Downtown ZEN May 2013 by Downtown ZEN Magazine

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS May flowers + Park on Fremont. Don’t let these Downtown Rangers catch you raising Helldorado as you heigh-ho, heigh-ho, off to condos you go. To get groceries and expresso. Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, heigh-ho, heigh-ho, heigh-ho. It’s home from work we go. It’s beautiful, it’s art deco, SoHo, SoHo, SoHo, SoHome. Eat + Macaroni Salad + Bird Flu = Zubin’s clinic for primary care.

The Downtown Team Jamie Naughton Loren Becker Audrea Hooper Mikela Lee-Manaois Tyler Williams

Contributing Writers Brian Paco Alvarez Michael Boley

Figure out who’s on first for the 51s following First, First Friday. Then see what new events are on-deck. We hope you enjoy this month’s edition of the Downtown ZEN! - The Downtown ZEN Team

Photography Marco Brizuela Las Vegas News Bureau Anthony Mair Zapponians Downtown ZEN Team

Editor-In-Chief

| Fabulous Downtown | Bridger Health Clinic • Helldorado • Just the Tip • Astrology

LVA is in final jeopardy. One of these answers is a trick question: Who is Ashton Allen? Who is Josephine Skaught?

Loren Becker

| Zappos Experience & Community Team Manager

Managing Editors Michael Boley | Managing Editor Mandy Crispin | Managing Editor Art Director John Fanok | Tangible Color Fernando Cabestany | Logo Design

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03 Boot Camp 04 Fremont East Studios Grand Opening 05 Zappos Family Picnic 2013 07 Campus Update Health Clinic

My First, First Friday

FEATURES 09 New Health Clinic to Open at 701 Bridger 12 Park 15 Helldorado Days 20 Downtown Rangers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAST EVENTS & UPDATES

PHILOSOPHY & PHLUFF 25 Unbuttoned 26 Feed Your Head 27 Fabulous Las Vegas 28 Just the Tip 29 Housing Guide 31 Boley's Crystal Balls 32 Recipe: American Macaroni Salad 33 LVA 34 Word Search

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Upcoming Events

35 Arts & Ents 37 Baseball's Boys of Summer are Back! 39 What's On Tap 40 He Said, She Said 41 Things To Do 43 Upcoming Events 49 Calendar

Cover Photo: Marco Brizuela

TECH JOBS

http://about.zappos.com/jobs/jobs-zappos-family/search-open-positions

Hey, Mac! Here’s the 411 — The Zappos Family is seeking individuals to join our expanding business throughout several departments. Do you have what it takes to be a difference-maker in the field of analytics, software and information technology? Would you say you have a hard drive, embrace Windows of opportunity, constantly crawl through depths of material, interface and utilize coworkers as open sources? If this sounds like the Apple of your eye, cache in your chips where you are now and join our phenomenal hot spot! Navigate to our Jobs page through the QR reader, and we’ll save a cookie for you!! ISSUE 14

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PAST EVENTS

& UPDATES

● Zappos Insights Three-Day Boot Camp ● Fremont East Studios Grand Opening ● Zappos Family Picnic 2013

ZAPPOS INSIGHTS THREE-DAY BOOT CAMP We’re fun, wacky and weird, but we still get ish done. Tons of people are curious to learn about how Zapponians work. After all, we’re on a mission to live and deliver WOW. We share the things we do so that others can spread happiness, too. Last month, we had attendees from companies around the world come get a full immersion into our culture at the Zappos Insights Three-Day Boot Camp. During this event, participants shadowed with our customer loyalty team. They also

learned from leaders in the Zappos Family about discovering core values, recruiting, hiring, training, employee engagement, and our goals coaching program. They participated in a Q&A session with Tony and Fred, plus experienced our All Hands Meeting! On the last day, they toured downtown Vegas to see our new digs and the surrounding area where we’ll live, work, and play.

for someone, it spreads a warm and fuzzy feeling to welcome them. You’re making a difference to show how possible it is to create a fun and engaging workplace. Our next Three-Day Boot Camp is July 2-4, 2013. If you want to learn more about what Insights does for guests from around the globe, visit www.zapposinsights.com

Remember: everything you do inspires other companies. Every time you wave, make noise, greet our guests, or hold a door open

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Fremont East Studios is a full-service Las Vegas Video Production Company that specializes in live streaming video and postproduction, web series and branded entertainment. The studio brings state-of-the-art production technology to a 9,000 sq. ft. building that once served as the base

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for shows produced by and about city programs and politicians. Equally versed in both live and scripted events, their in-house video experts can plan, produce, and deliver the best quality video solution for both web presentations and traditional distribution formats.

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The grand opening was April 9, and a huge crowd of local enthusiasts came out to show support. There was live music, food, drinks and even a live dance club all inside the studio. Needless to say, all had a fun time. www.fremonteaststudios.com

PAST EVENTS & UPDATES

FREMONT EAST STUDIOS GRAND OPENING

ZAPPOS FAMILY PICNIC 2013

Friends and families of Zapponians got to experience a whole new world Saturday, April 13 at the company’s family picnic. The Z’Arabian Nights themed event was held at the newly renovated Lorenzi Park, a quick 10 minute drive from downtown.

the traditional American fare of hamburgers and hot dogs. For sweet tooth fanatics, cotton candy and kettle corn was also made available as children and adults alike were caught exuberantly licking their fingers all evening long.

From 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. employees and guests were able to enjoy a bevy of food options ranging from oriental dishes such as rice, steamed vegetables and skewers to

Whether you were sipping Desert Juice or chugging tap beer, this desert oasis was not a mirage of entertainment — the camels, swings, zip line, the myriad of Aladdinesque

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men and fire-breathing woman were all very real! As the wind gusts settled and moon replaced the sun, an alluring fireworks display was cast over the pop-up amusement park; its sizzling sounds interjected by the ooh’s and ahh’s of the crowd. Special thanks to all those that helped prepare and implement another amazing Zappos Family Picnic!

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Unbelievable sights Indescribable feeling Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling Through an endless diamond sky â&#x20AC;Ś A whole new world That's where we'll be A thrilling chase A wondrous place For you and me

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CAMPUS UPDATE Campus Update Construction on our campus is moving along at the speed of light (okay, maybe not that fast), and we are happy to report that we are still on time and on budget. Fun Fact: We have an average of 200 crew members cranking out a collective 2,000 hours of work EACH DAY! That’s the same amount of hours you work in a full year!

Get Your Inboxes Ready! As we continue to approach “The Move,” you will notice an increased frequency in communications from the COD Team. We know you have some big questions about the move: where you will sit, where you will park, etc. The COD team is committed to making the move and campus opening a seamless and fun experience, so we will be sharing a lot of information with you regarding the questions above and more in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Campus FAQ You have all been asking great questions. Keep ‘em coming! If you haven’t had the chance to visit the Campus FAQ Page, just go to the link below and learn away. If you have a question and do not see it listed on the FAQ page, shoot us an e-mail at campus@zappos.com and we will make sure to add it to the list.

https://confluence. zappos.net/display/CAM/Campus+FAQ Campus FAQ Page -

ABOVE RIGHT: Window frames getting a fresh coat of paint. Before (left) … and after (right) BOTTOM RIGHT: What are they doing to our beautiful plaza?!? Did we finally find Jimmy Hoffa?

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TOP LEFT: We’ve started painting! BOTTOM LEFT: Shipping and Receiving Department is “slightly” larger than our current one.

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TOP RIGHT: One of four training rooms: they are very spacious. BOTTOM RIGHT: Kitchenette area in one of the bubbles (the curvy window part of the tower).

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Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out to us at campus@zappos.com with any questions or comments. -Steven and the COD Team

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FEATURES

● New Health Clinic to Open at 701 Bridger ● Park on Fremont ● Giddyap, Downtown Vegas ● The Downtown Rangers

New Health Clinic to Open at 701 Bridger No joke: ZDoggMD aims to revolutionize primary care By Michael Boley

ince the early days of our country right up through present day bills and amendments on Capitol Hill, health care reform has been a topic of concern and at the forefront of public debate for more than 150 years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 48.6 million Americans were uninsured in 2011, with many claiming lack of access to affordable care and rising costs as a major concern. In a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation between the years 2000 and 2006, it indicated the country’s overall inflation rate and workers’ wages each increased roughly 3.65 percent, but health

care premiums increased a staggering 87 percent. Many people find themselves turned away from insurance companies due to preexisting conditions or illnesses. Because these entities are profit-driven, if an applicant is considered high risk, they can be refused even the most basic insurance policy. Unfortunately, this means individuals and parents of nearly eight million U.S. children are unable to receive preventative care, check-ups, and immunizations. Despite the criticisms and supports of health care reform being pushed through Congress Downtown ZEN

and penned by President Obama, one local MD is looking to dub-step around the muck of medicine to provide much-needed care to those living in downtown Las Vegas as well as an add-on benefit to Zappos employees. Dr. Zubin Damania has quickly become a household name to those within Zappos, Las Vegas, and social media sites and forums due to his satirical online videos and contagiously funny yet sometimes graphic humor. Before receiving his diploma at the University of California–San Francisco (UCSF), Damania gave an undeniably rousing, however unforgiving, commencement speech about MAY 2013

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a s e y

y a r

FEATURES

l k o l

his experiences in med school, cracking jokes relating to hospital shoe covers, secretion, and medicating patients. Since it’s posting to YouTube, the video has generated nearly 71,000 views and is a fan-favorite among those in and outside medicine. Raised by both parents who are in the medical field, Damania claims to have been in medicine since in utero. In reality, it’s been ten years since Damania finished med school in 1999 and completed his residency in 2002 at Stanford where he is still on-staff as an internal medical doctor. “I’ve always been that guy who tries to make annoying jokes in inappropriate situations to relieve tension and stress and uncomfortable situations,” said Damania. “Humor and empathy go handin-hand, and you need them to be a good doctor. So when I practice medicine, I find that I often use humor to put people at ease and myself at ease.” Since 2010, Zubin has created dozens of online videos under the alias ZDoggMD highlighting health issues such as colonoscopies, safe sex, and ulcers while ISSUE 14

also integrating and mocking pop culture artists such as PSY’s “Gangnam Style” (Gangnam with the Wind), Rebecca Black’s “Friday” (Call Day), and One Direction (One Injection). “One day I realized something (online) had changed, and that you no longer needed talent to actually reach a lot of people. And I thought, ‘Hey I could be the talentless guy that reaches out and maybe educates people in the process,’”said Damania. “I found that there’s a really pent up demand for funny medical videos that either address physician absurdities and burnout or directly educate patients [...].” Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh is a longtime friend and previous classmate of Damania’s wife who had initially inspired Damania to make viral medical videos. Hsieh later sought Damania and his family to move to Las Vegas and help undertake, redevelop, and revitalize facets of health care downtown. According to a 2012 Commonwealth Fund survey, Las Vegas ranked 268 out of 306 in areas nationwide for access, prevention

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and treatment, potentially avoidable hospital use and cost, and healthy lives — with nearly 30 percent of area residents uninsured. “Health care needs to be disrupted entirely. You cannot iterate, you cannot fix the current system. […] In order to do something truly disruptive, you have to go where things are the worst they can possibly be because that’s where you can achieve a foothold of something truly different,” said Damania. “And Vegas is the perfect place to disrupt medicine because it has such terrible quality care.” Since his relocation in March 2012, Damania, with the help of Downtown Project, has been in the process of ironing out the details to open a ground-level medical facility at 701 Bridger Ave. that will service 5,000 people, merely blocks away from Zappos’ Carson Street satellite office and Stewart Avenue headquarters. “We need to change the entire culture and concept of medical care, and that starts with something as simple as ‘How do we pay for it?’” said Damania. 10

According to Damania, there are layers in health care that need to be peeled back to find the source and fix the problem. His theory is this: To fix medicine you must first fix primary care, and to fix primary care three things need to be fixed:

1) How care is reimbursed

Damania believes insurance should be completely taken out of the equation where enrollment is a flat membership fee, which, he says, aligns the incentives of both doctors and patients.

2) How care is provided

Instead of a patient having one doctor, Damania is putting together a team which adds health coaches, nutritionists, and nurses who collaborate with the individual. Furthermore, the team would be nonhierarchical, making each person on its staff held fully accountable.

3) Electronic technology

Electronic medical records are based on billing the insurance company, said Damania. Once that portion is removed, the system can be built around collaborative care that allows the patient to read and directly write in his or her own charts. According to Damania, people still need to be covered by insurance for hospitalization, specialists, and testing needs. The new clinic’s membership fees are for primary care and prevention uses, which Damania says, is where 80 percent of all care can be done by using this model. Unlike a regular physician’s office, members at Damania’s facility will receive exclusive benefits such as access to same or nextday appointments, 24/7 phone access to a physician and/or team member, and the ability to e-mail or Skype with a physician.

Another unique distinction is the clinic will solely operate based on membership fees and will never ask for, bill, or complete any transaction through an individual’s health provider. Although Damania is unable to confirm the clinic’s monthly membership fee, he stated it would be less than $100 a month to be paid by the member’s employer or as an out of pocket expense. However, members who participate within the program but later decide to use another primary care provider would be asked to make a choice. “Once you sign up with us, and you’re with us, we want to be your sole source for primary care,” said Damania.” If you decide you want to go to a different primary care doctor, then we would probably ask you to disenroll because we can’t coordinate your care properly.” According to Damania, the clinic is partnering with Iora Health, a Cambridge, Mass. startup that aims to reinvent primary care by developing an innovative health care model and electronic medical record technology. A crucial component of Damania’s approach will be the development of a network of trusted specialists and hospital doctors throughout the valley. “Once our patients leave our four walls, they’re at the mercy of the Las Vegas health care system. What we ultimately want to do is create a network of specialists that we trust […] so that we can help curate your experience with doctors that we know are very good and are culturally aligned,” said Damania. So, what doctors will be working at the facility and where are they coming from? According to Damania, Zappos employees

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will have an opportunity to recommend staff for the clinic. Along with submissions, Damania said he’ll be out in the community laying the groundwork to bring in three doctors/practitioners at scale, a behavioral health specialist, and 11 health coaches specializing in nutrition, fitness, and weight loss. The clinic’s protocol will be set up so that each day the entire health care team will partake in a morning huddle before opening its doors. There, coaches will overview the charts of each patient scheduled that day and will address their concerns in a roundtable format. Afterwards, the team will generate a list of patients not coming in that they feel require additional attention, allowing the team to reach out to them before they get into trouble. “By hiring doctors who have that Zappos cultural ethos, which is that they’re passionate about what they’re doing and are here to make people better, by taking insurance out of the picture and creating a care model that is collaborative, the quality of care is going to have to be seen to be believed,” said Damania. “I’ve seen it […] and it’s quite remarkable.” Although the clinic is not expected to open until late 2013, more information is soon to follow, including the facility’s name, enrollment information, and membership fees. You can stay up-to-date and receive exclusive content on the clinic by signing up for Downtown Project’s mailing list at www.downtownproject.com/contact. In the meantime, subscribe to ZDoggMD on YouTube and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

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Park on Fremont By Mandy Crispin

astermind. Visionary. These are the adjectives that people who work with Ryan Doherty, proprietor, use to describe him. They were literally the first things out of Jerry Lemon’s and Hayley Hunter’s mouths, on separate occasions, when I asked them to talk about the new buzzworthy downtown hangout Park on Fremont. Park has taken the concepts of irony and contrast to new heights while avoiding overkill. It’s simply unique. When I spoke with Jerry, he said the best way he can describe Park is as a modernistic hunter’s lodge. Indeed, the first thing one sees upon entering is a mounted deer head with golden machinegun antlers (by San Francisco artist Peter Gronquist). Irony noted. The feminine touches, added by Hayley, like the chandeliers and the garden furniture in a mint and coral peach color scheme complement the darker green of the plants and bold white and pink flowers. If you are there around lunchtime, you may notice that part of the scenery is the accompanying gardener going to and fro with a watering can and ladder taking care of this mosaic infused park that attracts softly fluttering butterflies right there in the middle of a bustling downtown (this really happened).

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The role of leisure flourishes in this place. There are a thousand things to look at and think about here. Jerry said that the concept was “things you would actually find in a park,” but it wasn’t until these were presented at this venue that I began to contemplate the life of a park, and the elements of a park, and how both general life and beautiful parks epitomize irony that’s built-in. At Park you will find a Cinderella-style carriage, hopscotch, Jenga, and a fullsize seesaw in the smoking area. To find this seesaw, you must first find the secret passage reminiscent of the garden entrance in the children’s book “The Secret Garden.” All indicate the burgeoning, growing and transformative nature of the human life cycle at its beginnings and that of a blooming park. But the wood was salvaged from an old barn, there are antique wood bistro tables, an 8-foot-tall, graffiti-covered, weather worn classically styled statue of an archangel, and an honest to goodness reclaimed railroad track as a footrail on the bar. Beside youthful, childlike things and old and aged things, there are also alive things and dead things. The garden is alive; the atmosphere is alive; the deer head and the 27 mounted birds and squirrel, crafted with

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care by a local taxidermist, not purchased en mass on the internet, are all in a state of suspended death. Then there are the works of artists Mark Ryden and Mark Motherbaugh that further extend this strange, energized yet tranquil, suspended world where natural light and air breathe through the whole building via wide open, oversize windows. Mark Ryden’s large painting “Incarnation” (a pale, angel-faced youngster donning a dress made from meat) graces the wall — he’s my favorite. Mark Motersbaugh’s “Beautiful Mutants” add antiqued sepia, and slightly creepy, familyesque historical-feeling photos, which are, in fact, both beautiful and intriguing to look at but that induce guilt for the fascinated eye resting there too long — kind of the way one feels about oldschool carnival attractions (you know the ones) where the inner monologue of the viewer is, ‘Man, that’s kinda gruesome … how’d they do that? … fascinating … must look away … but I can’t. It’s kind of pretty.’) — OK, so maybe he’s my favorite too. Among other, less macabre think pieces, there is the loving care of handcrafted, warm colored furniture. The banquette at the front is handmade patchwork. Hayley noted, “I was literally cutting those patches myself patching it together. That’s where 12

I come into play more, with the little finishes.” The peacock chair, which has become the source of much envy for unlucky patrons who can only admire the lucky one sitting in it, was also designed and manufactured by Hayley’s company, Creative Space, located downtown. She worked with the carpenter who worked on the tables as well, and she designed and manufactured all “the stuff you’re actually sitting on,” she said.

I’d overlooked it on my first visit. Hayley said, “every time you come to Park you will notice something different,” kind of like it’s a series of vignettes that keep shape shifting and becoming more familiar, just as the vegetation grows. You will always leave Park with something to talk about, like the mating birds conversations overheard everywhere lately; Hayley said she had “everything to do with that.”

Speaking with Hayley has given a whole new respect to the stuff I sit on, and next time I go back, I’m gunning for that peacock chair;

The story behind the mating birds: Hayley said she met with the taxidermist and, “Once she asked me if I wanted them interacting, it

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was like a light bulb, and I was like can we have them mating? She kinda paused, and she was like ‘yes … I’ve never done that, but I think that would be great.’ And I was like this is the client who I could do this for and [Ryan] would completely get it. He’s so outside the box as it is, so I was like this is where I can pull this off.” Besides the birds and the décor, people can’t stop talking about the food either. Somehow it seems everywhere one goes someone is showing a picture of the chicken and waffles or commenting on the stuffed burgers. Jerry MAY 2013

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Park on Fremont 506 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 www.parkonfremont.com For info about Hayley: Hayley Hunter Creative Space 1421 S. Commerce St. Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.439.3923 www.hayleyhunter.com said, “I feel like it’s more of a neighborhood place, a place where you can come anytime. We have long hours: we’re open from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. right now, so it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late night menu. To me living downtown, what a great addition to actually have a place where I can eat anytime of the day […]. Everything closes. You’re limited to where you have to go, and if you’re living downtown the last thing you want to have to do is get in your car and drive somewhere.” Ryan is extremely well travelled, according to Hayley, and his travels inspired their ISSUE 14

approach to Park. Jerry commented that because the doors and windows can be left wide open to the street, there is the “freedom of free flowing air, and it gives you like a bit of a Melrose feel, like sitting in L.A. on Melrose.” He said, “What Ryan really brings to downtown is things that are in demand and that you never had. You look at Commonwealth, and there’s a flair of elegance, and then you go upstairs, and there’s the rooftop. There’re no rooftops anywhere. And then you go over to Park, and you have this ability to sit on the street and eat, and no one’s sitting on the street and

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eating [elsewhere].” In fact, you probably won’t see a lot about this place mixed together elsewhere. Welcome to the neighborhood, Park, though your owner has been here, we are happy to meet you.

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Giddyap, Downtown Vegas! Helldorado Days Return May 16-19

By Michael Boley

he Wild West is known for its sandinduced whipping winds and bristled tumbleweed dancing through its barren landscape. It’s a place where the sun stretches across the crisp cobalt sky and the hot daylight hours drag; the shadows shortening as its seconds slowly tick past high noon. Saloons and gambling halls align the gravel roadways where inside, escaping from the harsh landscape, cowboys and cowgirls slur their speech and drink bottomless bourbon. Outside, their horses drink stagnant day-old trough water as they swat flies with their coarse tails. It’s May 1934 in the semi-newly incorporated desert city of Las Vegas, a town located not far from the cusp of the soon-to-be completed architectural and engineering greatness that is the Hoover Dam. With the laid framework of railroads and influx of gaming and travelers, the city’s forefathers attempt to keep its workers and their families in the area, fearing that if they don’t, Las Vegas will become nothing more than a pitiful ghost town. Hence are the days of Helldorado’s creation. Helldorado Days is a yearly four-day event that has been sponsored by the Las Vegas Elk Lodge No. 1468 for 70 years. A prestigious group amongst the community, since 1935 the Elks have been responsible for creating and sustaining a long-lived tradition of

putting on a western-themed carnival for the city, most notably including its rodeos and parades.

2004, but was later brought back in 2005 at the request of former Mayor Oscar Goodman for Las Vegas’ centennial celebration.

In its early days, Helldorado was traditionally held downtown as the backdrop of local businesses and casinos would compete to build floats to increase fanfare amongst crowd members and vendors. However, as years passed and the city grew exponentially larger, space became limited and Helldorado was bucked off and sent packing between venues including the convention center, Thomas & Mack Center, and Sam Boyd Stadium, causing the public to lose interest.

Now, for its fifth straight year, Helldorado will again be held downtown on ten acres of vacant lots adjacent to Zappos’ 400 Stewart Headquarters and the El Cortez Hotel & Casino. According to LaDuke, he hopes to exceed the 17,000 paid visitors from last year to not only boost to the local economy, but also increase the Elks’ donations to local charities.

Due to the combination of inconsistent venues, far travel, high winds, and a mix of poor marketing and PR, a part of Las Vegas history seemed to soon be expelled. Duane LaDuke, an Elk Lodge member for over three decades, two-steps as the lodge’s youth activities chairmen and executive director of Helldorado. “A lot of things contributed to its demise,” said LaDuke. “It lost money two years in a row. […] Helldorado days as we knew it was gone. It was dead and buried.” With the Elks having sponsored the yearly event since its inception, Helldorado was extracted for seven years between 1997 and Downtown ZEN

With local support from Boyd Gaming, Las Vegas’ Centennial Commission, HCI International, and several other local businesses, Helldorado has received an estimated $535,000 in sponsorship funding which will allow for 100 percent of all ticket proceeds to go to children and veteran organizations as well as Susan G. Komen to coincide with its downtown Race for the Cure on May 4. “Our main goal is to raise money for local charities here in town. […] So when Susan G. Komen is having their race around the same time, there is a group called ‘Tough Enough to Wear Pink’ at the PRCA Rodeos, and instead of using their program […] we thought we’d go with our local group and call it ‘Cowboys for a Cure,’” said LaDuke, who is hoping to

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raise more than the $7,000 raised for the cancer foundation last year. Two weeks leading up to the event construction crews will begin to build the 4,500-seat rodeo arena from the ground up along with multiple animal stables and a traditional Western village to house key events and exhibits. According to LaDuke, an estimated 100 volunteers (60 Elk members, 40 community members) will be out and about to ensure the events are operated smoothly. Food and beverage options have also been carefully thought out. This year’s eats will feature seven different food vendors that will range from selling Mexican, oriental, and American barbeque including more adventurous items such as elk burgers and buffalo burgers. Drink options will consist of soft drinks, beer & wine, and Texas Twisters — a slushy made from all natural, hand-squeezed lemons, limes, oranges, and a secret ingredient. To kick-start the festivities on Thursday, May 16, Helldorado will feature “Local’s Night” and “Kids Night” with barrel racers, team rope, bull riders, and the fan-favorite Mutton Bustin’ event where ten pre-registered children ages 5 to 7 will ride sheep and be awarded prizes for staying on the longest, riding the farthest, and having the most fun. Friday through Sunday will create the most buzz worthy action when the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo gets underway, where cowboys will rope calves and ride bulls in a qualifying-type tournament. According to LaDuke, each animal, whether it’s a bull, horse, or steer, is used only once throughout the weekend with on-site veterinarians to monitor their health before, during, and after each event. “Animal welfare is very high on our list. We follow the PRCA rules — we couldn’t even be sanctioned if we didn’t follow those rules,” said LaDuke. “We have not had an animal hurt in our five years.” Other events throughout the weekend include rodeo specialty acts and Friday night’s Whiskerino Contest, an eight-category competition where men face off (no pun intended) to win longest and best groomed beard, best moustache, and best goatees, where participants are also encouraged to dress Western in pioneer, cowboy, or 1880s attire.

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Saturday and Sunday will host Helldorado’s parade and special tributes to honor, support, and raise money benefitting military personnel and veterans, the Western Wishes Foundation that grants wishes for children with cancer, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, respectively. If you’re looking for all-day fun and entertainment as well as support local charities, come on down to Helldorado Days May 16-19 to experience one of Las Vegas’ oldest traditions. Gates open ThursdaySaturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.elkshelldorado.com or in person at the day of events.

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Regular Arena Seating

Premium Arena Seating

Thursday: Adults $10 Kids under 10 are free

Thursday: Adults $15 Kids under 10 are $8

Fri.–Sun.: Adults $15 Kids under 12 are $8

Fri.–Sun.: Adults $20 Kids under 12 are $15

General Admission (no rodeo admittance): $3 ISSUE 14

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THURSDAY, MAY 16 Kids & Locals Day Carnival, Exhibits, Food Vendors @ 5pm Helldorado Rodeo @ 7pm

FRIDAY, May 17 Carnival, Exhibits, Food Vendors @ 5pm Whiskerino Contest @ 6pm – Beer Tent PRCA Rodeo @ 8pm

SATURDAY, MAY 18 Carnival, Exhibits, Food Vendors @ 5pm Parade @ 5pm, PRCA Rodeo @ 8pm Tribute to our Military and Veterans

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Gates open at 2 p.m.

“Cowboys for a Cure” benefitting Susan G. Komen – WEAR PINK Carnival, Exhibits, Food Vendors PRCA Rodeo @ 4pm Elk’s Hall of Fame Presentation 19

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The Downtown Rangers:

“Creating the Most Enjoyable Downtown Experience Worldwide” By Mandy Crispin

Core Values: T.I.T.A.N TEAM, INTEGRITY, TACTICALLY PROFICIENT, ACTION, AND NOBILITY. T.I.T.A.N.UP!

What?! Yep! Downtown has a new squad on the block. The Downtown Rangers are here to do whatever it takes to provide the “most enjoyable downtown experience worldwide,” and they’re giving Zappos employees a run for our money when it comes to feeling a sense of higher purpose, having fun at work, cultivating collaboration, and spreading contagious joy and humanitarian respect. Who: The Downtown Rangers Seventeen (total) rangers working in teams of two, two teams per supervisor per shift, three supervisors, the director and the big, bad Ambassador of Good Chill: Ambassador of Good Chill: Sgt. Christopher Curtis Director: David Lawson ISSUE 14

Team Supervisors: Jesse Hammond, Maurice Thomas, Alex Estrada Teams: Ninja Kitty (Josh and Kaili), 48Hrs (David F and Ian), Team E Dub (Eric and Eddie), Team On It (Ken and Lindsay), Team Spirit (Greg and Victoria), Team Awesome (Klint and Sarah) Where: The current service area is from Las Vegas Boulevard down to Eighth Street and from Carson Street to Stewart Avenue. When: Sunday and Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. (24 hours coming soon!) How: Call the DASH hotline: 702.900.DASH (3274)

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Downtown ZEN

How Long: Depending on the situation, it could take five minutes. We took an assisted walk with Ninja Kitty back to the office from the interview spot, Rachel’s Kitchen, and it took under 60 seconds for the team to respond. We talked about movies the whole way, but it was noted that they have a plethora of information about what’s going on downtown, as any solid concierge would. What?! (again) “The Ambassador of Good Chill Challenge:” Sarge has promised that if anybody asks any of the Rangers what their vision is, and they are unable to answer verbatim, “To Create the Most Enjoyable Downtown Experience Worldwide,” the director, David Lawson, will buy him or her “whatever meal is of the hour.”

Why: What is all included in “concierge service?” David: So offering directions; recommendations; you wanna know bus routes; anything related to the downtown area or Las Vegas. Everyone is equipped with smart phones, so they can give directions. You want to know what time something closes, where’s a good place to eat, or where’s a good place to have a drink, we offer recommendations of anything in the downtown area. Also, say you’re sitting here eating, and your meter is about to run out, if you see one of us, we can go feed your meter so you don’t have to get up from your meal. There’s really no limit to the services we may offer. The other day we were changing a tire for somebody. Jesse: Today someone called me on the DASH hotline. They saw us on the news. It was an elderly gentleman, and he called and asked me where a good place to go to get his watch fixed, so I got on Google, and I found it for him. I found him a watch shop that was near his house. Mandy: It’s kind of reminiscent of the story where people were walking around at a business meeting in San Francisco, and someone wanted a pizza but didn’t know where to go, so Tony said to call Zappos customer service and someone would help? David: That’s the thing. We’re always around, the friendly faces of Fremont East, so we just want people to have that warm feeling and have a good time. Our vision is to create the most enjoyable downtown experience worldwide, and we do that through our customer interactions from tourists to locals to Zappos employees, Downtown Project [peeps], we just want everybody to feel safe and feel welcome. We offer team walks, so if you feel uncomfortable walking by yourself or if you just want, you know, friendly companionship you can call our hotline, and we’ll walk you to anywhere within our area. Mandy: Who do you look for when you’re hiring? People who used to be in law enforcement? Security backgrounds? David: The initial hiring process was geared towards that, but we just found that we just

want passionate people: people who are passionate about the downtown things that are going on and people who love helping people because that’s all this is about. The staff we have now, if you look at each one of them, they get a thrill out of each interaction they have or feedback that they get from people, so the interview process is a little different as far as trying to get that personality, and it’s not just “I want a job, or I need a job, or I can do the job.” We want people who are passionate about what we’re doing. It feels good because we’re always giving back. Each interaction is just a feel good moment; plus you get a paycheck. Jesse: Sometimes I’m amazed that they’re paying me for this. I was going to do this anyway. I was just going to be out there talking to people anyway on my way to work or wherever throughout the day. I was going to be nice to people anyway. I was going to give someone directions anyway,

Downtown ZEN

and now they’re paying me for it, so it’s pretty amazing. David [to Jesse]: I’m going to have to reevaluate your pay structure. I’ll look into that. [laughs all around] David: It’s also the thing that outside of work you feel more conscious of helping people. The other day, one of the street team members, Josh Degonzales, was at 7-Eleven on his break and went to the ATM to get a $20 bill out, noticed that there was already a $20 bill in there that somebody had left, and instantly returned the $20 back to the cashier, and if somebody comes back missing the $20 … so it’s a thing that I notice when I’m out at different stores. You greet people differently and offer if somebody looks lost, you know, I’ll Google something for them, so it’s not just a job, it’s a way of life down here. It’s a beautiful thing. I love it.

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Mandy: I remember Sgt. Curtis saying, the day after he retired, “yesterday I was chasing bad guys, and today I was standing outside [a local business] trying to figure out how to get the garbage can not to smell so bad.” David: So there are different aspects to what we do, and one of the things I like to tell them is we want to be the change that we want to see in the community. So if we see a piece of trash on the ground we’ll pick it up and throw it in the garbage, and I know that one of the garbage cans […] had a horrific smell coming out of it, and it’s been going on for weeks. People were complaining, “the trash cans are just horribly, horribly dirty,” so it was one of those things where it’s like enough is enough — let’s do something. So we went and got some cleaning supplies, and Jesse actually got out there, put the gloves on, and it was pretty disgusting. But we cleaned it and also partnered with Fremont Experience maintenance. They came out and steam cleaned it, so that’s one thing we promote with doormen and different security entities downtown here, and definitely Metro, you know, to make everything run smoothly. Michael: If you see someone doing graffiti art on one of the buildings, how do you approach that? David: Because we’re not security, we’re observe and report, a lot of times we’ve had this situation too, and it’s just our presence where you kind of walk up with your team and document it. Everybody gets the body cams, they turn the body cams on so they can document it, and generally once they see us, they’ll take off. The next step to that is look to clean it up. There was a bunch of graffiti here in front of the old 7-Eleven building where they’re doing the construction now, and it just kept getting worse and worse, so the other day we went down and covered that up. We don’t want to get involved in incidences. We want to report them to the proper authorities, so it’s working with the gang units where we can send the pictures to them, and they can tell if it’s gang related or not, but we wouldn’t get involved as far as anything that may harm our people. It’s kind of like the garbage can. The city came down while we were doing it, and we were like ‘well, it’s been like this for a while, so we just figured we’d take some initiative,’ and that was last week. This week, the can has been replaced; it’s been painted. So

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people see us go and work, and it’s kind of contagious. And that’s the thing also of the community seeing us doing stuff. You don’t have to be a Ranger or have to wear a Ranger uniform to give back to the community. The event they have with the cars [the Mint 400], after the event they just left the streets trashed, and it was a bad look. The garbage cans were overflowed, and the Rangers got down there, and they just started picking up trash. You know, and to some people, it may look like ‘look at those clowns picking up trash,’ but if you really think about it, it’s a noble deed. Everybody should be out there because it’s our community, so let’s clean it up. It’s like your house. If you let people party and trash your house, you’re going to clean it up or wait for somebody else? That’s one of our Core Values. […] That’s the Action. We see something on the ground, we pick it up and throw it in the garbage, so we just try to be that influence. Jesse: Yeah, there was a pedestrian sign that was broken and David is out there trying to tape it back up and make it look good, […] and Saturday morning we called the city,

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and they were out, came and grabbed it, and they put a brand new one in, so that really helps. David: It’s all about community. […] A question was posed, “How many of your neighbors do you know,” and it’s like I didn’t know any of my neighbors, and now I’m getting out there meeting people. Introduce yourself and be aware of the community around you, and you meet a lot of good people. Beautiful people. Jesse: I grew up here, and I never experienced this. […] This is completely different from anything I’m used to, and it’s completely awesome. Walking down the street you’re like “Hey buddy, what’s up?” “Hey, how you doing?” Everybody is the same all the time, and when new people come in, it’s like, they don’t shun you. It’s not like you just walked into the cool tattoo shop, and you don’t have the cool tattoos. It’s like when [new people] come down, and [vets] don’t know you, they’ll say hello to you. The community down here is very open to everyone who comes down here.

Mandy: OK. That’s amazing. So it’s being proactive, teamwork, problem solving: all of these things. David: Right, so DASH is our tagline: Downtown Assistance Solutions and Hospitality. It’s a little bit of everything, and it’s working with homeless outreach, giving them resources. There’s definitely a homeless population in the downtown area, and we’re not a security force. It’s not our thing to say ‘you’re trespassing.’ We want to build relationships with everybody, so it doesn’t matter what income level you’re at, we’re out there to help, and make sure that everybody’s having the best time possible, so with that it’s offering resources. And does everybody want the resources? No. But we offer meal times where we can go down the street to Catholic Charities or Shade Tree, wherever, and also where they can get shelter at different shelter times, and each month they have corridor of hope meetings with all the different entities for homeless outreach. And we attend there so we’re up to date on information, and that’s the thing; we just talk to everybody. It’s not always a thing that you make bad choices, it’s sometimes just that’s the way the ball rolls, and it’s the thing that we want to help. Everybody on the team — they all love helping. Jesse: Sometimes all anyone needs is a hand 23

up, especially nowadays with everyone losing their houses: it’s tough. I actually think that way. “That could have been me.” Couple different choices in my life: that could have been me, so I’m passionate about it. I’m really excited. Not everybody wants that. I’m really excited for someone who does want it. Get him into a bed even after hours. If […] Shade Tree is closed, we can call certain people, and they have beds available that we can get them after hours, so it’s 2 a.m. and everybody went home, and we’ll call and be like “we need a bed,” and they can take care of it. Just that one phrase, our vision, “to create the most enjoyable experience worldwide.” When I think of that, I think anything I can do to make a more enjoyable experience downtown I’m going to do. Even like with the homeless. Some of them are obviously not having a very enjoyable time down here, and if I can help them have a more enjoyable time, that’s what we’re here for. David: It’s a beautiful thing. It was all new to me when it was first pitched, and now seeing it come to life and actually work … and the responses have been great. Sometimes it just makes you wanna cry … Let’s be real peeps. This world can be an ugly place. But has anyone ever done something so nice for you, or have you witnessed a random act of kindness, that made your heart swell, gave you a feeling of oneness Downtown ZEN

with the universe, and made having faith in human beings, even while this may wax and wane, seem like it isn’t a far-fetched idea? I mean, we WOW for a living around here, but what is so, so big that it can even crack the ice around cynical hearts? Here are David and Jesse’s stories about the team coming together and the day Jesse met Sgt. Curtis. Mandy: Have you ever had an experience where you were like “that was so emotionally fulfilling for me to do ___” that you almost wanted to cry? Has that happened yet? David: I’d say overall just putting the project together, and I remember one of the first weeks at our orientation sitting back watching the team interact, and I did oneon-ones that week, and I didn’t cry, but I had several members of the team come to the one-on-one and were in tears about how passionate they were, how happy they were to be a part of this project, and to me that was goose bumps, definitely. You could tell it was real. They already had the job. They weren’t trying to sell me. The way that they connected and the way things have come together is a beautiful thing. I might cry now talking about it, but I didn’t cry then, so I would say just overall seeing it come to life and the way people react to it: it’s beautiful.

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Jesse: Something that really got me was actually the day of my interview with David. We were going to go to the Downtown Cocktail Room, and I was outside waiting because I’m always an hour early for everything on Earth. And I’m in a nice suit, and there was a family sitting on the corner by the trash cans, just sitting there, a husband and wife and young child probably 2 or 3 years old, and they had a stroller and a shopping cart with all their stuff. They looked like they probably lost their house three hours before. They were still clean clothed, looked like they just showered that morning, and just didn’t know what to do. They were just sitting there. They didn’t talk to anyone. They didn’t … and I’m in a suit, and I’m standing right next to them, and they never asked me for a dime. So I’m thinking “I would like to help these people out, but I’m not really sure what to do” because I don’t want to walk over and say, “hey what do you guys need?” Now I would because I know what to say now. I know about all the resources thanks to David and the Rangers training me about all this stuff. And then Sgt. Curtis drives up in his police car, and you can see from the look on the husband’s face that he thinks “Uh oh. The cops are going to try to bust my chops, and they’re going to make us move on,” and

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Sarge gets out, and I’d seen Sarge around working or at Insert Coins this whole time, but I didn’t know how … he’s a good dude. He’s very compassionate. He walks over and he’s like “You guys look like you might be hungry. Let’s go over and get pizza.” And they have their shopping cart and their stroller, but they can’t take it into [Uncle] Joe’s [Pizzeria], and I’m standing there anyway, so I was like “I’ll keep an eye on it. You guys go get your pizza. I’ll watch your stuff.” So they go into Uncle Joe’s Pizza, and they’re eating pizza. […] So there’s something that’s … it changed a little bit. I would have never done that, and said “let’s go get food.” Now I would. And it’s pretty cool. It’s good. The first time I got someone into Shade Tree, a young girl also was newly homeless, a friend of mine called me and asked me … he goes, “I know you got this new job, I have no idea what to do, I got this girl she’s homeless, she just needs a place to stay and help getting back on her feet. She needs an ID and maybe help getting a job.” So Shade Tree popped into my head, I called Shade Tree, nobody answered, so I called Annie Wilson, who is the liaison for Metro with the homeless resources, and it was probably 11 at night, you know, everybody’s in bed, it’s the middle of the week, and she gave me a number to call. I called the

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person in charge of Shade Tree, they got her in there that night, and I’ve actually been getting updates from my friend who called me about it, and she’s doing great. She’s back in the workforce, got her ID, she’s still staying at Shade Tree, but she’s moving towards getting back on her own and into an apartment. That’s a success story in my opinion. Mandy: That’s amazing that you can take a kind person who maybe doesn’t know what to do and give them resources, and now that person gets to make a huge impact on people’s lives. Jesse: Really all I did was make a phone call. If it wasn’t for people like Annie Wilson and the amount of resources that are in this city is mind boggling. There are so many people who dedicate their lives just to helping people, and once I started doing this I was like “I’m in a room with 70 people, one from each place,” and it’s like, “this is blowing my mind.” All these people, every day, wake up, and their only goal is to help someone get back on their feet. It’s mind boggling. For answers to the question “how are they trained?” please pop over to the article in Seven Magazine at www.vegasseven.com

PHILOSOPHY

& PHLUFF

● Unbuttoned ● Feed Your Head ● Fabulous Downtown ● Just the Tip ● Housing Guide ● Astrology ● Recipe ● LVA ● Word Search

UNBUTTONED

Josephine Skaught Hairdressing: A Cut Above

ead into a gallery of gorgeousness and experience expert artistry in action! You’re sure to be spellbound by the magic that goes on at Josephine Skaught Hairdressing! These supreme stylists know the game, that the heart rules the head. That’s why they play their best hand with fashionable finesse. Each satisfied customer is treated like a diamond and will always look like a winner! The salon is an enchanting experience: both captivating and comfortable. Artwork decorates the walls. There is an old vintage record player in the corner. Interesting books and vintage treasures are sprinkled throughout. A large video screen entertains customers at the back while they are getting their hair washed or are under the hair drying station. I went to visit Josephine Skaught Hairdressing and caught up with Skaught Gibson, owner and master stylist, to ask him a few questions about his artistic hair salon. Why did you decide to open a salon downtown? I decided to open a salon downtown because I wanted to create a space where we, as hairdressers, could draw inspiration and creativity from other artists and likeminded people. Hairdressers are artists in our own right, and just like other artists we gather ideas and inspiration from our surroundings. Because we are in the center of the Arts District, our salon doubles as a gallery as well. We showcase a different artist every four weeks which keeps our work environment fresh and encourages constant evolution, as well as making it exciting for our guests to come into a "new" space every time they visit us. Our doors are always open for the public to come in any time and check out the newest show on our walls. We generally have an opening reception for the new artists for First Friday every month as well

By Jonathan Hesser as Preview Thursday. Our current exhibition is the private collection of vintage guitars that belong to Jesse and Roxie Amoroso, the owners of Cowtown Guitars. It will be on display until the end of April. Another reason for being downtown was to get more involved and help develop a sense of community. We are always looking for ways to give back and help others however possible. On April 22 we will be hosting a cut-a-thon in our salon to raise money for Nevada's "Big Give Day," which is on April 25. All the proceeds will be donated to the Sojourn Foundation, which is a nonprofit based in Las Vegas that works with the community to prevent the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. How did you come up with the name for your hair salon? I was going for something that would sound classic and timeless, vintage yet modern, and both feminine and masculine. I finally decided on combining the first names of my grandmother (a classic beauty with a great vintage name) and myself. Josephine Skaught. My grandmother was one of my best friends and passed away two years ago at the ripe old age of 101. I thought this would be a great way to pay homage to such a radiant lady. Do you specialize in any treatments or styles? My salon is a hair only establishment (no nails or skin care, although we do makeup), so we specialize in all things hair. I have hand-picked a team of incredible artists who each bring different skills and talents to the table. We have the best people in the biz and can take care of anyone's hair needs from a perfect haircut or blow out to a dreamy new color or a head full of luxurious extensions. We also offer several different types of smoothing and defrizzing treatments. What products do you sell at your salon? We are an exclusive Bumble and bumble Downtown ZEN

(www.Bumbleandbumble.com) network salon. I've been working with Bumble for the last 15 years and feel lucky to be part of such a great family and culture of hairdressers who create some of the highest quality products money can buy. We also use AVEDA color which is amazing because unlike other color lines, it's completely customizable allowing us more creativity as artists; not to mention the fact that it is nontoxic because it is mainly derived from plants and lacks all of the harsh chemicals that are in most other color services. What are your hours? We don't have any hours set in stone because there are a few of us that like to work late into the night, but we are generally open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at the very least. We are also open on Sundays and Mondays by appointment only. We prefer for our guests to make appointments because some of our busier stylists have a wait time of several weeks, although there are a few times a week when a lucky walk-in can be accommodated. What fashionable hair trends do you foresee for women and men? I always say the most fashionable hair trend is a cut, color and style that brings out the best features of the person wearing it. A brilliant artist can make anyone look fashionable by focusing on his or her face (and personality) and knowing what they can or cannot pull off. A beautiful and trendy haircut can be stunning on one face and a disaster on another. Experience brilliant beauty and get gloriously groomed with the clear-cut creativity of Josephine Skaught Hairdressing ART SQUARE 1025 S. First Street, Suite 165 Las Vegas, NV 89101 702.431.8071 www.Josephineskaught.com A definite hair do! MAY 2013

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Chasing rabbits with Downtown Project’s music guru, Ashton Allen By Marco Brizuela

nwritten rules are a funny thing. No one knows what all the unwritten rules are, because, well, they’re unwritten. But people sure are quick to point it out when one of those rules is broken. Look at the curious case of Downtown Project’s de facto music supervisor, Ashton Allen, for example. Here’s a guy who is not only willing, but very eager, to help guide and nurture the downtown music scene from the ground up. He wants nothing but success for everyone here, from bands to the venues supporting them. The only thing is that he’s from Florida. You know, Florida as in “the state that is over 2,300 miles away from Las Vegas.” Since leaving the sunshine state three months ago, Allen has kept himself busy acclimating to the Vegas music scene and its people. Naturally, he’s run across a few cold and calloused cynics who wonder what kind of personal gain a grizzled Florida musician hopes to achieve coming all this way. Because, let’s be real, here … he’s not a local. After a smile and an introductory handshake, Allen surveys the menu and says, “I want the veggie burrito, but what are calabacitas? It says it comes with that.” Not wanting to appear uninformed or perhaps simply being shy, Allen orders a sure thing: “I’ll have two chicken tacos, please, and a bottled water.” Studying Allen’s face from across the table reveals a man who has seen a lot in his time. The faint hairline creases across his forehead and manicured salt-and-pepper stubble give him character. It informs his stories with an honesty and sincerity that the music industry typically eats alive. “Rabbit was born out of desperation,” Allen says. As the din of conversations grows louder from surrounding patrons, Allen shyly runs his hand across his aforementioned stubble and speaks of his musical history. One band built a following, but plateaued. Later, he was briefly signed to a boutique label that was funded by a major label, but soon went

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bust. Finally, he found himself in his early thirties, crashing on couches, living the alltoo-common stereotype of the musician that wanted to live the dream but was glamorously broke. It seemed like every move he made further painted him into the destitute musician’s corner. Drowning in debt and worrying about becoming a burden to the goodwill of those he knew, his resourcefulness and ambition kicked into gear. Allen made a commitment to himself and his longtime friend, Devin Moore (who is in Rabbit as well), to devote three years to take what they love — music — and find a way to make a living at it. They began pitching ad executives to see what kind of music they were looking for to be placed in commercials and episodic television.

The music that consistently brought them the results they wanted — a paycheck — was in stark contrast to Allen’s previous musical output, which was a sort of therapeutic expression of angst while Moore’s tastes glammed towards Bowie and T. Rex. The music that put food on their tables was poppy to the point it seemingly beckoned roosters to crow with its rays of sunshine and bubblegum goodness. For the first time in their lives, there was no musical agenda. Neither Allen nor Moore had designs on getting signed to a major label with serious airplay or going on massive world tours that hit so many cities, you had to be reminded each night before you stepped on stage what city name you needed to say hello to. It was

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really fun just making music and the two of them were finally making a living at it. When enough ad people started to show a repeated interest in the incessantly joyful music, they began asking what the band was called. Moore blurted out “Rabbit,” and Allen nodded, then followed by saying, “The band’s name is Rabbit but with an exclamation point.” Through a series of random and incredibly positive occurrences relating to the band’s music, Allen found himself shaking hands with another bandleader of sorts after a performance in Hawaii: Zappos’ CEO Tony Hsieh. The two made a connection at that show back in 2011, and now Allen finds himself with the ambitious task of uniting the city’s musical talent and resources.

PHILOSOPHY & PHLUFF

Feed Your Head

Looking down at the scraps that were once his chicken tacos, Allen speaks in very considerate tones about the people he’s met thus far in town, from the skeptics to the supporters. In a very short amount of time, he’s already laid a foundation for success through building relationships and actively listening to concerns about what’s to come. A few of those plans include finding homes downtown for well-equipped band rehearsal spaces and developing a location for a recording studio focused in part on the budgetconscious musician. Beyond that, Allen is passionate about music education. He is a firm believer in kids having access to instruments, whether it’s school or somewhere else, so they can learn and develop their creativity at an early age. He even mentioned a desire to organize a panel of speakers for the gigging musician to discuss topics like protecting an artist’s songs legally through publishing. Until the city sees the fruits of Allen’s efforts, the lazy retort is “less talk, more rock.” It’s easy and safe. But there’s no real return on that kind of pessimistic investment. Allen’s taking the long odds to heart, and with his recent string of successes combined with his determination and demeanor, the potential for a new music landscape downtown to rock everyone’s face off is very real. 26

Fabulous Downtown Helldorado Days Are Here Again! By Brian "Paco" Alvarez

elldorado is one of Nevada’s longest and most enduring cultural events. Begun in 1934 by Clyde Zerby as a way to benefit from the thousands of tourists who came to Las Vegas to see the construction of Hoover Dam, the event would feature dances, carnival rides and would celebrate the community’s Western heritage. In 1935, a parade was added to Helldorado, which eventually became the signature pièce de résistance of the event. By the 1950s, the Helldorado Parade became one of the premier parades in the United States, easily riveling the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Most of the community showed up to the event as would visitors from all over the United States and the world. Businesses from every corner of Southern Nevada would build floats and sponsor high school bands, cheerleading troops and troubadours of all kinds. The resort hotels in particular would participate in friendly competition to see who could build the biggest and most elaborate float. No expense was spared when Helldorado rolled down Fremont Street.

In this rare color image from the Las Vegas News Bureau, the Mint Hotel & Casino float rolls right in front of the casino that sposored it. Decked out in

the hotel’s colors and bedazzled with attractive women, this float spectacularly demonstrates the beauty of the floats that were part of Helldorado.

This image is provided by the Las Vegas News Bureau image 10221-13 – May 1, 1965 For more information about the Las Vegas News Bureau, visit www.lvcva.com/what-we-do/news-bureau

More info about Paco, visit: www.lvartsandculture.blogspot.com 27

For more information about Las Vegas News Bureau exhibitions, visit www.lasvegas.com/listing/the-lvcva-presents-exhibitions-from-the-las-vegas-newsbureau-archives/32626 Downtown ZEN

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JUST THE

Bird Flu Pigeonholed in Asia; Could Flock By Michael Boley

ou may have read about the disease in newspapers, online, or heard about it on TV or at the nearest water cooler who is capturing audiences and sending people into high alert around the world. It’s the newest strain of the bird flu, also known as avian influenza or H7N9, and recently identified in China on March 31. The disease is caused by an influenza virus that primarily affects birds but has been known to also affect humans through the spread of infected birds’ saliva, nasal secretions, and droppings. Since 1997, 622 people have been reported to carry the illness, which has killed more than 370 people worldwide. According

to the World Health Organization and MedicineNet.com, human cases of the highly pathogenic bird flu have been largely confined to Southeast Asia and Africa. However, mutations of the virus can occur, which could grow from a regional plague to a worldwide pandemic. Direct contact with sick poultry causes the highest risk of contracting bird flu as well as indirect exposure to bird feces. Therefore, if you initiate any contact with unwashed eggs or fece-contaminated water, you could be in jeopardy.

exposure. Those infected experience typical flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, or eye infections, potentially progressing to pneumonia or respiratory failure which may lead to death. Although the odds of contracting the bird flu are extremely low, people should nonetheless exercise caution when preparing food. To safeguard from possible infection, make sure to:

Common signs and symptoms of the bird flu occur approximately two to eight days after

• Wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds. • Cook your eggs until whites and yolks are firm. • Clean cutting boards, tableware and all surfaces with soap and hot water. • Use a food thermometer. Cook poultry to a temperature of at least 165 degrees.

To learn more about the current status of the bird flu overseas and how to keep you and your family protected, please visit the World Health Organization’s website at www.who.int.

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HOUSING GUIDE Karina Giraldo

Residential Specialist

O: 702.333.4455 C: 702.480.9131 F: 702.853.4470

SoHo Lofts

By Karina Giraldo

ight in the middle of the Arts District is downtown’s first high-rise condominium building, SoHo Lofts. SoHo Lofts condos offer loft-style luxury condominium homes with 11-foot ceilings, exposed mechanicals and ductwork, large floor-to-ceiling windows and wide-open living spaces. Expect to enjoy a thoroughly cosmopolitan residential experience similar to loft living in other great cities such as New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Soaring 17 stories above Las Vegas Boulevard, SoHo Lofts condos come beautifully wrapped in a traditional "art deco" architectural design that exudes both permanence and substance. SoHo Lofts opened in 2006 and has a total of 119 units. Floors 2 through 6 house the enclosed assigned parking for their residences: a necessity when the summers get too hot and getting into your car can be a battle. SoHo Lofts has an amazing rooftop observation deck on the 17th floor that also features a rooftop pool, spa, fitness room and 360-degree stunning view over the entire valley and Las Vegas Strip. There are seven different floor plans, ranging from 1,277 to 5,206 sq. ft., with the option of converting part of the loft into bedrooms or offices. The space is perfect for working artists or for those in search of a cosmopolitan living area that reflects the open expanses of this growing city. Approximately eight units were sold in the past six months at an average price of $155 per sq. ft. HOA fees hover around $0.36 per sq. ft., positioning SoHo Lofts as one of the more affordable Las Vegas high-rise options.

kgiraldo@northcap.com 815 Pilot Road, Suite E | Las Vegas,NV 89119

These loft-style Las Vegas condos are highly sought after, and as we enter spring of 2013, inventory is very thin, especially on foreclosure listings. It’s not unusual for a brand new SOHO LOFTS MLS (Multiple Listing Service) to receive multiple offers within a few days of being listed. Currently, there is only one unit available, listed at $298,000. As for the rental market, you can expect to pay about $1,350 for a 1,277 sq. ft., one bath unit and about $1,500 for 1,400 sq. ft., two baths unit. Currently, there are only two available rental units on the market: One bedroom, two baths, 1,356 sq. ft. – $1,500 One bedroom, two baths, 1,590 sq. ft. – $1,600 Hidden away in the SoHo Lofts building in downtown Vegas is one of the top lounge bars in this city, Lady Silvia. Inspired by Prague's Strahov Monastery Library, with shelves of books climbing to the ceiling, chic couches and chairs situated on black and white checkerboard floors, it invokes an Englishstyle library and cocktail bar ambiance. The Lady Silva is the best combination of your neighborhood bar and an upscale lounge. The staff is fun and friendly, and the drinks are always amazing. Be sure to check out the Amanda Harris Gallery of Contemporary Art while you’re there. The Amanda Harris Gallery specializes in local and visiting artists and is located just before the entrance to Lady Silvia.

offered a variety of delicious beverages. The decor is simple yet modern and trendy. They are closed on Sunday and Monday, but they are pretty flexible, so you can always find something that works with your schedule whether you prefer weekends, lunchtime, or the after workday appointments. Another great amenity in the building is Resnicks, which describes itself as a "downtown bodega." It's a small store tucked away on the north side of the SoHo Lofts. With so little space, they still manage to carry plenty of essential items that include fresh organic fruits and vegetables, locally baked bread, good coffee, fresh packaged sushi, salads, wraps and sandwiches. They also have a great selection of microbrew beers, teas, toiletries and cleaning products. Most mornings you will see SoHo residents with a coffee and a premade, healthy meal, surfing on the free Wi-Fi on their outdoor patio. SoHo Lofts adheres to the best of what loft living is all about, open floor plans, commercial-style appliances, massive windows, breathtaking city and mountain views, and convenience and entertainment right at your doorstep. Even at a substantial distance, the SoHo Lofts Las Vegas tower is immediately recognizable and distinctive.

Next to Lady Silvia is the award-winning salon, Globe. In 2009, Globe was the recipient of a national salon design award and is an ELLE Top 100 salon. Globe Salon was opened in 2000 by two Las Vegas natives and their team of dedicated, passionate professionals. Many of the hair stylists have been on board for years. Upon walking through the door you will most likely be Downtown ZEN

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Downtown ZEN

BOleY’s CRYSTAL BALLS

Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22

April’s showers have brought scattered May flowers. With the passing of several rainstorms last month, the next 31 days will test your true resilience and ability to regrow and bloom like the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, although spring has sprung for some, others won’t be breathing in a sigh of relief, but pollen instead. Like the people of your past, don’t let the stars deceive you this month. Follow only those that shine the brightest, and twinkle the longest; otherwise, you may find yourself surrounded in darkness in the pending solar eclipse.

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Your overeating habits are grossing others out, especially this month, as you load up fried foods and desserts. However, nothing will disturb your friends more than when you ask to get transported to the hospital to have an emergency C-section, screaming to have your food cut out.

You tend to be wrapped up in yourself lately and are getting a little too conceited for your own good. In fact, when others ask if you’d like a bottle of water, you assume it means something sexual. In reality, it means that person hopes you spill and melt like the Wicked Witch of the West.

To you, being vintage is more important than life itself. From wearing distressed tees to cruisin’ in a 1963 Chevelle, you want to look badass. To complete the whole ensemble you go to extremes by purposely skipping the sunscreen so you age ten years faster. Looking waaay chic, guurl!

teh

Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 You consider yourself quite promiscuous, as you frequently don’t wear protection while lying on your back or stomach. In fact, you swear wearing protection just hinders that warm, tingly feeling. However, if you don’t use a plan B, your mistake could haunt you for the next 18+ years. Always, ALWAYS practice safe sun when out for more than 30 minutes to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22

Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22

Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 You’ve become a pro in the digital age of smartphones and social networking. Constantly hashtagging trendy lingo, updating your Facebook status, and texting your BFF at warp speed, you think your fingers are pro. However, those squiggly red lines under every other word you type are there for a reason. It’s called spellcheck. Use it.

Recouping after your own personal St. Patty’s Day massacre $#!t show, you’re finally ready to hit the ground running on May 5. However, the sweet taste of Jose Cuervo will prove to be too much for you to handle. As Mexican-Americans commemorate their democracy and freedom, you will observe your stomach getting pumped cinco times.

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 Your stonewalled face has a reason this month. You will cash in gas rewards, redeem credit card points, and withdraw sky miles for what seems to be a win-winwin. Unfortunately, you’ll be using these bonuses to fill up your car, buy useless gifts, and return home for a long weekend with relatives, resulting in a lose-lose-lose.

SPF

+++ ---

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 Vocabulary can be the kiss of death in today’s business world. Finding a middle ground between NASA talk and Ebonics can be downright challenging. Combat this by strictly using emoticons in your e-mail vernacular. As the saying goes, pictures are worth a thousand words. Downtown ZEN

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:) ;) :X 8) ISSUE 14

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

Pisces Feb. 19–Mar. 20

Your household is ruled with an iron fist, making Margaret Thatcher look like a big softy in her heyday. Controlling what your man does, goes, or sees, is hindering his bromances. The next time you overhear him talk about manscaping, it’s code for “man escaping” not “man landscaping.”

Aquarius Jan. 20 – Feb. 18 You grew up with a love for international foods ranging from lutefisk to tandoori chicken to pupusas. This incessant need to eat such delicacies will cause you to seek counseling for an identity crisis. Bonus: Three weeks’ worth of psychoanalysis will also provide solace to your daddy issues.

RECIPES

Each morning you awake in rage due to the annoyance of your alarm clock. You’ve tried switching to waves and rain, but quickly realized that such noise has triggered your small bladder into action. Instead, you’ll turn to the sounds of breakfast with sizzling bacon and the tea kettle’s growing whistle, ultimately decreasing your need to punch someone’s throat at 7 a.m.

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19 When it rains, it pours. This month you’ll seize your engine and rip the crotch in your best pair of slacks. To complete the trifecta you’ll forget to send Mom a Mother’s Day card. Good luck borrowing money or getting your bottoms fixed any time soon.

American Macaroni Salad: to die for. Recipe adapted from Television Food Network, G.P. copy write 2001

Seriously. Don’t leave items that include dairy or seafood out in the sun at your barbecues. It can give you food poisoning. But, the good news is, if this does happen, your final meal will have been freaking amazing. This recipe is from the Food Network, but I’ve added some extra ingredients and changed some. It’s a guaranteed crowdpleaser for those upcoming spring and summer get-togethers! Start to finish: 30 minutes to 50 minutes Prep: ninja choppers, 20 minutes; relaxed lollygaggers, 40 minutes

Ingredients:

● 2 cups dry penne rigate, cooked, rinsed, and drained ● 1/3 cup diced celery ● 1/4 cup minced red onion, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes, drained ● 1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley ● 1/2 cup diced vine-ripened tomato (this is what makes or breaks the salad) In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, celery, onion, parsley and tomato. In a small bowl, whisk together the

● 3/4 cup prepared mayonnaise ● 3/4 teaspoon mustard ● 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar ● 1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar ● 3 tablespoons sour cream ● 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, add more to taste ● 1 small can chunk light tuna ● Freshly ground black pepper

mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, vinegar, sour cream and salt. Pour the dressing over the salad, add tuna, and stir to

combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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Las Vegas Academy Class of 2013

tudents focus their entire high school careers on one common goal: receiving their diploma at graduation. And for the class of 2013, the finish line is finally in sight. For some, it has been the best four years of their lives; for others, not so much. Whether they're moving on to college, the armed forces, or straight into a career, they can all agree that they're excited to move on to bigger and better things. The final months of high school is crunch time for this year's graduating seniors, the last time they have to push past "senioritis," the disease that is said to plague every year's senior class causing them to unwillingly work. Between college registration and acceptance, AP (advanced placement) exams, prom, rehearsals, and senior events, these months may be the best — or most stressful — days of their young lives. By this point in the year, students have already heard back from the colleges they applied to and are making their final decisions, and when weighing finances, education, location, and a career, this can be tough. Many even take a last minute trip to tour their future college and ensure it’ the right choice for them. As far as academics go, AP testing, proficiency testing, and semester exams are all occurring

By Shannon Sneade within the coming weeks, something all seniors concern themselves with. Although colleges have already sent acceptance letters, it’s not too late for them to drop students if their grades begin to suffer. May 18, prom night, will bring a bittersweet feeling to all graduating students. While students at the Academy don't attend sporting events or school rallies, prom is a cliché high school experience for upperclassmen. The week following prom is "senior week," dedicated to give seniors a reward and many fun memories before they leave high school. The week is filled with graduation rehearsals, senior picnic, senior awards night, and the senior assembly. Many spring music concerts also take place during this week, the last of many LVA performances this class will be a part of. The concluding week of May is when reality sets in for students. Seniors fill out check-out cards, return books, give up their lockers, and begin saying their goodbyes. This is harder for some students than others, depending on the friends they’re leaving behind and how far away they’re moving. While they may still have the entire summer to spend before

Downtown ZEN

college, their days left as students at LVA are numbered. Finals week follows this, a stressful and anxious time for all students at the Academy. Between studying, finishing out grades, and resisting the urge to "check out" for summer, there are many things to think about. June 5 is the last day as high school students for the class of 2013. They will say their goodbyes to teachers and peers and take one last look around the school before they leave, many expecting to feel sentimental. The students will have finally reached the finish line; after four years they will have completed what they’ve endlessly worked for. To commemorate this special event, the next day is Grad Nite, a trip the majority of seniors choose to take to Six Flags to have one last shebang with their friends. The official wrap-up of high school is graduation, a date long anticipated by the class and parents alike. June 12 will bring many fond memories as well as sad ones, leaving behind the things that have shaped their lives. As a class of approximately 600 students, the newly graduated will walk the aisle, adorned in their traditional cap and gown, and soon move on to the beginning of the rest of their lives.

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Word Search By Angelina Fadool Located in downtown Las Vegas, the Neon Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the city through its most iconic art form, the neon sign. The museum’s collection consists of three components: the Downtown Gallery on Fremont Street at Las Vegas Boulevard, the Las Vegas Signs Project on

Aladdin

Las Vegas Boulevard between East Sahara and Washington avenues, and The Neon Boneyard, a two-acre outdoor museum space that is home to over 150 donated and rescued signs dating from the 1930s to today. Some of the city’s most iconic casino, hotel, motel, and chapel signs are both a part of

Stardust

the museum’s collection and a part of this crossword. Ready to put your knowledge of Vegas history to the test? Billionaire Howard Hughes famously purchased the hotel across the street from his Desert Inn just to stop its sign from spinning. Figured it out? Then find it hidden in the puzzle.

Sahara

Hacienda

Moulin Rouge Desert Inn

El Rancho

Mon Bel Ami

Binion's

La Concha

Desert Inn

Algiers

Solution to last month's JUMBLE:

Why did the man quit his job crushing cans at the recycling plant?

Because it was S O D A P R E S S I N G. ISSUE 14

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EVENTS &

ENTERTAINMENT

● Arts & Ents ● Smith Center ● Baseball's Boys of Summer ● What's On Tap ● He Said, She Said ● Things To Do ● Upcoming Events ● Calendar

ARTS & ENTS My First, First Friday

By Nick Szczurko

n 2011, Tony announced during the all hands meeting that First Friday was now under new ownership, by none other than himself and friends. Needless to say, the crowd went crazy with over a thousand Zapponians cheering in the stands, myself included. But I almost felt like a kid who was late to his own party. I have never been to a First Friday in my life. What were the reasons behind me not taking the leap on a Friday and venturing downtown you might ask? To this day, I really can’t come up with any. I heard many other employees mention how much they admired First Friday and how they go back again and again to see what new art is around the corner. This was not a new discovery for me either. I grew up in Vegas, went to UNLV and had many classmates mention First Friday in the hallways. It was not until recently, last month to be precise, that I decided this would be my first, First Friday. 7:40 p.m. was the exact time my First Friday experience started. I have to say, I felt jitters through my veins as I parked at the soon-to-be Zappos HQ and walked my way over to Park on Fremont to meet a couple of coworkers. I have walked down these streets numerous times throughout

the last year since transitioning to Carson, but something about this Friday night gave me extra excitement. Before entering the new restaurant, the streets were filled with a young, dazzling crowd. Fremont felt like Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Upon being seated we saw Park’s special First Friday menu. It was a limited menu featuring the best of what they have to offer. After our dining excursion, we ventured back to the streets and get to the action of First Friday. The only problem was, we didn’t know quite how to get there. At 8:55 p.m. my friends and I decided to venture over to Coterie and ask how to get to First Friday where we were greeted with open arms. We ran into Zack Ware, and right before I asked him how to get to First Friday, I remembered what Tony mentioned about collisionable moments. It was then when I realized First Friday isn’t just an art gathering, but a community gathering of collisionable moments. Leaving Coterie, the time was 9:20 p.m., and we were standing at the corner of Sixth Street & Fremont waiting for the First Friday double-decker bus. Before climbing aboard, we were handed a “fun book” sponsored by the El Cortez with incentives such as free Downtown ZEN

blackjack match play. Needless to say, I was super stoked! At 9:40 p.m. I arrived at my first, First Friday. This was an experience I would never forget. I didn’t walk 50 feet before I stopped to see a street performer in an extravagant costume, and a couple feet beyond that a lady covered in mirrors. Everywhere I turned art was walking, living, and breathing around me. Throughout the night my friends and I walked to various art galleries such as Cornerstone and Art Square. We got to experience such beautiful art and entertainment. There was also an eco-friendly area as well as a kid zone. Lined up in the middle of the streets were vendors selling limited T-shirts, candles, and jewelry. Entertainers were scattered up on the street sides, playing their music and displaying their art with such pride and enthusiasm. Hence to say First Friday opened my eyes a great deal. I was somewhat depressed that I didn’t take the leap sooner, having felt I’ve missed out on so much. Then I realized it wasn’t just me seeing it for the first time, but also everyone else as well.

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May 30, 7:30 p.m.

Frank Abagnale, known as America’s most gifted con man, takes audiences on a roller coaster ride as he tells his story of impersonating a pilot, pediatrician, stockbroker, college professor and assistant attorney general, all while cashing $2.5 million dollars in forged checks.

REYNOLDS HALL

Las Vegas Youth Orchestras & Symphonic Band Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del McCoury Band May 1, 6:30 p.m. The Las Vegas Youth Orchestras & Symphonic Band (student musicians ages 8-18) will perform in the last of their series of family concerts for the season. Also featured is the Youth Philharmonic’s Concerto Competition winner, soloing with the orchestra.

Las Vegas Philharmonic - Celestial Bodies May 4, 8 p.m.

In this final concert of the 2012/13 season, go with the Las Vegas Philharmonic on an otherworldly journey. We will hear Gustav Holst’s 1916 score of “The Planets” and see high-definition images of our solar system. The program includes Hugo Alvén’s invigorating Rhapsody on a Swedish folk theme and the prelude and “Liebestod” from Richard Wagner’s opera “Tristan und Isolde.”

Romeo & Juliet

May 11, 7:30 p.m. & May 12, 1 p.m.

Artistic Director James Canfield has an unseen talent for transforming text into dance. Now, for an unforgettable season finale, he will bring one of the bard’s most beloved tales to life just in time for Mother’s Day weekend.

Billy Elliot the Musical

May 14-19, 7:30 p.m.; May 18 & 19, 2 p.m.

Billy Elliot the Musical has been described as a modern-day fairy tale. It is the heartwarming story of a young boy whose life is changed forever when he discovers an unexpected passion for dance.

May 31, 7:30 p.m.

The hot and happy music of authentic New Orleans jazz finally meets the lonesome sounds of the Appalachians as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band shares the stage with the world-class bluegrass ensemble, The Del McCoury Band.

CABARET JAZZ Molly Ringwald

May 11 & 12, 7 p.m.

“I believe that the Great American Songbook is one of our national treasures. Bessie, Ella, Anita, Blossom, and Susannah have all taught — and continue to teach me — how to sing. I am both humbled and emboldened by their musical virtuosity and tremendous gifts of interpretation and look forward to performing them at The Smith Center.” – Molly Ringwald

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT

$ STARTING AT TICKETS

Frank Abagnale: Catch Me If You Can

Lisa Hilton: American Impressions and More May 17 & 18, 7 p.m.

Trained as a classical pianist but with a degree in art, Lisa Hilton creates evocative and impressionistic “sound paintings.” In the book “The New Face of Jazz,” Hilton was “compared to some of the best pianists in history,” — her imagistic compositions drawing deeply on classical traditions, 20th century modernists, and the avant-garde as much as they reference American jazz and blues icons.

A Motown Extravaganza Starring Spectrum & Olympia Dukakis in “Rose” – A Concert Radiance May 24 & 25, 7 p.m. Reading May 21, 7:30 p.m.

A play by Martin Sherman, Dukakis portrays a Jewish woman’s remarkable life that began in a tiny Russian village, moved on to war-torn Warsaw’s ghettos, and finally to the boardwalks of Atlantic City and Miami Beach. This is not only a portrait of a feisty survivor, but also a moving and timely remembrance of the extraordinary events that shaped the last century.

Celtic Woman

May 26, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Under the distinct musical direction of Emmy-nominated music producer David Downes, this spectacular musical experience features Celtic Woman performing classic Irish tunes such as “The Water Is Wide”; timeless pop anthems such as “Bridge Over Troubled Water”; and inspirational songs including “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” ISSUE 14

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Award-winning vocal quartet, Spectrum, and their stunning sister group, Radiance, perform together in their unbelievable tribute to Motown and R&B music.

Karla Bonoff

May 31, 7 p.m.

Karla Bonoff has been described as one of the finest singer/ songwriters of her generation. With a career spanning four decades, Bonoff has enjoyed critical acclaim, commercial success, enduring popularity and the unwavering respect of her peers as she has seen her songs become hits for artists Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd, and Linda Ronstadt. 361 Symphony Park Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89106 Visit www.thesmithcenter.com to see the full lineup 702.749.2000

Downtown ZEN

Baseball’s Boys of Summer are Back! By Jo Casey

hhhhh Spring. It's just about the best time of year here in Las Vegas: the flowers starting to bloom, the weather warming up, and my personal favorite part … baseball. Although Las Vegas doesn’t have a rich baseball history, it is nonetheless quite notable. The first professional baseball team to play in the city was the Las Vegas Wranglers, formed in 1947, as part of the Sunset League until it folded in 1953. For 23 grueling years the city went without baseball until the Spokane, Wash. Indians relocated in 1983, changing its name to the Las Vegas Stars then again to the 51s in 2001— attributing its name to the Area 51 military base near Rachel, Nev.

51s Triple A History:

Baseball uses a farm system to develop, if you will, their players from draft until they hit the pros. Over the years, the 51s have been a farm system for multiple major league teams. From 1983 to 2000 they were the Las Vegas Stars, the Triple A club of the San Diego Padres. From 2001 to 2008 they were the Triple A club of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It made sense for these teams to use Las Vegas as an affiliate because of its close proximity 37

to southern California. When the “bigs” were ready to call a guy up, he only had a short distance to travel. In 2005, James Loney got called up from the 51s in the morning and started for the Dodgers in Los Angeles that night. However, in 2008, the 51s became the affiliate for the Toronto Blue Jays, and this year they are the affiliate for the New York Mets.

Opening Night Baseball

Friday, April 12 was the home opener for our Las Vegas 51s against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple A Colorado Rockies). My fiancé and I decided to park at the 400 Stewart Ave. parking garage and hoof it to the game. We made a wise choice. Not only did we run into some other Zappos peeps on the way, we saved ourselves a parking fee, and we didn't have to deal with congested traffic. It was a short walk and it was nice to be outside. Once we got to the game, we were swept up in the magic of localsports mania. There were lots of families out to watch the game. 51s baseball, well, all baseball really, is pretty family friendly. The 51s mascot is a big grey, fluffy alien named Cosmo. He comes out and works fans Downtown ZEN

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to a frenzy. Triple A games have a lot of fun stuff happen between innings. The opening festivities included a Girl Scout cookie eating contest, a base run against Cosmo, and a dice roll for prizes. The 51s offer lots of promotional nights including baseball hat giveaways and a local favorite: dollar-beer Thursday. Also, if you're a baseball fan, chances are you can see your baseball team cycle through in the form of its Triple A affiliate. I for one am excited about seeing the Albuquerque Isotopes. As for the game itself, the 51s were down early and headed into the ninth down 6-1. Sadly, we lost our home opener, but there were some good baseball theatrics involved, including a good old-fashioned run-down, aka a pickle. It was nice to see fans and families out to support their local team. I saw a lot of Mets jerseys (side note: the Mets colors are blue and orange; a combination of the Brooklyn Dodgers, blue, and the Manhattan Giants, orange. Both teams originated in and later left New York). However, I also saw a lot of MLB team representation. Las Vegas is a melting pot of folks from everywhere and fans support whoever their team is.

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The food is your standard ballpark fare of hot dogs, cotton candy, and the like — yummy and filling but not the healthiest of choices. The only gripe I have is the long lines. You could miss an inning or two waiting for food and drinks. There were also lots of hawkers selling everything from peanuts to lightup swords and Cosmo bats. The game culminated with an outstanding fireworks show. Las Vegas does fireworks right, and this night’s was no exception — loud, colorful and wonderful. For my money, there's no better way to spend a spring/summer night than watching a good baseball game. You could see some big names, and you can see the future players of your favorite team, which gives you bragging rights to say "I saw them when ..." Check out the schedule for all the promo nights and keep your eyes peeled for Zappos tailgate parties. Enjoy some fun, food and America's pastime!

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The newest addition to the Fremont East family, Park on Fremont is a bar and restaurant notable for their rustic vintage decor and beer garden back patio.

Park on Fremont By Angelina Fadool

Price Point: Doable The drink menu includes refreshing signature cocktails, adorable mason jar shooters, and creative bloody marys priced from $8 to $11. There are over 100 beers to choose from. The kitchen serves up reimagined pub fare, including several vegetarian options that range from $8 to $13. Unfortunately, portions are on the small side and — with the exception of the very veggie sliders — the food I’ve tried here has all been lukewarm and soggy. The food was a little better around lunchtime, but it did take over an hour to order, eat, and pay. Ambiance: Ultrahip If you can’t tell from the cheeky artwork, trippy wallpaper, and sparkling chandeliers Park on Fremont is Commonwealth’s little sister. There are too many great design details and playful art pieces to detail them all here, but suffice it to say these owners excel at creating creative yet comfortable environments that make you want to order another round. Entertainment: See and Be Seen The beer garden patio is home to a mosaic hopscotch board and a secret seesaw, but neither could be used on a crowded Friday night. That back patio is certainly pretty, but I had more fun watching the crowds passing by our table out front. Our location also led to quite a few serendipitous interactions that doubled the size of our party by the end of the night. Pitfalls: Delivering “Meh” Through Service One of my friends made an online reservation for opening night that was denied at the door and her party still had to wait for over an hour. I can forgive mistakes made when the place is hopping, but that doesn’t explain the poor service our party received on a Tuesday around dinnertime. Our waitress had to be told that Jose Cuervo is tequila, told us that an extremely sour, undrinkable cocktail was made correctly, and passed along a message from the bartender that we just didn’t understand what fresh ingredients taste like. (I can assure you, we do.) In either case, the manager never stopped by to help or apologize. Lovely décor and delicious signature cocktails notwithstanding, I hope the service here improves soon. Care to sip a refreshing beverage in an eclectic and elegant setting? Although the new kid on the block is still experiencing some growing pains, I recommend giving Park on Fremont a shot. 39

Park on Fremont 506 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 www.parkonfremont.com

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Located at the corner of Carson Avenue and Seventh Street, EAT is a breakfast and lunch joint that offers “good food for good people, made with love in downtown Las Vegas.” By Angelina Fadool and Matthew Dunsmoor

Atmosphere: I love the eclectic, vintage-meets-modern look of this restaurant, and the staff is friendly and happy to explain the menu and offer suggestions. Both the décor and the menu showcase Chef Natalie Young’s commitment to supporting local farmers, vendors, and artists who share her vision of a happy, healthy downtown. Breakfast: I am an enormous coffee snob, but the house coffee here is excellent. Some summer day I will have to check out their shaved ice coffee. Since I’m not an egg or pancake person — crazy, I know — I opted for the DWBLT. Unlike a typical BLT, this one comes with avocado and is topped with a spicy, slightly smoky chipotle mayo. Sandwiches come with a choice of house-made chips or potato salad which is solid but easy to ignore. The DWBLT itself was so large I could have easily shared it with someone else. I also stole a bite of our friend’s chicken-fried steak and Matt’s chicken-apple sausage. Both were excellent, so I recommend stealing liberally from the plates of others. Lunch: EAT serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Just a short walk from the Carson office, it has been the site of many team lunches. I love a good sandwich, but I have to say the killer grilled cheese is not brain food. Thick, buttery sourdough is delicious but puts me in the mood to nap — not work. Luckily, their delicious arugula salad doesn’t seem have the same soporific effect and is one of their healthier lunch selections, so that’s what I order on a busy weekday. If I’m going to get a sandwich, I prefer the roast beef, blue cheese, and pickled red onions.

"4" Overall: I give it a "Solid." If you can’t make it to EAT on a weekday, brunch here is unique enough to justify a special trip downtown.

Atmosphere: If you've ever been to our Carson office, I think you'll agree that the inside of EAT is pretty much what a "Zappos Restaurant" would look like. Unique, modern décor with open ceilings give Carsonites a familiar feeling, while an innovative community high-top builds relationships by giving patrons in small parties the ability to share a table with new friends. Breakfast: I like sleeping. A lot. This creates a problem for me though, because I LOVE breakfast food. Luckily for me, we went on a Sunday, so I was able to get their ridiculously good pancake stack during their later brunch hours. This stack is what you remember from Saturday mornings as a kid, but this time your parents won't cut you off because you've had too many … not that I'm still mad or anything. Plus, this comes with a unique and delicious chicken-apple sausage. Also, for my fellow mid-westerners, their chicken-fried steak and eggs is another taste of home. Smothered in on-point country gravy and served with smashed potatoes and your choice of toast, it's definitely worth waking up for on a lazy weekend. Oh — and one more thing! If you go for breakfast there is another item you need to try, regardless of entrée. The madeto-order beignets with their perfectly blended vanilla-scented mascarpone are a must. You're welcome in advance. Lunch: The lunch menu is nothing spectacular to look at. A narrow selection of salads and sandwiches limit your options, for sure. However, the items that they do make are very good and guilt-free (per their ingredient procurement philosophy). I'd recommend the free-range chicken sandwich, or the killer grilled cheese.

Eat. 707 Carson Ave. (at Seventh Street) Las Vegas, NV 89101 702.534.1515

"4"

Overall: I give it a "Solid." The food is good, but the prices are pretty high for someone on a mid- to low-range income, like myself. Also, I'd like to see what Chef Natalie could do with a dinner menu.

Rating Scale: 1= "Not for me" 2= "Slightly Underwhelmed" 3= "Meh" 4= "Solid" 5= "Uhh, YES!" ISSUE 14

MAY 2013

Downtown ZEN

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

THINGS TO DO Stop by The Beat’s Wednesday Night Hang Come chill with us every Wednesday night from 8:30 pm to 10:30 p.m. for a change of scenery and sound! Enjoy a unique, laid-back atmosphere featuring drink specials and live music by fabulous Las Vegas talent. Las Vegas trumpet player and recording artist Joey Pero hosts this event. The Beat will be offering a “fine beer” drink special on Duvel, Gulden Draak and Piraat as part of the “Blue Beat” special. The Beat is located on 520 Fremont St. inside the Emergency Arts Building (Sixth Street & Fremont Street).

Do you know how many lights line the Fremont Street Canopy? You will when you play the new city scavenger hunt. The game sends clues to any text-enabled phone. You’ll get to know the casinos that helped put Vegas on the map. From the Golden Gate, Sin City’s first casino, to the recognizable lights of the Fremont and Four Queens, you’ll discover what first drew folks to this little desert town. Be ready to bluff your way into Binion’s iconic Poker Room and snap a picture with Vegas Vic and Vickie. Find the little cigar shop where all the Hollywood celebs go to get a light before grabbing a cocktail at the coolest bar in town. You’ll come away knowing how Vegas grew into a global hub of fun and fortune, and get a true taste of its appeal along the way. Sign up on the website, and you and any number of your friends can compete. The game has several routes in Las Vegas, including Fremont Street. It’s an out-of-the-box way to get to know your city. $9-$12 per person. www.strayboots.com.

Get Outdoorsy I mean “Outdoorsy” in a patio drinking kind of way. Take off work early on Friday like they do back East, and stretch out in a patch of sun on Bar+Bistro’s patio with a pitcher of house sangria. Nothing could be better! $6 glass, $20 pitcher, in The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 155. www.barbistroaf.com.

TOUR OUR NEW DOWNTOWN LANDMARKS The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

Visit the Fremont Bicycle Clinic On a mission to facilitate safe and proper bicycling through education, workshops and maintenance, the clinic helps the community rehab bikes. Get yours done, and then pitch in a hand to help others! Shop Hours: Mon, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tue, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Wed, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thu, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sat, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. If you are a co-op member, you can always contact us outside of normal shop hours if they do not work for you. The best way to contact us and view our most upto-date hours is our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Fremont.Bike.Clinic. Make sure to “Like” us.

You’ve driven by it a thousand times and wondered if it’s as weird on the inside as it is on the outside. (Answer: Yes.) Being inside the events center is like living inside a Dr. Seuss book. The rest of the center is nice office space with an impressive art collection. Arrange a tour and see for yourself by calling 702.263.9797. Join an existing tour or arrange one for yourself.

The clinic’s newest volunteer, Zack, will be manning the shop on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Zack just moved here from Los Angeles where he was a part of two prior co-ops. He is extremely knowledgeable regarding bikes and is a great addition to the team. Stop by and say “Hi”!

Downtown ZEN

MAY 2013

ISSUE 14

The New City Hall

The Mob Museum

Las Vegas invested $185 million to build it. Drop your car across the street in the new garage; you’ll get free parking for two hours with a validated ticket. Make your way up the front steps under the solar trees and into the marble lobby contemplating the sustainable yet luxurious surroundings. Make your way back to the council chambers and grab a red theater seat for your rear: now watch democracy at work. You should finish the visit off by riding the elevator to the seventh floor to see the mayor’s views. City Hall, 495 S. Main St., 702.229.6011, Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

There are two sides to every story. Come down to the Mob Museum and get the true story. It was a stage for one of the biggest mob hearings in history. Now it’s the setting for the nation’s most comprehensive look into organized crime and law enforcement. Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, The Mob Museum presents an authentic insider’s look at the mob’s impact on our history and our society. These are the true stories of events that shaped our country, and now you can witness them firsthand. The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., 702.229.2734, SundayThursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Adult Admission $18. $10 for NV residents. www.themobmuseum.org.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts Check out the Hoover Dam-inspired architecture exterior and its elegant appointments inside. Take in its centerpiece, the 2,050seat Reynolds Hall and its grand lobby; don’t forget the Cabaret Jazz room and Troesh Studio Theater in the Boman Pavilion. Peruse its smattering of artwork (both modern and classical) around the center. Free hour-long tours every Wednesday & Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Make reservations by calling 702.749.2000.

ISSUE 14

MAY 2013

Neon Museum and Boneyard The Neon Museum preserves and exhibits classic Las Vegas neon signs. The museum’s collection consists of both restored and unrestored signs, mostly housed in the Neon Boneyard in downtown Las Vegas. Many of the restored neon signs, which can be found along the Fremont Street Experience and Las Vegas Boulevard, are also part of the museum’s collection. For museum updates and tour information, visit www.neonmuseum.org.

Downtown ZEN

UPCOMING EVENTS

360 Dodgeball Event

Sin City Rollergirls

Las Vegas is a city that loves sports but has few teams of its own to embrace. The Fabulous Sin City Rollergirs fill that void with 60 minutes of intense, competitive roller derby, combining the speed of NASCAR, the hits of the NFL, and the offensive/ defensive volley of the NBA.

Location

Bar+Bistro 107 E. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89104

Downtown 360 Dodgeball Charity Tournament is planned, organized and directed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Zappos, Downtown Project, and UNLV Safe Community Partnership. The games are financed by entry fees and sponsorship contributions.

Location Las Vegas Academy 315 S. Seventh St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time Saturday, May 11

Time

Friday, May 3, 2013

7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

More Info dthappenings@zappos.com

More Info

http://www.sincityrollergirls.com/joomla/

Human Experience

Mission "Being the action of love through art, music and culture" Description "Human Experience" is a community organization that hosts open mic events promoting DJs, musicians, spoken word and visual artists. Through our community and events, we increase awareness of local Las Vegas nonprofit charity groups through food/clothing drives and connections to volunteer opportunities. General Information Downtown street parking is free after 6 p.m., but we *strongly suggest that you read meter timeline information to gain full knowledge of your parking status.

Location

Every Monday

(May 6, 13, 20, 27)

Come hack with the Las Vegas Ruby Group.

Location

usr/lib Worklounge 520 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time

Wednesday, May 15 & 29

6 p.m.-9 p.m.

More Info

The Beat Coffeehouse 520 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time

@LVRUG Hacknight

www.meetup.lvrug.org/events/dbwjzcyrfbbc

7 p.m.-12 a.m.

More Info

www.facebook.com/HumanExperienceLasVegas/info 43

Downtown ZEN

MAY 2013

ISSUE 14

Helldorado

Helldorado Days is an annual cowboy-themed festival that hosts a rodeo, parade and carnival that began in 1934. The rodeo is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event.

Location

Seventh Street & Stewart Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89101

Vegas Game Day We will be hosting the Vegas Game Day at the usr/lib Worklounge on the second floor of the Beat Coffeehouse. Whether you're interested in learning a new game or meeting new gamers, this is the place to be. There will be tabletop, role-playing games and board games.

Location

Time

May 16-19

usr/lib Worklounge 520 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

More Info

Time

www.elkshelldorado.com

Saturday, May 18

9 a.m. -8 p.m.

Las Vegas Real Food Project Real Food Projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main goal is to introduce Vegas to local resources for organic, healthy, and simple nutrition. This is our inaugural event, and we couldn't think of a better way to introduce than with a dinner to celebrate the Food Revolution. All our profits are going to Create a Change Now, helping them build organic gardens and deliver food education in area schools.

Zappos Rideshop Series

The Zappos Rideshop Series is an inaugural event to help highlight and support rideshop brands, more specifically, skate. With Zappos.com as the title sponsor, this first series will include an exciting game of skate between sponsored pros, as well as an opportunity for attendees to see them showcase their coolest tricks in a short exhibition.

5 Chefs 5 Farms 5 Courses Innovative local chefs are teaming up with a local farm to create dinner courses for you that reflect their unique play on seasonal ingredients and healthy eating.

Additionally, there will be skate professional meet and greet opportunities, an on-site artist activation, live music throughout the event courtesy of MacBeth, and complimentary tacos courtesy of iPath. Besides Zappos.com, individual brand participation at the event will include Osiris, iPath, Project: Canvas, MacBeth, and Lakai. Skate professionals planned to attend the event include: Grand Tarantula, Night Riots, Mini Death, Corey Duffel, Chat Bartie, JT Aultz, Jermaine Wright, BB Bastidas, Mouse, Kris Markovich, Rick Howard, Mike Carroll, Guy Mariano, Daniel Espinoza, Riley Hawk, Sebo Walker, Shuriken Shannon, Karl Watson, Chris Pastras, Matt Rodriguez, Darius Jackson, Josh Love, Steve Nesser, and Fred Gall.

Chef Natalie Young of Eat teams with Quail Hollow Farms Chef Donald Lemperle of Vegas Real Food Project teams with Bloomin' Desert Farms Chef Adam Kaswiner of Chef Kas teams with Cowboy Trail Farms Chef Rick Giffen of Stratosphere teams with Downtown 3rd Chef Megan Romano of Chocolate & Spice teams with Crossfire Ranch

The event will be held on Friday, May 17 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Jackie Gaughan Plaza (directly across from valet parking at the El Cortez).

The Lineup

Location Eat 707 Carson Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time Sunday, May 19

Location

6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Jackie Gaughan Plaza 600 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time

Friday, May 17

6 p.m.-9 p.m.

ISSUE 14

MAY 2013

Downtown ZEN

Theory of a Deadman – The D Las Vegas

Currently touring throughout the U.S. to showcase their fourth studio album “The Truth Is,” the platinum-selling quartet will make a stop in downtown Las Vegas for an electrifying show free and open to the public. Hosted on the 3rd Street Stage on the Fremont Street Experience (FSE), the concert will kick off FSE’s Rock of Vegas Summer Concert Series. Ensuring fans don’t miss a second of the concert, the show will stream live on the larger-than-life plasma video wall on the D Las Vegas’ exterior, in addition to FSE’s massive Viva Vision LED canopy. Known for their #1 Mainstream Rock Radio hit “Bad Girlfriend” and crowd favorites “So Happy” and “Lowlife,” Theory of a Deadman will release a new album later this year.

Catalyst Week/ BLK Shop Catalyst Creativ

Catalyst Week is produced and curated the fourth week of every month by CatalystCreativ, a small business funded by Downtown Project. Catalyst Week profiles thought leaders from fields ranging from filmmaking to social entrepreneurship, from corporate brand management to nonprofits. It’s an experience that allows these critical thinkers to be a catalyst in the Downtown Project community and even more so in their own lives. This week is about inspiration, serendipity, and igniting the fire within each and every individual. We hope that everyone who attends will leave remembering that every person in this community is, and can be, a catalyst for someone.

Location

The D Las Vegas 301 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Downtown Project’s intention is to have Catalyst Week become an integral part of downtown, recently creating a Catalyst Board on Facebook where individuals from the community, as well as Catalyst attendees, can post problems and link with each other for advice and guidance. Please join us at www.facebook.com/groups/ catalystboard so the magic continues even after the guests leave.

Time

Location

Sunday, May 19

TBD

9 p.m.

Time

May 30-June 2

Punk Rock Bowling

Punk Rock Bowling was started back in 1999 as a way to bring the independent music community together for an annual party. It has since grown into a three-day festival in downtown Las Vegas that brings out fans and bands alike from all over the world.

Location

Seventh Street & East Mesquite Avenue

Time

May 25-27

More Info

www.punkrockbowling.com

More Info

www.maycatalystweek.splashthat.com

Corporate Challenge

Calling all sports enthusiasts and workout junkies! This is your chance to show the city of Las Vegas and competing area businesses what you’re made of. For more than two decades, Corporate Challenge has been a healthy way for local companies to promote, enable, and support teamwork and company pride. So, grab your jersey and get your game face on as you battle it out to help Zappos defend its glorious championship title from a year ago. With 33 events to choose from we’re not only looking for employees to sign-up for game-play, but also departmental teams to cheer on fellow Zapponians as they bust their hump for Gold. View the calendar on pages 49 & 50 or Zepic for specific event dates. Times are TBD.

More Info

Game-play sign-up: zepic.zappos.com/login Adopt a team: adoptateam@zappos.com

Downtown ZEN

MAY 2013

ISSUE 14

d e

Jelly

What is a Jelly? Jelly is a casual work event where everyone’s invited. It’s for anyone who’d like to work alongside other creative people in a welcoming environment. You bring your laptop and some work, and Jelly provides Wi-Fi, a table and chairs, and smart people to bounce ideas off of and collaborate with.

Location

Delivering Happiness Inspire: Las Vegas!

Our Delivering Happiness Inspire! event is a forum for sharing the rich and thought-provoking (and oftentimes funny) content that inspires and spreads happiness at an individual, community, and even global level. Through a series of brief, prepared (but collaborative) talks, community members and local thought leaders bring their stories perspectives, passions, and experiences to the stage (ala TED) to shine a spotlight on the things that matter most.

/usr/lib Worklounge www.usrlib.org The Beat Coffeehouse 520 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 www.thebeatlv.com

Location

Time

Every fourth Saturday (May 25)

Every Thursday (May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30)

Downtown Project Construction Zone 107 S. Seventh St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time 7 p.m.-12 a.m.

5 p.m.-8 p.m.

More Info

www.inspirelasvegas-eorgf.eventbrite.com www.deliveringhappiness.com

More Info

www.vegasjelly.com

VEGAS StrEATS

The goal of Green Jelly is to connect individuals who are interested in all things eco-friendly and sustainable. That means a range of people who are interested in everything from learning how to recycle to people who are looking to live carbon-neutral or netnegative. The group also has a heavy focus on business owners and potential start-ups that have an interest in sustainability and the triple bottom line (People-Planet-Profits).

Vegas StrEATS is a street food and culture festival hosted every second Saturday in downtown Las Vegas showcasing the valley’s hottest local food trucks, artists, musicians, and fashion. StrEATS is presented by Slidin’ Thru in partnership with El Cortez and Insert Coin(s). Each month, various food trucks serve up unique gourmet bites along Jackie Gaughan Plaza. Local bands, MCs, and DJs provide the soundtrack for the night ranging from indie rock, hip-hop, dubstep, and house music. Graffiti artists and streetwear brands line vendor row slanging fresh apparel and art. Come experience a bit of homegrown Vegas culture!

Location

Green Jelly & Green Coworking

/usr/lib www.usrlib.org The Beat Coffeehouse 520 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 www.thebeatlv.com

Jackie Gaughan Plaza at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino 600 E. Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time

Saturday, May 11

Time

Every Tuesday (May 7, 14, 21, 28)

7 p.m.-9 p.m.

More Info

www.facebook.com/groups/vegasgreenjelly

6 p.m.-1 a.m.

More Info

www.vegasstreats.com www.facebook.com/VegasStrEATS

Contact

Ciara Byrne: cirarmbyrne@yahoo.com Hanan Sabri: hanan.sabri@gmail.com ISSUE 14

MAY 2013

Downtown ZEN

Downtown3rd Farmers Market

The Downtown3rd Farmers Market has become an integral part of downtown Las Vegas. The biggest indoor farmers market showcases local Las Vegas farmers as well as including lots of fresh produce from California. There are also many other vendors and healthy lifestyle classes, art shows, and culinary demonstrations from famous Las Vegas chefs. The mission of the Downtown3rd Farmers Market is to be a sustainable, seasonal, healthy lifestyle center for the city. The farmers market is conveniently located in the middle of the Las Vegas Valley off of US-95 & Casino Center Drive.

Location

Every Friday (May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31)

You are meant to have a body that is lean, strong, and flexible. Join our Downtown Boot Camp in the Jackie Gaughan Plaza across from the El Cortez valet and train with the top fitness professionals in town. Have fun, feel great, meet new people, and get real results — guaranteed!

Location

Jackie Gaughan Plaza at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino 600 E. Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time

300 N. Casino Center Blvd. (In the old Transit Center) Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time

Real Results Boot Camp

Every Tuesday & Thursday (May 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30) 6 a.m.-7 a.m.

More Info

9 a.m.-2 p.m.

www.realresultsfitness.com 702.769.2991

More Info

Contact

www.downtown3rd.com/las-vegas-farmers-market

Paul Rosenberg: 702.204.5247

Trivia Night at The Beat

Come with a team or find one at The Beat. Every other Tuesday you can test your knowledge and flex your brain in a cerebral competition. There will be prizes and beer specials, and most likely a little more beer than brains.

Vintage Bike Night

The Beat Coffeehouse 520 Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 www.thebeatlv.com

Ride out for a night of Motorcycles + Art + Music in downtown Las Vegas. Las Vegas Vintage Bike Night featuring café racers, custom bikes, classic Harleys, retro sport bikes, and scooters. There will be a jammin’ lineup of live music, live body painting by Alex P. Huerta, artists & vendors, and food & drink specials from Bar+Bistro. Whatever you ride, bring it down for Vintage Bike Night.

Time

Location

Every other Tuesday (May 7, 21) 7 p.m.

More Info

www.facebook.com/DowntownTriviaNight

Contact

Augusta Scott: ascott@zappos.com

The Arts Factory & Bar+Bistro 107 E. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89104

Time

Every third Friday (May 17)

7 p.m.-10 p.m.

More Info

www.theartsfactory.com 702.644.9412

Downtown ZEN

MAY 2013

ISSUE 14

First Friday

First Friday is celebrated in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas. The hub is on Casino Center Boulevard in between Colorado Street & California Street with an extension on Third Street & Colorado Street. First Friday has been extended to include the Fremont East district with live activities and music in Get Back Alley behind Beauty Bar and The Griffin. First Friday celebrates young and established local artists. There are food trucks galore and music on three stages with over 12 live bands. There will be special art installations and live performance paintings. It is all about community coming together to celebrate art. First Friday has a great variety of artists, vendors and activities that are fun and exciting for all ages. They even have a kid’s zone with different themes each month.

Casino Center Boulevard & Colorado Street

Friday, May 3

MOVE: 45 minutes of walking/running/bike. Meet up in downtown

Las Vegas at 7 am. We will take a one mile urban hike led by Paco Alvarez. For those who want more of a workout, we’ll be taking a group on a 5k run (led by Lauralie Ezra).

STRETCH: Let’s meet back in the space after your exercise route to stretch out (led by Tiffany Harris).

MEDITATE: Now time to slow your mind with quiet time. We will provide some guidance to get you going.

ACT: It’s time to put what you learned into action and live fearlessly for vibrant health (led by Alexia Vernon).

Location Time

Sunday Reset

6 p.m.-11 p.m.

More Info

www.firstfridaylasvegas.com www.facebook.com/firstfridaylasvegas

EAT: Learn how to become a conscientious eater with a simple

eight-step program that will ignite your mind, body and spirit. Then it’s time to replenish and complete your morning with a group breakfast, catered by local vegan chef Donald Lemperle. We’ll eat healthy and fuel up for our day and the week ahead (led by Jennifer Sanchez).

Cost: $15 per person. REMEMBER TO BRING: - Yoga mat (or towel) - Warm clothes - Water bottle - Big smile - Positive attitude!

Location

Amanda Harris 900 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Suite #150 Las Vegas, NV 89101

Time

Sunday, May 5

7 a.m.-10 a.m.

More Info

www.theresetprojectlv.com/events

ISSUE 14

MAY 2013

Downtown ZEN

CALENDAR & EVENTS MAY 01 Wed. • Corporate Challenge: Fencing • May Day! 02 Thu. • Real Results Boot Camp, 6 am-7 am • Sewing 101: Apron at Stitch Factory, 3 pm-6 pm • American Vagabond Shop and Swap for Charity, 5 pm • Tech Jelly, 7 pm-12 am 03 Fri. • 3rd Street Farmers Market, 9 am-6 pm • First Friday, 5 pm-11 pm • Lip Sync 2013, 7 pm • Sin City Rollergirls 7 pm-10:30 pm • DJ Ultra at Mob Bar, 9 pm-1 am 04 Sat. • Corporate Challenge: Horseshoes • Kids Easy Sewing Basics at Stitch Factory, 10 am-1 pm 05 Sun. • Corporate Challenge: Kickball • Sunday Reset 7 am-10 am 06Mon. • Sewing 101: Apron at Stitch Factory, 3 pm-6 pm • Human Experience, 7 pm-11 pm 07 Tue. • Corporate Challenge: Soccer • Real Results Boot Camp, 6 am-7 am • Green Jelly, 7 pm-9 pm • Trivia Night at The Beat, 7 pm • 51s vs. Round Rock, 7:05 pm 08 Wed. • Corporate Challenge: Poker • Statement Sunglasses at Stitch Factory, 7 pm-9 pm • 51s vs. Round Rock, 7:05 pm 09 Thu. • Real Results Boot Camp, 6 am-7 am • Vegas Jelly, 7 pm-12 am • 51s vs. Round Rock, 7:05 pm 49

10 Fri. • 3rd Street Farmers Market, 9 am-6 pm • Sewing 101: Apron at Stitch Factory, 6 pm- 9 pm • 51s vs. Round Rock, 7:05 pm • DJ Ultra at Mob Bar, 9 pm-1 am 11 Sat. • 360 Dodgeball Event • Kids Easy Sewing Basics at Stitch Factory, 3 pm-6 pm • StrEATS, 6 pm-1 am • Movie at Huntridge Circle • 51s vs. Albuquerque, 7:05 pm 12 Sun. • 51’s vs ALB, 12:05 pm 13 Mon. • 51’s vs ALB 7:05 pm 14 Tue. • 51’s vs ALB 10:35 am 15 Wed. • LVRUG Hack Night 6 pm-9 pm

20 Mon. • Free Day! 21 Tue. • Trivia Night at The Beat, 7 pm 22 Wed. • Free Day! 23 Thu. • Vegas Jelly, 7 pm-12 am 24 Fri. • 3rd Street Farmers Market, 9 am-6 pm • 51s vs. Salt Lake, 7:05 pm • DJ Ultra at Mob Bar, 9 pm-1 am 25 Sat. • Kids Easy Sewing Basics at Stitch Factory, 3 pm-6 pm • 51s vs. Salt Lake, 7:05 pm • Punk Rock Bowling 26 Sun. • 51s vs. Salt Lake, 12:05 pm • Punk Rock Bowling

16 Thu. • Helldorado, 5 pm • Vegas Jelly, 7 pm-12 am

27 Mon. • 51s vs. Salt Lake, 12:05 pm • Punk Rock Bowling

17 Fri. • 3rd Street Farmers Market, 9 am-6 pm • Helldorado, 5 pm • Zappos Rideshop Series, 6 pm-9 pm • Huntridge Circle Movie Night • Vintage Bike Night, 7 pm- 10 pm • DJ Ultra at Mob Bar 9 pm-1 am

28 Tue. • Sewing 101: Apron at Stitch Factory, 10 am-1 pm • 51s vs. Reno, 7:05 pm

18 Sat. • Vegas Game Day, 9 am-8 pm • Helldorado, 5 pm

30 Thu. • 51s vs. Reno, 7:05 pm • BLK SHP Catalyst Creativ

19 Sun. • Helldorado, 2 pm • Vegas Real Food Project, 6 pm-8 pm • Theory of a Deadman – The D, 9 pm

31 Fri. • 3rd Street Farmers Market, 9 am-6 pm • 51s vs. Reno, 7:05 pm • DJ Ultra at Mob Bar 9 pm-1 am • BLK SHP Catalyst Creativ

Downtown ZEN

29 Wed. • 51s vs. Reno, 7:05 pm

MAY 2013

ISSUE 14

JUNE SNEAK PEEK 01 Sat. • BLK SHOP- Catalyst Creativ 02 Sun. • Sunday Reset, 7 am- 10 pm • BLK SHOP- Catalyst Creativ 03 Mon. • Human Experience, 7pm-10 pm 04 Tue. • Trivia Night at The Beat, 7 pm 05 Wed. • FREE DAY! 06 Thu. • VegasJelly, 7 pm-12 am 07 Fri. • 3rd Street Farmers Market, 9 am-6 pm • First Friday, 5 pm-11 pm • DJ Ultra at Mob Bar, 9 pm-1 am 08 Sat. • Vegas Game Day, 9am-8 pm • StrEATS, 6 pm-1 am • Huntridge Community Clothing Swap 09 Sun. • FREE DAY! 10 Mon. • 51s vs. Tacoma, 7:05 pm

SCAN ME TO GET THE DIGITAL COPY