In this corner, moderate Republicans! In the same corner, hardcore conservatives! Inside the battle for the GOP's soul In 2012, Democrat Justin Jones defeated Republican Mari Nakashima St. Martin in Senate District 9 by 301 votes.

El CortezThe El Cortez was the first hotel owned by Bugsy Siegel and, unlike the second, it’s kept the original pink neon intact. The rooftop hotel sign is a classic easily imagined in the background of a film noir, while the sideways “GAMBLING” sign is admirable for its forthrightness.

Two new eateries try to mix casual and classy.In a city that sustains itself on imported resources, it’s sometimes easy to miss what’s right under our nose.

By challenging our fond belief that Showgirls sucked, a new book offers thoughts on how to evaluate cultureAll these years later, it might be hard to recall the critical stink bombs that rained on Showgirls when it came out in 1995. Trust us: Reviews were brutal.

Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionThe Beauty barCall it “alternative pop/rock,” call it “punk blues” — allmusic.com can’t make up its mind, either — the music of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is rowdy, greasy, noisy and an affront to all that is decent, white-bread and middle-of-the-road.

A fiery 1942 plane crash on Mount Potosi rattled the Las Vegas Valley — and sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond Editor’s note: On the evening of January 16, 1942, TWA Flight 3 slammed into Mount Potosi just west of Las Vegas, bursting into a ball of flame. On the plane was film star Carole Lombard, returning to Los Angeles from Indiana, where she was performing to promote war bonds.

Room with a you:Neon stars and guitarsOrdinary doesn't live hereHeld firmly in placeExperimenting with natureAmazing folk art fills a west-side home with narrative and wonderWhen you’re talking about home design, spare rarely means delightful. Rather, it calls to mind a sort of astringent, modern quality that’s all about an admirable clarity — but rarely about pure joy.

Room with a you:Neon stars and guitarsEvery picture tells a storyHeld firmly in placeExperimenting with natureZero clutter, smart curation and pop culture converge in one awesomely not very normal space“I’d hate to come home to a normal house,” says Chris Kenner, longtime executive producer of David Copperfield’s show, now at the MGM Grand. Seems his home-décor pleasure receptors are set to 11, well beyond the ability of some cookie-cutter McMansion to satisfy.

Room with a you:Neon stars and guitarsOrdinary doesn't live hereEvery picture tells a storyExperimenting with natureThis sleek modern home encourages an intimate relationship with the desertTom Kim has an interesting relationship with space. On the one hand, he’s all over the map — literally.

Room with a you:Neon stars and guitarsOrdinary doesn't live hereEvery picture tells a storyHeld firmly in placeIndoors meets outdoors in this home-as-laboratory.On the north-facing wall of Sierra Slentz’s living room is a photogram-like painting of several flower bouquets laid out, overlapping each other, against a background of her signature colors: aqua, magenta, pink.