All Fur Love | Vegas Seven Magazine | June 30-July 6, 2016

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LUKAS GRAHAM

CONTENTS

JUNE 30–JULY 6, 2016

T H E LAT EST

12

“Ice Burg” Time will tell whether franchise will be a triumph or a failure.

By HUBBLE RAY SMITH

16

“We’re in the Big Leagues Now” With the NHL in the bag, what will the NFL bring if it comes to fruition?

Politics by MICHAEL GREEN

Plus … New programs from Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, Folies Bergere on exhibit, Seven Days, Ask a Native and The Deal.

F EAT U R E

22

“Party Time” Your Fourth of July weekend guide.

NIGH T LIF E

25

“Gone Country” Vegas isn’t all EDM all day and all night, you know.

By ROBERT SPUHLER

Plus … Seven Nights, how Vegas Girls Night Out leaves the planning to the pros, and photos from the week’s hottest parties.

DINING

49

“Woof It Down” Welcome to the dog days of summer dining. By AL MANCINI Plus … Dish & Tell, Al Mancini on Bottiglia and The Grape Nut.

A &E

Plus … Seven’s 14, why today’s folk bands don’t measure up, the artists of Life Is Beautiful and Mary Roach enlists humor in Grunt.

61

F E AT URE

The Pets Issue

“The Bigger Man” Steven Spielberg has crafted a modern classic in The BFG.

By GEOFF CARTER

Celebrities and their pets, exotic animals for the home, luxurious boarding facilities, a Q&A with a veterinarian and a splendid sanctuary in Utah.

SEVEN Q U EST IONS

70 Cover photo by Krystal Ramirez.

New NHL franchise owner Bill Foley on the application process, the timetable for the front office and Vegas’ potential.

VegasSeven.com

Contrary to the Ghostbusters backlash, female-led movies are not a new idea—and they make bank. By EMMILY BRISTOL

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PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

18

“Viva Chick Flicks”

June 30–July 6, 2016

55

Quico William Ramirez, a 4-month-old Sphynx, gets ready for the Fourth.

9

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Bill Foley.

Ice Burg

June 30–July 6, 2016

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VegasSeven.com

Time will tell whether franchise will be a triumph or a failure By Hubble Ray Smith

12

➜ BILL FOLEY made some smart decisions amassing his billion-dollar fortune in the mortgage industry, so what the puck is he thinking to lay out $500 million for an NHL expansion franchise in Las Vegas? Maybe he sees it as a long-shot bet on a city that’s ready to support a major league sports team.

But history isn’t on our side. Minor league teams have come and gone like hard-luck gamblers, including the Thunder and Wranglers in hockey, the Silver Bandits in basketball, the Outlaws in arena football and the Legends in indoor soccer. The TripleA Las Vegas 51s (formerly the Stars) have been around since 1983, but average game attendance from 2010-14 was 4,569, lowest in the Pacific Coast League and far below the league average of 6,154, according to the PCL. Blame it on the heat. Blame it on the plethora of entertainment.

Blame it on a majority of the population whose sports allegiance lies in other cities. Only the Runnin’ Rebels have drawn consistently.

So why is Foley confident about the NHL succeeding in Las Vegas?

For one, he took more than 14,000 deposits on season tickets, though he concedes not all of those will be converted to actual sales. Season ticketholders put down 10 percent, and Foley says he has $8-$ 9 million in

escrow. About 400 deposits came in the days just before the NHL Board of Governors unanimously voted to approve the expansion franchise June 22 at Encore. Las Vegas will become the NHL’s 31st team, joining the Pacific Division in 2017-2018.

“We did it,” Foley said during a news conference. “It wasn’t easy. Our great sports town now has a major league franchise. We’ll leave no stone unturned in our dedication and pursuit of hockey in Las Vegas, not just for our team, but for the community.”

Second, he’s got T-Mobile Arena, a $375 million joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Anschutz Entertainment Group.

Designed with hockey in mind, it’s steeply banked so every seat has a great sightline, and the luxury suites are “unbelievable,” he says.

“Plus we have nightclubs and all kinds of food service. It’s going to be great for hockey, and every day is going to be a party.”

And third, in addition to more than 2 million residents, Las Vegas welcomes 42 million visitors a year, including “snowbirds” from hockey territory in Canada and the United States. Foley is convinced T-Mobile Arena will be packed for just about every game, with season ticket-holders comprising 85 percent to 90 percent of attendance.

“I don’t think he can depend on visitors coming here primarily,” says John Restrepo, principal of RGC Economics in Las Vegas. “That’s part of it, but the primary (fan) base is local and I don’t know the size of that. It’ll be interesting to see how it unfolds.”

The decision to expand in Las Vegas followed months of extensive study, negotiations and deliberations, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the news conference.

“It was a fairly intense and complicated process,” he said. “We think this is a tremendously exciting opportunity, not just for Las Vegas, but for the league as well.”

Vegas has long been a mecca for championship boxing, the UFC and major NASCAR races. The NFL may be pie in the sky, but the NHL is here and now. So while we wait to hear Céline Dion sing the Canadian national anthem when one of her country’s NHL teams visit and look forward to scoring our first goal, Foley will set about creating a winning culture and an internationally recognized brand with the Las Vegas team.

A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Foley wants to name the team the Black Knights, which is the “good knight,” the one that protects the unprotected, he said. His Jacksonville, Florida-based company is called Black Knight Financial Services, and the company behind the NHL franchise is Black Knight Sports and Entertainment.

“I’m open-minded about the team name and colors, but I am the majority owner,” he points out. Any team name and logo would have to be approved by the league. Foley anticipates $4 million in revenue from sales of team jerseys, hats and other products in the first year.

Brian Gordon of Applied Analysis business advisory firm says Las Vegas is on the radar for all types of business and industry, and having an NHL team gives people one more reason to hop on a plane and come here.

“The biggest economic boost is likely sourced to incremental visitation, having people that may not have come to Las Vegas otherwise,” Gordon says.

“These types of investments are what make Las Vegas known throughout the rest of the world.”

The NHL’s arrival marks a new chapter that may entice the NBA and NFL to follow, or it may be a cautionary tale of hubris or another footnote in the city’s history. How it’s written will likely depend not on tourists, but on Foley’s team and a community that has long sought to join the major leagues.

See Page 70 for Seven Questions with Bill Foley.

Seven Days This week in your city

By B O B W H I T B Y

THU 30

Two very cool things to note about Springs Preserve this week: 1) Admission is free June 27-30; 2) There’s a load of Star Wars-inspired stuff going on. We’re especially excited about the Jedi training, daily at 2:30 p.m. SpringsPreserve.org.

FRI 1

Ancient Rome had canals, roads, complex machines, advanced culture and military infrastructure. Explore the place at Ancient Rome: The Empire That Shaped the World, through Sept. 11 at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. LVNHM.org.

SAT 2

What says “summer” more than a good bodybuilding competition? They’ll be wearing bikinis (and mankinis), after all. The NPC/ IFBB Patriot’s Challenge is on at The Orleans, which means muscles, spray tans, poses and preening.

OrleansCasino.com.

SUN 3

For the record, we believe Independence Day celebrations should happen on July 4.

But we’re not the boss of the country, so we dutifully note that several casinos and Lake Las Vegas are shooting off their fireworks tonight.

MON 4

If you want the lowdown on the best ways to celebrate Independence Day, turn to our guide on Page 23. We have activities for the kids and over-21 alike, as well as the best places in the Valley (and beyond) to view the rockets’ red glare.

TUE 5

“Artners” You Killed Me First and There She Is, both from the L.A. street-art scene, are pairing up for an exhibit dubbed NightShift, daily through July 12 at the Eden Art Studio and Gallery in the Arts Factory. YKMF’s work centers on distorting images found in pop culture, while TSI’s stuff is more about disassociated themes joined in broad, beautiful brush strokes.

Together, it’s powerful work. Check the NightShift Facebook page for details.

WED 6

Super Summer Theatre at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is cool, green and old-timey thanks to Memphis, a love story set on Beale Street in the ’50s. Shows through July 23. SuperSummerTheatre.org.

PHOTO BY MARK DAMON/L AS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU

THE LATEST

News, deals and what the NHL means to the NFL's prospects in Vegas.

BY THE NUMBERS

Carlos Lopez Taiko drummer in Mystère

There’s no doubt that pets are a big deal. Here are some numbers, courtesy of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. –Emmily Bristol

Name game: Martini is named for Lopez and his wife’s favorite cocktail. He previously had a cat named Merlot.

Favorite hangs: The Chihuahua enjoys Red Rock Canyon, but Lopez says Martini likes being zipped up in his fleece vest on cold winter mornings best.

All the right notes: Martini rivals her family’s musical talents with some serious yodeling skills. “[It] was discovered when a neighbor got home, and Martini started barking,” Lopez says. “My wife talked to her in a high-pitched voice saying, ‘Tini bow-wow,’ and that set her off! We can get her howling just by talking to her or singing to her in a high pitch.” And the pup is also into skateboarding, as Lopez discovered one day. “I was just going to grab it to go for a ride while we walked her. She seemed so intrigued, so I popped her on and she started to wag her tail.”

Culinary scene: The rescued pup struck it big with the Lopez family: She dines on homemade chicken breast boiled with carrots and rice, and is also a big fan of strawberries and bananas and the occasional waffle.

7.6 million

Number of animals that go to shelters each year (about 3.9 million dogs and 3.4 million cats).

2.7 million Animals adopted from shelters each year.

41% 31%

Cats in shelters that are euthanized.

70-80 million Holly Madison Author, reality TV star and former Strip entertainer

LOPEZ BY JENNA DOSCH; MADISON BY DENISE TRUSCELLO

Dogs in shelters that are euthanized.

The squad: Dogs Louis and Napoleon; ferrets Sid, Nancy, Frosty and Mystery (a pet who got its name after suddenly appearing in their habitat after a guest-packed weekend at their residence); chickens; and a beehive.

The digs: The chickens live in a coop built by the Redwood Kings of Animal Planet fame, while the ferrets have an outdoor habitat with air conditioning and heat. Not to be outdone, the family’s dogs enjoy a “mini apartment” on the side of the house.

Circle of life: “My husband grew up with chickens on his grandparents’

farm in Italy, so the second we got a house he started bringing home baby chickens,” says Madison, noting the family relishes being able to get fresh eggs daily. They also harvest honey twice a year.

Paying it forward: Madison is a well-known animal activist. “All of my dogs and ferrets come from a shelter or rescue, so encouraging pet adoption is close to my heart,” she says. “The first dog I ever bought was a Pomeranian, which I got at a pet store in Beverly Hills years ago.

She was sick with kennel cough, and that opened my eyes to some of the issues in the pet industry and in turn how many pets in shelters need a good home.”

Estimated pet dogs in the U.S.

74-96 million Estimated pet cats in the U.S.

1-2 4-6

Average number of litters a fertile cat or dog produces a year.

Average number of kittens or puppies per litter.

Most common reason people relinquish their pets: Residence does not allow pets.

Social Media Stars ➜ The internet was invented for looking at adorable photos of puppies and kittens, especially during work hours. Check out these fur babies giving the Kardashians a run for their Instagram fame.

After four years of fandom and celebrity phrase, Grumpy Cat, the grumpiest cat in the world (according to his Instagram), has 1.6 million followers. Grumpy Cat has been stealing our hearts since her first post in 2012, and now boasts memes, shirts and a wax figurine at Madame Tussauds right here in Las Vegas. (@realgrumpycat)

The underbite of Tuna the “Chiweenie” has stolen the hearts of 1.8 million Instagram lovers around the world. A cross between a Chihuahua and a wiener dog, the rescue with a recessed jawline and wrinkly neck stars in hilarious and heartfelt moments that are tailor-made for Insta-fame. (@tunameltsmyheart).

Doug the Pug, with a cool 1.8 million Instagram followers, has his own Facebook page, Twitter account and Snapchat, and he recently wrote his first book. What can’t this connoisseur of culture do? (@itsdougthepug)

Marnie the Dog has just under 2 million followers and no wonder: The 14-year-old shih tzu “loves walks and parties, hates being alone and is a lady!” (@marniethedog)

Marutaro has more followers than most celebrities.

Between napping with various stuffed friends and activities around the neighborhood, the fluffy-faced Shiba Inu has taken the world—and by that we mean his 2.4 million followers— by storm. (@marutaro) —Ally Tatosian

Your Fourth of July weekend guide

BY IAN CARAMANZANA ➜ Independence Day falls on a

Monday this year, which is good news for us. We’ve got an entire extended weekend chock-full of parties to hit up before we watch the big bang. Here are your choices to honor the day that 13 colonies declared themselves a new nation. The celebrations are going to be so grand, we wouldn’t be surprised if we caught Will Smith firing up his victory cigar before the ’works.

THU 30

Kickstart your weekend with a mainstay: DJ Esco’s “coolest party in the world” has taken place every Thursday at Drai’s

for months, so if you have yet to check it out, now’s the perfect time. There will be tourists aplenty this weekend, so you might just meet your new best friend. Speaking of, given the occasion, we anticipate Esco’s best friend, Atlanta rapper Future, will make an appearance.

(In the Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife.com.)

FRI 1

Wishing you had a say in the Life Is Beautiful lineup? Take matters into your own hands and head to Brooklyn Bowl, where you can choose who takes the remaining spot in the festival. The bracket-

style competition heats up in the third of four rounds. Will your favorite local band take the cake?

Show up and find out in the Road to Life Is Beautiful Battle. (At the Linq 6 p.m., Vegas.BrooklynBowl. com.) If guitars aren’t your thing, hit up Omnia for a set by superstar DJ Calvin Harris. He’s back in tip-top shape following a car accident in May—just weeks after he dropped his collaborative single with Rihanna, “This Is What You Came For.” He’s no longer seeing Taylor Swift, so give the man some support because he’s been through a lot in the past few months. And if you’re not into his stuff, you can

SAT 2

With the temperatures turned up and the grill fired up, we’re feelin’ some “Type of Way.” Hit up Sky Beach Club to hear that tune, which brought Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan into the spotlight.

Like DJ Khaled, he quickly came through with another one when he joined Young Thug on Rich Gang’s “Lifestyle.” Although it was undoubtedly the anthem of 2014, the two began a feud that would dissolve Rich Gang and fuel two solo careers. Ask Quan for an update tonight, and check out “Check” poolside. (At Tropicana, noon, SkyBeachClubLV.com.) If you’re looking to indulge in a full day of fun with a soundtrack that consists of music from two completely different genres, hit up the Cosmopolitan. It begins with a set by trap/progressive house giant Carnage at Marquee Dayclub. Show Papi Gordo that the Las Vegas chapter of #ChipotleGang is alive and well

when he drops “Rari (featuring Lil Yachty, Famous Dex and Ugly God).” After all that Chipotle worshipping, spoil yourself with a glorious slice of secret pizza, then switch it up with Tritonal. The Austin, Texas-based progressive house duo wrapped up its album, Painting With the Dreams, last month, so see if they give us a taste of that new-new.

(In the Cosmopolitan, 10 p.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.) Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the bigname talent? Keep it local with Bombay Heavy at Bunkhouse.

The Las Vegas-based Brit-rock sextet reminds us of a dirtier version of ’80s Brit-pop sensation the Stone Roses. Be transported to a grimy Manchester club with the swing of “As a Matter of Fact.” (124 S. 11th St., 10p.m., BunkhouseDowntown.com)

SUN 3

The country song goes “save a horse, ride a cowboy,” but given this godforsaken heat, we just want to ride something that gets us from point A to point B, stat. Take a Cadillac, for example. Nashville country trio The Cadillac Three hits up the Foxtail Pool to kick off its Neon Cowboy concert series.

Singer-guitarist Jaren Johnston penned some of country music’s most popular hits such as Tim McGraw’s “Southern Girl” and Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly.” Now hear his original work, and pull out a lighter during the slow sway of “White Lightning.” (At SLS, 7 p.m., FoxtailLasVegas. com.) Not a country fan? Take a dip with Alesso at Encore Beach Club. The Swedish mix master finally unleashed the long-awaited visuals for “I Wanna Know (featuring Nico & Vinz)” in April, which sort of plays out like a romantic thriller, complete with firearms. Forget the weaponry, but catch the Swede spin. (In Encore, 10 p.m., EncoreBeachClub.com.)

MON 4

Celebrate our nation’s day of independence by catching a real turntable vet. Fergie DJ picked up DJing as a teenager, and loved the craft so much, it led to opportunities that unfolded into a career in music. He began producing, presenting a show on BBC Radio 1, writing for Mixmag and receiving offers for a reality television show. (Un)fortunately, the Irish DJ declined the latter, so we’ll just have to follow him on social media to stay in the loop with his party antics. Or better yet, catch him live. Do that at Wet Republic before you watch the fireworks. (At MGM Grand, 11 a.m., WetRepublic.com.)

ILLUSTRATION BY CIERRA PEDRO

Party Time!

check out Generik, who opens, and OB-One at Heart of Omnia.

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

Kids, Puppies and Fireworks, Oh, My! Family-friendly fun for Independence Day

BY EMMILY BRISTOL AND HUBBLE RAY SMITH

➜ While fireworks are the main event for

most Fourth of July celebrations, there’s a wealth of things to do around the Valley and beyond during what for many will be a three-day weekend. We round up the best activities and fireworks displays for the under-21 set.

CAESARS PALACE Marking its 50th

anniversary, Caesars is planning its largest Independence Day celebration ever with a spectacular 13½-minute fireworks display shot off from the Julius Tower at 9:10 p.m. on Sunday, July 3. The best views will be from the fountains in front of the casino.

PHOTO BY ERIC JAMISON

MANDALAY BAY Part of a two-day beach

party at Mandalay Bay, fireworks are scheduled for both Saturday, July 2, and Sunday, July 3, following concerts by the rock band 311. The party is held at the resort’s elaborate beach and swimming pool area. Tickets are $57 to $64, and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. each night.

PALACE STATION Locals-oriented Station

Casinos is kicking off its 40th anniversary at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 1 with a traditional fireworks show at Palace Station, which opened as a 5,000-square-foot casino on July 1, 1976. The show, produced by Grucci’s

of New York City, will begin a monthlong celebration of Station Casinos’ history.

CASHMAN FIELD Take in a minor league baseball game and fireworks presented by the Orleans and Gold Coast casinos on Monday, July 4, at Cashman Field, following the Las Vegas 51s’ game against the Salt Lake Bees. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

If you miss that show, there’ll be another one on July 8 following a doubleheader against the Albuquerque Isotopes.

ADOPT A PET The Animal Foundation is

once again hosting its pet adoption event at its shelter, 655 N. Mojave Road. In honor of the Fourth, it’s $7 to adopt a dog or cat, which has been checked out by local veterinarians, spayed or neutered, current on all vaccines and implanted with a microchip to help find them if they get lost. The special rate applies to any animal that has been at the shelter at least four days, and all fees are waived for pit bulls and rabbits. It’s a great deal compared to the usual $105-250 for a dog or $25-50 to adopt a cat from the shelter. Plus, you get the good feeling of providing a loving home to an animal and helping the nonprofit Animal Foundation in its goal to become a no-kill shelter by 2020.

YANKEE DOODLE AT THE POOL Continuing

a tradition, the City of Las Vegas is hosting the all-ages Yankee Doodle at the Pool water party at its aquatic centers on July 1. The cost is $2 for ages 4-17, $3 for ages 18-49, $2 for seniors (50+), and free for kids under age 3. The times vary by pool location.

Participating pools include Baker Pool, 1100 E. St. Louis Avenue; Carlos L. Martinez and Darrio J. Hall Family Pool at Gary Reese Freedom Park, 889 N. Pecos Road; Doolittle Pool, 1950 N. J Street; Garside Pool, 250 S. Torrey Pines Drive; Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road; and Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive.

MISSION HILLS PARK Celebrate Independence

Day in Henderson with live entertainment and a traditional fireworks display at Mission Hills Park, 551 E. Mission Hills Drive. Bring a blanket and enjoy a night of family fun on Sunday, July 3, from 6-9 p.m. Shuttle service will run from Foothill High School, 800 College Drive, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Village starting at 3 p.m. The Henderson Symphony Orchestra performs at 7 p.m.

SUMMERLIN For the 22nd year, the

Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade will wind its way through the heart of the master-planned community. This year’s event boasts 70 participants, including the giant, inflatable balloon characters popular in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Parade festivities start at 8:30 a.m. on the Fourth at Hills Center Drive.

BOULDER CITY The 68th annual Damboree

starts at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at Bicentennial Park, followed by a parade at 9 a.m. Festivities continue with a flagraising ceremony and national anthem at Broadbent Memorial Park, 1100 Colorado Street, along with food, games and entertainment. Then it’s over to Veterans Memorial Park for more fun and games at 6 p.m. and a fireworks show at 9 p.m.

MESQUITE Eureka Casino Resort in

LAKE LAS VEGAS If you want to escape

the city lights, take a 20-mile trip to Lake Las Vegas for the resort’s annual fireworks display at 8:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 3.

There will be live music, kids’ activities and barbecue stations set up in Monte Lago

Mesquite has its Fourth of July with Rockets over the Red Mesa. The event starts at 6 p.m. and features food, a vendor village and a performance by the 32-piece Nevada Pops Orchestra and ends with fireworks.

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With the top dance-music stars tied up in residencies split between two nightlife groups (seven of the Top 10 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 poll are signed with Hakkasan Group, three with Wynn Resorts), counterprogramming has become vital for resorts looking to attract younger concertgoers. And some of those are reaching out to country music, a genre long represented in Las Vegas by legacy acts, to bring in new audiences.

“Rehab is going strong with the EDM stuff, and in the past it was on the hiphop side,” says Chas Smith, vice president of entertainment at the Hard Rock. “And we’re seeing such a strong following on the country side that we decided that one day a week, we’ll do a country mash-up, but also tie in pop.”

Hard Rock Hotel has been booking country music acts for The Joint since Kenny Chesney helped open the renovated venue in 2011; this year, it’s already hosted Chris Stapleton, the only performer in 2016 to play both the indie music trendsetting Coachella Music & Arts Festival and its country sibling, Stagecoach. On July 1, the resort

also welcomes Dee Jay Silver back to its poolside party, after the DJ and producer’s recent run on country superstar Jason Aldean’s national tour. But the genre is making inroads throughout town. The Cosmopolitan, traditionally associated with dance music at Marquee and the indie rock sounds of its poolside concerts, brought Grammy Award-winning The Band Perry to the Chelsea in late April and will welcome 24-year-old star Hunter Hayes in August. The Foundry at SLS Las Vegas launched its Neon Country series (sponsored, in the interest of full disclosure, by Vegas Seven parent WENDOH Media) in May with the duo Dan + Shay.

These are not the undeniably talented, but older-skewing resident artists of years back such as Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw or Faith Hill. These are the artists on the charts, on country radio and on the minds of younger fans today. (That said, Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood bring their world tour to T-Mobile Arena for six shows in June and July, and superstars Reba McIntire, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have a

resident show with nine July dates at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.)

“Over the last three years, country music has been more out in the forefront of [pop] music and culture,” says Fedor Banuchi, the Cosmopolitan’s vice president of entertainment.

“You’ve got pop stars singing country songs on the Grammys.”

One development that has helped establish country music as a viable draw here has been the introduction of two festivals dedicated to the genre.

The American Country Music Party for a Cause has gone from its inaugural two nights at The Orleans in 2013 to— after spending last year in Arlington, Texas—a three-day affair at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds this past April.

And in 2014, the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival came to town with one of the highest-profile lineups of stars that the city had ever seen with Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton as headliners, and Dierks Bentley and Hunt also on the roster.

“The first [Route 91] was a huge surprise to some to see the reaction, not just

from the tourists who came to town for the event, but from the locals that were showing up,” says JoJo Turnbeaugh, senior vice president of programming for iHeartMedia and program director for country music station The Bull 95.5-FM. But the biggest reason for country’s infusion into Las Vegas’ music mix may be the genre’s transition itself. Newer artists have watched the crossover success of artists such as Taylor Swift, who has gone from 16-year-old country music prodigy to worldwide pop superstar.

Now, a tour through country radio involves acts with pop (Hayes), rap (Hunt), rock (Eric Church) or jam band (Zac Brown Band) influences. And younger fans who listen to music on streaming playlists rather than genre-defined radio or television stations are more likely to have a country song or two on a playlist, making transitions (such as BRadical’s) between artists the likes of Beyoncé and Hunt easier to understand.

“We had The Cure here the other night,” Banuchi says, “and I looked around and recognized a lot of the faces that were here for Eric Church.”

UNDERWOOD BY DEBBY WONG; STAPLETON BY ERIK K ABIK; BROOKS BY SAM MORRIS/L AS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU; DAN + SHAY COURTESY GLOBAL MEDIA GROUP

NIGHTLIFE June 30–July 6, 2016

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Clockwise from top left: Carrie Underwood at the 2016 ACM Party for a Cause; Chris Stapleton at The Joint in April; Garth Brooks at the T-Mobile Arena on June 24; and Dan + Shay at the Foundry’s Neon Country series.

Vegas Girls Night Out takes the pain out of your Champagne campaign By Amber Sampson

June 30–July 6, 2016

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VegasSeven.com

➜ IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT, and Lisa’s finally

38

broken up with Todd. Not man-bun barista Todd, but lifeguard Todd, the one who never wears socks. This calls for a celebration. But Brenda’s on a budget, Carla’s dying to hit Omnia because Calvin Harris is single again, Sonia’s craving Giada’s, and Morgan’s set on seeing a Strip show. So, what do you do when the members of your girl gang all want different things? You call Vegas Girls Night Out (VegasGirlsNightOut.com).

“The most important thing [to know] about Vegas Girls Night Out is that it’s [about] women—women helping women,” says Bri Steck, founder and CEO of the boutique concierge service that launched in 2015. “We’re here because we feel like we know best what a woman would want.”

And they do. Vegas Girls Night Out caters to a gal’s every whim. You can book a night out for almost anything: bachelorette party, divorce party, I-need-a-stiff-drink-and-a-steak party.

Everything the company sells, Steck

says, her team experiences first-hand.

There’s no limit to what you can do.

“Whatever excuse you want to party, we have it for you.”

Vegas Girls Night Out offers a plethora of party packages from which to choose. Steck says the most popular booking is the Thunder Storm Through Vegas package, which nets you and your girls VIP tickets to Thunder From Down Under, a limo ride to the Welcome to Las Vegas sign with a bottle of bubbly and access to up to nine nightclubs with open bar at select venues. And that’s just a standard package. Steck says she can even arrange for her customers to meet the performers of the male revue if they’re willing to pay a little extra. More expensive packages will get you in the first 10 rows of Britney Spears’ Piece of Me and a photo with the star, but Steck’s goal isn’t to upsell. She’s working hard to offer everyday customers something that works within their budget.

“We can go above and beyond, but we try to make it affordable so that

menu, which you can pay for in advance, and that includes tax and tip. No more splitting the check a dozen ways.

Cultivating these partnerships wasn’t always easy. In the early stages of the company, Steck says some of the men in the nightlife industry had a hard time understanding the concept. “It took them realizing the power that we have behind us … and all of our partners seeing what we can do for them that [made them say], ‘OK, we’re on board.’”

These trials are what make Steck the entrepreneur she is today.

One of the bigger lessons she says she’s learned is “don’t take things personally. It’s a business. Sometimes women react off of emotion, so you have to think more like a man.”

This way of thinking is what sets Vegas Girls Night Out’s business model apart from other concierge services.

On top of the business-to-customer sales the company makes, it also does business to business, offering an affiliate program where other businesses can buy packages at a discounted rate to sell on their own websites.

If you’re thinking of planning a night out, it’s best to plan ahead. Steck says the second quarter of the year is bachelorette season, so some women are calling six months in advance, and locals are eligible for a discount. Vegas Girls Night Out defies the bullish approach some businesses take.

Instead of fiercely competing and aggressively up-selling, the company acknowledges it’s the people that make it successful. As Steck says, “It’s all about relationships.”

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

NIGHTLIFE

This One’s for the Ladies

you don’t have to spend crazy money to have a good time in Vegas,” she says. “And you can be local. You don’t have to just be a tourist.”

The majority of Steck’s packages cost $200 per person or less. But if none of what you see on Vegas Girls Night Out’s website suits you, they’ll create a custom package just for you.

Steck’s ability to pull so many strings is a testament to her career. The Las Vegas native comes from a background in entertainment public relations and marketing, so to say relationships matter to her is an understatement.

In 2012, she created Night School 4 Girls, a pole-dancing class targeted toward women looking for a sexy night out. Certain classes came with bonus Thunder tickets, which Steck had easy access to since her husband is co-owner and co-producer of the show. With time, Steck’s clients began asking for more late-night options, so she launched Vegas Girls Night Out to meet that need.

The concierge service has made an impression on Las Vegas’ entertainment landscape, and not just with the ladies.

“Because we send so many girls, the nightclubs treat us very well and treat our guests well,” Steck says. “I don’t work with them as a traditional promoter does [with] paying and billing. I’m just sending you people.

Just make sure you take care of them.”

Restaurants also share this sentiment toward Steck’s concierge service. If you and your ladies want to indulge in a fine dinner on the Strip, that can be arranged. Dining partners such as Carmine’s, Giada’s and Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill offer a prix-fixe

UNVEILING MON JUL 18

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

JEWELNIGHT JEWELNIGHTCLUB.COM \ OPEN MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY \ 702.590.8000

DINING

Restaurant reviews, news and Clique Hospitality expands

I loved the delicate sweetness of large zucchini flowers stuffed with lemon-kissed ricotta cheese and fried to a golden brown.

BOTTIGLIA | PAGE 52

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

➜ The temperature Downtown hovered between

105 and 110 degrees on a recent Sunday afternoon.

But Lisa Levine and Andrew Woods had forsaken Glutton’s air-conditioned dining room to eat and drink on the patio. “We’ve got great shade out here, so it’s not too hot,” Levine said. “There’s a little breeze going on. So we’re good.” But the real reason they weren’t giving up on dining al fresco was their Bichon Frise, Lacey, seated at their feet.

Dog owners in many cities take their pups everywhere. But canine-friendly establishments, especially ones that serve food, are still hard to come by in Las Vegas. Glutton (616 E. Carson

Ave., 702-366-0623, GluttonLV.com), however, has welcomed pets on the patio since opening just over a year ago. The eatery regularly hosts large and small dogs and even pot-bellied pigs.

“In the surrounding area, at the Ogden and some of the condos and homes over here, people walk their pets on the weekends a lot,” chef-owner Bradley Manchester says. “And with having a separate entrance to the patio, you don’t have to go through the restaurant. A couple of months ago, when the weather was a lot nicer, you could come here on a Saturday or a Sunday and the patio would be full of pets, which made me start push-

|

Welcome to the dog days of summer dining By Al Mancini

June 30–July 6, 2016

Woof It Down

ing it a little bit more to get the word out there.”

Glutton provides water bowls and house-made biscuits for its four-legged clientele. And you’re welcome to order people food for them, such as the burger patty Lacey had finished shortly before I spoke to her masters.

Another Downtown favorite catering to pet owners is Mingo Kitchen & Lounge in the Arts District (1017 S. First St., 702-685-0328, EatMixMingo.com).

Owner Mingo Collaso and his crew provide disposable dog bowls of water on the patio, as well as bags and “spill kits” for cleaning up after accidents. They also offer “Pawttle Service,” a patio menu of happy hour drinks for us bipeds as well as Bowser Beer (beef or chicken gravy), Bowser Bits (pretzel bits with peanut butter and sweet molasses) and either chicken or vegetables with rice.

The program has been a big hit. “We’re near SoHo and Newport [Lofts],” Collaso says, “so people come in with their dogs all the time. Especially now that we have an indoor/outdoor bar.” While dogs have been the dominant four-legged species served,

VegasSeven.com

Fashionable pups Freddie and Marley belly up to the bar at Downtown’s Mingo Kitchen & Lounge.

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[BOOKS ]

A&E

Army Smarts Mary Roach makes science engaging and fun—again—in Grunt By M. Scott Krause

➜ MOST PEOPLE MAKE A FUNNY FACE WHEN

you tell them you’re reading a science book for pleasure. It’s an expression of horror and confusion, a look that says “it sucks to be you” and “that’s wasted time you’ll never get back.”

But once you explain you’re reading a new Mary Roach book, pity is often replaced with acute interest, followed by three inevitable questions: “What’s it about? Is it funny? Can I borrow it when you’re finished?”

Mary Roach writes science books for a living, but not the kind of science books you struggled to read back in school. Roach’s books are hilariously smart, endlessly informative and utterly entertaining. Her first book, Stiff (2003), was about cadavers and the various ways dead bodies are used after being donated to science. Subsequent Roach efforts tackled the afterlife (Spook, 2005), sex (Bonk, 2008) and the alimentary canal (Gulp, 2013). In each book, Roach combines hard science with a childlike curiosity (Can a dead man get an erection? Can constipation kill you?) and the trenchant wit you’d expect from an observational humorist riffing in front of a brick wall.

Her latest book, Grunt (W. W. Norton, $27), examines military science. No, not the folks working on more efficient weapons or new strategies for world domination. Roach talks with the designers who clothe soldiers yearround, the tireless researchers who lose sleep over just how little sleep sailors get on nuclear submarines and the doctors who sweat over heatstroke and lost limbs. As Roach says in her introduction, she’s “interested in the

parts no one makes movies about—not the killing, but the keeping alive.”

Grunt takes readers on a memorable field trip to U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center for a lively discussion on flame-resistant fabric. In a chapter on armored combat vehicles and the damage done by RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades), Roach reports on a new line of vehicles that are mine-resistant and ambush protected. Once the Army realized the standard automotive crash-test dummy was unsuitable for testing the specific trauma caused by explosive devices in the field, a new dummy (WIAMan, the Warrior Injury Assessment Manikin) was developed to better understand (and ultimately prevent) damage from underbody explosions.

Elsewhere, Roach discusses hearing loss with a group of audiologists and learns how earplugs can adversely affect soldiers’ “situational awareness.” She talks explosive diarrhea with a Navy researcher (in a chapter called “Leaky SEALS”) and visits a ballistic missile submarine to learn more about the sleep patterns of sailors. For those readers who might get weak-kneed reading about genital transplants, there’s a breezy chapter on stink bombs.

There’s plenty of laughter to be had in Grunt, but never mistake Roach’s wonderful sense of humor for disrespect. She’s a journalist first, a humorist second. Or maybe it’s a tie. Either way, reading Mary Roach makes my mind feel full, the way your stomach does after an extraordinary meal. Like her other books, Grunt comes highly recommended. ★★★★✩

(STREET ART AND MORE)

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL ANNOUNCES ART LINEUP

➜ JustKids and Life Is Beautiful want you to Obey. The

58

(ALBUMS) INDIE ROCK

All-Night Visitors

What we whisper what we shout (self-released)

In the video for All-Night Visitors' “Poor Thing,” a scantily clad woman takes us through the rooms of an abandoned motel (the long-dormant Fergusons, on Fremont Street).

The cast of eclectic characters we encounter—from mob-like figures watching a ballerina over cigars and whiskey to a troubled-looking stockbroker playing Five Finger Fillet—are a perfect metaphor for the local band’s dense brand of indie rock. It’s huge: Walker Rose’s brainchild explores how fun singer/songwriter tunes can

be when they’re cranked to 11, and tossed with backing vocals, horns and a barrage of percussion. “Trapdoor Sky’s” playful contrast between piano and synths mingle nicely with Rose's gruff vocals; “Long Gone” has a goddamn xylophone solo. It’s ambitious tunes such as “Poor Thing”—which begins as a smokey syncopated ballad that transitions into a funky upbeat rock tune, and back—that prove All-Night Visitors are shooting for the national level.

We’ll gladly stay all night. ★★★★✩ –Ian Caramanzana

SHEPARD FAIREY BY JON FURLONG

June 30–July 6, 2016

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VegasSeven.com

visual arts lineup for Life Is Beautiful 2016 has been announced, and at least one name jumps out: This September, we’ll have a Shepard Fairey original painted on a Downtown wall. The rest of the street art lineup is an all-star international crew practically ripped from the pages of Juxtapoz: Bezt (Poland), Tristan Eaton (U.S.), Fafi (France), Felipe Pantone (Spain), Martin Whatson (Norway), Dulk (Spain) and Mark Drew (U.S.), with more still to be announced. Also: The festival will feature art installations by Crystal Wagner and Amanda Parer; Simon Heidjens’ Silent Room, a big hit at South by Southwest; and, at long last, the Downtown debut of Mike Ross’ Big Rig Jig, the Burning Man piece last seen at Banksy’s Dismaland “bemusement park.” For more information on the artists of Life Is Beautiful, visit LifeIsBeautiful.com.

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SEVEN QUESTIONS

The owner of the new NHL franchise on the application process, the timetable for the front office and Vegas’ potential By Mike Grimala

June 30–July 6, 2016

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VegasSeven.com

Have you had a quiet moment to yourself to think about what you’ve accomplished?

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[The night of the vote and announcement], we got home about quarter to 10. My wife and I and one of our sons came back [to our suite] and we were just sitting around kind of talking about it, how much fun it was and how much fun it’s going to be. So we had a good reflective time. And then I started watching TV. Everyone wants to see themselves on TV [laughing].

How did you think you came across on television?

I’m told I came across OK. I thought I looked fat and old [laughing].

Other than that, it was OK. If you could go back to the beginning of this process, what advice would you give yourself?

When we started the ticket drive, we were very naïve. We spent a lot of money on things we probably didn’t

need to spend money on, and we kind of over-invested. I justified it by saying, “Well, we were always going to spend a lot of money on a ticket drive at some point,” just because we messed up a little bit and we spent $100,000 when we probably didn’t really need to do that. We’re going to be very careful about who we hire, how we hire people, how we get our organization put together, and make sure we do it right. If anything, we’re going to be more patient now as opposed to impatient, which is what we were when we started the ticket drive.

Do you have a model for how you want to build your organization?

The business part of the company is going to be very similar to other businesses I’ve been involved in. When we buy a company or when we start a company, we start building that company from the ground up, so I’ve got a pretty good feel for how to do it and how not to waste

How are you going to structure the front office?

Well, you’re looking at the chairman, CEO and president. We’re going to have a general manager, we’re going to have an executive vice president of the front office. I’m going to have a chief operating officer who’s going to be working closely with me and with the other departments and be my eyes and ears. But I’m going to eliminate a couple of positions, and I’m going to take them on. If this thing gets screwed up, it’s going to be my fault and not anyone else’s.

Is that the fun of owning a team? Being involved and making those decisions?

Absolutely. In the companies I’ve been involved with, I’m intimately involved until I don’t need to be. And when I don’t need to be, I step aside and let someone else do what they’ve been hired to do. But until I’m sure they’re doing what I need them to do, I’m going to keep an eye on it. So I’ll be heavily involved. Plus it’s going to be fun.

This is really going to be a fun deal.

Do you have a timetable for building the front office?

We need to get our scouting network right away. We need to bring in the first person on the hockey side pretty quickly, but we’ve got to go through a process with the league. The league has got names for us they want us to talk to, and we’re going to present names to the league that they clear, and then we can go to the teams and get clearance to talk to those individuals. So this is going to be a pretty hectic 30-45 days. In the meantime, we’ll get our front office side and we’ll start coming together in terms of social media, marketing, public relations, ticketing, logo, team paraphernalia and so on. So we’ve got dual tracks.

What kind of potential does the Las Vegas market have when it comes to building the team’s brand?

With 42 million visitors a year here, we’re going to be an international brand. We’re going to brand it with our jerseys, our hats, our T-shirts.

People will go back to Shanghai and Tokyo, and they’ll be wearing our jersey with our logo. We’re going to help the NHL a lot in terms of their brand building, but when people think of hockey in America, they’re going to think of this team.

What did other NHL owners say to Foley after Las Vegas joined the NHL? Read the full interview at VegasSeven.com/Foley.

PHOTO BY MARK DAMON/L AS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU

Bill Foley

money and how to help people stay focused. On the hockey side, we really need to get some experienced people who know what they’re doing, who will help us with our scouting, our expansion draft, free agency and the regular NHL draft. That’s more technical and something I don’t know much about.

On the business side, I’ve kind of got it.