THE MAGIC & TIGERS OF
RICK THOMAS Funny in Pink
FASHION’S NIGHT OUT
THE SPA THAT LOVES YOU
HOLLYWOOD’S Kate Somerville Now at Trump International
in Las Vegas
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CONTENTS
2
11
VID Snapshots
Donny and Marie keep it all in the family, Frank Marino has a lot on his chest; BITE is a show with teeth. By Bobbie Katz
8 Shopping
What’s in store for fall fashion By Susan Stapleton
3
Las Vegas Quick Bites
Barbara J. Nosek lets you in on where the beef is — and the beverages are — in Las Vegas
A Walk on the Wild Side
Rick Thomas has gotten his “stripes” after 20 years of raising and performing with tigers
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9
Khotan at Treasure Island is a true gem of a restaurant
By Bobbie Katz
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, there are plenty of fun things to do at Bonnie Springs
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6
By Cozy Stone
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The Spa that Loves You
Saving Face. — Hollywood’s famed Kate Somerville brings her services to the Spa at Trump By Lark Ellen Gould
Borderline Fashion
Fall fashion comes out into the light; hair goes darker By Susan Stapleton
Editor Bobbie Katz (bobbie@vegasinsiderdaily.com) Associate Editor Ginger Tafoya (ginger@vegasinsiderdaily.com) Writers Barry Berlin Lark Ellen Gould Bobbie Katz Barbara J. Nosek Susan Stapleton Ginger Tafoya Cozy Stone Photographers Jeff Green Photography (jeffgreenphoto@mac.com) Design Attention Media Group (grant@attentionmediagroup.com) Web Implementation Grant Dunmire, Attention Media Group (grant@attentionmediagroup.com) Publisher Vegas Insider Daily, LLC (www.vegasinsiderdaily.com) Member/Advisor Ron Slay
Bootleg Canyon Flightlines takes you up, up, and away for the ride of your life By Bobbie Katz
Vegas 365 is published monthly. Reproduction of any portion of Vegas 365 is prohibited without prior authorization in writing from the publisher. Vegas 365 is not responsible for the views of contributing journalists. All editorial correspondence should be addressed to bobbie@vegasinsiderdaily.com For advertising inquiries for Vegas 365, Vegas Insider Daily or Mobile Vegas Insider Daily, please contact: Barry Berlin at barry@vegasinsiderdaily.com 702.271.4541 Tom Raspanti at tom@vegasinsiderdaily.com 702.528.0718 Judy Robinson at judy@vegasinsiderdaily.com 702.308.3633 Vegas 365 assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions appearing herein. All Rights Reserved. Vegas Insider Daily, LLC, Copyright 2010.
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SNAPSHOTS
Brother-Sister Act: The Sequel It’s all in the family with Donny and Marie at the Flamingo
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or most of us, co-existing with our brothers and sisters is simply a daily natural state. Then there’s Donny and Marie, who make a major production out of it on a nightly basis – save Sundays and Mondays. Yes, the young girl who was “a little bit country” and the young boy who was “a little bit rock and roll” continue to shake up the Las Vegas entertainment scene and find greener pastures with their extravaganza “Donny and Marie at the Flamingo.” They’ve got plenty to sing about – the production, which depicts the Donny and Marie of today, tinged with the nostalgia of yesterday, is proof positive of just how sibling rivalry – and revelry – can be a profitable family business. “We enjoy working with each other 99 percent of the time,” Donny grins. “We won’t talk about the other one percent. I don’t totally agree with Marie’s decisions from night to night but I do respect her professionalism. We have to look at each other as professional partners.” “As adults you can ‘agree to disagree,’” Marie adds, noting the extra respect factor they have for each other today “It’s better to be peaceful than to be right. Donny and I are really different people, even in our interests. But, it works on stage. Every family has issues, but in our family we count the blessings of being there for each other far above any temporary disagreements. The way Donny and I resolve issues is I say, ‘It has to be this way.’ And then Donny thinks it over and says ‘Yes. You’re right.’ Besides, I have to be more careful about pushing him around now. He’s in his 50s…his bones are more brittle.” BK
Put on Those High Heels, Baby
This Show Sucks – and That’s Great!
Life’s a drag for Frank Marino
Vampires put the BITE on Las Vegas entertainment
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e’s back….and out in front once again. Las Vegas’ favorite female impersonator headliner, Frank Marino, once again has a lot on chest, including some new Bob Mackie gowns and loads of jewelry. He’s unloading the fun in his own inimitable Joan Rivers style in his show at the Imperial Palace and is bringing the “Divas Las Vegas” with him, including his own Femme Fatale character and 14 cast members who, throughout the evening, portray 17 characters from Britney Spears, Beyonce and Lady Gaga to Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli and Dolly Parton. After being the longest running headliner on the Strip in “An Evening at Las Cage at the Riviera,” Marino created “Divas Las Vegas” and co-produced it with SPI entertainment when “La Cage” closed after 25 years. “Of course, the thing people are most curious about where female impersonation is concerned and the first question they ask is, “Where do you put IT?” Marino laughs. “I always respond with, “Where do you want it?” The second thing they want to know is how long it takes me to perfect Joan each night. When I first started, the makeup process took over two hours. Today, it takes me less than an hour but it takes an hour and a half to get the makeup off because of all the putty and wax and theater makeup I use.” “I don’t do my makeup like Joan’s; I do my makeup so that my face will look like Joan’s,” he adds. “It’s been a lot easier to do over the years because I’ve had over $150,000 of plastic surgery – I have my surgeon, Dr. Giselle Anson, on speed dial. I’ve had a nose job, cheek implants, a neck lift and liposuction and I’m a big fan of Restylane and Juvederm. And I’m never more than six months away from a shot of Botox. I’ve had so much that even my clothes don’t wrinkle.” BK 002 VEGAS365
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riday the 13th, August 2004, proved to be an auspicious day for one Las Vegas production. That’s when the sexy vampire-themed show named BITE decided to “stake” its claim in the Las Vegas entertainment arena – and six years later, its life blood is very much flowing. BITE, which appears at the Stratosphere, has a formula that fuses topless dancers, acrobatics and highenergy rock ’n roll with the darkly mysterious seduction of vampires, the mark of the production’s allure. According to the show’s producer and writer Tim Molyneux, part of the long-lived quality of BITE is that the world has always had a fascination with vampires, which have been a part of popular culture for years and are once again experiencing a resurgence in television, film and print. “Some people come to see BITE simply because it’s a vampire show, but ultimately they are always blown away by the production,” Molynex says. “Vampires allow us to do the things that provide the ingredients for a great Vegas show: fun music, highenergy acrobatics in the air and on the stage, magic, martial arts, gymnastics, contortion, comedy, drama, great dancing, live singing and sexy girls. The show tells a compelling story through the lyrics of the songs and the classic vampire lore of lost love. There’s a purpose behind everything happening and it all comes together in an experience the audience loves and won’t find anywhere else in the world.” The show is told through the Classic Rock songs of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. It has proven to be a production that definitely has “teeth.” BK
A Walk on the Wild Side Rick Thomas lets the cats out of the bag
By Bobbie Katz
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s I drove up to the home of Rick Thomas, I felt truly excited – in fact, I couldn’t have been more ready to take the tiger by the “tale.” Not only is Thomas one of the most talented illusionists in the business, but for the past 20 years, he has had a story to tell about raising a bevy of magnificent exotic felines and exhibiting them in his acclaimed show, “The Magic and Tigers of Rick Thomas,” now at the Sahara. Oh, they may work for food and know how to claw their way to the top, but being one of the “cool cats” of the Las Vegas Strip is serious business, as I was about to find out. Thomas answered the door to his beautiful self-designed house where he lives with his wife, five children, six tigers, five macaws, four cockatoos, twenty doves, and a domestic cat named Kitty (who, like the doves and a few of the other birds, is also in his show). “Multiply by 1,000 times what your cat does and you’ll have a tiger,” Thomas told me as he introduced me to
one-year-old Kitty and then took me into the kitchen so that he could prepare the food for the tigers (each one eats 10-15 pounds of raw meat, chicken, and turkey a day; they’re fed once a day). “A cat is just a tiger, only smaller. You can’t figure out a feline. They love you as much as they want to love you. They will come to greet you, then they want to be left alone. They want to be taken care of when they want to be taken care of.” Thomas has raised thirteen tigers from birth over the last two decades and currently has four of his six in his show. He began telling me his story by dismissing some of the myths that so many of us have heard about exotics – and believed. “White tigers are not endangered and therefore are not on any list,” Thomas begins, as I watch him take pounds of meat out of one of his two huge freezers. “That’s because white tigers are manmade. They are not in the wild and have never been in the wild. All tigers are half
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white – they’re all white on the bottom. But what happened was that back in the 60’s, there was a tiger found in the wild that had a lot of white and it was captured and bred by the Prince of India. It was bred for seven years – during which time all that was produced were orange Bengals – until they finally figured it out. The animal was finally inbred with its daughter, and the first pure white tiger was produced.” “There are only three types of tigers,” he adds. “There are the Bengal, Sumatran, and Siberian tigers. All mine, orange or white, are Bengal. There are only 1,000 tigers left in the wild – about 600 Bengal, also called Indian; 400 Siberian, and roughly 10 Sumatran. In 1900, there were
Thomas’ feline family. As we walk out his back door, I’m greeted by the sight of an aviary and a beautiful pool surrounded by rocks, in which Thomas swims with the tigers (one at a time, unless they are cubs).It is all part of Phase 1 of the huge compound, currently a 10,000-square-foot area where the tigers, weighing from 350-500 pounds, are resting in the heat (which Thomas says they love) in individual, spacious chain-link enclosures. Thomas is getting ready to build Phase 2 to give the tigers even more space to romp. First, I meet Samson, a beautiful 15-year-old white tiger now retired from show business (tigers generally live 15-20 years). The magnificent creature, which is sleeping
160,000 Bengal tigers in the wild. Man is the tigers’ worst enemy – they are worth more dead than alive because their parts are worth a lot of money. In some countries, tiger parts are considered magical.” Thomas also explains that there are currently 5,000 tigers in captivity in the U.S. (White aside, they are an endangered species.) Of that number, he says, only 6 percent are in zoos while the other 94 percent are taken care of by people who truly love these animals, like himself. Thomas notes that there is no government subsidy for their care even though one needs to get permission and guidelines from the USDA for obtaining and raising the exotics. Thomas has an exhibitor’s permit from the government and is actually required to display the animals for the purpose of educating the public about conservation. After some more conversation, it’s time for me to meet
contentedly on his side, rolls over on his back like a kitten when Thomas gently nudges him to wake him up to say hello. The other tigers are 6-year-old Mercury, 7-year-old Kaos, 9-year-old Max, (who is lying in his “bathtub” filled with water), 9-year-old Rocky, and 8-year-old Star, the only female. They are all beautiful, curious creatures and being that close to them – even though fencing separates us – couldn’t be more of a thrill. Thomas reveals that each of the cats has his or her distinct personality. “Rocky is like Scar from ‘The Lion King,’” he smiles. “Scar was the evil one who killed his own brother. Max, who is Rocky’s brother, is much more even-tempered. Kaos’ name says it all – he is aggressive for food; he loves to eat. Mercury is the first tiger I ever had that lets me do
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anything with him. Samson is fabulous. And Star is a female, meaning that she’s much more aggressive than the males because the females are the ones that raise the cubs.” Kaos, Mercury, Max and Rocky are the ones currently performing in the show. Thomas, who has a huge training area in the center of the compound, says that he has been working with Mercury to get him comfortable in the act again since the cat hasn’t been in it for a while. He admits that one has to have a heightened sense of awareness to work with exotics. “Still, I’d rather do this than jump out of an airplane,” he acknowledges. “There is also far more danger in a car than with a tiger. I have less fear because I work with them everyday. I’m not trying to downplay the danger but we all choose our lots in life.” Thomas admits that he doesn’t like pushing the tigers when it comes to their performing in the show and that if one is a challenge on a particular day, he lets it go because he doesn’t want the animal to do anything that is uncomfortable for it. He will sometimes bring the tiger to the hotel anyway to see if it will snap out of what’s bothering it but if it doesn’t, Thomas will switch it with one of the other tigers to do the illusion. Thomas transports the tigers back and forth from the hotel every night for the show – and sometimes during the day to work with them on stage, such as he has been doing lately with Mercury. He uses food to train them and says that the most serious time with them is when they are six months to a year old.
“Tigers can be trained but never tamed,” he informs. “You are able to obtain one when there is a need for one to be obtained and you get them as cubs. You have to be hands-on with them constantly – it takes a lot of dedication. They can put up with people when they are 6 months to a year old but after that, they separate from humans, although they will bond with one or two.” “Tigers are mischievous and constantly need to be told what to do,” he adds. “They are stubborn learners and they don’t need humans to survive. I spend five hours of constant time with them everyday – two hours before the show cleaning them up and loading them into the trailer, then the hour-and-a half of the show, and an hour after the show. When it comes to the stage, they all know their spots – they hear their music and they know what’s going on.” Thomas notes that tigers and people don’t mix and that he has two handlers for the tigers who are with him at home and at the hotel but that the dancers in his show aren’t allowed within 10 feet of the tigers’ cages. His act is designed so that there are no dancers performing when the tigers are on stage. “My show is my life,” Thomas sums up. “I’m always designing a new show. I’m always pursuing my dream non-stop and I’m looking forward to doing something grand for Vegas in the near future.” Guaranteed his beautiful feline companions will give their roar of approval. That’s the magic of Rick Thomas. VID
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THE SPA THAT LOVES YOU
Saving Face Make a date with Kate and Trump By Lark Ellen Gould
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as Vegas is a lousy place for faces. A relentless sun, caverns of cigarette smoke, oily and rich foods, lots of late nights and boozy celebrating … a good face hardly stands a chance. But Las Vegas is a good town for Kate. Kate Somerville is to faces what water is to thirst. She quenches her clients’ needs with homegrown remedies developed and tested and tested again by her team of doctors, medical practitioners and aestheticians, providing radical treatments for skin that can be found in Las Vegas only at the Spa at Trump. These treatments are more medical than mellow, more results-driven then feelings-driven. And they require taking a good hard look at your face and what it needs – not just for a night of partying under the neon, but for the stressful daily routine that snatches collagen from your cells and puts kinks in your mitochondria. You can dunk your head in the sand, hand over your bank account to a Beverly Hills doctor, or talk to Kate. Her eponymous salon, appropriately located on a street called Melrose Place in West Hollywood, is a converted villa that formerly belonged to Hollywood Golden Age star Janet Gaynor. In walk the likes of Julia Louis Dreyfus, Katherine Heigl, Jessica Alba, Miley Cyrus, Simon Cowell, and even Ivanka Trump for Somerville’s eclectic menu of light and laser therapies and her effectsfocused facials. 006 VEGAS365
But you don’t have to head to the coast to get a date with Kate. Trump International Hotel & Tower is one of the few resorts that offer Kate Somerville treatments and the only place in Las Vegas to get these treatments. All the therapists have been trained in her labs and fully understand the approach they are executing. Only five of Kate’s supercharged facials are on the menu and each addresses an aspect of the skin that it can heal, whether it is acne, redness, tired and sagging skin, sun damage, age, or just the need for some simple rejuvenation. What’s special about this spot is its accessibility at mid-Strip across from the Fashion Show mall and the reasonable charge for what you receive. Facials start at $150 – not excessive by Vegas standards -- and the spa focuses on Kate’s signature Light Therapy and her incredible DermalQuench. The light therapy – called DermaLucent phototherapy – uses a photoblast delivery system that beams light waves into the skin at 633 nanometers, a rate somehow measured as the ideal wavelength of light for skin to absorb and jumpstart the regeneration of cell activity. It’s non-invasive, safe, does not leave you burned, and puts the skin into a hyperdrive state of pushing out new cells. OK, it’s $160 if you do it as the DermaLucent Facial or an extra $75 for a 30-minute session if you add it to another treatment. The light is bright, even through the eye pads, but it’s a lot more comfortable than a knife or a peel. The DermalQuench puts a little O2, a lot of vitamins, and some hyaluronic serum in those cells with a handheld hyperbaric pressure tool coaxing it through cell walls with little focused puffs. It’s what Kate calls her “Red Carpet” treatment because celebs start lining up at her L.A. clinic for these boosters around 10 a.m. on Oscar day. But it works for jet lag, putting on the best face for an important meeting or wedding, or just looking as hot as one can look for that night on the town. The 60-minute treatment does not come cheap -- $250 merits a second glance even in
this city of conspicuous spending. But results are what you get, especially if you grab some of that magic Quench serum to take home. The latest on Kate’s cutting-edge table of skin tricks is something called CytoCell. Rather than light, this formula uses DNA or, more specifically, a peptide found in umbilical cords that cranks up the healing process in the epidermis – much as one can see in babies and young children whose scars heal much, much faster than adults. Kate tells all in a newly released book called Complexion Perfection, in which she shows how 10 weeks of a simple skin regimen can lead to a new visage and new vitality. Check out www.katesomerville.com and the Spa at Trump, www.trumplasvegashotel.com. Kate Somerville products are available at Neiman-Marcus and Sephora. VID
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LV QUICK BITES
Where’s the Beef? Burgers and beverages hit the BIG time By Barbara J. Nosek
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f you’re going to go for a burger and fries, the diet is pretty much left behind anyway – so might just as well toss in the Oreo shake. For a limited time, Smashburger is mixing up the Häagen-Dazs, otherwise found in cups or their root beer floats, with Oreo cookies. Oh my. And by the way, these are really, really good burgers --100 Angus beef “smashed” on the grill to seal in the juice, but instead of the fries opt for the addictive haystack onions. Find the restaurants at Sahara & Fort Apache and Lake Mead & Buffalo. www.smashburger.com. Bubbles galore. No, not a new exotic act in town, but rather a very special offer at Laguna Champagne Bar. Through October, enjoy bottomless glasses of Do-
maine Ste Michelle Brut for $20, daily 8pm – midnight [may be unavailable during holidays, special events]. And on the menu all the time-- classic champagne cocktails, including Flower Eclipse with St.Germain elderflower Liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec -- and Bubblicious with Campari, fresh orange juice, and Moet & Chandon “Nectar” Champagne. The stylish bar, for the 21+ crowd resides on the casino floor at the Palazzo. www.palazzolasvegas.com. Come on in, the wine is fine. And that’s true throughout MGM Grand, which recently garnered 2010 Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Wine List Awards for Craftsteak, NOBHILL, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, SEABLUE, Diego, Pearl, Shibuya, Emeril’s, Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill and Fiamma, with Joel Robuchon’s wine program receiving the coveted “three glass” Grand Award. Could have something to do with the property’s 14 sommeliers and 11 certified sake sommeliers. www.mgmgrand.com. All the restaurants at Wynn Las Vegas now offer vegan menu items. Even SW, the signature steakhouse, serves up a nice dish of grilled royal trumpet mushrooms with creamy polenta and shallot balsamic sauce. As another example, Bartolotta, known for its
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boatload of seafood dishes, plates a savory risotto with seasonal veggies. Desserts also get in on the act, taking shape as blueberry cobbler with toasted almond ice cream at Sinatra and banana crepes with coconut ice cream and avocado mousse at SWITCH. www. wynnlasvegas.com. Folks can get quite happy during the new Happy Hour at Hussong’s where the Baja-born establishment is now featuring “Buy One/Get One” traditional margaritas and draft beers or a 24-ounce Tecate “Tall Boy” and a taco for $5, Sunday-Friday, 4pm-7pm. And those margaritas are historic, as Hussong’s lays claim to inventing the seductive libation at its original Ensenada location back in 1941. Other food and drink specials await on the restaurant’s Twitter and Facebook pages. www.hussongslasvegas.com.
Hungry? The coffee shop at Buffalo Bill’s in Primm has opened the corral door on a new 1.5 pound Big Azz burger, topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and served with a big side of fries. There’s also a ½ pound Half Azz Burger and a ¼ pound Cheap Azz Burger, similarly adorned and accompanied. Wonder if they’re made with rump roast. www.primmvalleyresorts.com. For more foodie delights, Barbara Nosek’s blog, Celebrity Chef Connection, can be found on the bottom right of this homepage. VID
NIGHT HEAT
City of Jade
Khotan puts the word “treasure” in Treasure Island
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o say that Treasure Island has added a new jewel to its multifaceted restaurant lineup with the opening of Khotan is not an overstatement. Translated, Khotan means “City of Jade” and not only does the new establishment offer Pan Asian cuisine and a variety of Chinese dishes, but it is also home to the largest private collection of handcarved jade and ivory antiquities in the United States. Guests are welcomed to the venue by three unique pieces – two 5-foot-tall hand-carved jade jars and a 35,000-year-old ivory tusk adorned with an intricate Asian village. In all, the restaurant highlights nearly 30 artifacts from the private collection of Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin. As for the cuisine, it is a blend of traditional and contemporary dishes from China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia. Khotan has several signature dishes. They include the Khotan Thai “Cocktail,” which is honey spice-rubbed red prawns served with green papaya salad; Khotan Whole Fish P.A., a Pan-Asian exploration of Cantonese fried catfish served with Japanese ponzu sauce (citrus and soy), and Khotan Fish Fusion, which is steamed fish of the day served with lemongrass, oyster mushrooms, and a julienne of vegetables and is presented tableside.
The other two signature dishes are Khotan Peacock Asparagus, which is Yaki Mochi wrapped asparagus served crispy with tobiko caviar hollandaise, and Khotan Pay Roll, A-5 Kobe beef wrapped around a sushi roll filled with tempura fried king crab and avocado and topped with a poached quail egg and a drizzle of truffle. Leading the restaurant’s culinary team are Executive Chef Craig Taylor and Chef de Cuisine Apiruk “Lou” Hansrisuk. Executive Chef Taylor, who began studying his art in Colorado, has held the executive chef role at Treasure Island since 2001. His achievements include serving as chef de cuisine at the Broadmoor Hotel and Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and as executive sous chef at the Westin St. Francis, San Francisco. Chef de Cuisine Hansrisuk received his training in Bangkok, Thailand, He has held management positions in restaurants at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut and at Paris Las Vegas, and has served as executive chef of banquet at Treasure Island for the past nine years. Chef Hansrisuk is also an accomplished ice sculptor who has won seven firstplace awards in competitions in Connecticut and New Hampshire. In addition to the seating in the interior of Khotan, it also features outdoor dining with views of the Strip and Sirens Cove as well as ultra-chic indoor dining nooks ideal for parties of 2 to 20. VID
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FASHION
Fashion’s Night Out Comes to Vegas
Three shopping centers will participate in this great excuse for shopping By Susan Stapleton
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ast year, Vogue editor Anna Wintour created a shopping frenzy around New York Fashion Week that helped bring everyone into the fashion fold with more than 800 stores participating and models, celebrities and fashion editors making public appearances. This year, the Fashion’s Night Out reaches out to Las Vegas, with Fashion Show Mall, the Shoppes at the Palazzo and the Forum Shops at Caesars taking part in the Sept. 8-12 event. At the Shoppes at the Palazzo and Fashion Show Mall, more than 250 designer boutiques plan to take part in the weeklong festivities. Look for runway shows from Betsey Johnson and Poleci, discounts and trunk shows at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York and shopping incentives at Fendi, 7 For All Mankind, Dooney & Burke, Banana Republic, Jimmy Choo and GUESS, to name just a few. At the Forum Shops at Caesars, stores will offer special events, celebrity and designer appearances and promotional giveaways from 6 to 11 p.m. on Sept. 10. Enjoy special refreshments at Elie Tahari, celebrate the launch of the “W” bag and creative director Massimiliano Gironetti’s first women’s collection at Salvatore Ferragamo, and nosh on truffles and Champagne at David Yurman. Donald J. Pliner even makes a guest appearance at his boutique. For a complete list of Fashion’s Night Out activities and participating retailers at Fashion Show mall and the Shoppes at the Palazzo, visit www.thefashionshow.com or www.theshoppesatthepalazzo.com. For the Forum Shops at Caesars’ complete list of events, visit www.forumshopsfno.com. Fashion’s Night Out is a collaboration between Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Co. and the City of New York. VID
Brunettes Have More Fun
Colorist Michael Boychuck says going dark is the hottest hair trend of the season
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ven the hair stylist known for taking blonde to its brightest heights has to admit that brunette is the color of fall. Michael Boychuck, the colorist behind names such as Paris and Nicky Hilton and owner of three top hair salons in Vegas, says the darker shades are the go-to colors for fall and winter. “Many of my clients like to go with a darker color during the winter months,” Boychuck said. “To keep hair from being flat and monochromatic, highlights that frame your face will bring warmth to the eyes by adding movement and texture. I recently darkened Laura Croft’s hair and she exemplifies this trend beautifully.” This fall, he’s mixing his color potions with golden, caramel, light brown and even red hues that help highlight your face and add dimension to hair. The arid Las Vegas climate means hair needs an extra boost of moisture. For fall, Boychuck has a conditioning treatment called Chronologiste by Kerastase that revives dry and damaged hair and results in soft and shiny locks. The in-salon and take-home treatment uses moisturizing beads that are burst before they’re combed through your hair and left to work their magic. 010 VEGAS365
You can find Boychuck at Color at Caesars Palace, Amp at the Palms and Primp at Palms Place. Boychuck, who was named “Las Vegas Colorist of the Decade” by Schwarzkopf Professional earlier this year, has colored the locks of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Eva Longoria Parker, Lindsay Lohan, Kirsten Dunst, Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas, Jennie Garth, Willa Ford, Shannon Doherty, Donna D’Errico, Josie Bissett, Kathy Hilton and Susan Anton. VID Colorist Michael Boychuck took Laura Croft of “Holly’s World” dark with highlights to frame her face. 010 VEGAS365
Photo Credit: Erik Kabik/Retna.com
By Susan Stapleton
SHOPPING
Going into the Closet in Style Five key trends for fall fashion By Susan Stapleton
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t may not feel like it yet, but soon you’ll be changing up your wardrobe to reflect chillier weather. And with that comes a whole new fleet of fall fashions ready to spruce up your closet. Here’s a look at five trends that you’ll want to include on your shopping lists for fall: The Graduate Blame it on the hit TV show Mad Men, but the ’60s have made a comeback this season. Look for skinny black capri pants, mini-shifts that just skim your thighs, high-necked dresses, coats and tops and A-line dresses with embellishments to bring that old school feel to your wardrobe. Try adding stylish gloves, tailored dresses and embellished yet demure sweaters to your repertoire to duplicate this look. • Yves Saint Laurent wool-blend dress, $1,625, Yves Saint Laurent at Via Bellagio • Red Valentino satin-twill princess coat, $1,150, Valentino at the Forum Shops at Caesars Classic in Camel Your new base color for fall is camel in all its incarnations. Find it on everything from coats to cardigans. It adds an instant touch of sophistication to any outfit, whether you’re donning boots or pants in that hue. • Fendi draped wool sweater dress, $1,590, Fendi at the Forum Shops at Caesars • Chloe braid-detailed knee-high boots, $945, Chloe at the Shoppes at the Palazzo Lacy Concoctions Almost every chic socialite will own at least one lacy frock this season. Designers have used leather, gothic looks and sheer materials to influence these dramatic looks. Go for an all-over lace look or just add a touch to get your feminine point across. • 3.1 Phillip Lim embellished lace-overlay dress, $525, Barneys New York at the Shoppes at the Palazzo • Alexander McQueen silk and lace dress, $5,135, Alexander McQueen at Wynn Las Vegas Glamour Ball This recession must be getting to designers because they went overboard on the glam this season. Nothing but overthe-top will work with this glamorous look. Whether destined for the dance floor or a decadent ball, you can’t go wrong with style meant to be remembered. • Marchesa sequin and bead belted dress, $2,750, similar available at Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show mall • Emilio Pucci strapless fringed silk dress, $5,575, Emilio Pucci at the Forum Shops at Caesars Go Red Call it scarlet, ruby or rouge, but red is THE color of the season. Deck yourself head to toe in this stunner to stand out in the crowd. Try a pair of red pants, a red top or just a pop of red with your shoes, and you’ll be in season. • Bottega Veneta draped satin gown, $4,200, Bottega Veneta at the Shoppes at the Palazzo • Vivienne Westwood Anglomania hybrid jersey dress, $520, Ensemble at Encore Las Vegas VID 011 VEGAS365
ATTRACTIONS
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch … Bonnie Springs brings back fun Old West-style
By Cozy Stone
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hen I entered the grounds of Bonnie Springs Ranch, I half-expected to see either Hoss, Little Joe or Pa roaming around town. Yes, I’ve dated myself, but so what? It’s true! I thought I was actually on a set where a TV show was being filmed – or maybe I had just gone back to the future (yep, I’ve done it again, haven’t I?). The fact that, in the 1970’s, Al Levinson and Bonnie McGaugh recreated this 1800’s mining town and preserved artifacts from the era is quite amazing. This 115-acre replica is definitely a step back in time (and no, I am not THAT old!). Bonnie Springs was created out of the loving union of a New Yorker (that probably didn’t know a hack saw from a nail gun) and a Las Vegas showgirl, who fell in love. Due to Bonnie’s love for the history of the wild, wild West and Al’s love for Bonnie, we are able to enjoy the array of pleasures offered at Bonnie Springs Ranch today. It has been a tourist attraction since 1952. The first thing I wanted to do was saddle up! My horse’s name was Snickers, but should have been called Snackers – the hungry guy that he was. There I was, with adults and children alike, enjoying a one-hour horseback tour, climbing mountain terrain, and inhaling fresher air than is afforded 30 minutes away in Las Vegas proper. The professional team that watched out for our safety pointed out the unique flora (i.e., the Yucca, the Prickly Pear and the Joshua). They also pointed out the fascinating landmarks of the Indians that had once resided in these locations. I was awestruck by the magnificence of the desert wonderland. My creative mind allowed me to find sculptures in the rocky cliffs along the ride and I, along with the kids, did not want this adventure to end.
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Soon it was time to explore the town itself. We were just in time for the melodrama that enfolded between the sheriff (portrayed by Brian Hoffman) and the robber (portrayed Joey Nichols). We were privy to a hanging in the gallows (I wasn’t supposed to have enjoyed it, but I did!). Needless to say, it was all in fun, even if it was a depiction of Nevada’s true-to-life history! As we walked through the old town, we visited The General Store where we went back in time via old-time photos, artifacts from the Civil War, playing cards, old bathtubs and old typewriters (some of which I was able to identify … shut up!). I saw an 1880 Victrola from New Mexico for the first time in my life. There were original medicines from the 1870’s (no childproof caps). They were all in paper, glass, or cardboard containers – none of this plastic stuff. I was totally blown away by these mementos of our country’s past. Both the adults and children adored the Cactus Garden. The kids were entertained by gun play and learned about gun safety at the same time. They were advised on how to call 911 for emergencies. Then, they actually got to chase the deputies (woo-woo, huh?). I would be remiss if I did not mention the petting zoo. I was an eight-year-old all over again when I saw my first peacock. (I didn’t know the beautiful, colorful feathers belonged to the male species, city woman that I am). I fed the ducks and the swan. I met Simba, the Lynx. (I love them as coats -- don’t own one,
but I can admire them, can’t I?!). I was told there were wolves nearby (didn’t need to see or touch one of them, thank you very much!). The Miners Restaurant not only offered a delectable menu and cocktails, but I loved its ambiance. You can plan your vacation (or a few days of it) in the themed rooms or kitchen suites for the whole family. You don’t have to leave your pets home. Pets are welcome for a small deposit. Bonnie Springs Ranch is ideal for weddings, conventions, private parties, holiday parties, and just to party for the sake of partying! A good time will be had by all. Built for tourists and locals alike, Bonnie Springs Ranch is open Mon-Thur & Sun 9 a.m.9 p.m.; Fri-Sat 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Cost is $20.00 per car (up to 6 per car); $30.00 per person on a bus. Shuttle buses from Las Vegas are offered. Group tours can be arranged. For room reservations call 702-8754400. Email: info@bonniesprings.com. For daily activities, call: 702-875-4191 and ask for Sheriff Joe Tasso. Tell him Cozy sent you! VID Directions from the strip: Take I-15 via the ramp to Los Angeles. Take Exit 33 for State Route 160W toward Pahrump. Merge onto NV-160 W/Blue Diamond Rd/State Route 160. Turn right at NV-159 E/Charleston Blvd. Turn left at Bonnie Springs Rd.
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BORDERLINE
Experience a Super Thrill
Bootleg Canyon Flightlines will have you flying high – without a plane By Bobbie Katz
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t’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s YOU! Imagine yourself soaring over the mountains and desert, taking in the beautiful scenery from more than a thousand feet above the ground – without being in an airplane or helicopter. Your “wings” are compliments of Bootleg Canyon Flightlines, a zipline tour company that allows you to “fly” like a bird on a one-of-a-kind aerial adventure. Passengers sit in their own paragliding harness that’s suspended from cable wires as they travel from one point to another over the desert ecosystem on an aerial trail that begins at the top of Red Mountain in Boulder City, an environ of Las Vegas. Some will glide at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. “We’re a conservation-based company,” explains General Manager Max Margolis. “We build in certain areas – we’re part of a sustainable park strategy. Bootleg Canyon is a renowned mountain bike park with 36 miles of trails. But it has no revenue source. Some of our revenue is directed back to the park to sustain it and keep the trails up. Plus, we give $2 a head to the Outdoor Las Vegas Foundation. We also pay a lease on the property.” Margolis explains that the Flightlines technology offers people the feeling of free flight and has been engineered so that they can go higher off the ground, go a further distance, go faster, and still be safer than with any other standard zipline.
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“You sink right into out paraglide harness,” he notes. “It’s like a personal harness and it’s quite comfortable. When people come for the experience, we all meet at the bottom of Red Mountain in Bootleg Canyon. We then do a mountain pass trail and drive up to the top of Red Mountain, from where you can view the entire Las Vegas Valley and the Strip, Eldorado Valley, Lake Mead, and the towers for the bridge that is being built over Hoover Dam. Once there, we do a short hike on a switchback trail and we point out key areas of interest on the aerial trail.” Of course, there is also a safety orientation as well as the learning of such techniques as how to use the body for wind resistance and slow oneself down. Tours run hourly from 7 a.m.-4 p.m., usually include 10 people, and there are two to three Flightlines instructors on each tour. There are four different runs – guests can go up to speeds of 60 m.p.h., 45 m.p.h., 50 m.p.h. and 40 m.p.h., respectively Each person does each run and four people at a time take a run side-by-side. The experience takes about 2 ½ hours even though the runs vary in length from 35 seconds to one minute long. “It’s an indescribable experience,” says Margolis.“You can’t imagine what it’s like until you’ve done it.” To experience this high-flying thrilling adventure, call 702-293-6885. VID