2026-01-15-Las-Vegas-Weekly

INTERIM PUBLISHER MARIA BLONDEAUX maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com EDITOR SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com) Staff 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 Office Coordinator NADINE GUY

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Penn & Teller (Joan Marcus/Courtesy)

ON THE COVER

16 PENN & TELLER The Vegas showbiz stalwarts have brought timeless magic to the Rio for 25 years.

COVER ART Photos by Christopher DeVargas/photo illustration (Joan Marcus/Courtesy, Shutterstock, AP Photo)

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SELF-CARE & LEISURE Smell the stress away with the age-old art of aromatherapy.

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SPORTS Predicting the year ahead for Las Vegas’ sports teams.

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NEWS Arts District business owners urge the City of Las Vegas to reconsider parking fee increases.

MUSIC Get to know the Vegas model, actress and singer-songwriter Ayaka Taylor.

NIGHTLIFE House music turns strangers into intimate crowds at Rouge Noir at Red Rock Casino.

FOOD & DRINK One year in, Evolve Brewing looks to leave a craft beer legacy in the Valley.

The Mob Museum celebrates Vegas in cinema with a new exhibit, Sexxy The Show brings signature striptease to Virgin Hotels and more this week.

Want More? Visit lasvegasweekly.com.

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SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY JAN 15 S U P

FRIDAY JAN 16

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 6:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

FILMED IN LAS VEGAS The Mob Museum’s latest exhibit hones in on the history of cinema as seen through the lens of Las Vegas. During the city’s Golden Age, the Rat Pack led the original Ocean’s 11 and Elvis and Ann-Margret starred in Viva Las Vegas. Those films, among others, are the foundation for Filmed in Las Vegas: America’s Playground on the Silver Screen.

The exhibit features original movie posters, memorabilia and video montages showcasing how Vegas films have evolved since the 1940s. So many directors have filmed here through the years, but it’s intriguing to see how their perspective has changed and how they choose to represent it on the big screen. Daily, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., $35$55, Mob Museum, themobmuseum.org.

–Amber Sampson

SHOWGIRLS: AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY Thru 1/18, 7 p.m. (& thru 3/8, dates & times vary), Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory.com.

E R G FOR THE LOVE OF GUITAR With Larry Mitchell, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, dice.fm.

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JOE LIST Thru 1/17, times vary, Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.

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LAIDBACK LUKE 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com.

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READING: ALEXANDRA MCCOLLUM 7 p.m., Writer’s Block, thewritersblock.org.

E BLAKE SHELTON 8 p.m., & 1/18, 1/21, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com

ROB SCHNEIDER 9 p.m., & 1/17, David Copperfield Theater, mgmgrand.com.

LIVE 8:30 p.m., & 1/17, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

TIJUANA PANTHERS With Los Emptys, Francia & The Rumors, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

THE HARVARD LOWKEYS & THE UNLV SCARLET TONES 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

CALVIN HARRIS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

SOFTEST HARD 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.

DJ PAULY D 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.

FOUR COLOR ZACK 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

ANNA FARFAN With Maria Ramos, 11:30 p.m., Club Ego, posh.vip.

NIKKI GLASER & DAVID SPADE 8 p.m., & 1/17, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

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MISC

SATURDAY JAN 17 SEXXY THE SHOW Created almost overnight more than 10 years ago by veteran Vegas dancer and choreographer Jennifer Romas, Sexxy The Show established itself as one of the city’s top topless revues during a long run at Westgate.

Romas managed to resurrect the production in different ways during the pandemic shutdown of Vegas shows, including an innovative supper club version at Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club.

Sexxy has been out of action for a while now but it’s back for one special night—or maybe more? Time will tell—at Virgin’s intimate, versatile venue, a showcase of sizzling sensuality.

8 p.m., $63+, 24 Oxford, etix.com.

–Brock Radke VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SAN DIEGO STATE 2 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.

LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS VS. PHILADELPHIA WINGS 7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.

LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC: RACHMANINOFF CONCERTO NO. 3 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.

LAVO PARTY BRUNCH Noon, Lavo, taogroup.com.

BRAD GARRETT Thru 1/19, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com.

THE BLUE BYRDES 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.

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HIDEAWAY With Texas Prison Rodeo, Rollin’ Ramblers, 9 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com.

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OUTSIDE IN TRIO 8 p.m., Fat Cat Lounge, fatcatlv.com.

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KOZMIC BLUES SHOW 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

ZONYA DE LA GUARDIA’S CHA CHA CHA 7 p.m., Composers Room, thecomposersroom. com.

THE EMO NIGHT TOUR 8 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.

ODDYSSEY NOIR 10:30 p.m., Oddyssey Manor at Area15, area15.com.

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METRO BOOMIN 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

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KASKADE 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

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DEORRO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.

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DEVAULT 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.

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CHRIS TUCKER 8 p.m., & 1/18, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

CRESPO 10:30 p.m., ao Nightclub, taogroup.com.

KID CONRAD 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, taogroup.com.

Courtesy/Denise Truscello F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .

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SUPERGUIDE SUNDAY JAN 18

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PATRICK HOGAN TRIO 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.

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THE SMOKESTACKS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.

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VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 5 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

EXHIBIT: BUZZ, FLUTTER AND CREEP Thru 1/30, times vary, Clark County Wetlands Park Nature Gallery, clarkcountynv.gov.

COREY HOLCOMB 6:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

KYM WHITLEY 9:30 p.m., & 1/19, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

MOLLY KEARNEY With Jon Laster, Jesus Trejo, Peter Revello, thru 1/25, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.

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PAUL OGATA With Jen Murphy, thru 1/25, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com.

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BANE With Rotting Out, 7 p.m., American Legion Post 8, seetickets.us.

KIRK WHALUM 3 & 6 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

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DJ PUFFY 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

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CASTING CALL Monday, January 19, 2026 10 AM Inside KAOS at Palms Casino Resort

POSITIONS

Model Bartender • Model Cocktail Server • Model Barback • Pool Busser Pool Attendant • Food Runner • VIP Host • Cook • Security Officer

APPLY NOW

Swimwear attire is preferred, but not required for all model positions.

Palms Casino Resort is an equal opportunity employer. Must pass pre-employment screening.

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SUPERGUIDE MUSIC

PARTY

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TUESDAY JAN 20

SPORTS

FOOD

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WEDNESDAY JAN 21

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KEITH THOMPSON & TONY ARIAS 7 p.m., Composers Room, thecomposersroom. com.

TERRY FATOR Thru 1/22, 6:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

ZAYN 9 p.m., & 1/21, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

FRANCISCO RAMOS With Daniel Eachus, Michael Malone, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com.

SANTANA 7 p.m., & 1/22, 1/24, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

SCREEN STARS With BBsoul, Barry Black, 8 p.m., Easy’s Cocktail Lounge, easysvegas.com.

ROB GUSON 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.

SOUL FUSION 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.

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UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. AIR FORCE 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets. com.

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DAVID BLAINE 8 p.m., & 1/23-1/24, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

CHRIS GARCIA 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup. com.

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Photo by Dennis Leupold

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A R O M AT H E R A P Y

How aromatherapy can offer powerful relief for your body and mind

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

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We’re taught to power through daily discomforts. A headache? Ignore it.

Tight shoulders? That’s just life. And when the body finally raises its voice, we often answer with a pressed pill or a quick fix from a bottle. But what if relief could be more natural? What if it arrived instead through something as simple and as ancient as smell?

Aromatherapy has long lived on the margins of modern wellness, often dismissed as indulgent or vague. But for Michael Buckham, owner of the handcrafted aromatherapy brand Mike’s Recovery (mikesrecovery. com) located in Fergusons Downtown, it has been a practical, deeply physical tool for healing—a routine he’s spent more than 30 years studying and refining.

Buckham’s introduction to aromatherapy wasn’t through a luxury spa, but during the height of the AIDS pandemic. While volunteering at an HIV and AIDS charity, he encountered aromatherapy through massage therapy offered as part of holistic care.

“I’d never experienced aromatherapy, so I had no idea what I was feeling,” Buckham recalls. “But I knew it was doing something to me. I could feel the tension releasing. My mind felt clearer, my spirit felt brighter.”

That curiosity turned into decades of study, and today, he’s quick to point people to listen to their body and utilize nature’s oils.

WHAT AROMATHERAPY ACTUALLY IS Despite the name, aromatherapy isn’t just about pleasant smells.

Essential oils are highly concentrated distillations of plants pulled from roots, flowers, leaves, twigs, and branches.

Chamomile, for instance, is the same plant you’d find in tea, but in oil form it’s exponentially more potent.

“When applied to the skin,” Buckham explains, “the oil gets into the hair follicles, then into nerve tissue, and from there affects muscle tissue and the nervous system.”

The plants contain compounds called terpenes, also found in other botanicals like marijuana, which interact with the body’s pathways. The result, Buckham says, can be surprisingly immediate, a signal to the brain that it’s safe to relax.

LISTENING IS THE FIRST STEP Buckham emphasizes that aromatherapy is not about forcing change but rather, supporting it.

Modern life keeps many people in a state of constant stress, which interferes with the body’s ability to repair itself.

Relaxation, especially before sleep, allows the nervous system the chance to reset. But it starts simply.

“Change only happens if you put your toes in the water,” he says. “Just listen to your body.”

And maybe, while you’re at it, breathe in something nice.

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driving. “It stops me from getting into other people’s energy,” he laughs. “It stops me from getting road rage.”

WHY SMELL MATTERS Smell is processed by the limbic system—the same part of the brain responsible for emotion and memory.

That’s why a scent instantly transports you to another time or calms your nervous system without conscious effort.

Aromatherapy oils can be used in body oils, balms, roller balls, scrubs or bath soaks. But if Buckham had to recommend just one practice, it would be to take a nice hot bath especially before bed for maximum healing opportunities.

“There’s something very primal about it,” he says. “When we get into water with salt in it, we instinctively feel relaxed. There’s something very nurturing about it... Just take a bath.

Chill. Listen to music. Drink a cup of tea. Life is meant to be good.”

A SENSE OF CALM, MUSCLE BY MUSCLE Different plants produce different effects. Marjoram, commonly used in cooking, can encourage muscles to release when applied topically. Lavender helps desensitize overactive nerves. And together, they’re often used at the base of the skull and neck, an area where stress tends to accumulate.

“Most headaches are caused by lack of blood flow getting to the brain,” explains Buckham. “Our necks are so tight because we breathe shallowly, or we’re anxious.”

For sore joints of inflammation, he suggests salt scrubs but less for exfoliation, more for absorption.

“Salt is so healing for the body, it’s incredible. Just massaging very gently, the body will just absorb it where it’s needed,” he says. “And for the person using it, it brings them into a sense of awareness of their body.”

And yes, aromatherapy can even help with road rage. Buckham swears by blood orange and geranium while

Shutterstock; Headshot/Courtesy

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THE MEN FROM RIO

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Penn & Teller celebrate 25 years of entertaining and remaking Las Vegas

Courtesy/Joan Marcus

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BY GEOFF CARTER

to them separately and by phone, and I’ve rephrased some of my As of August 19, 2025, magicians questions so it sounds like they Penn Jillette and Teller have been were in the same room. They were in show business for 50 years. For both cool and very erudite, and I’m reasons that will soon be evident, gonna get the hell out of their way I haven’t room for a “the story so and allow them to hijack the next far” retrospective of their career, few pages. The interviewer makes so if you want something like that, I himself disappear. You’re now in recommend seeking out one of the Penn & Teller’s Weekly. Enjoy. several excellent articles written When you started performing about that milestone last year. at the Rio, did you expect that (Jason Zinoman did a great one for you’d still be here 25 years on? the New York Times.) We’re picking Teller: No. I didn’t have any up the story after the books, the expectations one way or the other.

TV specials, the Saturday We played several differNight Live appearances, the ent places; we started at feature film (1989’s Penn Bally’s. We were brought PENN & & Teller Get Killed, which out here, very interestingTELLER lives up to its name), the ly, by Joel Fischman, who Thursday -Sunday, national tours and so on. died a couple of years ago.

8 p.m., $66We’re jumping in at the He was a brilliant, brilliant $181. Penn & start of their residency at promoter who was the Teller Thethe Rio, January 5, 2001. entertainment director at ater at Rio, riolasvegas.

It wasn’t their first Vegas Bally’s, and he had come to com. show—they’d appeared see our show off-Broadway. here, on and off, through But no, we didn’t expect to the 1990s—but even so, be here forever. it was immediately clear this was Penn: I never expected to be a big deal. Here were two chaos here at all, without the “still.” agents who not only eschewed You know, we are, I think, a little the cliches of stage magic—didn’t unusual in show business, in that if wear spangly costumes, didn’t saw you ask Madonna or Paul McCawomen in half and sometimes rtney or Taylor Swift or Howard explained their tricks while they Stern or Sabrina Carpenter about were doing them—but openly their success, they will tell you mocked those tropes, at a time they should be more successful when those cliches still reigned than they are. … That’s a personalon the Strip. Either Vegas would ity type. Of course, Houdini would change Penn & Teller, or they have been that way, too. But Teller would change Vegas—and now, in and I were completely happy with their 25th year at the Rio, it seems our success. When we were carny obvious that the former was never trash, we were perfectly happy doa possibility at all. ing 200-seat theaters and working Now, in keeping with Penn & carnivals and working RenaisTeller’s proclivity for showing you sance festivals and streets. … An how certain tricks are done, I’m old girlfriend of mine was asked if, gonna give myself away: I spoke as Teller and I got more successful,

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we’d changed. And she said no, and “not because they stayed humble, but because they always thought their show was the most important thing in the world, even when only 40 people were there.” We’d accomplished our goals.

But our good friend Joel Fischman said, “You guys will do great [in Atlantic City and Las Vegas].

And we said, “No, we won’t. We do a smart show; we can’t play for those philistines.” That’s how closed-minded and stupid we were. And he made a deal with us.

He said, “You come to Atlantic City; you do your hardest, most complicated stuff; you do it for three days, and if you don’t like it, I’ll replace you and pay you for the whole week.” And we went to Atlantic City and had the realization that the whole world should have, that the people are the same.

The people we were playing for in Atlantic City were not like the people in New York. They were the same people from New York; they were driving down.

And LA people drive up to Vegas. What was the city like for you, when you came to Bally’s in 1993?

Penn: Joel booked us in the Celebrity Room, which is where Sinatra and Dean Martin performed. I mean, our first time playing Vegas, the other acts in town were Willie Nelson, George Carlin, Liza Minnelli, Tom Jones. … And we thought, “Wow, we don’t belong here.” But I’m going to make a claim you won’t believe, and then we’re going to explain the weasel position that allows me to say it: We sold more tickets in the Celebrity Room at Bally’s than any other performer ever.

Forgive me if it’s cheesy and immodest, but we ushered in a change in the way people saw Vegas. Up until the early ’90s, people went to Vegas ironically.”

–PENN JILLETTE

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to come in, and then Cirque started changing their vibe. …

Now, many people come to Las Vegas unironically, and the shows that were supported by people coming ironically have gone away. And the restaurants that were supported by—I can say this nutty sentence—ironic eating have also gone away. You can either say we were the start of it, or you can say we were coincidental.

Probably the latter is true, but it was nice.

What do you like about performing here?

Teller: Vegas is kind of a wonderful place to do show business if you have the right context and the right people that you’re working with. If you’re in New York, the chances are your producers are going to try to have some artistic input into your show. And if you’re in New York, the chances are that you will be oppressed by their long-standing union problems. If you’re here, people kind of leave you alone.

You know, if people show up to see the show, well, great; if we want to go in and work on

new material in the afternoon, well, great. They don’t care.

In my youth, I wouldn’t think the idea that people don’t care would be a good thing. I think it’s now a great thing. I love people not caring.

Have the Vegas audiences changed over 25 years?

Penn: When we go play Chicago, we’ve been sold out for four months, yeah, and the people in the front row have been waiting for our show for six months. … So, by the time we hit the stage, people go out of their f**king minds. And people know who we are, what we’re doing. People in Vegas, as you know, buy tickets the day of the show. And in many cases, it’s like, do you want to f**k or do you want to see Penn & Teller? People make the wrong choice; they come to see us.

I love the fact that every night we get to prove ourselves. That’s making it too competitive; I don’t mean it really that way, but every night you’ve got tabula rasa [a blank slate]. People get to find out what we do, instead of coming

Courtesy/Joan Marcus

Now, what does that mean?

Sinatra never sold out, Dean Martin never sold out? And the answer is, “correct.” They always had friends [attending]. Teller and I had no friends, and no high rollers wanted to see us. There were no comps from us and no comps from the hotel. It’s the only time they’ve ever had an act in there that had no comps from anybody. We’re the only ones to have sold every seat.

Forgive me if it’s cheesy and immodest, but we ushered in a change in the way people saw Vegas. Up until the early ’90s, people went to Vegas ironically. You did not go for good food; you did not go for a good show. You went to do things you didn’t do. You saw a sh**ty impressionist show or an Elvis impersonator, and you ate at a sh**ty steakhouse—you know, 50 cents extra for Roquefort dressing, leather banquettes.

And then you drank in ways that you didn’t normally drink.

You went with your buddies, and you laughed at Vegas. And then when we came in, and we convinced the Blue Man Group

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fully loaded. ... But Vegas audiences are changing in that two things are happening simultaneously: America is becoming more divided than it’s ever been since the Civil War, and at the same time, it’s becoming more homogeneous.

Because Bubba Gump Shrimp and Starbucks are f**king everywhere. So, yes, it’s changing a little bit.

Teller: We’ve always been a flavor for people who have a personal take on the intellectual form of magic. There were magicians in here before.

Siegfried and Roy are also partly responsible for the idea that you could have a full evening magic show [in Vegas] and people would come. They broke the ground for us. But they were in a sort of a European tradition, and we’re in a super American tradition.

Penn: Without Siegfried and Roy, what would have been available to us is a 12-minute variety hunk, and we’re not good at that. We probably would have never played Vegas. Vegas is, by almost any metric you can think of, the magic capital of the world. And that’s kind of nice.

Although I’m not particularly social, being able to socialize with Mac King and Piff makes a difference in my life.

I can’t imagine Piff the Magic Dragon, or Matt Donnelly the Mind Noodler, existing in Vegas without you.

Penn: Magic has changed.

You know, we work on [TV show] Fool Us. We can’t have any input on the booking on Fool Us, because that would be unfair and hurt the show, but we do have aspirational advice.

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The Penn & Teller Court street-naming event in October 2025 (Courtesy)

“People in Vegas, as you know, buy tickets the day of the show. And in many cases, it’s like, do you want to f**k or do you want to see Penn & Teller?

People make the wrong choice; they come to see us.”

–PENN JILLETTE

What we said was, “Book people that don’t look like us. We have the old white guy demographic covered with the two of us; get people that don’t look like they belong to our club.”

And we’ve been very successful in that. I mean, I don’t imagine you’re aware of how appalling the misogyny in magic is, but The Magic Circle, which is the biggest magic club in England and in the world, did not allow women in until the mid ’90s.

Roll that around.

You’ve both settled in here nicely. Do you like Vegas these days?

Penn: We got a good bookstore, and some performing arts places.

It’s getting groovy here. I raised two children here, and they are Vegas natives, which continues to startle me. They don’t have a Northeast accent. They have a Vegas accent, and that troubles me. [Chuckles.]

Vegas is doing well. However, our country’s not in a place that’s conducive to Vegas’ welfare now. I’m not the one to talk to—read the New York Times—but, you know, down

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11% and the tariffs. …You’ve got crazy political policies that trickle down, so that Piff can’t afford his merchandise because of the tariffs.

Our merchandise has gone through the roof because of the tariffs. That cuts into income in a very real way—and let’s just cut to the chase and say that not allowing people in from other countries, we lose, what, 200 people a night, because we don’t have England, Australia and Canada. Because who the f**k is going to come here? And then the economy, banking and people being uncomfortable. And this is probably a stretch, and I can’t prove this intellectually, but I feel that the country being full of hate makes people less likely to go out and have a good time.

Speaking of going to shows: Teller, can you talk about your support for the local theater scene, particularly the THIRD Street theater incubator project?

Teller: Have you been to any of the small theater shows around

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town? They’re really good. We have a lot of very, very skilled performers who might be in shows like Cirque, where they’re locked into a particular form routine that they really can’t change because they’re just actors in a preexisting play. I’m sure that they have cravings to do stuff that’s more original and more to their own taste, something that doesn’t require you to have an audience of 4,000 to make the break-even point. And in a way, the people who did the Smith Center opened this door by saying, yes, you can consider legitimate forms of entertainment that are not necessarily gigantic shows full of Eastern European athletes doing gymnastics in funny masks. …

The lower your budget, the lower your break-even point, the more apt you are to do more daring stuff. And THIRD Street is one of several places in town that are trying to open that up. I like the ambition, and I just happen to be friends with Daz Weller, [one of the partners] behind THIRD Street, and he’s a wonderful director. I’ve seen many of his productions, and he’s just a good guy.

That place deserves to succeed.

I’m glad you’re still at the Rio. Congrats on 25 years. I hope you stay there for another 25 years.

Teller: I love working at the Rio. I honestly do. We have a beautiful, highly functional, proper theater.

Penn: Jesus, I just realized for the first time saying this to you, that that’s half our career, at the Rio. Teller: By that time, how old will I be? [Chuckles.] My father told me to die at the age of 84. He said, “After 84 or so, it starts to get a little less fun.” And I can understand that. But keep in mind, my father lived to 91 and my mother lived to 96, so the chances of my retiring before death are very slim. I picture some night when we’re doing a trick that involves me being in a box, and Penn coming out and saying, “Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let’s take a look in here. Oh, he’s dead. Show’s over.”

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IN THE NEWS

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ANTI-ICE PROTEST

Demonstrators carry a coffin, representing people who have died as a result of the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), during a January 11 protest Downtown organized by Indivisible. (Photo by Steve Marcus)

POLITICS

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HUNDREDS MARCH IN LAS VEGAS PROTESTING ICE SHOOTING OF MINNESOTA WOMAN RENÉE GOOD Hundreds of protesters marched through Downtown Las Vegas on January 11 following a coffin that featured an image of Renée Good, the Minnesota woman fatally shot January 7 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

President Donald Trump’s administration has characterized Good as a domestic terrorist who blocked ICE agents before attempting to run one over. However, a New York Times analysis of the incident found that the agent was not in the path of Good’s car when he fired three fatal shots.

The killing came amid a deployment of 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis for what ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons called the “largest immigration operation ever.”

“She was there to help her neighbors.

That’s what we’re supposed to do, and the video doesn’t lie,” Las Vegas resident

Kristie Creekmore said. “When the government starts telling me to believe them and not what I see, I don’t believe them.”

Creekmore also held a sign with the name of Juan Alexis Tineo-Martinez, who died in ICE’s custody. The coffin being carried had 34 red tallies on its side, the number of people who have died in ICE custody since Trump retook office, according to U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz.

Indivisible, which ran the “funeral procession” outside the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, noted that over 1,000 events in response to the shooting were scheduled for this weekend nationwide.

The Trump administration has defended the killing, saying the officer, Jonathan Ross, was acting in self-defense. Trump said Ross was lucky to be alive despite video showing him walking away without assistance following the shooting.

Vice President JD Vance also called Good a “victim of left-wing ideology,” adding that Ross “deserves a debt of gratitude” and that ICE agents have “absolute immunity.”

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., told the Las Vegas Sun January 9 that she wants an independent investigation of Good’s killing to hold people accountable and give Americans transparency.

U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., wrote January 9 on social media that Good’s death was “completely preventable.”

“When federal agents hide behind masks, refuse to identify themselves, and attempt to intimidate citizens for using their first amendment rights, the public trust in our justice system erodes,” Horsford wrote. “No one is above the law.”

–Kyle Chouinard

BY THE NUMBERS

The number of drone launch pads, called “skyports,” unveiled at a new Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department drone operations center. Pilots stationed at the command center, located at Metro’s headquarters, can respond to calls for service in seconds.

ENTERTAINMENT

BTS TO RETURN TO ALLEGIANT STADIUM Who better to bring the biggest global K-pop tour of all time to Las Vegas than BTS? The South Korean boy band, which hit Allegiant Stadium as part of its world tour in 2022, will return this year on May 23, 24 and 27. The 79-stop tour will feature a 360-degree in-the-round stage design. The general ticket sale begins January 24 at ticketmaster.com.

–Staff

Photo by Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is proud to congratulate

KELVIN WATSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Library Journal

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L O C A L

G O V E R N M E N T

A pay-to-park kiosk on Colorado Avenue near Main Street in the Arts District. (Photo by Steve Marcus)

FEEDING METER Business owners push back on paid parking in the Arts District

BY TYLER SCHNEIDER Jive Turkey’s menu says it best: “Free parking in Las Vegas is a birthright.” But recent actions by the City of Las Vegas and owners of the Arts Factory have challenged that tenet, upsetting locals and a coalition of Arts District business owners in the process.

Their grievances took center stage at a January 7 Las Vegas City Council meeting, where 10 speakers said the city’s October decision to raise Arts District meter parking rates could deter customers and financially burden employees and residents at a time when the area is still growing into its true potential.

“We’re all small businesses, not large corporations with hundreds of employees and customers

coming and going throughout the day,” Majestic Repertory Theatre artistic director Troy Heard said at the meeting. “It’s not just affecting our clientele. It’s affecting the workers—the people who bring the spirit to and are the engine of the Arts District.

Please don’t cut off the feet of the runner while they’re running the marathon.”

The saga began when the city raised the hourly rate for street meters along the busy corridor south of Charleston Boulevard by $1 in October, bringing totals up to $2 to $4 per hour. Then, on the north side, where street parking remains free, the city installed a series of new “pay-to-park” signs along Main and 1st streets in December before promptly covering them with what appears to be

black trash bags due to pushback from business owners.

After speakers weighed in, Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, whose Ward 3 includes the Arts District, responded directly.

“No one should be priced out of access to their job or their residential community. That’s why, upon hearing the concerns, we paused this rollout of paid parking on the north side of Charleston Boulevard,” Diaz said of the now-covered signs, adding that the city is planning a community meeting to explore solutions.

Diaz also noted that the Arts District’s ongoing growth has led “demands on infrastructure” to skyrocket, creating a need to fund improvements with additional parking revenue. According to city data from September 9 to Decem-

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ber 9, parking transactions in the Arts District and Downtown were up by more than 32,000 from the same period in 2024—nearly a 25% surge.

“Our challenge now is to bridge the gap between this necessary fiscal policy and the real-world needs of our workforce,” Diaz said. “We are not choosing between a solvent budget and supporting our workers.

We are choosing to do the hard work of achieving both.”

A 502-space parking garage currently under construction on Utah Avenue could alleviate some of the pressure, but because the structure won’t open until the end of the year, some business owners question why the city went forward with the rate increases before it delivered the additional capacity it promised. The finished garage will also feature a paid system. Prices have not yet been determined.

The city also points to other measures designed to ease the impact of increased parking fees.

In conjunction with the October increases, it expanded its free lunchtime on-street parking program window by an hour, meaning patrons can now park for free on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Its ongoing Employee and Resident Parking Discount Program also allows eligible applicants to park in select spaces for $10 monthly.

More than three-quarters of the 788 active permits are held by Arts District employees and residents.

Becky Miller, owner of Main Street Mercantile and outgoing president of the 18b Las Vegas Arts District Neighborhood Association, argues that permits aren’t as formidable a solution

as they may seem, however. In her experience, they’re not useful for the district’s many parttime employees who now pay up to $24 just to go to work.

“I have an employee who works for five different businesses down here, and because she doesn’t work a certain number of hours, it’s not worth it for me to use one of my limited passes. And even with a pass, people who work busy days like First Friday still aren’t guaranteed a spot,” she says.

PRIVATE LOT CONVERTS TO PAID PARKING Although the city had no say in a November conversion of the expansive, privately-owned Art Square parking lot from free parking to $4 an hour, the move further exacerbated locals’ frustration.

While most business owners maintain that private lot owners have the right to charge, nearby tenants like Julie Notaro, who operates Fraiche Arts out of the adjacent Arts Factory building, says the development only heightened speculation that the city’s paid parking system will soon encroach north of Charleston Boulevard.

“As artists, we depend on random foot traffic to sell art and offer things like weekly workshops. If you add that barrier of parking, I’m worried people will just stay home or go to places in Henderson, where parking is still free,” says Notaro.

Las Vegas Arts District Development LLC—a business arm of Arts Factory owner Jonathan Kermani and the entity that officially owns the lot—offered the follow-

ing statement on the change: “[Art Square] was one of the last remaining free lots in the immediate area. Over time, that dynamic led to sustained overuse, with the lot increasingly serving long-term and non-visitor parking rather than supporting nearby businesses and their customers.

As usage intensified, we also began to experience after-hours safety and security concerns, including loitering and activity that made the property less safe and less functional. The decision to move to a managed system was driven by the need to restore availability, improve turnover and address those operational and safety issues—not as a reaction to the city’s street-parking changes.”

(Read the company’s full statement at lasvegasweekly.com.)

The lot is now operated by Metropolis Technologies using automated software and digital payments. Arts Factory tenants like Notaro have been offered discounted monthly rates.

“We remain open to constructive dialogue and will continue evaluating how the lot operates as neighborhood needs evolve,” the statement concluded.

NEXT STEPS City spokesman Jace Radke says officials anticipate an influx of street parking due to the transition of the nearby private Art Square lot into a paid lot, one factor that precipitated the controversial signage north of Charleston Boulevard. But business owners say they weren’t notified beforehand, leading the city to cover them a few days later in what Diaz calls a “learning lesson.”

“It was a reminder for us to do

“As artists, we depend on random foot traffic to sell art and offer things like weekly workshops. If you add that barrier of parking, I’m worried people will just stay home or go to places in Henderson, where parking is still free.”

–Julie Notaro, Fraiche Arts

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engagement on the front end of initiatives. We didn’t do that this time, and now we’re kind of doing it backwards,” Diaz tells the Weekly. “That’s also going to help us figure out the pulse—if it’s warranted and needed, and, if so, how? I think we would be in a better place had we done it that way.”

The community meeting that Diaz has promised—a date for which has yet to be announced as of press time—offers an avenue for reconciliation, but Miller says it may take place at City Hall. She used her public comment time to urge the council to instead host it in the Arts District to maximize input.

Wherever it happens, Miller hopes to see the city consider some of the five requests she and other business owners outlined in a recent change.org petition, which include removing some meters, incentivizing the construction of more lots and establishing a parking validation program.

More than 3,200 signatures are on the petition.

Longtime Arts District resident, business owner and former 18b president Marc Abelman agrees that a perceived lack of transparency from the city led to “justified” criticism.

“The city has always been diligent about warning us about changes, so this has been a real problematic surprise,” he says. “I do think that some kind of parking regulation is needed, but we need to approach that growth in a healthy manner that doesn’t discourage the arts, especially with the ebb and flow of the economy.

It needs to be nurtured through a slow, methodical approach—not one that’s transactional.”

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CALLING OUR SHOTS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS The Golden Knights finally get healthy and show their top-tier potential down the stretch of the season behind an unforeseen goal-scoring surge from Mitch Marner and the re-emergence of goalie Adin Hill as the primary starter.

They narrowly finish second to the Oilers for the Pacific Division title, but exact revenge with a six-game playoff series victory over the rival to get to the Western Conference Final.

The historically dominant Colorado Avalanche are too much for a shot to get to the Stanley Cup Final, however, and beat the Golden Knights in six games.

Vegas will win another Stanley Cup with Jack Eichel and Marner as the faces of the team, but it won’t come this season.

LAS VEGAS ACES The labor dispute between the WNBA owners and the player’s association lingers, and the 2026 season is severely limited as a result.

The shorter schedule gives the Aces less time to work out another round of early-season struggles and find their ideal rotations before the playoffs. Twotime defending Most Valuable Player A’ja Wilson is too dominating to let Las Vegas fall too far, but it drops two spaces in the standings from last year to the No. 4 seed.

That sets up a showdown with the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx and healthy 2026 MVP Napheesa Collier, who outplays Wilson in the semifinals en route to her first WNBA championship.

S P O R T S

Predicting the year ahead in Las Vegas sports

BY CASE KEEFER

It’s become an annual tradition to predict the year ahead in Las Vegas sports here, and last year was almost certainly the most accurate the exercise has ever turned out. We nailed the Las Vegas Aces winning an improbable third WNBA championship in four years, the Vegas Golden Knights getting ousted in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers, and the A’s breaking ground on their new stadium on time. But not everything went perfectly according to forecast. The Raiders didn’t go into the season with a coach-quarterback combination of Antonio Pierce and Sam Darnold, though they may now wish they would have after a dreadful 3-14 campaign with Pete Carroll and Geno Smith. The auto racing prognostications were also way off, as neither Kyle Larson nor William Byron won in two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Lewis Hamilton was a non-factor in F1’s 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Let’s pare it down and focus on the five biggest sports teams for 2026. Here are predictions for what lies ahead.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS For the first time in seven seasons in Las Vegas, the silver and black finally fully commit to a rebuild over the next three months.

They make a polarizing head-coaching hire in Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, a celebrated No. 1 overall draft pick of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, and a controversial trade of edge rusher Maxx Crosby.

They get an extra firstround pick this year as part of a trade package with the Baltimore Ravens for Crosby and use it on Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion.

Mendoza clicks with both Concepcion and superstar tight end Brock Bowers in his first season with the Raiders, which show progress down the stretch to go 7-10—their best record in three years.

•

ATHLETICS Las Vegas’ future Major League Baseball franchise goes 5-1 during a six-game stretch from June 8 to June 14 playing at Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin against the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies.

They stay hot all summer in their temporary home of Sacramento, California, as construction continues on their planned $2 billion stadium on the Strip and only narrowly end up missing the playoffs with an 81-81 record—their best since 2021.

The continued development of young players like Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom adds more buzz to the team’s 2028 permanent arrival in town.

UNLV For the second straight year, Scarlet and Gray fans are left without a team to root for in either NCAA basketball tournament.

The Lady Rebels can’t overcome San Diego State in the Mountain West tournament championship game and must settle for another WBIT appearance.

They get a lot closer than the men’s team, which improves down the stretch but goes one-and-done in the Mountain West tournament and looks ahead to coach Josh Pastner’s second year in the 2026-2027 season.

The UNLV football team will meet a better fate.

New quarterback Jackson Arnold isn’t as electric as the outgoing Anthony Colandrea for second-year coach Dan Mullen, but he’s serviceable enough to help UNLV win its first conference title in 32 years in the new-look, weakened Mountain West.

Defense is the big story as the unit goes from one of the worst in the nation in 2025 to a fringe top-25 performer with the return of former defensive coordinator Mike Scherer, who recently joined Mullen’s staff.

Photos by Steve Marcus and AP Photo/Photo Illustration

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M U S I C

BY AMBER SAMPSON

AYAKA TAYLOR Get to know the Vegas model, actress and singer-songwriter who can’t be confined to one box

Photo by Wade Vandervort

BACKSTORY Ayaka Taylor might be new to the Las Vegas music scene, but she’s no stranger to putting herself out there. The Vegas-born model and actress has been the face of several campaigns for Maybelline and Rizos Curls, and she even starred in a Super Bowl commercial for Poppi.

As a singer-songwriter, Taylor has established a voice that’s entrancing, fluid and able to adapt to any genre. She’s mastered all the warm nuances of neo-soul, the playful ease of pop and that smoky sensuality ascribed to R&B slow jams.

“I make music for people like me, who are growing into themselves,” Taylor says. “People who feel deeply and are goofy and like to experiment and be weird and also doubt themselves, but eventually, they don’t.”

SOUND Everything Taylor’s artistry seems to touch turns to sonic, liquid gold. On her first single, “Love Don’t Come Easy,” the singer’s voice takes on a feather-like quality that floats over live instruments. It’s tender and sensual, dripping with a desire that surprises even her. “I don’t know what business I had singing about love like that,” Taylor laughs. “But I feel like I did a pretty good job.”

As a lyrically driven artist, Taylor surrenders to her spectrum of emotions, penning songs with vulnerable, diaristic weight. On “Waves,” she sings about a partner resenting her for changing; on “Backseat,” she shifts to a flirty, sun-splashed story about a summer fling. Taylor’s background being so deeply rooted in performance makes her an expressive force of nature.

NEXT UP Taylor’s hard at work on her first EP and recently directed her first music video for “Backseat.”

“Music, acting and modeling are all a big part of my identity,” she says. “I love fashion. I love pretty things but I also love ugly things, and film and cinematography. I’m still learning how to balance them all, but I also learned that they can all intertwine.”

LISTEN NOW! linktr.ee/ayakataylor

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Rouge Noir marks one year of transforming Rouge Room through house music and human connection

C U L T U R E

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N I G H T L I F E

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

The dance floor is the most valuable piece of real estate in a club. Or, in this case, a lounge.

At Rouge Room inside Red Rock Resort, everything orbits around a single magnetic focal point—the DJ booth. It’s the crown jewel of the room, the keeper of the vibe, the authority dictating how bodies move and how strangers become intimate crowds.

Rouge Room has spent the better part of three years flirting with different identities. At times it’s a supper club, at times a sophisticated lounge for beautiful people who like their espresso martinis strong and their lighting low. The room itself sets the tone with floor-toceiling drapery in deep hues, plush velvet seating and gold details.

Part Parisian hideaway, part jungle fantasy, it’s designed to draw you in and keep you there well past your bedtime.

Then came Rouge Noir.

Launched in February 2025 by Clique Hospitality director of marketing and We the Beat collective co-founder Blake Nania, Rouge Noir didn’t reinvent the room so much as undress its full potential.

His first move was simple but transformative: Drop the center curtains and pull the DJ booth into the middle of the room. The result is a full-circle dance floor, a Boiler Room-esque setup where the DJ isn’t elevated above the crowd or tucked away, but embedded within it. Over the last year, house music aficionados like Tokimonsta, Gavin Turek, Kryptogram and more have taken their turn behind the tables.

“I think a lot of people are moving away from the big club experience,” Nania says. “The super expensive bottles, waiting in lines, paying for parking, the whole Strip side of Vegas, which I’ve never personally been into. I’ve always gravitated toward something more

intimate.”

“No. 1, leave your problems at the The weekly event is well-travdoor; keep an open musical mind; eled and well-curated. It’s Ibiza’s respect those around you; dress to dance floor spirituality, Miami’s express; and dance.”

Club Space decadence, and the As Rouge Noir grows, Nania unspoken understanding that walks a careful line. Bigger names house music is more than are being booked steadily, just a genre—it’s a cultural but he takes care to rememcontract. ber the heart of the party— ROUGE NOIR On Rouge Noir nights, the people. Whether it’s a Saturdays, 9 p.m., 21+, canapés and cocktails take headliner, or a local behind Red Rock a back seat. Dance music the booth, it’s guaranteed Casino, is the main focus, and the to be a solid night of house rougeroomlv. room moves differently. jams and genuine hospitalcom.

Bodies angle inward, eyes ity. meet, heads nod with “There’s a part of me that intention. The circular wants it to get bigger and layout encourages participation, have tourists find out,” he says. and partiers happily comply.

“But there’s also a part of me that A major part of the event’s appeal likes it being a local secret.” is its accessibility. Entry is usually For now, Rouge Noir will confree, and the vibe is intentionally tinue opting for something riskier welcoming. Locals of all ages, styles and more intimate. Low lights, and scenes sync up under one beat. deep music and a dance floor that’s “I have a whole manifesto ... a claimed by people brave enough to rules of engagement,” Nania says. move instead of watch.

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Scenes from GlowFest (Photos by Steve Marcus)

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GlowFest celebrates the spirit of the lantern festival near the Las Vegas Strip

BY SHANNON MILLER Lantern festivals originated in China’s Han Dynasty in honor of the Buddha, and they’ve spread all over Asia as a way to mark the end of Lunar New Year. The 15-day celebration welcoming the year of the Fire Horse culminates on February 17 this year, and GlowFest is here to help you celebrate.

“GlowFest is more than a light show. It’s an immersive journey through art, culture, storytelling and imagination.

You’ll see and explore handcrafted lanterns, interactive installations and vibrant cultural displays,” program director David Valenzuela said at the December 20 grand opening.

The six-acre festival partnered with GLOWFEST Dragon Lights LLC based in Zigong, Thru February China—a world-famous destination for its 22, Thursday lantern festivals. It took several months & Sunday, 5-10 for more than 100 artists to create, paint, p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5-11 wire and ship the structures overseas. p.m., $26-$43.

“There was a team of about 15 artisans 2600 Paradise that worked day and night over the Road, course of about a month to fully conglowfest.com. struct the set at the parking lot beside the Las Vegas Monorail Sahara station, Valenzuela adds.

At the nuts-and-bolts level, artfully airbrushed translucent cloth is stretched over metal frames that are lit from within. Some tower or provide shelter over visitors or vendors. Others are more life-size and invite you to interact.

Altogether, it’s an immersive installation that takes you on a journey through five distinct “realms.” Lush with luminous plants and flowers, the nature realm transports viewers to a jungle of light. The ocean realm is a sea of sparkling blue filled with colorful corals, seahorses, whales and mermaids. QR codes aid with the storytelling.

GlowFest also offers its take on the night market with the help of Market in the Alley and Fortune Events. Booths selling everything from toys and trinkets to clothes to handmade bath products are clustered throughout the grounds.

As for the food options, they will rotate. On opening night, Nisei Bar & Grill, Signora Pizza and Olé Churros warmed us up and fueled our exploration.

The coming months have several performances from local groups in store—lion dances from Lohan School of Shaolin Kung Fu, Japanese taiko drumming from LV Kaminari Taiko, traditional lotus dance from Las Vegas Chinese Dance Academy and instrumentalists from Lin Hon Music Group. Performers will be announced on GlowFest’s social media (instagram.com/glowfestlv).

“It’s really a place where different cultures can come and celebrate together, sharing different foods, walking around and seeing these beautiful [lanterns],” Valenzuela says.

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STRIKING A CHORD

Evolve Brewing’s Prime Rib French dip, Wisconsin cheese curds and locally brewed beers. (Photos

by Wade Vandervort)

Aces & Ales founders hit all the right notes in flagship Evolve Brewing

BY TYLER SCHNEIDER Aces & Ales owners Ryan Johnson and Keri Kelli first met at Las Vegas’ now-defunct Pink E’s pool hall sometime in the late ’90s, where they fostered a friendship over a mutual love of craft beer and rock music.

Kelli, an active guitarist known for playing with the likes of Alice Cooper and Night Ranger, and Johnson, a career ticket broker and founder of Rebel Tickets, proceeded to launch the first Aces & Ales gastropub in 2009, followed by a second in 2013. All the while, they dreamed of someday adding their own brewery to the mix.

More than a decade later, as Evolve Brewing at The Bend gears up to host its first anniversary celebration on January 31, the pair

takes great pride in the legacy they’ve built in the Valley.

“We didn’t know anything about the bar or restaurant business when we first started, we just took a leap of faith because we wanted to bring great beer to Las Vegas,” Kelli says.

“Here we are 17 years later, and it’s still so rewarding to know people are enjoying it.”

Even on a seemingly low-key Tuesday night with no marquee sports matchups playing, Evolve’s sleek and cozy 8,000-square-foot taproom is bustling with patrons sampling two dozen beers from the mind of head brewer Josh Kunzli, who took up the gig after several years of cutting his teeth at microbreweries in Austin, Texas, and Chicago.

His handiwork runs the gamut from IPAs

like In Juice We Trust—a citrus-laced New England hazy-style triple-hopper—to potent stouts like Caffeine and Chaos, the result of a collaboration with Mothership Coffee Roasters that channels the latter’s Ballast Espresso blend for a creamy, malty sip.

Elevated by a playlist blending ’80s hits with more contemporary jams, I dig a little deeper with heavy hitters like the Dark Arts Peanut Butter and Coffee, a bold and flavorful 11% ABV pastry stout, or The Crushed Souls of Our Enemies, a satisfyingly bitter West Coast Black IPA created in partnership with Stone Brewing founder and musician Greg Koch.

The beers alone are worth the trip to The Bend, but it wouldn’t be complete without a robust scratch kitchen menu designed by

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local chef Krystal Meza. My personal favorite is the prime rib French dip ($23), which comes with a delectable pairing of au jus and a bangin’ basil horseradish sauce and pairs well with some Wisconsin cheese curds ($14) and deep-fried jalapeño bacon bombs ($15).

Over some hand-tossed California-style pizza, Johnson and I talk sports and music until he has to head out to catch a show on the Strip. He offers me a growler to go (yes, please), noting that the goal for Evolve’s second year is to expand its brews to more than 100 bars across the Valley.

And while there’s still plenty of potential left to tap, Johnson’s approach to its continued growth remains firmly grounded in the fundamentals.

“People say we’re kind of the OGs of craft beer in this town, and I take great pride in having that associated with our name,” he says. “But we didn’t get into this to make millions of dollars. We did it to make good beer and offer people a great experience. That’s always going to be the most important thing to me.”

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Boa’s Tomahawk steak (Courtesy)

EVOLVE BREWING 8680 W. Sunset Road #100, 725-735-5663, evolvebrew. com. Monday & Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Wednesday & Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.9 p.m.

Golden steak California cool makes a comeback at Boa Steakhouse

BY SHANNON MILLER

We already know that Californians are taking over Las Vegas.

They bring their driving habits here, and now, a steakhouse. But unlike the driving, the steakhouse is really good.

After decades of success and the opening of multiple locations in LA, Boa Steakhouse opened at the Grand Canal Shoppes inside the Venetian in November—more than 13 years after it closed at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

The upscale yet comfortable new restaurant and bar from Innovative Dining Group (the same team behind Sushi Roku at the Forum Shops) finds the sweet spot between fine dining and a high-energy lounge BOA STEAKHOUSE with comfortable, curved booths, light wood acGrand Canal cents, a handsome bar and private rooms.

Shoppes at Corporate executive chef Brendan Collins’ Venetian, 702menu showcases the Golden State’s bounty with 997-5050, premium ingredients and innovative techniques. boasteak.com.

You can’t go wrong, but some must-try startSunday-Thursers include the deviled eggs with Kaluga caviar day, 5-10:30 p.m.; Friday ($35), roasted bone marrow brûleéd tableside & Saturday, ($35) or hamachi crudo with shaved black truffles 5-11:30 p.m. ($33). Don’t skip the signature tableside Caesar salad—a tried and true recipe precise down to the number of croutons on your plate.

Most importantly, the meat: Westholme Australian Wagyu cuts from Creekstone Farms ($110-$135) and Japanese A5 Wagyu ($42-$58 per ounce) make scrumptious centerpieces in a steakhouse feast. And a corner of the menu is reserved for seafood lovers with Nova Scotia lobster tail and Ora King salmon.

For dessert, the nouveau cheesecake ($15) is airier and more complex than you might expect, with mascarpone, fennel syrup and Mimolette cheese dust. Sticky toffee pudding ($15) with salty caramel and butterscotch sauce satisfies those looking for a decadent way to end the meal.

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V E G A S I N C H E A LT H C A R E

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5 ACHIEVABLE HEALTH GOALS WORTH STICKING WITH IN 2026

BY NEIL GOKAL, M.D., FAAFP

B U S I N E S S

M

ost New Year’s resolutions focus on diet and exercise, and while many are abandoned within the first few weeks of the year, it’s not too late to reset lifestyle and wellness goals in smaller, more achievable ways.

For older adults especially, even modest changes to daily habits can lead to meaningful health benefits. A 2020 study by the National Institute on Aging found that those who engaged in healthy lifestyle behaviors— such as regular physical activity, avoiding smoking and heavy drinking, maintaining a healthy diet, and staying mentally active—had a 60% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

For those already managing chronic conditions, setting simple, realistic goals that account for existing health challenges is especially important.

As you consider changes for 2026, here are five achievable health goals to help keep you on track this year and beyond.

1. Stay physically active.

Staying active is an important goal at any age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that regular physical activity is vital to healthy aging, helping adults maintain independence and prevent or manage chronic disease.

Many forms of physical activity can be done at home, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, yoga or even walks around the neighborhood.

Before increasing activity levels, particularly for

Daily movement such as yoga is very beneficial to older adults. (Shutterstock)

those with underlying medical conditions, talk with a health care provider about the types and amounts of activity that are safe.

can help determine whether those changes are a normal part of aging or something that may require further evaluation.

2. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.

Prioritizing a balanced diet can support longterm health in meaningful ways. Healthy eating is associated with improved longevity, stronger bones, enhanced immunity and a lower risk of certain diseases. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025, recommends increasing intake of fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium while limiting added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. Individuals with food allergies or medical conditions that require a special diet should consult a medical professional about an appropriate meal plan.

4. Maintain strong social connections.

Spending time with family and friends plays an important role in overall well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that building and maintaining social connections can support both mental and physical health through activities such as getting involved in the community, reaching out to loved ones and expressing gratitude to others. When in-person visits aren’t possible, even a phone call or virtual visit can help maintain meaningful connections.

3. Keep your mind engaged.

Keeping the mind active is an important part of aging well. The National Institute on Aging notes that while age-related changes to the brain are normal, staying mentally and physically engaged may help protect cognitive health.

Activities such as crossword puzzles, board games or chess can be enjoyable ways to keep the brain challenged while also supporting mental sharpness. If there are concerns about changes in memory or thinking, a health care provider

5. Schedule regular wellness visits Beyond changes to diet or exercise, prioritizing and scheduling a wellness visit with a primary care physician can be an important step toward better health. Routine preventive care—through visits that are separate from appointments for illness, injury, or ongoing medical conditions—can help individuals stay well, catch potential issues earlier and support long-term health.

Neil Gokal, M.D., FAAFP, is family medicine doctor and the Chief Medical Officer at Optum Nevada.

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VEGAS INC NOTES Health Care

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Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center completed Nevada’s first FDA-approved minimally invasive repair for complex aortic aneurysms, marking a statewide milestone in vascular care. The procedure uses catheter-based technology through small groin incisions, replacing traditional open surgery that often requires lengthy hospital stays.

Hospital officials said the approach can shorten procedures, reduce recovery time and allow many patients to return home within days.

Las Vegas Justice Court received an $84,500 state grant from the Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety for its 2026 DUI Treatment Court program, which serves repeat misdemeanor DUI offenders. The grant will help continue treatment, monitoring and supervision services. About 70 participants enrolled last year, with a reported retention rate of 96%.

Clark County has partnered with University Medical Center and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

on a safety outreach campaign as e-bike and e-scooter injuries surge. UMC reports a 400% increase in related injuries over three years, with nearly 200 patients treated in 2025. The effort includes a public service announcement, safety flyers and reminders about helmet use, speed limits and local regulations.

Las Vegas Recovery Hospital has opened in Henderson as Southern Nevada’s first specialized acute care hospital dedicated to patients with substance use disorders and complex medical conditions. The 68-bed facility, located on the campus of Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican’s Rose de Lima hospital, provides integrated medical and addiction treatment.

It is operated by Lion Health System.

Cleveland Clinic Nevada donated $50,000 to The Just One Project to support food distribution efforts in Southern Nevada. The gift will help provide more than 21,000 meals to families, seniors and youth. Nearly 500,000 Nevadans lack consistent access to nutritious food, a factor linked to higher risks of chronic illness.

Newsweek and Statista ranked Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital – San Martin Campus No. 1 in Nevada on the 2026 America’s Best In-State Hospitals list. Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican – Siena hospital ranked third statewide, based on quality metrics, reputation, patient experience and outcomes data.

Valley Hospital, part of the Valley Health System, and MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center, operated by Sunrise Health System, earned “A” Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group. The biannual ratings assess hospitals on measures of preventable errors, injuries and infections.

A student-led research team at UNLV has developed synthetic, CBD-like compounds derived from caraway seeds that reduced seizures in preclinical testing. The THC-free therapies avoided the sedative and adverse brain effects associated with long-term benzodiazepine use. Researchers said the compounds show promise for treating childhood seizure disorders that are often resistant to available drugs.

JOB LISTING Warehouse Materials Manager (Crown Cork & Seal USA, Inc. / Mesquite, NV) - Manage warehouse ops of shipping & receivng goods at a manufacturer of beverage cans & relatd prodcts; manage warehouse staff, incldng hiring, training, evaluatn, & discipline. Reqs 2 yrs exp as Warehouse Materials Mngr or in clsly related positn(s) in logistics or supply chain in the metal beverage packagng industry. Bkgrd in educ, trainng, or exp must incld in-depth knwldge of GMP (Good Mfg Practice); demonstrtd ability to perform inventory mgmt; logistics & warehouse knwldge; exp w/ internal quality process improvmnt; proven leadership & process documntatn & developmnt training; proven ability to follow & enforce health & safety regs; exp w/ successn planning; demonstrtd ability to develp strategic relatnshps w/ internl & externl stakeholders; demonstrtd ability to identify supply chain issues; exp preparng reports on progress & forecast for warehouse ops. Up to 25% travel req’d, both int’l & domestic, to train at other plants w/in co.’s beverage divisn, train other employees, & attend leadershp training & conferences. Resp to hannah.schaefer@crowncork.com; ref job title #0194 in subjct line.

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LV W P U Z Z L E & H O R O S C O P E S

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PREMIER CROSSWORD “TEN INTO NINE” BY FRANK LONGO

HOROSCOPES WEEK OF JANUARY 15 • BY ROB BREZSNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Zen master Hakuin painted with vigor into his 80s by treating each brushstroke as his first. Adopt this “beginner’s innocence.”

Dive into familiar routines with virgin eyes and let surprise influence your expertise. Use your hard-earned mastery as a launching pad for enthusiastic amateurism. Experimenting like a newcomer is the art of perpetual combustion.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In 1971, NASA’s Apollo 15 mission used the Lunar Roving Vehicle to explore farther than ever before. You need your own “moon buggy.” Enhance your ability to extend your reach beyond the familiar. In the coming weeks, seek tools, allies, and freedoms that expand your range. Use them to scout new territory for intriguing valuables.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are ready to unveil the beautiful, half-hidden truths you have been keeping tucked away. You may second-guess yourself until the pivotal moment arrives, but trust your ability to carry out this sublime assignment. The radiant burdens you have been hoarding like secret treasures will finally spill out in the right ways.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Hermit crabs find new shells because they grew, not because the old ones were bad. You are experiencing a similar instinct to relocate your tenderness into roomier housing. Ripen and update your “containers”—work rhythms, bedtime stories, or personal boundaries—so your emotional intelligence can flourish.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Pleasure is easy to access, but delight requires the courage to be undefended and astonished. Do not simply “perform” your joy for an audience. True delight comes when you forget to curate yourself. Your assignment: Conjure three moments of private delight that no one else will see.

Experience enchantment without the need for a witness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): While renowned for precision, you are truly a connoisseur of refinement. Your careful edits can transmute muddles into medicines, and your subtle fixes catalyze major corrections. You are currently at the height of your powers. Wield them with flair and finesse. Make everything you touch better than it was before.

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Service led by a priest 5 Singer Perry 9 “Be merciful unto -- Lord”: Psalms 86:3 12 Facilitated 19 Jai -20 A Great Lake 21 “Gee!,” in Glasgow 22 TV’s teenage witch 23 Large seaweed 24 Small brook 25 Glob of gum 26 Handled incorrectly 27 Pretending to be appreciative?

31 Jewish day of rest: Abbr.

32 Slithering fish 33 Radical type 34 Coral groups 38 Affirmation 40 Pal listed in your address book?

44 Irritating folks departed?

46 Ending for pent- or prop47 Picks out of a lineup, e.g.

48 Double-curve moldings 49 Dog’s yap 50 From -- Z 53 Injury-sorting system 56 Hornet, e.g.

57 Dating from 58 College VIP’s pet falcon?

61 Grabs a chair 63 Allude (to) 64 Li’l comics guy 65 ER extras 68 Outflows of smoke through fireplace channels?

73 Six-pt. plays

74 Old copying machine 76 Saintly glows 77 Get lippy with 79 Robin Hood’s sweetie who was a fan of philosopher Karl?

82 Get an -- effort 84 Kin of PDQ 88 In a sad way 89 Blowup stuff 90 More, in music 91 Sing -- (croon alone) 92 -- -de-France 93 Sheep’s call 95 New Jersey university for church caretakers?

97 Politician Waters who adores the Pine Tree State’s largest city?

103 Peter Lorre’s Casablanca role 104 Very, in music 105 Writer Fannie 106 Ocean off Fla. 107 “-- longa, vita brevis” 108 Big fight between two groups of six people?

114 Sea voyages 117 G.P.s’ gp.

118 Lead-in to skeleton 119 -- -Cola 120 Church ministers 121 Light hit 122 Actress Carter 123 Say for sure 124 Opposed to 125 Ending for Milan 126 Astonished 127 Scottish loch DOWN 1 Solemnly swears 2 She played Carmen

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 28 29 30 35 36 37 39 40 41 42 43 45 50 51 52 54 55 57

Cortez in four Spy Kids films Frame houses with steeply pitched roofs 1980 NFL MVP Brian Corn units Common typeface Cash drawer Holler Boy in The Jungle Book Card game akin to whist “Well, drat!”

J.D. Salinger title teen Innocent type Senseless Crème -- (custard dessert) Fleur-de- -Dir. from N.M. to Ky. Pa Back parts Nomad’s tent Unveiling cry Critical Sent via a certain shipping service Radical ‘60s campus org.

Sheds tears Sleek, in car talk Extremely loud, in music Absorbed by Spongy ball brand Indian yogurt drink Temporarily suspended Petty fights Hershiser of baseball Turn-skipping words Wall St. whiz Pt. of NCAA

59 60 62 63

Actress Joanne 52-wk. units “-- in peace” Aired a second time 65 “Yum yum!”

66 Spanish for “devils” 67 People grinning 69 Peak, in brief 70 French for “night” 71 Crosses off, as from a list 72 Corn unit 75 Sch. URL ending 78 One of the Obamas 80 Actress Jessica 81 Actor Gosling 82 With the stroke of -83 Prix -85 Fly high atop 86 Every last bit 87 Guiding lights 91 -- -Saxon 92 Hoppy beer, in brief 94 Adderall treats it, for short 95 Where it’s at 96 Fast asleep 98 Papeete locale 99 Uses as a bed 100 Be altered genetically 101 Scents 102 Form of the 24th letter 106 Confuse 109 Boomers’ kids, say 110 Aide: Abbr.

111 TV’s Warrior Princess 112 From the top 113 Thom -- shoes 114 Tax doc. pro 115 Tatty cloth 116 Yank’s home

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): To balance abstract astrology, Daniel Giamario teaches students to watch the planets from the wilderness. He believes cosmic energies are sensed through the body as much as the mind. In the weeks ahead, learn through direct encounters rather than recycled reports. Infuse your explorations with the spirit of first-hand discovery.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): While I love the hybrid qualities of English, I am grateful for the editors who translate my prose into other languages. This support is a great gift. In the coming months, I expect a similar bonus for you: help in expanding your self-expression. Look for allies who can help your voice reach a wider audience.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your intrepid spirit finds the best adventures when exquisitely prepared. While I value your spontaneity, support your explorations with rigorous foresight. Be both wild and calculating, irrepressible and responsible. If you combine imagination with discipline, you will break records for marvelous discoveries. Flex your wonder like a muscle every day.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sandcastles are power symbols for the coming months. They remind us that everything is temporary, existing only between the tides. Rather than fearing demolition, capitalize on the ever-changing nature of reality. Be grateful for impermanence; as Thich Nhat Hanh taught, it is what keeps every possibility alive.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): During World War II, a failed experiment in synthetic rubber became the popular toy Silly Putty. A similar breakthrough looms for you: an unplanned discovery with unforeseen value. Keep your curiosity loose and your judgment soft. Do not dismiss the byproducts of your efforts; a detour may reveal the magic you actually need.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Try a five-day “as-if” exercise.

Visualize your life as if you stopped saving yourself for a mythical future.

Act as though you are a joy specialist pursuing your sweetest dreams right now, assuming you are perfectly attuned to the heart of creation.

Refrain from making excuses and follow your bliss intensely.

Come See! 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.

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BACKSTORY

P H O T O G R A P H Y

John Locher/AP Photo

SHARPA NORTH ROBOT AT CES | LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER | JANUARY 7, 2026 We’re back from the future. Another Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has come and gone and I can’t shake the feeling that this fully autonomous robot isn’t here to take my job—it’s here to embarrass my ego. Not only can Sharpa’s newly unveiled North robot deal a deck of cards, create crafts and capture all our best angles with a camera, it can play table tennis. Out of all sports, I would’ve expected table tennis to be safe. It’s a game of focus and lightning-fast reflexes, things this automaton—with its eerily dexterous hands—masters in moments. The robot revolution doesn’t begin with a bang. It begins with a well-timed topspin. Read our full review of the cool tech at this year’s show at lasvegasweekly.com. –Amber Sampson

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