PUBLISHER MARIA BLONDEAUX maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com EDITOR SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com) Contributing Writers AVA CHATLOSH, GRACE DA ROCHA, HILLARY DAVIS, KATIE ANN MCCARVER Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT Office Coordinator NADINE GUY Editorial Listings Coordinator MADELYN WINGER
CREATIVE
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DIGITAL
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ADVERTISING & MARKETING
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PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION
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T A B L E
O F
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C O N T E N T S
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MAKING HALLOWEEN
How do you build fright from the ground up? Three local scaremasters share their terror expertise.
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ON THE COVER Fright Zone by Wade Vandervort
IN THIS PHOTO Fright Zone’s Johanna Hansen as Mrs. Blackwell WELLNESS
NEWS
SPORTS
STRIP
MUSIC
FOOD & DRINK
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Home fermenting means lots of delicious jars on cool shelves, from pickles to kombucha to kimchi.
Would the quirky character of the 18b Arts District survive the implementation of a Business Improvement District?
08 SUPERGUIDE
The Golden Knights’ rare rookie standout Trevor Connelly could hold the key to a winning season.
Recent show closures on the Strip could just prove to be Vegas entertainment reinventing itself again.
Local post-rockers Peaceful Retreat soar beyond the stratosphere with their newest release.
The El Cortez brings together contemporary flavor and classic style in its new steakhouse Alex Prime.
A new farmer’s market in Huntridge Circle Park, the Anarchist Book Fair, the Righteous Brothers, the Art of Pie and more to do and see this week.
Want More? Visit lasvegasweekly.com.
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SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY OCT 22 WEEZER With The Shins, Silversun Pickups, 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
METALLICA 8:30 p.m., & 10/24, Sphere, ticketmaster.com.
TREATY OAK REVIVAL With Gannon Fremin & CCREV, 7 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
MAX DIAZ With Cold Weather Venture, 8 p.m., Swan Dive, dice.fm.
TIM MCGRAW 8 p.m., & 10/24, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
CLINT HOLMES 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
MARY J. BLIGE 8 p.m., & 10/24, 10/28, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
ARTMS 6 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
DANIEL SLOSS 10 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
TALK SHOW Thru 10/26, 7 p.m., SST Studio Theater, apublicfit.org.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE 8:30 p.m., & 10/24, 10/28, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. TUCSON ROADRUNNERS 7 p.m. (& 10/24, 6 p.m.), Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
RON WHITE 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
TOM JONES 8 p.m., & 10/24, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 2 & 7:30 p.m. (& thru 11/1, dates & times vary), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Thru 10/24, 6 p.m., Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza, eventbrite.com. HAUNTED HARVEST Thru 10/25, 6 p.m., Springs Preserve, springspreserve.org. REFLECTIONS OF THE MIRAGE 4 p.m., Golden Nugget Showroom, neonmuseum.org.
S U P E R G U I D E
THE FUNKY HOUSE COLLECTIVE 10p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com.
AP Photo/Scott Garfitt
SHANNA CHRISTMAS 7:30 p.m., Paymon’s, shannachristmas.com. THE WIDDLER 10 p.m., We All Scream, eventim.us.
FRIDAY OCT 23
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 .
REAL AMERICAN FREESTYLE WRESTLING 6 p.m., BleauLive Theater, ticket master.com.
UNLV ART WALK 5 p.m., UNLV East Mall, unlv.edu/finearts. DUCK DUCK SHED Thru 10/26, events & venues vary, duckduckshed.com.
702 10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv.com.
CHARLI XCX With Underscores, 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.
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MUSIC
PARTY
ARTS
SPORTS
FOOD
COMEDY
MISC
SATURDAY OCT 24 SAMANTHA FISH With Cody Dickenson, 8 p.m., 24 Oxford, ticketmaster.com.
STEAM FAMILY FEST 9:30 a.m., Neon Museum, neonmuseum.org.
BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS 8 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, rwlasvegas.com.
CHALK & CHEERS 11 a.m., Skye Canyon Park, skyecanyon.com.
HONEY REVENGE & DEAD POET SOCIETY 6 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
702 MARKET DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL 4 p.m., Fergusons Downtown, fergusonsdown town.com.
Courtesy/Doug Hardesty
1970 LIVE! THAT’S THE WAY IT WAS 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com. WINE UNDER THE STARS 6 p.m., Green Valley Ranch Resort, greenvalleyranch. com. TUCKER WETMORE With Vincent Mason, Jacob Hackworth, 7 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
BARELY ALIVE With Dion Timmer, Dream Takers, more, 7 p.m., the A-Lot at Area15, posh.vip.
SADGIRL 8 p.m., Dustland, thedustlandbar.com. JEFFREY OSBORNE 8 p.m., the Club at Cannery, ticketmaster.com. FIDDLE & FERN ENSEMBLE 2 p.m., Rita Deanin Abbey Museum, rdamuseum.org. AUSTIN LINDSTROM 10 p.m., Stoney’s North Forty, stoneysnorthforty. com. CRAIG FERGUSON 8 p.m., Penn & Teller Theater, ticketmaster.com.
BETTY BUCKLEY & CHRISTIAN JACOB 3 & 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.
MARIO ADRION 9:30 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
JUELZ 9 p.m., the Portal at Area15, eventim.us.
LAIDBACK LUKE 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup. com.
CALI TUCKER 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
R&B FEST 4 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com.
WYATT PUTMAN 10 p.m., Stoney’s Sunset, stoneyssunset.com.
HUNTRIDGE CIRCLE PARK FARMERS MARKET Huntridge Circle Park used to be a gathering place for residents of surrounding historic neighborhoods to enjoy some green space. Sadly, the City of Las Vegas has fenced and closed it, citing residents’ concerns about safety. Now, the nonprofit Friends of Huntridge Park is looking to partner with the city to help reopen and manage the park for the long term. And they’re starting by creating an open, community-led dialogue—and a farmer’s market. The market will mark the first time the park has been open since it last closed in 2020, and will be anchored by fresh produce aficionado Intuitive Forager. Nearby orgs Nuwu Art, Obodo Collective, Wolfkey Native Plant Nursery, The Center Las Vegas and more vendors will provide community information and activities for kids. Parking is limited, so neighbors are encouraged to walk or bike to the park. 9 a.m., free, Huntridge Circle Park, friendsofhuntridgepark.org. –Shannon Miller
ZEDD 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com. SANZU 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com. NIC VANS 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.
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SUPERGUIDE
MUSIC
PARTY
SUNDAY OCT 25
ARTS
SPORTS
FOOD
COMEDY
MISC
MONDAY OCT 26 GEORGE WALLACE 7 p.m., Orleans Showroom, onthestripticketing. com.
NEW CONSTELLATIONS 8 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater. com.
IVAN PECEL 8:30 p.m., & 10/27, 10/29-11/1, Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com. LOWHEAVEN 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm. PEPE MEROLLA QUARTET 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.
S U P E R G U I D E
Courtesy
MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com.
LAS VEGAS ANARCHIST BOOK FAIR True anarchy begins with literature. It’s a tale as old as time, where ideas and perspectives come alive on the page, sparking movements, challenging conventions and inspiring self-realization. The inaugural Las Vegas Anarchist Book Fair offers a window into the world of rebellion, celebrating a wealth of radical literature alongside local art, zines, live music and more. Organized by a collective of groups and featuring a robust lineup of vendors and workshops, this firstof-its-kind event arrives at a time when knowledge, dialogue and community are more necessary than ever. Beyond the page, it’s a chance to connect with like-minded people and build solidarity. 1 p.m., free, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas, 3616 E. Lake Mead Blvd., instagram.com/ lasvegasanarchistbookfair. –Gabriela Rodriguez
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. LA RAMS 1:25 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. PICNIC IN THE ALLEY 3 p.m., Arts District, picnicinthealley.com. JIM HENSON’S LABYRINTH IN CONCERT 6:30 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com. AZ CHIKE 7 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com.
IN THIS MOMENT & HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD With I See Stars, Vana, Melrose Avenue, 6 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com. DURANGO MOTOR SOCIETY 8 a.m., Bel-Aire Backyard, durangoresort.com. MAHJONG SOCIAL 3 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
JUSTIN CREDIBLE 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.
DO IT ALL
THE MEDIUM ROAST 6 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com. THE DREAM AWARDS 7 p.m., Orleans Showroom, ticketmaster.com. 20TH ANNIVERSARY ACE OF SPADES 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com. VIVE LATIN NIGHT With Olea, 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.
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SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY OCT 27
PARTY
ARTS
SPORTS
FOOD
ALESSO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
JOSE MADERO 7 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
VAMPING: A NOCTURNAL MUSICAL REVUE 7 p.m., & 10/28, Fergusons Downtown, eventbrite.com.
KING RICHARD ROSENBAUM 8 p.m., the BackSpace, thespacelv.com.
EPIK HIGH 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com. TOGA PARTY BAND 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.
Courtesy
BRYAN ADAMS Thru 11/1, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
CASTLE 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm.
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS The Righteous Brothers first performed on the Las Vegas Strip in 1966 and are one of very few acts of their generation that have maintained a steady presence here through decades. After Bobby Hatfield’s death in 2003, remaining co-founder Bill Medley, now 86, brought powerhouse singer Bucky Heard onboard in 2016 and the act enjoyed a spectacular second life, especially with a successful residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas. With Medley recently returning to the stage after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, the Righteous Brothers are touring again, though it remains to be seen if the “farewell tour” label will stick. This week’s concerts at South Point, where the duo has been performing for five years now, are advertised as farewell performances, so act accordingly if you want to catch soulful classics like “Unchained Melody” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” as they were meant to be performed. Thru 10/29, 7 p.m., $51, South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke
LOOK AHEAD
COMEDY
MISC
WEDNESDAY OCT 28
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. OTTAWA SENATORS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
DAVE LANDAU With Ralphie Roberts, Anthony Bonazzo, thru 11/1, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com.
S U P E R G U I D E
MUSIC
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. ONTARIO REIGN 7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
DO IT ALL
VEGAS VARIETY CIRCUS FESTIVAL Thru 11/1, times vary, Arizona Charlie’s Decatur Casino, vegas varietycircus festival.com. NIGHT OF THE WITCHES 6 p.m., Grape Street, helpsonv.org. DIPLO 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial. com. CLÜB DE COMBAT 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com. DJ CLA 10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv. com.
S P OT L I G H T E V E N T
THE ART OF PIE Sweet or savory, pies bring everyone together over the holidays. On November 21 at the Assembly at UnCommons, gather your friends and family from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a community exchange of pie! Show off a family recipe or support a local bakery by bringing one of their pies. The concept is simple; the price of entry is to bring a pie that you can share with the group. Everyone will be able to take home slices of their favorite pies and feast together. Just curious about viewing the pies? Spectators are welcome as well. RSVP by November 8 to partake. uncommons.com/pie
*Spotlight events are sponsored
very
VIP
-SO-E A NOT
21+
XCEPTIONALLY-
L A N O I T P EXCE HOURS AFTER-IHENCE EXPER
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS
OCTOBER 23 THROUGH NOVEMBER 14 10PM -1AM
After the aisles empty,
ange r t s Omega Mart only g ets r. Go Beyond the Aisle for an exclusive after-hours experience of cryptic quests, eerie encounters, and a mysterious ritual that takes the night somewhere entirely unexpected.
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All you need is salt, a jar and a little patience BY GENEVIE DURANO ong before refrigerators, home cooks relied on microscopic helpers to keep food from spoiling. Fermentation, the process by which beneficial bacteria and yeasts convert sugars into acids, gases or alcohol, gave us some of our favorite foods: sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, sourdough, kombucha and so much more. Raw, homemade ferments are teeming with these live bacteria, and research suggests they’re good for more than the taste buds. In a 2021 Stanford study published in the journal Cell, healthy adults who ate more yogurt, kefir, kimchi, fermented vegetables and kombucha for 10 weeks showed greater diversity in their gut microbes and fewer signs of inflammation. And it’s one of the easiest kitchen projects you can do. If you can chop a cabbage and remember to check on a jar, you can ferment.
W E L L N E S S
Start with sauerkraut. Shred a small head of green cabbage (about 2 pounds), toss it with 2 tablespoons of Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 1 tablespoon of Morton) and massage it for five to 10 minutes until it releases its own liquid. Pack it tightly into a wide-mouth quart jar until the brine rises above the cabbage. Weigh it down and cover loosely, then start tasting after three days. When it’s tangy enough (usually within one to three weeks), cap it and refrigerate, where it’ll keep for months.
Kimchi, sauerkraut’s spicier Korean cousin, works the same way. Napa cabbage is salted, then rubbed with a paste of gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes), garlic, ginger, scallions and often fish sauce before it’s packed into a jar. It’s ready in a few days but keeps getting funkier in the fridge. You can find gochugaru and napa cabbage at H Mart on Decatur Boulevard.
Once you’ve mastered kraut and kimchi, go wild with carrot sticks, green beans, radishes, baby cucumbers or cauliflower florets. Cover them with a brine of 1 tablespoon of Diamond Crystal salt dissolved in 2 cups of water. Toss in garlic, dill or chili flakes and you’ve got pickles that’ll put store-bought options to shame.
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Missed the sourdough pandemic craze? Now’s the time. Stir together equal weights of flour and water in a jar, cover loosely and let the wild yeasts and bacteria already living in the flour take over. Discard half and feed it fresh flour and water daily. In a week or two, it should be bubbly, smell pleasantly sour and double within a few hours of feeding. Now your starter is ready for breadmaking.
Ditch the pricey store-bought kombucha and make your own. You’ll need a SCOBY, a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast that looks like a rubbery pancake (available on Amazon), plus a cup or two of already-brewed kombucha as starter liquid. Add them to a jar of cooled, sweetened black or green tea, cover with a cloth and wait one to two weeks. Bottle it with a splash of fruit juice for a second round of fizz.
A word about fermenting in the desert: Heat speeds things up. Vegetable ferments are happiest between 60 and 75 degrees, so a Las Vegas kitchen in July can turn crisp cabbage to mush fast. Ferment in the coolest spot in the house and taste often. Kombucha, on the other hand, likes it warmer, around 75 to 85 degrees. Warm kitchens also invite kahm yeast, a flat, harmless white film that can form on vegetable ferments. Just skim it off and carry on. Fuzzy spots of blue, green, black or pink mold are another story: Toss the batch and start fresh.
Cultures for Health stocks starter cultures for sourdough, yogurt, kefir and more, plus free recipes and how-to videos. culturesforhealth.com Sourdough fans should browse Breadtopia for dried starter and baking tools. breadtopia.com Kombucha Kamp ships organic SCOBYs and brew kits. kombuchakamp.com
For vegetables, Masontops kits turn ordinary mason jars into fermenters. masontops.com Bookmark this. When you’re ready to go deeper, pick up Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz, the book that launched a thousand crocks. It covers everything from kimchi and kvass to miso and mead. You’ll turn your kitchen into a laboratory in no time. wildfermentation.com
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WIDE-MOUTH MASON JARS Quart-size glass jars are the workhorses of home fermentation. The wide opening makes it easy to pack in vegetables and fish them out later, and glass won’t absorb odors or react with acidic brine. Buy a few; once you catch the bug, you’ll want more than one batch going. FERMENTATION WEIGHTS The golden rule: Everything stays under the brine. Glass weights sized for wide-mouth jars keep vegetables submerged and away from air, where mold likes to set up shop. In a pinch, a small zip-top bag filled with brine (not plain water, in case it leaks) does the trick. AIRLOCK LIDS These inexpensive plastic tops let carbon dioxide escape while keeping air and fruit flies out. They screw right onto standard wide-mouth jars and are a worthy upgrade for your subsequent batches. THE RIGHT SALT Not all salt is created equal. Iodine and anti-caking agents found in regular table salt can slow down fermentation and cloud your brine. Stick with pure kosher salt, pickling salt or unrefined sea salt. Check the label: The only ingredient should be salt. A KITCHEN SCALE Fermentation is forgiving, but salt ratios matter. Too little and spoilage microbes move in; too much and the good bacteria can’t do their job. A basic digital scale takes the guesswork out of hitting that two percent sweet spot.
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Courtesy/Shane O’Neal
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Courtesy Genisis Palomo
BY GEOFF CARTER
EGAN ESCAPE PRODUCTIONS eganproductions.com
Once upon a time, on the planet Mars, a man named Stendahl commissioned the construction of a “haunted castle.” He gave the contractor poetic instructions, almost like text prompts, regarding the colors of the façade (to be made “desolate and terrible”), the inner walls (“bleak”) and even the nearby lake (“black and lurid”). Stendahl and his creative partner Pikes filled the castle with convincingly grotesque illusions, which he used to exact retribution on the politicians that, in Ray Bradbury’s story, had banned horror and fantasy fiction. We won’t say how Stendahl got his revenge, because that’s a major spoiler for one of the best chapters in Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, a book that remains all too prescient at age 76. Anyhow, the takeaway is that haunted houses are awesome, and that Bradbury understood there was more to making one than stringing up a few cobwebs, covering yourself in fake blood and hiding behind a door. The mood needs to be established before you enter those desolate and terrible walls, before you clock the fake rats scurrying along the bleak walls, and long before you encoun-
ter the giant, unhinged ape who’s gonna stuff you up the chimney. (Spoilers, sorry.) Actors, set pieces and makeup effects all need to harmonize—an overlapping chorus of sights, sounds, scents, textures and storytelling that serves the big scare. So, how do you build a haunt from nothing? Jason Egan has a few ideas. The prolific producer of interactive entertainment and inventive founder of Circus Circus’ late, great Fright Dome knows a good haunt must balance its artistry with psychology. It must meet the audience where they are. “I was the first one to pull off a [haunted house] event during COVID in 2020, an event called Fright Ride,” he says. “I was like, what theme matches the COVID mask? Oh my God, am I going to have actors in COVID masks? It’s going to look horrible.” The solution was as plain as the covering on everyone’s faces. Egan fabricated a “science experiment” gone awry, which allowed both the mandatory spacing and face covering requirements to slot into the story. He took lemons and made a scary lemonade. “We took people through the 75,000-square-foot research lab on golf carts. The COVID mask
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fit the theme because you’re all research scientists,” he says. “It worked out really well.” Egan understands the dance between mindset and setting clearly enough to reproduce it at scale. Egan Escape Productions’ Vegas attractions—the stylish John Wick Experience, quirky Oddyssey Manor, and a trio of super-immersive escape rooms based on the Saw, Blair Witch and It franchises—are all very different experiences (as is the Paw Patrol attraction Egan recently opened in Texas, we imagine). But they all begin not with Egan’s idea of what scares him, but with a considered opinion of what scares us—as many of us as possible. “[Escape It] began as the blankest canvas you could have ever seen. It was an open warehouse. We had to choose which scenes we felt were the most important, because the It movies are full of incredible scenes, both chapters. When I was talking to Warner Bros., my first thought was we were just going to do one experience. But there’s too much good stuff.” He likens the challenge to a concert he saw recently: Guns N’ Roses. “Which songs do
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Tom Devlin applies makeup to Sandra Snider, “Granny Blackwell,” at Fright Zone in Boulder City.
–Del Wynegar, assistant director of entertainment of Universal Horror Unleashed
you expect to hear?” he asks rhetorically. “‘Welcome to the Jungle,’ ‘Paradise City,’ all those important, iconic songs. It was the same with us when we were designing the sets.” Meaning: Just as GNR’s Use Your Illusion got a two-part release, so did It. Rather than jam two films’ worth of scares together into one chaotic space, Escape It unfolds in two parts, allowing tension to build properly between scenes. The atmosphere of dread, sustained by Egan’s detailed sets and punctuated by scare actors, has lots of room to seep into your bones. And Egan wants to make sure that if you come to his show, you get all the hits, faithfully represented.
“Which scenes do you want to see from It: Chapter One? Well, of course, I want to see the sewers. I want to see the Neibolt House. I want to see the clown funeral room. I gotta see the three doors, the tower of toys. Same with Chapter Two: It starts with the Jade of the Orient, and so do we,” Egan says. “And we want to see spider Pennywise. We could have saved ourselves hundreds of thousands of dollars if we would have cut out spider Pennywise, but that’s not what we do.” Makeup effects artist Tom Devlin, who has worked on 174 scary movies—beginning with major studio productions like The Scorpion King and Red Dragon and continuing through
indies like Las Vegas Frankenstein and Bloody Bluff, both of which he directed himself—also understands that a good haunt needs to come overloaded, like a baked potato with everything. But the proprietor of Boulder City’s splendidly atmospheric Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum and producer of his own haunt, Blackwell Manor—running through October 31—doesn’t have a Warner Bros.-assisted budget. Luckily, he’s worked with limited budgets for most of his career. He can build great sets, but his approach to the art of the haunt favors scare actors and makeup. “Our haunt is very theatrical, very actor-based,” Devlin says.
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Fright Zone photos by Wade Vandervort
TOM DEVLIN’S MONSTER MUSEUM tomdevlinsmonstermuseum.com
“It’s not just jump scares for no reason. The jump scares propel the story of Blackwell Manor and the curse that it holds. ...You’re going to get the creep-out factor, with people that are made up very well, performing very well and are very close to you. It gives you that like I-can’t-really-escape-this kind of feel.” Those makeup scares will likely be, um, meaty. Devlin is a creature creator at heart—he lovingly describes Frankenstein’s monster as “a homemade piece of art”—but he’s also had a lot of experience creating wounds and decapitations. (When asked if he’s decapitated anyone we know, he remembers beheading Bill Paxton for Club Dread, then draws a bit of a blank: “I don’t know how many decapitations I’ve been involved with. …We probably cut three heads off per movie.”) And he sleeps well at night, so you know you’re getting the work of a true craftsman. “I have no natural fear receptors, but I’m an adrenaline junkie,” he says. “People want to feel unsafe in a safe environment. When you go through something like Blackwell Manor, you get to walk through a living movie. … There’s just that feeling. We’re almost unsafe, but still, you paid for a ticket. We’re not going to hurt you.”
Courtesy
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“People want to feel unsafe in a safe environment. When you go through something like Blackwell Manor, you get to walk through a living movie. … We’re almost unsafe, but still, you paid for a ticket. We’re not going to hurt you.” –Tom Devlin, makeup artist and proprietor of Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum
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UNIVERSAL HORROR UNLEASHED universalhorrorunleashed.com
Universal Horror Unleashed, a haunt attraction based on the Halloween Horror Nights events at Universal’s theme parks, could have a similar operational credo. (A flickering neon sign on its wall warns, “Safety first—think of your family.”) Located in a 110,000-square-foot space anchoring Area15’s Zone 2 and themed as an abandoned prop warehouse where OSHA violations are the least of your problems, Unleashed runs four haunted houses simultaneously, five days a week, year-round. In that way, it’s kind of a haunted proving ground, where management can fine-tune scares as they go, from the lighting to the acting. “We have what’s called scare school,” says Del Wynegar, assistant director of entertainment for Universal Horror Unleashed. “When actors first get hired,
we set them down and we talk through what is required of a scare actor. ... Most new scare actors think that getting really close to your face is scary. I always tell them they must remain at least an arm’s length away; people respond differently to the scares, and one of those ways is that people will hit. If you remain an arm’s length away, you’re allowing the guest to have their reaction, but also keeping yourself and the guest safe.” Universal is trying to catch
as many different generations in its web as possible. An older guest may love the haunted house populated by Universal’s classic monsters, like the Mummy and the Bride of Frankenstein; younger fans raised on visceral and body horror may prefer the farm-fresh frights of Scarecrow: The Reaping. “We’ve got these different generational groups coming together to share this love of horror, and I think that’s so sweet,” Wynegar says. Wynegar clearly sees the
romance in cultivating what Bradbury’s scare master Stendahl called “a medieval atmosphere in a modern, incredulous world.” People of all ages flock to Universal Horror Unleashed, to Tom Devlin’s Fright Zone, to Egan’s harrowing escape rooms, all following different paths to the same beautiful moment: when they’re separated, involuntarily but safely, from their wits. “Someone told me one time that we come into this world with two things: The fear of being dropped and the fear of being alone,” Wynegar says. “We are naturally born into a world with fear, and I think that never leaves you. You just get better at controlling it. But even scaredy-cats will still go down a dark road, because they don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Courtesy Universal Horror Unleashed
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The Moapa Valley Cornmaze offers a welcome break from traditional haunts. By day, families can explore the nineacre corn maze and hop on hayrides. But after dark, the haunted corn maze comes alive with its own crop of crazy characters. Be ready to run. Thru October 31, times vary, $12+, 3715 N. Pioneer Road, Moapa, mvcornmaze.com. Opportunity Village’s HalloVeen returns for its 13th season with more kid-friendly frights. The Magical Forest gets the full spooky treatment as ghosts and ghouls take over. Attractions like the Wizard’s Wondrous Whirlpool and Rod’s Mini Golf should keep the whole family entertained. Thru October 31, times vary, $24+, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., opportunityvillage.org. If haunted attractions aren’t your thing, skip the lines and head to The Wake at the Beverly Theater. All month long, the theater screens classic horror films like Children of the Corn, Christine and Suspiria on the big screen. Thru October 31, times vary, $16, Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater.com.
Scarea15 courtesy Jesse Hudson; Jammyland courtesy
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BY AMBER SAMPSON
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Black Lagoon, a nationally recognized spooky staple created by two award-winning bartenders, is taking over Jammyland and creating a world from the depths of nightmares and cocktail cravings. jammy.land Chinatown’s Sand Dollar Lounge is back with The Haunting, an immersive experience that conjures bone-chilling drinks, a splattering of ghostly decor and live music. thesanddollarlv.com At Caramella’s hidden lounge, guests step into a 1970s disco where the party never really died. This is Nightmare on the Dance Floor, where the killer energy pairs deliciously well with the playful cocktail menu. taogroup. com For those who like to play on the Strip and enjoy a view, pop into Vinyl Room for its two-night spooktacular. October 30 gets the Día de los Muertos treatment and Halloween night will be a vinyl and villain takeover. vinyl roomlasvegas.com After a successful run of its Camp Palms pop-up, the property has yet again transformed the spacious room off its casino floor into The Haunted Inn. Don’t expect to enjoy your themed food and cocktails in peace, as live actors roam the room looking for someone to scare. palms.com Since opening its doors, Silver Stamp has only closed one day a year and that’s to decorate for spooky season. This sacred ritual shapeshifts the beer bar into a bloodsoaked shrine to the sinister. silverstamplv.com Also in the Arts District, Nocturno has been transformed into a delightfully ghoulish version of itself. Come for the devilishly tasty cocktails and stay for the wicked-good vibes. nocturnovegas.com
Scarea15 brings a twisted circus to town with bone-rattling beats, bizarre characters and sideshow surprises to immerse you under the big top. The jump scares drop as often as the basslines do with DJ Valentino Khan and others behind the decks. October 31, 8 p.m., $47+, Area15, area15.com. Craving a double dose of fear? Las Vegas Haunts celebrates its 28th season with Asylum and Hotel Fear. The two haunted houses offer an interconnected tale of terror as you uncover secrets of the Feoray family and the mysterious contagion that overtook them. Thru October 31, times vary, $45+, Meadows Mall, lasvegashaunts.com. Halloween Maze ramps up the nightmare fuel with an interactive haunt filled with creepy characters and eerie atmospheres. Thrill seekers should splurge on the Touch Pass, which lets actors touch you, if you dare. Thru October 31, times vary, $30+, 8490 W. Desert Inn Road, halloweenmazelv.com.
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2026
PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE MARCUS
IS MAKING NEVADA THE NUMBER ONE STATE TO DO BUSINESS IN. He’s reducing paperwork and cutting wait times at the Secretary
Cisco Aguilar knows how hard small business owners work because he is one. He experienced the administrative maze and hold times with the
easier to navigate. The process improvements he’s made to the business registration system are helping entrepreneurs, and focus on what matters.
He’s keeping Nevada elections fair and secure, no matter your political party Cisco Aguilar is standing up to the federal government’s efforts to gain access to the private personal information of Nevada voters. He fought back in court and won to protect our personal information.
MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE BY NOVEMBER 3RD Paid for by Cisco for Nevada
Cisco Aguilar is fighting for the future of Nevada business owners and their families. C I S C O N V. C O
/ C I S C O F O R N E VA D A
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N E W S
SERVING SURVIVORS
SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger, center left, and Becky Bird, center right, a domestic abuse survivor, help open SafeNest’s One Safe Place on October 15. (Photo by Steve Marcus)
IN THE NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT
NONPROFITS
Nevada’s first one-stop center for domestic abuse survivors opens SafeNest’s One Safe Place, Nevada’s first affiliated family justice center, opened October 15 to people navigating their exit from abuse with more than 20 community organizations and services on a single campus off Meadows Lane. Survivor Becky Bird received Temporary Protective Order assistance through SafeNest in 2024 and successfully filed the order against an abusive ex who was stalking and harassing her after she moved to Las Vegas. She now volunteers at SafeNest as a court advocate for fellow survivors. “I had managed to leave the relationship. ... I thought that was the hardest part, but I was still trying to find my way to safety,” Bird said. Groups with space at the new facility
HISTORIC WESTSIDE
New cafe and workforce training program opens
include Accepting Hearts Behavioral Services, Children’s Advocacy Center Foundation, Clark County District Attorney’s Office, Clark County Family Services, Nevada Division of Social Services, Hope Christian Health Center, Signs of Hope, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Three Square Food Bank, UNLV’s Survivor Representation and Advocacy Clinic, and the Immigrant Home Foundation. One Safe Place will make it easier for survivors to get comprehensive care and reduce the frustration they may experience trying to navigate a fragmented system requiring survivors to travel across the Valley for services, officials said. It also ensures that survivors don’t have to constantly relive their trauma by repeating their story to
employees at these different agencies. Nevada gave SafeNest a historic $9 million to fund the complex, and the organization is looking to gather another $6.7 million to cover the cost of their loans, she said. Along with space for its community partners, the redesigned campus includes a food pantry, a childcare center, staff meeting rooms, group workshop areas for survivors and private rooms where survivors can meet with caseworkers—all protected by a state-of-the-art security system. The organization serves about 16,000 survivors a year, and that’s expected to double with the new facility, SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger said. –Grace Da Rocha
CYNDI LAUPER, MÖTLEY CRÜE ANNOUNCE 2027 SHOWS AT THE COLOSSEUM Two new shows are lined up for 2027 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. After two backto-back weekends of concerts there in 2026, Cyndi Lauper will return February 19-27 and September 3-11, bringing hits like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and “True Colors” back to the stage. Celebrating 45 years, Mötley Crüe will bring its fourth Vegas residency, Carnival of Sins in Sin City, to the Colosseum March 1920, 24, 26-27 and 31, and April 2-3. Tickets for both artists go on sale to the general public October 23 at ticketmaster.com. –Staff
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong celebrated the opening of a new workforce training program and professional chef-driven cafe at The Historic Westside School on October 19. Open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch, Stew’s Stix Café is a partnership between the City of Las Vegas and Cutthroat Kitchen winner and chef Richard Stewart that teaches employees culinary skills, hospitality, customer service and the expectations of working in a commercial kitchen. The city provided the space and paid for upgrades to the kitchen. Known as Vegas’ first school, the city-owned Historic Westside School complex hosts a design center and community space, public and nonprofit services and Power 88 radio station (KCEP-FM).–Shannon Miller
Courtesy
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Susie
Ranked
Lee for Congress Democrat for Congress
Fighting Like Hell to Lower Costs THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO VOTE IN NEVADA 1 Vote By Mail – Ballots sent early October 2 Early Voting Site – Open Oct. 17 – Oct. 30 3 In Person on Election Day Nov. 3 For any questions, call the voter protection hotline: 1-775-799-8683
susieleeforcongress.com Paid for by Susie Lee for Congress.
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N E W S
GROWING PAINS Proposed business improvement district would put the Arts District’s future in property owners’ hands
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER Twenty years ago, artists living in cottages near Charleston Boulevard and Main Street in Downtown’s Arts District were evicted to make way for a proposed 43-story condo tower that never even broke ground. Today, the once-niche creative refuge has transformed into a busy local hangout, but the neighborhood’s small business owners, residents and artists are again asking a familiar question: Is this place still for us? With the massive commercial and residential development that has recently happened in the Arts District, there’s no question the neighborhood is at a turning point. Failed efforts to implement noise restrictions and disagreements over paid parking have started a conversation about gentrification. An October 2 shooting that left a 15-year-old dead at the monthly First Friday event has been another flash point, prompting discussions about the district’s lack of entertainment options for youth and a need to bolster public safety. The tragic incident came at a time when a proposal to establish the city’s first Business Improvement District (BID) had just launched. The effort, guided by several Arts District property owners, business owners and stakeholders, would seek to address security and sanitation concerns among other services. Supporters say the BID would revitalize the Arts District, but opponents say it would price out the small businesses and artists who shaped it into the eclectic hub it is today. “My antenna has been up for the past year,” Majestic Repertory Theatre artistic director Troy Heard says. “There’s not been a chance for any of us to take a breath down there.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
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As proposed, the Arts District BID extends beyond the district’s official borders, stretching from Bonneville Avenue south to Wyoming Avenue, and from the railroad tracks east to Las Vegas Boulevard. Property owners within those boundaries would pay an annual fee for shared benefits like extra security, cleaning and marketing. Owners of commercial, apartment and nonprofit buildings would pay $6.50 per $1,000 of assessed value per year, while residential condo and homeowners would pay $3.25 per $1,000. To get there, BID advocates need to secure signatures from property owners holding at least half of the area’s total assessed property value. If they’re successful, the Las Vegas City Council would hold a public hearing and vote on whether to implement the plan for an initial 10-year period. As of October 15, 20% of the overall district has approved, BID organizer and Cherry Development founder and CEO Sam Cherry says. Owners of more valuable parcels carry more weight, while commercial and residential tenants can’t sign at all. If approved, a nonprofit board and staff would oversee the funding, with the plan noting that leadership would “ideally” include at least one artist, two residents and a nonprofit representative. For now, the BID proposal is being steered by an informal board of six developers and apartment owners, including Cherry, plus business owners Sean Blanchard and Jen Taler. Derek Stonebarger, proprietor of ReBAR, Davy’s and Barter Beer & Mall, was also a member until he resigned October 19. “This is only up to property owners. They’re the only ones who have a say,” he says. He estimates the BID would add about $50 a month, or $1,200 a year, for his two bars, assuming his landlord passes the cost down.
WHAT IT WOULD DO
The BID would collect about $1.67 million through assessments in its first year, according to the management plan. Another $113,000 could come from the city, the state and the Regional Transportation Commission, whose properties are exempt unless they choose to pay. About 35% would be applied toward safety, including unarmed patrols that would coordinate with local law enforcement. Another 20% would be earmarked for marketing and events, with the rest going to administration, cleaning, signage and small business support.
“It’s the big dog moving into the small neighborhood because they see that it’s cool and they want it shaped to their vision, without living within the organic infrastructure that made it cool to begin with.” –Troy Heard, artistic director, Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District
THE CONCERNS
The 18b Neighborhood Association Board recently released a statement opposing the current BID plan, noting that it “does not do enough to protect the artists, small businesses and residents who built this district.” Other detractors have organized under the name Don’t BID Us Out, launching an online petition that’s garnered over 360 signatures. They say these objections center on concerns over increased rents, gentrification and the fact that non-property owners have no real say. Heard calls it an effort “to increase the value mechanically, as opposed to letting it happen organically.” “It’s the big dog moving into the small neighborhood because they see that it’s cool and they want it shaped to their vision, without living within the organic infrastructure that made it cool to begin with,” Heard says. “Once you raise those rents, they aren’t coming back down. You’ll see a lot more commercialization and more chains possibly moving in.” Property owner and landlord Gary Creagh, also on the BID’s steering committee, acknowledges the possibility. “Obviously, I make my money with rent. I’m not someone who’s going to hide and pretend that’s not true,” he says. “But if I increase my rent, I want my tenants to be happy to pay because the area is doing that much better.” Creagh, who first suspected the BID was a “money grab” before researching how it was implemented elsewhere, adds that he’d “vehemently oppose” the type of commercialization that would betray the Arts District’s culture. “We all want this area to thrive and stay weird and different. I think we want to get to the same place. We’re just differing on how to get there,” Creagh says.
Sun File
WHAT IT IS
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
WHAT’S NEXT
For now, the BID decision rests with property owners and, eventually, the city. Mayor Pro Tem Olivia Diaz, who represents Ward 3 and the Arts District, tells the Weekly she hasn’t made up her mind. “I don’t want it to lose its authenticity and its charm. I don’t want to make a decision that will just completely be counterproductive to what this area on its own has become,” she says. There are alternatives. If property owners representing one-third of the district’s assessed value file written objections, the BID cannot move forward. If passed, there are also mechanisms to dissolve it after it’s formed.
BID proponents will host the first community information session at THIRD Street on October 22 at 5:30 p.m. RSVP at lvartsdistrictbid.com is required to attend.
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ZOUK NI GHTCLUB
Friday, Oct. 30 | 9 p.m.–3 a.m.
T
heatrical nights, spirited cocktails and world-class nightlife set the scene this Halloween at Resorts World Las Vegas. On October 30–31, intrigue and mystery take over the resort, from a masquerade 66 floors above the Strip to Megan Thee Stallion’s Hottieween at Zouk Nightclub. Come a little closer and uncover the night. ALLĒ LO UNGE ON 66
Downstairs, the celebration turns up the volume as three-time Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion brings her legendary Hottieween to Zouk Nightclub. The party is known for show-stopping costumes, surprise appearances and nonstop energy. Expect a night of Halloween mischief with the Hotties, fueled by hip-hop hits and plenty of Chicas Divertidas Tequila. Come dressed to impress and ready for the unexpected. Tickets are on sale now.
Masquerade on 66 Friday, Oct. 30 | 5 p.m.–2 a.m.
Rise 66 floors above the city at Allē Lounge on 66, where a Phantom of the Opera-themed evening brings theatrical flair to sweeping panoramic views of the Strip. DJ Cameron Dettman sets the soundtrack, specialty cocktails are poured for the occasion, and a costume contest rewards anyone who makes a grand entrance. The Red Masquerade puts a Halloween spin on the traditional Bloody Mary with Ketel One Vodka, savory tomato, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, spices and a skull caprese garnish. The Phantom’s Obsession reimagines the espresso martini with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Licor 43, freshly pulled espresso, dark chocolate and a marshmallow spiderweb garnish. With cocktails in hand and Las Vegas glittering below, it’s Halloween with a flair for the dramatic. Costumes are encouraged and reservations are recommended.
UNCOVER HALLOWEEN AT RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS
Allē Lounge on 66 HERE KI T TY KITTY VICE DEN
Día de los Muertos For those who prefer a more intimate scene, Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den brings another side of the season to life. Tucked away inside Famous Foods Street Eats, the hidden cocktail lounge marks Día de los Muertos with marigold-filled décor and four specialty cocktails. Lovers of smokier flavors may gravitate toward the Marigold Smoke, featuring Casamigos Mezcal, agave, house-made grenadine and fresh lime. La Calavera leans into spice with Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac, Cointreau, spiced pear, pineapple amaro, fresh
lime, orgeat, brown sugar and cinnamon. Until We Meet Again brings together Bulleit Bourbon, apple, allspice, maple, ginger and fresh lemon. And for those looking to keep the night going, the Midnight Offering combines Licor 43, Ron Zacapa Rum and freshly pulled espresso.
Exclusive Cocktails at Here Kitty Kitty ¡VIVA!
Día de los Muertos Specialty Menu For a celebration with a seat at the table, ¡VIVA! by Chef Ray Garcia honors Día de los Muertos with three special dishes. Diners can try Aguachile Negro with shrimp and scallops, Vampiro Tacos with wood-grilled carne asada, and tender adobo-braised lamb served with handmade tortillas. To drink, pair them with the new Avocado Margarita. From theatrical intrigue 66 floors above the Strip to a packed dance floor, a festive dinner and cocktails hidden just beyond view, Halloween at Resorts World Las Vegas leaves plenty to uncover. Dress the part, follow the night wherever it leads and discover a different side of the world after dark.
COME A LITTLE CLOSER
Created and presented by Resorts World Las Vegas
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Trevor Connelly on pace to smash Golden Knights’ rookie records through fast start to the season Photos by Steve Marcus/photo illustration
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S P O R T S
BY CASE KEEFER When the Vegas Golden Knights entered the NHL 10 seasons ago, most expected they’d be led by a talented collection of homegrown players the team drafted and developed by now. It made sense given previous new teams’ paths and the organization’s deftness in requiring assets through the expansion draft, but the exact opposite has turned out to be true. The Golden Knights have aggressively dealt away the vast majority of their top prospects and draft capital for more established difference-makers going on a decade now. The strategy has certainly worked, giving the team one of the most star-studded rosters in hockey and yielding a Stanley Cup title in 2023, but there is a minor downside. The fan base has largely missed out on the thrill on watching the highest-regarded young players grow in the minor leagues and then breaking out in the NHL. That seems to be changing this season. The Golden Knights are off to another strong start, winning six of their first eight games, and a big reason for the success is the type of player relatively foreign to the franchise—a star rookie in Trevor Connelly. The 20-year-old former first-round pick has three goals, two assists and was recently promoted to the Golden Knights’ top power-play unit. “I have such confidence in him,” teammate Mitch Marner said. “He’s such a good player. You see it on the daily, just the plays he makes … He’s got the skillset. (The fast start) is not really surprising.” Connelly’s biggest moment isn’t even included in the statistics line because it occurred after regulation and a five-minute
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overtime period. He fooled future Hall of Fame goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and backhanded the game-winning goal in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs October 8 at T-Mobile Arena. Coach Ryan Craig, who spent one full season and part of another coaching Connelly with the Henderson Silver Knights, said he had no hesitation sending the youngster out with the game on the line. “I’ve seen him do that at the American Hockey League level,” Craig said. “At that point, it’s a oneon-one with the goalie.” Craig is always going to trust Connelly in a one-on-one. The rookie’s shot might be his biggest strength, and he’s wiping away any concern that it might not be NHL ready yet. But he’s not relying solely on his quick release, as his first NHL goal came in an opening-night 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks when he established himself at the net front. “It’s been awesome,” Connelly said when asked how his first few weeks in the NHL have felt. “It’s a dream come true. It’s just putting the past behind and focusing day by day on practice and just trying to do my best on the ice every practice and every game.” Connelly was a controversial selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, held at Sphere. He was considered more talented than the No. 19 overall pick, where the Golden Knights chose him, but came with character concerns because of several incidents throughout his youth-hockey career. But the Golden Knights said they put in their due diligence on Connelly and felt comfortable taking him. There have been no reported troubles with Connelly as a professional, with teammates praising his work ethic and eagerness to improve. Craig initially said he would give Connelly a chance with the NHL players at training camp and see how it went. Connelly immediately proved he belonged and hasn’t come close to relinquishing his opportunity. “Especially in your first year, every game is a learning lesson,” Marner said. “There’s always things you can learn from. I think he’s done a really good job of taking that and being better the next game.” Marner particularly has become a mentor to Connelly, who called the relationship “surreal” given how much he looked up to the 29-year-old veteran from afar as recently as a few years ago. Connelly has attached himself to Marner on the road and even got the invite for dinner with his family at his home in Las Vegas. When they share the ice on the power play, Connelly knows what to expect too. “Just got to be ready at all times, stick on the ice, and think, next time when I get a chance, this is going in the net,” Connelly said.
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Recent show closures mark a transitional time for Vegas entertainment
THE INCIDENTAL TOURIST BY BROCK RADKE
The culture of Las Vegas is inextricably linked to the artists and technicians behind the Strip’s vibrant live entertainment industry, so any time a show closes, it hurts. We know it’s the very nature of a show to eventually end, but it still always hurts. Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatles LOVE, which wrapped in 2024, ranks No. 1 in my mind as the all-time most tragic loss; it closed because the Mirage had been sold to make way for a new Hard Rock Hotel. It always felt like it could continue forever. Cirque closed its newest produc-
SCENE CHANGE
T H E
tion, Mad Apple, in September, weeks before Wynn closed its large-scale spectacular Awakening this month. Both had impressive runs considering they launched four years ago, when the post-pandemic Strip was already contracting in several areas. Both were dynamic, creative takes on different types of production shows that have served as the foundation for live entertainment in Las Vegas. While significant—and despite clickbait headlines—these closures do not signal the end for Vegas shows. It’s true that The Wizard of Oz at Sphere, the continued growth of big-venue music and sports events, and the economic malaise slowing tourism all contribute to this shift in entertainment, but it’s a different path, not the end of the road. “It’s just the continuing evolution of a wonderful market for entertain-
S T R I P
ment that is constantly developing new and fantastic ways to entertain people that come to this wonderful town,” says Ross Mollison, founder of Spiegelworld. He had to close one of his company’s Vegas projects, DiscoShow, in January of this year after it debuted at the Linq in 2024. Spiegelworld also closed OPM in 2023 after almost six years, but is still going strong with Absinthe at Caesars Palace (since 2011) and Atomic Saloon Show at Palazzo (since 2019). Absinthe is without a doubt one of the Strip’s most popular shows, and Atomic Saloon “is doing better now than it has any time since it launched, which is extraordinary to me,” Mollison says. Las Vegas grows and changes so fast, it’s truly unbelievable that any single show can last longer than a few years. Many of us like to nostalgically
the loss of the “showgirl” productions, but I could make a case that Jubilee lasted 35 years because things weren’t moving as fast back then. That’s not disrespect, but it is a testament to the greatness of Mystère (32 years) and O (28), and while we’re at it, how about Tournament of Kings (36)? Remarkable. As Mollison points out, in any other entertainment market, four or five or six years is an incredible run—including Broadway. “We took an enormous swing with DiscoShow, trying to create a new style of entertainment, and it did pretty well but not well enough. We gave it everything we could, and you have to do that. You have to take big swings. You’ve got to come out and do something everyone is really excited to see, something that’s got a buzz about it.”
Absinthe had that buzz. Several Cirque shows have generated that kind of excitement over the years, becoming that thing you have to go to Vegas to see. And obviously, it isn’t easy to conceptualize and execute on that big, buzzy idea. It seems impossible, yet it’s happened time and time again. “Of course, that’s what [James Dolan] did. He created a new category with the Sphere,” Mollison explains. “It doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. Everywhere I go, people ask, ‘Can you get me tickets? I gotta go see this.’” A time of change can be sad, when you’re thinking about what might be lost, but it’s also a time of opportunity. It only takes one new hit to start a different wave, a new breed of Vegas productions that captivate audiences, and you don’t
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have to spend billions of dollars and build a Sphere or get the rights to the music of the Beatles in order to create that. “Of course there’s opportunity, but here’s the rub—you’ve got to have the idea, see the opportunity, and have the chutzpah to get out there and put it on, and be ready if it fails,” Mollison says. “We were an overnight success over the course of five years. It took us years to get [Absinthe] really going and that’s the hard thing about Vegas and doing something that’s not branded somewhere else. Sphere doesn’t need a brand, because U2 is the brand, The Wizard of Oz is the brand. “If you do something you’ve created new for Vegas, that’s where the greatest return is, but it’s also the greatest difficulty.”
Courtesy Spiegelworld
10.22.26
The Neon Museum’s Movies Tour unveils the magic behind some of the most memorable movie moments set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas. From classic films to modern blockbusters, The Neon Museum becomes a reel of memories, transporting visitors into the heart of the movies.
NEONMUSEUM.ORG (702) 387-6366
PRESENTED BY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY S T E V E M A R C U S & WA DE VA NDE R V OR T
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INTO THE UNKNOWN
M U S I C
Las Vegas post-rock outfit Peaceful Retreat charts new territory on Voyager
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Photo by Wade Vandervort
Listening to Peaceful Retreat feels like holding your breath in outer space. The Las Vegas quartet’s post-rock recipe unfolds in long, ambient stretches, letting guitar lines spiral, drums shimmer and bass anchor its excursions before everything crests into a wall of sound. Then comes the release and a moment to exhale before the next launch. On Voyager, the band’s first
full-length since 2018’s Genesis, the unknown is both the destination and organizing principle. Released on October 19, the album takes the long way around and allows each track to tell its own instrumental story. “It’s a concept record based off the 1977 NASA Voyager missions,” guitarist Ginno Sanchez says. The music follows suit, trading conventional song structures for slow-burning compositions that
seem to lose sight of their starting points before reeling it back in for a satisfying conclusion. The title track begins with a modest guitar riff before gradually expanding into more unruly territory, a reoccurring structure throughout the project. Ginno, the band’s principal composer, approaches songwriting less like a garage-band jam than an orchestral score. “In a sense, he writes the sheet
music for us and we perform it,” says Christopher Sanchez, drummer and brother of Ginno. But the arrangements aren’t set in stone. Bassist Adam Gonzales describes Ginno providing “the bones and the structure of everything,” with the rest of the band reworking those foundations collaboratively. The result draws as much from classical composers like Beethoven and Mozart as it does from psychedelic rock legends Pink Floyd. But for all its celestial ambitions, Voyager retains a dirty, earthly heft, and its ethereal passages often feel like setups for a sudden rock ’n’ roll shift. “People are usually surprised because they think we’re going to be really heavy, but we always start off soft and pretty,” says guitarist Aleksa Kandić. “We do get pretty heavy and pull the rug from under you and then stop.” Since forming in 2017, the band has heard listeners compare its performances to hallucinogenic trips. “You don’t have to take drugs to listen to us. We’ll sonically make you feel that,” says Christopher. Consider that an invitation to leave your body without leaving the venue. Now signed to GC Records and backed by longtime friends at Bad Moon Booking and Black Sheep Booking, Peaceful Retreat will commemorate Voyager with a release show at Dustland Bar on October 23, joined by local noise-rock outfit Headwinds and electro-hardcore duo Spelling Hands. For a band that has never comfortably occupied a single scene, its mission is less about finding a place to fit than discovering how far its sound can travel and letting the music speak for itself.
PEACEFUL RETREAT RECORD RELEASE SHOW with Headwinds and Spelling Hands. October 23, 8 p.m., free. Dustland Bar, thedustlandbar.com.
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M U S I C
Meelah Williams, left, and LeMisha Fields of 702 (courtesy)
The influential R&B girl group comes home for a pair of 30th anniversary celebrations B Y A M B E R S A M P S O N 702 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION October 23, 10 p.m., $44+. On the Record, on therecordlv.com. October 24, 8 p.m., $20+. Skate Rock City, 702events. urbantixs.com.
While most high school seniors were fretting over college applications and prom, the teens of Las Vegas-bred R&B group 702 were in the studio with hip-hop icon Missy Elliott, recording songs that are still on repeat 30 years later. “We would leave from school, jump on a plane from Vegas, fly into LA, go straight to the studio, record, and while one is in the booth, the other two are sitting there doing their homework,” singer LeMisha Fields
tells the Weekly. “By 3 o’clock in the morning, it’s time to jump back on the plane to head home and get back to school the next day. It was a stressful time for us, but honestly I felt the most alive during that time.” The trio, originally made up of Fields, her late sister Irish Grinstead and Meelah Williams, released debut album, No Doubt, in 1996, spawning hits like “Get It Together” and “Steelo,” a song Elliott wrote and guested on that samples The
Police’s “Voices Inside My Head.” “I had no idea it was going to be as successful as it was. It’s just a good record to me, it’s timeless,” Williams says. “Missy, she was very much just a songwriter and producer and not the Missy Elliott we all know today. We didn’t even know then the magic that she had or the magic that we had as a collective.” Fields says Elliott became a foundational part of the 702 sound, co-writing anthems like “Where My Girls At” that helped put Vegas R&B on the map. To celebrate No Doubt’s 30th anniversary, a limited-edition vinyl pressing is on sale at motownrecords.com. Fields and Williams will also perform at Park MGM’s On the Record on October 23 and host a skate night at Skate Rock City on October 24. “We love Vegas. We miss Vegas, and we can’t wait to get home,” Williams says. A lot has changed since they were teenage girls with a big dream. “We have families now. We’re mothers now. It feels different in the sense that the things that we were singing about back then, singing them now as grown women … I know I could relate more to it,” Williams says. “Now I can sing ‘Get It Together,’ and I have way more experience with love and loss and heartbreak, whereas when I was younger, it just felt like a sad breakup song.” The loss of Grinstead in 2023 changed things. The duo is still learning how to command the stage without her. “She is with us in spirit always, but I don’t think she would want us to linger in sorrow,” Fields says. “She would want us to continue and live out the legacy of 702. It’s a bittersweet kind of thing.” That legacy still shows up in the way fans approach them. “My favorite compliment is when they come up to us and they’re like, ‘Me and my girlfriends, we used to pretend that we were you. We did a talent show and I was you, my friend was Meelah and my sister was Irish,’” Fields says. “I remember that’s what we used to do. … Me, Irish and Orish [Grinstead] were in the living room, performing for our parents for years.” Now, Williams says, a younger generation is discovering them too. “We have those that say, ‘Oh my god, my parents listened to you guys,’” she says. “At first it’s like, dang, I’m really auntie. But it’s a blessing. It’s an honor now.”
SEXY WOMEN’S AND MEN’S COSTUMES Wigs • Stockings • Shoes • Accessories 4335 W Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas | 702-367-8009
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Tomahawk steak photo courtesy/ Chris Wessling Alex Prime photo courtesy/ Kenneth Ussenko
El Cortez aims to elevate Downtown dining with Alex Prime BY BROCK RADKE
P
erhaps the crowning achievement of recent renovations at the historic El Cortez Hotel & Casino—currently celebrating its 85th anniversary—Alex Prime Steakhouse opened this month, planting a luxury dining destination into a Downtown neighborhood that’s never seen anything like it. Emerald green banquettes and paneled walls with gold details set the tone for guests right off the main casino entrance, but its swanky environs are just the opening act; the menu has been crafted by fine dining veteran Joe Swan as executive chef, under the guidance of other longtime Vegas standouts Bart Mahoney, vice president of hospitality at El Cortez, and David Robins, formerly of the Wolfgang Puck group. The visionary behind Alex Prime is Kenny Epstein, who purchased the legendary casino from his mentor Jackie Gaughan in 2008. In his own words, Epstein shares the elements that make this brand-new restaurant so special, and so truly Vegas.
On New York City inspiration: “I’ve had some of my favorite meals at the top steakhouses in New York City. The best ones have a real sense of elegance and meticulous service. At Alex Prime, the room is beautiful, the service is impeccable and every detail is taken care of, from the way the table is set to the way the steak is presented. Our dining room feels elegant yet timeless, as if it’s something you’d experience back when Vegas was glamorous.”
On the menu: “If I had to point to a few things, I’d start with our prime rib, tomahawk and porterhouse—all classics. The seafood bisque is fantastic. The oysters Rockefeller and our maple bacon are great ways to start, and you can’t leave without trying the lobster mac and cheese.”
ALEX PRIME El Cortez, 702-385-5200, alexprimesteaklv.com. Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5 p.m.-midnight.
On the Downtown fit: “Fremont East has so much energy right now, with great bars, live music and people out every night of the week. Alex Prime gives people a place to start the night with a great dinner, or to stop in for a cocktail at the bar before they head out. But we also built it to be a destination on its own. This is the kind of restaurant you plan a night around, whether you’re a local celebrating something special or a visitor who wants to see a side of Downtown they didn’t expect.”
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
F O O D
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D R I N K
The Chandelier puts a new shine on its three tiers of fabulous mixology
10.22.26
LEVEL 2
Lime in the Coconut ($22) You can hear Rupert Holmes’ “If you like piña coladas” lyrics when sipping on this sophisticated mix of añejo rum, manzanilla sherry, pineapple and coconut with salted lime foam on top.
BY SHANNON MILLER The Cosmopolitan’s centerpiece, the Chandelier, famously has three different levels at which you can enjoy expertly crafted cocktails while surrounded by two million crystals, jewel and pastel tones and newly enhanced plush, velvet seating. And while the bar itself is a feast for the eyes, the revamped beverage menu steals the spotlight. “We try to spread out techniques across all floors and make sure guests are getting a stylistic difference between all three,” says head of mixology Gedeon Tsegaye. A word of advice? “If you’re looking to start on a light and bubbly floor, start at the top. If you’re looking for something more spirit-forward and nightcap-ish, head to the bottom floor. If you’re looking for something more experimental, I would come to Level 1.5,” he says. If you’re looking for a drink made with creativity and precision, you can’t go wrong here. These are our current favorites from each floor.
THE CHANDELIER Cosmopolitan, 877-893-2003, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com. Daily, 24 hours.
LEVEL 1.5
Rare Characters #2 ($30) This spirit-forward cocktail has a stunning, smoky display and infusion with sixyear single barrel whiskey, gentian vermouth, St. George spiced pear and fino sherry.
LEVEL 1
Blackberry Sour ($23) The Old Forester 86-proof bourbon’s complexity is enhanced by blackberry cordial, lemon, angostura bitters and fresh mint. Gold dusting tops it all off.
Courtesy/Anthony Mair
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JOB LISTING
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PREMIER CROSSWORD “RAPID LIQUIDATION” BY FRANK LONGO Electrical Engineer (CROWN Cork & Seal USA Inc. / Mesquite, NV) - Responsible for applyng electrcl theory & related knwldge to test & modify developmntl or operatnl electrcl machinery, electrcl cntrl equipmnt, & circuitry in an indstrl plant settng. Reqs Bach deg in Electronic Engnrng, Mechatronics Engnrng, or closely rltd field & 5 yrs exp in job offrd or as Automation Engnr, Electric Controls & Maintenance Engr, Electrcl Supervisor, or in simlr positn(s) in the food & beverage metal packagng indus. Bkgrd in educ, trainng or exp must incld knwldge of automtn sys & conveyor line cntrl; knwldge of buildng facilities incldng compressed air, water, hydraulics, vacuums, heatng & coolng; knwldge of power distributn incldng voltage up to 4160v, 3-phase instrumentatn, & calibratns; knwldge of Honeywell process cntrl sys incldng set-up & progrm apps; ability to design, modify, & plot using AutoCAD softwre; ability to install, set up, & progrm Allen-Bradley PLCs; workng knwldge of motor cntrls, Variable Freqncy Drives, & Direct Current Drives; supervsry exp in indstrl mfg. Approx 10% travel req’d to attend corp meetings, trainings, visit clients or supplrs, & support other co. plants in N. America. Email resume to Richard Evans at richard.evans@crowncork.com; ref job title & #0219 in email subject line.
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
JOB LISTING Credit One Bank seeks Enterprise Data Engineering Data Engineers II - P2 in Las Vegas, NV to lead, develop, & maintain high-quality & optimal solutions related to data ingestion, loading, & curation. 100% telecommuting permitted. Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com REF# 42546
JOB LISTING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ANALYST sought by Magma Holding Inc. to analyze & forecast sales trends, and devise business development strategies, etc. Job site: Las Vegas, NV. Salary: $60,798.00 per year. Resume to 4151 N. Pecos Rd., #206 & #207, Las Vegas, NV 89115. Attn. Jimmy Cheung.
ACROSS 1 Suffix with Vietnam 4 Its cap. is Tallahassee 7 “Hee --” 10 Degree for a corp. exec 13 In -- (sulking angrily) 18 Retired Simp sons character 19 Internet access inits. 20 Salt put on wintry roads 22 Mundane 23 Cover again, as a den wall 25 Its capital is Beirut 26 Opening bit 27 Start of a riddle 30 “... man -- mouse?” 31 Memphis-to Mobile dir. 32 Briny bodies 33 Riddle, part 2 41 Captured 43 “Do -- say!” 44 Debtor’s note 45 Copied a cow 46 Make fuzzy 47 Riddle, part 3 54 Extra NFL periods 55 Class for U.S. immigrants 56 Its capital is Niamey 57 Sugar cubes 60 Skilled crafter 64 Sheets and blankets 68 Divisions of history 69 Riddle, part 4 71 With 92-Across, easily donned shoes 72 One way to track aircraft 74 Lays new concrete on
75 Gent 76 Rejoinder to “It ain’t so!” 78 Make illegal 79 Untruth 80 Riddle, part 5 90 Roadhouses 91 Wall-climbing vines 92 See 71-Across 93 By way of 94 Public health agcy. 95 Riddle, part 6 101 Pre-euro Spanish money 103 Mined matter 104 Bruins’ Bobby 105 Riddle’s answer 113 Model Kate 114 Wrestle (with) 115 Pathetic 117 Chutzpah 118 Oven-fresh dinner, e.g. 119 Poem type 120 Celtics’ org. 121 Clothes may tumble in it 122 Memphis-to Milwaukee dir. 123 Couple in Emma 124 Born, in bridal bios 125 Paranormal gift, for short DOWN 1 Musical gift 2 Gush violently 3 Extreme bliss 4 Creators of dreamworlds 5 Theater magnate Marcus 6 Dino of the late Jurassic period 7 Jewish campus group 8 Did superbly on, as a test 9 Dragnet star Jack
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 21 24 28 29 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 42 46 48 49 50 51 52 53 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 65 66 67
Actress Suvari Online journal When it’s 12:00 p.m. Resides -- -Barbera cartoons Remove the kinks from Subcontracts Arctic chunk Fannie -Longest Swiss river Kind of port on a PC Fall mo. Corpulent --Kosh B’gosh Foot’s five Survivor’s elated shout Plant in a field -- polloi Rx order Biblical utopia Give it a shot Mixture for avians to peck at Certain mast attachments Action word Perfumery compound Picked-up feelings Grows old Ruby, e.g. Zodiac sign Footed vase Deface Hairstyles seen in Hair Mo. before 29-Down Expert on the Middle East Ship-related Fluish, e.g. Zilch Student transcript stat
69 Like the taste of Cheerios 70 Folks born in the ‘80s are part of it 73 Internet access inits. 75 Is perfectly suitable 77 -- and Anthony (longtime radio duo) 79 It’s close to the heart 80 Ocasek of rock 81 Heavy sheet inside a book’s cover 82 Family line 83 Actress LaRue 84 A, in Munich 85 Susan of L.A. Law 86 Study intensively 87 Subtle implication 88 Vardalos of Holly wood 89 Tit for -95 Noted “Mansion” dweller Hugh 96 Part of NATO: Abbr. 97 Wedding Crashers actor Vince 98 Bellhops’ work places 99 Author Levin 100 Author Sarah - Jewett 102 Skillet locale 105 Finance 106 Press clothes 107 Prom partner 108 Engine stat 109 Sort of sword 110 Shut noisily 111 Cab it, e.g. 112 Deli heroes 116 Syrup source
10.22.26
HOROSCOPES
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
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WEEK OF OCTOBER 22 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The 18th-century Aries watchmaker John Harrison solved a monumental puzzle: determining longitude at sea. Largely self-taught, he persisted for decades where learned astronomers failed. Harrison is your role model. Persistence paired with ingenuity and trust in your hunches will drive your success far more than following standard procedures. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Just as a greenhouse forces flowers to bloom early, try accelerating the fears taking root in you. Invite those worries to arrive all at once, exhaust their drama in a decisive confrontation and clear space for sweet adventures. Stage your grand finale of fretting within the next 48 hours. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini physicist Richard Feynman routinely asked childlike questions like, “But why does that happen?” His naive inquiries cracked open problems that experts overlooked because he knew true understanding means explaining ideas plainly. Adopt his strategy: Pose obvious questions others won’t ask, and insist on answers that make sense. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian dancer Anna Halprin lived to 100, proving that movement heals. She treated expressive dance as medicine, releasing grief and restoring wholeness. Her message for you: Your body possesses an intelligence your intellect hasn’t grasped yet. Over the coming weeks, let your physical self lead. Dance, stretch, walk, and sway into alignment. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are due for a homecoming. You might stumble into an authentic sanctuary that brings out your best, connect with a vital web of allies, or plan a pilgrimage to an ancestral ground that resolves an old mystery. Expect to arrive at a power spot—physical or communal—where you finally feel unguarded and fully yourself. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Astronomer Tycho Brahe gathered decades of meticulous planetary data without ever deducing the laws of planetary motion himself. Yet his rigor allowed Johannes Kepler to formulate those breakthrough laws. Similarly, your careful attention to detail will soon lay the groundwork for a major revelation, whether unlocked by you or a collaborator. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Detached commentary and staying above the fray have their place, but right now you belong in the muck. Lay aside grand theories and stir up good trouble in service of practical results. Apply your focus to concrete tasks and become the pragmatist who makes soulful things happen. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Are you tethered to comfortable old beliefs, protective habits or self-narratives that once served you but now confine you? Many of us cling to fond memories that quietly constrain our future. Now is the moment to disengage from their grip. Make one small, decisive gesture of liberation and proclaim: “I am no longer chained to outdated versions of myself.” SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): For the next month, consider yourself rechristened as the Contemplative Adventurer, the Meditative Rambler, or the Pensive Pathfinder. Sink into an armchair to negotiate truces with your demons, or take long, wandering walks and invite the quiet rustle of nature to sharpen your instincts. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): By 2029, nanotech implants may push your lifespan past 100, followed by digital dream downloads in 2032, telepathic connection with a loved one in 2037 and moon-vacation dancing by 2043. Your immediate challenge is much simpler: Learn to love yourself with unprecedented tenderness. There is no better moment than now to get started. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Top chefs often credit acidity—a squeeze of lemon or splash of vinegar—with turning good dishes into memorable ones by waking up existing flavors. Consider your personal equivalent: What simple addition could enliven everything else? More music, playful downtime, candid honesty, or extra sleep? Introduce one or two subtle tweaks that make your gifts shine brighter. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Nothing is quite what it appears to be, nor is it the exact opposite. Listen closely for what remains unsaid, expect hidden complications in simple questions, and dig for the deeper riddles beneath the obvious ones. Untangling these layered complexities will actually prove fun and productive if you stay patient. The secret: Approach frustrating feelings and uncomfortable thoughts with gentle curiosity.
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P H O T O G R A P H Y
RHEA RIPLEY AT ESCAPE IT, APRIL 2026 Experts call it “the Monty Hall Problem.” It’s named for the original host of long-running game show Let’s Make a Deal, in which contestants are presented with three doors—one of which contains a fabulous prize, the other two valueless “zonks.” Stephen King doubtlessly had the Monty Hall Problem in mind when he wrote the three doors into It ... only with a demonic clown as the host. Jason Egan’s It-themed escape room makes the doors terrifyingly real, but y’know, does that even matter when the person opening them is WWE superstar wrestler Rhea Ripley? The Monty Hall Problem becomes the Rhea Ripley Problem. Can Pennywise bounce back from an electric chair facebuster or missile dropkick? The math doesn’t work in the dancing clown’s favor. –Geoff Carter
Courtesy Egan Escape Productions
BACKSTORY
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Come See! As one of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities, many have already discovered Cadence is a unique and special place. With its combination of value, lifestyle and community; it’s the perfect place to address your future. If you haven’t visited…come and see. Follow a walkway. Explore Central Park. Marvel at the views. Tour model homes. Meet potential neighbors. Because once you’re here, we’re confident you’ll want to address your future too.
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