Football season takes over RedTail at Resorts World Las Vegas. Catch every play across more than 30 screens, settle in for game-day watch parties and keep the good times going with a $35 all-you-can-drink package available daily. On weekends, pair the action with a $35 all-you-can-eat package, available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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T A B L E
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10.08.26
C O N T E N T S
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
C O N T E N T S 16 PRIDE ON PARADISE
ON THE COVER Photo by Christopher DeVargas/Staff
As traditional Pride festivities take place Downtown, the Pride on Paradise block party builds on a legacy in the historic Fruit Loop.
Asia King Adour performs at Drag Ultra Brunch at Gipsy. (Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
ENTERTAINING
14
How to celebrate spooky season— maybe a monster mash, or a Victorian gothic bash?
NEWS
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Cashman Field closes on October 17 and Vegas tips its hat to the home of early pro sports teams.
08 SUPERGUIDE
SPORTS
28
The Lakers, playing at T-Mobile Arena this week, are not a local team, but they get local love anyway.
SCENE
30
Side Quest Sports celebrates the Ren Fair, or any time of year, with knight fights.
MUSIC
FOOD & DRINK
Las Vegas singer-songwriter Ted Sablay sits with hard truths in his second album.
Montreal smoked meats icon Lester’s Deli plants U.S. flagship in Henderson.
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TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue join forces at Fontainebleau, classic cars and horror celebrities haunt the Silverton and more this week.
Want More? Visit lasvegasweekly.com.
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SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY OCT 8 LAS VEGAS PRIDE PARADE 7 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas, lasvegaspride.org. OH, MARY! Thru 10/11, 7:30 p.m. (& 10/10-10/11, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
PRIDE ON PARADISE Thru 10/11, 5 p.m., Fruit Loop, prideonparadise.com.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
LAS VEGAS ACES VS. GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES 6:30 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.
FRIDAY OCT 9 UNLV HOCKEY VS. SAN DIEGO STATE 7 p.m., & 10/10, City National Arena, rebelhockey.com.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK 8 p.m., & 10/10, 10/14, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO 7 & 9:30 p.m., & 10/10, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
JOSH GROBAN 8 p.m., & 10/10, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
TUMUA 9:30 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
BARRY MANILOW 7 p.m., & 10/10 (& 10/8, 8 p.m.), Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
DINOSAUR JR. 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. MURDERMART With Sonia Barcelona, Candelas, 8 p.m., Fergusons Downtown, eventbrite.com.
LOATHE 6:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com. SUBTRONICS Noon, Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com. TWIN DIPLOMACY 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.
EMPIRE OF THE SUN 7:30 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.
FOR KING AND COUNTRY 7 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com. LEGENDS OF GOSPEL 7 p.m., & 10/9, Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
S U P E R G U I D E
DEAD X 10 p.m., Discopussy, posh.vip. WRECKNO 10 p.m., We All Scream, eventim.us.
*Spotlight events are sponsored
Courtesy/Luke Steele, UMG SALT-N-PEPA & TLC WITH EN VOGUE You heard that right—three of the most legendary girl groups in R&B and hip-hop will join forces for the It’s Iconic tour in honor of the game-changing hits that have defined generations. This is the first time these divas have shared a stage in this capacity, and you can bet they’ll be playing all your favorites, from “Shoop” and “Whatta Man” to “No Scrubs” and “Waterfalls.” Vocal powerhouses of this level rarely share the spotlight, so don’t miss a chance to witness history. 7:30 p.m., $363+, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com. –Amber Sampson S P OT L I G H T E V E N T AGE OF CHIVALRY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL A legendary realm awakens beyond the gates of Sunset Park for the 32nd annual Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival, October 9–11. Step out of the modern world and into a sprawling village filled with mystical sorcery, full-contact jousting and royal feasts. Wander bustling streets to discover artisan crafters, vibrant musicians and interactive games while keeping a watchful eye out for fairies, swashbuckling pirates and roaming dragons. Gather your favorite companions, don your finest medieval or fantasy garb, and immerse yourself in a weekend of timeless wonder. The realm is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Let the magic begin! lvrenfair.com
Courtesy/Fred Morledge Photo FM
DIZZY WRIGHT With Codefendants, 7 p.m., Bizarre Bar, eventbright.com.
10.08.26
MUSIC
PARTY
ARTS
SPORTS
FOOD
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
COMEDY
MISC
SATURDAY OCT 10 S P OT L I G H T E V E N T
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. LA KINGS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. TACOS & TEQUILA FESTIVAL With TI, Fat Joe, Trina, more, 2 p.m., Las Vegas Ballpark, tacosandtequilafestival. com. AKI MATSURI JAPANESE FESTIVAL 11 a.m., Water Street Plaza, akimatsurinv.com.
JUANES 8 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com.
EMMA NISSEN 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
UNDERTALE: THE DETERMINATION SYMPHONY 8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com. BRINCOS DIERAS 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com. MADEON 8 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com. POOLSIDE VIBES MUSIC FESTIVAL With Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid, more, 6 p.m., & 10/11, Sandbar at Red Rock, ticketmaster.com. THE WALLFLOWERS 8 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, rwlasvegas.com.
ESDEEKID With Rico Ace, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
DO IT ALL
HIGH WATAH 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, ticketmaster.com. HEATHER MCMAHAN 9:30 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com. KYGO 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com. DJ SNAKE 11 a.m., Omnia Dayclub, taogroup.com. LOUIS THE CHILD 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com. TWO FRIENDS With Charly Jordan, 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
TYGA 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com. TIËSTO 11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com. ALISON WONDERLAND 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.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
UNLV FOOTBALL VS. NORTH DAKOTA STATE 4 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, unlvtickets.com.
NIGHTMARE IN VEGAS 2 If Halloween and rockabilly had a baby, this would be it. Nightmare in Vegas 2 brings live entertainment, classic cars and opportunities to meet spooky celebrities. The horror-themed event returns to the Silverton this year with Academy Award-winning makeup artist Ve Neill (Beetlejuice), Dr. Chud of the Misfits, actress Leonora Scelfo from Scream and more celebrity guests, plus panels, the Miss Nightmare in Vegas Pinup Pageant, and cosplayers from Monster Slaughter and Dead City Sliders. Mutt N’ Jeff will host a haunted classic car show with Skull Manor LV Hearse, 310 Riders and dozens of custom vehicles. Detroit psychobilly band the Koffin Kats will entertain with live music, as well as Dr. Chud’s X-Ward, Los Carajos and many more. 4 p.m. (& 10/11, noon), $15-$60, Silverton, nightmareinvegas.com. –Shannon Miller
Courtesy
THE USED & MAGGIE LINDEMANN The local favorite Downtown Rocks Summer Concert Series at Fremont Street Experience closes out with a bang, featuring emo-rock icons The Used and alt-rock powerhouse Maggie Lindemann. Join thousands of locals and visitors alike under The Canopy for one more explosive night of live music to end the season. Stop by the Fremont Party Pit across from 3rd Street Stage for chances to win free VIP wristbands to either concert and other great prizes, like zipline rides on SlotZilla, exclusive offers at neighboring hotels, and more. fremontstreetexperience.com
*Spotlight events are sponsored
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SUPERGUIDE
MUSIC
PARTY
SUNDAY OCT 11
ARTS
FOOD
SPORTS
COMEDY
MISC
MONDAY OCT 12
WRESTLING U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Thru 10/18, 10:30 a.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com. EXHIBIT: HENDERSON CREATES Thru 11/19, Mon.-Thur. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Henderson City Hall, cityofhenderson.com. EXHIBIT: DISCOMBOBULATED Thru 11/30, times vary, Recycled Propaganda, recycledpropaganda.com. MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com.
S U P E R G U I D E
Courtesy/Graham Fielder
BLUES TRAVELER 8 p.m., Bel-Aire Backyard, axs.com.
BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT 7 p.m., B-Side at House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
COOL MIST BAND 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.
CHRISTINE TASSAN 2 p.m., Solista Park, cityofhenderson.com.
OMNOM 11 a.m., Omnia Dayclub, taogroup.com.
PROSPA 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com. MURDA BEATZ 7 p.m., Omnia Dayclub, taogroup.com. JIMMIE J.J. WALKER 7:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.
DO IT ALL
CHASE B 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com. BRAD GARRETT With Tom McTigue, 8 p.m., & 10/13, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com. CARLOS MENCIA 7:30 p.m., & 10/14, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com. TOM RHODES Thru 10/18, 8:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.
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SUPERGUIDE
MUSIC
TUESDAY OCT 13
PARTY
ARTS
SPORTS
FOOD
COMEDY
MISC
WEDNESDAY OCT 14 HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS 7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
GNASH 7 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com.
JUDY COLLINS 7 p.m., & 10/15, Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com. LIONEL RICHIE 8 p.m., & 10/16-10/17, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
Courtesy
AKEEM ALI 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.
BEAT: THE MUSIC OF KING CRIMSON 7:30 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
S U P E R G U I D E
DO IT ALL
THE SUGAR THIEVES 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.
LOOK AHEAD
REGGIE CONQUEST With Casey Balsham, Chris Storin, Eric Neumann, thru 10/18, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.
BYRON KENNEDY Thru 10/18, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com. JUSTIN CREDIBLE 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24
TAYLOR HUNNICUTT 10 p.m., Stoney’s North Forty, tixr.com. NEKROGOBLIN With Rivers of Nihil, Cyborg Octopus, 7 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com. ELI & THE MELOMANIACS 7 p.m., Grey Witch, dice.fm. BUNT 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
S P OT L I G H T E V E N T
TASTE OF UNCOMMONS Join us in The Quad for the evening of Saturday, October 24 to explore everything UnCommons has to offer. Discover a new food-centered experience where you can indulge in amazing flavors and mingle with the community. Whether you’re a foodie or just looking for a new way to spend your weekend, Taste of UnCommons has something for everyone. Each ticket includes tastings from Wineaux, General Admission, Rare Society, Todo Bien, Cootoh and Amari Italian Kitchen & Wine Shop, in addition to 10-12 wine and cocktail pairings from featured beverage partners. Don’t miss out on this chance to explore several restaurants in one place at one time. uncommons.com/event/taste-of-uncommons/
Courtesy
*Spotlight events are sponsored
MEET US HERE. Your plans just got more interesting.
Bowling, mini golf, laser tag, arcade, food and drinks, plus plenty of reasons to stay for one more round.
GRAND OPENING OCTOBER 16!
DATE NIGHT. FRIENDS NIGHT. FAMILY NIGHT. ANY NIGHT. 3375 St. Rose Pkwy | Henderson, NV 89052 hendersonsportandsocial.com
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E N T E R TA I N I N G
FOOD & DRINK
Photo illustration
If you’ve got the creative urge and space in your schedule, you can combine dining and decoration. A haunted gingerbread house is a fun spin on the sugary Christmas versions, adorned with candy corn railings, licorice spiderwebs and marshmallow ghosts. If you don’t have a sweet tooth— or fangs, as the case may be—create a charcuterie cemetery with cracker gravestones, brie coffins and gooey puddles of jam. Use cookie cutters to cut cheese slices into ghosts or bats.
DECOR
Throw a party that will be the highlight of spooky season B Y
L I S S A
T O W N S E N D
R O D G E R S
Everyone knows that Halloween brings the eerie, the creepy and the downright scary. But when it comes to throwing a holiday party, you need to be specific about the sort of spooky you’re seeking. Are you inspired by monsters and horror movies? Something more gothic and elegant? Perhaps a retro, nostalgic feel? If you want a monster mash, balance the icky and the edible—there are lots of ways of making deviled eggs look like bloodshot eyes or brains, and kids’ cookbooks often have interesting ideas. Pumpkin orange is the standard of the season but there are more possibilities for the palate, both in terms of color and taste: Consider pistachio green and ube purple for your desserts; the sweet, slightly vanilla and earthy flavors of the latter especially lends to fall. You can pick up reprinted movie posters or vintage Mexican lobby cards on eBay for cheap decorations that can always be party prizes. An excellent inspiration for a kinda-goth, kinda-chic Halloween soiree would be the work of Edward Gorey, with its mix of macabre Victorian and morbid Roaring Twenties. Absinthe is an obvious beverage choice, both in terms of history and taste, but black sambuca offers a stronger version of a similar flavor, but with a raven-black color. For lighter options, consider red wine or Champagne, with pomegranate soda as a non-boozy sipper. As to decor, print out or project some Gorey art, and adorn your table by layering black cobweb tablecloths with white lace, adding candlesticks and dishes picked up from the thrift store. A retro Halloween can evoke the holidays of our own childhood or those of our grandparents. However, vintage style doesn’t mean you have to stick to the flavors of the past: think less pumpkin and more caramel, pear and mole. Mezcal adds an autumnal, smoky twist when substituted for gin in a Negroni or bourbon in an Old-Fashioned, or, if you want the O.G. flavors, try hard cider spiked with a shot of Fireball. Decorations can focus on black-and-white stripes combined with images of the icons of the era you’re trying to evoke: Beistle-style black cats and pumpkinheads for the first half of the twentieth century, Beetlejuice and Ghostface for the second. For trick-or-treat energy, WinCo has amusing bulk Halloween candy like chocolate monster heads or gummy body parts.
While the economic glory that was the Halloween aisle at the 99 Cents Only Store is gone, Dollar Tree, Five Below and Daiso all stock inexpensive decor items to suit a variety of aesthetics. Or if you want something a bit more substantial, you can pick up Halloween decorations and dishware at your local thrift shop. If quick and cheap is the idea, red or green colored lightbulbs create atmosphere with minimal effort.
ENTERTAINMENT
YouTube offers playlists of vintage Halloween specials, some with contemporary commercials included. Streamers also offer a wide selection of seasonal films, from the elegant horror-noir of 1934’s The Black Cat to the hair-metal mayhem of 1986’s Trick or Treat. Costume contests can offer prizes for scariest, strangest, most creative and best Dolly Parton (you know there’ll be more than one) and are even more fun with a runway costume show. For more active games, try a ring toss on witch hats, relay mummy wrapping with toilet paper, or a spooky scavenger hunt.
ALL SPORTS. ALL SEASONS.
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
10.08.26
PRIDE ON PARADISE BLOCK PARTY October 10, 5 p.m., free. Fruit Loop, prideon paradise.com.
Photos courtesy/Trinijay Media
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LGBTQ tradition Pride on Paradise honors the Fruit Loop’s resilient history while looking toward its future
10.08.26
BY AMBER SAMPSON Unapologetically queer sanctuaries like the historic Fruit Loop don’t happen overnight or across a single generation. They exist because the people within those communities make survival a relentless, ongoing mission. For Wes Miller, owner of Las Vegas’ longest-running LGBTQ retailer Get Booked, that mission began back in 1992, in the moment he was put in handcuffs. “I, of course, was in the holding cell with several guys who were just picked up on Naples [Drive] between what was then Gipsy [Nightclub] and Angles. And they didn’t have a reason,” Miller says. “They would just pick you up and handcuff you, and off you went. Well, I was the noisy motherf---er in the group, and made a big fuss about it.” According to Miller, the arrest was part of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department round-up targeting gay men. Before Nevada repealed its anti-sodomy law in 1993, members of the LGBTQ community could be jailed and fined for engaging in same-sex conduct or even suspicion of it. If you can believe it, the historic Fruit Loop of today— lively, proud, resilient and now a recognized landmark—was
once a hotbed for harassment and raids. “Nobody else was willing to fight against them,” he says. “And I think that was that moment when I wanted to do something significant.” A year following his arrest, Miller bought Bright Pink Literature—the Valley’s first commercial LGBTQ bookstore— and renamed it Get Booked. More than three decades later, the store has become a fixture of the Fruit Loop’s identity, adapting beyond books to offer clothing, toys, jewelry and a place where people can be themselves. The Fruit Loop has adapted, too, progressing from a district patrolled by police to a place where Pride is celebrated year round. Pride on Paradise, a weekend celebration running October 9-11, will honor that evolution for its second year with live performances, afterhours parties, vendors and more, anchored by an annual block party on October 10, the night before National Coming Out Day. “Of course, we’d love to see thousands of people descend upon the Fruit Loop and enjoy the party, but underneath, I think it’s a little bit more deep for us,” says Garrett Pattiani, creative director at Gipsy. “We want that 17-year-old kid
who maybe is questioning who they are, their identity, their sexuality, walking through that with their family or friends and seeing that there’s successful business owners. There is amazing talent. There’s allies there. They could walk through that space knowing that there’s a place that’s welcoming and friendly and supportive, and that we’re here.” The event bolsters an already significant weekend in Las Vegas as the annual Las Vegas Pride Parade returns Downtown on October 9. While LGBTQ Pride Month in June is celebrated nationally and in Las Vegas, the local parade and festival has long been held in October to avoid the intense summer heat and to coincide with LGBTQ History Month. This year’s Pride Festival is set for October 17 at Desert Breeze Event Center. Pattiani says Pride on Paradise grew out of the Fruit Loop’s original National Coming Out Day block parties, which started in the early 2000s as a small gathering in the parking lot of the nowclosed FreeZone. Presented by Gipsy, Get Booked, Piranha and Quadz, this year’s edition returns with a larger footprint and more to celebrate now that the Nevada Legislature has officially recognized the Fruit Loop as a historical landmark.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
“Probably one of the proudest moments of my life and my career was to be able to testify down at the state, and really put forth the case that yes, the LGBTQ community is a valuable part of Las Vegas,” Pattiani says. “It’s the economic footprint that we have, the tourism that it draws in, but to me, more importantly, the quality of the entertainment that we have. Our performers are the best of the best. I don’t know if there’s anybody that really does it like we do.” Pattiani says Gipsy and Piranha owner Jerry Masini has spared no expense with this year’s lineup, recruiting drag royalty like Roxxxy Andrews, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Adore Delano, Yvie Oddly and many more (see party guide on page 20). Even Miller can attest to the gay district’s glow-up, crediting former Gipsy and Piranha owner Paul San Filipo, who died in 2022, for building a solid foundation. “He wanted a quality offering for people,” Miller says. “I remember a time when the bars were kind of dumps, and today they’re like palaces. They’re beautiful, and that happened because of the commitment that the business owners had to creating something special.” As a new generation begins to frequent the Fruit Loop, Pattiani wants to make sure that history isn’t lost. Pride on Paradise serves as a powerful reminder. “It’s meant to showcase the wonderful talent and remind people that we’re a big part of the Las Vegas fabric. We always have been and we always will be. And we won’t ask for respect. We’re going to demand it in a way and make sure that we, at the same time, remember the people that made it possible for us,” he says.
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DRAG ULTRA BRUNCH Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m., Gipsy, gipsylasvegas. com.
Getting to know the divas of Gipsy’s Drag Ultra Brunch BY SHANNON MILLER At Gipsy’s Drag Ultra Brunch, the competition, giveaways, comedy, pumping bass, handmade costumes, drag numbers from multiple queens, backup dancers and audience participation all add up to a high-energy show enjoyed over a breakfast buffet and bottomless mimosas. And while it’s a fabulous spectacle, a lot of hard work goes into creating the experience. And it happens every weekend. Host Sage O’Hara Andrews is excited for Pride on Paradise festivities happening this weekend, which include brunch on October 11. But for her and co-divas Asia King Adour and Mirage Amuro (from season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race), Pride is not confined to just one celebratory weekend. It’s happening year-round. To celebrate Vegas’ Pride weekend, the Weekly sat down with the queens to talk about their drag journeys, representation and celebration of being LGBTQ.
How did you get started doing drag?
I’ve been doing it for 10 years. First, it was my love makeup. I’ve been doing makeup since high school. And I’ve been watching drag shows like Drag Race and slowly, it just inspired me to be a woman.
How would you describe your drag aesthetic?
My aesthetic is all about hyper-femininity— feel like a woman, look like a woman.
What do you think makes Vegas drag unique?
It’s a vacation spot. There’s tourists coming every day of the week, and we’re open every day of the week at Piranha.
After performing locally for so many years, how does it feel to see events like the Pride on Paradise Block Party come to life in the Fruit Loop?
It feels amazing. The more events we have showcasing our community, the better. The more visible we are, the better. It normalizes seeing people like us everywhere.
This event is held just before National Coming Out Day. Why is it important to have these kinds of events in the community?
It’s important for the youth and future generations to feel comfortable and safe and let them know there’s a lot more people like them around.
Photos by Christopher DeVargas
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TURN THE PAGE
FOR OUR PRIDE ON PARADISE BLOCK PARTY GUIDE!
I used to be a go-go boy. And I just wanted more stage time. Initially I was very scared. I ran offstage in my first performance. But there’s something about it that’s very addicting. It’s just fun, silly and lighthearted. It’s whatever you want it to be.
I’ve been doing drag for nine years now. What got me started? I wanted to get into the club under age. I wanted to party [and] was like, how can I get in? Smack a pound of makeup on and they will never know. [Laughs.] But really, drag started out for fun. That’s my whole goal when I do drag.
I’ve heard the word chaotic thrown around. I like the word whimsy. They’re both true. It’s whatever’s on the bottom of my suitcase, that’s how I accessorize. I love maximalism.
It depends how I’m feeling. Today, it’s very romantic, whimsical, regal. I like to show a little, so the skirt never goes past my fingertips.
This city in particular is always changing. It’s always a revolving door for entertainment. You have to stay on top of it. You have to try to ride the wave instead of getting twirled in it.
The amount of tourists and visitors we have coming through constantly. Every time someone comes to see our show, it’s like they’re seeing it for the first time. We’re always shocking to them and a little gaggy.
Vegas is internationally known as an entertainment destination. But the actual local community is a lot smaller than you’d think. It’s nice to have something going on just for locals.
It’s something that can be very touchy for a lot of people. It’s not something that is always celebrated. And this is a welcome space. This is a space where people who have not come out can come out, and just shake an ass.
Last year we did a block party. It was our first one, and it was pretty sickening. They closed off the whole street, and we had an outdoor stage. … It’s fun to see Pride and celebrations like that expand.
Any reason to celebrate being gay, girl, I’m here for it.
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Courtesy/Trinijay Media
BY SHANNON MILLER There’s a new kid on the block, and we better make room. LGBTQ mainstays Gipsy and Piranha are throwing a block party in the historic Fruit Loop on October 10—and it’s going to be bigger than ever. “Pride on Paradise is really a blend of top-notch entertainment mixed with community voices. We want people to be able to interact with the best of the best, but also know what’s going on with their own community, their own backyard, and know these resources,” says Chelsea Dalley-Wright, manager of Gipsy’s Drag Ultra Brunch and manager for the block party. Free and open to the public, Pride on Paradise will transform the grounds of Gipsy and Piranha into a festival-like atmosphere with drag performers, vendors and HIV and STI testing. VIP tickets ($50) include an exclusive, designated space and entry to Piranha and Gipsy for 21+ afterhours events. Here’s how to make the most of the prideful celebration:
WHERE TO GO
Most of the action will take place in Piranha’s spacious courtyard where there will be stages and vendors. But don’t sleep on the new local performers’ stage at Gipsy, highlighting the talent that makes the Fruit Loop what it is. A dedicated vendor village will line East Naples Drive with food and beverage vendors, food trucks and community partner tents. For those looking to get away from the action but stay close to the footprint, sponsors Get Booked and Quadz will also be open for business across the street. Do some browsing and shoot some pool while you’re there.
WHAT TO DO
HIV/STI testing by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation will be available out of its brand spankin’ new mobile clinic. There will be a ribbon cutting for the nonprofit’s West Coast Mobile Wellness Clinic, and attendees can be some of the first to benefit from the free health service. A robust roster of food trucks and vendors—including Tsp. Baking Company, Naked City Pizza and HRC Las Vegas—will also be on site. Take it inside and stay for the 21+ afterhours drag performances and music by DJ Adamusic at Piranha and DJ Kitty Glitter at Gipsy.
WHO TO SEE
Gracing the main stage at Piranha will be Drag Race alums: Roxxxy Andrews and Mistress Isabelle Brooks; singer-songwriter and TV personality Adore Delano; Juicy Love Dion and drag mother Morphine Love Dion; and the unpredictable, unapologetic and unforgettable Yvie Oddly. You can bet the queens will return for after-hours, hopefully with some impromptu group performances. The Las Vegas Men’s Chorus will provide a refreshing music performance on the main stage at Piranha. And there, Kenneth Blake will resurrect Dolly Parton.
ENJOY FREE EVENTS THIS FALL GLITTER & GOLD CARNIVAL RESOURCE FAIR
Meet community resources, browse our book sale, and enjoy free food, carnival games, and live music!
SPOOKY JAZZY HALLOWEEN
Join performers from The International Opera Institute as they take you on an eery and wicked musical experience. Saturday, October 24 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. West Charleston Library Sunday, October 25 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Clark County Library HALLOWEEN STORYTIME & TRICK-OR-TREAT PARADE
Enjoy a spooky storytime and collect treats! The parade begins at noon.
Saturday, October 10 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Mesquite Library
Wednesday, October 28 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Whitney Library
FALL-O-WEEN FAIR
HAUNTED HARVEST
Celebrate the season with games, prizes, live performers, crafts, and sweet treats.
Treats, face painting, scavenger hunt with a fun magical quest theme.
Saturday, October 17 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enterprise Library
FREEPLAY FRIDAY: GHOST PORTRAITS
TEENS: DRAGON EYE CRAFT
Paint and decorate your own ghost portrait.
Sculpt air dry clay and marble to create Dragon’s Eyes enclosed in a mini tin to take home.
DOIN’ GOOD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: TEENTOBER “PUMPKIN CANDLE MAKING WORKSHOP”
Thursday, October 29 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Centennial Hills Library
Enjoy a haunted house, creepy crafts, spine-chilling story-times, and spooky movie screenings. Saturday, October 31 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Sandy Valley Library THE CELLO DOLL
Wednesday, October 21 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Windmill Library
All month long in October. Visit TheLibraryDistrict.org for details!
Friday, October 9 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Clark County Library
HALLOWEEN SCARES
Channel your inner Wednesday Addams with a spooky, fun cello performance!
A Whole Month of Frighteningly-Fun Events Just for Teens!
SCAN HERE FOR MORE EVENTS
Thursday, October 15 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Summerlin Library
TEEN FRIDAY FILM CLUB
Join us for an evening of crafting and community.
Celebrate spooky season with friends and magical films!
Saturday, October 10 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Rainbow Library
Friday, October 16 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. West Las Vegas Library
TEEN ART STUDIO: DIY TAROT CARD DESIGN
SCAN HERE FOR MORE EVENTS
Create your own version of cards for your next reading! Tuesday, October 13 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Clark County Library
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Seating, space, and supplies are on a first-come, first-served basis and may be limited.
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N E W S
HIGH HORSE
Evett Magic, owned by The Aria Partners LLC, was crowned the Horse of the Tour at the 2026 Global Champions Arabians Tour Americas held at Resorts World. The purebred Arabian horse won the $50,000 prize and season-long title after earning the highest total points while competing in Scottsdale, Miami Beach and Las Vegas. Horses were judged by their type, head and neck, body, legs and movement. (Courtesy/GCAT)
IN THE NEWS TECH
AI is transforming table game surveillance for Las Vegas casinos When artificial intelligence spots a possible mistake at a table game in the high-limit room at Resorts World, a surveillance operator gets a seven-second clip to review. If the AI flags a false positive, “My operators literally lose seven seconds of their lives,” said Zachary Koep, Resorts World’s director of surveillance. AI surveillance is catching hundreds of thousands of dollars in mistakes on casino table games, Koep said. It’s also identifying cheating and analyzing player behavior. Koep called the technology a boon for Resorts World. “It’s amazing how many things you’re not aware of,” he said during a panel September 28 at the Global Gaming Expo, or G2E, at the Venetian Expo. Resorts World works with several AI surveillance companies, which run
a property’s existing camera footage through AI agents that watch for dealer errors and cheating players. EagleSight.ai, founded in 2024, began introducing its technology in casinos this year. It now sells its services to 12 properties nationwide, CEO Trevor Outman said. “What we’re working toward at EagleSight is making the technology economical and useful enough that AI agents can eventually monitor every table and provide business intelligence across the broader gaming floor,” Outman said. He declined to disclose its pricing structure. Business intelligence can help casinos identify popular games, understaffed areas and players worth additional investment. Casinos do their best to audit players, but it can be hard to tell a player who
knows the game and has good strategy from one who plays fast but not as well, gaming consultant Debi Nutton said. “The ability to really know your customer like you do a slot customer, it would really improve our auditing tremendously,” Nutton said. “And our customer retention, because we may not be investing in the customers the way we think we should.” Still, there are concerns about how casinos market to customers. The American Psychiatric Association has classified gambling disorder as an addictive disorder since 2013, and a September 19 New York Times investigation reported that DraftKings, an online sportsbook and casino operator, used AI to target likely losing gamblers with promotions. DraftKings denies that, saying it does not target customers based on their losses. –Ava Chatlosh
THE NUMBER OF VISITORS THE MOB MUSEUM HAS HAD AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, SINCE ITS OPENING IN 2012. Photo by Wade Vandervort
HEALTHCARE
“If you’re going to work for a healthy community, you’ve got to make social changes. We’ve got a lot of work in front of us, but it’s helping people, so that’s good stuff and that’s what we want our students to be. We want them to be servant leaders.” –Dr. Pedro “Joe” Greer Jr., founding dean, Roseman University College of Medicine, at a September 29 State of Medicine in Southern Nevada panel at Las Vegas City Hall
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BY TYLER SCHNEIDER N E W S
CURTAIN CALL
Las Vegas Aviators president Don Logan remembers visiting the original Cashman Field as a child, but when he returned for a job interview in 1983, he found that the newly rebuilt venue presented “a whole different dynamic” from those early years. “Back then, it was breathtaking,” Logan recalls. “I mean, nothing like that existed down here. A lot of energy came from just seeing it for the first time.” Logan’s tenure with the team—
then the Las Vegas Stars—began weeks later. From then until the organization moved to Summerlin and became the Aviators in 2019, he spent countless late nights at Cashman. He even proposed to his wife there. While his marriage has endured, Cashman Field will soon be just a memory. The site is set to be demolished to make way for housing units developed by Lennar Homes, marking the end of a nearly eight-decade run in
which generations of Las Vegans experienced their first game, concert or rodeo there. Cashman’s final event will be an October 17 match between the Las Vegas Lights FC—the city’s United Soccer League team that has played there since 2018—and Lexington SC. As the last home match of the season, it will be fan appreciation night, but many locals will be there to show their appreciation for an iconic Las Vegas place.
Remembering Cashman Field’s legacy ahead of its final event on October 17
Cashman Field opened on April 1, 1983 with a Major League Baseball exhibition game between the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.
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THE HISTORY Like Logan and many other longtime residents, Cashman Field also had a recurring presence in UNLV history professor Michael Green’s life. “When they built it, it had a cement bleacher. I remember playing on it as a kid on the side of the hill,” Green says. He explains how its original iteration was built in 1947 by the local Las Vegas Elks, beginning life as an unassuming venue known as Elks Stadium and later renamed after prominent local businessman James Cashman, who also helped bring the first Professional Golfers Association (PGA) event to Las Vegas. Aside from hosting the organization’s storied Helldorado Days rodeo events, the field it housed also served as the home of the Valley’s first professional sports franchise when the ultra-minor league Las Vegas Wranglers baseball team arrived the following year. The Wranglers played there from 1948 to 1952, returning briefly from 1957 to 1958. Cashman hosted a heavyweight boxing match in 1955, and in 1964, it held the city’s first professional football game in a charity scrum between the then-Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers. Fittingly, the now-Las Vegas Raiders won, 34-20. The ballpark that most remember debuted in the 1980s, thanks to a $26 million renovation through an investment from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). It reopened in 1983 with a capacity of
9,334 seats, operating for decades after as the Valley’s sporting hub. The Stars won two league titles as tenants there in 1986 and 1988. It reached new heights in the 1990s when Big League Weekend began, bringing an annual Major League Baseball preseason exhibition series to Las Vegas. Cashman’s attendance record of 15,025 was set by a 1993 game between the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs. And in 1996, construction delays at the Oakland Coliseum forced the A’s to open their regular season at Cashman. That decade also saw the Beach Boys and Metallica play major shows on the field. The ballpark began to show wear in the years after the Stars became the 51s at the turn of the century. “Things were going wrong. We had electrical and plumbing problems. The air conditioner went out for a period in the middle of the summer. It was not a pleasant thing,” Logan says. “And it was more expensive to rehabilitate Cashman than it was to build a new place somewhere else.” The LVCVA yielded operations to the City of Las Vegas in 2017. At that point, the 51s—now owned by the Howard Hughes Corporation—began exploring relocation bids. The script couldn’t have been any better for Cashman’s final professional baseball game on September 3, 2018. Down 3-2 to Sacramento, Las Vegas first baseman Pete Alonso belted a walk-off two-run homer to steal the
win. They opened the next season as the Aviators from Summerlin’s $150 million Las Vegas Ballpark. But the Lights had already taken up residency, keeping Cashman busy.
THE LEGACY “It’s always going to have a very special place in my heart. You can’t spend that much time, if you got any soul, and not feel some sadness,” Logan says of the impending closure. “So much of my life was spent in and around that facility. I don’t know what melancholy really means. Everybody uses it, and that’s kind of what it was like.” Green remembers Cashman as a connective “capillary or vein” that connected Las Vegans with the Downtown corridor. The Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum, Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park and Neon Museum all opened after Cashman along that northern stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard. “Las Vegas has been suburbanizing, for lack of a better term, from the beginning. But [it] wasn’t really moving north that much. It was much more southeast and eventually southwest,” he says. “And if we think of what happened to American downtowns from the ’60s onward, I think Cashman Field suffered for that.” Lennar Homes, which acquired the site from the city for more than $36 million in a 2025 auction, has proposed building 781 homes on the site with construction set to begin once the building is demolished. It plans to add another 290 units across the street, over the space once occupied by the Grant Sawyer State Office Building until demolition began this summer. The timeline is unknown and
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
Lennar did not respond to requests for information for this story. Green hopes future development recognizes Cashman Field’s history in some fashion, pointing to what Farmers Market L.A. did after Gilmore Field came down in the late 1950s. “They had a display on the history of Gilmore Field. I think we can do that, at minimum,” he says. Long before Cashman, he adds, the area was originally Native American land. “This is an important corner, if you will, for the history of Las Vegas,” Green says. “It would be nice to see that history mentioned and cherished.”
THE FUTURE The Las Vegas Lights have not yet determined a future home for the team, and when reached, the organization did not provide comment for this story. Cashman Field will always represent a monumental first for Las Vegas. For decades, the city avoided adopting a Big Four sports franchise due to conventional worries that it couldn’t coexist alongside gambling, Logan says. Cashman was instrumental in the eventual rise to a “major league town.” “With the Stars and then the 51s, we proved that professional sports can work in Las Vegas. I think we really set the foundation in getting the market accustomed to going to, in our case, baseball games,” Logan says. “I think people realized [local professional sports] was not this big, nasty, ugly thing [in Vegas]. I think we had a big hand in demonstrating that—year after year, night after night.”
Big League Weekend at Cashman on April 7, 1996. Photos courtesy Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive
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DRESSED TO THRILL Halloween is the perfect excuse to get creative, and you don’t need a costume-in-a-bag to pull off a memorable look. Thrift stores are packed with everyday clothing and accessories that can be transformed into costumes inspired by pop culture, television, literature and more. Start with a little inspiration—and leave room for whatever you might discover along the way.
Picking out a costume from scratch can feel overwhelming, but a little preparation—and an open mind—can make the hunt easier.
PLAN AHEAD
Before heading to the store, look online for costume inspiration and different ways to bring your idea to life. Make a list of clothing, accessories and other pieces that could work for your look, but keep an open mind while you shop. You may find something unexpected that takes your costume in an even better direction.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
One of the benefits of thrifting is that no two shopping trips are alike. Look beyond an item’s original purpose and consider how it could work as part of a costume. An old dress, oversized jacket or unusual accessory might become the starting point for your entire look.
THE LORAX
With his unmistakable orange-and-yellow look, The Lorax makes for a fun costume that’s easy to recreate with thrifted finds. Start with an orange top and orange leggings, then add white sneakers and the character’s signature yellow mustache. Better yet, giving secondhand clothing another life is a fitting tribute to the environmentally conscious character.
SURVIVOR CONTESTANT
Fans of the hit TV show Survivor can create an easy costume with sporty, comfortable clothing that looks ready for island life. Add a colorful bandana and a tiki torch to complete the look. For a group costume, choose different bandana colors and create your own competing tribes.
DON’T FORGET ACCESSORIES
A princess isn’t complete without her tiara, and a pirate needs an eyepatch. Search for hats, glasses, jewelry, scarves and other finishing touches. And if you happen to find a stuffed parrot, you might want to reconsider whatever you were planning and go with the pirate costume.
BRING A FRIEND
Halloween costumes should be fun, and so should shopping for them. Bring friends along to help search the racks, offer ideas and spot pieces you might otherwise overlook. You may even inspire them to thrift their costumes, too.
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CREATED AND PRESENTED BY
G O O DW I L L O F S O U T H E R N N E VA DA
WUTHERING HEIGHTS
Channel the windswept romance of Wuthering Heights with a couples costume inspired by Catherine and Heathcliff. Look for a long red skirt and flowy white top for her and a dark suit for him. Vintage-inspired pieces and accessories can help complete the dramatic period look.
Shopping secondhand can make Halloween more affordable while giving clothing and other usable items another life. Costume pieces can also be repurposed after Halloween, incorporated into your everyday wardrobe or donated for someone else to discover next year. Choosing Goodwill of Southern Nevada has an additional local impact. Revenue from the sale of donated goods supports skills training, job placement and support services for people throughout Southern Nevada, while keeping usable items in circulation and out of landfills.
HANNAH MONTANA AND MILEY STEWART
The early 2000s are back in full force, making Hannah Montana and Miley Stewart an easy nostalgic costume for best friends. For Miley, look for brown boots, a long cardigan and a midlength skirt. For Hannah, find a showstopping sequin dress and pair it with white boots or heels. Finish the transformation with a blonde wig.
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S P O R T S
AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
VIVA LAS LAKERS?
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Luka Dončić
Pondering if we’ll still love LA when we get our own NBA team biggest Lakers fans I know. He was also born into a basketball obsession. “I have pictures of me as a little kid wearing I’m supposed to hate the Lakers. the old Showtime jumpsuit, the one Magic My introduction to basketball was watching [Johnson] used to wear, because my grandpa and the three iconic NBA Finals series between the dad were big Lakers fans. By default, you were a Lakers and Celtics with my dad and brother, fan. And my dad always told me how I was born with Pops prompting us to root against LA. (A the year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit that Southern California native, he was game-winning skyhook against Boston rebelling against his dad and brothin the Finals.” er, both Laker loyalists.) LOS ANGELES He’s definitely a loyalist and he’s I truly fell in love with basketball LAKERS VS not alone in Las Vegas. There are when we moved to Las Vegas in 1987, GOLDEN STATE plenty of California transplants that playing in every driveway with a WARRIORS will always stay true to their homebasket above the garage and cheering October 13, 7 p.m., $61+. town Lakers, and plenty of other for the exciting UNLV teams of the T-Mobile Arena, fans of the franchise—still one of the championship era. But it was hard to axs.com. most storied and celebrated teams in keep hating the Lakers because they all of professional sports—who just were the NBA team closest to us, and happen to call Vegas home. they came to town to play preseason Remember: We’ve only had our own major games at the Thomas & Mack Center. league teams for 10 years. We had to find other Now those annual exhibitions are played at favorites nearby until our beloved Vegas GoldT-Mobile Arena, as the Lakers return to play en Knights made history. Golden State this week before the regular seaAnd that brings us to the real question about son tips off on October 20. our collective feelings on this next-door team: “It’s still just as exciting when they come to If and when we get our own NBA expansion town,” says Mark Magat, a longtime local dad, squad, will we still care about the Lakers? Army National Guard veteran and one of the
BY BROCK RADKE
After a massive roster overhaul from last season—LeBron James was far from the only departing player—the Lakers will bring a new look into the ’26-’27 season. A strong returning core of Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Jake LaRavia should be complemented by key acquisitions Walker Kessler and Quentin Grimes. Still, few of those names inspire the excitement of past Laker squads. But the loyalists will be unfazed. “Even if we do get an NBA team in Vegas, I’ll definitely support the home team but obviously I’ll always root for the Lakers,” Magat says. “I think there are two sentiments. LA has two teams with the Clippers, but it’s always a Laker town. So it could be cool that Vegas gets a team but it’ll still be a Laker town, or, thinking about the reception to the hockey team, which everyone is crazy about, it could shift to that.” One thing he and I agree on is that Vegas is a basketball-loving city, and we’re lucky to have years of connection with the Lakers, love ‘em or hate ‘em. And it’s pretty fun to imagine a future game, in Las Vegas, where our very own NBA team plays against the Lakers. “I would be Lakers all the way,” Magat says, and I have to respect it.
The Nevada HAND
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10.08.26 SIDE QUEST SPORTS 2893 N. Green Valley Parkway, 702-498-1052, sidequestsport.com.
Taylor Hummon, left, and Jaivon Harris practice the combat sport known as buhurt at Side Quest Sports on Septermber 16. (Photos by Wade Vandervort)
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S C E N E
CHAINMAIL BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Inside Battle Lab, a multi-sport facility in Henderson, a group of warriors are knee-deep in a soft kit fight at Side Quest Sports’ training arena. Their weapons are blunted, but their movements most certainly aren’t. Fighters grunt as they maneuver through the padded arena, planting their feet, shifting their weight and looking for an opening. One takes an axe to the back of their helmeted head. Another absorbs a sword strike to the side. Bodies tumble. Weapons crack against shields. And through the length of the melee, the room becomes its own medieval theater, complete with valor, sweat and the crashing thud of someone hitting the floor. Side Quest Sports opened in November 2025 as the home of the Las Vegas Death Dealers, a real steel-armored combat team founded in 2019 that practices the sport of buhurt. Meaning “to wallop” in French, buhurt is built around historically accurate team fighting and one-on-one duels. When fully suited, fighters carry 80 to 100 pounds of armor and equipment as they wield swords, axes and other weaponry. The group has demonstrated their strength, agility and valor at Vegas’ Age of Chivalry Renaissance fair every year since 2019. “We’re all just a bunch of nerds,” says Triston Tinoco, founder of Side Quest and captain of the Death Dealers. “I tell them all the time we’re like the jocks of Ren Fair.” Tinoco first became interested in armored combat after watching Knight Fight, a History
Inside Side Quest Sports, where medieval combat comes to life through steel, sweat and a bit of controlled chaos
Channel reality TV competition that explored the roots of the sport, also known as medieval MMA. He eventually sought out a team and found the Death Dealers, which had only recently formed. The early days were scrappy. Fighters met at a park without armor and without much knowledge of what they were doing. They ran drills, hauled ladders and worked through basic athletic exercises. Tinoco stayed with the group until it dissolved in 2021. “I wanted to start back up, but the team didn’t exist. People just left, and I was like, well, I need to start this up myself if I want to fight. So, I started having guys come in my backyard. We started training,” he says. Today, fighters begin in soft kit, which allows them to spend hours drilling techniques without the weight and limitations of steel armor. Practice sessions can look almost playful until the bodies collide. Real competition, however, carries serious ambitions. Tinoco hopes to see his fighters compete beyond just Henderson. “The pinnacle of our sport is to represent Team USA and go across seas and fight in Europe in front of castles and fight other coun-
tries. That’s the goal,” he says. That pursuit is part of what makes Side Quest unique. The facility was designed specifically for armored combat, complete with a steelframed fighting area called a list. Fighters can crash into its rails while wearing heavy armor. The equipment itself is a serious investment. A helmet can cost around $1,000, while a full suit of armor can run between $2,500 and $3,500. Much of the gear is sourced from Eastern Europe and made from hardened steel. However, this sport and the facility aren’t just reserved for seasoned fighters. Side Quest welcomes everyone. Its current fighters range from ages 6 to 60, with experience spanning decades between the groups. And its lessons extend to HEMA, also known as Historical European Martial Arts. “I can teach kids. I can teach teens. I teach adults. I teach seniors. I teach everybody,” Tinoco says. “If they want to swing a sword, they do it here.” Mutual love for the sport and a strange form of trust is what makes this group so tight-knit. “There’s this phrase in our sport: ‘Buhurt is love.’ It’s to have somebody who’s willing to put on armor and fight you,” he says. “That’s a rare thing to find. There is a level of care when we’re fighting each other. I tell my guys all the time, we’re here to beat each other up, we’re not here to hurt each other.”
“We’re all just a bunch of nerds. I tell them all the time we’re like the jocks of Ren Fair.” – Triston Tinoco, founder of Side Quest Sports and captain of the Las Vegas Death Dealers
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M U S I C
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Courtesy/Ashley Myers
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“You’re really good at kind of fillIn 2023, months before Ted ing the hole and fixing things. But if Sablay joined the Killers for their you don’t watch it, your whole life, globe-spanning Rebel Diamonds it’s like, what do you want?” Sablay Tour, he wrote “Baby I Need You,” says. “It can be weird to be totally a woozy declaration of need that accomplished and your sense of would set the bar for his second solo wanting on your own behalf is totalLP, State & Motion. ly underdeveloped.” Sablay had just landed a gig Raised by a nurse and a physician opening for rockabilly revival icon who supported relatives overseas, Chris Isaak. His first album, You’ll Sablay often reflects on what it Be Back Here Soon, had been out for means to be useful. Perhaps, he more than a year, and he was eager to ponders, that’s why he holds dual elevate his game with new material. degrees in anthropology and Asian The song, remotely recorded with studies, and between Killers tours, collaborators like Rock and Roll earned his master’s in accounting. Hall of Fame drum“That’s one thing mer Pete Thomas and with the records, tryWhynot Jansveld of ing to figure out who I the Wallflowers, is all am or what I’m worth, hook-heavy momenwhen I’m not being tum and longing. useful to the world,” he Over a keening slide says. “If I’m not tourguitar and toe-taping with the Killers, ping melody, Sablay’s who am I?” lovelorn narrator On State & Motion, TED SABLAY stumbles through Sablay announces himtedsablay.com making his feelings self more than ever. He @tedsablay known—and never sings in a comfortable gets his answer. range and writes from a When asked why he left it unreplace of structure, rollicking rhythm solved, Sablay says: “Because it’s and concise purpose. Every lyric has closer to real life.” a job to do and every melody counts. State & Motion sits with hard Roughly a dozen musicians coltruths like that. It’s marrow-deep in laborated on the project remotely, exploring how we burden ourselves giving them time to really refine with responsibilities, how feelings their parts. That’s how you get go unaddressed without commutracks like “You Drive Me Crazy,” nication, and how we realize not a sweaty, Stones-like rock ’n’ roll everyone will understand us. romp. Smooth saxophone, punchy “I realized, after a certain point, percussion and harmonically rich all of our lives are so complex. organs heighten instead of hinder. You’re not probably ever gonna get The compositions were built for a it,” Sablay says. “I have a line in ‘If live audience, and Sablay’s added a You Can Wait,’ that goes ‘But in the keyboardist to the band. night/You wear out the lie/The one “It kind of puts a limit on how where you pretend that they’re on heavy the guitars are going to be, your side.’ That’s a weird realization and I realized that’s what I wanted to be like this person is not … they all along,” he says. “Even though don’t get it, or they’re not looking the Rolling Stones are known as a out for me.” guitar band, if you actually listen Between being the Killers’ touring to the records, it’s not riff after riff. guitarist and musical director, Sablay They have a lot of piano. There’s teaches and recently became a father. sax. There are a lot of colors.” The weight of responsibility is someOverall, State & Motion is proof that when a musician stops asking thing he knows well. But on “Inviswhat they’re worth, the music ible Weight,” it’s less about the load speaks for itself. than the capable one carrying it.
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10.08.26
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WESTEND October 8 & 16, 11:30 a.m., $27+. LIV Beach, livnightclub.com.
New York DJ and producer Westend can’t get enough of Vegas BY AMBER SAMPSON It’s been a big year for techhouse hitmaker Westend. Between launching his own record label and writing a groove-filled anthem for his hometown New York Knicks during their championship run, he’s managed to squeeze in his first Las Vegas residency at LIV Beach. Before he finishes the season this month, we caught up with the DJ and producer about the whirlwind of his time in Vegas. You’re ending the year on a high note by capping off your first Las Vegas residency. How has that experience been so far? It’s been really amazing. It’s funny as a DJ because usually the bigger you get, you actually lose residencies. …You want to be traveling the world and playing festivals. But then it gets to a certain point where it’s nice to kind of build in a city a little bit. I’ve been playing in Las Vegas for a really long time now. It’s one of the first places I would say that I started to travel to when I started getting shows outside of New York. I’ve been absolutely loving it at the Fontainebleau. The nice thing about the residency as well is you become close with the staff there. You get to explore the hotel, and Fontainebleau has incredible restaurants there, so I always bring a friend or bring my wife. What’s surprised you most about the more local side of Vegas? I think there’s a perspective of Vegas as just like a tourist town. As a New Yorker, I didn’t really know anything about Vegas at all. Being able to play Downtown and really seeing the locals there, the culture, the way they interact with the craziness of Ve-
gas and the nightlife, it’s really cool, especially for house music and what I do. I’ve played some really cool venues in Vegas, like Area15. I just did one at the end of last year, near New Year’s Eve, with Bolo and San Pacho, and these are big events. These are a few thousand people coming out and it’s in a tent and it’s crazy. It’s cool to be able to play in places like that. Other cities don’t really have those kinds of more experiential venues. Like, the green room was an arcade bar. It was so cool. This season at LIV, you’ve shared the lineup with your friend and collaborator John Summit. Has being on the same club circuit sparked any new collab conversations? Yeah, for sure. I think it was EDC this year that he did one of the pool parties and I did the direct support. After the show, we went up to his penthouse suite and got to catch up because he’s so busy. It’s hard to get a hold of him, so that’s the nice thing about Vegas. One of the last shows I ever played before the pandemic, which was in 2020, was actually a co-headline between me and John in Downtown. This was before his track “Deep End” and all that stuff. … It wasn’t Discopussy, but it was very close to it. I want to say there were like 15 people there. But we were both stoked because we were headlining our own show in Vegas. I remember we went to some casino Downtown after. I didn’t know how to play blackjack. He kind of taught me and we went to some guy’s house for his afterparty. It was a weird night, but yeah, we have a history there. Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.
Courtesy/Shannon Mack
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
Montreal smoked meat icon Lester’s Deli opens first U.S. location in Henderson
10.08.26
F O O D
+
D R I N K
The Bernie Parent at Lester's Deli (Photos by Christopher DeVargas)
10.08.26
mustard-slabbed, seeded ryetopped Montreal Classic ($21). For 75 years, renowned MonBlais notes that some entries, treal smoked meat shop Lester’s like the bestselling Reuben, are Deli was just for locals. That all exclusive to the U.S. menu. The changed when it recently opened Bernie Parent ($23)—named its first U.S. location—not in after an iconic Canadian-born New York, LA or Chicago, but in Philadelphia Flyers goaltender— Henderson, in August. pairs the same smoked meat with This new era began two years cheddar, onions and peppers on a ago, when owner Kevin Fung hoagie roll in Lester’s take on the discussed the potential expanPhilly cheesesteak. sion with longtime friend and Another home-grown mainQuebec-born Las Vegas musician stay is the classic poutine ($13), Jean-Francois Blais. which can be upgraded After two decades of with smoked meat ($18). LESTER’S DELI working on Cirque du The menu also includes 1590 W. Soleil productions like a French salad ($13) and Horizon Ridge Parkway #170, Zumanity and Mad Apkid-sized options. 702-996-2908, ple, Blais was all-in on The cozy nook is both lestersdeli.com. adding deli co-owner to reflective of the original Tuesdayhis resume. Lester’s Deli and Blais’ Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. “For me, it was about own journey. Here, a bringing home to Vetin-paneled ceiling gas,” Blais says. “This is comfort and classic honeycomb-tiled food for us in Quebec, so it was deli counter floors meet a wall about bringing some of that for of Montreal-themed decor. me and the Canadians that live Guests are greeted by images of here, and also introducing Amerprominent Quebec-bred, former icans to what really is a Montreal Golden Knights stars, including a staple.” framed photograph of Marc-AnBlais says the brisket follows dré Fleury and a statue of JonaLester’s tested-and-true process than Marchessault. of curing in signature spices and “It’s the same connection that cooking for nine hours before I have with the city, which is that it takes a three-day journey to I’m from Montreal, but I live and Southern Nevada via refrigerated work in Vegas,” Blais says, also truck. It’s then cooked for anothpointing to Cirque du Soleil’s er hour, hand-sliced and stacked Quebec origins. “Those are all the on sandwiches like the yellow parallels that I tried to make.”
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
Smoked meat poutine at Lester’s Deli
DINING NEWS A longtime local Lebanese food institution has reopened in Las Vegas. Hedary’s Mediterranean celebrated its grand opening October 2 at the Gramercy, 9275 West Russell Road. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visit hedaryslv.com for more info. Country superstar Luke Combs’ Category 10 Las Vegas restaurant, bar and entertainment venue is set to open at Flamingo on October 15. Get ready: Lavo at Palazzo is bringing back its infamous Party Brunch on October 17, every Saturday starting at noon. If you don’t know, find out at taogroup.com. JP’s Brasserie & Sports Den, a new upscale dining and sports concept, is set to open October 24 at 5781 W. Sahara Avenue. Green Valley Ranch Resort will once again host Wine Under the Stars on October 24 at 6 p.m., with tickets starting at $150 available at greenvalleyranch. com. The second year event offers tastings of more than 40 wines and a specialty food menu. Picnic in the Alley returns to the Arts District on October 25, the female-focused showcase of local chefs and artisans, and this year’s event includes Crystina Nguyen of Durango Social Club, Dani White of Yukon Pizza, Jae Doan of Doanburi, Jaimee Pepe of Twin Creeks, Laura Vargas of Jaleo, Natalie Young of Echo Taste & Sound, Sarah Thompson of Casa Playa and many more. Tickets are available at picnicin thealley.com. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, Morimoto Las Vegas at MGM Grand is offering a special menu of 10 signature dishes from chef Masaharu Morimoto throughout the month of October. Ten-hour braised pork belly, yellowtail pastrami and other standouts await, so grab your table at mgmgrand.com.
Courtesy Hedary’s
Hedary’s is back and Picnic in the Alley is coming soon
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