Basketball Preview | Vegas Seven Magazine | Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 2015 by Vegas Seven

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THE LATEST News, politics, deals and road closures to avoid this fall

Getting up close and personal with spirits at Pioneer Saloon By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

October 29–November 4, 2015

VegasSeven.com

➜ AS MY CAR CLIMBS the six

miles of mountain to Goodsprings, hazy puffs of fog hover over the road, so thick that high beams barely cut through. There’s no moon and the sky is a clear, blue-black expanse … so where’s the fog coming from? Everything has spooky portent tonight, since I’m on my way to visit the spirits of the Pioneer Saloon—and I don’t mean whiskey or gin. Featured in movies, video games and on TV shows such as Ghost Adventures, for the last two years, Pioneer Saloon has been hosting Haunted Lockdowns, where people spend several aftermidnight hours attempting to contact the bar’s resident ghosts. The ramshackle bar hasn’t changed much since it opened in 1913, with its corrugated porch roof and weathered signage. Inside, there’s still a battered oak bar, potbelly stove, a Sears, Roebuck & Co. pressed tin ceiling and a cluster of bullet holes … but more on that later. Our guide for the evening, Jill, corrals us into the adjacent general store for backstory and gadgets—just like the ones used by ghost hunters on TV. There’s the Ghost Meter Pro, a handheld device that measures EMF,

a.k.a. electromagnetic felds, which can indicate a paranormal presence. Communication is through the Spirit Box, which emits a feld of static through which occasional words surface, like trying to listen to the radio while going over the Cajon Pass, or the Ovilus III, which prints trios of words on a screen. Jill laughs and jokes and is awfully lively for a woman who communes with the dead. She considers the ghosts just another set of regulars: Paul, the cheating gambler; Mr. Butterfeld, the suicidal bartender; Ruby, the murdered prostitute; and a number of others, nameless and ethereal. The most famous is flm star Carole Lombard, whose plane crashed into nearby Mount Potosi on January 16, 1942. Her husband, Clark Gable, drank at the Pioneer while waiting for her body to be found. Her spirit reportedly lingers, attempting to comfort him. “You never know when she’s going to show up,” says Jill, adding that the reason Lombard and many of the other spirits can still be perceived is because, once you’ve passed on, “a century is like a second.” Owner Noel Sheckells tells us that he needed otherworldly ap-

ASK A NATIVE

PAGE 14

★ A CURATED GUIDE TO THIS WEEK IN YOUR CITY ★ By Bob Whitby

Th OCTOBER 29

You’re inundated with Halloween options this weekend, of course. But how many of them are kid-friendly? Opportunity Village’s HallOVeen certainly is, and it’s going on through Sunday. There are nightly themes, rides and attractions. Plus candy. OpportunityVillage.org.

OCTOBER 30 While we’re on the topic, Spring Preserve’s Haunted Harvest is also tot appropriate. It has a hay maze, petting zoo, bingo, live entertainment and a haunted train ride. Today and Saturday. SpringsPreserve.org.

Sa OCTOBER 31

This might be your last chance to visit the wild and wonderful Hammargren house, because our wacky former lieutenant governor has been thinking about closing this tradition down. Hammargren and his wife, Sandy, invite visitors today and tomorrow to their home stuffed to the rafters with esoterica. You have to see this place to believe it. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. NevadaDays.org.

Su NOVEMBER 1

NaNoWriMo is in full swing. That’s National Novel Writing Month for you non-scribes. If you’re doing this thing and need moral support or just a quiet place to crank it out, the Summerlin Library has you covered. Its conference room is open every day, 10 a.m.-noon, for hopeful authors to work or meet. LVCCLD.org.

M NOVEMBER 2

A plastic food drive? Who wants plastic food? That’s what we thought until we realized that it’s actually the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth’s annual food card drive. You donate a fast-food or grocery gift card to help feed homeless youth during the holidays, and you’re invited to a tailgate party at the end of the drive on Nov. 21. NPHY.org.

Tu NOVEMBER 3

Photography buffs, take note: Desert Companion’s Focus on Nevada showcase is on tour, and it features select images from the 2015 Desert Companion Photo Contest. Through Dec. 31 at Henderson’s Green Valley Library. MyPublicLibrary.com.

W NOVEMBER 4

The thawing of relations between the United States and Cuba has many wondering about life on that long-closed island. The work of four contemporary Cuban artists in an exhibition titled Through Windows, Through Curtains, Call On Us provides a glimpse of how artists defy “invisible government control.” Through Nov. 14 at UNLV’s Beam Fine Art Gallery. UNLV.edu. Have an event you want considered for Seven Days? Email VegasSevenDays@Gmail.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PIONEER SALOON

Paranormal Activity

proval before buying the Pioneer Saloon in 2006. He met with the family who owned it—and a curiously empty chair at which they kept smiling and nodding. After a lot of odd questions—“I thought they had all been drinking too much of their own whiskey,” he tells us—they accepted his offer. The empty chair was for deceased patriarch “Papa Don” Hedrick, who had to approve the buyer of his bar. After all, he still hangs out here, too. We all move across the darkened bar into the Carole Lombard & Clark Gable Memorial Room, full of photos, news clippings and other memorabilia. Jill and Noel tell tales of the saloon’s spirits and encourage us to discuss any paranormal experiences we may have had—not only are we attempting to contact the ghosts of the Pioneer, but also any spirits that we may know personally. One man begins talking about his deceased sister and, as he does, our EMF readings ficker madly and, in the midst of white noise, the Spirit Box spits out what seriously sounds like her name. It’s creepy and strangely exhilarating. Maybe it’s the spirits, maybe it’s the stories, but there do seem to be sudden chills and a strange sort of electricity in the air. We go back out into the main saloon and sit around a table under those bullet holes. This is where Paul Coski—“Our most prominent and most playful spirit,” says Jill—was shot dead for cheating in a poker game. As she talks about the harddrinking Paul and the ace up his sleeve, the Ovilus’ screen reads, “money … steal … assault.” She pours a shot of whiskey and turns on the EVP. “What should I do with this shot?” she asks. Static, then we all distinctly hear, “Drink it!” Jill laughs and downs it. Sometime before 4 a.m., we decide to call it a night. A member of our Ghostbusters team has been snapping smartphone photos: In many, glowing transparent spheres hover midair, ranging from ping-pong to beach ball in size—orbs, also considered evidence of paranormal presence. So, are there spirits at the Pioneer Saloon? Well, if they’re anywhere, they’re here. And, even if you’re not a believer, a night hanging out at the county’s oldest bar telling ghost stories, playing with toys and giving yourself a few scares is certainly a night worth spending.

Cash is the great equalizer in Las Vegas, the method by which anyone can command the moment as in no other city.

THE LATEST

STYLE

Dani Bald, 31

Realtor and owner of Create Luck Realty, Design and Lifestyle LLC Describe your personal style. I like

my outfts to have a “theme.” If I’m spending a weekend at a cabin in the mountains, then the theme will be something along the lines of “fannel, Timberlands and fur.” If I’m headed to California for a weekend on the beach, the theme will most likely be “laid-back, Bohemian, a la Kate Hudson.” My outft choices are very circumstantial, but faux fur, ftted blazers and gold seem to be the three constants. I try not to take myself too seriously, and I always fully commit, which means making a regrettable fashion choice every once in a while—but that’s the fun of it. Who is your fashion icon? Iris Apfel is

my self-proclaimed “spirit granny.”

What type of event do you love dressing for? I look forward to over-

dressing for any occasion. I love adding a feminine twist to a classic tuxedo. Tuxedo dress. Tuxedo pants. Tuxedo without pants. Describe your interior-design style.

Bold patterns, rich colors and fancy prints. I’m also heavily drawn to any and all things Palm Springs, circa mid-1950s.

fuenced the way I look at design. I’ve always been able to appreciate beautiful things regardless of their price. I frst started dabbling in design because I saw a huge niche that was being overlooked. I wanted to cater my services to the people who appreciate and want beautiful spaces, but are still decorating on a HomeGoods budget. With design, as with my wardrobe, I like to mix and match the old with the new— new coffee table meets vintage vase, and the expensive with the cost affordable—Target dress meets Givenchy boots. The right accessories can make a world of difference with any home or outft. – Liz Powell H&M leather pants; Mural from Nordstrom blazer; T-shirt borrowed from husband; vintage turquoise jewelry; and Valentino shoes.

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

October 29–November 4, 2015

VegasSeven.com

Does being a designer influence how you dress? The way I dress has in-

carpet when Patrick McCaw arrived at UNLV as a freshman last year. He came in as the ffth man in a fve-man recruiting class, an unranked, unheralded prospect who was mostly viewed as a long-term organizational project. Rashad Vaughn was the headliner; McCaw was the throw-in. By the end of the season, McCaw had fipped the script.

RICE AND CHEERLEADER BY RONDA CHURCHILL; MCCAW VERTICAL LEAP COURTESY UNLV ATHLETICS; ZIMMERMAN BY MIKE DINOVO/USA TODAY SPORTS; MCCAW BY TROY BABBITT/USA TODAY SPORTS

Stephen Zimmerman.

Patrick McCaw.

“I know how Zimm can run the floor. I know how Zimm plays, he knows how I play. He knows I’m going to be looking for him.” –PAT R I C K MC CAW anywhere. He’s really effective. I think the pick-and-roll is where he might be the most effective—he can pop, he can roll—that’s huge.” And Zimmerman’s game should help open up the foor for McCaw. In addition to being able to score in the post and in the mid-range, Zimmerman is an able passer and a willing screener—the latter skill being especially valuable, considering the Rebels were quite possibly the worst screening team in the Mountain West last year. Every inch Zimmerman can open up with a good pick is another inch McCaw can use to collapse the defense before fnding Zimmerman rolling down the lane for an alley-oop. Although he’s just a freshman going through his frst college preseason, it didn’t take Zimmerman long to realize how much easier McCaw could make his life. “Pat is a very, very smart player,” Zimmerman says. “And, I think, underrated. He’s a great player. He’s a pass-frst guy. He’s just one of those guys that is always looking for people.” Defensively, McCaw and Zimmerman will be centerpieces in the Rebels’ full-court pressure package. Zimmerman’s size and

mobility make him a pivotal chess piece in the frontcourt, while McCaw will once again use his elastic 6-foot-7 frame to harass opposing guards from baseline to baseline. And if the defense succeeds in creating turnovers, the Rebels’ star duo is primed to turn any miscues into immediate offense. McCaw thrived in transition last year, producing 124.7 points per 100 possessions on fast breaks, second on the team only to sophomore guard Jordan Cornish (164.1). Once he gets into the open court, McCaw will be zeroing in on the guys he trusts to fnish—like Zimmerman. “I think we’re getting a good feel for each other,” McCaw says. “In practice, I tell him if he runs, I’m going to hit him. I’m always going to be looking for him, because I like to pass and I know how he can run the foor. I know how Zimm plays, he knows how I play. He knows I’m going to be looking for him.” Despite starting their college careers at different ends of the hype spectrum, McCaw and Zimmerman are now on the same level. It’s a two-man connection the Rebels hope to ride all the way back to the postseason.

VegasSeven.com

➺ No one rolled out the red

STEPHEN ZIMMERMAN AND PATRICK MCCAW

many) as a savior. The 7-footer has the blue-chip pedigree, based on offers from Kansas, Kentucky and all the other heavyweights, and he has a built-in fan base thanks to his status as a hometown hero after winning four state titles at Bishop Gorman High School. So it would make sense if McCaw wanted the young fella to prove it a little on the court. But Zimmerman’s situation is a bit different. As a Las Vegas local, he was around the program so much during his recruitment—attending practices, taking in games, playing pickup with the players—that the current Rebels got to know him before he even committed to UNLV. And a summer spent working out together has now got McCaw buying into the Cult of Zimm. “He’s a team guy, and that’s what I like about Zimm the most,” McCaw says. “He doesn’t brag about his game or his accolades. He just comes to practice and wants to work hard like everybody else, and that’s a huge deal for us. He may have a big name already, but you wouldn’t know it. He’s handling it really well.” The fact that McCaw and Zimmerman are bonding is great news for the Rebels. They have the potential to be UNLV’s best 1-2 punch since the Tark era [when Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon fueled back-to-back Final Four runs], and if the Rebels are going to contend for an NCAA Tournament berth this season, it’s going to be McCaw and Zimmerman powering the effort. On the court, the two appear to be engineered to play together. McCaw excelled running the pick-and-roll last year, and Zimmerman is basically a 7-foot Swiss army knife in the two-man game. On one of the frst plays during the team’s frst open practice, McCaw came around a ball screen set by Zimmerman, probed the lane and swung a pass back to Zimmerman, who had popped off the pick and stationed himself at the top of the key. Zimmerman caught the pass and fred a jump shot without hesitation. Swish. The two have since run a series of successful pick-androlls in practice, to the point where it should be a staple of the half-court offense, starting on opening night. “With Zimm, he’s just so versatile, he can work from anywhere on the foor,” McCaw says. “On pick-and-rolls, in the post, the high post—

October 29–November 4, 2015

2&1

He inched his way up the depth chart, earning more and more playing time because of his shooting prowess, passing ability and defensive versatility, and by the time March rolled around, McCaw was the Rebels’ best overall player and rightly viewed as a program cornerstone. For the year, he stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 9.6 points, 2.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 36.8 percent from 3-point range. Now, all you have to do is bring up Patrick McCaw in conversation with Dave Rice and the coach can’t help but smile. Based on the path McCaw had to take to earn his spot, it would be reasonable if he viewed Stephen Zimmerman’s coronation with a hint of skepticism. Whereas McCaw clawed his way to prominence, Zimmerman is entering his freshman year already having been anointed (by

NIGHTLIFE

Mim and Liv Nervo at Foxtail pool in August.

October 29–November 4, 2015

VegasSeven.com

There defnitely are more boys in the game. On average, boys are making more money than girls in electronic music right now. But we are seeing a lot more girls come through recently. Hopefully girls can start making money and playing for huge crowds and all of that.

What is being done to encourage more women to start making music?

Making music has never been so accessible. When we started making music, [production programs] were very expensive, and were few and far between. Now, it feels like you could learn how to make music from your laptop or through schools everywhere. How did you yourselves learn to produce?

We did a course through London School of Sound, where we felt we would be given that extra level to understand the programs we were working on. We should encourage girls—even if they are not producers,

“We should encourage girls—even if they are not producers, even if they are singers—to record themselves and try to get a bit more techy with things.” even if they are singers—to record themselves and try and get a bit more techy with things. Before you know it, you learn to tune, and that is how you learn. If we encourage girls to get behind the computer more, we will see a real change. Have you had to deal with sexism in the industry?

We are so lucky to have had a lot of support from the boys we worked with early in our career. We were working with David Guetta and [other] major players. So when we sat down [to make music], we had their support. Haters are going to hate, and we just can’t spend energy focusing on that.

Japan and Taiwan. They have become friends. Nervo Taiwan went to Nervo Canada and stayed with her to come to a gig. They are really sweet people, and we make an effort to meet with them at gigs, to get them backstage, to get them free drinks, signed shirts, whatever we can do for them. That’s amazing!

You’ve said on Facebook that you ran into a superfan who got a Nervo tattoo on his ribcage. Does this sort of thing happen a lot?

They are so cute! Yeah, it has happened a few times. Our fans are just the cutest in the world. EDM and dance music in general have very passionate and involved fans. It doesn’t get old. What other fan encounters have been special?

We get fans who send us amazing packages nearly every week. There is a community online, they are called the Nervo Family. They are from all over the world—Nervo Honduras, Nervo Ecuador, Nervo Mexico, Nervo Spain,

[One girl] met us in Spain and came to the airport to greet us. She gave us her phone, and [we were] Whats App-ing [with other Nervo family members], whoever was awake at the time. Technology affects the celebrity-fan experience, sometimes resulting in celebrities being harassed online. Have you ever had to deal with that?

Yeah. Every now and then one does get under your skin. When we released the video for “It Feels” in which a gay couple kiss, we got a bit of hate online. That was one of the only times where we really stepped up and [spoke up]. We try not to focus on the haters. We focus on the lovers instead.

PHOTO BY THOMAS TRAN

Why are women under-represented in the music and entertainment industry?

NIGHTLIFE doors on November 7 after a decade of crazy parties, graced by countless DJs and celebrities, and with millions of gallons of water having been pumped through the club’s iconic waterfall. Resident DJ, producer and nightlife fgure Dave Fogg has been along for the ride ever since the club opened.

October 29–November 4, 2015

VegasSeven.com

What was opening night like?

I can barely remember! It was New Year’s Eve, and it was huge because it was the frst nightclub in Wynn, and its frst foray into the nightlife world [aside from its earlier incarnation, La Bete]. [On opening night] there were no superstar DJs. It was your normal Las Vegas New Year’s Eve crowd with myself, Justin [Hoffman] and maybe a few other guys manning the decks. Do you prefer working on the ground or behind the scenes?

As a resident DJ, I’m onstage in front of thousands of people every week. What I do up there is for everybody, but I’ve always enjoyed working behind the scenes. Before Wynn, I worked as the music director for the Palms, and that was a great experience. I continue to work behind the scenes now, but not so much at the club—I work with some of our artists in Vegas. A bunch of them live here now, and it’s cool to see how they’ve all evolved through the years.

Chasing Waterfalls

Wynn’s Dave Fogg prepares for Tryst to leave the building By Ian Caramanzana

Who in particular have you enjoyed working with?

Diplo and Skrillex are defnitely my favorites. I’ve got a neat history with Diplo; I helped him establish his frst residency in town at the Palms when I was the music director there. He later ended up going to the Wynn as I did! (Laughs.) Now we’re both over there, and our friendship has continued. What is your favorite Tryst moment?

Halloween, as an event, is really great every year. I know that’s not a ‘moment,’ but each one has been so awesome. We really used to go all out for Halloween, whether it was in contests, prizes, everything else … We had Beacher’s [Madhouse] one or two times, and it was really fun. Tryst

was probably the frst club to turn Halloween into an entire weekend by booking events. In fact, I don’t remember a time before Tryst when Halloween was celebrated for an entire week! The scope of the events and parties was huge. What has been the biggest change in Tryst over the years?

The main change was in the bookings in talent. The EDM boom changed everything, including the whole layout of the place—so much so that they built a stage to bring everybody’s focus to the DJ. Before, the DJs were in the back—not in plain view. The stage makes the waterfall a cool backdrop, but design-wise, it’s stayed true to Victor [Drai’s vision].

What can we expect from Tryst’s closing weekend?

I’m DJing the very last weekend, which is cool because I helped open it and now I’m closing it. I’m honored to do it as a headliner. I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences at Tryst, and I’m sure others have as well. It’s important to keep memories of places like this. It may not mean much to somebody [else], but for the regulars and people who work at the club, the memories will transcend time and space, so to speak. Ten years is usually the time when something’s gonna get renovated, or just torn down altogether in Las Vegas, so it’s important to cherish things while they’re here because they’re a part of history. What’s next for the space? Care to spill the beans on the new concept?

I actually have no idea! I’ve heard things tossed out there about a restaurant/nightlife combo, but that’s just what I’ve read. The only thing I know is that it’s closing. (Laughs.) They’re keeping it under wraps. Either way, it’s exciting. What’s next for you?

I’m just going to continue DJing. These days, it’s rare to be doing something that you love as a job, and I don’t have any plans other than to continue what I love doing.

PHOTO BY DANNY MAHONEY

➜ TRYST NIGHTCLUB is set to close its

NIGHTLIFE

[ THE CHEAT SHEET ]

Who Spooked Ya? Your Halloween weekend party guide By Ian Caramanzana

the name Wiz Khalifa does. The Philly rapper trades his microphone for turntables, but just for tonight. Given his background, we’re sure he’ll hop on the mic to perform a song or two. (In the Venetian, 10 p.m., TaoLasVegas.com.)

SAT 31 Happy Halloween! To quote singer PARTYNEXTDOOR, “you got options.” Some people prefer eerie, hard-hitting guitar riffs over bumpin’ tunes created on MacBooks. If you fall under this category, hit House of Blues for a performance by Ghost. The Swedish, costume-donning heavy metal band brings the noise. To put things into perspective: The singer calls himself Papa Emeritus III and sports an outft that looks like a Satanic pope. Join the cult or feel his wrath. (In Mandalay Bay, 8 p.m., HouseOfBlues.com/LasVegas.) Ghostbar hosts Night of the Killer Costumes, a costume contest with a cool cash prize. One lucky winner will leave with $5,000. DJs Exodus and Mark Stylz provide the tunes. (In the Palms, 1 p.m., Palms.com.) Lil’ Wayne is enduring a legal hell at the moment, with Tidal and Cash Money holding his new material ransom. We’re not sure how it’s going to end, or if we can expect to hear new tunes soon, but we do know he’s bringing the party to Life for Halloweezy. Let’s amend one of his taglines: “It’s Weezy F. Baby, and the ‘F’ is for ‘frightful!’” (In SLS, 10:30 p.m., FoxtailLasVegas.com.) If you just can’t stay away from the untz, Hardwell and Kill the Buzz man the decks at Hakkasan. The former is a world-famous DJ; the latter is a fresh face in the electro house world. Catch both, or check out DJ Ruckus in the Ling Ling Club. Remember those aforementioned options? (In MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.)

October 29–November 4, 2015

VegasSeven.com

SUN 1

➜ ISN’T HALLOWEEN AWESOME?

For one night, we’re able to dress in ridiculous outfts and party our collective asses off. But why restrict it to a day, when there’s a full weekend of fun to be had? Here’s your itinerary. Time to break out the costumes—it’s about to get spooky.

FRI 30 Your monster of a weekend begins with Dash Berlin at Marquee. His

last name gives the impression that he might be from Germany, but he’s actually Dutch. The trance veteran gave thousands of fans in Chile and Peru doses of his thumpin’, highenergy sound earlier this month, so he’s bound to do the same. Expect to hear all the hits from his prolific discography including “Waiting” and “Here Tonight.” (In the Cosmopolitan, 10 p.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.) In an interview with Rolling Stone, Afrojack said that his recipe for success is to “Trust your instinct

and follow your balls.” We think that sounds a little too forward, but it’s obviously done him well; he’s been spinning at local clubs since he turned 14, has collaborated with such pop stars as Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj and has appeared on Forbes list of highest-paid DJs. Trust your instinct and see him spin at Omnia. (In Caesars Palace, 10:30 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com.) Daddy Kat celebrates the weekend at Tao for TAOlloween. His name probably doesn’t ring a bell, but we’re sure

Atlanta rapper and singer Future closes out the festive weekend at Drai’s. The autotune crooner is riding off the wave of success with three highly lauded mixtapes, a No. 1 solo album and a No. 1 collaborative album with Drake. And that’s just in the past 11 months. These accolades come after two chart-topping albums and countless features. Give “Future Hendrix” a high five for being prolific, and turn up to trap anthems such as “March Madness” “Karate Chop” and “Blow A Bag.” Freebandz! (In the Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife.com.) If the wubs are in your wheelhouse, head to XS for a set by DJ, singer and producer Skrillex. Earlier this month, he visited India to play a few shows and gather inspiration for new material. Given the holiday, you might just get a first listen. (In Encore, 10 p.m., XSLasVegas.com.)

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

FOXTAIL SLS

[ UPCOMING ]

October 29–November 4, 2015

VegasSeven.com

Oct. 30 Fedde Le Grand spins Oct. 31 Lil Wayne performs Nov. 6 Michael Woods spins

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

For most, age 20 is awkward. It’s old enough to be considered an adult but one year from full-blown party mode. For the Fetish & Fantasy Halloween Ball (HalloweenBall.com), however, two decades is a major milestone. Thanks to a sprawling venue, added attractions and returning talent, 2015 is set to be the wildest edition yet. Debbie Downers and naysayers aren’t even allowed; according to the event’s website, “looky-loos and party poopers are encouraged to go elsewhere.” “The initial idea was to create an event that everybody can come to, where anything was acceptable—whether that be a fetish or fantasy costume, or just SpongeBob,” owner/CEO Kerry Schatz says. The Los Angeles Times has said it’s “the one party you don’t want to miss,” and the Travel Channel has said it’s one of the Top 10 events to attend in the world. So what exactly is going to happen in the three walls and two hallways of Vanity Nightclub in Hard Rock Hotel on October 31? Schatz says he wants the party to both honor its past and celebrate the future. “We’re gonna be doing a lot with fire,” he says, “I know lots of nightclubs are trying to stay away from that, but in 20 years, we’ve built a good relationship in the fire department, and we’re gonna take advantage of that.” In addition to pyrotechnics, Schatz is also bringing back talent from previous years. “We’re bringing back some of the crowdpleasers, the shockers.” Schatz wants to bring the party to other states. He already has plans to create a Fetish & Fantasy Expo that piggybacks on the success of the event by showcasing clothing, toys and art in the realm of sexuality. “Our aim is to always push the line as much as possible to keep things interesting,” Schatz says. – Ian Caramanzana

PHOTOS BY TOBY ACUNA AND AMIT DADL ANEY

FETISH & FANTASY BALL HEATS UP FOR ITS 20TH YEAR

| October 29–November 4, 2015

➜ CHEF TORI NAKANO wants to bring

something new to the local culinary community. She and her partner, Chris Staefe, are trying to establish a resource for chefs who need space to work on independent projects. The Vegas Kitchen Collective is still in the development stage, but they are aiming for four fully equipped kitchens,

walk-in cold and dry storage, a fully functioning demonstration kitchen and an environment that promotes “interactivity and interaction between local and visiting chefs, yet allows the functional autonomy for those who desire privacy.” In other words, nearly everything chefs need to launch, say, their own product line.

It’s an ambitious idea, but, Nakano explains, “that’s kind of what I get myself into.” And looking back on her diverse career, her ability to handle challenges has been clearly demonstrated. In Arizona, Nakano worked with renowned chefs, including Alex Stratta and Christopher Gross. After meeting her former husband, they moved

to Boulder, Colorado, together to run the kitchen for a restaurant called Red Fish Brewhouse. There she began in the kitchen, but moved to a bookkeeping position when she got pregnant. She also lived in New York, where she was part owner of a catering company. After relocating to Las Vegas in 2001, Nakano worked as executive chef at a Whole Foods, as executive chef and culinary director for the Creative Cooking School and as a personal chef before buying skateboard park Skatecity to support and encourage her son, who is now a professional skater. And she also works as a nutritional therapy practitioner and wellness coach. So where did the idea for Nakano’s next venture originate? “It started when I was trying to develop packaged foods for sale,” she says. “We looked around town to see if there was somewhere we could actually do this production without actually having to build our own kitchen, which is quite expensive. And we found a couple of places in town, but they were kind of lacking. So we said, ‘Hey, we can do this ourselves and do it a lot better. And we can make our products, but we can also bring something to the community that’s needed.” When and if Vegas Cooking Collective launches, Nakano insists it will not cater to casino chefs. Instead, it will be aimed at experienced chefs looking to expand and open their own businesses—catering, packaged foods, pop-up dinners or any other independent endeavors. “There’s no place where they can go to fnd a community of other chefs who meet their needs without having to build their own,” she says. The group has a business plan in place but is still raising funds (with some investors already on board). They’re also looking for the right location. Finally, Nakano and Staefe are seeking feedback from local chefs to gauge the interest level and ascertain needs. “What we would like,” Nakano says, “is to hear from people about how much they want to do this. How excited are they? Would they want something like this? That’s how the community can help us.” Along those lines, they’ve set up a website, VegasKitchenCollective.com, which has a three-question survey. Delays and disappointments are commonplace in the culinary world, but, Nakano says, the project is “six to eight months out.” The collective could be a boon to the local culinary community, which has made giant strides in recent years, thanks to a small but growing group of innovative chefs willing to think outside the box.

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

Healthy lifestyle chef Tori Nakano hopes to launch Kitchen Collective, a culinary incubator By Al Mancini

VegasSeven.com

DINING

If She Builds It, Will They Come?

CONCERTS

Madonna Raises the Bar (and the Stripper Pole)

MGM Grand Garden, October 24

The Internet Dials Up a High-Speed Performance

October 29–November 4, 2015

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Vinyl at the Hard Rock Hotel, October 23

In support of their critically acclaimed third LP Ego Death, The Internet—a sextet comprised of members of Los Angeles-based hip-hop collective Odd Future—brought their unique breed of neo-soul to Vinyl. After three hours of opening acts, anticipation for the band’s performance swelled to classroom presentation levels of discomfort. Luckily, The Internet didn’t disappoint. Ego Death’s bass heavy opener “Get Away" instantly won the crowd’s favor. After running through three more tracks from Ego Death, the group took a break from the familiar with “Partners in Crime,” a not-sowell-known cut from their debut Purple Naked Ladies, only to bring the crowd back into the fray with the sing-along hook of “Just Sayin’/I Tried” and a jazzy rendition of Usher’s 2001 hit “You Don’t Have to Call”. ¶ Despite the venue’s muddy sound, The Internet delivered solid performances of the crowd favorites “Girl” and “Dontcha” to an audience of pleased devotees. ★★★✩✩ – Herb Akinyele

NEW ON NETFLIX STREAMING The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (debuts Nov. 1) Do I Sound Gay? (Nov. 3) With Bob and David, Season 1 (Nov. 13) Call Me Lucky (Nov. 13) Soaked in Bleach (Nov. 15) Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Season 1 (Nov. 20) Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (Nov. 29)

MADONNA BY ALEX ANDER ZAYAS; THE INTERNET BY LINDA EVANS

A&E

Madonna is the bar by which I judge all other pop star concert performances. Lady Gaga, for example: “This looks like something Madonna once did better.” Or Prince: “Thrilling, like seeing Madonna in concert.” Mind you, this standard is not based on a long history of attending Madonna concerts. Rather, it’s founded in the 1991 tour documentary Truth or Dare, which chronicles the then-32-year-old singer on her controversial cone bra, masturbation-infused Blond Ambition tour. Watching that movie hundreds of times was as close as I had ever come to seeing Madonna in concert until her Rebel Heart tour came to Las Vegas. Madge and I finally had our day. The now 57-year-old Madonna didn’t disappoint the now 37-year-old me. Surprisingly, she performed many of her early hits, such as 1983’s "Burning Up" and 1987’s "True Blue," rearranged to match the tone of the tracks from her Rebel Heart LP, such as “Bitch, I’m Madonna” and “Living for Love.” The big numbers were all there, including "Material Girl," "Holiday" (played as an encore), "La Isla Bonita" and "Lucky Star" (during which she and her dancers took several shots of Jose Cuervo Tradicional, a tour sponsor). Characteristic of many past endeavors, the show was rich in religious symbolism. During "Holy Water"— which was intercut with a few bars of "Vogue"— Madonna and her brigade of incredible dancers used a cross as a stripper pole, dressed in nuns’ habits. It probably goes without saying that Madge works the pole better than most 57-year-olds. No one does 1980s Madonna better than 2015 Madonna, and she proved it during "Like a Virgin," when she performed a dance solo that left the audience swooning. Moves like that inspired an entire generation of girls—like myself—to cut the fingers off their lace gloves and wear bustiers as outerwear. (Male and female audience members alike came to the show dressed in Madonna-wear. The people-watching was almost as good as the concert.) Rebel Heart is the crossroads at which the “I want to rule the world” Madonna and the “Bitch, I rule the world” Madonna meet. And like the other of adoring fans who packed the arena, I was happy to realize my dream of seeing it live. ★★★★★ – Melinda Sheckells

MARKETPLACE

Surreal. I could see my wife, Rosa, sitting in the gallery, and I kept saying to myself, “This does not feel real … but I would pay to be here, looking at the N-C-two-A with both middle fngers up, saying, ‘Fuck you!’” That’s how I felt. When I was coming out of high school, they didn’t want my [UNLV] Rebels to run college basketball; because they hated Jerry Tarkanian; because they forced me to go to another school; because when I went to another school [UCLA] they pulled me into a dark room and interrogated me; because they have these rules saying athletes can’t get paid. We couldn’t proft off our own likenesses, yet they could take my likeness and make all the money they wanted. I was 35 and at my friend’s house, and his kid is playing a video game and I see myself. … It kept stacking up to, “Fuck you guys, you can’t just keep doing this. Enough is enough.” I wanted them to know I was pissed. What did you say to NCAA President Mark Emmert at that courthouse in Oakland?

October 29–November 4, 2015

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We were face to face, shaking hands. [Emmert] said, “Hey, Ed, we admire what you’re doing. I think what you’re doing is a great thing. Some things do need to change. Some rules we have are archaic. We admire you for stepping up and doing this.” Whether it was sincere or not, I don’t think he had to say that.

Ed O’Bannon

The Henderson resident and former UCLA basketball star on the NCAA lawsuit, Last Week Tonight and lawyers By Rob Miech Comedian John Oliver—in discussing your antitrust lawsuit, O’Bannon v. NCAA—ripped the NCAA on HBO’s Last Week Tonight in March. But you stole the episode, saying that a fake video game, March Sadness 2015, “is every bit as fucked-up as the real thing.” How’d that come about?

He had heard about the case and wanted to do a little segment on it. I was interested and intrigued.

I saw a whole page of one-liners and wanted to do it so bad. I thought my grandmother wouldn’t like it, with all the f-bombs. But I had to do it. I went to a green room in a little studio here in town. Everyone enjoyed it; even my mom said, “I can’t believe you said that … but it was pretty funny.” John Oliver helped me show my sense of humor about it and show people that I’m not some militant.

On September 30, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that NCAA amateurism rules violate federal antitrust laws but struck down a plan to pay basketball and football players. What did you glean from that mixed message?

I’m still processing it. My lawyer will call me soon to talk about where we’re going next. What does it mean? Right now, not a whole lot. There still is the possibility of going to the Supreme Court; there is still the possibility of the judgment and the result changing. We are so far from resolution. I was happy when we got the initial judgment [in

August 2014]. Then we went to the Appeals Court and I said to myself, “I’m going to grow numb to this.” I had to. I didn’t get into this to have my heart broken constantly. I bit the frst time; not going to do it this time. The lawsuit was filed more than six years ago, it could spend another year at the appellate level, and then the U.S. Supreme Court could take years to decide whether to hear it. Is it distressing to not even be at halftime?

When we started, my lawyers said, “Forget about it. Go about your life. We’ll be in the background. We won’t be done with this for 10 years, at least.” I remember thinking, “Yeah, right. OK.” And here we are. We aren’t at 10 years, but we’re getting close. It’s a marathon. I’m good with it. The NCAA thinks we’re going somewhere, from what I understand; all of their pretrial tactics were to wait us out. But this isn’t a money grab. I’m in this to help change rules. I’m going to be here, however long it takes. If we’re going to the Supreme Court [ultimately], my bags are packed. How has this ordeal taken a toll on you?

I wanted to be a college coach. I went back to school to make myself available for that. Not only did all of those doors close, but so did television opportunities; they told me they didn’t want to be associated with me. It has trickled down to my kids, too, unfortunately. Are you now much more cognizant that this is a lawyer’s world and all the rest of us just get to live in it?

No doubt. If I could go back I would be a lawyer. Wow. But, you know, you play with the cards you’re dealt. I don’t know that I would go back, if given an opportunity. I enjoy my life. I enjoy who I am. I am comfortable in my skin. If you stand up for what you believe in, if you show a passion for something, you can get things done. What does O’Bannon think of Kingsford’s #PayEd campaign. Read the full interview at VegasSeven. com/EdOBannon.

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

SEVEN QUESTIONS

What was it like giving testimony in the trial stage of your legal action in June 2014?