City Cast Las Vegas
🧑🍳 Michelin’s new guide falls short
August 27, 2026 · — Rob Kachelriess
🎃 Too soon?
August isn’t even over and Walmart is already gearing up for Halloween. So get ready for a long, spooky holiday season — even if it’s still 110 degrees right now 🥵
What's CITY Talking About
📚 Dolly Parton’s Literary Legacy Unfunded by Nevada
When reacting to the breaking news of Dolly Parton’s passing on Wednesday’s episode of City Cast Las Vegas, we referenced the singer’s commitment to childhood literacy with her Imagination Library, a program that’s brought books to more than 3 million youngsters under five years old since 1995. A local affiliate, Storied Kids, was forced to take a 10-month pause last October after the Nevada legislature failed to renew a grant to help fund it, but the situation is turning around. [Storiedkids.org]
We have spent the last year applying for grants at the local and state level and were able to resume the program last month on a much smaller scale, thanks to private donations, grants from the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, Speedway Children’s Charities, and others. We are still working towards funding on a state-wide level and hope to be involved in the next legislative session.
- Storied Kids has provided books to more than 18,000 Clark County children. [Nevada Independent]
- Nevada isn’t alone. Lawmakers in Indiana, Missouri, and other states have cut or reduced funding to support the Imagination Library. [Newsweek]
- For perspective: One in seven children in the U.S. under the age of 5 receives a book in the mail each month from the program ♥️ [ImaginationLibrary.com]
🎒 Students Missing In Action
We’re less than a month into a new school year, and officials are already knocking on doors to track down students who could be skipping class. (Or hear me out — maybe they moved? 🤷) Staff are visiting more than 500 homes for students who were enrolled last year, but haven’t returned this year. [KSNV]
- Meanwhile, CCSD is spending funds on access to Flock cameras that help police track cars throughout the valley. [KTNV]
- City Cast Las Vegas has more on why school district police are so interested in the technology — and if it steps on privacy concerns — in the latest news roundup. The episode also looks at the effects of federal funding cuts on Nevada’s great outdoors and local pastries that count among the best in the world 🏆 [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
👺 Masked Creep Caught in Vegas
A man caught on camera harassing and chasing people in Philadelphia was arrested — guess where — in Las Vegas. Police tracked down the 22-year-old at a southeast valley apartment complex. The images made national headlines, thanks to a creepy mask that’s been compared to “Chucky” in news reports. But that’s lazy journalism. The mask looks more like a Garbage Pail Kid to me — perhaps Mugged Marcus or Unstitched Mitch. [ABC News]
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What To Do
Thursday, Aug. 27
- 🥃 The Art of Amaro: Make Your Own Italian Amaro at Amari, 3pm ($74) | UnCommons
- 🍷 Wine Dinner at Bistecca, 5pm (21+, $106) | Tuscany Suites
- 🍺 Wineaux Summer Series: Craft Beer World Tour at Wineaux, 6pm (21+, $44) | UnCommons
- 🍽️ Learning from Las Vegas Food with Sarah Lohman, Online, 6pm (Free)
- 🦇 Bat Walk at Red Springs at Red Springs, 6pm (All Ages, Free) | Red Rock Canyon
- 🍹 Summer Spritz Cocktail Making Class at Honey Salt, 6pm ($55) | Rampart & Charleston
- 🀄 A Night of Mahjong at Ada's, 6pm (From $50) | Arts District
- 🎬 Piecing It Together: Coyote Vs Acme (movie and live podcast taping) at Galaxy Theatres, 6:30pm ($13) | Boulevard Mall
- 🏆 Las Vegas Weekly Best of Vegas 2026 at Zouk Nightclub, 7pm (21+, $25) | Resorts World
Friday, Aug. 28
- 🎭 Nevada Shakespeare Festival: Julius Caesar at Windmill Library, 7pm (All Ages, Free) | Windmill & Rainbow
- 🎵 Twisted Gypsy: Fleetwood Mac Tribute at Orleans Showroom, 7pm (From $40) | Orleans
- 🧘 Full Moon Yoga at The Piazza, 8pm (Free) | Tivoli Village
- 🕺 Michael Jackson's Birthday & 80s Icons Party at Millennium Fandom Bar, 8pm (21+, Free) | Arts District
💸 Another way to roll the dice …
The Golden Nugget is now offering a version of Yahtzee on the casino floor. It’s based on the family classic — but this game of chance is strictly adults only.
Free · Daily