STAYING FIT WITH ANDREA ROGERS

STAYING FIT WITH STAYING FIT WITH ANDREA ROGERS ANDREA ROGERS

With thousands of choices of things, you can do to get in shape, navigating the world of fitness can get tricky at times. That is where Xtend Barre stands out above the rest.

“We don’t just stand at the barre. We use hand weights, Pilates sticks, and stability balls in unique ways to keep our members moving” said Andrea Rogers, founder of Xtend Barre. Xtend Barre is a high-energy low-impact workout that combines classical Pilates movements with ballet and high-energy cardio to deliver a workout that tones, strengthens, and lengthens the body.

Founder of Xtend Barre, Andrea Rogers, was born and raised in Michigan and started dancing at the age of 3. “My mother put me into dance classes because I was always dancing around. At age 12, I started teaching dance, and prior to that I was a dance teacher’s assistant,” Rogers shared.

Rogers was a professional dancer and choreographer for several years, traveling the world with various dance companies and celebrity performers. “I’m so profoundly lucky that I found my passion early on and have been able to build a career of it” she said. Rogers was first introduced to Pilates for its therapeutic benefits and became a comprehensive classical certified Pilates trainer. To offer her clients variety, fun, and increase fitness benefits, she created her own fusion of core dance and Pilates fundamentals.

In 2008 Xtend Barre was born.

“No other workout combines grace and athleticism like Xtend Barre, and this is why so many people love it. Ours is a serious workout for everyone – women who want to get or stay in shape; people looking to build their confidence; athletes seeking an incredible cross-training program. You’ll never take the same class twice at an Xtend Barre studio” she said.

Want to take a class, Xtend Barre currently has studios in California, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, and Virginia with studios in Canada and Australia too. And more expansion is on the way.

“We are focused on international expansion and further franchise development in Australia and Asia. We are excited to launch new programming to our online members and in our studios while continuing to support all of our members worldwide,” she expressed.

— By Ashlee DeMartino

Deluxe Version RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

CHICA Nights Sizzle With Chef Lorena Garcia

— By Danica Serena Stockton

CHICA Nights at the Las Vegas and Miami locations provide live DJ sets, a selection of specialty cocktails, and the delicious menu of celebrity Chef Lorena Garcia. The latin fusion restaurant hosts this special event every Friday and Saturday from 9:30 p.m. until late night. Chef Lorena partnered with 50 Eggs Hospitality Group to bring the latin fusion restaurant to the scene in Las Vegas in 2017, and then to Miami a couple years later. CHICA Miami recently celebrated a grand reopening while CHICA Las Vegas has stayed busy entertaining and feeding guests.

Chef Lorena gives us a sneak peak of what patrons can expect when attending CHICA Nights,

“CHICA Nights offers a total immersion of the senses. Located right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, it’s the perfect spot to spend an entire evening indulging in the vibrant flavors of Latin-America for dinner, perfectly paired with our incredible mixology program that offers exceptional Latin-inspired cocktails. After dinner, enter into a late night experience like none other that includes entertainment, bottle service, and a live DJ to dance the night away to, entertainment, and bottle service!”

Whether it’s time with friends and family, a romantic date night, or a first date, CHICA is a great option to create new memories. The octopus comes highly recommended by owner John Kunkel. “I never liked octopus or squid. I had tried both several times at different restaurants, prepared in different ways. My two friends wanted to try the octopus so we decided to order it as an appetizer. To my surprise, I put in another order for a second plate. Every time I visit CHICA now, I order the octopus” a guest recalls.

The paloma is another must have and is unlike any other paloma. Served with Fever Tree Grapefruit and an entire drink presentation, it is more than the drink itself. With the intricate handcrafted cocktail creations, lively atmosphere, exceptional customer service, and impressive menu, CHICA Nights is sure to imprint a positive experience for all.

CHEF LORENA GARCIA

VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS WELCOMES

Elia Beach Club

— By Dayna Roselli

That’s the mantra of Élia Beach Club at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton and owned by JC Hospitality. Get ready to be transported to an authentic pool club experience that feels like you are in Mykonos or Tulum. A beach house, a terrace, sand, and water. Élia takes pieces from around the world. Raw materials, progressive beach house music mixed in with live music featuring bongos, saxophones, trumpets.

Managing partners Jason “JROC” Craig, Michael Fuller, and Mio Danilovic have come together to create a new day club experience for Las Vegas. They are nightlife veterans with a long list of notable venues on their roster. There was no doubt in their minds they wanted to work on this project together. “We are bringing a new venue to life,” notes JROC.

Élia’s designer is Francois Frossard. He also worked on Danilovic’s venue Joia Beach in Miami. It has a different feel from the other pools around Las Vegas, and you’ll see that as soon as you enter. Élia will have its own entrance and valet separate from Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, but hotel guests will be able to enter through the property.

THE VIBE & MUSIC

Fuller says, “we’re trying to carve out our own niche or marketplace, we’re not trying to compete or compare ourselves to anybody else, and we’re changing the platform of what we think a beach club or a day club should be. It’s refined, it’s mature, and we think that’s going to resonate.” Fuller adds, “I think coming out of quarantine, people are looking for a little bit more of an authentic experience. It’s not always about being loud, noisy, and aggressive. It’s a little bit more dignified. When you go to Mykonos or Ibiza, you see people that are jet-setters. They travel around the world to the best parties, the music is much more textured, and the soundscapes that you hear are people that have been going to clubs since they were nineteen. They could be 30, 40, 50, 60 years old, so we wanted to create something that caters not just to Millennials, but Gen X and even Baby Boomers.”

The music will be programmed to resonate with everyone. JROC describes it as a ‘happy beach vibe.’

He says, “transitioning off the pandemic, I think people are looking for something more experiential. There are great DJs out there that people want to see; we do have a great roster of musical talent, a little bit different than some of the other venues’ programming, but world-class nonetheless. We’re bringing in resident DJs you’d find in Tulum, resident DJs you’d find in exotic spaces, as well as popular international guest DJs that have put out some great music. Bringing a sound that we are really looking for.”

AFTER SUNSET

Élia will extend past sunset. There is a beach house on the inside with raw wood and rope that has an organic feel, and you can also see the pool that’s up top. The second level is called, The Terrace. The club will activate the beach house, the downstairs living room, and the upstairs terrace. That’s when a different DJ comes on and might play more of a deeper house music. There will be fire dancers and a percussionist. It’s about letting the party evolve.

They plan to do parties around the full moon, too, with lantern lighting. Élia will take cultures from places around the world and bring them into one space. JROC adds, “international travel still isn’t 100 percent, so if we’re able to transport someone through our ambiance, vibe and aesthetic, and create their reality in our vision of being in these exotic spaces, then I think we’re winning.”

UNMATCHED DRINK & DINING

The day club will also have an elevated food menu. It’s a different product from what the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas resort pool will have and will feature a couple of outside brands. Everbowl will offer Acai bowls and more. The club is working with Truff Hot Sauce as well. Élia is excited to have beers from around the world that you usually wouldn’t be able to get in Las Vegas.

CAPTURING THE LAS VEGAS LOCALS

Fuller says the locals are extremely important to them too. He was born and raised in Las Vegas and wants to own the locals market, “being a native here, that’s important to me, and it’s always been part of our philosophy. At the end of the day, when you take care of the locals, the locals take care of you.” Fuller says if he were looking at one award to win, it would be Number One Local Pool Party. JROC agrees, “it’s time to go back to taking care of people again. Remembering people’s names, making sure they are taken care of really well, going back to looking people in the eyes. We’re not trying to hit people over the head with our minimums. We want our pricing to be competitive with the market, but we don’t ever want to have anyone leave the venue feeling as though they spent the money and weren’t fulfilled with that experience. It’s really important to us.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Élia team has a health and wellness program they are really proud of as well. “Before our first team meeting, we organized yoga in a group workout session for the staff. Before we go into our pre-shift every day, we will be doing a vinyasa and breath empowerment for five minutes: no phones, no yelling, none of that. We want our staff to be in a good place. Positive mind and positive heart,” says JROC.

GRAND OPENING

Stay Tuned for an exciting grand opening weekend, June 11-13, 2021, filled with star power and excitement as the venue officially opens its doors.

Élia Beach Club will be open Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Instagram: @eliabeachlv | Website: www.eliabeachlv.com

Deluxe Version FEATURE STORY