ART
AMANDA PARER - INTRUDE • BEZT FROM ETAM CRU (POLAND) • BIG RIG JIG • DULK (SPAIN) • FAFI (FRANCE) FELIPE PANTONE (ARGENTINA) • LAURA KIMPTON • MARK DREW (TOKYO) • MARTIN WHATSON (NORWAY) MIKE ROSS • POETIC KINETICS • SHEPARD FAIREY (US) • CRYSTAL WAGNER
CRIMEONCANVAS A GROUP ART EXHIBTION
ADAM LABUEN • ADAM WALLACAVAGE • ALEX “EASEONE” PESANTE • AMY SOL • AMANDA • ERLINGER • AMANDA VISELL ANDREW HEM • ANDREW SCHOULTZ • ANNIE OWENS • ANTHONY AUSGANG • BOB DOB • BOSKO HRNJAK • BRAD WOODFIN BRANDI MILNE • BRANDON BOYD • BRIAN M. VIVEROS • BUFF MONSTER • BWANA SPOONS • CAMILLA D’ERRICO • CAMILLE ROSE GARCIA • CASEY WELDON • CHANTAL MENARD • CHET ZAR • CHRIS MARS • CHRISTINE WU • COLIN CHRISTIAN • DAMIEN ECHOLS • DAN QUINTANA • DAVE KINSEY • DAVID STOUPAKIS • DEIRDRE SULLIVAN-BEEMAN • ELISABETH ANISIMOW • ERIC JOYNER • ERICA FLANNES • FRANCES BEAN COBAIN • GILLEAN CLARK • GIOVANNI MORALES • GLENN BARR • GREG “CRAOLA” SIMKINS • GRETCHEN LEWIS • HEIDI TAILLEFER • ISABEL SAMARAS • JACLYN PRESANT • JASMINE BECKET-GRIFFITH • JASMINE WORTH • JEFF GILLETTE JENNYBIRD ALCANTARA • JEREMIAH KETNER • JERRY MISKO • JESSICA JOSLIN • JESSICKA ADDAMS • JOE LEDBETTER • JOE VAUX • JOHN BROPHY • JOSH KEYES JUAN MUNIZ • KEITH WEESNER KUKULA • LAURIE HASSOLD • LINDSEY WAY • LORI NELSON LORRI DAVIS • LUKE CHUEH • MAB GRAVES • MARTIN WITTFOOTH • MATT DANGLER • MENTON3 • MICHELLE VALIGURA • MIKE LEAVITT • MIKE STILKEY • NAOTO HATTORI • NICOMI NIX TURNER • NOUAR • PANIK COLLECTIVE • RAY CAESAR • REDD WALITZKI • RON ENGLISH • RYAN ALOSIO • SCOTT HOVE • SCOTT MUSGROVE • SHAG • SHEPARD FAIREY • THANKYOUX • TIM BISKUP • TRAV • TRAVIS LOUIE • TROY BROOKS • ZOEY STEVENS
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
FRI SEPT 23
SAT SEPT 24
SUN SEPT 25
MUMFORD & SONS G-EAZY THE SHINS
J. COLE EMPIRE OF THE SUN BASSNECTAR JANE'S ADDICTION
MAJOR LAZER THE LUMINEERS FLUME
TEGAN AND SARA ZHU GALANTIS BLOC PARTY CITY AND COLOUR KEHLANI KONGOS PETE YORN BANKS AND STEELZ KEYS N KRATES KAYTRANADA CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN JACK GARRATT KAMASI WASHINGTON RAURY THE HEAVY HIGHLY SUSPECT GRYFFIN NF REZZ COAST MODERN DURANTE AARON JACKSON BRUMBY
LEON BRIDGES DIE ANTWOORD DIRTY HEADS THE TEMPER TRAP CRYSTAL CASTLES EXCISION THE NAKED AND FAMOUS GRAMATIK BOB MOSES SEVEN LIONS SNAILS OH WONDER THE WOMBATS BOMBA ESTÉREO JESS GLYNNE GHASTLY FINISH TICKET COAST MODERN SIR THE BAPTIST SPAG HEDDY THE SHELTERS AAZAR THE LIQUE
CHROMEO YOUNG THE GIANT JIMMY EAT WORLD DUKE DUMONT THIRD EYE BLIND SNAKEHIPS IRATION ALUNAGEORGE ATLAS GENIUS WARPAINT BAND OF SKULLS THE STRUMBELLAS NOTHING BUT THIEVES MR. CARMACK THE WILD FEATHERS BISHOP BRIGGS LANY AUTOGRAF MIJA HEY MARSIELLES LEWIS DEL MAR CID ANEVO BRITTANY ROSE
THIS WEEK
FRIDAY • SEPTEMBER 16
BOYCE AVENUE BE SOMEBODY WORLD TOUR SPECIAL GUEST
LEROY SANCHEZ & NICK HOWARD
UPCOMING SHOWS THURSDAY • SEPTEMBER 22
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 8
GARBAGE
JESSIE JAMES DECKER
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 15
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 21
ALESSIA CARA
BAD RELIGION
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 22
FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 4
THE FRAY
WITH AMERICAN AUTHORS
BUSH
SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 12
FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 18
ms. lauryn hill
lukas graham
CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 15–21, 2016
T H E LAT EST
12
“On the Fly” Seven things we learned at InterDrone. By AMBER SAMPSON
14
“In Sexism and in Health” For female politicians, it’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t. By MICHAEL GREEN
Plus … Seven Days, Ask a Native and The Deal.
NIGH T LIF E
25
“Festival 101” Rotterdam’s Oliver Heldens schools you on how to festival in 2016. By KAT BOEHRER
Plus … Endeavor Management Group’s Joshua Ifergan’s independent streak, and photos from the week’s hottest parties.
DINING
45
“Swizzle It!” Communal, hand-swizzled cocktails put the “social” in Libertine Social. By XANIA WOODMAN
Plus … The secret to Other Mama’s secret sauce and Al Mancini tries Halal Guys.
“Dissecting REAL BODIES” A tour of the anatomy exhibit with the president and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions suggests there’s more than meets the eye. Plus … Mexican Independence Day concerts, local artists with DTLV residencies and a historic Shakespearean text at UNLV.
FE AT URE
Budding Business
SEVEN Q U EST IONS
66
As the vote for recreational use nears, the public perception of marijuana changes. By LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS
Cover photo by Krystal Ramirez
Mike Tyson on learning how to laugh at himself. By MELINDA SHECKELLS
VegasSeven.com
By AMBER SAMPSON
|
16
A budding hybrid plant from Matrix.
51
September 15-21, 2016
PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
A &E
9
L AS VEGAS’ WEEKLY CITY MAGAZINE
|
FOUNDED FEBRUARY 2010
PUBLISHER Michael Skenandore
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)
ART Benjamin Ward Cierra Pedro STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Krystal Ramirez CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SENIOR DESIGNER
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
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION Marc Barrington Jimmy Bearse
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION ADVERTISING MANAGER
SALES 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
INTERN Ally Tatosian
Ryan T. Doherty
| 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
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.
DIALOGUE
Reader Comments Why Is Las Vegas Dominated by Franchises and Chains
(Ask a Native, Sept. 8) Because sadly, America is hooked on big chains and corporations, rather than mom-and-pop businesses. There are a lot of great local spots in Vegas, though! –Nick Hernandez on Facebook A better question would be, “Why do local yokels get so hyped when a chain from a big city shows up?”–@moconet on Twitter
Supermercado Eats (Sept. 8)
The grilled chicken at Cardenas is great. –Walter Hess on VegasSeven.com Dammit! Now everybody knows … –Jessica Noel on Facebook
Who Will Be Las Vegas’ Celebrity Hockey Superfan?
(Sept. 8) If the Abbey Dental girl doesn’t sing the National Anthem followed by a revamped rendition of “567-1111” at the first game, I’ll feel cheated. –Daniel Coffey on Facebook
OUR
Can a poker player be a big enough celebrity to be a “celebrity super fan?” If so then Daniel Negreanu has been a major advocate for the team since Bill Foley announced he was trying to get a team. –BMcKee on RunRebs.com
Is Top Chef Masters’ Lorena Garcia Moving Into the DB Brasserie Space in The Venetian? (Online exclusive)
Why is it that the attitude at the Venetian is that when a concept doesn’t “hit its numbers,” they just replace them instead of working to improve the concept? Revolving doors don’t work in this business. –Jack Timar on Facebook
SITES TO
SEE
DRAKE BY AL POWERS/POWERS IMAGERY
DRAKE’S SUMMER SIXTEEN TOUR IS A SINGLES-PACKED SPECTACLE
Watching the rap superstar peruse through his extensive catalog of singles was like witnessing a king— or “6 God,” rather— taking a tour of his land. Read our detailed review and see photos at VegasSeven.com/ SummerSixteenTour INSIDE THE THOMAS & MACK’S $72 MILLION RENOVATIONS
Las Vegas’ most historic sports arena is getting a makeover, and we got a sneak preview. VegasSeven.com/MackRenovations
FACEBOOK: /VegasSeven TWITTER: /7Vegas INSTAGRAM: /VegasSeven
THE LATEST
News, deals and and the perils of being a female politician.
Seven Days This week in your city By B O B W H I T B Y
THU 15
The formerly decrepit Huntridge Shopping Center has been rehabbed by a local developer, and today’s the day the center’s new sign turns on. Come celebrate, 6-10 p.m., with live music, food and special guests. DapperDevelopment.com.
FRI 16
We like wine. We also like food. We especially like when they are combined in a festival-like atmosphere, as will be the case at the Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival, through Sunday at the SLS Casino and Resort. Top chefs, dozens of wines, lots of other things to drink. VegasFoodandWine.com.
September 15-21, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
Seven things we learned from InterDrone By Amber Sampson
12
➜ THERE ARE TWO kinds of drone savvy people in the world. There’s the kind who fly them, fork over hundreds just to buy them, and know the Federal Aviation Administration’s regulations like they know the alphabet. On the other hand, there’s the people who only know the meaning of a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) because it’s a killstreak in the video game series Call of Duty. Fortunately InterDrone, an international conference that’s been dubbed “the CES of drones,” welcomed both kinds of people when it landed at the Paris Las Vegas Sept. 7-9. Here’s what we learned from the mass event. 1. Self-driving drones are in our foreseeable future. Boston-based company Neurala gave attendees a look at how it’s constructing a synthetic brain for drones by tapping into deep learning software through the use of graphic processing units (GPUs). With this tech, drones can learn how to identify and classify objects—such as cars and pedestrians—and learn how to avoid them, thus becoming a self-driving drone. Teal Drones just signed on with Neurala for its image-recognition software, which means your drone will soon follow you around on its own. 2. Tricopters win the game of drones. At this year’s InterDrone, YI Technologies released the YI Erida, one of the fastest tricopters in the world. Quadcopters are the norm in the drone field, but a tricopter is an entirely different beast. Its three-rotor design gives it bullet-like agility. The YI Erida hits speeds up to 75 miles per hour, and has a full carbon body, which means it’s incredibly light and durable, even if you crash. It’s equipped with a 4K camera that shoots at 12 megapixels, 30 frames-per-second and for up to 120 minutes. 3. There are more women in the air space than
SAT 17
Beer! Glorious, life-giving beer! CraftHaus Brewery, 7350 Eastgate Road, Suite 110, has been making it right here for two years now and is throwing a Hop Bomb! party to celebrate. There’s music, food, guest brewers and plenty of beer on tap. 5-11 p.m. CraftHausBrewery.com.
SUN 18
There are few things in life more satisfying than a good downward dog. Discover that and much more about the wonders of yoga, at Vegas Gone Yoga, a three-day celebration of this mind- and body-altering practice. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Springs Preserve, with events Friday and Saturday. VegasGoneYoga.com.
MON 19
U.S. presidents are powerful, true, but they aren’t all powerful. That’s by design, and it’s something to keep in mind as this election nears. UNLV’s Forum Lecture Series will talk on legitimate and fabricated sources of power, featuring Constitution Project scholar Louis Fischer, 7:30 p.m. at UNLV’s Student Union. UNLV.edu.
TUE 20
If you ever turned on a radio in the ’70s or ’80s, you know that Carole King is one of pop music’s most prolific hit makers. Now her life is a Broadway musical, Beautiful—The Carol King Musical, at The Smith Center, 7:30 p.m. TheSmithCenter.com.
WED 21
Clif Bar CrossVegas, the biggest cyclocross event outside Europe, happening 3-10:30 p.m., at the Desert Breeze Soccer Complex. Nutshell: Teams from 21 nations compete on a bicycle course with obstacles so tough they have to get off and walk their bikes. CrossVegas.com.
PHOTO BY AMBER SAMPSON
On the Fly
you think. The invite-only luncheon Women in Drones drew herds of hobby fliers and entrepreneurs. Panelists included MarketWatch social media editor and drone reporter Sally French, Intel’s Natalie Cheung and Sharon Rossmark, Chief Operating Officer of AeroVista Innovations, among others. Tales of unconscious bias fueled the conversation. Being mistaken for someone’s wife or assistant, instead of a business owner, inspired collective nods from the crowd. In light of these challenges, the women spoke of perseverance, the importance of inclusion and inviting both your son and daughter to fly drones. 4. Drone flying has artistic potential. Agriculture, real estate and first-responder situations are just a few areas where drones flourish. But what about something a little more creative? At the Women in Drones panel, Cheung, Intel’s UAV product manager of Intel’s Perceptual Computing Group, spoke of a project the company launched called Drone 100. In this experience, 100 drones are guided to the sky for an elaborate, dancinglights show tuned to orchestral music. We could easily see this becoming the digital age’s new fireworks. 5. A dual-armed robot drone is as cool as it sounds. ProDrone’s newest drone, PD6B-AW-ARM, has an alphabet-soup name, so we’ll just call it Game Changer. This thing is massive, and looks every bit like a robot as it does a flying aerial vehicle. Its dual arms can carry up to 22 pounds, which makes it ideal for cargo loading. The claws also enable it to turn dials, flick switches and cut cables. It’s even waterproof! 6. Part 107 is a step in the right direction. Part 107 is a set of commercial drone regulations recently finalized by the FAA. The rules require commercial drones to fly below 400 feet (unless within 400 feet of a structure), in daylight, weigh less than 55 pounds and always fly within your line of sight. This heightens safety for everyone involved, and opens the door to commercial uses. 7. There’s a global love affair with drones. A world map in the lobby of InterDrone asked, “Where are YOU from?” By the end of the conference, it resembled a patchwork of pins, all clustered in several states across the country, even in some parts of Europe, South America, Asia and Mexico. By the looks of what we saw this year, it’ll only continue to grow.
[ BY THE NUMBERS ]
Medical Marijuana by the Numbers
There are about 21,000 medical
marijuana cardholders currently registered in Nevada, coming from all walks of life and entering the program for various reasons. —Lissa Townsend Rodgers NUMBER OF PATIENTS: COUNTY
14,347
3,302
762
636
Clark
Washoe
Nye
Lyon
69%
16%
4%
3%
NUMBER OF PATIENTS: AGE GROUP
4,704
3,851
3,736
3,745
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
23%
19%
18%
18%
NUMBER OF PATIENTS: QUALIFYING CONDITION (May have more than one)
17,643
3,903
2,202
1,213
Severe pain
Muscle spasms
Severe nausea
Cancer
85%
19%
11%
6%
J A M E S P. R E Z A
Me and my classic car are moving to Las Vegas from California. What should I prepare for? Get ready for a shock. Despite Nevada’s reputation as being a haven of freedom compared to our neighboring “Republic of Kalifornia”—and that of the California Air Resources Board as being the stringent standard-setter for auto pollution controls across the country—the process for registering an old car here can be as challenging as limiting yourself to just one episode of Stranger Things at a time. Step 1 is easy: Present your precious metal (and paperwork) to a full-service Nevada DMV office for a required onceover. The inspection generally verifies and correlates the vehicle identification number with the title documents. All good? Now the fun begins. Unless your car is a 1967 or older (that’s 49 years or older, if your math is weak), it must pass a “sniffer test” in order to be registered in Clark or Washoe counties. You’ll visit an official smog check station, where a tech will shove a probe up the car’s tailpipe, run the engine at various speeds, measure the emissions and immediately send the results to the DMV. I cannot tell you how many white-knuckle visits to Terrible Herbst I’ve endured over the years. While it’s similar in California, that state used to have a 25-year-old rule, which seems more realistic given the small number of old cars on the road. But even with California’s more recent fixed-year rule, testing for gasoline cars begins at the 1976 model year; for diesel, it’s 1998. Plus, testing is only required biannually. Nevada’s annual test is so difficult for some classic cars that it isn’t unusual for them to be tuned to pass the test, then retuned for drivability. There is a solution, however. If your car is a weekend warrior (driven fewer than 5,000 miles per year) rather than a daily driver, consider a special designation license plate. The Classic Rod, Classic Vehicle and Old Timer plates only require one smog test, period, and the plates apply to cars that are 20, 25 and 40 years old, respectively. Which, of course, explains the spate of modified Hondas scooting around town sporting “Classic Rod” plates, now doesn’t it?
Have a question about Las Vegas, past, present or future? Send it to askanative@VegasSeven.com.
VegasSeven.com
By Ashley Miles
|
UberEATS satisfies the hunger for food delivery
September 15-21, 2016
Fast Food
➜ The wait is finally over: The expansion of UberEATS is set to serve hungry Las Vegans. Uber’s version of a food delivery service app, which launched on September 7, features more than 200 restaurants from which locals can choose. As of now, the app services the areas around the Strip, Summerlin and parts of Henderson, but is set to expand to additional locations based on user demand. Prices of menu items are the same as in the restaurant, with an additional flat delivery fee of $4.99. And for a limited time, delivery fees will be waived to celebrate the launch of the app. To use UberEATS, download the app and enter your address. Participating restaurants will pop up, with a search bar located at the top. Suggested searches ranging from comfort food to gluten-free alternatives give users an array of options. Once a restaurant is selected, the location’s entire menu is displayed with a detailed description of each item, the price and estimated time of completion. After the order is placed, the app allows you to track its status up until delivery. And just like Uber’s traditional car service, tips for the courier are optional.
13
For female politicians, it’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t
TEAM BARS
Thalia Dondero
Bonnie Bryan
September 15-21, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
➜ RECENTLY, Thalia Dondero
14
ANTHONY CURTIS
and Bonnie Bryan died, and Hillary Clinton developed pneumonia. The events aren’t related, but the three of them certainly are. What do they all have in common? Clinton and Dondero have been elected to public office, but Bryan wasn’t. Clinton was the wife of a president and Bryan the wife of a U.S. senator, but Dondero was married to an educator (back when the public actually respected teachers, but still). Bryan was born in California and Dondero grew up there, but Clinton isn’t a Californian. Yes, all three are women involved politically. Then it gets complicated. All three entered politics through channels traditional to women of their generations— and didn’t. It depends on how you define their roles. Dondero was active in the PTA, as good mothers were supposed to be. She became director of the local Girl Scouts, then an assembly candidate, and finally, in 1974, the first woman elected to the Clark County Commission. That club for good old boys expected her to take notes for the meeting because that’s what women did. She handled that and went on to spend 20 years on the commission dealing with issues such as water, flood control and parks—you know, man stuff. Then she spent two terms on the Board of Regents, a group that could pulverize a full-grown ox. Bryan wasn’t a politician—or was she? She married Richard Bryan, whom she met when they were going to the university in Reno. Politics brought them together: He was running for student body president and a date with a sorority member might pick up some votes, so he asked
her out. That led to a marriage that lasted just short of 54 years. Bryan already had decided to run for governor someday, and did, winning in 1982. By then, Bonnie had joined the Junior League and other community groups, and was raising three children. She said when you voted for her husband, you got the whole package. That could be read a couple of ways. One, the Bryan family was active and busy. Or, the Bryan family was conscious that Dad was a public figure and had to act accordingly. As Nevada’s first lady, Bonnie was involved in programs for the young (a ride program for kids who shouldn’t have been drinking, but since they were, to make sure they didn’t get behind the wheel) and old (helping seniors with prescription drugs). As a U.S. senator’s wife in Washington and a retired senator’s wife in Las Vegas, she stayed active in education and the Junior League, and in the fight against Yucca Mountain. In other words, she did a lot without getting much attention for it, or, for that matter, seeking it. Then there’s Clinton, who was politically active from her youth, but might never have run for office if not for who she married. Then again, if she had married someone else, she might long since have become president. Clinton’s record and views are fair game, and she should be criticized accordingly. But when is it criticism and when is it sexism? It’s fascinating how many people who disagree with her from the left or are close to her
Hillary Clinton
on the political spectrum deny sexism has anything to do with how they feel or how others feel. The recent pneumonia issue was telling. Had she disclosed having it and not attended the 9/11 commemorations, she would have been attacked for not showing up when others power on through ailments—as though those criticizing her have actually powered on, or even could have. But she became overheated. Strangely, she didn’t trust the media on this matter. Why? Joan Walsh of The Nation may have put it best in a beautiful article on how the political media are disgracing themselves: “Reporters have been primed to freak out about Clinton’s health by the right-wing sludge factory, which has managed to pollute the waters of mainstream discourse with phony rumors about her supposed maladies spread by Dr. Sean Hannity, the dumbest man on cable news.” But some of it may be the way she is—emphasis on she. Clinton may seem too insular or private. (Nobody has accused her husband of being too insular.) But any woman in politics—Dondero and Bryan would have said this—approaches it differently than a man. The three of them, at various times, lived one another’s lives. Ultimately, though, here’s the most important point: Bill Clinton came to Southern Nevada in place of his wife for a campaign appearance. If he’s like me—a man—and developed an ingrown toenail the day before the event, he would have had to cancel. And the media would have been sympathetic. Well, the male reporters. Michael Green is an associate professor of history at UNLV.
➜ The best football deal might be watching in a bar that supports one of the teams that’s playing. These “team bars” attract crowds of former residents of, or current visitors from, their team’s city. The combination of fans rooting for the same side and everyone coming from the same place makes for a supercharged atmosphere. In fact, it’s kind of cool to pick different ones to try over the course of the season, especially on Thursday, Sunday and Monday nights. Sometimes you’ll see an ad in the paper advertising a team bar, but usually it’s just an in-theknow kind of thing. I’ve maintained a list for years and last week, my staff at the Las Vegas Advisor called around to confirm which bars were rolling over the tradition and which had fallen out. The list that follows has 68 options that cover 21 of the 32 NFL teams (you can find their locations easily online). 49ers—Hi Score Bar & Arcade, Lucky’s Lounge (Jones Boulevard), Joeys Tavern, PT’s (St. Rose Parkway), Timbers (Azure Drive); Bears—A Slice of Chicago, Brando’s, Inn Zone (two: St. Rose Parkway, Rainbow Boulevard), La Piazza, Rosati’s (two: Rainbow Boulevard, Durango Drive), Shucks (Durango Drive), Timbers (Cheyenne Avenue); Windy City Beefs N Pizza; Bills—Johnny Mac’s, Moondoggies, Stake Out, Time-Out Sports; Broncos—Balboa Pizza, Black Mountain Grill, Four-Mile Bar, Jake’s Bar, Road Runner (Buffalo Drive); Browns—Annie’s Gourmet Italian, Boulevard Bar & Grill, Giuseppe’s, Kopper Keg West, Tap House; Cardinals—Timbers (Cheyenne Avenue); Chargers—Shooters, Surf City; Chiefs—Blue Diamond Saloon; Cowboys— Mr. D’s, Red Label; Dolphins—BJ’s (Tropicana Avenue); Eagles—Madison Avenue, Torrey Pines Bar; Giants—Sabatino’s; Lions—Crowbar (Flamingo Road); Packers—Big Dog’s Draft House, Jackson’s, Rum Runner (three: Boulder Highway, Tropicana Avenue, Desert Inn Road), Chilly Palmers; Raiders—Legends, Lucy’s, Shifty’s; Ravens— Crab Corner (two: Eastern Avenue, Rainbow Boulevard); Redskins—Crown & Anchor (Tropicana Avenue), Steiner’s Pub (Buffalo Drive); Saints—7-11 Bar, Crafthaus Brewery, Lola’s Louisiana Kitchen (two: Charleston Boulevard, Town Center Drive); Seahawks—Crown & Anchor (Spring Mountain Road), Old School Brewing Co., Scooter’s, Timbers (Horizon Ridge Parkway), Crafthaus Brewery, Old School Brewing Company; Steelers—Adrenaline Sports Bar, Noreen’s, Timbers (two: Novat Street and Durango Drive); Vikings—Blue Ox Central, Blue Ox Tavern. As they do every year, the Bears lead the way with 10 bars following them, and the Packers are second with six. There are 11 teams without a team bar: Bengals, Buccaneers, Colts, Falcons, Jaguars, Jets, Panthers, Patriots, Rams, Texans and Titans. Those are some pretty good options for a promotion-minded tavern owner. Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.
DONDERO BY DON ENGLISH/L AS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU; BRYAN COURTESY OF UNLV SPECIAL COLLECTIONS; CLINTON BY JOSEPH SOHM/SHUTTERSTOCK
THE LATEST
In Sexism and in Health
As the vote for recreational use nears, the public perception of marijuana changes
By
Lissa Townsend Rodgers
Photography by Krystal
Ramirez
They call it Sin City for a reason.
September 15-21, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
Las Vegas was built on not just giving a nod and a wink to vices, but welcoming them with open arms—prostitution is legal, alcohol is served 24-7 and gambling is practically a religious rite. This November, Nevadans will vote on whether to legalize the adult recreational use of marijuana, one of five states with that question on the ballot. With the regulatory framework already in place and a windfall of jobs and tax revenue poised to break over our state, all that’s left is for the majority of citizens to add cannabis to the list of things that happen here and stay here. Question 2 states that “the cultivation and sale of marijuana should be taken from the domain of criminals and be regulated under a controlled system.” Supporters are hoping that the third time will be the charm for decriminalizing cannabis in the Silver State. Attempts have been made before in 2002 (39 percent in favor) and 2006 (44 percent gave the thumbs-up), but 2016 may be the year to ride a tide of demographic change and national trends to the finish line. “The public has really changed dramatically. It’s like gay marriage—the whole country’s views are totally different,” says state Senator Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas. “I also think the population has changed—the millennials poll really high on it.” Data concurs: The percentage of Americans who use marijuana more than doubled from 2002 to 2013, going from 4 percent to almost 10 percent, according to a study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which also indicates that 21 percent of people ages 18-29 partake. It’s not just kept on the down low in living rooms either: Smoking pot has become another sitcom/movie gag like the crazy boss or the broken-down car and a topic not just in hip-hop songs, but country and indie rock, too. Celebrities are increasingly open about use— Rihanna is as likely to accessorize with a blunt as with a Louis Vuitton bag—and a number are even entering the marijuana business as entrepreneurs. As users have come out of the shadows, so has the industry. “I think the people who say ‘it’s a bunch of stoners starting companies’ haven’t gone to a conference or haven’t had any meetings with people in this space,” says David Dinenberg, CEO at KIND Financial, a company that creates seed-to-sale compliance software for the cannabis industry. KIND, based in California, also just inked a deal with Microsoft to make the tech company’s cannabis-tracking software available on their state and local government platform. “I think that [Microsoft] saw an opportunity, and we’re lucky enough that they chose us,” he says. With medical marijuana now legal in over half the states in the country and recreational use permitted in four plus Washington, D.C., not even Bill Gates can afford to ignore it anymore. Nevada’s medical marijuana industry has been serving patients for more than a year now; the population
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of cardholders has grown to almost 21,000 as of July 2016. It’s an industry that has been built on professionalism and compliance, and tight regulations keep it that way. The grows are enormous, state-of-the-art facilities that fall somewhere between NASA and a tech startup, with guys in cargo shorts and lab coats moving through sterile white hallways to junglelike grow rooms, checking carbon dioxide levels and humidity percentages on wall monitors. The dispensaries are part boutique/part doctor’s office, with smiling employees in logoed polo shirts pulling product out of glass cases for a woman with sunglasses on her head and a motorcycle helmet balanced on her hip, as well as a 60-something man in a Guyabera shirt whose name and favorite strains are known to the staff. The investments have been enormous, but if Question 2 does pass, existing cannabis businesses get an 18-month head start before new players can enter the field. “At the end of the day, it’s the fastest-growing industry in the country,” says Dinenberg. Estimates by ArcView Market Research found that legal cannabis sales hauled in $5.4 billion in 2015 and are projected to net $6.7 billion in 2016, so it’s not hard to see how legalized adult recreational use could offer a payout of Megabucks proportions. A recent study by RCG Economics and the Marijuana Policy Group found that the adult-use marijuana market in our state could be worth over $390 million by 2024 and create about 6,000 jobs a year. And in these days of outsourcing, cannabis paychecks stay put—the regulation/compliance system and federal illegalities mean that not only can most of those jobs not go overseas, they can’t even cross state lines. “The law requires so much of the industry to be located here that there’s more money circulating in the Nevada economy than would otherwise be the case,” says John Restrepo, principal at RCG Economics. “It’s different than alcohol—whether you’re a supermarket or a bar, there will be a local distributor, but that alcohol is usually produced in another state.” That leads to not only more employment within the industry, but more employment because of it. “The three main industries are cultivation, retail and manufacturing,” Restrepo says. “Then there are the folks that are the suppliers—copiers, toner, janitorial ser-
vices and repairs, engineers that help design places, people who work on the construction side.” “The fun part is, we have no state subsides whatsoever. We had to pay Tesla $1.5 billion to get 5,000 jobs,” Segerblom says. “[The marijuana industry is] giving us 5,000 jobs and it doesn’t cost us a cent.” Actually, if you factor in the abundance of licensing fees, marijuana businesses actually pay the state to be allowed to create work. The state also stands to gain from the taxes on recreational marijuana—Colorado pulled in more than $16 million in taxes in June 2016 alone. The RCG report indicates that Nevada will get about $464 million in taxes and fees between 2018 and 2024, with
Clockwise from top: New plants from Matrix; Shatter from The Dispensary (opposite page); bakers from The Grove and The Grove’s growing facility
much of it going to public schools. Adam Cohen, senior vice president of business development at Electrum Partners, a consulting firm for the cannabis industry, thinks those tax revenues could benefit residents on a number of levels. “One of the challenges for Nevada parents is our schools are poorly funded and are struggling with really difficult situations,” he says. “This could change that entire structure and allow us to create really well-funded schools—which will change the environment for people looking to settle here, and will up property values.” Tourism has always been part of the Nevada model; our state currently has a reciprocity program in which medical marijuana cardholders from other states can make purchases here. “We’re the state that advertises itself as what happens here, stays here,” Segerblom says. “We need to be out front on this as opposed to falling behind everyone else. It’s a huge thing with millennials. If we’re trying to attract them to Nevada as a great place for tourism, it’s something we want to be able to offer.” Cohen used to work in casino analytics and believes that being slow on legalization may have already “cost us some dollars.” He recalls that “the mostsearched travel destination in the United States in the first quarter of 2015 was not Las Vegas, it was Denver, Colorado. In the second quarter of 2015, yet again it was Denver.”
While the presence of legalized weed alone probably won’t sway those who don’t partake, it will make those who may have already planned to add a little Hangover or Fear and Loathing to their Vegas experience do it legally—while giving Nevada some tax dollars and PR. “People are going to want to go to the dispensaries, see how it’s grown, take a selfie, buy a Tshirt, buy a joint and go back home and tell everyone how great their experience was,” Segerblom says. But visitors could take home more than a souvenir from the Nevada cannabis industry. Our state’s stringent regulatory framework may have complicated matters for entrepreneurs, but it’s proving helpful for other states. Dineberg acknowledges that “everyone says Colorado is the blueprint,” but “I also look at the Nevada that way. … Nevada was really the first state to come out and mandate lab testing. Look at the effect that has: Every new state coming out has a lab-test requirement. Even Colorado is going back to clean that up.” Cohen agrees. “Pennsylvania is a great example. Their market is just opening up, they’re beginning a regulatory framework and the governor reached out to discuss what Nevada has done,” he says. “We have a reputation for having a great regulatory framework for difficult-to-regulate industries. Gambling and prostitution are already legal here and managed really well. We have an opportunity to set the tone nationally.” And perhaps internationally. “I think the reality of where we’re going and where we are in the industry isn’t going away. It’s going to become a more and more global industry,” Dinenberg says. Much as Ve-
gas has led the world in gaming, it could also lead the world in cannabis. “Our grows, our dispensaries, our edibles are state of the art. Things that people have learned in other states, they’ve brought here, so we’re starting at the top,” Segerblom says. “Once we get going, we’ll be one of the top innovators in the world.” Of course, if all of these things are to come to pass, Question 2 needs to get a majority of the vote on November 8. “Right now the polling is in our favor, but polling at 55 percent is kind of a dangerous thing,” Cohen says. “It’s on the edge.” More optimistically, Segerblom gives Question 2 “80-20” odds of passing. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he says, “It’s a perfect industry for Nevada and a perfect time for Nevada to take the lead.”
What’s in Your Weed?
Caryophyllene
Limonene
Pinene
Myrcene
WHAT IT IS
THC is the primary mind-altering ingredient in cannabis.
Non-psychoactive; CBD probably has the most medicinal potential
A peppery, somewhat spicy terpene, it’s also found in rosemary and cloves.
A sweet, tangy terpene that’s also found in the rinds of citrus fruit.
Highly aromatic, it’s the most common terpene found in plants.
An earthy, fruity terpene, it’s the one that’s most present in cannabis.
WHAT IT DOES
Increases appetite and reduces nausea, as well as some pain-relief use.
Most often employed as an anticonvulsant and antiinflammatory medication.
Has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects; may impact anxiety and depression.
Alleviates gastric distress as well as serves as an antifungal agent.
Has been used in folk medicine as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
Myrcene is found in lemongrass and hops and is likely responsible for their sedating effects.
STRAINS WITH A HIGH CONTENT
Kosher Kush, Girl Scout Cookies, Banana OG
Charlotte’s Web, Thunderstruck, Harle-Tsu
Pineapple Express, Gorilla Glue, Tangerine Dream
Super Lemon Haze, Sour Diesel, OG Kush
Blue Dream, Strawberry Cough, Super Silver Haze
Chemdawg, Golden Goat, Grape Stomper
MAY BE USED FOR
Alleviate some of the effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients; also used as a sleep aid.
Seizure reduction in epileptics; used to treat pain from rheumatoid arthritis.
Often used in anti-inflammatory topicals.
Used in everything from food to cleaning products, as well as treating heartburn and acid reflux.
Also found in eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil, it’s used as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent.
Used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant, it also enhances the effects of other terpenes.
SCIENCE SAYS
A study conducted in Israel in 2014 suggested that small amounts of THC can help protect against cognitive deficits related to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
A small-scale study done by Stanford in 2013 showed that CBD oil reduced seizures in epileptic children by about 80 percent. Britain’s GW Pharmaceuticals is currently undertaking a major study.
A 2015 study at United Arab Emirates University indicated that Caryophyllene, a CB2 receptor agonist, impacts behavior related to anxiety and depression in mice.
A number of studies indicate that Limonene may have positive effects in mammary and liver cancer prevention as well as tumor reduction.
A British study in 2002 found that Pinene is an effective bronchodilator. A 2011 study conducted in China concluded that it has antimicrobial effects that make it useful against some viruses.
A 2002 study found sedative effects and longer sleep periods in mice dosed with Myrcene, while a 2007 study conducted in Jordan found it helped fight the symptoms of diabetes in mice.
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CBD Cannabidiol
September 15-21, 2016
THC Delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol
VegasSeven.com
There are more than 80 active chemicals in a marijuana plant, but some are more important than others. The big two are the cannabidiols, colloquially known as THC and CBD, which are where the bulk of the medical (and, um, recreational) effects come from. Terpenes are what give marijuana flavor—it’s what makes Orange Crush taste and smell different than your Vanilla Kush—and are present in many other plants. Due to federal restrictions, most of the studies into medical marijuana are being carried out in other countries, but the DEA’s recent announcement that they are taking steps “to increase the lawful supply of marijuana available to researchers” will hopefully facilitate more scholarship stateside.
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Melissa Waite Lawyer, Jolley Urga Woodbury & Little
Medical marijuana regulations may have something in common with other parts of the law, but it’s a unique field. … I think it was a natural fit from the work that my firm had done over the course of many, many years with other related industries—gaming and liquor licensing and those industries are very heavily regulated. Many of the same type of issues are presented in terms of the zoning, in terms of political pressure, in terms of having a suitable individual operating the business. The aspect of medical marijuana that’s unique is the competition—there’s a limited number of those licenses, unlike liquor and gaming where, technically, if you can find a location and meet the qualifications, you’re going to get licensed. The most difficult legal hurdle
that these groups face is navigating the process of licensure and then compliance. It’s unique and it’s one of those areas that we all just started learning in the last few years. In other areas of law, we’ve had a long history of compliance and a long history of interpretation of the rules governing these businesses. But medical marijuana businesses are subject to these new regulations, new laws that are still changing and are still being interpreted differently. Working in a field where the rules and regulations are still taking shape has its challenges. … This is an area that I really enjoy and I keep as up to date as much as possible as things change. … It’s not often in an attorney’s career where you see a whole new area of law come up. A lot of the issues that we deal with on a dayto-day basis are the same legal issues that everybody has been trying to tackle whether they’re related to business, criminal, civil or personal matters. But this is sort of the creation of a new segment of law that has its own governing structure, and I do think it’s created a unique opportunity for specialization for attorneys. A lot of the cautiousness around the cannabis industry is due to the issues we see at the federal level. Once there’s a reconciliation of the federal and the state law, I think we’ll be much more likely to see law schools and state bar associations and serious legal resources for attorneys becoming more accepting of that area of law—teaching it and specializing in it. But currently, with funding and with donors and with other considerations … it’s just a little bit risky at this point.
Megan Lund Manager, The Dispensary
The dispensary is where the cannabis industry culminates, where money and time become a product for a patient. Megan Lund, manager at The Dispensary knows what it takes to get to that point. Growing cannabis has been a family project for years; witnessing every step of the process has given her a range of knowledge that she shares with both budtenders and patients. “I believe so much in the plant that it’s not hard to talk about it,” she says, discussing the details of the dosing of a cake pop versus that of a Cheeba Chew, the qualities of a Rosin Rocket over a standard pre-roll and not just indica or sativa, but the minutiae of which variant of lemon haze would best suit a client’s needs. It’s about sharing knowledge to help patients. … I’m able to talk more about the plant because I know that much more about it, from the growing side to the production side to doing extractions. It helps a lot—knowing about terpene profiles and the different cannabinoids and their benefits. Plus, I’ve made my own medicine for years. From the seed to where it’s actually helping people, I’ve done all of that. So it comes very naturally.
You have to listen to the patient. Do they want an indica or a sativa? How are the different percentages of things going to affect different people? We have a lot of people coming in for the first time who have never smoked marijuana … you don’t want to scare them. It has to be sometimes a really gradual introduction. Dealing with really sick patients, it’s on a different scale. It’s a more personal thing—I love seeing people’s way of life improving, and I know when they leave that’s going to happen for them. I wish I could go to my 15-yearold self and say, “You’re going to have a lot of shitty jobs. But when you get to 35, you’re going to have the career of your dreams. It won’t be just a job: It’ll be something more.” Different shops draw different types of customers. … Our Henderson store is more of a neighborhood dispensary— flower is definitely the biggest seller, but edibles are big, too. Topicals are becoming pretty popular as well. It’s an easy introduction for people who don’t necessarily want to smoke but want to relieve their pain. Decatur is a little more of a tourist store. There’s a lot of new dispensaries in that area so there’s competition, but I think the way that we train our budtenders is top-notch: We’re more of a connoisseur’s shop. We’re going to have all of the really good stuff.
MELISSA WAITE BY PETER HARASTY
The cannabis industry is rife with legal intricacies. Corporate law, real estate transactions and government regulation all play a role— and that’s just the beginning. Lawyer Melissa Waite received an MBA and a law degree from UNLV, both of which helped prepare her for the complexities of medical marijuana law in Nevada. She has “learned the artful dance of doing business as a cannabis operator in Nevada,” but a fast-evolving industry also has fast-evolving regulations.
“There’s a lot more support now, but people still need to get out and vote.”
little step has been extremely difficult. When you go to the building department—none of them have ever seen what you’re doing, so a lot of the stuff that you want to use, it’s like, “You want to do what? Holy shit!” The legalization debate is changing, but it still hasn’t been won. … There’s a lot more support now, but people still need to get out and vote. Get the money to the schools, get the money for infrastructure: It’s better in our hands than in criminals’ hands. You know those things that pop up on Facebook— The 16 Most Embarrassing Pictures? I clicked on it once and the majority of people were in nightclubs face-planted on the floor, just completely inebriated. That’s acceptable behavior, but smoking a joint and eating some Cheetos isn’t? If it comes here, Nevada will dominate. This will be the Amsterdam of the West, it will be the mecca of marijuana—but at the same time, it’s going to be done right. Nobody does this kind of thing better than Nevada, especially here in Las Vegas. I think it’s going to be phenomenal.
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Sometimes the smaller players win the game. … When this opportunity came up in Nevada, I just learned everything I could about government and regulations and what it would take to make something like this happen. I basically gambled my whole livelihood and my life savings … and here we are. I’m basically the blue collar guy that everyone said couldn’t get into this industry because it’s so expensive. I was very fortunate, but it took a lot of work. I
paid lawyers hundreds of dollars to tell me I was out of my mind. There are a lot of teams that tried to do this—“Yadda yadda marijuana, we’re going to make millions, it’s going to be great.” Then they actually start digging into it, doing the whole licensing process and building one of these places that they realize nobody knows how to build. Just knowing how difficult the process was, I figured that 30 percent of the licenses granted would get to the finish line. And that’s pretty close to where we’re at right now. But I did the entire application plan — the state and the city. It was probably about three months of three hours’ sleep each night. I was literally delirious. Every
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There’s no perfect educational background or résumé qualifications for entering the marijuana industry. But Evan Marder’s experience in nightclubs and entertainment gave him a pretty good start. “I was operations manager for Kahunaville in Delaware, which was a 100,000-square-foot complex, the largest on the East Coast,” he says. “That’s what actually gave me the confidence to know I could do something like this on this scale.” That job brought him to Nevada 15 years ago, but growing cannabis has also been a longtime avocation. At Matrix NV, he oversees the plants— from seed to clones to cutting to flowering to production— and handles myriad variables that arise along the way.
Chief Operating Officer, Matrix NV
September 15-21, 2016
Evan Marder
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Melissa Parks Executive Chef, Vert
Celebrity Cannabis
September 15-21, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
Melissa Parks has experimented in the kitchen since she was a kid baking holiday cookies. After training at Le Cordon Bleu and Johnson & Wales University, she worked everywhere from research and development at General Mills to fine dining restaurants to top athletes’ kitchens. Her current career as a cannabis chef has led to a cookbook, Herb: Mastering the Art of Cooking With Cannabis, and her kitchen at Vert edibles, where she produces infused teacakes. In flavors such as chocolate mint and key lime, they look like they should be served on fine china at a high-end high tea, and are so tasty it’s hard to eat just one.
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She got involved in cannabis cookery in Colorado. … I was approached by girlfriends of mine who had illnesses ranging from breast cancer to lymphomas. They had tasted my desserts and asked me to do a medicated version. I don’t smoke, [and] I was like, “Am I going to get arrested?“ I knew nothing about it. I Googled edible companies in Colorado, found an address and walked in there with 12 unmedicated versions of cookies, cupcakes, tortes. I said, “I wanna work. I wanna learn.” They brought me in and—no joke— three weeks later they fired their head chef and gave me six months to revamp their entire product line.
It’s a challenging ingredient to work with, but a rewarding one. … One thing about working with cannabis is that it’s a beast in and of its own—the way that it’s absorbed into a dough, the way that it emulsifies into mixtures. If you blend it too much, does the dough become crumbly or dry? What is a safe temperature that’s not going to burn off your THC? All of those things are such fun for me, but when I first started, I wanted to put my head though a brick wall: Why is this cake recipe that has worked for the last 10 years not working with this? The cookies are individually dosed, they’re small, but they offer flavor profiles that really go with the oils. Each one already has therapeutic spices and herbs without the cannabis—cinnamon or key lime juice or blueberries. The therapeutic mint can be soothing, it can be uplifting, it can help with stomach issues. I wanted to find a way to bring together health, cannabis and something that’s fun to eat. I’m a chef first and always: If it doesn’t taste good, if it doesn’t look good, it’s not leaving my kitchen. Vert’s kitchen is part of the Grove complex, where a seed can go from a tiny speck in the soil to a delicately frosted pastry without leaving
the building. … Going from the seed downstairs to the plant downstairs to the oil refining up here to what we produce here in the kitchen—there are no boundaries. I can go downstairs and talk to the growers. I can go next door and work hand in hand with the guy who produces the oil. We’re very focused on the therapeutic nature of cannabis—we want to make it approachable.
➜ These days, it’s not enough to be famous for one’s talents. It’s fine to be an actor or an athlete, but what really makes bank is being a brand, expanding into as many fields as possible (actor and athlete) and putting that well-known name on everything from sneakers to spaghetti sauce. Increasingly, that menu of potential endorsements includes cannabis, with a number of celebrities getting in on the action. Tommy Chong has been identified with weed since his Still Smokin’ days. He had his own line of glass bongs and wound up serving nine months in federal prison in 2003 on drug paraphernalia charges but today, his line of marijuana, Chong’s Choice, is sold legally in six states. The Bob Marley name has been carried on by his family, both musically and with headphones, backpacks, coffee, energy drinks and now the Marley Natural marijuana line. Willie Nelson just launched his brand, Willie’s Reserve in Colorado and Washington. The line offers eighths, pre-rolls, disposable vape pens and several strains, but it’s too bad there aren’t any seeds left from the pot Willie smoked on the roof of the White House: Oval Office Diesel would probably be a best-seller. Another natural to the biz is Snoop Dogg with his Leafs by Snoop marijuana line, which has flower, wax and edibles in a dozen flavors, all with unexpectedly elegant packaging that looks more like Neiman Marcus guest soaps than some rapper’s weed. He’s also rolled out the Merry Jane website as the first step in creating a marijuana-centric media platform. Wiz Khalifa has renewed his deal with RAW rolling papers and is developing his own line of smokables with Colorado’s RiverRock Cannabis. Melissa Etheridge has a line of cannabis-infused wine, while Whoopi Goldberg has Whoopi & Maya, a line of cannabis products for menstrual discomfort that includes balms, tinctures and bath salts. However, not every famous name you see on a bag of buds is in the biz. Stevie Wonder hybrid and Michael Phelps OG are merely tributes to beloved figures, albeit ones that are a little more edgy than a T-shirt.
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NIGHTLIFE Your city after dark, photos from the week’s hottest parties and the independence of Joshua Ifergan
➜ OLIVER HELDENS IS AMONG
the Netherlands’ popular dance music producers, joining the ranks of the nation’s other festival main-stage contenders including Hardwell, Afrojack, and Tiësto. Heldens introduced a refreshing and unique sound in 2013 with his breakout hit “Gecko,” and has continued to contribute to a fun new wave of music for EDM lovers. Such originality landed him a residency with Hakkasan Group in Las Vegas, and has also scored him a number of festival appearances in the short span of his career. And since he knows the ins-and-outs of festie life, Heldens had a few insights to impart on the wild, wild world of international festivals. You’ve had a busy festival season; you must be an expert by now. What do you suggest partygoers do to stay healthy and safe at festivals?
What else should attendees see or do? I always eat at every festival.
Oh, yeah, definitely. The food is also important, of course. I love that there’s good food at festivals; that’s definitely a plus. In general, one really nice thing about festivals is that usually you end up meeting a lot of new people.
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I would advise people to check out the timetable before a festival and listen to the artists who are playing to get a sense [of their sound]. If you see a name somewhere that you don’t know, then just spend a few minutes on SoundCloud listening to their songs. That’s always a good thing to do. At some festivals, there is just one group who stays at the main stage the whole day. But there are also so many other stages with great music. Usually, at the smaller stages, it’s the newer artists. Some of them can also be really interesting to check out. I would definitely advise people to do some research before you go to a festival to see who’s playing.
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Rotterdam’s Oliver Heldens schools you on how to festival in 2016 By Kat Boehrer
What’s the best strategy for enjoying all the music festivals have to offer?
September 15-21, 2016
Festival 101
Drink enough water and take care of each other. Some people do drugs. Drugs and alcohol together go really bad. So either do drugs or do alcohol. The best thing is just to do nothing. Myself, I don’t do drugs, and I may drink alcohol at night; it’s the best time.
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NIGHTLIFE September 15-21, 2016
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I’ve met some of my best friends at festivals; such great memories. What are some of your favorite festival memories?
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I played at Lollapalooza in Chicago, and the crowd was comprised of people who went kind of crazy, and then I saw a girl in a wheelchair crowd surfing. That was a pretty epic moment. Actually, stuff like that happens often, the people in wheelchairs crowd surfing. Also, sometimes you’ll see that people start to create a circle and they do dance battles. You’ll see people shuffling and break dancing; that’s also really fun. What are some of the best festivals to play?
Dance festivals are always really good. [But] for me, the crossover festivals are even better. For example, Coachella, or Lollapalooza, and even Glastonbury. Why is that?
At crossover festivals, people go see bands as well, and they go see maybe singer/songwriters. My music has [dif-
“Actually, for me to play the main stage is always a challenge. But it makes it really fun if it’s a challenge.” —OLIVER HELDENS ferent] energy than the average festival act. And usually the small stages and smaller crowds are more fun to play for. What appeals to you about the smaller stages and crowds?
It feels more intimate. You feel a stronger connection with the crowd. It makes it also a little bit easier to read the crowds. Actually, for me to play the main stage is always a challenge. But it makes it really fun if it’s a challenge. Most festivals I play at the moment, I play on the main stage. How do you prepare for these performances?
I don’t really have special routines, but I’m always prepared nowadays. We DJs categorize all our stuff on software and then put it on a USB stick, and I also make a lot of edits of the tracks and mashups. On most of the tracks I play in my sets, they are edits or remixed by me. Also, my old tracks, I make little different versions of my old tracks, and I love classics [alongside] fresh music. Every week, I make new edits and new music or also every week I receive a lot of new music. Then I can categorize it easily on my USB stick. That makes me always prepared. Usually, I mix on the fly: I know what it’s all going to start
with, and my last track, usually, and then the rest is on the fly. What else do you have coming up?
I’m always making new music, and especially at the moment I’m feeling really inspired—even more than a few years ago when I broke through this whole new sound and style. What’s inspiring you right now?
I’m really inspired by disco. Also by techno and bass. I’ve been working with a lot of songwriters, working with vocal tracks and lyrics. But I’m also working on a lot of more club, more bass and rhythm tracks. I have an alias called Hi-Lo. As [Hi-Lo] I use more underground stuff, which is really meant for a dance floor. As Oliver Heldens, I make more accessible, more melodic stuff. This month, there’s a new track coming up [as Oliver Heldens], called “Flamingo.” It has some ’90s house vibes, but it’s very sexy. It’s probably my most sexy track yet.
SEPTEMBER 15 & 17
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NIGHTLIFE
Seven Nights Your week in parties By I A N C A R A M A N Z A N A
identified the suspect a day later. We’re not sure if anybody had to face the wrath of T-Pain, but we hope the “Buy U A Drank” hitmaker gets some clarity soon so he can he can hit the studio to make more music. Cheer him up at Light where he’s sure to give a hit-heavy performance. If you’re reading this, T-Pain, we miss your glorious auto-tuned croons! (In Mandalay Bay, 10:30 p.m., TheLightVegas.com.)
THU 15
September 15-21, 2016
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Aren’t industry nights great? Locals enjoy complimentary admission, so you can scope out the hottest nightclubs and enjoy sets by the biggest names in music. That’s where Intrigue Me Thursdays come in. Wynn’s latest nightlife concept welcomes locals to catch a set by Thomas Wesley Pentz, a.k.a. Diplo. The Los Angeles-based DJ, producer, label owner and heartthrob recently posted a photo of himself with XXL Freshman Class member Lil Yachty, hinting at a possible collaboration. The latter is no stranger to collaborating with EDM artists; Yachty teamed up with trap/progressive house producer Carnage on the club banger “Mase in ’97.” We think his collaboration with Diplo will be just as great. See if he drops it tonight. If he does, you’ll be able to brag about how you heard it first—for free! (In Wynn, 10 p.m., IntrigueVegas.com.)
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FRI 16 2016 has not been kind to celebrities. In just eight months, we’ve lost Prince, David Bowie and Lemmy. And while we’ve lost stars, some are losing the ones closest to them. In August, T-Pain’s niece, Javona Glover, was fatally stabbed outside of her workplace. Following the incident, Pain took to social media to seek information on the killer. Thankfully, police
SAT 17 It’s officially the weekend, so party up with two daylong benders. The first begins at Marquee Dayclub with a set by Vice. In August, the L.A.-based DJ livestreamed an hour-long set to Facebook Live. He asked fans to comment with requests, feedback and inquiries, making the experience engaging and communal. Unfortunately, we don’t recommend doing that when he hits the stage at Marquee Dayclub, but at least the pool will stay warm to keep you occupied. (In the Cosmopolitan, 11 a.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.) Hanh! Stick around for a set by our favorite ad-libber and rapper French Montana when he turns up at Marquee. After months of circulating rumors, the Moroccan rapper from New York went public with his relationship with “Fancy” hitmaker Iggy Azalea. It’s comforting news, especially since the release of his highly anticipated sophomore album T-Pain.
French Montana.
MC4 got delayed until October. We don’t even need to tell you what to do when he performs “Pop That.” (In the Cosmopolitan, 10:30 p.m., MarqueeLasVegas.com.)
SUN 18 Grab brunch on the Strip to gear up for your second day of parties, then head to Drai’s Beachclub where turntable duo Kim Kat provides the poolside soundtrack. Atlantic City Weekly called the group
consisting of model/actress Kim Lee and DJ/producer Katrina Nova “the female version of LMFAO,” so you know this one’s gonna get wild. See if the two honor that title by dropping “Party Rock Anthem.” If they don’t, at least you can get down to “Roll With Me.” (In the Cromwell, noon, DraisNightlife. com.) Another member of the XXL Freshman Class is hitting town: See Lil’ Dicky rap his ass off at Drai’s. If you read our interview with the “$ave Dat Money” rapper, you know he loves comedy just as much as rap music. Dicky fused those two passions and made a career out of it, which includes a Las Vegas residency. Celebrate hard work and talent tonight, and dance to “Molly.” (In The Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., DraisNightlife.com.)
MON 19 Thirsty? Hit up Herbs & Rye for excellent craft cocktails on the cheap in its happy hour. The local staple was named the Best American High-Volume Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail, so sip on some of the magic for yourself. And if you’re hungry, steaks are
50 percent off! (3713 Sahara Ave., 5-8 p.m., HerbsAndRye.com.)
TUE 20 It may be Tuesday, but Burns brings the heat to Omnia. And by “heat” we’re talking about “Make Me…” the collaborative pop tune he produced for Britney Spears and G-Eazy that surged to the top of the charts in July. Burns is reveling in the accolade; he appeared on the red carpet with the two stars for MTV’s Video Music Awards, and posted a cute #TBT of himself DJing with a Britney Spears shirt in 2010. Summer’s almost over, so embrace the heat! (In Caesars Palace, 10 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com.)
WED 21 Looking to wet your palate with a variety of tunes? Venture to Hakkasan where SKAM Artist Sean Perry will helm an open-format set during Ling Ling Wednesday. He calls the megaclub his “home base,” so he knows what’ll get you moving. (In MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.)
T-PAIN BY JOE JANET; FRENCH MONTANA BY KEVIN WONG
Lil Dicky.
Independent nightlife operative Joshua Ifergan endeavors to stand out By Jasmina Salas JOSHUA IFERGAN chose the path less taken in nightlife— and the one oftentimes less understood. As founder of Endeavor Management Group, Ifergan is an independent marketing strategist in a city that has corporatized fun. He is dedicated to appealing to the customer that the big nightclub conglomerates often overlook: the mass-market Las Vegas visitor who wants an approachable bargain versus a luxury experience. “My company’s strategy has always been based on one important principle: the customer,” he says. “We market to all walks of life. Our goal is to have unique settings that cater to everyone.” Currently, Endeavor Management Group is in a partnership with Carlos & Charlie’s in the Flamingo, where he assists with inventory and cost control, advertising and promotions. Ifergan offers a co-ed, nightly open bar. He also creates events such as fashion shows, and he’s always got an eye on local talent bookings. Born in Las Vegas and raised in Los Angeles, Ifergan was having dinner at Tao Restaurant in January 2006 when he met Matthew Strauss, brother of Tao Group partner Jason Strauss. That encounter marked the beginning of his career as a nightclub promoter. “I was working at the Hofbräuhaus and going to UNLV,” Ifergan says. “When it became clear that my intention was to grow in the hospitality industry, I left the Hofbräuhaus and started promoting full time. Adjusting to the lifestyle was difficult at first, however with the support and coaching of the Tao team, I was able to learn so much and become comfortable with creating a database and also have the understanding of the outreach process here locally.” Ifergan spent two years at Tao Nightclub before joining Revolution Lounge in The
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Mirage, and then opened Privé Nightclub in Planet Hollywood as a VIP host and later marketing manager. His last stop was at Koi Restaurant, Lounge & Nightclub. “I was very fortunate to be coached in the logistics of an event and how to be cost effective, successful and—most importantly—create a great team,” he says. “I learned that an event can always be created even if the budget isn’t [big] compared to that of a larger nightclub. Las Vegas is lucky that there’s always the right demographic for the city that never sleeps. As long as we know the market and are willing to adapt, we will continue to grow.” In 2012, Ifergan took a leap of faith and started his own business that has assisted in the opening and marketing of nine venues to date. “It was the biggest decision of my life,” he says. “I knew that once I made the move, there was no going back.” The marketing strategist highlights teamwork as the main source of efficiency for his group. “Our team understands that everyone must work with each other to achieve the goals that we set forth,” but, according to Ifergan, that success doesn’t come without mistakes. He says, “We must make mistakes in order to grow, and that’s what we strive to do.” In June, Ifergan partnered with fellow nightlife veteran, Justin Hoffman on Holistic House, an all-inclusive addiction recovery center in Las Vegas; the two plan to open a second location together. One of the things he most enjoys about being independent is guiding the next generation of professionals in Las Vegas. “I am committed to mentoring and laying the foundation to establish future leaders in our industry,” he says. “One may look at this as a challenge, but there’s nothing more rewarding than watching one of my colleagues open their own business.”
PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
NIGHTLIFE
Don’t Tread on Him
NIGHTLIFE
PARTIES
DAYLIGHT Mandalay Bay [ UPCOMING ]
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See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com
PHOTOS BY JOE FURY
September 15-21, 2016
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Sept. 15 Playtime Thursdays with DJ Neva Sept. 16 Eric Dlux spins Sept. 17 DJ Mustard spins
NIGHTLIFE
PARTIES
LAX Luxor
[ UPCOMING ]
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See more photos from this gallery at SPYONvegas.com
PHOTOS BY JOSH METZ
September 15-21, 2016
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Sept. 15 Throwback Thursday with DJs Bozak and R.O.B. Sept. 16 Aybsent Mynded and DJ Eric Forbes spin Sept. 17 Cyberkid and DJ J Nice spin
TROPIC BEAUTY SOUNDS BY DJ IRIE
SAT / SEP / 17
L I Q U I D P O O L LV . C O M / 7 0 2 5 9 0 9 9 7 9 / # L I Q U I D LV
DINING Restaurant reviews, news and barrel-aged soy sauce
When people come in, the locals, they say, ‘We’re not coming to the restaurant, we’re coming to see you.’ ERIC KLEIN | PAGE 48
PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
By Xania Woodman ➜ When was the last time you had a Queen’s Park Swizzle? The classic Caribbean cocktail named for a venerable Trinidadian hotel is a jewel of the tiki cocktail canon, and it’s enjoying resurgence at the hands of passionate rum ambassadors and tiki devotees. So much so that an entire seminar was dedicated to this one historic drink at 2016’s Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Can you just feel the pebble ice shifting in the tall, narrow glass? Smell the aromatic bitters and muddled mint? Taste the sharp lime, sweet Demerara sugar and strong, dark rum? For all its charm, a long, cool Queen’s Park Swizzle wouldn’t be so magical without one thing: the swizzle. Part cocktail, part live performance, swizzle cocktails are so named for the technique (“swizzling”) and the implement (“swizzle stick,”
or “bois lélé” in French) used to vigorously stir them. And—like a true libertine—you can have a whole pitcher of them at Libertine Social in Mandalay Bay. “The Queen’s Park Swizzle has quickly become one of my all-time favorite drinks,” says Libertine Social principal bartender Tony Abou-Ganim. That’s saying something; the “Modern Mixologist” ushered Las Vegas into the present cocktail-worshiping era when he introduced the lime squeezer to a little property called Bellagio in 1998. With two cocktail books and a complete line of barware to his name, Abou-Ganim has plenty of favorite cocktails from which to choose. “One of the keys to a successful swizzle,” he says, “is the proper ice.” To that end, Abou-Ganim and his business partner, chef Shawn McClain, selected a
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Shareable hand-swizzled cocktails put the ‘social’ in Libertine Social
September 15-21, 2016
Swizzle It!
Scotsman pebble-ice machine for just this reason. “Selecting the right vessel was also important: It needs to be thin glass, so that you get that reaction between the ice and the rum, causing the pitcher to frost on the outside.” With the correct ice and pitcher, and high-quality spirits and ingredients, that just leaves technique. “I read somewhere that you’re supposed to swizzle vigorously until it becomes frothy and foaming,” Abou-Ganim says, laughing, “but as vigorously as I’ve ever swizzled, I’ve never gotten it to be frothing and foaming!” Of the five swizzles on the Libertine Social menu, four are classic recipes: Queen’s Park, Bermuda, Barbados Red Rum and Green (made with gin). Martinique Swizzle is an Abou-Ganim original that uses the Queen’s Park template, but which adds Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb and his own DoubleBarrel chicory coffee-pecan bitters (which he quietly launched in July at Tales in New Orleans). All five drinks are hand-swizzled and serve four for $58, though individual cocktails are also available. As much as the swizzle is a showpiece for Libertine Social, it’s in equally stunning company on a menu that touches every part of the convivial, social act of imbibing. You’ll find fizzes (another almost lost art) and top techniques of the moment such as barrel-
VegasSeven.com
Have your Queen’s Park Swizzle by the pitcher or the glass at Libertine Social.
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DISH & TELL DINING
MARISA FINETTI
From left: a barrel-aged Boulevardier, draft Sun Splash, Libertine Fizz, house-made limoncello shot, Cable Car and a bottled Luce Del Sol. Below: A signed bottle of Abou-Ganim’s bitters.
aged, draft and individually bottled cocktails, as well as cheeky frozen shots and retro cocktails that have the ability to transport guests to a different time. “I’ve spent 36 years of my life ‘behind bars,’” Abou-Ganim says, “and I’ve seen a lot of things come and go. That’s why I said, ‘What about a retro section? A well-made Cosmopolitan or Lemon Drop with fresh ingredients and premium spirits in the right glass—those are especially balanced and complex drinks. Why don’t we celebrate those?’” In addition to Abou-Ganim’s bitters, and the intimate Arcade bar off the main lounge, you’ll find his signature in the fizz lineup, specifically the glass they come in. “I’ve been working on a fizz glass for years. No one is really doing fizzes,” he laments. At Libertine Social, fizzes are
LIBERTINE SOCIAL
In Mandalay Bay, 877-632-7800, MandalayBay.com. Open nightly from 5-11 p.m.
served in a glass Abou-Ganim created with manufacturer Steelite International. With the exception of the Bird of Paradise and the Imperial, the recipes are also Abou-Ganim’s own, and all are served in an elegantly flared Modern Mixologist Fizz Glass. With Libertine Social now just over a month old, Abou-Ganim is a little shocked by what his guests are flocking to. “I’m amazed at the number of fizzes we’re selling. [Like the swizzle], it’s another style of drink that is not well known.” But don’t think it’s just
Libertine Social’s female guests who are ordering them. “They’re bright and playful; the egg white kind of gives it a frothy head. Then you see a big burly, bearded guy [with one]—very cool.”
[ A SMALL BITE ]
September 15-21, 2016
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OTHER MAMA’S SECRET SAUCE
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During the time that Dan Krohmer, chef-owner of Other Mama (3655 S. Durango Dr., Suite 6, 702-463-8382, OtherMamaLV.com) apprenticed on the island of Kyushu, Japan, he sliced a lot of sashimi and rolled a lot of sushi. He also became an expert in soy sauce. Krohmer learned quickly that this ubiquitous, fermented umami seasoning has much more to offer than the single brand most commonly available in grocery store—so much that his appreciation for the unique subtleties of shoyu inspired him to make his own brew, one small batch at a time. ¶ Krohmer’s high-quality, house-made soy sauce goes through a complex barrel-aging process and is only available by request. He seasons a 10-liter oak barrel by filling it with his favorite bourbon, Buffalo Trace. For two weeks, the barrel takes up the essence of the whiskey with its rich, complex traces of vanilla, toffee and candied fruit. ¶ Then, after removing the bourbon, Krohmer fills the barrel with the soy sauce, which had been steeping in kombu (kelp) and approximately 5 percent of the bourbon, and lets them mingle for two months. Later, he adds just the right amount of honey to balance out the flavors. ¶ Krohmer says that every time he makes a new batch, he uses a little from the original, creating a unique solera-style soy sauce each time. This results in a darker, richer and more flavorful soy sauce that the chef recommends enjoying with fattier fishes. “We [consumers] spend so much money on fish,” says Krohmer. “Why not enjoy it with the highest possible quality soy sauce?” –Marisa Finetti
Get the latest news on local restaurant openings and closings, interviews with top chefs, cocktail recipes, menu previews and more in our weekly Sips and Bites newsletter. Subscribe at VegasSeven.com/SipsAndBites.
➜ Whoever said that lunch has to be kept to an hour should know that 3,600 seconds is simply too short at times. A perfect way to extend it is with a good excuse. I’m talking about the Martini Lunch at Carnevino Italian Steakhouse (in the Palazzo, 702-7894141, Carnevino.com), which includes two martinis and three courses, all of which can be ordered, served and enjoyed within an hour for $65 per person. But, let’s not rush this. Choose two libations from a selection of cocktails with a slight Carnevino twist, including a Manhattan, English Cucumber, blood orange Cosmo or classic martini. For your first course, pick from little gem salad (tomatoes, ricotta salata and herbs), carne cruda (chopped-to-order steak tartare) or grilled octopus (with pickled vegetables and limoncello; $5 supplement). The second course is a choice of tagliatelle Bolognese, salmon (with fregula, corn and tomato conserva) or filet mignon (with Cesare’s Tuscan fries and arugula; $10 supplement). For dessert, select corn panna cotta (blueberry-thyme conserva and lime zest) or bomboloni (with strawberry jam and sweet mascarpone). Lunch service begins at noon. In honor of National Bourbon Heritage Month, Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro (in the Palazzo, 702-607-6333, MorelsLV.com) celebrates with a bourbon-enhanced menu and cocktails every Saturday and Sunday during September and October 1-2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dishes include Bananas Foster pancakes with lemon and orange zest, Jim Beam Black-brûléed bananas and Jim Beam Honey maple syrup, or for something a little more savory, Morels’ Bourbon Benedict with country smoked ham, poached eggs and Maker’s Mark Hollandaise on brioche toast. A Southern favorite for the hearty appetite is the cornflake-crusted chicken and waffles, with bourbon salt and Jim Beam Honey maple syrup, or the Drunken Jim Beam-glazed Snake River Farms burger with bacon, smoked cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion on a brioche bun. Of course, we can’t forget the cocktails made with America’s native spirit, including Red Rider B.B. with Morels’ signature infused bourbon and Benedictine; a Maker’s Mark 46 mint julep with muddled mint, sweet crushed ice and “Kentucky love”; or a Bourbon Brunch Flight consisting of Bakers 107-Proof, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and Knob Creek Single Barrel. September is also National Organic Harvest Month as well as the height of avocado season. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy this time of year than eating guacamole, can you? El Dorado Cantina (3025 Sammy Davis Dr., ElDoradoVegas.com, 702722-2289), which just celebrated its second year in Las Vegas, makes its guac using only organic avocados. The restaurant orders nearly 3,500 avocados per month, and prepares 50-60 guacamole orders each day. Enjoy chef Paco Cortes’ traditional guacamole lovingly made tableside with lime, garlic, cilantro, onion and tomatoes, or try the tropical guacamole with the sweet twist of pineapple, mango and citrus, or the bacon and blue cheese guacamole—you know, for the gringo in you.
Marisa Finetti savors with all five senses. Read more at VegasSeven.com/DishAndTell or visit her blog, LoveAndRelish.com.
PHOTOS BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
MARTINIS FOR LUNCH, BOURBON FOR DINNER AND AVOCADOS BY THE NUMBERS
DINING
Exit Interview: Eric Klein
September 15-21, 2016
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The executive chef’s impending departure from Spago is at once exhilarating and bittersweet By Al Mancini
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➜ ON SEPTEMBER 1, Wolfgang Puck shocked the local restaurant world by announcing that Eric Klein will be leaving the executive chef position at Spago, which he has held for nearly 10 years. The chef was approached by Puck to move into a new, as-yet-undefined position within the organization, where he’s spent 16 of the last 20 years. “Wolfgang approached me and said, ‘Hey, listen, I want you to do more in the company. You’re doing a great job for us.’ But they wanted me to do more of an executive role,” Klein says. Klein’s final day will be September 14, following the fourth Sip & Savor dinner to benefit Keep Memory Alive. Will you have to wear a tie in your new position?
No, I don’t think I’ll ever wear a tie. My wife always asks me
to wear a tie. But at the end of the day, in my heart, I’m a cook. So I don’t think I’ll ever remove my chef’s jacket. Will you stay in Las Vegas?
It’s still up in the air. Are you excited?
It’s exciting, but it’s sad in another way, because it’s like a child, this restaurant. I’m the second executive chef of this restaurant in 24 years. That’s pretty impressive, I think. Wolf gave me the reins of this restaurant, to be its public face. I’ve built the customer [base]. When people come in, the locals, they say, “We’re not coming to the restaurant, we’re coming to see you.” That’s great. Because I’ve done something — not for myself — but for the customers. I’ve done it for the guests, making them feel like they’re part of the family. So I’m happy, but
I’m torn, because of all those local customers. We’ve made memories together. What was your first impression of this room?
The first time I came to Vegas, I came here and I walked by. I’d met [chef] David Robbins in L.A. But when I came to Vegas I thought, “OK, this is a little different. It’s not up on a hill.” And I tried to understand the concept of a casino and being in a mall, when in L.A. everything is stand-alone. But the first meal I ever had here was much later. We came for a party and I was sitting at a table in the back corner, because I didn’t want to make a big fuss. And I thought, “This is a great room.” How could I have believed that a couple of years later, I would be the chef of this restaurant? It’s
amazing where life and its adventures take you. What’s the standout moment of all your years here?
I have to be careful, because I’m a little bit emotional about this; I have so many memories. It’s not about one, it’s about the total of everything. It’s about watching somebody propose, or watching somebody get married. And then they come in every year after that. Being a part of that—having somebody come in and say, “Eric cook us whatever you want, we’re not even looking at the menu.” Having movie stars such as Jennifer Lopez text me and say, “I’ll be there in a half hour. What do you think I should have today?” Or to have Eva Longoria do the same thing, or Bette Midler, who tells me I’m her favorite chef. There are so many memories. This is what makes it
priceless for me. And I want to make sure people understand that I may be part of a vehicle to make memories for them, but I appreciate it [as well]. It’s just beautiful when you see all these people enjoying it. I also do a lot of charity work. Every year I do Make-A-Wish, and we have children come in. And you make a difference in their lives. You make a difference for their parents. You make them feel unique. A smile on a child’s face is priceless. What have you learned about Las Vegas during your time here?
Vegas is an interesting place. It’s a city that never sleeps, but it’s also a community where people live, enjoy their lives, raise children and are part of the community. It’s a great city, a big city with a small-village mentality. Everybody knows each other. It’s fascinating.
Clockwise from top: Halal Guys’ falafel sandwich, baklava and a combo platter.
Ethnic Infusion
PHOTOS BY CIERRA PEDRO
Halal Guys offers a more compelling alternative to your drive-thru fast-food impulses By Al Mancini
➜ Chinatown, the stretch of Spring Mountain Road between the Strip and Jones Boulevard best known for its Asian culinary diversity, has long since outgrown its moniker thanks to the abundance of great food from other Asian nations. It’s recently taken an even larger step toward diversity, however, with the August opening of the drag’s most buzzed-about new restaurant, a local incarnation of New York’s famed Halal Guys. The spot is interesting, how-
ever, not only because it offers something different, but also because of the amount of attention being generated by what’s essentially a fast-food chain. WHAT IS HALAL?
Halal refers to food prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary laws. In fact, since Islam and Judaism share many of the same scriptures, to the casual observer, Halal food is virtually indistinguishable from kosher cooking. The very limited choices offered by the
Halal Guys should be familiar to anyone who’s ever eaten in a Mediterranean restaurant. There are just three main courses: grilled chicken, falafel and beef gyro (pronounced “YEAR-oh,” or possibly “HEAR-oh,” but never “JEE-row”). You can get either — or a combination of the two meats — as a platter or a sandwich. Platters come with rice, pita and a scoop each of lettuce and tomatoes generously described on the menu as a salad. The sandwiches have those
The Halal Guys are a sensation in New York City, where their food cart operation in Midtown now monopolizes entire blocks and people wait in ridiculous lines. So after 25 years in the Big Apple, it’s no surprise they’ve begun expanding. More than 200 franchises are now in the works, and Binh Tran, a multiple franchise owner for Las Vegas and Northern California, is already researching possible locations for a second Las Vegas spot. All of this hype brought huge crowds to the restaurant’s grand opening on August 12. At points, the entire strip mall parking lot was full, with the wait to getting inside stretching to 20 minutes or more. Owners set up tents outside to provide protection from the desert sun. ROUGH START, BUT GETTING BETTER
Unfortunately, the opening weekend was plagued with problems. Air conditioning issues meant the interior wasn’t much of a refuge once the crowd made it through the door. The chicken was dry, the gyro was bland and the falafel was overcooked. Only the baklava—a novel and tasty treat even if the portion was rather small for $2.50—hinted that the place might be worth a return visit. Things have improved somewhat with time. The gyro has more pep and the falafel is better prepared. The chicken, however, is still dry. If you go with the latter,
THE HALAL GUYS
3755 Spring Mountain Rd., 725-696-3663, SpringMountainRdLasVegasNV.theHalalGuys.com. Open for lunch and dinner 10 a.m.-4 a.m. daily. Dinner for two, $15-$30.
That White Sauce Tho
➜ With a composition similar to mayo (oil, egg and vinegar, plus other stuff) the Halal Guys’ famous white sauce is a multifaceted condiment that can be used in various applications. So when you are in a pinch for something in which to dip, be sure to always have a yellow packet in the fridge—it goes with pretty much everything. Here’s what else we’re slathering it on. Well-done In-N-Out french fries: While it is true that the burger joint has its own packeted spread that goes great on crunchy fries, be adventurous and cross the fast-food streams with a few squirts of the good stuff. Salad: Mayo and ranch dressing are kissing cousins, so it’s only logical to try the Halal Guys’ white sauce on top of a bed of crisp lettuce and other veggies, such as tomato and carrot. Buffalo chicken wings: Hey, it’s white and so is blue cheese dressing. Therefore, appealing to visual memory, the color tricks your palate into thinking that one tastes just like that other, more familiar dipping sauce. Only the Halal Guys’ sauce is obviously better. –Melinda Sheckells
VegasSeven.com
BIG APPLE SUCCESS STORY
chain burger joint, and the prices are just as reasonable. By those standards, the place offers a nice alternative to the typical McMeal. And it boasts one of the friendliest and most attentive fast-food staffs you’re likely to find anywhere. So if your choices are Wendy’s, Taco Bell and Halal Guys, this would be a handsdown winner. Unfortunately for the owners, Spring Mountain Road isn’t a desolate stretch of interstate; it’s a vital dining hub. And Halal Guys’ only contribution is to take it further outside its Chinatown reputation.
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Not To Be Missed
use the white sauce, since more than a drop or two of the inferno-level red sauce will scorch your palate to the point where you can no longer taste. Among the sides, the hummus is better than what you’d find at a supermarket deli counter, but not quite restaurant quality. The fries are unremarkable. But sadly, the baba ganoush is so slimy and overly smoky that it’s basically inedible. Despite all of this, Halal Guys might still be worth a visit. The trick is to judge it by fast-food standards, which is easy enough, since the decor is reminiscent of a typical
August 11-17, 2016
same ingredients, minus the rice, wrapped in a whole pita. Both can be Falafel sandwich ($8), augcombo platter ($9-$10) mented and baklava ($2.50) with a secret white sauce or super-spicy red. The only other options are three side dishes: hummus, baba ganoush and crinkle-cut fries. And there is baklava for dessert.
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A&E
PAGE 54
Local artist residencies, a Shakespeare exhibit and more
A tour of the anatomy exhibit with the president and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions suggests there’s more than meets the eye By Amber Sampson
VegasSeven.com
IES at Bally’s, our first thought was: Why do we need two? Bodies … the Exhibition at the Luxor had already carved out a niche for human anatomy exhibits featuring dissected cadavers. What you might not know is that Tom Zaller, CEO and president of Imagine Exhibitions, helped catapult the Luxor installation’s success. He’s since moved on to do the same with REAL BODIES, with more bodies and a narrative that goes deeper than your average anatomical study. We hounded Zaller down for a tour, complete with his commentary on each room of the installation. Here are our top highlights from the new tourist attraction.
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Dissecting REAL BODIES
➜ When Imagine Exhibitions announced REAL BOD-
September 15-21, 2016
PHOTO BY EDISON GRAFF/STARDUST FALLOUT MEDIA
REAL BODIES at Bally’s features 22 dissected human bodies.
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A&E
REAL BODIES goes deeper than your average anatomical study.
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REAL BODIES starts with some fresh air—maybe too much air—as a fleet of 24 fans blast into your face when you enter the “Breathe” room. An art installation created by local artists, the novel greeting isn’t there solely for visual appeal. Breathing is what connects us all; it’s “a willful, defiant act of our unconscious,” a plaque on the wall reads. “It declares ‘I am’ again and again through the cycle of minutes and years.” The exhibit explains how the respiratory system works, but also ties a spiritual connection to breathing. “We talk about, culturally, what the significance of breath is,” Zaller says. “For Christians, it’s the Holy Spirit. For Jews, there’s sort of five different parts manifesting God: life, soul, personality, mind [and] individuality. And for Taoists, it’s the chi. You always hear about the chi in your body. It’s bigger than just a breath.” One of the most jarring displays in “Breathe” is a set of two pairs of lungs—a gray, healthy pair juxtaposed with a pair of smoker’s lungs, which are so black they look like wet stones. It makes you think about what you’re putting into your body, which is exactly what Zaller says the exhibit should do. MOVE
Every body in “Move” looks like it’s hitting the gym, as the room gives attendees a look at the impressive muscle expansion of humans in
motion. Examining a runner’s muscle span is one of the most interesting and visually appealing displays. There’s so much going on inside the body, so many muscles at work at once, that it’ll convince you to buy a new pair of running shoes. To further elaborate on how the muscle groups work together, there’s an interactive art installation of bike wheels. THINK
The “Think” room explores one of the most complex computer networks on the planet: our brains. Looking at the back of one body, you can see how nerve bundles rope down the spine, and what a pinched nerve actually looks like. It helps you sympathize with those who’ve had back injuries. WHAT BECOMES OF US?
“We’ve gone through breathing, eating, moving, blood flow and thinking. But now I want to talk to you a little bit about death,” Zaller says. “About 51 percent of people in the world believe there’s some kind of afterlife. So we wanna knock on death’s door.” Zaller knocks on a black door, literally labeled “Death’s Door,” and we’re led down a dark hallway with a glimmer of light at the end. Quotes surrounding the circumstances of death line the walls. It’s a cold yet fantastic reenactment of “crossing over” to the other side. A re-creation of an ossuary, a catacomb-like wall of skulls,
greets us at the end. While the bones on display are fake, the wall is meant to inspire conversations on how other cultures honor the dead. For instance, people in Ghana bury the deceased in fantasy coffins—for example, if you’re a pilot, you’d be buried in an airplane-shaped coffin. REPAIR
The last stop of REAL BODIES promotes rest and recovery. Some specimens on display are dissected to show surgical augmentations to the body, from a plate in the arm to a metal ball-and-socket in the pelvis. You can also see how diseases such as tuberculosis and pulmonary heart congestion affect the organs—and the displays make the issues easy to understand. When you leave REAL BODIES, there’s one last display that encourages you to donate your body. “People don’t think about it,” Zaller says. “But once you see something like this, you realize, ‘Hey, I learned something. Maybe somebody can learn something from me.’” For more of our tour with Tom Zaller, visit VegasSeven.com/RealBodies
REAL BODIES
Daily, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., $15-$25, Bally’s, 702-777-2782.
PHOTOS BY EDISON GRAFF/STARDUST FALLOUT MEDIA
September 15-21, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
BREATHE
A&E
Creative Spaces Two local artists land DTLV residencies By Jessie O’Brien ➜ LOCAL ARTISTS and self-described best friends Justin “Favy” Favela and Mikayla Whitmore recently collaborated on Big Load, an installation inspired by their shared interest with swap-meet culture, which is on display at Southwestern Michigan College through October 6. “Mikayla has been taking pictures
of swap-meet booths for years, while I just shop,” Favela says. The artists are currently busy working on solo projects, after both landed residencies in Downtown Las Vegas: Favela at The Juhl, and Whitmore at The Neon Museum. Giant sheets of paper lie on the ground, next to a dead Big Bird-inspired piñata in a studio space off Fourth Street. Favela, the first artist-in-residence at the Downtown condominium complex, will soon transform that paper into works of papel picado (a Mexican folk-art style) for his upcoming PATRIMONIO exhibit, opening September 15 at City Hall’s Grand Gallery. The residency offers the artist a space to exhibit and create in, whether the works are destined for Juhl’s walls or an out-of-market museum. The artist’s accessible, playful works center on his identity as a Latino in America, though he is considering expanding his artistic commentary. “Women
Shakespeare’s First Folio visits UNLV Lied Library Special Collections
around the nation struggle to read and understand the archaic language of Shakespeare’s times, one in 10 of common English phrases can be sourced to the playwright. While many may not know of Shakespeare’s influence on our modern vocabulary, it’s no secret his drama has withstood centuries. Theater and film productions continue to work and rework Shakespeare plays, each time finding new ways to connect contemporary issues to his work. “Shakespeare still has power because of his stories and characters,” Light says. “They are timeless stories we can tell over and over again.” First Folio! will be at the Lied Library’s Special Collections until September 29. Visit to reconnect with your linguistic roots. –Shannon Miller
September 15-21, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
➜ First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shake-
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speare tours through Southern Nevada this month, and currently is at UNLV’s Lied Library. The exhibit features a copy of the Bard’s first collection of plays, published by two of his theater colleagues seven years after his 1616 death. The historic book, on tour from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., contains 36 plays—and 18 of them never would have been published otherwise, including Macbeth and Julius Caesar. A lot has changed since The First Folio’s release—digital technology, the internet and social media have revolutionized literary publication. In a world where Instagram, 140-character tweets or short blogs are much more likely to capture audiences
FIRST FOLIO!
than an early modern play, why care about a book published hundreds of years ago? “What struck me is how much Shakespeare influenced our language,” says Lied’s
director of Special Collections Michelle Light, pointing to a poster listing common phrases, such as “come full circle” and “into thin air.” While middle- and high-schoolers
UNLV Lied Library, through Sept. 29, free, 702-895-2111, Library.UNLV.edu.
FIRST FOLIO BY MARK DAMON/L AS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU
Work by Mikayla Whitmore (left); Justin Favela at work (right).
and minorities don’t get the same opportunities, because their work always has to be autobiographical for it to matter to institutions,” he says. “That’s something that I’m thinking about: making things a little bit broader.” He’s gearing up to debut a piece at the Denver Art Museum, in a February group show titled Mi Tierra that explores the contemporary Latino experience. Favela plans to re-create a scene from the 2002 Salma Hayek movie Frida made entirely out of paper, as a statement on the commodified image of the movie’s subject, surrealist painter Frida Kahlo. While Favela is taking on projects alone, photographer Whitmore is asking the public to participate in This Time Around at The Neon Museum. “I’m looking forward to working with the community and letting go of some of the control,” Whitmore says. Whitmore’s residency begins September 17 with a community art project, in which participants will fashion miniature replicas of neon signs from basic craft materials and “a ton of glitter.” Selected works will then come together to create a “surreal Strip” diorama that Whitmore will photograph and later display at UNLV’s Barrick Museum (Sept. 20- Oct. 7). The idea sprung from Whitmore’s fascination with memory, which is inspired by the Las Vegas native’s observation of the city’s perpetual rebuilding. She mentions the changes MGM went through from its original Wizard of Oz theme to the hotel’s former lionmouth entrance. “You start to doubt yourself,” she says. “There are only a few [original] places left.”
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This week’s must-see A&E events By I A N C A R A M A N Z A N A
➜ Cinco de Mayo has come and gone, but the biggest national holiday south of the border has yet to be celebrated. Mexico commemorates its Independence Day September 16, and if you’re an audiophile there might not be a better place to celebrate than right here in Las Vegas. Some of Latin music’s biggest and brightest stars have been spending the holiday playing shows on the Strip for several years now—and 2016 is no different, with acts both traditional and mainstream bringing their rock or pop en español to local audiences throughout the weekend. Here are a few shows where you can experience the action. ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ If his dad is “the King of Ranchera,” does that make him the prince of the beloved genre? Find out the answer Thursday night, when the Mexican folk/ pop crossover veteran fills MGM with his beautiful ballads and upbeat pop en español. If only Strip resident Rod Stewart would show up for a live performance of the pair’s “Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out.” MGM Grand Garden Arena, Sept. 15, 9 p.m., $69$225, 702-891-1111, MGMGrand.com. ENRIQUE IGLESIAS Maybe the most notable name in this year’s lineup, the Spanish-language artist-turnedmainstream U.S. pop star returns to the Strip for a weekend engagement at the Caesars Palace arena. The two shows mark the finale of Iglesias’ Sex and Love Tour, promoting the dual 2014 Spanish/ English album of the same name—so this could be your last chance for quite some time to feel the heat of “Bailamos” live. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Sept. 16-17, 8 p.m., $39.50-$300, 866-227-5938, TheColosseum.com. MANÁ You won’t want to be “Clavado en un bar” when the Guadalajara-born quartet take the stage, as it’ll be difficult to appreciate their arena-ready rock en español when you’re “nailed to a bar.” With 30 years of sold-out tours, platinum-status record sales and a
handful of Latin Grammy and Grammy awards on their résumé, it’s easy to see why Maná has been described as the U2 (or Nickelback, depending on who you’re talking to) of its genre. MGM Grand Garden Arena, Sept. 16, 8 p.m., $51$265, 702-891-1111, MGMGrand.com. JULION ALVAREZ Y SU NORTEÑA BANDA When the traditional Mexican
music artist announced a U.S. tour spanning 20-plus cities at coveted venues, Billboard called it a “historic first for a Norteño act.” While other Latin artists have played arenas similar to those on Alvarez’s tour, they haven’t toured them on such a grand scale. Pancho Barraza and El Coyote open. Mandalay Bay Events Center, Sept. 17, 9 p.m., $60$180, 702-632-7561, MandalayBay.com. EMMANUEL & MIJARES Two Latin pop icons, one stage. After the success of their initial Two’r Amigos tour, which saw sold-out crowds, the superduo launched a 2.0 version—and it hits Caesars Palace Thursday night. Expect a parade of Latin pop hits. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Sept. 15, 9 p.m., $73-$332, 866-227-5938, TheColosseum.com. MAGNETO Y MERCURIO Vegas is no stranger to boy-band reunions (think: Boyz II Men’s Mirage residency and numerous NKOTB performances), so Magneto and Mercurio should feel right at home when they team up for a Mexican boy-band double feature Saturday night. The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel, Sept. 16, 9:30 p.m., $38, 702-693-5000, HardRockHotel.com. GABRIEL IGLESIAS Looking for some risas in addition to some música this weekend? Known for sporting colorful Hawaiian-print shirts and his “Levels of Fatness” indicators, the Latino comedian routinely has audiences in stitches, often via his commentary on MexicanAmerican culture. See what’s on the self-described “fluffy” stand-up’s mind Friday and Saturday night during his return to Mirage’s Aces of Comedy lineup. Sept. 16-17, $65-$76, 10 p.m., The Mirage, 702-791-7111, Mirage.com.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Huntridge Through the Decades Closing Reception It’s your last chance to check out years of memorabilia from the historic Vegas landmark. Nevada State Museum, 6 p.m., free, 702486-5205, Museums.NevadaCulture.org/NSMLV-Home. Enrique Iglesias The “King of Latin Pop” brings his bilingual flavor to the Strip. Yes, he can be your “Hero.” The Colosseum, 8 p.m., $39.50-$300, 866-2275938, TheColosseum.com. O.A.R. The Rockville, Maryland, jam band continues to rock hard after 20 years. Brooklyn Bowl, 7:30 p.m., $42.50-$55, 702-862-2695; BrooklynBowl.com/Las-Vegas.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Black Sabbath Ozzy and company brought the influential band’s final tour to town in February, and they're coming back … again. MGM Grand Garden Arena, 7:30 p.m., $45-$165, 866-7407711, MGMGrand.com Counting Crows and Rob Thomas You can argue that both bands hit their
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Pour Habit The Long Beach, California, Fat Wreck Chords quintet fuse metal with punk. Sic Waiting, Avenues and Rayner open. Beauty Bar, 8 p.m., $10, 702-598-3757, BeautyBarLV.com. Lucha Libre Freakshow Wrestling brings some of the most popular masked warriors such as Damien 666 and Mariachi Loco to DTLV. Fremont Country Club, 3 p.m., $5-$15, 702-382-6601, Facebook.com/FremontCountryClub.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Pandora’s Box Louise Brooks portrays a mistress with uninhibited sexuality in the 1929 German silent film. The Sci Fi Center, 8 p.m., free, 855-5014335; TheSciFiCenter.com
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Experience the life story of the chart-topping singer through her songs. The Smith Center, 7:30 p.m., $29-$127, 702749-2000, TheSmithCenter.com.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Shayna Rain EP Release The local indie rock quartet celebrate a milestone with Paper Flowers, Glass Pools, Turvy Organ and Drunk Old Ladies. The Bunkhouse, 9 p.m., $5, 702-982-1764, BunkhouseDowntown.com. VegasSeven.com
Latin acts dominate this Mexican Independence Day By Mark Adams
peak in the ’90s, but you can’t argue the lasting power of “Mr. Jones” and “Bent.” Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, 8 p.m., $35-$260+, 800-745-3000, DLVEC.com. Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters You’ve seen him on the screen, now see him on the stage. The actor/filmmaker tests his chops in blues rock. The Cannery, 8 p.m., $25-$35, 702507-5700, CanneryCasino.com.
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Viva La Mœsica!
Jenny Odell The San Francisco artist speaks about her concept of recontextualizing history through everyday items. Barrick Museum at UNLV, 7 p.m., free, 702-8953381, UNLV.edu/BarrickMuseum. Glacier Veins, Guts, Groomlake, Kat Kalling, Luna Flore DTLV’s record store hosts a local music extravaganza, and brings in a Portland, Oregon, indie band to headline. 11th Street Records, 5 p.m., $5, 702527-7990, 11thStreetRecords.com. Bring on the Bad Guys Majestic Repertory Theatre kicks off its inaugural season with a villainthemed costume party. Good guys, beware. Millennium Fandom Bar, 6 p.m., free, 702-405-0816, MillenniumFandomBar.com.
September 15-21, 2016
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My wife took me in that direction. It’s like a stand-up comedian [vibe]. She said, “Now’s your chance” and it was awesome. She said “wing it and let’s make a show out of it”—and that’s what we did, we made new shows. Do you change out the stories within the show?
Absolutely. That’s what happened to the [original] show we did. The first time we did this it was two and a half hours long, and no one was sleeping, they were all listening. I was dripping with sweat after it, so we cut it down and made a show out of it. That’s how we got to this one. What’s your favorite part of being in front of a live audience?
It’s really all about testing yourself. Are you really funny? Are you intriguing? Do you really want to hear what you have to say? I don’t, but people do.
September 15-21, 2016
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VegasSeven.com
Your cartoon, Mike Tyson Mysteries, has been a major success. Between the show and everything else, did you ever imagine you’d be a cartoon character?
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Mike Tyson
The legendary boxer on learning how to love himself By Melinda Sheckells
No. Mike Tyson, the worst man on the planet, heavyweight champ, $35 million a fight, the cartoon wouldn’t touch me with a hundred-foot pole. Wouldn’t come near me. You have to go through growing stages in your life. Being the richest athlete and with everything going for me, the cartoon touched me. It’s so bizarre. The perception has changed. It feels uncomfortable that everybody appears to be, “Hey, we love you,”
when it was the reverse before. You have to work on accepting this love and loving yourself. It’s a process! The American public— they love you, hate you the next moment, and then love you again. How does that feel?
It is a vicious cycle. The cycle gets really tyrannical. You’re only as strong as your last breakdown. This guy is strong, he’s been hanging out for 30 years, he’s not going to break, but he broke because he’s been fighting too long. Only the strong survive, and that’s the vicious cycle. We’re all strong, but we’re going to break if we’re fighting too long.
MIKE TYSON UNDISPUTED TRUTH LIVE ON STAGE
Thursday to Sunday, $55-$75, 10 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, MGMGrand.com
If 50-year-old Mike could talk to 20-year-old Mike, what would he say?
I’m just very grateful. I got old too fast, and smart too late. I’m still alive. Most people aren’t alive who endured what I endured. I’m very lucky. Luck is my greatest exponent. What is the most surprising thing about the journey you’ve gone through since you started telling your life story on stage?
It didn’t start easy. It was gritty and hard, and dark. I said, “I don’t know who my father is,” and the audience laughed. Boom! My baby says, “They’re laughing. Keep going out there; it’s a good show.” It went from a hard, tough guy show to a comedy stand-up [show]. Sometimes the hardest things in life end up the funniest.
PHOTO BY JERRY METELLUS
SEVEN QUESTIONS
Your show Undisputed Truth Live On Stage has changed in direction and tone from when it first debuted in 2012 . It is much more intimate and lighthearted. Is this a direction you wanted to take for a while?