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City Cast Las Vegas

Rob Kachelriess

Welcome to the City Cast Las Vegas news quiz. These questions are based on stories in the newsletter over the past week. Up to the challenge? Answer the following questions to see how well you’ve been paying attention — and how well you know Las Vegas.

Looking for a previous Hey Las Vegas news quiz? Find it here.

Ready for a challenge? Take our weekly quiz, based on the news and stories of this past week in Las Vegas. 

Test Your Knowledge on Las Vegas News

Take This Week's Las Vegas News Trivia Quiz

What Las Vegans have been wondering. We break down why things in Las Vegas are the way they are and how they work.

Las Vegas, Explained

free performances by the Nevada Shakespeare Festival

, but what else is there to do in April — besides taxes, of course? 💸 We have a few ideas.

Forget Coachella. (It’s sold out anyway.) The Beverly Theater has 

 — a series of music-focused movies throughout the month. Highlights include the 50th anniversary edition of “The Song Remains the Same" (April 5, 8), which captures Led Zeppelin at their peak in 1973, and Disney’s “Fantasia,” a visual feast for classical music that ages incredibly well. The Beverly Theater is also honoring the late, great Rob Reiner with 

 by the director: “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” and “Misery.” It’s the best 15 bucks you can spend in Vegas.

Poolside tastings are making a comeback in Las Vegas. Check out the inaugural 

 at the Red Rock Resort, showcasing bites from Station Casinos’ restaurants under the stars on April 18. We’re also excited about the return of 

, which puts local, neighborhood chefs front and center, offering one-night-only dishes at the Palms Pool on April 26.

April is full of big events that celebrate music, culture, and sometimes, maybe a little bit of both:

🧑‍🎨 Chalk One (or Two) Up For Art

Two events are celebrating the beauty of chalk art in different ways. The 

 festival returns to the Arts District for the third straight year, inviting local artists to decorate sidewalks in conjunction with Market in the Alley on April 18. A week later, the 

 comes to the Summerlin Library on April 25, showcasing art along with a day of live music.

Arbor Day falls on the last Friday of April to celebrate the importance of trees. The message resonates strongly in our desert climate. Clark County has teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation, 

 to local residents who qualify. The City of Henderson is 

 to those who plant trees and convert their yards to desert landscaping — and organizing an 

 to explore nature along the Pittman Wash.

 is open from April 4 to May 25. It’s beautiful and zen-like, but draws big crowds. Our own Sonja Cho Swanson shares a hot tip 🔥 for how to get in early and beat the rush during the latest episode of 

best activities and recommendations for April

Your Guide to April 2026 in Las Vegas

April is a busy month in Las Vegas. Here's your guide to festivals, dining, art,  and more.

Things to Do in Las Vegas April 2026

What To Do in Las Vegas in April 2026

Find the best of everything that Las Vegas has to offer.

Las Vegas’s Best

Las Vegas' Best

 is here to command your attention. The nonprofit theater organization just kicked off a new season, putting a new twist on the poet and playwright, whose works remain timeless — with an adjustment here and there.

“We are an adaptive festival, so we adapt the scripts, we twist the scripts,” according to founder and executive director Matt Morgan. “We try to make them current in their presentation while at the same time, maintaining the integrity of the stories, characters, and relationships that William Shakespeare wrote about.”

The season is already off to a strong start with “Henry V,” presented in a series of free park performances and adapted to just 80 minutes. The story follows a young English king who leads an invasion to seize the French throne.

“Our version moves lightning fast,” Morgan says. “The action is always moving forward. We hit the highlights, we hit the characters, we hit the relationships, but you don't have to sit and listen to poetry for three and a half hours.”

The season continues with “The Taming of the Shrew,” a larger-scale production inside a temperature-controlled tent at Henderson’s Cornerstone Park, April 23-May 2. Running more than two hours (including intermission) and set in the Italian Renaissance, the production is presented in the context of a play-within-a-play that goes wrong. Don’t be surprised to see set pieces collapse and understudies replace actors in the middle of the show.

The Nevada Shakespeare Theater also partners with local libraries and schools, giving generations of all ages a fresh look at Shakespeare via short, stripped-down performances.

“I'd like to think that Shakepeare had a punk rock sense about himself,” Morgan says. “He was pushing, he was provocative. He was daring, he was making bold choices. He was making political statements.”

independent theater can thrive in a city of spectacle

A nonprofit exposes a new generation to William Shakespeare with a series of performances at Southern Nevada parks. 

The Nevada Shakespeare Festival Proves You Can Teach an Old Bard New Tricks 

, setting us up for a hot and sunny spring. Enjoy the weather while you can. There’s lots of stuff to do.

 has a free St. Patrick's Day party on March 13. The event includes drink and pizza specials on the open-air Terrace Overlook, 6-8 p.m. with a drone show finale.

Sons and Daughters of Erin St Patrick's Festival and Parade

 hits Water Street in Downtown Henderson for three straight days, March 13-15. There’s a parade Saturday at 10 a.m. and a car show Sunday at 8 a.m.

The Fremont Street Experience is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for four straight days with the 

, featuring live music on multiple stages March 15-17.

The biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration on the Strip is back at New York-New York. It used to be called Celtic Feis, but now it’s simply the 

. It begins March 14 (coinciding with a Village Street block party and 

 head-shaving) and continues through March 17 with green beer, entertainment, and food by Nine Fine Irishmen on the patio by the Brooklyn Bridge.

🍸 Last Call for Cool Casino Restaurants

If you wonder why casinos keep sticking with the same old restaurants, it’s because the more adventurous ones don’t always draw enough customers. (So yes, I’m blaming you 🫵) Marc Vetri’s 

 pasta bar is one of Durango’s highlights, but will become the resort’s first restaurant to close on March 27. If that’s not enough, one of my favorite Strip restaurants, 

, inspired by the clean, simple recipes of the French Riviera, shutters at the Cosmopolitan on March 31. You still have time to appreciate both of ‘em.

 follows up its regular monthly block party in the Arts District (March 6) with the 

 at Civic Center Plaza March 21 with workshops, speeches, and entertainment.

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour

, which celebrates outdoor sports and culture, comes to the Clark County Library on March 14.

 takes over the Lawn at Downtown Summerlin March 21 with unlimited sips from dozens of local and national breweries, food trucks, games, and big screens, so you won't miss out on March Madness 🏀

 comes to Craig Ranch Regional Park March 21, featuring food trucks, a scavenger hunt for the kids, and a kit to make your own floating water lantern with a release after sunset.

Wetlands Park in Henderson hosts a free, all-ages 

 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 21 with arts and crafts, food, music, and more.

 brings 200 vendors and food trucks to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 27-29.

 returns to its roots as a Fremont East street fest March 28. It’s the biggest beer bash of the year with hundreds of sips of beer and cider waiting for you, plus some food to soak up all that booze.

. Bring your own bag to the University of Nevada Reno Extension on Paradise, March 14-15, and fill it up for five bucks 👀 You can also browse used books at the Spring Valley Library’s 

 on March 22 and geek out over comics, art, and pop culture at 

 inside Henderson’s James I. Gibson Library on March 28.

Vegas pools begin to open this month — and you might as well take advantage of the weather early. So I joined the latest episode of 

 to share how and when locals can score a 

cool things to do in Vegas throughout March

March Fun in Vegas

Our Vegas roundup of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, beer festivals, book events, and more.

Las Vegas Events March 2026

What To Do in Las Vegas in March 2026

 is now open on IMAX screens before expanding to a wider theatrical release next week. The film offers a look at the King’s groundbreaking Las Vegas residency with rare footage uncovered from the early 1970s.

I saw a preview screening at the Westgate’s International Theatre, the same place where Elvis performed 

, back when the property was known as the International Hotel and later, the Hilton.

The movie is a fascinating and often exhilarating time capsule, stitched together with 35mm and 8mm footage from the Warner Bros. archives, discovered by director Baz Luhrmann while laying the groundwork for his 2022 “Elvis” biopic.

The first thing that hits you: it looks amazing — the benefits of recording on film before “high def” came around. You see Elvis in all his glory. Every pore and stray hair. But I was also struck by the clarity of the sound mix, especially after learning some of the original film footage was silent and painstakingly synced to alternative audio sources.

This isn’t your standard documentary. There are no talking heads spouting off scripted observations. Just Elvis himself, always full of personality, chatting to the press, mugging for the cameras, and joking around with his band. I think he’d be a lot more restrained and self-aware if cellphones and social media were around. Watching him kiss one female fan after another — without hesitation, right on the mouth — is jarring by today’s standards, but if you want to see the ‘70s, you’re gonna get it.

In a moment of seriousness, Presley tells the camera it’s not his place to talk about politics, drawing fierce applause from some in the audience during my screening. Today’s divisive climate doesn’t take a break, even at the movies. It wasn’t lost on me that Elvis spoke those words during the Vietnam War, a time when opinions on the latest news cycle didn’t always match the reflections that came decades later.

The one thing we can all agree on: the raw power and natural talent of Elvis. I’m not sure if he was a musical genius, but he was definitely a musical spirit. He feels every note and every beat. And you feel it through him — even on film. Some song clips are longer than others, but the best moment is when the King trades the stage moves for a guitar, sits down, and croons the lesser-known “Little Sister” from beginning to end. Messy hair, sweat everywhere — and it’s perfect.

Who needs stage effects or backing tracks?

I’d love to go back in time and experience this Las Vegas residency live in person, but 

 is the next best thing. See it in a theater if you can.

Found Footage of Vegas Residency in Elvis Concert Film

Elvis Uncovered: Found Footage Never Looked (and Sounded) So Good

People, places, and scenes from Las Vegas's past.

Las Vegas History

 — but what if you (or your S.O.) forgot to make plans for Valentine’s Day? The romantic holiday arrives on Saturday, Feb. 14. If you can’t score a reservation at one of the 

 in town, we’ve got a few last-minute date ideas that fall on the affordable side, but won’t make you look cheap.

 is showing two classic romantic comedies on Valentine’s Day at 

 while keeping the titles a mystery until showtime 👀 Tickets are just $15, so take a chance with a different kind of “blind date.” Then again, if you don’t like surprises, check out Oscar contenders 

 celebrates its anniversary on Feb. 14, which is kinda appropriate since it has a full exhibit dedicated to Chicago’s notorious 

. In a tradition locals can appreciate, anyone with a Nevada ID 

 for the day on a first-come, first-served basis.

Valentine’s Day with Mardi Gras for a big party

 in the Arts District on Saturday night, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The “carnival” includes New Orleans drink specials (like sazeracs and hurricanes), mini king cakes, and prize giveaways.

🍣 Whether on the Strip or in Chinatown, it’s not uncommon for Japanese omakase dinners to cost $300 to $500 per person. So we’re happy to see 

 for $148. Highlights include miso-marinated black cod, spicy beef tenderloin, sashimi, maki rolls, and a special strawberry matcha ice cream sandwich.

 in the Arts District. Everyone gets a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, a Coors Banquet draft or Waves canned wine, and a Twinkie while watching “A Fistfull of Dollars” at 5:30 p.m. or “For a Few Dollars More” at 7:30 p.m.

, a year-round scary attraction at AREA15, has a four-course 

 dinner for just $80 per couple through the end of February inside the Premiere House restaurant. (You’ll love the Die-ver Scallops 😋) Cocktail pairings are an additional $40 per person.

💪 A couple that gets in shape together, stays together. So get a workout in at 

 talks to the founder of the Majestic Repertory Theatre about the 

 and how new productions are finding success by tapping into ‘90s nostalgia. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Forget to make plans? Short on cash? Don't worry. We have you covered for Valentine's Day in Las Vegas.

Cheap Valentine's Day Date Ideas for Las Vegas

Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Date Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

Saturday is Valentine’s Day and we’ve already given you a few 

. But a newer concept, Galentine’s Day, seems to grow in popularity every year.

Galentine’s Day is a celebration of female camaraderie, whether it’s single ladies watching each other’s backs or the fully committed carving out time for their besties. Brunches, bars, bottles of wine — it’s all fair game.

Galentine’s Day isn’t a real holiday by any means, but it semi-officially falls on Feb. 13, the day before Valentine’s Day. But why stop there? As you’ll see below, celebrations and events are only limited to your imagination and your day planner, taking place throughout the week, including on at least some occasions, on Valentine’s Day itself.

Much in the same way Festivus was a plotline on “Seinfeld” that grew into something bigger in the real world — share your 

 with us anytime — the origins of Galentine’s Day are grounded in another popular sitcom. Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope came up with it on an episode of “Parks and Recreation,” bringing ladies together to celebrate without boyfriends or husbands.

👀 Where Can You Celebrate Galentine’s Day in Vegas?

 is hosting a Galentine’s Day networking mixer at the StarBase event space tonight (Feb. 10). Bites and drinks are included in the $65 ticket price.

 (featuring wine-based cocktails) Feb. 13, and a 

, a new rooftop bar at Ellis Island, transforms into 

 Feb. 11-28. Couples and gal pals alike get to munch on charcuterie and other shareable bites while sipping on themed cocktails. Between open-air Strip views and holiday decor, there’s plenty of opportunity to snap Instagram-worthy photos.

 has a multicourse Besties & Bubblies dinner of modern Indian cuisine at Durango Social Club on Feb. 12. Tickets are $60 per person.

 dinner and show debuts a new storyline, “With This Ring, I Thee Dread” Feb. 12-15 at the Rio with chocolates, champagne and rose.

For those with a pessimistic side (or celebrating a fresh divorce), the 

 hosts a “Love Dies” celebration on Feb. 13, featuring a Jason-esque villain in a hockey mask. Order the Painkiller.

Head to AREA15 on Feb. 13 for 30% off reservations for parties of four or more at 

 with half-price martinis and mimosas. Option B: 

Uncorked: Tour of Rosé: San Valentino Edition

 at the Chef’s Table on Feb. 13. The class and wine tasting explores Italian rosé and sparkling wines with a few bites included for $80.

 with $5 margaritas for the ladies and free Mexican candy shots throughout the evening on Feb. 13.

Hold off a day and hit Lotus of Siam’s first 

 of 2026 at the Red Rock Resort on Feb.14. There’s a $65 all-you-can-drink special 1-4:30 p.m. and ladies get a one-hour champagne open bar at 1 p.m.

Step aside fellas. Galentine's Day is all about female bonding, and it's bigger than ever in Las Vegas.

Galentine's Day Events in Las Vegas 2026

Galentine’s Day Celebrations in Las Vegas

The past few weeks have been a wild ride for Ellie Parker. The executive chef of 

 received a James Beard Award nomination for “Emerging Chef” on January 21 — one day before the world learned she was the latest winner of “Hell’s Kitchen” on Fox. Has she had time to settle down and let all the attention sink in?

“I feel like the chaos is just beginning,” she counters. As part of her TV triumph, Parker earned a spot helming the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Connecticut's Foxwoods casino — with a projected start date in May or June.

So, with some time left on the clock here in Vegas, what are the dishes that best define the chef’s run at Main St. Provisions?

😋 5 Must-Try Dishes at Main St. Provisions

Parker says the Tomahawk pork chop is her favorite dish to both prepare and eat. The chef lays a 16-ounce Kurobuta pork chop on the broiler for some grill marks and char before adding a molasses and dark rum glaze. “It’s sticky, it’s sweet, it’s got that rum-like tang to it, ” she says, noting how good pork can taste when it isn’t dry. The meat is served with sauteed green beans and grilled golden apples.

The Cajun BBQ shrimp was added to the menu at the request of Main St. Provisions owner Kim Owens and turned into a huge hit. “ I honestly think there would be a riot if I took that off the menu today,” Parker says. “So many people love it.” The shrimp sits in a spicy marinade for two days before it’s pan seared with white wine, lemon juice, and butter.

The latest recipe for the oven-roasted chicken, served with a fried polenta cake and braised kale, was influenced by Parker’s time filming “Hell’s Kitchen.”

“ I got some inspiration while I was on the show,” she says. “Because we worked a lot with kale and polenta.”

Her time on “Hell’s Kitchen” is also felt in the seared Japanese Hokkaido scallops — the only kind Parker will use — served with celery root puree and bacon jam.

“Gordon Ramsay is kind of known for yelling about scallops,” Parker says. “So I took a little more time, love, and care in the scallop dish after filming. I just had a new sense of appreciation for the protein itself.”

Ramsay is also famous for his sticky toffee pudding, but the version on the dessert menu at Main St. Provisions actually 

influenced by Parker’s time on “Hell’s Kitchen.” It was on the dessert menu at least a year before shooting began. While the pudding itself is sweetened with dates, Parker mixes raw sugar cane into the pilloncillo caramel sauce instead of traditional white or brown sugar. “It has a different mouth feel, a different sweetness to it,” she says.

chefs with James Beard Award nominations in Las Vegas

The "Hell's Kitchen" winner talks about five signature dishes from her restaurant and the secret to perfectly seared scallops.

'Hell's Kitchen' Champ Ellie Parker's Top 5 Dishes at Main St. Provisions

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Las Vegas. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Las Vegas Food & Drink

Food & Drink

“Showgirls: An Unauthorized Musical Parody”

 officially welcomes audiences tomorrow night at the 

 in the Downtown Arts District. The show, scheduled through March 8, gives a new spin to a campy cult classic and box office bomb that somehow 

”We're playing with a movie that's 30 years old. People have strong preconceived notions of it,” founding artistic director Troy Heard says. “But it's a very old-fashioned drifter-comes-to-town, wants-to-make-good story. There’s a purity at the center of it. It’s about the American dream.”

The movie was infamously rated NC-17 and the production has its share of raunchiness and nudity, but “probably not in the way people expect,” according to Heard. The Majestic’s intimate performance room was remodeled to look like Cheetah’s, the long-gone Vegas strip club used as a filming location for the film.

“The show is naughty without being patently offensive,” Heard says. “We have fun playing with the material, but there's always a deeper level that works and makes these shows so sustainable, lending them to longer runs.”

The Majestic Repertory Theatre (which borrowed its name from one of the first theaters on Fremont Street) got a lot of attention for sending up the 90s teen horror genre with “Scream’d” (its biggest success) and “Craft’d,” which 

 at The Three Clubs next month. Another homegrown production, “Empanada Loca” (a contemporary spin on “Sweeney Todd”) is 

 at North Hollywood's After Hours Theatre Company.

Here at home, the Majestic will continue its 10th season with 

 — playing it straight, but against the modern-day backdrop of a "No Kings" rally.

Looking back on a decade of local theater and interactive productions, Heard and his team have a strong legacy of championing local talent, surviving the pandemic with outdoor presentations, and collaborating outside the theater itself with Meow Wolf, Usher, and Jack Daniel’s.

“It's been a wild ride,” Heard says. “And it proves that in Vegas, there are things to do that you can't experience anywhere else.”

 for “Showgirls: An Unauthorized Musical Parody” begin at $49.95. Showtime is 7 p.m.

“Showgirls: An Unauthorized Musical Parody” gives a new spin to a campy cult classic and box office bomb that somehow still resonates in Las Vegas.

'Showgirls: An Unauthorized Musical Parody' Premieres at the Majestic Repertory Theatre

The Majestic Repertory Theater Celebrates 10 Years in Las Vegas with a “Showgirls” Spoof

By Vegas standards, 2026 is shaping up to be a relatively quiet year. (So quiet, we’re already skipping ahead to the wild stuff 

.) But a few projects are keeping the new year interesting.

Las Vegas will stay busy in 2026 with new casinos, restaurants, entertainment, and more. 

entertainment

Take This Week's Las Vegas News Trivia Quiz

What To Do in Las Vegas in April 2026

The Nevada Shakespeare Festival Proves You Can Teach an Old Bard New Tricks

Latest articles

Take This Week's Las Vegas News Trivia Quiz

What To Do in Las Vegas in April 2026

The Nevada Shakespeare Festival Proves You Can Teach an Old Bard New Tricks

What To Do in Las Vegas in March 2026

Elvis Uncovered: Found Footage Never Looked (and Sounded) So Good

Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Date Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

Galentine’s Day Celebrations in Las Vegas

Latest articles

What To Do in Las Vegas in March 2026

Elvis Uncovered: Found Footage Never Looked (and Sounded) So Good

Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Date Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

Galentine’s Day Celebrations in Las Vegas

'Hell's Kitchen' Champ Ellie Parker's Top 5 Dishes at Main St. Provisions

The Majestic Repertory Theater Celebrates 10 Years in Las Vegas with a “Showgirls” Spoof

How Las Vegas Will Look Different in 2026