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vegas 2014 Issue 3
11th
anniversary issue
may/june
Gabrielle Union fierce, fearless, and fun weekends in Vegas
Fabulous, complicated: The best new women’s timepieces Vegas power table
Women of influence weigh in gabrielle union
Plus Diane von Furstenberg Rod Stewart holly madison vegasmagazine.com
niche media holdings, llc
S o l d exc l u s i ve l y i n L o u i s Vu i t t o n s t o re s . 8 6 6 . V U I T TO N T h e S h o p s a t C r y s t a l s . T h e Fo r u m S h o p s a t C a e s a r s . V i a B e l l a g i o S h o p s . Wy n n L a s Ve g a s . Fa s h i o n S h ow M a l l .
D ow n l o a d t h e L o u i s Vu i t t o n p a s s a p p t o reve a l exc l u s i ve c o n t e n t .
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F ront Runners Helen J. Stewart owned the finest Paiute basket collection in Nevada, some of which are now on display at the Clark County Museum.
The First Lady of Las Vegas THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS WASN’T FOUNDED UNTIL 1905, BUT IT WAS A CONTRACT SIGNED IN 1902 BY HELEN J. STEWART THAT BECAME THE CITY’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE. BY MICHAEL GERARD
I
n 1880, when Archibald Stewart told his pregnant wife, Helen, that he planned to move the family to an isolated 960-acre ranch in the Mojave Desert, she was horrified. But things were about to get worse. In 1884, two years after their arrival, Archie was murdered, leaving Helen alone with four children, another on the way, and responsibility for the ranch. In 1889 rumors arose of a plan to bring a railroad to the region, which set off rampant land speculation. So instead of selling her land, Helen bought more, and convinced family members to do the same. The remote ranch had long been a hub for weary travelers and a communication center. In fact, in 1893 Helen was named postmaster of the “Los Vegas” post office (so named to avoid confusion with Las Vegas, NM). In 1902, she signed a contract with the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad to sell the ranch for $55,000, then quickly bought another 924 acres in the area. Three years later, the railroad auctioned off 1,200 lots of her original property, which became the core of downtown Las Vegas. Helen continued to be involved with the developing city, becoming the first woman elected to the Clark County School Board, as well as president of the Southern Nevada branch of the Nevada Historical Society. Her extensive collection of Native American baskets from the Paiute tribe was sold to the Fred Harvey Company after her death, and some are currently on display as part of the Clark County Museum exhibit “Tribal Treasures: Regional Baskets and Their Collectors.” When Helen died in 1926, her funeral was one of the largest the city had ever seen, with people coming from all over the state to pay their respects to Las Vegas’s unofficial founder. V
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F ront Runners Actress Rhonda Fleming had always wanted to be a singer, but it wasn’t until Vegas called that her dream came true.
Big-Time Stuff AT THE TROPICANA, RHONDA FLEMING SHOWS ’EM SHE CAN SING.
BY NICOLE RUPERSBURG
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY AP PHOTO/DAVID SMITH
R
honda Fleming was already a star on May 20, 1957, when she took the stage at the newly opened Tropicana. A Hollywood actress since 1943, she had appeared in films with some of the biggest names in the business, including Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Rock Hudson, Charlton Heston, and Ronald Reagan. Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound catapulted her to fame in 1945, and she went on to star in popular movies like A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and Pony Express. In her Las Vegas stage debut that night, Fleming stepped out in a shimmering “nude” gown by Don Loper, and Los Angeles Herald-Express columnist Jimmy Starr buzzed, “The atomic bomb didn’t explode last night, but a new and lovely nightclub star—Rhonda Fleming—blasted her way at the Tropicana and made pretty music that was strictly big time stuff.” Fleming had trained to be a singer from an early age, although the movies turned out to be her ticket to fame. But then nightclub impresario Monte Proser, former owner of New York’s famed Copacabana, approached her to star in a revue at the new hotel. She had just three weeks to prepare for her stage debut, with only 17 hours of rehearsal and a choreographer she had to share with Judy Garland. Her opening act was frequent Vegas headliner Eddie Fisher. Fleming is now 90 years old and devotes herself to philanthropic causes, including two medical centers at UCLA that bear her name. Her grandson Johnny Brenden, who owns Brenden Theatres at the Palms, maintains the family’s Vegas connection. But Las Vegans will always remember Rhonda Fleming in the finale of her nightclub debut, in this Billy Livingston feathered calypso costume, singing and dancing to “An Occasional Man.” V
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May/June 2014 72 Giving Large
Heather duBoef and Nevada Women’s Philanthropy are a knockout.
18 Front Runners 32 From the Editor-in-Chief 34 From the Publisher 36 ...Without Whom This Issue Would Not Have Been Possible 39 Invited 54 The List
People 56 What’s in Store Marigay McKee takes legendary retailer Saks Fifth Avenue into the future.
60 Dream Maker The Light Group’s director of VIP services, Jenn Schacht, makes Champagne fantasies (and showers) a reality.
64 “Take Me From the Strip to Summerlin” From the chaos of the Strip, Vdara’s Mary Giuliano relishes returning home to the quiet sanctuary of Summerlin.
68 Million Dollar Man Vegas transplant J.B. Bernstein is the real-life sports agent behind Jon Hamm’s Million Dollar Arm.
Heather duBoef created a grant-making organization that would have the greatest possible impact on the community.
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photography by jeff gale
72 Giving Large
Explore and Shop www.cartier.us
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May/June 2014
Culture 76 Forever Young Grammy Living Legend Rod Stewart returns to The Colosseum.
78 All That Glitters The largest burlesque showcase in the world shimmies into town. Plus: Holly Madison’s 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque.
80 Men on a Mission The Tony Award– winning The Book of Mormon heads to Las Vegas. Plus: 50 Shades! The Musical.
82 Eastern Time Art Basel’s second annual Hong Kong show blends the best of Asia and the West for Vegas’s collectors.
Taste 85 Keeping It Classic Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro celebrates its 10th anniversary.
88 Join Us on the Patio 90 Ersatz Eiffel It sounds blasphemous, but French foodies Olivier Brouillet and Romain Thievin swear the Vegas version of Paris is better.
78 All That Glitters
Super divas like Miss Exotic World 2010 Roxi D’Lite will perform as part of Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WWW.JOGORSKY.COM
New open-air dining and drinking experiences abound this spring.
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THE FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS PALACE 702.650.5200
May/June 2014 Treasures 96 Wrap-sody in Hues Diane von Furstenberg celebrates the 40th anniversary of her most iconic design in bold, Vegas-friendly prints.
98 LA Style, Vegas Attitude Kitson’s new store at The Linq makes a splash with Sin City – inspired designer fashions you can buy only here. Plus: Ferragamo presents the Vegas-exclusive Fiamma bag.
100 Natural Selection With multicolored stones and whimsical creatures, Lynn Rosencrantz’s one-of-a-kind handbags are wild and beautiful.
102 Luxury Time Tennis Hall of Famer and Las Vegas resident Stefanie Graf takes time to share her passions.
Features 110 The Union Label The star of Think Like a Man Too, Gabrielle Union, talks about powerful women—and doing Vegas with her best girlfriends. By Nadine Schiff-Rosen Photography by Randall Slavin
118 The Women’s Hour
By Roberta Naas
122 Exclusive Vegas! From private vaults to secret restaurants, the real high-stakes action in Las Vegas takes place far from public view. By Michael Kaplan
126 The XX Factor Some of the most powerful positions in Vegas are held by women. So what happens when they sit down together to discuss the city’s issues? By Andrea Bennett
110 The Union Label Look no further.
Maxi illusion dress, DKNY ($495). The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-650-9670; dkny.com. 18k yellow-gold oval drop earrings, Jennifer Meyer ($2,275). Barneys New York, Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-629-4200; jennifermeyer. com. Diamond and black enamel ring ($19,500), stepped pyramid cuff ($45,000), and ribbed gold cuff ($39,000), David Webb. davidwebb.com. Diamond engagement ring, her own
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RANDALL SLAVIN
This year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva unveiled some of the most important watches for women yet.
Photography by Jeff Gale
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Advertising copyright © 2014 ALOR International LTD. All designs copyright © ALOR International LTD.
ALOR.COM
TINY BAUBLES AT WYNN LAS VEGAS 702.770.3559
May/June 2014 Haute Property
The Guide
Parting Shot
135 What’s Old Is New
143 Riding High
152 Altar-not Universe
138 Open Season Affordable Downtown creative spaces, hipster flipping, and whale villas now open to the rest of us—plus Gavin Maloof’s house yo-yos down.
Chayo serves Mexican street food with flair in The Linq.
144 Devour: Home Cooking
Las Vegas is becoming the most fabulous gay honeymoon destination— in spite of itself.
146 Imbibe: Beer Gardens
ON THE COVER: Gabrielle Union Photography by Randall Slavin Styling by Jill Lincoln and Jordan Johnson for Rachel Zoe Studio
138 Open Season
Turnkey ranches make haute home move-ins easier than ever.
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Jet tech dress with crisscross neckline, Yigal Azrouël ($1,050). Saks Fifth Avenue, Fashion Show, 702-733-8300; saks.com. Emma triple ring ($275) and ultra mini crystal eclipse ring ($150), Vita Fede. vitafede.com. Pink resin and metal cuff, Gucci ($1,250). The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-369-7333; gucci.com
makeup by renny vasquez; hair by larry sims for exclusive artists using got2b; manicure by anna Stimson for exclusive artists
The Scotch 80s is the hippest spot in Vegas to live these days, but this neighborhood is no flash in the pan.
LAS VEGAS, FASHION SHOW MALL, 3200 LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH. CALL 702.733.8300, VISIT SAKS.COM/LASVEGAS, DOWNLOAD THE SAKS APP OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND SAKSPOV.COM. * UP TO 3 MSGS/WEEK. TEXT STOP TO CANCEL, HELP FOR INFO. MSG&DATA RATES MAY APPLY. VISIT SAKS.COM/POLICIES FOR MORE INFO.
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ANDREA BENNETT Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor NICOLE RUPERSBURG Managing Editor KAREN ROSE Photo Editor SETH OLENICK Art Director ALLISON FLEMING Entertainment and Bookings Editor JULIET IZON Associate Fashion Editor ALEXANDRIA GEISLER Copy Editor DAVID FAIRHURST Research Editor MURAT OZTASKIN
JOSEF VANN Publisher and Vice President of Sales Account Executives VINCE DUROCHER, KACIE TURPENEN, JESSICA ZIVKOVITCH Director of Event Marketing HALEE HARCZYNSKI Assistant Distribution Manager JENNIFER PALMER Sales Assistant RUE MCBRIDE
NICHE MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC Senior Vice President and Editorial Director MANDI NORWOOD Creative Director NICOLE A. WOLFSON NADBOY Executive Fashion Director SAMANTHA YANKS
ART AND PHOTO
Senior Art Director FRYDA LIDOR Associate Art Directors ANASTASIA TSIOUTAS CASALIGGI, ALLISON FLEMING, ADRIANA GARCIA, JUAN PARRA, JESSICA SARRO Senior Designer NATALI SUASNAVAS Designers GIL FONTIMAYOR, SARAH LITZ Photo Director LISA ROSENTHAL BADER Photo Editors JODIE LOVE, JENNIFER PAGAN, REBECCA SAHN Associate Photo Editor KATHERINE HAUSENBAUER-KOSTER Photo Producer KIMBERLY RIORDAN Senior Staff Photographer JEFFREY CRAWFORD Senior Digital Imaging Specialist JEFFREY SPITERY Digital Imaging Specialist JEREMY DEVERATURDA Digital Imaging Assistant HTET SAN
FASHION
Senior Fashion Editor LAUREN FINNEY Fashion Editor FAYE POWER Fashion Assistants CONNOR CHILDERS, LISA FERRANDINO
COPY AND RESEARCH
Copy and Research Manager WENDIE PECHARSKY Copy Editors NICOLE LANCTOT, DALENE ROVENSTINE, JULIA STEINER Research Editors LESLIE ALEXANDER, JUDY DEYOUNG, AVA WILLIAMS
EDITORIAL OPERATIONS
Director of Editorial Operations DEBORAH L. MARTIN Editorial Relations Manager MATTHEW STEWART Editorial Assistant CHRISTINA CLEMENTE Online Managing Editor CAITLIN ROHAN Online Editor APRIL WALLOGA Social Media and E-Newsletter Editor ANNA BEN YEHUDA Senior Managing Editors DANINE ALATI, KEN RIVADENEIRA, JILL SIERACKI Managing Editors JENNIFER DEMERITT, JOHN VILANOVA Shelter and Design Editor SUE HOSTETLER Timepiece Editor ROBERTA NAAS
ADVERTISING SALES
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing NORMAN M. MILLER Account Directors SUSAN ABRAMS, MICHELE ADDISON, TIFFANY CAREY, CLAIRE CARLIN, KATHLEEN FLEMING, KAREN LEVINE, MEREDITH MERRILL, NORMA MONTALVO, ELIZABETH MOORE, GRACE NAPOLITANO, JEFFREY NICHOLSON, DEBORAH O’BRIEN, SHANNON PASTUSZAK, VALERIE ROBLES Account Executives SUSANA ARAGON, JUDSON BARDWELL, MICHELLE CHALA, THOMAS CHILLEMI, MORGAN CLIFFORD, JANELLE DRISCOLL, ALICIA DRY, DINA FRIEDMAN, SARAH HECKLER, VICTORIA HENRY, CATHERINE KUCHAR, FENDY MESY, MARY RUEGG, LAUREN SHAPIRO, JIM SMITH, CAROLINE SNECKENBERG, JACKIE VAN METER, GABRIELLA ZURROW National Sales Coordinator HOWARD COSTA Sales Support and Development EMMA BEHRINGER, ANA BLAGOJEVIC, EMILY BURDETT, CRISTINA CABIELLES, BRITTANY CORBETT, OLIVIA DAVIS, JAMIE HILDEBRANDT, DARA HIRSH, KELSEY MARRUJO, MICHELLE MASS, NICHOLE MAURER, STEPHEN OSTROWSKI, MARISA RANDALL, ELENA SENDOLO, ALEXANDRA WINTER
MARKETING, PROMOTIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations LANA BERNSTEIN Vice President of Integrated Marketing EMILY MCLINTOCK Director of Integrated Marketing ROBIN KEARSE Integrated Marketing Manager JIMMY KONTOMANOLIS Director of Creative Services SCOTT ROBSON Promotions Art Designers CHRISTOPHER HARDGROVE, DANIELLE MORRIS Event Marketing Directors AMY FISCHER, MELINDA JAGGER, JOANNA TUCKER, KIMMY WILSON Event Marketing Managers ANTHONY ANGELICO, CHRISTIAMILDA CORREA, MONIKA KOWALCZYK, LAURA MULLEN, CRISTINA PARRA Event Marketing Assistant SHANA KAUFMAN
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Director of Positioning and Planning SALLY LYON Positioning and Planning Manager TARA MCCRILLIS Assistant Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Managers BARBARA SHALE, BLUE UYEDA Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS Distribution Manager MATT HEMMERLING Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Traffic Supervisor ESTEE WRIGHT Traffic Coordinators JEANNE GLEESON, MALLORIE SOMMERS Circulation Research Specialist CHAD HARWOOD
FINANCE
Controller DANIELLE BIXLER Advertising Business Manager RICHARD YONG Financial Analyst AUDREY CADY Credit and Collections Manager CHRISTOPHER BEST Senior Credit and Collections Analyst MYRNA ROSADO Senior Billing Coordinator CHARLES CAGLE Senior Accountant LILY WU Junior Accountants NEIL SHAH, NATASHA WARREN
ADMINISTRATION, DIGITAL, AND OPERATIONS
Director of Operations MICHAEL CAPACE Director of Human Resources STEPHANIE MITCHELL Executive Assistant ARLENE GONZALEZ Digital Media Developer MICHAEL KWAN Digital Media Specialist ANTHONY PEARSON Desktop Administrators ZACHARY CUMMO, EDGAR ROCHE Facilities Coordinator JOUBERT GUILLAUME
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
J.P. ANDERSON (Michigan Avenue), SPENCER BECK (Los Angeles Confidential), KRISTIN DETTERLINE (Philadelphia Style), ERIN LENTZ (Aspen Peak), LISA PIERPONT (Boston Common), CATHERINE SABINO (Gotham), JARED SHAPIRO (Ocean Drive), ELIZABETH THORP (Capitol File), SAMANTHA YANKS (Hamptons)
PUBLISHERS
JOHN M. COLABELLI (Philadelphia Style), LOUIS DELONE (Austin Way), ALEXANDRA HALPERIN (Aspen Peak), DEBRA HALPERT (Hamptons), SUZY JACOBS (Capitol File), GLEN KELLEY (Boston Common), COURTLAND LANTAFF (Ocean Drive), ALISON MILLER (Los Angeles Confidential), KATHERINE NICHOLLS (Gotham), DAN USLAN (Michigan Avenue)
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOHN P. KUSHNIR Chief Technology Officer JESSE TAYLOR President and Chief Operating Officer KATHERINE NICHOLLS Chairman and Director of Photography JEFF GALE Copyright 2014 by Niche Media Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Vegas magazine is published eight times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material, and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Vegas magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs, and drawings. To order a subscription, please call 866-891-3144. For customer service, please inquire at vegas@pubservice.com. To distribute Vegas at your business, please e-mail magazinerequest@nichemedia.net. Vegas magazine is published by Niche Media Holdings, LLC (Founder, Jason Binn), a company of The Greenspun Corporation. vegas: 2360 Corporate Circle, 3rd Floor, Henderson, NV 89074 T: 702-990-2500 F: 702-990-2530 niche media holdings: 100 Church Street, Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10007 T: 646-835-5200 F: 212-780-0003 the greenspun corporation: 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074 T: 702-259-4023 F: 702-383-1089
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FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
OK! TV host Mayleen Ramey and I donned Hervé Léger to illustrate the metallics trend for our Spring Fashion issue.
ABOVE: I couldn’t be happier to welcome chef Daniel Boulud back to Vegas; his DB Brasserie opens soon in Venetian. We got to reconnect at chef Kerry Simon’s Fight MSA dinner at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. LEFT: My husband, Reid, and I were thrilled to attend Cirque du Soleil’s One Night for One Drop, which raised $6 million for the One Drop Foundation.
Editing this issue—both our 11th anniversary issue and our Women of Influence issue— was personally gratifying for me. While we have brought you a Men’s Issue for years, this is the first edition of Vegas dedicated to the women who have influenced this city in incredibly important ways. So much in this issue—from the tale of Helen J. Stewart’s unofficial founding of the city to the present-day story of Heather duBoef’s creation of a women’s grant-making organization that concentrates its funds for the greatest possible impact, from the strength of our women’s panel to Gabrielle Union’s very personal narrative about becoming a women’s advocate—resonates for me. My own pioneer ancestors walked west across this country in the 19th century, holding babies, pushing handcarts, and losing husbands along the way, and all through this issue I catch glimpses of that same frontier spirit. So you can imagine that to cut the Follow me on Twitter at two-and-a-half-hour conversation among @andreabennett1 and on vegasmagazine.com. some of our city’s female power players into a feature you can finish in 15 minutes was no easy task. Happily, you can read a longer transcript of our discussion at vegasmagazine.com. We’ve had a busy month of events at Vegas. I toggled between power women moderator and sparkly gold Léger-wearing OK! TV fashion contributor (my pioneering ancestors valued flexibility, after all). We celebrated America’s favorite comeback girl, Britney Spears, at the release party for our Winter cover, on which she appeared. And I officially welcomed another powerful woman to our ranks—our new deputy editor, Nicole Rupersburg. Welcome, Nicole!
ANDREA BENNETT
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY AL POWERS (RUPERSBURG)
Deputy Editor Nicole Rupersburg and I celebrated Britney—and Nicole’s new appointment—at our Winter issue cover party.
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INTO THE DREAM
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
With Sebastien Silvestri, Venetian’s vice president of food and beverage, who coordinated an incredible tasting menu with Tequila Avión in Venetian’s Paiza Club at an exclusive dinner we hosted.
ABOVE: Larry Rudolph joined me to toast our Britney cover at our party in the Apex Suite at Planet Hollywood. LEFT: Can you tell who my son, Jaden, and I were rooting for at the Pac-12 championships at the MGM Grand Garden Arena?
As each of our anniversary issues rolls around, I think back to the first days of Vegas magazine in 2003. The “What happens here, stays here” ad campaign was born, and Sin City was struggling to reconcile what it once was with what it wanted for itself—shedding its seamy reputation to become the worldclass destination we all knew it was meant to be. I remember walking down Madison Avenue in New York, trying to sell a magazine that didn’t yet exist to some of the most luxurious retailers in the world, only for them to cringe at the words “Las Vegas”—despite the fact that they already had a retail presence on the Strip. Much has changed in the city over these last 11 years: All those names that Las Vegas aspired to be associated with now trumpet this city as a major hub. And in that time, we have been hard at work—and play—curating Vegas’s transformation through its culture, entertainment, philanthropy, food, and fashion. Even as Las Vegas continues to grow into a mecca for 40 million visitors annually, most of us who live here full-time still enjoy the best restaurants, gaming, spas, entertainment, Follow me on Twitter at and shopping in the world from no more @josefvann and on than a 25-minute drive away. Las Vegas vegasmagazine.com. stretches from warmhearted suburbia and gorgeous natural surroundings to full-on exuberant celebration. Our 11th anniversary issue reflects our expanded perspective, from a journey behind the scenes, to secret spots that even many locals don’t know exist, to the top of our Eiffel Tower, where everyone can get a bird’s-eye view of the valley—from the wacky and wonderful skyline all the way to the mountains—that we call home. Please enjoy our anniversary issue. Then again, in this town, there’s always cause for a toast. Best,
JOSEF VANN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AL POWERS (RUDOLPH, AUERBACH)
With Phil Auerbach, Jason Gastwirth, Andrea Bennett, and Kurt Melien, celebrating the release of our winter Britney Spears cover.
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...WITHOUT WHOM THIS ISSUE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE MAY/JUNE 2014
Jenna Dosch Photographer Jenna Dosch has lived in Las Vegas for eight years. For this issue of Vegas, she shot the tempting rhubarb mojito from Press at Four Seasons, pictured on page 88. What have been some of your favorite shoots here in Las Vegas? I used to shoot
private events for Sheldon and Dr. Adelson, everything from visiting dignitaries to entertainers to their children’s birthday parties. There was an air of elegance with their events, and they always made me feel welcome in their home. Do you have a regular local spot? I live near Boca Park in Summerlin, so we like to walk to the Kona Grill and sit on the patio. It has a relaxed neighborhood bar feeling, and the food is delicious, too.
Randall Slavin Celebrity portraitist Randall Slavin has photographed celebrities from Charlize Theron to Clint Eastwood. For this issue of Vegas, he shot our cover star, Gabrielle Union. The Gabrielle Union photos are gorgeous. How was the shoot? She was
so fun and energetic. Her big smile kept the mood light and the energy high all day. What do you enjoy doing when you visit Las Vegas? I love 1OAK and going to
Nadine Schiff-Rosen Former CBS Evening News reporter Nadine Schiff-Rosen has cowritten three nonfiction books, served as the vice president of Michael Douglas’s Stonebridge Entertainment, and produced several films. For this issue she talked with our cover star, Gabrielle Union, about inspiring women. Did you enjoy talking to Gabrielle Union? I met Gabrielle Union while she was
being photographed on a rooftop, and I immediately warmed to her self-deprecating humor. What surprised me the most was hearing about the personal work she has done in order to transform herself from what she calls a “mean girl” into a “girl’s girl.” That takes guts. What women have most inspired you? Margaret Mead, Gloria Steinem, and my good pal Maria Shriver. They are all women who early on had a vision of how to make the world a better place. And did. Brava to all of them!
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see the residencies, whether it’s Britney or Guns N’ Roses. And there is always a Cirque show I haven’t seen. Vegas is the worst impulses of mankind crammed into the desert, eating each other alive, and I love it.
Catherine DeOrio Host of Check, Please! on Chicago’s WTTW network and a frequent Las Vegas visitor, Catherine DeOrio wrote our story on Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro. Is Keller one of your foodie heroes? My interview solidified the deep respect I have for him, not only as a pioneer of fine dining in America, but for his dedication to exceeding diners’ expectations. In a time of rapid expansion in restaurant groups, which all too often results in a loss in quality, Chef Keller has not veered from his stringent standards. What is your go-to Bouchon order? In the grueling summer heat in Vegas, Bouchon is my escape, where I indulge in a refreshing meal of Sancerre and the seafood platter.
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Invit ed
VEGAS’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS EVENTS AND SMARTEST PARTIES
Con Woman ANGELINA JOLIE OFFERED CINEMACON ATTENDEES A SNEAK PEEK AT UNBROKEN.
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Actress, director, writer, and producer Angelina Jolie.
ngelina Jolie attended the fourth annual CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at Caesars Palace on March 25. Taking the stage at the gathering’s annual state-ofthe-industry event to unveil footage from the upcoming survival saga Unbroken, which she directed and produced, Jolie looked elegant in a cream and white ensemble from Juan Carlos Obando. Unbroken tells the story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete and World War II hero who spent 47 days afloat in the Pacific Ocean in 1943 following the crash of his Air Force plane. “I wanted to make this film because its message is one that we all need now more than ever,” Jolie told the crowd. Since its inception in 2011, CinemaCon has become the largest and most important annual gathering of cinema owners and operators from around the world.
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INVITED Nicole Lazaroff
Britney Spears Winter Issue Cover Party
Wendy Albert and Jerry Irwin
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AL POWERS
On February 18, Vegas magazine and Planet Hollywood hosted an intimate Winter issue soirée celebrating pop icon Britney Spears and her new residency—Britney: Piece of Me, at Planet Hollywood—in a swanky Apex Suite on the 32nd floor overlooking the iconic Vegas Strip. Guests enjoyed specialty cocktails provided by Pinnacle Vodka, Bud Light Platinum, and delicious Gordon Ramsay sliders.
Mike Velasquez, Danielle Bisterfeldt, and Kevin Yarnell H.L. Greenberg and Julia Nguyen
Christina Karas and Emily Wofford
Tanya Popovich and Dayna Roselli
Lynette Marchetti and Liliya Smutko
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Jeff Bradach and Allison Hublar
Stacy Spahle, Tanya Killeen, Debbie Bingham, and Tracy Fudge
4/21/14 1:59 PM
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INVITED
John Nelson and Milo Miloscia Donna Baldwin and Andrea Marnell
Kerry Simon and Friends Fight MSA
Camille Ruvo and Katie Epstein
Legendary rock stars and rock-star chefs came together on February 27 for a one-of-a-kind rock ’n’ roll cocktail party to support celebrity chef Kerry Simon and his fight against multiple system atrophy. The elaborate fête included artisanal cocktails, exquisite wines, and creative bites prepared by renowned chefs, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Daniel Boulud, Charlie Palmer, Rick Moonen, Michael Mina, Kim Canteenwalla, Wylie DuFresne, and Grant MacPherson. There was also a silent auction and an intimate performance featuring Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Vince Neil, Todd Rundgren, Slash, and others.
Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Alice Cooper, and Oscar Goodman
Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Bill Murray, and Grant MacPherson
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FIGHTMSA.ORG
Billy Duffy, Sammy Hagar, Matt Sorum, Slash, and Lisa Loeb
Michael Severino and Billy Conn
Vince Neil, Kerry Simon, and Danny Zelisko The chefs and some of the organizers.
Adam and Bri Steck
Elizabeth Blau and Elaine Wynn
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Davante Caesars 702-737-8585
Optica Mirage 702-692-8500
Optica Monte Carlo 702-740-8345
Optica Fashion Show Mall 702-733-7624
Optica The Grand Canal Shoppes The Venetian Lobby 702-733-2121
Scene Mandalay Bay 702-597-0018
Davante Sun Caesars 702-737-0023
Optica MGM 702-740-2226
Optica The Grand Canal Shoppes The Palazzo 702-699-9678
Scene Palazzo 702-696-9528
Optica Paris 702-734-0170
The Grand Canal Shoppes The Venetian
Optica 702-733-1355
Optica Mandalay Place 702-798-6171 Optica Caesars 702-852-3647
INVITED
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ALAMO (PAIZA); AL POWERS (PTA)
Francesco Lafranconi and Jenna Fagnan
Rachael and Shane Sigsbee Lauren Burnett and Russell Rosenblum
Vegas Magazine Dinner at the Paiza Club
Vegas magazine, Venetian, and Tequila Avión hosted an exquisite Avión tequila pairing dinner on March 13, celebrating fine cuisine and the world’s best-tasting tequila. A limited number of guests enjoyed a five-course meal in a private dining room at the exclusive Paiza Club, located on Venetian’s 36th floor, overlooking the Strip.
Jenna Fagnan
Taylor Shields and Lesley Peterson
Sergio and Alex Montegrande
Kathleen Benson, Sasha McVeigh, Meredith Mixer, and Lisa Beavers Ryan and Lisa Welch
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Henderson International School PTA Fundraiser On February 8, the Henderson International School PTA held its first wine tasting and silent auction at Southern Highlands Golf Club. This “parents only” event, which included a cocktail reception, was the school’s largest fundraiser to date. Many generous donors—including Southern Highlands Golf Club, Southern Wine & Spirits, Audi Henderson, Firefly, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Nevada School of the Arts, and Bill Watson of Las Vegas Sports Marketing—helped make the evening lively and successful. Headmaster Seth Ahlborn welcomed and thanked parents for their continued support of the school.
Crystal and Marc Kreisberger
Dr. Roger Fontes and Amy Fontes
4/21/14 1:59 PM
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INVITED Marion and Elie Wiesel with Sheldon Adelson and Dr. Miriam Adelson
Leah and Bob Jensch
Lynn Wexler and Aaron Ciechanover
Ari and Akke Levin
Janet and David Bloom
The Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus honored Nobel laureate Aaron Ciechanover at the ninth annual In Pursuit of Excellence scholarship gala on February 8 at the Venetian. Ciechanover was presented with the In Pursuit of Excellence Award for promoting education as the key to understanding how science and research can benefit humanity. The gala—which raised funds for the Adelson Educational Campus’s scholarship program for students in need—included a silent auction and a cocktail reception, followed by a gourmet dinner and dancing.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WAYNE POSNER (EXCELLENCE); ‘LOS (VDARA)
In Pursuit of Excellence Gala
Adam and Shana Dahan Kilbourn
Kara Rutkin and Ashley Farkas
Carmen Gonzales and Katrina Lynam
Mary Giuliano and Sue Harmsworth Terry Prager and Farid Matraki
Espa Launch at Vdara
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Vdara Hotel & Spa celebrated the launch of Espa at Vdara, an elevated spa experience, on February 12. Espa founder and CEO Sue Harmsworth mingled with guests as they were treated to essential oil–inspired cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with mini spa treatments. This is Espa’s first branded spa on the West Coast and only its third in the United States.
Courtney Taylor and Kim Key
Jennifer Atkinson and Maggie Boasberg
4/21/14 1:59 PM
INVITED
Cari Marshall, Jennifer Carleton, Lauralyn McCarthy, Krisann Pulos Kontaxis, Annemarie Jones, and Ardi Najmabadi
Leora Blau, Dale Wynn, and Cari Marshall
Margaret Ofek, Tammy Ofek, and Carol Sheehan
Lynn Weidner and Jenni Pulos
Opportunity Village Fundraiser
Lynn and Bill Weidner welcomed 75 people to their home on March 20 for a luncheon fundraiser for Opportunity Village, featuring Flipping Out’s Jenni Pulos and hosted by Lynn Weidner and Annemarie Jones. Destinations by Design set the stage for a lovely sun-soaked afternoon, and 100 percent of the proceeds went to Opportunity Village, which serves people in Southern Nevada with intellectual disabilities.
Cary Harned, Dawn Newburg, Carol Sheehan, Gail Perry, Linda Smith, Carol Troesh, and Missy Young
Sue Becker, Pam Brown, Christy Molasky, and Romy Ashjian
Micha Raines
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WAYNE POSNER
Charelle Wallace and Damon Parker
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Suzanne Wray and Lieuchi Fine
4/21/14 2:00 PM
INVITED
John Rooney and Francesco Lafranconi
Kristen Schaefer, Michael Aquino, and Michael LaPenna
Julianne and Randy Char
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNA DOSCH (PIAGET, HAKKASAN)
Craig Schoettler, Rick Edwards, and Steve Smith
Pernod Ricard Luxury Portfolio Dinner at Hakkasan
On March 6, the acclaimed modern Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan Las Vegas welcomed Absolut Elyx brand ambassador Kristen Schaefer and master of Scotch Rick Edwards to a Scotch pairing dinner with Glenlivet, Chivas, Aberlour, and Royal Salute.
Chelsea MacDougall, Erica Sloter, and Renee Wilson
Brendan Magone and Kristen Schaefer
Ricci Lopez, Jaxx Guevarra, and Karl Hammargren
A Royal Salute to Piaget
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Rick Edwards and Roy Boulos
Piaget North America invited just 38 guests to an exclusive event called “A Royal Salute to Piaget,” showcasing the new Piaget 900p mechanical hand-wound timepiece, on March 5 at Wynn. For the unveiling, Piaget partnered with one of the most exclusive brands of Scotch in the world, Royal Salute. Master of Scotch Rick Edwards led a tasting of the company’s 21-year-old blended Scotch, its 38-year-old Stone of Destiny Scotch, and the ultrarare 41-year-old 62 Gun Salute Scotch. The evening also featured Maloof Brothers cigars by cigar aficionado Roy Boulos, with only 38 cigars hand-rolled for this event.
Melanie Baldonado and Phil Maloof
4/21/14 2:01 PM
INVITED
Cocktails were custom-crafted to showcase the nuances of Avión’s fine tequilas.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNA DOSCH
Rodger Gillespie and Adam Brilliant
Marc Suciu, Ryan Dennis, and Ryan Stull
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Leann Kruger and Rob Dionisio
Avión Tequila Dinner at Sensi
J.R. Starkus, Alenrry Iniguez, and Nectaly Mendoza
Dennis Ciechna and Adam Vesely
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TK; ILLUSTRATION BY TK
Jenna Fagnan, president of Tequila Avión, presented the company’s fine tequilas at a private dinner at Sensi, inside Bellagio, on February 20. Executive Chef Roy Ellamar impressed guests with a lavish dinner that included foie gras au torchon and dry-aged bison rib eye, and each course was paired with exquisite cocktails made with Avión’s topranked, award-winning tequilas. Guests were also treated to samples of the extremely rare and highly sought-after Avión Tequila Reserva 44 Extra Añejo.
Invited
Talia Sinatra and Kristen Kent
Coffee & Cocoa Filet
Yvette Weber and Miranda Pankratz
Jon and Ruth Gray
Chayo Grand Opening
Edwina Swangler and Jim Scott
Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar celebrated its grand opening at the brand-new retail, dining, and entertainment development The Linq on February 6. Attendees enjoyed authentic Mexican cuisine by Executive Chef Ernesto Zendejas, signature cocktails, live sets by DJ Soxxi, and rides on Chayo, the restaurant’s mechanical bull. Zendejas served samples of his acclaimed dishes, including pork sopes, mini lobster tacos, and guacamole with pork rinds and pomegranate seeds. The VIP guests also sipped some of Chayo’s more than 50 tequilas as well as cocktails like the Don Margarita and Chayo Paloma. Baseball star Jason Giambi, Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars, and Jon Gray, vice president and general manager of The Linq, all stopped by to celebrate. Brooke Olimpieri and Christina Virzi
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T he List May/June 2014
Punam Mathur
Sherri Martin
Crystina Nguyen
Carolyn Goodman
Joyce Lopuszanski
Dayna Roselli
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Shelby Little
Dusty Summers
Jenna Morton
Peggy McCabe
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Camille Ruvo
Heather Valera
Lisa Wensley
Betsy Fretwell
Donna Marcou-Stafford
Erin Cooper
Susie Lee
Sharry Quillin
Aga Abram
Jan Laverty Jones
Stephanie Kirby
Allison Kneubuhl
Mary Giuliano
Erin Bilbray
Jackie Poriadjian
Jenna Fagnan
Laura Henkel
Teresa Ferraro-Marretti
Elyse Martin
Alexandra Lourdes
Natalie Kelley
Staci Columbo Alonso
Candace Nelson
Dorothy Flagler
Danielle Bisterfeldt
Winky Wu
Sharlee Kitaoka
Pien Bowler
Jessica Galindo
Oksana Turney
Ashley Farkas
Fergie
Judith Neiman
Cher
Amy Purdy
Victoria Sung
Joanna DiNatale
Giada De Laurentiis
Kim Boschee
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Marigay McKee, the new president of Saks Fifth Avenue: “We need to give the customer the three E’s: excitement, entertainment, and experience.”
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Superlatives PEOPLE, CULTURE, TASTE, TREASURES
VIEW FROM THE TOP
What’s in Store SAKS FIFTH AVENUE’S PRESIDENT, MARIGAY MCKEE, GIVES FASHION-SAVVY LAS VEGANS STYLE TO LOOK FORWARD TO. BY LAUREN SHERMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC RYAN ANDERSON
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Five years into her teaching career, McKee was recruited to join Estée arigay McKee walks into her newly remodeled meeting space and makes herself comfortable on a sofa. She’s wearing one of the sur- Lauder’s training program as an instructor in Spain. “At a party one New realist shift dresses from Stella McCartney’s Spring 2014 collection: Year’s Eve,” she recalls, “a headhunter approached me and said, ‘You It’s pink and covered in lips, hearts, and matchstick appliqués. “Stella would speak fluent English, Spanish, French, and Italian. You’ve been a teacher, like that I wore this,” she says, speaking of McCartney as the friend she and you’ve got your university degree. We need someone like you in the undoubtedly is. You see, McKee is English, fresh off a 15-year, no-way-but- training department.’ I jokingly told the guy I would join him if he would pay me double. That was actually how I got up career at Harrods, and the new president of into cosmetics. It was a money deal!” Saks Fifth Avenue, where she officially started McKee rose quickly at Estée Lauder and in January. The storied department store was was soon offered the opportunity to move to bought in a $2.9 billion cash deal last July by the States. Instead she returned to London Canada’s Hudson’s Bay Company, whose CEO, and joined Fenwick, a British department Richard Baker, thought McKee was just the perstore. “I was a junior buyer, a fashion buyer, son to take the luxury retailer into the future. “It’s and from there I started to do fashion, accesbeen full-on, like a grand prix from day one,” sories, and cosmetics,” she says. “And then says McKee, who whizzed through 22 American Harrods called me to head up its beauty states in three weeks to take the pulse of every —MARIGAY MCKEE division. In 15 years I had seven promotions. Saks retail market prior to her first day on the job. For a fashion powerhouse now running one of the country’s most cele- Every two years I had a new challenge.” The key to her steady ascendance? McKee was credited with bringing brated retail brands, McKee has had an unorthodox career path. Her first job out of London’s Middlesex University was teaching secondary school, a fresh thinking and modernity to the legendary store, which appointed her time she remembers with great fondness. “That experience taught me how chief merchant in 2011. She changed the fashion mix, introducing edgier to relate to and develop people,” she says, “and how to—in a big group—find designers and one-of-a-kind pieces while championing young Londonthe person who stands out or the person who has something to give.” continued on page 58
“We will do a lot of firsts over the next couple of years that will hopefully leave the customer breathless.”
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VIEW FROM THE TOP The Saks Fifth Avenue boutique at Fashion Show, soon to receive the full Marigay McKee treatment.
RETAIL THERAPY Marigay McKee on success and the city. *on excellence “I wanted to live my life in a way that wasn’t mediocre. I always wanted to build something, to exceed expectations. I tried to stay focused on what’s going to add value.”
*on style “As a kid I read Vogue when all of my friends were reading comics. I had a very chic grandmother, and until the day she died at age 99, I never saw her without makeup and her pearls. That was a big influence on me.”
*on instinct “I don’t sit on the fence, ever. I’m very decisive. I have always had this vision of what needs to be done, and it’s based on gut. If you’re a merchant and you know your stuff, you have a gut feel. Every time I’ve veered away from it, that’s when I’ve made a mistake.”
*the joy of giving back “I taught at privileged schools, but on the flip side, I also did prison visiting and young offender visiting. When I first met Oscar [de la Renta], I was visiting an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. It had nothing to do with fashion.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUDREY DEMPSEY (STORE PHOTOS); NEIL RASMUS/BFANYC.COM (KARAN AND VON FURSTENBERG)
continued from page 57 based names such as Erdem Moralioglu and Jonathan Saunders. She brought in less-expensive lines, but dramatically raised prices, too. Harrods’s international clientele didn’t balk at gowns costing $100,000 as the store upped its highfashion cool. “I had 20 percent annual comps every year for the last five years,” McKee notes. In the last fiscal year, turnover increased 10 percent to a record £716.3 million. So why leave? When Baker came calling last summer, McKee hesitated at first. “It’s a tough choice when you have a home set up, and you have family and friends around you,” she says. Yet there was something about Saks—with its rich 90-year history of dressing style icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Grace Kelly—that drew her in. “I went from saying ‘No way’ to ‘Maybe’ to, after a month or so, thinking, This will be great. This is the right time. I think we can do this.” Over the next two years, McKee will be spending an estimated $200 million to redesign Saks’s original New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue and diversifying the company’s product offerings location by location throughout the US, including Vegas’s Fashion Show outpost, by bringing in more one-of-a-kind designer pieces, collaborations, pop-ups, and even new categories. “If we want to future-proof our brands, our job as retailers is to give the customer BELOW: Marigay the three E’s: excitement, entertainment, and experience,” she explains. McKee with Donna Karan “Showmanship wins in Las Vegas, and we’ll be putting on a show for our and Diane von customers with an elevated mix of designers and higher standards for everyFurstenberg. BOTTOM: Saks at thing from service to store environment. The experience is everything.” Fashion Show. As they move forward, McKee’s team is also digging deep into the Saks archives. “We looked at these old screen stars and iconic women of the last century, all photographed shopping at Saks,” she says. “It made me think about the journey that we should be taking, which is an evolution, not a revolution. We will do a lot of firsts over the next couple of years that are going to be fantastic. I want to leave the customer breathless.” V
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DESERT PATROL At Daylight Beach Club and other Light Group venues, Jenn Schacht is turning VIPs into very happy people.
Dream Maker THE LIGHT GROUP’S DIRECTOR OF VIP SERVICES, JENN SCHACHT, MAKES CHAMPAGNE FANTASIES (AND SHOWERS) A REALITY. BY NICOLE RUPERSBURG
I
f you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to take a $10,000 poolside Champagne shower, you need only turn to Jenn Schacht, director of VIP services for The Light Group. The company—which operates 18 venues in Las Vegas, including Daylight Beach Club, 1 OAK, Haze Nightclub at Aria, and Light—specializes in over-the-top experiences, and Schacht’s job is to execute the items on the Vegas bucket lists of VIPs. So what does a Light Group VIP experience look like? Well, there’s that Champagne shower at Daylight: For $2,000 you can “Get Wet” with a magnum of Veuve Clicquot and two bottles of house Champagne, or for $10,000 you’ll be “Drenched” with a bottle of Perrier-Jouët rosé, two bottles of Veuve, and 10 bottles of the house stuff. And yes, they actually shower the crowd with Champagne. “Everyone needs to plan on getting wet,” Schacht says. “It’s a good thing it’s by a pool!” If all of this seems excessive, keep in mind that the regular bottle presentation includes smoke bombs set off throughout the venue and a cocktail waitress dressed as a Side gig: Director captain standing on a wooden ship that’s carried to your of models and table. “The more you spend,” Schacht promises, “the bigger talent for the the production.” agency AWG. Over at Light, the newest of The Light Group’s Vegas Stress solution: megaclubs, VIP guests can spend $10,000 to control the “Yoga is my already legendary red button, giving them complete power sanctuary. I need a daily yoga session over the club’s tech features. The button is delivered to the to recharge my table by a parade of people, including Cirque du Soleil permind and body.” formers flying overhead. But a mere 10 grand won’t give you control for the whole evening. According to Schacht, one guest ordered red button service seven times in a single night. And naturally, VIP guests don’t always stick to the menu. For example, there was the time a guest spent more than $350,000 at Light and asked for his actual table as a parting gift (it was customized with his name felt like the right fit,” she says. “I immediately transferred to UNLV to gain and driven to his private jet). more knowledge about the hospitality industry.” Of course, no business Schacht, who studied business management, accounting, and psychol- school can prepare you for the complexities of fulfilling people’s most farogy at California State University, San Marcos, started working in Las fetched wishes on a nightly basis. But Schacht thrives on the nonstop Las Vegas as a VIP cocktail waitress at Bare Pool Lounge at Mirage. “Vegas Vegas energy: “Every day in Vegas is like living in a movie.” V
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC ITA
INSIGHT
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Mary Giuliano at Sambalatte, which is devoted to offering ethically sourced products. BELOW: As a child she would visit Red Rock Canyon with her father, but now she takes the kids and dog.
“Take Me M From the Strip to Summerlin” FROM THE CHAOS OF THE STRIP, VDARA’S MARY GIULIANO RELISHES RETURNING HOME TO THE QUIET SANCTUARY OF SUMMERLIN. BY ABBY TEGNELIA
ary Giuliano has come a long way since her first job, fluffing and folding other people’s clothes at a Laundromat, while she was a student at Clark High School. As general manager of Vdara Hotel & Spa, Giuliano is in the business of relaxation. She spends at least 60 hours a week working on the Strip, ensuring that guests of the resort are properly pampered. But while she’s creating an oasis for tourists at Vdara, who relish its quieter, nongaming atmosphere and the serenity of its eco-friendly spa, Giuliano also requires some time to recharge—after all, managing a massive hospitality operation is a far cry from lying on one of its massage tables. So at the end of a long workday, she leaves behind the hustle and bustle of the Strip and melts into the quiet tranquility of family life in Summerlin, where she has lived for the last 15 years with her husband and two children. “It was a family decision to move here. Summerlin really offers the limelight of the
Strip, but with a true sense of community, and beautiful neighborhoods and parks. We love being removed from the actual city. “‘Think time’ is very important to me—time to just think with no outside distractions. Everybody needs some downtime to reach their peak potential. When I was working at Treasure Island, Scott Sibella [then its president and CEO], who is very into fitness, would always come up with these random ideas. One time, in an executive committee meeting, he brought two yoga instructors and had us doing stretches. It was my first time! Then I found Sherry Goldstein and am now a loyal fan of her YOGA SANCTUARY. It’s my favorite studio because the instructors have a true passion for the essence of yoga. “The first time I went to SAMBALATTE, with my daughter, it felt like I was in an urban city like New York or Chicago. A lot of places in Vegas are big and ostentatious, but continued on page 66
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE (GIULIANO); BRYAN HAINER (RED ROCK CANYON)
LEFT:
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continued from page 64 Sambalatte has a nice loft area and a comfortable communal table. I felt great energy. A couple of years ago, I went there on Mother’s Day with the kids, and my daughter and I made matching bracelets with hearts on them. There’s no rush there. I order a chai tea latte and enjoy people-watching for an hour. “My birthday was during the very first week that HONEY SALT was open, so we went. It was totally packed! Now I want to go there for every special occasion. The menu is fun and approachable. It’s very warm and cozy inside, almost like you’re eating in someone’s house. My favorite dishes are the quinoa Grain Power, turkey meatballs, and brown bag apple pie. As soon as you open that bag, there’s this amazing, comforting smell of cinnamon, apples, and brown sugar. “I love buying fresh produce at the farmers market, FRESH52, at TIVOLI VILLAGE. One booth has amazing tomatoes, so sweet and fresh, and the strawberry guy is pretty animated and funny! I go late on Saturday mornings and spend a few hours there. It reminds me of being in Las Vegas when I was small and we’d go to a produce market that was almost like a warehouse, near Paradise and Spring Mountain. My grandmother also used to take me to the Boulevard Market, where Freed’s Bakery got its start. “When I was growing up here, it was an all-day excursion to get out to RED ROCK CANYON. My dad would take my brother and me to find washes, where we’d set up targets and go shooting in the desert with our
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MARY’S
SUMMERLIN SAMBALATTE “Small in scale but big in lifestyle.” 750 S. Rampart Blvd., 702-272-2333; sambalatte.com
HONEY SALT “Warm and cozy, like you’re eating in someone’s house.” 1031 S. Rampart Blvd., 702445-6100; honeysalt.com
YOGA SANCTUARY TOP LEFT: The fresh52 farmers market brings organic produce, gourmet sauces, artisanal crafts, and more to Tivoli Village each Saturday. TOP RIGHT: Macarons from Sambalatte. ABOVE: Giuliano and her daughter, Gianni, at Honey Salt on Valentine’s Day.
.22 rifles. Now I take the kids and our dog, a shepherd mix named Bella, hiking in the Loop. Our favorite path is the Ice Box Canyon, which has a little stream of water. It feels amazing out there, like you don’t have a care in the world. Red Rock Canyon has always been an iconic backdrop to me. Now that I live in the western part of Summerlin, it’s a beautiful view in the morning, and driving toward it at sunset feels like being home.” V
“I’m a loyal fan.” 7915 W. Sahara Ave., Ste. 101, 702-2407666; lasvegasyoga.com
FRESH52 FARMERS & ARTISAN MARKET “One booth has amazing tomatoes, so sweet and fresh.” 302 S. Rampart Blvd., 702-9002552; tivolifarmersmarket.com
RED ROCK CANYON “It feels amazing out there.” Scenic Loop Drive, 702-5155367; redrockcanyonlv.org
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SCREEN SHOT
In his new film, Jon Hamm (LEFT) plays J.B. Bernstein (RIGHT), who journeyed halfway around the world to find a superstar.
Million Dollar Man
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hen famed sports agent J.B. Bernstein was a child, he opened a fortune cookie to find a message that in some ways has come to define his professional existence. “The great pleasure in life is doing things that people say you can’t do,” it read. “Nothing has rung more true in my career,” says Bernstein. “Pretty much every idea I’ve had has been met with the attitude of ‘That’s the worst idea ever.’ Then when it works out, people say, ‘I knew you could do it—only you could pull it off!’” Bernstein may be known for his unorthodox approach to business, but it certainly hasn’t stopped him from landing blue-chip clients, like Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and baseball star Barry Bonds. But in the mid-2000s, as the agent and his business partners hunted for a future superstar, they found themselves coming up empty-handed. “It’s just hard to recruit,” Bernstein says. “And I thought, There must be a better way.”
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Then came what his detractors said was his worst idea yet: a trip across the world to find cricket players whose pitching arms could catapult them into Major League Baseball. “I was speaking with one of the minority owners of the San Francisco Giants, and his business partner is from India,” Bernstein recalls. “So he’s thinking about it, and I’m thinking about it….” And a plan was hatched. By 2007, Bernstein was in India, running an American Idol – type reality show to find the country’s top prospects. But coming home with a pitcher to rival Nolan Ryan was certainly not guaranteed. “Initially my attitude was like the phases of the moon,” the agent says. “I started out very unsure, but as time went by I felt that these guys really had a chance.” Mere months later, he was back stateside with his two new “sons,” as he affectionately refers to Rinku continued on page 70
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED WICKERHAM/GETTY IMAGES (HAMM); JEFF GALE (BERNSTEIN)
VEGAS TRANSPLANT J.B. BERNSTEIN IS THE REAL-LIFE SPORTS AGENT BEHIND JON HAMM’S MILLION DOLLAR ARM. BY JULIET IZON
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SCREEN SHOT
continued from page 68 Singh and Dinesh Patel, the teenage winners of the competition. “At the time, I was what you might call a serial bachelor,” says Bernstein. “At no point did I ever think I was going to have kids—much less two 18-year-olds who didn’t speak English. The whole thing was so far outside of my comfort zone, I didn’t really know what to expect.” The young men had never even heard of baseball before they met Bernstein, but by November of 2008, both had signed minor-league contracts with the Pittsburgh Pirates. And it wasn’t long before Hollywood came knocking for the rights to Bernstein’s unbelievable tale. The resulting film, Million Dollar Arm, will be released on May 16, with Mad Men star Jon Hamm portraying Bernstein. “I’m a fan of people who think outside the box,” says the actor, “and J.B.—like Billy Beane and Bill James before him—took a lot of rules about how people can and can’t play the game, threw them away, and created his own.” In conjunction with the film, Bernstein, who moved to Las Vegas last year after having visited countless times throughout his life, has written a book that digs deeper into the story and his process. “In some ways I know my life will change,” he says of his turn in the public eye, then adds with a laugh, “but I’ll still get up and work all night.” As for his “sons”? While Patel has returned to India after playing two seasons in the minors, scouts are keeping an eye on Singh. “They say he has an excellent chance of making the major leagues in the next couple of years,” Bernstein says. “It really would be an amazing ending to this crazy story.” Adds Hamm, “It’s an inspiring lesson to believe in yourself.” V
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“J.B. took a lot of rules about how to play the game, threw them away, and created his own.” —JON HAMM
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISHIKA MOHAN/DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC. (TAJ MAHAL); RICK DIAMOND/GETTY IMAGES (GAME); RYAN FAGAN (PATEL AND SINGH)
RIGHT: Hamm on location at the Taj Mahal. BELOW: The actor at the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game in 2012. BOTTOM: Bernstein flanked by the winners of his competition, Dinesh Patel (LEFT) and Rinku Singh.
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SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY
Giving Large NEVADA WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY CHAIR HEATHER DUBOEF CREATED A GRANT-MAKING ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. BY JENNIFER BLOCK
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE
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eather duBoef’s moment of truth came the night she didn’t want to attend her own party. It was 2005 and she was busy planning two charity events with a few friends, coordinating everything from the floral arrangements to the canapés to the gift bags. And after all those weeks of organizing, she turned to them and asked, “Can I just pay my $5,000 and not go?” “The thing is, I wasn’t really kidding,” recalls duBoef. She was bored with menu tastings, choosing décor colors, wrangling auction items—“all the things I’m terrible at,” she says. “It was exhausting.” It was also frustrating, working on events that sometimes cost more to put together than they raised. “We use this term, ‘friendraising.’ A lot of people showed up and donated money and in-kind services toward this heart-wrenching cause, but that money all went to the party rather than those who need it. If I want to throw a party, I’ll throw a party. But if I want to do philanthropy, there’s got to be a better way.” Finding a better way has always been duBoef’s MO. A graduate of UCLA, she went from being a fitness instructor to designing gyms. When love took her from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and she needed to meet new people and “get more community,” she opened a pottery painting studio. And when she realized that the price of a gala ticket could be put to better use, she founded Nevada Women’s Philanthropy, a memberdriven, pooled-fund grant-making organization that awards a substantial sum to a different local nonprofit each year. DuBoef pitched the idea to her two sisters and three of her friends. On the gala circuit, $5,000 had seemed a manageable number, so that’s what each decided to dedicate to NWP every year. To duBoef the model made sense: Even with just the six of them, it would mean an annual grant of continued on page 74
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SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY
Charity Regist er OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE.
LADYBUG BALL
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Details: May 3, Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa; nvblindchildren.org
GALA FOR RECOVERY
Event: Foundation for Recovery’s yearly gala dinner and silent auction honors those who have made significant contributions to the addiction recovery community, while also raising funds for the organization’s services to individuals and families and its programs promoting the positive impact of recovery. Details: May 10, Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino; forrecovery.org
GIRLS NIGHT OUT
Event: Friends of the Shade Tree—the fundraising arm of the nonprofit shelter for women and children—presents its 12th annual edition of Girls Night Out, a high-end designer handbag auction and party that has brought in nearly $200,000 in the last two years. Fox 5’s Jason Feinberg (PICTURED) emcees. Details: May 21, Hyde Bellagio; friendsoftheshadetree.net
HEROES WITH HEART GALA
Event: The Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada, which provides practical and emotional support to people in crisis following a traumatic event, holds its annual Heroes with Heart Gala, saluting emergency responders who have been nominated by TIP volunteers in the field. Details: May 29, Orleans Hotel & Casino Mardi Gras Ballroom; tipoflasvegas.org
FACETS OF HOPE DINNER
Event: Jewelers for Children’s annual Facets of Hope Dinner—benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish America, the National CASA Association, and the Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation—this year honors Michael Barnes of Sterling Inc. and Glenn and Susan Rothman of Hearts on Fire. Details: June 1, Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino; jewelersforchildren.org
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HEATHER DUBOEF (GROUP PHOTO, MACLEOD)
continued from page 72 $30,000. But then the women started telling their friends, and that initial year NWP’s membership grew to 40, and its first gift, in 2006, was $180,000 to the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow. Today NWP is nearly 90 members strong, and this year it will grant $375,000 to a local organization for a high-impact community project, plus a $30,000 Founders Gift to the runner-up. The decision to present one lump sum each year is strategic. “The nonprofits are overTOP: Dana Lee, Heather duBoef, whelmed,” she explains. “While they’re trying Cindy Ellis, Susie Lee, and to deliver services, they have to compete for the Carrie Carter-Henderson at the groundbreaking of NWP’s limited number of donor dollars that are out Salvation Army project. ABOVE: there. So a big part of their work becomes writDuBoef with Steve MacLeod, then of Three Square, recipient ing grants and throwing parties. One large-scale of NWP’s 2009 Founders Gift. gift can have much bigger impact.” NWP is so renowned in the business community for its vetting process that other donors follow its lead, practically guaranteeing future gifts for NWP’s grantees. After winning last year’s grant, for example, the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth was contacted by HomeAid, a national shelter builder, which offered in-kind donations worth at least $80,000. “We are a tough group of screeners,” duBoef says. “We ask a lot of questions and follow our investments for five years.” NWP’s recipients have included the Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars, the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, and the Rape Crisis Center, which opened its counseling center, Signs of Hope, with its NWP grant. Nevada Women’s Philanthropy has also become a training ground for community leaders: Most members become dedicated volunteers of the nonprofits they’ve given funds to; many have also joined their boards. “We’re all business professionals,” says duBoef. “Most of us came here for our husbands and put our careers on hold. So this is how we apply our knowledge. We are community investors, not just donors.” As NWP’s board chair, duBoef is absolutely dedicated to the organization’s goals and principles, including operating with minimal overhead, so that about 95 percent of its funds can go directly to grantees. “We have no staff and use donated office space,” she says. “No funder can afford the type of hours that go into doing what we do.” Also a mother of two, duBoef affectionately calls NWP her “middle child.” She still throws great parties, like an annual Christmas brunch at which pajamas are mandatory (they’re included with the invitation), but no longer do parties detract from her philanthropy. nvwomensphilanthropy.org V
Event: The fifth annual Ladybug Ball—featuring live and silent auctions, entertainment, and a multicourse gourmet dinner prepared by local celebrity chefs—honors Don and Dina Giancursio (PICTURED) and benefits the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation, which provides services that enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired children in Las Vegas.
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His show is called The Hits, and Rod Stewart has plenty to choose from.
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Culture
HOTTEST TICKET
Forever Young TWO-TIME ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE AND GRAMMY LIVING LEGEND ROD STEWART RETURNS TO THE COLOSSEUM. BY JOHN KATSILOMETES
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od Stewart has been singing “Some Guys Have All the Luck” for obscure number. “Maggie May” and “Hot Legs,” for example, could be decades. But it wasn’t originally his song. In fact, it was penned by joined by “I’d Rather Go Blind,” a blues and soul classic first recorded by one Jeff Fortgang and first recorded by The Persuaders in 1973. Etta James and covered on Stewart’s 1972 album, Never a Dull Moment. “When we play Vegas, we very rarely do songs that were big hits in Once Stewart covered it 30 years ago, however, it became a Top 10 hit. Europe, and there are five or six songs I don’t play,” he says. “‘Sailing’ and And the tune has also grown into something of a theme song. “Yeah, it is, the way things have panned out,” says Stewart, whose cur- ‘Baby Jane’ and ‘Tom Traubert’s Blues’…. We just don’t do those because rent engagement at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace runs through May they were big hits in Europe. I’ve tried ‘Sailing,’ which is like a national 17. “I’ve had a tremendous life. I’m so grateful for everything. I’ve had a anthem in Europe. I put it in in Vegas because there were a few British peowonderful career. I have a beautiful wife, eight wonderful children, and a ple in the audience. I said, ‘I’m doing this for my compatriots.’” The result? “You could have heard a pin drop afterward.” life that is still thriving.” But the manner in which Stewart delivers a show has changed over the That’s the truth. Consider that the 69-year-old Stewart just recently gave up playing football (what we call soccer in the States). And not just recreational years. He’s far more conversational with the audience than he was as a rock star a generation ago. football, but highly competitive organized football, “I think I’m a much better entertainer and comwhere score is kept and injuries are suffered. municator than I was 30 years ago,” he says. “As far “I’ve just retired, and I wouldn’t say I wanted to as enjoying it, yes, I do enjoy it. These days I am stop playing, but my knees did,” he says. “This was very spontaneous, and that’s just how I talk to the very serious league play. I mean, it’s over-50s, but audience in between songs. Of course, the way I it’s still very competitive and they kick the lumps sing songs I’m spontaneous, and suddenly I realize out of each other.” that I’ve changed a song and I’m singing a version On the plus side, Stewart says, he’ll have a chance —ROD STEWART that is slightly different from the original.” to spend more time in Las Vegas. He has typically And the fans notice even the tiniest variation. flown back to Los Angeles after his shows here, but “It’s hard to describe how that happens, but the crowd will be singing now he’s looking forward to checking out other performers on the Strip. “My wife, Penny, would love to do that,” he says, adding that previously along to the song—like ‘Maggie May’—and they’ll be singing it right and his football commitments and his two youngest kids made it difficult. I’m singing it wrong.” That’s true even for the tune that has become his theme. “One’s just coming up to 3 and one is 8. And if I wasn’t there, I’m thinking “That song should have been written about me in the first place, a guy that they’re down to breakfast, [asking] ‘Where is Dad? Where is Dad?’ It would break my heart. But we would like to arrange coming up one with all the luck, y’know?” Stewart says, chuckling. “It was written for some other reason, but I think it’s a Rod song now, for good.” Rod Stewart Saturday and one Sunday night, sure.” Stewart hasn’t made any significant changes to his show for Vegas, rely- performs eight shows in May at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, through May 17. ing on his tremendous catalog of hits, spiced occasionally by a relatively For tickets, call 888-929-7849 or visit caesarspalace.com/shows. V
“The crowd is singing along, and they’ll be singing it right and I’m singing it wrong.”
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HOTTEST TICKET
EASY TEASE-Y
Roxi D’Lite will be delighting the crowds as part of this year’s Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend.
All That Glitters VEGAS HOISTS ITS TIGHTS AND CINCHES ITS CORSETS FOR THE ANNUAL BURLESQUE HALL OF FAME WEEKEND. BY NICOLE RUPERSBURG
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reak out the body glitter, sequins, wigs, lashes, sky-high sparkly heels, ostrich feather fans, retro pinup swimsuits, and satin, leather, and latex corsets: Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend is upon us! The world’s longest-running burlesque event, now in its 57th year, will be held June 5 – 8 at The Orleans, which means Las Vegas will be teeming with Burly-Q queens from all over, channeling their inner Marilyns and Ditas. The Burlesque Hall of Fame—whose permanent home is inside Emergency Arts, on Fremont Street— honors American burlesque from its origins in the mid-19th century to its golden age in the mid-20th century, with posters, photographs, playbills, and other paraphernalia documenting the history of burlesque performers in America. Part entertainment and part competition, the Hall of Fame Weekend is the heart of the art, showcasing classic burlesque, neo-burlesque, and boylesque (that’s boy burlesque, for neophytes), as
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well as today’s versions of the legendary Burly-Q queens, the “Titans of Tease,” from the golden age of burlesque. Nightly showcases include “Movers, Shakers & Innovators,” featuring international performers from the cutting edge of contemporary burlesque; the 57th annual “Titans of Tease” reunion showcase, with classic stars from burlesque’s heyday doing vintage-style striptease; the 24th annual Tournament of Tease, which includes the competition for the coveted title of Miss Exotic World (the reigning queen of burlesque); and the “All-Stars & Icons” showcase, featuring award-winning talents and previous Miss Exotic Worlds. This year’s event will also include special tributes to the late legend and Miss Exotic World cofounder Dixie Evans. And don’t miss all your favorites lounging poolside with mimosas and very, very dark sunglasses at the BHoF Sunday Hangover Pool Party & Fashion Show on June 8. The Orleans Hotel & Casino, 800661-6465; bhofweekend.com V
Holly Madison is no stranger to the Strip, or to the striptease. Las Vegas’s favorite “girl next door” made her Strip debut in Peepshow at Planet Hollywood, but she has deprived Las Vegas stages of her newly brunetted presence since she settled into a life of motherhood while promoting her Holly Madison Diet, launching a pet product line (and donating proceeds to the Animal Foundation), and penning a helpful travel guide to Vegas. Hollyphiles will be happy to know that she’s back in pasties: After entertaining several offers, Madison has opened 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque at Mandalay Bay. 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque is a “social lounge,” featuring burlesque performers and a four-piece band playing behind a jazz vocalist. Madison herself sings in this revue, but don’t expect a Peepshow reprise: This isn’t a fully topless show. But burlesque is only half of the equation at 1923. Bourbon is the other half. In addition to 23 custom barrel-aged whiskeys and 23 custom cigars, the lounge offers a large selection of some of the most sought-after bourbons and ryes in the world, from producers like Pappy Van Winkle, Old Rip Van Winkle, Elijah Craig, Rittenhouse, Templeton, and George Dickel, as well as an array of serious craft cocktails. Mandalay Bay; 1923lv.com Holly Madison
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BECKER/WIREIMAGE (MADISON); WWW.JOGORSKY.COM (D’LITE)
Strip seductress Holly Madison is back with a brand-new speakeasy-style burlesque bar.
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HOTTEST TICKET
Shady Business
These wide-eyed missionaries have no idea what to expect in Africa, but in Vegas they can expect a homecoming of sorts.
A SMASH NOVEL GETS A PARODY—AND A HEART—AS 50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL PLAYS (SAFELY) AT THE SMITH CENTER. BY NICOLE RUPERSBURG
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“We were interested in maintaining the core love story.”
Audiences will be turning 50 shades of red at this erotic musical parody.
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MEN ON A MISSION The Tony Award–winning The Book of Mormon heads to Las Vegas. Broadway Mormons, meet your Western heritage. BY NICOLE RUPERSBURG This June, the Broadway smash The Book of Mormon makes its first foray into actual Mormon territory with its Vegas debut at the Smith Center. Mormon missionaries were among the first settlers of the Las Vegas Valley and the first cultivators of the land that would eventually become downtown Las Vegas, and the area maintains a strong Mormon presence. The Book of Mormon is a raunchy, profane, obscene, offensive spectacle, and no group has more right to be offended by its content than the Mormon Church. (Except maybe Ugandans. And homosexuals. And women. But definitely mostly Mormons.) Written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of the perennially button-pushing South Park and the profanity-laden Team America: World Police, The Book of Mormon parodies a religion with which most Americans have only a faint familiarity. Aside from its R-rated plotline—two young missionaries are sent to Uganda to share the Book of Mormon with poverty-ridden, AIDS-stricken locals under the control of a bloodthirsty warlord obsessed with female circumcision—the show is packed with obscenities and the sort of humor that wouldn’t be considered proper in polite company, such as the Ugandans’ joyful chorus of “Hasa Diga Eebowai” (translation: “F--- you, God”). But the most surprising thing about The Book of Mormon is not that it was an instant success, or that critics and audiences love it, or that it won nine Tony Awards (including best musical) and a slew of other prizes, or even that it has grossed more than $250 million so far. It’s how the Mormon Church has embraced it. Instead of staging heated protests, the church took advantage of this golden marketing—and proselytizing— opportunity to expose a new audience to the actual Book of Mormon by advertising in the musical’s playbill. No fewer than three full pages winkingly announce, “The book is always better” and “You’ve seen the play… now read the book.” Expect the response here in Mormon country to be similarly accepting. This is Vegas, after all. Mormon or not, having a sense of humor is kind of a prerequisite for living here. The Book of Mormon runs June 10–July 6 at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. 702-749-2000; thesmithcenter.com V
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOAN MARCUS (BOOK OF MORMON); CLIFFORD ROLES (50 SHADES)
young, high-powered business magnate who harbors some dark sexual secrets ropes a naive 21-year-old college student into bondage and S&M play. Sounds like a pretty typical day in Vegas. Except it’s actually the plot of one of the fastest-selling paperback books of all time, Fifty Shades of Grey, which has now sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. 50 Shades! The Musical takes the somewhat sordid story of sexy, wealthy entrepreneur and BDSM fetishist Christian Grey and virginal college senior Anastasia Steele and gives it the proper parody it begs for. Written and originally performed by the musical improvisation troupe Baby Wants Candy, 50 Shades! The Musical made its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012 and has been on tour virtually ever since. The parody is, dare we say, loving—delivering smart satire that never loses sight of its sweet, if nontraditional, love story. And it lampoons everything—the zeitgeist, the backlash, the oft-criticized quality of the writing. At one point the musical’s Ana Steele —AL SAMUELS gushes, “This is real life. Because if it were a book, it would be terrible!” (getting a good laugh from fans who know better than to take the book too seriously). “Mean comedy is pretty easy,” says writer/director Al Samuels. “We didn’t want to do that. We were interested in maintaining the core love story.” So, Fifty Shades fans, take heart: The intent of the musical isn’t outright mockery of its beloved source material. “It parodies the entire phenomenon,” Samuels says. “When you improvise musicals, you have to have a satirical look at pop culture all the time, [but also have a real] love of it.” 50 Shades! The Musical plays June 7 at the Smith Center. 702-749-2000; thesmithcenter.com
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MORE THAN A PLACE TO LIVE. A WAY OF LIFE.
The Mesa Park
It’s one thing to buy a house. It’s quite another to find a home. In Summerlin, finding a home means getting more. More than 150 miles of trails. More than 150 neighborhood parks. More community events, shopping, dining and entertainment – with even more on the way in 2014. It’s more than a place to live, it’s a way of life. Today. Tomorrow. Forever. This is Summerlin. This is Home.
©2014 The Howard Hughes Corporation. All rights reserved.
ART FULL The Churchgoing Satanist (Earplugs) by Hernan Bas, 2012.
Eastern Time ART BASEL’S SECOND ANNUAL HONG KONG SHOW BLENDS THE BEST OF ASIA AND THE WEST FOR VEGAS’S COLLECTORS. BY SUE HOSTETLER
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n just a few short years, Hong Kong has been transformed from a city that many considered a cultural desert to the fourth-largest global market for contemporary art, according to Artprice, an art market information source, with more than $130 million sold in 2013, partially due to recordsetting auctions and the rise of billionaire art collectors in China. As recently as 2008, there were no major art fairs, but the visionaries behind the powerful Art Basel shows in Switzerland and Miami Beach helped push the cultural renaissance forward last year when they debuted Art Basel in Hong Kong. Asia’s second annual art fair—which opens Thursday May 15 and features a slate of 245 of the world’s most influential galleries from 39 countries—will help add even more international credibility and exposure to the Asian art market. “Every fair has its own mission and vision,” says show director Magnus Renfrew, “and Art Basel in Hong Kong aspires to provide a fair for Asia of global stature and the highest quality while retaining its unique regional flavor. Hong Kong has long been regarded as the portal connecting
the East and the West. It is a major financial hub and as such is designed to allow for more professional and efficient transactions.” This year’s show will be marked by a continuation of the strong programming that is a hallmark of the two other Art Basel shows. The Discoveries sector, which is dedicated to solo and two-person exhibitions by emerging artists, is shaping up to be particularly exceptional. A $25,000 prize will be awarded to one of nearly 30 participants of this sector at the end of the week, a unique element of ABHK that is not seen at other fairs. Much preshow buzz has surrounded the funky Irish gallery Mother’s Tankstation and its presen—MAGNUS RENFREW tation of the work of Sydney-based artist Noel McKenna, whose figurative pieces contemplate the human condition and make him one to watch in Discoveries. Also creating excitement is the Encounters sector— featuring large-scale sculptural and installation pieces—being curated by Japan’s highly regarded Yuko Hasegawa of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. “Last year Yuko’s selection spurred a compelling discourse around contrasting generational and cultural approaches to artistic practices,” says Renfrew. “I have every confidence that her program this year will again present ambitious works that act as conversation points throughout the exhibition halls.” And one of Miami’s most beloved events—the Film sector—will debut in Hong Kong this year, developed by Chinese multimedia artist and curator Li Zhenhua and hosted in partnership with the Hong FROM LEFT: The fair will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, set against the city skyline and Victoria Harbour; fair director Magnus Renfrew. Kong Arts Centre.
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND LEHMANN MAUPIN, NEW YORK AND HONG KONG (BAS); COURTESY OF ART BASEL (CONVENTION CENTRE, RENFREW)
“The highlight is being part of that experience of discovery when collectors come to know artists they have not yet seen.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ART BASEL
The late Chinese artist Chen Zhen’s large-scale Le Rite Suspendue/Mouille (1991) was installed at last year’s Art Basel Hong Kong.
These types of collaborations with local institutions help Art Basel recognize, support, and promote the exploding contemporary art scene in Hong Kong. Not only is the government pouring billions of dollars into developing a cultural district in West Kowloon, but the new M+, an ambitious Herzog & de Meuron– designed world-class museum, slated for completion in 2017, further illustrates Hong Kong’s commitment to its future support of the visual arts. But maybe the most significant indicator is the number of respected western galleries, like Gagosian, White Cube, and Lehmann Maupin, that have opened Hong Kong outposts over the last few years. These dealers along with influential homegrown stalwarts such as 10 Chancery Lane, Galerie Ora-Ora, and Pearl Lam, are instrumental in developing and nurturing the careers of artists and collections in the region. According to Renfrew, these relationships with the local galleries and institutions (including Asia Art Archive, Para/Site, the Asia Society, and Spring Workshop) are imperative to AB in HK as they create a show “grounded in the city.” “We want to promote long-term arts infrastructure development and encourage associated programming across the city,” says Renfrew. “The growth of Hong Kong’s museum sector and contemporary arts education will truly impact the larger discourse in the city, and that is something that we aim—through long-term partnerships—to cultivate.” The fair’s impact and thematic reach is sure to be much broader than just the Asian region. One needs to look no further than the talks planned as part of the Conversations and Salon programs. A discussion titled the “Global Art World/Making Biennials” will feature luminaries Juliana Engberg, artistic director of the 2014 Biennale of Sydney and artistic director of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; Eungie Joo, curator of the 2015 Sharjah Biennial; and Jessica Morgan, artistic director of the 10th Gwangju Biennale and The Daskalopoulos Curator, International Art at Tate Modern, London, moderated by Hou Hanru, artistic director at Maxxi Museum in Rome. “This is a conversation that has real international relevancy, reflecting the transitional reality of today’s art world,” explains Renfrew. Programming such as this, coupled with a rapidly maturing Asian art market and the resurgence of Chinese art exhibitions across the US, will undoubtedly help draw record numbers of highly informed collectors to the fair this month. With so much anticipation building around the fair, what does Renfrew most look forward to? “The highlight is exposing new audiences to the depth of work from the broader Asian region, and being part of that experience of discovery when collectors come to know artists they have not yet seen… or when curators have an opportunity to join in dialogue with artists whose work they have long followed.” artbasel.com/en.hong-kong V
PACIFIC OVERTURES The Vegas art crowd sizes up the market. JERRY SCHEFCIK, UNLV DIRECTOR OF GALLERIES “The joy of art is when it can draw from the roots that gave it life and continue to give it life however it is interpreted. An exciting aspect of current Asian art is when it draws upon those elements that made it truly unique and identifiable as from that culture. If Asian artists continue to reflect in some regard on their heritage, I think there can be a distinct contemporary Asian aesthetic.”
PATRICK DUFFY, AVID COLLECTOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE LAS VEGAS ART MUSEUM “Art Basel has reached perfect centers to create great global saturation points and share ideologies through visual art. The art markets are better appreciated internationally when you have power art centers that give collectors an efficient means to travel globally. Artists are better positioned to meet collectors and create impressions that last and can be bankable.”
MICHELE QUINN, FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL OF MCQ FINE ART ADVISORY “Hong Kong and Asia, with all of the money there, is a no-brainer. It is interesting to see the gallery openings because now contemporary Asian art is such a solid segment of our marketplace. Ten years ago there were still a lot of questions like “Where is this going?” “Is this the next direction?” I think these questions have been answered when you see the galleries that have established themselves [in Asia] like Lehmann Maupin, White Cube, James Cohan, and so many other high-level, blue-chip galleries that have planted their feet firmly on the ground there.”
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THIS ISSUE: ROOMS WITH A VIEW
Only in Vegas could a French bistro like Bouchon (ABOVE), serving dishes by esteemed chef Thomas Keller, open onto a Venetian courtyard (LEFT). TOP: Pastry chef Scott Wheatfill plates chocolate bouchons.
Keeping It Classic THE LAS VEGAS OUTPOST OF CHEF THOMAS KELLER’S WORLD-RENOWNED BOUCHON BISTRO IS CELEBRATING ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY. BY CATHERINE DE ORIO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SABIN ORR
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t’s humbling to celebrate a decade in this town,” says Michelin-starred and multi-award-winning chef Thomas Keller. “I am proud to be in the company of so many great chefs and great restaurants.” Dining establishments in Las Vegas come and go as quickly as fortunes on the casino floor, yet even 10 years after it opened, Bouchon Bistro still draws crowds eager to indulge in Keller’s acclaimed renditions of French bistro classics. “The Las Vegas food culture has matured in such a way,” he says, “that it’s now a serious dining destination that attracts sophisticated diners.” Bouchon’s enduring popularity serves as testament to that, as well as proof that tradition never gets tiresome. Adam Tihany, the designer of the restaurant’s original Yountville, California, location, was given a blank canvas here and a whole lot of space with which to work. But even scaled to Vegas proportions, Bouchon
manages to capture the charm of a traditional bistro, with antique sconces, a Paulin Paris mural, colorful mosaic tiled floors, a gorgeous pewter bar where towers of fruits de mer tempt hungry patrons, and Palladian windows that look out onto a delightful courtyard and a stunning pool. It was this enchanting view and the unique site in Venetian’s Venezia Tower, far from the chaos of the casino, that finally convinced Keller to open in Las Vegas. “The location has allowed us to take a restaurant space and transform it into an oasis in the desert,” he says. The tranquil outdoor seating area and its remote setting may transport you to Provence, but once you’re inside, this bistro has the bustling atmosphere and lively chatter more associated with a Parisian brasserie. Local power players dine on grand plates of the freshest seafood paired with crisp continued on page 86
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TASTE
Selosse, and Pol Roger, plus a number of classified growths from Bordeaux. Providing diners with an emotional connection to food is what Bouchon is all about. “It’s not about specialized ingredients,” says Crain. “It’s about precision in technique applied to ordinary ingredients and the love of French comfort food.” Adds Keller, “One thing about a bistro is that you want to count on its predictability.” As Bouchon pushes forward into the next decade, Keller says it will continue to strive to offer food, service, and atmosphere like those one would find at a traditional bistro in France. “There is something to be said for maintaining and never wavering from that level of excellence.” “It’s hard to believe we opened here 10 years ago,” he continues. “The beauty of Bouchon is that it is timeless. Our food, our service, and the atmosphere will remain relevant for the next 10 years and many more to come.” Venetian, 702-414-6200; bouchonbistro.com/lasvegas V Every day is Thanksgiving with these pumpkin treats.
ABOVE: The poulet rôti is served with poached pears and cavolo nero (black kale) in a brown-butter jus. LEFT: Keller (RIGHT) with chef de cuisine Joshua Crain.
continued from page 85 Sancerre, while visiting families with pommes frites–munching tots find something for everyone on the approachable menu. Eschewing tweezer-placed elements for a refined rustic presentation, the plating isn’t precious. The preparation, however, is executed with absolute precision. “Bouchon is about maintaining classic traditions and techniques of French comfort food,” Keller explains. “The core of our menu never changes.” Fittingly, classics like steak frites (a flat iron steak seared to perfection and topped with maître-d’ butter, plus caramelized shallots and a hefty pile of golden fries), a bubbling bowl of fragrant French onion soup, and poulet rôti (roasted Shelton Farm chicken, Keller’s personal favorite) are best sellers. Since California banned foie gras, the silky, rich liver has become one of the most popular items at Bouchon in Vegas—in a pan-seared variety or terrines of two sizes. “All the people visiting from California come here to get their fill,” says chef de cuisine Joshua Crain. Traditional dishes may be the menu’s backbone, but a chalkboard of daily specials allows the kitchen to utilize the season’s bounty. The specials highlight seasonal ingredients, Crain explains, with spring and summer, for example, perhaps bringing a classic pan-roasted salmon with peas, morels, and sauce beurre blanc. To top off the meal, traditional airy profiteroles drizzled in Valrhona dark chocolate and a tangy lemon tart provide a refreshing contrast to the robust, savory fare. No meal in France is complete without wine, and Bouchon offers a list evenly divided between American and French selections, as well as a reserve list boasting great French producers such as Roumier, Rousseau,
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SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE “We provoke good memories,” says Scott Wheatfill, the pastry chef of Bouchon Bistro and the three Bouchon Bakery locations in Venetian. Their offerings are inspired by foods “that we’ve had as a child and we think to be the best.” So expect haute takes on American classics: Nutter Butters, cashew nut butter and apricot jam sandwiches (in place of pedestrian PB&J), and of course the iconic Thomas Keller Oreo (T.K.O.), Wheatfill’s favorite, with a white chocolate ganache filling nestled between two dark chocolate cookies. The bakery’s French roots show in its flaky, buttery croissants, served with coffee or as part of a sandwich (ham and cheese with Mornay sauce, s’il vous plait?). Venetian’s foyer bakery allows early risers to get their fix two hours before the others open, while the clock tower’s second-floor outpost has a more streamlined menu, which includes foie gras dog biscuits for your four-legged friend and the minimacaron takeaway box, with six flavors of the timeless French sweet, for your beloved. How sweet they—and you—are!
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TASTE OF THE TOWN Chill out at Picnic, on the roof of Downtown Grand.
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR Springtime is the right time to cocktail alfresco.
Join Us on the Patio NEW OPEN-AIR DINING AND DRINKING EXPERIENCES WITH A VIEW ABOUND IN VEGAS THIS SPRING. BY ROBERT HAYNES-PETERSON
A “
lfresco” takes on a whole new meaning at The Linq (thelinq.com). At The High Roller—billed as the highest observation wheel in the world, with unprecedented views of the city and the desert beyond— revelers can belly up to the bar for a drink before they embark (yes, you can take your drink with you). For views of the wheel, book the private room and deck at Brooklyn Bowl (vegas.brooklynbowl.com), with food from Blue Ribbon (blueribbonrestaurants.com), or grab your corner of the massive two-level patio or the beer garden at Yard House (yardhouse.com) and wash down a burger with a brew from the glass-enclosed keg room and 160 (!) taps. Monte Carlo’s dining scene should be reinvigorated by the Vegas debut of Yusho (montecarlo.com), chef Matthias Merges’s wildly popular riff on Japanese street food and yakitori—fresh from Chicago. The patio opens onto the brand-new Boulevard pedestrian plaza, and you can keep cool by sitting next to its living wall and drinking a Soul of the Sensei (DH Krahn gin, Eldorado three-year rum, lime, tangerine, and kampo bitters). Downtown, dining and drinking are getting seriously cool. Picnic, the much-anticipated 35,000-square-foot rooftop bar at the hip new Downtown Grand (downtowngrand.com), gives the area an exciting social option. Designed to be a somewhat calmer retreat with a retro vibe, it has communal picnic tables, a faux lawn, live blackjack, music, and more. You’ll even find a fire pit for cooler nights and a pool for warmer ones.
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When you’re blessed with 300 sunny days a year, you need as many options for outdoor imbibing as you can get. Thankfully, this spring offers a wide array of opportunities to grab a refreshing drink while enjoying weather that most of the country is still dreaming about. Enjoy ultrafresh seafood, carefully prepared Greek cuisine, and spectacular city views from the glassenclosed terrace at Estiatorio Milos in Cosmopolitan (cosmopolitanlasvegas.com). With a glass of Plomari ouzo in hand, or perhaps a Clean Sweep (Mastiha [mastic] liqueur, St. George absinthe, cucumber, mint, and rose water), you can nicely simulate the experience of relaxing aboard some generous Greek scion’s yacht. Or head to the Four Seasons Hotel (fourseasons.com/ lasvegas) for an Italianate afternoon at Verandah, whose terrace seating looks out over the pools. The open-air patio at Press, the newest addition at Four Seasons, is the place to enjoy a rhubarb mojito, with Bacardi rum, rhubarb dry soda, rhubarb bitters, rock candy syrup, rhubarb grenadine, and fresh mint. There’s no need to sacrifice fresh air for nightlife. The club atmosphere at Encore’s XS Nightclub (wynnlas vegas.com) extends outdoors, with a large backlit pool and views of the dance floor. Take a break from the action by reserving a cabana, or live large with the $5,000 Five Star cocktail, an over-the-top celebration of the club’s fifth anniversary (available only this year), featuring Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23-yearold bourbon, Martini Gran Lusso 150th-anniversary vermouth, Bénédictine D.O.M. Black Monk liqueur, bitters, and flamed orange oils, constructed tableside (or poolside) and delivered on a special gold tray. V
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNA DOSCH (MOJITO); BRYAN HAINER (PICNIC)
BY ROBERT HAYNES-PETERSON
Four Seasons offers cocktails for all of them, such as this spring-friendly rhubarb mojito at Press.
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ON THE TOWN
BELOW: Olivier Brouillet (LEFT) and Romain Thievin look right at home as the Frenchmen prepare to dine in Vegas’s faux Eiffel Tower. TOP RIGHT: The restaurant’s view of the fountains of Bellagio. BOTTOM RIGHT: Sautéed New York State foie gras with slowbraised pineapple and Alsace spice cake.
LET’S MEET Where: Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Paris Las Vegas, 702-948-6937; parislasvegas.com When: Lunch, Monday–Friday; brunch, Saturday and Sunday; dinner, seven nights a week What: Rack of lamb, soufflé, venison
Ersatz Eiffel IT SOUNDS BLASPHEMOUS, BUT FRENCH FOODIES OLIVIER BROUILLET AND ROMAIN THIEVIN SWEAR THE VEGAS VERSION OF PARIS IS BETTER. BY AL MANCINI
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n Las Vegas, classical civilization is at our doorstep—from the (fake) pyramids of Egypt to a (new) ancient Roman emperor’s palace. But how does it compare with the actual Old World? To find out, Vegas invited a pair of Frenchmen to dine in our version of the Eiffel Tower. Romain Thievin is a professional racecar and stunt driver who lived in Paris before bringing his Exotics Racing experience to Las Vegas. Olivier Brouillet was born and raised in the south of France before moving to our city, where he worked in some of Vegas’s top French restaurants and eventually opened the casual Baguette Cafe on the west side. Thievin has dined at Alain Ducasse’s restaurant Le Jules Verne in Paris’s Eiffel Tower, while Brouillet used to manage the front of the house at Jean Joho’s Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Paris Las Vegas. The two shared a meal at this local institution and discussed how the half-scale replica compares with its French counterpart, celebrating its 125th year this spring. Are people in Europe horrified by the fact that we’ve got a fake Paris?
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ROMAIN THIEVIN: No, but it’s very similar, and it’s better. Here is better? RT: It’s better because it’s easy and it’s good for customers. In Paris, everything comes from [hundreds of years ago]. In Paris, everything’s gone bad. People are very rude. The service is bad. That’s why I think it’s better here. Because they both have the same feeling, but you have better service, and people are really nice here compared to Paris. And you say that as a Parisian, you think Parisians are rude? RT: Oh, yeah. OLIVIER BROUILLET: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! RT: I appreciate here a lot because nobody judges anybody. You can come into Robuchon with just a shirt and maybe be the richest guy on the planet. But in Paris, the valet would say, “No, you can’t come into my restaurant, sorry.” The atmosphere and ambience is different here in Vegas. The pair enjoy menus custom-made by the chefs. Brouillet’s vegetarian menu continued on page 92
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE (THIEVIN AND BROUILLET, FOIE GRAS); COURTESY OF EIFFEL TOWER RESTAURANT (FOUNTAINS)
Why: The view? The incredible food? Romance? So you’ll always have Paris? Pick a reason.
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ON THE TOWN
“In Vegas you have better service, and people are really nice here compared to Paris.” —ROMAIN THIEVIN
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ABOVE: A champion racecar driver, Thievin has lived in Paris but prefers the less snooty vibe of Vegas. LEFT: Red snapper filet with a celeriac and truffle fricassée and shaved celery. BELOW: In his 19 years here, Brouillet has seen the American palate grow more sophisticated.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE
continued from page 90 includes an onion compote tarte, a bleu cheese soufflé, and a faux gras made with abalone mushrooms. Thievin’s menu features lamb, venison, and foie gras. They discuss the two Eiffel Tower restaurants. OB: I think that chef Joho has a bit of a different approach. I think he focuses on lighter food, not as heavy, not as complicated. RT: You can’t really compare [Las Vegas’s restaurant] to the French one, because the French one is… more expensive, for sure. It’s 200 euros per customer. In France it’s expensive. Here it’s not expensive; it’s friendly. The best thing about [the restaurant in] Paris is it’s the best view in Paris. You have the Champ de Mars, and you can see the Sacré-Cœur [Basilica] not far away. You see a lot of monuments. Here it’s a good view, it’s a nice view, because you have a view of the Bellagio fountains. As they review the wine list, they discuss the differences between dining in Europe and dining in America. RT: In France, food is very important. Dinner, lunch— it’s part of our life. I feel that here Americans eat when they need to eat, when their body needs to eat. For us it’s more convivial; it’s a very important moment. Everybody has to dine together. OB: When I first moved to the States, that’s one thing that shocked me.... I was driving and I saw somebody eating a burger in a car, and I thought to myself, Why would you do that? Now I just did that yesterday—it’s 19 years later. But yeah, I think that in France it’s a moment where you just stop everything, and eating just becomes everything; it becomes the only thing. Do you see people appreciating the act of dining in Vegas a little bit more? OB: Well, it’s a dining destination. Most definitely people come here to discover new cuisine and get the chance to meet the chef—the star chef. Definitely, it’s not [just] about gaming anymore. People come here for the food, for the shows. RT: The time is changing. Because I just moved to Vegas four years ago, five years ago now. I think in the last 10 years, American people are more… The two speak French. OB: He’s saying that the [American] palate has evolved. And actually, I’ve been here for 19 years and I’ve seen it happening. You know, it’s a lot more sophisticated. And even at Baguette, I see that. Because we’re just doing soup, salads, sandwiches, fresh pastries, but now people are actually questioning, “What is your chicken? Where is your food coming from?” People want to know what’s in their food. They’re more and more sophisticated. RT: And you see a lot of very nice restaurants here in this town, in Las Vegas. You have awesome restaurants. V
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DIRECTOR DOMINIC CHAMPAGNE MUSIC DIRECTORS SIR GEORGE MARTIN & GILES MARTIN
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE MUSIC AND IMAGINATION OF THE BEATLES FOR A LIVE 360-DEGREE SPECTACLE FOR EXCLUSIVE OFFERS Call: 800-963-9634
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The trademark Cirque du Soleil is owned by Cirque du Soleil and used under license. The trademark LOVE is owned by The Cirque Apple Creation Partnership and used under license. The trademark The Beatles is owned by Apple Corps Ltd. and used under license. *Prices do not include tax and fees. Valid on select seating areas, categories and show times. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Management reserves all rights. Some restrictions apply.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TK; ILLUSTRATION BY TK
reasures
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TASTEMAKER
Wrap-sody in Hues DIANE VON FURSTENBERG CELEBRATES THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER MOST ICONIC DESIGN IN BOLD, VEGAS-FRIENDLY PRINTS. BY LAURIE BROOKINS
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY LORENZO AGIUS (VON FURSTENBERG); JEFF GALE (STORE); SETH OLENICK (DRESS)
iane von Furstenberg opened her first store on the Las Vegas Strip in 2008, at the Shoppes at the Palazzo, now the Grand Canal Shoppes, adjacent to Venetian (her second, at the Forum Shops, debuted in 2012). So perhaps it was kismet that the city of Venice inspired her perfect-for-Vegas Pre-Fall 2014 collection, arriving in stores in June. Filled with brilliant colors—meant to evoke hand-blown Murano glass— fashioned into vivid, notice-me graphics, von Furstenberg’s latest looks indeed seem tailor-made for an afternoon at Marquee Dayclub or a night at Tao. But there’s one dress that deserves a bit more attention: the Amelia, the latest iteration of von Furstenberg’s iconic wrap dress. “I decided all these young girls love these flare skirts, so I created a new dress shape, with the top in jersey and a flared skirt in a woven,” she The Amelia explains. “Really, that’s my present to the wrap.” wrap dress Von Furstenberg’s most celebrated design ($485). deserves a gift, and it’s one of many she’s offering as her label commemorates 40 years of the wrap dress. But the body-skimming, curveembracing wrap transcends mere fashion, with its revered status partly due to the timing of its debut. When women began
entering the workforce in large numbers in the 1970s, they adopted the wrap as a feminist ideal crafted in a few yards of graphic-printed jersey. The frenzy for it was immediate, even in Hollywood, with Cybill Shepherd famously wearing a wrap in Taxi Driver in 1976, the same year that von Furstenberg appeared on the cover of Newsweek. (More recently, Amy Adams wore three versions of the wrap, including von Furstenberg’s Newsweek model, in American Hustle.) So the designer understands the weight of her words when she says, “Really, I owe absolutely everything to that dress.” Von Furstenberg is celebrating the anniversary with a limited-edition capsule collection dubbed Pop Wrap, which combines the classic design with another DVF association: her friendship with Andy Warhol. Working with the Andy Warhol Foundation, she has married the signature prints of her wrap with graphics well-known to Warhol enthusiasts, including his brightly toned flowers and dollar signs. For her legions of wrap-dress fans, von Furstenberg knows that these are gifts that will keep on giving. “It sounds incredible, but I was never really that impressed by what happened with the dress. I think I took it for granted,” she says. “And now, 40 years later, I’m looking back and realizing how special it was and how unique the dress remains. Now I’m fully embracing it.” The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-879-2692, and Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-818-2294; dvf.com V
Von Furstenberg’s store at the Forum Shops, one of two DVF boutiques in Las Vegas.
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STYLE SPOTLIGHT
Check Mate Salvatore Ferragamo’s new Fiamma handbags favor Las Vegas with an exclusive eye-catching graphic style.
Mini leatherfringe Fiamma handbag, Salvatore Ferragamo ($2,950).
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LA Style, Vegas Attitude NOT JUST ANOTHER OUTPOST OF THE LA FAVORITE KITSON DROPPED INTO VEGAS, ITS NEW STORE MAKES A SPLASH WITH SIN CITY–INSPIRED DESIGNER FASHIONS YOU CAN BUY ONLY HERE. BY ALEXANDRIA GEISLER CELEBRATED FOR ITS MIX OF ON-TREND contemporary offerings for men, women, and children, Kitson recently opened its first-ever Vegas outpost, at The Linq. “Las Vegas is the capital of entertainment, and Kitson is all about entertainment shopping,” says founder Fraser Ross. “The brand is cheeky, irreverent, uninhibited, and unapologetic.” The new 12,000-square-foot bilevel space is the company’s largest boutique to date and boasts Las Vegas– exclusive items like Cat Studio tableware and hand-embroidered pillows, featuring the cityscape and the new High Roller, and Brian Lichtenberg limited-edition T-shirts and sweatshirts spilling out of a bright-orange El Camino emblazoned with the word “Homiès” (a riff on the French brand Hermès). Other in-store exclusives include a shop-in-shop for Pacifica’s vegan and cruelty-free beauty products, and a “key wall” displaying The Giving Keys’ philanthropic brass key necklaces. Among the designer pieces available this spring, vibrant McQ by Alexander McQueen dresses and feminine, highglam Birkenstocks from Rachel Zoe stand out in the women’s department, while printed Paul Smith button-downs and Diesel denim jackets are a few of the elevated menswear options. The Linq, 702-836-0925; shopkitson.com V
PHOTOGRPAHY BY LUCKY WENZEL (KITSON)
With its uniquely checked leather-fringe body in vibrant grape and pale bisque and finished with glistening gold hardware, the latest top-handle tote from the Italian luxury house Salvatore Ferragamo is spring’s ultimate statement accessory. And what’s more, the ultrafeminine carryall is exclusive to the brand’s two Las Vegas boutiques. It’s one of the many styles in the label’s new Fiamma collection, handbags that pay special tribute to Salvatore’s eldest daughter, the head designer of his leather accessories and footwear divisions for nearly 40 years. A golden lock closure on the tote’s front side is inspired by the house’s circular Gancio icon. Other stylish, limitededition miniature Fiamma bags are also available. The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-933-9333; Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-369-0251; ferragamo.com —AG
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LOCAL TREASURES
This example of a vegan leather custom clutch by Lynn Rosencrantz positions its star on a geode (price on request).
Natural Selection WITH MULTICOLORED STONES AND WHIMSICAL CREATURES, LYNN ROSENCRANTZ’S ONE-OF-A-KIND HANDBAGS ARE WILD AND BEAUTIFUL.
“I
have been inspired and awed by nature my entire life,” says Las Vegas designer Lynn Rosencrantz. “Four years ago, I had a dream that I should be creating accessories that would combine art and nature. Each piece is an original design handmade and designed by me.” Her collection includes jewelry, handbags, and home objects, many of them ornamented with a raw natural stone (like a geode slice or a prismatic tourmaline) and a Swarovski-encrusted brooch in the form of a creature such as a dragonfly, turtle, or spider. The handbags (with prices from $125 to $450) range from clutches to totes and cross-body bags, and they come in colors like cream, navy, rose, and kelly green. “All of my handbags are vegan,” the designer adds. “This is important to
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me on so many levels. It’s about creating awareness and respecting wildlife.” No longer a secret held close by her devoted local followers, Rosencrantz’s creations are now sold at Vasari in Tivoli Village, at Encore’s Swim and Homestore boutiques, and at a growing number of California locations. In addition to her own designs, she offers a special bespoke service in which clients can select their own bag, stone, and brooch combination. “I recently received a call from a woman who had just renewed her wedding vows in Hawaii after 50 years,” Rosencrantz says. “She asked me to apply one starfish [onto a handbag] for each of her children and mabe pearls for each grandchild. There is that special something in my designs.” lynnrosencrantzdesigns.com V
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SETH OLENICK
BY ALEXANDRIA GEISLER
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TIME KEEPER When she was the reigning queen of tennis, time was a constant battle for Stefanie Graf (RIGHT), but now she’s using it to make a difference in the world. BELOW: The Longines Conquest Classic.
Luxury Time AS SHE CELEBRATES THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER INDUCTION INTO THE TENNIS HALL OF FAME, LAS VEGAS’S OWN STEFANIE GRAF TAKES TIME TO SHARE HER PASSIONS. BY ANDREA BENNETT
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“My time was driven by tennis—practices, preparations, and matches.”—STEFANIE GRAF Graf host an awards program called Women Who Make a Difference, celebrating women who have had a positive impact on children’s lives. The winners receive a trip to New York for a professional photo shoot, a meeting with Graf, a donation to their cause and the opportunity to build awareness for it—plus a Longines watch. Longines also supports Agassi’s Las Vegas– based charter school foundation, which has raised more than $177 million since its founding in 1994. So Graf wears her sporty, diamond-studded Longines Conquest Classic with pride—and with purpose. The dedicated philanthropist says she prefers to be early rather than merely on time and is “borderline obsessive” about checking her watch, a long-established trait. “My first was a Mickey Mouse watch that I won at the Goofy Junior Tournament,” she says. And although Graf has graduated to Longines, all of her watches, she adds, “carry great memories of when and where I received them.” childrenfortomorrow.de/en For more watch features and expanded coverage, go to vegasmagazine.com/watches. V
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THEO WARGO/WIREIMAGE (GRAF)
erched in the Longines area of the new Hour Passion store in Aria, Stefanie Graf has the leisurely grace of a lady who lunches, although her presence certainly commands the respect—and sidelong glances (“Is that...? Yes, I think it is!”)—deserving of a 22-time Grand Slam titleholder, an Olympic gold medalist, and the longtime number-one female tennis player in the world. But then, she has a much different attitude toward time now than she did when, as she says, “my time was driven by tennis—practices, preparations for the matches, and the matches themselves.” A Longines Ambassador of Elegance since 2008, Graf leads a more luxurious life than when tennis ruled her world, although luxury to her means time to focus on her kids— Jaz Elle, 10, and Jaden Gil, 12—and stump tirelessly for the global foundation for children she founded in 1998. In fact, Graf’s outlook today—since retiring from tennis in 1999, moving to Vegas, and starting a family that is deeply involved in philanthropy—aligns perfectly with Longines’s credo that “Elegance is an attitude,” according to Walter von Känel, the company’s president. “The Longines slogan speaks to the way in which a person carries themselves and lives their life,” he explains. “Both the tennis legend and the brand focus on performance, precision, and striving for excellence. Her courage, commitment, and generosity are the perfect embodiment of the brand’s values.” The aim of Graf’s foundation, Children for Tomorrow, is to provide “psychological rebuilding” to children and families who have suffered the trauma of war. During a career in which she traveled the world, she says, “I saw firsthand how many children grow up in daily life marked by wars, violence, exile, and loss of family.” Her foundation reports that the number of children and adolescents forcibly displaced worldwide exceeds 20 million, and Graf felt a need to treat the unseen effects of what they’ve endured. “While their physical injuries might heal,” she says, “not visible are the mental wounds and trauma. Most suffer from depression, loss of sleep, and nightmares.” Both Graf and husband Andre Agassi have forged a strong bond with Longines. Agassi was named an official company ambassador in 2007, and she joined him the next year not least because the brand became, she says, a true philanthropic partner. Among other initiatives, Longines and
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NEVADA STATE BANK WELCOMES NEW PRIVATE BANKING DIRECTOR We are pleased to announce the addition of Randy Boesch as our new Director of The Private Bank. Randy has a wealth of experience working with high-net-worth clients in Nevada, and a deep understanding of their unique needs. Randy’s fnancial knowledge was developed over 40 years in banking. He has held positions in branch operations, lending, corporate real estate, training, and regional human resources. His experience will be a tremendous asset to clients and colleagues alike. A long-time Las Vegan, Randy is an active member of the UNLV Alumni Association and a graduate of Leadership Las Vegas. He actively serves on the boards for Justice League of Nevada, the Las Vegas Rotary Foundation and St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Randy shares our commitment to Nevada and our community, and we proudly welcome him to the team.
Randy Boesch Executive Vice President Director of The Private Bank
54 years in Nevada. 50 branches statewide. nsbank.com | 888.669.0223
The Private Bank by Nevada State Bank is an unincorporated division of Nevada State Bank that provides specialized banking services to signifcant net-worth clients. Nevada State Bank is a full service retail bank that has been chartered by the state of Nevada and is insured by the FDIC.
An extraordinary refection of you. Live high above Te Strip and well beyond compare. MandarinOrientalResidencesLasVegas.com | 866.950.2489
This is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of offers to buy, any condominium units in those states where such offers or solicitations cannot be made. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. This condominium project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or familial status. © 2014 CityCenter Land, LLC. The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas (The Residences) are not developed, sponsored, owned, offered or sold by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group or any affliate thereof (MOHG) and MOHG makes no representation, warranty or guaranty of any kind regarding The Residences. The developers and owners of The Residences use the Mandarin Oriental name and trademarks subject to terms of revocable licenses from MOHG which may expire or be terminated.
Major gradient bra top ($395) and cross-stripe jersey skirt ($495), Jonathan Simkhai. net-a-porter.com. Alpaca and brass harp choker necklace, Anndra Neen ($510). anndraneen.com. Double crossed pearl cuff, Vita Fede ($625). vitafede.com. Silver sandal, Casadei ($730). Neiman Marcus, Fashion Show, 702-731-3636; neimanmarcus.com
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LABEL THE STAR OF THINK LIKE A MAN TOO, GABRIELLE UNION, TALKS ABOUT WOMEN WHO INSPIRE HER—AND DOING VEGAS RIGHT WITH HER BEST GIRLFRIENDS. BY NADINE SCHIFF-ROSEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY RANDALL SLAVIN
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or 41-year-old actress and activist Gabrielle Union, life appears to be imitating art. In Think Like a Man Too, this summer’s sequel to the blockbuster 2012 film, she reprises her role as Kristen in a story of dueling bachelor and bachelorette parties—not to mention a “What happens here, stays here” kind of Vegas wedding. Cut to real life, where Union is planning her own nuptials, to Miami Heat all-star Dwyane Wade—or D, as she affectionately calls him. The striking beauty, still pumped after a daylong photo shoot, says she hasn’t had her own bachelorette party yet. “I feel like mine is going to be more top-secret,” she adds with a laugh. “And there won’t be as many police officers involved, either.” And how about the wedding? “Well, it will be smaller than the one in the movie, but it’s definitely not toned down, per the wishes of my groomzilla. D’s very involved in every detail. My dude is having a princess moment. Me? I did the wine tasting, and I’ve said yes to the dress. In fact, I’ve said yes to a few of them. That’s the joy of getting married to a man who loves clothes and wardrobe changes: You can have more than one dress.” Apparently you can have more than one home, too. Union’s bicoastal life involves nonstop travel back and forth between Los Angeles and Miami, where she lives with her fiancé, then on to Atlanta, where she films the popular BET series Becoming Mary Jane, which has been renewed for a second season. Her character is a successful newscaster who, like the actress, is coping with the impossibility of having it all. “She is a complicated character,” Union says, “and I think what makes her so relatable is that women—at least the ones I meet—never feel they can get it right. We’re so freaking hard on ourselves, setting this impossible bar.” Is it even possible to have it all? “No! No! No!” she says, opening those topaz-colored eyes wide and waving her manicured finger at me. “You can’t have everything.” By her own admission, from a very young age Union was determined to have everything she could, at any cost: “My dad told me, ‘You gotta be bigger and badder and better than the next woman, just to be considered even.’” As one of just a handful of African American girls at her high school in Pleasanton, California, she grew up feeling isolated. “I felt like I had to become a chameleon,” she says, acting one way with her white
“EVEN AS A POPULAR GIRL, I WAS ALWAYS LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW AND VERY AFRAID OF BEING EXPOSED. I JUST WANTED TO ASSIMILATE AND FIT IN.”
friends and another for people in her community. “Even as a popular girl, I was always looking through the window and very afraid of being exposed. I just wanted to assimilate and fit in.” But as Union was making her way in Hollywood, winning parts in movies such as Bring It On and Ten Things I Hate About You, her self-described “slick mouth” and penchant for “bagging on others” were earning her few friends in the business. Her outspokenness damaged her reputation, which was further compromised by a perfect Tinseltown storm. In 2005, her first marriage, to NFL star Chris Howard, began its descent into divorce; her network series Night Stalker was canceled; her agent’s phone was no longer ringing off the hook; and she felt she had hit rock bottom. “I felt destroyed,” she says. “I literally went under the bed with my dog and just stayed there.” But slowly—after a painful spell of working on what she calls her “authentic self” with her life coach, A.J. Johnson—Union re-emerged, ready to heal, ready to talk about her transformation, and wanting to speak her truth. In 2013, in a courageous speech before a crowd of prominent African American women—including her hero, Oprah Winfrey—at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood pre-Oscars luncheon (where Union received the Fierce and Fearless Award), she talked honestly about her mean-girl treatment of other women. “We live in a town that rewards pretending,” Union said. “I used to revel in gossip and rumors. I lived for the negativity inflicted upon my sister actresses, or anyone whose shine I felt diminished my own. I took joy in people’s pain, and I tap-danced on their misery.” After decrying Hollywood’s lack of roles for African American women and stressing the need to strengthen, not weaken, each other, Union left the stage to a thunderous standing ovation. Her public commitment to support other women and to become a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves relaunched her career and revitalized her life. She began speaking about the women who had influenced her—women who had provided a positive role model when she was struggling. Crediting Winfrey with saving her life, Union talks openly about having been raped at age 19, when she was closing up the shoe store where she was working. She had seen a show that Winfrey had moderated on what to do if you’re the victim of a violent crime. Channeling the talk-show host’s voice, Union verbally engaged her attacker and was able to grab his gun. He ran and was later arrested and incarcerated. To this day she continues to lobby for victims of sexual violence, to advocate for rape crisis centers across the country, and to publicly give thanks to Winfrey. Union also has high praise for Viola Davis, an actress who mentored her, teaching her that she had a voice—and how to steal a scene: “We were on this medical series together, City of Angels. She played a nurse, and I would
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Maxi illusion dress, DKNY ($495). The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-650-9670; dkny.com. 18k yellow-gold oval drop earrings, Jennifer Meyer ($2,275). Barneys New York, Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-6294200; jennifermeyer.com. Hammered gold stepped pyramid cuff ($45,000) and ribbed gold cuff ($39,000), David Webb. davidwebb.com
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Maxi illusion dress, DKNY ($495). The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-650-9670; dkny.com. 18k yellow-gold oval drop earrings, Jennifer Meyer ($2,275). Barneys New York, Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-629-4200; jennifer meyer.com. Diamond and black enamel ring ($19,500) and ribbed gold cuff ($39,000), David Webb. davidwebb.com. Black satin and suede sandals, Nicholas Kirkwood ($810). Wynn Las Vegas, 702-770-3543; nicholaskirkwood.com
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Jet tech dress with crisscross neckline, Yigal AzrouĂŤl ($1,050). Saks Fifth Avenue, Fashion Show, 702-733-8300; saks.com. Emma triple ring ($275), ultra mini crystal eclipse ring ($150), and double crossed silver-plated brass Titan cuff ($465), Vita Fede. vitafede.com. Pink resin and metal cuff, Gucci ($1,250). The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702369-7333; gucci.com
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Ivory wool sleeveless zip dress, Donna Karan New York ($1,995). The Shops at Crystals, 702-2072420; donnakaran.com. Diamond necklace, David Webb ($24,500). davidwebb.com. Yellow-gold asymmetric ring with rutilated quartz and diamonds, Yael Sonia ($2,150). By appointment, 212-4726488. Brass cuff, Anndra Neen ($425). anndraneen.com. Trikini sandals, Casadei ($890). Neiman Marcus, Fashion Show, 702-7313636; neimanmarcus.com Styling by Jill Lincoln and Jordan Johnson for Rachel Zoe Studio Makeup by Renny Vasquez Hair by Larry Sims for Exclusive Artists using Got2b Manicure by Anna Stimson for Exclusive Artists
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La La Anthony, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Taraji P. Henson, and Gabrielle Union in a scene from the Vegas-set Think Like a Man Too, opening June 20.
watch her file papers. And she was mesmerizing. Her filing papers was pulling focus from Blair Underwood doing surgery. She is incredible.” Union’s transition to activism was fully realized when her best friend from high school, Kristin Martinez (aka Sookie), died at 32 from metastatic breast cancer. “At the end, Sook turned to me and whispered, ‘Don’t let my death be in vain. I’m passing the baton. Don’t drop it, bitch.’” Union promised her BFF that she wouldn’t and, true to her word, she became a Circle of Promise national ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, speaking up all over the world for women living with breast cancer. Mention her mother, Theresa, and Union’s voice gets soft, her eyes teary. “For years I didn’t get her,” she says. “But it was my mom who got up the courage to walk away after 30 years of an unhappy marriage. She handled her divorce with dignity, and she never asked my father for a dime. As her daughter, I asked, ‘Why? You’re gonna start over?’ And she said, ‘I went from my father’s house to your father’s house. I want to get my own house.’ I learned a valuable lesson: Take the high road and move on.” And that is exactly what Union has done. Not only has Dwyane Wade put a ring on it, but he took months to design the 8.5 carat diamond that dominates his fiancée’s dainty hand. After a series of ups and downs in their relationship, Wade and his two sons, along with the nephew he’s raising, surprised Union with a proposal—from the four of them. “We were at the construction site in Miami where we’re building our dream home—aka the money pit,” she says. “I was wearing my Prada combat boots, no makeup, and D had a videographer recording the whole thing. I went from no kids to D getting full custody, and the next day we had a full house. So it was instant. Our lives never skipped a beat. When you’re someone who goes from never having thought about birthing her own babies to a ready-made family that has immediate needs and wants and desires, your life takes a back burner. If I were lucky enough to have one come out of my body, then great, I’d be totally open to that. But D’s kids are more than just part of the wedding. They are part of my life. They’re a package deal.” Although you can’t tell by looking at Union’s toned body and lineless face, she is nine years older than her betrothed. What’s the biggest
challenge in marrying a younger man? Without hesitation, she answers, “Music. It’s tragic. I was in my Jersey Boys fixation, listening to Frankie Valli. And he says, ‘Who’s this?’ I love Shania Twain. ‘Who’s that?’ We’re planning the music for the wedding and who we want to perform. I’m like, ‘Patti LaBelle.’ He’s like, ‘Ariana Grande.’ Our compromise is Beyoncé. Just a lot of Beyoncé and Jay Z. They’re the middle ground in our household,” she says with a sigh. With her sure-to-be top-grossing movie coming out, a popular series on TV, and a wedding on the horizon, life seems nearly perfect for the very direct, very poised Ms. Union. “Still, I make mistakes,” she admits. “And my life is in process. But I know certain things. I feel a responsibility to the people I work with. So I don’t do late. I don’t do bad attitude. I don’t do ‘Those eggs aren’t right.’ You don’t fall out. Come prepared. You be a decent human being. And it’s like Will Smith told me: ‘Family first.’ Nothing comes before family.” After everything Union has been through, does she believe in “happily ever after”? “When I first came out from under the bed, my coach had me write down 10 things that made me happy. All I came up with was ground meat, imitation crab, and a cold beer. And A.J. said to me, ‘Gabby, if you don’t know what makes you happy, how can someone else know?’ So now I finally know: a warm environment with my dude. Our family. Our friends. Our dogs. I still like a cold beer. I love my girlfriends. They all came to Vegas last year for Memorial Day weekend. I think we got through one day being reasonably respectful. It was like The Hangover, Part 6. We had a ball. ‘Is that a chicken? Who brought the chicken?’ We’ve all lived so much, you get to a place where you can let someone else be the appropriate one. I want to drink Champagne out of the bottle. Everybody should dance on the table once in a while. Life is too short.” Union flashes that million-dollar smile, even more sparkly than her megawatt ring, and slaps both hands on the table. “I’m finally good,” she says, practically levitating from her chair. “Regardless of whatever happens, whatever comes and goes. I’m good.” V
“YOU GET TO A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LET SOMEONE ELSE BE THE APPROPRIATE ONE. EVERYBODY SHOULD DANCE ON THE TABLE ONCE IN A WHILE. LIFE IS TOO SHORT.” VEGASMAGAZINE.COM 117
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AT THIS YEAR’S SALON INTERNATIONAL DE LA HAUTE HORLOGERIE IN GENEVA, IT WAS APPARENT THAT BOTH THE VEGAS STRIP AND THE REST OF THE WORLD ARE DESTINED TO RECEIVE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WATCHES FOR WOMEN YET. BY ROBERTA NAAS
‘‘ The Richard Mille RM 07-01 Ceramic ($105,000) houses the specially designed caliber CRMA2, a skeletonized automatic high-performance movement. The watch is crafted in gold and scratch-resistant, high-tech ATZ ceramic. The Shops at Crystals, 702-588-7272; richardmille.com
ver the past several years, women have been getting notoriously sophisticated about watchmaking culture,” says Richard Mille, founder of the luxury brand that bears his name. “From this point on, there is no question that women have knowledge about even the most technical aspects.” Mille, whose second US boutique opened to great fanfare last fall at The Shops at Crystals, has dubbed 2014 the Year of the Woman. While he has been creating women’s timepieces for almost a decade, this year he concentrated on producing larger sizes using high-tech materials—an approach that resonates with his female clientele. In keeping with his penchant for technically sophisticated and unusual haute horology, Mille has unveiled, among other models, the RM 19-01 Tourbillon Natalie Portman, featuring a spider motif in diamonds, and the avant-garde RM 07-01, housing a skeletonized automatic movement with titanium bridges made specifically for this watch. It’s also crafted in the advanced ATZ ceramic, a tenacious composite of alumina and zirconia. Adds Mille, “All of our ladies’ watches have a distinctly glamorous side in addition to being extremely technical.” Of course, Mille isn’t the only brand focusing on the fairer sex. An appreciation for female watch enthusiasts and their depth of expertise was pervasive at January’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva. But what’s interesting is that many companies seemed caught off guard by how much today’s women know about watches, while others have clearly caught the wave of enthusiasm for their craft among their female
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OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY YOUENN BOSHER; THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINCENT WULVERYCK/CARTIER
Cartier’s Les Indomptables de Cartier brooch watch (price on request) features a green enamel dial with a crocodile scale motif and enamel leaves. The crocodile, which can be removed from the timepiece and worn as a brooch, is made of 18k gold and brilliant-cut diamonds and peers from emerald eyes. It is part of a limited edition of 50 numbered pieces. Encore Las Vegas, 702770-3498; cartier.us
clients, and they’re responding with a new realm of women’s watches that includes automatic and mechanical pieces with small complications, such as chronographs, skeletons, calendars, moon-phase indicators, and more. Unlike watchmaking for men, in which a design concept starts in the luxury field and trickles down to the fashion arena, the women’s watch boom has its origins in the fashion world, where brands such as Michael Kors and Michele have taken the women’s market by storm. Sales of women’s fashion watches in the $300 to $500 price range were up 11 percent in 2013, according to LGI Network, an NPD Group Company. In a “trickle up” effect, several high-end designer brands began paying attention to this market a few years ago. Chanel, Dior, and Van Cleef & Arpels created inventive, complicated watches, such as Chanel’s J12 Tourbillon, with a tourbillon movement crafted exclusively for the brand by the renowned manufacturer APRP. Similarly, Dior unveiled the Inverse Caliber—a movement that lets the rotor be seen on the dial side while allowing for stunning decorative elements—and housed it in the brand’s muchcoveted Dior VIII collection. And Van Cleef & Arpels, long a designer of women’s watches, launched its Poetic Complications line of whimsical retrograde and repeater watches for women, quickly stealing their hearts. Noticing these brands’ success with high-end complex watches geared toward women, haute horology companies have begun taking action. “We
owe it to women to be as true to them as we are to men with our high-end watchmaking,” says Xavier Nolot, CEO of Audemars Piguet NA, which currently produces strong pieces for women in its Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections. Next year the brand promises to unveil a line created expressly for women. “It used to be easy to take a shortcut for women and just offer beautiful timepieces, but that is not enough anymore,” he says. “Women are in places of power, executives, successful in all they do, and they demand a watch that makes a powerful statement on their wrist.” The artistic director of Vacheron Constantin, Christian Selmoni, concurs. “The challenge we face as an industry is giving women the perfect blend of beauty and technology,” he says. “It is not good enough to put a mechanical movement inside a watch; we need to push to develop new looks for this new frontier.” His brand has done precisely that. Of the 16 watch companies exhibiting at SIHH last year, Vacheron Constantin was the only one to unveil women’s watches exclusively, including artistic masterpieces with enamel dials and mechanical movements. This year the brand continues that feminine focus with the Métiers d’Art Fabuleux Ornements collection, celebrating the decorative arts. Exemplars of fine watchmaking, these timepieces feature open-worked calibers, as well as cases and dials showcasing the arts of guilloche, enamel, engraving, gem setting, and more. Each piece in this series houses the brand’s ultraslim
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Christophe Claret’s Margot mechanical watch ($315,000) functions via an ingenious mechanism that plays the game “He loves me, he loves me not.” Each time the wearer presses the pusher, a single petal or a pair of petals randomly falls off the flower, disappearing beneath the dial. (There is also a nondiamond version for $199,500.) Wynn & Company Watches, 702-770-3520; christopheclaret.com. F.P. Journe’s new quartz-powered Elegante ($11,400) stops displaying the time after lying flat for 30 minutes, but is awakened with motion and automatically readjusts the clock. Bellusso, Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-650-2988; fpjourne.com. With a white mother-of-pearl dial under an open-worked 18k gold plate that is set with half pearls, Piaget’s Limelight Blooming Rose watch ($46,900) features four diamond-adorned rose petals, which bloom into eight petals with a touch of the case. Available this fall. Encore Las Vegas, 702-770-5470; piaget.com. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Perpetual Calendar watch ($49,800) is powered by the mechanical Calibre 868 automatic movement, which takes into account the months’ unequal lengths and requires no adjustment until March 1, 2100. Encore Las Vegas, 702-770-5472; jaeger-lecoultre.com
FROM LEFT:
(1.64mm) Calibre 1003, consisting of a lacework of meticulously engraved wheel trains visible in the center of the watch dial and through the caseback. The series includes pieces bearing Indian, Ottoman, French, and Chinese-inspired motifs. At the same time that Vacheron Constantin began unveiling women’s wonders, so did Jaeger-LeCoultre. About two years ago, the brand released Rendez-Vous, its special collection for women, which was focused on the Night & Day model, with an updated moon-phase indicator and a mechanical movement. After meeting with positive response, the company expanded the collection to include a celestial model, a tourbillon, and more. This year it introduces a perpetual calendar version and the RendezVous Date, with the 27.5mm Calibre 966, one of the smallest mechanical movements on the market. “While we have a long history of making watches for women, this was different,” says Philippe Bonay, president of Jaeger-LeCoultre North America. “We had to create all-new cases just for women, as opposed to shrinking something down from the men’s collections. Especially in the high-end segment of watches, there is an entire culture of women who know exactly what they want, who see the watch as a horological piece. While they still want beauty and precious materials, they [also] want a movement that makes a statement and elicits a response to their knowledge.”
COMBINING ART AND STYLE The rush to create watches for women isn’t only about new launches. Brands that have long designed for this market, such as Cartier, Baume & Mercier, Piaget, and Roger Dubuis, are recognizing the need to step up their game. As Bonay said, it isn’t just about adding a mechanical movement or a simple complication to a woman’s watch; it’s also about offering newly thought-out designs. “We are known for our very feminine style,” says Larry Boland, president of Piaget. “But women, especially in the boardroom, have a sophisticated sense of style and want a complex watch
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that makes a statement on their wrists.” This year, in its Altiplano and Limelight lines, Piaget unveiled several new mechanical watches for women that are at once elegant and technically impressive. The new Limelight Blooming Rose watch features four diamond-adorned rose petals encasing a center dial. With a simple touch, the upper case swivels and four more petals appear—surrounding the dial in full bloom. This year Cartier is focusing on versatility, which plays a key role in its Métiers d’Art collection. First released in 2013, the series features artistic dials and overlaid sculptures, each of which can be removed from the case and worn as a brooch. This season’s models include a watch with a removable gold and diamond crocodile on top of a striking green enamel dial; another, with a removable f lamingo, emulates a piece made for the Duchess of Windsor in 1940 by Cartier’s famed designer Jeanne Toussaint. In addition, the brand worked with actual rose petals in the design of its marquetry parrot timepiece. All of these diverse watches house mechanical movements and offer unparalleled artistry that proved to be a high point of SIHH.
INDEPENDENCE BREEDS INGENUITY Independent watchmakers are also answering the call to action from women, with some very unusual responses. Christophe Claret, famed for his ultramechanical chiming watches that allow the wearer to play poker, roulette, and other games, this year unveils his first complicated women’s timepiece. Called Margot, the limited-edition mechanical watch has a daisy dial inspired by the love-struck romantic’s game of plucking petals from a flower one by one while saying, “He loves me, he loves me not,” as well as an ingenious mechanism for predicting the answer: With the press of a pusher at 2, the watch comes to life, with a single petal or a pair of petals randomly falling off the flower, disappearing beneath the natural mother-of-pearl dial until the answer appears in French calligraphy at 4. Adding to the charm is the melodic chime that resonates in typical Claret style with each press.
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are not afraid ‘‘Women to buy expensive
watches for themselves anymore.
’’
—RUDY CHAVEZ
In a different vein, F.P. Journe—easily one of the most traditional watchmakers of our time, focusing on handmade mechanical movements and heritage-inspired complexities—unveils its first women’s watch line this year. Making the milestone even more intriguing, the series includes Journe’s first quartz-powered watch. “We can’t close our eyes to the fact that quartz exists and that some women like the ease of a quartz watch,” explains Pierre Halimi Lacharlotte, general manager of F.P. Journe in America. “But Journe would not have been able to build a quartz watch unless it had complications and unusual abilities. It had to be something different, something beautiful and dedicated just for women.” Called Elegante, the line also offers a unique feature: When the watch lies flat for more than 30 minutes, it stops displaying the time, but when you pick it up again, the motion wakes it and it automatically moves to the proper time in the quickest way possible, forward or backward. Eight years of research and development went into the piece, and thanks to Journe’s tireless commitment to precision, it houses two movements—one for seconds and one for hours and minutes—which also maximizes battery life. Yet this electromechanical marvel is still thin and, as its name suggests, elegant. Says Lacharlotte, “There is a sort of whimsical, dreamy appeal to a watch that goes to sleep but can wake up on touch.” Several other important watch brands have already begun research and development on the all-new collections for women they’re promising for next year. Baume & Mercier, which currently offers a strong core line for women in its Linea collection of watches with interchangeable straps, plans to unveil an entirely new collection this fall. As part of that line’s ongoing research and development, the brand held focus groups internationally with women to determine their needs. “Women are not afraid to buy expensive watches for themselves anymore,” says Rudy Chavez, president of Baume & Mercier, North America. “They want watches that reflect the fact that they are independent thinkers, professionals who appreciate good looks and the power behind those looks. They want to celebrate their success, and a watch is something they can look at and recall the reason they bought it.” V
Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art Fabuleux Ornements 9906 Ottoman Architecture watch ($147,600) houses the ultraslim (1.64mm thin) manual Calibre 1003 skeletonized movement. Available in late fall by appointment. Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-650-2617; vacheron-constantin.com
For more watch features and expanded coverage, go to vegasmagazine.com/watches.
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TK; ILLUSTRATION BY TK PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ALAMO
A peek through the glass: This is the best view that most people get of Venetian’s exclusive Paiza Club.
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exclusive vegas FROM PRIVATE VAULTS TO SECRET RESTAURANTS, THE REAL HIGH-STAKES ACTION IN LAS VEGAS TAKES PLACE FAR FROM PUBLIC VIEW. BY MICHAEL KAPLAN
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as Vegas is a city of secrets. Although this town plasters its main thoroughfare with brand names, neon logos, and paths to seemingly easy scores, it also harbors exclusive pockets of discretion that most people will never see. They exist in the gilded back rooms, hidden hotels within hotels, and carefully secured safes—literal and figurative—where precious things reside. The allure of access to those precious things is irresistible. According to Sara Wedeman, founder of the Behavioral Economics Consulting Group, anything that’s scarce or secret or difficult to obtain is imbued with value. For a visitor to Las Vegas, where indulging in rare luxury is often the very reason for coming here, the allure is magnified. “When you can go to a certain place or stay in a certain room, you yourself become special,” says Wedeman. “If somebody treats you like a person who is important”—by approving your iris scan or your bankroll or maybe just recognizing your name—“you must be important. They prove it with their behavior, which is more powerful than words.” It’s the kind of importance that casinos confer when they offer a safety deposit box, with a level of 24/7 security that sultans can only dream about, to superstar gamblers for stashing their cash. Among high rollers, who simply call them “boxes,” they are coveted commodities. Professional
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poker player Phil Laak is one of the lucky holders of a box near the main cage at Bellagio. “I got mine 15 years ago, when the casino was still giving them out, but I remain wait-listed for one in the poker room,” says Laak, who contends that the casino’s 24-hour surveillance and round-the-clock operation make it more secure than any bank vault. “When Aria opened, I went to the poker room on the first day and got myself a box. It holds one and a half racks of chips and is liquid gold.”
DURING A BUSY NIGHT AT THE NIGHTCLUB XS , inside Encore, information is worth more money than Bellagio’s largest box can hold. To keep his spenders happy, Jesse Waits, managing partner at XS and Tryst, continually puzzles together pieces that will merge to produce memorable nights. Among the 170 tables at XS, six stand out as elite spots: the four onstage not reserved for the DJ and his entourage and the two at the base of the staircase, overlooking the dance floor. Of course, everyone wants them. Although tables are assigned early, by midnight the system can easily fray: Customers come and go, some fail to show up, occasionally the wrong person is placed at the right table, or maybe Steve Wynn himself materializes and wants his regular spot. To prevent a complete meltdown and safeguard the hundreds of thousands of dollars in bottle service potentially hanging in the balance, Waits’s software keeps things organized and allows for real-time shuffling. “When we figure who’s most important for a [prime] table, it’s not always about the money,” he says. “Maybe it’s somebody who doesn’t spend $100,000 in a night but has been coming here every week for five years. When somebody super-important comes in, we start moving people around.” That way a VIP doesn’t accidentally end up in Siberia. The front podium invariably becomes what Waits describes as “a snake pit,” with customers jockeying for impressive perches and hosts working diligently to get their clients what they want. In his column in the Las Vegas Sun, Robin Leach gave a widely disputed account of what can happen when things go wrong. Quoting a “highly reliable insider,” he revealed that a certain Middle Eastern billionaire was turned down for a table at a hot Vegas nightclub. The “disrespected” billionaire vowed to “open his own place to teach them a lesson.” Could a messed-up table reservation really have launched Hakkasan? Waits says he has no idea: “It’s possible.... You never know.” It’s no secret why people strive to get one of the few prime spots in a club filled with pretty good tables and excellent service. “You gain limited access to something and it connotes your insider status within an already elite group,” says Wedeman. As for why it feels so good to be up on the stage at XS, among 100 people partying within 10 feet of a fist-pumping DJ, she says, “Gaining limited access is a marker for your identity.”
cleaner grilling a dozen langoustines that you’re going to sell for $45 a piece.” All of this cosseting treatment is lost on the langoustines, but Bartolotta’s diners are acutely aware that their dinner is truly something special. And if the price sounds steep for several bites of sublimely sweet seafood, rarity and mystique are part of the allure. “When you know the story behind an ingredient, that increases value,” says Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University and the author of Predictably Irrational. The idea of feasting on superior-tasting sea creatures flown to Las Vegas from exotic coasts is irresistible to alpha diners. As Ariely explains, “The fact that something is rare gets people thinking that the things might not be there again and it signifies desirability.”
have pride of place at Wynn’s Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare. Chef Paul Bartolotta is known for delectable spiny lobster, tasty brown crab, and peerless langoustines, mostly flown in from the Mediterranean and kept fresh until they’re served up for delighted diners. The crustaceans are shipped live, then coddled in holding tanks to reacclimate them. Then they’re transferred to larger tanks prepared by a marine biologist with precisely the correct oxygen, salinity, and temperature levels—all in an effort to make the chef’s grade-A sea assets feel as if they never left home. Bartolotta pampers his crustaceans as if they were guests in a Wynn Tower Suite. “They’re jet-lagged, man, and highly sensitive,” he says. “They’ve traveled all the way from Europe. I need to feed them what they’re used to in their environments.” He also needs to keep them safe and secure: “I lock my tanks, with real locks, at the end of the night. You don’t want a night
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PAMPERING OF A DIFFERENT SORT TAKES PLACE across the street from Wynn inside the Paiza Club, at Venetian and the attached Palazzo. A member-by-invitation-only operation, the club is an alluring complex of private gambling rooms as well as 24/7 fine dining, cocktailing, and cigar smoking for the casino’s best customers—usually from Asia. The zebrawood-paneled lair is set up so that players from the Far East can check in and feel right at home, literally. A Hong Kong–worthy four-star dinner can be whipped up at 4 AM—which is 7 PM, or dinner hour, in Hong Kong. Once they’re stashed in the Paiza, Sheldon Adelson’s favorite customers become the casino’s most precious possessions and are happily treated as such. One of the most compelling features of the Paiza is that high-stakes gamblers can play baccarat or blackjack for ungodly sums behind closed
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE (VAN CLEEF); BARBARA KRAFT (XS); COURTESY OF THE VENETIAN (RECEPTION)
NOT THAT THIS MATTERS TO THE SEA CREATURES that
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doors, a rarity in Vegas. “We had a customer here playing for 24 hours,” says Ken Wong, who helped create the Paiza and now oversees it. “Many of our Asian guests come and play for $200,000 or $300,000 per hand. That is their main reason for visiting Las Vegas, and they want privacy. We can serve a full meal at the gaming table, or they can come into the dining room and the chef will prepare a tasting menu based on what they like. Usually, though, it’s the simple things. They love having traditional noodle and congee dishes, made exactly as they would be at home.” Other times it’s a special variation on steamed eggs, a staple in China that’s rarely made in America, accompanied by 12 channels of Chinese TV. “We concentrate on everyday food that is difficult to get here,” says Wong. “We want them to feel like they’re at home.”
who would prefer more privacy are invited inside to sip Champagne, admire the fabric-wrapped walls and velvet drapes, and gaze upon mindblowing jewels. Like the $84,000 Midnight in Paris watch, whose face subtly changes each day so that its constellation always matches the real one in the night sky over Paris, or the Féerie watch (price upon request), whose fairy is fashioned from white gold and diamonds, her wings fluttering to signify the minutes, her magic wand indicating the hour. If the surroundings and the merchandise—handled by a black-gloved salesperson—don’t make you feel special, then this advisory from store manager Ruth Fung may do the trick: “We want you to try something on that you won’t see elsewhere. They’re pieces that, perhaps, if you pass them up today, you will never see them again.”
FROM LEFT:
XS Nightclub’s managing partner, Jesse Waits, has an intricate software system for determining who scores the best tables in the house; the private Van Cleef & Arpels showroom at the Shops at Crystals offers an intimate view of its high-end jewelry; the Paiza Club’s gatekeepers limit access to only the Venetian’s very best customers.
In Las Vegas, where indulging in rare luxury is often the very reason for coming here, the allure is magnified. NO MATTER WHERE THEY STAY, IT’S A GOOD BET that Vegas’s most pampered guests will end up visiting the Shops at Crystals, where those looking for rare gems may find themselves in the luxuriously appointed back room of Van Cleef & Arpels, a sanctum sanctorum of consumerism. Millions of dollars’ worth of cashew-size diamonds and impossibly green emeralds reside back here, never making it to the front counter. The lighting has been designed to be warm and inviting; patrons are made to feel as if they’re in someone’s home. Free-spending customers
Conforming perfectly with Ariely’s research, the statement is delivered as a slightly starchy yet still friendly warning about the pleasurable problems you may encounter upon falling through the rabbit hole of secret places in Las Vegas and brushing up against the city’s most precious commodities. Even if you’re not buying rare stones while sipping Champagne, or stashing a cool million at the Bellagio, or eating Peking duck at 4 AM, just knowing that you could conceivably do these things is a bit of a trip. Aren’t you feeling a little more special already? V
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THE
XX FACTOR SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL POSITIONS IN VEGAS ARE HELD BY WOMEN. SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY SIT DOWN TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY’S ISSUES? BY ANDREA BENNETT PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE
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ome people may be surprised to learn that in the famously testosteronefueled city of Las Vegas, many of the most important decision-makers today are women. But while our most celebrated (and notorious) pioneers were men, women have been playing a vital role in the city since its founding. The Pair-O-Dice Club—predecessor to the casinos of the Vegas Strip—was owned by former Los Angeles police commander Guy McAfee, but the first person to be issued a gaming license was a woman: Mayme Stocker, in 1931. Fast-forward more than 80 years: According to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Nevada ranks a respectable sixth among the states in female leadership, with half of its elected executive offices held by women. Of the 52 judges of the 8th Judicial District Court of Clark County (the largest general-jurisdiction court in Nevada), 26 are women, including our chief justice. Testosterone-fueled? Perhaps not so much. At Vintner Grill, a favorite among the city’s power brokers, we sat down with six of Las Vegas’s most influential women to get a deeper look at not only women’s roles here, but also the issues they’re intimately involved with—which happen to be the biggest issues facing the city. At our power table: Mayor Carolyn Goodman; City Manager Betsy Fretwell; Susie Lee of Communities in Schools Nevada; Jenna Morton of the Morton Group; social activist Punam Mathur; and Camille Ruvo of Keep Memory Alive.
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MAYOR CAROLYN GOODMAN As Las Vegas mayor since 2011, Carolyn Goodman championed passage of the Nevada Film Tax Credit and has spearheaded efforts to formalize policies for the new food-truck industry and to curb underage drinking. She founded The Meadows School in 1984, Nevada’s first nonprofit college preparatory school for pre-K through 12th grade.
PUNAM MATHUR CAMILLE RUVO
Formerly vice president of employee and community engagement at NV Energy and senior vice president of corporate diversity and community affairs for MGM Mirage, Punam Mathur serves on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Education Reform and the Superintendent’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Empowerment.
Camille Ruvo is a cofounder of Keep Memory Alive and serves as vicechairman of the executive board, leading development, event planning, and fundraising efforts. She has been involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors for the Andre Agassi Capital Campaign Board, The Meadows School, and Catholic Charities.
JENNA MORTON Professionally, Jenna Morton co-owns the Morton Group with her husband, Michael, operating La Cave in Wynn, Crush in MGM, and La Comida downtown. Passionate about sustainability, she is vice chair of the board of the Springs Preserve and is heading the effort to prevent nuclear waste from being dumped in Nevada.
BETSY FRETWELL SUSIE LEE Susie Lee has been actively involved with numerous Las Vegas nonprofits over the years. Currently she is the board president of Communities in Schools of Nevada, the nation’s leading dropout prevention program. She is also a past president of Nevada Women’s Philanthropy and serves on its grant outreach committee.
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City Manager Betsy Fretwell led Las Vegas through the great recession to a significant fiscal turnaround by 2012. She also serves as executive director of the Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency, which oversees the redevelopment and financial revitalization of Downtown.
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THE RISE OF THE VEGAS FEMALE POWERHOUSE Now more than ever, many of the power positions in Las Vegas are held by women. Is there something in the political or cultural climate that has shifted to make this possible? Jenna Morton: I do have an answer to that, but I don’t know if it’s the expected answer. It isn’t necessarily that it’s women leading; it’s the people who are best at that moment to do what needs to be done. Betsy Fretwell: I agree with that. I feel very fortunate because I have a lot of men on the [City] Council who voted me in as the city manager. Virginia Valentine had been a city manager before and had filled that role, which a woman had never filled before. It’s about performing and being the right fit for these leadership positions. Carolyn Goodman: It’s certain that the times have changed and it’s a very different era that we’re living in, and the young girls today, whatever age they are, feel empowered. Susie Lee: I think also in this community, we’re dealing with issues that are traditional mama bear issues. You’re looking at a system of education that is underfunded, and we’re almost last in the country in graduation rate. We have a mental health system that’s in crisis. These are community issues that I really feel women take to heart and feel that they have to try to solve.
‘‘
IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE’RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF MAMA BEAR ISSUES... COMMUNITY ISSUES THAT WOMEN TAKE TO HEART AND FEEL THEY HAVE TO TRY TO SOLVE.” —SUSIE LEE
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FEMALE MENTORS IN LAS VEGAS Las Vegas has been considered a maledominated city, but some of the most interesting and groundbreaking figures in our city’s history have been women. Who have been your influencers? Punam Mathur: I look at Jan Jones Blackhurst [Las Vegas’s first female mayor and currently executive vice president of communications and government affairs for Caesars], and when she ran for mayor, it was an example of one very capable person rising to that top spot. But in that one action, she doubled the possibilities of who could be mayor. Once that happens, then it’s a meritocracy. In the gaming industry, for many years only men could be attorneys, and it took the first couple of women attorneys to completely redefine the possibilities for women. Fretwell: Thalia Dondero was a great example of that. When I was a young analyst at Clark County, I listened to her talk about being the first female county commissioner [in 1974] and having all those guys look at her and say, “Start taking the notes.” And she’s like, “I’m the same as you. Are you kidding me?”
Camille Ruvo: There’s Patty Becker [chairwoman of Bally Technologies’ compliance committee and president of the gaming consulting firm Patricia Becker & Associates]. She has always been humble about her position within the gaming industry, and I like to think that most of the women in this city are very humble human beings. Morton: Obviously, Elaine Wynn is a mentor to several of us. With incredible success, she is very humble, and her focus has always been that it’s about success for the entire community. She’s worked meticulously her entire life to make the changes that need to be made for this community. Mathur: My Elaine Wynn story was personally a life changer. In interviewing for a position with her, I said to her, “If what you want is what you’ve witnessed for the last six years, I want to be clear: The reason I left the Chamber [of Commerce] was to be a mom, because I wanted a life that had more in it than just that.” She said to me, “You just became more desirable.” I tell that story because in one phrase she gave me complete permission to never subordinate my children ever, and that’s huge.
MAKING IT IN LAS VEGAS None of the women in this room need to wonder if they can break through the glass
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ceiling. Is this an outdated conversation? Goodman: Except for salaries. That’s still an issue today across the board, even if you own your own business. If you go into a maledominated profession, you still are dealing more specifically with the salary differential. Lee: One thing [about this community] is its accessibility. It’s not a blue-blood community, where it matters what your family’s last name is. I moved here 20 years ago from Boston, grew up in Ohio, and I feel like I could walk into any room and have a voice in any conversation on any level. That is a great aspect of the power sharing in Las Vegas: You don’t have to buy your way in; you can just show up. Morton: Since I’ve come here—and it’s been about 10 years—I’ve felt the same way that Susie does. Las Vegas in many ways is the greatest city on earth, but it’s still a ball of potential, so we’re aspirational. You come with a job to do, and you’re embraced because there’s always more to get done. After-School All-Stars has a program called CEO, where children can visit CEOs’ offices. This year the program is entirely populated by young women. And the girls see themselves as CEOs. They come in prepared and they ask the most intuitive questions. The funny thing is, last fall all the CEOs they were meeting
with were men, so we sat down and said, “Wait a minute. Let’s give them role models they can identify with.” They just had a meeting with Alexandra Epstein [executive vice president and partner at El Cortez Hotel & Casino].
DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY AND EDUCATION We are the home to some big businesses— Zappos and Switch, for example—and we’re looking for tax incentives for the film industry. Are we doing enough? Goodman: We have the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which has been trying to get direct flights to Las Vegas from other countries for a long time, at least 20 years. With the medical industry, we are trying to identify better healthcare. Not only are we talking about the film industry and IT, but we now have a burgeoning fashion industry. Plus, we’re bringing back the farming we used to have, and even hydroponics. Our nonprofits are getting stronger and stronger. Fretwell: We’ve got all of these cool things going on downtown, where you have these coworking spaces, and one person has a new idea for a business and they’re sitting next to somebody who’s working in the fashion industry, and all of a sudden this cross-
pollination happens and something new gets designed out of it, and then the 3-D printer gets involved and it’s powered by Switch. Ruvo: Even in the healthcare industry, they want to come here. I can speak for Cleveland Clinic in that they have an interest in a much larger presence. Goodman: One thing to add is the crossgenerational development of new business. The Symphony Park area appeals to all the generations, so that’s what makes it a fabulous time to come up with these new ideas that our entire state does look to. I mean, there’s no state income tax, there’s no corporate tax, there’s no estate tax. How phenomenal! Not too many states can say that. Lee: I hate to be the Debbie Downer here, but I’m going to be. One out of 10 freshmen in high school will graduate with a postsecondary degree in 10 years, so until we as a state become serious about education, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot with regard to economic diversification. We may attract with a quality tax system, but our ability to retain businesses and OPPOSITE PAGE: Punam Mathur. BELOW: Host venue Vintner Grill, sequestered as it is in an office park in Summerlin, is a favorite dining spot of Vegas’s power brokers, with more than 400 wine selections, including bottles from some of the city’s top wine-making sommeliers. vglasvegas.com
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Jenna Morton and Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Camille Ruvo, and Susie Lee.
attract high-paying jobs will only improve when we get serious about investing in education. Ruvo: I don’t want to put all the pressure on the city of Las Vegas, but Las Vegas Boulevard is our main industry. What could we do as a community to encourage a format change? Because I can tell you that we’re having a difficult time bringing great doctors into this city, because they are so well-educated and want the same thing for their families. I think there’s something bigger here that we’re missing. Fretwell: If you talk to [Clark County School District Superintendent] Pat Skorkowsky, the biggest problem they have is recruitment. Camille, to your point, when we talk to these business executives that we’re trying to get to come to our state, the education issue is a significant issue. What we’re trying to do is convince them that there are choices, because there are some really good schools in the public system and there are obviously some fantastic schools in the private system. But that’s not what they’re hearing. Ruvo: Susie and Carolyn, how much does it cost to educate a child properly per year? Goodman: We’re allocated down the state in different pockets. It’s about $8,500 per student, and every time a new charter school starts, they take $8,500 out of that physical public school to open the charter school. Lee: But the national average is $12,000. Nevada ranks 51st in chance for success for students, with the indicators used to come up with this assessment being the income level of your parents, the postsecondary degrees of your parents, graduation rates, etc. We can talk tax policy; it’s been dependent upon tourism and gaming for too long. Then we had this recession, then we start saying, “Well, let’s tax mining; let’s
do the margins tax.” Okay, everyone’s against the margins tax, but I’ll tell you what: It’s the only thing I’ve seen since I’ve been in this community that’s going to get money into education. Until we sit down as a state and demand that that happen, nothing’s going to happen. Fretwell: Susie, we had a Council workshop and we brought in a bunch of thought leaders, and every single one of them stood up and talked about education as a key component in their sector. Whether it was transportation, technology, whatever the topic was… Morton: Restaurants! The restaurant industry. Fretwell: All these different things. What came up is that it’s beyond a state issue. It’s almost like we all have to own it as a community. The mayor and this Council are really about building this community back from the depths of the recession and trying to do it right. We’re involved in education as a city. Is it in our charter? No. Well, it sort of is, but the point is, it’s going to take all of us with a lot of pressure and a lot of really good ideas,
with a willingness to change and to prioritize so that we make a difference where it matters. Lee: Having run nonprofit organizations, I come to this with a sense of frustration, because I am determined to change this. Nevada is fourth in the nation in the percentage of ELL [English language learner] students in our school districts, so it’s a huge issue of getting those children fluent early. When you look at our proficiency in third grade, white and non–low income students have 80 percent proficiency, but when you start to talk about African Americans, Hispanics, and low-income, those numbers drop to below 50 percent. We want to create a community with the ability to achieve the American dream—meaning your intergenerational income-earning ability—but I don’t see that happening until we as a community get together and address our tax inequality and get more resources into education. Goodman: That’s why the focus has been on the inner-city schools. We have Three Square; we have you all helping us. And the magnet schools are doing wonderful [work]. We don’t have enough magnet schools. You could line the streets probably from here to Henderson with students wait-listed for a spot. We’re doing
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wonderful things but we’re not doing enough. And I know if we can help these young people who deserve opportunities in life and skills, we’ll have a workforce that you won’t believe. Mathur: In this country we have an education system that hasn’t been touched essentially in 150 years, and it is still tailored for the era in which it was conceived. In Nevada, our success came with costs. Education wasn’t essential to our success in our service-driven economy. Goodman: Every hotel room supports five people. And it’s all blue-collar labor. Mathur: The culinary union grew like crazy. Construction grew like crazy. None of that required graduation, let alone college. There was no real demand to do better in education. Now there is, because economic diversification in the global, technological age in which we live is contingent upon healthcare, unmanned aerial vehicles, high-tech small-business innovation, utilities… pick it. We were stuck in the broken dinghy that was public education in America, and we made it worse for ourselves; our success caused us to subordinate our priorities. Fretwell: But the important thing is that we have people around us who saw the broken dinghy of public education 20 years ago, and they’re leading this community now. Mathur: For the first time in the decades that I’ve lived here, what I am hearing is a growing choir of “we.” We are getting realistic about the headwinds of poverty and embracing our diversity. I’m thinking the fact that we are a minority majority gives us a competitive edge in the global, multilingual society. Right? What I know about this town is we’re entrepreneurial and embracing at our core. So the second that we get to a critical mass in “we” and we declare that we will do better, that’s the ignition. Morton: My question is, who are we? Are we the one percent? Are we all in this together? I read yesterday that the bottom 20 percent of wage earners give more on a percentage basis than the top 20 percent of wage earners. Wrong! Wrong! Well, you know what? It’s time for us all to wake up and say that the government doesn’t have to be the answer. The economy is coming back, and now is the time for us all to invest ourselves personally. It doesn’t have to be money. It can be time, energy, and brainpower. Mathur: In my household we talk in terms of delineating between a want and a fantasy. What I have said to my three teenagers is, “You should always want things. Aim high.” Then the question becomes: “What are you willing to do?” Because
if you’re willing to do what it takes, every want can become an achievement. And in this community we want a lot. We want to be better than losing nearly a third of our kids before high school graduation. The question that hasn’t fully been explored is: What are we willing to do? Because if we say we want and we’re not willing to pay a little more, then it might be a fantasy.
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE DESERT In many ways, Las Vegas is an impossible city. Can we continue to grow in a way that is sustainable? Are we doing enough? Morton: There’s a long way to go, but children in our schools are talking about sustainability in ways that didn’t exist 30 years ago. When this conversation becomes mundane and nobody would even think to leave their tap on while they brush their teeth, then we’re there. I think there are great examples with the LEED-certified buildings in this community. There’s a great example at the Springs Preserve right now, the Desert Sol solar house. It’s entirely designed and built, down to every last piece of furniture, sustainably, by students at UNLV. They entered it in the solar house competition and took first place in the United States and second place in the world. It is a perfectly functional, normal home, stunning and beautiful, but it takes no energy. It is net zero. It’s just a matter of really deciding that that is what is going to be done. The other piece is distributed solar in this community. MGM Resorts International has done a fantastic job of both doing and messaging sustainability. But it all comes back to the collective “we.” If we collectively value the environment in which we live and our ability to breathe and our ability to even have water to bathe in and drink, we can make small changes to have a collective benefit.
MOBILIZING IN A RECOVERING ECONOMY
Mathur: Bugsy Siegel said, “I’m going to put this casino up,” and everybody said it couldn’t be done. Fast-forward and Steve Wynn said, “I’m going to build the Mirage and it’s going to be the most expensive property at $630 million.” In between, Kirk Kerkorian said, “I’m going to put 2,000 hotel rooms on one street corner,” and quickly the choirs were saying, “It can’t be done,” and that is Bally’s as we know it today, originally the MGM. We are a community who, in the face of the “can’t be done” attitude, does it—and that asset is very unique to this place. Now, part of what we discover, I hope, is clarity in our priorities and a bit more humility and a bit more recognition that we are inevitably connected one to another. In the span of 50 years on the Strip, we became an iconic, global brand. Why might it not be that 50 years from now, we’re the place on the planet that’s the beacon for wellness? It’s completely delicious and ironic, I get it, but why not? V
‘‘
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE DECADES THAT I’VE LIVED HERE, WHAT I AM HEARING IS A GROWING CHOIR OF ‘WE.’” —PUNAM MATHUR
One thing the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is doing in particular is changing the perception of Las Vegas as a cultural, scientific, and medical influencer. What is next? Ruvo: One of the things that I’ve come to learn is that preventative care is going to be key. There could be no better place to do it than Las Vegas, where there’s a lifestyle that we can offer both corporations and the private sector. We have great dining, we have the spas, we have great shows—all within a 10-mile radius.
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THE ART OF RICHARD MACDONALD FINE ART GALLERIES
GALLERIA AT SUNSET Galleria at Sunset announced a $24.1 million, 30,000-squarefoot expansion, consisting of up to six new restaurants, 12,000-square-foot outdoor plaza, including a new main entrance. Tree of the restaurants will be newcomers Bravo!, Larsen’s and Sugar Factory and are scheduled to open in Spring 2015.
From Richard MacDonald’s earliest forays into the world of the dancer, he has worked with shy young dancers through to legendary performers. Only a number of people can master such crafsmanship convening their passion, drama, and artful restraint in bronze. Located at Bellagio “O” Teatre Lobby and Te Shops at Crystals.
1300 W. Sunset Road, Henderson For more information, please call 702.434.0202 or visit galleriaatsunset.com
For more information, please call 702.730.3990. Tiago & Marianela in Rehearsal, Bronze by Richard MacDonald
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You’ve never seen a residential community like One Queensridge Place. Located just 10 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, you’ll find an exclusive community of “custom homes in the sky”, with floor plans ranging from 2,100 to over 15,000 square feet. One Queensridge Place is the perfect choice for discerning homebuyers seeking the ultimate carefree lifestyle.
9 1 0 1 A LTA D R I V E , L A S V E G A S , N V 8 9 1 4 5 Visit us at oneqrp.com or facebook.com/onequeensridgeplace Prices, plans, elevations and specifcations are subject to change without notice. Photographs and/or renderings are for illustrative purposes only. Information shown believed to be accurate but not warranted. Square footage shown is approximate. See Sales Counselor for details. © 2013 Queensridge Towers, LLC.
Haute Property NEWS, STARS, AND TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE
A home in the Scotch 80s, where many of Las Vegas’s young movers and shakers are moving.
What’s Old Is New THE SCOTCH 80S IS THE HIPPEST SPOT IN VEGAS TO LIVE THESE DAYS, BUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS NO FLASH IN THE PAN. BY ANDY WANG
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE
F
or a neighborhood that’s long attracted casino titans, world-famous entertainers, and prominent Vegas power brokers, the Scotch 80s is remarkably quaint. Howard Hughes and Steve Wynn lived here, and Jerry Lewis, Oscar Goodman, and State Senator Tick Segerblom still do. A new generation of Las Vegas players has also found homes in the area: The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers (in the former Howard Hughes residence), actor Nicolas Cage, news anchor Denise Valdez, and Electric Daisy Carnival founder Pasquale Rotella and his wife, entertainer Holly Madison. And, sources say, it’s become the neighborhood of choice for Downtown moguls and trailblazers, including Zappos boss Tony Hsieh, who purchased a home on Shadow Lane, and Life Is Beautiful festival
creator Rehan Choudhry. “It’s the young, hip Vegas,” says Michael McGraw, a neighborhood resident and real estate broker who oversees sales for The Agency Nevada (theagencyre.com). But despite all the flash and cash, the neighborhood, just west of the I-15 and minutes from Downtown, has what residents like to call a small-town feel. “This is a place where you walk your dogs and ride bikes with your kids and wave to your neighbors,” McGraw says. “We’re all friends. We have each other’s e-mails.” In 2005, McGraw moved into a Scotch 80s house previously owned by the Duckworth family, investors in Vegas casinos, including the Dunes Hotel, and he has done about 10 real estate deals in the area—which is a lot, given that many of its houses have been owned continued on page 136
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HAUTE PROPERTY
The dining room at 1801 Silver Avenue.
“The mature trees, gated estates, and quiet streets bring you back to Vegas of the ’50s and ’60s.” —KENNETH LOWMAN
we have the hospital close by, we have the Arts District, and we have a rejuvenated Downtown.” And after a busy day out, Scotch 80s residents can come home to peace and tranquility. Says Lowman, “The mature trees, gated estates, and quiet streets bring you back to Vegas of the ’50s and ’60s.” Now the goal for residents is preserving both the history and spirit of the neighborhood. “We’ve taken a strong stance against commercialization or changing of single-family homes into commercial,” Grogan says. “We had a developer who wanted to build a huge parking structure for the hospital across Charleston, which would have caused much more traffic in the neighborhood. We were able to fight and defeat that.” His group has also been closely watching nearby developments and “making sure there will be plenty of sound barriers.” “I think we’re still in an evolutionary period of the neighborhood,” Grogan adds. “It’s a neighborhood that maintains a historic look and that has more neighbors who are friends. It’s not a neighborhood where the wealthy stay in their houses and you never see them.” V
The four-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot home at 1919 Waldman Avenue sold recently for $450,000.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOUTHERN NEVADA HOME TOURS (1801 SILVER)
continued from page 135 by the same families for decades. A planned community that dates back to the 1950s, the Scotch 80s is known for ornate architecture featuring gigantic exposed beams and gracious porte cocheres. It’s also noted for the greenery on charming streets like Shadow Lane, Silver Avenue, and Bannie Avenue. It’s a place where people used to keep horses in barns and get water from wells. “We have single-story, half-acre residences,” says mystery writer Stephen Grogan, who has lived in Wynn’s former home for more than a decade. “We have grass and trees.” Enough grass, in fact, that World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Tom holds the annual Lakeshore Open Golf Tournament (essentially a chipping and putting contest for charity) in his yard. Another selling point of the Scotch 80s is its cost compared with pricey areas like Summerlin, where houses can sell for upwards of $300 per square foot. McGraw recently sold a home on Silver Avenue for $189 per square foot (and has two more listings at the same valuation), the top price in the neighborhood. He has handled several other Scotch 80s properties this year— including 2120 Silver Avenue (listed for $921,000) and 1800 Silver Avenue (listed for $841,000)—in a community where inventory has historically been low. Grogan, who runs an organization that battles commercial encroachments in the Scotch 80s, notes that many residents are committing to the neighborhood by renovating their longtime homes. Broker Kenneth Lowman of Luxury Homes of Las Vegas (luxuryhomesoflasvegas.com),
for example, says 1700 Bannie Avenue, which he’s listing for $960,000, “has been completely remodeled on the inside while keeping the period Midcentury Modern architecture that is common in the Scotch 80s.” Newcomers, drawn by the buildings’ great bones, have been renovating as well. The neighborhood attracts “people who don’t want cookie-cutter homes,” says broker Carlos Caipa of Prudential Americana Group (lasvegasowned.com). Caipa’s recent listings have included the house at 1919 Waldman Avenue, built and owned by Caesars Palace contractor R.C. Johnson. But it’s the mix of old-school living and new-school amenities nearby that really makes this a neighborhood with a bright future. Real estate is all about location, and that’s a Scotch 80s attraction that’s only becoming more attractive. “It’s close to the Strip, close to Downtown, accessible to the freeways,” Caipa says. “And now, with the culture downtown, so much is happening.” Adds Grogan, who is also chairman of the Las Vegas Arts Commission, “We’re in a position to easily get to the Smith Center,
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REAL ESTATE NEWS
Open Season L
ongtime Downtown investor Charlie Fox knows what it’s like to be a pioneer. He brought live music to the Bunkhouse Saloon in 2004, when Fremont Street was tough—or seemed to be. “It was challenging in terms of perceived crime,” he says. Less challenging for Fox, who sold the Bunkhouse to the Downtown Project in 2013, has been almost fully leasing his Downtown Spaces (dtspaces.com), a complex that opened on 1800 Industrial Road last year and briskly began signing new tenants. Rents starting at an affordable $1 per square foot have enticed newcomers to what’s technically the Gateway District, just south of the Arts District. Fox’s renovated Midcentury Modern building, dating back to 1964, has attracted more than 40 tenants, including Naked City Audio, Las Vegas Burlesque Studio, Square Shooting Photography, Brian Henry Design, the Construct Creative, Huntridge Foundation, and G.E.M. Artistry Studio. G.E.M.’s Geneva E. Marquez has found success during First Fridays as well as her gallery’s monthly Social Art Nights, MIDDLE LEFT: when locals are invitA bedroom at ed to come in to paint Mirage Villas. BOTTOM: A home and drink wine. at Durango Las Vegas: hipRanch. ster magnet. It’s also heaven for “hipster flippers”—real estate investors looking to buy a home and quickly resell it for a profit to this young demographic. According to RealtyTrac, which compiles housing data, Vegas has two of the top 20 zip codes for flipping to hipsters: 89119 (where the average gross profit is $55,665) and 89169 (with an average gross profit of $46,708). Turnkey ranches? A new gated enclave in Pardee Homes’ Durango Ranch development (pardeehomes.com), in southwest Las Vegas, is now marketing spacious move-in-ready residences. Prices start at approximately $430,000 for the single-story houses, part of a cluster of 23 homes and a neighborhood park off Pebble Road
and Quarterhorse Lane, west of Durango. One 3,853-square-foot megaresidence, a Laramie Plan C on a big cul-de-sac, has four bedrooms and three and a half baths and is priced at around $544,000. Some homes at Durango Ranch also include detached casitas and garages for up to four vehicles. Villas for all! You don’t have to bet $10,000 a hand at baccarat to stay at the super-swanky Villas at the Mirage anymore (mirage.com). Formerly reserved for high rollers, these ultraexclusive accommodations are now available to the public. With original details that date back to the era when Steve Wynn ran the show, the suites start at $1,000 per night TOP: Gavin for a 1,750-square-foot, oneMaloof’s home. bedroom Lanais. The largest MIDDLE RIGHT: G.E.M. Artistry units are gargantuan: threeStudio. bedroom, 4,554- square-foot Villas that start at $2,500 per night. Visitors—or perhaps short-term residents—get privacy and plenty of perks in the middle of the Strip. There’s a concealed entrance, and the amenities include backyard pools, putting greens, and 24hour butler service. Lollipop Lane. Like the betting line on a championship game, the asking price for Gavin Maloof’s storied Southern Highlands mansion keeps changing. Maloof, whose family is best known for creating the Palms casino-resort, now wants $10.5 million for his 27 Eagles Landing home. The custom-built house, where rapper Lil Wayne filmed his “Lollipop” video, is listed by highend brokers Bob and Jill Barnhart of Luxurious Real Estate (luxuriousestates.com). Maloof purchased the six-bedroom, eight-bath, 13,489square-foot colossus (with a 10-car garage) in 2007 for $10 million. Since June 2011, it’s seen five prices, ranging from $7.5 million to $12 million. V
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KSG PHOTOGRAPHY (MIRAGE VILLAS)
AFFORDABLE DOWNTOWN CREATIVE SPACES, HIPSTER FLIPPING, AND WHALE VILLAS NOW OPEN TO THE REST OF US—PLUS GAVIN MALOOF’S HOUSE YO-YOS DOWN. BY ANDY WANG
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3910 E. RussEll Road, las VEgas, NV 89120 | aPNs: 161-30-801-024, 032, 034, 046, 056 liVablE aREa
(squaRE
fEEt):
16,550 |
andscaped to perfection is this world-class championship equestrian estate built by Tom Ford. Situated on an unparalleled 11+/- gated acres only ten minutes from the Strip. Originally designed and constructed by Tom Ford, owner of Ford Contracting, who built the facades of famed Vegas sites such as the Luxor, Caesar’s Palace, the Venetian, and many more, the property includes countless amenities to please you and your saddlewearing friends. Its fve legal parcels host an impressive main residence, guest house, trainer home, staf home and equestrian amenities galore. With 9,000 square feet of luxurious living, the tudor style main house features four bedrooms and fve bathrooms — all wrapped up in solid brick construction and extensive mature landscaping. And when you’re ready for a splash, the grotto-style pool is your personal desert oasis.
laNd sizE
(acREs): 10.72
The compound is protected by extensive security features. A six-foot wall surrounds the estate, adorned by security cameras that feed into a closed-circuit TV system, so you can always see and regulate who’s coming and going. The property’s rolling hills and 12 manicured pastures set the stage for its lengthy list of equestrian amenities. The housing facilities include three barns — most notably, a 7,200-square-foot show and breeding barn. Complete with air conditioning and heating, this state-of-the-art structure features an ofce, laboratory and feed storage. Other features include 21 indoor/outdoor stalls, fve pens, an arena, a wash bay, a breeding facility, seven wells and a half-mile exercise lane. Perhaps the most unique attribute of the Tom Ford Ranch is its grandfathered horse usage — ensuring your ability to maintain up to 51 horses within its picturesque white fences.
Ryan Crighton Rothwell Gornt Companies (702) 712-4109 :: www.TheFordRanch.com
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Guide
BEST OF VEGAS
THIS ISSUE THE VERY BEST OF devour: home-style cooking imbibe: beer gardens acquire: vintage wear
Riding High CHAYO SERVES MEXICAN STREET FOOD WITH FLAIR IN THE LINQ.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN MANNASMITH
I
f anyplace speaks the language of parties, it’s a restaurant that serves more than 50 tequilas on two levels—surrounding a bucking mechanical bull named Chayo—in the shadow of the world’s largest observation wheel. This is a fiesta done Vegas-style, but don’t let the bull throw you. Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar isn’t just another venue for beergoggled bachelorettes. This is elevated modern Mexican cuisine. The first restaurant to open in the new $550 million retail, dining, and entertainment district The Linq, Chayo serves contemporary Mexican food as imagined by a French-trained chef. Ernesto Zendejas was born and raised in Mexico City, where he got his start in the restaurant industry, then studied formally under renowned chef Paul Bocuse at Institut Paul Bocuse, on the outskirts of Lyon. “I wanted to work for him,” says Zendejas, “so I did my internship with him” at Brasserie le Nord. “The focus there is on French food, very classic Lyonnaise cuisine with very classic technique.” His training has informed everything on Chayo’s menu, from traditional Mexican dishes, like carnitas tacos, pork sopes, and ceviche, to less
BY MICHAEL GERARD
expected fare, like mini lobster tacos and a sophisticated cilantro cream soup with toasted pine nuts. Opening in phases along with The Linq, the restaurant has seen an exponential increase in traffic in the months since its launch. Now that Chayo is settling into its new pace, there’s no better patio for imbibing specialty cocktails (try the Office, with lemongrass-infused Patrón Silver, St-Germain, lemon juice, and cucumber soda) in the lively new corridor. The bilingual room speaks both “subtle” and “over the top”: A granite bar, stacked stone walls, and loft-style exposed ductwork are design highlights, while exuberant touches include colorful papier-mâché Day of the Dead skulls and red, white, and green sombreros in the pattern of a massive Mexican flag. The huge tequila selection ensures that the staff “bulltender” stays busy, while the bull himself, accompanied by thumping music from the house DJ, keeps patrons entertained. Get thrown off? Just lick your wounds with a shot of tequila. We’d take a fall for that. The Linq, 702-691-3773; chayolv.com V
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GUIDE devour
Not hungry enough for a steak? Nosh on Echo & Rig’s tasty housemade charcuterie.
Wholesome Foods HOME-STYLE FARE MEETS FARM-TO-TABLE PHILOSOPHY AT THESE DESTINATION SPOTS.
The curious diner will need patience and persistence to find Baguette Cafe, hidden away in an office park between Durango and Buffalo, just north of the 215 Beltway. But those who do will be warmly greeted by Olivier Brouillet, who makes bona fide French baguettes and pastries fresh daily, as well as home-style soups, omelets, sandwiches, and salads. 8359 W. Sunset Road, 702-269-4781
Bronze Cafe Inside the new, multimillion-dollar Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, Bronze Cafe chef-owner Peter Bastien serves Mediterraneaninspired vegan and vegetarian dishes like the Tree of Life pita, with roasted red peppers, avocado, house-made pickled onions, a mango-cilantro-ginger vinaigrette, vegan cashew crema, and a Brazil nut crumble. And don’t miss the vegan cheesecake—you won’t believe it contains no dairy. 401 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702-2023100; restaurant-lasvegas.com
Eat Chef-proprietor Natalie Young’s popular breakfast and lunch joint has been a Downtown game changer, serving American comfort-food classics with New Mexican and French influences using sustainable, locally sourced, and organic ingredients when available. Don’t pass up the tangy, fall-apart roast beef on ciabatta,
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with blue cheese, wild mushrooms, and pickled red onions. 707 Carson St., 702-534-1515; eatdtlv.com
Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse You won’t find 44-ounce bone-in porterhouses at this reinvented steakhouse and working butcher shop. Instead get ready for hanger steaks, Colorado lamb porterhouse chops, and wood-roasted salmon, as well as less-traditional offerings such as bone marrow and sweetbreads. And try the incredible veggie sides, like roasted heirloom carrots and decadent portobello fries. Tivoli Village, 702-489-3525; echoandrig.com
Hash House a Go Go For the ravenous, Hash House a Go Go offers the massive Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken Benedict, which found fame on the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food. Or order gluttonous portions of “twisted farm food,” including stuffed burgers and Old School Fried Mush, smothered with sausage gravy, eggs, and mashed potatoes. Wash it all down with a giant BLT Bloody Mary, the ultimate Vegas morning-after cure. Multiple locations; hashhouseagogo.com
Honey Salt Restaurateur Elizabeth Blau and her husband, chef Kim Canteenwalla, view their Summerlin restaurant, Honey
Salt, as their home kitchen. The farm-to-table-inspired menu features ingredients that Blau says “balance the realities of living in the desert with the amazing products regionally available for those willing to look a little harder.” 1031 S. Rampart Blvd., 702-4456100; honeysalt.com
Rachel’s Kitchen “Wholesome food, delicious recipes” is the motto of this café, whose founder opened her first restaurant in Beverly Hills before bringing this Vegas favorite to the valley in 2006. You’ll find freshsqueezed juices and the usual healthy suspects, like gluten-free pasta and vegetable wraps—plus a one-third-pound BBQ bacon burger. If you’re health-conscious but still like to indulge, Rachel’s Kitchen has you covered. Multiple locations; rachelskitchen.com
Table 34 Table 34 chef Wes Kendrick takes pride in serving the best, freshest ingredients at his Paradise restaurant, a mile south of McCarran airport. The menu features a good mix of new American items, like artisanal pizza (made with organic, GMO-free wheat flour); fresh, Safe Harbor –certified seafood; and grilled New York steak. Duck, lamb, and quail all have a place at the Table as well. 600 E. Warm Springs Road, 702263-0034; table34lasvegas.com
GO WILD Think gluten-free pizza can’t impress? Think again. The Las Vegas outpost of Miki Agrawal’s New York–based farm-to-table pizzeria has one thing on its sister restaurants, and that’s pastry chef Tatiana Lewis, granddaughter of Jerry Lewis. After being diagnosed with celiac disease, she thought she would never be able to work in a kitchen again, but Lewis developed her own recipes for glutenfree pastries and brought them to Wild. The result is vegan, gluten-free red velvet cupcakes; kale and beet cupcakes with avocado frosting; plus Wild’s organic, vegan, gluten-free pizza dough— sure to please even those taking a health break from their regular pizza habit. The Ogden, 702-527-7717; eatdrinkwild.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY WILSON (WILD)
Baguette Cafe
At Wild, top your gluten-free organic pizza with seasonal veggies.
4/24/14 1:54 PM
Happy Anniversary, Vegas Magazine. You’re clearly on a roll.
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GUIDE imbibe Its Venice setting may be faux, but B&B’s food is authentic Batali.
Suds and Sunshine ENJOY A COLD PINT ON THE PATIO AT VEGAS’S BEST CRAFT BEER BARS AND BEER GARDENS.
B&B Burger & Beer There is no great mystery to the menu at the new B&B Burger & Beer, inside Venetian. But those burgers are made from USDA Prime Black Angus beef ground fresh daily, and California craft brews make a respectable showing on the beer list. Enjoy a hoppy West Coast IPA on the 2,000-square-foot, 100-seat outdoor patio facing the Strip. Venetian, 702-414-2220; bandbburgerandbeer.com
Bar + Bistro Located inside the Arts Factory, a former industrial warehouse transformed into a thriving arts center, Bar + Bistro offers a loosely Latin/Mediterranean/Arabic fusion menu alongside an excellent selection of craft beers from trendy national breweries, including Dogfish Head, Brooklyn Brewery, Ommegang, and Nevada’s own Great Basin Brewing. The large patio is a great place to post up during First Friday (or any other day), with live entertainment of all varieties and a fire pit to keep you warm on chilly nights. Don’t miss
the bluegrass brunch every Sunday. The Arts Factory, 702-202-6060; barbistroaf.com
Bier Garten Beercraft & Foodery Bier Garten calls itself Downtown’s “backyard,” and its beer garden features a living wall, actual grass underfoot, authentic beer-hall tables from a Munich Oktoberfest in the 1980s, and, coming soon, entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. Inside there are 24 craft beers on tap and a kitchen that cranks out artisanal sausages with fancy toppings (Cheez Whiz!) and giant Bavarian pretzels. The Plaza; biergartenlv.com
Flour & Barley From the fine folks behind the Strip hot spots Holsteins and Public House comes Flour & Barley, inside The Linq, serving pastas, panini, and wood-fired pizzas, plus a selection of 50 craft beers, barrel-aged cocktails, and wine on draft. Enjoy it all on the 1,200-square-foot patio. The Linq, 702-430-4430; flourandbarley.com
PROST!
Hofbräuhaus celebrates a decade of year-round Oktoberfest. Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas, a replica of the original 400-year-old brewery and beer hall in Munich, opened in 2004. The raucous beer hall has live music daily, complete with sing-(slur?)-alongs and all the “zigge-zagge, zigge-zagge, hoi hoi hoi” chants you could ever hope to hear. The menu’s recipes come straight from
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Gold Spike The former casino and hotel is now a big, beautiful, nonsmoking, nongaming bar and lounge open 24/7. Inside, in the Living Room, you’ll find a bed, beanbags, dartboards, pool tables, a jumbo game of Connect Four, and a DJ spinning pop hits. Out in the Backyard, there’s a giant Jenga tower, beer pong, cornhole, patio furniture, fire pits, and a stage with live music on weekends. But for beeries, the best part is the beer list: a nice selection of domestic and imported craft brews, such as Innis & Gunn Rum Aged, most of them at the very un-Vegas price of $4–$6. 217 N. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-4761082; goldspike.com
La Cave Nestled away in Wynn is La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway, with an open-air patio overlooking the Wynn gardens and pool. Enjoy a cheese and charcuterie board along with one of the fantastic regional or European craft beers, like La Cave Select, a British Double Barrel pale ale brewed exclusively for the
restaurant by California’s Firestone Walker Brewing. Wynn Las Vegas, 702-770-7375; lacavelv.com
Park on Fremont Schlitz and Colt 45 inhabit the same menu as Delirium Tremens and Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, and that’s really Park on Fremont in a nutshell: hipster chic with refined tastes. Park is one of the hippest haunts downtown, and its spacious backyard patio is an urban drinking oasis. 506 Fremont St., 702-834-3160; parkonfremont.com
Tenaya Creek Brewery The Las Vegas brewery Tenaya Creek produces quality craft beers found in stores throughout the valley. You can also pay a visit to the brewery itself, which has a taproom with live music on weekends and a patio for relaxing outside with a pint, be it a sweet and malty Baltic Porter, with dark fruity and roasty flavors, or a floral Hop Ride IPA. 3101 N. Tenaya Way, 702-3627335; tenayacreek.com V
the mother country and include German specialties like schnitzel, spätzle, and schweinebraten. All house beers are imported from the Munich brewery, use the original recipes handed down by the Duke of Bavaria more than 400 years ago, and are served in steins sized Big, Bigger, and Bierfest. Enjoy them all in the covered, temperature-controlled beer garden, complete with a ceiling painted to look like the sky, a terrace, and faux foliage. It’s just like being outside! 4510 Paradise Road, 702-853-2337; hofbrauhauslasvegas.com
Hofbräuhaus serves up an ample taste of Bavaria.
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Parting Shot Altar-not Universe LAS VEGAS IS BECOMING THE MOST FABULOUS GAY HONEYMOON DESTINATION IN SPITE OF ITSELF—AND NEVADA’S CURRENT MARRIAGE LAWS. BY SCOTT DICKENSHEETS
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ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL O‘LEARY
hy wasn’t Las Vegas gayer sooner? With the city’s current gay-friendly vibe—this was Out Traveler’s number-one vacation spot last year; our official tourism website has an LGBT section that overuses the word “fabulous”—buoyed by a better-late-than-never momentum toward accepting gay marriage, one might forget that Vegas wasn’t always near the top of the LGBT itinerary. Palm Springs: Now there’s a classic gay destination. Key West, Miami Beach, Provincetown—for years they loomed larger in the LGBT imagination than Sin City. Puzzling, perhaps, considering Las Vegas’s joyous camp sensibility, over-the-top everything, and readiness to present Celine and Elton in big showrooms. But understandable, too. Given its long history of legal and social suppression, the LGBT community is canny about how it dispenses its favors. When it comes to Vegas, there are some issues that can’t be fixed by a Cher miniresidency in the Colosseum: In 2002, a decisive 67 percent of Nevada’s voters agreed to ban same-sex marriage— and the process required two votes of the people, two years apart, so we can’t blame it on the sort of temporary Nevada craziness that produces, say, a Sharron Angle candidacy. No, this was a genuine statewide talk-to-the-hand aimed at the gay community. Never mind that a straight guy can take a limo to Pahrump and bury himself under a stack of legal hookers. Same-sex love isn’t officially recognized here. And somehow a “commitment ceremony,” even if presided over by Elvis with all the flagrant tackiness of a traditional Vegas wedding, just isn’t the same. It was an uncharacteristically puritanical move by a state that embraced gambling and quickie divorce when they were socially marginalized. (This new starchiness is also reflected in the state’s slow roll on marijuana reform.) Still, if there’s one thing Vegas excels at, it’s this: identifying who has money and angling to get it. According to a recent study by the Williams Institute, a think tank at UCLA, same-sex couples tend to have higher household incomes, more education, and a greater willingness to travel and spend. So a few years ago, with the national mood shifting and more states approving gay marriage, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority pondered a strategy to market the city to same-sex newlyweds. A couple of presumably gayalluring ads were ginned up, described thusly by Vegas Inc. in 2011: “two women with shapely legs playing footsie, a pair of fit young men holding hands on a golf course as Wynn Las Vegas looms in the background.” Hey, gay folks newly married in more open-minded states, come honeymoon in Vegas! Clunky and obvious, the campaign never got off the ground—probably a good thing. Last year LVCVA produced somewhat subtler ads touting a gay-friendly Vegas with the line “Everyone’s welcome… even straight people.” So the city is becoming a gay destination, bulwarked by a resort industry that in many cases embraces gays not only as paying customers but as employees as well—something that many LGBT visitors check up on when they travel. There’s a gay hotel, the Blue Moon. Beyond the tourism corridor, Out Traveler noted ways in which Vegas is a town that LGBT tourists can embrace, such as the city’s gay pride event, sponsored by our biggest employers, and industry support for the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada. On the heels of Krave Massive, club impresario Victor Drai will soon open an LGBT-oriented joint at Bally’s called Liaison, and this summer even the most dedicated hedonist will find enough gay-oriented pool parties to fill a weekend. All this forward-leaning social change just might lead to political change, too. With a majority of us now favoring marriage equality, and the State Legislature working to reverse the constitutional ban, voters could make gay marriage a reality here in 2016. In which case, we’re gonna need more Elvis suits. V
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