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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

Mother’s Day is Sunday — and it’s not always easy to make plans or find the perfect gift.

My mom lives in North Carolina, so I shipped over some fancy ice cream before learning my parents took an impromptu vacation to the beach this week. My package arrived yesterday. I think it’s still on the porch 📦 (Good luck dry ice. We’re all counting on you.)

If your mom lives here in Vegas, we’ve got a few ideas for Mother’s Day fun 😁

 at UnCommons celebrates Mother’s Day weekend on May 9 with 

, featuring tea service, bites, and a free mini-bouquet.

 party on Mother’s Day with light bites, desserts, and an interactive game. It’s free, but secure your spot via RSVP.

🎭 Entertainment and the Performing Arts

 performance by R&B group Spectrum & Radiance. You can also bring mom a day earlier to Reynolds Hall for 

, the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s season finale with new musical director Rei Hotoda.

 throughout Mother’s Day weekend. The stage drama by Juliana Noble explores the relationship between a mother and daughter living under the same roof.

always knows how to have fun with a theme, inviting movie fans to see 

 on Saturday for some Mother’s Day “pregaming” on Saturday. Stroll and sip through 18 wine tasting stations.

Mother’s Day Weekend Sound Bath with Horses

 on Saturday evening for those 18 and over.

The Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum

 that’s perfect for all ages on Mother’s Day.

 hosts a Mother’s Day afternoon crafting session to learn about dark skies and nocturnal animals while 

 in North Las Vegas is serving coffee and sweet bread during a 

Two of my favorite restaurants are debuting new brunches on Mother’s Day: 

If your mom lives here in Vegas, we’ve got a few ideas for Mother’s Day fun.

Things to Do in Las Vegas for Mother's Day 2026

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Ideas for Las Vegans

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

Las Vegas’s Best

Las Vegas' Best

. Hello May. It’s promising to be a busy and exciting month in Las Vegas.

When Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday fall on the same day, you already know May is gonna be 

. Learn more about the history of Cinco de Mayo, plus specials and festivals in Las Vegas in our 

EDC isn’t the only parade in town. The 

 parade is back, marching through Downtown on May 9 in honor of our city’s Old West history. You can further celebrate the past with the 

 exhibit, which wraps up at the Clark County Museum in Henderson on May 25. The Mob Museum has two special events this month: Jack Sheehan presents 

Deadly Sources: A Las Vegas Journalist’s Close Encounters with Killers

 ​ (presented by Jack Sheehan) on May 6 and 

The Lives of the Showgirls: True Stories from Mob-Era Las Vegas

 on May 21. Both are free to attend with admission.

“Star Wars” fans are so passionate, May the 4th (as in “May the force be with you…”) has almost become a de facto holiday. See the best movie in the series, “The Empire Strikes Back” the way it was intended — on the big screen — at the Beverly Theatre with two May 4 showings. It’s also a great excuse to cosplay with fellow geeks at 

, win a game of Empire Trivia at House of Blues, and get more familiar with 

, which has crafts, movies, and other ways to celebrate.

Have some words to share? Enter the Henderson Libraries 

. Submissions are accepted May 4-30 with “pathways” as the theme. The piece can be a short story, creative nonfiction piece, or poem.

Las Vegas Indian Food & Cultural Festival

Lee’s Discount Liquor Beer & Tequila Experience

International Food Fest: A World of Flavors

, which welcomes hotel guests for the first time on May 29. The casino floor and Giada restaurant continued to do business as usual during the transition and the rooftop pool has changed its name from Drai’s to Soleia. Expect the influence of restaurateur, designer, and reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump to expand beyond remodeled rooms and suites in the months ahead.

A big congratulations to French Laundry alumni Tyler Vorce who just locked down a lease in Chinatown for a brick and mortar version of Lilli, which 

 at Durango Social Club. Book a reservation for a multicourse meal or just walk in and sit at the bar to check out a menu of small bites. We’re equally excited for the May 1 arrival of 

 at the Sahara. The Caribbean steakhouse by Kwame Onwuachi is unlike anything else in Vegas. Even the chef’s cucumber salad at a 

 about Maroon, May the Fourth, and other fun this month in the latest 

 episode. I joined host Jesse Merrick and guest Melinda Sheckells to run down our favorite 

events, eats, and activities throughout Las Vegas in May

Your Guide to May 2026 in Las Vegas

May is a busy month with food festivals, restaurants, Cinco de Mayo parties, "Star Wars" celebrations, and more. 

Things to Do in Las Vegas April 2026

What To Do in Las Vegas in May 2026

David Copperfield’s show at the MGM Grand 

 after 25 years. By all accounts, it’s one of the most successful residencies in Strip history, capitalizing on a famous run of CBS television specials in the ‘80s and ‘90s that featured stunts like walking through the Great Wall of China and making the Statue of Liberty disappear.

Before the MGM Grand came calling, Copperfield had a Vegas presence at Caesars Palace, where he performed for 15 years inside the Circus Maximus ballroom. He also hosted a 

 on property that saw the magician escape a straitjacket while hanging from burning ropes 

Much like his stunts, nothing is ever too big for David Copperfield. He 

 in 2016 for $17.55 million, then a record for a Las Vegas home. (Based on his annual 

, he could’ve purchased three of ‘em with change to spare.) Before that, he lived off Tomiyasu Lane in a house (that 

 in 2023) between Sunset Park and Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah.

Off stage, Copperfield kept a low profile for a local celebrity, stepping out on occasion to represent Vegas at awards shows, 

, claims to help those with “physical, psychological, and social disabilities,” but is almost nonexistent. The nonprofit 

, collectively worth $30,000, to three recipients over the five most recent years of data. Revenue peaked at just over $8,000 in 2020. Last year, 

Copperfield made a greater investment in founding and financing the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, a Vegas warehouse that honors magic with more than 

More artifacts were stored in Copperfield’s four-story New York penthouse, which was 

. The performer also spends time at his own tropical resort, 

, an archipelago of 11 islands in the Bahamas that welcomes private groups of up to 12 guests, 

It’s another Caribbean location — Little Saint James or “Epstein Island” — that could ultimately define how we remember David Copperfield. According to federal evidence, the magician 

 with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and was infamously 

 with co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. Add in 

 by at least 16 women, and you may understand why MGM Resorts is now ending its relationship with the headliner sans fanfare. (Copperfield’s lawyers have denied any wrongdoing, and denied he had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes).

I crossed paths with David Copperfield exactly one time in Las Vegas — backstage at the MGM Grand before a show. He was very nice. I got a press discount for a front-row table that was actually too close to the stage to soak everything in. (When Copperfield addressed the audience, I could see directly up his nostrils. Not a booger or stray hair in sight. His grooming was impeccable.) The show was fine. There was no Statue of Liberty to make disappear, but his grand finale involved something with a small plane.

You can see it for yourself. Tickets remain for the final three performances tomorrow. Just don’t expect any money you spend to make its way to the Project Magic Fund.

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Really One of Us?

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

Las Vegas History

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.

What To Do in Las Vegas in April 2026

 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

 — 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.

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

entertainment

Take This Week's Las Vegas News Trivia Quiz

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Ideas for Las Vegans

What To Do in Las Vegas in May 2026

Latest articles

Take This Week's Las Vegas News Trivia Quiz

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Ideas for Las Vegans

What To Do in Las Vegas in May 2026

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Really One of Us?

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

Latest articles

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Really One of Us?

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