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THE TECH/CONNECT ISSUE Angela Abshier and Gabuduck create apps that will make you sing
Vegas Interest Clubs Connecting the dots and making friends for life
Bewitching Broomsticks Local makeup school gives our publisher a wicked makeover
Cup O’ Joe Fun coffee houses around the valley
tamara kaida: Desert Paint, 1987
In the law, as in the arts, creativity matters. Snell & Wilmer proudly supports the arts in Las Vegas and the communities we serve throughout the Western United States. www.swlaw.c om denVer
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702-384-2787 NSAmusic.org Providing music and arts instruction for the last 36 years
Dr. Charles Cushinery, conductor Nevada School of the artS
2013-2014 SeaSoN Season Preview
Sunday, October 13, 12:30-1:00 Summerlin Arts Festival NSA Chamber Orchestra with members of Las Vegas Philharmonic Summerlin Centre Community Park 1800 S. Town Center Dr.
Autumn Moods
Winter Concert
Friday, November 8, 2013 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 8, 2013 3:00 pm
Dr. Paul Hesselink, organ
NSA rising Stars – Alex Gonzalez, violin
Christ Church Episcopal 2000 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas
Free ADmiSSioN
Historic Fifth Street School Auditorium 401 S. Fourth Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Free ADmiSSioN
Mother’s Day Concert
Saturday, May 11, 2014 3:00 pm Historic Fifth Street School Auditorium 401 S. Fourth Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Free ADmiSSioN
Ballet Concert
Sunday, June 1, 2014 5:00 pm in collaboration with Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall
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Friday, November 15 at 7pm
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as snow begins to fall. Immediately following the Parade, Santa will be available for photos in his house as guests are treated to special holiday performances. Santa’s Arrival is brought to you by CBS Radio.
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EDITORS’ LETTER This community wide effort is all about the men, women, and children rallying to breathe new life into the Huntridge, and that’s why this story starts off our People Section on page10. Then in our Culture Section, this issue’s feature story, The Vegas Connection. On page 26 we explore how local groups and clubs are meeting the needs of the people and fostering relationships (and marriage proposals) across the valley.
‘Tis the season. It’s that time of year when we begin to think about seasonal get-togethers, family gatherings, and ways in which we connect with the people we hold dear. But connections go beyond that, don’t they? Connections with friends, business associates, and passions also come into play and the ways in which we support these connections is often steeped in technology. Most of us rarely start a new project without doing a quick Google search on who else has embarked on the idea first. Some of us seemingly can’t prepare a meal without an electronic tablet nearby for quick recipe references. National and world events are happening real-time and many of us depend on our Twitter feeds to get a play by play from a variety of amateur pundits.
It’s true, technology — though seemingly DISconnecting — is a major way in which we all connect with friends, loved ones and even strangers. But too much access can sometimes be a slippery slope when it comes to children, as we learned from some local parents, and so we’ve talked to a few experts on how to protect children on social media and the internet in Access Granted on page 44. The cooler temperatures blowing into the valley are a sign of the fall holiday season, and so in the spirit of the season our publisher gets a wicked makeover on page 51 and we have some turkey day tips to be thankful for on page 56. Finally, we spent a little time circling the valley in search of some of the best neighborhood coffee shops, where connections are served up everyday. Check out our favorites on page 60 and make sure you tell us your favorites at blvdslv.com.
This Tech Connect Issue is all about the ways in which we build communities, interest groups, and histories — and what could be more historic than the Huntridge Theater? Countless connections have been made at this vintage Vegas veteran over the years — and with the help of a tech driven fundraising campaign to save the building and the memories — we will all hopefully be reconnecting at the Huntridge again soon. Copyright 2013 by BLVDS, Inc., all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from BLVDS, Inc. Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information
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Jan Craddock President & Publisher Sabrina Cofield Editor-in-Chief Zakeisha Steele Jones Editor-in-Chief Victoria Hart Creative Director Amber Tsang Director, Business Development Editorial Board Brian Paco Alvarez Mauricia Baca Durette Candito Lisa Chasteen Chris Cutler Kendall Hardin Nancy Higgins LuAnn Kutch Dawn LaBonte Rob McCoy Julie Murray Contributing Writers Sabrina Cofield Hektor D. Esparza Zakeisha Steele Jones Stacy Joseph Jarret Keene Joy Kennelly Marnie WinstonMacauley
Stephanie Pierotti Jillian Plaster Willie Robinson Jason Roth Dana Satterwhite Rich Sellers Eric Strain Kimberly Trueba Rachael Wadley Stephanie Youngblood
Valerie Miller Stephanie Pierotti Jillian Plaster Nina Radetich Dana Satterwhite Alyse Sweeney
Contributing Photographers Jenn Berelowitz Nathan Douglas Daria Riley Checko Salgado Dana Satterwhite Talbot Snow Analyst and Archivist Nancy Lee Craddock Interns Elias “Cube” Ruiz Kennedy Jones
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BLVDS fans let us know what you think! facebook.com/blvdslv twitter.com/blvdslv in this publication, however, BLVDS, Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors, changes, or omissions. BLVDS, Inc. accepts editorial and photography submissions. Send all submissions to: editor@blvdslv.com.
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The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 5
BLVDS LAS VEGAS | NO. 40 | October/November 2013 | C O N T E N T S
THE Tech/Connect ISSUE PEOPLE
10
A Clean Slate Painting the past and the future of the historic Huntridge Theater one brushstroke at a time.
14
Making Music Happen How a tech savvy three-year old inspired a local attorney to create kids’ apps that sing.
16
One Dollar Digs The driving force behind a local PR firm’s search for new office mates and why they’re only charging $1 per month.
20
The Tech Trek From big dreams to big bucks, Vegas’ tech movement gains momentum.
C u lt u r e
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The Vegas Connection How local groups and clubs are fostering lifelong friendships and even a marriage proposal or two.
32
It’s Storytime What’s new at this year’s Vegas Valley Book Festival.
34
Painting the Town One local woman’s journey to step outside the box and put color on paper.
38
Events Explore the sights and sounds of our great city.
LIFESTYLE
42
Passing Notes We ask the question, is letter writing a dying craft?
6 | blvdslv.com
44
Access Granted A closer look at social media and our children.
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Blogging Basics Six simple strategies to get your voice heard.
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BLVDS Crave List These Crave List items are tech must haves to help you stay connected.
26
51
Broomsticks, BLVDS, and B-Linda A local makeup school gives our publisher a wicked makeover.
52
Altered Appreciation A few fresh ideas on how you can shake things up this Thanksgiving.
44
F l av o r
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Cooked to Perfection Tips on tackling turkey day troubles and scoring big with your guests.
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Feed your APPetite A peek at some of our favorite food apps.
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Coffee Connections Whether you like it iced, hot, or frapped; a look at how coffee is at the center of connections.
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the BLVDS Flavor Menu The Barrymore, a retro Vegas classic, is this month’s menu.
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IMHO Stellar educator Camille McCue takes us back to the good ‘ole days and explains why she wants a “technology” do over.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Alyse Sweeney is creator of Write to Glow – a communal writing workshop aimed at unleashing clarity and creativity through freeflow writing practice. She is the author of over 30 books for kids and teachers and was a publishing executive with Scholastic. She holds a Master’s in education.
Stephanie Pierotti is the proprietor of Avondale Shirt Co. and an instructor at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. As a foodie and wine lover, she holds certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the International Wine Guild. A seven year resident of Las Vegas, Stephanie currently lives in Summerlin with her husband Michael.
Hektor Esparza is a community activist and nonprofit leader. The father of four is often in some state of quixotic frustration. Each morning, he groans about his life before getting out of bed. Yet, he is loved, respected, and usually gets what he wants though he’s too grumpy to enjoy it when he does. Also, he hates deadlines and loves a good micro-brew.
Valerie Miller writes for media outlets including BLVDS LV and Bloomberg News. A UNLV graduate, Valerie is the Small Business Administration Nevada’s Michael Graham Entrepreneurial Spirit Award winner. In 2013, Valerie won four journalism awards from the Nevada Press Association, which previously named her Outstanding Journalist.
Jarret Keene is the author and editor of several dodgy books about Las Vegas. He teaches creative writing and ancient literature at College of Southern Nevada and screams and plays guitar in the underground rock band Dead Neon. He doesn’t sleep.
Jillian Plaster is a foodie. She loves to cook, but she loves to eat even more. While attending Le Cordon Bleu in her hometown of Las Vegas, her passion for food lead to writing reviews of local restaurants. Plaster also developed her own line of fresh dog food which she sells at her unique pooch boutique, The Dog House, located at Town Square.
Marnie Winston-Macauley whose work has garnered her Emmy and Writer’s Guild Best Writing nominations, is the author of over 20 books and calendars. She has written extensively about theater for Theater Week, reporting from New York and London. Known for both secular and Jewish works, among other awards, she is listed in The Full Wiki’s Top Jewish American Writers, living or dead. (She’s busy deciding which.)
Dana Satterwhite National brand advertising creative for 20 years, Dana currently freelances and runs TastySpace gallery in the Emergency Arts building. He has written for several local magazines and serves on a number of boards. His greatest loves are his wife, daughter, family, words, visuals, racquetball, chess, food, gardening, and freedom.
Joy Kennelly An awardwinning Social Media Strategist, Joy’s social media marketing expertise includes working with Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and over 100 regional online marketing sites to enhance search engine optimization, increase attendance at events, and develop business on behalf of clients in entertainment, travel, technology, fashion, and politics.
Stacy Joseph is a financial consultant by day and a foodie by night. As an avid traveler and a gourmetfood aficionado, she enjoys cooking, dining out, and exploring culinary culture. She is on a constant quest for healthy and delicious vegetarian meals that will satisfy even the most critical of carnivores. Stacy has called the Las Vegas valley home for the last three years.
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 7
Changing lives, one book at a time.
Spread the Word Nevada is a children’s literacy nonprofit dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Southern Nevada's at-risk, low income communities. While developing a love of reading, these libraries promote future academic achievement and self-confidence, which impacts lifelong success.
Visit SpreadTheWordNevada.org or call 702.564.7809 to help make a difference.
Wells Fargo is proud to support Spread the Word Nevada.
People
PEOPLE
33
A CLEAN SLATE
years screening movies
Fueled by fond memories, a community gives an historic theater a fresh coat of paint.
Written by Jarret Keene Photography by Talbot Snow
10 | blvdslv.com
or years, it stood derelict. Defunct. Decaying. An eyesore even amidst 99cent retailers, pawnshops, and auto parts stores. It would’ve stayed that way had investors Joey Vanas and Michael Cornthwaite not stepped forward this summer. Their plan? To crowdsource an effort toward restoring Huntridge Theater, at the corner of Charleston Boulevard and Maryland Parkway, to its former glory.
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The mechanism was Indiegogo, an online funding platform where people donate money and pool resources toward specific projects. Investors asked for $150,000 from the community. With the help of Las Vegans — including rock band The Killers, who got their start on the Huntridge stage before it closed in 2004 — the pledge drive reached $207,000. “It seems the whole city is excited to push things forward and see the theater up and running again,” noted Vanas, a partner in the Huntridge Revival Group. Excitement was evident in the volunteer spirit of the hundreds who participated in the two-day BYOB (Bring Your Own Brush) community painting party this September. Armed with brushes, rollers, drop cloths, tarps, and paint masks families with kids (including mine), from surrounding neighborhoods, gave the building a long-overdue coat of white paint. Also on hand: a farmer’s market, vendors, food trucks, and live music. Designed by architect S. Charles Lee, the theater opened in 1944. There
are claims that it was the first airconditioned and non-segregated movie house in Las Vegas. For nearly 33 years, it screened movies continuously before closing in 1977. There were sporadic attempts to reopen it as a picture place, but the Huntridge’s second act as a live music venue didn’t occur until 1992. A few years later, the roof collapsed. Then, in 1996, after a half-milliondollar renovation, the theater rose again, hosting nearly every significant rock band of that time — the Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins. Good musical times rolled until 2004, when owners, the Mizrachi family, closed the doors for renovation. The doors never reopened. The Huntridge served as valuable training ground for countless local bands and concert promoters. They cut their teeth, realized their dreams, and bruised their young bodies, moshpit style, in that theater. “It’s where I got my start,” says Brian Saliba, who launched a music-biz networking conference, Vegas Music Summit, in 2009. He still does shows for Fremont East clubs, oversees the biggest annual rock festival in the valley (Extreme Thing), and publishes underground-rock mag Smash. “The experience taught me about shows on a large-venue level. I learned to do what I do today because of the concerts I did at the Huntridge.” Chyloh Pryor, singer in 1990s alt-punk group Fried Green, remembered the Huntridge being a cool place for young people to be creative. He helped build a long-running showcase for Vegas bands, Las Vegas Local Music Blitz, in 3D locally. “The owner at the time,
Richard Lenz, wasn’t sure about a night for local acts, since many were punk bands,” says Pryor. “Nobody wanted a destructive scene.” Thanks to good planning, it wasn’t. Promoter Nicole Sligar recalls the Huntridge-hosted blitz as among the earliest organic gatherings of local music and art. “Being near the building again was special,” says Sligar at the BYOB. “Seeing kids who don’t remember the place yet are excited about its potential tells me the Huntridge should reopen. The Huntridge can be everything it was and more.” From the 1990s to the mid-aughts, Vegas bands playing the Huntridge got more — namely, a formative taste of the limelight. Which explains why the Killers contributed to the crowdsourcing effort. “If we could have any say in defending our history, it would be for keeping the Huntridge Theater legacy alive with an aim toward fostering the future heartbeat of Downtown Vegas,” the Killers announced in a statement recently. “It’s nice to be in the position to give life back to such an unusually historic building in Las Vegas.” Given the outpouring of support, the Huntridge Revival Group is confident the theater will reopen. “To see the hundreds of people assist in the first step toward rebuilding this piece of Las Vegas history to its former glory is amazing,” says Vanas. “The two days of hard work has definitely paid off. The building facade looks great.”
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 11
December 14 – 22, 2013 The Smith Center for the Performing Arts Tickets: 702.749.2000 | NevadaBallet.org
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PEOPLE
5
apps
Making Music A local attorney takes advice from a tech savvy three-year old and creates kids’ apps that sing.
Written by Zakeisha Steele Jones Photography by Nathan Douglas
14 | blvdslv.com
reativity is not generally an essential requirement for becoming a sought after intellectual property attorney, but for Angela Abshier it was a must. It was her love for creatives, and the projects they were involved in, that inspired Angela to stretch her own boundaries and move away from the courtroom and into Gabuduck. Named after the alternative pronunciation of ‘garbage truck’ by her then little toddler buddy, Declan — son of the company’s cofounder John McClain — Gabuduck is a creative technology business that creates musical apps for kids.
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In her practice, Angela was passionate about protecting creatives and their projects from what Anglea refers to as hackathon central, where anything and everything was being pirated from artists through illegal music downloads and bootlegging. As the use of technology increased, so did her business. Her fervor for copyright law and trademark rights to protect artists and musicians soared. Angela’s career then took a few twists and turns, from traveling the world selling slot machines to spearheading the Las Vegas chapter of the 48 Hour Film Project — a crazy sleepless weekend where film makers write, shoot, edit, and score a movie in just 48 hours. The project connected her with the local creative community in a different way, and she was hooked. “Nobody loves Vegas more than me. My love for the people, spirit, and creativity just keeps growing.” Angela’s latest venture was actually a bit of an accident. She was at the birthday party of a dear friend, three year old Declan, when he unwrapped a very special gift — the first generation iPad. All of the kids’ attention went directly to the finger swiping apparatus. Angela admits, “It was ridiculous — like the kids had all seen a unicorn. John [Gabuduck cofounder] and I looked at each other from across the room and it clicked.” Angela and John knew they had to get their hands in this tech soup of sorts.
even used local kids to do the voice overs for one of its apps. Angela says that there are so many options out there that Gabuduck is constantly “fighting for [their] place in the market,” but with colorful interactive apps like Music Matching, Gabuduck is on its way to meet its goal to be known as “the leaders of interactive music content for kids.” Anglea classifies Gabuduck somewhere between a technology and content company. Seems that those technical and creative lines have often been blurred, giving her the freeing opportunity to create a unique experience for those connected to exciting innovation. To download apps go to Gabuduck.com and connect to the iTunes store.
Gabuduck was born. Then the artists, musicians, and coders came into play. Even Lisa Loeb (sans Nine Stories) came into the mix. Ideas were exchanged, projects were launched, and apps like Go Go Greta, Miko and Cola, and KBC Kids started gaining interest among kids and parents. They are high quality, colorful, interactive apps that entertain and promote learning. Gabuduck quickly (and surprisingly) became an active part of the conversation among parents of children with autism. Countless moms have contacted Gabuduck and commented on how the musical apps have helped their children cope with the impact of the disorder. Abshier calls this a “happy accident.” Angela has traveled all around the world and is certain that Vegas is a “very relevant” tech city. The vibe out there is that “we are from Vegas and have something great to offer.” And it’s true, Angela gushes over the artists and creatives right here in the valley. “Vegas is full of really talented people.” Gabuduck
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 15
PEOPLE
15 One second pitch
DOLLAR DIGS Why a local PR firm is offering $1 office space to a tech startup.
Written by Hektor D. Esparza Photography by Nathan Douglas
16 | blvdslv.com
W
hy would a successful marketing and public relations firm such as The Glenn Group invite a humble tech startup into its office space, for an entire year, and only charge $1 per month? In a word: Inspiration.
If technology is the omnipotent juggernaut driving the critical mass of economic activity globally and to downtown Las Vegas, to those in the know, the importance of human creativity behind it cannot be overvalued. The Glenn Group is keenly aware of this and is taking an altruistic approach to keeping the good ideas coming. Without inspired people, work becomes just work and eventually the ideas stop flowing even if the electrons do not. While algorithms are responsible for an incalculable number of astonishing feats machines perform every millisecond, it was creativity that gave rise to their power to begin with. Companies in the startup phase tend to come with their own built-in inspiration and creativity. As Chris Charles Scott, PR director of The Glenn Group explains, “We actually want this to be a vibrant environment where ideas are being shared and services are being offered that are mutually beneficial.” Tech startups were welcomed to submit a fifteen second video that explains how they are going to solve a problem and why people should care. Scott says from a marketing perspective, fifteen seconds should be plenty of time to describe what almost any startup does. But the audition videos would only serve as an introduction to the tech company founders. After a panel of distinguished business — tech and government leaders gave their recommendations — finalists were invited to interview with The Glenn Group on site. When applicants asked if this meeting was a formal interview, the response may have been off-putting to those desiring a standard job interview experience. That’s because it was more of a rap session intended to get to know the person (or people) behind the idea. As Scott says, “Are you going to be someone that’s cool with what we do and how we operate? This is the way we hire and we have always done well this way.”
“Our interest is in making the biggest impact we can. Getting this space will help us tremendously and just the fact that they are offering this opportunity shows they care about making a difference, too.” Another person who showed interest in The Glenn Group’s co-working space for a dollar offer was David Leibner, founder of the social media management platform Social Office Suite and the new gifting app Drinkboard.com. Leibner found out about the co-working space via the contest, but decided to move his operations to The Glenn Group suite before the contest was even over. As he says, “They’re a creative group and we’re more of a maintenance group. We saw a synergy between the two groups and what’s happening downtown. It’s just a good vibe in here.” After much deliberation and consideration The Glenn Group finally narrowed it down, and decided to offer not one, but TWO startups the $1 office space. Scott says both ideas were just so inspiring that they had to pick both. The winners were, RecordSetter, an alternative record setting company. They’re like the Guinness Book of today. The second winner, the nonprofit startup, Computers For A Cause.
Sixteen startups submitted videos to enter the competition for a spot inside The Glenn Group’s impressive co-working space. One of them was an online platform called Catch5. Its goal is to remove fraud from online advertising but its video was a little unclear in how it would accomplish this. Another was a digital magazine called Dottie which is focused on affordable fashion. Its video showcased a humble yet appealing women’s outfit priced at under $100. A third startup called Computers For A Cause (CFAC) aimed to repurpose discarded computers. The nonprofit used its fifteen seconds to deliver a simple yet powerful message: Eighty-three million people in the US do not have a computer and over 112,000 are thrown away everyday. CFAC wants to find these computers a better home than a landfill. On why he entered the competition, James Jack CEO of CFAC says,
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 17
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PEOPLE
THE 25 TECH TREK
tech startups
From big dreams to big bucks, Vegas’ tech movement gains momentum.
Written by Stephanie Pierotti Photography by Talbot Snow
20 | blvdslv.com
ince its humble beginnings as a pit stop for trailblazers heading west at the turn of the century, Las Vegas has become famous (and infamous) for nurturing a wide variety of industries. Internationally renowned as “Sin City” and “The Entertainment Capital of the World,” Vegas has once again reinvented itself by cultivating a technology community that has captured the attention of the world’s leading entrepreneurs and top tech companies.
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mentoring sessions to yoga classes. CoBiz Coworking in the southwest area of the valley offers a similar program for $10 daily or monthly programs starting at $125.
Moveline, a technology company founded in New York that assists people relocating locally (or globally), recently did some relocating of its own. The founders of Moveline say Vegas is an ideal location for growth, and recently moved its operations to Downtown Las Vegas. “We have about a dozen open positions today,” explains co-founder and CEO Frederick Cook. “I expect that we’re going to hire several hundred people over the next five years.”
Las Vegas is no stranger to the technology industry; companies like Switch Communications Group put us on the map as a key player in the global tech scene nearly ten years ago. Switch founder Rob Roy holds patents to 218 inventions on cooling systems and facility design for data centers. Petroglyph Games also calls Las Vegas home. The video game development company was created in 2003 by former employees of Westwood Studios.
Tech Cocktail — a Chicago-based media company and events organization for startups, entrepreneurs, and technology enthusiasts — partnered up with the Downtown Project to bring monthly speaker sessions and startup mixers to Las Vegas. These free monthly events feature talks from successful startup founders from around the world, allowing local entrepreneurs a chance to learn from their experiences. Past speakers range from George Ruiz — a former Hollywood talent agent who now negotiates new media content deals with the largest tech companies in the world, to Nolan Bushnell — the father of the video game industry whose attention is now focused on BrainRush, his company that develops technology to revolutionize the learning process. Bushnell recently spent several days exploring Vegas before speaking to a packed house at downtown’s Learning Village. While he is impressed with what’s happening here, the veteran of Silicon Valley knows that our tech scene is still in its early stages. “There’s a long way to go, but I can see the trajectory and that’s the important thing,” Bushnell noted.
The industries touched by the Vegas tech scene are as diverse as the members of its community. Space technology company Bigelow Airspace chose North Las Vegas for their headquarters when they launched in 1998. Rob Bigelow personally invested $250 million in the company from the fortune he amassed through his ownership of Budget Suites of America, and has committed to invest an additional $500 million over the next two years as they develop configurable space habitats.
The booming tech scene is a key component to the solution to the economic diversification puzzle that Las Vegas has been trying to piece together for some time now. It recently got a big boost from Zappos CEO Tony Hseih, who earmarked $50 million for tech startups launching in, or willing to relocate to, Las Vegas.
Like Tech Cocktail, organizations with roots in other cities have established a presence in Las Vegas. GirlsInTech, a San Francisco based organization with 12,000 members and 57 chapters around the world, formed a Las Vegas chapter last year (girlsintechlasvegas.org). They meet bi-monthly and offer educational workshops and lectures, networking functions, conferences, and social events to women in technology. Along with the formation of networking groups, collocation workspaces have also helped the Vegas tech scene thrive. Downtown’s Work in Progress (workinprogress. lv) has created workspaces, tools, and events for Vegas startups. Starting at $50 per month or $25 for a day pass, WIP’s membership program allows entrepreneurs to secure a work space and participate in events ranging from PR workshops and
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 21
PEOPLE
uNPLuG TIPS ON LEARNINg
OFFLiNE FROM: Nolan Bushnell iNVENTOR: Pong FOuNDER: Atari Corporation and Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater AuTHOR: “Finding The Next Steve Jobs” (Bushnell gave Jobs his fi rst break in the tech industry in 1974)
1
Attend a convention that has nothing to do with your chosen profession. Over 21,000 conventions are held in Vegas every year. Unlike the 4 million people that travel from all over the world every year to attend these events, you can take advantage of the opportunity to tap into industry experts’ knowledge by simply hopping in your car and heading to the Strip.
2
Encourage your kids to be “makers.” Ironically, the founder of the video game industry was appalled by his family’s television viewing habits. He built a workshop for his kids in his house and is proud of the fact that all of his children grew up to be successful and resourceful – and have continued the tradition of spending quality time creating things with their own families.
3
Never stop creating. Bushnell encourages everyone to “create, make, research, push, and focus. When you do that, you’re happy. The more passive your life is, the more you’re trying to escape, then you’ll go into a depression that is unbelievable.”
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VEGAS TEcH STARTuPS Bluefields | bluefields.com Communication tool for sports leagues, teams, and players
LUXr | luxr.co Learning tools for product development entrepreneurs around the world
Clipppr | clipppr.com Tracking tool for online press and social media activity
Order Mapper | ordermapper.com Cloud-based order processing and delivery system for almost any good or service
CrowdHall | crowdhall.com Platform for VIPs to communicate with their fans Digital Royalty | digitalroyalty.com Strategic digital integration and social media agency for corporations and entertainment brands Effortless Office | effortlessoffice.com Virtual desktop solution that helps companies migrate to the cloud Hachi | gohachi.com Tool for aggregating your network of connections to facilitate introductions iDoneThis | idonethis.com System for tracking and celebrating your daily accomplishments LaunchBit | launchbit.com Email ad network that helps online publishers reach their target market
LaunchKey | launchkey.com User authentication system that replaces passwords with smartphonebased physical authentication
Rolltech | rolltechbowling.com Networking and data analytics tool for bowlers Romotive | romotive.com Smartphone-controlled robots Rumgr | rumgr.com Free iPhone app that connects sellers of used goods with potential buyers
Skillshare | skillshare.com Collaborative classes with global participants ranging from crafts to web programming Teamly | teamly.com Task, goal, and performance management software Ticket Cake | ticketcake.com Ticketing website for live events Wedgies | wedgies.com SMS polling tools for social media, websites, and events Zirtual | zirtual.com System for connecting busy people with virtual personal assistants
TUNE IN
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12 New & Interesting Places to Explore Downtown
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Ryan Williams Fine Art Gallery
film. video. production. fun.
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Culture
The Vegas CONNECTION
Meet-up groups and clubs across the valley are bringing folks together and fostering lifelong relationships.
Written by Dana Satterwhite Photography by Nathan Douglas Checko Salgado Dana Satterwhite
Dana Satterwhite
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 27
C U LT U R E ost human beings are governed by a very limited set of needs. Give us food, water, shelter, love, respect, a purpose, and a soapbox, and generally we’re good. But there is something vital about coming into contact with someone who shares the same passion, vision, or seemingly insignificant hobby — that could easily add “personal connections” to that shortlist of needs. Food, art, literature, and sports are merely points of entry to a deeper conversation; gateways through which to forge meaningful, lasting relationships with likeminded individuals.
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Joy Snyder and Denise Sprague — two members of the unofficial oldest book club in the valley — met eighteen years ago when the group was officially established. Joy moved to Las Vegas just shy of thirty five years ago from Pennsylvania and, like many of us, initially suffered a bit of culture shock. “I had never been west of Ohio. I was a true ‘back easter.’ Culturally, I couldn’t believe where I was living.” Joy admits.
Checko Salgado
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Married for eight years, she and her husband Bill left everything, including huge families and friends, behind. “I was pretty miserable for a long, long time. We were only going to live here for one year, and that didn’t happen.” Rather than wallow in self-pity, she attempted to make the best of her new life in the desert. Then through a clandestine architecture connection, she met Denise — another East Coast transplant headed to California, just “passing through” Vegas. Twenty years later, Denise and her family are still here too. “It’s a strange city to say you’re from. It sounds so… cowboy,” Denise laughs. “It’s a funny town like that. You end up staying.” Nearly two decades later Denise and Joy — along with five other voracious readers — are still consuming books together monthly. But Joy admits the connection runs so much deeper than reading. “We’ve watched one another’s kids grow up. We know one another’s husbands. We’re intertwined with our lives in every which way.”
David Hardy, founder of online cultural aggregator ArtsVegas.com came here from Baltimore, with his (now) wife; another east coast transplant who arrived thinking his west coast tour of duty would be brief. “ArtsVegas.com was just a way to document our adventures in a new place, finding art in a place that’s perceived as devoid of it by outsiders.” David explains. “What we found is that this place is chock-full of art. Some of the finest in the country come here to do it professionally, while others have been doing it here for years, quietly chipping away at their craft.” David admits he started the website because he was inspired by what was happening around the valley but quickly realized that there was a need. It now serves as a resource to help inform and educate the entire community and bring people together. “Learning how to support small businesses, how to not drive everywhere, and that investing in culture is more than pumping a ton of money into something. We need organic growth by regular people.”
Checko Salgado While incredible connections happen indoors with books in-hand, online and at local events and arts shows around the valley, they also happen outdoors on roads and trails. Leanne Miller, current president of the Las Vegas Valley Bicycle Club, is working hard for the cycling community. This is, in fact, her second time in the position. She, like those mentioned above, moved here from another city and never looked back. That was twenty seven years ago. “This club started as a group of friends that would meet up at Albertson’s at Westcliff and Rainbow. It’s now a Food 4 Less,” she
notes. Once again, the relationships built through the club transcend the focus of the club itself. “We have some people we’ve become much better friends with,” Leanne says. “We have dinner together. We go to the lake together.” She doesn’t deny her midwestern roots, but Las Vegas is home. “Do I long for my hometown? My mom’s still there. My sister’s still there. Would I ever move back? No. You don’t really realize how spoiled you’ve gotten by all the things Las Vegas has to offer until you return to another place.” By now it’s safe to say that Las Vegas has its own indisputable form of magnetism,
possibly even charm. But could there be any greater testament to the power of groups than those already mentioned? Maybe just this one. After an eight year relationship kindled on bikes, Leanne and her fiancé Wayne Millington — an avid cyclist and member of the LV Valley Bicycle Club — will tie the knot this fall. Connections don’t get much more real than that. Learn more about the groups mentioned here at lasvegasbikeclub.org and artvegas.com.
Nathan Douglas
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 29
July 27, 2013 - Dec 3, 2013 Exhibit extended through January 3, 2014
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Fall Art Shows Fine Art Unique Crafts Free Admission Free Parking
Anthem Highlands Oct. 19-20 ArtWalk in Henderson
Oct. 25-27 Nov. 2-3
Boca Park ArtWalk in Las Vegas
Trails Village Center ArtWalk in Summerlin
www.vegasart walk.com 2 702.245.6077 produced by Mark Vranesh Studio
The Art of Travel... A Sense of Place
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Artist Reception Preview Thursday Dec. 5, 2013 5 - 8pm And Holiday Open House Dec. 7, 2013 10am - 4pm
Blvds House | Gallery B 509 S. 7th Street For more information email markvranesh@gmail.com, call or text 702.245.6077 www.markvranesh.com
C U LT U R E keep writing.” About 10,000 people and 80 authors are expected to attend festival related events this year.
80 IT’S authors
For a full listing of festival events, visit www.vegasvalleybookfestival.org.
STORYTIME Workshops and panels and crafts (oh my), Vegas Valley Book Festival offers something for everyone.
“Reading is not optional.” If that phrase was something you heard from your parents as a child, prepare to now live it as the unofficial theme of this year’s Vegas Valley Book Festival. The 11 year old event officially runs from October 30th to November 2nd, but a variety of pre-festival activities take place beforehand. Don’t expect all the same attractions as in the book festival’s early days, according to Brian Kendell, who sits on the festival’s steering committee as part of his job with the City of Las Vegas’ Department of Cultural Affairs. “We have the longestrunning comic book festival in the country,” Kendell touted, “and we have added events involving children’s and young adult literature — or ‘YA.’ Our YA component has really grown.” The festival started in Henderson back in 2002. The early gathering of authors and writers was founded by the Henderson Library District and Nevada Humanities.
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Written by Valerie Miller
The festival moved to Las Vegas in 2005 and while the main mission of the festival — to foster growth among writers and authors, and further interest in literature — remains at the festival’s core, the current version has evolved into so much more. Most of this year’s events will take place at the Historic Fifth Street School, at 401 South Fourth Street, including the November 2nd presentation by the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Walter Dean Myers.
The Okee Dokee Brothers, a children’s bluegrass duo, will be performing Nov. 2nd on the Main Children’s Stage at the Historic Fifth Street School.
Several events however will be held at the Flamingo Library, like the kick-off keynote address by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter on October 30th and the Comic Book Fest on November 2nd. “We try to attract a diverse group,” Kendell said. “We have something for everybody. There are children’s illustrators and authors, arts and crafts and storytelling for children, the YA component, and free workshops and panels for local writers. We hope we can inspire them, and convince them, to
Children making their own books at last year’s arts and crafts booth.
C U LT U R E
3 PAINTING
paintings
THE TOWN One woman’s creative journey to colorfully fill the empty spaces.
s I stood in front of a large empty canvas — feeling tight and controlling and altogether uncomfortable — my inner critic was screaming at me. More than anything I felt frozen, staring stupidly at the blinding block of white, unable — or unwilling — to move my arm to paint. And that’s what I wanted. It was spring; the beginning of my painting kick with friend and long-time local painter, Tom Bisesti.
A
I wanted to feel the insistent, critical voice. I wanted to feel the anxiety ravage my body so I could learn to move past it and experience the exhilaration of moving paint across the page. I had never painted like that before, and watching Tom do it was breathtaking. I also wanted to feel this paralysis so I could better address it in my Write to Glow workshops, where participants crave the experience of authentic words flying across the page in a free, intuitive way — but often experience something different
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Written by Alyse Sweeney Photography by Daria Riley
and freeze, as I did with a paintbrush in my hand. Tom sat behind me in a chair and calmly talked me off the ledge. After I put down a color and stared at it for a spell — strategizing, planning, and coordinating the next color — he gently said, “Feel the paint glide across the canvas. Then feel what color wants to go on next.” Somehow I got through that first painting, clutching tightly at my paintbrush and complaining all the while that the painting and color combinations were “displeasing” to me. Yet I did ultimately pick up the pace and relax into the painting. Driving home, I felt lighter and sort of hooked on the feeling. Summer came and went and when an invitation from Ganesha Center for an Intuitive Painting class landed in my email inbox recently, I instantly replied “yes” on the RSVP. It was here that teacher Deidre Buus sweetly, but insistently, repeated the mantra “Don’t think. Don’t think.” She
gave us each three colors and a meditative painting sketch to use for inspiration. Again, I was tight; though I thought I hid it pretty well. But within a few minutes, Deidre invited me to step away from the painting so she could clear my “negative, controlling energy.” “Take it away,” I thought, as she led me though a series of energetic exercises. Driving home, I again felt lighter. Blissful, even. Three days later was the beginning of the PAINT! retreat series at Selah art salon with Daria Riley. I knew I was in for a
great afternoon when Daria opened with a short wisdom teaching from one of my favorite thinkers, Brene Brown. “The happiest people,” Daria summarized, “are those who cultivate creativity in their day. And a way to cultivate creativity is to remember how to play.” Less work and more play has been a running theme in my life and I was ready to attempt to lighten up for the next two hours. Working with a partner, we rotated among six stations. My favorites were blindfolded finger painting and painting to our favorite Pandora station. Do you believe that my favorite of the four pieces I made that day was the blindfolded painting? Talk about feeling and not thinking! Feel it, don’t think, and play: a foolproof recipe for enjoying yourself in front of a blank canvas, or letting go in a notebook, or creating a bold and creative life.
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 35
THE TIME IS
NOW
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EVENTS
DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT Explore the sights and sounds of our great city!
OCTOBER 2013
Summerlin Art Festival October 12 - 13 Summerlin Centre Community Park summerlin.com/art-festival
Crazy Spokes by Bike Henderson
Brett Wesley Gallery Now – NovEMBER 30 Kevin Chupik – HeadSpace 433.4433 BrettWesleyGallery.com
Age of Chivalry: Las Vegas Renaissance Festival October 11 – 13 Sunset Park Lvrenfair.com
Blackbird Studios Ali Fathollahi - Dolls Now – October 27 Blackbird Studios 782.0319 blackbirdstudioslv.com
Brighton Beach Memoirs October 11 - 12 Judy Bayley Theatre 895.2787 | pac.unlv.edu
October 26 – 27 Downtown Las Vegas lifeisbeautifulfestival.com
Haunted at the Ranch October 25 Whitney Ranch Aquatic Complex 267.4000 | hendersonlive.com
Boca Park ArtWalk October 25 – 27 Boca Park vegasartwalk.com
Jazz Ensemble I and Latin Jazz Ensemble
Pumpkin Smash – Archery Fun Shoot
October 15 Judy Bayley Theatre 895.2787 | pac.unlv.edu
October 26 Clark County Shooting Complex 455.2002 | clarkcountynv.gov
Public Conversation with Tom Pfannerstill October 16 Trifecta Art Gallery 366.7001 | trifectagallery.com
Vegas Valley Book Festival Pre-Festival Event October 18, 7:30 p.m. Historic Fifth Street School 229.3515 vegasvalleybookfestival.org
Afternoon of a Faun
Anthem Highlands ArtWalk October 19 – 20 Anthem Highlands Shopping Center vegasartwalk.com
It’s What’s on the Outside That Counts
Fry Street Quartet October 22 Doc Rando Recital hall, Lee & Thomas Beam Music Center 895.2787 | pac.unlv.edu
Flux Pavilion October 30 Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas 698.7000 cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
Halloween Hauntings October 31 Parkdale Community Center 455.7517 | clarkcountynv.gov
Town Scary OCTOBER 31 Town Square mytownsquarelasvegas.com
DISCOVERY Children’s Museum - The Magic of Discovery Gala October 26 Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa 382.KIDS | DiscoveryKidsLV.org
October 18 – 19 Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall 895.2787 | pac.unlv.edu
October 11 Henderson Pavilion 267.2171 | hendersonlive.com
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Life Is Beautiful Festival
October 24 Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility 455.7798 | clarkcountynv.gov
October 12 Mission Hills Park 267.4000 | hendersonlive.com
Kenny Babyface Edmonds
October 11 – November 7 Contemporary Arts Center 382.3886 | lasvegascac.org
Pools & Ghouls
Brett Wesley Gallery Oct. 31 – Dec. 28 Kristine McCallister – Paradise 433.4433 Brettwesleygallery.com
NOVEMBER 2013 Farmers Markets
For locations, days and times go to NevadaGrown.com and fresh52.com
First Friday
Haunted Harvest at the Springs Preserve October 11–13, 18–20, 25-27 Springs Preserve 822.7700 | springspreserve.org
November 1 Downtown Las Vegas firstfridaylasvegas.com
The Great Craft Festival November 1 – 3 Cashman Center Exhibit stevepowers.com
Life In Death Festival
Tony Hsieh
Birding Under the Stars
November 1 – 2 Winchester Cultural Center 455.7340 | clarkcountynv.org
November 5 The Smith Center 749.2000 thesmithcenter.com
November 16 Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve 267.4000 | hendersonlive.com
Line
Kieth Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplande Orchestra
It Runs in the Family November 1 – 17 Las Vegas Little Theatre 362.7996 | lvlt.org
Nevada Ballet Theatre Swan Lake Act II & Sleeping Beauty Act III November 1 - 2 749.2000 | thesmithcenter.com
November 7 - 10 UNLV Black Box Theatre 895.2787 | pac.unlv.edu
“The Women” November 8 – 9, 15 – 16 CSN Performing Arts Center 651.5483 | csn.edu
Brew Local! November 2 Village Square brewlocalvegas.com
Henderson Cares Team American Heart Association Run November 2 Fremont Street Experience 267.2171 | hendersonlive.com
November 17 The Smith Center 749.2000 | thesmithcenter.com
November 9 Paseo Verde Parkway 267.4000 | hendersonlive.com
Brew’s Best Village Festival
November 18 The Smith Center 749.2000 | thesmithcenter.com
November 21 - 23 Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall 895.2787 | pac.unlv.edu
Thanksgiving Holiday Craft and Gift Show
November 9 The Village at Lake Las Vegas Resort 564.4700 montelagovillage.com
November 23 -24 Sun City MacDonald Ranch lvcraftshows.com
Peter Nero with the UNLV Jazz Symphony Orchestra
Roseman University of Health Sciences 14th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
November 29 Las Vegas Convention Center motortrendautoshows.com/ lasvegas
November 2 Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall 895.2787 | pac.unlv.edu
November 11 Cascata Golf 968.2055 | bwood@roseman.edu
Veterans Day 2013 Ceremony November 2 Henderson Amphitheatre 267.2171 | hendersonlive.com
Sour Angelica & Sancta Susanna November 14 – 15 Doc Rando Recital Hall, Lee & Thomas Beam Music Center 895.2787 | pac.unlv.edu
Summerlin ArtWalk November 2 – 3 Trails Village Center Circle vegasartwalk.com
Sunset Park’d November 16 Sunset Park Sunsetparkd.com
December 5 – 7 Water Street District 267.2171 | hendersonlive.com
Cowboy Marketplace December 5 – 14 Mandalay Bay cowboymarketplace.net
The Blues Featuring Keb and Shemekia Copeland
In Motion Henderson Stroll n’ Roll
12th Annual Best in the Desert Henderson 250 Desert Race
Motor Trend International Auto Show
Las Vegas Home Improvement and Backyard Expo November 30 Cashman Center lvhomeshows.com
DECEMBER 2013 A Mari-Achi Christmas: Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez December 3 The Smith Center 749.2000 | thesmithcenter.com
Winter Wonderland December 6 - 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Henderson International School, 1165 Sandy Ridge Ave. Henderson, NV 89052 818.2122 | HendersonSchool.com Join Henderson International School for “Winter Wonderland,” a morning of fun winter learning activities for 3 and 4-year olds. Henderson International School will instruct children and adults how to create special “snowinspired” educational science and art projects.
Santa Visits, Carolers, Horse and Carriage Tours december 7 - 21 The Village at Lake Las Vegas Resort 564.4700 montelagovillage.com
WinterFest December 12 – 14 Henderson Events Plaza 267.2171 | hendersonlive.com
Nevada Ballet Theatre The Nutcracker DECember 14 - 22 749.2000 | thesmithcenter.com
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 39
LIFE STYLE
LIFESTYLE
52 letters
PASSING NOTES We ask the question, is letter writing a dying craft?
Written by Marnie Macauley
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ow do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight; for the ends of being and ideal grace… I love thee with the breath; smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
H
This, the most popular sonnet of all time was written by poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, initially as a letter to her husband Robert in 1846. Let’s fast forward 170 years and do a quick re-write: BTWITIAILWU, Liz. Translation: “By The Way I Think I Am In Love With You,” (for those who don’t read “texting”). See it? Nice. Simple, with no annoying adjectives, punctuation… words. So much for letter writing which has gone the way of the Pony Express. Joanne Kovacik, manager of Alligator Soup, one of very few brick and mortar stationery stores left in Las Vegas, says the decline over the last ten years has put other independent stores out of business. “The stationery industry has shrunk due to electronic communication and social media.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere… Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly... Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.” Today it would go viral. But the document in its authenticity, written by such a man can’t be tweeted, anymore than the notes I received from my late husband, or the millions of pen pal letters that started marriages and friendships that lasted a lifetime. Here in the valley, one woman decided to embark on a personal mission to restore her pen pal days. Last year, JoAnna Haugen started her 52 Letters Project (the52lettersproject.com), to reconnect through the handwritten word. “When I was growing up I had pen pals all over the world. I went into writing before email and Facebook. Like everyone, I got sucked into social media and the handwritten letter started to fall by the wayside.” The Project — to write a letter a week — became a personal mission for her, as she not only reconnected with old pen pals, but made new friends as well. Today she
still loves getting snail mail. “Letter writing is something I find enriching. Someone took the time to think about me, sit down, and find paper and pen. That means a lot.” A poll by World Vision in 2009 revealed that youngsters are leaving school unable to write a proper letter and one in ten has never even written one; yet half send emails or messages on a social networking site weekly. Kovacik reports that parents today are generally not encouraging the fine art of letter-writing, and worse, “some schools across the country are no longer teaching cursive script. In 15 to 20 years people won’t be able to read it as they haven’t learned it.” she adds. “Letter writing is alive in my life even as the art is dying.” Hougen explains. “People who have never been immersed in that culture may not realize what they’re missing. The kids I know who have chosen to write a letter and who then get a response through the mail are very excited! It makes them feel important and special. It’s so different than anything else they experience these days,”
But a letter with the stamp placed right to the edge — the smell of the envelope, the tactile sensation of the paper, the singular handwriting — is a creative venture, whether the contents are a loving message (with a ten dollar check) from Gram or a letter from a vulnerable soldier, exposing his fears and love from the battlefield. There are the letters that have changed the world. While Martin Luther King, Jr. was jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, after a nonviolent protest against segregation in 1963, he wrote [excerpted]:
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 43
LIFESTYLE
Social security
Written by Joy A. Kennelly
Local parents and experts weigh in on how much is too much when it comes to social media and our children.
s social media takes over the way we communicate, how can parents ensure their children are properly socialized offline — with positive face-to-face interaction — and protected while online? How much is too much internet access? How can parents make sure their children are safe when using social media?
A
If those are your thoughts and concerns, you’re not alone. During a recent visit to the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada Headquarters, I discovered this to be true across the board. As I spoke to parents with children from ages ten to sixteen years old, they all voiced the same concerns when it comes to monitoring their children’s use of technology and social media. I chatted with them as their children participated in the Girls in Tech computer education classes. If you as a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or surrogate caretaker don’t feel comfortable using social media or understand it—you will most likely be more afraid than those who embrace it as a new way of communicating. Nicole, a mom with a ten year old daughter who is very involved in extra-curricular activities, has encouraged her daughter to utilize Facebook as a way to stay in touch with relatives who live outof-state. But Nicole made sure her daughter’s page was set to “private” to prevent misuse. I also spoke to author, entrepreneur, speaker, and social media expert, Peter Shankman, who said using social media is no different than teaching a child the basics of stranger danger. “Parents need to be involved, be aware of what your child is posting, sharing, and doing. Teach them what is acceptable and what is not.” Shankman continued, “Kids need to understand
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that what they post online will be there forever. Parents need to watch exactly what is happening and if there’s an issue, take action.” One local mom who is “friends” with her sixteen year old daughter on Facebook — and also knows her passwords, as recommended by many experts — noticed her daughter posting her personal cell phone number on Twitter because a teen celebrity she was swooning over made a general inquiry about what was happening in Las Vegas. “That’s when I knew Twitter wasn’t for her. It was too real-time reactionary for her.” Other parents with even younger children avoid this issue completely by not allowing any social media activity at all. Many have however made one exception and allow their children to use their school’s private social online community, which allows
children to interact only with their fellow students and teachers about homework and school. Parents can monitor this site, but aren’t allowed to post, which gives the children a certain amount of autonomy while always under adult supervision. Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, of Hartstein Psychological Services — who specializes in the treatment of high-risk children, adolescents, and their families and is a contributing psychologist for The Early Show on CBS — encourages parents to educate themselves about the various social media platforms available to engage in conversations with your child. “Younger children absolutely need parental involvement in order to learn how to be safe, make good choices, and do the right things online. They do not know a world without the internet, and thus, don’t know how to be as safe as we would like.”
If you want your child to develop positive offline, face-to-face, personal interaction skills, according to Dr. Hartstein, it’s important for parents to model appropriate social media usage and appropriate personal interactions. Parents need to set limits: shut off the internet and encourage participation in some activity outside of school and the home as the Girl Scout parents have done. “Put phones away when you are together. Shut down computers and turn off the television. Model for your child what it is like to be involved with others — don’t sit behind the computer all the time yourself! Be active and involved,” says Dr. Hartstein.
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 45
Since 2000,
the Outdoor Las Vegas Foundation has been enriching Southern Nevada through open space and trail experiences Visit outsidelasvegas.org to learn more about how you can be involved with the outdoors and your community.
HAVE AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Learn about upcoming outdoors events and
activities, read articles written by nature
specialists, and print a copy
of our outdoor activitiy book at nvoutdoorkids.org
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DESIGN A WEBSITE Give us a call, we’ll walk you through everything you need to make your next project a success.
SOUND MASTERS MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTIONS
524-8649
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RECORDING | MASTERING | VIDEO | PHOTOGRAPHY | GRAPHICS | WEB
LIFESTYLE
6 BLOGGING
key steps
BASICS
Written by Alyse Sweeney and Nina Radetich
Getting your voice heard in the noisy world of blogging.
hether you’re trying to grow a business, share your passion for interior design, or simply keep in touch with friends and family — blogging and article writing are great ways to get your voice heard. With hundreds of new blogs and articles (both professional and personal) popping up every day it’s easy to get lost in the cyber space mayhem. Experts say the most successful blogs/articles focus on consistently giving readers helpful advice. Professional writer and owner of Write to Glow Alyse Sweeney and Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist and owner of Nina Radetich New Media Strategies, Nina Radetich, offer some more practical tips to help you take your posts to the next level.
W
There are two key ingredients that go into creating and maintaining a successful site for sharing information: effective, concise writing, infused with your authentic voice, coupled with smart, strategic use of social media. Alyse will focus on the first key ingredient – generating ideas and writing from your unique perspective. Here are three strategies to get the ideas flowing:
1. Grab a pen and paper. Long-hand allows you to tap into a different part of your brain, so in the idea generating stage, close the computer.
3. Don’t think! Just record the thoughts, images, and feelings that come up as if you’re taking dictation. Keep writing, even if you write “I don’t know what to write.” Follow the thoughts, even if they take you into left field. Where do you think some of our best ideas are hiding? Free-flow writing works in the idea-generating phase. It gets you out of your busy rational mind, past your inner critic, and into the imagination. Here you discover new perspectives and your unique way of looking at your topic. In the editing phase, focus on being concise and on point. The next step: connecting your article or blog with a wide audience. Nina Radetich weighs in. Many new bloggers and writers mistakenly think, “If I write it, they will come.” It’s time to change that thinking to, “I must promote it, so they will come.” While many of us are uncomfortable with self-promotion, readers need to be able to find your blog or article, and promotion is just as important as a strongly written article.
1. Use social media. When you publish a new blog post, tell your Facebook and Twitter followers. Write a catchy headline, and include a link to your blog. Give your followers a reason to read it. And don’t be afraid to post about it more than once. 2. Install social sharing buttons. When people read something they like or find particularly useful, they love sharing it with their friends. Make sure they can easily do that on your blog by installing social sharing buttons. With one click, enthusiastic readers can tweet a link to your blog to their friends.
3. Promote Offline. Not all of your blog exposure has to happen online. Add your blog’s URL to your business cards or your company stationery (anyone use stationery anymore?). If you’ve got a store front, and your blog offers great information for your customers, tell them about it with signage inside your establishment.
2. Write a prompt and set a timer. Write your article topic (or an aspect of the topic) at the top of the page and set the timer for ten minutes. The prompt and timer quickly bring fresh ideas and images to surface. 48 | blvdslv.com
Building a valuable blog audience takes time. Don’t expect miracles overnight. But with some consistency of posting, quality content, and catchy promotion, your readership will quickly grow.
Marvin Spann, MD & Candace Thornton Spann, MD, FAAD
Specializing in hand-selected, artful details for the home and body. Open Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 6985 W Sahara, Ste. 105, Las Vegas, NV 89117 702.368.2601 | www.urbanranchgeneralstore.com
2615 Box Canyon Drive, Las Vegas NV 89128 702.998.9001 | couturemedical.com
LIFESTYLE
BLVDS
Crave LIST
These crave list items are inspired by this issue’s Tech/Connect theme and are created or cultivated by people who live in Southern Nevada.
2
1
1. Quench Your Thirst
An intoxicating mix of wine and spirit themed greeting cards to preserve the handwritten word. Available at Raise Your Glass Greetings, raiseyourglassgreetings.com
2. Completely Acoustic!
3
Place your iPhone or iPad on this speaker dock with antique phonograph horn and enjoy tunes of yesterday or today. Available at Artifact LV in Town Square, 6615 Las Vegas Blvd S. # 143, 269.4620 | artifactlv.com
3. Irreverent, Fun, and Fighting!
Highborn is a witty, wacky, turn-based strategy game available for iOS, Android, and Steam. Get it now from the local game designers at Jet Set Games | jetsetgames.com
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BROOMSTICKS, BLVDS, AND B-LINDA Written by Jan Craddock Our publisher gets a spooky makeover at a local makeup school.
I
t all started last year when my friends took me to see Wicked at the Smith Center for my birthday. The evening was full of limousine rides, champagne, a delightful dinner at the Chart House in the Golden Nugget, and my friend Renee singing the entire score of the show. We laughed, we cried, we loved Wicked.
My theatre themed birthday celebration continued that weekend as I headed up to Cedar City. My friend Denyce took me to Bolloch’s Drug Store. This store is a treasure trove of amazing finds. All decked out for Halloween, I looked up and there it was — the hat! It was made of black velvet, had a bright BLVDS green satin lining with ribbons of black and green tulle. That’s when B-Linda, the BLVDS witch, was born. Returning home I started my quest to put this ensemble together. I went searching for fabrics, found a costume designer, grabbed the perfect shoes and glittery BLVDS green witches broom, and the Pièce de résistance — my feathery false eyelashes. Now all I needed was the makeup — and someone to put on these darn falsies (the last time I attempted the application I nearly glued my eyes shut). The folks at L Makeup Institute kindly agreed to bring B-linda to life. The man responsible for this spooky makeover, Adolfo Barreto, a special effects instructor at L Makeup Institute (and a graduate of the school). Adolfo is currently a contestant on the show Face Off on the Syfy channel and admits, “I’m having the time of my life on the show.” The woman behind Las Vegas’ premier makeup artistry school is professional makeup artist Lissette Waugh. “I opened L Makeup nearly four years ago because I knew there was a need here in Vegas. By the New Year we will be expanding because we’re going to have a retail center with wigs, a false eyelash bar, and all different name brands of cosmetics for professional makeup artists, and material needed for special effects.” The first of its kind in Las Vegas. When asked to offer quick makeup tips for Halloween that can have a big impact. Both Lissette and Adolfo agree, “Find a fun pair of crazy false eyelashes and work around that,” says Lissette. “Absolutely, find a scary accessory and do the rest of your costume and makeup based on that one item,” adds Adolfo.
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 51
LIFESTYLE
4
ALTERED APPRECIATION
ideas
Written by Sabrina Cofield As the days grow shorter and temperatures dip below triple digits, most of us realize fall in Las Vegas is unlike the changing of seasons in other cities. There’s no fall foliage to welcome the cooler temperatures, locals don’t don heavy coats and winter boots, heck we barely switch from iced coffee to hot lattes — but one thing’s for sure fall is absolutely beautiful in Las Vegas. The weather is still fairly mild in November which allows for outdoor family fun on Thanksgiving morning. Many neighborhoods, families, and friends around the valley partake in a little competitive pick up game of basketball or touch football the morning of. It’s a great way to get a little exercise before the traditional stuffing of the turkey and yourself. Simply pick a nearby park, invite family, friends, and neighbors, pump up the football or basketball, and head outdoors for a great way to connect with others on the day of giving thanks. Another popular Thanksgiving tradition is a day-of or day-after potluck dinner. Make it themed: like Cajun, Italian, or leftover makeovers, invite your loved ones to bring a dish, and relish the fact that you’re not left to do all the cooking yourself. Turkey day brunch is also growing in popularity to appease those anxious pre-
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Shake things up this holiday season with some non-traditional ways to connect with family, friends, and neighbors.
dinner snackers who hover over boiling pots with spoon in hand. It also allows for families to finish clean up duties with plenty of time to head out to Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest or Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway — both will be open Thanksgiving night from 5:30pm until 9:00pm. Of course if you don’t feel like preparing the house for company, you can take the family out to dinner. There are a plethora of buffets and restaurants on The Strip and around the valley with special Thanksgiving menus.
It is also the time of year when people are in the giving spirit and want to find ways to contribute to their community. Staff of the Three Square food bank and local shelters say they are very thankful for the valley’s generosity during the holiday season, but want to remind us that there is a need all year. They would love members of the community to commit to helping out during the holiday season, through January, and beyond. For a list of local food banks and shelters go to our website at blvdslv.com.
BLVDS LV Launch Party Celebrating our 7th year with a whole new look, new editors, and more community focused stories to excite and entice you.
Photograpy by Talbot Snow
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 53
Dr. Stephanie Youngblood CHIROPRACTOR
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FLAVOR
F L AV O R
7
COOKED TO PERFECTION simple strategies
Written by Jillian Plaster
Turkey day tips to be thankful for.
hanksgiving is every family-oriented foodie’s favorite holiday, but it can also be the most stressful. When entertaining those closest to our hearts we want to create a menu that expresses our gratitude, not our resentment for spending eons slaving over the stove. Here are some helpful tips to make your invitation coveted, and your day stress-free:
O T
Dare to be Different Don’t be afraid to do things differently and experiment with new methods. Try cutting turkey before cooking it, or ask your butcher to do the work for you. By cooking the pieces separately, you can speed up the cooking time and ensure each part of the turkey is cooked to juicy perfection. Brining the turkey in a flavorful saline solution a few days in advance is another way to guarantee a moist bird. Deep frying our feathery friend is another fantastic trend.
Shaved brussels sprouts with apples and sharp white cheddar cheese make a delicious salad. Chef Natalie from one of downtown’s hottest restaurants, EAT, suggests making homemade cranberry sauce with pears, orange zest, and mint. A favorite in our house is caramel covered marshmallows from See’s Candy, called Scotch Kisses, which we melt on top of our sweet potato casserole.
Ahead of the Game Every moment counts in the final hours, so make sure time isn’t spent on tasks that could have been prepped earlier. Staples such as garlic, onions, and celery can be chopped several days ahead of time. Peeled and cut potatoes can sit in a bowl of water in the fridge so they are ready to use when it’s time to start cooking.
Mix New with Old
Lots of Bubbly (not champagne)
Create your own traditions by mixing in some new recipes. A modern and exciting side dish will add an element of surprise to the meal’s classics. Try something unusual like bacon and mushroom bread pudding (see recipe). The bacon loaf from our local Bon Breads will ensure this is a new favorite, and it can be made a day in advance.
Keep turkey or chicken stock bubbling on the stove all day. Not only will it keep the house smelling delicious, but you will be prepared for last minute applications. Besides using it for gravy, you can ladle stock onto sliced turkey or stuffing to warm and moisten before serving. The longer the clock goes, the better the stock goes, so start this first.
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Healthier Options Nobody expects Thanksgiving to be healthy, but there are plenty of ways to lower the calorie content without sacrificing flavor. Try substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream in any recipe, and use plenty of fresh herbs and toasted spices in place of excessive butter or oil. Roasted garlic will add tremendous flavor to your mashed potatoes, or you can substitute a portion of the potatoes with a nutritious and simple cauliflower puree.
Free Labor Put the kids to work. Thanksgiving is about family, so invite your children to help with the cooking. Let them peel the outer leaves of the brussels sprouts or pull the strings from the green beans. An added bonus — they’ll be more likely to try dishes they had a hand in preparing.
Pot Luck Particulars If you’re doing a pot luck, specify what selections go best with your menu and assign dishes that can be served chilled or at room temperature. By doing so you avoid adding dishes that take up precious oven space. Bringing the booze is something anyone can handle, and is some of the best medicine for turkey day fiascos.
Bacon and Mushroom Bread Pudding
BACON & MUSHROOM BREAD PUDDING 5 cups (1/2-inch) fresh bacon bread cubes (found at Bon Breads)
1. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
1 1/2 pounds mixed fresh mushrooms
2. Bake bread cubes in 1 layer in a large shallow baking pan until golden-brown, about 10 minutes.
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 cups half-and-half 4 large eggs 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
3. Tear or cut mushrooms lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. 4. Cook shallots in butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until liquid has evaporated and mushrooms begin to brown, about 15-20 minutes. Add parsley, thyme and garlic and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. 5. Whisk together half-and-half, eggs, cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Stir in mushrooms and bread cubes until coated well and let stand 15 minutes for bread to absorb some of egg mixture. 6. Meanwhile, butter an 8x8x2 baking dish. 7. Pour mixture into dish and bake until firm to the touch, about 40 minutes to an hour.
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 57
F L AV O R
4
Fooducate
Written by Stacy Joseph
top picks
FEED YOUR APPETITE
One tech-savvy foodie goes beyond the cookbook.
any of us still enjoy peeling open that food-stained cookbook that’s been in the family for years, passed down from generation to generation — but thank goodness for one of the greatest inventions created by man — the food app (cue crepuscular rays and euphoric music). From tips on how to pick the freshest produce to help pairing unique flavors while creating your own signature dish — fresh, healthy, gourmet cooking is now just a click away.
O M G
Epicurious With over eight million downloads Epicurious offers nearly 30,000 drool-worthy recipes from popular magazines (like Gourmet and Bon Appétit), best selling cookbooks, award winning chefs, and top restaurants. Use Epicurious to plan a full menu by browsing categories like: weeknight dinners, kid-friendly mains,
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healthy snacks and decadent desserts. Once you decide on a meal, create an interactive shopping list that can be checked off while strolling the aisles of your neighborhood grocery store. Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android Mobile, Nook Color, Windows Phone, Kindle Fire Price: Free
Spingredients For those of you who prefer to let chance play a role in shaping tonight’s dinner menu (after all this is Vegas) check out Spingredients. Pick one ingredient, swipe or shake your phone to start the spinner, and Spingredients serves up four great flavor combinations to create your own signature dish. Devices: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch Price: $0.99
Many of us know that one important key to a healthier lifestyle is making smart choices when it comes to food, but with ingredients like polydimethylsiloxane and docosahexaenoic acid, figuring out what is truly healthy can be overwhelming. Fooducate makes it easy by allowing you to scan barcodes and browse certain foods for nutritional content. Fooducate then grades the food — spotting excess sugar, tricky trans fats, controversial food coloring and other additives — and even offers healthier alternatives. Fooducate also has a glutenfree and allergy sensitive version. Devices: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android Price: Free to $9.99
Harvest Have you ever purchased fresh fruits and vegetables only to have them go bad two days later? Harvest offers tips and techniques for picking the best produce, tells you what’s in season, and provides storage tips to prolong the life of your fresh fruits and veggies. Harvest also provides pesticide residue levels in fresh produce helping you budget and selectively buy organic. Devices: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch Price: $1.99.
BE SMART. BE SAFE. BE SEEN FACT:
Nevada is one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians. You've told us you're tired of pedestrians, especially our children, dying and being injured on our roads.
WHEN YOU DRIVE:
Pay attention! Respect pedestrians. Slow down near crosswalks.
WHEN YOU ARE A PEDESTRIAN:
Pay attention! Look both ways before crossing. Always stay focused on the traffic while you are crossing the street. Don't assume all cars will stop for you. Wear bright clothing. Don’t wear dark cloths at night. For the rules of the road regarding pedestrians go to KTNV.COM and click on CROSSWALK DANGER in THE BIG BLUE BOX.
KTNV.COM TOGETHER WE’RE
MAKING LAS VEGAS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE
F L AV O R
10
COffee connections hot spots
æ
Where fun, friendship, and finance happens over a full cup o’ joe.
Written by Sabrina Cofield and Zakeisha Steele Jones Grouchy John’s Photography by Talbot Snow
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s you’ve read though the pages of this issue of BLVDS, you can see that our community is connecting in many different, unique ways — whether it’s over a good book, while cycling the roads and trails of the valley, or through social media — we are finding ways to connect and forge lifelong relationships. There’s no better place to get that one-on-one interaction than over a latte or cappuccino at your neighborhood coffee house.
A
Whether it’s a meeting of the minds with business associates or a meeting of the heart with good friends, coffee shops have become a staple as the perfect place to connect, catch up, and converse. The owner of Grouchy John’s Coffee Shop in the southeast part of town says that folks come in all the time for a cup of coffee and leave with new business connections and sometimes even new jobs. Grouchy John’s is known for its eclectic coffee menu, brewed with beans from Colorado River Coffee Roasters, including favorites such as the Butter Me Up Latté, made with Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter. Can’t get to the Maryland Parkway and Wigwam location? Grouchy John’s has a mobile coffee truck which lands in various spots all across the valley, so John’s tasty coffee drinks, smoothies, and teas are never too far away. Customers at The Coffee House say the unique vibe and charming, artistic ambiance is what keeps them coming back to this quaint spot in the middle of downtown Henderson (besides the coffee of course). They also say they love the way owner Don Watkins supports local artists with his open mic nights. On the westside of town Sambalatte is a Summerlin favorite, offering local pastries, community tables, and plenty of classic book titles. The beautiful outdoor patio area adds to the European café feel. Samba, as it’s referred to by regulars, has an expansive espresso menu and live music on Fridays creating a true coffee lounge experience.
Favorite Valley Coffee Houses 1. Beanz Coffee Café 4830 Blue Diamond Rd., 89139 Neighborhood: Mountain’s Edge Free Wi-Fi, Pastries, Sandwiches, Art 2. The Beat Coffeehouse 520 Fremont St., 89101 Neighborhood: Downtown Free Wi-Fi, Breakfast, Sandwiches, Wraps, Vinyl, Beer, Wine 3. The Coffee House 117 S. Water St., 89015 Neighborhood: Henderson Free Wi-Fi, Pastries, Art, Outdoor Seating 4. Grouchy John’s Coffee Shop 8520 S. Maryland Pkwy., 89123 Neighborhood: East Valley Free Wi-Fi, Outdoor Seating, Art, Books, Board Games 5. Leoné Cafe—Tivoli Village 400 S. Rampart Blvd., 89144 Neighborhood: Summerlin Free Wi-Fi, Extensive Breakfast/Lunch Menu, Outdoor Seating, Nearby Shopping 6. The Madhouse Coffee 8470 W. Desert Inn Rd., 89117 Neighborhood: West Valley Free Wi-Fi, Pastries, Sandwiches, Outdoor Seating 7. Perk Up Coffee Shop 11370 Southern Highlands Pkwy., 89141 Neighborhood: Southern Highlands Free Wi-Fi, Pastries, Sandwiches, Meeting Table, Art Exhibits 8. Sambalatte Torrefazione 750 S. Rampart Blvd., 89145 Neighborhood: Summerlin Free Wi-Fi, Outdoor Dining, Pastries, Sandwiches, Live Music 9. Sunrise Coffee 3130 E. Sunset Rd., 89120 Neighborhood: East Valley Free Wi-Fi, Breakfast, Sandwiches, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Friendly, Vegan, Happy Hour 10. Tipsy Coffee House 6496 Medical Center Dr., 89148 Neighborhood: Spring Valley Free Wi-Fi, Pastries, Desserts, Outdoor Seating Do you have a favorite coffee house? Share it with us at facebook/blvdslv.com.
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 61
We got it. So we didn’t get it.
Protect yourself and your family by getting a flu shot or mist. It’s safe, effective and your best defense against the flu. So get it at our one of our public health centers or go to www.SNHD.info to find a clinic near you. This flu season, the Southern Nevada Health District has quadrivalent vaccine, which protects against four strains of inflenza, for clients 24 months and older. Pediatric doses of the traditional vaccine (protection against three strains) is available for infants 6-35 months of age. In addition to seasonal flu vaccine, the health district offers pneumonia shots, Zostavax (shingles vaccine) and Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine) to clients over the age of 65. > NOTE: Methods of payment are cash or Medicare Part B, Medicare Railroad Part
B, Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid and Check-Up, Nevada Medicaid and CheckUp, Amerigroup Community Care Medicaid and Check-Up. Flu vaccine costs range from $40 to $43 for those not covered, who are covered by other insurance providers, or without proof of Medicare or Medicaid insurance.
Learn more about health district services: Websites | SNHD.info and GetHealthyClarkCounty.org Twitter | twitter.com/SNHDinfo and twitter.com/SNHDflu Facebook | facebook.com/SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict YouTube | youtube.com/SNHealthDistrict
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Foothills Montessori School
Private School in Henderson, NV serving ages 3-14
• Dynamic hands-on curriculum • 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio • Welcoming community • Highly qualified staff
702 .407.0790 | foothillsmontessori.com
Join us for a personal guided tour every Tuesday at 9:30 AM or by appointment
Beyond Traditional Boundaries
If it’s happening in Vegas, it’s on our calendar! ART & MUSIC THEATER & DANCE KIDS, FAMILY & PETS FESTIVALS & FAIRS
CHECK IT OUT
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Add your event to our online calendar for free!
F L AV O R
BLVDS Flavor MENU Dinner for two curated by the Barrymore. The BLVDS Flavor Menu will be available through the end of November, so make sure you ask for it by name.
Appetizer Shrimp Cocktail served with Barrymore spicy cocktail sauce The Barrymore
EntrĂŠe Short Rib served with root vegetable, cippolini onions, red wine glaze
Dessert Warm Chocolate Cake served with praline fudge sauce, hazelnut brittle, milk chocolate sorbet
Beverage The Barrymore Gentleman Jack, Solerno Blood Orange liqueur, orange marmalade, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, orange bitters, orange zest
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Shrimp Cocktail
What’s this? We want to add a little flavor to your life. Each issue we will introduce you to a new restaurant to try and must-haves from their menu. If the flavor suggestions spark a bit of culinary intrigue, head over to the tasty hotspot, ask your server for the BLVDS Flavor Menu, and dive into a new and appetizing experience.
More about Barrymore The latest joint from award-winning chef, Anthony Meidenbauer, and Billy Richardson, owner of Block 16 and brainchild behind some of Las Vegas’s most popular nightclubs and lounges. Adding a contemporary twist to retro Vegas, Barrymore servers up American Classic cuisine that’s both approachable and unpretentious. Dig on dishes paired with local craft beer, handcrafted cocktails, and a selection of one-of-a-kind vinos from across the globe. Address: Phone: Prices: Hours: Web:
Short Rib
99 Convention Center Drive Las Vegas, NV 89109 (702) 407-5303 $$$$ S-Th 5:00–9:45 pm F-Sa 5:00–10:45 pm barrymorelv.com
Warm Chocolate Cake
The Tech/Connect Issue | October/November 2013 | 65
I n M y H u m b l e O p i n io n Written by
Camille McCue, PhD
A stellar educator, Camille McCue has learned to use technology to connect Las Vegas youth with with a premier educational experience.
you can’t construct the Burj Khalifa or mix Kanye tracks without the digital wonders of technology that continue to evolve.
I want a do-over on my school days. Technology is improving education and life so explosively that being a student today means working with access and quality and efficiency that I never had in the eighties. These days, Google takes less than a second to retrieve hundreds of relevant sources on “Star Wars” (Reagan’s version), but when my high school self researched the topic in a library card catalog, that task took hours--ending with me finding that the materials were nonexistent, checked out, or unrelated (Spielberg’s version). All this led me to believe, at that time, that conducting research was frustrating and logistically cumbersome. Not so anymore. Geography and anything involving place were especially puzzling to me prior to telecommunications. My driver’s ed instructor couldn’t offer me a navigational system, because those hadn’t been invented yet. When I drove the wrong direction around Loop 1604 in San Antonio, it took over an hour and a fill-up to travel two exits. Now, technology at least lets novice drivers know they’re headed astray. More poignantly, I first learned where Ethiopia was on the global map when CNN broadcasted live footage of the nation’s millions of starving children. I cried with my classmates and wondered what else was happening in
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Photography by Talbot Snow
the world that I never knew about – never saw – before satellites and television (and now Skype and Facebook) connected all our lives. In college, I spent two days typing and retyping an art history document that required an exact design, with tiny Xeroxed images in just-so locations. This assignment taught me that twenty successive copies makes the Taj Mahal look like the Capitol Building. Any kid today would use a page layout program, focusing on twice the content in half the time – and end up with something more aesthetically appealing and informative than what I turned in. Other manual tasks on which I wasted too many hours doing a less-than-precise job included hand-computing take offs in an architectural internship, and weighting down my vinyl 45s to spin at slower tempos for my aerobics class. I’m fairly certain
Throughout my school days, I imagined how learning and getting any type of work accomplished could be easier, better, faster, stronger. That’s why I became a teacher, and why I see technology as critical to education (that, and I love working with kids!). Over the past two decades, I’ve enabled students to participate in live dialogues with orbiting astronauts (talk about connecting), taught kids to code their own video games (tech fun at its best), and written Dummies books on mastering PowerPoint and web design. Maybe I can’t get a doover, but I can ensure my students have every tool they need to focus on learning productively – and in my humble opinion, that relies heavily on my ability to connect with them and inspire their use and understanding of the latest in technology.
About Camille
Camille McCue has worked in STEM for the past 25 years—teleteaching physics via satellite, producing electronic field trips for NASA and PBS, and instructing video game programming in the classroom. She has written several Dummies titles and earned a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. Camille currently directs Dawson College Bound.