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
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1
9AM - 2PM
FREE ADMISSION
EDITORIAL
INTERIM PUBLISHER MARIA BLONDEAUX maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com
EDITOR SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)
Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)
Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)
Sta Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com)
Contributing Writers KYLE CHOUINARD, GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, KATIE ANN MCCARVER
Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT
O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE
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ADVERTISING & MARKETING
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P.O. Box 94018 Las Vegas, NV 89193
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From left, the Las Vegas Aces’ Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, head coach Becky Hammon and A’ja Wilson celebrate another WNBA title during the October 17 rally on the Strip. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
14 ENTERTAINMENT
WAYS
After the Aces’ third WNBA Championship victory, there’s never been a better time for women’s sports in Las Vegas.
COVER ART Courtesy/Las Vegas Aces, photographer Ian Maule/Getty Images ON THE COVER
How to build the best bachelorette party from infinite options in Las Vegas.
26 NEWS
Local o cials tackle root causes of overcrowding in animal shelters.
30 SPORTS UNLV women’s basketball coach Lindy La Rocque is ready for another season.
34 THE STRIP
Drai’s rooftop nightclub may be going quiet, but its Vegas legacy will endure.
38 MUSIC Hawaiian-born rap quintet Dotwav thrives on solo projects as it works toward its next album.
40 FOOD & DRINK
The Arts District’s Echo Taste & Sound pairs elevated bites and drinks with vinyl and vibes.
The Art of the Wild underground dance festival kicks o at Wynn, Junior H brings modernized Mexican music to T-Mobile Arena and more this week.
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY OCT 30
RANDY RAINBOW
7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
PAULY SHORE
9:30 p.m., Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.
ROCCO
7:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
THE RHYOLITE SOUND
7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
FREAKS ON FREMONT
8 p.m., Fremont East, instagram.com/block partyvegas
MONSTER’S BALL
6:30 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.
CONCOURS
Thru 11/2, times vary, Wynn, lasvegaconcours. com.
MARINELLI BROS. CIRCUS
Thru 11/3, times vary, Craig Ranch Park, marinellibros.com.
ART OF THE WILD
Vegas venues have tried to embrace a more immersive, festival-like atmosphere to appeal to younger visitors in recent years, and Wynn Nightlife’s Art of the Wild underground dance music weekender helped pioneer that trend. “Obviously we want to create an incredible music-first scene, but we want to pair that with an experience that shifts and changes from night to night,” says VP of nightlife Ryan Jones. This Halloween’s version brings headliners Hugel, Black Coffee, Odesza and Mau P to XS. Read our full Art of the Wild preview at lasvegasweekly.com. Thru 11/2, 10:30 p.m., $70 four-day pass, XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. –Brock Radke
DO IT ALL
FRIDAY OCT 31
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE
1 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
ADAM SANDLER
8 p.m., & 11/1, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster. com.
EAGLES
8:30 p.m., & 11/1, Sphere, ticketmaster.com.
JEEZY
8 p.m., & 11/1, PH Live, ticketmaster.com.
ZZ TOP
8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com.
GARBAGE
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
JACKSON BROWNE
8 p.m., & 11/1, 11/5, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
ARTURO SANDOVAL
7 p.m. (& 11/1, 5 & 8 p.m.), Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
XAVIER WULF
7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
CIGAR AFICIONADO’S BIG SMOKE
5:30 p.m., & 11/1, Horseshoe, lasvegasbigsmoke.com.
STRANGE CIRCUS
With Valentino Khan, 8 p.m., Area15, area15. com
CLIPSE
10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
50 CENT 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
DJ PAULY D 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
E-40
10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
Amy Harris/Invision/AP
Photo
MUSIC PARTY SPORTS FOOD COMEDY MISC ARTS
UNLV FOOTBALL VS. NEW MEXICO
Noon, Allegiant Stadium, unlvtickets.com.
DIMENSION 20 LIVE
8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.
FESTIVAL
10:30 a.m., Clark County Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.
PHIL ROSENTHAL
8 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
BUTTOOTKING
8 p.m., the Portal at Area15, etix.com.
LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC: BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
MUSIC FROM FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
SIN CITY
HALLOWEEN BALL
2 p.m., West Charleston Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
8 p.m., & 11/2, 11/5, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
ALANIS MORISSETTE
8 p.m., & 11/2, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
9 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
LEONA LEWIS
8 p.m., & 11/2, 11/5, Voltaire, voltairelv.com.
MAMMOTH
6:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
GINO VANELLI
THEIR HALLOWS TOO With Elevated Undergrounds, Figgy, Kurian, Wang Dawg, more, 5 p.m., Taverna Costera, tavernacostera.com.
DEAD ON A SUNDAY
CHELSEA HANDLER
8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
JAY LENO
9 p.m., David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand.mgm resorts.com.
7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
With Nite, 9 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.
BLINDFOLDED AND LED TO THE WOODS
With Volcandra, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm.
8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
SATURDAY NOV 1 Courtesy
BISCITS
7 p.m., Rouge Room, wethebeat.com
ZEDD
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
KEHLANI
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
DJ SNAKE
10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
GUDFELLA
10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com
THE RIGHT STUFF AFTERPARTY
With Donnie Wahlberg, 10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv.com
JUNIOR H
The Guanajuato-born troubadour who has redefined the corridos tumbados scene is bringing his $ad Boyz Live & Broken Tour to T-Mobile Arena. Known for fusing the essence of regional Mexican music with a modern twist of hip-hop and reggaeton, Junior H’s sound resonates with a new generation. After his bedroom-recorded hit “No Eh Cambiado” went viral in 2019, the then 17-year-old’s journey to stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. Since then, he’s gone on to selling out shows and recording collaborations with Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano, Oscar Maydon and more. And with gut-wrenching tracks like “Mientras Duermes” and “1004 Kilόmetros,” Junior H is proving he’s here to stay, blending heartbreak and hustle in equal measure. 8 p.m., $88+, T-Mobile Arena, ticketmaster.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY NOV 2
MONDAY NOV 3
EXHIBIT: FROM THE OASIS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
1:05 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.
ZION YOUTH SYMPHONY
4:30 & 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
GOSPEL BRUNCH
10 a.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
QUADECA With Kmoe, 7 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater. com.
AX AND THE HATCHETMEN
8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com.
JEFF DUNHAM
8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.
DESEO LATIN SUNDAYS
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
LIL JON 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
Making its debut during this year’s UNLV Art Walk, From the Oasis celebrates the resilient creativity that can only come from the most unyielding terrain, metaphorically and literally. UNLV MFA students from the past 25 years participating in this exhibit include Clara Tang, Sean Slattery, Keeva Lough, Shawn Hummel, Homero Hidalgo, Chris Bauder, Cara Cole, Lolita Develay and more. Thru 11/19, Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., free, Donna Beam Gallery, unlv.edu. –Brock Radke
HALL OF FAME SERIES
4 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
NEXTET
7:30 p.m., Lee and Thomas Beam Music Center, unlv.edu.
EXHIBIT: HOME MEANS NEVADA BY SARAH ROBLES Thru 11/21, times vary, Sahara West Library, thelibrarydistrict. org.
DANAE DORKEN 7 p.m., Clark County Library, thelibrarydistrict. org.
DANCING PLAGUE
With Aux Animaux, Pitch After Dark, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm.
MONDAYS DARK
8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com.
Courtesy
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY NOV 4
WEDNESDAY NOV 5
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. DETROIT RED WINGS
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UT MARTIN
7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
CARLOS MENCIA
9 p.m., & 11/5, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.
DEREK GAINES
with Alex Kumin, Allan Havey, Nathan Macintosh, thru 11/9, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.
LOST FREQUENCIES
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
BOLTCUTTER With Load Tha Nine, Buried in Sin, Body of Filth, 6 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, seetickets.us.
KENNY G 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com.
SANTANA
7 p.m., & 11/6, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
200 STAB WOUNDS With No Cure, Dead Heat, Bastardane, 6:30 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, seetickets.us.
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. WASHINGTON STATE
6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.
HENDERSON
SILVER KNIGHTS VS. SAN DIEGO GULLS
5 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
UNLV HOCKEY VS. ARIZONA
7 p.m., & 11/6, City National Arena, rebelhockey.com.
ENTERTAINING
SET THE
Build the best bachelorette bash from infi nite Vegas options
BY BROCK RADKE
Tastes change, and so does Las Vegas, but it’s still one of the top destinations in the U.S. for bachelorette party trips. It has been No. 1 for decades, but now Nashville, Tennessee, and Scottsdale, Arizona, have jumped to the top of the heap, and that’s why born-and-raised Las Vegan Bri Steck, founder and CEO of Girls Night Out Getaways (girlsnightoutgetaways.com), expanded her business beyond Sin City.
BEGIN WITH THE BUDGET.
Girls Night Out Getaways pre-negotiates each piece of its party plans so clients book everything and pay the complete cost to one company, even including gratuity. It’s convenient, but more importantly for the party crew, it guarantees there will be no surprises. “You want to determine the budget ahead of time and you should be mindful of everybody in the group, because it’s likely only the bride will know everyone who’s invited,” says Steck. “If you piece everything together by yourself, it’s harder to stay on budget. If you work with us, we’ll help you stay on track.” Split up the financial planning into categories like flights and hotel rooms, activities, and spending cash. And make sure everyone is aware of what they’ll be spending before you start the party.
IF YOU’RE NOT A VEGAS EXPERT, FIND ONE.
Natives like Steck and newcomers can agree: The entertainment options in Las Vegas can be overwhelming. “You can go on social media to get ideas, but everyone makes everything look amazing on social,” she says. “The only way to know how to get the most amazing experience is from somebody who knows the city.” With a constant cycle of new restaurants, clubs and shows, it’s hard to keep your finger on the pulse. A plan-
But Vegas has stu those other cities will never have. If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime bachelorette party—or if you’re a resident who’s been put in charge of planning one for a visiting friend—it’s tough to beat the varied experience available here. Luckily, Steck is happy to provide some important tips to start the process.
ner, a friend in the hospitality industry or even a savvy longtime local can help with recommendations for specific experiences that suit your tastes, like the best sushi or speakeasy.
THERE’S A REASON THE CLASSICS ARE STILL THRIVING.
Thunder From Down Under at Excalibur remains the most popular show booking for Girls Night Out Getaways, so if your bachelorette group is interested in a tried-and-true male revue, go for it. And a big Vegas nightclub experience— or afternoon at a party-ready dayclub— is another can’t-miss option, no matter your posse’s style. “Vegas is known for amazing nightclubs and DJs, so even if you’re getting married at 40, it’s still going to be fun go see the Chainsmokers at XS,” says Steck. “What might be di erent is the experience. A younger bride might just get into the club and do her own thing, and other brides are going to have a table and bottle service.”
LIMIT THE PARTY LEADERSHIP.
“The bachelorette and the maid of honor should make the final decisions,” Steck says. “Don’t give everyone in the group all the options. You kind of have to present the itinerary, because everyone is going to have an opinion and you’re never going to get things solidified.”
BUILD IN SOME DOWNTIME.
A bachelorette group is almost always a group of friends that don’t all know each other, because they probably come from di erent eras of the bride’s life. “You have childhood friends, college friends, new friends from work, and everybody’s coming together and you don’t know if the personalities are going to get along,” Steck says. “That’s how bachelorettes are di erent from girls’ trips. So it’s important to have some open space. You don’t want a jampacked schedule, and you can also make some things optional, like shopping or a spa day.”
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The Possible Unknown:
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Vegas Theatre Company 1025 S 1st St, Las Vegas
SCAN QR CODE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Aces’ success and popularity in Las Vegas emblematic of the growth and support of women’s sports
Photo/Rick Scuteri
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Against a backdrop of buskers and busy Strip traffic, basketball fans spilled off the sidewalks to catch a glimpse of a modern-day dynasty. For the third time in four years, the Las Vegas Aces brought home the WNBA Championship, and it was time to celebrate accordingly. Signs reading “Three of a Kind” dominated the scene at Toshiba Plaza on October 17. Some hoisted brooms to honor the team’s four-game sweep against the Phoenix Mercury in the Finals. Fans brandishing replicas of A’ja Wilson’s signature tambourine and pink wig packed the parade route, their chants of “MVP! MVP!” building as the Aces’ double decker bus rolled by. One father lifted his son onto his shoulders to get a better view of the star center, his voice full of quiet reverence: “Look buddy, there’s A’ja Wilson.” All that jubilation reflects an undeniable truth: the Las Vegas Aces have found a powerful following.
Las Vegas couple Hannah and Tiffany Giardina became Aces season ticket holders in 2023 and have watched the fan base grow.
“What really hit me this year was the first game of the year, everyone was in the concourse giving each other hugs, like, ‘We haven’t seen you in six months, how are you?’” says Hannah Giardina. “You don’t see that anywhere else.”
It’s easy to root for a championship team, but it goes deeper for the Aces and the WNBA.
“We had a lot of fans who knew about the WNBA and the history of the WNBA, but once they started winning, the stage was packed,” says Andrea Moodie, a longtime basketball fan. “Winning will help. But I think once people got to know the women, got to know the team, got to understand the ownership … it’s easy to become a fan.”
Against the backdrop of the explosion of major league professional sports in Las Vegas, the Aces have cemented themselves as the city’s most decorated team, elevating
women’s sports from the sidelines to the center of the conversation. The team’s success and the visibility of its superstar centerpiece are creating a measurable shift in Las Vegas’ growing sports culture.
“They’re setting the precedent that Vegas is the place to be. They’re the team to follow. Everybody wants to be like them,” says Leandra Galloway, another Aces season ticket holder. “I’m a Lakers fan and that’s what it’s kind of reminding me of—dynasty, multiple rings. You can’t really separate this group.”
sssss
Every great dynasty needs a firm foundation. On the collegiate level, UNLV’s Lady Rebels have established a dynasty of their own under three-time Mountain West Coach of the Year Lindy La Rocque, who has led the basketball team to four consecutive Mountain West regular season championships and three conference tournament titles since joining the program in 2020. (See page 30 for our interview.)
A winning basketball tradition extends
A’JA WILSON
AP
Photo/Rick Scuteri
from the high school level, where Cheyenne and Centennial coach Karen Weitz has built a legacy with 15 state championships and more than 750 victories. The ve-time Nevada Coach of the Year and member of the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame began coaching in the early ’90s, well before the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997. The landscape looked a lot di erent then.
“When we started back in the mid’90s … basketball in Vegas was terrible,” Weitz says. “Reno had won the past 20 state titles. We weren’t even respected. There was no middle school basketball here. There were no players coming out of Vegas that were D1 ballplayers. When I say nothing, it was nothing.”
High school state tournaments were never held in Southern Nevada back then. “You literally had to go to Reno all the time,” she says.
Weitz studied the dominance of the northern opposition and established a year-round training program at Centennial High School, and her team broke through for its rst state title. The cycle had been broken.
“It was probably the craziest moment in my life because to do something like that hadn’t even been done in 20 years. It was pretty special,” Weitz says.
The e ort and talent of many other pioneers have strengthened that foundation of girls’ and women’s sports in Las Vegas, paving the way for the arrival of the WNBA in 2018. MGM Resorts International purchased the team, then the San Antonio Stars, and moved it to the Strip to play at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena. Raiders owner Mark Davis bought the Aces in 2021 and sustained their upward trajectory, hiring coach Becky Hammon in 2022.
Basketball is not the only professional women’s sport with a presence in Southern Nevada. The Vegas Thrill played its rst season this year at Henderson’s
Lee’s Family Forum in the upstart Major League Volleyball. The team is currently taking deposits for season tickets for the 2026 season.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, women’s sports have exploded in popularity. A spring Associated Press poll found that three in 10 U.S. adults follow women’s professional or college sports. The WNBA recently broke its single-season attendance record, with the league’s 13 teams attracting more than 2.5 million fans over 226 games, according to the New York Times
That cultural shift has introduced new opportunities in sports-friendly cities like Las Vegas, where a franchise location of the Sports Bra, the nation’s
JENNY NGUYEN AT THE SPORTS BRA
BECKY HAMMON
VEGAS THRILL
Courtesy/FLI Media
Photo/Rick Scuteri
KAREN WEITZ
first sports bar dedicated to broadcasting women’s sports, is set to open in the near future. Jenny Nguyen founded the Portland-based bar in 2022 with little more than her instinct to guide her.
“I felt like there was this women’s sports fandom that was rooted in Portland, so that’s what I was basing it on,” Nguyen says. “But as soon as the news hit that this women’s sports bar was opening, it almost felt like we’d put a pinprick in a dam, and it just exploded with support.
THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES THAT HAVE GOTTEN US TO WHERE WE ARE NOW AND HAVE BEEN WHAT FEELS LIKE SYSTEMIC BLOCKADES FOR DECADES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS. THEY’RE JUST NOW STARTING TO GET KNOCKED OVER, AND WE’RE JUST NOW STARTING TO SEE THE BENEFITS.”
-Jenny Nguyen, founder of the Sports Bra
“We were basically flipping the status quo on what a traditional sports bar is and has been for 40 years. So, there were a lot of naysayers out there, the same folks that say nobody watches women’s sports were all up in our DMs being like, ‘It’s just a matter of time before you guys will have to show men’s sports, because nobody’s going to come.’ But for every one comment like that, there were 10,000 that were like, ‘This is the best thing ever.’”
Nguyen says she received hundreds of inquiries from entrepreneurs looking to open a Sports Bra franchise in big cities and tiny towns. For Las Vegas, she says the focus is to build a community with locals, so it makes more sense to establish the Sports Bra in a neighborhood rather than on the Strip.
For local fans like Tiffany Giardina and Leandra Galloway, it’s about time women’s sports had a designated home.
“It’s like, finally something is happening,” says Giardina. “When we won the first championship, we were flying and we were in Houston Hobby [Airport], and we had to beg our server, ‘Can you just put the Aces game on?’ It was during Texas football.”
“I think a lot of people would follow it, and not just women and young little girls, men would go as well,” Galloway says of the Sports Bra. “It’s definitely necessary. Once people see that they have something like that here in Vegas, other bars, other establishments will catch on.”
It all goes back to visibility, Nguyen says.
Continues on page 22
Photo by Steve Marcus
AP
Photo
Continued from page 21
“The general public can only see what they see. So, if they’re not seeing a lot of women’s sports fandoms, their idea is that there aren’t very many women’s sports fans,” she says. “Creating a space like a bar to come and hang out with friends and watch games, and having it be as visible as the Sports Bra, has over the last three years really, I think, had a huge impact on just perception of what fandom looks like.”
Visibility matters on every level, from a casual neighborhood bar to the executive leadership of a famous sports franchise.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ recruitment of Sandra Douglass Morgan, the first Black female team president in NFL history, speaks volumes about the support from the organization. Less than a mile away from the Raiders headquarters in Henderson, owner Mark Davis had a 64,000-square-foot practice facility built for the Aces, establishing a new standard for a WNBA team. And the investment has paid off—this year Forbes estimated the franchise’s worth at $310 million, a bit of a bump from the reported $2 million purchase price.
Investment has everything to do with the popularity and fandom of a team or a sport, says Nguyen, explaining that fans notice all the details, from the production value of the games to the jerseys players wear.
In Las Vegas, fans are noticing the all-in approach to marketing and supporting the Aces, and other women’s sports events, too.
“College sports here are a big thing, and they don’t just single out the men. We’re hav-
“WINNING WILL HELP. BUT I THINK ONCE PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW THE WOMEN, GOT TO KNOW THE TEAM, GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE OWNERSHIP … IT’S EASY TO BECOME A FAN.”
-Andrea Moodie, basketball fan
ing a Women’s Hall of Fame Classic too, and it’s always advertised everywhere,” Giardina says. “I think advertising it throughout the city is a big thing, because you don’t see that [elsewhere]. Even in Orlando, we never saw an Orlando Pride [women’s soccer team] advertisement.”
The popularity boom of women’s sports also comes with some growing pains, and the WNBA’s current collective bargaining agreement negotiation looks like a crucial turning point that will lead to significant salary increases for the league’s players.
But if you ask the fans and followers, the future of women’s sports is looking bright.
“There are so many variables that have gotten us to where we are now and have been what feels like systemic blockades for decades in women’s sports,” Nguyen says.
“They’re just now starting to get knocked over, and we’re just now starting to see the benefits of those things.”
Las Vegas Aces players Aaliyah Nye, left, and Dana Evans celebrate a victory over the Dallas Wings at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay on August 17.
Photos by Steve Marcus
IN THE NEWS
Planned testing facility will strengthen health care system in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Medical District is set to expand with a new testing facility that officials say will strengthen the region’s public health infrastructure.
Nevada Health and Bioscience Corp. unveiled plans Wednesday for a two-story, 34,000-square-foot laboratory that will bring expanded medical services and educational opportunities to the district near Charleston Boulevard and Interstate 15.
“To retain physicians in Nevada, we must prioritize providing them with hands-on experiences and training. By investing in comprehensive education, we are not only advancing the next generation of skilled medical professionals but also ensuring they are prepared
to meet the needs of our community and provide ongoing, exceptional care for years to come,” said Dr. Barbara Atkinson, medical consultant at Nevada Health and Bioscience Corp.
Construction will begin in November and is scheduled to conclude in late 2026. The $44 million project is funded through a $35 million State of Nevada American Rescue Plan Act grant and $9 million from the City of Las Vegas.
University Medical Center will manage everything in the building except for the blood bank, Atkinson said.
The first floor will house a blood donor center, while the second floor will feature specialized spaces for microbiology, virology, tuberculosis identification,
stem cell processing, drug toxicology and molecular testing.
The facility’s modern equipment and 24/7 operations will eliminate the need to send most tests out of state for analysis, reducing turnaround times from days to hours.
The laboratory is projected to save Southern Nevada more than $5 million annually in health care costs while bolstering the state’s public health emergency preparedness.
The facility will also expand pathology residencies and fellowships for students at the adjacent Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, supporting both workforce development and academic growth in the Medical District. –Grace Da Rocha
GlowFest to offer festive fun in Paradise Road lot
What is usually a dark parking lot will transform into a “radiant world of art, light, culture, taste and storytelling” with GlowFest. According to a news release, GlowFest will take over 200,000 square feet at 2600 Paradise Road near the Sahara Las Vegas Monorail Station. The experience reimagines the traditional lantern festival with interactive installations and rotating food vendors offering “chef-driven creations and limited-time offerings designed to evolve throughout the season.” As guests explore different “landscapes” they’ll encounter creations like the Tree of Life or a lotus garden. Holiday programming like visits with Santa, live carolers and New Year’s cosplay performances can be expected. GlowFest opens December 20 and will run through Lunar New Year until February 22, with more info at glowfest.com. –Shannon Miller
HOT SHOT ComplexCon, a twoday celebration of street culture, fashion, art, music and food, brought performances by Peso Pluma, Young Thug, Clipse and more to the Las Vegas Convention Center October 25-26. It also brought some great shopping, including these Yu-Gi-Oh! skateboard decks, created by pop culture-friendly company Bear Walker. (Geoff Carter/Staff)
NEW CROSSWALK TO CONNECT PLAZAS IN CHINATOWN
Shanghai Plaza customers and those across the street at Chinatown Plaza soon will have a new option to walk between the busy shopping centers. Clark County has started construction on a new pedestrian crossing on Spring Mountain Road east of Arville Street in “one of the most frequently traveled areas in the Chinatown corridor,” that will connect the two plazas.
Work hours will generally be Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Road users should expect lane restrictions, sidewalk detours and limited access to driveways during construction. Completion is expected around mid December. –Staff
FIXED AND CHIPPED
As animal shelters become overcrowded, officials tackle root causes
If you’ve been thinking about buying a dog, cat, rabbit, potbellied pig or guinea pig at a Las Vegas pet store, you may first want to tune into the next Las Vegas City Council meeting on November 5. That’s when members are set to consider a new ordinance seeking to effectively ban the city’s pet shops from selling those animals in the future. The proposal is the latest in a series of efforts by Valley policymakers to try and curb a growing crisis at local shelters, which are reporting overcrowding. Ahead of the vote, the Weekly spoke with a few Southern Nevada shelters and animal rights advocates to learn more about how the proposed ban and related initiatives could help chip away at the problem.
A child and Simon Yue, right, meet with a one-year-old mix breed dog named Morticia at the Animal Foundation on October 14.
(Photo by Wade Vandervort)
OVERCROWDING
When a local animal control center captures a stray animal or lost pet, it’ll most likely be brought to the Animal Foundation, which has long operated the largest public animal shelter in Southern Nevada.
In May, the nonprofit reported a 61% increase since 2020 in the number of animals it has taken in annually, calling it a “critical space crisis” that was stretching its capacity to “inhumane levels.”
“Even though there’s usually kind of a natural turn to fewer intakes in the fall and winter than in the summer, this year we’ve seen kind of consistent overcrowding,” CEO Hilarie Grey tells the Weekly.
As of October 21, nearly 24,000 animals have come through the Animal Foundation’s doors this year, versus just 21,218 through that same point in 2024. Grey and her team of 200 employees are now busier than they have been in at least a decade.
One-third of the nonprofit’s annual budget is funded by an interlocal agreement between Clark County and the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. Last month, the three approved a new contract granting the Animal Foundation $11.4 million to continue operating through June 2026, with options to renew it for four additional annual periods. To further combat the surge, they also pledged another $1.75 million to “support the transfer, care, and adoption of animals” during high intake periods.
Commissioners also allocated $39 million to design and build a 40,000-square-foot supplemental shelter, plus an additional $3 million for a temporary emergency shelter at the Silver Bowl Park near Sam Boyd Stadium. Those timelines have yet to be announced.
PUPPY MILL CRACKDOWN
Las Vegas’ proposed commercial pet sale ban echoes a similar policy Clark County instituted in 2023, in which commissioners gave shop owners one year to come into compliance. The city previously passed a ban in 2016 but repealed it a year later.
The measure is designed to stifle the proliferation of dogs from puppy mills, or large for-profit breeding facilities that frequently neglect the care of the pets that they often sell to shops. A 2025 report by Humane World for Animals found that “every pet store we visited, and many other puppy stores in Nevada, purchased puppies from known puppy mills.”
In one instance, investigators discovered a sick dog named Cindy Lou in a backroom at Puppy Heaven who died later that night after animal control took her to a veterinary facility. In the most recent Nevada Legislature session, Assembly Bill 487, dubbed “Cindy Lou’s Law,” would have enacted a statewide ban, but was later amended to simply request a study
on the issue.
In an October 16 press conference, Mayor Shelley Berkley said the county’s ban led 10 of its pet stores to relocate to the city’s jurisdiction to avoid it. Under her proposal, she said the city’s existing shops would be “grandfathered in” to a threeyear period in which they’d be able to “figure out how they can stay open” without those sales.
Berkley expects it to pass. Grey welcomes the proposed ban and adds that in-demand breeds can still be found at animal shelters.
“One of the common arguments against banning puppy mill stores is, what if somebody wants a Yorkie or French Bulldog puppy? But we see every breed, age and size come through the shelter. You just have to come look,” Grey says.
BACKYARD BREEDING
To identify and shut down illegal backyard breeding operations, the City of Las Vegas launched a task force or undercover investigators called Operation Pawsitive Change last year.
Although the city recently reported that the task force had recovered
employee holds a one-year-old dog named Nyla in the intake room at the Animal Foundation. (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
15 puppies and issued 37 citations between July 1 and October 20, Nevada Voters for Animals President Gina Greisen says these moves are just scratching the surface.
“I want a complete moratorium on all breeding until the impounds go down to a certain percentage,” Greisen says, citing a temporary policy that’s been active in LA since May 2024 that will remain until its shelters stay at or below 75% capacity for three consecutive months.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care,” she adds. “So, why are we throwing all this money at the shelter when we could be hiring more officers to stop the litters from ever being born?”
Clark County adopted harsher penalties for illegal breeding and increased breeding permit fees in February. To obtain a permit, one must submit proof of vaccinations and microchipping, pass a site inspection, and pay an annual fee of $400 to $800.
SPAY, NEUTER AND CHIP
For Melanie Shayne, founder of Kiss My Paws Rescue and the lost dog search group Doggie Task Force, a lack of public awareness and limited enforcement surrounding Clark County’s 2010 spay and neuter law is a major concern.
“I’m one of these people who tries to focus on the root causes of the problem, like spaying and neutering, but a lot of people who move here don’t know that’s the law,” Shayne says. “Of the surrendered dogs that we take in, probably 90% of them aren’t fixed or vaccinated.”
Another effort to alleviate shelter overcrowding came when the county implemented a new microchip mandate in August. Though its impact remains to be seen, Grey hopes it helps the Animal Foundation find more lost pet owners at a time when only about 23% of animals arrive chipped.
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UNLV women’s basketball coach
Lindy La Rocque reflects on the future of the sport in Las Vegas
NEXT-LEVEL
LEADERSHIP
AP Photo/Photo
Illustration
BY BROCK RADKE
While the higher-pro le UNLV men’s basketball and football teams have fought their way to success in recent years, they’ve struggled to maintain the overall consistency that comes with steady, longtime leadership. Meanwhile, on the Lady Rebels side, UNLV Athletics announced just last week that head basketball coach Lindy La Rocque has signed a new ve-year contract, locking down the three-time Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year through the 20292030 season.
“In just ve seasons, she has transformed the Lady Rebels into a proven winner … guiding us to four straight regular-season conference championships, three Mountain West tournament titles, and four postseason appearances,” Director of Athletics Erick Harper said in a statement. “Extending her contract reinforces our commitment to sustained excellence, continued student-athlete development, and the vibrant Las Vegas community that supports our women’s basketball program.”
to bring some fresh new perspective and personality into the mix. That part has been a joy, to get to know more new young people and mentor new sta members.
What’s your philosophy on the balance of creating consistency, bringing a similar style of play to the court each season, versus making adjustments based on your personnel?
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL UPCOMING SCHEDULE
November 5, 6:30 p.m., Washington State; November 9, 2 p.m., DePaul; November 14, 6 p.m., Baylor; Cox Pavilion, unlv tickets.com
That’s it, that’s the balance, and that’s the job of the coach. You’ve got to have a style of play but you also have to adapt to the skill sets of your players and put them in a position to be successful. We’ve identi ed how we want to play over the last ve years, the meat and potatoes, and that isn’t changing. You’ll see di erent looks and feels at times, that’s kind of the side dishes and appetizers, like the intricacies of sets we run, and who we go to. You don’t want things to feel exactly the same every year, but I think if you’ve watched us year over year, you can see a consistent approach to how we do things.
Have you identified any obvious strengths yet?
daughter and we go to Aces games and it’s interesting to re ect on how that can be impactful for her. Basketball is basketball, but to see women playing at the highest level is tremendous for the young girls in our community, whether or not they want to play sports, and [the Aces’] success has been amazing. Las Vegas loves winners and that’s what the Aces have done, with great crowds and great players. So you’ve seen that impact play out at the college and high school level?
As the team looks to tip off another season, the Weekly caught up with La Rocque to check in on the look and feel of the Lady Rebel roster, and to explore just how vibrant the Las Vegas women’s basketball community has become during her tenure.
There’s been a lot of change to the roster and the sta heading into the new season. What’s it been like to bring this new crew together?
Honestly, it’s been amazing. I don’t think change is always a bad thing. We have people who are excited, that want to be here and have great energy and want to be a part of what we have built here already, which is just a winning culture. Sometimes it’s a good thing
It’s a really talented team. Maybe, compared to years past, we have some great size, length and athleticism that should allow us to be dangerous o ensively and defensively. We have a great mixed bag of di erent skills that’s going to create a diverse team.
This is your sixth year at UNLV and the seventh year that the Aces have been playing in Las Vegas. You grew up here. What’s it been like to watch the WNBA become prominent in Vegas and have such an impact?
I think it’s been tremendous. Being born and raised here and exposed to basketball at an early age, my parents took us to Rebel games and that was all there was in town.
I have a soon-to-be 3-year-old
Oh, de nitely. These are pros playing at the highest level and the more young adults who are exposed to that at the earliest age, the more it invites their imagination to really consider what they can do. It’s huge for the overall development of our community, and for us at UNLV, it’s been great. We’ve got a lot of women’s basketball fans here in town and our seasons don’t overlap. So we are continuing to gure out how we can get all 10,000-plus of those Aces fans to our Lady Rebels games, because clearly they love the sport, and we’ve done some winning, too. It’s helped us in recruiting. We try to do some crossover things with tickets and marketing. And I’ve de nitely had a number of people come to our games and acknowledge, “We love the Aces and now we love you guys.” Even if it’s just a handful, that’s meaningful.
Is coaching in the pros something you’d like to do at some point?
I’m not sure that suits my leadership style or is where my passion lies. I’m never gonna say never, but what I really enjoy is the educational piece, the teaching, the impact, the relationship building. From what I hear, it’s a little more transactional and business driven; those are grown women with their own families. Not that it isn’t a great opportunity, but for me and where my passion lies, some of that doesn’t translate.
The impact of Drai’s rooftop nightclub will endure as Vegas nightlife continues to evolve
THE BEAT GOES ON
BY BROCK RADKE
A night spent at a big Vegas nightclub is supposed to be a mind-blowing experience. The expectations are something beyond spectacular, whether it’s your rst time or your ftieth. It has to be a night to remember.
Those expectations usually include loud music curated by a famous DJ, thousands of like-minded party people surrendering to the vibes, and an opulent atmosphere layered with technologically advanced production. Drai’s Beachclub and Nightclub, which opened on the roof of the center-Strip hotel and casino the Cromwell in 2014, has all those things and more—namely, full-length live concert performances from the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B, and unbelievable views of the iconic Vegas skyline to take in when you need a break from the party.
The night I remember best at Drai’s rooftop was in August of 2015. It was a Friday night and we arrived
at the Cromwell after midnight, already feeling a bit partied out heading into the weekend but determined to catch a set from one of our favorite genre-defying artists. We stepped out onto the outdoor pool deck for a drink and some air before the show, and the energy from the wonderfully diverse, packed crowd brought us back to life. Then Miguel took the stage in full soulful rockstar mode, seducing everyone in attendance to dance whether we were near the stage or perched over Las Vegas Boulevard. It exceeded expectations, a music experience that seemed like it could only exist in a movie or someone’s imagination, and we still couldn’t believe it when we had a “nightcap” in the lobby bar downstairs at around 4 a.m.
If you saw The Weeknd or Cardi B or Future or Snoop Dogg or Lil Wayne or anybody else at Drai’s over the past decade, you have your own memories. The club made a major impact on the Vegas and national nightclub scene by incorporating real live performances—not just “club sets” where the artist sings over a track for a few minutes—and establishing itself as the home for hip-hop on the Strip.
Sadly, this Halloween weekend is the last one for
Victor (left) and Dustin Drai in 2022
(Photo by Wade Vandervort)
this version of Drai’s. The rooftop will go quiet after an industry closing party on November 2. As of press time, 50 Cent was the only scheduled headliner for the closing weekend, on October 31. The Cromwell is beginning its rebranding transformation into the Vanderpump Hotel, a monumental expansion of the partnership between Caesars Entertainment and TV personality and restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump, and the rooftop space will become a resort pool.
It’s the end of an era, but not the end of Drai’s, which was a pioneering venue in Las Vegas nightlife well before the rooftop expansion. Victor Drai opened the original Drai’s restaurant in 1997 in the hotel’s basement—it was the Barbary Coast back then—and set up a new scene around a late-night lounge that evolved into the iconic afterhours club experience. (We old-timers have plenty of memorable nights from that version of Drai’s, too.)
Now it’s time for another evolution. “We started small, scaled big, and now we’re going back to what made the brand special in the rst place—connection,” Dustin Drai, Victor’s son and president of the company, said in a statement. “The future of nightlife isn’t about the biggest room or the biggest artist. It’s about the people you’re with, the room you’re in, and the feeling you get when it all comes together.”
Jason Strauss, co-CEO of the Strip’s most proli c nightlife company in Tao Group Hospitality, agrees that the future of Vegas nightlife will include more intimate and curated experiences, but also “a return to the glamour of Vegas. I think we’ll see more places doing live music, doing supper clubs, and the return to people getting dressed up,” he says. “It’s about getting people excited, a celebratory moment every night. I also think there’s going to be more of a concentration
on new genres of music. We just saw an incredible Mexican Independence Day weekend with the Latino community looking for Latin-based venues, and we’re also seeing a lot more country music going mainstream.”
Speaking of clubs going country: Just across from Drai’s on Flamingo Road, Caesars partnered with Opry Entertainment Group and Blake Shelton to open Ole Red in front of Horseshoe Las Vegas last year. Last week, that same partnership—with a di erent country music star, Luke Combs—announced Category 10, another venue o ering food, drinks, music, dancing and more, will open next year, on the other side of the Cromwell at the Flamingo. Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Bar o ers similar programming just outside the Shops at Crystals on the west side of the Strip.
We might be at an interesting transitional point in the ongoing evolution of Vegas nightlife, but that doesn’t mean the megaclubs are going anywhere. Observers looking for bright spots from a slow summer and the current tourism dip may have missed this sector of Vegas entertainment.
“The venues that are keeping up with trends and spending time and energy to deliver the experience, we had amazing summers at our pools and nightclubs,” says Strauss. “I know Wynn [Nightlife] did, and it makes you think, why aren’t more people talking about it? Every weekend, all summer, dayclubs full of three or four thousand people having a great time.
“We’re still the nightclub capital of the world. … Whatever is happening here, the rest of the country takes their cues. There’s nowhere else that has the budgets to build out these types of venues, to be part of a monolithic casino and bring value to the entire property, to continue to evolve and be the best.”
Category 10 rendering (courtesy)
From A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan to Odd Future and Brockhampton, the most successful hip-hop collectives have always thrived off the sum of their members’ unique personalities and individual creative pursuits. When they’re not recording joint projects and touring together as a unit, each collaborator is a fierce promoter of one another’s solo ventures.
That ethos is a de ning element for Dotwav, a Las Vegas rap quintet with Asian American and Paci c Islander roots who were all born and raised on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
Formed in 2022 after members connected over their shared background and musical vision, the group proceeded to drop its rst two albums in 2023 and a third in 2024 before reaching a milestone deal with the Create.Digital Music label, under Virgin Music Group, in May.
Consistent with the collective mentality, every Dotwav member contributes to the music as either an artist, producer or both—with some also taking on supplementary roles.
BARS FROM THE NINTH ISLAND
while Creed Chameleon’s formative years were dominated by heavy metal.
As the youngest member of the group, Jojo Flow is also the only one who doesn’t currently live in Vegas. But his elder bandmates say the beats he’s made from his home on the windward side of Oahu are fundamental to their evolving identity.
“We cannot negate how great this kid is,” Creed says. “He’s an old soul who can make the modern sound but will also attach whatever’s classic to make it work. And that’s basically the Dotwav sound—classic, but modern, too.”
Founding member Creed Chameleon serves as its recording engineer and de facto frontman, while videographer and media maestro Bxmbz and creative director KennFrancis separately co-own respective clothing lines. Paradigm prefers to focus on his bars, but DJ and producer Jojo Flow likes to let his beats do the talking.
“What’s cool about the crew is that all of us have our own individual, creative sides that we cater to,” says Creed. “I think it’s important that we continue to push that formula, because it shows the diversity that makes Dotwav great.”
Hawaiian-born Las Vegas hip-hop collective Dotwav gains momentum o new music deal
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
The group recently published two singles under its new contract in “GMTN” and “Unidenti ed,” plus a
corresponding video for each. The former pairs densely crafted lyrics with funky grooves, while the latter weaves sinister prose over an edgy, minimalist beat. In the coming months, each member plans to drop a new solo project as part of a coordinated build-up to the release of Dotwav’s fourth album sometime next year.
With a roster that spans the ages of 21 to 45, the Wav pools in uence from an eclectic set of tastes that include generational wordsmiths like Run DMC, Nas, Eminem, MF Doom, Common, A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan. Bxmbz brings a dash of punk rock energy to the mix,
Its growing catalogue leans on a diverse cast of beats that range from melodic, nostalgia-laced lo- loops (see: “9th Island”) to bona de trap thumpers (“MF Threats”). From there, members add their own layers of sharp lyricism and dexterous wordplay that frequently includes mentions of Las Vegas or their Paci c heritage (“Night Marchers”).
“The whole story of Dotwav is generational hip-hop lineages from Hawaii who then brought it to Vegas,” Creed says. “Hawaii is like a melting pot. And music-wise, all the cultures and ethnicities that in uenced us there are a big reason why we work so cohesively and e ciently together.”
Bxmbz, a 15-year Valley resident known to occasionally spit lines in the Filipino language of Tagalog on tracks like “Oof,” teases Dotwav’s upcoming 2026 release as a natural blend of its two most recent albums—channeling the “mellower” aspects of 2023’s Meanwhile in LA with the keen “lyrical ability and aggression” seen in 2024’s This Just Ain’t Fun Anymore
“We’ve tried to look at every project we dropped a bit di erently, and we’re being very meticulous with this one,” he says.
(left to right) Paradigm, BXMBZ, Creed Chameleon and KennFrancis of Dotwav
(Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
DOTWAV dotwavo
Natalie Young’s Arts District spot Echo Taste & Sound pairs elevated bites with a world-class listening experience BY GENEVIE DURANO
Walk into Echo Taste & Sound on any given evening and you might ask yourself: Is this a restaurant with killer speakers, or a music spot that happens to serve great food?
According to Natalie Young, who has spent 30 years in the culinary world including her beloved Eat near Fremont East, it’s definitely both.
“I think I’ve created a concept that doesn’t exist anywhere,” Young says. “We’re doing food, of course, and I have four di erent sound systems. It’s a listening lounge.”
And what a lounge it is. The space is retro-cool, featuring warm wood slats and acoustic paneling, lled with houseplants and vintage furniture salvaged from the late Downtown Cocktail Room. It’s the living room of your dreams (or at least mine).
Echo’s menu is built around small plates and shareable bites, extremely conducive to a social night out. On a recent evening, friends and I settled onto Echo’s cool couches and noshed on what Young modestly calls “snacks”— truly, they’re more like ne dining appetizers.
The tomato toast ($10) features house-made focaccia with marinated tomatoes and garlic—simple on paper, but one bite proves why good ingredients don’t need fuss. The crispy mushrooms ($16), lightly battered with shishito peppers, Asian slaw and ponzu, hit that perfect sweet spot of texture and avor. The papas bravas ($9), with smash-fried potatoes, salsa brava and garlic aioli, is a crowd favorite, along with the Mexican shrimp cocktail ($17). Feeling ush? The caviar and tru e chips ($80)
will make you the most popular person at the table.
For brunch, the chef has brought Eat favorites like her shrimp and grits ($23) with applewood smoked bacon and eggs over easy. And the cocktail program is just as elevated as the menu, featuring some of the city’s best drinks, plus thoughtful mocktails that pair perfectly with the food and the vibe.
Of course, there’s the other half of Echo’s equation: Young has assembled what she believes is “probably the largest McIntosh collection
(Photo by Wade Vandervort)
in the country, currently.” Since 1949, McIntosh has been making some of America’s finest audio equipment, vintage hi-fi gear that audiophiles travel to experience.
“Most listening lounges only have one system, and de nitely not to the degree of the systems that I have,” Young says. “I have four, and they’re all di erent. So you can have a di erent listening experience depending on what mood I’m in.”
Young curates every selection personally. Jazz one night, Led Zeppelin the next, Nina Simone whenever the mood strikes. The emotional response is visceral. “People get teary-eyed
because they’re like, ‘My dad had one of these when I was a kid.’”
The calendar stays packed: fried chicken and blues the rst Saturday of every month, live jazz every other Wednesday, poetry and vinyl nights, and in December, a Korean blues band from Seoul.
Ask Young what she wants people to take away from Echo, and her answer is simple: “I want them to walk away feeling lled up,” she says. “The world is complicated. I just try to create a little space for people to feel safe and taken care of. They had a good drink, they had a good snack, and they got to listen to some good music.”
ECHO TASTE & SOUND 1301 S. Main St. #160, 702-268-7466, echotastesound.com. Wednesday & Thursday, 5-11 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.-midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
DINING NOTES
Ellis Island’s rooftop bar, rare beef at Resorts World and more
Ellis Island Casino has opened The Deck Rooftop Bar, part of its $35 million renovation and expansion. The bar o ers expansive views of Koval Lane and the Strip—perfect for Formula 1 or New Year’s Eve—and serves a curated selection of wine and craft beer, bottle service options in three VIP booths and or seasonal cocktails.
Chef Fabio Viviani’s Pearls Oyster & Crudo Bar has opened at JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort, serving lobster rolls, cioppino and more.
Local favorite The Great Greek has opened an outlet inside T-Mobile Arena, serving up signatures the Great Greek Gyro, vegetarian falafel pita, feta fries and more.
Chilangos Tacos is set to open this week on the Strip. The Dallas-based Mexican street food specialists have a 2,500-square-space at the Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian.
South Florida sourdough pizza spot How Ya Dough’n is set to expand in November to the Las Vegas Strip at the BLVD complex. Its new 1,700-square-foot flagship will seat 80 guests outdoors with a 12-seat bar and a curated beer and wine program to match its craft pizza menu.
Bad Ass Co ee of Hawaii is set to open its second local outlet in mid-November in North Las Vegas at 2300 E. Lake Mead Blvd.
Kusa Nori at Resorts World is hosting a special one-nightonly experience, Taste of Tokushima, featuring the acclaimed Tokushima Mitsuboshi Beef of Japan on November 14 with seatings at 5 and 7:30 p.m. The multi-course dinner is $225 and reservations are required at rwlasvegas.com
Bottiglia at Green Valley Ranch Resort is hosting another fresh pasta-making workshop on November 19 at 2:30 p.m., led by executive chef Michael Gucfa. The price is $75 and reservations can be made at OpenTable.
Last month, sommelier Kat Thomas and chef/owner James Trees traveled to London to accept the award for Most Original Wine List in the World for Ada’s Food & Wine for a second consecutive time from World of Fine Wine magazine. The awards are judged by a panel of internationally renowned experts honoring restaurants and bars around the world. –Brock Radke
Snacks and dishes at Echo Taste & Sound (Photo By Wade Vandervort)
As one of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities, many have already discovered Cadence is a unique and special place. With its combination of value, lifestyle and community; it’s the perfect place to address your future. If you haven’t visited…come and see.
Follow a walkway. Explore Central Park. Marvel at the views. Tour model homes. Meet potential neighbors. Because once you’re here, we’re confident you’ll want to address your future too.
