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May/June 2019

Pulse 14

19

Explore The month’s event listings to help plan your day or your stay.

20 Desire Sin City abounds in worldclass shopping...these are a few of our favorite things.

22 Discover Places to go, cool things to do, hip people to see in the most exciting city in the world.

Think

26 Know Leveling the playing field for women in the sciences.

40 Cancer’s Cover Girl Alexandria Finley confronts her diagnosis.

30 Sense UMC helps a woman survive a life-threatening heart attack.

44 The Price of a Good Education A generation of students find themselves in debt.

34 Taste EDO Tapas reaps the rewards of culinary risk taking.

40

48 Fashion for All Designers are hiring models who represent the diversity of today’s women.

58 Jacky Rosen U.S. Senator, Nevada.

The month’s spotlight on someone to know.

On the Cover STEM Girls.

CELEBRATING OUR NINTH ANNIVERSARY

STEM Girls Leveling the Playing Field in Science & Math

U.S. SENATOR JACKY ROSEN

HEALING HER HEART STUDENT DEBT

RUNWAY DIVERSITY

CANCER’S COVER GIRL M AY/J U N E 2019

52 Sara Berman’s Closet An illustrated tribute to Maira Kalman’s late mother through items in her meticulously kept closet. Now on exhibition at the NMAJH.

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Copyright © 2019 by JewishINK LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

DAVID MAGAZINE is protected as a trademark in the United States. Subscribers: If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we are under no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.

The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged for in writing. DAVID MAGAZINE is a monthly publication. All information regarding editorial content or property for sale is deemed reliable. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions.

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Publisher/Editor Associate Publisher

Max Friedland

max@davidlv.com editor@davidlv.com

Joanne Friedland

joanne@davidlv.com

EDITORIAL

Calendar Editor Copy Editor Pulse Editor Contributing Writers

Zoë Friedland

zoe@davidlv.com

Jaq Greenspon Marisa Finetti

Marisa Finetti Aleza Freeman Jaq Greenspon Paul Harasim Jason Harris Rachel Hershkovitz Scott Kerbs Brian Sodoma Lynn Wexler

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

Art Director/ Photographer

Steven Wilson

steve@davidlv.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Advertising Director

Joanne Friedland

joanne@davidlv.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS 702-254-2223 | subscribe@davidlv.com

Volume 10 Number 1 www.davidlv.com DAVID Magazine is published 10 times a year.

Copyright 2019 by JewishINK LLC. 1930 Village Center Circle, No. 3-459 Las Vegas, NV 89134 (p) 702-254-2223 (f) 702-664-2633

To advertise in DAVID Magazine, call 702-254-2223 or email ads@davidlv.com To subscribe to DAVID Magazine, call 702.254-2223 or email subscibe@davidlv.com

DAVID Magazine sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner.

This copy of DAVID Magazine was printed by American Web in Denver, Colo., on paper from well-managed forests which meet EPA guidelines that recommend use of recovered fibers for coated papers. Inks used contain a blend of soy base. Our printer meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards and is a certified member of both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. When you are done with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it.

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Contributors

ALEZA FREEMAN

JAQ GREENSPON

PAUL HARASIM

is a true product of the desert, conceived in the Negev and born in Vegas. She worked for many years as a reporter, editor and copywriter for newspapers, ad agencies, internet startups and casino creative departments before branching out on her own as a freelance writer. But it’s her role as mommy that excites her most (even more than reporting on-assignment in Israel, interviewing “Weird Al” Yankovic or riding every thrill ride in Vegas with a video camera pointed at her face). Aleza’s squad includes her husband Howard, son Evan, two cats, one dog and the occasional spider.

is a new father as well as a world traveling, dog loving, scuba diving, book collecting, writer currently residing somewhere in Eastern Europe.

His words have been spoken by Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and Robin Hood, been read by David Copperfield, and critici ed by his th grade nglish teacher. He’d like to thank the members of the Academy, although he doesn’t know why. In his spare time, he’s a university professor and a kick ass uncle.

is the editorial associate director for the UNLV School of Medicine. Following a stint in Houston in print and TV journalism as well as public affairs -- the Texas House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring his work -- he spent more than a decade at the Las Vegas Review-Journal as an award-winning medical writer and columnist. A Vietnam veteran who covered the war for military publications, he is the author of “Standing Tall.”

JASON HARRIS

BRIAN SODOMA

LYNN WEXLER

writes for a number of publications and websites.

He specializes in food, music, and comedy writing. He has worked in almost every aspect of the entertainment industry. He has sold multiple screenplays, written awards shows and had a tv show on ABC for a minute. He’s still broke. And he loves his daughter Scarlett the most.

is a freelance journalist and copywriter whose work has been published by Entrepreneur, Forbes.com and major daily newspapers like the Arizona Republic and Las Vegas Review Journal.

enjoys distilling, and voicing in print, the essence of topics she researches and those she interviews. Her acute and ardent style has been acknowledged throughout her years as a TV reporter, news anchor and journalist, interviewing persons of note on the world stage. As a certified Values and Manners Life Coach, Lynn trains groups and individuals on improving their personal, social and professional effectiveness. She is most proud of her three outstanding children.

10 | www.davidlv.com

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9” x 10.875” full page

Ignoring your risk of breast cancer is no di erent.

If a small fire started in your kitchen, would you ignore it? Of course not. In much the same way, it’s critical to find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. Call 702.822.2324 or visit komensouthernnevada.org to learn more.

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5/20/2019 8:38:23 AM

From the Publisher

MAY 2012

m www.davidlv.co

3.1

This month, we celebrate our ninth publishing anniversary. In choosing the content for this special issue, we inadvertently decided to run a story that features the same model that appeared on our second-anniversary cover.

Back then, in May 2012, our cover story focused on four Downtown Las Vegas women artists. ne of the artists we profiled was Jennifer Henry, her outrageous crinkle n crunch cellophane outfits have since become a Sin RY ANNIVERSA OUR SECOND CELEBRATING City staple. DAV D art director Steve Wilson photographed Alexandria inley wearing several Jennifer’s creations, one of which was chosen for our cover.

In Paul Harasim’s Cancer’s Cover Girl, pages 40-43, Finley shares the impact her cervical cancer diagnosis has had on her and her family. Also interviewed are a UNLV obstetrics and gynecology professor and BALANCING MOTHERHOOD a Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada medical GET YOUR oncologist. They offer a medical perspective on the SHEITEL ON disease and its connection to the dangers of the huDISTINCT WOMEN’S man papillomavirus HPV as well as warning women HEALTH CARE VISIONS ISTS WHO 4 WOMEN ART TOWN against putting off pap smears.

SHOW DOWN Continuing our focus on women’s health, we explore the sub ect of women’s heart disease. n his piece Surviving a Near-Death Experience, pages - , Scott Kerbs interviews Christina Mason and her doctors at the UMC Cardiology and Stroke Center. UMC has an impressive track record of helping patients who suffer from this number one killer of women.

Our cover story this month focuses on women and science, technology, engineering, and math ST M . n STEM Girls, pages - , Ale a reeman writes of the efforts to promote ST M to young girls and women. She interviews lair auman, a UNLV science student and ric Mendelsohn, co-founder of the after-school technology center Code Central. Mendelsohn has received encouragement and support from Senator Jacky osen, who we interview separately in our “Grill” section on page 58. rian Sodoma writes about the student debt crisis. n The Price of a Good Education, pages 4447, he explains how getting into college can result in mountains of debt.

The use of runway models that represent all races, sizes, and gender identities is an emerging trend among today’s trendy designers. In Fashion for All, pages - , achel Hershkowit delves into the world of high fashion and finds an evolution in design sensitivities and attitudes taking place. Once the exclusive domain of six-foot-plus, impossibly skinny models, runways now celebrate diversity. very now and then, come across a compelling story that begs to be shared. This is true of an illustrated book and the museum exhibition it inspired. Ja reenspon’s piece, Sara Berman’s Closet, pages 52-56, focuses on the book and the show of the same name. After successful runs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New ork and the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, Sara erman’s Closet has opened at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.

Artists Maira and Alex Kalman, Sara’s daughter and grandson, are responsible for the book, published by Harper Collins in , and are credited with the design and mounting of the three exhibitions. cannot believe that the passion pro ect my wife Joanne and launched in has turned nine. I guess time flies when you are having fun. Thank you for your continued interest in our publication; we guarantee more entertaining and thought-provoking content in the years to come. As always, see you in the racks.

IN A CITY WORK AND KIDS PS THAT NEVER SLEE

ISH WOMEN ORTHODOX JEW NT EST STATEME MAKE A MOD

MAY 2012

DS IN THE WAR OF WOR SON SEA THE POLITICAL

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Max

Joanne riedland

1

Max D. Friedland max@davidlv.com 12 | www.davidlv.com

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Pulse

Your Guide to the Arts, Entertainment, and Community Events.

What's Hot this Month in Dining, Shopping, and Local Attractions.

Paul McCartney www.davidlv.com | 13

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Explore MAY/JUNE

WED

May 1 2019 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 5 p.m. MGM Grand, 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-7575. https://

mgmgrand.com

STEELY DAN Through May 11, 8 p.m. Venetian, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-4141000. https://venetian.com TRIBAL SEEDS WITH ELI-MAC AND ARISE ROOTS 6:30 p.m. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://

brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

JAMES TAYLOR & HIS ALL-STAR BAND Through May 11, 7:30 p.m. The Colosseum, Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://

caesarspalace.com

THU

2

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE - 2019 LIVE SHOWCASE 6 p.m. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com

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Gold: Bakery, Deli and Casual Restaurant Silver: Breakfast Bronze: Sandwich and Family Friendly Restaurant

COLIN HAY OF MEN AT WORK 7 p.m.

Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.

com/las-vegas

FRI

3

BRUNO MARS Through May 4, 9 p.m. Park Theater, MGM Grand, 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 844-600-7275. https://

parkmgm.com

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS: ALICE (IN WONDERLAND) Through May 5, times vary. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012.

http://thesmithcenter.com

PONCHO SANCHEZ Through May 4, times vary. Myron's Cabaret Jazz, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com NICKY JAM 8 p.m. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-6987000. http://cosmopolitan.com EUROPEAN MUSIC FESTIVAL Through May 5, times vary. Downtown Summerlin Mall, 1980 Festival Plaza Dr., Las Vegas. https://

europeanmusicfest.com

VIOLENT FEMMES 7 p.m. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695.

http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

SAT

4

SETH MEYERS 7:30 p.m. Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-7707000. http://wynnlasvegas.com PHIL LESH & FRIENDS 8 p.m. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com BUCKCHERRY 7 p.m. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695.

http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

TAKING BACK SUNDAY - CELEBRATING OUR 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Through May 5, 6:45 p.m. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600.

http://mandalaybay.com

11/29/2018 9:11:40 AM

5/20/2019 11:30:23 AM

SUN

5

AN EVENING WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON 7 p.m.

Park Theater, MGM Grand, 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 844-600-7275. https://

MUSIC. CULTURE. EDUCATION.

parkmgm.com

MON

6

BELL, DENK, & ISSERLIS TRIO 7:30 p.m.

Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012.

http://thesmithcenter.com

TUE

7

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF OUR THRILLING

2019-20 SEASON

BILLY RAY CYRUS Through May 12, 8 p.m.

Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas.

702-284-7777. http://orleans.com

WED

8

THE COMPOSERS SHOWCASE OF LAS VEGAS 10:30 p.m. Myron's Cabaret Jazz, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com

SEP. 7, 2019

OCT. 12, 2019

NOV. 2, 2019

APOCALYPTA - PLAYS METALLICA BY FOUR CELLOS TOUR 7:30 p.m. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://

thesmithcenter.com

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN 8 p.m. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http://

DEC. 6, 2019

DEC. 7, 2019

JAN. 18, 2020

FEB.15, 2020

mandalaybay.com

THU

9

GRACE KELLY - GRACE'S JOY PARTY! Through May 10, 7 p.m. Myron's Cabaret Jazz, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com LEILANI WOLFGRAMM 8 p.m. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-6935000. http://hardrockhotel.com

FRI

10

LADY ANTEBELLUM Through May 18, 9 p.m.

Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702942-7777. http://palms.com

MAR. 7, 2020

APR. 4, 2020

MAY 9, 2020

Subscriptions on sale April 4th, starting at just $110 Single tickets on sale June 17th For tickets and information, call 702.258.5438 or visit lvphil.org PERFORMANCES IN REYNOLDS HALL AT THE SMITH CENTER

www.davidlv.com | 15

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Ariana Grande, May 11

HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES 9 p.m. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://

hardrockhotel.com

SILVERSAGE 8 p.m. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000.

http://hardrockhotel.com

2019 ASIAN CULTURAL TOURISM FESTIVAL Through May 12, 10 a.m. Downtown Summerlin Mall, 1980 Festival Plaza Dr., Las Vegas. https://lvactfest.com JENNY LEWIS - ON THE LINE TOUR 7:30 p.m. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600.

http://mandalaybay.com

SAT

11

LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC 20TH YEAR SEASON FINALE - ODE TO JOY 7:30 p.m.

Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012.

http://thesmithcenter.com

ARIANA GRANDE - SWEETENER WORLD TOUR 8 p.m. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-

mobilearena.com

DENNIS QUAID AND THE SHARKS 5 p.m. The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-6987000. http://cosmopolitan.com VEGAS UNCORK'D - CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH & TRUFFLE MAKING WITH CHRISTINA TOSI 11 a.m. Rose. Rabbit. Lie., Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000.

Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas , May 17-19

http://cosmopolitan.com FRED ARMISEN COMEDY FOR MUSICIANS BUT EVERYONE IS WELCOME 7:30 p.m.

Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.

com/las-vegas

CARRIE UNDERWOOD - THE CRY PRETTY TOUR 360 7 p.m. MGM Grand Garden Arena, MGM Grand, 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-7575. https://mgmgrand.com

SUN

12

2019 NEVADA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS 2 p.m. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://

thesmithcenter.com

ROCK FOR RECOVERY 5 p.m. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-8622695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

TUE

14

ACADEMY OF NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: AN EVENING OF DANCE 6 p.m. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://

thesmithcenter.com

CELINE DION: THE FINAL SHOWS Through Jun. 8, 7:30 p.m. The Colosseum, Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://

caesarspalace.com

FRI

17

ACADEMY OF NEVADA BALLET THEATRE: A NIGHT AT THE BALLET 7 p.m. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com JANET JACKSON: METAMORPHOSIS Through May 26, 8 p.m. Park Theater, MGM Grand, 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 844-600-7275.

https://parkmgm.com

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - HIGH AS HOPE TOUR 7:30 p.m. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300.

http://t-mobilearena.com

ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL LAS VEGAS Through May 19. Las Vegas Motor Speedway Motorsports Complex, 7000 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. https://lasvegas.

electricdaisycarnival.com

THE JAZZ ECLECTIC CONCERT SERIES, VOL. 6 FEATURING 5X GRAMMY WINNER BILLY CHILDS 7 p.m. Myron's Cabaret Jazz, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com

SAT

18

TOM SEGURA 8 p.m. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://

cosmopolitan.com

SNOW PATROL: WILDNESS TOUR 8 p.m.

The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://

hardrockhotel.com

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Fiddler on the Roof, June 4-9

JAZZ IN THE PARK SERIES - TITO PUENTE JR. 5 p.m. Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-455-0000. https://

clarkcountynv.gov

AN EVENING WITH JOHNNY MARR 7:30 p.m.

Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.

com/las-vegas

MELISSA MANCHESTER 6 & 8:30 p.m.Myron's Cabaret Jazz, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012.

http://thesmithcenter.com

WED

22

SUPER SUMMER THEATRE - INTO THE WOODS Through Jun. 8, times vary.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, 6375 Nevada 159, Blue Diamond. 702-875-4141. https://

supersummertheatre.org

THU

23

MATISYAHU 8 p.m. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com

FRI

24

SANDS CARES INSPIRE CHARITY CONCERT FEATURING KELLY CLARKSON 8 p.m.

Venetian, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

702-414-1000. https://venetian.com

ROB SCHNEIDER Through May 26, 7:30 p.m. South Point, 9777 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http://

southpointcasino.com

LIL MOSEY 8 p.m. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://

brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

SAT

25

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: THE MIXTAPE TOUR 8 p.m. Mandalay Bay Events Center, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO: STAY HUNGRY TOUR Through May 26, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

702-770-7000. http://wynnlasvegas.com JAZZ IN THE PARK SERIES - RAUL MIDON 5 p.m.

Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-4550000. https://clarkcountynv.gov BUNKER DANCE CENTER PRESENTS THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERTS: "EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART" Times Vary. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com

THU

30

SUMMER JAM - FEATURING: ELLIE GOULDING WITH ALLY BROOKE, AVA MAX, MADISON BEER & FLETCHER 7 p.m. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://

cosmopolitan.com

FRI

31

ELLE KING 7 p.m. Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Pkwy., Henderson. 702-267-4849.

http://cityofhenderson.com

CHRISTINA AGUILERA - THE XPERIENCE OPENING NIGHT 7 p.m. Planet Hollywood, 3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-7855555. http://caesars.com/planethollywood ANITA BAKER 8 p.m. Venetian, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-414-1000.

https://venetian.com

DEREK HOUGH: LIVE! 7:30 p.m. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://

thesmithcenter.com

SAT

June 1

THE MAGIC OF QUEEN FEATURING BRODY DOLYNIUK 7:30 p.m. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com JAZZ IN THE PARK SERIES: ALTHEA RENE, SELINA ABRIGHT, KAYLA WATERS 5 p.m. Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-4550000. https://clarkcountynv.gov

MON

2

KIDZ BOP 4 p.m. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://

thesmithcenter.com

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WED

4

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Through June 9, times vary. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com

THU

5

DIANA ROSS Through Jun. 15, 8 p.m. Encore Theatre, Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-770-7000. http://

wynnlasvegas.com

FRI

6

OUR BIG CONCERT Through Jun. 7, 7 p.m. Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://

cosmopolitan.com

SAT

7

HERB ALPERT & LANI HALL Through June 8, 7 p.m. Myron's Cabaret Jazz, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com

FRI

14

SUBLIME WITH ROME 9 p.m. Mandalay Bay Beach, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http://

mandalaybay.com

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: "ON THE TRAIL OF BIG CATS" 7:30 p.m. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://

thesmithcenter.com

SAT

15

OF DANCE 8 p.m. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300.

Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300.

DOWNTOWN ROCKS FREE CONCERT SERIES: NELLY 9 p.m. 3rd Street Stage, Fremont Street Experience, Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702-678-5600. http://

WED

http://t-mobilearena.com

vegasexperience.com

ADAM SANDLER 8 p.m. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://

26

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO PRESENTS TRIVIA NIGHT, FEATURING DAN PLATZMAN OF IMAGINE DRAGONS 6 p.m. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/

cosmopolitan.com

las-vegas

SUN

SUPER SUMMER THEATRE - A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Through Jul. 13, 8 p.m. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, 6375 Nevada 159, Blue Diamond. 702-875-

16

ANDERSON .PAAK & THE FREE NATIONALS 7:30 p.m. Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. http://palms.com

4141. https://supersummertheatre.org

TUE

THE COMPOSER'S SHOWCASE OF LAS VEGAS 10:30 p.m. Myron's Cabaret Jazz, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park

ROALD DAHL'S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Through June 30, times vary. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com

Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://

18

WED

19

ROBBIE WILLIAMS Through Jul. 6, 8 p.m. Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-770-7000. http://

wynnlasvegas.com

AEROSMITH: DEUCES ARE WILD Through Jul. 9, 8 p.m. Park Theater, MGM Grand, 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 844-6007275. https://parkmgm.com

FRI

21

JERRY SEINFELD Through Jun. 22, 7:30 p.m.

The Colosseum, Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938.

ZIGGY MARLEY AND MICHAEL FRANTI 9 p.m. Mandalay Bay Beach, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-6327600. http://mandalaybay.com

http://caesarspalace.com

JAZZ IN THE PARK SERIES: PAUL TAYLOR 5 p.m. Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-455-0000. https://

KHALID 7:30 p.m. MGM Grand Garden Arena, MGM Grand, 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-7575. https://

mgmgrand.com

JENNIFER LOPEZ IT'S MY PARTY: THE LIVE CELEBRATION TOUR WITH WORLD

HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH GROUP THERAPY TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST BARENAKED LADIES 7:30 p.m. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S.

clarkcountynv.gov

http://t-mobilearena.com

SAT

22

thesmithcenter.com

FRI

28

PAUL MCCARTNEY - FRESHEN UP Through Jun. 29, 8 p.m. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300.

http://t-mobilearena.com COHEED AND CAMBRIA & MASTOON 8 p.m.

The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://

hardrockhotel.com

SAT

29

DOWNTOWN ROCKS FREE CONCERT SERIES: SUGAR RAY 9 p.m. First Street Stage, Fremont Street Experience, Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702-678-5600. http://

vegasexperience.com MACHINE GUN KELLY 11 p.m. Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702-942-7777.

http://palms.com

To submit your event information, email calendar@davidlv.com by the 15th of the month prior to the month in which the event is being held.

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Devour

Roasted Salmon @ Shark Influenced by ingredients from South America, Mexico, and the Mediterranean, Chef Bobby Flay’s newly opened Shark features shareable signature sushi and ceviche, tacos wrapped in housemade purple corn tortillas, and impressive mains. As chilis are at the core of Flay’s culinary philosophy, he highlights multiple varieties – most prominently, panca, rocoto, and aji amarillo – in dishes such as Tuna Tartare with crispy green rice and Peruvian chili sauce, and Cured Salmon & Egg Tostada with rocoto hot

sauce and black bean “butter.” One of Shark’s signature dishes is the roasted salmon, voluptuously wrapped in a banana leaf and served with a yellow chili ponzu sauce dressing. The salmon’s velvety texture is punctuated with the lively and melodic crunch of the bell pepper and mango salsa for a flavor infusion and is a delicious sharable starter.

Shark, Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-942-7777.

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Desire

The Bl ush of Spring The ruby red rachetto from the provinces of Asti and Alessandria is sweet, creamy, and delicate, with all the flavors of summer strawberries picked from the fields. raida rachetto d’Ac ui is both cheerful and seductive, making it an excellent partner for berry and chocolates desserts and for sweet afternoon sipping. $25. Wine.com.

Triennes, a reference to Triennia (the festival for Bacchus) was held every three years during Roman times and “Tri” serves as a reminder of the three original partners who came together to form Triennes and wines of Proven e. The light, shimmery hue of this 2017 rosé is a perfect accompaniment to a sunny afternoon, offering the harmony and elegance of crunchy-fresh flavors of field strawberries with exceptional depth, leading to white flowers and vanilla. Available at Spago by the glass); NoMad Pool (3 liter), Bin 702, $19. VerveWine.com.

t’s hard to believe that the deep color attained in Cristiana Tiberio’s Cerasulo d’Abru o comes from the juice mingling with the skins for only 20 minutes. Made of Montepulciano grapes, the wine is a stunning pinkishrose color with bright aromas and mouth-watering flavors that remind one of fresh red cherries and little red berries. bottle, glass.

Pi eria Mon u, mon ulv.com.

Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena 2017 is a joyful wine with vibrant acidity and the ability to pair well with ust about everything. Its light, sparkling, and lively froth offers up red cherries, a basket of strawberries, and hints of violets and ginger. Hailing from Italy’s milia omagna region, Lambrusco definitely deserves a spot at the table to celebrate spring. . Wine.com.

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Founded by two long-time friends, Arnot-Roberts has dedicated their winemaking style to natural, single vineyard bottlings from California.

This stunning rosé, made mostly of the Portuguese grape, Touriga Nacional, generously offers bright flavors of summer melon, citrus, and strawberry. Thirst-quenching and energetic, it’s the perfect year-round rosé. $28. VerveWine.com.

The soft, pale, pink tints of Gerard Betrand’s Cotes des Roses releases aromas of summer fruits and rose petal notes and celebrates the Mediterranean lifestyle. Coming from the Languedoc region of France, this blend of Grenach, Syrah, and Cinsault offers an easy-drinking, rosé-all-day mindset captured beautifully in a bottle with a custom-designed base in the shape of a rose. $12. Total Wine & More.

The luminous color of a coppery antique rose is as pretty in the garden as it is in a glass of a charming Ferrari Perle Rosé. The sparkling wine, from the Tretino region of Italy, is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes and comes through with racy-fresh red berry flavors and hints of sweet almonds – extraordinarily appealing for everyday and celebration. $66. Wine.com.

And finally, Mumm for mom. resh and fruity, rich in texture, G.H. Mumm Rosé Champagne’s intense, salmonpink hue comes from the red wines of the renowned and highly sought after Grand Cru vineyards of Bouzy, which are added to the blend. This energetic wine luxuriously captures the light and elegant bubbles for joie de vivre moments. $50. Lee’s Discount Liquor.

www.davidlv.com | 21

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Discover

Making Tattoos Pop A tattoo-themed ball pit for grownups, a confetti and pillow fight darkroom, a live 3-D full-body tattoo projection, an Ink Lab for temporary tattoo applications, and so much more. Pop Vegas at The LINQ Promenade hosts rotating pop-up experiences designed for adults, featuring funhouse-style, playful environments perfect for photographing and sharing on social media and Tattoo’d America is Pop Vegas’ first interactive experience. Celebrate the artistic, provocative, and expressive qualities—as well as the sex appeal—of tattoo and body art. Tattoo’d America is part funhouse, with tattoothemed rooms featuring games and dazzling interactive installations,

and part exploration, where global fascination with tattoos as an art form and lifestyle is celebrated. The attraction’s immersive and photogenic experiences are designed to delight both tattooed and non-tattooed guests.

Tattoo’d America is open Monday through Wednesday, a.m. to p.m., and Thursday through Sunday, a.m. to midnight. eneral admission is Nevada residents with D pay . https tinyurl.com y r uh c Pop Vegas, Lin Promenade,

S. Las Vegas lvd.

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5/20/2019 8:57:46 AM

Mingle VEGAS UNSTRIPPED 2nd Annual Food Festival Backlot of Esther’s Kitchen Saturday, May 11

Over 600 attendees joined

Group shot of the chefs.

nineteen independent chefs, eight local bars, and more to celebrate and elevate the off-Strip dining scene of Las Vegas. Produced by Eric Gladstone of The Feast of Friends, and Erica Bell of I Make You Look Good Productions (IMYLG), the fest took place with support from MGP Specialty Food, Lip Smacking Foodie Tours,

Happy attendees.

“You’ve got to try this!”

and Harbor Touch POS. As with the first year, ticket requests exceeded supply despite a significant increase in capacity. Several prominent Strip resort chefs also lent support and attended. Vegas Unstripped is a grass roots, not-for-profit curated event focused on promoting local chefs (rather than restaurant brands), as they are challenged

Chef Brian Howard (Sparrow + Wolf) and Eric Gladstone.

Chef Ralph Perazzo and the guys from bBd’s.

to create unique dishes for the night, reflecting their culinary passions. With a modest ticket price, the volunteer-staffed event covers expenses of the chef/restaurateurs, and all proceeds after production costs are donated to charity.

More happy attendees..

Fired up, lip smacking goodness..

Photos: Hew Burney & Daniel Clough. www.davidlv.com | 23

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Mingle Jewish Nevada Women’s Philanthropy Pomegranate 2019 Dinner DW Bistro Thursday, March 14 An excited group of Las

A group photograph of attendees .

Vegas Pomegranate Society women gathered to celebrate the mission of Jewish Nevada and listen to an inspiring presentation by guest speaker Essie Weingarten, the founder of Essie Cosmetics.

The Pomegranate Society is a national program that recognizes those women who make a generous gift to the Campaign for Jewish

(L-R) Debra Cohen, Jennifer Sher and Kathleen Menashche.

Needs. Each year the women in the Pomegranate Society are recognized and honored at a special dinner reception.

Women who are giving at this level also wear a sterling silver pomegranate pin, which signifies their commitment to the Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Photos: Tonya Harvey

(L-R) Megan Weintrab, Essie Weingarten and Stefanie Tuzman.

(L-R) Jillian Potashnick, Cheryl Wingate and Camile Tanner.

Pomegranate themed cocktails

(L-R) Barbara Bindler, Barbara Silverberg and Debbie Strimling

24 | www.davidlv.com

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Live

A Focus on Living in Las Vegas People and Places Arts and Entertainment Food and Beverage Philanthropy and Religion Health and Fitness and More...

Risk & Reward | 34 www.davidlv.com | 25

25 Live Splash.indd 25

5/20/2019 9:20:56 AM

Sense

STEM Girls Myths About Women in Math and Science Don’t Add Up

By Aleza Freeman

W

e have all heard the myth that boys are better at math and science than girls. And though this has been proven untrue time and time again, it has undeniably left some permanent scars on the computer industry. There are still significantly fewer women working in ST M science, technology, engineering, and math in the U.S. than men.

While women hold percent of professional occupations, only percent are professional computing occupations according to the National Center for Women in Information Technology.

As a UNLV student studying computer programming, lair auman has seen the disparity firsthand. always noticed when walked into a classroom it is primarily men, says auman, who graduates in December. t was really difficult to make friends because was one of only three females in my class.

Right: Instructor & students at Code Central.

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Christina Mas

Not only do some of the male students in Bauman’s computer classes often avoid making eye contact with her, but others are a bit less subtle about their disdain.

“I asked for help once and one of my male classmates said, ‘What are you doing here? You should just drop out,’” she recalls. “It’s really discouraging to know that systemically this is…the attitude.”

Bauman often feels like she must work harder to prove herself than the men, but she does not let their negative attitude discourage her. She has managed to make friends with both men and women in the department, and even co-founded a local initiative called Girls in Tech, aiming to expose young girls to computer fields and change the gender norm.

“It’s good to get them at a young age, before those myths are ingrained,” she explains, “to organically nurture their interests before [someone tells them] ‘You really shouldn’t be doing this, anyway.’”

Eric Mendelsohn, co-founder of the after-school technology center Code Central, agrees that exposure is the key to attracting females to the tech industry.

“Girls aren’t encouraged as much as boys to get into tech,” explains Mendelsohn, noting that “you absorb it so much more effectively when you’re young.”

At his centers, youth ages 7 to 17 learn coding through web design, game and app development, and robotics. While enrollment usually skews about 65 percent male, 35 percent female, he is attempting to bridge the gender gap by offering an all-girls coding camp this summer.

Bauman works as an instructor at Code Central and will lead the all-girls camp. She is excited to work with a female group because she says the

girls are often afraid to ask questions in mixed company; and they worry about being shamed if they get the wrong answer.

She also touts the importance of classes with both male and female students, noting that the interaction is positive for the male students, who sometimes come to Code Central with prejudices they learn from their parents.

“I’ve had little boys tell me that they don’t want my help because I don’t know how to program,” she recalls. “One boy, very young, like 7, told me, ‘Why don’t you go paint your nails?’ By exposing them young to the reality that there’s going to be diverse people around you, that’s a positive.”

Mendelsohn notes that some of his female students are Girl Scouts, working to earn badges including digital art, science and technology, and innovation. The Girl Scouts organization refreshed its program in 2017 to better reflect the interest of 21st century girls and hopes to bridge the STEM gender gap by bringing 2.5 million girls into the STEM pipeline by 2025.

Katie Spratt, 11, has been attending Code Central for the past couple years and is currently working on developing an app for her little sisters. like figuring out logical programs with it and basically learning something new that a lot of people don’t know,” she says. “It’s not something you learn in school every day or have the opportunity to do everywhere.”

She admits most of her female friends aren’t into computer programming, but she thinks they would love it if they gave it a try.

“Most girls aren’t interested in technology,” she says, adding, “I think it’s really fun…and there’s a lot of materials you can use in coding that make your creative juices flow.”

Women Transforming Healthcare

in Southern Nevada Our 143 faculty physicians are leaders in specialties ranging from Surgery, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Women’s Care, Family Medicine, and Geriatrics.

As a part of the UNLV School of Medicine, these doctors are making a difference.

With all that we do, it’s easy to see that we are more than a school. We are Transforming Healthcare in Southern Nevada.

Call 702.660-UNLV for appointments.

Nadia Gomez, M.D.

Robotic Surgery & Gynecology

unlv.edu/medicine

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Christina Mason

Code Central students in a hands on robotics class.

Spratt points out that there have been a lot of major contributions to STEM by women. In fact, while researching female computer programmers for a pro ect at school, the fifth grader discovered one of the world’s earliest computer programmers was a woman, nglish mathematician and writer Ada Lovelace, who, in the mids, published the first algorithm for a computer. don’t think it matters if you’re a boy or a girl when you’re doing science because you’re around people who want to do the same thing, she says.

Some other women of note in ST M include Hollywood actresses Danica McKellar math , Mayim ialik neuroscience and Natalie Portman (science).

Nevada’s own Jackie osen D-NV was a computer programmer and software developer before being elected to the U.S. Senate. She has made it a top priority to encourage young girls to pursue computer science and prioriti e the learning and teaching of ST M sub ects in early childhood. n late March, osen introduced the bipartisan uilding locks of ST M Act alongside other senators including Catherine Corte Masto D-NV .

The bill aims to expand ST M education initiatives for young children and create new research grants to increase the participation of girls in computer science. t is so important for young children, especially our girls, to be introduced to opportunities available to them in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, said osen. As a computer programmer, faced adversity in what has long been considered a male-dominated field and ’m working to break down those barriers for our current and future generations.

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Friday, June 7 at 7:30 pm & Sunday, June 9 at 2 pm UNLV Judy Bayley Theatre Great Seats ONLY $25 to $75

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Elixirof Love

Sung in Italian with English Supertitles

26-29 Sense Stem.indd 29

Does love need magic? www.davidlv.com | 29

5/20/2019 9:25:59 AM

Sense

Surviving a Near-Death Experience UMC Helps Woman Regain Health Following Life-Threatening Heart Attack

By Scott Kerbs

O

n the evening of Dec. 11, 2018, Christina Mason was getting ready for bed when she began to notice some unusual symptoms: shoulder pain, vomiting, and lung pain. Mason was uncomfortable, but the nagging pain remained far from intense. The otherwise healthy 49-year-old woman simply thought she might be developing a case of bronchitis. Like many women in her situation, Mason had absolutely no idea she was having a life-threatening heart attack, and she waited until the following day to seek care.

While Mason ultimately survived this delay in seeking care, many other women are not so fortunate. Women are far more likely than men to have atypical symptoms of a heart attack, including abdominal pain, shortness of breath, general fatigue, and shoulder, neck, and jaw pain, according to Dr. Jimmy Diep, a cardiologist at the UMC Cardiology and Stroke Center.

In some cases, women experience heart attacks without feeling any chest pain, which often leads to delayed care.

“Women tend to have worse outcomes than men across the board because they’re typically diagnosed with heart disease later and they’re treated later,” Dr. Diep says. “When women have heart disease, it’s usually more severe.”

With no chest pain and no history of heart issues, Mason said she did not recognize the severity of the situation until she decided to seek treatment at a UMC Quick Care location, where the health care team performed an echocardiogram and immediately sent her to UMC’s Adult Emergency Department.

When she arrived at UMC’s Emergency Department, a test revealed the harsh reality of her condition.

They told me was having a massive heart attack, she says. felt fine, believe it or not. At that point, I had no pain and I was walking around.”

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Cardiologists discovered that Mason had suffered a potentially fatal “widowmaker” heart attack, characterized by 100 percent blockage of the left anterior descending artery.

“They were concerned some of the heart tissue died because I waited too long for treatment, Mason says. was terrified.

As a result of this potential damage, cardiologists initially discussed the potential need for open-heart surgery, a prospect that filled Mason with dread. Twenty years earlier, nearly to the exact day, Mason’s grandmother suffered a heart attack and had open-heart surgery at a different hospital.

“She went into open-heart surgery and never came out,” Mason says.

Dr. Chowdhury Ahsan, UMC’s Chief of Medicine and Director of Cardiac Catheterization and Intervention, helped Mason avoid open-heart surgery.

He performed a cardiac catheterization procedure to place four stents and open the blocked artery.

“It was amazing,” Mason says. “I don’t think there’s another hospital that could have done what they did.”

Dr. Ahsan explains that the UMC Cardiology and Stroke Center is staffed by an expertly trained team of cardiac care professionals who utilize the latest innovations in care to promote successful outcomes for patients like Mason. Building upon UMC’s reputation for delivering high-quality care, Dr. Ahsan and his team have the ability to perform a complex percutaneous

coronary intervention, a minimally invasive procedure used to treat narrowed or obstructed coronary arteries. UMC also offers the advanced Impella heart pump, the smallest device of its kind, which is guided through an artery to temporarily pump blood during certain procedures.

“We have built a world-class team supported by the latest breakthroughs in medical technology to provide women and men with high-quality cardiac care,” Dr. Ahsan says. “We look forward to continuing our mission to elevate the level of care available in Southern Nevada.”

Mason benefitted from the experience and skill of UMC’s Cardiology and Stroke Center team. Following a successful catheterization procedure, she returned home and came back to UMC for another procedure in February to address a blockage in her right coronary artery.

Seeing heart disease as an issue primarily affecting men, Mason says she never thought she would experience a life-threatening heart attack.

Dr. Diep says this is a common misconception among patients, and he encourages women to recognize the risks of heart disease “People should know that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women and men in America,” Dr. Diep says. “Women have to be vigilant about recognizing the symptoms and seeking immediate care.”

Following her heart attack, Mason’s left ventricle was not pumping enough blood with each contraction. This measurement, known as the left

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FREE 55-

ventricle ejection fraction, stood at 35 percent, which is dangerously low and well below the normal level of 50 to 70 percent. Mason beams with MASSAGE, FACIAL OR pride, revealing that this key metric has since increased to 60 to 65 percent, TOTAL BODY STRETCH falling within the normal range. * 60-MIN INTRO SESSION * After her procedure in February, Mason began visiting UMC’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit three times a week at the recommendation of Dr. Ahsan. Since beginning her rehabilitation sessions at UMC, Mason says CENTENNIAL GATEWAY (702) 228-3689 she has experienced significant improvements to her health.

Offer valid January 8–February 11 CENTENNIAL HILLS In addition to helping Mason regain her health through close (702) 839-9997 monitoring and a valuable rehabilitation exercise program, UMC’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit provided Mason with an unparalleled support system. *Offer valid for first-time guests only. All session times include up to a total of 10 minutes for consultation and/or dressing, which occurs both pre and post service. Prices subject to change. Rates and services may vary by franchised location and session.

“The support the nurses gave me was everything,” she says. “UMC’s Cardiac Additional local taxes and fees may apply. Not all Massage Envy locations offer all services. For a specific list of services available or additional information about joining as a member, check with the specific location or see MassageEnvy.com. Each location is Rehabilitation nurses are amazing. They really helped me get through this.” independently owned and operated. ©2018 Massage Envy Franchising, LLC. M03-00185, M03-00167 Mason quickly realized she was far from alone on her path to improved heart health. She found solace in the bonds she developed with her fellow patients during rehabilitation sessions and at UMC’s Cardiac Support BALANCE THERAPY • POST-ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY group, which meets on a monthly basis.

“We learned from each other, exchanged recipes, and celebrated our STROKE • VERTIGO • GENERAL WEAKNESS accomplishments,” she says, underscoring the importance of having a strong support system in place.

She plans to continue attending UMC’s Cardiac Support group meetings in hopes of offering assistance to other patients in similar situations.

PHYSICAL THERAPY “I’ll never stop going to the support group meetings,” she says. “One 9310 Sun City Blvd., Suite 103, Las Vegas, NV 89134 month, there might be someone like me who needs my help and support.”

702.982.0079 www.activerxlv.com Mason also found strength in the support provided by her loving family.

“My husband never left my side,” she says. “If it wasn’t for the support of my family, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Thanks to the ongoing care, support, and rehabilitation she received from UMC, Mason said she is thrilled to be back to her normal life, runningMassageEnvy-Active-RX 08.18.indd 1 8/20/18 a local landscaping business with her family.

While she has one more month of rehabilitation left, Mason said the lessons she learned from UMC will last a lifetime. Following the advice of NG ATI UMC’s health care professionals, Mason plans to continue exercising daily EBR CEL while watching her cholesterol levels and frequently visiting her primary La s ls & BRAVISSIMO! Me Veg care provider for preventive care. rse ries d a D o o ist ical s M m E S The ric Devil Heart disease is responsible for approximately one in four female deaths Me I S S U t ’s in t he D etail s in the United States, and nearly two-thirds of women who die suddenly as a result of heart disease have no prior symptoms, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also reports that nearly half of the women in the U.S. fail to recognize heart disease as the leading cause of death among women.

Dr. Diep encourages women to regularly visit their primary care providers, maintain a healthy diet, receive frequent blood pressure checks, and monitor their cholesterol. Smokers have a significantly increased risk of heart disease, he says, advising male and female smokers to reduce JULY/AUGUST VEGASMD JUNE 10 their risk by quitting smoking immediately. n addition to smoking, the CDC has identified high blood pressure and SEPTEMBER PHILANTHROPY AUGUST 13 high LDL cholesterol as the key risk factors for heart disease. Nearly half OCTOBER LAW/FINANCE SEPT. 13 of Americans have at least one of these three key risk factors. Additional risk factors include diabetes, poor diet, being overweight or obese, a lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

To advertise, please call Mason says she urges women to learn more about the risks of heart 702.254.2223 disease and seek care immediately for any issues.

Ads@davidlv.com • www.davidlv.com “If you don’t feel right, please just go to the doctor,” she says. “I waited too long, and it very well could have cost me my life.”

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Taste

Gambas Tartare, Gulf Shrimp, Roasted Bone-Marrow, Chili Crab Sauce.

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Risk & Reward EDO Tapas is a Gastronomic Tour de Force

By Jason Harris

A

bout 10 years ago, I was broke. I had come back from touring frat houses across the United States, performing comedy for bros and their sorority significant others and had no place set up to live. At the time, a friend from high school was building a business empire in California and told me could stay at his house here in Las Vegas, watch the property and handle his affairs as needed.

Some would call me a glorified houseboy, but this article is not about my weekly phone calls to my mother. Some would say was

doing my old pal a service once even prevented a robbery by turning on the lights at am, thereby scaring off the predators. say was lucky to have a such a generous friend, one who offered me a home and put up with all my uirks on his monthly visits back to Las Vegas.

While didn’t have much money, did have another way of expressing my gratitude. ver since high school, knew the best restaurants in town. f my guidance counselor during my senior year had suggested that become a food writer, he would have been prescient. This other way of showing my appreciation to my benevolent landlord was to

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Left: Acorn- ed Pluma b rica. Right: A selection of charcuterie and cheeses.

make sure we went out for the best meals while he was in town. He would have nothing but the finest food on my watch, and would too, because you know, what are friends for or a year, begged him to go to aku, the Japanese robata grill in Chinatown that changed the landscape of Asian dining in Las Vegas. ack then it was new and different, and for those who had never experienced Japanese charcoal-grill cooking, it could be a bit obtuse. inally, my amigo relented, and we had a stunning dinner at the Chinatown hotspot. When asked my comrade how he felt about the meal, he said, Jason. have only one regret. looked at him in uisitively. He continued, That it took me a year to listen to you to get to this place.

A decade later, found myself in my friend’s proverbial shoes. As a food writer, pride myself on being up on all the latest and greatest restaurants. ut, admittedly, one fell through the cracks. While last year seemed to present a new, hot restaurant opening every week, one of them got lost in the shuffle for me.

And it wasn’t that didn’t know about it. t wasn’t that hadn’t heard the rave reviews from those who had dined there. t wasn’t that hadn’t seen

all the year-end awards it won in various local publications. t ust took me too long to finally get there.

The acclaimed D Tapas had been open since last summer before my initial visit this past winter, and after a blow-you-away experience, courtesy of restauranteur oberto Liendo and chef scar Amador do, found myself saying the same thing my old pal did. Jason, have only one regret.

That it took me so long to get to this place.

No matter. Lately, ’ve been making up for lost time, having one dynamite dining experience after the next at D , which, contrary to popular belief, is not called that because it was the former name of Tokyo, though that would make sense given Amador’s Asian flare on many plates. Says Liendo of the moniker, which is partially a play on Chef Amador do’s name, t stands for xtra Day ff. The way the name came, we were thinking of a name that people in the industry can easily remember. n New ork, they have mployees nly. riginally, we were thinking this place would be more of an industry hangout. People would come after work.

That was a miscalculation on Liendo’s and Amador do’s part. Try to get a table without a reservation any riday night around pm and see how

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Left: Montadito, Smoked Salmon Crostini, Truffled Cream Cheese and Honey, Right: EDO’s cocktail cart.

long the wait will be.

What makes EDO so exciting is the risks the team is willing to take. Of the philosophy that he and Amador Edo share, Liendo states, “We didn’t want it to be a classic Spanish restaurant. We’ve seen a lot of classic Spanish restaurants come through. I think classic, nowadays, is boring, at least for us. We respect the restaurants that are classic. But for me, being innovative and being outside of the box and utilizing ingredients from all over the world and bringing in other techniques from other cultures into a Spanish kitchen, that’s a lot of fun. And that goes for any cuisine.”

That means you paella fans out there better get to the restaurant ASAP because before you know it, the ballsy twosome is removing the most famous Spanish dish from their Spanish restaurant’s menu. Instead, diners will be treated to far more exotic – at least for the US – grain preparations. Bomba rice with uni (sea urchin) folded is unctuous and will make you long for a cold day so you can warm up with this comforting dish. This version utilizes a lot of sofrito, garlic aioli and cremosa to bring the flavors out. t’s finished with lobster and chori o making it about the richest rice plate in Las Vegas.

Another new dish is the kimchi crab cake. The funky, fermented veggies are folded into the cake. It’s served with an uni aioli, shishito peppers, a spicy chili garlic sauce and a fried egg with a kimchi yolk (how do they do that?) to take this bite we all know to new levels.

And then there is the South American corvina crudo with aji limo, orange yuzu dashi, fennel, Granny Smith green apples, cucumber, micro cilantro, and strips of the fried fish on top. t’s okay if you don’t know all those elements. A dish like this sounds more like it belongs on Top Chef than at your neighborhood tapas place, but that’s what makes EDO so thrilling. This is exciting, modern food. EDO presents a culinary spree where the thoughtful chef and owner grab hands with the diner and jump in the deep end together.

While we all love shiny new things, you would be a fool not to get some of the “classics” that made EDO standout from jump street. Montadito is a smoked salmon bruschetta with truffled cream cheese and honey. It appears tableside under a cloche and is imparted with applewood smoke in front of the diner. For a New Jersey boy who misses bagels and lox, this more than fills the void.

Green tartare is a mound of cucumber, zucchini, avocado puree, www.davidlv.com | 37

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Left to Right: Joe Mikulich, Oscar Amador Edo and Roberto Liendo.

pistachio vinaigrette, and micro cilantro topped with a furikake flavored chip. Pick whatever classical meat-based tartare you want and tell me this doesn’t stack up right next to it.

The aptly named bikini also shows off. The just over razor-thin pressed sandwich contains sobrassada, a cured sausage from the Baeleric Islands, and mahon cheese, another Spanish prize.

Desserts are whimsical. Granita features strawberry shaved ice, popcorn mousse (yes, you read that correctly) and some actual popcorn for added texture.

Then there’s this: a plate is covered in dehydrated raspberry dust. A compressed watermelon studs the plate along with cherry tomatoes that have been modified in an alkaline solution to bring out their sweetness.

Candied pecans, which would be delicious by the handful, loop around the edge of the plate and all of that is complimented by an almond-milk yogurt spuma. t might be difficult to wrap your head around this, but your belly will thank you for ordering it.

D also showcases the first gin and tonic cart to make an appearance in Las Vegas. The trendy, movable station is all the rage in Spain but is just gaining traction in the United States. Featuring Monkey 47 from Germany,

Hendricks from Holland, and Sip Smith from England, there is always a variety of gins to create a libation with. For those who want to go outside of the classic cocktail box, try a botanically infused gin to get you there.

For the best value, check out the ridiculously low-priced tasting menu for $45. Put your faith in Liendo and Amador Edo. Says Liendo of this way of dining, “Slowly, we want to grow to be more of a tasting restaurant than tapas. This restaurant is more of an experience. We see who has the most fun. Those are the people who experience the restaurant properly.”

As for me and my old buddy, we haven’t seen in each other in a while. He got married and had a bunch of kids. I got not married and had a kid of my own. It’s easy to lose touch when you have other responsibilities. But we text once in a while. And hopefully, we can meet up some time for another great meal together, this time at EDO Tapas. Heck, I might even let him treat…you know, for old times’ sake.

EDO Tapas, 3400 S Jones Blvd #11A, Las Vegas. 702-6411345. https://edotapas.com

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Think

Essays and In-Depth Articles on Topics that Will Have People Talking all Month Long.

Sara Berman’s Closet | 52 www.davidlv.com | 39

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Think

Cancer’s Cover Girl Alexandria Finley Confronts Her Diagnosis

By Paul Harasim

A

s model Alexandria Finley steps inside the downtown Las Vegas coffeehouse — her long, windblown blonde hair flowing over the top of a two-piece leopard print outfit — you realize why her career has included strutting down runways for Guess Jeans and Beach Bunny Swimwear, gracing billboards for X Rocks and

X Burlesque, appearing in a music video for The Killers, and working as a cover model for Las Vegas Magazine, where she’s been featured as an Instagram Personality to Follow.

The simple fact is: People can’t help looking at Finley.

She is what branding professionals love in a model — magnetic. Men, and women, watch her. The turn-of-thehead reaction of patrons on this April day at PublicUs — a mecca for coffee on Fremont Street with a distinct hipster vibe, where it’s not hip to stare — reinforces the Florida State University study “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” where research found good-looking people capture our attention nearly instantaneously, rendering us temporarily helpless

Above & Left: Alexandria Finley.

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to turn our eyes away from them.

“I’ve found my cancer diagnosis hard to believe,” says the 5 foot 9 inch Finley, whose thick hair, flawless complexion, quick smile, and elegant, graceful posture practically broadcast she’s in the best of health. She’s sitting at a table with her husband, rock guitarist Frank Sidoris, a member of the international touring group, Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators.

“I’ve always taken care of myself, had a trainer, ate right, worked out. It’s been hard to understand.”

While still the very picture of good health, the 31-yearold Finley proves yet again that looks can be deceiving.

In February, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, one of 13,170 new cases that the American Cancer Society estimates will be diagnosed this year in the U.S. Annually, an estimated 4,200 women will die from the disease.

On April 15, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, Finley embarked on the radiation and chemotherapy treatment she hopes will save her life. It’s too early to tell how well it’s working on a cervical cancer that is already at Stage 3. How she got to this time and place is instructive, an emotional roller coaster for her that reveals the dangers of the human papillomavirus (HPV), of putting off pap smears, and of not having insurance.

Her story also reveals how technology helps to connect those who need help with kind-hearted people, why who you know can often trump what you know.

It was in May 2018 that Finley – a Las Vegas resident since moving from California with her family at age 7

– began to feel a little more tired than usual. Bleeding became heavier during her period. At a doctor visit, she said her physician found everything largely normal, though there was a slight pH imbalance in her vagina, meaning the balance between good and bad bacteria was a tad off. She said the doctor didn’t seem particularly concerned, nor was she.

“Women in my family have reproductive issues so I wrote it off as that,” she says.

Over the next several months, however, the bleeding intensified. She experienced lower back pain, some cramping and nausea, and more fatigue.

A trip to the doctor at the beginning of 2019 included a Pap test, where medical professionals check the cervix for any cells that aren’t normal. The test found serious changes in the cells of her cervix, so her physician, Dr. Alexandra McDaniel, ordered a biopsy.

The results were clear — Finley had cervical cancer, just as she says her mother did several years ago.

“It seemed surreal,” she says, her voice quavering.

“Other than a little extra tired, I felt normal. How I felt came in waves — sadness, anger, confusion, disbelief...Frank was in London when he found out.”

Dr. Jyoti Desai, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, notes that cervical cancer — once one of the most common cancers affecting U.S. women — has dropped to 14th in frequency, largely because of the Pap smear screening introduced in the 1950s. The National Institutes of Health reports that between 1955 and 1992, U.S. cervical cancer incidence and death rates declined by more than 60 percent.

“Screening is so critical,” says Desai, who has not treated Finley. “With it, cervical cancer is largely preventable.”

Desai points out that because precancerous lesions found by Pap smears can be treated and cured before they develop into cancer, and because cervical cancer is often detected before it becomes advanced, the incidence and death rates for the disease are relatively low. According to the most recent data, the incidence rate for the disease is now 8.1 cases per 100,000 in the U.S. The annual mortality rate is 2.4 deaths per 100,000 women.

The UNLV physician emphasizes that medical experts now recommend that starting at age 21, women should get a Pap test every three years until age 65. For women age 30 to 65, who want to lengthen the screening interval, it’s recommended they they have a combination of a Pap smear and testing for the human papillomavirus virus HPV every five years.

According to the National Cancer Institute, virtually all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. The virus can also cause oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. The NCI, which stresses that nearly all sexually active people are infected with HPV at some point in www.davidlv.com | 41

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their lives, also calls attention to the fact that most HPV infections don’t cause cancer – your immune system usually controls the infections.

In its literature on cervical cancer, the American Cancer Society makes clear that HPV is the most important risk factor while noting that “cervical cancer may run in some families. If your mother or sister had cervical cancer, your chances of developing the disease are higher than if no one in the family had it. Some researchers suspect that some instances of this familial tendency are caused by an inherited condition that makes some women less able to fight off HPV infection than others.

The cancer was caught earlier in my mother, inley says.

Dr. Karen Jacks, a Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada medical oncologist, says: “cervical cancer may run in families but still is felt not to be a true hereditary cancer. Nearly all cervical cancers are HPV-associated, even those with a family history of cervical cancer. A familial connection is likely to be due to non-genetic risk factors, including smoking and obesity, as well as an inherited condition weakening the immune system.

Dr. Desai is a true believer in current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations calling for boys and girls to get the HPV vaccine before they’re sexually active, at age 11 or 12. Catch-up vaccines are recommended for males up to the age of 21 and for females up to 26 who did not receive the vaccination at a younger age.

While targeting the HPV types that most commonly cause cervical cancer, the vaccine also protects against the HPV types that cause most genital warts. But Dr. Desai underscores the fact that the vaccine does not

protect against all HPV types. In other words, it does not prevent all cases of cancer. “It’s important for women to continue to get screened for cervical cancer, she says. inley says she was vaccinated for HPV when she was 21. t is April , three days before inley will start radiation and chemotherapy in Los Angeles. While nibbling on a breakfast sandwich inside PublicUs, she remembers that even after the biopsy showed she had cancer, she never thought the upcoming weeks of treatment would be necessary. Nor did she think she’d go out of town to get it.

“My doctor in Las Vegas thought surgery would take care of it all and she urged me to find a surgeon.

Right: Dr. Joyti Desai.

Above: Alexandria inley and rank Sidoris on their wedding day.

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When you don’t have insurance, that’s easier said than done. While inley often did well financially in modeling and in her part-time hospitality work at the Venetian, she didn’t have medical coverage to go with her savings. She made too much money to ualify for Medicaid. Though the Las Vegas surgeons she visited seemed sympathetic, they said they didn’t want to saddle her with a bill that would strap her financially for years. No one would do her surgery. was touring in London then and couldn’t believe what was hearing from her, said Sidoris, who urged inley to let her friend, Nikia Daoust, start a o undMe page for her. o undMe is one of several internet platforms that allows

people to raise money for individuals facing challenging circumstances. t turned out that Cheryl Hall, the tour manager for the band Sidoris played in, knew a renowned - N and researcher, Dr. lana Cass, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. After meeting with inley, she agreed to take Finley as a cash patient.

At first was really reluctant to do a o undMe wanted to keep what was going through private, but decided it made sense, inley says. When came out in public with my cancer, a number of women told me they had put off a Pap test as well. So got to help some people. hope by sharing my story many other women will stay up on their screening. t’s such a personal area, women don’t like to do it, but you have to. n ust a few days, much of the initial , goal was raised on the o undMe page headlined Help Alexandria inley eat Cancer. How much more is necessary to cover medical expenses is unknown at this time. inley couldn’t believe the outpouring of love that came with the donations. People were contacting me on acebook, sending me messages every which way. There are so many good people out there.

The donated money would largely cover the surgery done by Dr. Cass on March , the day before inley’s birthday. The procedure was a radical hysterectomy, one that both Finley and her doctor hoped would end her nightmare. ut it wasn’t to be. nstead, she learned her cancer was Stage instead of Stage , having spread to lymph nodes. When woke up, was very upset, inley says. thought the surgery would be it.

Dr. Cass, who did remove the lymph nodes, said the remaining cancerous tumor would be better treated through radiation and chemotherapy.

Worried about the woman he loved, Sidoris did something he had been thinking about for a long time. He popped the marriage uestion on inley’s birthday, March , the day after she got the bad news. rank wanted to make me happy, she says. And he did.

The couple was married on top of a Hollywood hotel two days later, three days after a surgery that inley says was done through an incision much like that used for a C-section. Though barely able to walk down the aisle, photos show inley wore a broad smile during the wedding festivities. do have my dark moments as get through this, she says. ut what this is teaching me is to appreciate the people around me, people who’ve come out of the woodwork. ’m now more positive about people. That’s a good thing. f you want to help defray Alexandria inley’s medical expenses, go to https www.gofundme.com helpalexandria-finley-beat-cancer www.davidlv.com | 43

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Think

The Price of a Good Education A Generation of Students Find Themselves in DEBT

By Brian Sodoma

Y

ou can blame inflation, high professor salaries, escalating costs for highlyamenitized dorms, and a host of other factors. Regardless, the consensus is clear: a college degree is only getting more expensive to attain in the U.S. For years, this return on investment has been called into question. In fact, depending on which poisonous report you choose to read, the cost for a college degree appears to be trending towards the outrageous, increasing by more than 500 percent since the mid-80s. Meanwhile, rosier reports about higher earnings for those with bachelor’s degrees offer balance to the debate.

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Whether pursuing a degree is worth it may largely lie in practicality — an honest assessment of one’s own financial and living situation, along with one’s academic strengths and capabilities. Do your research and be honest about what you might be able to achieve careerwise, and your answers may very well reveal themselves quite clearly.

Framing the financial issue As of the - school year, the average annual cost for tuition and fees was , at private colleges, , for students at in-state public colleges and , for out-of-state residents at public universities, according to the College oard. Those figures exclude housing, meals, books, supplies and other fees, which could add another , to , a year, the report notes.

Do the math and you’ll uickly find that spending at least , a year to send your child to college is very likely. With no financial help from scholarships, grants or loved ones, amassing , in debt for a bachelor’s degree feels like a steep price, especially if you’ve chosen one with few guarantees of a job afterwards. And with student debt topping . trillion, it’s no wonder the debate about whether it’s all worth it is still alive and well. think it’s important to be concerned about those costs, says K.C. rekken, an assistant professor at UNLV’s School of Public Policy. “Student loans are a large chunk of our non-housing debt. rekken, however, points to a Connecticut Education Association (CEA) report that says the ma ority of student loans, about two-thirds, are less than , . A -year repayment plan of about a month, under current interest rates, can be expected when leaving school with , in debt.

A step, not a guarantee Alan enson, a professor at the University of Minnesota, partnered with M T professor rank Levy and business analyst aimundo steva to author a paper analy ing data from the Census ureau, and the University of California and California State University systems, to gauge return on investment for degrees.

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At the same time, the team tried to adjust for a full range of factors, such as dropout rates and delayed graduation. Less than 60 percent of full-time students enrolled in college for the first-time actually graduate within six years, according to the Institute of Education Sciences. The data, the team of researchers reported, challenged President Barack Obama’s statement about a college degree being a “ticket to the middle class.”

“The big takeaway was that the story of college being a ticket to the middle class is a bad analogy,” Benson says. “Our interpretation is that it’s more of a stepping stone…It’s an investment that needs to be managed and there are certain things you’re going to need to do to get there.” ven still, there’s plenty of data to confirm that you earn more with a college degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows median weekly earnings for a college degree earner to be $1,189, while a high school graduate only earns $718, and someone without a high school diploma only $515.

Add to that, the Brookings Institute’s 2017 Hamilton Project Study, which analyzes economic facts about higher education, notes: “A postsecondary degree can also serve as a buffer against unemployment during economic downturns. Those with postsecondary degrees saw more steady employment through the Great Recession (Autor 2014), and the vast majority of net jobs created during the economic recovery went to college-educated workers (Carnevale, Jayasundera, and Gulish 2016).”

“The reality of the situation is that you’re looking at a future of uncertainty” without a college degree, Brekken adds.

While weighing costs, you also have influencers and technology with their say in the matter. Stories of Internet wealth and people who “made it” without a degree enjoy media play. And others, like PayPal founder Peter Thiel, who once offered $100,000 fellowships to high school graduates not to go to college and instead start a company, don’t help the argument for a college degree.

“That has to be one of the most misguided acts of philanthropy,” Benson says of Thiel’s fellowship offering.

“I’m concerned that’s the wrong message to send to people. I don’t think that you have to go to college to be successful, but the statistics and odds point to if you’re skipping college, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table. That’s still the case.”

Choosing a school, degree, and the debt trickle through For years, liberal arts majors were chastised for the lack of career or job opportunities at the end of the college experience. That ushered in a wave of increasing enrollment in, and advertising for, STEM programs.

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Hand-in-hand with those trends is the question of where to get what degree and balancing the associated costs.

“One of the biggest lessons coming out of the new data is it really matters a lot more what you study rather than where you study it,” Benson adds, while highlighting how some small colleges enjoy students reporting higher wages due to the mere fact they have more engineering, or other STEM majors, attending them.

Both Brekken and Benson agree to watch out for expensive, for-profit institutions making bold claims about career placement and pay. But even if you’re attending a local public college or university, it’s still important to match your likely career path’s expected pay with the cost of getting that degree. In short: If you’re going to school to become a school teacher, does the degree really need to be from Princeton? And even if you’re looking to go into engineering, does the prospect of higher pay really exist if the degree is from your home state’s public university or an out-of-state Ivy League school? Research is suggesting a resounding “no” to both of these questions.

Brekken highlights the importance of having a posthigh school plan that matches the realities of your situation with your talents, strengths, and aspirations.

“You can’t talk about these things early enough,” she adds.

Those attending their local college or university and cutting expenses by living at home can save an immense amount of money, the professor adds. Some can even take advantage of programs, like the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which give neighbor state discounts on tuition, or, in Nevada, the Nevada Promise Scholarship. There are also “last-dollar” scholarships, Brekken emphasizes, available to cover some expenses beyond tuition and books.

“These programs can make the cost of attendance much more accessible,” Brekken adds.

Both researchers stress talking to school counselors and others who have experience with the financial aid process. And above all, don’t take out more than you think you can handle.

“I think right now, part of the liability is that people can take out very large amounts of debt because creditors have protections, and it’s difficult to discharge that debt,” Benson says. “It can make lenders, including the government, more prone to financing almost any degree under any circumstances. I think that’s where we potentially get into trouble.”

That’s why Benson reiterates the importance of being realistic about the earning power of any degree and doing as much research up front to help you understand the realities of your financial commitment.

“Ultimately, the best check is to be armed with the best information,” he says. www.davidlv.com | 47

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Think

Fashion for All

Designers Employ Models of all Ages, Races, Sizes, and Gender Identities.

By Rachel Hershkovitz

I

n 2002, one of Britain’s most recognizable iconoclasts and designers, Vivienne Westwood, pulled another stunt. Her students in a university fashion program would have their designs modeled not by professionals, but by members of a nursing home.

The fashion community would regard the move as another example of Westwood’s many eccentricities. But, she assured her students, the decision was no gimmick: she loved the aging process and felt proud to experience it. “Life becomes richer as you grow old,” she explained.

Nearly two decades later, such a belief wouldn’t make a pariah of a designer. It is now acceptable by industry standards to hire models who exceed the 20s age bracket and to work with agencies representing a diversity of races, sizes, and gender identities. This emerging trend is especially noticeable in the 2019 fallwinter runway collections from designers Eckhaus Latta, Simone Rocha, and Rachel Comey. While lesser-known compared to fashion giants, these designers present a distinct feminist outlook that we can expect to hit critical mass in the next few years.

This seems especially probable in an age where dating apps like Bumble allow only female users to approach the men, t-shirts emblazoned with “The Future is Female” pop up in nearly every department store, and the women of the MeToo movement can find ustice. And if you’re willing to spend $495, you can rock a pair of heels designed by Sophia Webster that say “Boss Lady” right on the toes.

Today, clothes don’t ust beautify women and make them more desirable for mates; they’re viewed as secondary to the women who wear them. So it’s no wonder that the industry now encourages models to

explore advanced trades and pursue scholarship, like Victoria’s Secret Angel Lyndsey Scott, whose talents in software engineering helped her become a feminist icon on Twitter last year. Flattery will get you anywhere, but recession-proof skills don’t hurt.

No designer better understood this than Phoebe Philo,

creative director of Céline from 2008 until last year.

Her work with the fashion house resonated with the successful 21st century woman: powerful and practical, with no shortage of sophistication. Céline offered clothing to a woman who loved minimal designs and odd cuts, a character who probably owned an empire but made time for art museums.

Above: Writer Joan Didion in the iconic C line Ad. Right: Céline Dion, Vanity Fair’s “undisputed winner” of Paris Fashion Week in January.

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Céline carried this concept to its logical end in 2015 when the fashion house included the writer Joan Didion, then 80, in one of its advertisements, with the beloved cultural critic donning massive dark sunglasses and a turtleneck while seated indoors. The advertisement reached cult status, even among those who had never read Didion’s writing, and spawned parodies on social media. Anything that typified chic banality, age, and intelligence could be passed off as a Céline advert.

And for the younger audiences who saw the ad but couldn’t quite relate, they still relished in its glamour. The image of a woman who has achieved material comfort and international success on her own is attractive because it’s still difficult, despite all the strides women have made in recent decades. Likelihood of upward mobility, after all, hasn’t improved much. In a 2016 paper, the economist Raj Chetty described the American Dream as “fading,” pointing to data suggesting that rates of upward mobility have declined since 1940. or a millennial living in economic precarity, financial insecurity is just another source of self-doubt. Some may even feel like it’s easier to be thin than it is to purchase a house, pay off student loans, or find a steady career.

These realities don’t typically exist for the young – they’re the domain of the old. So why wouldn’t the image of a successful, established woman arouse envy, as images of thin, young women on yachts once did?

While The New York Times reported in 2015 that Céline’s decision to cast an older woman embodied a trend exclusive to that year, the interest in unconventional models has persisted. Earlier this year, another Céline made the rounds on fashion websites. Céline Dion, age 51, became the new face of L’Oreal, delighting not just the women closer to her age, but younger audiences, too. Dion had already established herself as a style icon among fashion devotees of all ages. Vanity Fair called her the “undisputed winner” of Paris Fashion Week in January, and Harper’s Bazaar echoed the thought by referring to her as “couture’s unexpected fashion darling.”

Even non-celebrities enjoy more recognition and praise. The popular Instagram account “Advanced Style” has only grown since its start in 2008 and now boasts a follower count of a quarter million. The site features street style photos of geriatric fashionistas, all unique, all fabulous. The blog has published several books and most recently, in December 2018, published “Advanced Love,” a book celebrating elderly couples. Ari Cohen, the creator of Advanced Style, is in his thirties.

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a fashion line named after its two founders, Zoe Latta and Mike Eckhaus. Known for its quirky fabrics, Eckhaus Latta is both earthy and artsy, with an emphasis on highquality, acid washed denim, as well as for its unusual approach to discovering talent for its seasonal runway.

Instead of fortifying its exclusivity in an already guarded industry, Eckhaus Latta holds casting calls for its shows, open to the public.

Left: Models show the new season Rachel Comey line.

Above: 67-year-old model, JoAni Johnson.

Eckhaus Latta depends on the judgment of Midland Agency for these castings, an offbeat modeling agency that eschews tradition altogether, preferring artists, dancers, and miscellaneous “cool kids” of New York City. The agency, founded by Rachel Chandler and Walter Pearce, fights the predictable standards usually ultra-thin, young, and white which have defined modeling for decades.

Every iteration of woman that is possible has a place on the runway of Eckhaus Latta and Midland’s other clients.

For example, Eckhaus Latta thrilled the public when it sent a pregnant model down the runway for its Spring/ Summer 2018 show, the model’s baby bump exposed and framed by the deliberate unbuttoning of the dress right around the stomach. The message was clear: women at all ages, sizes, and stages of development are beautiful and welcome. A woman’s value has nothing to do with her availability on the romantic market, and everything to do with her own choices.

Designer Rachel Comey, although not associated with Midland, uses similar messaging and tactics for her shows. She’s a designer established in New York whose designs appeal to eccentric but wealthy Brooklynites.

Artists, dancers, and other non-models have walked for her, but her runways more freely embrace women in their twilight years. Her latest collection, Fall/Winter 2019, included not one but multiple women older than 50 or 60. Her Instagram account does the same. One post includes 67-year-old JoAni Johnson, who would be retired if not for her modeling career. Johnson is proud of her age, choosing to wear her silvery hair at waist-length.

She makes a perfect representative for a brand known for feminine spunk and confidence.

Each successive addition of an unconventional model has prompted giddy praise from journalists and a sense of hope in fashion’s clientele. Where the industry once inspired envy via unrealistic beauty standards among would-be buyers, fashion today recognizes that consumers feel valued when they see a company make a promise of diversity. It’s a symbiotic relationship: consumers appreciate when they’re properly represented, and fashion houses can market with ease, without accusations of indifference to a changing world.

But there’s another good reason to seek change, one that transcends the transactional aspect. Art should arouse, disturb, and uestion. f every model fulfills an industry standard of “perfection,” how will the art provoke or shock us?

Fashion may not be the only art that requires human participation to make it living performance art and dance certainly do this), but it is an art that demands participation from its consumers. To ignore the role that humans play in animating the clothes does the art a disservice, and it insults the women who love fashion when we think of models as just “clothes hangers.” Each woman who expresses herself through her wardrobe has a history, and she imbues that history in the clothes she chooses to wear. If that history is longer or more complicated because of her age, that’s all the better. Clothes may make the man, but it’s the women who can elevate the clothes and make them fashion. www.davidlv.com | 51

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Think

Sara Berman’s

Closet

By Jaq Greenspon

T

here’s an old saying: If you want to know about a person, just look at… and that’s where the saying falters. Depending on who you are, what you know, how you view things, that thing you look at to really know a person, to understand who they are psychologically, it could be their bookshelf or

Above: Cover of Sara Berman’s Closet by Maira and Alex Kalman. Illustrations

by Maira Kalman. Design

by Alex Kalman. Harper Collins, 2018.

Right: Sara Berman’s closet on exhibition at the NMAJH.

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their record collection or even how their pots and mugs are organized. But it could also be that if you want to know about a person, their closet is the best place to check out.

Of course, for most people, this would involve having to be invited into their homes and having the alone time to go snooping. Unless you’re Sara Berman, in which case your grandson, more than a decade after your death, has recreated your closet and put it on display for everyone to see in a touring exhibition, currently at the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH).

The question is why?

Overall, Sara Berman wasn’t anyone special. Sure, she was certainly special to her family and her friends, but in the grand scheme of things, she didn’t set the runways of Paris ablaze, she never danced like Ginger Rogers, and she never correctly questioned the Final Jeopardy answer to Alex Trebek’s face. Yes, all of those things relate to her, but in the end, her sole remarkable achievement is that she did what she did and she did it the way she wanted it done.

But to fully understand her, you have to go back a bit.

Sara (not yet) Berman was born March 15, 1920 in the tiny village of Lenin in Belarus, not far from the Hungarian border. This was not the safest area for Jews at any time and in Soviet controlled post-World War I, things were particularly dire. They were so bad that, in 1934 Sara’s parents loaded the family onto the SS Palonia and moved to a three room shack on the beach outside of Tel Aviv in what was then Palestine.

It was an interesting boat ride for the young Sara, who got violently seasick. In order to help combat the nausea, a crewman gave the twelve-year-old an orange. It was the first orange she had ever seen. ne can assume that this kindness, along with the move itself, had a lasting impact on Sara, one which is reflected in the words of her daughter, artist Maira Kalman, from a recent New Yorker piece: “Nothing in life has an expiration date. You are free to change at any age.”

And Sara did change. The beach shack outside Tel Aviv was alive with the latest fashions from the runways in Paris, lovingly recreated by Sara’s mother and bleached white from hanging on the line in the hot sun.

When, in the early 1940s, Sara met and married Pesach Berman, a diamond merchant, it may have seemed like a good match to the outside world, but even at the time, Sara Berman had reservations. Still, Ever the dutiful wife, and eventually, mother of two, Berman lived her married life, first in Tel Aviv, where her children Maira and Kika were born, and then, in 1954, moving with her family to New York City.

Eventually, Sara and Pesach moved back to Israel and proceeded to live out a normal, if uneventful, life.

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after a visit by Maira and Tibor Kalman, her now grown and married daughter and son-in-law, Sara Berman decided she’d had enough of living her life for other people. After 38 years of marriage, she divorced Pesach and moved, by herself, to a studio apartment in the Greenwich Village Neighborhood of New York City, not far from her family.

It was here, in her early 60s, that Berman actually began to finally come alive.

Berman arrived in New York with a single suitcase, having jettisoned most of her previous life in an effort to not only restart, but to redefine the person she was with the person she wanted to be. She literally removed Pesach from her life, taking old family photos and ripping them in half to leave her, alone, in various locales and vacation spots. She embarked on new routines and rituals for her new life. She would watch Jeopardy at 7pm nightly and on Wednesdays, she could be found eating her weekly pizza in the café at the Museum of Modern Art. She would watch old Fred Astaire movies and look out her window at the Empire State Building. And, with that single suitcase as her guide, she made the conscious choice to limit her possessions, including her wardrobe. This was also when she decided to only wear white.

Again, the reasons for this are lost to us. They may have even been lost to Sara herself. It could be that the white (or variations thereof; ecru or eggshell were not out of bounds) reminded her of those times on the beach, with her mother’s creations leached of color and swaying in the breeze. It could have been just an artistic affectation.

All we really know about it is what was left behind; clothes and other small artifacts, meticulously cared for. The white clothes were always clean and pressed, stacked and organi ed in the tiny closet within the confines of that studio apartment.

This organization was truly noticed in 2004. Before then, Berman’s small home, while meticulous, was not cold or sterile. It was the home of someone who enjoyed her life, someone who kept a number of inflated beachballs on the floor for her grandchildren’s joy and amusement. And the closet, was just that, a closet. There was no need for it to be examined. In fact, the organizing and reorganizing of the closet had become a game played by Sara and her grandson Alex, Maira’s boy.

But in 2004, Berman returned to Israel for a family vacation. She spent a day at the beach, wading in the water and eating lemon ice, visiting with her sister Shoshona, who still lived in Tel Aviv. The next day, when she didn’t come down for breakfast, it was discovered she had passed quietly in the night. She was 84 years old.

Excerpt from Sara Berman’s Closet by Maira and Alex Kalman. Illustrations by Maira Kalman. Design by Alex Kalman.

Harper Collins, 2018.

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Back in New York, the spirit of Sara was obviously present in the small flat. Without its occupant to offset things, it could be seen how there was a place for everything and everything was in its own place. Sara had made beautiful use of her space, defining it even as she had defined herself.

When it came to the closet, 19-year-old Alex, who already had his mother’s artistic bent, thought there was something to the way his grandmother had organized her closet that spoke to larger issues than merely being a place to store clothes. So as they went through her stuff, Maira and Alex documented what was there and how it looked, knowing it would be a show someday.

10 years later, it was.

Mmuseumm, the art project founded by Alex Kalman, debuted the piece “Sara Berman’s Closet” in an out of the way alley in 2015. The installation consists of the closet, recreated, as well as a number of other artifacts from Berman’s apartment, all presented with quotes and sayings from the book of the exhibition by Maira and Alex.

Since that auspicious beginning, the show has moved first to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New ork in 2017, the Skirball Center in Los Angeles earlier this year and now is in Philadelphia, at the NMAJH, where it is in its own

temporary building outside the traditional confines of the museum. According to the museum, having the installation out on Independence Mall, and sitting “adjacent to sites commemorating the stories of our Nation’s founding, the installation of Sara’s closet puts a woman’s humble 20thcentury story radically on par with that of the Founding Fathers.” Furthermore, “it opens visitors up to conversations about who we commemorate and monumentalize, the meaning of material objects in our lives, identity and reinvention, family history, through the power and meaning of small moments.”

Or it could be, as Alex is quoted as saying in the New York Times, the piece is “a monument to courage and independence and freedom.” Of course, then there’s always the thought of Maira, musing in that same article about what her mother would have thought of the idea that her clothes and unmentionables were on display for the whole world to see: “She would have thought we were crazy, but in the best possible way.”

Whatever way you look at it, though, Sara Berman’s Closet is an inspiration to one woman’s drive to be uniquely herself in a world where any woman’s choices were always being questioned and her life would be defined by who she married.

Visitors at the National Museum of American Jewish History enjoy the Sara Berman’s Closet exhibit.

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U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen

Fighting for Women & Nevadans

By Lynn Wexler Jacky Rosen has lived in Nevada for nearly 40 years. Growing up in a working-class family, she was the first to graduate from college. A member of the Democratic Party, Jacky ran for Congress in Nevada’s competitive rd District in because, as she explains, she saw an opportunity to make a difference for her community. As one of the most bipartisan members in the House, Senator osen worked across party lines to find common ground and deliver results for Nevadans. Joining the Senate this year, she encourages early childhood ST M education, especially for young girls.

Please share your own background and journey to the realm of politics as a female?

I am the proud granddaughter of immigrants.

From a young age, my family taught me the values of hard work, determination, and persistence. As grew older, I carried those values with me. When I went off to college, I worked my way through school as a waitress, including one summer at Caesars Palace. Before I came to Congress, I worked as a computer programmer and a systems analyst in what has long been a male-dominated industry. I also served as the president of my synagogue, Congregation Ner Tamid, the largest eform Synagogue in Southern Nevada.

What obstacles, if any, have you encountered?

During my time as a computer programmer, I, like the vast majority of women today, witnessed wage discrimination and the many difficulties that come with confronting gender stereotypes. This experience informs how legislate it’s a reason why ’m fighting for affordable child care, to end pay discrimination, and to provide paid family leave.

To what do you attribute the recent rise of women in politics?

Across the United States, we’re seeing strong, passionate, trailbla ing women who are stepping up to lead. And it’s not ust in politics women are making strides across all industries, such as in business and science. Women are stepping up because things weren’t getting done, problems weren’t being solved, and critical policies weren’t getting passed.

What do you think needs to change for the first oman to e electe to the hite House?

I think that as long as women keep supporting one another, there is no new ground that we cannot break, and there is no glass ceiling that we cannot shatter. Having more women in government, and in leadership across our communities, allows for a more collaborative and inclusive dialogue on the issues that matter. ’m proud to be part of such an incredible movement of female leaders, but more

importantly, I’m thrilled to help empower women who are looking to break barriers along the way.

o oes eing e ish in uence, impact, and inform your legislative role as Senator? ’m honored to serve in Congress as both the third female Jewish Senator in U.S. history and the only former synagogue president serving in Congress.

During my tenure as a synagogue president, witnessed firsthand the beauty in our country’s religious diversity and how community engagement strengthens America. A teaching that has always resonated with me is the Jewish philosophy of Tikkun Olam, the idea that it is up to each and every one of us to take part in repairing the world. This helped to shape the person am today. t guides me in both my personal and professional life, as well as in fighting for the issues that matter to me and my constituents.

Why is anti-Semitism on the rise in politics? n the United States, according to data, antiSemitic hate crimes rose by percent. This plague of hatred is no longer just coming from extremist groups or groups pushing shadow conspiracy theories on the internet. In large part, the source of this new wave of anti-Semitism is coming directly from actors in our own political system. This hate is not bound by political affiliation. We have a moral obligation to put a stop to this disturbing trend by calling out even our friends when they cross the line and by standing up against bigotry and antiSemitism wherever it might rear its ugly head left, right, or center. During my time in Congress, ’m proud to have been part of a bipartisan task force to end anti-Semitism. ’ve also fought to ensure the State Department appointed a special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, and helped reintroduce a bipartisan bill to upgrade the Special nvoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism globally to the rank of Ambassador and mandate that this position, which remained vacant for two years under this Administration, is always filled.

What words of encouragement can you share with our readers, especially women, who want to make a difference? ur politics works best when people get involved. No matter who you are, or what background you come from, there is a place for you in politics. Take part in fighting for the issues that you care about, take part in building bridges toward civility, and take part in coming together to repair the world. Also, to any young women reading this, many people are calling this the “Year of the Woman. have a re uest Let’s prove them right.

Let’s keep fighting, keep breaking down barriers, and keep working to build better communities, a better state, a better country, and a better world.

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