Downtown ZEN Feb 2015

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TRUE&CO. INTIMATE APPAREL JINJU’S CHOCOLATY CONFECTIONS • THAT’S A WRAP: NAT’L CONDOM DAY SUGGESTIVE VALENTINE’S DAY HEELS

Chief Editor Loren Becker

Managing Editors

Michael Boley, Mandy Crispin

Advertising Sales & Marketing

Loren Becker, Michael Boley, Mandy Crispin

Contributing Writers

Brian Paco Alvarez, Michael Boley, Temple Brathwaite, Mandy Crispin, Jacqueline Cordova, Adla Earl, Kier Fortune-Easton, Hannah Espina, Karina Giraldo, Peter Gaunt, Nomic, Fernando Reyes, Charlene Sands

Calendar & Events

Alexie Ihde, Mikela Lee-Manaois

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Matthew Carr, Peter Gaunt, Ivan Quiroz, Matt Wong, Las Vegas News Bureau, Focalchrome, Shutterstock, True&Co., Zappos.com

Creative Directors

Michael Boley, Mandy Crispin

Art Director

Ryan Brekke (BullFish Media)

Web Design

Michael Boley Cover:

Concept, Production & Direction Michael Boley

Photography Ivan Quiroz

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Hermione Cahill

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Blake Eberle

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Ashotta Ward-Whales

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Brandon Hall, Natalie Lane (MAC Cosmetics)

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Letter From the Editors If you believe in love at first sight, then you’ll really fall for our February issue as we pay homage to Saint Valentine’s Day, one of the most commercially recognized holidays celebrated throughout the world.

However, unbeknownst to many, the day’s historical significance dates back prior to the advent of Hallmark’s greeting cards.

Years ago, like the Middle Ages years ago, the name Valentine was a commonality amongst several Christian martyrs; however, it is Valentinus presb. m. Romae (Valentine of Rome) and Valentinus ep.

Interamnensis m. Romae (Valentine of Terni) who are most notable in religious textbooks and are the root cause for celebration every February 14. But what does that have to do with romanticism? To be honest, nothing at all. The lovey-dovey aspect didn’t come into play until Geoffrey Chaucer’s 1382 “Parlement of Foules,” Margery Brewes’ 1477 “Paston Letters” and William Shakespeare’s 1600 “Hamlet.”

With this in mind, and because we like to think of ourselves as impassioned, starry-eyed poets and creatives, we’ve penned, photographed and stockpiled the following pages with a full spectrum of loverelated goodies, from high fashion editorial shots of our cover girl, Hermione, and amorous high heels to a rapturing spread on JinJu Chocolates as well as an impactful information piece on National Condom Day followed by an editorial relating to same-sex marriage.

But despite all of this and additional content, this month’s central spotlight goes to True&Co., an online intimates apparel company devoted to helping women find and securely fit into their braziers. Through the development of the business’ algorithmic two-minute Fit Quiz, which asks a series of proportion-related questions based on individual body type, brand creator and entrepreneur Michelle Lam redefines women’s chest comfort and squashes the one-size-fits-all approach.

As the saying goes …

Roses are red, Violets are blue, This enchanting issue, Was made especially for you

SCAN ME FOR DTZEN.COM

Forever Yours, The Downtown ZEN

table of

CONTENTS

15

17

Features

05 | National Condom Day 07 | Josephine Skaught 13 | Same Sex Marriage 15 | JinJu Chocolates 17 | Love Yourself: Fitness

13 47

Philosophy ‘N’ Fluff 23 | Photography 25 | Book Review 28 | Recipe 29 | True&Co. 35 | Home Staging 37 | Nomic Spotlight 40 | History 41 | Housing Guide

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29 About the Cover UNIQUELY US. DISTINCTLY DIFF

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Events & Entertainment 43 | Art 45 | Restaurant Review 47 | Bar Review 49 | Calendar

Pairing a pop color backdrop with a whole lot of class and elegance, this is exactly what we had envisioned for February’s cover. With components inspired by March 2014’s XOXO The Mag, we’ve recreated the photo by simultaneously tying in an interior Valentine’s Day photo shoot and a fashion spread on True&Co., a women’s intimate apparel brand that specializes in customized bras.

TRUE&CO. INTIMATE APPAREL JINJU’S CHOCOLATY CONFECTIONS • THAT’S A WRAP: NAT’L CONDOM DAY SUGGESTIVE VALENTINE’S DAY HEELS

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By Michael Boley

V

alentine’s Day is upon us, and despite receiving thoughtful cards, candies and flowers or being wooed by expensive candlelit dinners paired with over-the-top views, let’s not be coy about what this day is truly for: getting flirty, down and dirty. But with sex being the Hallmark holiday’s top of mind subject, it’s important to observe it in tandem with National Condom Day. So, before you slither between the sheets with your sweetheart, let’s unwrap the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to wearing protection, or lack thereof, on this night of rapture and unbridled passion.

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The good: Condoms have been prevalent in society for centuries. The first evidence of what resembles condoms was artistically drawn on the walls of a cave in France, known as the Grotte des Comarrelles, in 11,000 B.C. From there, condoms have continuously evolved from cloaks of cloth in 1000 B.C. to lamb intestines and tortoise shells in the 1400s.

In 1839, Charles Goodyear created the first rubber condom, and in 1912, German chemist Julius Fromm manufactured the first textured condom by way of dipping glass molds into a raw rubber solution. Since 1957, women everywhere reveled in ecstasy when Durex unveiled the first lubricated condom,

and 40 years later, would innovate again by becoming the first condom company website to feature a range of colored and flavored contraceptives.

Today, men are adding extra creativity to the bedroom by donning a variety of textures and tastes to satisfy their lovers, from grooved, ribbed, studded, twisted and dotted to chocolate, mint, bubble gum and coffee-flavored sheaths; moreover, extra thin and warming sensation condoms are also available to add even more pleasure to the nether regions.

As an added bonus, condoms have lesser side effects for women when compared to birth control pills or spermicidal solutions or sprays, and some studies have even linked condoms to minimizing the risks of HPV, the same virus that causes cervical cancer.

The bad: Relying on your partner to wear a condom is like participating in a trust fall: you’ll either descend safely into his or her arms or you may crash forcefully to the ground, meaning unprotected sex could result in an unintended pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease. The latter is a risk especially elevated due to today’s hookup culture perpetuated by phone apps, such as Tinder, Grindr and Mixxxer, where promiscuity can lead to potentially vulnerable situations.

“My colleagues and I have heard it all in terms of why people choose not to use condoms,” says Katrina Miller, a disease and intervention and investigation specialist at the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD). “Everything from ‘it was in the heat of the moment’ to ‘I didn’t have one with me’ and ‘I just don’t like the feeling’ have all been common answers. However, protecting yourself when it comes to sexual encounters encompasses so much more than just using condoms.

Our message,” she says, “is that regular and proper condom use is definitely your best bet at staying safe and practices like talking to your partner(s), getting to know them beforehand, discussing testing habits and sexual histories, and the type of sex you’re having could easily have just as much influence in sexual health as the actual condom itself.”

According to statistics provided by the SNHD through November 2014, 9000+ cases of chlamydia and 2,400 cases of gonorrhea were reported in our jurisdiction.

The ugly:

“Southern Nevada continues to see high rates of STDs, especially among younger adults and even teens,” explains Miller. “Chlamydia is largely asymptomatic, meaning people don’t normally see symptoms when they get it. When people don’t see symptoms, they tend to think nothing is wrong and often don’t see a need to test or protect themselves accordingly, thus the odds of spreading it are higher.”

Furthermore, statistics provided by the SNHD note that more than 9,000 Southern Nevadans have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS with more than 3,000 deaths from the illness since 1992. More than 3,500 Southern Nevadans are living with HIV and there are more than 2,800 AIDS cases locally.

“It’s important to keep in mind that HIV is incurable and does not typically have symptoms like other sexually transmitted diseases,” says Miller, “Which is why we encourage annual testing for those who are sexually active.”

So as you go about planning ahead for Valentine’s Day night, it’s more forgivable for you to forget your lover’s flowers than it is to neglect wearing a condom.■

For additional information or if you think you have contracted an STD/HIV, the SNHD offers free community testing at The Center (401 S. Maryland Pkwy.) Monday thru Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well as The Sexual Health Clinic (400 Shadow Lane, Suite #106), located just west of downtown, offering low-cost and confidential testing, exams, treatment and other STD/HIV services.

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Get Yer Hair Did

By Charlene Sands

»S

07

kaught Gibson graduated the Academy of Hair Design in 1998, but to be clear he’s been doing hair far longer than that.

Gibson is one of those creatives whose skill came to him naturally at a young age. When the opportunity presented itself, Gibson jumped to perform.

Whether it was making drastic changes to his own hair, assisting the women in his family to prepare for church or having friends beat down his door for a new look, Gibson had a knack that was apparent and was in demand.

that decade. He completely absorbed the particular aspects each city’s salon culture had to offer. Then he came to a fight or flight moment: to flourish in new environments or in the familiar surroundings of Las Vegas? Gibson decided to obtain the best of both worlds and incorporate the things he had learned into his own space. Thus, in September 2012 Josephine Skaught Hairdressing was born.

After graduating the academy, his talent took him to a decade of experience at Circa Salon. During that period of time not only was he bolstering his skill with various classes at some of the top hair houses across the nation, but he was being bitten by the travel bug. Gibson lived part-time in Los Angeles and Sacramento, California and Seattle, Washington, each in respectively different periods during

The name Josephine Skaught is derivative of both Skaught’s name and his grandmother’s name, Josephine. It’s in that combination that the nature of the salon lives; Skaught strived to create something that was “sophisticated and classic, modern and vintage, masculine and feminine.” Just take a look within the salon walls, and you’ll know that he has succeeded. From the reclaimed wood accents and seven sleek salon

dtZEN.com • FEB 2015

stations to the very distinct and moodsetting music, there is a very choice yet contemporary vibe set. One of the most distinctive vibe-setting facets of the salon is that it doubles as an art gallery.

A good 40 percent of the wall space inside Josephine Skaught is dedicated to artwork by a local artist. Every eight weeks a new artist adorns the walls.

Dan 45, Jessica Galindo and Lily Flores are just a few artists who have provided the salon with some very colorful visuals. Being located within the Arts District, this only makes sense. The constant need for new stimulation and a sense of community is alive and well in downtown Las Vegas, and in turn within Josephine Skaught.

Since the beginning of his career Skaught has worked closely with Bumble and bumble products and attended their university, BbU, in New York. He trusts the company’s products and vision so much that he has made Josephine Skaught an official Bumble and bumble salon and ensures all his stylists are in some way certified by the brand. In fact, two of his six stylists are Bumble and bumble educators who are responsible for teaching several classes over the course of the year to the whole team. This is in an effort to keep them all up to speed and constantly evolving their skill sets. I have found this ever so apparent in my own experience at Josephine Skaught.

I personally came to Josephine Skaught looking for a pretty big change. I wanted something fun and new. To be honest, what I wanted was to live out a teenage fantasy of dark green hair. Master Colorist and Stylist Amanda Fuller knew just what to do with me. She took my thin, barely discernible brown hair to a full and thick-looking long bob that is now a color that the Emerald City would be jealous of. Fuller’s experience as a national educator for the European hair color brand Affinage combined with her extensive training as a Goldwell technical color advisor provided a wealth of comfort in the fact that I knew that this woman surely knows what she is doing in the world of hair color.

From beginning to end, Amanda was nothing short of a joy to be around.

Through every step of the lighting and coloring process I had questions for her. I probed about the reasons she did one thing, inquired about the name of her materials and products and more.

Not once did she flinch or hesitate to explain, in great detail, a single thing to me. Between that, we peppered our conversation with personal and funny anecdotes. I find that to be one of the most key elements of a salon experience.

Is my stylist friendly? Are they open?

Are they affable? Pointedly, can I be comfortable enough with them to trust the state of my appearance being in their hands? As we all know, the way we look is our window to the world no matter how you slice it. So, having any semblance of a connection with your stylist is key, and I definitely found that with Amanda. And in the end, I was supremely pleased with my new emerald coif.

Josephine Skaught Hairdressing is located at 1025 S. First St., Suite 165 Las Vegas, NV 89101 702.431.8071 They are open Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

For more information please visit: www.josephineskaught.com FEB 2015 • dtZEN.com

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Frankly, the lack of ego inside Josephine Skaught is palpable. The stylists function as a team. They don’t just simply rent stations and perform as their own haughty entities. Skaught and his team work on principles of passion, experience and make efforts to continuously push and spread their education as wealth to share amongst each other. The stylists at Josephine

Skaught Hairdressing title themselves as hair architects, and it’s only fitting. They are indeed building a salon experience.

Watching these stylists interact, it’s clear that they operate as a tight-knit stylist family unit and want their clients to feel they’ve been invited to join that family.

Whether I had come in asking for my wild green hair, or a conservative blonde with a Brazilian Blowout, I am confident

that any one of these talented stylists would have been able to accommodate me. Josephine Skaught has clientele that ranges from rock stars like The Killers to the city’s top judges. The proof is in the pudding in that melting pot. All walks of life are welcome at Josephine Skaught Hairdressing, and as their slogan says, they truly want you to “Look Good No Matter What.”

left to right » Stephanie Von Meijer, Allison Barfield, Skaught Gibson, Amanda Fuller and Megan Trivette

Looking for great color?

“Look Good No Matter What” with Allison Barfield. Allison is coming up on 10 years of stylist experience with a Bumble and bumble network educator title and Hotheads Hair Extensions and Brazilian Blowout certifications under her belt. Allison specializes in the art of balayage, otherwise known as hair painting. Her goal is to help her clients not only find colors that suit their aesthetic needs, but also colors that are practical for their personal upkeep. To keep any color of hair looking shiny and healthy Allison recommends Bumble and bumble’s “Repair Blowdry.” When used with the heat of a blow dryer, it helps seal hair cuticles to give a polished look and promote healthier locks over time.

Looking for a great cut?

“Look Good No Matter What” with the owner of Josephine Skaught Hairdressing, Skaught Gibson. Skaught has 16 years of licensed hairdressing experience to his name, plus so much

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more. However, he specializes in cutting. He loves to give his clients natural looking cuts that will grow out with ease. Providing clients with low maintenance styles that abide by their expectations is his forte. For a soft and shiny look that gives hair an effortless bounce and style, Skaught recommends Bumble and bumble primers like “Prep” or “Tonic” layered with “Grooming Creme.”

Looking for some great extensions?

“Look Good No Matter What” with Bumble and bumble network educator, Megan Trivette. Megan has been a licensed cosmetologist for nine years and is certified in Hothead Hair Extensions and Brazilian Blowout.

While being skilled in balayage and razor cutting, her true artistry lies in the application of extensions. While giving her clients a lush and longer look, she also intends to provide them with the relief that the Hothead Hair Extensions brand helps retain the integrity of the hair, while letting it mend and grow

underneath. To repair and protect their natural hair while prolonging the life of the extensions, Megan recommends her clients use the Bumble and bumble “Speciality Mending Complex” leave-in treatment.

Looking for a great style?

“Look Good No Matter What” with master colorist and stylist, Stephanie Von Meijer. Stephanie graduated from the Aveda Institute of Las Vegas in 2007. Since then, she has gone on to win the Envy Foundation Pin Up Styling Award with a group collective and was a semifinalist at the latest Men’s Hair Cutting Championship. Her true passion is in giving her clients’ beautiful and wearable styles. Whether it’s for events or for everyday, Stephanie seeks to give her clients just the look they’re going for. To enhance the natural texture of your hair, Stephanie recommends using Bumble and bumble’s “Hairdressers Invisible Oil” primer and “City Swept” on damp hair, and once hair naturally dries use a bit more of “City Swept” and some “Dry Spun” to finish the look.■

Mozart to Nuevo Tango MUSICAL CROSSROADS 2015

Presented by Nevada School of the Arts

Enjoy an evening of classical and Argentinian music from Mozart to Nuevo Tango followed by a taste of Argentinian wines and tapas.

Guest Artists

Gabe Bolkosky (violinist) Jae Ahn (piano) Abe Gumroyan (bass) and special performers Friday, March 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm Historic Fifth Street School Auditorium 401 S. Fourth Street, Las Vegas

For more information, please visit our website at www.nsamusic.org or call 702.384.2787

FEB 2015 • dtZEN.com

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fe at ur ing se a food & d r Y- a g e d s t e a k s R AT ED one of the TOP T EN

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beSt PlaCe to POwER luNch 2014 C ur at ed v eg a n seleC tions from t he d own town3r d fa r m er s m a r k et Monday - Fr iday • 11 a M - 10PM Sat ur day & Sunday • 4PM - 10PM C a ll 702 . 3 8 4. 2761 or v iSit w w w.t r iPlegeorgegr ill .CoM For r eServationS.

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Same-Sex Marriage Legal This Valentine’s Day

By Adla Earl

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©Matthew Carr

On December 31st, 2014 Michael Francis Pondrom and Caleb Jonathan Edison were married in an outdoor ceremony.

T

his year Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas will be different. On October 7, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 9th Circuit Court’s ruling declaring Nevada’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. Nevada’s constitution, like that of many Western states, has three distinctly democratic features not found in the constitutions of older states in the union. One of those is the “Initiative” which allows voters direct say in the lawmaking process.

In 2000 and again in 2002 Nevada voters, through petition and the initiative process, narrowly approved an amendment to their constitution that explicitly defined marriage. The limitation read, “Only a marriage between a male and female person shall be recognized and given effect in this state.” But on October 10, 2014, James C. Mahan, one of Nevada’s District Court judges, ordered state officials to stop enforcing the effective ban on gay marriage.

Much of the headway in the battle for marriage equality across the nation has been made under the equal protection clause found in the 14th Amendment of the federal Constitution. The historical circumstances that prompted the 14th Amendment were grave. Congress ratified the amendment in July of 1868 as a measure of Reconstruction following the devastating four year American Civil War that pit the interests of slaveholding and non-slave-holding states against one another.

The amendment restricted states from making laws abridging the fundamental rights of the citizens of the United States. In that moment, fundamental rights shifted from institutional rights to individual rights. Due process and equal protection are complimentary but distinct protections both found in the 14th Amendment. Since the adoption of that amendment in 1868, petitioners have used the clause in many ways that were unintended by its proponents. It is by far the most cited amendment of the constitution in American litigation.

Interpreting equal protection and widening the circle of “we” in “We the People of the United States” has been a longstanding struggle since 1868. It took nearly 100 years for the courts to dismantle racial segregation and pass necessary antidiscrimination laws that were a legacy of Reconstruction’s social and civil rights failure. The road to marriage equality for the LGBTQ community has been comparatively shorter, but not without significant hard-won struggles and many heartbreaking setbacks. Marriage equality is not yet guaranteed nationwide, but there is, without a doubt, a momentum towards that end in both public opinion and recent court decisions.

For Las Vegas this Valentine’s Day, the October 7 ruling is good news. Las Vegas’s reputation as the “Marriage Capital of the World” will undoubtedly gain greater security now that same-sex couples can exchange their vows here. Before October 7, 2014, statistics showed more than 100,000 marriages a year in Las Vegas alone.

Getting married in Las Vegas is fairly easy. Historically, couples haven’t had to submit to long waiting periods, blood tests or any other measures of close scrutiny in order to apply for a marriage license. Now, proof of legal age is nearly all that Las Vegas officials require. Prospective couples need only appear in front of the clerk at the Las Vegas Marriage Bureau downtown.

The bureau’s address is 201 Clark Street. It is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight: seven days a week, including holidays. The license application now refers, rather indifferently, to the applicants as “party 1” and “party 2.” Nowhere is there a reference to either party’s biological sex. The relative ease and access to marriage in Las Vegas promises significant economic rewards.

Because of the legalization of same-sex marriage, experts at UCLA’s Williams Institute estimate the addition of as many as 443 jobs across Nevada. The generous estimates put the potential revenue for the state at nearly $34 million in 2015 alone. And these figures don’t even take into account the potential revenue from out-of-town visitors.

Valentine’s Day this year in Las Vegas is full of promise for same-sex couples rather than protest. For years, samesex couples across the country have organized protests and marched on City Hall agitating for the right to marry whomever they pleased. This year same-sex couples can enter the Marriage Bureau with certainty that their applications will be processed. There is no shortage of private chapels available to perform ceremonies that range from the traditional to the absurd. And for the folks looking to avoid pomp and circumstance, there is always the Marriage Commissioner’s Office just down the street at 301 S. Third Street.

So congratulations Las Vegas! The freedom to love is now the freedom to marry. This year the courts have assigned new meaning to the institution of marriage, and now we can expand our vision of a holiday that people have been celebrating in one form or another since the fifth century. FEB 2015 • dtZEN.com

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JinJu Chocolates The Sweet Rapture of Cupid’s Day Confections

by Michael Boley

N

othing sours a burgeoning, fruitful relationship quite like the purchase of a $7 heart-shaped box of stale, commercially made chocolates from the corner convenience store. Unlike years past, this Valentine’s Day indulge your one true love by purchasing an assortment of gourmet chocolaty confections from locally made and owned JinJu Chocolates.

Award-winning pastry chef Jin Caldwell began JinJu Chocolates in 2011 after several years as a master chocolatier for the Bellagio, Wynn and Mars, Inc. In 2007, she won a silver medal in the 2007 National Pastry Team Championship, and in 2009 Pastry Art & Design magazine nominated her as a “Top 10 Chocolatier in North America.” Today, she receives daily accolades from consumers who enter through her Downtown Container Park storefront, whilst offering up free samples of peanut turtles and sea salted caramels.

Jin and her off-site team of five chocolatiers exhibit a multitude of flavorful sweets on any given day, which includes custom-made and packaged toffees, bouchées, chocolate covered nuts and candied ginger mendicants for any occasion. Jin’s seven signature Las Vegas-themed chocolate bars (Park Ranger, Elviiis, Sin City, Red Rock, Show Girl, 702 Mob and Midnight Downtown) also add a unique tie-in to the city she has long called home.

The store’s central feature, a glasscovered display case adorning beautifully handcrafted and airbrushed truffles and bonbons, is sure to palpitate the heart. Vibrant colors and assorted textures and patterns, all of which are combined with bursts of all-natural flavors, are a sight and taste to behold. Sea salted caramels can be purchased individually or as part of JinJu’s boxed Luxury, Akoya or Keshi collections in varied sizes.

Despite all of this, the store’s crown jewel is its Fortunato No. 4 chocolate bar.

Imported from a remote South American farm and made from rare Peruvian white cacao beans, this slow-roasted vegan delight is comprised of pure 68% dark chocolate and features naturally complex aromas and flavors of fruit, floral and nuts. To Jin’s credit, she is only one of a few chocolatiers in the world to have access to Fortunato No. 4, making the bar and her shop truly unique.■

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JinJu Chocolates accepts online purchases, with free overnight shipping on orders over $60 anywhere in the United States. Visit JinJuChocolates.com or their Downtown Container Park store at: 707 Fremont St., Suite 2280 Las Vegas, NV 89101

JinJu means

“treasure”

in Korean, Japanese & Chinese symbols

Fortunato No. 4 is named after the Peruvian cacao farmer

JinJu chocolatiers can make up to

6,000

truffles per day

Figs-Red Wine

is JinJu’s signature chocolate

Jin orders

800 lbs.

of chocolate per month

… that’s roughly

10,000

pounds per year!

Free samples

are offered at the store daily

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Love Yourself: Love Yourself: Getting Back to Being Fit After an Injury

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By Jacqueline Cordova

I

“I have a metal plate in my spine and four screws.

It’s for a grade two break on L5 of my back.” Damary Toledo said this while grabbing a napkin and a stirrer from her morning coffee. She used them to provide me a visual perspective of what has now become a permanent part of her body. It’s the result of a ninehour surgery, during which doctors used tweezers to pull bone fragments from her spinal nerves one at a time.

“I don’t know how it happened. The doctor said it could’ve happened at birth, from pregnancy, snowboarding,” she recalled, “It’s known as a pars defect. I’m just thankful I don’t set the metal detector off at the airport.”

It’s incredible to think that only two days before this interview, Damary competed in her second crossfit competition this year and deadlifted a weight of 275 pounds. That lift helped place her team in second for the event and 14th overall. She also celebrated her 43rd birthday the prior weekend and was the oldest member on her team.

“Before surgery, I had been boxing to relieve stress, but I wasn’t really healthy. I didn’t really exercise, and I wasn’t fit. My recovery … my healing, took longer. I wore a back brace for over three months. It was hard plastic and covered my boobs. It was my gladiator belt.” She laughed as she said this and shook her head to show the memory wasn’t a pretty one.

“I lost 20 pounds after surgery. A few months after recovery, I started crossfit, and I was hooked. Now I feel strong, and I feel beautiful.”

Like Damary Toledo, countless individuals suffer from injuries. Some of them are minor and heal with time. Others act like an occasional nuisance; they are tolerable but nagging at the most inopportune moments. Then there are life-changing ones, like hers. These injuries permanently alter us, and we sometimes feel the need to tiptoe cautiously, fearful of hurting ourselves again.

The thought of suffering through excruciating pain or worse, another surgery, is enough to keep most from attempting any sort of physical activity. But, believe it or not, activity just might be the remedy.

Beginning an exercise regimen could be exactly what your body needs to heal itself and become more agile.

If you approach it slowly and are realistic about your current abilities, the rewards can be great.

When Damary had surgery almost six years ago, she knew fitness would play an important role in keeping her mobility. She recalls, “My doctor, Josh Satterlee, was a huge resource for me. He told me I had to stay mobile because of my age and the fact that I now had foreign parts in my body. I’m aware of that every day.

I don’t want to lose my mobility.”

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Damary’s road to fitness was a slow one. She took time to learn her body and understand the new way it moved. Although her choice to start crossfit might seem like an aggressive approach, it was perfect for her. What many people don’t realize is that there are modifications and starting movements for almost every activity. The key is to begin your program with a trainer or coach who understands your injury, wants to keep you safe, but still hears your goals.

“My coaches were very supportive. They were aware of my injury and left it up to me to decide what I would do and how much I would lift. When it didn’t feel right, I didn’t do it, and they didn’t push. I barely used any weight, and I focused on form. I had never even jumped rope until I started crossfit.

Seriously. Not even as a kid. But I’m a hands-on learner. I want to learn from experience.”

What truly helped Damary succeed was her patience with the process and the support she received from those around her. She brought a friend along to her first workout and, at work, would talk with a coworker who was part of the same gym. Damary’s husband of 19 years, Ray Toledo, was not only encouraging; he soon joined in on the journey and lost over 50 pounds from running and weight lifting. Now, the couple exercise together regularly.

Studies show that having workout partners can greatly impact success. It helps you stick to a routine and holds you accountable. Knowing you have someone to push you and ensure you are mindful of your limitations is a plus. It’s also a lot more rewarding to get healthy together. There is strength in numbers and everyone reaps the benefits.

“My husband was supportive when I joined crossfit. My mother didn’t want me to do it, and my brother was on the fence. But now they understand it. They see how it has helped me. And I know the benefits.

Fitness has changed my life. Even if I’m just stretching every day or taking a hot shower to soothe my body, it’s helping me stay limber.”

Inspired by her successful recovery and newfound strength, Damary and her husband opened their own crossfit gym, This IS Crossfit, in October 2012. They now help adults of all abilities get fit. Damary also heads her gym’s crossfit youth program that allows kids in her community an opportunity to stay active and learn teamwork. As a former schoolteacher, she expects every student-athlete to finish their homework, maintain a good grade point average, and be respectful of one another in order to stay in the program.

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People, like Damary Toledo, show us there is no such thing as a permanent limitation. You can recover. Progress is possible if you’re willing to believe it and put in work to get there.

It’s natural to fear what we’re uncertain of and put up limitations. What we forget is that there is no harm in trying. Making an attempt to regain what might seem lost can be worth it in the end. It can also lead to incredible things, like it did for her.

“I’m a mother and a teacher, so naturally I want to see others succeed. I want people to know that anything is possible,” she said, “Just listen to your body first. Every workout can be scaled and staying mobile throughout life is important. You can do it. You can absolutely do anything you want to and don’t ever let someone say otherwise.”

Feeling inspired to rehab your body and get fit? Here are five tips before you begin.

1) Write down a list of activities that interest you and speak with your doctor before starting. Make it very clear that you plan on easing into it and will do your best to modify movements. This gives both of you confidence in what you are committing to. Your doctor can discuss concerns, provide suggestions and write a note clearing you for exercise.

2) Look for local deals online and take advantage of them! Many studios and gyms offer free classes or group discount deals throughout the year.

It’s a great way to try something new without commitment. Just be sure to tell the location about your injury before your first class and provide a copy of your note as needed.

3) Find a good coach. This is vital. Even if you’re only attending group classes and not private sessions, you need to know who you’re working with. A good coach has your safety and success in mind. They listen to your needs, are encouraging and provide you guidance on your journey.

4) Know the difference between soreness and pain.

Soreness is to be expected, especially around your injury.

Remember, it hasn’t been used in a while and needs to adjust to what you’re asking of it. Sharp, shooting pain is different, and it’s obvious. You’ll know it when you feel it. Coach Damary Toledo said it best — “Soreness means progress and muscle growth. You’re accomplishing something, and it’s the right direction. Pain means stop.”

5) Be OK with baby steps. Don’t forget, you’re coming off an injury. Starting out at a slower pace, with lighter weights or modified movements, is a great way to ease into activity.

It gives you an opportunity to get comfortable with your new range of motion. Don’t force it or be aggressive. You’ll have plenty of time to tackle the harder, more complex exercises when your body is ready.■

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GET A ROOM >> Looking for a good time?

Oasis at Gold Spike is located just a stone’s throw away from Fremont Street and the Fremont East Entertainment District.

Recently remodeled with a contemporary flair, each of Oasis’ 44 rooms are individually designed with diverse color schemes, artwork and furnishings. The non-smoking, non-gaming venue features a reception area complete with a lounge, co-working space and library. Patrons can also embrace the hotel’s whimsical playground atmosphere and chat up potential suitors at its lively poolside setting or flirtatiously play a rousing game of oversize beer pong, Jenga or chess with the honey in skinny jeans. Come one, come all to the Oasis at Gold Spike!

–Michael Boley

Visit Blue Man Group’s ShoeZaphone at the Zappos.com downtown campus and create your own soundtrack and light show. Then come to Monte Carlo and watch us create ours!

NIGHTLY AT

TICKETS FROM $59* VIP & ONSTAGE EXPERIENCE PACKAGES AVAILABLE *SUBJECT TO TAXES AND FEES. SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY

SCHOOL ADDITIONS UNDERWAY >> The city of Las Vegas is rehabilitating the Historic Westside School, making it functional for modern uses while preserving the important architectural features that identify it as a historic school building. Groundbreaking for new fencing, landscaping, lighting and parking areas took place on Saturday, Jan. 17 and are part of the approximately $12.5 million renovation. The budgeted improvements are scheduled for completion by August 2016. The Historic Westside School was built as the Las Vegas Grammar School Branch No. 1 in 1923 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the first grammar school established in West Las Vegas and the first public school attended by Native American students from the neighboring Paiute Indian colony.

It was also the area’s first integrated school and is the oldest remaining schoolhouse in Las Vegas. –City of Las Vegas FEB 2015 • dtZEN.com

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The motorcycle is something of a phenomenon to me. A truly unique player in a world of so many different ways of transportation and exhilaration, movement and utilitarianism, the two-wheeled motorbike is a beautiful thing. I ride for all of the above-mentioned descriptors, and it never leaves me bored.

As a kid, I first fell in love with the simple idea of motorcycling and the way it looked, as I think many young people do. Maybe I liked it more that my folks definitely didn’t want me to have one, or that it was something so far removed from my dad’s garage that I was just overly curious.

Using a Canon 6D with a 24-70mm f/2.8L lens, this cruiser-style bike was photographed on the corner of Fourth Street and Stewart Avenue. Las Vegas is a great place to ride almost any time of the year, so hop on a chopper and get to riding.

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–Peter Gaunt

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Killing Ruby Rose by Jessie Humphries Reviewed by Keir Fortune-Easton “Killing Ruby Rose” reads as a cross between “Nancy Drew” and “The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo.” Driven by her desire to resolve her father's murder along with a few unresolved cases, Ruby Rose is a Johnny Golightly teenage vigilante by force. Along with her sidekickturned-boyfriend, Liam (cue in the Hardy boys), she stumbles upon a treasure chest of family secrets. Just enough to create a vast boneyard with all of the skeletons that come tumbling out of the closet!

Even though this book is categorized as teen fiction, both adults and teens alike can appreciate this book. From its nostalgic ‘80s references to the present, this is another recommended read from a growing collective of local authors. So, suit up and get ready for some sleuthing fun! Let's see if you can figure out “who dun it?” before the end of the book.

306 pp. Skyscape (May 1, 2014)

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Q&A with author Jessie Humphries | Interviewed by Keir Fortune-Easton I noticed in your bio that you're a lawyer by trade, but what prompted you to become an author?

Short answer: baby-cave-time.

Less-short answer: After practicing law for five years, and giving birth to three children in the same time span, I found myself cooped up for many months in what I affectionately called “the baby cave.” During those times of overflowing love and joy (and isolation and sleepless nights), I read books. A lot of books. Inspiring books. Romantic books.

Fantastical books. And one day I thought to myself, “Hey, it can’t be that hard to write one of these suckers. If I can pass the bar exam, and birth all these children, then I can certainly figure out how to churn out a novel.” Turns out, all three of these things are the opposite “not that hard,” but totally worth the effort.

I think most women and girls can find buying shoes a common connection to Ruby.

Living in France and becoming familiar with different shoe designers, which one is your favorite? Ruby Rose certainly knows her way around a good pair of shoes!

Yeah, with Ruby Rose I was certainly able to live out my shoe fantasies. Since I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to afford or justify a pair of Christian Louboutins (when I’ve got all these kids’ college educations to think about), I can certainly live vicariously through a character that has a very healthy shoe budget.

I could not help but notice that you seem to channel some of the English authors of late, who tend to name their characters after their personalities, jobs or station life.

Especially when it comes to detective novels. Was that on purpose or a subconscious afterthought?

English novels?! Well aren’t I a fancy pants to have reminded a reader of an English author of late! I’d love to claim that one as intentional, but it looks like some Vegas luck to me.

I’ll take it.

Also, the Filthy Five had committed crimes against young women and girls. Can you shed some light as to why you chose those sort of crimes? Perchance, is it a cautionary tale for young women?

Actually, one of the reasons I went to law school was because I dreamed of becoming a prosecutor and putting away the bad guys that got away with hurting women and children.

I’m not a big fan of these guys — these predators — as you can probably tell from me writing a book about a 17-yearold girl who takes them out one by one. I think we all have some experience with the issue of predators, whether within our families, our communities or watching them on CNN every night. If there were a cautionary tale in the Ruby Rose series, I would hope the young girls out there reading would know they don’t have to be victims. They can be fighters.

They can be survivors.

On a lighter subject, I am originally from Northern California, and I found the girls’ “valley girl” talk hilarious!

Up north, we did not tend to speak this way as we used a twisted form of pig latin. When you were in attendance at San Diego State, was this common lingo?

Since I probably spent more time at the beach than campus, yeah totally. I definitely spoke fluent “valley girl” and obviously still do! I still spend a lot of time in Southern California. In fact, as I’m writing these words from my favorite Starbucks in Huntington Beach, there are two girls sitting behind me who are discussing a hot boy situation with much enthusiasm and inflection. ***I have it on good authority that it’s not creepy for authors to listen to people’s conversations in coffee shops.*** Are there any personal experiences, that you've had living in Southern California, applied in building Ruby's character? For instance, anyone embarking on a degree in law has to weigh out whether to attend this week's parties or buckle down and hit the books. Studying law helps to foster a competitive attitude. Is this a definitive attribute that you could draw upon while creating the character of Ruby's mother?

I think all authors draw upon their own life experiences when fleshing out characters. As I mentioned before, during my undergrad education in California, my competitive attitude wasn’t exactly directed toward academia. More like how fast I could beat my friends to the sand. Or even on the tennis court since I played college tennis. Or maybe even as a theater major vying for a part. It wasn’t until law school at UNLV that I learned to really hit the books and my competitive spirit came out in school. So while I’m not sure I’ll ever run for district attorney (like Jane Rose, Ruby’s mother, who was surely the top of her fictional law school class), I’m not dismissing the possibility of working in criminal law. I love the idea that no matter what we choose to do with our education, we can always be pursuing a new dream or fresh objective.

Ruby seems to perform a constant balancing act in almost anything that she does. I found that both Liam and Alana sit on either one of her shoulders to help keep her in check.

Liam is definitely the voice of reason, while Alana loves to throw caution to the wind. Would that be a fair assumption?

Yes, this is an astute observation regarding Ruby’s two closest friends. I like the conflict that these opposing characters create in Ruby’s world. When developing these characters (and all my characters) I turn to a nonfiction personality book called “The Color Code” by Dr. Taylor Hartman. Essentially, personalities can be divided into four colors: • Red (motivated by power) • Blue (motivated by intimacy/relationships) • White (motivated by peace) • Yellow (motivated by fun) FEB 2015 • dtZEN.com

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I try to balance all these personalities around the main character, Ruby Rose. I see Ruby as a Blue, who struggles in her relationships with a powerful mother, Jane Rose (Red), a carefree best friend, Alana (Yellow), and a soft-spoken love interest, Liam (White). I think this creates interesting dynamics.

Corruption seems to help steer along the story. It is a thick thread that is ever present. More than a few times the kids struggle with trusting the justice system and striking out on their own. There is a definite paradox here. This is something kids are at odds with today. What advice would you like to pass along to our young readers?

I struggle to find any wisdom to pass along to kids since I was far from perfect in my youth and never considered myself to have much cred in the role model department.

Plus, I’ve created a teenaged serial killer in Ruby Rose. Yes, she’s a manipulated and unwilling killer, but I certainly hope there’s never any inference that I advocate vigilantism to fight against corruption or crime. (There was a “Dateline”

episode a few years back where a killer seemed to be acting out scenes from “Dexter” — a Showtime series based on a book about a kind-hearted serial killer.)

But if you put a gun to my head (figuratively), I’d advise young readers to believe in our justice system, because it’s the best in the world. However, I’d also advise them to challenge it, because there are flaws that need to be fixed and holes that need to be filled. And who better to do it than the brilliant new minds of the next generation?

Any chance Ruby will have an adventure in Las Vegas?

This is an excellent idea. I’m in the middle of drafting book three in the Ruby Rose series, and a trip to Vegas might just be what’s needed to get the blood pumping (or spilling, depending on who the bad guys are).

All in all, the book is a lot of fun and very inspirational. I like that the characters are both believable and relatable.

It is very refreshing, and I cannot wait to read the second book!

JESSIE HUMPHRIES, author of the young adult contemporary thriller “Killing Ruby Rose” and the sequel “Resisting Ruby Rose,” is a fulltime mother, part-time attorney, half-witted writer and a full-blown lunatic. Some people like to call her a B-word ... for all kinds of different reasons, though she likes to think most of them have to do with the fact she’s a Book lover, Blog stalker, and a pretty good Baby momma. She received a BA from San Diego State University, where she cultivated her love of the beach, then lived in France, where she cultivated her weakness for shoes, and finally earned a law degree from UNLV, where she cultivated her interest in justice.

After practicing law for several years she began writing, and, appropriately, her debut is a thriller about vigilante justice set in sunny Southern California with a shoeobsessed protagonist. Jessie currently writes and practices law in Las Vegas, where she lives with her husband and many children. She is on our list of downtown Las Vegas authors because she launched the first book in the series at Downtown Container Park and then teamed up with Scott Seeley of the independent book store The Writer's Block to commemorate the second book at the Gold Spike this past October. We welcome Jessie to the downtown community and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!■

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Cranberries and Persimmons Salad

Persimmons are a beautiful deep orange fruit (technically a berry) found in many parts of the world, but typically in Asia and the Midwestern United States. They have high astringency content until they are ripe, but some types are less astringent and can be eaten before they are totally ripe.

Cranberries come from dwarf evergreen shrubs and are a staple of the Thanksgiving table but can be enjoyed at any time of year.

Often served as jellied sauce from a can, this recipe turns cranberry sauce on its ear, combining unusual ingredients now available at the Downtown3rd Farmers Market.

Ingredients:

3/4 pound fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 1/2 cups) 1/4 cup dry red wine 2 tablespoons water 1/2 star anise or 1/4 teaspoon star-anise pieces 1/2 to 2/3 cup sugar 3 firm-ripe Fuyu persimmons (about 1 pound total), peeled and diced into 1/4 inch pieces

Preparation:

Bring cranberries, wine, star anise, 1/2 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a quart saucepan, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer five minutes. Add more sugar to taste (up to about 2 1/2 tablespoons), and discard star anise. Fold in persimmons. Transfer to a bowl and serve at room temperature or chilled. Stir gently before serving.

Please post your photos to the Downtown3rd Farmers Market Facebook page and add the tag #dtZEN www.facebook.com/Downtown3rdFarmersMarket Every Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

300 N. Casino Center Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89101 FEB 2015 • dtZEN.com

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By Temple Brathwaite

A

lthough the garment itself isn’t overly complicating, the one thing about bras we are still getting wrong is how to determine the correct size and fit. More than 80 percent of women wear the wrong size bra, and many don’t know it or are unaware of how to accurately get fitted. True&Co., a Downtown Project portfolio company, has taken that challenge into their own hands by helping women everywhere cut down on countless hours spent in department store dressing rooms, all while maintaining practical yet sexy designs.

When I first stumbled onto this company, I must admit I had my doubts. How could an online company conceivably find my perfect size? This seemed almost impossible, especially when physical department stores were part of the problem. After signing up on their website, I was taken through a series of questions, which asked about comfort and the overall suitability of the bra I was currently wearing. With all my provided information, True&Co. was able to offer me a size that would deliver the best fit with any piece that I chose. But wait! The shocker was that the size varied slightly from style to style. That, to me, was the perfect selling point. Not only did they have an accurate size, but they also took into account that each bra style would provide a different fit and feel, and they adjusted the size to match.

Fortunately, I got the opportunity to interview the founder of True&Co., Michelle Lam, and really pick her brain on what makes her company so unique. Upon reading this piece, I’m convinced you too will take the fit quiz yourself and find the perfect bra just in time for Valentine’s Day, or any day!

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What inspired the start of True&Co.?

True&Co. was inspired by a particularly disheartening bra shopping trip in 2011. After spending two hours in a lingerie store fitting room trying to find a bra from a seemingly random selection, I walked out empty handed. I realized that bra fitting is a horrible shopping experience, and that there was nothing wrong with my body, even though I couldn’t find a bra that worked. There was something wrong with the product.

So, I bought 500 bras, spilled them out in my living room, and invited my friends to come in and tell me what they really thought about the products. I asked them if their bras hurt, if the bands rode up, and how the bras made them feel about themselves. As we all shared our stories, the entire room became entirely comfortable with one another. It was truly a bonding experience, and I learned a lot about what made bras work.

This inspired the development of the fit quiz algorithm, which is the backbone of the first iteration of True&Co.’s service. The quiz, and code behind it, helps us continue to refine the tool so that it remains a powerful and accurate way to fit women and suggest alternative bras.

Who is your target customer?

I created this company for the women like myself, women who expect to have a say in what is sexy. The term sexy has been defined for us for a long time in an effort to sell us some really bad product. We're the first company to give women a voice in the creation of better apparel; apparel that is better, smarter, that looks amazing and that feels like it’s made for her, because it actually is. We’re listening to what women hate about their bras and using that to make her something that will actually fit and will love.

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As an online-only, e-commerce company, this model of purchasing almost anything comes very naturally to our customers. It’s simple and painless, and easier for women to visit our website from home instead of navigating the mall and enduring the fitting room and measuring tape experience.

Most women wear the wrong size bra. So as an online store, how is fit guaranteed?

That’s absolutely right. At True&Co., we vet every bra before we recommend it to our customers. Currently, only about 1 in 7 of the bras we test work for the 6,000 body types we’ve identified through our fit quiz and data. That means 86 percent of the bras produced simply do not fit anyone well.

We listen to our customers from the beginning to offer them the best bra for them. We offer the unique TrueSpectrum fit system, which allows us to take into account, and have women discover, their true shape and find the best fitting bras. Throughout the process, women provide us with feedback, which helps us to refine our data around their specific body type and breast shape, and make better and more accurate recommendations for them.

Can you speak to TrueSpectrum’s success?

It’s been very successful — 8 in 10 women are accurately fitted by True&Co. Furthermore, our True Originals lines (She Walks in Beauty + Light, Uniform and Bezier), which incorporate our data about fit into their design, are some of our most popular products. They make up about 13 percent of our inventory, but about 45 percent of our revenue. And women who try on our products keep them 30 percent more than any other line.

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{

We’re listening to what women hate about their bras and using that to make her something that will actually fit and will love.

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Explain your creative design process, from casual wear and sports bra to lounge & sleep.

Data from our fit quiz drives much of the True&Co. shopping experience, but we also use it to help create our bras and drive intelligent design and intelligent fit, such as curvature, position and weight distribution as well as standard band and cup size, all through TrueSpectrum.

In accordance with the above, Creative Director Nikki Dekker uses her expertise to bring beauty to these highly complicated and data-designed products. At the beginning of each season, Nikki creates her themes for each of our True Originals private label lines against the feedback and data we glean from our customers. She then incorporates it into the design, but her objective is always to make a woman feel like a million bucks in her True&Co. bra.

For our latest line, Bezier, a modern interpretation of lace, Nikki was inspired by the parks and gardens in New York City and the romance of each, resulting in a leafy, spontaneous pattern. As a fun touch, each piece was named after a NYC park.

With already more than 50 brands on your website, what’s next?

We’re constantly curating the best possible bra styles and brands for our customers. That’s why we started making our own True Originals bras, in addition to the great brands we currently carry. Our brands include: She Walks in Beauty (+ Light), a fashion-forward option, Uniform for the comfiest essentials, and Bezier for a modern take on lace lingerie.

Speaking of lingerie, for Valentine’s Day you offer the “bag of tricks” collection. Divulge!

Our “Bag of Tricks” is the perfect way to spice up your lingerie collection. It is a whimsical collection of nine fantasy-inspiring bra-and-bottom sets that are light and lacy, and include bras, panties, garter belts, stockings, lace handcuffs and lace blindfolds. All sets are priced between $30-$55, so it's a great gift that's also affordable.

Tell us about your home try-on program.

Over a million women have taken our quiz, and that has helped us refine our algorithm to recommend the right styles and sizes, offering women a personalized shopping experience. The vast majority of our customers buy the bra we recommend, and our return rates are lower than the industry average as a result. We do recommend home tryon, but only for certain customers who could benefit from it.

You’ve been featured on the Today Show and in the New York Times and Lucky Magazine. Publicity speaking, what’s been your greatest accomplishment so far?

I did an interview earlier this year on advancing the conversation about women in tech with Elle magazine.

Being a bra brand and a tech company puts us in a unique position — we've run up against a lot of challenges as a result. I feel like we have a responsibility to contribute to the community in a meaningful way that helps advance the conversation, and this was a great platform for discussing a topic that I'm very interested in.

Give us two names of whom you’d want as a True&Co. celebrity endorser.

I think that Emma Watson or Taylor Swift would be great True&Co. endorsers. They're among the most influential people of 2014 and have used their influence to support all women and advance the conversation in very big ways.

From date night ready to lazy weekend, sell us on why women should choose True&Co. Put simply, we want women to feel like a million bucks when they put their bras on. We, as a female-centric company, understand all too well that a woman’s life varies greatly day to day, so we provide options that support the flexibility she needs throughout her day’s activities.■

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F

orego the crowded restaurants this Valentine’s Day and order a drink from your cute athome bartender.

Keep your walk-up bar uncluttered and refined by ridding your collection of bottles and instead utilize glass decanters or carafes atop a serving tray. Moreover, don’t forget to add visuals throughout your living space. Remember: wall art, shelving and tabletop accents can do wonders when satisfying open spaces.

This is home décor done right. This is

Inside Style.

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Spotlight CMYK 67, 63, 63, 57 PMS Black 7

Yishay Rojas Bronze Café Shift Supervisor

Want to know a secret? A secret menu item that is. The Chinana is available only to those who are in the know (or who happen to be reading this) at the Bronze Café located inside The Center. The illusive vanilla-based protein shake is packed with bananas, chia seeds, almond butter, house made almond milk and chai powder. According to Yishay Rojas, “It’s delicious.”

CMYK 0, 10, 100, 0 PMS 7405C

CMYK 67, 63, 63, 57 PMS Black 7

It’s the kind of fun tip you’d expect from Rojas. “He brightens everyone's day with his infectious and enthusiastic attitude and unflappable happiness,” said one of the many downtowners who nominated him for Downtown Employee of the Month. If you’re lucky enough to encounter Rojas, you leave Bronze Café with not only a delicious Chinana, but also with a smile.

CMYK 0, 0, 0, 0 PMS Black C

CMYK 100, 100, 100, 100

What is your favorite sandwich at The Bronze Café?

When I first started it was the LGTBQ, but shortly after starting I became a vegetarian. I have lost 50 pounds, and now my favorite sandwich is the Guac & Mole. My other secret: I add our new spicy jalapeno vinaigrette.

You have lived in Las Vegas for 14 years. What’s your favorite spot?

I love any place where you can get a view of the city. My friends and I have been going to this spot called Little Mexico since I was 16. It’s at the end of Lake Mead, and it’s amazing to watch fireworks on New Year’s Eve from there.

CMYK 100, 100, 100, 100

CMYK 0, 0, 0, 0 PMS Black C

What is your favorite location downtown?

The Downtown Container Park. I bought my mom a coat from Boutiqueaholics for her birthday. I also have to show Simply Pure some vegetarian love.

What is your secret to success?

Keep a positive attitude. Always be happy and willing to help. I love making sure our customers are happy.

Do you have other passions or hobbies?

I love architecture and really want to be a civil engineer. I also like reading.

Any other thoughts you’d like to share with the world?

Be amazing.

This is the first in a new series of Nomic Spotlights featuring downtown employees or employers. If you’d like to nominate someone for employee or employer of the month, submit their nomination here: http://bit.ly/dteom

Follow Nomic on Twitter @nomic & Instagram @nomiclv Photo by Focalchrome 37

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I love

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are happy.

making ustomers

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The Corner of Fremont and Seventh

>By Brian Paco Alvarez

Image courtesy of the Las Vegas News Bureau

T

he evolution of Fremont Street, east of Las Vegas Boulevard, has been dramatic over the last 60 years.

From a bustling commercial district in the 1950s to its decline in the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s until its renaissance today, Fremont is definitely coming alive again.

In this image provided by the Las Vegas News Bureau you can see how bustling the corner of Fremont and Seventh streets

used to be. The City Center Motel and its swimming pool was a prominent feature in this area. The El Cortez, Sears and several other shops demonstrate how charming this area of downtown used to be. Today, the renaissance of Fremont has been nothing short of remarkable. Several bars, lounges, shops and even a market, that at one time was the Fremont Drug Company, have moved into the area. A district that was once in decline is now a vibrant neighborhood again!■

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HOUSING GUIDE

BY KARINA GIRALDO

Urbanity Apartments

A

short distance away from the heart of one of the world’s leading entertainment cities, the Urbanity Apartments are inexpensive homes that stand proud at 323 N. 11th Street along the East Fremont corridor in downtown Las Vegas. A pleasing spectacle, the large eightunit apartment complex is definitely a sight to behold. It is one of those buildings that still remind people of the architecture of yesteryears.

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Who Is Behind This Project?

The three Argier brothers, natives of Las Vegas, had the idea of this project and invested an amount in the region of $650,000 in buying and renovating the classical apartment building. Mike, Sam and Paul, each with diverse interests and job occupations, have collaborated to make this apartment complex the standout building in Las Vegas, which is a huge accomplishment in its own right.

Karina Giraldo Residential Specialist

Karina@KarinaGiraldo.com T: 702.566.7222 M: 702.480.9131 F: 702.853.4470

Property Lowdown At first look, Urbanity will have you appreciating the concept behind its architecture. It consists of two renovated buildings that face each other, each building being two levels and symmetric consisting of four spacious units, and in between is a well crafted courtyard that was built to give the classic complex a bit of urban hurrah.

The Argier brothers have tried to add to the artistic nature of the building by infusing a bit of art and craft from popular artists, which gives the building a distinct look unparalleled in appearance to any other Las Vegas structure. Urbanity’s list of art spectacles include six original paintings of renowned artist C. Bennett, custom murals made beautifully

by Eric Vozzola, and photographs of Las Vegas’ very own DeCesare.

Urbanity Apartments are receiving a warm response from Las Vegas inhabitants, with more than half of the residences already occupied. The gentry at Urbanity is full of diverse, creative and open-minded people, some of whom work downtown while others who simply love to go out and enjoy the renowned attractions of Sin City.

An Inside Look In no way does the inside of Urbanity Apartments remind you of yesteryear living standards. The apartments are fully renovated and are packed with brand new appliances, cabinets, granite countertops and energy efficient windows.

Private patios coupled with kitchen and bathroom remodels give you the sense of luxury while the restored original hardwood floors keep the apartment true to their heritage.

Community Facilities The Argier brothers have tried to give their customers the complete experience at Urbanity. The social courts here are equipped with gas grills and patio furniture to accommodate your comfort and art to soothe your soul. ADT security, privacy fencing, a bocce ball court and bicycle racks are just few of the many amenities available here.

With lower-than-market rents and ease of access to downtown Las Vegas, Urbanity Apartments is definitely soon to become the choice amongst a large number of house hunters.■ FEB 2015 • dtZEN.com

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By Fernando Reyes

ËœS

he is an incredible woman, a delight to all that know her. He is a talented man who feels the pressure of passing time. She's a free spirit, a gypsy at heart, a master dancer who taught Flamenco dance at UNLV. He's a serious, solemn man, a master painter and architect who teaches painting and fashion design in Mexico City.

She is the president of the "Sociedad Cultural Hispana (SCH)," in English it's the "Hispanic Cultural Society." He is a great artist.

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She earnestly believes in the arts, a lifelong devotion. She understands the life of an artist, the struggles, the hardships, the disappointments, the joys, the love and what it takes, for she is an artist. She has been bringing culture and art to Las Vegas through the SCH since 1974. She has had a long and lustrous career as a professional dancer of the stage since she was 14 years old. She's danced on stages such as the Million Dollar Theatre, El Cid and the Hollywood Bowl to name a few. She has worked with some of the

all-time greats of show business. She is a wonderful person, and I am most fortunate to be her friend.

He is the embodiment of a modern master. He can do art with anything.

He does impressive sketches using a cigarette and ink, manipulating the filter to make a brush. He is my kind of painter, one who strives towards mastery of technique and creativity.

He is influenced by the painting masters of the past (as am I). He wants to make a name for himself, and now in his 60s, he feels more than ever the

sense of urgency imposed by time.

He is someone I can relate to, for I too have felt the inevitable creeping sensation of disillusion that is there until success is achieved. He won't give up on that dream though, a true artist is wholeheartedly devoted to this mistress we were born to serve.

She wanted to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Las Vegas by making a calendar to sell at art shows and bring to lectures. She needed an artist (she did not know me then), and as if by destiny he came into her life through one of her dancers.

He came to Las Vegas in April of 2012 and set out to paint 45 paintings in only three days, using spray cans.

She used these to make her calendar.

He also gave a workshop on how to make this spray can art. She had more than enough art to make a second calendar the following year, one that I was assistant coordinator to. He has had his work in the Arts Factory for over a year now (come see it this First Friday, his work is across from mine right now).

She has been a blessing to him and to me. She helps us both. She brought him back through the SCH to give another spray can art workshop in December, and I assisted.

She will forever be a dancer but she is also a painter. He is an ambitious artist who has strived for that crowning glory that is one's name in history, that elusive honor. She came into my life as if by destiny in early 2013. She inspires me to be fearless and to reach for the highest star. He influences me to be a refined gentleman and to carry myself with a quiet dignity. She is Margo Torea. He is Armando Castello Arias.â–

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D O W N T O W N

restaurant R E V I E W

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Simply Pure

by Hannah Espina

L

as Vegas is a land of excess, always has been, always will be. But there a few things that are pretty scarce in this land of overindulgence — all-vegan, all-raw food establishments being one of them. That’s what makes Chef Stacey Dougan’s Simply Pure such a rare gem and a refreshing addition to the Vegas food scene.

dish. I added marinated mushrooms to mine, but there are other topping options to make it your own. There are also other sauce options available like the pesto and the cashew alfredo, both of which I definitely intend to try at some point.

The ingredients she uses are so fresh and delicious, I don’t find myself missing the non-vegan versions!

Located on the second level of Downtown Container Park, Simply Pure offers gourmet vegan and raw renditions of a few familiar favorites in an order-up, order-to-go setting.

My favorite thing on the menu is their Nachos Grande — corn chips with vegan “beef,” vegan cheddar cheese sauce, fresh pico de gallo and topped with sliced avocado. This hefty serving of vegan nachos definitely hits the spot — just don’t expect the same hot, guilt-inducing gooeyness of traditional nachos. This version is more on the light and fresh category… as far as nachos go, I suppose. What it lacks in guilt factor it does make up for in great flavor and the fact that it’s super filling without making you feel like taking a midday nap after your lunch break! You can also order an extra side of the yummy cashew-based “cheddar cheese” sauce for $1 — I highly recommend doing so!

“But all this healthy vegan food is making me crave dessert!”

Don’t worry, Simply Pure also offers a couple of deliciously raw and vegan sweets options. Be sure to ask what they offer that day since they sometimes change it up from the menu.

The rich Key lime mousse is a great combination of sweet and tart, while the raw dark chocolate ganache with almond granola is a chocolate lover’s dream! During our last visit, they gave us sample bites of the raw almond agave truffles.

They were pretty tasty, although I prefer the other two options.

Simply Pure also has a raw vegan salad bar at just under 11 bucks a pound. Pretty pricey for salad in my opinion, but if you like the thrill of pay-per-pound dining, I’m sure it’s worth a try considering healthy options aren’t too plentiful downtown AND you get really good, wholesome food for your money.

Another dish I really enjoy at Simply Pure is the “raw angel hair zucchini pasta.” Although zucchini pasta is nothing new to me (I sometimes make it at home), Chef Dougan’s sundried tomato and basil marinara is really the star of this

If you’re looking for fresh, healthy and satisfying vegan/ raw food options downtown, Simply Pure by Chef Stacey Dougan is definitely a great choice and a true gem in the Las Vegas valley! The service is usually pretty on point. My only gripe is I wish the place wasn’t so small and cramped, especially when there’s a line forming at the register. I know this is typical of all the container park establishments, but on the upside, there is plenty of outdoor seating which is highly conducive to people watching and relaxing when the weather’s nice.

So the next time you find yourself hungry for something different, definitely make your way down to Downtown Container Park, grab yourself some Thai basil spring rolls, perhaps some kale chips and DO try the vegan nachos at Simply Pure!■

"If you’re looking for fresh, healthy and satisfying vegan/raw food options downtown, Simply Pure

by Chef Stacey Dougan is definitely a great choice and a true gem in the Las Vegas valley!"

Simpy Pure By Chef Stacey Dougan 707 Fremont St., Suite 2310 Las Vegas, NV 89101 (Inside Downtown Container Park level 2) 702.810.5641

Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday through Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

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D O W N T O W N

bar

R E V I E W

Grass Roots A Juice Bar

By Charlene Sands

T

here are well over 30 bars in downtown Las Vegas.

Probably far, far more than that, but frankly we stopped counting after Benny’s Bullpen Sports Bar & Cigar Lounge. However, there is only one solitary juice bar — Grassroots. And while one may stand alone, it’s significant to the tone of change in downtown Las Vegas. It’s emblematic, if you will, of an overall shift in downtown becoming a more fully formed, multifaceted Sin City nerve center. It’s no longer just bars and Fremont Street Experience excess. With the ushering of the Downtown Project (DTP) and its objectives of “making downtown Las Vegas a place of inspiration, entrepreneurial energy, creativity, innovation, upward mobility […] in a long-term, sustainable way,” Grassroots fits the bill and fits in just fine amongst the many DTP upstarts and surprisingly the rest of existing downtown. Let’s get to know this unique new kid on the block.

WHO Grassroots is owned and helmed by two friends, Nichole Hester and Shane Stuart, who had common interests in community service, yoga retreats, and healthy living.

Nichole comes from a big Italian family, her father being the owner of the first fresh fruit and vegetable stand in town. This made for a family that didn’t cook with sugar, but always with fresh, organic ingredients.

They took their time and made cooking an experience.

And, of course, this made a lasting impression on her.

Now, Shane’s interest in nutrition was largely selfdriven. The first book he recalls reading front to back is his mother’s copy of “Fit for Life.” From that moment, he exemplified a distinct fascination for food. This lead to many knowledge-seeking, deep dives into the studies of electromagnetic currents within food and the exchange of energy that happens upon digestion as well as an onagain, off-again love affair with a vegan lifestyle since the age of 18.

Fast forward many years later — Nichole is the managing director for First Friday and Shane is hot off eight years 47

dtZEN.com • FEB 2015

Grassroots is located at

123 S. Sixth Street, Suite 160 Las Vegas, NV 89101 702.560.5444 They are open Monday-Saturday: 7:00a.m.-Close For more information please visit: www.grassrootslv.com

of being Vitamix’s top sales rep and being a minor partner and menu recipe contributor of Greens and Proteins. Both attend the same yoga retreat and a kinship is formed from their shared interests. Fast forward just a bit further and as kismet would have it Nichole enters a downtown contest to open a business.

Her partner drops out leaving just the right spot for Shane and her to conjure the idea of Grassroots. Now if this isn’t the recipe for juice bar success we’re not sure what is ...

WHAT Grassroots is a juice bar offering raw, vegan, dairy-free juices, smoothies, soups and whole food bowls. The objective within those offerings is simple though — how many fresh super food

WHERE But alas, it is true. And it’s all for the customers to see made right in front of them. Grassroots sets out to provide an air of transparency. The interior of the juice bar is very sleek but not clinical. The walls are white with many details of dark reclaimed wood. Other than that the ingredients are the color palette. All the fruits and vegetables, roots etc. are packaged in clear containers in clear glass door fridges, plain as day, to not only delight in that rainbow, but to encourage a dialogue between customer and the Grassroots staff. One that is unspoken — here it is, you know exactly what you are getting in every item — but also one that is open-ended leaving room for the customer to inquire and learn about the names and benefits of each ingredient.

In speaking of ingredients, where Grassroots sources them from is no small feat. Grassroots has coined the term "beyond organic" as they have chosen to go beyond and visit each and every farm they incur produce from and personally shake hands with the farmers. While many of their sources hold the certification of organic, not all of them do. But are they upholding organic practices? Yes. While visiting each farm they observed their practices, and while they may not have been able to obtain the certifications for whatever reason, financial or otherwise, Grassroots makes it a point to do business with these farmers. To them it is important to keep these small businesses alive and around to continue their well-thought-out and sustainable farming practices.

The locations range from Ojai and Ventura, California to local allowing for Grassroots to obtain produce as young as a day or two old. Impressive to say the least.

Grassroots is right in the heart of downtown within the John E. Carson Building neighboring O Face Donuts and Downtown Bikram. And like their ingredients, they feel the involvement in the ongoing development of DTP is organic. Nichole and Shane both revel in how inspiring it is to be amongst so many burgeoning businesses and how much they all foster and look out for one another. ©Ivan Quiroz

ingredients can be fit into one serving to amplify the nutrient benefits without sacrificing taste. With most juices averaging 12 ingredients or more, we’d have to wager they’re successful.

Having sampled such menu greats as the “Holy Grail of Greens,” the tortilla soup, and the “Hot Toddie Smoothie” we retract our wager. We simply KNOW Grassroots is wildly successful at creating delicious and deceitfully healthy concoctions. For instance, the tortilla soup is chock-full with raw cashews, cabbage, carrots, squash and leeks but creates a rich, creamy and ever so slightly spicy conclusion that's better than any restaurant tortilla soup fare we’ve had. Not only in taste, but in the mere fact of what it was made from. We ate how many vegetables? With no additives? And it tasted that good? The feeling of enjoying something so nutrient rich is unparalleled. It's a double dosage of being good to yourself, and it seems almost too good to be true.

WHY What is furthermore inspiring is the passion with which Nichole and Shane look out for their customer.

Grassroots has no intention of being your quick fix after an all nighter; though they can and will take care of you.

The modus operandi of Grassroots truly lies in being instrumental in educating through taste on a long-term basis. Whether it be in the many youth and community outreach programs like Kids Kitchen, in which they personally visit schools educating students and parents alike on the benefits of juicing and how to sustainably garden or relying on their years of experience and healthy living know-how to show customers a way to better nourish themselves one-on-one. So hopefully how great you feel after that all-nighter will entice you to trade in that whiskey for wheatgrass for good.

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events calendar Daily Events

FEbruary 5 Thursday

Matilda & Patrick’s Ja-Makin’-Me-Laugh This unique show combines original standup comedy with the ancient arts of ventriloquism and puppetry. Laugh-filled audiences will enjoy the multicultural show highlighting the sexy, sassy and vibrant observations of this hip comedienne. location: The D Las Vegas Showroom time: 2:30 p.m., except Fridays

Bass Drum of Death Music, drink specials and a great night out! location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Marriage Can Be Murder Las Vegas’ #1 Murder-Mystery Dinner Show! Be a part of the mystery, be a part of the fun! location: The D Las Vegas Showroom time: 6:15 p.m.

FEbruary 1 SUNDAY

Big Game 10K Get out and be active on the greatest sport day of the year! location: Downtown Las Vegas time: 8 a.m.

FEbruary 2 Monday Groundhog Day

Industry Night No cover, drink specials with TAM card and a night of pure entertainment! DJ Miyuki will be spinning all night long. location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

FEbruary 3 Tuesday

Nickel Beer Night Cheap beer and great people make for the perfect night out! location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

FEbruary 4 Wednesday

Dinosaur Train Live! Buddy’s Big Adventure The series encourages preschoolers’ basic scientific thinking skills as the audience learns about life science, natural history and paleontology. Come join Buddy, Tiny, King, Don and more in this fun-filled, interactive and immersive live trip back in time to an age when dinosaurs roamed the earth … and rode in trains! location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 6 p.m.

Karate Karaoke Karaoke and drink specials: $6 beers and shots. location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

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Pub Trivia At Atomic Win bar tabs and prizes every Thursday!

Atomic Liquors time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

FEbruary 6 Friday

First Friday First Friday is celebrated in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas and celebrates young and established local artists. location: Arts District time: 6 p.m.-11 p.m. more info: FirstFridayLasVegas.com “V’s Big Show” “V’s Big Show” keeps you massively entertained from start to finish. Your host, Vanessa Lawson, is a fast-paced, hilarious comedian that has entertained thousands for over a decade. Featuring Matt Markman, a self-depreciating and over-the-top comedian; Julie Pajuheshfar, a world-class singer who varies from acoustic covers, jazz tunes and operatic aria; and Darren Flores, whose magical skills have left audiences in utter amazement. location: Scullery time: 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Under The Moon Dance Party Featuring Willy Uno, Wyldsyde, Martin Jane, Zack the Ripper and Byra Tanks. Come dance the night away! location: Beauty Bar time: 10 p.m.

FEbruary 7 Saturday

Frankie Scinta Frankie Scinta characteristics that have made the show's eponymous star one of Las Vegas' most iconic performers. location: The D Las Vegas Showroom time: 8:30 p.m.

Legends Never Die LND (Legends Never Die) promotions presents J Dilla Changed My Life: A tribute show and birthday celebration, all-night music by the Soulquarians, Dilla Art live with silent auction, photo-op cutout and free donuts! location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.

Zola Jesus Deradooria Come out and enjoy a one-of-a kind concert at the Bunkhouse Saloon! location: Bunkhouse Saloon time: 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

FEbruary 9 Monday

The Altercation Punk Comedy Tour with JT Habersaat and Mishka Shubaly Laughter really is the best medicine. Come out and get your dose at this hilarious comedy show! location: Bunkhouse Saloon time: 8 p.m.-11 p.m.

Frankie Scinta location: The D Las Vegas Showroom time: 8:30 p.m. ndustry Night No cover, drink specials with TAM card and a night of pure entertainment!. location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

FEbruary 10 Tuesday

Nickel Beer Night Cheap beer and great people make for the perfect night out! location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

FEbruary 11 Wednesday

Karate Karaoke Karaoke and drink specials: $6 beers and shots. location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

FEbruary 12 Thursday

Pub Trivia At Atomic Win bar tabs and prizes every Thursday! location: Atomic Liquors time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

KODO One Earth Tour: Mystery Taking Kodo to yet another frontier, this mysterious experience will transport audiences into darkness, a place with a nostalgic air that conjures the spirit of Japanese people and their indigenous nature.

Through the music of Kodo, the profound “mystery” will unfold. location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 7:30 p.m.

FEbruary 13 Friday

Mob Museum 3rd Anniversary Blood Drive In partnership with United Blood Services, the museum will hold its 3rd anniversary blood drive. location: Mob Museum time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The 8th Annual Broken Hearts Show Come celebrate our 8th Annual show with Will & The Hi-Rollers and Cutty Flam. Spinning records all night we have DJ Maybelline, DJ Cromm Fallon, DJ Lucky LaRue and from Los Angeles DJ Chuy Villegas. location: Beauty Bar time: 11 p.m.

The GROWLERS Sure, you can hone in on some influences baked into the work of this California-bred band. Heck, even they’d cop to a few, like Ricky Nelson and The Clash. But once those same RIYL tags have been filtered through the minds and hands and voices of this five-piece, there’s simply nothing else like it. location: Bunkhouse Saloon time: 11:30 p.m.-2 a.m.

FEbruary 14 Saturday Saint Valentine’s Day

Mob Museum 3rd Anniversary This Valentine’s Day, the Mob Museum, The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, celebrates its 3rd anniversary. As part of the birthday events, the museum will temporarily display two of the Thompson machine guns used in the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Lt. Mike Kline of the Berrien County Sheriff’s office in Michigan will explain the history of the guns and the tests that linked them to the massacre. The guns will be available for viewing all day with presentations at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. location: Mob Museum time: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Cupid’s Undie Run Cupid’s Undie Run has recently expanded to 38 cities across the United States! The multicity, one mile(ish) fun run through city streets (in your underwear) is to help raise funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. The charity event features pre and post-run fun and libations! For $5 off registration, use promo code DTLV. location: Commonwealth time: 12 p.m. more info: CupidsUndieRun.com Las Vegas Philharmonic: Pops III: A Gershwin Valentine Join two-time Grammy® Award winner Sylvia McNair for a romantic evening showcasing the timeless talent of one of the greatest American songwriters, George Gershwin. McNair lays claim to a remarkable three-decade career in the musical realms of opera, oratorio, cabaret and musical theater. location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 7:30 p.m.

FEbruary 15 Sunday

Mob Museum 3rd Anniversary location: Mob Museum time: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Engelbert Humperdinck Grammy nominated, Golden Globe “Entertainer of the Year” and multi-platinum selling artist Engelbert Humperdinck will perform at the Smith Center.

He has been a legend in the international music industry for the last 40 plus years, with more than 150 million records sold. location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 7:30 p.m.

FEbruary 16 Monday

FEBRUARY

President’s Day

ndustry Night No cover, drink specials with TAM card and a night of pure entertainment!. location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Nickel Beer Night Cheap beer and great people make for the perfect night out! location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

FEbruary 18 Wednesday

Sandra Lansky Author Talk Sandra Lansky Lombardo, the only daughter of Mob boss Meyer Lansky, finally tells her story in her memoir, “Daughter of the King: Growing Up in Gangland.” Raised in upper-class splendor in New York City, at finishing schools and fancy stables, Sandi was the wild child of mid-century Manhattan — the Paris Hilton of her day — partying until dawn and dating some of the era’s biggest celebrities.

Admission: $25 for non-members with 10% discount for museum members. location: Mob Museum time: 6-7 p.m. presentation 7-8 p.m. Q&A with book signing Karate Karaoke Karaoke and drink specials: $6 beers and shots. location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

FEbruary 19 Thursday

Pub Trivia At Atomic Win bar tabs and prizes every Thursday! location: Atomic Liquors time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Vinyl Never Dies w/Squidhat Records and 11th Street Records Featuring SquidHat Records artists Sounds Of Threat, Mercy Music, The Quitters, Surrounded By Thieves and playing their debut albums in their entirety! 11th Street Records will be on hand with limited edition vinyl for sale! location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Pub Trivia At Atomic Win bar tabs and prizes every Thursday! location: Atomic Liquors time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

FEbruary 21 Saturday

Nevada Ballet Theatre–A Gala Performance For one night and one collection of unforgettable performances, join Nevada Ballet Theatre for a jubilant celebration of dance, featuring a dazzling variety of works and special guest artists. location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 7:30 p.m.

FEbruary 22 Sunday

Parlor Mob You can never go wrong with a night of music, drinks and good people! location: Bunkhouse Saloon time: 8 p.m.-11 p.m.

FEbruary 23 Monday

ndustry Night No cover, drink specials with TAM card and a night of pure entertainment!. location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

FEbruary 24 Tuesday

Nice Work If You Can Get It Get ready for this 1920s-era, feel-good musical complete with extravagant dance numbers, glittering costumes and an unlikely love story between a wealthy playboy and a rough and tumble lady bootlegger. This lighthearted crowd-pleaser is set against the backdrop of classic Gershwin hits like “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Fascinating Rhythm.” location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 7:30 p.m.

Nickel Beer Night Cheap beer and great people make for the perfect night out! location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

FEbruary 25 Wednesday

Nice Work If You Can Get It location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 7:30 p.m.

Karate Karaoke Karaoke and drink specials: $6 beers and shots. location: Beauty Bar time: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

FEbruary 26 Thursday

Pub Trivia At Atomic Win bar tabs and prizes every Thursday! location: Atomic Liquors time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Nice Work If You Can Get It location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 7:30 p.m.

FEbruary 27 Friday

Nice Work If You Can Get It location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 7:30 p.m.

FEbruary 28 Saturday

Nice Work If You Can Get It location: Smith Center Reynolds Hall time: 2 p.m.

B

A RESTAURANTS 100 The Beat Coffeehouse G5 520 Fremont St. 702.385.2328 101 Le Thai 523 Fremont St. G5 702.778.0888 102 Triple George Grill F4 201 N. Third St. 702.384.2761

103 Tacos El Gordo J8 1724 E. Charleston Blvd.

702.251.8226

104 Chicago Joe’s E7 820 S. Fourth St.

702.382.5637 www.chicagojoesrestaurant.com

105 Bar+Bistro D8 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite #155 702.202.6060

106 Mundo – A Culinary Haute Spot C5 495 S. Grand Central Pkwy.

702.270-4400

107 Courthouse Bar & Grill E5 330 S. Third St. 702.388-8222 108 City Centre Café F6 375 Lewis Ave. 702.383.4055

110 Viva Las Arepas D10 1616 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Suite #120 702.336.9696

111 Subway G5 600 Fremont St.

129 Park on Fremont G5 506 Fremont St.

205 Banger Brewing F4 450 Fremont St. Suite 135

130 Anthony’s Pizza & Deli E5 321 S. Casino Center Blvd., Suite #125

206 The Griffin G5 511 Fremont St.

702.798.7000 www.parkonfremont.com

702.896.0353

131 La Comida G5 100 Sixth St.

702.463.9900 www.facebook.com/LaComidaLV

1132 Doña Maria's Tamales D8 910 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.382.6538

133 Mingo Kitchen and Lounge 1C8 1017 First St., Suite #180 702.685.0328

134 Bronze Café inside The Center H7 401 S Maryland Pkwy 702.202.3100

135 Wild B9 150 N. Las Vegas Blvd. Suite 120 702.527.7717 www.eatdrinkwild.com

136 Nacho Daddy C10 113 N. 4th St.

702.778.7800 www.nachodaddy.com

137 Pura Vida H7 1236 Western Ave.

702.722.0108 www.puravidavegas.com

702.302.5020 113 Jason’s Deli D3 100 City Pkwy.

702.366.0130

138 Tiffany's Café G4 1700 S. Las Vegas Blvd

115 Luv It Frozen Custard D10 505 E. Oakey Blvd.

139 Art of Flavors G5 1616 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.384.6452

116 Lola’s: B8 A Louisiana Kitchen

241 W. Charleston Blvd. #101 702.227.5652 117 Casa Don Juan Restaurant C8 1204 S. Main St. 702.384.8070 www.casadonjuanlv.com 118 eat.

G5 707 Carson Ave. 702.534.1515 www.eatdowntownlv.com

119 Du-Par’s F5 Restaurant & Bakery 1 Fremont St. (Inside Golden Gate) 702.385.1906

120 E5

200 Lewis Ave. 702.631.1112

121 El Sombrero Café D7 807 S. Main St. 702.382.9234

124 Big Ern’s BBQ G5 707 Fremont St. (Container Park) 702.834.7845

125 Pop Up Pizza E4 1 Main St. (PLAZA HOTEL)

702.366.0049 www.popuppizzalv.com www.bigernsbbq.com 126 Denny’s F4 450 Fremont St. (Inside Neonopolis) 702.471.0056 www.dennys.com

127 Rachel’s Kitchen G5 150 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

(Inside Retail Space at Ogden) www.rachelskitchen.com

128 Radio City Pizza G5 508 Fremont St.

702.982.5055 www.radiocitypizza.com

702.444.4459

702.676.1027 www.Facebook.com Search "Art of Flavors"

140 MTO Café D5 500 S. Main St.

702.380.8229 www.mtocafe.com

141 O Face Doughnuts G5 124 S. Sixth St. Suite 140

702.476.3223 www.Facebook.com Search “O Face Doughnuts”

142 Rock ‘N’oodles C8 1108 S. Third St.

702.522.9953 www.rocknoodles.com

143 The Goodwich G5 1516 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Suite A 702.910.8681 www.the-goodwich.com

144 Carson Kitchen F5 124 S. Sixth St.

702.473.9523 www.carsonkitchen.com

145 Zaba’s Mexican Grill E4 1 Main St. (PLAZA HOTEL) 702.207.0777 www.zabas.com

BARS, LOUNGES & NIGHTCLUBS 200 Downtown Cocktail Room (DCR) G5 111 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.880.3696

201 Bar+Bistro D8 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite #155 702.202.6060

202 D8 1025 S. First St. 702.489.6339

203 Beauty Bar G5 517 Fremont St., Suite #A

702.598.1965 www.thebeautybar.com/las_vegas

204 Dino’s Lounge D10 1516 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.456.2739 www.bangerbrewing.com

702.382.0577

207 Hogs & Heifers Saloon F4 201 N. 3rd St., Suite #130

702.676.1457 www.hogsandheifers.com

208 Insert Coin(s) G5 512 Fremont St.

702.447.2525 www.insertcoinslv.com

209 Vanguard Lounge G5 516 Fremont St.

702.868.7800 www.vanguardlv.com

210 Commonwealth G5 525 Fremont St.

702.798.7000 www.commonwealthlv.com

211 Backstage Bar & Billiards G5 601 Fremont St.

702.382.2223 www.backstagebarandbilliards.com

212 Bunkhouse H6 124 S. 11th St.

702.384.4536 www.bunkhouselv.com

213 Don’t Tell Mama G5 517 Fremont St. 702.207.0788

214 Atomic Liquors H5 917 Fremont St.

702.349.2283 www.atomiclasvegas.com 215 Velveteen Rabbit C9 1218 S. Main St. (702) 685-9645

216 Gold Spike G5 217 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.384.8444 www.goldspike.com

217 Aruba Lounge D9 1215 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

410 Freddie Ramon C10 220 E. Charleston Blvd.

702.910.2396 www.facebook.com Search “Scullery” 220 Inspire Theater F4 501 Fremont St. 702.910.2388

RETAIL SHOPS, BOUTIQUES & SALONS 400 Coterie G5 515 Fremont St.

702.685.7741 www.facebook.com Search “Coterie Downtown”

401 Globe Salon E7 900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Suite #130 702.938.4247 www.globesalon.com

404 Vexed By Design C8 1017 First St., Suite #185 702.275.7141 www.vexedlv.com

406 Josephine Skaught Hairdressing D8 1025 S. First St. Suite 165 702.431.8071 josephineskaught@yahoo.com

407 Cowtown Guitars D7 1009 S. Main St.

702.866.2600 www.cowtownguitars.com

409 C10 1421 S. Commerce St. 702.439.3923

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412 Gaia Flowers C8 6 E. Charleston Blvd.

702.997.0222

413 Happy Panda Toys C8 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite #105A 702.516.3432

414 Hillary Salon C8 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite #250

1504

2

1505

2

702.399.1100 416 Nature’s Element D7 817 S. Main St. 702.521.0725

3

113

1301

421 Let Me Nail You F7 514 Bonneville Ave.

139 207 102 805

804

4

125 145

106

702.678.6089 www.reclaimedart.org

5

1503

140

130

900

701 24hr Fitness E3

100 City Pkwy., Suite #160 702.824.9614 727 S. Main St. 702.685.5070 www.freestylecrossfit.com

HOTEL & CASINOS 800 El Cortez G5

600 Fremont St. 800.634.6703 301 Fremont St. 702.388.2400 www.thed.com

803 Golden Nugget F4

129 Fremont St. 702.385.7111 www.goldennugget.com 1 S. Main St. 800.634.6575 www.plazahotelcasino.com

805 Downtown Grand Las Vegas F4

206 N. Third St. 855.384.7263 www.downtowngrand.com

217 Las Vegas Blvd.

888.734.8503

422

1002

7

518 517

211

407

5

602

6

1002 E7 353 E. Bonneville Ave.

702.754.6300 www.juhlst.com

702.387.0093

1600

7

1100 Las Vegas Academy G6 315 S. 7th St.

800.585.3737

702.724.1436 www.9thbridgeschool.com

1102 Nevada School of the Arts F6 401 S. Fourth St., Suite #125

702.384.2787 www.nsamusic.org

G6

6th Street Workspace 317 S. Sixth St. 702.534.3804 www.workinprogress.lv

102 SYN SHOP G5

The Las Vegas HackerSpace 117 N. Fourth St. www.synshop.org

103 Fremont East Studios G4

104 G4

221 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.463.9029 www.fremonteaststudios.com

300 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

Suite 120 702.476.5552

1204

201

8

116

1214

1211 1203

202

414 12151401 1201105 112 425 500 1212

513

221

415

1216

142

412 133

901

117

501 521 515 503

8

000

406

103

132

700

419

508 1209

137

9

1300

504 502 505

217 509 510

1001

511

507

9

401

516

520

1202

410

519

409

1O

1O

204

514

417 1206

143

139

110 138 603

115

11

702.382.3894

A

B

C

ART STUDIOS 520 Fremont St. 702.385.328 1201 Arts Factory 107 E. Charleston Blvd.

C7 702.383.3133 1202 Amanda Harris Gallery 900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Suite #150 E7

702.269.6036 Amanda.nelle@gmail.com

1203 Art Square C7 1025 S. First St.

Las Vegas, NV 89101 www.artsquarelv.com 1204 Gainsburg Studio, Inc. C7 1039 S. Main St. 702.249.3200 www.gainsburgstudio.com 1206 Blackbird Studios C10 1551 S. Commerce St., Suite #A

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

1207 Selah (an art studio) G7 509 S. Seventh St.

702.203.6254 www.selahlv.com

507 C9

702.409.7549

1211 Downtown Contemporary Gallery C8 at artSquare

1025 First St., Suite #145 702.358.7022

1212 Pinup Pointe Art Gallery C8 4 E. Charleston Blvd.

702.302.7878

1213 RTZ Vegas C8 1017 S. First St., Suite #195

702.592.2164

1214 Ryan Williams Art Gallery C8 1025 S. First St.

321.258.9032

1215 Sin City Gallery C8 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite #100

702.608.2461

1216 Trifecta C8 135 E. Charleston Blvd.

702.366.7001

RECURRING EVENTS 1300 First Friday Main Hub C9 Casino Center Boulevard

Between Colorado Street & California Street

1301 Downtown3rd Farmers Market 300 Block of North Main Street F4

Directly Next To The Mob Museum

ENTERTAINMENT 1400 The Smith Center 361 Symphony Park Ave. C5

702.749.2000 1401 Art Square Theater 1025 S. First St. C8 702.308.8087 info@artsquarelv.com

220 Inspire News Cafe 501 Fremont St. F4 702.910.2388

MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS 1501 The Mob Museum 300 Stewart Ave. F4 1502 Old Las Vegas Fort H1 500 E. Washington Ave.

702.486.3511

1503 Discovery Children’s B7 Museum

360 Promenade Pl. 702.382.3445

1504 Natural History Museum H2 900 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.384.3466

1505 The Neon Museum H2 770 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.387.6366 www.neonmuseum.org

ANTIQUE ALLEY 500 Retro Vegas C8 1131 S. Main St. 702.384.2700 501 Amberjoy's Vintage Closet C8 1225 S. Main Street 702.825.2020 www.amberjoysvintagecloset.com 502 C8

1300 S. Main St..

702.776.6222 www.patinadecorlv.com

503 Armstrong’s Emporium C9 1228 S. Main St. 702.366.1995 504 C9

1300 S. Main St., Suite #110 702.331.4660

505 Desert Buddha C9 1300 S. Main St., Suite #120 702.383.1008

1310 S. Main St. 702.384.8463

508 The Funk House D9 1228 S. Casino Center Blvd.

702.678.6278 509 Glam Factory Vintage D9 211 E. Colorado Ave. 702.443.0131 510 Gypsy Den D9 213 E. Colorado Ave. 702.684.1628 511 Western Gypsy in the Kangaroo Court 1306 S. Third St. 702.868.3302 513 C8 D9

1112 S. Commerce St. 702.366.7030

514 Sin City Pickers C10 10 W. Wyoming Ave. 702.366.9166 515 C9

516 D9

517 F7

518 F7

519 B9

1227 S. Main St. 702.539.0799 1304 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.300.2476 625 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.382-1882 630 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.464.3299 1422 Western Ave. 702.384.4922

520 Main Street America C9 1400 S. Main St. 702.476.1400 www.main-street-america.com 521 B9

1216 S. Main St. 702.877.3000

LEGAL SERVICES 1600 Craig P. Kenny & Associates G7 501 S. Eight St.

702.380.2800 www.cpklaw.com

702.229.2732

100 Emergency Arts

G5

702.782.0319 www.blackbirdstudioslv.com

11

1209 City of the World C9 1229 S. Casino Center Blvd.

SCHOOLS

1207

421

104

404 1213 413

702.383.0979

101 Work In Progress -

1001

1003

1001 E7 900 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

COMMUNITY SPACES

134

416

806 Oasis at the Gold Spike G4

131

1100

121

804 Plaza Hotel & Casino E4

1000 The Ogden G4 150 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

1101 9th Bridge Early Development I5 310 S. Ninth St.

210

212

101

702

802 The D Las Vegas F4

100 213

423

702 FreeStyle CrossFit D6

203 101

1701

1102

6

4

209 206

214

118

108 132

FITNESS 1201 S. Commerce St. 702.331.3172 www.realresultsfitness.com

400

500

107 120

700 Real Results Gym C9

104

216 102 126 205 127 135 136 119 218 1000 111 303 220 304 127 200 141 800 604 144 124

1400

702.541.8282

425 D8 1114 S. Casino Center Blvd. Suite 1

HIGH-RISE LIVING

1003 D7 200 Hoover Ave.

208

803 802

422 Rogue Toys E7 616 Las Vegas Blvd S.

424 E7 1106 Fremont St.

424

103 806

702.998.9490

702.330.3945 www.roguetoys.com 423 Don Vicente Cigars Intl.

624 Las Vegas Blvd S. E7 702.526.3922

129 220 128

1501

702.518.7427

702.384.1384

3

701

417 Photo Bang Bang C10 224 E. Imperial Ave. 419 Williams Costume Co. D9 1226 S. Third St.

495 S. Main St. 702.229.6011 901 Veteran’s Village D5 1150 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702.624.5792 www.vvlv.org

702.685.0300

702.525.1053

415 Inside Style C8 1119 S. Main St.

HUMAN SERVICES 900 Las Vegas City Hall D5

702.776.7766

702.382.3987

218 Scullery F4 150 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

C

HEALTH & WELLNESS 1700 Dr. Azimi DDS E8 820 S. Seventh St.

702.759.0005

1701 Turntable Health G5 701 Bridger Ave., Suite #150

702.479.1515 www.turntablehealth.com

COFFEE SPOTS 100 The Beat Coffeehouse 520 Fremont St. G5 702.385.2328 500 Starbucks F5

300 S. Fourth St. #7 702.759.3426

220 Inspire News Cafe

501 Fremont St. 702.910.2388 221 Makers & Finders Coffee C8 1120 South Main St., Suite #110 702.586.8255 www.makersandfinderslv.com .

F4

GROCERY

602 Cake World Bakery

220 N. Maryland Pkwy.

702.471.7111 603 White Cross Market C10 1700 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

(702) 382.3382 I5

604 The MARKET G5

611 Fremont St. 702.586.3401 www.themarketdtlv.com