🍺 Gotta love a real, ordinary bar

🔨 Trop Death Certificate Signed?

Barring hiccups, the demolition of the Tropicana, to make way for the A’s ballpark, will begin in April, with stadium construction beginning in 2025 and wrapping by 2028. [KVVU]

💸 Higher Ed Needs Money

Despite the appearance of education funding flying around Carson City during the Legislature, the higher-ed system — which has new faculty raises to account for — finds itself facing a $63 million shortfall over the next two years. Tangled budget protocols and an enrollment slowdown are two reasons cited. [Nevada Independent]

🐘 Candidate Parade

This weekend will see most of the GOP presidential hopefuls in town, pitching themselves to donors and party power brokers at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual gathering. Trump, DeSantis, Pence, Haley, Christie, Ramaswamy, and others will speak. [Review-Journal]

• Pairs nicely with our podcast talk with journalist Jon Ralston about Nevada’s status as a “purple” state. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🚰 The River Is OK-ish, for Now

This year’s wetter weather and deep snowpack have buttressed the Colorado River — for the time being. Federal water managers say usage cuts already agreed to by Nevada, Arizona, and California should provide as much as three years’ stability. Still, Lake Mead is just 34% full. [Nevada Current]

• Speaking of the Colorado River — let’s talk about its monster fish. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

(For every variety of Halloween experience, check out this full, scary rundown.)

📚 Neon Lit | Today | 7 p.m.

Special guest Maile Chapman is joined by writers from UNLV’s MFA program. [Beverly Theater, downtown; free]

🌮 Great Las Vegas Taco Festival | Today-Sunday | Various times

A sprawling three-day celebration of the world’s most perfect food item, plus a car show, carnival rides, mariachi, lucha libre, a salsa competition, and a Chihuahua beauty pageant. [Craig Ranch Park, North Las Vegas; $15 general]

🎭 ‘Indecent’ | Today-Sunday | Various times

A play about a play, Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer-winner looks at the controversial 1923 debut of Sholem Asch’s “God of Vengeance.” Staged by A Public Fit. [Super Summer Theatre Studio, Valley View and Harmon; $25-$40]

💊 Drug Turn-in | Saturday | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dispose of those old meds (no liquids, though). [Henderson Police Substation, Green Valley; free]

🖼️ Reception for Byron Stout’s ‘The Other Side’ | Saturday | Noon-3 p.m.

By “the other side,” artist Byron Stout means the other side of Las Vegas: “The freaks and the geeks, the heat, and the cold and loneliness of this desert freak show.” [Left of Center Gallery, North Las Vegas; free]

🎸 Gin Blossoms | Saturday | 9 p.m.

Those “Hey Jealousy” guys close out the free concert series under the big video canopy. [Fremont Street Experience; free]

🛍️ Market in the Alley | Sunday | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dozens of vendors, local makers, artisans, musicians, and more. [The District at Green Valley Ranch, Henderson; free admission]

🎻 ‘Fall Masterworks’ | Sunday | 3 p.m.

The Musical Arts Chorus and Orchestra goes seasonally big with Handel and Bach. [UNLV; $35]

🎤 Wise Idea | Sunday | 6 p.m.

Local rap outfit (motto: “Selling hip-hop to punks”) celebrates its new album. Bill also includes Decaying Tigers, Trivial Menace, and more; 21+ only. [Taverna Costera, Arts District; no cover]

🥳 Mario’s Westside Market Reopening | Monday | 4 p.m.

The long-awaited relaunch of this West Las Vegas market, which will now offer an expanded selection of groceries. Event includes a block party with music, petting zoo, maze, and more. [Lake Mead and Martin Luther King; no cover]

Smirking Teens, a Trafficking Suit, and … Nevada Day?

On today’s Friday news roundup, host Dayvid Figler is joined by producer Layla Muhammad and a super-special guest — give it up for former co-host Vogue Robinson! 👏 Together they’ll discuss the in-court behavior of the two teens charged with killing a bicyclist; a sex-trafficking suit against a local motel; and Nevada Day vs. Nevada Day (Observed).