Life Under the Canopy | Vegas Seven Magazine | Sept. 1-7, 2016 by Vegas Seven

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 1–7, 2016

T H E LAT EST

“History In the Making” Beverly Green neighborhood seeks special designation. By JESSIE O’BRIEN

“Football Flotsam” Other funding priorities marginalized in stadium discussion. By Michael Green

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

NIGH T LIF E

“Work It” Labor Day weekend is long on fun. Plus … What’s behind Jack Colton’s comeback, and photos from the week’s hottest parties.

DINING

“Hoo … Is This Guy?” Owl owner Stephan Galdau is an online sensation, but trust us — there is an endgame By AL MANCINI

Plus … Beer Park fires up the ’cue, and the beers of Life Is Beautiful.

PHOTO BY TOMO

A &E

The Plaza is marking 45 years on Fremont Street (see Page 22).

“Social Awareness on Stage” Broadway in the HOOD kicks off its second Smith Center season with The Wiz. By MARK ADAMS

Plus … Seven’s 14, a Q&A with Amy Sol of Life Is Beautiful’s Crime on Canvas, and what Bill Maher thinks of Donald Trump.

FE AT URE

SEVEN Q U EST IONS

“Fremont’s Path”

The Strip’s growth portended the need, and an Experience was born Downtown.

Howie Mandel on the value of therapy, his Committed documentary and how social media has changed stand-up.

By David G. Schwartz Plus … A look at Fremont’s future, how the Plaza reflects Downtown’s resurgence and an appreciation of Cool World. Cover by Tomo.

L AS VEGAS’ WEEKLY CITY MAGAZINE

FOUNDED FEBRUARY 2010

PUBLISHER Michael Skenandore TUE SEP 6

SAT SEP 10

MASTERS OF PUPPETS WORLD FAMOUS METALLICA TRIBUTE

SAT, SEP 3

THE TUESDAY BLEND SMASH MAGAZINE & XPOZ PRESENT

ALMOST AWAKE

W/ EDDIE JAYY, THE PERKS, ODD SOLUTIONS, INCARNATE

FRI SEP 16

REVEREND HORTON HEAT

MON SEP 19

MONDAYS DARK W/ MARK SHUNOCK

THU SEP 29

SAT OCT 1

SUN OCT 9

EDITORIAL Melinda Sheckells Genevie Durano DEPUTY EDITOR Paul Szydelko SENIOR EDITOR, DINING, BEVERAGE & NIGHTLIFE Xania Woodman ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Mark Adams SENIOR WRITER Lissa Townsend Rodgers ASSISTANT EDITOR Ian Caramanzana EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Michael Green (politics), Al Mancini (dining), David G. Schwartz (gaming/hospitality)

RVLTN PRESENTS CIRCUIT

AC SLATER

ART

RVLTN PRESENTS APOCALYPTO

COONE

Benjamin Ward Cierra Pedro STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Krystal Ramirez CREATIVE DIRECTOR

SENIOR DESIGNER

LESS IS MORE TOUR

OLATE DOGS

WINNERS OF AMERICA’S GOT TALENT

VEGASSEVEN.COM Zoneil Maharaj Mike Grimala EDITOR, DTLV.COM Jessie O’Brien DIGITAL PRODUCER & WRITER Amber Sampson DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT

SENIOR WRITER, RUNREBS.COM

KING LIL G FRI, SEP 9

NEW KINGSTON

WED OCT 12

W/ SENSAMOTION

FRI OCT 14

STEREO PODCAST LIVE W/ MICHAEL RAPAPORT

TUE OCT 18

I AM RAPAPORT

ADVERTISING MANAGER

THE AMITY AFFLICTION

LIVE ON THE JBL SOUND STAGE

FRI NOV 4

SUN NOV 6

MAC DEMARCO FRI, SEP 2

Christy Corda Nicole Scherer ACCOUNT MANAGER Brittany Quintana ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Robyn Weiss DIRECTOR OF SALES, BILLBOARD DIVISION John Tobin BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL SALES

SUICIDE SILENCE / WHITECHAPEL STRAIGHT OUTTA HELL TOUR

W/ CARNIFEX, OCEANO

WED OCT 26

Marc Barrington Jimmy Bearse

SALES

W/ BEING AS AN OCEAN, HUNDREDTH, TROPHY EYES, DEADSHIPS SMASH MAGAZINE PRESENTS

SAT OCT 22

PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION

INTERN

SMASH MAGAZINE PRESENTS

DANCE GAVIN DANCE

Ally Tatosian

TIM REYNOLDS & TR3 Ryan T. Doherty

THE NOISE PRESENTS

ATTILA

| Justin Weniger

Michael Skenandore CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Sim Salzman VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND EVENTS Keith White CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sherwin Yumul TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Herbert Akinyele CONTROLLER Jane Weigel PRESIDENT

THE CHAOS TOUR

WED NOV 16

MON LAFERTE

SAT NOV 19

COLIN KANE

SUN NOV 20

W/ FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, ARKONA, THE AGONIST

TWO SHOWS

EPICA

HARDROCKHOTEL.COM 702.693.5583 I AXS.COM Present your local ID at the box office for NO SERVICE FEES on all Vinyl & Friday Night Live Pool Shows.

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

LETTERS AND STORY IDEAS ADVERTISING

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP Vegas Seven, 702-798-7000, 701 Bridger 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.

History in the Making

Beverly Green neighborhood seeks special designation By Jessie O’Brien ➜ LAS VEGAS HAS A FASCINATING history, but that story isn’t told through our renovated, updated and start-from-scratch buildings and homes. The Nevada Preservation Foundation is aiming to keep some of the city’s past intact by seeking historic status for the mid-century Beverly Green neighborhood. The proposal goes before the Las Vegas City Council on September 21. “There is a lot of diversity in old neighborhoods. It’s important we

have new and old houses. That’s the mark of a really healthy city,” says Heidi Swank, executive director of the Nevada Preservation Foundation and a Nevada assemblywoman. Located north of the Stratosphere, the majority of the 2,000-squarefoot homes in Beverly Green were individually designed and built between 1951 and 1963, giving the neighborhood distinct character. To ﬁnd out if the neighborhood qualiﬁed for historic designation,

BYE, BYE 18B

Las Vegas Arts District is rebranding By Jessie O’Brien

September 1-7, 2016

VegasSeven.com

➜ The Las Vegas Arts District

is rebranding and leaving the 18b behind. “It doesn’t serve us as an outward-looking brand,” Arts District board member Curtis Joe Walker says. This is because most people don’t understand what it means—the 18 blocks of the neighborhood footprint. “It’s barely interesting,” Walker says. But not everybody is happy about the Arts District stepping away from its current identity. According to former Arts Fac-

tory owner Wes Isbutt, the American Institute of Graphic Arts collaborated with the City of Las Vegas in 2001-2002 and was offered a grant by the National Endowment for the Arts for the 18b branding project. “Do they know the quality and quantity of people who worked on that branding?” says Isbutt. “But fuck that.” The number and letter is special to some in the community who have grown attached to it. Jana Lynch, who opened Jana’s RedRoom in 2012, says

the City hired an outside firm to do an architectural survey. The firm determined 51 of the 117 multifamily homes are individually eligible for historic status; 49 more have had some changes to the street view that don’t match the era, but not enough to significantly undermine the building’s historic integrity. Swank says there is no specific ratio that determines what neighborhoods can be designated historic, but the buildings must be at least 40 years old and reflect the city’s past. John S. Park is the only local historically designated neighborhood. Swank, who lives in a Cinderella ranch in Beverly Green, and her team spent two years acquiring 51 percent of the neighborhood’s signatures needed to pursue historic status. According to Swank, many homeowners think they cannot landscape or renovate homes when historic protections really only apply to the street view. To alter the street view of a historic home, the materials must be replaced likefor-like, meaning wood-framed windows must be replaced with new wood-framed windows, according to Swank. Street-view changes must also go through the Las Vegas Historic Preservation officer. Another misconception is that home prices may go down when they become part of a historic designation. Nationally, there is a slight bump in property value after such a designation, Swank says. “Everyone learns a lot about their neighborhoods and they take more pride in their house,” she says. “There is a bit of cachet to live in a historic district.”

she loves the moniker because it’s been around for a long time. But she’s uncertain. “Guys, what do you think about getting rid of 18b?” she shouted out to a small group of artists and volunteers in her gallery. The consensus: It’s time for it to go. Walker says that rebranding doesn’t mean they are erasing the past, but it won’t be used for marketing going forward. The sign near Casino Center Boulevard and Coolidge Avenue will remain. Social media accounts (@ArtsDistrictLV) will stay the same. There will be a new website that is not ready to be promoted just yet. (The current domain is 18b.org.)

“I’m definitely not sad,” says Joey Vanas, Arts District board president. “I’ve found very few people who actually care.”

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

THU 1

Detroit artist Hernan Bas paints pictures of people in states of “disquieting stress,” mixing a 19th century ethos with modern technique. Bas is the guest speaker for UNLV’s Visiting Artist Lecture Series, 7-9 p.m. at the Marjorie Barrick Museum. UNLV.edu.

It’s been a few Fridays since we’ve plugged First Friday, Downtown’s celebration of art and good times, so let’s remedy that. If you like painting, ceramics, photography, sculpture, artists, Downtown and/or a fun spot, the Arts Factory is the place to be, 6-11 p.m. TheArtsFactory.com.

FRI 2

SAT 3

Dogs don’t dig the summer. Too hot to go outside, nothing to do inside. Which is why they look forward to the Clark County Parks and Recreation Department’s Dog Daze of Summer. It’s the only day they’re allowed in the Desert Breeze Aquatics Facility’s pool. 8-9:15 a.m. for dogs less than 50 lbs; 9:45-11 a.m. for larger dogs; 8275 Spring Mountain Rd. ClarkCountyNV.gov.

SUN 4

Mix Shakespeare with Lil Wayne and you’ll get something like Bomb-itty of Errors, a hiphop adaptation of The Comedy of Errors, featuring four actors and a live DJ. It paved the way for Hamilton. We think the Bard would approve. 2 p.m. at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre. UNLV.edu.

MON 5

Every year we strive mightily to come up with something special for you on Labor Day, and every year we fall short. Maybe it’s just that this holiday is low-key for a reason. You worked hard for it, go out and enjoy it.

TUE 6

There are people who ride motorcycles, and then there are bikers. As in biker-gang-type bikers. They’re organized, defiant, lawless, violent and endlessly fascinating. The Mob Museum’s new Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs display features artifacts from the lifestyle and interviews with an undercover agent who got inside it and lived to tell the tale. TheMobMuseum.org.

Always wanted to dance, draw, paint or play an instrument? Today is the first day of the Charleston Heights Arts Center’s fall schedule, and it’s got classes on all those things. LasVegasNevada.gov.

WED 7

18B SIGN BY JAMES MAT TIL/SHUT TERSTOCK; BEVERLY GREEN BY CIERRA PEDRO

THE LATEST

News, deals and what gets lost in the stadium discussion.

Seeking a Savior

St. Therese Center HIV Outreach needs a new home

J A M E S P. R E Z A

➜ My knowledge of hockey is pretty

basic: sticks, ice and fights. But I’ll support just about anything that helps our city grow as a community, from the Philharmonic to a sports franchise. So when the unlikely hockey campaign began, I rounded up some friends, and

way to show gratitude to someone who signed up early. • Actually, who cares how far back my seats are? The view from just about every section I visited was great. I’d rather sit higher and closer to an aisle for better access during beer and restroom breaks. Hell, can I trade in my mid-level seats for nosebleeds and save some cash? • Speaking of nosebleeds, make sure to make friends with someone at Hyde. Because its VIP lounge at the top of the arena is pretty awesome. • Come hungry. The arena had as many good food options as in some casinos. And the chow is definitely better than what’s being sold in The Park. My seats are closest to Shake Shack, so I should get to know that menu. • Splitting season tickets with friends who hail from different cities was a good idea. It should avoid a lot of arguing over who goes to what game. –Al Mancini

➜You have stumbled upon one of my favorite Las Vegas tales, one that tells so much about what makes Las Vegas. At first glance it seems a common David versus Goliath story. But it’s more: David versus a few Goliaths, including one who began as a David, and then, after achieving Goliath status, saw the tables turned by a modern-day reflection of himself, 20 years prior. Steve Wynn came to Las Vegas in 1967. He built his Las Vegas legacy through hard work and a series of smart leveraging of smallish deals with the help of banking legend E. Parry Thomas, who died on August 26. Wynn began by buying a fractional casino ownership at the Frontier. That led to brokering a transformational deal for a sliver of Strip land owned by Howard Hughes next to Caesars Palace. Wynn flipped it to Caesars less than a year later for more than twice the initial $1.1 million investment. That led to ownership of Downtown’s Golden Nugget, and the rest … Fast-forward to the late 1980s, when Wynn was developing the game-changing Mirage, and soon after, its neighbor Treasure Island. At the time, properties to the west along Industrial Road (much like Paradise Road to the east) were home to convenient apartment complexes housing casino workers. One of them was Villa de Flores. In shades of Wynn’s deal with Hughes, with the development of The Mirage, the 1-acre, 36-unit complex became a very valuable dot of land, at least to its owner, Mike Flores. Wynn balked at the $6 million price tag for what was technically offStrip property, characterizing it as “extortion.” Perhaps visualizing his own Wynn-like aspirations, Flores wouldn’t budge. So unlike Wynn’s legendary Strip-front Hughes deal (as well as deals with the other Industrial Road owners), no deal was struck with Flores. The result? Check Google Maps. Treasure Island, and a Mirage parking garage, were built around Villa de Flores, making it an island of its own. Subsequent internal legal battles involving fractional Villa de Flores owners resulted in Flores buying the property outright for $3.5 million in 1997; one fractional owner was the Imperial Palace’s Ralph Englestad, who received $700,000 on his $1 million investment— not quite the return that Wynn got from Caesars Palace. As for MGM Resorts International, the new Goliath owners of the Mirage and T.I.? They seem content to keep Villa de Flores where it is. Until the price is right, of course. Have a question about Las Vegas, past, present or future? Send it to askanative@VegasSeven.com.

VegasSeven.com

Seven Thoughts on My Upcoming First Season of Hockey

we plunked down a deposit on season tickets. Now that a team is coming, I guess it’s time to see what I got myself into. The season ticket holder tour and a food sampling at the T-Mobile Arena behind me, here’s what I’m thinking about the 2017-2018 hockey season. • Get to know Frank Sinatra Drive. After recent concerts, police have been routing traffic in just one direction. So familiarize yourself with a few routes, entering and exiting your new favorite road from both north and south. • Damn, that escalator to the top level is long—and steep. This probably won’t mean anything if you’re in prime condition. But after a few drinks, or if you’re suffering from a hangover, that’s gonna be a bitch. • Owner Bill Foley’s team (possibly to be dubbed the Desert Knights) needs to stop the upselling. Trying to get me to commit to three or five years to get first pick of tickets in the section I signed up for a year ago isn’t a good

Is there really a secret apartment complex at the Treasure Island casino?

ST. THERESE BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ; ARENA BY JESSE J SUTHERL AND

➜ By the grace of God and perhaps a savior donor, the St. Therese Center HIV Outreach will find a new home after more than a decade at St. Rose Dominican Hospital Rose de Lima campus in Henderson. The pantry at the St. Therese Center. The hospital is looking to expand, and the building on the corner of Lake Mead Parkway and Boulder Highway that and a daily sandwich program. accommodates St. Therese Center is probably going It’s going to be a significant increase in operating to become a parking lot, says Father Joseph O’Brien, expenditures for St. Therese, as the organization founder and director of the center. has been given free rent and utilities thanks to the Kathleen Ryan, spokeswoman for Dignity Health, sisters who founded St. Rose de Lima Hospital. said growth at St. Therese Center was placing a bur“If we can have a donor or someone who can rent den on the hospital’s limited parking space. “We are us space for $1 a year, or some reasonable amount,” completing extensive renovations in the hospital O’Brien says. “Some of the rentals are ridiculous.” through a multiyear project, which is also further O’Brien looked at a former Fresh & Easy in Henderlimiting available parking for patients,” Ryan said. son for $14,000 a month, and a former Albertsons at The center, which serves more than 4,000 HIVMaryland Parkway and Sahara Avenue for $27,000. positive men, women and children, has outgrown Catholic Charities offered a building for $10,000 a the building and was forced to drop its clothing month, but even that is too much, O’Brien says. program to make more room for the food pantry. He was provided with a list of seven or eight O’Brien is hoping to find a place with 15,000 to other properties to look at and only one is more 20,000 square feet. It would be great to have 30,000 than $5,000 a month. It’s essential to have a large square feet, but he is a realist about what it would parking lot as semi trucks deliver 28,000 pounds cost to rent that much space. of food every week. The food is for everyone, not The hospital is going to be flexible with the center just HIV clients, O’Brien notes. on its move-out date, but the administration is lookSt. Therese is looking at qualifying for improveing at October 1, O’Brien says. St. Therese may be able ment grants from the City of Henderson, but if someto stay on a month-to-month basis beyond that time. one from Las Vegas or east Las Vegas comes up with a St. Therese offers spiritual services and emotiongood deal, they’ll pack up and go, O’Brien says. al support for clients, along with referrals to other “We have 18 years here and we’re well-respected HIV agencies for medical and complementary by HIV agencies in town,” he says. “We hope and services. Social services include a dry-food pantry, pray. We’d like to do this because it’s a great service transportation assistance, socks and underwear to the community. Our goal is to keep it going.”

September 1-7, 2016

By Hubble Ray Smith

THE LATEST

Football Flotsam Other funding priorities marginalized in stadium discussion

ANTHONY CURTIS

GRAB OPPORTUNITY IN UNDERTHE-RADAR FOOTBALL CONTESTS

September 1-7, 2016

VegasSeven.com

➜ HISTORIAN DAVID DONALD,

who won two more Pulitzer Prizes than I will, said that when he was growing up, his fellow Mississippians would say, “Thank God for Arkansas.” Otherwise Mississippi would be the lowest-rated in every category that matters. A decade ago, when she was running for governor, Democrat Dina Titus said Nevada shouldn’t be at the bottom of every good list and the top of every bad list. Nevadans responded by electing Republican Jim Gibbons and committing themselves to being Mississippi or Arkansas. We’ve tried. Consider a new report in SSM Population Health, “Explaining Inequalities in Women’s Mortality Between U.S. States.” Boiling it all down, when it comes to the state with the highest mortality rate for women, we’re the worst. We’re No. 50! Meanwhile, The New York Times, which reported on the mortality issue, ran a long piece on how Nevada competes with other states to pass laws that help wealthy Americans shield their assets here. An attorney who specializes in that area pointed out in both The New York Times and on KNPR that Nevada benefits from their spending. That’s nothing new: In the 1930s, Nevada advertised itself as “One Sound State” because it lacked income and estate taxes, and therefore would be a great place for the wealthy to claim residence. But it begs questions: Are we taking advantage of how they boost our economy in ways that improve our quality of life, and did we ever do so? Granting that the answers are, respectively, no and no, we should be asking those ques-

tions. Instead, the biggest question among state leaders is, do we change the law to shift $750 million in room tax money to support a stadium that Sheldon Adelson, Majestic Realty, and Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis, the prime movers behind this, could build themselves? Encapsulating one of the problems with this issue, Senator Harry Reid said he’d love to see the Raiders move here, but since the money involved isn’t federal, that’s up to local officials. That’s what the first paragraph in the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s story said, but the headline read, “Reid declares support for stadium, Raiders’ move to Las Vegas.” Apparently, headlines need not reflect the article below them. The R-J’s owner, Adelson, apparently decided the $750 million figure is nonnegotiable: tax money or no stadium. Since Adelson is a major supporter of the Republican Party, and his newspaper has a history of serving interesting purposes long before his arrival, everyone from the governor to the Moapa town board can envision the headlines about themselves. But amid the talk of spending, other issues seem to get less attention. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo mentioned law enforcement needs for a 65,000-seat stadium. Who pays? The artist’s renderings of the stadium are gorgeous, but it’s hard to see how drivers get into the parking lot and what the roads will be like before and after games. Or are we finally going to build light rail? If so, who pays?

Whatever the claims or merits, here’s an interesting parallel to consider from a marvelous book, Bad News, (William Morrow, 2005), in which longtime foreign correspondent Tom Fenton airs out the major networks for ignoring actual news. Once upon a time, both Dan Rather and Peter Jennings, longtime evening news anchors, went to their bosses and said, essentially, “I’ll give up some of my millions in salary if you’ll put the money into hiring correspondents.” The response was, “That’s not the way it works.” Told of this, their counterpart, Tom Brokaw, said, “If I got paid less, they’d bank it. They wouldn’t spend it,” or NBC would put it into a reality show. Nevada’s spending history is no more reassuring. In 2003, Governor Kenny Guinn sued the Legislature to pass an $800 million tax hike. When the state was flush in 2005, he agreed to a $300 million rebate. Two years later, his successor took a chain saw to the budget, and the Great Recession arrived. The 2015 tax hike was designed to restore funding to pre-recession levels, which were already low. Would a stadium and professional football ultimately benefit Nevada more than increasing funding for education and social services? Whether or not they would, those questions aren’t really being asked. It’s a safe bet the stadium money wouldn’t end up going toward those programs in a way large enough to make a significant difference, if that. To put it another way, Nevada’s funding per pupil is less than that of … Arkansas. Don’t thank God. We can thank ourselves. Michael Green is an associate professor of history at UNLV.

➜ By the time you read this, football season will have begun. College football, that is. The casinos acknowledge college football, but all the marketing is still pinned to the NFL. Case in point, even the college football contests don’t cut off registration till September 10, the Saturday on the weekend that the pros start. That means you have one week to register for the contests you want to play this year. I’ve written recently about the big-entry-fee tournaments. Bottom line: The for-pay tournaments bring tough competition. Play them at your peril, but if you crack one, you can make some big dough and get famous in the process. And I’ve written about the two big dogs in the free-contest space—Gridiron Glory at Station Casinos and Pick the Pros at Boyd. Bottom line: These provide great entertainment and a shot at a big payday. Play them! Now, with one week to go before kick-off, here’s the rest of the story. Note that all the contests discussed below are free to enter. If you’re good at picking football winners, then your chances are enhanced. But the cool thing about a free football contest is that anyone can win. And by “anyone,” I mean that you’re not that big of an underdog if you’re picking blindfolded, so don’t be afraid to jump in. First the bad news: Aliante isn’t running its football contest this year. Since its debut in 2013, Aliante has offered the absolute best football contest in the city. Trust me. But it doesn’t matter now. We move on. Balancing the loss (kinda) is the new College Football Clash contest at the Wildfires. This contest pays $500 weekly to the first three finishers, but if you play all season long, you can win a trip for two to the Rose Bowl. If you’re already playing Gridiron Glory (as I recommended you should), then put your picks in at a Wildfire and you can play College Football Clash at the same time—a nice little free-contest parlay. Ellis Island is running the free Passport Pick ’Em. Drop in and submit your picks to win weekly and season prizes. This contest likely won’t have a lot of every-week players, which gives you a nice edge if you can play every week. The same logic applies at the Rampart, but for a different reason. The Red Zone to Riches contest pays out $1,100 per week, but doesn’t have a season-long prize. The draw here is a progressive-jackpot award for a perfect card. The jackpot begins at $1,000 and adds another $1K each week it isn’t won. Rampart is another isolated casino, so the field will be small. Once the rollover brings the jackpot to five or six grand, you might want to start paying attention. Many more contests will show up at casino kiosks, local bars and online. If they’re free to enter, play ‘em all! Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.

VegasSeven.com

| September 1-7, 2016

outdoor mall. Atlandia Design, Steve Wynn’s in-house team, represented the owners, with Jerde serving as project designer, Marnell Corrao as construction manager and Railton Associates as sky parade and light-show manager. The room tax ($14.6 million) and LVCVA grant covered a little more than a third of the Experience’s total cost. The Las Vegas Downtown Development Agency provided $22.4 million in additional funding, with member casinos kicking in an additional $18 million. Work began in March 1994 with the demolition of the First Western Bank and other buildings in the 400 block of Fremont; this would be the site of the 1,500-space parking garage, the organization’s offices and new retail space. At 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 1994, Fremont Street from Main to Fourth officially closed to vehicles. Construction started five days later, with an official groundbreaking on September 16. With veteran builder Marnell Corrao in charge, things went briskly, although not without complications: The first attempts to loft the space frame into place were aborted because of high winds. Delays related to upgrading the light show pushed the planned opening from July to September to December. The additional $7 million cost, which pushed the project’s total price tag to more than $70 million, was borne by the member casinos. On November 31, the Experience welcomed 7,000 National Finals Rodeo fans for a soft opening of the light show. Two weeks later, a VIP preview followed by a lighting ceremony open to the public the following day marked the official opening of the Fremont Street Experience. The development had its critics; some locals were upset that they weren’t allowed to see a December 21 exhibition by Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, and that they had to pay to participate in the outdoor New Year’s festivities. Court battles dogged the use of eminent domain to acquire land used

for the parking garage. Likewise, the city’s attempts to ban porn-slappers, panhandlers and other miscreants from under the canopy led to 20 years of city ordinances and legal battles. Fremont Street, however, has evolved in ways that the Downtown Progress Association could not have foreseen in 1992. The 2004 overhaul of the canopy into the 12 million-light LED Viva Vision has kept the display up-to-date. Likewise, the outdoor bars and the Slotzilla zipline, though they weren’t part of the original proposal, have helped achieve the original objective: to get people coming to Fremont Street. It may not have turned out as initially planned, but ultimately, Fremont found its path. See more pictures for Vegas Seven’s night under the canopy at VegasSeven.com/FSETurns20

NIGHTLIFE THU 1

Kick off your long weekend with some live music when AlunaGeorge brings its multigenre mastery to Intrigue. Sure, the British duo consisting of Aluna Francis and George Reid creates music that falls under the generic “electronic” umbrella, but dive deeper into their discography, and you’ll be able to pick out elements from genres such as R&B, hip-hop and house. (In Wynn, 10:30 p.m., IntrigueVegas.com.) Lookin’ for a trusted electro/progressive house classic? Tiësto brings his 20-plus years of turntable excellence to Hakkasan. Given the occasion, it’s the proper time to get “Wasted” with the Dutch deck master. (In MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.) Wanna be cool? DJ Esco, the “coolest DJ in the world,” pulls double duty as both party host and DJ at Drai’s. Join him in welcoming the weekend by indulging in his “Juice.” Because, let’s face it: You’re gonna need it this weekend. (In The Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife.com.)

September 1-7, 2016

VegasSeven.com

FRI 2

Did you check out our interview with Canadian electro-punk duo MSTRKRFT last week? If you made it to the end, you know that the two are looking to get knee-deep in some wild parties at the Glitter Gulch. See them spin at Bunkhouse Saloon, where they’re sure to share the abrasive bounce of “Go On Without Me,” then you can show them how we party on the Fremont Street Experience. (124 S. 11th St., 9 p.m., BunkhouseDowntown.com.) Too indie for you? Bask in the hottest Top 40 jams when Calvin Harris spins at Omnia (in Caesars Palace, 10:30 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com), or when Big Sean performs at Drai’s. (In The Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife. com.) Trust us: You’re gonna be saying “Oh, I know this song!” if you decide to hit either event. If you’re looking for some low-end fun to propel you into party mode, take a dive

Calvin Harris.

with Chicago trap duo Flosstradamus at Encore Beach Club at Night. The party is taking place outdoors, but we suggest digging a hoodie out of the bottom of your closet to support the HDYNATION. And if it gets too toasty, at least you can cool off in several pools. (In Encore, 10 p.m., EncoreBeachClub.com.) “Don’t make me break your Kevin Hart, boy,” Drake’s sings in “Over My Dead Body.” Unfortunately, the Canadian rapper isn’t celebrating the holiday weekend here, but the comedian he references is hosting a party at Tao. We aren’t ready! (In the Venetian, 10 p.m., TaoLasVegas.com.) SAT 3

Remember SoBe? The refreshing beverage company celebrates 21 years in business at Foxtail Pool with a performance by Charli XCX. “Boom Clap” with her before you blow the candles out on 21 years of delicious hydration. (In SLS, 11 a.m., FoxtailLasVegas.com.) DJs during the day. That’s the name of the game at Drai’s Beachclub, where you can indulge in an eclectic array of disc jockeys that’ll dominate the daytime. Whether it’s the bangin’ trap of Ookay, the bouncin’ “Bap” of Party Favor or the all-encapsulating electro house of Zeds Dead—it’s all there. Party up! (In The Cromwell, 12 p.m., DraisNightlife.com.) Rehab hosts electro/dubstep duo Knife Party. The group consisting of Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen is from Australia, so give ’em a warm welcome as the last hurrah of summer. (At Hard Rock Hotel, 11 a.m., RehabLV.com.) Too heavy? Kygo brings his tranquil tropical house vibes to Marquee Dayclub. His captivating remix of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” will pair perfectly with the club’s pool. (At the Cosmopolitan, 11 a.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.) When night falls, we recommend seeing Life Is Beautiful headliners Major Lazer in an intimate space: Surrender. Catch ’em before they close out the festival.

(In Encore, 10:30 p.m., SurrenderNightclub.com.) Here’s a mouthful: Dijon Isaiah McFarlane—a.k.a. DJ Mustard—brings his 808-heavy “ratchet jams” to Light (in Mandalay Bay, 10:30 p.m., TheLightVegas.com), and Robbert van de Corput—a.k.a. Hardwell— brings the boom into the big room at Hakkasan. (In MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.) SUN 4

J. Cole went double platinum with no features, so he’s gotta be doing something right, right? See for yourself at Daylight before he takes the cake at Life Is Beautiful. (In Mandalay Bay, noon, TheLightVegas. com.) Speaking of cake, Steve Aoki retired from throwing cake on fans last year, but we think his documentary, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead is just as sweet. Check it out before you get wet at Wet Republic. (At MGM Grand, 11 a.m., WetRepublic.com.) Galactus is the name of the planet-destroying X-Men supervillain, but Galantis is the name of a Swedish duo who make forward-thinking electro house for the big room. Hear their catchy house rendition of Youngr’s “Out of My System” at Marquee Dayclub (in the Cosmopolitan, 11 a.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com), and then pop tags with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis at Marquee later. (In the Cosmopolitan, 10 p.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.) When the sun goes down, take a dip with David Guetta at XS’ Sunday Nightswim and prepare for the madness you’re about to partake in tomorrow. (In Encore, 10 p.m., XSLasVegas.com.) MON 5

Happy Labor Day! Wanna make it a wet one? Head to Wet Republic to witness sets by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and L.A. producer Steve James, and do it “In the Name of Love!” (At MGM Grand, 11 a.m., WetRepublic.com.) You can choose to spend that hardearned day off at the Cosmopolitan, because progressive house stalwarts Tritonal man the decks at Marquee

Carnage.

Dayclub (in the Cosmopolitan, 11 a.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com), while Guatemalan electro/trap heavyweight Carnage tackles Marquee. (In the Cosmopolitan, 10 p.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.) If you aren’t Guetta’d out, you can catch David Guetta again at Encore Beach Club. (In Encore, 10 p.m., EncoreBeachClub.com.) Get him a Red Bull, will ya? You’ll want to stick around at the Encore for a few hours because if you’re looking to “Get Low,” you can with Diplo, at XS. (In Encore, 10 p.m., XSLasVegas.com.) These are two-day-long parties that’ll make the most of that extra day off. TUE 6

Technically, the long holiday weekend is over, but the parties just don’t stop! Treat yourself to a nice brunch in the morning—you deserve it! Then head to Omnia for a set by those hardstyle masters, Showtek. The Dutch duo made waves in the EDM world when they released their new single, “Memories”, which marks their return to hardstyle. Looks like another group is ditching the progressive house wagon for something else. (In Caesars Palace, 10 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com.) Fellow Dutchman, Quintino, makes a splash at Drai’s Night Splash (in The Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife.com), but if you’re looking for some variety, DJs Sucio and Exile turn it up at Vanguard Lounge’s Studio V. (516 Fremont St., 10 p.m., VanguardLV.com.) WED 7

Your full week of parties is nearly over. Kick it old school by grooving to some awesome tunes at Oddfellows’ ’90s Night (150 Las Vegas Blvd. North, 8 p.m., OddfellowsVegas.com), or hit up Hyde’s notorious Infamous Wednesdays with DJ Neva. (In Bellagio, 10:30 p.m., HydeBellagio.com.) Not feelin’ either? Give local hero DJ Five a high-five at Light, and give yourself one for making it through the week. (In Mandalay Bay, 10:30 p.m., TheLightVegas.com.)

CALVING HARRIS PHOTO BY AL POWERS

Ookay.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

ALUNAGEORGE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

ALUNAGEORGE

WYNNSOCIAL.COM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

KIESZA

@INTRIGUEVEGAS

THE CHAINSMOKERS SEP 5 / LDW

FAED SEP 12

STEVE AOKI SEP 19

BORGEOUS SEP 26

herringbone HOOKED ON MONDAYS

alibi ultra lounge PREPARE YOUR ALIBI

jewel nightclub FLAWLESS MONDAYS

HALF PRICE SELECT BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE AND EXCLUSIVE FOOD SPECIALS BEGINNING AT 9PM EVERY MONDAY

FEATURING COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE FOR LADIES FROM 9:30PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 11:30PM EVERY MONDAY

COMPLETE YOUR NIGHT AT THE HOTTEST NEW NIGHTLIFE DESTINATION IN LAS VEGAS COMPLIMENTARY FOR LOCALS

a flawless experience at aria

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

The Jack Colton Experience

The founder of the popular nightlife website, JackColton.com, returns to the scene with a new perspective and new projects on the horizon By Amber Sampson

Jack Colton’s idea of a geek are radically different. Expectation: An asthmatic bespectacled recluse who happens to be at the top of the leaderboards of a real-time strategy game. Colton’s reality: A physically fit, digital-media entrepreneur with a history of launching and managing successful websites, and a reputation for throwing way too many parties. But one does not simply ascend to this ninja-like level of geekdom overnight. Colton cut his teeth as a teen entrepreneur in Oklahoma. The geek cred, of course, came naturally. “In high school, I started building and selling computers,” he says of his earliest ventures in the ’90s. He hosted regular events with the Norman, Oklahoma, Chamber of Commerce and collaborated with the state’s tourism industry. In 2001, Colton connected with DJ Matt Lindsey of Overtone Media, and started working Christian music concerts. Flash forward to 2003, when Colton returned to his hometown of Las Vegas, and embraced the booming club scene. By embraced we mean he consumed it like any twenty-something would. But the lack of nightlife information online signaled a serious party foul for Colton. “I saw a huge disconnect in what people were being told about Las Vegas—what are the best places to go, how to get in. If the shoe were on the other foot, if I went to Miami or something, I don’t want to be told to go to someplace that’s just paying the most to whoever [is promoting it],” he says. Geek senses tingling, Colton saw the solution in JackColton. com, a website that made getting onto a guest list or securing a table reservation as easy as all our other communications. The online guidebook gifted tourists with a local’s knowledge of the city and connect them with VIP hosts. The days of hapless clubbing were over. Since its inception in 2006, the website has caught the eye of more than 11.5 million unique visitors (and possibly every woman who’s ever joined the so-called Black Foot Club). Colton says the discussion forums alone saw anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 members. Yet when Colton woke up one morning in 2014, he sold the whole thing. “When you do any kind of website or a project for a length of time, you kind of get complacent with how things are. And after eight years, that had happened with the Jack Colton site,” he says. “It wasn’t that I didn’t care about it. It was just that I was used to the

JACK COLTON PHOTOS BY CARLOS L ARIOS

NIGHTLIFE

➜ OUR IDEA OF A GEEK AND

Colton says they’re planning to go more data-driven for nightlife advertisers, have a direct guest list, more access for contacting hosts, new calendars and more. He says he’s noticed a shift in how corporate the nightlife industry has become, but that’s been more of a benefit than a roadblock because casinos are giving nightlife and daylife the attention they deserve. And since social media and online marketing play such a key part in business now, he’s eager to step up his game. Although the entrepreneur says he doesn’t like to think too far ahead, he does know where he came from and isn’t afraid to revisit the work that brought him where he is today. “I believe everything in life is the result of a long series of cause and effect—one thing leading directly to another. Having newly gained the perspective of being away from the site for a period of time and learning new online marketing techniques,” he says, “it was only a matter of time until it made sense for the new ownership and I to explore a combined path forward.”

VegasSeven.com

he’d remained in close contact with. “Anyone who has been too deep in the Las Vegas tourism sector for any amount of time … gets at least a subtle layer of indifference and high expectations, which can cloud our ability to connect with the people who are just excited about being on vacation in Las Vegas,” he says. “Stepping away from that, especially under sometimes extreme circumstances, helped center and reconnect me with the shared experience that most travelers go through on at least some level.” Colton says friend and investor Anthony Nuzzo had an interesting vision for bringing JackColton.com back to the fore. It involved a partnership between 2ND7 Media and Jack Colton Inc. A couple of months ago, they created Run Free Media, which brings all of Colton’s projects under one roof. “We want to help people see what’s possible,” Colton says. “See what’s possible in their travel, in their health, when they’re starting a business, or just life in general.” While JackColton.com is being primed for a fresh coat of paint,

changed up his life, too. “That kind of brought in the [thought], ‘Hey, let’s do something with [fitness].’” That “something” became LeanMass. com, a fitness website that will offer everything from health supplements and nutrition guides to online training with professional trainer Tony Cress when it debuts in 2017. But that wasn’t the end of Colton’s self-exploration or of his creative entrepreneurialism. He went on to create three more businesses: Startup Stud, a site offering firsthand knowledge and strategies on becoming a successful entrepreneur; Off the Trail, an international traveler’s guide (also slated for 2017) and Comp Guest List, which launched in July, and gives access to guest lists from Las Vegas’ hottest happenings. “My life’s work,” Colton says, “has always revolved around building online companies on a bootstrap budget and constantly wearing as many proverbial ‘hats’ as a person conceivably could.” Knowing this, it was only a matter of time before the young entrepreneur turned his attention back to JackColton.com, the new owners of which

September 1-7, 2016

way things were. There wasn’t a lot of innovation going on.” At the time of his exit, the young founder still had a couple of irons in the fire. Unlooker, a viral video website Colton created in 2013, had hit 26 million users by February 2014, he says, and earned attention from The Soup and TruTV. And his co-founded DJ management company, Blackout Artists, had just launched. But those were a part of a transition phase. Colton created 2ND7 Media after the Jack Colton sale, and walked away. Well, actually, he flew. He traveled to Indonesia, Europe and South America, including one psychedelic experience in Peru. The entrepreneur’s adventurous lifestyle lent itself to dauntless hiking and glacier climbing. You know, “the stuff where you should have a waiver,” he says, laughing. With talk like that, you’d think Colton grew up lifting barbells his whole life. “Oh, not at all,” he says. “It was the complete opposite.” At 30, he says his body was “severely underweight.” He put in time with a trainer, changed up his diet and, in a sense,

September 1-7, 2016

VegasSeven.com

NIGHTLIFE

PARTIES

HOT 100 FINALE August 26, Wet Republic

See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com

September 1-7, 2016

VegasSeven.com

Photography by TONY TRAN

BEER PARK

DINING

Paris Las Vegas, 702-444-4500, BeerParkLV.com. Open for lunch and dinner 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun-Thu, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri-Sat. Dinner for two, $35-$85.

Their barbecue goals are just as lofty. The man running the pit is Eddie Manukyan, who made pastrami for Kerry Simon before studying ’cue at the late Rub in the Rio under a team from St. Louis’ renowned Pappy’s. Manukyan works closely with executive chef Ricardo Romo, and he is armed with something that no other barbecue restaurant can duplicate. KEY INGREDIENT

Beer Park operates under a partnership with Anheuser-Busch. Determined to see what kind of smoke he could get from the leftovers of Budweiser’s famed beechwood aging process, Silverman approached the company about obtaining some of the wood that was tossed into fermentation tanks to give the yeast a surface on which to thrive. They had to go through four officials at the company just to secure a 10-pound test bag. When they liked the results and requested more, they were told it could only be shipped in full truck loads. So they had to figure out a way to order it by the pallet. DIG IN

Cue Up the ’Cue Beer Park fires up a critical piece of the puzzle By Al Mancini

➜ Beer Park, overlooking the Strip from its second-floor perch at Paris Las Vegas, is among the city’s top outdoor spots,

September 1-7, 2016

VegasSeven.com

thanks to 100-plus beers, a prime view of the Bellagio fountains, serious backyard-style food, pool tables and other games. Yet, until recently, something was missing from the party. When they envisioned the venue, culinary developers Matt Piekarski and Matt Silverman were determined to make barbecue a part of the mix. “Our goal was not to be a barbecue restaurant,” Silverman says. “Our goal was to have great barbecue as part of the menu.” ¶ “There’s not a lot of really great barbecue in this town,” Piekarski says. “But specifically, on the Strip there’s no great barbecue.”

WHERE THERE ARE SMOKERS, THERE ARE FIRE OFFICIALS

Unfortunately, the fire department wasn’t thrilled about the chefs bringing a smoker onto the patio. “The Cosmopolitan [fire of 2015] got us [into trouble] for a little while,” Piekarski says, referring to a high-profile fire at the resort’s pool last summer. So they hired a fire safety engineer to walk them through the safety protocols and argue their case. In mid-July, Beer Park received final approval

for its smoker. And the pair is working hard to master the barbecue art form. DIY ATTITUDE

As anyone who has followed Silverman’s career is well aware, when he throws himself into a project, he doesn’t cut corners. At Vintner Grill, the chef assembled a cheese program that would have been the envy of most restaurants. But it didn’t have everything he wanted, so he began experimenting with making his own

varieties. And when the goat milk available to him wasn’t to his liking, he bought his own goats. When Silverman joined Piekarski in the kitchen of the chocolate-themed Hexx, he found a kindred soul. The pair didn’t rely on the best sweets money could buy. They traveled the world for the best cocoa beans, which they imported to create their own gourmet chocolates from scratch, each discernible from the others based entirely on the origin of the beans.

Logistics in order, the first smoker is now in operation, wafting the smell of smoke up and down Las Vegas Boulevard. The result gives meats a distinctive smoky taste that is much milder than what other woods provide, and a mahogany color provided by an hourly apple juice spray. The smoked, spiced pastrami ($17) packs the heartiest kick, thanks to the house-made spice rub. Ribs served with Wonderbread, slaw and beans baked in the smoker to absorb the fatty drippings ($20 half-rack) are presented without sauce, but have a sticky, sweet and tangy apricot glaze. Barbecued pulled pork ($15) reveals the most smoke, and is served with the same bread and beans. And plump chicken drumsticks ($10 for four) are brined overnight in Budweiser before smoking, then flash-fried to make the skin extra-crispy. WASH IT DOWN

The Beer Park beverage team is happy to offer beer pairings for each barbecue dish, such as Four Peaks Kilt Lifter Scottish-Style Ale ($9) for the ribs; Goose Island Bourbon County Stout ($29 bottle) with brisket; and Golden Road Get Up Offa That Brown American Brown Ale ($11) for pork. While still a developing program, Piekarski promises, “It’s going to come into its own naturally and just get better over time.” That’s it, Chef: low and slow.

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

Eddie Manukyan is the man in the barbecue pit on the Beer Park patio.

Comedy, concerts and a kick-ass marching band

A&E

PAGE 63

September 1-7, 2016

VegasSeven.com

More than 250 community members are helping Broadway in the HOOD bring The Wiz to life.

Social Awareness On Stage Broadway in the HOOD kicks off its second Smith Center season with The Wiz By Mark Adams

➜ “You can’t win / You can’t break even / And you can’t get out of the game,” Andrew Mayes belts out. In the multipurpose room of a North Las Vegas church, he is rehearsing “You Can’t Win” from Broadway production-turned-cult-movie-classic The Wiz. Soon the music is cut, and a director asks the backup vocalists and dancers of their emotional inspirations behind their performances. “Some of you are still smiling, and your movements aren’t big enough,” he complains. The Black Lives Matter movement is mentioned as potential inspiration. A parallel theme, of black visibility in

A&E

Jackson State's Sonic Boom of the South has performed at NFL games and at the NAACP Image Awards.

➜ WHEN UNLV AND JACKSON STATE University kick off the football season on September 1, it’s going to be a spectacle—but probably not because of what happens during the game. Jackson State posted a 3-6 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last year, and the last time the Tigers played a Division I opponent outside the SWAC they got blown out, 7014, by Middle Tennessee in their 2015 season opener. So despite UNLV’s meager football reputation, the contest is likely to be a Rebels’ rout. The real ﬁreworks, however, will detonate during halftime, when the Jackson State marching band turns the Sam Boyd Stadium turf into a stage 100 yards long. Dubbed the “Sonic Boom of the South,”

@BillMaher’s Top Trump Tweets By MARK ADAMS We’re just a little more than two months away from the general election, which means the attack ads, the Bernie or Bust disciples and politicians arguing about the size of their hands will soon become a distant memory. ¶ But while we await America’s decision, the heated political climate is providing plenty of fodder for the country’s top comedians—and none of them can clown on the Donald quite like Bill Maher. Prime yourself for the stand-up’s September 3-4 shows at The Mirage with this roundup of his top Trump tweets:

the JSU band is a historic act with roots dating back to the 1940s. Since its inception, the program has been at the forefront of the marching movement at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), and to this day the Boom is a huge draw. The mix of precise musicianship, high-energy performance (including the group’s signature “Tiger Run-Out,” a quick-stepping move that kicks off each set) and expert showmanship sets the Sonic Boom apart from other halftime acts, and fans in attendance would be wise to remain seated when the second quarter ends. The show is that good. “We’re going to hit the ground running and do what we do,” Jackson State director of bands O’Neill Sanford says. “We’re going to play some “America the Beautiful,” some patriotic stuff. And there’s probably a large Hispanic population, so we’re going to play some malagueña. Then we’re going to play some rhythm and blues and pop, and some modern tunes that people

Bush kid endorses Trump hrs before 50 Natl Security experts say IT MUST NOT HAPPEN! Way to jump on sinking ship, u typically stupid Bush twit.

Trump doesn’t know diff. btwn Sarcasm & Exaggeration. “Trump is really smart” is sarcasm; “Trump is dumber than a box of rocks” is … true.

Ten to one Trump starts calling Tim Kaine “Tiny Tim.”

Founder of Isis? Its so important that Trump not just lose, but lose big. Then we can feed him to the tuna like bin Laden, so no MoronMartyrs.

Win or lose, @realDonaldTrump will probably be the last ’50s guy to run for president. #MakeAmericaWhiteAgain.

So happy to be on live tonight after convention in light of Trump’s latest gaffe! What does he have to do to make his fans turn, fuck a pie?

And note, its Alaska contesting the nomination—the state that brought us Sarah Palin finds Trump too embarrassing.

7/4/16, hangin with who i want, doin, sayin, wearin what i want – Make America great AGAIN? Fuck U #WhineyLittleBitch.

BILL MAHER

Sept. 3, 9 p.m.; Sept. 4, 8 p.m.; The Mirage; $65-$87; 702-792-7777; Mirage.com.

Wow #Trump cant get anyone to show up at his convention! I'm sure this isn't the first time he hasn't been able to make someone come. Gnite!

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY

UNLV Football Kicks Off Season with Legendary Marching Band

will recognize. We’re hoping it’s a UNLV VS. repertoire that will JACKSON STATE touch everybody.” Sept. 1, 7 p.m., Sam Boyd Sanford is also Stadium, $14-$45, 702-739approaching 3267, UNLVtickets.com the event as an opportunity. The last time the Jackson State football team played at UNLV was in 1975, and the band didn’t travel to the game. This time around, the Boom is playing at a free pep rally the night before the game at the Pearson Community Center, and Sanford plans to have recruiting tables set up for locals who might be interested in trying out. “Recruiting musicians out of Las Vegas is something that has been on my radar screen the last couple of years,” Sanford says. “I understand the Las Vegas public school system has a tremendous amount of music programs, and part of my job is being a principal recruiter. So [the pep rally] was an important reason why we’re coming to Las Vegas.” Making the cut at Jackson State is not easy. Many members of the Sonic Boom are on scholarship, and JSU only accepts the best of the best. And it’s a big deal when the band hits the road. Sanford has been holding auditions to whittle the 300-member band down to a lean traveling troupe of about 230 for the Vegas trip, because the Boom has “only” two airplanes at its disposal. That commitment to excellence is why the most exciting formations on Thursday will come during halftime, when the Sonic Boom of the South struts to a beat sure to be hotter than the expected 100-degree temperature at game time. Sanford thinks the spectators will be in for an experience unlike anything else Las Vegas has to offer. “They’re going to see a lot of excitement and hear a band that plays with a lot of intensity and passion. We want to get people to their feet and applauding. We hope that they feel us musically. The band has a big sound. Showmanship, musicianship and excitement. That’s what we do.” ÐMike Grimala

MARKETPLACE

SEVEN QUESTIONS

Get help. I don’t think there’s anybody alive who doesn’t need help in coping skills in life, whether you have something that is diagnosable or has some consonants that are an acronym for whatever they have. Therapy should be part of our regular curriculum. We take care of our dental health; we don’t take care of our mental health. There seems to [still] be a stigma attached to that. There’s more people who do talk about it, but in middle America, mental health is something that people shy away from and don’t take care of. You go get an X-ray for your teeth and say, ‘Hey, look, I have no cavities,” but nobody will just sit down with somebody when they’re feeling OK and just talk and check to make sure they’re mentally coping or as healthy and productive as they can possibly be. You directed, produced and appear in Committed, a documentary about writerperformer Vic Cohen over the course of a decade, which is set to be released September 6. What made you want to take it on?

September 1-7, 2016

VegasSeven.com

Howie Mandel

The comedian on the value of therapy, his Committed documentary and how social media has changed stand-up By Paul Szydelko

What can fans expect when you perform here?

I’m always up front facing the wrong way and I’ve never had a chance to see me, but I hear I am fantastic. A lot of what I do is off the cuff and in the moment, so anything could happen. It’s like a giant party, and I’m just trying to be the center of attention.

When it comes to obsessivecompulsive disorder and touring, how does your condition manifest itself when you’re on the road?

It’s no different than when I’m at home. I try to stay busy. I’m doing 200 live dates a year just so I don’t have to sit and focus on me. OCD is always there as I speak to you and as I’m onstage. I’m well medicated,

and I go see a therapist often. So right now, I’m highly functioning and having a really good time. Distraction is the best medicine. Besides reading your book, Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me (Bantam, 2010), what’s your advice for others with the same condition?

go as far as I wanted, with no rules or boundaries. Now with social media and people in the audience with cellphones and ways of recording or writing down and taking things out of context, you can get into a lot of trouble. It’s taken away a lot of the creativity. One of my biggest influences was watching Richard Pryor every night at The Comedy Store, cobbling together what eventually became Live on the Sunset Strip. Sometimes he overstepped the line and based on the audience reaction, he would go, “OK, I won’t go there. I’ll go here. I’ll go there.” It’s like being a painter—you throw up paint on a canvas, but then you can blend something else, you could pull back or you could shade it. And that’s harder today because with social media, something could be taken out of context and you could be vilified for no reason at all.

ACES OF COMEDY SERIES

Howie Mandel, Sept. 2, 10 p.m., $40, The Mirage, 702-792-7777, Mirage.com.

I didn’t. I didn’t know I was taking anything on. I didn’t even know that it was a project I set out to do. I just did it. Like my whole career and like everything I’ve ever done, I just did it. When Vic was a writer on The Howie Mandel Show in 1998, I was uncomfortable in my office listening to his very personal stories and I just set up a camera. I did that for 12 years, eventually [put it] together and it became a documentary. What do you expect audiences to take away from it?

Just commit to whatever you’re doing. Don’t overthink. Just do. Success is about finding something you want to commit yourself to. Success isn’t notoriety. Success is not fame. Success is just being excited about waking up in the morning and doing something that makes you happy. How has social media changed the dynamic of stand-up and the way you improvise?

The way I create has changed. I used to have a blank slate to

On America’s Got Talent, is there any one particular performer who stands out and you’re curious what becomes of them?

Mat Franco is doing really well there. This year, my golden buzzer is going to be a star to be reckoned with in the future—[12-year-old singer/ ukulele player] Grace VanderWaal, who [fellow judge] Simon [Cowell] said is going to be the next Taylor Swift. She’s an original, wonderful talent who seems to be beyond her years. You don’t know what it is and why. It’s that ‘It’ factor. Talent is subjective. Taste is subjective. When you see it and watch somebody do it, you just know a lot of people are going to like this. Looking back in your career as a comedian, TV actor, host, judge, voice-over artist, producer and author, what has given you the most satisfaction?

Stand-up. And it always will. Regardless of everything I’ve done, stand-up comedy is my primal scream at the end of the day. There are no marks to hit, there are no lines to recite, no commercial to throw to, no editing to do. Just go out there and have fun. How soon is too soon for a comedian? Read the full interview at VegasSeven.com/ HowieMandel.