T-Mobile Arena | Vegas Seven Magazine | April 7-13, 2016 by Vegas Seven

CONTENTS

MARCH 7–13, 2016

T H E LAT EST

“Neighborhood Watch” Enough Abuse campaign teaches sexual abuse prevention. By EMMILY BRISTOL

“Down-Ballot Drama” The presidential race fuels passion, but other offices deserve attention. Politics by MICHAEL GREEN

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

NIGH T LIF E

“Out of This World” Com Truise’s unearthly sounds are alien inspired. By KAT BOEHRER Plus … Seven Nights, and Kirill plans to make a splash at Ditch Fridays.

DINING

“Drunk-Ass Dining” Guy Fieri rides his Burro Borracho into the Rio. By AL MANCINI Plus … Downtown’s new doughnuts, Dishing With Grace and Drinking.

A &E

“Vegas Finds its Bliss” Marco Cochrane’s Burning Man sculpture Bliss Dance makes itself at home on the Strip. By GENEVIE DURANO

“Filling the Big Room” AEG’s Bobby Reynolds talks about the challenges of booking T-Mobile Arena. By MELINDA SHECKELLS

Entrepreneur Heather Marianna on Tour Group, her beauty-box subscription service, sourcing ingredients and embracing her quirky identity.

F E AT URE

“The Latest Strip Showplace”

Entertainment venues on the Boulevard have come a long way. By DAVID G. SCHWARTZ Plus … A look at The Park, and recalling the Valley’s failed stadium and arena plans. Cover photo by Krystal Ramirez.

CORRECTIONS A story about the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (“Fighting for a Rebound,” March 31) incorrectly reported when they would play Arizona. The teams are scheduled to play in the 2017-18 season. A story about the Humans of Las Vegas Facebook page (“Human Connection,” March 24) incorrectly characterized the year the page started. Pavlina Edwards started the page in 2014, the third anniversary of the loss of her infant son, Matthew.

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SEVEN Q U EST IONS

T-Mobile Arena takes Strip entertainment to the next level.

April 7–13, 2016

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

Plus … Seven’s 14, Absinthe celebrates five years of perverted fun, and a review of Santigold in concert.

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 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Hubble Ray Smith 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

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

Liberace's cars are as grand as the man himself.

J A M E S P. R E Z A

➜ Not every garage has a

LIBERACE CARS BY JIM K. DECKER; TEDXUNLV COURTESY OF UNLV

chandelier the size of a Honda hanging from the ceiling but, of course, not every garage is the Liberace Garage. Liberace’s 1961 Rolls Royce Sedanca Deville Limousine sits in the center of the room, the thousands of tiny mirrors covering its exterior glittering. Flanking it are his sparkling crystal-encrusted roadster and his gold-sequined Bradley GT, along with glass cases containing several stage costumes. “The cars were just an extension of the costumes, really,” says Jonathan Warren, chairman of the Liberace Foundation for the Creative and Performing Arts. The Liberace Garage is set to open April 7, in a space attached

TEDx Takes on Sin City

to Hollywood Cars Museum (5115 Dean Martin Dr., Liberace. org). The museum’s owner, real estate tycoon Michael Dezer, donated use of the space to the Liberace Foundation, where Mr. Showmanship’s fantastic cars will reside near the equally astonishing vehicles of Batman and James Bond. “That’s going to be kind of our grand finale when people go through,” says Steve Levesque, director of Hollywood Cars Museum. “The chandeliers, the whole ambiance—it’ll be pretty mind-blowing.” Unlike many organizations, the Liberace Foundation isn’t seeking a single home for its (growing) collection. “It’d be way too much. Crated up and boxed up, it’s

It’s been two years since TEDxUNLV graced us with a day full of dreamers and innovative thinkers. But the event returns this week with 16 speakers who will explore the theme of “Living in the Extreme,” which TEDx co-chair Gael Hancock says is about living in Sin City. “It’s a three-part thing of Vegas itself, our individual lives, and how we navigate and deal with the extremes that we’re surrounded by,” says Hancock, who also manages the graduate programs for the university’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration.

A patchwork of influential individuals will share their stories, including an intersex scholar from Chicago who advocates for intersex youth and a physics professor with a direct line to NASA and an expertise in exoplanets. TEDx is born from the original mission of TED Talks—to spread ideas via powerful, inspiring talks—but on a more local level. “Our goal is that everyone who leaves [TEDx] leaves changed,” Hancock says. Performances and demonstrations, including a jiu jitsu exhibition by UFC champion Miesha Tate, will take place between the speakers. An all-day event, TEDxUNLV will also provide a family-style lunch for attendees. TEDxUNLV will be streamed with much help from Hancock’s graduate students, who also had a hand in production management, and stage and lighting design. Hancock encourages viewers to launch their own viewing parties and to register them at TEDxUNLV’s website. Starting in 2017, TEDxUNLV will happen annually, with other events sprinkled TED x UNLV throughout the year on April 8, UNLV Black Box campus and throughout Theatre, Tickets $100; the community, UNLV.edu/tedxunlv Hancock says. –Amber Sampson

Questions? AskaNative@VegasSeven.com.

Liberace Garage showcases Mr. Showmanship’s rides By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

about 15,000 cubic feet—it rivals a major wing in the Smithsonian,” says Warren, noting that they’ve got 18 pianos and dozens of chandeliers, among thousands of other artifacts. “We’re looking for more places—not one place, but lots of places.” Those places won’t just be museums, either. “The other key element is we welcome the commercial interaction. We expect to license in the near future several different businesses that are Liberace brand,” he continues, “One in particular is a restaurant chain that we will put Liberace artifacts in a la the Hard Rock or Planet Hollywood.” On the wall, a larger-than-life, full-color promo portrait of Liberace beams down at all of his shiny toys. “It’s hard to find a photo where he is not smiling, even in candid shots,” Warren says. “We think he would like it. These cars were created to be on display.”

April 7–13, 2016

Glitter on Wheels

Not to marginalize the efforts of Tony Hsieh and his affiliated Downtown Project, but Las Vegas has hosted its share of techies. Maybe not as many as con artists and carnival barkers, but still. Tellingly, one has to look no further than gambling to uncover a longtime Vegas subculture that spends its days dreaming, developing, designing and programming tech-based gambling devices. That may seem less glamorous than racking up billable laptop hours from a microbrewery while developing the latest sharing economy app, but it is crucial to what pays most of the bills in Vegas. Ironically, we can look to a video game company for being perhaps the first of the glam-tech startups to give many of those same gaming careerists access to nongambling careers. It may sound cliché, but the homegrown Westwood Studios, founded by Louis Castle and Brett Sperry (whom you may know as the developer of Downtown’s Art Square), did indeed launch in a Las Vegas garage. Westwood Studios (creator of the wildly successful Command & Conquer video game) went on to employ or contract just about every visual artist, designer, writer, musician or techie I knew in the 1990s, and that was a lot. Look back further—to 1951, when the Nevada Proving Grounds was established 65 miles north of Las Vegas—to see some real roots of technology in Las Vegas. Later known by its most recognized name, the Nevada Test Site (today, the Nevada National Security Site) drew legions of educated tech nerds to Southern Nevada to work on supersecret high-tech military projects, as well as nuclear weapons development and testing. Government contractors Holmes and Narver, Reynolds Electrical & Engineering Company (REECo), Livermore Labs, Raytheon, and Edgerton, Gerneshausen & Grier Engineering (EG&G, founded by three MIT graduates) descended upon Las Vegas, built offices and began hiring. They were among the top tech companies in the world at the time, working on high-grade projects including the Manhattan Project, the U.S. Antarctic Research Program and aerospace development. What they lured to Southern Nevada was the college-educated, white-collar workforce some say we never had. Back then, it was said that if you didn’t work in the casinos, you worked at the Test Site. So to those who want to “change and diversify” the city, I say in order to see the future, you must know your past. A technology development hub in Southern Nevada? Sure! It’ll be just like old times.

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Can Las Vegas ever become a “tech community”?

THE LATEST

Down-Ballot Drama The presidential race fuels passion, but other offices deserve attention

SHOW TICKET PRICES UP

April 7–13, 2016

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➜

ANTHONY CURTIS

ONE OF THE GLORIES OF

our political discourse is that many of those complaining that a presidential primary would be better than a caucus—and they’re right—won’t show up on June 14 when the primaries decide who goes on to the general election for the other offices on the ballot. That’s a shame because they are important—even, and perhaps especially, what seem like minor posts. Nor will it help that some Democrats will be justifiably angry about showing up for the caucus and voting for Hillary Clinton, then the Clark County Democratic convention winding up with more Bernie Sanders supporters (see above, need for a primary). And those who stay home don’t have the same excuse of not wanting to spend all of those hours at a caucus. Here’s what they might be missing: Former Senator Richard Bryan liked to say a politician runs for office only two ways: unopposed or scared. Representative Joe Heck should be scared—of Sharron Angle. First, Angle is a Northerner, and while Southern Nevadans often don’t know there even is a Northern Nevada, Northern Nevadans prefer to vote for their own. (She got a big reception at the Washoe GOP convention.) Second, rural Nevada is Sagebrush Rebellion country, and by even going to Washington, Heck is part of the problem, not the solution, while Angle is totally pro-gun, anti-government and anti-Harry Reid. Third, Heck has been in a closely divided district and tried to navigate difficult waters while Angle, in The Year of Trump, rings all of the right (wing) bells. Remember that

in 2010, Reid did everything he could to help Angle win the primary; if Catherine Cortez Masto doesn’t do the same, she’s making a mistake. The race for the House seat Heck is vacating already is a donnybrook. Among Republicans, Danny Tarkanian and Michele Fiore have name recognition, Dr. Annette Teijeiro tries to be an argument against Trump’s benighted view of noncaucasians, and Michael Roberson can count on moderate Republicans, who don’t tend to be the party’s base or show up in large numbers in primaries. Democrat Jacky Rosen, a longtime community leader, has the party’s support, but another entrant, attorney Jesse Sbaih, came out strong for Sanders and now claims Reid and his political operatives tried to dissuade him from running, citing his Muslim heritage as a problem. Reid says Sbiah is being inventive. Whatever the conversation, in a district split between the two major parties with a lot of conservative independents, it’s sad to say that Sbiah’s heritage may be a problem with some. In House District 4, Ruben Kihuen is the establishment candidate and all out for Clinton, whose caucus performance in that district was better than in the other three House slots. Lucy Flores came out for Sanders. Susie Lee has her own financing. And Cresent Hardy has quietly put together a strong staff and hopes Democrats form

a circular firing squad. This year, Republicans have revealed a greater talent for that, but don’t bet against the ability of Democrats to do the same. In Assembly District 8, John Moore ran for that seat as a Democrat in 2012 and lost. In 2014, he won it as a Republican. In 2016, he’s seeking reelection as a Libertarian. He says he’s committed on the issues. It sounds more like he has commitment issues. Some of the primaries might provide surprises and controversy. The County Commission primary between Marilyn Kirkpatrick, the former Assembly speaker appointed to the seat, and Las Vegas Councilman Steve Ross hasn’t gotten much attention yet. It will. Be on the lookout for news about a legislative primary involving a candidate who isn’t quite on the up and up. Each Southern Nevada regent has a primary, and the most interesting is the race in Regent District 13 involving John Moran III, the grandson of a sheriff and son of a gaming commissioner who is spending a lot of money for a nonpaying job, and Jim Ratigan, who heads the UNLV Alumni Association—and if UNLV alumni get interested, that could be well worth watching. If you don’t love names on ballots, you aren’t looking. These include Carlo “Mazunga” Poliak, “Sad Tom” Heck, Louis “Blulaker” Baker and Roger “Oz” Baum. Sadly, a Harry Reid opponent from the 1992 Senate primary never has tried again: God Almighty. This begs the question: Reid defeated God, who hasn’t tried again, but Angle is running?

➜ Another year, another show ticket survey, another increase in prices. Every year in the April issue of the Las Vegas Advisor, we calculate the current average cost of a ticket to see a Las Vegas production show. This year, 94 shows were considered. As is almost always the case—21 times in 25 years—the average went up, and for the first time, surpassed the $90 mark (the $90.18 ticket average is a $4.98 increase over a year ago). The most expensive single ticket in the survey was $1,040.91 for the top (VIP) ticket to Britney—A Piece of Me. What may be even more amazing is that the Planet Hollywood box office listed 37 different ticket prices for Britney. More than half the shows (53) have at least one ticket option above $100. Further, 17 have a highest price of $200 or more, six have a ticket over $300, Britney has a $400 option, Elton has one for $500 and then it’s Britney again with prices all over the map up to that $1,000. Lordy! It’s a daunting prospect for those who like to catch a production show now and again. Or is it? In reality, what you see isn’t necessarily what you get. There are two factors in particular that are pushing up the averages, and there’s a money-saving response to each. First, there’s so much discounting in play that retail prices have to be constantly inflated to accommodate. That’s been the way for a while now, but it’s accelerating. The response? Now more than ever, you have to take advantage of the available discount options. You should never buy a ticket without first checking half-price ticket outlets, online discounters such as Goldstar.com and discount-code sources. Many producers continue to offer periodic deals for locals, so read the newspapers and magazines. And since the numbers for the survey come from ticket-range averages, you can always do better by buying at the low end of the ticket-tier scale. Second, prices for the star-fueled residency shows are going into orbit. If you’re looking for the deal, it usually means staying away from the big names and going with the lowerpriced alternatives. For the second year in a row, Las Vegas’ lowest-priced retail ticket is Mike Hammer Comedy Magic at Four Queens at $27.80 after taxes. Also under $40 are Spirit of the King at Four Queens, Laughternoon at The D, Gordie Brown at the Golden Nugget, Frank Marino’s Divas at the Linq, L.A. Comedy Club at Stratosphere and Twisted Vegas at the Westgate. And don’t forget the best show deal in town, the $9.95 ticket to Mac King’s Comedy Magic that you can pick up at Harrah’s the day of the show (try the players club booth). You can still see a good show at a fair price in Vegas. You just have to work a little harder to do it. Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.

Clockwise from left: UNLV Now, Major League Soccer Stadium, REI Neon, Las Vegas National Sports Center.

SILVER STATE ARENA (2010)

The Sports Center was not Milam’s only attempt. The previous year, he proposed a 20,000-seat arena on the former Wet ’n Wild site that could be home to an NBA team. However, his dream soon dissipated when Clark County refused to pay for 15 percent of the project with public funds.

The NBA held its All-Star Game at the Thomas & Mack Center in 2007, but it wasn’t suited for a pro team. So the REI Neon group proposed a 22,000-seat arena in Downtown, and Mayor Oscar Goodman was enthusiastic about the idea. However, after 14 months of negotiations, the City Council decided to pass on the $10.5 billion mixed-use project, citing the troubled economy. MONTREAL EXPOS STADIUM (2004)

Think about the possibility of Bryce Harper playing for his hometown team. It could’ve happened. Las Vegas Sports and Entertainment LLC hoped to construct a 40,000-seat, retractableroof stadium that would’ve brought the Expos to Las Vegas. In the end, Major League Baseball’s concerns about gambling proved too much of an obstacle. Instead, the Expos announced their move to Washington, D.C., to become the Nationals on September 30, 2004.

SPRING TRAINING FACILITY (1994)

Then-Las Vegas Stars General Manager Don Logan proposed a 220acre, 24-field complex that included a 5,000-seat stadium for spring training. The facility would allow four Major League Baseball teams to move their operations to Southern Nevada by 1999. The Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals were targeted as the teams to relocate to Henderson if the proposal passed. Despite civic support, the teams wouldn’t commit until the construction was done and each wanted $1 million. In 1997, the LVCVA voted against the project, saying it was a bad investment of tourism dollars, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers were also interested in moving spring training to a Southern Nevada facility, but those plans were eventually scrapped. –Compiled by Nicole Ely and Danny Webster

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Cashman Field has been the home of minor league baseball in Las Vegas since 1983, so it seemed time to upgrade. Steve Mack bought the Las Vegas 51s in 2013, and with the help of Howard Hughes Corp., created Summerlin Baseball LLC in hopes to move the team to a proposed $65 million stadium close to Red Rock Resort. Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Mack never came to an agreement on the project, but the 51s are still looking for a stadium with better amenities. Also, the 51s agreed to a 10-year lease extension at Cashman Field in October 2012. So maybe we’ll have an answer in six years.

Chris Milam thought of a $1.5 billion idea to build four stadiums in a diamond formation on 485 acres near the M Resort. There would be a baseball stadium, an indoor arena, an open-air stadium and a 63,500-seat domed stadium. This was Milam’s plan to lure a professional sports team to the Valley. The Bureau of Land Management, which had the rights to the land in question, pulled the plug, and Milam was sued by the City of Henderson for fraud in connection with the project.

REI NEON (2008)

51s STADIUM (2013)

LAS VEGAS NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER (2011)

April 7–13, 2016

to lawmakers in the 2013 legislative session to pay for the $770 million stadium. But in March 2013, UNLV dropped Majestic as a partner, saying the developer was disrupting UNLV Now’s relationships with the university and the Strip’s resort industry.

NIGHTLIFE

Com Truise’s unearthly sounds are alien inspired By Kat Boehrer

ism Com Truise. As Truise, he cranks out releases reminiscent of ’80s synth-wave, and the American producer likes to use vintage tools to get the exact sound that he wants. Haley is particularly interested in theatrical music, and plans to release an album that concludes an existing sci-fi storyline in hopes of expanding into more cinematic endeavors. Catch him while he’s still pre-Academy Award for Best Score at Brooklyn Bowl on May 28.

April 7–13, 2016

Out of This World

➜ SETH HALEY OPERATES under the spooner-

VegasSeven.com

Your city after dark, photos from the week’s hottest parties and Kirill comes to the Palms

NIGHTLIFE

You have a background in graphic design. Will you do your own visuals for the Brooklyn Bowl show?

Yes, I will be doing the visuals this time for sure. What’s your process for deciding what you want your show to look like?

It’s based mostly on my artwork, my aesthetic. It’s very geometric. They’re very simple animations, and colorful. You’ve incorporated live elements in your sets, such as a drummer and other instrumentalists. Will this be the case in Las Vegas?

It’s basically just me with a bunch of equipment at this point. The drummer is currently on tour with another band, so I will be coming solo this time. I have a couple of keyboards, a couple of midi controllers and a couple of computers. It’s simple, but it does the job. For one person to handle on his own, that’s a good amount of stuff. How does this one-man show work onstage?

I’m re-sequencing the songs. Live music controllers, I mean, they’re basically to launch a certain sound—the quips and the moods of the tracks— then I manipulate them as I go through the set. I use the synthesizers to play certain parts of certain songs, and I add some extra noises and bells and whistles. So you’re actually making the music live onstage, rather than playing a track that’s already recorded. What about any new music?

Yes, an EP came out April 1, called Silicone Tare. [And] as soon as I get off the tour I’m on right now, I will be finishing up an [album]. There’s no release date yet, but I’m definitely going to have it finished well before the end of this year. Is the EP a collection of unrelated songs or is there a unifying story behind it?

This EP is, yes, pretty much a collection of songs. Most of my music has a story arc that it follows. With this EP, I had some songs lying around, that I really just wanted to kind of shut the door on, move forward with some other things. To get people ready for the album to follow?

April 7–13, 2016

VegasSeven.com

Definitely.

And what’s the story behind the full album?

It evolves from my first release to this upcoming album. It’s all based on the first kind of android astronaut who has to go make contact with civilization. He falls in love with an alien girl, and he’s not supposed to have feelings. A rift happens between the two societies. The album is essentially the end of that story, so it will be action-packed, that’s for sure.

Sounds theatrical.

It’s definitely cinematic. To get that storyline across to the listener, do you use vocals or melodies to help us understand what’s happening?

I prefer the more melodic instrumental stuff, but we might do a song or two with vocals. Sometimes conveying that message can be tricky. I also leave it open to anybody’s interpretation as far as how to feel. What sort of equipment is essential to your signature sound?

I collect a lot of vintage equipment, mostly from the late ’70s and the early ’80s, synthesizers and drum machines. A lot of them have their own sound, and using that equipment gives you a certain sound automatically. I’m a big fan of science fiction. All of [the vintage equipment] has that

tinge to it—spacey and drone-y. Then it gets to the hard drums and a good catchy bassline. How were you introduced to such vintage equipment?

About seven years ago, I really fell in love with ‘80s music. I started to research by just reading liner notes on albums. They would [list] certain keyboards and equipment, and I would go research what that was and if I could find it, if it was still available. Then I started spending every last penny I had buying the stuff up and amassing a collection. I had used synthesizers before. I’ve been writing music for about 15 years, just as a hobby. I started as a DJ; deep drum and bass music. Then I just got into synthesizers. A lot of [synthesizers] are modeled off real equipment, even if they’re virtual. They really

have their own character; they’re a little wobbly. Sometimes you have to let them warm up, and you can get these slight nuances in the sound that sometimes the computer just ... you lose that part of it. It, hopefully, inspires some research. What other projects do you have coming up?

There’s some film stuff that we’re in talks about doing—scores and things like that. But nothing is concrete right now.

Is cinematic music something that you enjoy, or is that just business?

That’s my passion. That’s where I really want to go with the project. I’d love to keep touring and playing shows, but I’d love to also just be locked in a studio with a motion picture, trying to make the most perfect sounds for those images.

NIGHTLIFE

Seven Nights Your week in parties By I A N C A R A M A N Z A N A

released his sophomore effort, Trap Muzik, which contained the hit singles “24’s” and “Rubber Band Man.”That pushed him to the forefront of the hip-hop world. After putting out a few dozen singles, facing jail time and acting in a few movies, he landed a residency at Drai’s. Witness him perform a career-spanning set, then give him a well-deserved congratulations for overcoming. (In the Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife.com.)

THU 7 We all know Steve Aoki as an EDM powerhouse. He’s toured the world as a DJ, produced countless tracks such as the classic “Boneless” and spearheads his Dim Mak label. But did you know he’s a hardcore head as well? He mentioned in our November interview that he “was listening to a lot of straightedge hardcore” when he was 14. Beyond that, seminal hardcore/punk label Revelation Records posted a photo on Instagram of the DJ at its headquarters with a copy of Gorilla Biscuits’ Start Today—his favorite release from the label. Maybe the Biscuits are his sole inspiration for grabbing some impressive airtime during his sets. Dive into the Revelation discography to see what inspired him as a teen, and witness yet another of his electro house concoctions at Hakkasan. (In MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.)

April 7–13, 2016

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FRI 8

T.I. has come a long way. The Atlanta rapper, born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., started rapping as TIP at 8, dropped out of high school and dealt drugs as a teenager to make ends meet. Selling mixtapes out of the trunk of his car led to a record deal with Arista Records. Then he dropped two things: the “p” in his name (out of respect to label mate Q-Tip) and his debut album I’m Serious, which failed to chart. Things seemed grim for a bit, until he

SAT 9 Call us crazy, but we’ve got a soft spot for producers who aren’t afraid to drift away from their roots and incorporate poppy elements into their music in order to appeal to a larger audience. Take Armin Van Buuren, for example. The 39-year-old Dutch DJ/producer initially worked exclusively in trance (in fact, he’s got a weekly podcast called The State of Trance), but as his career progressed, his sound has gotten even more pop-friendly. Listen to his most recent cuts such as his collaboration with Mr. Probz, “Another You,” or with Kensington, “Heading Up High,” and you’ll notice that the tunes are more in line with Calvin Harris than trance pioneers. Don’t sweat it, though; since he’s known for his eclectic sets, expect to hear stuff from the trance canon. Experience one at Omnia. And if he can’t put you in a state of trance, you can cause some

Floetry.

ruckus with DJ Ruckus at Heart of Omnia. (In Caesars Palace, 10:30 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com.)

SUN 10 It’s time to consider “treat yo’self” a proverb. Since Aziz Ansari coined it as the smartyet-charming Tom Haverford in Parks and Recreation, it’s become more than a running joke—it’s a way of life. Take his advice and spend the day at Encore, where you can treat yourself to two big names. Your day kicks off with a pool party at Encore Beach Club featuring tunes by David Guetta. Guetta recently announced a groundbreaking collaboration with … you! The Frenchman asked his Steve Aoki.

fans to record their own voices singing a part in his latest single by visiting ThisOnesForYou.com. See if he has enough voices to fill the part and finish the song. (In Encore, 11 a.m., EncoreBeachClub. com.) Next, hit up XS for a set by trap trio Yellow Claw. The Dutch powerhouse made waves late last year by teaming up with two huge names in the hip-hop world: DJ Mustard and Ty Dolla $ign. In the track “In My Room,” the artists bring all of their best. It’s got the “ratchet music” bounce of DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla $ign’s drowsy croon and Yellow Claw’s rambunctious drop. Hear it tonight, among other trap bangers. (In Encore, 10 p.m., XSLasVegas.com.)

MON 11 Trade in the earth-shattering bass for the smooth soulful tunes of Floetry at Brooklyn Bowl. The duo consisting of English singers Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart was formed in the late '90s, and has since sold more than 1.5 million records worldwide. And it’s easy to see why; songs such as the sultry jazz-tinged “Say Yes” and the hip-hop bounce of “Floetic” have infectious vocal melodies. If those songs don’t ring a bell, perhaps you’re familiar with artists such as Jill Scott, Dru Hill and Michael Jackson. Together and separately, Ambrosius and Stewart

have penned songs for those huge names. Get the melodies ingrained into your cranium tonight, and see what our generation will be singing next. (At the Linq 6 p.m., Vegas. BrooklynBowl.com.)

TUE 12 Tuesdays never left, but in case you haven’t heard, Martes is back! Commonwealth’s weekly Latin-inspired rooftop party returned at the tail end of last month and, like the weather, things are heating up. It doesn’t stop there. Resident DJs Danny Boy and Lenny Alfonzo will spin the hottest in Latin house, salsa, bachata, merengue, reggaeton and hip-hop, and horn player Rico Delargo will be on hand to give the tunes a little extra oomph. Better bring a towel ’cause you’ll get sweaty with all this heat. (525 Fremont St., 9 p.m., CommonwealthLV.com.)

WED 13 Take a look around the office and ask yourself this: Are you running low on supplies? If so, Eric D-Lux has your back. Browse his Instagram, and you’ll see he’s created nifty items with his brand on them, including gum, lipbalm and notebooks. He might hand some freebies out at Light, so hit it up for some essentials. (In Mandalay Bay, 10:30 p.m., TheLightVegas.com.)

ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMANDA OLSON

T.I.

NIGHTLIFE

Here comes the son ... of anarchy.

Kirill Will Be Here ONE OF SOCIAL MEDIA’S most irreverent conversation starters, Kirill (a.k.a. @SlutWhisperer, a.k.a. @KirillWasHere) will make his debut as the official party curator for the new season of Ditch Fridays at Palms Pool & Dayclub on May 6. The self-described “performance artist” and photographer known for his salacious images of butts and boobs in absurd situations will bring his signature Champagne Facial (note: It’s not a spa treatment; watch the videos) to the off-Strip hotel-casino. “Vegas has so many rules and laws for such a ‘crazy’ town,” he says. “The Palms lets [me] get close to the line. It reminds me of when Vegas was fun.” In his role as party curator, Kirill will take pictures, get drunk on tequila or whiskey and probably end up at Outback Steakhouse—he has the restaurant logo tattooed on his arm. “This will be like a summer pool party at your friend’s house where everyone gets [messed up],” he says, noting that his party accessories consist of Champagne and water guns and a camera. “This is a party

April 7–13, 2016

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where you feel like it’s a party, not paying $200 to stand around and stare at a DJ.” Born in Russia, Kirill moved to Brooklyn when he was 6 months old and was eventually raised in New Jersey. “In 2009, I started photographing my favorite parties. I was doing this for free at first—all the good parties. You could pick from 20 parties a night in Manhattan. I built a following, and then people wanted me to come to these parties,” Kirill says. “The Champagne Facial was just born out of me missing a girl’s mouth while pouring Champagne. Then guys such as Tiësto, Steve Aoki and A-Trak helped blow up the brand. People gravitate toward someone who is having fun in nightlife.” Kirill really hit it big when he shot LMFAO’s infamous Party Rock album art. “[My Russian parents at first said], ‘What is this? This isn’t a real job. We came to America for this?’” he says. “Now that they see the popularity and financial success of what I do, they accept it. If we would have stayed in Russia, I would probably be in a street gang wearing Adidas head to toe.”

As for his profound use of the word “Slut,” Kirill says it has become part of his art, and his following is mostly women who “believe in their own body responsibility and others who believe in freedom of speech” and who proudly don his Sword-emblazoned merchandise. In addition to Kirill, Ditch will introduce new bottle presentations such as one in which servers arrive in a child-size Mercedes SUV Power Wheels; an interactive game garden with Jenga, cornhole, mini basketball hoops and beer pong; and a Bud Light deck featuring hammocks and shaded daybeds. Other features include a braid bar hosted by Recharge Salon, new cocktails and bottomless mimosas, food from Hooters, Champagne spray guns and a $1 million Ditch Your Budget package that comes with a full-size Mercedes and your name on the Palms marquee, as well as air fare on a private jet for 30 people. If you can’t make it to party in person, we are certain there will be plenty of photo evidence thanks to @SlutWhisperer.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PALMS

The social media superstar will give the crowd at Ditch Fridays a Champagne shower they won’t soon forget By Melinda Sheckells

DRINKING

Brunch Rush

[ SCENE STIRS ]

the Bloody Mary have been widely touted by overindulgers, especially in the morning, where the heartiness of the tomato juice and snappy celery put something back into the stomach. Naturally, the cocktail has grown into an artistic and revered brunch pairing since its purported creation during the 1920s by Pete Petiot at Harry’s Bar in Paris. A riff on the classic cocktail introduces a number of unconventional garnishes and accessories to join the band, providing an explosion of sights, sounds, flavors and textures. For instance, what would a Bloody Mary be without a celery stick? When it comes to balance, the crunchy and fibrous stalk is as necessary as the fragrant mint that adorns a julep. The celery garnish probably came about during the 1950s, when an unknown customer used a stalk of celery to stir the drink, and, unwittingly, history was made. But, a proper Bloody Mary begins with the mix. True connoisseurs make their own, using recipes that are sometimes as closely guarded as the family silver. DIY Bloody Mary bars and carts are nudging patrons to fuel their inner creativity by first pouring their delicious housemade blank canvas into the glass, then letting them design their Mary (or Maria, Bull or Caesar) to their liking. Create your own masterpiece at these spots: FLEUR BY HUBERT KELLER

The Bloody Mary cart at Fleur provides guests with the choice of five vodkas (Grey Goose, Tito’s,

Ketel One, Absolut Peppar and house-made bacon-infused) mixed with three levels of heat obtained from 20 hot sauces. To customize, add fresh and hearty ingredients to the mix such as cucumber, pickles, asparagus spears, cherry tomatoes, lemon, lime, olives, prawns, bacon, celery, carrots, pickled jalapeños or peppers, and carrots. $19, 11 a.m.4 p.m. Sundays, in Mandalay Bay, 702632-9400, MandalayBay.com. MORELS FRENCH STEAKHOUSE & BISTRO Order this one from the

“Bloody” cart. After all, it is the weekend, and Morels offers the cart from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Choose from either Tito’s vodka or a tequila for Bloody Marias, then the cocktail is crafted tableside with a house-recipe mix—even the tomato juice is made fresh. Add-ons include shaved horseradish, fresh cut herbs and pickled garnishes. $17, in the Palazzo, 702-607-6333, MorelsLV.com. Your personalized cocktail creation begins with a few choices of mixes at the expansive help-yourself Bloody Mary bar. Andiron offers original, spicy, Caesar (with the addition of briny clam juice) and zesty roasted tomatillo. Choose from vodka or tequila, 12 varieties of salt including pink to bacon, and 21 hot sauces. Garnish with banana peppers, olives, Marcona almond-stuffed olives, blue cheese-stuffed olives, lemon, lime, pickled jalapeños, onions, Slim Jims, beef jerky, crispy bacon, carrots, cornichons and ANDIRON STEAK & SEA

shrimp cocktail. $24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, Downtown Summerlin, 702685-8002, AndironSteak.com. WOLFGANG PUCK BAR & GRILL

Sunday brunch, live music and Bloody Marys come together at Wolfgang’s neighborhood Summerlin spot. Customize your Mary or Maria with garnishes that range from fresh and crunchy to mouthwatering and savory. Crispy, housecured, maple syrup-glazed bacon is one of the featured add-ons, as well as green beans, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, pimento-stuffed olives, blue cheese-stuffed olives and steak seasoning. $9, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, Downtown Summerlin, 702-2026300, DowntownSummerlin.com. The keyword here is “bottomless” at STK’s make-your-own Bloody Mary bar during Sunday Brunch Club. DIY with Belvedere Vodka and a plentiful assortment of garnishes, including house-pickled carrots and green beans, lime, lemon, tomatoes, cheese, hot sauce, peppers, blackpeppered bacon and, of course, celery. Choose from original or green mix made from an original-recipe tomatillo-based mix. $24, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, the Cosmopolitan, 702-6987990, CosmopolitanLasVegas.com. STK

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PHOTOS BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

➜ The restorative properties of

Caption (Andiron’s bloody mary bar)

➜ When Tales of the Cocktail—the spirits industry’s preeminent cocktail festival—kicks off in New Orleans (July 19-24, TalesOfTheCocktail. com), it will do so with a prominent Las Vegas bartender playing a vital role behind the scenes as Las Vegas’ first gray-coat cocktail apprentice. I’ll explain: In past years, Breakthru Beverage’s Mike Doyle, the Cosmopolitan’s Tim Rita and Delmonico Steakhouse’s Juyoung Kang have all volunteered their time to participate in Tales’ Cocktail Apprentice Program, or CAP. The CAPs arrive first, leave last and sleep the least. They batch every cocktail and process every garnish served to the more than 16,000 attendees— bartenders, bar owners, brand ambassadors, sales reps, media and spirits enthusiasts. Whereas many large-scale beverage events outsource hiring to staffing agencies, Tales keeps hiring in-house, using the CAPs as the glue that holds everything together and maintains continuity from year to year. The hierarchy works like this: Newbies wear red and function like barbacks; selected returning CAPs are promoted to gray coats, functioning more like bartenders and overseeing two red coats each; successful grays can apply for the managerial black coat, overseeing teams of five grays and their 10 reds. At the top of the heap are a handful of revered white coats, whose blood, sweat and tears dot the very carpet fibers of Tales’ headquarters, Hotel Monteleone. This year marks Kang’s fourth Tales overall, her second as a CAP and her first as a gray coat. And she couldn’t be more ready to get to work. “It should be a shitshow, because none of us have worked together. But the people they pick—I don’t know how they do it—we all get along,” she says. “It forces you to see how you are as a person, and how you need to grow. It’s about adapting. We’ve grown in different places and experienced different things, and yet, for some reason, that week, we all come together to get it done.” For many bartenders, Tales is as much about learning as it is networking, and being a CAP is a rare chance to experience high-volume service. For Kang, who has established and run programs for Corner Bar Management and now Delmonico Steakhouse, there is beauty in the (organized) chaos. “A lot of people who come to Tales have never done huge events before. They don’t know what it’s like to serve 100 people at the same time. That’s what I do in Vegas; we do that every day. We [grays] set them up for success,” Kang says. “And we want to encourage them, because they’re going to be the next leaders.” –X.W.

April 7–13, 2016

Build your own Bloody Mary at these weekend hot spots By Marisa Finetti

DELMONICO’S JUYOUNG KANG MOVES UP IN THE RANKS AT TALES IN NOLA

A&E

Marco Cochrane inspects the installation of his piece Bliss Dance at the T-Mobile Arena.

The intent is to change people’s views of women. When I was young, my friend was sexually assaulted outside of my house, and I thought, “I’ve got to do something about this.” I was 7 at the time, but it totally affected my life. And I thought, “How do you get inside the head of someone who would do that?” They must not have understood that she was a person. So as I grew up, I realized that while sexuality is really strong, you could get sort of blinded by it. What we need to do is show women as beautiful, yes, but real. And running their own energy for themselves, not doing it for other people. She’s just dancing for herself. How was the piece created?

I did enlargements of sculptures for a living for 20 years, and I worked with a tool called a panograph, which is an enlarging tool from the Middle Ages. Today, computers do everything, but I did Bliss Dance by eye, and with this tool. I did a 4-foot sculpture—that’s the original one—and then enlarged that to 14 feet, which is one-third of

“ (The model) came in one day and said she wanted to do this pose. ... I could sculpt, but I would not have done that pose. That’s her thing.” the [finished piece], and worked out the flow of the structure. Then the panograph gave me the points in 3-D space—so I could take the panograph and find out where this point was, hang it in space and then weld to it. Did you start from the bottom up, or did you build it in parts?

In parts. The build space is about what the tool can reach, which is 9 feet tall by 6 feet wide. So the thighs would be one piece, and the knee to the ankle would be another piece, and then the foot. Then those are welded and held together with bolts. I used the panograph to line them up, so that you can’t see any seams. Then it has to come apart in such a way so that it can be loaded on a truck.

Her movement seems very organic. How did you capture that?

The model—the way I work is collaboratively—she came in one day and said she wanted to do this pose, so it was her idea. But the little details that make it so realistic gesture-wise are her reflecting back the energy she wanted to be projecting. I could sculpt, but I would not have done that pose. That’s her thing. How does the lighting work?

There are 3,000 internal lights that we have mapped out in 3-D space, and there’s an algorithm that programs the colors, which generates new stuff all the time at different speeds. When she’s lit externally, she looks solid. You can’t see the internal structure. The external

lighting has slower transitional changes, and is not as shocking. The colors that flow through her body are very beautiful and organic, like waves running through and crashing into each other. Can the sculpture withstand extreme temperatures? Will it need maintenance?

The powder coating is the best you can get. The mesh is all 3/16-inch stainless, which is the highest grade of stainless steel. The lights are UV, and are designed for heat and freezing. The lighting is really the most complicated thing, but structurally, it should last 20 or 30 years. Looking at her in the middle of The Park, it feels as though she was made specifically for this space.

Yes. I was worried that the big buildings would overwhelm her. I just don’t feel like that at all. I think it fits wonderfully. It has its own energy, and the arena is so beautiful behind it. That flier thing matches her thigh, and then the angles of the other flags sort of reflect in her body. That wasn’t planned. It was one of those magical things. That’s when I knew it was meant to be.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

April 7–13, 2016

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What inspired Bliss Dance?

A&E

CONCERT

SANTIGOLD PLAYS 99¢ AND WINS THE HOUSE

The Foundry, April 2

doesn’t bode well for the artist who played there. But on April 2, Santigold delivered a

items floating in space—and Santigold’s backing dancers faithfully carried out the theme,

set that was damn near perfection—a real showbiz spectacular, with costume changes,

donning jumpsuits covered with logos, spinning signs that read “WE BUY GOLD” and casu-

synchronized dance moves, audience participation, the works—and The Foundry, the SLS’s

ally munching on Cheetos. But all of that paled in comparison to Santigold’s best special

newish club venue, was a big part of what made the show so special. It’s a room that begs

effect: Just before “Creator,” she invited a few dozen fans onstage to dance with her. In

to be owned, and Santigold owned it—burning through a set replete with hits (“Lights Out,”

that moment, it wasn’t just a strong concert at a great venue. It was a fucking killer party at

“Disparate Youth,” “L.E.S. Artistes”) and a number of tracks from her new record 99¢,

Santigold’s house. She just borrowed it from SLS for the evening. ★★★★✩ –Geoff Carter

celebrated its fifth year in the Spiegeltent at Caesars Palace. The wildly popular, wildly profane cabaret show marked the occasion with a performance featuring nearly all of the acts that have made the show a monster hit—slinky vamp Melody Sweets, tap-dancing brothers Sean and John Scott, Ivan and Ivana Chekhov-Jones of imaginary Cirque du Soleil show “La Petite Merde,” sexy aerialists Cadence Alexia and Linde, “bubble girl” (and Seven columnist) Charlie Starling and too many more to name here. The show’s host and co-host, The Gazillionaire and Joy Jenkins, were in fine form, alternately insulting the audience

and attempting to use them for sexual gratification. (Jenkins, in particular, has ratcheted up the kink of late; original cohost and winsome weirdo Penny Pibbets is a hard act to follow, but Jenkins is really bringing it.) The show ended with the Gazillionaire tripping on bad mushrooms as the room filled with Gaz lookalikes (the cast, decked out in loud jackets and penciled-on mustaches) led by a live marching band. It was a wholly fitting celebration of the acrobats, clowns, singers, dancers, wire walkers and wholesale perverts who have made Absinthe such good fun to watch. I don’t know how they’ll top this party next year—but I do know they will. –Geoff Carter

They're perverts, yes. But they're our perverts.

SANTIGOLD BY TONY TRAN; ABSINTHE BY ERIK K ABIK

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➜ Last week, Absinthe

The giant screen behind the stage was filled with animation whose sly, anti-consumer message strongly recalled classic Devo—lots of dollar-store footage and tacky consumer

FIVE YEARS INTO AN ABSINTHE BINGE

April 7–13, 2016

that Kardashian feels a tiny bit of shame when she hears Santigold sing I live in my vanity.

Usually, when a concert review begins with the reviewer saying, “I liked the venue,” it

[ STAGE ]

including the unintentional Kim Kardashian-basher “Can’t Get Enough of Myself.” I hope

MARKETPLACE

I had a great time in Kenya— the African safari was probably the highlight. I was meeting [tribes] and talking to them one morning while I was having my coffee, and I said, “Do you guys have Facebook?” And [one of the tribesmen] said, “Yes, I have a Facebook.” You guys don’t have a toilet, but you have Facebook? As we went into the village, there were all these huts, but this one in particular had all-vinyl siding with a dish on it. It was the tribe chief’s dish, and they said they like to watch the news. I’ve traveled extensively all over the world—mainly for vacation, but in the past three years, searching for beauty stuff. I feel like I’m a beauty chef. I flew to Thailand just to find this oil, and I met the farmer. I like to see where the products are coming from. I love going to pharmacies in other countries. I know that sounds crazy, but I like to see what they’re selling in the beauty sections so I can keep up on my trends. You didn’t have to compete in any challenges, but the show did capitalize on you being a fish out of water.

April 7–13, 2016

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Heather Marianna

The entrepreneur on Tour Group, her beauty-box subscription service, sourcing ingredients and embracing her quirky identity By Melinda Sheckells You are on the Bravo show Tour Group. How were you cast?

Three years ago, I got a call from someone at Bravo because they knew me from a show I did called My Shopping Addiction. Now I have a beauty addiction. I went from buying clothes to buying containers—which is hilarious. They were doing a show concept and asked if I would be inter-

ested. It was a long process, and I never knew if it was going to happen. Not until they say, “Here’s your contract,” and then it’s still another six months. I held out because I really thought it would be a great show. There were travel opportunities, and I was offered a few other shows in the interim, which I turned down. I’m very glad it all worked out.

I wish some people were eliminated, but it didn’t work that way. Everyone stays the whole time. There were a lot of things I just don’t do. They all went scuba diving and I don’t know how to swim, so I didn’t do that. We did a tantric yoga class, and all I did was laugh. There’s a twominute reel of me just going “No,” “I don’t think so,” “I’m not doing that.” I really just wanted to do my own thing, and just because I wasn’t going on stupid group activities, I was still having a lot of fun. [We] planned a gorgeous white party one day and worked our butts off while everybody was out scuba diving. If I’m on vacation, I want a Corona; I want to be by the pool, my feet in the sand. I want to get a tan, I want to go to the spa, I want to go stalk around other spas and see what products they’re selling—that’s my idea of vacation. Not going on a hike through the African Bush. I just don’t think so. I’m not doing that. In 2014, you started subscription beauty boxes, which have

become a popular trend, for your business, Beauty Kitchen. How have they worked out for you?

We have nearly 6,000 subscribers, and we have done no advertising for it other than social media. We have a large box that is $34.95 a month, where you get full-size products. We also have the mini-monthly for $12.95, and you get travel size. A lot of people get both because they like to have [some] for their purse or gym bag. It’s a good way for people to try new products, and with the box subscriptions, they get stuff that they can’t find online. There’s variety. You’re not going to get a scrub every month; you’re not going to get a bath soak. The only thing that you might get over and over is a face mask or an eye gel. How have you expanded production to keep up with the demand?

I really need more space. Everything is still manufactured in Las Vegas in my factory in Boulder City. We recently launched a collaboration with Glamour Girls Spa Parties, so now we’re doing kids’ spa parties in the showroom. It’s really cool and is great for birthdays. Why is Las Vegas such a great city to be a female beauty entrepreneur?

Vegas people like to look good—they’re shallow … just kidding. A lot of the California mentality is making its way to Vegas, going the all-natural route, not [putting] a lot of chemicals in your products. Over the past year, in my local Whole Foods, the beauty section has expanded. Vegas is a great place to network. There’s a lot of cool girls here, and everyone likes beauty. The other beauty entrepreneurs help each other. There’s a great sense of community. Is Tour Group a one-and-done or will there be another season?

They’ll do a casting and take new people on a trip. I don’t know that I can honestly say that I want to do another two-month trip. Even if they wanted to, I probably wouldn’t do it. I’m working on my own [show] now, centered on Beauty Kitchen. We’re working with a producer in New York. I’m really excited.

PHOTO BY TOMMY GARCIA/BRAVO

SEVEN QUESTIONS

The show’s premise is that you go on an adventure around the world. What was your highlight?