Woman in the Mirror | Vegas Seven Magazine | Jan.7-Jan. 13, 2016

SATURDAY

JANUARY 16

FRIDAY

FRIDAY

FEBRUARY 26

MARCH 4

FRIDAY

MARCH 25

FRIDAY

NOVEMBER 18

ticketmaster.com // pearl box ofce // 702.944.3200 // palmspearl.com palms.com

©2016 FP Holdings, L.P. dba Palms Casino Resort. All Rights Reserved.

CONTENTS

JANUARY 7–13, 2016

T H E LAT EST

8

“Stranded on a Desert Island” Reflections on three years of car-free Las Vegas living.

By GEOFF CARTER

10

“Year of Transformation?”

Prospects of new resorts and skillbased casino games are promising.

Green Felt Journal by DAVID G. SCHWARTZ

Plus … Seven Days and The Deal.

NIGH T LIF E

17

“Incoming Class” Meet the fresh faces of Las Vegas nightlife.

By IAN CARAMANZANA

Plus … Seven Nights, and photos from the week’s hottest parties.

DINING

41

“Wynn’s of Change” Taking roll call following major changes to the resorts’ chef roster.

By AL MANCINI

Plus … Tips on veganism, a Q&A with Bazaar’s Meat’s lead sommelier and Dishing With Grace.

A &E

47

“Sound Foundations” The Cosmopolitan’s VP of entertainment remembers five years of ascending bands and wild nights.

F E AT URE

The Most Fabulous Thing by CHARLIE STARLING

SEVEN Q U EST IONS

“Inside Out”

54

Meet the entrepreneurs behind seven of Las Vegas’ newest and most innovative ftness and beauty businesses. By JESSI C. ACUNA Plus … The seven plagues of Sin City.

“Star Wars: The Spoilers Awaken”

Cover photograph by Krystal Ramirez.

Pinup model and entrepreneur Candace Campbell on her vintage lifestyle, letting go of things and her upcoming ventures.

VegasSeven.com

50

|

12

Plus … Seven’s 14, an appreciation of Lemmy Kilmister and the weird world of Durarara!!

Jessica Bello founded her pilates business in 2013.

January 7–13, 2016

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

By GEOFF CARTER

5

L AS VEGAS’ WEEKLY CITY MAGAZINE

|

FOUNDED FEBRUARY 2010

PUBLISHER Michael Skenandore

EDITORIAL Nicole Ely Genevie Durano SENIOR EDITORS Paul Szydelko, Xania Woodman SENIOR EDITOR, A&E Geoff Carter 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

Comments@VegasSeven.com Sales@VegasSeven.com DISTRIBUTION Distribution@VegasSeven.com

LETTERS AND STORY IDEAS ADVERTISING

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 2016 Vegas Seven, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of Vegas Seven, LLC is prohibited.

THE LATEST

News, deals and the Las Vegas gaming-tourism complex.

Seven Days A curated guide to this week in your city

By B O B W H I T B Y

THU 7

From organized crime to the cops cleaning it up, Jewish people have had a major role in the mob.

With his 7 p.m. talk “Kosher Nostra,” former Mayor Oscar Goodman will guide you through this fascinating chapter of our city’s history. TheMobMuseum.org.

FRI 8

Reflections on three years of car-free Las Vegas living By Geoff Carter I didn’t need it. I moved from Las Vegas to Seattle in 2002, and after three years of paying parking tickets, repair bills and the like, I realized it was cheaper for me to use Seattle’s public transportation to get around. My annual bus pass was partially subsidized by my job: $100 a year got me a ride virtually anywhere in the city I wanted to go. Who wouldn’t try that, if it were possible?

When I moved back to Vegas in May 2012, I remained dizzy with the possibilities of public transit. I held onto my Zipcar membership in hopes the car-sharing service would come to town, and I bought $65 monthly bus passes from the RTC—not as favorable a deal as I had in Seattle, but still an arrangement that would pay for itself in 10 to 15 days of commuting. And I held onto that crazy dream until September 2015 … when I fnally caved in, bought a 2015 Fiat 500, and joined the traffc jam already in progress.

Look, I love the RTC. To my mind, it’s the most transparent of Nevada’s state-funded agencies: We can account for every nickel it gets by simply by looking around.

Nearly every major street in the Valley is getting big, fat upgrades: bike lanes, bus lanes, wider sidewalks, safer bus stops and landscaping. Its transit goals are as ambitious as those of Seattle’s Metro (though, admittedly, that agency serves a smaller, much more dense city).

All that being said, these past three years have been, um, challenging for me. As good as the RTC’s transit coverage is, there are substantial holes in it, and unfortunately I fell into one. My commute from Downtown to WENDOH Media’s old offces—seven miles to the south, near Town Square—was an hour and a half each way, and involved two different buses and a mile of walking in blistering heat. (Luckily, WENDOH furnished me with a satellite offce on Fremont Street, only a mile from my home. I only needed to make the full commute once a week; the rest of the time, I biked.)

On those days when I missed the bus or had far-fung assignments that made a bus ride impractical, I hailed cabs, which frequently wouldn’t show up. I actually used the Downtown Project-funded rideshare service

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

➜

8

I SOLD MY CAR IN 2005.

Shift until it failed. I held my breath for Uber, and was let down when the service fnally arrived and proved just as expensive as Vegas’ cabs. And while Zipcar did eventually add a handful of vehicles to this market, those cars are all parked at the airport and at UNLV, where they’re of no use to me.

By the end of Year One, I realized that I couldn’t live in Vegas without a car and enjoy the same quality of life I had in Seattle. But for a minute, I had hope. RTC’s buses are well maintained and clean, and the agency is continually improving service on key routes to shave down those commute times. Over the past few years, it has added new routes, installed new bus stop shelters and begun offering real-time arrival information via smartphone applications such as Google Maps and Transit App. The problem isn’t the buses or the transit agency that runs them; it’s the city they serve.

Las Vegas is not yet a transit town. It might take longer than a generation before we see service-industry workers and six-fgure-salary executives sharing bus rides, as they do now in Seattle. A paradigm shift of that order requires huge changes to the fabric of this town. A Las Vegas that embraces things like light rail needs residential and commercial density to form; it needs an economy that includes industries besides hospitality and gaming.

We’re seeing the beginnings of those trends now, but it could be years before they have any real impact.

Some aspects of car-free living have stuck with me.

Every time I turn the key on my Fiat, I’m struck by how fortunate I am to have returned to a Las Vegas that provides a few options to driving. Back in 2002, the notion of walking or riding a bicycle through a pedestrianfriendly Downtown corridor was impossible to fathom.

I couldn’t have imagined then that I would even consider commuting to work, or that services like Uber and Lyft would take the illegality out of happy hour. It’s not hard to imagine a time, maybe 10 years down the road, where I might be tempted to live car-free here once more.

Or not. Y’know, I gotta admit, I really like this new car.

SAT 9

There’s a mass migration that happens every night, and unless you live in the ocean, you’ll never see it. When the seas turn dark, billions of creatures leave the depths to feed in shallower water. Dark Side of the Ocean, a film playing at Springs Preserve, 3 p.m. weekends through January, is the next best thing to being there.

SpringsPreserve.org.

SUN 10

Speaking of good times on two wheels, hit the USA BMX Silver Dollar Nationals while you’re at the South Point. Bicycle motocross is fast, high- flying, athletic and a blast to watch. And these are some of the best racers in the country. Races daily Friday through today. USABMX.com.

MON 11

Three words: Disney on Ice. It happens about yearly around here, and this time it’s framed around the Academy Award-winning Frozen, a movie you’ve likely seen 10-12 times, minimum, if you have kids.

The show is hosted by Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who should sound familiar. Jan. 6 through today, 7:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.

UNLVTickets.com.

TUE 12

Combine bowling, beer, a ninepiece punk band, dancing, insane theatrics and you’ve got … we’re not quite sure what, but the critics seem to like it. Probably a damn good time. You’ll have to be at Alice: A Steampunk Concert Fantasy to find out for sure. 10 p.m. at Brooklyn Bowl. BrooklynBowl.com.

ILLUSTRATION BY CIERRA PEDRO

Stranded on a Desert Island

January is our favorite time of the year, because it’s motorcycle-auction season. No place else on earth will you find a 1912 Henderson Four sharing space with a 1986 Suzuki 500 Gamma, and both are up for sale, along with thousands of other choice rides. Mecum’s Las Vegas 2016 Auction is Thu-Sat at the South Point. Mecum.com.

THE LATEST

Year of Transformation?

Prospects of new resorts and skill-based casino games are promising

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

➜ SO WHAT WILL 2016 HOLD FOR

10

the Las Vegas gaming-tourism complex? Change for certain, although the nature of that change won’t be clear until it’s upon us.

One of the things that defned Las Vegas tourism in the 1990s boom years—and even into the late 2000s slump—was casino openings. Since the Cosmopolitan’s 2010 debut, there has not been a genuine new-construction opening in Las Vegas. The new names that have appeared—the D, Cromwell, SLS and Downtown Grand—are those of renovated, not newly built, properties.

That may change in 2016, if the Lucky Dragon—whose construction is still ongoing but which, in November, failed in a bid to get a $25 million subsidy from the City of Las Vegas—opens on schedule in August.

Whatever its ultimate fate, the Lucky Dragon is a symbol of how casino construction has rebounded from the recession. It is smaller (206 rooms) than the megaresorts that have dominated the Strip, and it is geared toward a potentially lucrative niche—Asian gamblers.

Financed in part with EB-5 funds, which open the door for foreign investors to receive green cards, it demonstrates the global nature of all aspects of modern Las Vegas casinos, from fnance to cuisine.

What kind of statement will Lucky Dragon make? That all depends on whether it A) opens as scheduled and B) performs well.

If it’s a dud, it will stand, like Fontainebleau, as a reminder of failed ambitions. But if it shines, Lucky Dragon will represent the adaptation and perseverance that saw Las Vegas through the slump.

Speaking of which, two larger

casino projects will either pick up steam this year—or they won’t. Both Alon and Resorts World, like Lucky Dragon, represent the new importance of international fnance in Las Vegas these days, with ties to Australia (via Alon’s James Packer) and Malaysia (the home of Resorts World builder Genting Group).

If Alon and Resorts World do make considerable progress in 2016, the near future of the North Strip will be as bright as it has been in years. The possibilities of openings in 2018 could infuence the development of the two remaining prime tracts in the area, the Fontainebleau site and the MGM Resorts Festival Grounds (which hosted its frst Rock in Rio USA festival this spring). The opening of two resorts would demonstrate a growing confdence by the investment community in new construction, which could in turn lead to more building.

On the other hand, even if those projects don’t move forward this year, the same fundamentals that got them on the drawing board— higher occupancy and room rates on the Strip—will continue, so it is entirely possible that someone else will roll the dice. With record visitation in 2015, there will be plenty of interest in expanding what Las Vegas offers.

With gaming revenue still

lagging its pre-recession highs, resorts will focus more on entertainment, dining and drinking than gambling to lure the millions focking to Las Vegas to specifc hotels. Just like every year, new venues and new restaurants will compete for tourist wallets.

There is one change that is due in Las Vegas gambling; this summer, if all goes to plan, Nevada regulators will give the OK for the frst skillbased games to appear on casino foors. Offerings from Gamblit Gaming and NanoTech Gaming have enticed participants at the Global Gaming Expo for two years now, and 2016 will see them go live.

What is that going to look like?

Right now, it is hard to say, but skill-based games will most likely be rolled out alongside existing gaming offerings, complementing them rather than seeking to replace them, as electronic table games have.

Whether these games debut to some success will have an even deeper importance to the future than the status of Lucky Dragon, Alon and Resorts World. Gambling has sagged on the Strip while the average visitor has gotten younger and non-gaming spending has surged. Is social gaming the next step for casinos to remain relevant to 21st century visitors, or a misstep? As always, visitors to Las Vegas will vote with their feet—and dollars.

So 2016 has the promise of real transformation for Las Vegas: one new resort open, and two more showing meaningful progress, along with a novel form of gambling. One thing seems certain: With more people coming than ever and the fnal presidential debate in October, more eyes will be on Las Vegas than ever before.

The new year starts with a locals deal on the big wheel. Show your Nevada ID and you can ride the High Roller for $13 during the day and $18 at night. For observation-wheel obsessives, annual passes are now available for $79.

Want a great prime rib? This one’ll surprise you, but the Italian restaurant Little Tony’s at Palace Station serves an excellent “rosemary and garlic [with] pan drippings and horseradish cream” preparation on Thursdays only for $14.95, or a “Flintstone” cut for $18.95. It comes with a salad. Add-ons, such as spinach or a baked potato, are just $3. It’s the best prime rib deal in town for less than $20.

Aliante is running a January deal on King crab legs. From 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays in MRKT, all-you-caneat King crab is $60. On a separate deal in MRKT, bottles of wine are half price on Sundays and Mondays, making for a good crab-and-wine parlay on Sundays.

If you read this column regularly, you know that gambling strategies are a common subject here. If you want to boost your game, the Gambler’s General Store on Main Street is the premier spot to find gambling books and memorabilia, but did you know that you can also get a pretty good sandwich there? The Gambler’s Café in the bookstore serves huge heroes made with Boar’s Head meats starting at $9.99, along with breakfasts, salads and New York specialties such as Wise chips and Dr. Brown’s sodas.

The Downtown Grand has a big $250,000 slot tournament running throughout this year, and it’s just become easier to play. Formerly requiring that you earn 2,500 players points in a month, it now takes only 1,000 points to play in a qualifier to win a spot in the finals, held in December. That’s $2,000 coin-in, or about three hours of 25¢ video poker in a month.

The Cromwell has a new blackjack tourney running Thursdays through Sundays. It’s what’s known as a total-cashout tournament, which means the highest score (after 10 hands) wins the loot. The buy-in is $25. Hint: Bet big!

Railroad Pass is selling Win Cards for $10 that come with $15 in play-till-you-lose non-negotiable chips to use at the tables.

Paying $10 for $15 in value is always a good move. Limit one per person, per year.

Here’s a little bingo comp. Play at Rampart on Sunday and get a coupon for a free lunch buffet on Monday.

Finally, along with an interesting menu that features Cincinnati 3-way chili, lots of TVs for watching the games, and the possibility that baseball’s all-time hits leader will show up at any time, the new Pete Rose Bar and Grill on the Strip has a real (tournament-quality) foosball table. It costs $1 per game for nine balls. You can’t go wrong with new foos.

Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EV & A ARCHITECTS

A NEW YEAR WITH KING CRAB, GAMBLER’S CAFÉ AND NEW FOOS

NIGHTLIFE Your city after dark and photos from the week's hottest parties

Meet the fresh faces of Las Vegas nightlife

By Ian Caramanzana

give people something to talk about, an experience they will remember.”

NOLAN LAMBERTSEN

Director of Nightlife/Daylife Operations, SLS When the parties rage on all day and all night, somebody’s got to keep an eye on things. Nolan Lambertsen, whose eight-year nightlife career began as a pool attendant at The Mirage, makes sure guest experiences run smoothly and stay consistent. This includes all the nightlife venues in the resort, including Foxtail and the Sayers Club—and soon that list will grow.

In the future, Lambertsen plans to focus on SLS’ live entertainment offerings when the former Life Nightclub becomes a 1,800-seat, state-of-the-art concert hall, The Foundry.

VegasSeven.com

Director of Marketing, Light and Daylight in Mandalay Bay From ideation to selecting the color of the confetti, Harris has her hands on every Play Management party and event. During her 10 years in the industry, she has hosted, cocktailed and managed across multiple venues including Haze, 1 OAK, Gold Lounge, the Deuce and Chateau.

Such a breadth of experiences has allowed her to gain insight into every aspect of the event business, from inception to execution. Now that Play Management has taken over Light and Daylight, Harris brings her knowledge and expertise to those venues.

“I want our parties to be the best and to

|

Incoming Class

NATALIA HARRIS

January 7–13, 2016

PHOTOS BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

Natalia Harris and Nolan Lambertsen.

17

NIGHTLIFE

Clockwise from top left: Missy Posterli, Mark Eteson, Ismail Saleem and Esteban Carrasco (inset).

ourselves relevant is key,” he says. “We’ve been successful for so long because of the staff and their warm personalities.”

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

MISSY POSTERLI

18

Operations Manager, Drai’s Nightclub Sometimes the best nightclub experiences can’t be attributed to big-name DJs or fashy productions. What makes for a great night really comes down to logistics. Posterli is in charge of the cocktail servers, which means she makes sure you get your drink when you want it and how you want it. And since Drai’s plans to open venues internationally in the coming year, you’re bound to see more of her. “I owe my career to Ronn Nicolli [of XS]. He’s from my hometown in Ohio, and he helped get me my frst cocktail [server] position at Drai’s After Hours in 2010,” she says. After six years, and with a growing social media following, Posterli is on our one-to-watch radar.

ISMAIL SALEEM

General Manager, Hyde Bellagio Saleem has a hand in everything, from booking an impressive roster of celebrity DJs/hosts, including Travis Barker and Brody Jenner, to holding down SBE’s brand via the infamous XIV Sessions to just making sure the staff is smiling. In 2016, Saleem wants to keep it simple.

“Growing the business and keeping

Producer/Radio Presenter/DJ, Hakkasan and Jewel (opening 2016) Eteson calls himself a secret agent, but his accolades are anything but a secret.

The U.K. native moved to Las Vegas in 2013 to DJ at Hakkasan Group properties, including Omnia in Caesars, and his career keeps ascending. “My break came when I learned how to produce at university and a chance encounter where I drunkenly e-mailed a management company asking one of the head guys to take me under his wing.” After countless hours behind the decks and simultaneously producing singles such as the infectiously catchy trance track “Breathe on My Own,” Eteson hopes to continue the momentum. “[Expect] lots of new music, some big shows at some phenomenal venues and a hell of a lot of hard work,” he says. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

ESTEBAN CARRASCO

DJ, Encore Beach Club Las Vegas is spoiled when it comes to DJs; we see some of the biggest names in the business regularly. But it is also a great place to catch an up-and-comer right before they hit. Carrasco is a fresh face in the world of Vegas nightlife, but he’s been perfecting his craft since he bought his frst turntable at 13. From there, he picked up the skill quickly, developed an interest in house music and started producing his own music.

“DJing is about setting a vibe with your audience and keeping it going,” he says.

In 2016, Carrasco wants to continue DJing, but he also wants to work behind the scenes, producing music under his EstoVega moniker.

POSTERLI, SALEEM AND INSIGNE BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ;CARRASCO BY TONY TRAN

MARK ETESON

ANDREA PINTOZZI

Model Cocktail Server, Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop in Paris Las Vegas Service can make or break a night out, so when a server goes beyond the call of duty, it should be noted.

Pintozzi makes sure everyone who walks through Chateau’s doors is having a great time. “[I’m] the life of the party,” she says. “It’s up to me to make sure guests are entertained and having the best Las Vegas experience they can possibly have.” Since moving to the city six years ago to work as a promotional model for various liquor companies, Pintozzi has taken her product knowledge, connections and experience to the hospitality industry.

| Andrea Pintozzi (above, left) and Andrew Insigne.

January 7–13, 2016

Director of Event Marketing, Tao Group Andrew Insigne’s foray into nightlife began with an interview for a security guard position three years ago.

“Marquee [was the] frst nightclub I went to. I was absolutely captivated, not solely by the fact that it was a raging nightclub, but more so by the production and experiential aspects of the party,” he says. “I was convinced that I had to work here and be part of creating experiences like this one.”

Minutes after, he “confessed” to the interviewer that he was more interested in a marketing position. Eventually he got the job. Now he’s in charge of conceptualizing, planning and executing events, initiatives, partnerships, sponsorships and artist residencies. After working on Kaskade’s Summer Lovin’ residency, Marquee’s SkyDeck at EDC Las Vegas and Tao’s 10-year anniversary, Insigne has even higher hopes for the future. “I plan to increase the volume and quality of events we are doing while focusing on elevating the guest experience.”

VegasSeven.com

ANDREW INSIGNE

19

NIGHTLIFE

Seven Nights Your week in parties

By I A N C A R A M A N Z A N A

3LAU.

he’s bound to give us another one soon! (In the Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife.com.)

SAT 9

What do you think Three Six Mafia member Juicy J received for Christmas? We can think of a few things: a throwback Pau Gasol Grizzlies jersey, some “bandz,” and maybe a few trophy wipes to shine the Academy Award the Memphis, Tennessee-born rapper won for his contributions to the Hustle & Flow soundtrack. But enough about receiving; what about giving? J recently hinted at a possible collaboration album with the “jiggy” one himself, A$AP Rocky. If it’s anywhere nearly as good as the pair’s collab “Multiply,” we’re excited. See J at Tao, and see if he’ll flash his new gifts or give us some new material for the New Year. (In the Venetian, 10 p.m., TaoLasVegas.com.)

Nervo.

SUN 10 End your week on a high note with a set by DJ Jimmy Lite. The openformat DJ hailing from South Florida spends his time juggling residencies at three venues including Hyde and Gold Diggers, but tonight he’ll take his talents 63 floors up to Foundation Room.

Like Drake and Riley Curry say,

we think this party will go “wayyy up!” (In Mandalay Bay, 10 p.m., HouseOfBlues.com/FR.)

MON 11 You know, sometimes that #NewYearNewMe mindset is a

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

FRI 8

22

By now, you should be familiar with all of the DJ Khaled-isms floating around on the Internet.

Since creating a Snapchat account in September, the “We the Best” creator has remained in the spotlight thanks to his outrageous one-liners, hilarious banter and glimpses of his lavish lifestyle.

One of Khaled’s well-known ad-libs is “another one,” which makes us feel as if he stole it from Ludacris who said the same thing in his 2004 radio smash, “Get Back.” We may never find out who used the line first, but you can see Luda at Drai’s. And don’t worry if you have to pass on this event;

little off-putting. There are so many things—trends, photographs, music—that can transcend time and leave lasting impacts on culture as a whole. Take Diplo (a.k.a. Thomas Wesley Pentz), for example. Since getting his first taste of producing music in Miami, Pentz has merged genres such as electro, house, trap, trip-hop and more into a rich, musical gumbo. Take a listen to any of his projects, including Major Lazer and Jack Ü, or the hundreds of pop artists he’s worked with, and you’ll see how he blurs the lines between genres. And he’s a tastemaker, too: The 37-year-old also spearheads his wildly successful Mad Decent record label. Celebrate another year with the DJ/producer at XS’ first Mad Decent Monday of the year. (In Encore, 10 p.m., XSLasVegas.com.)

TUE 12 Ludacris.

Want to see double? Hit up Omnia, where you can watch progressive house sisters Nervo do their thing. The Australian

duo are recovering from their two-month Collateral World Tour in which they hit countries such as Chile, Greece and the Philippines, and they still somehow managed to find the time to drop a mix for Apple’s Beats 1 radio show and a few remixes.

Give ’em props when they drop “Bulletproof,” and if you want to stop seeing double, you can hit up Heart of Omnia for a set by open-format master DJ Five.

Read our interview with Nervo at VegasSeven.com/Nervo.

(In Caesars Palace, 10:30 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com.)

WED 13 You’ve seen them on billboards and advertisements, but if you just can’t get enough of those Fantasy ladies, head to LAX, here you can actually party with those ladies for Fantasy Wednesdays.

It’s one of the rare times when fantasy becomes reality. (In Luxor, 10:30 p.m., Luxor.com/LAX.)

ILLUSTRATIONS BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

THU 7

Say happy birthday to a local boy gone big! 3LAU (a.k.a. Justin David Blau) celebrates 25 years by spinning at one of the city’s largest venues, Hakkasan. Blau got his start with piano, guitar and singing as a child. At 13, he moved to Las Vegas and chilled out until he visited Sweden, where he discovered electronic dance music. Blau was enamored, and subsequently produced mash-ups, remixes and eventually, originals. Now he’s spinning at a world-renowned nightclub.

Get nostalgic and check out a photo of him before you hit the club; you’d be surprised to see how much he’s grown. It’s not often that birthdays fall on weekends, so make the most of this party. (In MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.)

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

MARQUEE

The Cosmopolitan [ UPCOMING ]

26

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

PHOTOS BY AMIT DADL ANEY

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

Jan. 8 Dash Berlin spins Jan. 9 Cedric Gervais spins Jan. 11 Eric D-Lux spins

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

LAX Luxor

[ UPCOMING ]

30

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

PHOTOS BY TOBY ACUNA

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

Jan. 7 Throwback Thursday with Aybsent Mynded Jan. 8 Snapchat Party with DJ Eric Forbes Jan. 9 DJ Kid Jay spins

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

THE SAYERS CLUB SLS

[ UPCOMING ]

32

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

PHOTOS BY BOBBY JAMEIDAR

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

Jan. 7 White Label Thursdays with DJ Spair Jan. 8 Buckin Fridays Jan. 10 Sunday Jazz Series with Vince Preister

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

ARTISAN

34

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

PHOTOS BY BOBBY JAMEIDAR

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

1501 W. Sahara Ave.

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

DRAI’S

The Cromwell [ UPCOMING ]

38

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

PHOTOS BY JOE FURY AND JOSH METZ

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

Jan. 8 Ludacris performs Jan. 9 Big Sean performs Jan. 10 DJ Franzen spins

DRINKING

Saber the Flavor

Fifteen minutes with Bazaar Meat lead sommelier Chloe Helfand By Melinda Sheckells ➜ IN THE OTHERWISE

carnivorously masculine environment of Bazaar Meat by José Andrés, a feminine tour de force runs the wine program. Chloe Helfand takes diners on a journey through the Iberian Peninsula. Here are some of the highlights from the restaurant’s very interesting wine offerings as curated by Helfand. In SLS, 855-761-7757, SLSLasVegas.com.

What are three wines that you recently started carrying that you can’t get enough of?

Red and white Burgundy, grower Champagne, Sicilian varietals, nebbiolo from Piedmont, pinot noir from Sonoma Coast and a new chardonnay I picked up from Oregon. However, I feel the need to highlight special Spanish wines. They are so underrated and yet they completely over-deliver. I can’t get enough of Rafael Palacios’ As Sortes; Suertes del Marqués’ Vidonia; Forjas del Salnés’ Goliardo; and La Vizcaína’s La Poulosa.

What is the most distinct thing about the Bazaar Meat wine list?

Our Spanish selections are constantly changing and growing. We have a lot of success with introducing people to Spanish wine and showing them how versatile the wines can be with our food. The Bazaar Meat wine list

What is a “challenging” food item to pair, and how do you solve the dilemma?

Cotton Candy Foie Gras. This is a specialty item, and it’s an experience in favor and texture. We found a perfect complement to this in the De Nit brut rosé cava by Raventós i Blanc. The acidity of this Conca Riu Anoia sparkling wine cuts through the fat of the foie gras while perfecting the cotton candy.

How often do you introduce new wines?

I try to introduce new wines each week.

The Bazaar Meat wine list is constantly evolving. I try to add depth in vintage

and product diversity. The goal is to keep it fresh and continue to show the favorites. We want our guests to have new experiences with wine and also feel comfortable ordering something they’ve had before that they love. It is important for the team to feel inspired in learning about wine regions and building confdence discussing food and wine with our guests.

How do you work cocktails and beer into a pairing for a tasting dinner?

At the beginning of the meal—and at the end of the day—it is always about our guests. I work cocktails and beer the same way I would with wine: It always starts with a conversation and a preference. Some guests like only beer or

cocktails, and some like a mixture of everything. I pair cocktails and beer with the weight and texture of a dish. My goal is to create symmetry and balance in the food and beverage experience.

What type of wine or spirit do you predict will blow up in 2016?

In terms of wine, the beauty and purity of wines from the northwest of Spain.

Green Spain has been gaining ground, as wines from this region pair so well with a large portion of our food menu.

With regard to spirits, I see more and more interesting vermouths from many regions that have character. I can’t predict the next big thing, but I am game to be a participant and not just a spectator in fnding it.

VegasSeven.com

tells a story. The wines by the glass are mostly Spanish, and the body of the wine list starts in Spain.

|

Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 1991 by R. López de Heredia with our Pulpo a la Gallega, a medium-bodied, well-structured white wine paired with one of our meats of the sea. The results are harmonious. From Rioja, we just got a 2001 Monte Real Gran Reserva by Bodegas Riojanas, [made from] tempranillo, graciano and mazuelo grapes.

It pairs so well with our new Kobe beef offering. The softer tannins have good structure, which brings out the savory soy notes and hoisin favors.

The 2011 Numanthia tinta de toro is delicious with our Mindful Meats ribeye.

It’s a monster in the glass, taking on the character of our beautiful 8-to10-year-old Holstein ribeye. I love old wines with dry-aged meats.

January 7–13, 2016

PHOTO BY ANDREW JAMES; CONCEPT BY BREE DEL ANO; HAIR AND MAKEUP ALEXIS/BEGL AMMED.COM

What are three pairings you always recommend to guests?

45

MARKETPLACE WH E N YOUR GA M E N E E D S M ORE

THREE GALLONS OF SAVORY POPCORN

$20

($30 VALUE)

3700 S. Hualapai Way #108 9480 S. Eastern Ave. Suite 110

BESTGOURMETPOPCORN.COM

MARKETPLACE

I’ve been a hairstylist for 15 years. I was originally going to hair school so I had money for college, but then I fell in love with being more of an artist so I continued doing creative jobs. My best friend Eden [Walton] and I co-own Stone Fox . We always wanted to work together, so when we got offered a space in Downtown it was perfect. We brought all our [clients] down, and we have our perfect little bubble now.

We do makeup for photo shoots, too.

You’re a Southern girl originally from Louisiana. What brought you to Las Vegas?

My parents—I was a teenager. They moved me out here against my will.

Did your love of the vintage lifestyle stem from them?

Actually, no. I grew up around a lot of the ’70s stuff from just being an ’80s child. I remember a lot of the ’70s décor from being at my grandparents’ house. That’s where I got the nostalgic feel for that stuff. My dad collects old cars, but that’s pretty much the only thing from the ’50s that I have a connection to from being a little girl. It really just happened once I became a hairstylist. I loved doing vintage looks. I’m a very nostalgic girl at heart—everything old just feels right.

January 7–13, 2016

|

VegasSeven.com

You’ve called yourself a vintage hoarder in the past.

What’s the deal?

54

Candace Campbell The pinup model and entrepreneur on her vintage lifestyle, letting go of things and her upcoming ventures By Jessi C. Acuña

I was a vintage hoarder.

I’ve actually been trying to get rid of a lot of the stuff. Now, I’m just a regular vintage collector. For a while it got crazy. We lived in a huge ranch- style house, but now I’m in a tiny bungalow Downtown. I’ve had to force myself to let go of what I don’t love. I feel so much more free.

This is your sixth year releasing your own calendar

(PinupOrDie.com).

What inspired you to do it in the first place?

A few years before I did my frst calendar, I was on the cover for the West Coast Choppers calendar. It was a really pinup-style photo. I got a lot of attention for it, and people kept telling me I should do my own.

I sat down with [local photographer] Deed DeBruno, and she just said we’re doing it. It took off, and we had fun with it. We got such a good response we made it more and more elaborate every year. It’s my main modeling gig that I do each year at this point.

You’re now on the other side of the lens working as a photographer. Was that a natural progression?

At frst [it was because] we needed photos at the last minute for a few projects. I’ve always had a camera and shot for my personal use. Now I have girls always wanting to shoot with me, and I’ve been setting up little photo shoots and collaborations for companies. It’s been fun having a project that I was passionate about that’s now turning into a whole other business.

I plan to start shooting pinup and boudoir photo sessions [this year] in Las Vegas and on the road.

Do you have a health or fitness routine to keep you going during your multiple projects?

I have a morning routine where I stretch, do yoga and meditate to get myself at a steady, relaxed pace to start the day. I’m always way too hyper and usually have to do some of that in the evening to calm myself down, too. I really don’t do a lot of working out.

I try to keep weight on me. If anything, I feel like butter is a part of my regime—I am a Southern girl.

Where does Campbell shop for vintage clothing and décor? Read the full interview at VegasSeven. com/Campbell.

PHOTO BY DEED DEBRUNO

SEVEN QUESTIONS

You have a lot of creative pursuits, including co-owning Stone Fox hair salon, modeling, photography as well as selling and designing for your online vintage retail shop, Indigo Moon. Where did it all start?