All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3.
ADVERTISING DEADLINE
EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.
RELAX.
Make time to unwind this August with complimentary Monday–Thursday access to Resorts World’s 5.5-acre pool complex for Nevada residents. Present a valid Nevada ID upon arrival and enjoy five unique pools designed for sun-soaked relaxation.
With a slew of sober, social fitness events starting up at dayclubs and other venues this summer, Las Vegas is responding to consumers who want to drink less alcohol and be healthier.
Zouk Nightclub hosts 54 Ultra, Lloyd parties at Hakkasan and more this week.
15 SUMMER UNLOCKED Microgreens pack a nutritious and flavorful punch, and it’s possible to grow them at home.
24 NEWS
With all the talk about data centers, what are they actually, and how do they work?
26 SPORTS At training camp, the Raiders are preparing to run the ball better this season.
28 MUSIC
Death Cab for Cutie promises a thoughtful and unique set at Virgin this week.
30 PRINT
Three local authors on why you should add their recent novels to your summer reading list.
32 FOOD & DRINK
Wakuda’s summer pre fixe menu is a seasonal journey that’s worth the splurge.
Want more? Visit
Etho Wellness Club at the Strat (Courtesy Brennan Griffith)
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY AUG 6
BACKSTREET BOYS
Thru 8/8, 8 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster.com.
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
With Lala Lala, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
TRACE ADKINS
8 p.m., Sunset Station Outdoor Amphitheater, ticketmaster.com.
CAMPFIRE MUSIC
With Soldiers of Destruction, Terror Attack, more, 7 p.m., Bizarre Bar, eventbrite.com
With Western Conference, 10 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com.
FRIDAY AUG 7
METRO BOOMIN
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub. com.
KAROL G With Elena Rose, 7 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.
SHINEDOWN
With Coheed and Cambria, From Ashes to New, 7 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.
KELLY CLARKSON
8 p.m., & 8/8, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
JUADINES
8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventim.us.
MEN OVERBOARD
9 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com.
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO
7 & 9:30 p.m., & 8/8, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
ELLIOT SCHOOLING & LIAM PALMER
9 p.m., Rouge Room, rougeroomlv.com.
AZÚCAR BANDA & LATIN NIGHTS
Las Vegas finally has its Latin party and it’s happening every Friday and Saturday on the Strip. Azúcar brings together a live banda performance, Latin DJ and an open bar with breathtaking rooftop views of the Las Vegas Boulevard at Sugar Factory. From reggaeton to cumbia, bachata to salsa, Azúcar is the most electric Latin night in the city. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, bachelorette or just an unforgettable weekend, this is the party you’ve been waiting for. Ages 21+. azucarvegas.com
Courtesy/Jimmy Lee Smith
BINI
8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster. com.
I DON’T GIVE A FORK SEAFOOD BOIL 5 p.m., The Front Yard, ellisislandcasino.com.
BOXING: NEMEA FIGHT NIGHT 6 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
KALI UCHIS
With Mariah the Scientist, 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
MAYDAY PARADE 9 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience.com.
YACHTZILLA
8 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool Deck, downtowngrand.com.
FIGGY
With Choti, Desert Heat, Kavi, 6 p.m., Bizarre Bar, bizarrebarlv.com.
THE TONY BENNETT EXPERIENCE WITH TOM STEVENS 7 p.m., Plaza Showroom, plazahotelcasino.com.
54 ULTRA
HOUSE OF HEAVY 9:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
ZEDD 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com.
JOHN SUMMIT 11 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com.
ALESSO 11 a.m., Omnia Dayclub, taogroup.com.
HAYDEN JAMES 9 p.m., Rouge Room, rougeroomlv.com.
FRENCH MONTANA 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com.
BOLO 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
KASKADE 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
SIMON DOTY 2 a.m. Sunday, Club Ego, posh.vip.
Up-and-coming souldies artist 54 Ultra is returning to Las Vegas in a big way. The solo project of multi-instrumentalist and singer Johnny Rodriguez has built a loyal following with its warm, nostalgic sound, channeling vintage soul, garage pop and Latin influences through a distinctly modern lens. Revered for singles like “Heaven Knows” and “Where Are You,” 54 Ultra transports listeners to a simpler and more romantic time. When we caught this performance at Swan Dive last November, Rodriguez’s smooth vocals, effortless charm and suave stage presence had the room locked in. Now, he and his 10-piece touring band are bringing their rich, irresistible grooves to the Strip as part of the stellar Resorts World Live series. 8 p.m., $46+, Zouk Nightclub, rwlasvegas.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez
THE DELTAZ 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.
TYGA
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
LLOYD
Bay Area transplant DJ Franzen has been one of the key influences when it comes to maintaining the sound and presence of R&B in the Las Vegas Strip nightlife landscape. His current era is marked by R&Bae Wednesdays at Hakkasan, which celebrates its second birthday this week by bringing in super-smooth crooner Lloyd (“Get it Shawty,” “You”) for a proper soulful party. 10:30 p.m., $14-$27+, Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com. –Brock Radke
AEW DYNAMITE & COLLISION
4:30 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com.
PRIDE FAMILY BINGO
6 p.m., Area15, area15.com.
ACRAZE 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial. com.
Félix Lajeunesse , co-creator of Area15’s amazing Interstellar Arc, looks for hope beyond
BY GEOFF CARTER
Virtual reality entertainment
firm Felix & Paul Studios has collaborated with creative partners as varied as Cirque du Soleil, Funny or Die and the Obamas. In Interstellar Arc at Area15, they’ve created a uniquely cinematic attraction from hard science, revolutionary tech and unfettered optimism. On a video call, creative partner Félix Lajeunesse talks about the journey.
What inspired Interstellar Arc?
We spent almost seven years working with NASA, working with astronauts on a project called Space Explorers: The ISS Experience. … One thing that fascinated me over the [course of] that collaboration was this thought, this recurring question in my mind: Why invest so much in something like explo-
ration? Why would astronauts with families risk their lives to explore? What are we pursuing?
A couple of truths that came out of that which were extremely inspirational for Interstellar Arc. Astronauts see themselves as part of a continuum of exploration. They know that exploration started tens of thousands of years ago, when we moved out of our caves. … Astronauts are very aware that they will just do a few missions and then their career will be over. So they spend their time and energy to inspire the next generation. They refer to this sometimes as an “intergenerational collaboration,” the pursuit of exploration through generations, and I thought this was such a profound and interesting idea—a space program that would that would unfold over decades, if not centuries.
Man, I hope so. Feels like we’re a little behind.
We do live in a world where, generally, visions of the future tend to lean to the dystopian side. I thought by following the thought process of astronauts, maybe we can project a future that would be a little more optimistic. … We create everything with one very simple central idea: our audience is the main protagonist. It’s a virtual reality experience, and it’s really about your journey.
And you feel it. Every realtime step advances the story. One thing we decided to go for with Interstellar was to create an uninterrupted experience, something that would feel just like reality. Reality, it’s a continuous time flow, right? Reality doesn’t get edited. We don’t get moved around
by invisible forces; it feels to us like we have free agency. We wanted to replicate that. There is no edit [in the story] apart from the cryosleep. It’s a continuous space with continuous time flow, and that was a condition that we felt we could put into place to maximize immersion.
And Area15 met that condition. We wanted [the spacecraft] to feel like an architectural space, and so the idea of building it as a centrifuge really came early. … As we did this research and development, we ended up with a sense of the scale we needed to actually deploy that show, and we found that space in Area15. They were wise enough to build an experiential space huge enough for big visions.
Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.
Courtesy Interstellar Arc
SUPPLEMENT YOUR SUMMER DIET WITH HOME-GROWN MICROGREENS
PLANTING
These immature plants start as densely packed seeds scattered atop an inch or two of soil in a growing tray. They’ll typically develop for a week or two before they’re harvested as miniature, sprout-like blooms.
LIGHTING
Full-spectrum lighting grows the stems upwards for roughly 16 hours daily. Sherdon will simply flip the switch whenever she wakes up and goes to bed. The sweet spot is 72 to 75 degrees.
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
As I enter Lela Sherdon’s home microgreens garden, where several heavy-duty steel wire racks house trays packed with tiny seedlings of vegetables, herbs and grains, I can’t shake the thought that this is the type of dwelling residents of Hobbiton would inhabit if their quaint hamlet ever urbanized.
It’s a pleasantly jarring escape from a 100-degree day. A backyard “garden” seems scarcely attainable in the Mojave, but microgreens can comfortably thrive indoors. Harvested before they become full-fledged plants, these highly nutritious shoots are popular in salads or as a garnish.
Here, these little meadows reflect a plethora of vibrant colors as repurposed computer fans nudge the air just enough to keep it moving. Sherdon sets a plate of her signature mix down—featuring mostly broccoli, plus some budding red acre cabbage, purple kohlrabi, arugula greens and a dash of olive oil—and it takes just one bite to comprehend the appeal.
“It’s like having a little oasis in the desert,” she says, offering delectable samples of subtly sweet cantaloupe, mildly nutty sunflower and peppery, wasabi-like nasturtium.
Sherdon cultivated an initial pandemic-era curiosity into her own MicroQueen business (mymicroqueen. com), offering dozens of varieties at the Intuitive Forager Farmers Market. But you don’t need to be a certified green thumb to grow starter species like pea shoots, broccoli and radish.
“They live like people,” she explains. “You get to learn their rhythms, personalities and quirks, and each of them has their own preferences.”
As a novice plant dad and certified hummus enjoyer, I’m eyeing pea-shoots as the first resident of my future miniature kitchen garden. Time will tell if I’m more nurturing than the desert.
WATERING
Some growers employ hydroponic drip systems, but Sherdon prefers hand-watering trays twice daily from a filtered hose. “You’re giving it that personalized attention, which I think makes all the difference,” she says.
HARVESTING
Once the ethereal “true leaves” emerge from the initial foliage, take a dedicated trimming knife or scissors and cut them at least an inch above the soil.
STORAGE
Refrigerate in a sealable glass or plastic container, avoiding plastic bags. Keep them away from the cool vent to prevent freezing, cover them with a towel to avoid too much light exposure and wash only immediately before eating.
Lela Sherdon (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
DAYBREAKER AT OMNIA
BY SHANNON MILLER
Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, and more recently dubbed the sports capital of the world. Could it also be a wellness capital?
If you wake up a little earlier, you can see the Strip in a whole new light—one that isn’t colored by gambling, drinking and partying. Venues are taking on a new identity as destinations for moderation, health and restoration. That’s obvious on a Sunday morning at Caesars Palace.
Walking from the self-parking garage, where locals get complimentary parking for three hours with Nevada ID, two friends in workout clothes greet each other with a warm embrace, their yoga mats slung behind them. It’s a wholesome scene compared to what might have been there the night before—cliques of gussied-up partiers loudly bickering as they head to the nightclub. Going down the elevator to the casino floor, these small groups of friends seem to multiply, all making their way to long but fast-moving lines outside of Omnia Dayclub.
At the door, greeters offer hugs instead of the resting bit-- face I’ve come to expect from the staff at these establishments. With hundreds in attendance, it takes a while to find empty space for a mat on the pool deck. Everyone is friendly and welcoming—not at all territorial, happy to make room for new arrivals.
Coaches gently announce the exercise is about to begin and ask attendees to settle down. Over the club speakers, peaceful music and spoken word ensues, guiding listeners through a meditation on the identity of Las Vegas—one that they have a role in.
“We want Las Vegas to be a place where you come to get better. It’s going to take every single one of us to push this forward,” Mikey Margolin, founder of Etho Wellness Club and producer of the event, says into the mic.
The workout begins, and everyone seems to understand the assignment. They find humor in having their neighbor’s foot or armpit in their face, and they make new friends. It’s not an atmosphere of competition, but rather one of encouragement and mutual support.
Enthusiasm is contagious and surprising. Rather than groaning when the coach says, “Let’s do those reps on the left side now,” I hear cheers. This is not something they have to do; it’s something they get to do. Amid the gratitude and good vibes, people pause to take selfies with their friends.
Most remarkable is the absence of alcohol. Ice buckets filled with health tonics and electrolyte drinks line the bars. Bartenders are slinging fresh fruit smoothies. And people start forming dance circles with coffee and matcha in hand as the workout transitions into a sober dance party.
The scene is a 180-degree turn from what Vegas is known for. It’s a new beginning—a second chance for a city built on vice and excess.
Wellness is trending. A slew of Strip resorts this year have started offering social fitness programming for guests and locals (see page 20).
Although Vegas taking on these initiatives may come as a surprise, it’s not so unusual considering consumer behavior. Scientific studies show younger adults are consuming less alcohol than their older counterparts did when they were their age. There are several theories to explain the trend, including a greater awareness of mental health among younger generations.
While the wellness movement on the Strip is commercially driven, its origin is much more holistic and homegrown. Many of the attendees at events like the one at Omnia Dayclub are locals who take advantage of free parking and pool and club access that comes with admission. And their motivation comes from a genuine desire for health, inside and out—not just aesthetics.
“This is not about being skinny. This is about being well, because wellness for everyone looks different,” says Hendersonian Dina Linette. “I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. And I was told I was not going to walk. I’ve found the only way I’m going to stay out of a wheelchair is to keep moving my body.”
The 49-year-old attributes her mobility to frequent exercise, healthy eating and abstaining from alcohol. She says she has no problem sticking to her guidelines, but fitness events offered on the Strip and by various local businesses provide an opportunity to meet likeminded people.
“I’ve seen this trend of these community events. I have been really engaged with them, because it’s a way to be connected without alcohol and without the bad lifestyles,” Linette says. “I stopped drinking nine years ago. I believe we can still be involved in this
community and not be involved with that excess.”
Linette and about 100 others attended a recent event at BLVD, where coaches from ISI Elite Training led a high-energy boot camp, followed by a 50-minute vinyasa yoga class with instructor Veronica Dugan. Other partners offered cold plunges and chair massages, as well as “energy cleansing” from The Salt Room, a local business.
“A lot of people still see Vegas as a city that’s built around nightlife. But that’s people outside of this community,” says Laurie Bach, franchise partner with ISI Elite. “When you really look at what people who live in Las Vegas want, there’s a demand for experiences centered on health, fitness and meaningful connection.”
Bach, a veteran of the Air Force and longtime local, expects ISI Elite Training Centennial to open later this year. The franchise, which has 60 locations, has a focus on “athletic-based training,” accessibility and accountability. Bach hopes that translates in the one-off events it hosts on the Strip.
“ISI’s main theme is train for life. As we get older, we need to have that muscle to be able to maintain independence and live a healthy, strong life, and so it’s just so important to our livelihood,” she says.
As for the accountability piece, Bach says events like the one at BLVD have a social dimension that can help with that.
“When you’re with like-minded people and people that want to get stronger and healthier, they make you better,” she says. “I think the mall [BLVD] and other places around town have really done a good job of opening that door for so many brands to bring people together, get fit, have fun, and just get their mind off daily life a little bit.”
BEYOND SUPERFICIAL
Vegas changes with the times, and the times, they are a-changin’. According to a recent Gallup poll, the number of U.S. adults who reported using alcohol fell to 54% in 2025—the lowest rate since the Great Depression. According to Gallup, this coincides with an increased belief that even moderate alcohol consumption is bad for health.
At the same time alcohol consumption seems to be plummeting, social activities have been in hot demand. It’s what consumers were craving especially after COVID lockdowns, says Kim Key, Resorts World’s director of spa and fitness.
“People wanted more coed activities. They wanted to experience all the amenities of the spa, but they wanted to experience it with their friends or family,” Key says. Resorts World’s Awana spa answered that call with an environment that allows all genders to mingle in plunge pools, a healing salt room and an event sauna.
Key, a Vegas hospitality veteran of 16 years, adds
that she sees resorts stepping up their game in offering fitness activities and programming, healthy dining options and space for guests and locals to simply have downtime and connect. What that looks like at Resorts World is weekly Poolside Pulse classes in partnership with the local pilates studio The Good Place, as well as spa discounts and packages.
“Anything we have is available for locals. We have a locals discount Monday through Thursday. That’s 20% off any service [and] gives full access to all of the amenities for the entire day,” Key says. “We also have our Fountain of Youth Passport. So if they are looking to just come in, enjoy the facilities and utilize our circuit of heat therapies, cool mist showers, cold plunges, they can use that passport.”
It’s no coincidence that all but five major casino resorts on the Strip offer a full-service spa facility, catering to consumer demand for experiences that leave them feeling relaxed, grounded and re-energized. Thanks to such amenities and new events,
serenity is possible on the Strip. Returning to the locals’ perspective, Linette offers a secret for how to tap into that.
“I like to get up really early in the morning, between 6:30 and 7, and head to the Strip and park my car for $15. I’ll go for a walk or jog on the Strip, and then I’ll go support a coffee shop after exercise. … It’s a whole different experience in the morning, when you have people going to work, people getting off night shifts, people still sleeping off their hangovers. It’s very peaceful,” she says.
“I have nothing against the bars and the restaurants, any of that. But people should know that Vegas is more than just alcohol. People travel to other countries like Switzerland to resorts, just to relax and get healthy. … It’s definitely an eye opener to feel good and experience this place, and not feel like a tourist, but just feel like somebody who’s getting healthy on an otherwise not-so-healthy strip of land in Las Vegas.”
SUNDAY CIRCUIT
BLVD
Sunday Circuit courtesy Conor Olmsted; BLVD by Holly Brackstone/ BLVD Las Vegas
Awana Spa and Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum, Courtesy
The Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum is a special place, a bit of a hidden oasis in the northwest corner of the Vegas Valley dedicated solely to the diverse work of its namesake artist, who also was one of the first art professors at UNLV. But like any venue seeking to become something greater—a community hub—this art museum offers a lot more, including yoga, tai chi, art classes and sound baths.
“Obviously our mission is to preserve and advance Rita’s legacy, which in itself is phenomenal, and the wellness programming is a natural extension of that,” says Lucy Formato, director of special events and public programming. “Rita’s work brings together art and nature and spirituality, and our offerings invite visitors to experience the museum and view the work, but it’s also a space to engage with all five senses. Our programming invites you to slow down, reflect, and be present in the same way a great piece of art does.”
The sound baths, which combine guided mindfulness practice with relaxing sounds made with brass or crystal “healing bowls,” gongs and chimes, are one of the most popular programs at the museum. Attendees bring pillows or mats and simply lie down to experience the guided meditation.
“When you leave, you might feel a little floaty or loopy or relaxed, so we encourage taking time to walk through the galleries and gardens,” Formato says.
Programs also range from poetry workshops to a yoga class accompanied by a live violinist; visit rdamuseum. org for a full schedule or to sign up for the newsletter.
“Whether you’re an art lover or you’ve never been to a museum before, there’s an experience here that welcomes you,” Formato says. –Brock Radke
AWANA SPA AT RESORTS WORLD
GET MOVING
Grit Las Vegas hosts After Dark Flow & Grow with bootcamp, pilates, and yoga classes led by Grit instructors, all set to the sounds of a live DJ on BLVD’s rooftop. Join for one or all three of the classes, and get yourself some samples and swag from local vendors. August 8, 6 p.m., $52 per 45-minute class, blvdlasvegas.com.
The Strat has partnered with Etho Wellness Club to offer breathwork, yoga and a soundbath—all at 1,149 feet. You can’t beat the Sunset in the Sky views after a workout and meditation in the hotel’s indoor observation deck, or free admission to the Big Shot ride that’s included. August 14, 6 p.m., $49, ethoclub.com. Stretch, flow and unwind at Puppy Yoga at Virgin Hotels. You can’t help but feel joy at the presence of these rescue animals as you perform guided mindful movements. Ticket proceeds will benefit Wagging Tails Rescue. August 23, 10 a.m., $55, virginhotelslv.com/wellness-month.
Fontainebleau’s LIV Beach and LIV Nightclub continue their Sunday Circuit wellness activation on the last Sunday of every month
through September. Grab a coffee or matcha, get your sweat on inside the nightclub and enjoy free admission to the pool and wellness vendors doling out Theragun and cold plunge experiences after the workout. August 30 & September 27, 10:30 a.m., $44-$95, livnightclub.com.
Rise and Sweat! This event from AME and BLVD kicks off with a community run, followed by pilates and high-intensity interval training classes, competitions and giveaways—all with a live DJ spinning in the background. Attendees can also shop for supplements, apparel and more at a curated vendor village. September 12, 7 a.m., $35+, blvdlasvegas.com.
Check out the Strip’s newest dayclub with Daybreaker, a social workout and sober dance party. Stay cool with cryoblast cannons during an hour-long guided movement, followed by a high-energy DJ set to keep the good vibes coming. Tickets include admission to Omnia Dayclub until 6 p.m. Locals can park free for three hours with valid ID. September 20, 9 a.m., $40, taogroup.com.
CONTINUING EVENTS
Every Thursday, Resorts World’s Athena pool deck makes room for Poolside Pulse, blending pilates, dance-inspired movement and high-intensity interval training. Each class includes pool access, 20% off cabanas, food and beverage and free self-parking for locals. Stay for a little daycation. Thursdays, 8 a.m., $20, rwlasvegas.com.
August is Wellness Awareness Month, and to honor that, Virgin Hotels is hosting Echoes in the Bathhouse every Wednesday. The intimate sound bath experience takes place with a candlelit backdrop and the tranquil acoustics of water and stone. Wednesdays in August, 6:30 p.m., $75, virginhotelslv.com/wellness-month.
Live, work out and play at Uncommons Unwind every Wednesday. Bring your own mat and water and head up to the rooftop of parking structure three for sunrise sessions led by local pilates studio The Good Place. Keep it pumping with tunes from a live DJ and vendor pop-ups. Open for guests 18 and older. Wednesdays, 6 a.m., free, 6835 Ruby Duncan St., thegoodplacelv.com. –Shannon Miller
SUNSET IN THE SKY
POOLSIDE PULSE
SUNDAY CIRCUIT
courtesy Brennan Griffith
IN THE NEWS
ENVIRONMENT
FEDERAL PLAN WOULD CUT COLORADO RIVER WATER USE FOR NEVADA BY 20%
Nevada, Arizona and California will be required to cut their use of Colorado River water by about 20% over the next two years, with deeper reductions still possible, under the plan the Bureau of Reclamation made official on July 31. The three states make up the Lower Basin of the Colorado River system.
The bureau released a Final Environmental Impact Statement that lays out a “preferred alternative” for operating Lake Powell and Lake Mead from 2026 through 2036. The agency said the approach is designed to keep river operations reliable while giving officials room to adjust as hydrology changes.
The cuts are expected to mirror a proposal the three states floated earlier this year, officials said. The Upper Basin
states—Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming—are not expected to face mandatory cuts under the plan.
The Upper Basin states operate under a different legal framework dating to the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which requires them to deliver water to the Lower Basin but does not subject them to the federal shortage-sharing mechanism that triggers mandatory cuts. They may, however, voluntarily conserve up to 200,000 acre-feet depending on hydrology, under the new framework.
“This framework provides the flexibility to respond to changing hydrologic conditions while preserving the opportunity for the Basin States to continue working toward durable, consen-
DOWNTOWN
sus-based solutions,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.
Under the plan, annual releases from Lake Powell would range between 5 million and 12 million acre-feet, and Lower Basin states could face shortages of up to 3 million acre-feet. Reclamation would issue detailed operating guidelines within those limits roughly every two years, unless the seven affected states reach longer-term consensus agreements.
The cuts mark the first phase of a broader 10-year framework for operating the river’s dams and reservoirs— one that leaves room for Lower Basin cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet —or as much as 40%—if conditions worsen.
–Las Vegas Sun staff
THIS COCKTAIL HELPS SHELTER ANIMALS
An Arts District bar known for its nautical theme has concocted a cocktail that helps shelter dogs and cats find safe harbor. Stray Pirate on Commerce Street has teamed with Hera the Dog Vodka and the Nevada SPCA, the Las Vegas Valley’s no-kill animal shelter, on a cocktail called Swig & Berries. The $15 drink is made with vodka and Svol aquavit, strawberry, rhubarb, lemon and a little rosewater. Part of each sale of the drink goes to the shelter to help care for animals waiting to be adopted. Since Stray Pirate and Hera the Dog Vodka’s partnership began in 2023, the organizations have raised more than $8,088 for Nevada SPCA. –Las Vegas Sun Staff
HOT SHOT
William Zepeda, right, of Mexico, connects with a punch on Lamont Roach Jr. during a fight for a vacant WBC lightweight title at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on August 1. Zepeda won the title by unanimous decision.
NEW FILM FEST LANDS DOWNTOWN
Film and event production company Eccentric Artists has announced the Shameless Plug Film Fest on August 29 at THIRD Street. The festival will screen 25 curated films across four blocks, with one block focusing on short films written, directed by or starring Asian American and Pacific Islander artists. Attendees can also enjoy a morning mixer, interactive art installations and an afterparty at ReBar. Tickets are available at eccen tricartists.space.
–Staff
Photo by Wade Vandervort
Photo by Golden Boy/ Cris Esqueda
A quick primer on the functions, benefits and dangers of data centers
f AI feels like an invasion from an alien intelligence, data centers are the Independence Day-like space cruisers hovering over our cities. There’s a lot of them. And their contents are every bit as mysterious as what’s inside those figurative flying saucers.
According to datacentermap.com, Nevada currently has 76 data centers: 36 in Las Vegas, 25 in Reno, 14 in Yerington and one in Elko. In April, Pew Research counted 3,000 data centers operating nationally, with another 1,500 on the way. That’s a lot of growth for an industry that doesn’t employ a lot of people on a per-site basis—oftentimes less than 200 people. Last year, the Wall Street Journal called data centers “a job-creation bust.”
Understanding these mystery boxes is vitally important, considering that virtually everyone in America may soon live near one. Let’s start small.
What do data centers do?
Before AI, data centers primarily served as digital storage—facilities filled with rows and rows of servers designed to store consumer and business data and applications safely and securely; warehouse-sized vaults of data. For example, Switch’s Southwest Las Vegas facility is one of these.
“Switch provides storage of information,” says Robert Rippee, former executive director of UNLV’s Black Fire Innovation Hub, now a consultant on AI. “Your healthcare information, your banking information, your credit card information … all of that is stored in data centers.”
But a GPU data center is different, using graphics processing units to handle giant computational workloads at high speeds. GPU data centers are the ones that handle AI requests. “It’s the proliferation of AI, and the applications
BY GEOFF CARTER
of AI, that are creating the demand for these types of centers,” Rippee says.
Businesses and consumers are big-time thirsty for AI to run everything from search engines to mobile apps, and as long as that demand exists, GPU data centers will spread like wildfire.
Speaking of thirst
“[Servers] generate a lot of heat,” Rippee says. “You have to keep them cool to keep them functioning optimally.”
Data centers are cooled through a variety of means, including running coolant straight to the hot semiconductors—a method known as “direct-to-chip”—and immersing the servers in tanks of coolant, which is complicated and expensive. Whatever the case, you need water, and a lot of it—4.5 trillion liters of it worldwide in 2025, according to a report from the United Nations University Institute for Water,
Environment and Health.
“One important thing to note about Southern Nevada … is that the Southern Nevada Water Authority has banned evaporative cooling,” says Olivia Tanager, director of the Sierra Club’s Toiyabe chapter. She adds that many data centers are moving toward a “closed-loop” system, which recycles the same water through the facility indefinitely.
“The water footprint associated with the closed loop cooling depends on the technology that the facility is using, how large the facility is and other factors,” she says. “I’ve heard some facilities are able to use the same water for 10 years.”
Overheard and overpowered
Data centers are loaded with humming machinery—servers, fans and the like. Those machines emit high- and low-frequency sounds
that aren’t ear-splittingly loud. But earlier this year, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute reported that people living near a Texas center suffered migraines, nausea, high blood pressure, insomnia, vertigo and more, due to that constant hum. The diesel-powered backup generators some centers use can go as loud as 105 decibels—equivalent to a jackhammer.
While on the subject of power: According to that UN report, data centers consumed nearly 448 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, adding “If data centers’ electricity use were considered a country, it would have ranked eleventh globally by electricity consumption. By 2030, it could [use] 945 TWh—the world’s sixth largest consumer.”
Rage against the machine AI has world-changing benefits if ethically applied. For example, Rippee notes AI’s ability
to read an MRI more closely than humans can. Still, corporate enthusiasm for AI is creating GPU data centers at a pace that’s arguably speedier than common sense should allow.
Locally, Boulder City is now pitched in battle against the Bureau of Land Management, which re-zoned land intended for a solar energy facility for data center use. And Switch recently got Clark County’s approval for a nine-acre expansion to its southwest Valley campus.
“We see a whole lot of gusto from Gov. [Joe] Lombardo and some other folks to build data centers as quickly as we possibly can, without much thought for what the impacts look like,” Tanager says. “But there is appetite from our elected officials to address these issues. I would encourage you to reach out to folks at every level of government and let them know what it is you’re concerned about and why.”
Switch Data Center in 2013 (Photo by Steve Marcus)
BY CASE KEEFER
sked what stands out most about coach Klint Kubiak’s offensive scheme, Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza gave a surprising answer. The top pick in April’s NFL Draft looked beyond his own interests.
“I believe that the outside-zone scheme and schematics of the run that comes from the (Mike) Shanahan (coaching) tree is a great system and it really complements (the passing game),” Mendoza said after a recent practice. “It lets the offensive line and their talent shine. It lets the running backs and their talent shine. At the end of the day, the game is built on the run.”
Mendoza is the headliner of Kubiak’s first training camp with the Silver and Black, which runs through the end of the month at the team’s headquarters in Henderson.
His development as a passer stands as the most crucial part of the Raiders building long-term success but, as his answer about the offense hinted, there’s more important focuses in the short term.
The Raiders must run the ball better this season after averaging an NFL-worst 3.6 yards per carry a year ago despite spending the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 draft on running back Ashton Jeanty.
In his three previous seasons as an NFL playcaller, Kubiak has leaned on the run at an above-average clip. Last season as an offensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks, the team sat third in the league with a 49.71% run play percentage.
That’s inflated from all the Seahawks’ positive game stats as one of the best teams in the league all year, and eventual Super Bowl champions, but he’s stated he’d like to stay balanced with the Raiders.
That’s going to require a sophomore breakout from Jeanty, who was held to a pedestrian 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries as a rookie.
“We want to put a lot of pressure on Ashton,” Kubiak said. “We think we should continue to challenge Ashton and get a lot more out of him.”
Interpreting Jeanty’s first season is a divi-
sive topic among Raiders’ fans. The 22-yearold out of Boise State came nowhere close to living up to his status as the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite coming into the season, but many argue it was beyond his control.
Jeanty was hit behind the line of scrimmage more than any running back in the league because of an offensive line that Pro Football Focus graded out as the worst in the NFL.
He had two big games—rushing for a com bined 266 yards in close losses to the Bears and Texans—but otherwise lacked explosion even when he did get free.
Jeanty, for his part, isn’t pinning his performance on anyone but himself. He went into the offseason with an urgency to improve and feels like he’s succeeded.
“It’s always tough being in your first year trying to figure out so much, but this year, there are a lot of expectations for me,” Jeanty said. “I think I’ve got to make a big jump.”
Among the tweaks Jeanty made in the five months between the season ending and train ing camp were changing his diet—all but cut ting out sugar—and refining his route-running.
He had a decent 55 catches for 346 yards and five touchdowns last year, but the passing game looks like where he’s made the biggest strides early in training camp. He’s catching a lot of passes on short routes around the line of scrimmage.
The rushing attempts have been more equitable than Kubiak’s words about Jeanty carrying the load might imply as rookie fourthround pick Mike Washington Jr. has rotated in with the starters and gotten plenty of carries. He’s run just as fluidly as Jeanty, leaving the possibility that they could split carries.
“It’s always great to come out of the game and have another guy come in there and there’s no drop down, so I truly believe he’ll be able to help us win some games,” Jeanty said of Washington.
Raiders must ‘get a lot more’ out of Ashton Jeanty , running game in upcoming season
Ashton Jeanty (AP Photo/Ian Maule)
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
In 2023, amid a flurry of album anniversary tours and his own impending divorce, Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard had an emotional breakdown midway through a 100-mile ultramarathon before dropping out.
He’s since rediscovered his stride in both realms, with his subsequent ruminations—of grief and healing—inspiring the quintet’s 11th studio album, I Built You a Tower The project’s June release cemented a new chapter for the eight-time Grammy-nominated indie stalwarts, who are set to return to The Theater at Virgin in Las Vegas on August 6.
Bassist Nick Harmer—the only active founding member aside from Gibbard—tells the Weekly the recent switch from longtime record label Atlantic to independent label Anti provided another “shot in the arm we needed at this stage in our career.” Remarkably, it took just three weeks to record the new album.
“We really try to limit the amount of time that we’re just kind of fumbling around in the dark in the studio, because it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when you really start to put the microscope on things,” Harmer says.
“It’s definitely the fastest album that we’ve ever recorded, but that’s because we also had such a clear and precise picture of what we wanted to accomplish.”
Fans can expect that same tenacity in a Vegas setlist informed by Gibbard’s comprehensive spreadsheet of every set Death Cab’s
Death Cab for Cutie’s Nick Harmer talks new album, switching labels and a Vegas stop
Courtesy Ryan Russell
played for at least two decades.
“[Gibbard] is really diligent about looking at the last two or three times we’ve been in a particular city and making sure that he’s always striking a balance between playing songs that he knows people want to hear—the so-called hits— and also rotating in rare stuff that we haven’t played there in a long time,” Harmer says.
From Harmer’s signature rumbling bassline on “I Will Possess Your Heart” to the frantic, distorted riffs of new lead single, “Riptides,”
their sound should fare well in the Virgin theater’s close quarters, where they last played in 2023.
“A smaller venue is always more intimate, and the energy in Vegas has always been really, really positive, which definitely fuels our show,” Harmer says.
As Death Cab nears its 30th year, Harmer attributes their longevity to simple communication. Beyond that, the little things—like hitting a record store in their downtime and sharing finds with one another backstage—also provide the mo-
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
August 6, 8 p.m., $53-$219. Theater at Virgin, axs.com
rale they’ll depend on over the next year-plus of touring.
“You can pick just about any date through 2027, and I’ll be able to tell you where I’m at. I’m that locked in,” Harmer says. “This is the work. This is what we do, and I’m just grateful and hopeful every day that we wake up and get another chance to do it. We don’t want to squander that ever.”
Bizarre Bar has emerged as a multipurpose venue that’s reshaping nightlife in the Arts District
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
couple of years ago, people probably wouldn’t have given the Arts District a second thought when looking for a place to dance. But Tim Kam, longtime nightlife visionary, has a knack for bringing the party with him.
Kam, whose name has long been associated with Downtown nightlife through minority ownership of Oddfellows, opened Bizarre Bar in April after a four-month renovation of the former Swan Dive space, approaching the project as something far more personal than just another bar.
Living with a chronic illness has limited much of his free time outside of work, making the venue an expression of himself rather than simply another business venture.
“Doing Bizarre Bar is my only way to really communicate with this world,” Kam says. “It’s an extension of me.”
With the help of local artists, craftspeople
a community effort that Kam says made the finished product feel even more meaningful.
Every weekend, Bizarre Bar takes on a different personality. And the crowd chases it—young and loud, spilling from one area to the next without pause. Friday nights rotate through themes ranging from emo and goth to disco and indie sleaze dance parties, while the patio is anchored by Sonidero’s Latin night with DJ Edwin Lazer and Kumbiadarks. Saturdays shift into an open-format dance party, with patio sets featuring different local DJs to introduce new selectors to weekend crowds.
and friends, Kam has put his distinctive stamp on the space. Walls lined with mismatched vintage frames, chandeliers sourced from local sellers, a miniature pony cycle and hand-built teeter-totters on the patio create an environment that worships whimsy and rewards exploration.
BIZARRE BAR
1301 S. Main St. #200, bizarrebarlv.com. Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday, 7 p.m.-2 a.m.; Friday & Saturday, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Kam drew this inspiration from surrealist art, saying that connection to the subconscious became the foundation for the venue’s identity. And the theatrical atmosphere of Absinthe at Caesars Palace encouraged him to embrace a sense of spectacle and, as he puts it, decorate the room “like a grandma.”
Woodworker James Norman, Noel Calzo of SPCKRFT Studios, members of the Pigeon Hat Collective and Bizarre Bar staff all contributed to the buildout, turning the renovation into
Weekdays evolve through live music bookings, wrestling events, watch parties and other programming that stretches beyond nightlife, even as Kam remains focused on expanding the venue’s concert calendar.
As the night moves closer to last call, the pace inside Bizarre Bar only seems to accelerate. Kam has noticed groups arriving in waves closer to midnight, eager to settle down on the dancefloor for the rest of the evening.
“A lot of the folks in this area like to go to different bars, have a couple drinks, sit down, and they get antsy, and then they want to go dance,” says Kam.
For years, the Arts District has been where nights out begin. Bizarre Bar is one of the few reasons they end there, too.
Courtesy Ivan Carrillo, @iiivanasso
Three local authors unpack their recent novels and share why you should add them to your summer list
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Krista Diamond explores parasocial obsession with celebrity through a Las Vegas wildlife photographer turned Los Angeles paparazzo who fixates on a familiar A-lister’s sex scandal. simonandschuster.com
What sparked the idea?: “I originally wrote Close Relationships With Strangers as a short story and then a novella about a paparazzi photographer in Los Angeles, because I’m interested in parasocial relationships and celebrity culture. It became a novel when I decided to add in the narrator’s previous life as a busser at a restaurant—inspired by the Peppermill—in Las Vegas.”
Who is this book for?: “The novel is for anyone who is interested in celebrity culture from a thoughtful rather than a worshipful standpoint. It’s for anyone who loves the wilderness and lore of the west. It is for anyone who has ever felt lonely and wondered why it’s easier to stay home and watch a familiar TV show than to go to a party.”
Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack— whose family has lived in Vegas for three generations, including her father, Jerome Mack, the pioneering financier for whom the Thomas & Mack Center is named—offer readers insight into a real casino empire through the eyes of Josie King, the rightful heir who returns to reign over the family business. harpercollins.com
What sparked the idea?: “[We] wanted to create a realistic view into the inner workings of the Las Vegas casino culture from someone who lived and
breathed it, not what some guy from New Jersey imagined what life was like.”
On growing up in a classic casino age: “As teenagers we raced pickups in the desert. Our French class outing was brunch at the Sahara hotel with our special guests, the Lido de Paris [dancers]. The Rat Pack hung out at the Sands. Mobsters skimmed the casinos. The FBI tapped our home phone lines. It was a colorful childhood. I wanted to give people a window into a world where families like mine tried to lead a normal life in a place that was not at all normal.”
Michael Grimala’s debut is a love letter to ’90s slasher films, following a group of middle schoolers who uncover the terrifying truth about a drive-in massacre from 15 years ago. hellboundbookspublishing.com
What sparked the idea?: “A few years ago, this place near my house started hosting a horror trivia night. …I had a blast, kind of a find your people moment. They had seen the same movies as me. They obsessed over the same facts and minutiae. They had the same passion. That provided the spark to write a book about a kid discovering that passion for horror.”
Who is this book for?: “Not kids! Once you get a couple chapters in, some stuff starts happening that’s definitely not intended for children. The people who have connected with it the most, obviously, seem to be the ones who remember going to the video store, the horror hounds who would go every Friday night and rent something they’d never heard of before, just based on the cool cover art. Whether the movie turned out to be any good or not, that was part of the fun.”
Who is this book for?: “Readers who love thrillers with gritty crime scenes, complicated family sagas and slow-burn passionate romances will relish this book. It offers all the glitz, excess, violence and danger of the Las Vegas casino culture with some surprising twists along the way. Also, for readers who like books about strong female protagonists, Josie is a fierce, intelligent heroine, not afraid to do whatever she needs to protect her family legacy.”
Krista Diamond
Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman
Michael Grimala
BY GEOFF CARTER
You can taste Wakuda with your eyes. Inspired by Tokyo’s Shinjuku Golden Gai nightlife district, Wakuda is grace, glitz and graffiti in perfect balance. I could visit just to admire the Blade Runner-like neon mural in the entryway, would stay a while for the cocktail, and would happily take up permanent residence for the food. Wakuda’s Summer Journey tasting menu, a privilege at $120, is the next best thing to moving in.
Spread over five courses, Summer Journey plays to all Wakuda’s strengths, by design.
“We wanted to create a menu that touches all areas of the restaurant—from the sushi bar, robata, the tempura, down to pastry,” says executive chef Lue Xiong.
It begins with a delectable sashimi—a perfectly fatty kanpachi carpaccio farmed from the waters off Kagoshima and a rich king salmon truffle. They set a high bar.
Next up is seabass tempura, a delicately battered Glacier 51 toothfish served with a tangy Nanbanzuke sauce of rice vinegar, sugar and yuzu kosho; to say this Antarctic fish melts in your mouth is to undersell the flavorful alchemy that occurs. And you’ve scarce time to contemplate its magic before the third course, a choice of mains: grilled salmon with a pepper wasabi sauce, a filet mignon with mustard miso and a teriyaki roasted chicken. Go with a friend and get the salmon and filet; they both dazzle.
The chef’s selection sushi course comes fourth. We enjoyed Ehime Madai (red sea bream), a mildly sweet treat from the Uwa Sea; a flame-seared king salmon, fished from New Zealand’s Big Glory Bay; and a crunchy shrimp tempura roll that I could devour by the dozen. Dessert is a mocha coconut miso soft served in a housemade waffle cone, a sweet kiss goodbye … but not farewell. You’ll be back soon, with neon in your eyes and a bellyful of giddy anticipation.
Courtesy Anthony Mair
The venerable Gold Coast Casino has long maintained a reputation for reliable Chinese food, at the award-winning Ping Pang Pong and the hot pot-centric Noodle Exchange. But the off-Strip spot has three new restaurants that locals may not have heard about yet.
In an expansion announced in February, Gold Coast welcomed favorites Steak ‘n Shake and Tacos el Pastor into the fold, and also unveiled original gastropub concept Charter 75 for those looking for American classics with a modern twist—pizzas, salads, burgers, sandwiches
To start: Cheesesteak egg rolls ($14) Featuring shaved prime rib, provolone and sauteed onions, this hearty fusion appetizer comes with a dish of cheese dip for those who want to boost the indulgence factor.
For the main: Honey hot chicken sandwich ($16) Dill pickle-brined chicken breast is coated with Nashville-spiced breading and served with slaw and pickles in between a grilled potato bun.
For dessert: Warm butter cake ($9) This melt-in-yourmouth morsel is topped with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a
The use of artificial intelligence in the workplace is increasingly routine, though experts say there’s no need to panic about it overtaking jobs—at least not yet.
According to a July report by Google, the first in a series it’s calling the AI & Economy ATLAS (Activity, Task, Landscape and Adoption Study), AI is being used for collaboration and assistance in tasks like ideation, strategy and more, but total task automation is still uncommon.
The ATLAS study, based on 15 million interactions with Google’s AI assistant Gemini, also found that while AI has been adopted across all industry sectors and nearly 70% of all occupations, it is being used selectively and for only approximately 21% of tasks.
“Nobody has to be an expert, but employers are really looking for these employees to be able to know how to use it, to be able to use it to their benefit, but then mostly to not overuse it,” said Kass Moore, director of career services and workforce development at UNLV. “To be able to use it strategically, where it doesn’t seem like they are a robot, but they’re really using it as a resource and a tool.”
Andy Boettcher, chief innovation officer at DoubleTrack, a data and AI consulting firm headquartered in Minnesota, said the message that AI is coming for people’s jobs is “not a non-truth.”
“But what I tell people is, AI is not coming for your job; people that know how to use AI to do the job better—those are the people that are coming for jobs,” Boettcher said.
DoubleTrack earlier this summer released a report that found the widest talent gaps in AI are located in the Sun Belt, with adoption outpacing local specialists the most in Nevada, where almost 26% of businesses use AI, and there are only 7.1 AI specialists per 1,000 jobs.
“There is a lack or a gap of people who are tooled to do this in that area,” Boettcher said. “And businesses would love to use the local market. They don’t have to go to the coasts and to the big consultancies to do this.”
DoubleTrack’s talent-gap analysis also found that many businesses adopting AI are not actually making any changes to do so. Some have asked existing staff to take it on, per the report, while a smaller frac-
tion have hired people formally trained in AI or consultants.
“There is a tremendous talent gap for individuals that want to skill up; that look at these tools and start to change the way they’re thinking. This is a generational opportunity,” Boettcher said.
He encouraged people to start talking to AI platforms, such as Anthropic’s Claude, like “a friend at the water cooler,” and let it change the way they think about problem-solving. Find what works for you, he said.
“Have a conversation with it,” Boettcher said. “Ask it to challenge your thinking. That is how you get tooled in AI, and you then bring that into your workplace and say, ‘Hey, I’m thinking about doing this differently. Here is how I want to do it.’”
UNLV is working to ensure that faculty and its departments are integrating AI training and resources into courses and operations so that students are ahead of the curve, said Moore, whose office offers a resource on using AI collaboratively in their job search.
That doesn’t mean letting AI write your cover letter, she made clear, but using it to get tips and tricks on a cover letter based on a job’s description. Another example, she said, is using AI to explore job opportunities—letting it work alongside you instead of overtaking you.
“That’s kind of the stance that we’re taking and the idea that we’re seeing, is that AI isn’t taking jobs,” Moore said. “It’s just now folks need to grow with it and learn how to use it.”
Steve Miller, professor of economics and director of research at UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research, said the fear of new technology making one’s job obsolete is nothing new.
He pointed to the “computer revolution,” as an example, noting how it took years for the productivity benefits of computerization to actually take effect, during which time economists continued to question them.
“That sort of thought has existed for a long time, and it’s in cycles,” Miller said. “And every time we have an important technological change … it usually takes a bit of time for the benefits of that technological change to manifest themselves in terms of productivity and output.”
READY TO LEAD, NOT LUCKY TO BE.
19TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 | MGM GRAND CONFERENCE CENTER LAS VEGAS
JESSE ISRAEL
Leading Connected, High-Performing Teams
— How to Break Through the Noise, Foster Belonging & Lead with Purpose
MAIN STAGE SPEAKER
Leadership isn’t defined by title or tenure. It’s built through skill, resilience, and intentional growth. At the 19th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference, every session is designed to strengthen how you lead with capability, credibility, visibility, and sustainability.
Join a community of leaders committed to doing the workand building what comes next in their career paths.
VEGAS INC NOTES
Vestar has announced a series of updates at Tivoli Village, including a refreshed look, new retail and dining additions, brand partnerships and the future addition of the Ainsley Apartments. Complimentary valet service is also now available from 3 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 3 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Tivoli Village has partnered with Design Within Reach, which has furnished Tivoli Village’s common areas. Its retail and dining collection continues to grow with the anticipated opening of Yu by Sijie and the recent opening of Eichholtz, a Dutch luxury interiors brand. Recent additions also include Jean-Marie Auboine Chocolatier and Saatva, the luxury sleep brand.
The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation received a $200,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation, the charitable arm of Cox
Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications, and named after the company’s founder. The grant supports the development of a Creation Lab at the West Las Vegas Library (1861 N. Martin Luther Blvd.). The lab will feature technology and programming to encourage creativity and support learning opportunities to build foundational workforce skills and provide additional connectivity for West Las Vegas residents who lack internet access.
Four Merrill Wealth Management advisers—Jennifer Shydler, Stephen Pickering, Jessica Cohen and Michael Rishmawy—have been recognized on the 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list. This honor highlights their expertise, client dedication and contributions to Nevada’s financial community.
Aristocrat Gaming installed the in-
dustry’s first $5 million links at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The debut includes two Dragon Link machines on one $5 million link, and a second $5 million link pairing Phoenix Link with Lightning 10 Year Storm. The machines were unveiled inside the Cosmopolitan’s high-limit room.
Vegas Unstripped announced $15,500 in donations from this year’s event to local charities. Included were $12,500 to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, a nonprofit that provides therapeutic residential treatment and other critical services for abused and neglected children throughout Nevada, and $3,000 to The Mats Project, a local organization that upcycles plastic bags into eco-friendly bed mats for people experiencing homelessness in the Las Vegas tunnels. Since its inception in 2018, Vegas Unstripped has donated more than $85,000 to local charities.
JOB LISTING
Administrative Assistant in Henderson, NV. Min. reqmnts: Bach deg. in any field. $46,155/yr. Mail resume to Great West Auto Inc., Attn: Frank Bud, 871 Coronado Center Dr., #200, Henderson, NV 89052.
JOB LISTING DEVELOPER, BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
sought by Allegiant Air, LLC (Las Vegas, NV). Resp: Dsgn, dvlp, implmnt and maintain new rprting functionality and anlytic apps acrss mltple biz units using various biz intell tools. Wrk w others to dvlp, refine, and scale data mgmt. and analytics prcdures, systems, workflows, best prctces, and other issues. Data mining using state-of-the-art methods. Bld prdctve models and forecsts using prvn ststicl mthds. Review and optmze SQL queries for better prfrmce. Reqs: Bach’s deg (or foreign equiv) in Mgmt Info Systms, Comp Sci or related field. 2 yrs exp with each of the following: exp in rlvnt anlytcl and/or biz intel positions at corporate lvl; exp writing and intrpting SQL; exp using Tableau; exp with R or Python; exp with SSRS, SSIS, SSAS; and 1 yr of exp with Oracle and PowerBI. Salary: $92,000.00 per year. Telecommuting permitted on part-time basis. Required to work in-office 3 days per week. Travel required 5-10% of the time for conferences and meetings. Apply via email at jessica.lowe@allegiantair.com
COVER SHOOT AT BLVD LAS VEGAS
JULY 14, 2026
Acroyogis will tell you that wellness comes in all shapes—balancing atop your partner’s feet, for instance. They’ll also tell you wellness isn’t just physical fitness. The practice of acroyoga not only builds strength but also trust between partners. To get this one-legged throne pose right, it took disciplined practice and communication, setting an intention and following through. Everyone’s wellness journey starts from a different place, but we all stand to gain the same things—mindfulness, connection and even healing.
