#PaintItGold
L AS VEGAS’ WEEKLY CITY MAGAZINE
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FOUNDED FEBRUARY 2010
PUBLISHER Michael Skenandore
EDITORIAL Nicole Ely Genevie Durano SENIOR EDITORS Paul Szydelko, Xania Woodman SENIOR EDITOR, A&E Geoff Carter ASSOCIATE EDITOR Camille Cannon SENIOR WRITER Lissa Townsend Rodgers STAFF WRITER Emmily Bristol CALENDAR COORDINATOR Ian Caramanzana EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
MANAGING EDITOR
SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Melinda Sheckells (style)
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Michael Green (politics), Al Mancini (dining), David G. Schwartz (gaming/hospitality)
ART Ryan Olbrysh Cierra Pedro Anthony Mair, Krystal Ramirez
CREATIVE DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
VEGASSEVEN.COM Herbert Akinyele Zoneil Maharaj SENIOR WRITER, RUNREBS.COM Mike Grimala WEB PRODUCER Jessie O’Brien ASSISTANT WEB PRODUCER Amber Sampson TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION Marc Barrington Jimmy Bearse DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Jasen Ono
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION ADVERTISING MANAGER
SALES Christy Corda Nicole Scherer ACCOUNT MANAGER Brittany Quintana ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Robyn Weiss
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR DIGITAL SALES MANAGER
Ryan T. Doherty
| Justin Weniger
Michael Skenandore VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND EVENTS Keith White DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Michael Uriarte CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sherwin Yumul CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Sim Salzman CONTROLLER Jane Weigel PRESIDENT
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PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP Vegas Seven, 702-798-7000, 302 E. Carson Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101 Vegas Seven is distributed each Thursday throughout Southern Nevada c 2015 Vegas Seven, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of Vegas Seven, LLC is prohibited.
THE LATEST MGM Resorts International leads the way in clean and renewable energy with its solar panels at Mandalay Bay.
News, deals, politics and feasting on holiday promotions.
Seven Days A curated guide to this week in your city By B O B W H I T B Y
THU 24
It’s Christmas Eve. Wind up the kids a bit and take them to Springs Preserve for Train Rides to Santa’s Cottage, hourly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. After the ride, the big guy will be reading stories and handing out candy canes. SpringsPreserve.org.
FRI 25
Not much going on today, and that’s as it should be. Open presents, eat too much, sit around in your jammies, go to church, go for a hike, enjoy your family. That’s what Christmas is for.
SAT 26
Seven (somewhat) surprising ways our city is on top in national rankings By Emmily Bristol
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
➜ EVEN WITH ALL the great things about our unique city,
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it’s hard not to get bummed when it seems that we top all the bad lists—last in education, top 10 in both domestic violence and teen pregnancy. But we’re not all bad. Here is just a sampling of ways that Las Vegas and the Silver State is leading the charge: First in clean-energy jobs: Nevada ranked frst in the nation in creating new clean-energy jobs in 2014, adding 8,591 jobs, according to a report by Environmental Entrepreneurs. The trend looks to continue with projects at the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone in Clark County, creating about 2,000 more jobs in 2015. First to go 100 percent renewable: In November, Mayor Carolyn Goodman announced that Las Vegas would be the frst major U.S. city completely powered by renewable energy. In a partnership deal with NV Energy, all public buildings, utilities and infrastructure will use renewable energy, either directly from a 100-megawatt solar project being built near Boulder City or by offsetting conventional methods. The City has already saved $20 million in the past fve years by using conservation methods and energy-effcient programs, which will be expanded as part of the new initiative. Second most diverse college: This fall U.S. News and World Report ranked UNLV the second most diverse university in the nation. Technically, the school is in a fourway tie with St. John’s University in New York, University of Houston and Andrews University in Michigan. Still, UNLV’s large percentage of Hispanic and Asian students helped bump the college up from sixth place in 2014.
Eighth least run-down roads: While the amount of road construction in Las Vegas may prompt a bit of road rage every now and then, the beneft is that we have been ranked eighth in the nation for our well-kept roads, according to TRIP, a national transportation research group. Fourth best U.S. travel destination: According to Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice rankings, Las Vegas came in fourth, behind New York, Chicago and Charleston, South Carolina, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given our Valley’s famed dining, nightlife and natural wonders, such as Red Rock Canyon. Third in nightlife: Travel site SkyScanner ranked our world-class nightlife lower than Miami Beach and New Orleans (frst and second, respectively). While we locals might bristle at being ranked anything but No. 1 in nightlife, third place is still pretty good, especially when you consider that seven of the top 10 best-performing nightclubs are in Las Vegas. When going by profts, the top six best-performing nightclubs are here, which are (in order) frst-ranked XS, Hakkasan, Marquee, Tao, Surrender, Hyde Bellagio and Lavo. Top 10 kinkiest city: How can a city so close to where prostitution is legal at brothels “just over the hump” in Pahrump not be considered one of the kinkiest cities in America? Indeed, the annual ranking is a real thing tracked every year by Kink University. In fact, according to the fetish site, Las Vegas is actually slipping, dropping from third in 2011 to 10th this year. Time to step up your game, Sin City. We can’t let frst place Portland, Oregon, have all the fun.
SUN 27
More proof that holiday season is basketball season: The D3 Hoops Classic kicks off at noon in the South Point Arena and runs through Wednesday. That’s Division III men’s and women’s college basketball, featuring teams from all over the country, and it’s some scrappy play. D3Hoops.com.
MON 28
Ice skating season is pretty short here in the desert, so we’re reminding you that Downtown Summerlin’s Rock Rink is still open, and will be until Jan. 18. Fifteen bucks buys you ice time and rents you skates, so no excuses. DowntownSummerlin.com.
TUE 29
If you’re looking for something to do with your dog, we suggest Paws on the Patio, 6-9 p.m., at Brio Tuscan Grille in Tivoli Village, where fellow pooch lovers take part in assorted merry making. Proceeds support Adopt a Rescue Pet. Check the Paws on the Patio Christmas Party Facebook page for details.
WED 30
The Runnin’ Rebels face the Fresno State Bulldogs, who are on a bit of a hot streak themselves, 8 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack. The Rebels won’t be playing on the home floor again until Jan. 12, so get your fix while you can. UNLVRebels.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NRG RENEW
Head of the Class
One reason people say “Happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” is because there is more than one holiday. Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, for instance. Celebrate African values, culture and community at the West Las Vegas Library’s annual Kwanzaa gathering, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., today and Sunday. You’ll find vendors, music, motivational speakers and friends at this party. LVCCLD.org.
J A M E S P. R E Z A
By Emmily Bristol ➜ AT DUSK ON DECEMBER 17,
HOMELESS VIGIL BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ; REED-WHIPPLE BY CIERRA PEDRO
about 50 people gathered in the cold on the sidewalk in front of the Lloyd D. George U.S. Courthouse on Las Vegas Boulevard. As the quarter-moon took light, Thomas “Chicago” Randle El welcomed the assembled—a mix
Saving Reed-Whipple ➜ The battle over the fate of the Huntridge Theater has
preoccupied Downtown Las Vegas for a decade. However, another historic performance space is fighting for survival, as the Reed-Whipple Cultural Center finds itself standing directly in the path of progress—or a commute. The Regional Transportation Commission’s master plan for Downtown includes a light-rail line that runs through the south wing of Reed-Whipple, which may mean the entire structure must go. Those who support saving the building applaud its
To donate or get involved with homeless services, or if you need services, contact Help of Southern Nevada at 702-369-4357.
unique architecture and cultural history. Assemblywoman Heidi Swank, executive director of the Nevada Preservation Foundation, says it is “one of our few remaining buildings in the international style. Its flat roofline, strong vertical and horizontal lines, and lack of ornamentation make it an excellent example of early modernism.” The building, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North, was constructed in 1963 as a recreation center for the LDS church and sold to the City in 1970. From 1972 to 2011, it was home to numerous arts nonprofits until budget cuts forced it to close. Reed-Whipple was supposed to receive a $45 million renovation/expansion that would contain a theater, rehearsal spaces, bars and a restaurant. But that project has not come to fruition, and the building has remained unoccupied. The Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission met last week to consider the City’s and the RTC’s plans for the site. “I hope we can have a new occupant in Reed-Whipple who will use it well,” says Las Vegas City Manager Betsy Fretwell, adding that “a nonprofit would be ideal.” There were also suggestions of repurposing Reed-Whipple into a transit center. “We want everything on the table except for tearing down any part of that building,” commission member Jack LeVine says. The Committee unanimously passed a resolution against allowing Reed-Whipple to be destroyed, as well as one to begin the process of filing for both national and local historic landmark status for the building. Given that the RTC is working on a 30-year plan, it appears the effort to save the building has plenty of time. —Lissa Townsend Rodgers
Questions? AskaNative@VegasSeven.com.
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20th annual Homeless Vigil memorializes 150
gave an impassioned reading of Psalm 23. Marjorie Lough shared an account of her son’s heroine addiction and her hope for addicts living on the streets. “I don’t know who my son is now,” she said. “But a mother’s love is strong.” As the lights of the Stratosphere twinkled just down the road, Chicago read the names, with help from others. “We started with 147 names, but we just found out about three more tonight,” he said. Many in the audience, holding lit candles, cried for the dearly departed.
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
Silent Night
of homeless people and those working at various agencies that help them. Randle El, the widower of Linda Lera-Randle El, has continued her life’s work, Straight From the Streets. Through the nonproft organization, Linda, who died in 2014, fought for the rights of the homeless and worked passionately to help them. Many felt the weight of her absence at this year’s 20th anniversary of the annual Homeless Vigil. Several community leaders and faith leaders, including Las Vegas Christian Church Pastor John Gee and Congregation Tikvah P’nai Rabbi Yockeved Mintz, spoke at the event, which included a reading of all 150 names of the homeless who died in 2015. Chaplain Walter Poston
Despite the relation to this week’s tragic incident on the Las Vegas Strip, this question reaches wider and deeper than the desperate acts of a distraught few. Consider this: Between 2008-2011—that’s four years, if your math is bad—140 auto-related pedestrian deaths occurred in Clark County. Metro investigated 70 such deaths in 2013 alone. In 2014, the count jumped to 93. And despite public relations efforts (the Zero Fatalities program), 2015’s number is closing on 120—a 70 percent rise over 2013, and nearly matching the fouryear total cited earlier. Contributing factors are numerous, including wide suburban-style streets where cars legally travel 66 feet per second, but where sidewalks remain narrow and unforgiving; increased digital distractions; 24-hour shifts; 24-hour bars; easily distracted tourists, especially those hailing from places where cars and pedestrians comingle a little less confrontationally. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study spanning the years 2008-2011 found that far more local walkers die than tourists. Most are men, around 50 years old; 32 percent had blood alcohol content higher than .08 percent— significant, given that the focus on drunk drivers outweighs any such attention on drunk walkers. The study concluded some obvious ways to improve statistics: reduce exposure of pedestrians to traffic, reduce traffic speed, improve pedestrian visibility, improve awareness and behavior of drivers and pedestrians. How that translates to a post-war suburban city is hard to imagine, especially when so many of us live on one side of town and work on the other while demanding to get from A to B quickly. On the heels of this week’s tragedy, some are calling for barriers to be erected along the Strip to keep cars off the sidewalk and pedestrians off the street. While it might be a good PR move, it sounds like an overreaction to what has thus far been a rare problem. Still, given the way the Strip has developed over the years and the increase in foot traffic along it, it would seem better to move toward a more pedestrian-friendly environment altogether. Fewer lanes for traffic, more room for walkers, cyclists and pedicabs. In the future, traffic might be gone from the Strip entirely, the entire stretch a Disney-esque Party Street U.S.A. with a PeopleMover running through it. As for the suburbs, we’re not about to redraw the roadmap for existing communities, so awareness and attitude need to improve among drivers and pedestrians. Reduce posted speeds in busy areas, and then enforce them. Add signaled crosswalks. Take fewer chances. In the end, who knows? Perhaps more urban-style developments will make their way to the suburbs, giving those who have no want for a car a way to safely live without.
VegasSeven.com
Can Las Vegas fix its pedestrian death problem?
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NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY GUIDE
North Carolina rapper J. Cole hits up Light, where he’ll deliver his unique blend of rap styles, as heard in last year’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive. Beyond his distinct fow, he’s known to be one of the most gracious rappers in the game; he’s made appearances in hospitals to visit fans and surprised them at home with listening parties of unreleased material. See if he debuts new material to ring in the New Year. And even if he doesn’t, at least you can “get high and go low” when he performs “Work Out.” In Mandalay Bay, 10 p.m., TheLightVegas.com. Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill—arguably the hottest couple in hip-hop— visit Drai’s to deliver the “Dreams and Nightmares.” As a couple, the two have had a rough year, including a beef with their ex-friend Drake, and social media hate. The two collaborated on the steamy “Buy a Heart” and the sentimental “All Eyes on You” so they’re bound to perform both, as well as their individual hits such as “Super Bass” and “Jump Out the Face.” #PowerCouple! In the Cromwell, DraisNightlife.com.
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Clockwise from top left: J. Cole, Nina Sky, and Nicki Minaj.
Following his performance at the Chelsea, Bruno Mars will head to Marquee to join “679” hitmaker Fetty Wap, who has the honor of counting down to midnight. Remember the ages-old tradition of jumping as the clock strikes midnight? That’ll work swimmingly with the beats when the New Jersey rapper performs “Again” or “My Way.” Since Drake rocked the room on the same night last year, we hope Mars will join Fetty to perform his verse on the latter. Bring your “Trap Queen” and enjoy an open bar from 9-11 p.m. and passed hors d’oeuvres from 9 to midnight. In the Cosmopolitan, MarqueeLasVegas.com. It might take a few shots for you to start seeing double, but at LAX you can while remaining completely sober because Nina Sky is taking charge of the party. You might remember the Puerto Rican sister duo from 2004’s reggaeton-fueled “Move Ya Body” or “Turnin’ Me On,” featuring Pitbull. Since then, the two have altered their sound to cater more to the EDM crowd. Hear some of the new tunes, and predict where they’ll go next. In Luxor, Facebook.com/ LAXNightclub.
Brooklyn Bowl welcomes multigenre producer Pretty Lights to give us helpings of electronica, nu jazz, hip-hop, soul and more. His music might sound a little different than some of the bigger-name DJs spinning across the street, but think of it this way: You get to season your musical palate and become exposed to new tunes. It’s the best way to kick off the New Year. At the Linq, Brooklyn Bowl.com/Las-Vegas.
Take those “Moves Like Jagger” from your bedroom mirror to Mandalay Bay Events Center, where pop rock quintet Maroon 5 hits the stage. If the countless singles including “Sunday Morning,” “Animals” and “This Love” aren’t enough to sell you, perhaps this will: Frontman Adam Levine was seen playing bodyguard for fellow The Voice coaches Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, so perhaps he’ll bring the two with him. It’s the band’s fourth year
celebrating the holiday in Las Vegas— we’re hoping it’s a new tradition. After all, Levine did pay homage to Frank Sinatra in Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert. 8 p.m. MandalayBay.com. Celebrate Nick Jonas’ big move from song to screen to bona fde stardom when he performs live at Foxtail. The 23-yearold’s latest single, “Area Code,” is the perfect match for the venue’s club setting, with its trap drums, smooth vocals and
PREVIOUS PAGE: SNOOP DOGG BY BRENTON HO; JEPSEN COURTESY INTERSCOPE RECORDS THIS PAGE: MINAJ BY HOWARD HUANG; J. COLE COURTESY COLUMBIA RECORDS; NINA SKY COURTESY UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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Coming hot off years of Billboard charttopping singles, Bruno Mars hits the Chelsea to deliver a performance full of his No. 1 singles. Spin and dance to “Locked Out of Heaven” or shimmy to the triumphant horns during his verse of Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk.” Last year, Mars rocked the same room with a sold-out performance, so you know he’s bound to deliver a set full of funk and soul infuences of which millions have fallen in love. Don’t believe him? Just watch. In the Cosmopolitan, CosmopolitanLasVegas.com.
NIGHTLIFE Your city after dark, photos from the week's hottest parties and a guide to hangover relief
➜ SEAN CHRISTIE HAS BEEN
in the nightlife rat race since he graduated high school in Boston. In 2000, he moved to Las Vegas to assist in the opening and management of House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. From 2001 to 2006, he was a managing partner of the Light Group. In 2007, he opened Blush in Wynn, followed by Surrender, Encore Beach Club and Andrea’s in Encore. In that time, Christie has seen the industry’s ups and downs. Now, after a few years of EDM having what he calls a “stranglehold” on the Las Vegas nightlife scene, the current Wynn Resorts vice president of operations says his adjacent properties are going in another direction. On April 28, Intrigue will open its doors, replacing Wynn’s long-standing Tryst, but the club will move away from high-priced DJs as its main form of entertainment, although XS, Surrender and Encore Beach Club will still cater to the EDM market. Christie is also attempting to carve a niche for millennials with the newly opened Encore Player’s Club, an energetic lounge with gaming in the middle of the casino foor. With Christie and his team on board, Wynn Resorts is going all in on what’s next.
Wynn Resorts executive and former nightlife kingpin Sean Christie on opening Intrigue, closing the book on the fading DJ craze and the push for millennials By Mark Gray
What is the future of nightlife in Las Vegas?
There was a period that the DJs, as a group, had a stranglehold on nightlife here. But everything is a cycle. One genre or one form
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Turning the Page
We aren’t taking an approach that everybody [else] is doing right now in terms of the way we market the club. One of the notable things about the club is that we have a private club within the club. The private club is going to be invitation-only, and it will be social media-free zone. People are not going to be allowed to Instagram, tweet, take photos—anything like that. We want to truly keep it a private club.
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
What can we expect from Intrigue?
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NIGHTLIFE 30
of entertainment is not going to forever be the prominent format in town. When you look back through the decades at the popular types of music, a lot of times, clubs are defned by the music you play in them. People, after a while, are looking for something different.
be, but they are very userfriendly. We needed a better place for people to come hang out, gamble and have more of an interactive experience in terms of gambling. It doesn’t feel like a club in any way, shape or form. It feels more like a cool lounge that has gaming.
What does your new role as vice president of operations at Wynn Resorts entail?
What skills did you learn from nightlife have carried over to your non-nightlife role at Wynn?
I work on special projects in the hotel. I try to come up with things to drive revenue, to cut costs or to be experiential. One of the things that I was tasked with when I came on board was we wanted to focus more attention on Encore, in terms of the areas that are just slower in the hotel. Encore Player’s Club just opened, and it’s focused on millennials. What excites you about it?
We have 26 65-inch TVs, two shuffeboards, an amazing pool table and a DJ. We have these interactive tables that have four screens on them that can be TV screens. They can be games. They can be your Facebook. They can be whatever you want them to
I come from an entrepreneurial, small-business background. At the end of the day, if you don’t make money, you don’t eat. I never, up until this past year, was ever paid a salary when I had my own company. My deals were always based on, if the place makes a dollar, I make a portion of the dollar. I have always had to hustle. What I bring is a unique way of looking at things: First and foremost— again, in terms of Wynn—it has to meet our standards. Is it going to be proftable? Can it make a buck? Wynn has been featured in a lot of movies. Is this something we’ll see more of?
Yes. We actually just shot a
flm on the casino foor in Encore with Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler called The House. The idea behind shooting movies here is that we felt like we could, through flm as a medium, expose all of these rich environments that on the big screen—or even small screen—translates so well, because of the way that they are designed and the colors and all the things that make us us. How has nightlife changed in Las Vegas over the past decade?
The nightclubs in Las Vegas have lost their identity completely. [The DJ defning] how busy the club is, that’s where the nightclub industry is now getting lost. We fork over all this money to whatever DJ it might be—we do not want to be a prisoner to that anymore. DJs are still important for XS and Encore Beach Club and Surrender. There’s certainly a market for it, but we want to start going down a different path and exploring different things, because our customers demand new things. The new thing is actually now the old thing, which is a fun nightclub focused on the customer, not the DJ.
PHOTOS BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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Inside Encore Player’s Club: billiards, interactive tables and shuffleboard.
NIGHTLIFE
Seven Nights Your week in parties By I A N C A R A M A N Z A N A
the only thing getting lit this year… (In the Cosmopolitan, 10 p.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.)
SAT 26
Hate to break it to ya, folks, but Santa is real. And he’s delivering gifts to all the good boys and girls, tonight, so you might just be able to catch a glimpse of him if you stay out a teeny bit later. Pass the time at Ghostbar, where you can keep an eye out for the man, his sled and his eight noble reindeer from 55 floors above. DJ Benny Black’s got the tunes to keep you entertained on Christmas Eve. Perhaps Old Saint Nick himself will make an appearance at this holly jolly party. We bet he’ll jump on the dance floor and do his best Drake impression when Black drops “Hotline Bling”! (In the Palms, 1 p.m., Palms.com.)
The “season of giving” is technically over, but Steve Aoki doesn’t care. He’s heading to Omnia to give us another one of his wild, high-energy sets. Beyond dropping some of his biggest singles, such as “Delirious (Boneless)” and “A Light That Never Comes,” we’re hoping the Dim Mak Records founder graces us with helpings of cake. Yes, we’re still hungry, even if we’ve been stuffing our faces over the past month. (In Caesars Palace, 10:30 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com.) RVLTN turns 2 tonight, and you’re invited to the party! The Las Vegasbased EDM events company will blow out the candles by—wait for it—throwing another one of its tantalizing, over-the-top events. Tonight’s billing includes multitalented dubstep/electro house/trance/progressive house/everything else producer Seven Lions, Canadian “celebrity stormchasers” Botnek, trap terrorizer Ookay and more. The party’s at The Joint this time, so there’s sure to be room to move and groove. (In Hard Rock Hotel, 8 p.m., HardRockHotel.com/ TheJoint.)
FRI 25
SUN 27
Are you in the party mood after all the eggnog, family drama, gift giving and wrapping-paper gluttony? Head to Marquee and get festive with Andrew Rayel. The Moldovan producer and DJ keeps the holiday vibe going with a trance set that’ll be just as enchanting as that taupe cashmere sweater Mom got you, or tacky gingham socks that are two sizes too small from Aunt Rochelle. Just kidding; it’ll be better. Rayel is a huge Star Wars fan, so ask if he wants to trade TIE fighter figurines or chop it up about The Force Awakens. After listening to his recent remix of Dash Berlin’s “Till the Sky Falls Down,” we think the Force is strong with this one. The tree isn’t
Did you catch the Chainsmokers’ live performance of “Roses” on
Andrew Rayel.
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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THU 24
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Baauer.
The Late Late Show With James Corden? The New York City-based duo redeemed themselves from their embarrassing 2014 “performance” of “#Selfie” on American Idol. This time, instead of simply pressing play and obnoxiously walking around and taking actual selfies, the duo triggered drums, hit keys and even sang along with singer Rozes on national television. It’s a story of redemption that’s worth a celebration, so give
`em dabs when they man the decks at Hakkasan. Fergie DJ holds it down at Heart of Omina. (In MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.)
MON 28 We’re knee-deep in that awkward couple of days between the safe, family-centric holiday season and the pure, unadulterated madness of New Year’s Eve. Who’s to say you can’t get the party started early? Local turntable vet Dave Fogg rocks the post holiday, pre-New Year’s Eve celebration with an open-format set at XS. He lists music, movies, toys, guns and knives on his Instagram bio, so ask him what he got for Christmas. Check out our interview with Fogg at VegasSeven.com/ DaveFogg. (In Encore, 10 p.m., XSLasVegas.com.)
TUE 29 Seven Lions.
Tuesdays are for lovers, so take that special gal/guy to Founda-
tion Room, where you can eat and drink on the cheap, thanks to the Nibbles & Sips happy hour. Enjoy $10 small plates, $5 New Amsterdam Vodka cocktails and $5 house wine. And you can impress your bae with one of the grandest views of the city from 63 floors up. (In Mandalay Bay, 5-8 p.m., HouseOfBlues.com/FR.)
WED 30 Break the rules: The New Year’s Eve pregame begins on New Year’s Eve Eve at Light with another edition of Baauer’s Studio B. The Philly-born producer finally dropped a new single, “GoGo!” with a gumbo of dirty synths, flutes and oodles of percussion. It’s interesting to see how his style of trap has evolved. We’re not even sure if you can call it that at this point. Either way, see if he drops new music during this pre-New Year’s bash, and try to chart where he’ll go next musically. (In Mandalay Bay, 10:30 p.m., TheLightVegas.com.)
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NIGHTLIFE
PARTIES
SEVEN MORE NIGHTS
LAVO BRUNCH The Palazzo
[ UPCOMING ]
Dec. 26 Lavo Casino Club Dec. 31 DJ Khaled spins Jan. 1 Lavo Casino Club
THU 31 It’s New Year’s Eve! Avoid the madness on the Strip and hit Fremont Street Experience for a tribute-band extravaganza that includes Rio (Duran Duran), No Duh (No Doubt) and Don’t Look Back (Boston). Dad would be proud. (At Fremont Street Experience, 5 p.m., VegasExperience. com.) Looking for DJs? Omnia has three: Calvin Harris and BURNS hit the main club, while Jesse Marco tackles Heart of Omnia. (In Caesars Palace, 10:30 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com.) See our full New Year’s Eve guide on Page 23. FRI 1 Brooklyn Bowl welcomes multi-genre producer Pretty Lights to give us helpings of electronica, nu jazz, hip-hop, soul and more (At the Linq, 8 p.m., Vegas.BrooklynBowl.com), while Morgan Page turns a new page at Light. (In Mandalay Bay, 10:30 p.m., TheLightVegas.com.) SAT 2 The dome goes up at Marquee Dayclub for a rare visit by Swedish production duo Galantis. (At the Cosmopolitan, 11 a.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.) Later, hit up Hakkasan for a set by British trance heavyweight Mark Eteson. (In MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.) SUN 3 Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye, a.k.a. That Pretty Motherfucka, a.k.a. A$AP Rocky brings his all-encompassing rap to the stage at Drai’s. (In the Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife.com.)
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MON 4 “Heaven Trap” duo Slander brings its holiness and “Gud Vibrations” to XS. (In Encore, 10 p.m., XSLasVegas.com.)
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See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com
WED 6 Wind down on Wednesday by hitting up happy hour at PKWY Tavern, and enjoy $3 domestic drafts, well drinks and wine. (9820 W. Flamingo Rd., 3-7 p.m., PKWYTavern.com.) —Ian Caramanzana
PHOTOS BY THOMAS TRAN
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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TUE 5 When it comes to the Downtown Tuesday turn-up, Vanguard Lounge DJs Sucio and Exile have got you covered at Studio V. (516 Fremont St., 10 p.m., VanguardLV.com.)
NIGHTLIFE
PARTIES
GBDC
The Palms [ UPCOMING ]
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See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com
PHOTOS BY AMIT DADL ANEY AND THOMAS TRAN
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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Jan. 2 Party Animal jungle-themed edition Jan. 9 DJs Mark Stylz and Exodus spin Jan. 16 Once Upon A Day fairy tale-themed edition
NIGHTLIFE
PARTIES
FOXTAIL SLS
[ UPCOMING ]
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See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com
PHOTOS BY BOBBY JAMEIDAR AND JOSH METZ
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve with Nick Jonas Jan. 1 Borgore spins Jan. 2 Carlos Condit after-fight party
DINING
I’ll be damned if Alex Stratta hasn’t got it going on once again, doing a cuisine I’d never have expected from him.
Restaurant reviews, news and master sommelier facetime
SALT ’N PEPPER | PAGE 64
From the basic to the exotic, we hone in on ingredients that’ll tickle your taste buds By Genevie Durano
SQUID INK
In evolutionary terms, cephalopods such as squid and octopuses use ink as a defense mechanism. By releasing large amounts of ink into the water, they create a dark cloud that confuses their predators and allows them to escape. In culinary terms, it is a delicious addition to pasta or risotto, or as a base for stews. The taste is defnitely that of the ocean—thick, briny and undeniably umami. Popular in Italian, Spanish and Southeast Asian cuisines, it brings new depth to tender squid. You won’t even mind the fact that you’ll need to brush your teeth after. Try it: Rossejat’ negra con cigala (toasted pasta, squid ink, sepia sofrito, Norwegian lobster and aioli) at Jaleo (in the Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7950, Jaleo.com).
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Although not a common protein source in American dishes, chicken feet are a popular ingredient in other countries, including Indonesia, Russia, Jamaica and Vietnam. Good-humored Filipinos call this popular street food “adidas,” named after the athletic shoe brand. But it’s in China where chicken feet have the most traction. Deep-fried, steamed, pickled, marinated, simmered in sauce—they are found in snacks, soups and main dishes. Consisting mostly of skin and tendon and gelatinous in nature, the appeal of chicken feet lies in their vast contrast to the texture of actual chicken. Try it: KJ Dim Sum & Seafood (in the Rio, 702-777-7777, Caesars.com).
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Taste Test
CHICKEN FEET
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
PHOTOS BY SABIN ORR
Clockwise from top left: salmon skin with roe, crawfish, squid ink and chicken feet.
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[ A SMALL BITE ]
DINING
EAT YOUR WAY TO GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR ➜ It’s difficult to say if small, coin-like lentils actually attract wealth, or whether black-eyed peas truly invite good fortune. But, it’s equally difficult to say that any of these are not true. Around the world, people eat foods that are thought to symbolize luck in the New Year. So why not cover all the bases with these celebratory eats?
There’s something so beautiful about heirloom tomatoes, with their surprising, irregular shapes and variegated color. This is a tomato with personality and a taste to match. Heirlooms are classifed into four categories: family, commercial, mystery and created heirlooms, their seeds passed down from generation to generation. But the important thing to know about these beauties is their favor, which many feel far surpasses that of modern tomatoes. There’s something to be said about history after all. Try it: Heirloom tomato and burrata at Honey Salt (1031 S. Rampart Blvd., 702-445-6100, HoneySalt.com). CRAWFISH
A crawfsh by any other name— crawdad, freshwater lobster, mudbug, crayfsh—is just as tasty. It’s seafood not from the sea, but from freshwater bayous. While they look like the lobster’s more petite cousin, crawfsh have a taste and texture all their own. Nothing is more Cajun than these little crustaceans, and a crawfsh boil? Well, that’s pretty much the heart
and soul of a Louisiana afternoon (where the recommended portion is fve to seven pounds per person). Try it: Hot N Juicy Crawfsh (multiple locations, HotNJuicyCrawfsh.com). STEAK & EGGS
This pairing is the bedrock of any breakfast/brunch/late-night menu worth that one last cocktail too many. It’s protein in its purest form. The usual suspects on the side—potatoes, toast, what have you—are mere window dressing. You’ve come for a nice marbled slab of meat and the delicate ooze of yolk that will power you through whatever the day entails. Try it fancy: Steak et Oeufs—a 6-ounce London sirloin steak with two eggs any style, toast and pommes frites—at Bouchon (in the Venetian, 702-414-6200, Venetian.com). Try it hearty: 10-ounce top sirloin with breakfast potatoes and toast at Ellis Island Casino & Brewery (4178 Koval Lane, 702-733-8901, EllisIslandCasino.com). LIMES
Remember talk of the lime shortage last year that struck fear into the
hearts of margarita afcionados everywhere? Think about how ubiquitous this citrus is in our daily lives—guacamole, ceviche and gin and tonics wouldn’t exist without it. Limes are an essential ingredient in Indian, Mexican and Vietnamese cuisines, among others. And really, could you imagine a bowl of pho without that fnal squeeze of citrus bliss? Unthinkable. Try it: The Big Bone Soup at District One (3400 S. Jones Blvd., Suite 8, 702-413-6868, DistrictOneLV.com). SALMON ROE
It’s hard not to be enamored with these crown jewels of Japanese cuisine. Salmon roe, known as ikura, are the fully ripe egg masses you’ll fnd in sushi or paired with blinis. A bite into the delicate orbs opens your mouth to the taste of the ocean—complex, briny and sweet. Although salmon roe is not as pricey as caviar (harvested from sturgeon), it is no less beloved by ardent fans. Try it: Poached egg with sea urchin and salmon roe at Raku (5030 Spring Mountain Rd., Suite 2, 702-367-3511, Raku-Grill.com).
[ JUST A SIP ]
GOING IN BLIND
Those sommeliers—they collect some key visuals,
stick their nose in a glass of wine, give it a swirl and take a few sips. Then, without so much as a glance at the label, they tell you what it is, where from and when. Believe it or not, there is an art to tasting a wine blind. Why not just look at the label for all this information, you ask? “The simple act of learning about the
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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elements that truly make wines different—such as oak, earth and fruit—can really
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help narrow down what someone likes,” says Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas wine director and master sommelier Will Costello. ¶ Costello hosts Sips With a Master Sommelier, a blind tasting class from 4-5 p.m. on Saturdays in the private dining room at Twist by Pierre Gagnaire. For $50, guests receive instruction on how to blind taste, and learn about oak aging, Old World versus New World, and thin- and thickskinned varietals. “From a purely entertainment point, everyone who attends can enjoy the equivalent of half a bottle of wine while asking any questions they have about wine in general. In the end, wine is about company and good taste!” ¶ Mandarin Oriental also offers Mixologist in the Making with property mixologist Michael LaPenna from 3-4 p.m. on Saturdays (also $50). Call 702-590-8888 to reserve up to eight seats per class. Large groups and private classes are available. – Marisa Finetti
Get the latest news on local restaurant openings and closings, interviews with top chefs, cocktail recipes, menu previews and more in our weekly Sips and Bites newsletter. Subscribe at VegasSeven.com/SipsAndBites.
GRAPES | Do as they do in Spain by consuming
12 grapes at the strike of midnight—or, more specifically, in the first 12 seconds of the New Year. But don’t be a false starter by eating one before the minute hand hits twelve. That’s said to bring bad luck. Get your fill of this good luck berry with sopa de ajo con cangrejo (chilled almond and garlic soup with crabmeat and grapes; $14) at Jaleo by José Andrés in the Cosmopolitan. SOBA NOODLES | One of Japan’s most
beloved foods, soba (also known as buckwheat noodles), is customarily eaten at midnight. The noodles symbolize longevity, so the longer the better. Go ahead and slurp some zaru soba (chilled soba noodles dipped in sauce) at I-Naba (3210 S. Decatur Blvd., $8.) LENTILS | In addition to being delicious, the
lentil’s resemblance to a tiny coin symbolizes wealth and financial rewards. In Italy, it’s customary to eat sausages with lentils after midnight. B&B Ristorante in the Venetian offers cotechino sausage with lentils, Blue Lizard Farm turnips and horseradish ($16). BAGELS | In the morning on New Year’s Day,
toast yourself with a bagel, which symbolizes prosperity because it’s round, and because the year has finally come full circle. The Bagel Cafe (301 N. Buffalo Dr.) has 24 varieties from which to choose, including plain, jalapeño and chocolate chip for $12 for a baker’s dozen (here, 14). PORK | Like grapes and bagels, anything round
can be a symbol of prosperity, and the very nature of the pig’s rotund physique makes it one of the luckiest foods to eat on New Year’s Day. Pigs also symbolize progress, because of its rooting behavior. Cut in the Venetian offers a double-thick Kurobuta chop with Bartlett pear and quince mostarda ($38) and Carnevino in the Palazzo serves a 20-ounce bone-in chop ($46). BLACK-EYED PEAS | Perhaps the most
widespread culinary New Year’s Day good-luck tradition in the U.S. is Hoppin’ John—another lucky legume—a dish of black-eyed peas served with rice and pork. Enjoy seared sea scallops with smoked bacon and black-eyed pea succotash with sweet corn cream ($44) at Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House in MGM Grand. –Marisa Finetti
FOOD PHOTOS BY SABIN ORR; COSTELLO BY RON DILLON; ILLUSTRATIONS BY CIERRA PEDRO
HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
[ MUSIC ]
It’s OK to Listen to Carly Rae Jepsen A&E
And, in fact, you should By Camille Cannon
➜ NESTLED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
Drake’s “Know Yourself” and Adele’s “Hello,” Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away With Me” was listed by many critics as one of the best tracks of 2015. That “Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen? Yep. The one playing the Venetian Theatre on December 30, 31 and January 2? Mmhmm. And it wasn’t just Cosmopolitan, that called Jepsen’s E•MO•TION the Best Pop Album of 2015 and gave us 5 Gorgeous Ways To Wear Bows In Your Hair. See also Time, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and The New York Times for more raves. Maybe you’re surprised because you slept on E•MO•TION after hearing the slump of a lead single, “I Really Really Like You.” Sample lyric: I really really really really really really like you. But the album’s got more meat on its bones, and “Run Away With Me” is a Grade A cut. Cause you make me feel like/ I could be driving you all night/ And I’ll fnd your lips in the street lights/ I wanna be there with you. The 30-year-old Jepsen has graduated from throwing wishes into wells to waving her #feels-fag high. Her sweet, breathy vocals produce the kind of confdencebuilding hook you sing along with to shoo butterfies out of your stomach. And the bouncy, synth-driven melody makes it easy to dance—or ask someone to dance—to. Not ready to dig deep into the catalog? Jepsen recently released her version of Wham’s “Last Christmas,” kissing the sad yuletide song with a dose of sax and a twinkle of hope that Taylor Swift couldn’t quite capture on her 2007 cover. We won’t tell anyone if you listen. And if you ever want to Jepsen and chill, call us, maybe? CARLY RAE JEPSEN
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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The Venetian Theatre at the Venetian, Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 at 8 p.m., Dec. 31 at 10 p.m., 702-414-9000, Venetian.com.
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[ ALBUM REVIEW ]
NEW ON NETFLIX STREAMING
➜ Forget “what color is this dress,” Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Llamas on the
2 Fast 2 Furious (debuts Jan. 1)
eclectic remixes (Florence + the Machine, Sufjan Stevens, Sam Smith/Disclosure and
House of Wax (Jan. 1)
Erykah Badu, But You Caint Use My Phone
(Universal Motown Records)
loose: 2015 is the year of “Hotline Bling.” Drake’s monster hit has spurred dozens of several others have given the tune unique spins) and hundreds of memes. (The Wii Tennis meme is our favorite, by far.) ¶ So it shouldn’t be alarming that R&B’s queen of quirki-
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (Jan. 1)
ness, Erykah Badu, has released an entire “mixtape” that not only revolves around Drake’s
Training Day (Jan. 4)
ers impact modern relationships. Over the course of 11 tracks, she gives us strong covers
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 10 (Jan. 5) Hyde Park on Hudson (Jan. 16) Chelsea Does ... (Jan. 23)
reminiscent tune, but pushes the envelope by examining just how those handheld comput(she gives Usher’s “U Don’t Have to Call” some jazzy flair and teams-up with André 3000 for a silky smooth cover of the Isley Brothers’ “Hello It’s Me”) and original compositions that are stronger still. In “Phone Down,” Badu craves for the attention of her lover over eerie, atmospheric trap, while “What’s Yo Phone Number” features a trade-off of sympathetic verses from Badu and rapper ItsRoutine (who—surprise!—sounds exactly like Drake). ¶ The latter track abruptly transitions into a DJ Screw tribute, which perfectly exposes the mixtape’s Achilles’ heel: many songs seem fragmented; unfinished. “Dial’Afreaq” is a jumbled mess of vocal samples and beeps layered above an Afrika Bambaataaesque beat, and songs such as “Caint Use My Phone” and “I’ll Call You Back” play like extended, glorified interludes. Still, Badu presents a refreshing take on just what a mixtape could be at a time when the line between mixtapes and albums is blurred. ★★★✩✩ —Ian Caramanzana
MARKETPLACE
MARKETPLACE
MARKETPLACE
MARKETPLACE
I told my wife I said that, and she turned white, and said “You didn’t really say that, did you?” I hope people know I meant that as a tonguein-cheek comment, really in jest. But I also meant that Elvis is much more than how he was pictured at the end of his life. My wife and I enjoy Vegas. We [come here] to have fun. I’m not a big gambler. I’m more of a slot machine person. We’ll come there every few months and feel like we treated ourselves. It’s changed a lot through the years.
Some of your fans are likely surprised, though, that you will do a residency here when you had some negative impressions of the city earlier in your life.
I just meant that Elvis was not at a high point in his career when he played Vegas, but I’m defnitely at a high point in mine. I’m really loving life, and I’m looking forward to being there and introducing my songs in a new way.
Dec. 24, 2015–Jan. 6, 2016
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How will the residency be different from your regular concerts?
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John Fogerty The singer on his Vegas residency, adding sparkle to 1969 and why he’s fixated on being honest By Nancy Dunham
We are taking some elements of the tour—both the current one and things I have been doing since 1969, starting with Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)—and preparing them for a special show. Vegas is known for glitz and glamour and, even better, known for pure rock ’n’ roll. So we are taking a lot of extra trappings and fguring out how to do both—remain true to 1969 and add extra sparkle. One thing, though—I notice Cher has a lot of costume changes. I will probably wear the same costume, but have many guitar changes! The residency will celebrate your music of 1969, when you wrote and recorded three separate CCR albums with songs such as “Fortunate Son” and “Down on the Corner.” Who will perform with you?
I will have my band. We’ve
FORTUNATE SON IN CONCERT
Jan. 8-23, Venetian Theatre, $59.50, 702-414-9000, Venetian.com.
been together [as a whole band] for a year and a half. But I’ve played with a lot of them for a long time. [Drummer] Kenny Aronoff and I have been playing together for 20 years. Any special guests?
A lot of musicians are in and out of Vegas, so if I had a mystery guest, it would be wonderful. But I haven’t called my friends and lined them up. If it happens, it’ll be very organic. That’s much more rock ’n’ roll. You were very honest about your faults in your recent autobiography, Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music. ($30, LIttle, Brown and Company) How cathartic was the experience?
A couple of things in my childhood left me fxated on honesty. I want that from others, and that means I have to be honest, too. Now, if someone asks me if their clothes look nice, I might fudge a bit. But I have to be honest about things that really matter. If I’m not brutally honest about myself, nothing else I say matters. In the book I talk about my mistakes [such as the unrelenting perfectionism that alienated many friends] and my favorite stuff and how I came through it all and landed on my feet. Life became wonderful for me. What projects are you planning after the residency?
I have been concentrating on guitar for several years and feel like I am just really getting into a good place. I’m not saying this to be overly humble or fsh for compliments. There are some guys that really, really play and are full of incredible guitar chops. I always thought I’d grow up and be like that, but it’s been a “cold waterin-the-face moment.” I didn’t do that, but I hope to do a lot of that on my next record.
PHOTO BY MYRIAM SANTOS
SEVEN QUESTIONS
You were quoted in the Asbury Park [N.J.] Press that when you were younger, you thought Vegas was synonymous with “fat Elvis.” True?