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 Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS
Contributing Graphic Designers WESLEY GATBONTON, CHRISTINA TRIMIDAL
Photo Coordinator LAUREN VINTON
Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
DIGITAL
Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON
Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Associate Publisher ALEX HAASE
Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN
Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON
Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB
Events Manager HANNAH ANTER
Events Coordinator APRIL MARTINEZ
Event Sales Coordinator MELINA TAYLOR
PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX
Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY
Production Manager BLUE UYEDA
Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS
Senior Tra c Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA
Tra c Coordinator KIMBERLY CHANG
Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE
GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP
CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN
Chief Operating O cer ROBERT CAUTHORN
Director of Human Resources SHANNA CHAVEZ GRAY
Chief Financial O cer STEVE GRAY
LAS VEGAS WEEKLY P.O. Box 94018 Las Vegas, NV 89193 702-990-2550
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ADVERTISING
14 SELF-CARE & LEISURE
30 SPORTS
18 HOLIDAY COCKTAILS
Seasonal drinks at fabulously festive bars across the Valley make it the most wonderful time of the year.
Woodworking beginners can become skilled craftsmakers through local classes.
28 NEWS
Expansions at Durango and M Resort signal success for neighborhood casinos amid Las Vegas tourism slump.
Unveiling the nation’s best teams to bet on in the College Football Betting Awards.
34 THE STRIP Magic Mike Live gets naughty with a holiday-themed remix at Sahara.
36 COMEDY Rising comedian Jiaoying Summers nails down a Vegas residency at Tuscany.
38 FOOD & DRINK
Chef James Trees elevates the quintessential Vegas steakhouse with High Steaks atop the Rio.
and more this week.
Violent Vickie at Dive Bar, Madball at Backstage Bar & Billiards, Nevada Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker at the Smith Center
COVER ART Photo by Christopher DeVargas ON THE COVER
Bad Elf pop-up bar at Silverton (Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
SUPERGUIDE
BARRY MANILOW
Thru 12/13, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
NATE SMITH
8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.
STEPHEN WILSON JR. 9 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
GAVIN ADCOCK
With Vincent Mason, 8:30 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
RICARDO COBO
7:30 p.m., Lee and Thomas Beam Music Center, unlv.edu.
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE
With Rain City Drive, 7 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.
STEVE TREVIÑO
Thru 12/13, 9 p.m., David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand. com.
BULLFIGHTER ONLY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Thru 12/13, times vary, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, eventbrite.com.
THURSDAY DEC 11
VIOLENT VICKIE
Inspired by Bikini Kill, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Crystal Castles, Violent Vickie has captured the club crowd. Her last two albums— Monster Alley and Division—pulse with kinetic energy, the drum machines battering as cold swells of synths slice through her trance-like vocals. She nails the balance between crushing, spooky beats with an ethereal delivery that would be angelic if not for the melan-
FRIDAY DEC 12
WAYNE BRADY
8 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
cholic undertones. It’s dance-worthy with a hint of witch house. The sort of music that compelled even darkpop artist Kontravoid to remix her track “Lovelace.” But seriously, who goes to the Dive Bar to dance? After witnessing Violent Vickie’s set, you won’t be able to resist. 8 p.m., $18, Dive Bar, eventbrite.com.
–Amber Sampson
PLAYSTATION NBA CREATOR CUP
8 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
TUFF-N-UFF 150
5 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
ZAC BROWN BAND 8 p.m., & 12/13, Sphere, ticketmaster.com.
MARIAH CAREY
8 p.m., & 12/13, Dolby Live, ticketmaster. com.
TIM MCGRAW
8 p.m., & 12/13, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
CODY JINKS
9 p.m., & 12/13, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
RILEY GREEN
8:30 p.m., & 12/13, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.
LEONA LEWIS Thru 12/14 & 12/17, 8 p.m., Voltaire, voltairelv.com.
TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS With the Droptines, 9 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
CATBITE With JayWood, 7 p.m., Rockstars of Tomorrow, seetickets.us.
RANDY HOUSER 8 p.m., M Pavilion, ticketmaster.com.
DIRTWIRE & THE FLOOZIES With Honeycomb, 9 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.
T-PAIN
10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
MARSHMELLO With Vavo, 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.
Courtesy
SATURDAY DEC 13
MADBALL
New York City’s beatdown hardcore legends Madball are back in Las Vegas for one night, following their last set at Punk Rock Bowling in 2024. Since planting their roots in the ’80s after the breakup of Agnostic Front, Madball has carved out a reputation in the scene as the embodiment of street-level authenticity, with crushing riffs and a relentless demand for movement. Sharing the stage is SoCal’s Initiate, a ferocious hardcore outfit that blends ripping vocals with tight, melodic instrumentation. The show kicks off with two local heavyweights: Sea of Sorrow, whose riff-driven breakdowns and catchy, yet dissonant lyricism offer an unexpected blend of aggression and accessibility, and The Hate, whose feverish metallic hardcore packs a sonic punch. 7 p.m., $25+, Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.
–Gabriela Rodriguez
EMIRATES NBA CUP SEMIFINALS
2:30 & 6 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
COLLEGE
BASKETBALL: JACK JONES CLASSIC
1 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
NEVADA BALLET
THEATRE: THE NUTCRACKER
2 & 7:30 p.m. (& thru 12/28, dates and times vary), Reynolds Hall, the smithcenter.com.
UNLV HOCKEY VS. OREGON
7 p.m. (& 12/14, 1 p.m.), City National Arena, rebelhockey.com.
LAS VEGAS MEN’S CHORUS: LET YOUR HEART BE LIGHT 7 p.m. (& 12/14, 2 p.m.), Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, lvmenschorus.org.
FIESTA NAVIDEÑA Noon, Carolyn G. Goodman Plaza at Las Vegas Civic Center, eventbrite. com.
A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
BEST DAM WINE WALK 3:30 p.m., Downtown Boulder City, boulder citychamber.com.
ANGELA AGUILAR
8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com.
HUDSON WESTBROOK
With Tyce Delk, 8:30 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
With James & The Cold Gun, 6:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
DO IT ALL
With Rich Vos, Dena Blizzard, thru 12/19, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com.
DJ E-ROCK
10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.
NIGHT WEAPONS
9 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge Igloo, thesanddollarlv.com.
SOBEL BROTHERS HANUKKAH POP-UP
In celebration of Hanukkah, your favorite Downtown barbecue joint becomes a Jewish deli for one night only. SoulBelly chef Bruce Kalman hosts a collaborative pop-up with chefs Adam Sobel and Harrison Chernick that’s part deli, part smokehouse and part rock ‘n’ roll holiday party. “When you can’t get to the East Coast for a traditional nosh, you do the only thing you can,” Kalman said. “Bring the nosh to you. We look forward to sharing our holiday traditions with both our Jewish friends and our friends who wish they were Jewish.” House-smoked pastrami, golden latkes with apple compote and smoked salmon, brisket and caramelized onion-stu ed knishes plus sweets from Baker’s Blueprint will be available for purchase. 5 p.m., free, SoulBelly BBQ, soulbellybbq.com.
–Shannon Miller
WATERPARKS
With Foxy Shazam, Winona Fighter, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
Courtesy
SUPERGUIDE
S U P E R G U I D E
TUESDAY DEC 16
EMIRATES NBA CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
5:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. SAN DIEGO GULLS
7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
ARIEL PINK
With Devin Lynn, 7 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com.
ADAM HUNTER
With Aldo Juliano, thru 12/21, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, best vegascomedy.com
YAMANEIKA SAUNDERS With Ryan Goodcase, Ryan Goldsher, James Mattern, thru 12/21, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.
WEDNESDAY DEC 17
Nightclub, DO IT ALL 10:30 p.m., Omnia taogroup.com.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. NEW JERSEY DEVILS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE LIVE 6 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
DAVID STANLEY: MY BROTHER ELVIS 5 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
JIAOYING SUMMERS 7:30 p.m., Copa Room at Tuscany, eventbrite.com.
QUEEN ARIES & BOBBY ROSE 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, dice.fm.
DJ FRANZEN 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com.
LEMA 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.
Courtesy
MUSIC, COCKTAILS, BUBBLES & FRIENDS
Select Open Bar | Table Packages Wednesday, December 31
FREE Parking for GUESTS LET’S GO!
Cultivate your inner craftsperson with these woodworking tips
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
On a late night at Legacy Woodworking and Design in Henderson, Jamie Yocono, a woodworking instructor of more than 30 years, brandishes a wry smile as she o ers a crucial disclaimer.
“This is the class that has sent people to urgent care, so you have to be careful,” she tells a group of students before walking them through the process of carving out space to add hinges to their hardwood boxes.
It’s the nal session in an inaugural series of night courses she and shop co-owner Ken Beck launched in October to teach their craft to those who have to work during the daytime courses Yocono regularly hosts at Woodcraft Supply in Las Vegas.
The program—made up of various workshops that cost anywhere from $300 to $400, plus the price of materials—has already seen enough interest to warrant more in 2026. As a bonus, anyone who completes their beginner course also gains access to Beck’s workshop for up to two Saturdays per month.
Between demonstrations, Yocono sat down with the Weekly to share some tips for aspiring woodworkers.
Instructor Jamie Yocono, center, at a woodworking class at Legacy Woodworking and Design in Henderson, November 2025.
“I would need a sander and a drill.”
assemble a solid combination of basic power and hand tools,” Yocono says. “You obviously need some sort of a saw, and you de nitely
A good starter kit can also include a hammer or mallet, marking materials like a pencil and utility knife, a tape measure, a carpenter’s square, chisels and clamp sets. Whenever possible, she recommends buying higher-quality products from the get-go.
Start small. Yocono starts most beginners o with cutting boards.
“For a starter project, to just glue some wood together, trim it up and call it a cutting board. It’s really basic,” Yocono says. “But the big reveal with that is, even if they don’t realize it, if someone knows how to make a cutting board, then they know how to make a tabletop. A dining room table is just bigger.”
And while investing in your tool belt early can pay dividends, the same is not true for materials.
“You don’t want to waste money and time early on. Start by practicing your joints, gluing techniques. ... Once you feel like you’ve mastered those, then you can start investing in higher-quality woods to build your heirloom pieces,” Yocono says.
Find a community. One can easily learn a thing or two from YouTube, but the social aspects of any hobby should not be underestimated.
“I’ve worked in isolated shops where you don’t see anybody all day, but it helps when you’re able to bounce ideas o people,” Yocono says.
That’s precisely why she formed the Sin City Woodworkers networking group in 2009, which hosts monthly meetings at Woodcraft Supply to help connect its 3,000 or so members with fellow hobbyists of all skill levels.
2026 COURSES
FLOATING SHELVES:
“Every time you come to a meeting, you’re going to learn something about woodworking. And people often have tools to share,” Yocono says.
PICTURE
FRAMES:
January 7 & 14, 6-9:30 p.m., $300 including materials.
January 19 & 26, 6-9:30 p.m., $300 including materials.
Keep practicing. Despite earning her degree in furniture making, Yocono admits she was just a novice teacher when she began o ering lessons at the University of Akron in 1994.
BASIC WOODWORKING:
February 4, 11, 18 & 25, 6-9:30 p.m., $550 including materials.
“The janitor ended up kicking us out of the shop at like 2 a.m. because we were so far behind,” she recalls with a laugh. “But I got better and better and ended up teaching there for ten years.”
It took time to master both crafts.
To register for classes, visit woodworkingclassesinlv. blogspot.com, email learning@ legacywoodworkinglv.com or call 702-779-3454.
“If woodworking was di cult, there wouldn’t be millions of carpenters out there,” Yocono says. “So, if you just keep practicing, you can do it.”
Photos by Steve Marcus, additional photos Shutterstock LAS VEGAS
Ken Beck, left, co-owner of Legacy Woodworking and Design, gives advice to Neil Wacaser during a woodworking class.
SAND DOLLAR LOUNGE
Photo by Christopher DeVargas
Clockwise from left: Carol Barrel, Rudolph’s Replacement, Miracle Mouse, Naughty Shot and Nice Shot
BY BROCK RADKE
Welcome to the era of holiday pop-ups in Las Vegas. In the past ve years, more and more cool bars, lounges and restaurants have hopped aboard the Christmas express, decked their halls and crafted wonderfully wintery cocktails throughout December, lifting our collective spirits.
This year brings an all-time high number of holiday season spectacles at venues on and o the Strip, but we’re most excited about the legendary industry bar that kinda started it all, and its new spino .
The Sand Dollar Lounge is bringing back the iconic Miracle on Spring Mountain pop-up for its seventh year, and at this point the over-the-top decorations illuminating the divey blues bar—and the tasty libations in collectible mugs—have become an essential part of the holiday season in Las Vegas.
“We saw a need. If you look around the country, Nevada isn’t exactly a mecca for holiday celebrations,” says Nathan Grates, who puts the pop-up together every year with fellow Sand Dollar co-owners Anthony Jamison and Chase Gordon. “We realized during the initial years that everybody really wanted an opportunity to get together during the holidays, maybe entertain people from out of town, and for our industry people who are always grinding, it’s nice to just take a step back and enjoy the season. We brought that to light. After year one, there was no turning back.”
and we keep increasing the
options,” says Jamison. “Not every bar can handle the full menu. But we like to do a lot, and we keep increasing the budget on decorations. Every year there’s something new. This year it’s a 10-foot Yeti.”
your Snowball Old Fashioned, Christmapolitan or Run Run
You’ll be able to enjoy the hot tastiness from the annual Pizza Pop Up Series featuring guest chefs on Mondays and Wednesdays, along with your Snowball Old Fashioned, Christmapolitan or Run Run Reindeer cocktails. But save some spirit for something new at the Mexican restaurant the Sand Dollar Crew opened in Centennial Hills last year.
MIRACLE ON SPRING MOUNTAIN AT SAND DOLLAR LOUNGE
Thru Dec. 31, 3355 Spring Mountain Road, miracleon springmontain. com.
CHRISTMAS AT JULIETTE AT LA CASA DE JULIETTE
Thru Dec. 31, 7585 Norman Rockwell Lane, lacasadejuliette. com.
This year, Miracle on Spring Mountain once again expands into the courtyard behind the bar with the Igloo, which packs even more festive lights and live entertainment into the mix, while the Sand Dollar’s sterling reputation for delicious drinks collides with Miracle’s seasonal selections for the biggest menu yet.
“The Miracle franchise establishes the recipes every year and the menu has grown, especially with non-alcoholic
Christmas at Juliette at La Casa De Juliette has also opened for the season, a pop-up turning the acclaimed northwest eatery
Casa De Juliette has also opened for the season, a pop-up turning the acclaimed northwest eatery into a di erent kind of wonderland—one that’s family friendly.
“The menu here at Casa is independently created by me and my team here and the focus was to re-create classic Mexican Christmas-themed drinks,” says Gordon. “We have a Mexican eggnog called rumpope, a champurrado, a really festive fruit punch served hot, and we’re sticking to tradition and the things that make those drinks special.”
Since La Casa De Juliette is so popular with families and groups of all ages, the entire pop-up menu is available in NA form. “It’s the best holiday cocktail list I’ve ever worked on,” says Grates. Splash some extra holiday magic across the restaurant’s already cozy cantina atmosphere, and you’ve got an experience all its own. “And you can’t bring kids to Sand Dollar. We’ve had to turn families away,” says Jamison. “We really wanted to do something more for our neighbors in the area and for families all over Las Vegas.”
LA CASA DE JULIETTE
Photos by Christopher DeVargas
Carajillo de Chiapas
Estrella de Norte
Bad Elf Pop-up Bar at Shady Grove Lounge at Silverton
Thru Jan. 1, silvertoncasino.com/badelf.
Sleigh his name, sleigh his name! Santa’s coming to town, and he’s sprinkling a little holiday cheer throughout the Silverton with this mischievous pop-up. The elves worked overtime on this merry and bright makeover of Shady Grove Lounge, stringing up lights, festive ornaments, fellow elves and crazy-bright Christmas trees. The cocktails are tasty enough to soothe the Grinchiest of guests. Try the Rum Rum Rum Rudolph for a creamy coquito. Santa’s Cookie Butter Martini and prosecco-topped Snowfall Spritz also make nice holiday refreshments. And if the spirit of Santa so moves you, solve Bad Elf’s complimentary puzzle book for a chance to win a $200 dining credit. Now that’s one el ng good present. –Amber Sampson
‘Tis the Season at the Chandelier at Cosmopolitan
Thru Dec. 31, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.
This iconic casino bar is already one of the Strip’s most festive spots to celebrate and imbibe, but this year marks the debut of the Chandelier’s pop-up ’Tis the Season, taking holiday spirit to new levels on Level 1.5. Enter through an archway of starry lights and glittering snow akes and take in the sights and sounds while browsing the specialty cocktail menu that includes spiked hot chocolate, the Black Tru e Old Fashioned, and Icy What You Did There, a nog made with rum, allspice, coconut milk and peppermint demerara sugar. Every Monday, the Chandelier hosts guest mixologists from bars in the Downtown Arts District, and live entertainers join the fun on Saturdays. –BR
Bad Elf by Christopher DeVargas
Courtesy
Under The Mistletoe
Peppermint White Russian
Nightmare Before X-Mas at Más Por Favor
Thru Jan. 1, masporfavorlv.com.
If there’s one thing Más Por Favor is good at, it’s nding the magic in fusion. This holiday season, the speakeasy unwraps seasonal gold with its Nightmare Before X-Mas revamp. Decked out in twinkling lights and Tim Burton-esque details, this is the perfect place to appease your inner spooky kid. Sip on cheeky cocktails like the Sandy Claws Manhattan, Christmas Town Cookie Martini and the Oogie Boogie on the Beach while munching on festive bites like corn tamales and Jack Skellington spice cakes. Kids also get their own dose of magic too, with special daytime programming running December 6-15. –Gabriela Rodriguez
Heavy Metal Holidays at Ski Lodge at Cosmopolitan
Thru Jan. 1, spiegelworld.com.
And now it’s time for something di erent from our friends at Spiegelworld, at the Ski Lodge bar hiding inside Superfrico. Drum kits and electric guitars hang from the ceiling in place of mistletoe for Heavy Metal Holidays, “a twisted alpine fever dream” that you have to experience to believe. Rest assured the drinks are still holiday-inspired if a bit skull-rattling, like the Ko ee Krampus with Bulleit rye, espresso and cinnamon Averna, and the Hot Buttered Ghost of Christmas Ass with Captain Morgan, Grand Marnier and Nonino –BR
Hail Santa (Courtesy/Spiegelworld)
A Christmas Parlor at Flanker Kitchen at Resorts World
Thru early January, ankerlv.com.
The killer sports bar at Resorts World brings back its holiday takeover for a second year, offering a true winter wonderland to watch the big game and some spirited special food and drink offerings. Chicken wings with cranberry-chili glaze, Camp re S’mores and the Ferris Wheel platter (shoestring fries, chicken tenders, wings and jalapeño poppers with assorted dipping sauces) will keep you merry no matter the score. The Polar Express, a mix of Jack Daniel’s Blackberry, Babbas burnt sugar whiskey, Montenegro, Mr. Black co ee liqueur and a sprinkle of nutmeg, could make you forget about the game altogether. –BR
Santa’s Saloon at Palms
Thru Dec. 28, palms.com.
NFR may be winding down, but the rodeo ain’t over. Just ask Drunk Santa, one of the rotating cast of o -color Christmas characters bringing Santa’s Saloon at Palms to life with scripted performances and spontaneous customer interactions. The pop-up is actually two themed environments: a rustic cowboy dive decked in whiskey-bottle lights and bull horns, and the other a glowing frozen Rockies lodge glowing with icy LED e ects and arti cial snow drifts. Photo opportunities abound including swinging saloon doors and a “naughty jail.”
Despite the theatrical shows (Did we mention there’s a sultry Mrs. Claus selling shots?) and divine decor, the drinks take center stage. The Good, The Bad & the Naughty with Mount Gay rum, grape and lime juices, muddled blackberries and charcoal powder comes with a note from the North Pole. The Ain’t That A Kick in the Nutcracker is a festive version of a mule with ginger beer, cranberry and lime juices and orange bitters. And hot chocolate or jingle juice “moocktails” have attitude and holiday spirit to spare. Giddy up, partner! –Shannon Miller
Christmas Pop-up at Todo Bien
Thru Dec. 31, todobientiki.com.
The southwest tiki bar and tequilaría was one of the rst local watering holes to unleash its pop-up, with decor just as festive as the craft cocktail assortment from master mixologist Rylen Komeiji. The Ubaes in Toyland is made with Admiral Nelson’s spiced rum, ube, pineapple and coconut, while the Banana Bread Carajillo blends Lunazul blanco, Licor 43, banana bread syrup and espresso. And yes, Virginia, there is a champurrado, a blend of Vago Elote mezcal, sweet corn, masa harina, piloncillo, Mexican hot chocolate and almond milk. –BR
Nakatomi O ce Party at Flanker Kitchen
Elf’d Up at Santa’s Saloon
Check out the seasonal holiday cocktails and festive decor at these Vegas venues:
■ Doberman Drawing Room 1025 S. 1st St., dobermandtlv. com.
■ Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar at On the Record Park MGM, mariahsholidaybar. com.
■ Jingle Bell Lounge at Topgolf 4627 Koval Lane, topgolf.com.
■ ’Tis the Season at Rosina Cocktail Lounge Venetian, rosinacocktail lounge.com.
■ Miracle on Easy’s Street at Easy’s Cocktail Lounge Aria, easysvegas. com.
■ The Deck Ellis Island Casino, ellisislandcasino. com.
■ Grinchmas Wonderland at Good Morning Kitchen
5587 S. Rainbow Blvd., goodmorn ingkitchenlv.com.
■ Cabinet of Curiosities Horseshoe, thecabinetlv.com.
■ Nocturno Cocktail Bar 1017 S. 1st St. #180, nocturnovegas. com.
The First Noel at Doberman Drawing Room
IN THE NEWS
Spiegelworld
shutting down ‘DiscoShow’ at Linq
DiscoShow, the most recent Spiegelworld production to hit the Las Vegas Strip, is set to close after a final performance on January 3, the company announced. The interactive, music-fueled show at the Linq that pays homage to 1970s New York City made its debut in September 2024. Tickets for remaining performances are on sale now at spiegelworld.com. The show’s adjacent restaurant, Diner Ross, and bars,
99 Prince and The Glitterloft, will remain open.
In a statement, Spiegelworld “impresario extraordinaire” Ross Mollison said slow ticket sales were the key factor in the decision to close the show.
“We have never been afraid to take risks; to evolve with bold ideas; moreover, we must do this in Vegas,” Mollison said. “This was a fantastic project for Vegas, and far from discouraged,
ARTS
I now feel even more optimistic about producing new ideas. … Watching our guests fall in love with disco all over again was a career highpoint, and will inform every new production we undertake, be it in Vegas or anywhere else in the world.”
Spiegelworld continues to maintain Absinthe and Atomic Saloon Show in Las Vegas, as well as the Superfrico restaurant at the Cosmopolitan. –Brock Radke
THIRD Street nonprofit signs lease for new arts incubator
The nonprofit THIRD Street—a group of local arts entities that launched a fundraiser earlier this year for a theatrical incubator Downtown—has signed a lease for the 41,500-square-foot former Downtown Cinemas. The underperforming multiplex will be revitalized over the next three years into a “bustling creative campus providing a cultural and economic catalyst for Downtown,” THIRD Street officials said in a statement.
The space will house arts organizations including Vegas Theatre Company, Vegas City Opera, Las Vegas Sinfonietta and Laugh After Dark. It will include a 250-seat theater, a 150-seat black box sound stage, multiple screening rooms, rehearsal studios and a media and broadcast studio.
Having raised more than $450,000 in the first phase, THIRD Street’s fundraiser aims to raise $5 million to complete construction, expand programming and launch its inaugural season. According to THIRD Street, education and workforce programs will include dual-enrollment courses with the College of Southern Nevada.
“By developing local talent, THIRD Street addresses one of Nevada’s most urgent needs: a trained, industry-ready creative workforce spanning film, theater, music, digital media and live entertainment,” the statement said. The nonprofit aims to open parts of its building and begin dual-enrollment classes in 2026, with an official venue launch expected in 2027. –Shannon Miller
JOLLY JOG
A runner mugs for the camera during the Great Santa Run in Downtown Las Vegas on December 6.
More than 5,000 runners took part in the annual fundraiser for Opportunity Village, organizers said. (Steve Marcus/ Staff)
DINING MICHELIN GUIDE RETURNS TO VEGAS IN 2026
In what many local and visiting diners consider a long-overdue development, the prestigious Michelin Guide will once again include Las Vegas restaurants next year when it launches the first-ever Southwest Edition covering Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The last Las Vegas guide was published in 2009 with 17 local establishments earning a Michelin Star. The guide’s anonymous inspectors are already working in Las Vegas, according to an announcement from Michelin North America and the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. The full selection will be revealed during the 2026 Michelin Guide Southwest Ceremony, a date for which will be announced next year. –Staff
The puck is about to drop for a Tuesday evening Vegas Golden Knights game, and the Durango Casino and Resort parking lot is filling up quickly underneath the glow of a 130-foot-tall marquee promising $3 shots and beers.
Inside, beyond the bustling baccarat tables, a longtime local named Patricia Moore adjusts her Vegas Golden Knights cap as her husband, John, places his bets.
“We’ve been coming here for games because it’s just so new and clean, and we love The George [Sportsmen’s Lounge],” she says, noting that Durango has decisively become her favorite off-Strip casino since it opened in late 2023.
Durango’s early popularity has already driven a series of extensive upgrades. On December 15, it’s set to unveil a new parking garage and high-limit slot room. And soon, work will begin on a $385 million, 275,000-square-foot expansion
that will add a 36-lane bowling alley, luxury movie theater, new gaming spaces with 400 new slot machines and multiple entertainment venues. Construction is expected to begin in January.
As Strip resorts continue to launch new promotional deals to offset a tourism lull that saw visitation decline by 7.6% year-overyear through October, prominent neighborhood properties like Station Casinos’ Durango, Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock and Sunset Station are instead being revitalized. Their parent company, Red Rock Resorts, recently reported its ninth consecutive quarter of record revenues for the third quarter of 2025, while net income rose nearly 39% in that span.
Durango general manager Dave Horn credits that success to decades of cultivating loyalty from local visitors—who make up between 70% to 80% of the business
across all Station Casinos properties—as well as their track record for opening new properties in the right place at the right time.
“This company has the advantage of owning a lot of land in areas that are already integrated with the surrounding neighborhoods, and Durango is a great example of that,” he says. “We originally planned to build it in 2007, but the timing wasn’t great. So, this plot was ours for over 20 years before we did anything with it, and the area has expanded rapidly since then.”
UNLV assistant hospitality professor Amanda Belarmino says casinos both on and off the Strip historically “rise and fall together” during periods of economic uncertainty. However, neighborhood properties now appear to be “better insulated” against the current slowdown, in part, because they’ve been able to effectively
market to locals who have “felt very excluded from the Strip” due to rising costs and the loss of free parking for residents.
“When you go to some of those places, they feel vibrant and alive—just like a casino should— and it feels that way all the time,” Belarmino says. “In particular, Durango really carved a niche in the southwest by finding a unique mix of businesses and partnerships that helped them become a daytime and lunch destination, in addition to gaming and overnight stays.”
Horn and Belarmino also point to more recent consumer behavior trends that have changed how locals enjoy their leisure time.
“Through the cost-of-living crisis over the last five years, people have switched over from homebased activities like streaming services to experiences. Now, they might not go out as often, but when
they do, they like to spend more and stay longer,” Belarmino says.
Because neighborhood casinos o er a range of a ordable options much closer to home, locals tend to forego the Strip in favor of easy access and free parking. Horn says the decision to add amenities like the movie theater at Durango was just another way to meet them where they’re at.
“We’re always conscious of cost and the neighborhoods around us, because that’s what builds loyalty. Shortly after opening, we held focus groups to see what was and wasn’t working well, because you can miss things for months before you nd out what people really think,” he says. “Sure enough, these additions like the theater are everything they were clamoring for. Sometimes you underestimate what people really want—in a good way—and that feedback a rmed what we were thinking and made us a lot more con dent to proceed in the expansion process.”
M RESORT DOUBLES DOWN
Station Casinos isn’t the only o -Strip entities making gains. Penn Entertainment’s M Resort Spa Casino—the o cial team hotel of the Las Vegas Raiders—recently celebrated the completion of its own $206 million expansion on December 3.
In addition to refurbished gaming spaces, the East Tower addition nearly doubled its room count from 390 to 765, plus 100,000 square feet of event space spearheaded by the new 15,000-square-foot Montese Ballroom.
Although locals still make up “the lion’s share” of business, vice president Hussain Mahrous says these additions will help them carve out another niche by allowing them to serve more regional visitors from California and business and convention groups who have grown weary of the Strip.
The concept for the new tower was in the works even before the property initially opened in 2009, he adds, but o cials ultimately waited to commit to the project as the west Henderson area continued to grow. Then 2022 proved to be the “right time to execute that plan.”
That momentum will extend through 2026 with additional casino upgrades and a new Meril restaurant from renowned chef Emeril Lagasse in the works. Beyond that, Mahrous says the future is bright.
“As the area continues to build more housing and amenities, we’ll just keep growing along with it,” he says. –Tyler Schneider
Courtesy/M Resort Spa Casino
HANDICAPPING HONORS
The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after a touchdown during the first half against Michigan on November 29. Ohio State won, 27-9. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The 2025 season marks the 11th year of our annual College Football Betting Awards, and the competition for teams to stand out in sportsbooks has never been more fierce. The top level of the sport, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), expanded to include a record 136 teams. Betting volume continues to increase too with the expansion of legalized betting across most of the country, helping to sharpen the market and therefore cut down the outliers from a gambling perspective. But these six teams still managed to separate from the pack in our established categories over the course of the regular season.
Team of the Year:
Ohio State Buckeyes (team with the nation’s best against the spread record)
It’s rare that the defending national champion and longtime No. 1 team in the nation also dominates the betting line but that’s the trifecta the Buckeyes pulled off this season. Ohio State finished 11-1 against the spread during the regular season, edging Texas Tech, North Texas and Utah State at 10-2. The Buckeyes held the nation’s longest against the spread win streak dating back to last season with 12 straight covers into Week 11. It only ended when Purdue scored a touchdown inside the final two minutes to sneak within a 28-point spread in a 34-10 loss. Put it all together, and Ohio State is on one of the most profitable stretches in college football history.
• Last year’s winner: Marshall Achievement Award:
Kennesaw State Owls (team that furthest eclipsed its over/under preseason win total)
Kennesaw State fired longtime coach Brian Bohanon last season just one year into the program’s move up to FBS, with eyes on then-Jacksonville Jaguars running backs coach Jerry Mack taking over. It was a controversial move at the time but looks like a stroke of genius in hindsight.
The Owls notched a surprise Conference USA Championship game berth in Mack’s first year by finishing with a 9-3 regular-season record. The Owls’ preseason win total was over/under 3.5. New Mexico technically tied Kennesaw State by also going 9-3 with a preseason over/under of 3.5 wins, but the latter eclipsed the number one week sooner to score a tiebreaker.
• Last year’s winner: Arizona State
Covering Streak of Excellence:
North Texas Mean Green (team with the longest current winning streak against the spread)
The Mean Green entered the American Athletic Conference Championship Game having covered six straight games in grand fashion. They nearly doubled their betting-market expectation on a weekly basis, being favored by an average of 15.5 points per game during the stretch but winning by an average of 29 points per game. Freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker emerged as one of the most prolific passers in the sport and could create a bidding war from major programs in the transfer portal this offseason. Coach Eric Morris is officially on the move, as he accepted the head-coaching job at Oklahoma State reportedly over at least one other offer.
• Last year’s winner: Notre Dame
Bettors’ Choice: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (team that made the most money for gamblers through pointspread victories)
Notre Dame’s final 7-4-1 against the spread record might look somewhat ordinary, but that’s the program’s mark against closing numbers. The Irish took so much money ahead of almost every game that they covered three additional games for those who bet them earlier in the week and were actually more like 9-3 versus the number depending on timing. Notre Dame turned into one of the, if not the single, most dominant team in the country after a pair of losses to start the season to Miami and Texas A&M. Bettors caught on to the Irish’s ascent much quicker than bookies and made out financially because of it.
• Last year’s winner: Indiana
Bookmakers’ Choice:
BYU Cougars (team that made the most money for the house through pointspread victories)
Speaking of line moves, action rushed in against BYU almost every week. It didn’t matter; the Cougars continued to cover anyway. They finished 11-1 straight-up, 9-3 against the spread with wins and covers in six of their final seven games. Not too shabby for a team whose win total spiraled from as high to over/under 8.5 wins to as low as over/under 6 wins after last year’s quarterback Jake Retzlaff left the program shortly before the season. Bettors seemed to be more skeptical of freshman fill-in Bear Bachmeier, but they paid the price especially as the dual-threat quarterback improved down the stretch of the season.
• Last year’s winner: South Carolina
Underdog of the Year:
Houston Cougars (team that performed the best with the odds stacked against it) Houston won its last four games as an underdog over the second half of the season outright—beating Baylor, UCF, Arizona State and Arizona. The Cougars did get blown out 35-11 to Texas Tech as 11.5-point underdogs in Week 6, but their 4-1 straight-up and against the spread record as an underdog was enough to take this category amid a shortage of flawless contenders. Group of Five conference teams Troy and Jacksonville State also pulled off four outright upsets apiece, but the latter lost two others while taking points. Houston’s Big 12 schedule was significantly more challenging than Troy’s Sun Belt slate to earn the narrow nod.
• Last year’s winner: Vanderbilt
Unveiling the 2025 College Football Betting Awards for the na tion’s best teams to bet on BY CASE KEEFER
For genrehopping violinist Lindsey Stirling , holiday music is a kick
Gifts tied with strings
BY GEOFF CARTER
It seems like only yesterday that Lindsey Stirling was buzzed off America’s Got Talent by Piers Morgan. Morgan said she wasn’t talented enough to play violin and dance at the same time. (Morgan forgot to add that he’s completely insufferable, but we took it as read.) And bizarrely, Sharon Osbourne suggested Stirling couldn’t hold an audience on her own: “What you’re doing isn’t enough to fill a theater in Vegas.”
Cut to the SpongeBob interstitial card with the French guy saying “15 years later.” Stirling heard Morgan’s and Osbourne’s advice and sensibly ignored it. She took risks with her playing, incorporating genres from dubstep (“Crystallize”) to hard rock (“Monday Not Sick Anymore”). She leveled up her stage performance, incorporating acrobatics. She built her YouTube channel (@lindseystirling) into a 14.3 million-subscriber juggernaut and sold records by the truckload. And she’s made a regular habit of filling Vegas theaters, usually around the holidays: The Chelsea in 2017, the Smith Center in 2023.
This year, Stirling brings her Snow Waltz tour to the Venetian Theatre for a three-night run. This holiday-themed show features all the good stuff—the dancing, the costumes, the circus-inspired aerial acrobatics and naturally, that genre-hopping violin—that AGT tried to buzz out of her. And she’s generously sharing those hard-earned gifts with Vegas audiences.
“I’m pretty proud of this show,” Stirling tells the Weekly. “I love Christmas; I always have. I feel so fortunate that I get to spread Christmas cheer every year as my version of a holiday tradition.”
Stirling says the Snow Waltz show, inspired by the 2022 holiday album of the same name, represents a more personalized approach to the holidays. Snow Waltz is her second album of holiday music following 2017’s Warmer in the Winter. And having already mastered many of the holiday standards on her first go—Warmer includes “Carol of the Bells,” “Silent Night” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” the latter recorded with an ascendant Sabrina Carpenter—Stirling felt a bit more jolly this time out.
“Snow Waltz was really fun,” Stirling says. “My first Christmas album was a little more jazz-centered stuff, and it was really a fun departure. But when I wrote Snow Waltz, I was like, I want to make it sound very magical, very whimsical.”
The album features a dramatic Stirling original in “Ice Storm” (“That one is just really, really fun to play live.”) and a bouncy version of “Sleigh Ride,” which she’d wanted on the first holiday LP but “never quite cracked the code.” And it probably goes without saying that she’ll perform these songs while doing exactly what Piers Morgan told her not to do.
“I never would have imagined that 15-plus years later, I’d be able to hang upside down and play, have choreography and do full-blown back bends and kicks,” she says. “I’m a very visual person. So for me, the look and feel and the variety of a show is really important.”
And as for Stirling bringing the holidays to Vegas, of all places … well, she was kind of born to do it.
“I’m an Arizona girl, so I grew up in that same exact desert environment. I never experienced a white Christmas until I was in college,” she says, chuckling. “I kind of love a desert Christmas. I believe Christmas can come in all shapes, sizes and temperatures.”
BY AMBER SAMPSON
The men of Magic Mike Live aren’t making it o of Santa’s naughty list.
With more than 1.5 million fans, the saucy male revue has been the gift that keeps on giving. So what better way to embrace a little holiday magic than with the Mikes?
Through January 3, Magic Mike Live: Holiday Remix will transform its feverish production into a festive display.
Executive producer Vincent Marini says this “holiday overlay” marks a rst for the Channing Tatum-created show. Designers have decked the halls of the Magic Mike Live Theater with new seasonal decor like festive balcony lights and bar wreaths. New dance and aerial numbers, cocktails and musical mashups have also been introduced. Fingers crossed “Pony” gets a reindeer remix.
“Without going overboard and turning it into Santa’s Wonderland, we just wanted to lean into those fun decorations that feel tasteful. We’ve worked with our designers to put something together we think people will really enjoy,” says Marini. “It starts all the way in the foyer and goes well into the venue. We also made a bunch of updates to the lighting in the show to take advantage of the holiday changes.
the show, such as a segment with two of Santa’s sexy helpers showing o their, er, gifts. New costumes have been added to the Mikes’ wardrobe, which is actually quite large for a production where clothes have a way of vanishing as quickly as cookies left out for Santa.
“Each guy has so many di erent costumes and out ts that they wear throughout,” Marini says. “Of course, they do end up taking some of those o , but at the end of the day, I always laugh at people when they’re like, it’s a male revue, there must not be a big costume budget. I’m like, oh my God, if you only knew.”
“I’ve said to people that have come to the show before that this is a great opportunity to go back and see it again, because you get to see something that feels a little bit di erent.” Festivities will be woven into the fabric of
More holiday shows in Las Vegas
Magic Mike Live’s seasonal cocktails also tie the theme together. The Jingle Bellini, with white peach puree, vanilla liqueur and a candy cane garnish, will get you into the spirit. The Xmas Kiss Shot has crushed candy cane on its rim and peppermint RumChata for its creamy base, making it a cozy sip on a winter night. And Straw-merry Margarita delivers all the essentials of a holiday cocktail: Blanco tequila and cranberry, topped with rose prosecco and a rosemary sprig garnish.
Marini says the limited-edition show—and the ones to come in the new year—will be ones to remember.
“In future years, you’re going to see a big focus on making the guest feel like coming to the show is not just an experience of going to see live entertainment,” he says. “It actually, in fact, is a curated experience that feels special and unique to them. That would be our resolution.”
After being named this year as the #1 Best Las Vegas Show in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Barry Manilow’s ongoing residency at the Westgate International Theater returns to its holiday traditions for a few more performances December 11-13.
The legendary songsmith blends his own hits with Christmastime favorites and the show adds plenty of glitzy, festive touches to the stage. (ticketmaster.com)
Excalibur’s iconic, one-of-a-kind Tournament of Kings returns to its holiday-inspired ‘Twas the Knight iteration through December 25, adding special music, poems and songs to the production and bringing merry enchantment to the jousting-and-jesters spectacle through glittering holiday costumes, flags and castle decor. (excalibur.com)
The always spirited, perpetually sexy Fantasy at Luxor adds festive flair to its “showgirl magic” during “12 Days of Fantasy” December 14-25. You’ll see some holiday spice added to the show and one lucky audience member each night will receive a surprise gift. (fantasyluxor.com) –Brock Radke
BY BROCK RADKE
The stalwart yet often overlooked Tuscany Casino just east of the Strip has fine-tuned its Copa Room into a gem of entertainment in recent months. It hosts traditional performances like legendary comedian Rich Little and the Rat Pack is Back show, and also stacks rock, country and tribute acts into interesting layers.
It also happens to be the home of the first Las Vegas residency for one of the country’s fastest-rising comedians—club owner and former Miss China Jiaoying Summers. She just added January and spring dates to her monthly Vegas gig, which is picking up steam after the November release of her first special, What Specie Are You? on Hulu.
“A comedian can be on the road 24/7 for a year but all you ever want is to come home to your own warm bed,” Summers tells the Weekly “So it’s nice to come back to the same hotel, the same room. I worked hard to get my own spot in Las Vegas, and now I feel less like someone roaming around with no direction. There’s a sense of belonging.”
Here’s more of our conversation with a rising star known for a blunt, relentless and somehow infinitely charming style of performance.
Your first special came out on Hulu recently. Do you feel like your audience is changing as you’re getting more exposure in different ways?
Sure. The way they look at me is different. I’ve always been asked what it’s like to be a social media comedian, but that’s never been me. I have a following [on social media] but I’ve been on the road since I started in comedy. Being on Hulu exposed me to the mainstream and I wish I could have had that a long time ago, because I feel like people look at me differently, and I’ve got more respect as a working, mainstream stand-up comedian, not just this influencer lady.
You were also on LeBron James’ HBO show The Shop, on an episode with Andre 3000, Sexyy Red and Nigel Sylvester. What was it like to be in that room with those huge names?
It was a thrill and I actually found out Andre was the reason why I got on the show. He is a big fan and watched my videos on YouTube and sent them to his friends, and when he got on The Shop, he requested for me to be on with him. So when I met LeBron, he was already quoting my jokes and that made me feel special. I moved a tour date to be on that show, flew in from the East Coast and went directly to the set, and I did my makeup in the car. But then it was like, yes, I belong here. If I’m in a room like that, I belong with those people and I was able to shine and make everyone laugh, and make everyone fall in love with me. I felt like I belong in this world of entertainment because I make people laugh, that’s what I do, and I’m a professional. What was the turning point where you felt like stand-up was going to be your thing?
When I started, I didn’t want to hear all the advice people gave me. They said I looked too pretty onstage, that I should try losing my accent. Don’t take advice if they don’t have the career you want. I just kept going but never really thought I had it, and then I had been auditioning for the Laugh Factory [in LA] for a long time and it’s really hard to become a regular there, and they were doing this search for the funniest women. I had auditioned on that stage for probably a year and they didn’t call, so it was like, I don’t give a f**k. I got onstage and I was just myself, really aggressive, doing my material, and I didn’t care what I looked like. And after, the manager said, “Welcome to the Laugh Factory.” I realized I can be a star if I have the courage to stick to my own truth and authenticity and not pander to anyone or any audience. That’s the moment I knew I would make it in this business.
Straight-talking Jiaoying Summers nails down a Vegas comedy residency on her rise to the top
MEAT SPACE
James Trees elevates sizzle with the Rio’s High Steaks
HIGH STEAKS Rio, 702-777-7902, highsteaks.vegas. Daily, 5-11 p.m.
BY GEOFF CARTER
There’s something about James Trees’ restaurants that understands your needs. From the second you walk into Esther’s Kitchen, Ada’s Food & Wine, Al Solito Posto or Bar Boheme, you get the feeling that the place recognizes your wants and is hustling to meet them. The vibes, service and food feel personalized, bespoke: Hey, long week? We’ll make you some pasta, pour you a rioja, simmer you up a boeuf bourguignon. We’ll make you a steak.
Located on the 50th oor of the Rio’s Masquerade Tower, High Steaks is Trees’ rst major project inside a casino property, likely the rst Strip corridor restaurant run by a born-and-raised local chef, and, arguably, Trees’ rst e ort at interpreting a triedand-true Las Vegas staple. This city is built on this restaurant genre and Trees knows it; I’ve no doubt he’s dined in Vegas steakhouses all his life. High Steaks embodies both the sophistication and the high value we’ve associated with Vegas steakhouses since we went to dinner before prom.
Created by Trees with an all-star team that includes executive chef Joe Swan, general manager Tylor Kezar, wine director Todd Tooms, pastry chef Christina Phat and mixologists Jonah Gibbs and Tucker St. John— with input from Timeless Hospitality’s corporate executive chefs Sean O’Hara and Adam Rios, and corporate pastry chef Jake Yergensen—High Steaks gets a whole lot right. The cuts coming out of the kitchen—the 10-ounce Mishima Reserve American Wagyu hangar steak ($46), the 18-ounce O’Conner Beef MB5+ Tasmanian Wagyu boneless ribeye ($87), the 40-ounce prime Creekstone Natural tomahawk ($245) and more—are exquisitely prepared, and as tender and buttery as you’d want them to be.
Game fans have options, as do—amazingly—vegans. The “Hunt” section of the menu includes a 10-ounce Beck and Bulow Farms bison let ($64), an 8-ounce Pamu Farms venison backstrap, and a lion’s mane mushroom from Desert Moon Farms, marinated in beet juice and grilled to tender perfection ($48).
And you can further load the plates with tasty swag. The steak toppers range from lobster tail ($49) to a simple blue cheese crust ($5), and the sides include a crab and asparagus gratin ($29), French fries prepared in garlic beef tallow ($15) and a gnochetti macaroni and cheese with Vermont white cheddar and broccoli ($19).
But these cuts and sides are all the better for what surrounds them, beginning with what’s probably one of the top ve restaurant views in this Valley. The view from the east patio is at-out cinematic; you need to get a sel e out there after dinner.
Even if you go to High Steaks and avoid the entrees, cuts and sides completely, you’re still advised to go for the starters—thick-cut bacon in a bourbon brown sugar pastrami glaze ($17), bone marrow with red wine onion jam, frisee and sourdough ($28) and the prime rib sliders with a horseradish cheddar sauce ($18)—and the desserts, especially the donuts with key lime curd and toasted meringue coconut ice cream ($16). Every bite rewards you. Every bite just gets what you needed.
Photo by Wade Vandervort
AZTEC BURGERS TAKES MEXICAN-AMERICAN FUSION TO TASTY NEW HEIGHTS
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Las Vegas has more than earned its beef reputation. Our smashburger joints have all but taken over, and highend gourmet burgers still shatter expectations. But Henderson’s Aztec Burgers operates in a league of its own.
The Mexican-American fusion restaurant took over the former Fat Boy burger space on West Horizon Ridge Parkway in late 2024. Since then, it’s had time to really dial in its menu. Aztec serves everything from smashburgers to chili cheese dogs and fries, but its signature Angus beef burgers are where the Mexican inspiration comes through.
The Chilaquiles Burger ($13) might sound outlandish (it’s basically brunch on a bun), but it works. The beef patty is perfectly seared, with tortilla chips tossed in tangy salsa verde and Mexican crema. The fried egg on top drives the concept home—and all the way into your mouth. The fan favorite Aztec Burger ($13) takes a simpler approach, but the burger’s secret house spread, paired with a pair of cheddar sausage links, hits just as hard.
And it only gets tastier from there: There’s the chorizo burger ($12), a fajita burger ($12) loaded with Chihuahua and American cheese, a BBQ Bacon Burger ($13) and more. Aztec even has its own Philly cheesesteak ($13) and a California chicken sandwich ($12) with hatch chilies. Smashburger lovers can also get the best of both worlds with the Half & Half Smashed ($13), a double helping of chorizo and Angus beef with munster cheese and jalapeños. With great beef and bold flavors, Aztec Burgers gets the fundamentals of fusion right.
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.
