maintained and reimagined by the next generation.
Cultural evolution and its place in Las Vegas
The past of lowriding began in resistance. The present moves with purpose. In Vegas, it continues with full commitment, where families, friends and longtime builders carry this heavyweight art form with intention.
Lowriding exists in many cities around the world. It’s visible in Japan, New York, the U.K. and across Latin America. But in Las Vegas, it feels personal because it’s close to its California roots.
Jorge Velazquez knows this. He started his YouTube channel, Lowrider Boulevard, to document the scene from start to nish. It began with a love for photography and turned into a full archive of stories, Sunday meetups and long cruises.
“Like the way I got into lowriders because of the magazine, some of these kids might say they grew up watching this channel,” Velazquez says.
“It’s a lifestyle,” Arias says. “It’s not a hobby.”
IT’S A LIFESTYLE, IT’S NOT A HOBBY.”
And his videos don’t just capture the cars.
- Cesar Arias, president of the Las Vegas chapter of Majestics Car Club
LOWRIDER PLAQUE
(Photo by Shane Monahan)
(Photo by Alex Phillip @alexviisuals)
They tell stories from inside the community, including one on one interviews with builders, hoppers, club founders and more.
mates that more than 80 clubs are active in Las Vegas, including riders who’ve relocated from other states and still y their plaques with pride.
“Whether it’s building a car or competing at car shows or doing paint jobs or hopping, I would say there’s really no color. There’s no face to our lowriding culture,” Franco says.
Showtime
The Supershow, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, anchors a weekend-long a air. Independently run events often spring up across the city, with pre- and post-show gatherings taking over parking lots and street corners. Yet these grassroots events have sometimes been met with resistance, with law enforcement dispersing crowds and citing violations.
For some, however, the action doesn’t happen inside the exhibition hall.
“The streets are where all the action’s at during the show,” says Arias. “When you’re inside the show, you’re just waiting to see who gets a trophy. For us, our trophies are our plaques.”
Now in its 48th year, Lowrider Magazine’s Supershow remains a centerpiece of car culture, a vibrant gathering where custom craftsmanship meets community tradition. What began as a showcase for modi ed lowrider vehicles has evolved into a sprawling spectacle featuring everything from elaborately detailed cars and trucks to motorcycles and bicycles. Held annually, the Supershow doubles as a concert and a grounds for car hop competitions. Registered vehicles are judged not just on aesthetics but on precision, creativity and technical excellence. A panel of experts evaluates each entry, with awards and accolades awaiting the standouts.
That energy is visible at Lowriders & Co ee, a gathering he hosts in the parking lot of Anthony’s Donuts in East Las Vegas. It’s friendly, early morning, and centered around small businesses. There are no barriers. Just people showing up to talk, look, and show out their rides.
“It might be a little bit intimidating … but really, it’s not,” Velazquez says. “The car owners, they love to show o their cars. They want people to come look at them and ask questions.”
But for many, the Supershow is about more than recognition. It’s a celebration of identity, history, unity and is an opportunity to connect with fellow club members and curious newcomers.
Francisco Franco, a local historian for the Las Vegas Lowrider Council, believes in that same kind of access. He’s been part of the community for decades and still owns his rst car, a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme named Foolish Pleasure. His mom gave it that name after he told her it wasn’t going to be used for errands anymore. It was going to become a show-worthy version of itself.
Franco understands how the culture is often misread. For years, lowriders were linked to crime and treated with suspicion. He pushes back on that idea every time he takes his car out.
“I always make it a point to go up to people,
“I always make it a point to go up to people, introduce myself, talk to them … let them know I have an education, I have a good job and I’m a car enthusiast,” he says. “I just happen to have a little di erent style.”
local agencies through the Las Vegas Lowrider
That approach is working. Franco now sees more support than judgment when he cruises through the city. He also helps lead conversations between the lowrider community and local agencies through the Las Vegas Lowrider Council. The goal is to maintain clear communication, so events don’t get shut down and so car clubs can organize without interference. It all adds up to a community that’s strong, visible, and always building. Velazquez esti-
(Car show photos by Shane Monahan)
IN THE NEWS
Las Vegas Museum of Arts opens first major exhibit at Civic Center
The Las Vegas Museum of Art last week unveiled Family Album, an exhibition marking the first public program from the museum ahead of its planned 2029 opening.
“I think it’s really important to have that space here and, just like every other amazing city, we have art and culture, and we want to make sure that it’s highlighted,” said Laura Machado, public art and galleries section manager for the City of Las Vegas.
The city announced in late June that it would partner with the future museum to bring the exhibition to a gallery space in the new Las Vegas Civic Center, just feet away from Las Vegas City Hall in Downtown. It was supported in part by the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE,
the nonprofit established by Mayor Carolyn Goodman in 2017—but also independent of the city—to allow the private sector a way to contribute to community projects.
Family Album, organized and curated by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, consists of family photographs that explore “themes of tenderness, of disparity, of love,” said Heather Harmon, founding executive director of the Las Vegas Museum of Art.
The exhibition features photographer and filmmaker Dannielle Bowman as well as Los Angeles-based photographer Janna Ireland, among 18 other artists.
Every Wednesday, the gallery will offer guided walkthroughs from members of the Las Vegas Museum
of Art team, with opportunities for conversations and programming on the future museum. Admission is free and open to all ages.
It’s part of an effort to bring more art into Las Vegas and help establish the city as a metropolitan hub like Chicago or Los Angeles, Harmon and Machado echoed. Family Album will be available for free viewing 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays through January 9.
If things move smoothly, the Las Vegas Museum of Art hopes to begin construction on its $150 million building as early as 2026. The proposed plans call for it to stand three stories tall and take up about 60,000 to 90,000 square feet with an outdoor public space for community events. –Grace Da Rocha
“To refer to peaceful protest as anything else as pro-American is speaking against the ideals of our country. … At a time when there’s so much political violence and division and partisanship, Speaker Johnson is creating the environment for that division to occur.”
–U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson calling the Washington, D.C. No Kings protest on Saturday a “hate America rally.” Thousands turned out for the No Kings protest in Las Vegas, which was organized by Indivisible to demonstrate opposition to many of the Trump administration’s policies and practices.
SICK NEW WORLD FEST RETURNS
Sick New World has risen from the grave. The heavy rock and nu-metal festival, thought to be extinct after this year’s cancellation, will return to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on April 25 with Korn and System of a Down headlining. After teasing a comeback at the recent When We Were Young Festival, Sick New World announced its lineup of more than 40 acts, including Bring Me the Horizon, Evanescence, Marilyn Manson, AFI, Melvins, and sonic curveballs like film composer Danny Elfman, hip-hop group Cypress Hill and dark synth artist Carpenter Brut.
Presale begins October 23 at 10 a.m., and fans can sign up at sicknewworldfest.com/ vegas to receive an access code. A same-day public sale will follow. –Amber Sampson
HOT SHOTS
Hanna Barbeara (left) and Fur & Thundur puppeteers celebrate at the Las Vegas Pride Community Festival. Desert Breeze Events Center hosted families, live entertainment, local organizations and vendors on October 18. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
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CRITICAL CARE
Nevada patients struggle with scarcity of gender-affirming care
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
As a Las Vegas-based endocrinologist, Michael Uzmann helps patients navigate hormonal imbalances all the time. But he says when it comes to transgender health care, he wishes that gender-affirming care will one day be as available as treatments for diabetes, thyroid disease and adrenal disorders.
“It’s not uncommon for patients in Las Vegas to walk in and be told, ‘We’ll take care of your COPD, blood pressure and diabetes, but we’re not going to offer you gender-affirming care.’ I always thought that was kind of odd,” Uzmann says. “In reality, it’s no different than any other type of care. They come in here with a very specific desire or need with a biological underpinning, and when you treat it, they generally feel better.”
Nevada state legislators have achieved mixed results when it comes to passing new transgender-friendly laws designed to help address this disparity. One major success was the 2023 passage of Senate Bill 163, which required health insurance policies to cover gender-affirming care for gender dysphoria. Though Gov. Joe Lombardo signed it, he more recently vetoed another key piece in Senate Bill 171, which would have enacted shield laws to protect gender-affirming care providers from sanctioning or prosecution.
If passed, the latter bill may have encouraged more gender-affirming care practitioners to either move to or remain in Nevada at a time when transgender patients of all ages face limited or diminishing access. In a state that’s struggling with a lack of qualified healthcare providers across nearly all disciplines, Uzmann says the issue is especially disruptive for its transgender population.
After moving here in 2013, Uzmann spent five years working with a network of practices that didn’t offer gender-affirming care. But a move over to The DOCS clinic in 2017 allowed him to open his doors to what he identified as a “community in need.” Now operating independently out of his own Las Vegas office, A1 Endocrinology, he’s worked with more than 900 transgender patients ranging from 11 to 84 years old.
As one of relatively few Nevada doctors who provides this care today, Uzmann says many peers have either gone out of business or pivoted away from offering it. When another local leader, Huntridge Family Practice, temporarily closed in 2023 before later reopening with fewer services, Uzmann says he took on an “influx” of roughly 300 new transgender patients. And just before he launched A1 Endocrinology in July, he says his previous
employer “discontinued all gender affirming care.
As far as he is aware, Uzmann is also the only remaining local pediatric endocrinologist willing to assist minors in their transition process with parental consent. In that sense, he is defying ongoing national pushback that includes the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision to uphold a lower ruling that a Tennessee state law banning gender-affirming care for minors does not violate the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.
While this is unlikely to directly influence Nevada’s policies, it does heighten the sharp cultural divide that precipitated the scarcity of health care and fueled adjacent discriminatory policies. Only two months earlier, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association voted to ban transgender high school students from competing in sports as the gender they identify as. Efforts to codify a similar ban failed in the 2025 Nevada Legislature session.
Gender dysphoria, a legitimate medical diagnosis characterized in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as “a marked incongruence between one’s experienced expressed gender and [birth] gender,” has been professionally recognized in some form since 1980. This condition can cause severe depression, self-harm, substance and eating disorders and “higher rates of thinking about or attempting suicide,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
Those who fit the categorization will typically consult with an endocrinologist like Uzmann if they decide they want to transition, while some will also seek out gender-reassignment surgeries that can only be performed by specialized cosmetic surgeons. Uzmann says he knows just one in Nevada who’s certified for male-to-female surgery.
“Patients can do male-to-female surgery, but not the other way around. So, we often have to negotiate with providers in Utah or California for patients who want [femaleto-male] surgeries,” Uzmann says, adding that many more opt to get them outside of the United States.
One of Uzmann’s patients—a 57-year-old transgender man from a Midwestern state with far less favorable policies—agreed to speak with the Weekly anonymously to protect himself at a time when he says the Trump administration and its Republican allies have placed a “target” on transgender Americans. He and his spouse moved to Nevada about three years ago, or roughly a month after he
initiated his transition.
“I was suppressing who I am there, and we had to find some kind of safe place to start anew,” the patient says of their decision to leave the Midwest. Nevada, which the Movement Advancement Project ranks in the highest category for inclusive LGBTQ policies, seemed like a perfect fit.
Although the move granted him access to mandatory insurance coverage his previous state didn’t guarantee, the patient also met another barrier when he tried to find a general care physician that he felt was sympathetic to his needs as a transgender man.
“It’s definitely been a challenge to find primary care doctors that are not just for the gay community, but for the transgender community in general,” the patient says. “As I get older, if I need to have a colonoscopy or something like that, I have to feel comfortable enough to be able to go to a physician and even have that conversation with them. We love it here, but that’s been giving us pause as to if we should stay.”
While the medicinal side of transgender care has come a long way in recent decades, Uzmann attributes the ongoing disparities to an “underlying current of bias and misunderstanding.”
“A lot of these patients are on Medicaid and may have struggled with homelessness, so a desire to transition often gets lumped in with a psychiatric diagnosis. But when you look at gender dysphoria—or the generalized feeling that you are not supposed to be this sex—it
causes both great physical and emotional distress,” Uzmann says. “The stuff we manage here is more so the physiological aspects of that. They go hand in hand, but I think there needs to be more of an awareness that they’re two different things.”
Though Uzmann’s patient continues to search for an in-state primary care doctor, he cites Uzmann’s efforts on his behalf as a key element to unlocking his true self.
“I was probably going to go to the grave without living authentically, but there came a point where I knew enough was enough,” the patient says. “I’ve never been happier than I am since I transitioned. I never really knew what living was until I was finally walking in my own truth.”
Fortunately for the community seeking gender-affirming care, there are new opportunities with the Gavin J. Goorjian Community Health Center at Las Vegas and Charleston boulevards. The center, which opened October 3, provides hormone replacement therapy plus wraparound services like HIV prevention and treatment.
“At The Center, gender-affirming care means providing respectful, evidence-based healthcare that honors each person’s identity, body and lived experience,” says Leana Ramirez, chief clinical officer. “It’s about making sure every member of our community receives the high-quality care they deserve in an environment that truly affirms who they are. The new center represents an important step forward in that mission.”
Gavin J. Goorjian Community Health Center (Courtesy)
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Why
Jack Eichel’s historically large contract extension looks like a major victory for the Golden Knights
BY CASE KEEFER
Right as panic was set to ensue, the Vegas Golden Knights came to the rescue.
Hours before the start of the 2025-2026 NHL season, the club announced an eightyear, $108 million contract extension with superstar forward Jack Eichel. The deal was regarded as imminent to get done all o season, but concerns started to surface as weeks turned to months without an agreement between the two sides.
“There’s de nitely some peace of mind that comes with getting something done,” Eichel said shortly after signing the extension. “I said all along I wanted to be here.”
The 28-year-old Eichel is now locked up through the 2033-2034 season at what’s already looking like a bargain price.
That description may sound outrageous considering Eichel will make $13.5 million per year, the third-highest salary in NHL history, but he almost certainly would have made more if he became a free agent.
Part of the anxiety Golden Knights’ fans felt before Eichel signed the deal came from the Minnesota Wild inking fellow 28-year-old Kirill Kaprizov to a record-shattering eight-year, $136 million deal a week before.
Kaprizov might be a slightly more valuable player because of his elite scoring touch, but it’s debatable because of the way Eichel has soared defensively to become more well-rounded in three seasons playing under Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy.
The two could reasonably merit near-identical contracts.
But Eichel was comfortable with giving the Golden Knights a discount, and has immediately shown what a luxury that should end up being.
only player Eichel was behind in goals was teammate Pavel Dorofeyev and the former assisted on four of the latter’s ve scores.
“He’s an elite player in this league,” Cassidy said after Eichel scored a pair of goals to stage a comeback Vegas win at Calgary on October 14. “That’s what they do. It’s tough to do that every night in this league but I think it’s his mindset that (separates him) as much as anything.”
Eichel has evolved in each of his seasons in Vegas and looks to be on the path to doing it again this year. He came under a great deal of scrutiny for a lack of aggressiveness after scoring just one goal during last year’s playo run.
But he seems to have taken the criticism to heart by attacking more frequently and sel shly to start the new campaign, averaging 4.5 shots on goal through four games as opposed to three per game last year.
He’s driving the play with new sidekick Mitch Marner, who signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights in the o season. Marner’s contract will expire one year before Eichel’s—who’s playing out the last season in his previous deal this year—but that gives the duo nearly a decade to play together.
The appeal of that setup was no small factor in Eichel’s desire to stay with the Golden Knights.
Through four games of the new season, Eichel led the NHL in points with nine and sat tied for second with four goals. The
player, we know they’re going to do what’s
“It’s an organization that wants to win the Stanley Cup every year and, as a player, that’s all you can ask for,” Eichel said. “As a player, we know they’re going to do what’s necessary to give us a chance to win. It’s what I want to do, continue to push to win another Stanley Cup here in Vegas.”
Eichel nished fth in Hart Trophy voting last season—the NHL’s equivalent of a Most Valuable Player award—and could top that this year if not outright win the honor. Any player mentioned in that conversation could hold out and test the open market if their motivation rested solely in landing the most money.
But that’s not Eichel, and it’s to the benet of a Golden Knights franchise that will now have more room to operate around the NHL’s rising salary cap for years to come.
coach … it’s a real privilege to coach players every and
“He deserves every penny,” Cassidy said. “He’s grown as a player here, so for me, as a coach … it’s a real privilege to coach players like that and see them get better in every area of their game. I’m happy he’s a Golden Knight and I’m sure our fanbase is too. I know our organization and all the guys in the room are.”
T. Barnes, File
OUR FAVORITE PAST TIMES
80’s Station ’s Matt Gucu and Ti any Fredianelli have kept the music of the MTV era booming for 30 years
80’S STATION
October 23, November 1, 8 p.m., free, Fremont Street Experience, vegas experience.com
November 15, 9 p.m., free, Rocks Lounge, redrockresort.com
Matt Gucu and Ti any Fredianelli of 80’s Station (Courtesy/Shane O’Neal)
BY GEOFF CARTER
MTV will soon be gone, but 80’s Station will carry on. The singers and core members of the 1980s tribute group, Matt Gucu and Ti any Fredianelli, recently celebrated 30 years of performing MTV-era hits on Vegas stages, originally as members of another tribute band, Loveshack. I remember their early shows well, standing properly awed as these two local music scene stalwarts—Gucu from Hostage Symphony, The Side Room and 12 Volt Sex, and Fredianelli of Herbody Cinnamon, Automatic Taxi Star and Me and My Sister Rose—absolutely freaking owned hits by Devo and the B-52s.
And they’re still doing it, and doing it well, at the Fremont Street Experience, Red Rock Resort and more venues around the Valley. Gucu and Fredianelli deliver timeworn classics by Depeche Mode, Joan Jett and the Go-Go’s, but infuse them with their own lifeblood. Gucu remains an expressive, powerhouse singer. Fredianelli still invests every word with grace and strutting personality.
The longevity of Gucu and Fredianelli speaks to the lessons they learned while navigating the record industry in the 1990s. Both had contracts in hand at one time, but they chose to maintain full control of their careers by donning Devo hats and Terri Nunn’s dyed tips. And they both still have star presence. When they meet their old friend the Weekly writer for an afternoon co ee, I’m awed, even now.
Last we talked, the music industry was still a thing.
TF: Remember that? It’s amazing that we’re still going and that you’re still going.
Back in 1995, I asked you two, “Why a cover band?” And you said it was just an easier way to support yourselves as working musicians.
TF: That was the main thing, yeah.
MG: And it was a beautiful situation, because we made enough money to where we could concentrate on our original projects all day long. We weren’t stuck in a day job and having to go and sing at night. It was wonderful.
MG: Probably three, if we had to. A ton of cast members have come in and out of the loop, but Ti any and I are still holding the OG ags.
What makes you two such a good team?
TF: Yeah, this is work.
MG: Ti any is trustworthy, rst and foremost. We’re very direct with each other in our communication—sometimes too direct, especially if we’re angry. I think that level of communication and professionalism has kept us going.
And I’ve always kept the two worlds separate. Some [tribute] bands mix in their originals, but I always kept it very separate. This is my cover band; this is my originals band.
TF:And the OCD. [Laughs.] We’re amazing together. Our voices just blend super well. What kind of faces do you see in the crowd? Who’s still doing the Safety Dance in the TikTok era?
MG: Occasionally, we’ll see young kids in the audience. I’ll ask, “how old are you?” And they’ll be like, “I just turned 21.” I’m blown away.
I’m always shocked when Gens Z and Alpha recognize us.
And you landed fully formed. Great stage presence right from the jump. Matt, you had the Devo “energy dome” hat on night one.
MG: It could be an older sibling that played it for them. It could be their parents, maybe even their grandparents, slammin’ some ’80s in the garage. Is it still fun? Are there nights you just don’t wanna sing Madonna and Devo?
TF: There are times when we’re not feeling it. Then you get back on stage, and you’re just like, “Oh my God.” During a show, I’m so free. … It grabs you. You’re doing your performance, being an entertainer, and your body
MG: [Chuckles.] The internet was in its infancy. I didn’t know that there was a Club Devo where you could order an o cial energy dome. … I went to a Home Depot and I literally bought three owerpots of different sizes, cut them down, glued them together, and spraypainted the thing. And in hindsight, it looks ridiculous compared to the real hat. [Fredianelli laughs By the time I got a hold of the real hat, the band was like, “That doesn’t look right.”
Last I saw, Ti any was in a B-52s wig. Who else did I see up there recently, in period dress?
Last I saw, Ti any was in a B-52s wig. Who else and our drummer is Anthony Raya. That’s the current
You could assemble two di erent 80’s Stations still loves it.
MG: Our bass player is Wickett Pickett. He does a Rick James character. Our guitar player is Jason Walker, and our drummer is Anthony Raya. That’s the current rst call cast. There are probably 20 or 30 cast members that we can reach out to when needed, if we ever have a double booking, or we ever need replacements. You could assemble two di erent 80’s Stations on the same night?
From Ghost Noodles to disco bathrooms, Pachi-Pachi is a real trip
BY GEOFF CARTER
In Tokyo, the onomatopoeic phrase “pachi pachi” evokes the sound of clapping hands, exploding fireworks or the sound metal balls make as they cascade through a pachinko machine, a kind of Japanese pinball. But in Downtown Las Vegas, Pachi-Pachi invokes the spirit of Tokyo nightlife. An intimate (capacity 80) gastrobar and nightspot from the rich imagination of Evel Pie/Golden Tiki creator Branden Powers— working with the ownership team of developer J Dapper, restaurateur Mark Evensvold and mixologist Tony Gadachy, along with a raft of visual, culinary and sound artists— Pachi-Pachi’s contributions to Vegas’ bar culture come in so many different flavors that they demand a menu-style listing. Take a minute and we’ll come back for your order.
THE VIBES
You’ll want to soak them up. Pachi-Pachi is a trip. No, I’m not going all Jeff Bridges on you: The bar’s illustrated walls, animated graphics and interactive design elements relate the story of an actual trip belonging to Aya, a young Japanese woman undertaking a psychedelics-assisted journey of discovery. French-Mexican artist Mauricio Couturier created its visual universe in a style bar management describes as “retro Gucci collides with psychedelic jungle future.”
Scenic artist Jen Stiling and muralist Nico Roussin also contribute to Pachi-Pachi’s maximalist aura, and a few vintage pachinko machines line the west wall. It’s a lot of stimuli, but it’s a good lot.
THE TASTES
Pachi-Pachi’s food menu is devised by chefs Mike Boyle and Gilleum Marcoux, with input from Evensvold and Le Thai’s Dan Coughlin; the cocktail program belongs to Aria Mathar and Gadachy. Try the Ghost Noodles ($20), tasty egg noodles with garlic sauce, bok choy, nasu and sesame; the name comes from the ghostly chopsticks seemingly floating above the plate, with a generous twist of noodles around them. You’ll also love the Hokkaido Biru Bomb Burger ($16.50), a Wagyu smashburger with caramelized onions, shisu greens and yuzu kosho aioli, dipped in addictive beer cheese. The drinks are a treat for the eyes as well as the palate. The Wagyu Smoked Old Fashioned ($16)—fat-washed Suntory toki whisky, gomme syrup and yuzu bitters—is served in a literal box of woodsmoke. And the Sakura Collins ($13)—Empress Indigo gin, yuzu lemon juice, cherry blossom syrup and Fevertree yuzu lime—arrives as a two-toned pousse-café; you need to stir it yourself to achieve its luminous pink shade.
Photos courtesy
Ghost Noodles
THE SOUNDS
The sound system is custom-designed by Pioneer Pro Audio, and Pachi-Pachi puts it to full use. Balearic beats drive lunchtimes; in the early evenings, Stephen Grobstein runs a “Japanese listening lounge” using his father’s vintage reel-toreels, turntables and other analog equipment. But you’ll want to check out Obscure ’80s, DJ Velvet Rebel’s latenight Wednesday set, to see Pachi-Pachi’s neon-color mysticism achieve full lifto , fueled by Blancmange, Siouxsie and the Banshees, David Bowie and other delicious, impossibly deep cuts you don’t yet know that you love. It’s like no ’80s set you’ve heard, completely skirting nostalgia.
211 Las Vegas Blvd. S. #120, 702-602-5077, ilovepachipachi.com Daily, 11:11 a.m.-3 a.m. = Oni Spicy Margarita
PACHI-PACHI
THE
SURPRISES
They’re everywhere. The giant peering through the “window” of the “living room.” The books on consciousness expansion, just lying around waiting to pry your third eye open. The red phone, which responds to a three-digit phone number corresponding to a lucky Vegas jackpot. And the disco- ed “time machine” in the bathrooms, which visits several listed locations and one mystery pick. Surprises are Pachi-Pachi’s most abundant gift. And they just keep popping o , one after another.
Step into the shadows as Wax Motif leads you through dark grooves, eerie melodies, and an unforgettable Halloween ritual.
UPCOMING EVENTS
OCTOBER 24
Flosstradamus @ Substance
OCTOBER 31
Wax Motif @ Substance
NOVEMBER 7
Riot Ten @ Substance
NOVEMBER 21
AC Slater @ Substance
Scan to get your tickets now or get ghosted by FOMO.
Michael and Jenna Morton bring Nudo to a new neighborhood OF COURSE
BY BROCK RADKE
In late May, a new family-owned neighborhood restaurant opened in Southern Highlands, the tony master-planned community known for its distant location and high growth in new homebuilding … and for not having enough neighborhood restaurants.
“It’s an amazing community, really interesting and different,” says Michael Morton, who opened Nudo Italiano with wife and partner Jenna Morton and their company’s longtime head chef, William DeMarco.
“It’s a real community. The people are so friendly and neighborly, and we feel so at home,” adds Jenna. “Even in just the first month, we felt like we had regulars and we were getting to know them. When you’re used to being in Strip properties with regulars who come twice a year, then here it’s multiple times per week, it’s so fun to greet people you’ve come to know in a short period of time.”
Saturday and Sunday.”
They’ve been wanting to open a new Italian concept for years, and once operated the great Nove at the Palms.
But Nudo is different, a restaurant designed to be completely approachable, from the atmosphere to the food and drink prices.
Jenna says the approach is inspired by the family’s travels and recognizing special moments that remind them “this is what a restaurant is supposed to be about. Let’s do this.”
NUDO ITALIANO
4390 W. Cactus Ave., 702-8486836, nudolv.com.
Sunday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 4-10 p.m.; brunch, Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The results include focaccia made in-house and baked fresh daily, handmade pasta dishes like veal ragu pappardelle ($22) and shrimp scampi bucatini ($24), and wood oven-roasted meatballs ($15) that somehow end up on everyone’s table.
The Mortons also operate La Cave at Wynn, One Steakhouse at Virgin Hotels and Crush at MGM Grand. They originally planned to debut Nudo in an Arts District building they own, but the design and experience they had in mind didn’t feel like a perfect fit right now in Downtown Las Vegas.
“Here, we have floor-toceiling windows all around the dining room, and now that it’s October we can really open up the entire restaurant,” Michael explains. “It’s got such a great feeling. There’s an outdoor patio that seats 20 and feels really connected. And we just rolled out brunch every
There’s also authentic Neapolitan pizzas ($16-$18), yellowtail crudo with pistachio and mint ($21), and steak and seafood dishes that could easily be shared with a pasta or pizza. Dessert gets playful with cheesecake “spaghetti and meatballs” (actually, white and dark chocolate is involved) and a peach cobbler spin on a dessert pizza ($12). And the new brunch menu has some quick highlights in short rib hash ($24), a carbonara-style pizza ($18) and Pane Francese ($15), a French toast bread pudding topped with poached peaches and macadamia nuts.
“This is the food we love to eat, and we probably eat there three or four days a week, which is hard to do with most cuisines,” Michael says. “We’re just really happy with how it came out.”
Photo by Christopher DeVargas
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The Vault speakeasy at Bellagio offers rare and vintage spirits
BY SHANNON MILLER
Behind the cashier’s cage at Bellagio is a gilded door to a hideaway in the heart of the casino. Only a fortunate few will enter the velvet-lined speakeasy known as the Vault.
Burnished Portoro gold marble tables reflect the room’s soft lighting. Exclusive banquettes are upholstered in black mohair. No matter what seat you take, you’re in on a delicious secret.
That secret is stacked behind the bar in the most elegant fashion, each bottle lit like a piece of prized memorabilia. Our bartender retrieves one from the top shelf and sets it down on the bar.
“One shot costs $10,000,” he says.
The Louis XIII cognac is just one of the extremely vintage spirits the Vault uses to make its cocktails. The program features carefully sourced bottles dating from the 1950s to the 1990s, “offering guests a rare opportunity to experience a taste of history,” says assistant general manager Danielle Geller.
The Vapor Trail ($60) arrives maple-smoked under a glass cloche.
Watching the bar’s signature Old Fashioned appear is part of the intrigue, and the rest is a sensory journey.
The Gold Rush Martinez showcases vintage gin and the evolution of the earliest Manhattan and Martini-style cocktails. And a highly coveted classic rum from Santiago de Cuba gives the Hemingway Daiquiri-inspired Kennedy unforgettable character.
Each pour has its own unique story and indulges guests with the rarest of delights.
THE VAULT Bellagio, 866-906-7171, bellagio.com. SundayThursday, 5 p.m.-midnight; Friday & Saturday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE MARCUS
BRING BARRY’S HOME FOR Thanksgiving
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Includes: half or whole organic turkey plus traditional stuffing, baby glazed carrots George Maloof Creamed corn, green bean casserole mashed potatoes, roasted yams fresh cranberry sauce, turkey gravy
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