Super Bowl Preview | Vegas Seven Magazine | Feb. 4-10, 2016 by Vegas Seven

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CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 4–10, 2016 T H E LAT EST

“A Caucus Primer” Understanding the system that still confuses most of us. By EMMILY BRISTOL

“The Thunderbird Flies Again”

“2015 Casino Report Card”

New owner revives historic Downtown hotel. By JESSIE O’BRIEN What last year’s gaming numbers mean for the casino industry. Green Felt Journal by DAVID G. SCHWARTZ

Plus … Seven Days, Style, Ask a Native and The Deal.

NIGH T LIF E

“Back to the Future” Anthony Olheiser wants you to party like it’s “the aughts.” By MELINDA SHECKELLS

Plus … Seven Nights and a Q&A with Generik.

DINING

“All Things to Everyone” Walking you through Jardin, which is so much more than Encore’s new coffee shop. By AL MANCINI Plus … What chefs eat when they’re under the weather and DIY cello.

A &E Pink Martini frolics its way into The Smith Center. By JESSI C. ACUÑA Plus … Seven’s 14, a Q&A with Lamb of God bassist John Campbell and what The Real Housewives of Potomac says about race and class.

“It’s About Timey-Wimey” Steven Moffat is right to leave Doctor Who now. The Most Fabulous Thing

FE AT URE

SEVEN Q U EST IONS

Super Bowl Preview

How Super Sunday remains a cultural colossus, recommendations on intriguing prop bets, party do’s and don’ts, good bites around town and what if Las Vegas hosted the big game.

Elizabeth Jones, widow of Hall of Famer Deacon Jones, on their nonprofit, having fun with QB Steve Young and a special trophy.

CORRECTION In his Politics column

Cover photo illustration by Ryan Olbrysh.

(“Shades of Trump,” Jan. 28), Michael Green incorrectly reported that Bob Stupak went bankrupt. It was Stratosphere Corp. that declared bankruptcy.

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by CHARLIE STARLING

“With an International Swing”

February 4–10, 2016

ILLUSTRATION BY HAWK KRALL

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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)

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INTERNS Michaela Chesin, Scott Luehring, Soni Richards

Ryan T. Doherty

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THE LATEST

Seven Days

A Caucus Primer

This week in your city By B O B W H I T B Y

Understanding the system that still confuses most of us By Emmily Bristol WHEN IT COMES TO CAUCUSING in Nevada, there’s no middle ground. Whether inveterate party loyalists or curious frst-timers, the one certainty about the caucuses is that people either love them or hate them. “I’m not a huge fan of the caucus system,” says JoNell Thomas, a Democrat who’s been caucusing since 2008. “It’s scary for newcomers. Also, it’s a big-time commitment, which can be especially hard for people with 9 to 5 jobs.” Thomas, an attorney who moved to Las Vegas from Salt Lake City in 1992, says she’s always been an active voter and involved in the election process. While she plans to caucus again this cycle, Thomas says she wishes Nevada went to a primary system. It’s a common refrain, regardless of party. “It’s too limited,” says Lynn Armanino, a Republican who started caucusing after moving to Henderson in 2009. “To me, it costs too much money. You’re paying for a caucus and you’re paying for a primary. Any year we have a caucus, we still have a primary. It’s kind of redundant.” In Nevada, each party runs its caucuses differently. Democrats allow anyone who is a registered Democrat, or who will register the day of the caucus, to participate. Voters split up into groups based on which candidate they support. For a candidate group to be considered viable depends on the number of people at that particular precinct. Once viability is determined, delegates are elected to represent each viable candidate-group. When the delegates are established, participants discuss and choose platform issues to submit to the national convention. On the Republican side, participants have to be registered to vote 10 days before the caucus. However, registered voters may switch parties at the caucus. Voters elect delegates and propose platform issues for the county convention in March, as well as voting in a Presidential Preference Poll. A little over a quarter of states still use a caucus system, which frst gained popularity at the turn of the 20th century. However, many states have moved away from

➜

News, deals and a look at the 2015 gaming report card.

THU 4 caucuses, which are paid for by political parties, toward a primary system, which are bankrolled by the state. While there were caucuses intermittently in Nevada over the years, 2008 was the frst year that both parties held caucuses from local to statewide levels. Already considered a swing state, Nevada being the frst in the West to caucus (third in the nation for Democrats and fourth for Republicans), the process has raised the profle of our state delegates. For some, caucusing is a rewarding civic privilege. “We have a great neighborhood, and it’s fun to see our friends and neighbors excited about the political process,” says Democrat Amey Esparza, who works at Nevada State College. “I love the way people bring their children to caucus. Modeling civic engagement is just awesome.” Thomas, who lives in the historic John S. Park neighborhood, agrees that caucusing has its moments. “It’s kind of fun to get together with other politically active people. The Downtown community tends to be pretty active and pretty liberal.” Still, the process can be daunting for frst-timers. “I’m both nervous and excited,” says Melissa Gokmogol, a Republican who moved here from Indiana in 2015, where she served as a state delegate. “A caucus process is defnitely different than a primary process. It does not end by fling a name [to be a delegate]. There are more steps to take [in a caucus].” One thing that people from both parties seem to agree on is that they wish the state would end the caucus and just do primaries. “Personally, I don’t like the caucus,” Armanino says. “There are two weeks for [early] voting in the primaries. That’s a lot of opportunity to vote, compared to a few hours at the caucus. The most important thing we have is the [right to] vote. If you can’t accommodate that fourhour window [for the caucus], you’re out of luck.” To learn more about the caucuses, visit the party websites at NVDems.com and NevadaGOP.org.

Rumors of the music industry’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Learn the ropes, attend panel discussions and hear some great artists at work, today and tomorrow at the Vegas Music Summit Downtown. VegasMusicSummit.com.

FRI 5

Mix a rock band, a 21-piece orchestra and stunning visuals and you’ve got the Symphonic Rockshow, 7:30 p.m. at The Smith Center. You haven’t heard these renditions of classic rock by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who and others before. TheSmithCenter.com.

SAT 6

February is Black History Month, but Frank Matthews is a historical figure you don’t often hear about. In the 1970s, Matthews was one of the biggest heroin dealers in the country. In 1973, he disappeared and, despite a massive manhunt, has never been seen since. Author Ron Chepesiuk discusses Matthews’ life and times at 1 p.m. in the Mob Museum. TheMobMuseum.org.

SUN 7

Apparently there’s a football game going on today, and you’re likely going to eat and drink too much and sit on your couch all afternoon. In preparation, consider entering the Big Game 10K, a run through the streets of Downtown. Races start at 7:30 a.m., so you’ll be finished by kickoff. BigGame10K.com.

MON 8

It’s the Year of the Monkey, and that means it’s time to party like a primate. Chinese New Year in the Desert, through Feb. 14 at the Linq and the Forum Shops at Caesars, is a fine option. There will be food, dancing and a mass wedding ceremony. Caesars.com.

WHERE TO CAUCUS DEMOCRATS: Saturday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m. WHO: Any registered Democrat or those who will be 18 on Election Day (Nov. 8) who register at the caucus. WHAT: Picking preferences for president, platform

proposals and electing 43 delegates (and three alternates) for the national convention. FIND YOUR PRECINCT HERE: NVDems.com/caucus

February 4–10, 2016

VegasSeven.com

TUE 9

REPUBLICANS: Tuesday, Feb. 23, starting between 5-7 p.m., depending on location WHO: Registered

Republicans by Feb. 13, those who will be 18 on Election Day and register Republican or those who will switch to the GOP that day; government-issued photo IDs are required. WHAT: Election of delegates and platform proposals for county convention in March; voting in the Presidential Preference Poll. FIND YOUR PRECINCT HERE: NevadaGOPCaucus.org

Want to be part of a science experiment? Then stop by UNLV’s Marjorie Barrick Museum anytime before Feb. 12 and sign up for a study on 3-D visualization and depth perception for film viewers. There’s no payment, but everyone who participates is entered in a drawing to win a smartwatch. UNLV.edu.

WED 10

Southern Nevada is home to some very talented kids. As proof, check out the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, through April 3 at Springs Preserve’s Big Springs Gallery. The art and writing category dates back to 1923, and is the most prestigious recognition program for teens in the country. SpringsPreserve.org.

THE LATEST

OUT FOR THE BIG GAME ➜ Having some viewing options for the Super

more in 2015 than in the previous year, with an 8.44 percent gain in tables. That’s particularly impressive, given the baccarat slowdown that dragged the Strip—and the rest of the state—down in 2015. The appeal to more traditional gamblers seems to be paying off for Downtown. Away from the tourist core, it’s a largely positive story. North Las Vegas casinos won nearly 3 percent more in 2015, and Boulder Strip casinos increased their revenues by 1.5 percent. The rebound of the locals market speaks to the broader recovery—or transition—of the Las Vegas Valley’s economy. Even with tourists gambling less, locals are increasing their play. Other parts of Nevada fared even better than Las Vegas. Wendover’s casino win grew by 5 percent, and Washoe County—with both the Reno/Sparks and North Shore Lake Tahoe reporting areas—increased its revenue by more than 3 percent. Ten years ago, galloping annual gaming win was a given. The recession brought a drop, but the end of the recession hasn’t seen a return to nonstop growth. As gambling behavior has changed, Las Vegas itself has adjusted. This may be why, despite what in the past would have been considered a disappointing year, Nevada casino operators are bullish about the future; it still involves gambling, but not as much of it.

Bowl figures to be of increased importance to many this year, considering that the Cox/ KLAS Channel 8 dispute could mean there’ll be no watching the game from your living room. Never fear: Problems like these have a way of sorting themselves out in the 11th hour. And even if this isn’t one of them, it’s more fun watching with a crowd anyway. An easy, basic strategy is to watch the game at a bar that follows your team. That works for Broncos fans at Balboa Pizza Co., Black Mountain Grill, Four Mile Bar, Jake’s Bar and Roadrunner (Buffalo Dr.). Panthers fans will have to improvise, given that there are no bars this year that followed Carolina (I’m betting that will change next season). Of course, every casino will have an event of some sort, but just hanging out at the sportsbooks is as good an option as any. All the books will be jumping, but the deals on dogs and drinks will be better in locals joints such as Stations and Coast. South Point is running its annual free bash in the showroom, with $1 dogs, cheap beer by the bucket and prize drawings. Ellis Island is hosting a free tailgate party in the lot in front of the casino, then a $50 viewing party during the game that includes a merchandise raffle, plus food and all the Ellis Island beer you can drink. On the west side, the Rampart party is $49 (with a club card) for unlimited food and drinks at multiple “party venues” in the casino, plus a logoed T-shirt. Nice! Downtown, the D will hold its viewing party in a big tent on the concert grounds near the casino (Downtown Las Vegas Events Center), with ESPN sports-radio personality Scott Ferrall presiding. It’s free to enter, but food and drinks are extra. Parties at bars and other non-casino venues are often less expensive or more creative. For example, Via Brasil on Fort Apache Road has an open bar for $40 and an appetizer bar for an additional $20. Davidoff of Geneva in Fashion Show is offering 2-for-1 beers and 4-for-3 cigars. The party at The Sporting Life bar at 7770 S. Jones Blvd. costs $125 for an all-youcan-eat pig roast and unlimited beer, wine and well drinks, plus a raffle with good prizes, including a TV and $2,000 in cash given away during the game. The expected return from the cash and raffle giveaways knocks the price down to well below $100 per person. The Sporting Life, with its impressive TV walls, is an excellent place to watch the game. Better yet, the Dealer’s Choice Lounge at 4552 Spring Mountain Rd. is charging a $50 entry that includes a buffet during the game, but there’s also a squares pool worth $50 in expected return, which means the buffet is (theoretically) free. Free, even when theoretical, is always good.

David G. Schwartz is the director of UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research.

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

2015 Casino Report Card What last year’s gaming numbers mean for the casino industry

February 4–10, 2016

VegasSeven.com

➜ THE NEVADA GAMING CONTROL

Board released its revenue fgures for December 2015 last week, closing the books on the 2015 performance of the state’s casinos. Overall, it was a year that showed the continuing transition in Nevada gaming. Overall, the state’s casinos’ $11.1 billion take let them notch a 0.97 percent increase in total win; they took in just under 1 percent more than they did in 2014. Now, $11.1 billion is a lot of money, but it still lags behind the $12.8 billion Nevada casinos earned from gambling in 2007, a year that now seems impossibly far away. Lower gaming revenues are the new normal for Nevada casinos, which explains the intensifying shift away from slots and table games and toward DJs, small plates and live entertainment. The distribution of gambling continued to evolve. Sports betting grew in popularity, as did old standbys such as blackjack and craps. The double-digit increase in win for “other” games shows that casino gamblers seem to be looking for new ways to play. Those new ways don’t necessarily mean better odds. Penny slots are among the tightest in the state, keeping more than 10 percent of all money played, which is double the hold of dollar slot machines. Yet penny slot win grew by 9 percent, outpacing the overall increase in slot win. Many gamblers, doubtless, are looking for a better shot at winning (or at least breaking even), but

the popularity of penny slots shows that many gamblers are looking for something other than an edge. The big news, though, is in how the state’s former savior fared. For the second straight year, baccarat win—whose surge had pulled the state through the worst of the recession—dropped, underlining the reality that the transition to highend play was a temporary solution to the problem of falling gaming win. Growing slot win indicates that more people are gambling, but it looks like they are still not gambling as much as before the recession. Nowhere is the new normal more apparent than on the Las Vegas Strip, whose 42 casinos contributed more than 57 percent of Nevada’s total gaming win. Baccarat’s decline dragged down the Strip, as it fnished the year with $6.3 billion in total win—a huge number, but a slight drop from 2014’s total. Downtown Las Vegas did proportionally better than the Strip. In absolute terms, the Strip is far ahead; Downtown’s total win, $542 million, is about 8.5 percent of the Strip’s total haul. But where Strip gambling treaded water, Downtown casinos won 5.95 percent

THE LATEST

STYLE

Jey Hall, 33 Lifestyle Marketing and Business Development Manager What does lifestyle marketing entail?

All of the lifestyle brands I work with and that are in the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy portfolio have incredible heritage, so it’s all about sharing that heritage and the products through social activations. How does working for a luxury company affect the way you dress?

I have more suits than I did fve years ago. I also never owned a piece of Louis Vuitton prior, but I have been fortunate to receive some great pieces since [I started with the company]. How does working in the beverage industry influence your style?

I may be in meetings during the day and out at an event or nightclub at night, so “dressing for the occasion” is out the door and dressing for all occasions is key. Function and comfort are the overall infuencing factors. Why is personal style important to you? Personal style is a channel

for expression. Style and fashion should always be fun. We should look forward to dressing as much as undressing. What’s the one thing you splurge on?

Denim.

[About] 80 percent of what I wear is sent or gifted to me, so I actually don’t shop very often, and I guess I really can’t take credit for my sense of fashion. My favorite places to shop in Las Vegas are CRSVR, Institution 18b and KNYEW. From the LVMH house, Marc Jacobs always has great pieces, and Givenchy at Wynn—the frst U.S. location—is an incredible boutique. Do you have anything you cherish in your closet? My Hennessy Futura

hand-painted Chuck Taylors and Hennessy Buscemi sneakers. —Liz Powell

Rag & Bone shirt, UNIQLO jeans, Super Color Adidas by Pharrell Williams shoes, 1982 Rolex Oyster Quartz watch, Koa wood bead bracelet and #RAKE rubber bracelet.

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

February 4–10, 2016

VegasSeven.com

How often do you shop and where are your favorite places in Las Vegas?

NIGHTLIFE

Anthony Olheiser wants you to party like it’s “the aughts” By Melinda Sheckells

VegasSeven.com

Back to the Future

➜ REWIND TO 2007, when Luxor was in a full-scale revamp to de-pyramid-ize itself, pumping $300 million worth of GenX chic into its dated, kitschy, family-friendly reputation. The improvements included CatHouse restaurant, helmed by the late chef Kerry Simon; its adjacent ultra lounge; and the rustic, ski lodge-vibe Company American Bistro, a Pure Management Group restaurant driven by golden boy chef Adam Sobel. The high-profle LAX nightclub, imported from Los Angeles, led the party-forward atmosphere with an opening hosted by a midmeltdown Britney Spears (wig included). All at once, Luxor was less theme and more approachable fun. In the years since, LAX kept pace for a while, but was eventually overshadowed by the formation of an

February 4–10, 2016

PHOTO BY ANTHONY MAIR

Your city after dark, photos from the week’s hottest parties and DJ Generik is anything but

NIGHTLIFE 26

impenetrable pantheon of Las Vegas nightlife companies that swayed toward luxury service and EDM. After several changes in management, from Pure Management to Angel Management to Hakkasan Group, MGM Resorts assumed control of the space in February 2015 and began a major refresh. This is not the frst time that a nightlife venue has been managed “in house” without the help of an outside operator. In the early 2000s, before the giant groups such as Light and Hakkasan took over, that’s the way it was. The man at the helm of some of the most successful lounges and clubs in the second half of that era, including Tabú, Studio 54 and Wet Republic, was Anthony Olheiser, the former director of entertainment and development for MGM Grand. Following a two-year stint in Los Angeles as the director of food and beverage for the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE, Olheiser has returned to Las Vegas as Luxor’s executive director of brand activation. His current focus is to refresh the ethos of LAX. “The fees for a lot of these DJs became astronomical,” Olheiser says. “It made sense at the time to say, ‘OK, this group can operate it; [it] has relationships with DJs, and then we’ll see what happens. Now we’re taking a look at the proftability and the viability [of that system].” And while the old thought process was for MGM Resorts to partner with a nightlife operator that had the ties and pocketbooks to bring in big DJs, the new philosophy is to look to T-Mobile Arena and other live-music opportunities for synergy. “If we have an

“[There’s a] mainstream American nightlife market that is not being spoken to right now. My goal is to go after those folks.” [artist] performing at Mandalay Bay [Events Center], we need to do a better job of making that artist a part of what we’re trying to do [at LAX] versus having them go somewhere else,” Olheiser says, noting that in a perfect world, artists would continue the experience for their fans at LAX. He also alludes to reciprocities with a new theater at Monte Carlo that will focus on A-list artist residencies that will stay for two to three weeks. Plus, New York-New York doesn’t currently have a nightclub, nor does Monte Carlo, and Luxor is at the epicenter of 8,000 hotel rooms. In essence, all those people need somewhere to party. In preparation for his big year, LAX received the requisite nightclub facelift: a new lighting system, boasting one of the biggest rigs of any nightclub in the country; added LED panels that can be programmed with content to support the DJ; and an enhanced sound system. The advertising campaign

refects a party scene where the guest is the star, aimed at appealing to a more conventional and more mature demographic. “[There’s a] mainstream American nightlife market that is not being spoken to right now,” Olheiser says. “My goal is to go after those folks. I want 2,000 people dancing and partying, affordable drinks, approachability, [a place] easy to get into, where people are smiling at you.” Drinks average $12 and bottle service is offered, but it’s not a hard sell. “It’s a table minimum,” Olheiser says. “And during the week, we’ve been doing no-minimum tables. Like a restaurant, you’re presented a bottle-service menu and you can spend freely. We had a table that didn’t want to spend $500 at the front door for six or seven people. So, we said no problem, sit down. They ended up having a magnum of Grey Goose and a bottle of Dom Pérignon. Their bill was $1,300. They would have never spent that if we hustled them at the front door.” In late January, LAX launched a Thursday-night Throwback party, with live performances by acts from the ’80s to 2000s. “It’s a great experience. It’s fun, relatable. It’s Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, these guys who just put on good shows. They do three or four songs and people go crazy and everybody’s dressed up in Adidas, and we’re just having fun.” Upcoming Throwback Thursday artists include Salt-N-Pepa’s DJ Spinderella on February 4 and Young M.C. on February 18. You can still “Bust a Move,” can’t you?

PHOTO BY STACEY TORMA

February 4–10, 2016

VegasSeven.com

New LED screens light up the night at LAX.

NIGHTLIFE

Mad Skills, No Frills A wholly original interview with Generik By Kat Boehrer ➜

AUSTRALIA’S TYSON O’BRIEN IS

making big moves as DJ Generik, and, subsequently, in his plans for a home base. By the next time he plays Omnia in support of Calvin Harris on February 26 (and March 17 at Hakkasan), he’ll have already moved into his new Los Angeles abode to begin the next leg of his career, which includes the launch of his second single this month. What prompted your move to the U.S.?

Last year, I was living in Melbourne, basically fying to Las Vegas every second weekend. That gets taxing on the body after a while. This year, we’ve got a lot more shows coming up at Hakkasan and hopefully a lot more U.S. touring. But I would like to make my life easier, get a lot of work done and also have, like, a lot of fun. Do you see yourself ever returning to Australia?

I will defnitely be going back to see [my parents] for Christmas. This year is going to be a learning curve for me and a new experience. We will see what America has to offer and what I have to offer America. What will you miss most about your home country?

February 4–10, 2016

VegasSeven.com

My mom’s cooking! She is an awesome cook, and I am a terrible cook. I eat out a lot.

What is your favorite dish that your mom makes?

Mom is Italian, so she makes the best spaghetti Bolognese in the world. If anybody comes to Australia and they want a good dinner, I will give you my home address and then you can go and eat there with my mom. What are you looking forward to most about living in America?

One of the best things about L.A. is that there are so many amazingly talented music producers, writers and singers out there. The collaboration

and the work ethic that L.A. brings is something very inspiring to me, and I really can’t wait to get back into the studio. Music is my passion, and it’s millions of other people’s passion in L.A., and if I can fnd those people and work with them, I can make something really amazing. You support Calvin Harris pretty often. How did you guys first link up?

We met at Stereosonic, a big music festival in Australia, fve years ago. And we were just sort of chilling together at the time, having lots of fun. We kept in contact ever since and, obviously, I love what he has been doing and he loves me. [Laughs]. I am a funny guy, I like to think; I make him laugh. He gives me hints on how to make better music, and he is pretty good at that.

Yeah, I am pretty lucky to call him a mate. He has got me warming up for him for a lot of shows in Vegas. How do you make sure your sets are not, uh, generic?

[Laughs]. The main thing is, in Australia, we get a lot of amazing artists not very many people have heard of yet. So I play a lot of Australian music. [At Omnia and Hakkasan,] I am going to play a lot of my stuff, which no one has heard before. How do you find these Australian artists, online or in person?

I get a lot of tips and people sending me songs all the time. I take pride in actually sitting down and listening to the demos and songs people send me. In the Australian culture—it is

amazing—we just share each other’s music all the time. You always ask for feedback; I’ll have a listen and then I’ll send Hayden James mine and vice versa. So it is a really big family in Australia, which is great. You’ve said before that you have a lot to accomplish before you’ll consider yourself “successful.” What sort of things do you still need to do?

I want to put out my second single, [“Late at Night”]; that would be a good start. It’s almost fnished now, and it’s going to come out in February. I would like people to be able to listen to my music all over the world— not just in Australia. I would like to be able to do my own shows in Vegas and have Calvin Harris supporting me eventually. [Laughs.]

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

MARQUEE

The Cosmopolitan [ UPCOMING ]

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

PHOTOS BY AMIT DADL ANEY

February 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10, 2016

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Feb. 5 Vice spins Feb. 6 DJ Khaled spins Feb. 7 Big Game Viewing Party

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

LAX Luxor

[ UPCOMING ]

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

PHOTOS BY TOBY ACUNA AND JOE FURY

February 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10, 2016

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Feb. 4 Throwback Thursday with DJs R.O.B. and Spinderella Feb. 5 DJ Eric Forbes spins Feb. 6 DJs Cass and Scooter spin

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702.785.6200

An unscientific look at how professional cooks battle cold and flu symptoms with food and beverage By Al Mancini ➜

YUP, IT’S COLD AND FLU SEASON

(not to mention pneumonia, bronchitis and, in my case, whooping cough!), and a pretty rough one at that. Whatever’s taking you and yours down this year, there’s no denying that ’tis the season to lie in bed feeling like crap. And since getting an appointment with an M.D. in this town isn’t always easy, I asked a bunch of my chef friends what I can put into my body to fght off the billions of microbes conspiring to sideline me. Their scientifc validity may vary, but their recommendations are tastier than most of the antibiotics I’ve swallowed over the past few months. So what the hell, you may want to give some of these home remedies a try. Eating your vegetables is about as classic as health advice can get. But, of course, how you ingest them matters tremendously. Gary LaMorte, corporate executive chef for the Mina Group, advises using “whole raw vegetables to supercharge your system.” Or, you can drink your veggies. Border Grill’s Jamaal Taherzadeh says, “When I’m feeling ill, I’ll make a carrot and ginger juice, or something with kale and apples.” And if you’re not juicing at home, it isn’t diffcult to fnd stores selling fresh, cold-pressed juices around the Valley. But if you’re juicing primarily to fght off a bug, you may want to look beyond the standard vegetable and fruit concoctions to the more concentrated health shots. At the Juice Standard’s two locations, you’ll fnd a trio of “shots” intended to keep you healthy with less traditional ingredients. The Flu Shot is made with turmeric, apple cider vinegar, oil of oregano and black pepper. The Wellness Shot contains ginger, lemon, cayenne and black pepper. And the E3 Live Shot contains live algae and coconut water. They’re sold together in a fight of shot glasses (which makes the often challenging tastes easier to handle), and washed down with an envelope of vitamin C gel. You’ll fnd four similar shots at Fruits & Roots that rely on many of the same ingredients, but are sold separately. Remember how Mom used to tell you to eat chicken soup when you got sick? Well, according to Taherzadeh, she was on to something, because chicken contains vitamin C—although you can spice your bird up with a preparation a bit more exciting than soup.

“Because I’m a chef, I don’t want to eat things that are bland,” he says. “When I’m feeling sick, I’ll braise a whole chicken at home with some chilies, and eat it with some white rice and some fresh salsa on top.” If chicken isn’t for you, chef Vincent Pouessel of Daniel Boulud’s DB Brasserie suggests you warm up with French onion soup on “those cold and dry days of the Las Vegas winter.” The chef insists “the gelatin of the shanks just sticks to the inside of your body as a blanket would do, the tender caramelized sweet onion will fll you up, the reduced sherry wine will add an extra layer of sweet and the melted Gruyère cheese will just go down your throat as a warm honey infusion would and maintain your body temperature for hours to come.” OK, sure, I’m not hearing anything about vitamins or minerals in there, but it certainly sounds comforting. Ginger tea is also a popular remedy for many chefs. “Whenever it’s cold/fu season, I always lean toward ginger,” says Micah Waltz of Andiron Steak & Sea. “Raw ginger tea is a go-to for me. The ginger brings up your body temperature to help fght whatever cold/fu causes, while also relieving any stomach issues. If you have allergies, honey is the way to clear up your stuffy head. I use local honey from Pahrump.” Stratosphere executive chef Rick Giffen is also on board with this home remedy, although his recipe varies slightly. He makes his ginger tea with lemon and promises “it works great for symptom relief.” And chef Anthony Meidenbauer of Block 16 Hospitality goes all in, making green tea with ginger, honey and lemon. Perhaps no suggested remedy is more surprising than ceviche. But Jeremy Jordan of the catering company Cut & Taste insists that the marinated raw fsh dish is the cure for what ails you. Jordan, whose family is from Peru, tells me, “This is a standard dish that Peruvians use to fght off illness, [because] ceviche has a high level of vitamin C, which helps build the immune system and battle a cold.” Meanwhile, the recommendation that probably contains the least scientifc validity to back it up also sounds like the most fun. Chef Kim Canteenwalla of Andiron, Honey Salt and Made L.V. swears by “great small-batch bourbon.” At the very least, it should make your symptoms more tolerable.

ILLUSTRATION BY CIERRA PEDRO

February 4–10, 2016

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DINING

Dr. Chef Is in the House

DRINKING

GOT FRUIT? BOOZE? SUGAR?

“The bar staff shared with me a tasting of three different cellos and allowed me to enjoy their hospitality.” Back home, when a friend showed off a bowl of lemons he’d been gifted, Nyman jumped at the chance to make a proper experiment out of it. “I told him that if he gave me the bowl, I would return in six weeks with a treat—and I did. I made him limoncello and really was off and running with my cello passion. I started making cello with whatever fruit was ripe at the time, putting it into glass jars scattered around my house, in any dark place I could fnd.” With passion comes perfection. Homemade cello makes a great gift, as does the jam that results from the maceration process. And it’s easy. You’ll need a few key ingredients: ripe fruit, about a bowl full; 1 liter of high-proof vodka or grain spirit; a large glass jar or vessel (at least two gallons); granular sugar; and water. The other crucial element is time. It will take anywhere from two to four weeks for the fruit to macerate in the alcohol, and then another few weeks after the sugar and water has been added (Nyman like 21 days for both). To make his pineapple cello, Nyman begins with a ripe pineapple, which he cores, skins and cuts into chunks. They don’t have to be perfectly sliced because they’re going tight into a

large glass jug with one liter of vodka. (If you’re the type who likes to keep your limoncello in the freezer so that it becomes a little viscous, you’ll want to use something over 100-proof, Nyman advises.) The booze goes in with the fruit and then you wait. You can taste-test along the way, but generally around 21 days later, you’ll be ready to add 1 liter of simple syrup (sugar dissolved into water at a 1:1 ratio). Another 21 days later, strain out the fruit (jam time!) using a cheesecloth and bottle your creation. “You can’t really rush it,” Nyman says. “Forty-two days makes you really respect the tradition of the process and those who’ve made it before you.” You can personalize your homemade cello by introducing a secondary, complementary favor during the simple syrup stage, such as vanilla, mint, pink peppercorn, saffron or another fruit altogether. Just remember, Nyman adds, you’ll want to use the rind of any citrus fruits, not the fesh. Incidentally, pineapple is a great place to start for your frst cello. It takes just one really ripe pineapple (sniff the bottom) to make the maceration magic happen. Is it any wonder the pineapple is the international symbol of hospitality? Find step-by-step instructions and a howto video at VegasSeven.com/HowToCello.

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BOTTLED CELO PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

➜

And the time to combine them? You could be making your own cello! Winemaker and hospitality consultant Corey Nyman has been whipping up batches of the sweet Italian fruit liqueur in all sorts of enticing favor combinations, from his debut “science experiment” with lime peel and nailing a classic limoncello to the far more exotic white apricot, strawberry-mint and grapefruitginger with cinnamon. And he is confdent that you can do it, too. For starters, cello is all about hospitality. After dinner in Southern Italy, it’s customary to share a little nip of chilled limoncello. So much the better if the stuff is made with love—your love. “It’s about embracing the past, looking to tradition and being able to give something to friends and family that you made yourself,” Nyman says. As the founder of Labor Wines and director of operations for the Nyman Group, Nyman travels extensively for business, and has ample time to observe the inner workings of restaurants along the way. It was a over a dinner at John Besh’s Domenica in New Orleans’ Roosevelt Hotel that Nyman encountered another tradition, the lagniappe—in Louisiana Creole culture, a treat given gratis. At Domenica, this means cello.

➜ If you’ve ever worked behind the bar or waited tables, you’re probably familiar with the custom of the shift drink—that afterwork tipple or brew your employer ponies up for your day’s toil, or maybe the one you seek elsewhere, at a bar whose problems aren’t your own. That’s the starting point for the passion project of Hyde Bellagio barman William Fanning. His online magazine for bartenders and waitstaff, The Shift Drink (TheShiftDrink.com), will launch February 8 with a mission to be “the independent voice of our industry.” Written for and by industry members, Fanning says, “It’s an accurate depiction of the actual conversation that’s happening in every bar and restaurant in the country after work every shift.” The flipbook-style site will at first refresh quarterly, with more than 20 feature-length articles and columns penned by not only the luminaries of the food and beverage world, but also tapping its unsung outliers, the outspoken and the as-yet-unknown with something to say. Fanning has chops in both realms of hospitality and publishing. After high school, he went to the Netherlands to play semi-pro soccer. He worked hospitality jobs to pay the bills there and later during college in Santa Barbara. Even after school he managed bars and restaurants in the L.A. area. And it was his sharp attention to detail that got him writing about bar technique in Nightclub & Bar magazine from 20112013. But when he wanted to cover more than his column could accommodate, he started his own product, Bar & Restaurant, which ran for three issues before being shelved for no other reason than publisher Fanning and his art director/co-founder Elliot Glass couldn’t do everything themselves. It’s for this reason that The Shift Drink will debut as “Issue 4.” Technology has enabled Fanning and his team of 12, including tech director/co-founder Scott Cruwys, to collaborate virtually. The Shift Drink’s inaugural issue will include singer-songwriter Chadwick Stokes’ explanation of the lyrics to “The Waitress”; Entourage’s Jerry Ferrara on his time in restaurants; Velveteen Rabbit’s Andrew Shumaker on his multilayered ice cubes; and a cover story by BarMagic of Las Vegas’ Tobin Ellis on the genesis of the signature bar station he designed for Perlick. I actually got to weigh in on an early draft of Ellis’ story, and look forward to flipping through all 250 pages of The Shift Drink, with my own hardearned shift drink in hand. –X.W.

Winemaker Corey Nyman demonstrates how to make top-shelf pineapple cello liqueur at home By Xania Woodman

HYDE BARMAN’S PASSION PROJECT IS READY TO SERVE

February 4–10, 2016

Show & Cello

[ SCENE STIRS ]

A Tiny Taste of Pink Martini A&E

➜ If you’re in a hurry to get out of here, buddy, tough luck. Pink Martini mixes ’em slow. The group has released only eight albums’ worth of material in 19 years; the gap between their first and second albums alone was seven years. Luckily, this makes it easy for newbies to familiarize themselves with their Latin-flavored jazz, all of which is available on Spotify. Here’s a primer.—Geoff Carter Sympathique (1997) Pink Martini’s debut album established the style from which the group has rarely strayed: percolating Latin rhythms, lush instrumentation and coquettish vocals. “No Hay Problema” and “Song of the Black Lizard” are highlights, though their version of “Que Sera, Sera” is the best take on the Doris Day hit that’s been recorded since 1956.

February 4–10, 2016

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“I’ve been to The Smith Center. ... (It’s a) beautiful oasis in a dusty, desperate town, known for its wild, unapologetic decadence.”

The group performs internationally, rotating between guest appearances and its two leading ladies, Large and her counterpart China Forbes. They also release well-crafted albums every few years, records that refect the group’s evolving musicality and include an always surprising cast of guest performers. For their ninth album, Dream a Little Dream, the group teamed up with the Von Trapp greatgrandchildren. Yes, the Von Trapps, whose story was the basis of the classic 1965 flm The Sound of Music. And Dream a Little Dream also includes an appearance by local favorite Wayne Newton, who lends his distinctive vocals to a cover of The Sound of Music’s

“The Lonely Goatherd.” For Large, who’s been performing with Pink Martini since 2011, this crossing of genres keeps her role exciting and challenging. She regularly masters new challenges, from learning lyrics in multiple languages to capturing the lush, booming sound bandleader Thomas Lauderdale strives to achieve. (“He loves cinematic music,” Large says.) Adding an orchestra to the mix makes it that much more rewarding. “I’ve been to The Smith Center, but I’ve never played with the Philharmonic,” Large says. “(The Smith Center) is such a beautiful oasis in a dusty, desperate town, known for its

wild, unapologetic decadence.” So which song is Large most excited to perform while in Las Vegas? “There’s a song from an old Mamie Van Doren flm that’s this fun, hip-shaking romp called ‘Ich Dich Liebe,’” Large says, adding, “Mamie Van Doren is actually planning on doing a song with (Pink Martini) at some point. She’s about 84 years old, and she’s still performing. She probably had quite a heyday in Las Vegas.” As for Cabrera, he’s most looking forward to the conga line—a fairly common ending to a Pink Martini show. “I am expecting everyone to get in that conga line,” Cabrera says. “I’m not joking; I’m serious. I would get in that conga line if I wasn’t conducting.”

PINK MARTINI

7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Reynolds Hall, $100-$250, 702-749-2000; TheSmithCenter.com.

Hey Eugene! (2007) The album’s closing number, “Tea for Two,” is a duet between China Forbes and the late, great jazzman Jimmy Scott, who lived out his final years in Las Vegas. There is arguably no more affecting version of this 1925 standard to be found anywhere, and seeing as both Art Tatum and Thelonious Monk have played it, that’s saying something. 1969 (2011) An albumlength collaboration with Japanese vocalist Saori Yuki, 1969 finds Pink Martini slowing up to complement the singer’s soft, mature vocals. It’s the group’s most cinematic record, and home to the only version of “Puff, the Magic Dragon” normal humans can stand. It’s a close call, though.

PHOTO BY HOLLY ANDRES

Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale and Storm Large prepare for takeoff.

Hang On Little Tomato (2004) “Anna (El Negro Zumbón)” is easily the highlight of Pink Martini’s sophomore album. This bouncy rendition of Armando Trovajoli’s theme to the 1951 Italian film Anna is so genuinely giddy that you don’t even mind it’s only about two-and-a-half minutes in length.

MARKETPLACE

SEVEN QUESTIONS

acting friends; my cousin is Ed Asner … but it was like two sides of the same coin. In the middle, we were alike; loyal, honest, straight-forward people. We just ft, like it was supposed to be. How well do you know Michael Strahan, the New York Giant credited as the singleseason record-holder in sacks [with 22½ in 2001], a stat only been kept since 1982?

Deacon was his mentor. I love him to pieces. Deacon has a trophy from the NFL that [reads], in 1967, he had 26 sacks. In 1968, he had 24. He’s not touchable. Guys like Michael and Bruce [Smith] and Reggie [White], when he was alive, they know it. You can’t just take stats from ’82. Supposedly, offcially, Deacon had 173½ sacks in 191 games. But I have a painting on which he’s credited with 193½, and there are still fve games that haven’t been [studied]. What happened when Steve Young, then a greenhorn quarterback for the 49ers, tried to meet Deacon at a Super Bowl party?

It was late. Everybody is looped. Steve walks in. Our friend coaxes Deacon to approach Steve. Deacon says, “Hey, boy, you want to meet me, huh? You don’t want to meet me! You are crazy if you want to meet me! You’re just lucky I’m not playing!” Steve keeps backing up and backing up … [Deacon] chased him right out of the [hotel] suite. Everybody was laughing. “What did I do?” Deacon says. “Just tellin’ him the truth. He’s a lucky boy [that] he’s not playing with me.” Commissioner Roger Goodell’s letter to you on June 22, 2013, after Deacon’s passing, informed you of the creation of the Deacon Jones Award, given to the league’s annual sacks leader. How special is that?

It makes Deacon immortal. The NFL had never created an award in a player’s name. As long as there’s an NFL … young players will never forget who he is. How did the unique NFL art-licensing agreement you received come about?

February 4–10, 2016

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The widow of Hall of Famer Deacon Jones on their nonprofit to help youths, having fun with QB Steve Young and a very special trophy in his honor By Rob Miech

You moved here in 2014 and resuscitated the Deacon Jones Foundation with your own funds. How has it impacted the area?

We provided all the supplies and materials—worth more than $2,000—for the after-school art program last semester at Mojave High School. And we will give scholarships to three of those students to further their education. That class started with 22, went to 28, then 30, and it’s at 34 now. Many kids want to take it. There’s a waiting list. We plan to expand it to other Las Vegas high schools.

What prompted the foundation in 1997?

Deacon always talked about what he might have been had he had opportunities that didn’t exist for him. He wanted to put two ninth-graders, from [inner-city L.A], into a seven-year program to get them through college. He demanded that they take all the tools we provided to them and go back and help other kids. We had corporate sponsors and organized fundraisers. I didn’t want to deal with teenagers, but Deacon was twice my size and 50 times louder than me, so …

You met Deacon—a 1980 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee—in 1982 and married him in 1991. What was the bond?

There are platitudes you hate repeating, like soul mates. Deacon and I were completely different on the outside. He was black and came from poverty in Central Florida. He experienced racism, had no formal education and was raised Southern Baptist. He came to Hollywood when he was young, in 1961, to play with the Rams and became a superstar. I was born in Hollywood, affuent, highly educated, white and little. I had many

To view the artwork, learn more and donate, go to DeaconJones.com. What did Deacon think of today’s NFL and what was his illicit incentive to sack opposing quarterbacks? Read the full interview at VegasSeven. com/ElizabethJones.

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

Elizabeth Jones

NFL [executives and personnel] are family to me. I had this bright idea … so I called the commissioner. He gave to the foundation the priciest, most diffcult license on the planet to get. We have 16 artists, and there are about 100 [NFL player-themed portraits], with 125 limited-edition prints of each. Tony Carnevale opened a gallery in Caesars Palace on New Year’s Day, the only place you can see the paintings. The NFL also had me commission one artist to do a painting of all 49 Super Bowl MVPs for its NFL Honors showcase at Super Bowl 50. It all benefts the foundation. Deacon’s football legacy is in cement. And the rest of it, as long as I have anything to say about it, will be, too.