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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

C O N T E N T S James Hetfield of Metallica (Photo by Amy Harris/ Invision/AP)

RIDE THE LIGHTNING

Metallica takes the Strip by storm as the first metal act to headline a residency at Sphere.

ON THE COVER Photo by Wade Vandervort/Photo illustration

14 24 28 34 38 42

WEEKLY Q&A Barter Beer + Mall’s Suzanne Roozendaal is making sure artsy people stay in the Arts District. NEWS A UNLV researcher helped with the discovery of oxygen deep underground, created without photosynthesis. SPORTS It’s time for “Season X” of Vegas Golden Knights hockey and the goal remains the same: Cup or bust. MUSIC Chicago band French Police brings bilingual darkwave and vampiric vibes to Area15. COMEDY Zoltan Kaszas’ anxiety-born “weirdness” creates joyful connections with showgoers at Palazzo. FOOD & DRINK Metro Sliceteria slings gourmet pies by the slice. Plus, how to at Beauty & Essex’s menu revamp.

08 SUPERGUIDE

With Wu-Tang Clan at T-Mobile Arena, Brandon Flowers at Encore Theater, Julieta Venegas at the Chelsea, this week has concerts galore and more. Want More? Visit lasvegasweekly.com.

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

10.01.26

SUPERGUIDE FRIDAY OCT 2

THURSDAY OCT 1

MOTÖRHEAD EXHIBITION OPENING Born from the British music scene of the mid-’70s, Motörhead bridged the gap between punk and heavy metal, ripping through the industry with frontman Lemmy Kilmister’s simple declaration to play fast and loud rock ’n’ roll. The “Ace of Spades” legends helped pave the way for speed metal and influenced rock’s evolution toward greater aggression, intensity and musical edge. The Punk Rock Museum honors the band and its iconic founder with its latest exhibition. Featuring handwritten pages of lyrics, historical photographs and Lemmy’s bass and amp stack, the exhibit gives visitors a novel look at the gear, words and legacy of one of the heaviest bands of all time. 6 p.m., $50 museum admission, Punk Rock Museum, thepunkrockmuseum.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez

JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS Thru 10/3, 8 p.m., Voltaire, ticketmaster.com. SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT 8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com. THE HOME TEAM 7 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com. BRAVO THE BAGCHASER & PEYSOH 7 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com. SAN GENNARO FEAST Thru 10/4, times vary, Rio, riolasvegas.com.

S U P E R G U I D E

COSMIC TAKEOVER TOUR Thru 10/3, 7:30 p.m., Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com. COACH WOOTTEN TOP 150 SHOWCASE Thru 10/2, times vary, Henderson Sport & Social, coachwootten.com. BOLO 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. KYLE BUSCH CLASSIC 6 p.m., Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring, ticket master.com. CARMINA BURANA & SERENADE 7:30 p.m., & 10/3 (& 10/4, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, nevadaballet.org. GLOBAL CHAMPIONS ARABIANS TOUR FINALE Thru 10/4, times vary, Resorts World, gcarab ianstour.com. HENDERSON HOT ROD DAYS 4 p.m. (& 10/3, 9 a.m.), Water Street Plaza, cityofhenderson. com. DIANA ROSS Thru 10/4, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

JACK WHITE 8 p.m., BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK 8 p.m., & 10/3, 10/7, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com. JOSH GROBAN 8 p.m., & 10/3, 10/7, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com. BREAKING BENJAMIN With Chevelle, Starset, Kami Keho, 6 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. THE WAR ON DRUGS With Lo Moon, 8 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com. TOADIES With Local H, Olive Vox, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK 7 p.m., & 10/3, Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

Courtesy

METALLICA 8:30 p.m., & 10/3, Sphere, ticketmaster.com.

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MUSIC

PARTY

ARTS

FOOD

SPORTS

COMEDY

MISC

SATURDAY OCT 3 DO IT ALL

UNLV FOOTBALL VS. CAL 12:30 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, unlvtickets.com. NASCAR FOCUSED HEALTH 302 RACE 4:30 p.m., Las Vegas Motor Speedway, ticketmaster.com. LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. SAN ANTONIO FC 7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc.com. HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS 6 p.m. (& 10/4, 5 p.m.), Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com. BOULDER CITY ART IN THE PARK 9 a.m., & 10/4, Wilbur, Bicentennial and Escalante Parks, visitbouldercity.com. BALLET FOLKLÓRICO 3 p.m., Aliante Library, cityof northlasvegas.com.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD 8 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com. THE ROCK ORCHESTRA BY CANDLELIGHT 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

QUINN AYERS & JAE DOUGLASS 9 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com. BECKY ROBINSON 9:30 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com. METRO BOOMIN 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

HOLY PRIEST With Clara Cuvé, Gravedgr, more, 6 p.m., the Amp at Craig Ranch, eventim.us.

MARSHMELLO 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

THE AQUABATS 6 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com. LIT With Sponge, 8 p.m., Bel-Aire Backyard, axs.com. HINDER 8 p.m., Green Valley Ranch Backyard Amphitheater, ticketmaster.com. MARION MEADOWS With Brian Simpson, Jessy J, 8 p.m., Chrome Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

LOUIS THE CHILD 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com. STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com. WIZ KHALIFA 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com. CALL ME BEEP ME 10 p.m., Discopussy, eventbrite.com.

Courtesy

WU-TANG CLAN With Mobb Deep, 7:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

EMO NIGHT Dust off your old band tees and converge for Emo Night featuring powerhouse emo rockers The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus with Lioneer and High Sierra Club. Relive the era that welcomed self-expression, turned heartbreak into art and made the iconic emo anthems that defined an unforgettable era! Don’t miss food trucks, custom merch vendors and chances at free SlotZilla zipline rides and more offers at the Fremont Party Pit. 7 p.m., free, all ages, fremont streetexperience.com.

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 .

Courtesy

S P OT L I G H T E V E N T

*Spotlight events are sponsored

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

10.01.26

SUPERGUIDE SUNDAY OCT 4

MUSIC

PARTY

ARTS

FOOD

SPORTS

COMEDY

MISC

MONDAY OCT 5

ROGER CLYNE AND THE PEACEMAKERS King of the Hill fans might recognize Roger Clyne as the man who co-wrote the hit animated series’ theme song with the ’90s band The Refreshments. But his distinct blend of rock ’n’ roll, alt-country and mariachi has made him memorable in his own right. Clyne grew up on cattle ranches, but his heart remains firmly planted on the beaches of Mexico, a place he fell in love with during college. That passion runs through Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers’ latest album, Hell to Breakfast, where tender odes to Sonora pair with tunes about Clyne sleeping with his rifle. Ted Sablay, touring guitarist for the Killers, will also open with his new LP, State & Motion. 6:30 p.m., $48, Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. –Amber Sampson

S U P E R G U I D E

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 1:25 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster. com. NASCAR SOUTH POINT 400 2:30 p.m., Las Vegas Motor Speedway, ticketmaster. com. JEFF DUNHAM 7 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster. com.

GYM CLASS HEROES With Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B., 8 p.m., M Pool, ticketmaster. com. SCENE QUEEN With Wargasm, Bailey Spinn, 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, ticketmaster. com. DJ E-ROCK 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com. ELI BROWN 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub. com..

BRANDON FLOWERS 8 p.m., & 10/6, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

SNARKY PUPPY With Varijashree Venugopal, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

WES MEADOWS 7 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com. PAULY SHORE 10 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.

CHRIS FRANJOLA With Mike Cronin, Kathleen Dunbar, thru 10/11, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. com.

VINCE MORRIS With Vince Royale, thru 10/11, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com.

DO IT ALL

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

Courtesy/Chris Phelps

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

10.01.26

SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY OCT 6

MUSIC

PARTY

ARTS

SPORTS

FOOD

MISC

WEDNESDAY OCT 7 LUDOVICO EINAUDI 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. CHAD GRAY 6 p.m., Fremont Country Club, dice.fm. LAS VEGAS JAM SUMMIT 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.

JULIETA VENEGAS 7:30 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

COMEDY

ALEC MONOPOLY 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

DO IT ALL ERIC FORBES 10 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com. DJ FRANZEN 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com. VICKI BARBOLAK 7:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

S P OT L I G H T E V E N T OH MARY! Thru 10/11, 7:30 p.m. (& 10/1010/11, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.

MARINELLI BROS. CIRCUS The Big Top is coming to Las Vegas! Marinelli Bros. Circus - A New Experience brings an all-new production to Cheyenne Sports Complex in North Las Vegas October 7–26. Gather the family and step inside the intimate, one-ring Big Top for breathtaking acrobatics, heart-pounding stunts, comedy and world-class circus artistry, just feet from the action. This year’s international cast features America’s Got Talent finalists the Bello Sisters, the incredible ninth-generation circus performers known around the world for their extraordinary strength, balance and artistry. And the excitement doesn’t stop there! Following Marinelli Bros. Circus, the Big Top will host the Vegas Variety Circus Festival, October 28–November 1, featuring more than 40 incredible acts from around the world. marinellibroscircus.com

RETHA JONES With Gray West, Dennis Regan, Greg Hahn, thru 10/11, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.

Courtesy

JULIAN MIRANDA 6 p.m., Composers Room, thecom posersroom.com.

Courtesy

S U P E R G U I D E

RICH VOS Thru 10/11, 8:30 p.m. (& 10/810/11, 10:30 p.m.) Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.

*Spotlight events are sponsored

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

10.01.26

C U L T U R E

•

W E E K L Y

Q + A

Dr. Suzanne Roozendaal co-curates Barter Beer + Mall, a hub for preloved treasures, art and community B Y

G A B R I E L A

R O D R I G U E Z

Dr. Suzanne Roozendaal is accustomed to moving between worlds. There’s Sunrise Hospital, where she works as an emergency medicine physician at a level 1 trauma center, and MountainView Hospital, where she serves as the associate program director and trains medical students in the residency program. And then there’s the Arts District, where she spends her time digging and sourcing mid-century furniture, vintage clothing, retro Pyrex bakeware, handmade art and hanging out with the independent makers and collectors who’ve helped shape the developing area. Roozendaal’s interest in

treasure hunting predates her business. While she was in medical school, she’d frequent the area even when the shops were scarce. But after moving to the Huntridge neighborhood in 2017 with her husband, Brent Hoefflin, an architect, she opened a small booth within Main Street Peddlers, an antique mall which grew into Mintless, an intimate boutique space still situated within the store. Other projects followed, including Reclaim, a vendor-based fashion space, and recently Barter Beer + Mall, which she opened with Derek Stonebarger in April 2025. Barter occupies 6,000 square feet on the western edge of the

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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

“How do we create a space where people can afford to sell, but they don’t have to be here all the time? They can still have a job, they can still be creative and they still can have this be a part of their life.”

Barter Beer + Mall co-owner Dr. Suzanne Roozendaal (Photo by Wade Vandervort)

Arts District. Its vendors sell vintage clothing, home goods, art and antiques, while the bar serves beer, wine and seltzers. The space hosts karaoke, artist workshops, meetups and punk rock bingo and upholds the intention of creating a community-centered environment. Roozendaal, who also sits on the 18b Las Vegas Arts District Board of Directors, has watched the neighborhood change while becoming increasingly involved in its future. And while on a sabbatical from the hospital, she took some time to chat with the Weekly about the appeal of giving old things another life and the importance of community building.

As a long time collector, you’ve seen the Arts District develop over the years. Did you ever think it was going to get to this level of popularity? I had come down here when I was in medical school regularly and at that time there were a couple of antique stores and Art Bar. You would go there and leave. But I knew it was a special place, it’s a place that people have put their blood sweat and tears into. ... They’ve cultivated this area that nobody would go to 20 years ago and made it into something people want to be a part of. Even the area that Barter Beer sits in is rapidly developing. Yeah, I think we’re going to start growing this way. I think we’re hoping to be the catalyst of this Arts District West area. You guys definitely got in at a good time. Well, that’s kind of why we did it. You’ve got these developers coming in and people who are trying to get a piece of the action, and because of that, rents are rising. So, the people who built this area are getting are getting priced out. Derek [Stonebarger] and I were like, how do we create a space where people can afford to sell, but they don’t have to be here all the time? They can still have a job, they still can be creative and they still can have this be a part of their life. Derek Stonebarger is also the owner of Rebar. How did you two meet? Yes, I joined the 18b Board [of Directors] two or three years ago,

and we didn’t know each other then, which is weird because we’re like long-lost siblings. Derek and I created the space, we created the concept, we put the brass tacks down. But it’s the vendors who create the space. It’s constantly changing and this room never looks the same when I walk in, every vendor has their own thing. We wanted it to be eclectic. One of your employees told me there are 40 or more vendors! We’re finally at the point where we’re completely full and have a waiting list, and that’s an exciting place to be. There’s a low rent, a 10% commission and everybody pitches in and works a few hours a week. The other thing we really wanted to do was make this a community space. Our vendors are able to put on free events and they can do their craft and bring people in. We have punk rock bingo, we have karaoke, and meetups. Do your colleagues at the hospital know about your creative side? They all think I’m nuts! No, I think they appreciate that I have a creative outlet. Actually, funny story: One of my colleagues came up to me the other day, and she’s like, “So, like, are you gonna leave? Are you retiring? What is going on? And I said, you know, everybody’s got a hobby, right? Some people like to play golf, some people like to have kids. I like to have businesses and create things, and I still love the act of hunting out cool stuff and fixing it up. I love refinishing stuff and just making it last so it doesn’t end up in a trash pile.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS DEVARGAS

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10.01.26

Metallica’s 24-date residency ups the ante for Las Vegas’ multibillion-dollar venue

C O V E R

S T O R Y

10.01.26

Photo courtesy/Tim Saccenti

BY TYLER SCHNEIDER omewhere in Memphis, Enrique Ramirez spent early September preparing an 11th birthday party that his son, Henry, would never forget. When the day finally arrived, with family and friends in tow, he brought out a pair of Metallica-themed cakes, Funko Pop toys of all four band members, and an early vinyl release mounted on an easel. It was already a fitting tribute to a boy who’s literally had Metallica’s jagged “M” logo shaved into his scalp. But the kicker came when he unwrapped two tickets to the band’s October 15 and 17 concert dates at Sphere. “He jumped right out of his seat,” Ramirez says. “The funny part was watching his friends. They were excited for him, but they aren’t huge Metallica fans like Henry, so they didn’t fully understand the magnitude of what he had just been given. The adults who know how much he loves Metallica definitely understood.” Ramirez’s first time seeing them live came just last year, when he caught them in Nashville, sans Henry, following his wife’s suggestion that the “epic” experience should come without the pressures of fatherhood. “Henry never let me forget that I went without him,” Ramirez says. “So, when the Sphere rumors started, I promised him that if it happened, we were going.” From the inaugural October 1 show through its March 13 conclusion, generations of metalheads like Enrique and Henry will flock to Vegas for Metallica’s 24-date Life Burns Faster residency to fulfill a dream that once seemed impossible.

ENTER SPHERE The rumor mill was just starting to heat up in August 2025 when Howard Stern directly asked Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich if the band was considering Sphere. The answer—an emphatic yes— only fanned those flames. “I was there seeing U2 the first night. I wanted to see it for myself before I saw it on YouTube or read about it. Like everybody else that was there that night, I was completely blown away and felt [it] was kind of the beginning of another chapter in live performances,” Ulrich replied. “It’s not signed, sealed and delivered, but speaking to me and asking my opinion, I would f---ing love to do it.” “It’s gonna happen,” Stern predicted. Indeed, the reveal came on February 25, when Metallica announced an eight-show Sphere run. Amid staggering demand, 16 more dates were unleashed by early March. It’ll follow a relatively familiar format in decidedly uncharted waters. As the first metal act to headline the 18,000-seat, 16K-resolution-screened orb, Metallica will lean on its existing “No Repeat Weekend” framework, in which no one song is played twice across each weekly set of Thursday and Saturday shows. The band’s résumé speaks for itself: 125 million records sold, 25 billion streams, nine Grammy Awards and a 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Following the recent M72 World Tour that grossed more than $500 million across more than 80 shows, a Sphere showcase seemed like an obvious next step. Other world-renowned bands can still spend a lifetime cultivating this type of mass appeal. Metallica has been doing it since before many of us were even born. WHEREVER THEY MAY ROAM Metallica’s Sphere residency is almost paradoxically exclusive. Their M72 tour brought nightly crowds of more than 60,000 out to major U.S. arenas. Sphere can host less than a third of that. The one-of-a-kind experience also lead

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

METALLICA October 1November 7 & January 28-March 13, dates vary, 8:30 p.m. Sphere, ticketmaster.com.

to sobering realities for many fans who couldn’t secure or afford tickets. The first batch was snatched up within hours, leaving thousands more stuck in queues for days just to stand a chance of spending $700 to $6,000 per seat. As one of the 1.3 million people comprising Metallica’s official Fifth Member fan club, Ramirez found himself among the fortunate few who scored early. “I took the day off work because I wasn’t taking any chances. I was sitting there blasting Metallica’s S&M album while I waited,” Ramirez says. “I remember ‘Bleeding Me’ playing while I was paying, which is one of those random details that has stuck with me.” The band acknowledged the intense process was “frustrating and not always smooth.” A September announcement that they’d perform 12 additional 2027 tour dates following the Vegas run offered some consolation. Like Ramirez, New Zealander Jonathan Burchell saw the residency as a family affair. He’ll be flying in for opening weekend with his wife, Beccy Davis, and their 13-year-old daughter, Isabel. They, too, had the advantage of fan club membership. Still, nothing was guaranteed. “I think it was a Saturday morning when the tickets actually went on sale. I’m in bed asleep, and at about 6:30 a.m., [Beccy] is standing above me. I just assumed that something was wrong with the cat,” Burchell recalls. “She’s like, ‘You’re not going to believe this, but I’ve got tickets in my cart.’ It takes a while for me to process, and she’s like, ‘Should we go?’ And excuse my French, but I was like, f--- yeah.”

L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

Metallica photo courtesy/Tim Saccenti

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James Hetfield AP Photo/Paul R. Giunta

Isabel was kept in the dark until she came home from a friend’s house one night and discovered a Metallica-themed backdrop on her bedroom door. The fact that Metallica is her favorite band, Burchell says, is “a bit of a win.” “It feels like I’ve done some good parenting,” he adds. “People have asked me why we’re bringing her, but why wouldn’t we? I don’t think I would enjoy it as much knowing that she wasn’t with us and experiencing it as well.” NOTHING ELSE MATTERS Metallica has steered clear of spoilers, but speculation is running rampant. The band can draw from more than four decades of imagery ranging from classic metal iconography like snakes and cemeteries, to jagged

lightning fields, towering flames, padded sanitarium rooms, warrish hellscapes, cursed Pharaohs, a captive Lady Justice and, of course, puppet strings. We do know that their philanthropic efforts will follow them to Nevada for the duration of the residency. With help from American Red Cross, they’ll bring a pop-up blood drive to the Fashion Show mall that will include a replica backstage lounge area and a chance to win Ulrich’s own drum kit. Fans will have plenty of time to explore adjacent events and fan meetups between shows. But once they descend upon Sphere’s steep aisles for the first time, it’ll become clear that something like this can only happen in Las Vegas. Ramirez is counting down the days until he and Henry will mar-

vel up at world-bending visuals as their seats buzz in tandem with the thrashing riffs of “Creeping Death,” the transcendent solo of “One,” the Western-style intro of “Battery” and wailing strings of “Seek and Destroy.” “One of my favorite parts about being his dad is that I get to do all these things I couldn’t afford to do when I was a teenager, except now I get to do them with my best friend that I’m raising,” Ramirez says. For years, Henry has spun live Metallica cuts and wondered what they might sound like in person. Those days are now numbered, thanks to a promise kept. “This time, when we listen to the recordings, I won’t have to tell him what it was like,” Ramirez says. “He’ll know, because we were there together.”

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GREAT INNOVATORS OF THE VEGAS RESIDENCY SHANIA TWAIN The Canadian-born country-pop megastar would be a first ballot Vegas hallof-famer, if that was a thing, after three Strip residencies spanning different eras of her career. But Shania: Still the One at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, her first run from 20122014, brought her back to live performance for the first time in eight years and is considered the first modern Vegas residency from a major country star.

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Metallica’s arrival at Sphere is a game-changer because of the band’s status as metal gods, among other reasons; perhaps the technical nature of the music is the best match yet for the awe-inspiring capabilities of the venue. But there are plenty of different ways that different artists have evolved the Las Vegas residency and left their own special imprint on the Strip. Celine Dion’s legendary performances set the standard for the modern concert residency, and Bruno Mars is arguably the current standard bearer. Both have changed the way we see our headliners while doing what they do best. Here are some other high-impact resident artists of the modern age.

GARTH BROOKS

PRINCE

Brooks rewrote the residency record books twice; first with the exclusive Garth at Wynn shows at Encore Theater (capacity: 1,500) from 2009-2014, and then with Garth Brooks Plus One at the Colosseum from 2023-2025. Both used an intimate, one-man show format, defying traditional spectacle and spotlighting the songs and the style of a singular artist.

It’s no surprise one of the greatest and most enigmatic pop musicians of all time performed a truly unique, six-month run at the former Club Rio showroom—dubbed Club 3121 for the Purple One—for less than 1,000 fans each night in 2006-2007. He played whatever he wanted, for as long as he wanted, and demonstrated that the right kind of artist could create a new blueprint for a Vegas show.

BRITNEY SPEARS

GEORGE STRAIT

With the smash success of Piece of Me at Planet Hollywood starting in 2013—nearly 250 performances over four years— Britney let the world know that Vegas could be more than just the place to play in the twilight of a great career. The cavalcade of younger acts that followed in her footsteps have proven the theory.

Often overlooked, the Strait to Vegas residency saw the legendary “King of Country” play 36 shows at T-Mobile Arena from its opening in 2016 until 2022, grossing more than $90 million. This arena-sized success helped pave the way for the concept of a Sphere residency.

LADY GAGA Gaga launched two very different shows at once in 2018, the over-thetop spectacle Enigma and the stylish throwback Jazz & Piano, at Park MGM. Magic happens when Vegas lets risk-taking artists take those risks. –Brock Radke

AP Photos/ Photo illustration

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N E W S

LAND STEWARDS

Congresswoman Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Warren Graham, tribal chairman of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, were among the officials that met to discuss development on public lands and cultural sites at Gary Reese Freedom Park in east Las Vegas on September 26. (Photo by Steve Marcus)

IN THE NEWS

SPORTS

PUBLIC LANDS

NEVADA OFFICIALS FIGHT TO PROTECT LAND FROM UNCHECKED DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT Representatives of Nevada’s Indigenous community and U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., gathered at the 10th annual Nevada Public Lands Day block party at Gary Reese Freedom Park in east Las Vegas on September 26, urging residents to protect public lands and sacred sites from threats like data centers. “There’s always projects going up. You have the transmission line projects, solar projects that eat up a lot of land; you have geothermal projects, and the mining sector as well is huge in the state. So there’s always a possibility that these projects may impact cultural sites,” said Warren Graham, tribal chairman and tribal historic preservation officer of the Duckwater

MEDIA

Weekly wins big at statewide awards

Shoshone Tribe. “Any type of executive order that would be less stringent for companies to get projects, for sure is definitely a concern, especially when these projects are trying to get fast tracked and those streamlines may hinder a tribe’s ability to properly give their input.” Graham is his tribe’s liaison to the federal government, consulting on proposed projects on public land to relay the tribe’s concerns and help protect its cultural sites. Some lawmakers share Graham’s worries, saying actions by President Donald Trump’s administration could open public lands, including Nevada’s, to development with little input or oversight. About 80% of Nevada’s land

is federally owned. Trump signed an executive order in July 2025 directing federal agencies to speed permitting and make federal land available for data center development. About 11 months later, on June 26, the Bureau of Land Management approved a request from Townsite Solar 2 LLC to convert an approved solar project on 81 acres of federal land near Boulder City into a data center. Boulder City officials said the BLM never consulted them before its decision, and the city appealed. The Interior Board of Land Appeals temporarily halted the project Sept. 1 while it reviews appeals from the city and environmental groups. –Grace Da Rocha

WOMEN’S PRO HOCKEY DEBUTS DECEMBER 6 The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Las Vegas team will play its inaugural season opener December 6 at T-Mobile Arena against Detroit. Tickets are on sale at thepwhl.com/tickets. All 12 PWHL teams will be in action that weekend, and the complete regular season schedule is set to be released on October 2. The league began play in January 2024 with Las Vegas becoming one of four expansion teams added earlier this year. –Staff

Las Vegas Weekly earned 22 Nevada Press Foundation awards, including seven first-place awards, at the organization’s annual Awards of Excellence held this year in Las Vegas on September 26. The ceremony judged work from urban, rural, magazine and college publications and recognized reporting, photography, design and advertising published between April 2025 and March 2026. Staff writer Gabriela Rodriguez was honored with the Community Service Award for feature writing on the topic of firsttime homebuyers, as well as first place in coverage of underserved communities. The magazine’s art director Corlene Byrd was recognized with a first-place award for outstanding graphic designer, while the design team won first place for overall design. Staff writer Tyler Schneider’s story on casino shareholders’ calls to study smoking bans was awarded first place for health reporting. Senior editor Geoff Carter received a first-place award for arts and culture commentary. The magazine’s events team also received a first-place award for the Best of Vegas party at Zouk Nightclub in 2025. –Shannon Miller

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R E S E A R C H

How UNLV’s Ranjani Murali hunted for “dark oxygen” two miles down— and brought some home BY GEOFF CARTER In March of this year, a team of scientists—led by Emil Ruff, a Ph.D. in microbial ecology—descended into a 2.2-mile-deep mineshaft just outside of Johannesburg, South Africa. The NASA-funded expedition had an unusual objective: to research a billion-year-old brine discovered after an earthquake split a tunnel wall. That radioactive brine contains microbes, argon, phosphorus … and oxygen. Scientists call it “dark oxygen,” oxygen produced without photosynthesis. Ranjani Murali, assistant professor of microbial environmental genomics at UNLV, was on that expedition along with Sujung Lim, a postdoctoral scholar t ur from Murali’s lab. Murali Co explained—or tried to; I didn’t pass biology—what dark oxygen is, what it could represent, and UNLV’s role in investigating it. es y

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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

Ask a Professional: Maggie Manning, Esq.

Please explain this to me like you would to a middle schooler. I’ll do my best. What’s your field of study? Environmental microbiology. Understanding how microorganisms adapt to live in different types of ecosystems, spanning from very hot ecosystems like hot springs, or very cold ecosystems, to the deep sea. Usually, there’s an adaptation that allows them to survive there and allows them to make energy and grow. I’m interested in understanding those mechanisms. And how did you find yourself two miles down? This is a collaboration between me and many others, but the lead investigator, Dr. Emil Ruff, and I have worked together for many years. We first met at Microbial Diversity Summer School here in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. ... One place where our interests really intersected was that he was studying different sites where he noticed oxygen production where there wasn’t expected to be oxygen, and my lab is an expert in studying oxygen-reducing enzymes and aerobic metabolism. What’s cooking down in the Moab Khotsong mine? The current research team is studying oxygen-utilizing organisms that exist under the surface. So, in the subsurface, what was [previously] thought is that you had anaerobic life, or life that was not very tolerant of oxygen, and primarily cycled chemical compounds in environments without oxygen. But what we found, and are continuing to study in this group, is that even in the absence of light, you can have oxygen produced. Most of the oxygen in the world is produced by plants and microorganisms like cyanobacteria through the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis, as you know, requires light. So, we never expected oxygen in the subsurface ecosystems, like mines or in the deep sea, because they are protected from light. … We think that that’s happening because microorganisms can chemically

break down compounds such as nitric oxide and chlorite that are present in these places. And this dark oxygen is sustaining life? Radiolysis produces energy-rich particles, and these energy-rich particles can break down water in a way that wasn’t really possible without those. … Radioactive materials are toxic to all of us by producing these energy-rich particles that tend to break down compounds which are otherwise very stable. When these radioactive particles are released, they can interact with water and break that down into oxygen. Because the mine has radioactive minerals like uranium, it can produce these energy-rich particles that lead to the breakdown of water. And then you have oxygen, that can then be used by organisms that can grow on oxygen. You brought some of those organisms to UNLV to research them. How’s that going? My postdoc, Dr. Sujung Lim, is currently sampling these incubations to see whether oxygen has been producing. Most of these projects are long-term. We collected these samples now, but it may be a year or so before we can confirm the activity and the properties that we’re expecting. What might this research might tell us about the world? As far as we know, oxygen is one of the biggest drivers of the development of multicellular life. If oxygen can be found in different environments than we expect, it opens up possibilities of the kinds of life that we can see on Earth and potentially on other planets. So cool. Though I’ve seen lots of horror movies that begun with a team of scientists going underground. [Laughs.] I will tell you that there were definitely times where we were a little unsettled. There was a lot of nervous laughter. … But you have a group of people who work together, it also becomes a very joyful experience. … We did a lot of serious work on an interesting question, and we had a ton of fun while doing it. If it started as a horror movie, it ended like a camping movie.

Question: What can and can’t be included in a prenuptial agreement in Nevada?

Answer: Without a prenup, Nevada’s community property laws generally determine how assets and income acquired during marriage are divided. A prenup allows couples to establish different terms. A Prenup Can Address: Property and debt: Determine what remains separate and what becomes shared. Businesses and finances: Address business ownership, alimony, retirement accounts and life insurance. Wills and trusts: Coordinate estate documents, particularly when children from previous relationships are involved. A Prenup Cannot Override: Child support: A prenup cannot waive or limit a child’s right to support. Custody and visitation: Courts make these decisions based on the child’s best interests. A prenup should be in writing, signed well before the wedding and include full financial disclosure. Both parties should also have independent attorneys review it. Scan here to learn more:

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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

10.01.26

AP Photo/John Locher

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson

Veg ent as Go pos er 10t lden to b i t i o n h s e a K n i g h ts e at a s o s o n i n t n e o i n fa he m NH f the t iliar L eam s

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BY CASE KEEFER William Karlsson’s place as an unequivocal Las Vegas sports legend is secure no matter how the rest of his career goes as he approaches a decade with the Golden Knights. Truth be told, he never would have thought that was possible. At the start of this season’s training camp, Karlsson shared a first reaction he felt upon learning the Columbus Blue Jackets had maneuvered to ensure he would be taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft. “I was just worried it was going to be the opponents’ fans in the arena,” Karlsson said, expressing his initial hesitation with the idea of Las Vegas as a hockey town. “I was wrong, and I’m very happy with the way it worked out.” Reflection and nostalgia hover around the Golden Knights at their Summerlin headquarters as the team celebrates turning 10 years old with what it’s branding as “Season X” in the NHL. Vegas opens the milestone season with a pair of games at T-Mobile Arena, against the Chicago Blackhawks on September 29 and Anaheim Ducks on October 2. It’s hard for anyone around the team not to feel some satisfaction when looking back. The Golden Knights entered their first season hoping Karlsson and Co. could build a foundation to set the franchise up as a future force in the NHL. Instead, Vegas became a pillar right away with a run to the Stanley Cup Final, establishing a championship drive that has never ceased. Since joining the NHL, the Golden Knights lead the league with most playoff wins (76), most playoff series wins (15) and division titles (5). They’re also one of seven teams to claim the ultimate prize during the timeframe thanks to their dominant run in the 2022-2023 campaign. But they’re trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, which have a pair of championships in the last decade, and that eats at the Golden Knights even more than all the achievements validate them. Vegas has also twice fallen two wins short of winning the Stanley Cup, with its six-game series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in June joining the identical defeat to the Washington Capitals in 2018. “The guys that were on this team last year have unfinished business,” new coach Ryan Craig said. “The organization has unfinished business in the sense of where our standards are and what we

hope to accomplish.” “Cup or bust” is an arguably unreasonable expectation for any team to carry into a single season, in a league of 32 teams featuring the best players in the world. But the Golden Knights have maintained the mentality ever since the first Cup loss. That’s not changing this year. If anything, it’s heightened. They know no other way. “My goal is the same every day I step foot in this locker room, and that’s to try to help this team win the Stanley Cup,” captain Mark Stone said. “I’ve said that since I’ve gotten here, and I’ll say it until I leave here.” Many around hockey read the Golden Knights’ never-ending ambitions as arrogance, part of the reason why they’re now imprinted as the most hated team in the league. There’s also a misguided sense that Vegas plays by a different set of rules. Opposing fans whined the Golden Knights were set up for success with favorable expansion-draft rules, though the Seattle Kraken had the same setup four years later and have turned out to be one of the worst teams in the league. Salary cap circumvention during the 2023 playoffs is another common gripe, though the Lightning and Panthers both exploited the same loophole when they won it all. The salary cap now stays intact through both the regular season and the playoffs, so that criticism wouldn’t have applied if the Golden Knights held on against the Hurricanes. “I thought we were good enough to be a champion,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “I truly did, so the challenge is to build your team over the course of the year to be that type of a team again. There are no guarantees. There’s obviously a lot of teams in the NHL who are trying to do the exact same thing, but you try to build your roster the same way and try to create the right habits and standards through the team … and you try to work your way through it.” McCrimmon’s biggest move this offseason was hiring Craig, a near lifelong acolyte. Craig joined McCrimmon’s junior hockey league franchise, the Brandon Wheat Kings, as a player when he was 15 years old. Craig’s professional playing days wound down right when the Golden Knights came into the league, leading to McCrimmon hiring him as an assistant in a position he held through the championship year. Craig has spent the last two years as the coach of the Henderson Silver Knights,

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getting ready for what many always believed was an imminent shot at the Golden Knights’ job. Still, his hiring this offseason came as somewhat of a surprise after interim coach John Tortorella took over and led the Golden Knights from nearly out of the playoffs to Pacific Division and Western Conference titles last year. Craig didn’t hesitate to accept the challenge despite the immense pressure to produce in the role and the willingness McCrimmon has shown to move on from coaches who don’t. For all the Golden Knights’ success, they’ve gone through four other coaches already with the average tenure less than three years. “I believe there’s very good culture and standards here already,” Craig said. “My job is to come in here and try to uphold those just the same as our players do and everyone in the organization. I’ll put my stamp on it.” Craig, 44, is the youngest head coach in franchise history and first without any previous NHL coaching experience. The players have praised his energy at practice and familiarity after having pre-established relationships with the majority of the team. The biggest exception as a player Craig didn’t know well was star Mitch Marner, who joined the Golden Knights last year. But Marner said he met with Craig frequently throughout the summer, and they’ve gone to extra lengths to break the ice. Based on training camp and preseason rushes, Marner will lead what’s technically the second forward line alongside Karlsson and Brett Howden. But the trio largely outplayed the top group—Stone, Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev— throughout last year’s playoffs. Having two lines that strong is a luxury for Craig, as is utilizing what might be the deepest arsenal of defenseman in the NHL. He’s currently using former All-Star Noah Hanifin as a third-pairing blue-liner when he would be at the top of many teams’ depth charts. The Golden Knights are far past sneaking up on opponents like their early days given the roster quality, but that’s no excuse to keep them from competing at the top of the league. The franchise took the NHL by storm from the moment it debuted. The truest way to honor an anniversary is to keep thundering ahead louder. “We were two wins away from the Cup, so our mindset is to get back in the Final and bring it back to Vegas,” Karlsson said.

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S P O R T S

Brett Howden

Keep an eye on these four VGK forwards to fill the void left by Pavel Dorofeyev

The sixth-year Golden Knight is such an obvious starting point that he arguably shouldn’t even qualify. Howden played the best hockey of his career last postseason, leading the team with 14 goals and rivaling Marner as the Golden Knights’ best candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy (Stanley Cup Playoffs most valuable player). This season will determine if that was a random uptick in production or something more sustainable. It wouldn’t be unprecedented to see Howden take a leap, considering he’s entering his prime at 28 years old and was once a top prospect as a former firstround draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He also now appears entrenched on a line with Marner and Karlsson, an enviable spot next to two playmakers that Howden credited for most of his playoff success.

Victor Olofsson

BY CASE KEEFER Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner will generate the largest share of the Golden Knights’ offense. Mark Stone and William Karlsson will chip in their share of contributions too, providing particularly strong two-way play and leadership. The roles at the top of Vegas’ defensemen group are just as defined. Shea Theodore will drive the most offense while Brayden McNabb is tasked with being the lockdown stopper. Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin lean more toward Theodore’s profile but will be asked to fill a little in both buckets. The Golden Knights’ core of best players is set, but who will emerge as the most important complementary pieces? There’s a particular opening in the scoring department with Pavel Dorofeyev, who led the team in goals the last two years, traded to the New York Rangers over the offseason. Here are four players to watch who could prove as vital to the Golden Knights’ success as their frontline teammates.

Brett Howden by John Locher/AP Photo; all others by Steve Marcus

The 31-year-old Swedish winger had an up-and-down season with the Golden Knights two years ago, but a number of fans were still disappointed to see him leave in free agency. They didn’t have to wait long to get him back, as Olofsson signed for a second stint in Vegas after playing for Calgary and Colorado last season. Dorofeyev’s departure must have been enticing to Olofsson, who fits a similar profile as a sharpshooting, offensive-first player. Olofsson will be tasked with depth scoring and could even slot into Dorofeyev’s role as the first unit power-play sniper, though it looks like he’ll start the season on the second power play.

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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY

Trevor Connelly

The way general manager Kelly McCrimmon and coach Ryan Craig talk, it’s a matter of when, not if, the organization’s top prospect will make an impact this season. McCrimmon said the 2024 first-round pick, “is different than any player in our organization probably (with) elite hockey sense, elite talent.” But Connelly is still young at 20 years old and undersized at 161 pounds, so development remains the focus over forcing him into big minutes. He spent much of training camp playing on the third line along Olofsson and Tomas Hertl, a collection of players that has high goal-scoring potential. Connelly cruised with the Silver Knights under Craig’s watch last year, banking 49 points in 46 games despite being one of the least experienced players in the American Hockey League. He might be ready to leave the minor leagues behind ahead of schedule.

Braeden Bowman

The Golden Knights locked up the 23-year-old with a sixyear contract extension on the eve of training camp, right around the time they also added two years on the captain Stone’s deal. The timing could be seen as a reflection of how much the franchise believes Bowman is a big part of its future. Injuries elevated him to the Golden Knights a year ago, and he flashed in spurts with eight goals and 18 assists in 54 games. But McCrimmon praised his attitude even more, saying Bowman “didn’t sulk” after getting sent back down to Henderson at the end of the year. Bowman will have every chance to stick in the NHL and become a lineup staple this season, and has the potential to be a difference-maker.

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10.01.26

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M U S I C

Bilingual Chicago trio French Police brings brooding, danceable post-punk to Area15 B Y G A B R I E L A R O D R I G U E Z

Courtesy/Chris Eichenseer

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hen a band like French Police takes the stage, the whole atmosphere shifts. Faux fog rolls into the room. Mood lighting shrouds it in mystery. Before you can catch a good look, the Chicago-based trio launches into a pulsating, bassand-guitar-heavy track. Haunting Spanish vocals cut through the haze as the band settles into its melancholic, romantic sound. French Police thrives in a smoky club, a fitting scene for a band that’s contributed to the recent resurgence of post-punk and darkwave genres. Mexican-American musician Brian Flores founded French Police in 2018 with his brother Jesse, following their departure from the indie-rock project Karma Wears White Ties. As venues started reopening post-pandemic, the band’s online following took off and Flores (lead vocals/ rhythm guitar) rebuilt the lineup with lead guitarist Manny Herrera and bassist Rolando Donjuan. The revamped ensemble wasted no time returning to the stage and has embarked on multiple tours since. After performing in Las Vegas several times—at the now-defunct Artifice and Backstage Bar & Billiards—French Police will finally play its first set at Area15 on October 2. “Something that stands out is that the city is always just alive,” says Herrera. That energy is something the band has spent years building toward. French Police’s 2019 debut cultivated a loyal fanbase, leading to hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners on streaming platforms like Spotify. Its breakout single “Vampiro” has surpassed 26 million streams, while “Club de Vampiros” highlights the shimmering guitars, hypnotic basslines and bilingual vocals that have become a signature of the band. Its discography has grown to include four full-length studio albums with more to come. The band’s sound is heavily influenced by early-2000s indie rock, particularly Interpol. And that will come full circle this year when French Police opens for the band in Nashville.

“I don’t want to freak myself out, but I mean, yeah, it’s kind of crazy,” says Flores. “We would always talk about, how far could we possibly get? Who could we open for? And I mean, it’s happening now,” says Donjuan. French Police also recently signed to Interscope Records, joining a major label artist roster that includes Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar. Since then, the band has released two sets of double singles: “Reptile” and “Japan” in July, followed by “Super Over Drive” and “Silver” in August. Although the songs share a similar atmosphere, Flores says that wasn’t intentional. “I don’t ever really think about a mood when I’m writing,” he says. “But all four singles we just released have to do with loneliness.” As French Police has grown, so has the post-punk and darkwave scene. Herrera says the band was fortunate to be one of the few Chicago groups exploring that sound when they started. “It wasn’t as popular in Chicago as it is right now,” he says. But with the genre becoming increasingly crowded, the band is already thinking about what comes next. “We don’t really want to do the same kind of music anymore,” Flores says. “It’s becoming a little played out. I come from an indie background, so I want to experiment with bringing some indie back into the music or going in a different direction.” For musicians who have watched their small project turn into something much bigger and hit some impressive milestones, they’re still trying to process it all. “That’s why we play it cool, I guess. We’re just shy. I mean, that’s why we wear those stupid sunglasses onstage,” Flores jokes. “If I didn’t wear those, I’d be freaking out.”

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FRENCH POLICE With Social Order. October 2, 7 p.m., $34-$67. The Portal at Area15, area15.com.

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Photos courtesy

Things I Shouldn’t Tell You sparks a hilarious discourse on aging and stigma at THIRD Street

BY SHANNON MILLER

any comedians have joked that if men experienced monthly menstruation or menopause, women would never hear the end of it. There’s some social contract that relegates women to suffering in silence versus talking openly about the struggles and changes women experience with their bodies as they age. Things I Shouldn’t Tell You, playing at THIRD Street October 1-11, aims to change that with confessionals, comedy and audience interaction. Created by and starring Las Vegas performer and professional clown Shannan Calcutt with sound design and music by legendary Las Vegas DJ Robert Oleysyck, the production shines a light on the stigmas surrounding menopause. “Nobody told me what perimenopause was, and that it lasted a decade, and that over 1 billion women are going through it today. So, part of the show is, let’s have a new rite of passage,” Calcutt says. “Let’s have perimenopause parties with games and a gift registry, like you do at a wedding or baby shower … so that this is a celebration and that we have a big laugh at all these things that are happening to us, and talk about them so we’re not feeling any kind of shame.” After making its debut in March in Canada, the show has been expanded for its Las Vegas premiere. Here are three reasons to check it out. THINGS I SHOULDN’T TELL YOU October 1-3 & 5-10, 7 p.m. (& October 4 & 11, 2 p.m.), $45. THIRD Street, thirdstreet.vegas.

Intergenerational discourse What’s not intriguing about airing out dirty laundry? In this production, private or embarrassing secrets are laid bare. And through showing and truth-telling, an intergenerational theme emerges. “There’s one scene where I’m in the laundry room and there’s two pairs of panties. One belongs to my daughter and one to my mom, and they’re both stained— one with blood and one with urine. So, it’s sort of seeing all the stages,” Calcutt says.

Audience participation Calcutt isn’t the only one revealing secrets. The audience takes the spotlight, too. And after witnessing Calcutt share onstage, they’ll be surprised at how much they actually have to talk about— from brain fog to hot flashes to formication (a crawling sensation under the skin). “The first act is the things I shouldn't tell you. The second act is things the audience shouldn’t tell, and it’s a fearless conversation,” she says.

Celebration “I want to bring this show to Las Vegas locals and create this experience of coming together and celebrating things that we may consider our flaws, really having a laugh and trading shame for a vag of honor— which also happens to be an air freshener party favor,” Calcutt says. Confetti cannons and bingo usher in a new attitude toward menopause, as well as fun, themed drinks (a refreshing Sweaty Betty or Second Puberty Punch, anyone?) that come with a ticket.

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10.01.26

KITTEN AROUND B Y

T Y L E R

ZOLTAN KASZAS October 2, 9:30 p.m., $27-$82. Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster. com.

S C H N E I D E R

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Comedian Zoltan Kaszas on Old Vegas, returning to the motherland and converting anxiety into laughs

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Zoltan Kaszas’s two-decade climb up the stand-up circuit includes milestones like winning the 2013 Seattle International Comedy Competition and garnering nearly 70 million views on his breakout 2017 special, Cat Jokes. Now an international draw, Kaszas caught up with the Weekly ahead of his October 2 set at The Palazzo Theatre. Was Vegas ever on your radar growing up just a few hours away, in a San Diego trailer park? The first time Vegas was ever put on my mind as a kid was probably the big Saved by the Bell special where Zack and Kelly get married. It was them running around Vegas, and there were mobsters involved, gambling and quick weddings. Once I got into comedy, that was one of the places you could travel to from San Diego and be a working comedian. The first time I ever did a weekend at a comedy club was actually at the LA Comedy Club, which was at the Four Queens at the time. You moved from Hungary to the U.S. at 4 years old and hadn’t returned for more than 30 years until your Worldwide(ish) tour brought you back to Budapest in March. What was that like? I was blown away. I didn’t know how many people were watching my stuff out there, but it was apparently a decent amount because we were able to fill up the theater so much that I played there twice. We went to the old apartment that I used to live in with my mom and grandma, and I remembered that my preschool was right behind the building. I was still able to find it off memory, like an old feral cat or something. I also had a family friend show up who was holding onto a bunch of cool documents that belonged to my grandfather—communist-era housing allowances, work certifications

and his high school report card. It was an amazing experience. What can fans of your older material expect from your latest special, London Fog? Each new hour gets a little more personal. I’ve always had stuff about anxiety, but London Fog delved more into the specifics of how I interact in the world. So many people related to the Starbucks bit, about how I have to memorize my order because I don’t like to be caught off guard. One lady even had my order printed on a shirt and wore it to a show. Every time I let out a little bit of my weirdness, it seems to connect with a certain amount of people who will come up to me and go, “Me too.” Plenty of jokes reference your fondness for Old Vegas. Any fun plans for your downtime here? I was actually going to be here whether this show was happening or not, because I bought tickets to Metallica’s Sphere show before it was even booked. I’m pumped. And my favorite part of Vegas is Old Vegas. It’s getting modernized more than I’d like to see, but it still has older casinos that bring me a lot of joy, like the Golden Nugget, Four Queens and Binion’s. I’m a small-time gambler, so I’ll smoke my one cigar a year and go on a hunt for a $5 blackjack table—which I rarely ever find—and play until two or three in the morning. I do that once, and I’m tired for the next four days. Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.

Courtesy/Jim McCambridge

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at The Library District FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 15 Michael Nigro: Classical Guitar – Live in Concert

¡RITMOS DEL SUR! – A Journey Through Latin American Soundscapes Nuestras Voces Historias Orales: Hispanic Heritage Oral History Project Fridays (October 2, 9, 16 & 23) 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. East Las Vegas Library Record a short video about your Hispanic heritage. The completed project will become part of the Library District’s Oral History Collection. Participants will receive a digital copy. Ages: All Ages

Saturday, October 3 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Clark County Library Duo Mystique Flute and Harp bring the rich cultural tapestry of Latin America and South America to life.

Ages: Adults

Quartet Elegancia - In Concert

Fiesta Folklórico – A Celebration of Culture and Dance! Wednesday, October 14 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. West Las Vegas Library This colorful performance highlights the cultural traditions of Mexican folklórico dance. Ages: All Ages

Sunday, October 4 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sahara West Library Acclaimed musical ensemble celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a collection of Latin-inspired music. Ages: Adults

The Sonz – Live in Concert – A Night of Spanish Rock Friday, October 2 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Windmill Library Spanish rock, cumbia, and nonstop energy with one of Las Vegas’ favorite live bands. Ages: Teens & Adults

Monday, October 5 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Sahara West Library Tuesday, October 6 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Enterprise Library Wednesday, October 7 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Clark County Library This artist will perform a series of classical guitar concerts in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Flavio Enchanted Flutes Sunday, October 4 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. West Charleston Library Enchanting South American Flute music! Ages: Teens & Adults

Lote, Lote, Lote ... Lotería!

Con Cultura y Corazón – Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Thursdays (October 8 & 15) 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. East Las Vegas Library Play this beloved traditional game for a chance to win prizes while supplies last! Ages: All Ages

Thursday, October 15 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. West Las Vegas Library A vibrant gathering dedicated to honoring our shared history and future. Ages: Teens & Adults

Scan here for more:

ARTS • CULTURE • DANCE • BOOKS • MUSIC • MOVIES • FOOD • HISTORY • SPORTS

Here’s to the ones who make Vegas,

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Metro Sliceteria elevates the by-the-slice experience to new heights BY GEOFF CARTER

Photo by Wade Vandervort

“The first of its name,” proudly declares the front window of Metro Pizza Sliceteria. Anyone who fondly remembers the first seven seasons of Game of Thrones (and only the first seven seasons) recognizes that phrase; it describes royalty. And while it’s tempting to appoint Metro co-founder, master pizzaiolo and World Pizza Champions team member John Arena to that cast-iron throne, that wording describes a thing, not a person. Sliceteria, a clever rethinking of Metro’s dine-in concept, has a legit claim to that sovereign title. Here, Arena’s gourmet pies are available by the slice, in a half-moon shaped cafeteria-style line that affords you a mouth-watering preview of everything on offer. On the day of our visit, left to right: Two rectangular Roman style pizzas, lemon artichoke and potato & bacon; the Sicilian style 86th Street pizzas, available in classic cheese, pepperoni or meatball and ricotta; peaches and cream, butter crust sesame and chicken pesto Grandma style pies; and classic New York slices, available in a dazzling variety: skinny white, classic cheese pepperoni, barbecue brisket and the ham, METRO sausage and pepperoni-loaded SLICETERIA Abbondanza. 8720 W. Sunset Thanks to Sliceteria’s chilRoad #D150, laxed, window shopping-like 702-736-1955, metrosliceteria. presentation and moderate com. Daily, pricing—the generously-sized 11 a.m.-8 p.m. slices are $5-$7, depending on the fanciness of the pie—decision paralysis isn’t a thing here. You simply pick your slices, either from the counter staff or the touchscreen menu at the door, and wait for them to be heated, maybe checking out the day’s selection of Villa Dolce gelatos. Grab a table and enjoy them in Sliceteria’s bright, airy dining room, or on the enclosed patio next to the Instagram-ready backdrop of angel wings made from cheese, pepperoni and mushrooms. Even Sliceteria’s whimsy tastes good. Best of all, Sliceteria makes it almost criminally easy to get one of Metro’s award-winning pies served hot and whole, via pickup or delivery. I’m partial to the Memphis ($37), with its diced chicken, sliced red onion and light dribble of tangy barbecue sauce, and the Green Valley ($36), a bounteous veggie pie with onion, green pepper, mushrooms, black olives and cherry tomatoes. Their to-go boxes declare “Let’s get outta here,” which is funny, because nearly everything else about Sliceteria says the opposite.

Try Our Saturday, October 3, 2026 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin® Join us for a free outdoor event that promotes being a caring neighbor. Attendees engage in community-faced acts of kindness and take part in family-friendly activities. PBS KIDS’ beloved character Daniel Tiger will be on stage for guest appearances throughout the day. Scan the QR code to learn more or go to vegaspbs.org/bemyneighborday. © 2026 DFO, LLC. At participating restaurants for a limited time only. Selection and prices may vary. While supplies last.

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Photos by Joe Janet/courtesy Beauty & Essex

Hamachi aguachile

A light and refreshing raw preparation with premium, thinly sliced fish, cucumber, avocado, red onion and guajillo oil and garnished with watermelon radish.

Tomahawk ribeye

Thirty-eight ounces of perfectly cooked cowboy steak is complete with salsa negra, gremolata and seasonal peppers.

Summer tomato and stone fruit salad

Celebrate summer any time of year with seasonal tomatoes, plums, peaches, chili ricotta, pesto, mint and lemon oil.

Japanese charcoal-grilled branzino

A charcoal grill imparts smokiness and crispiness to the slightly sweet, flaky fish served with escarole and summer squash.

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n The juxtaposition of a peddling pawn shop and a hidden, decadent restaurant has proven to be a winning combination. Beauty & Essex is celebrating 10 years since the opening of its Vegas outpost at the Cosmopolitan with what chef Chris Santos calls “the most ambitious menu change we’ve ever done.” In close collaboration with Tao Group Hospitality corporate chef Lucas Knox, corporate pastry chef Nicholas Forte and Beauty & Essex executive chef Mariano Ochoa, Santos created 19 new dishes and six new desserts. Here are our picks from the new menu.

Crispy eggplant

Eggplant tastes best fried, especially when coated in seasoned bread crumbs and served up with tomato gastrique and a sprinkle of parmesan.

Carrot cake

This isn’t your grandma’s carrot cake. This moist morsel is piped with perfectly sweet cream cheese frosting and topped with caramelized pecans.

Shishito poppers

Turn up the heat with these sophisticated shishitos atop a roasted pepper spread, drizzled with honey chili crisp and bacon bits.

Blushing Pearl

Almost too pretty to eat, this oneof-a-kind dessert is composed of lychee mousse, raspberry compote and sponge cake for a light end-ofmeal delight. –Shannon Miller

BEAUTY & ESSEX Cosmopolitan, (702) 737-0707, taogroup.com. Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5-11 p.m.

VEGAS INC BUSINESS

10.01.26 HOUSING

INDUSTRY LEADERS UNITE UNDER NEW COALITION TO DRIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER

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VEGAS INC STAFF

takeholders across the housing and development industry in Las Vegas are coming together to form the Southern Nevada Development Coalition to address challenges in the sector and advocate for solutions to policymakers. The coalition (SNDC) is a collaborative alliance of organizations representing construction, housing, real estate and related industries, said Tina Frias, CEO of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association. It launched in August. “It’s really about unifying our message and our voice where that makes sense, and also pulling together our resources and contacts so that we can be even more impactful in the community,” Frias said. The challenges facing Southern Nevada are increasingly interconnected, said Tiffany Banks, CEO of Nevada Realtors. “When we’re talking about issues, whether it’s housing attainability, land availability, infrastructure, water, the cost of construction and development, financing, insurance, regulation and ultimately our ability to continue growing in a responsible way, there’s no single organization or industry that can solve those issues alone,” Banks said. Realtors, for example, often see the end of the process, Banks said. A homebuilder sees the housing market from a different lens, as does a developer, contractor and others, she said. Combining these perspectives gives a more complete picture, and makes each arm of the coalition a better advocate, Banks said. Housing attainability is the issue that connects all the others, Banks emphasized. “People sometimes look at the price of a home and assume that there’s one reason that it costs what it costs,” she said. “But there isn’t.” It’s affected by the infrastructure, permitting and regulatory requirements, labor and materi-

A KB Home gets finishing touches in Inspirada in 2014. (Sun file)

als, financing and interest rates, insurance and more, she said. “All of those factors eventually show up somewhere in the cost of housing,” she said. “We shouldn’t just ask, how do we make housing more affordable? We should also be willing to ask, what are we doing, sometimes unintentionally even, that makes housing more expensive?” One issue is the availability of land. More than 80% of Nevada’s land is owned by the federal government, said Robin Crawford, executive director of the Nevada State Apartment Association. It would make sense to develop housing on much of that land, Crawford said, but it’s difficult to cut through the red tape. “If there was more supply brought to the market, that would put downward pressure on rents,” she said. “Things would become more affordable. So we’re just always trying to get the word out there that supply is really the answer to issues that might be out there … about housing.” Industries that historically may have advocated alongside one another are now advocating with one another, Banks said, talking earlier, sharing information, identifying common challenges, developing solutions and standing in front of—and sometimes working hand in hand with—policymakers. “Southern Nevada has tremendous opportu-

nity ahead of it, and the question isn’t whether we’re going to grow,” she said. “The most important question is how we grow thoughtfully and make sure that people who make these communities work can continue to be a part of them.” Crawford is looking forward to the SNDC being a resource for lawmakers, including city officials and county administrators, to talk about solutions to increase supply and make housing more affordable, she said. “It’s very new, but a long-term goal would be to see maybe some piece of legislation, or even if it’s not a new law, it would be just us coming to the table and discussing solutions to the housing shortage, to housing affordability and being groups that can actually make a difference in Southern Nevada,” Crawford said. Nevada is a prime destination for relocation, said Banks, who pointed to cost-of-living compared with other states—particularly California—and the lack of income tax. “We still are building,” she said. “People complain about those orange cones everywhere, but that’s actually a really good thing. When you think about things like rent control and other band-aids to issues that don’t help an economy as a whole ... Nevada does a really great job making sure that there’s a fair and balanced approach to many of these issues.”

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