Design of the Times | Vegas Seven Magazine | Oct. 13-19, 2016

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THE SPACES

WE COVET

DESIGN OF THE TIMES

Blue Heron is a family-owned Design/Build firm, founded with a commitment to exceptional architecture and outstanding quality of construction. With deep roots in the Las Vegas community, father/son team Steve and Tyler Jones have created an innovative architectural style called “Vegas Modern” in response to the climate, culture and lifestyle of their esteemed hometown. Many have imitated but there is only one original…

VISIT OUR AWARD-WINNING SHOW HOME | OPEN DAILY 1320 Villa Barolo Avenue, Henderson, Nevada 89052

702.531.3000

BLUEHERON.COM

ARCHITECTURE | INTERIOR DESIGN | CONSTRUCTION | FURNISHINGS

ON THE COVER

Read Vegas Seven right-side up and UIFO nJQ JU PWFS BOE TUBSU BHBJO XJUI (7) SEVEN NIGHTS, featuring after-dark FOUFSUBJONFOU BOE UIF XFFL T OJHIUMJGF happenings.

HOME & DESIGN ISSUE Photography EVAN HASLEGRAVE

SEVEN NIGHTS: BRUNO MARS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OCTOBER 13-19, 2016 FEATURE: HOME + DESIGN

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Into the Woods

A penthouse at Soho Lofts represents the modern desert aesthetic.

BY KRISTEN PETERSON PLUS: Living in Las Vegas—a look inside three communities that exemplify desert living in all its forms.

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Rolling Stones vs.

Presidential Debate

Two legendary events descend on the city on the same night.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS PLUS: 8IBU UIF mOBM QSFTJEFOUJBM debate could mean for UNLV, Politics and the week’s best tweets.

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Life in Pictures

TO DO

Congressman John Lewis’ graphic novel proves heroes don’t always wear capes.

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24/7

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

Events around the clock in Las Vegas.

BY SHANNON MILLER AND BOB WHITBY

Get Outdoors Nevada Day and Downtown’s Globe Salon celebrates a birthday PLUS:

PLUS: Two noteworthy charities giving back to Southern Nevada.

SPACES AND PLACES

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The Grandeur the Better

TASTE

Restoration Hardware comes to Las Vegas.

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BY JESSI C. ACUÑA

One Bite: Cannoli Doughnut Carlo’s Bakery’s breakfast treat is to die for.

BY GENEVIE DURANO

PLUS: Designer Alessandro Munge of Libertine Social, and Mark Shunock of Mondays Dark gears up to open The Space.

OUR SITES TO SEE

9HJDV6HYHQ FRP 1RZ 6HUYLQJ 8F UBLF UIF mSTU CJUF PO SFTUBVSBOU PQFOJOHT BSPVOE town. Head to 9HJDV6HYHQ FRP 1RZ6HUYLQJ and get a sampling of Casa del Matador and the Benihana at Fashion Show.

'7/9 FRP

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CONVERSATIONS

Chef on the Move

Creative director Kelly Bennett gives VegeNation a seat at the community table.

Wall-to-Wall

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)PME PO UP ZPVS nVGGZ QBODBLFT $IFG )BOTFM 5BO JT leaving Downtown’s go-to brunch spot, The Smashed Pig, for chef-owner Natalie Young’s Chinese and Southern-fried chicken joint. Read more on '7/9 FRP.

Vegan Visions

BY DIANA EDELMAN

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Two classic Vegas Steakhouses are refreshed for a new era and audience.

BY AL MANCINI PLUS: Dish

The designer of PublicUs offers a holistic approach with Agent Mindfull. %< -(66,( 2·%5,(1

High Steaks

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS BY ZACH MCKEE

Little Shop of Horrors.

& Tell.

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

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0DLQ 6WUHHW·V 1HZ Shop

Majestic Repertory Theatre kicks off its new season with Little Shop of Horrors.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

Local design and fabrication shop freeform aims for originality, Vegas Valley Book Festival and Ask a Native.

PLUS:

ON THE FLIP SIDE 7KH 1HZ 5RRP A behind-the-scenes at Park Theater, where Bruno Mars just landed an extended engagement.

5XQ5HEV FRP Hoopla What can we expect from the Runninâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rebels in Marvin .FO[JF T mSTU ZFBS BT IFBE DPBDI (P UP 5XQ5HEV FRP for the latest in previews and predictions.

6S\2Q9HJDV FRP The Hookup Find upcoming events, see highlights from the hottest parties, meet the DJs and more.

BY MARK ADAMS PLUS: Seven Nights, Dillon Francis, Andrew W.K., Frosé at the Lavo Party Brunch, and the best places to dance on the furniture.

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK …

The Art of PublicUs

Ryan T. Doherty | Justin Weniger President Michael Skenandore &KLHI )LQDQFLDO 2IÀFHU Sim Salzman Vice President, Marketing and Events Keith White Creative Director Sherwin Yumul Graphic Designer Javon Issac Technical Director Herbert Akinyele Controller Jane Weigel

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP Vegas Seven 701 Bridger Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101 702-798-7000 Vegas Seven is distributed each Thursday throughout Southern Nevada. © 2016 Vegas Seven, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of Vegas Seven, LLC is prohibited.

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PHOTO BY ANTHONY MAIR

Letters and Story Ideas Comments@VegasSeven.com Advertising Sales@VegasSeven.com Distribution Distribution@VegasSeven.com

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John Tobin

INTO THE WOODS A penthouse at Soho Lofts represents the modern desert aesthetic

By Kristen Peterson

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Photography Evan Haslegrave of Home Studios

September 29 - October 5 , 2016 vegasseven.com

The two-story living room features a wood mural behind the three-television console.

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JAMES WEIDNER PHOTO BY ANTHONY MAIR

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J

ames Weidner opens the door to his penthouse in Soho Lofts where the woody scent of American pickled oak—characterized by its light finish—wafts from a cozy entryway. The rustic timber covers the walls, floors and spiral staircase, then continues into the vast living room where 18-foot-tall windows frame the mountains in the distance and the streets below.

Having grown up in New Jersey amid birch and aspen trees, Weidner expresses his appreciation for natural materials when designing the 4,300-square-foot penthouse in the Downtown residential complex. It was a “gray concrete shell” when he purchased it five years ago: no interior walls, no kitchen or bathroom. To turn it into a home, he worked with Evan and Oliver Haslegrave, designers who founded New York’s Home Studios. The award-winning firm is known for the stylish interiors of boutique bars and restaurants in New York City, like Elsa, a Weidner haunt when he lived there. Impressed by the way those environments gave him the sense of having an extended living room—a reprieve from his cramped Manhattan apartment—Weidner enlisted them to work on his new home in Las Vegas.

Rather than re-creating the firm’s Brooklyn aesthetic or classic East Coast style, they focused on Weidner’s desire for desert modern, working closely with Maderas Collective, a company in Nicaragua that makes handcrafted furniture from sustainable sources, of which Weidner is a partner. The result is a warm and cozy Scandinavian minimalist feel with masculine tones, quite an achievement for such an open space.

“When a place gets built here and it’s dark brick and has a fireplace, I always wonder why,” Weidner says. “I wanted something that felt local, something that communicated with the desert.”

On a recent Friday afternoon, the sun filled the two-story condo, landing on custom-made furniture built from Nicaraguan wood, giving energy to potted trees and mature cacti.

The rustic materials are allowed to be themselves so that natural grains, cracks, knots and dings appear in the wood, and imperfect ceramic tiles cover the kitchen.

A brilliant and colorful print by the Luo Brothers, merging pop art and politics to critique consumerism and East-meets-West culture, hangs in the stairway, joining works by Raymond Pettibon and John Baldessari.

The 12-foot wood tapestry that hangs above a custom-made wood console in the living room enhances the natural feel of the home. The wood stays visible when Weidner commands three TVs to emerge from the console using his cellphone.

“I have a healthy enjoyment of sports betting,” he says with a smile. “The tapestry is something for when the TVs are asleep.”

Opposite page: James Weidner bellies up to the kitchen bar. Above: Living room coffee table and chairs.

Below: The master bathroom.

September 29 - October 5 , 2016 vegasseven.com

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THE DETAILS INDOOR GARDEN: To bring nature into the space, Weidner enlisted the personalized service of Las Vegasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Interior Gardens, a local company responsible for his indoor trees, large cacti and other potted plants, including the leafy greens beginning to fill cubed clear shelves in the loft overlooking the living room.

CHANDELIER: A rectangular and custom-made chandelier made of brass piping and LED lights (think cherry picker basket) combines elegance with a masculine urban feel.

The bar: A single slab of dark Nicaraguan hard wood serves as the bar top, with matching stools lining it. The brass on the bar back with a tap mimics a brass chandelier in the living room.

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The project took five years, partly because of his travels and partly because everything was custom designed and then shipped to Las Vegas.

Weidner originally moved to town with his family at the age of 13, attending the Meadows School then heading off to Northwestern to study business and earning a master’s in literature from Columbia and the University of Edinburgh, with plans to become a college professor. Instead he joined the family business (his father is William Weidner, former president and CEO of Las Vegas Sands). Now, the younger Weidner is managing partner for his family’s interest in Lucky Dragon, a boutique hotel/casino under construction on Sahara just off the Strip, but travels between Asia, Central America and the U.S. most of the year for business.

His loft was Home Studios’ first residential unit in Las Vegas. Nearly everything is wood, from the sliding barn doors to custom cabinets and counters. “We wanted a stress test [for Maderas Collective] and we got a stress test,” Weidner says humorously.

The project got a nod in Architectural Digest earlier this year with photos featuring the spacious interior, highlighting the sharp contrast between black metal and pickled oak tiles on the walls and living room staircase. The pattern repeats itself under the stairs.

There, a small nook becomes a seating area off the bar, adjacent to the dining room which features hexagonal ceramic mosaic tiles inlaid into the wood floor as a sort of area rug, a design element that’s also found on a nearby hallway wall. Bone-colored tiles blanket the kitchen, meeting the pickled oak and barrel-vaulted tiled ceiling. The customized island counter made of Nicaraguan wood stretches the length of the kitchen separating it from the living room.

But it’s the entryway that defines the entire loft, offering a “nice warm hug when you get home,” Weidner says. From there, spiral stairs lead up to a library, built in a semicircle, connecting to Weidner’s workspace that overlooks the living room with a view of the Strip.

Though his job keeps him traveling, once the penthouse was finished, Weidner says, “It felt like home.”

Opposite page, clockwise: the seating area under the stairs; cacti from Interior Gardens; hallway with tile pattern; a single slab of wood meeting concrete; and the custom chandelier in the living room; This page, above: The kitchen.

Below: Looking out from the master bedroom across the open living room.

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SECTION

Living in Las Vegas

By Ashley Miles, Ally Tatosian and T.R. Witcher Photography Anthony Mair

A LOOK INSIDE THREE COMMUNITIES THAT EXEMPLIFY DESERT NESTING IN ALL ITS FORMS

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For Sale

On the side of both luxury and convenience is The Residences at Mandarin Oriental. Fans of the internationally renowned hotel brand can check in for more than just a weekend stay, snapping up one of these featured units that are currently on the market.

#3308

designed by Linda Tatum, faces the Las Vegas Strip and has views of lights as far as the eye can see. The 2,910-square-foot apartment is for those who want to live turnkey. Fully furnished, it sells for $2.75 million.

#4307

designed by Pedram Rahimi, is part of the penthouse collection. Facing west for the best possible views of Red Rock Canyon, this 2,167-square-foot home is also furnished and sells for $2.35 million. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Ally Tatosian

OPPOSITE PAGE The formal living room of unit #3308. The intersection of elegance and comfort comes with a view of the bustling Las Vegas Strip.

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE Modern living space/master bedrooms of unit #4307.

A spacious room perfect for winding down can be turned into two master bedrooms ZLWK WKH VQDS RI D Ă&#x20AC;QJHU DV D disappearing wall descends between each area.

Kitchen of unit #4307. With Brazilian Copa Cabana granite on the steel-framed island, Poggenpohl cabinetry, Emtek hardware and a full suite of Dacor appliances, this is the perfect place to cook up a gourmet meal after a strenuous day of shopping or relaxing by the pool.

Dining room of unit #3308.

A mirror-lined wall connected to a stunning view of the Strip is topped off with a glimmering chandelier to make for a memorable feasting experience.

Master bedroom of unit #3308 With two master bedrooms, #3308 is fully furnished and works as either a primary or a vacation residence.

Living room of unit #4307.

Large windows give plenty of natural light, accented by 10-foot vaulted ceilings.

Custom-made furniture by Pedram Rahimi.

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For Rent

HOME + DESIGN

Elysian at The District isn’t standard apartment living — it

includes a multitude of opulent amenities guaranteed to spoil its occupants.

Located in Henderson, across from Green Valley Ranch Hotel and Casino, the posh apartment community offers endless opportunities for local entertainment and is even within walking distance of a colossal Whole Foods. With an emphasis on community inclusion and healthy living, Elysian at The District serves as a viable living option for the dog-owning, yoga-loving health nut in all of us.

Pool

Take a dip in Elysian’s resort-style pools and spas equipped with private cabanas. Additional picnic and barbecue areas and even an outdoor movie theatre give residents the perfect location to host backyard get-togethers. The property is also exceptionally pet friendly and offers a variety of related amenities, including a pet spa, washing station and dog park.

Gym

Elysian at The District exemplifies healthy living. Occupants are given 24/7 access to a 2,500-square-foot fitness center equipped with cardio machines, weight training, boxing and crossfit equipment, as well as a virtual training system that serves as a personal instructor. The property also offers bicycle rentals when residents wish to exercise out in the fresh outdoors.

To ensure healthy indoor conditions, the “Elysian Well” apartments feature air purification systems and vitamin C-infused showers to reduce chlorine and other chemicals that harm skin and hair.

Clubhouse

With three different clubhouses totaling 8,000 square feet, residents are treated to a variety of different communal features, including a lounge and café with Wi-Fi, a game room equipped with arcade machines and pool

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October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

tables, and a club room with a bar.

Elysian occupants are part of an inclusive community with plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle with neighbors through private clubhouse events.

Kitchen

With over 30 diverse floor plans, apartments include upgraded fixtures and ultramodern kitchens featuring stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, expansive pantries and premium hardwood cabinetry.

Bedroom

All units include plush wall-to-wall carpet, roller shades and spacious walk-in closets.

Continuing with the theme of leisure, these apartments also feature large balconies with outstanding views of the serene mountains or rather electrifying Las Vegas Strip.

–Ashley Miles

HOME + DESIGN

In Blueprint Blue Heron

may be best known for massive, super-modern manses on the edge of town like Marquis Seven Hills, but the company actually got its start with infill projects on the west side of Las Vegas (Buffalo Drive and Oakey Boulevard, Sahara Avenue and Cimarron Road) and Sunset Park.

However, they have never attempted to build so close to the city’s center until now. The high-end custom home developer is taking the wraps off its new project, a small, four-lot development called Midtown Modern.

“We probably were looking at this for 18 months before we purchased it,” says founder and owner Tyler Jones. “You have to be really surgical if you want to be in the city center. There’s not a whole lot of undeveloped land available. We’ve been looking to do something like this for a long time.”

Midtown Modern will be built in the Scotch 80s/Rancho Circle area, located between Downtown and the Springs Preserve. It’s the kind of homegrown, organic neighborhood that is rare in the city, a historic, tree-lined ’hood filled with all sorts of styles, from mid-century modern to ranch homes to Mediterranean-style residences.

The four lots, located near Campbell Drive and Pinto Lane, each will take up an unusually spacious half-acre lot (these are rare, even on golf club communities), and the lack of restrictive covenants and design review guidelines common in master-planned developments will give Blue Heron a lot of flexibility.

“We’re really, really taking [what is appropriate] very seriously,” Jones says. “What types of homes are going to work well in this neighborhood?

It’s a fun design question and challenge.”

Blue Heron plans to take its signature style, which it calls Vegas Modern—with an emphasis on connected floor plans, indoor-outdoor living and cutting-edge sustainable technology—and then, Jones says, “spin the aesthetic” with a nod toward Vegas’ heritage of mid-century modern architecture.

“There are a lot of people who are big fans of that style. There’s really a community of people who appreciate that. We want to be true to that,” Jones says. So expect details like overhanging butterfly roofs, clerestory glass that will marry up to deliberately thin roofs and dramatic massing of chunky stones and cinderblock walls.

The company is finishing up the approvals to subdivide the land.

Homes should start in the $2 million range—but buyers can go much higher if they have the imagination.

“I think they’ll sell pretty quickly,” he says.

When Jones first began Blue Heron, he had more than his share of naysayers who warned that modern design wouldn’t fly in Las Vegas.

These days, even larger homebuilders are incorporating modern elements into their work.

“I think we’re just at the beginning of that trend. Many people are sick and tired of the same old Mediterranean stuff,” Jones says “It’s refreshing to see people try to do something different.”

Jones says he is approached two or three times a week about developing smaller, more affordable Blue Heron homes. The economics are a challenge. “We’re a small company, very focused on [the] quality of the work we do, both the design and construction. [We] can’t take on too much or grow too quickly and maintain that quality,” he says.

At the same time, he knows the demand is there. “As we do steadily grow and increase our capacity here in Las Vegas, that’s probably the next thing you’ll see from Blue Heron. We’ll be working toward more affordable, smaller versions of what we’ve been doing for the last 13 years.

There’s a huge demand.” –T.R. Witcher

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

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TO DO

Thursday 13 Catch some preseason NBA action at T-Mobile Arena, when the L.A. Lakers take on the Sacramento Kings at 7:30 p.m. T-MobileArena.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY BAL AZS GARDI/REDBULL

Tattoo art collective Industry Supporting Industry’s Totem Soul promises art, live music and DJ sets at Commonwealth. Kick back to quieter performances in the first-floor lounge, or get down to electronic beats up on the rooftop. CommonwealthLV.com Unwind in luxury to the pop, soul and R&B tones of French singer Lou Lou White at Mandarin Bar. Enjoy incredible views, cocktails, music and vibes starting at 9 p.m. MandarinOriental.com

year? Panelists will be chewing on that question during The 2016 Election: Why Las Vegas Matters, as they discuss issues important to the region such as immigration, security and health care, 1 p.m. at UNLV’s Greenspun Hall. UNLV.edu

of beer! Starting at 2 p.m., 30 regional and national breweries will showcase their craft and seasonal offerings. Village restaurants throughout the festival will feature lunch and dinner specials, and event proceeds benefit UNLV’s nonprofit radio station, KUNV. MLVBF.com

The Red Bull Air Race wraps up its season on Sunday.

Friday 14 How about a blend of ska and reggae to wind down after a crazy week? Catch Sublime With Rome at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. The Expendables and One Pin Short open, with doors opening at 8 p.m. DLVEC.com Short films are a training ground for upand-coming producers, writers, directors and actors. The College of Southern Nevada’s Short Film Showcase, 6:30 p.m. at the Cheyenne Campus, highlights the best of the school’s burgeoning talent pool. It’s two hours of shorts, documentaries and narratives, and the price is right: $1. NevadaFilm.com

MC Mike Jones will take the crowd back to the 2000s during LAX Nightclub’s Throwback Thursdays promo.

Rewind with 2005’s “Back Then,” and get pumped for Jones’ upcoming album release, slated for later this year. Luxor.com

Saturday 15

Why are Las Vegas and Southern Nevada especially important during an election

The MonteLago Village Beerfest returns to Lake Las Vegas with live music, specialty vendors and, of course, plenty

If you’re a fan of Glee’s Warblers or Pitch Perfect’s Treblemakers, there’s one place for you to be Saturday night: Reynolds Hall, as male a cappella veterans Straight No Chaser take their I’ll Have Another … 20th Anniversary Tour to The Smith Center at 8 p.m. TheSmithCenter.com Stand-up comedian. Game-show host.

Songwriter. Lead in a hit Broadway show. Yes, it seems Wayne Brady has done it all. Catch him at The Mirage at 10 p.m. when the funnyman returns to his comedy roots.

You might have heard Ruth B’s whimsical, platinum single “Lost Boy.” Catch her when she opens for Alessia Cara at the Foundry, where doors open at 6:30 p.m. Her strippeddown, piano-accompanied tracks are sure to take you to Neverland. FoundryLV.com

24/7 What to do around the clock in Las Vegas

By Shannon Miller and Bob Whitby

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

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TO DO

Drink Comps Under Siege WHEN I FIRST BEGAN WRITING THIS COLUMN, ONE

Join New Vista Community on the last Wine Walk of the season at Town Square, starting at 7 p.m. Enjoy shopping, entertainment and food pairings for the wines that will be poured, all while supporting New Vista’s mission to provide equal opportunities to intellectually challenged children and adults.

WineWalkLV.com Comedian, magician and self-described cowboy James Michael opens Redneck Comedy Magic at the Stratosphere at 6 p.m. This triple threat promises raunchy stand-up and mind-blowing magic, all in that distinctive country drawl. RedneckComedyMagic.com

They collaborated in the early aughts to produce radio megahits “Always on Time” and “Mesmerize,” and now they’re bringing some throwback flavor to Brooklyn Bowl. Catch Ja Rule and Ashanti “Livin’ It Up” at the Linq venue at 7:30 p.m. BrooklynBowl.com/Las-Vegas Want to write poetry like Charles Bukowski? Put down the liquor and get over to the Clark County Library’s Jewel Box Theater at 6 p.m. for Writing & Performing Poetry Using the Charles Bukowski Method, a seminar with English professor Lee Mallory. LVCCLD.org

Supercross is a combination of crazy stunt riding and motocross that features some of the best dirt bike riders in the world. Start your high-octane weekend with the Monster Energy Cup, held from noon to 10 p.m., at Sam Boyd Stadium. SuperCrossLive.com

Mark Shunock hosts Mondays Dark at 9:30 p.m. The Rock of Ages vet joins an eclectic cast of celebrity and local performers for a night of music, comedy and entertainment, which also will raise awareness of and support the local Candlelighters charity. HardRockHotel.com

Sunday 16

Tuesday 18

Let’s continue with planes skimming the ground at 250 mph through a series of inflatable pylons, which may sound insane but is actually a sport.

The Red Bull Air Race series winds up its season 10 a.m. Saturday through today at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If you dig speed and precision, there is no finer show. RedBullAirRace.com

The Las Vegas Arts Guild is dedicated to showcasing local talent, and its Fall Art Show is happening through November 12 at Henderson’s Green Valley Library. Stop in and see what’s happening creatively around town. HendersonLibraries.com

Ruth B opens for Alessia Cara (above) at the Foundry inside SLS.

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Wednesday 19 What could we possibly add to the oceans of ink already lavished on the world’s most iconic band? Only this: The Rolling Stones are playing T-Mobile Arena at 8 p.m. (with a follow-up show on October 22), and you’d be wise to see them now—50 years of the rock lifestyle is hard on anyone, and they aren’t getting any younger. T-MobileArena.com

of my earliest submissions was titled “The Mighty Drink Comp.” Drinking “free” on video poker play is a fundamental value maneuver and one that’s been a Las Vegas tradition for decades. But will that continue?

Recent developments have put this time-honored practice in jeopardy.

It started with some “testing” of systems to control comping in select bars at some of the bigger casinos.

For example, The Mirage has been experimenting with a voucher system for quite some time. But now some casinos have gone beyond experimentation. The Cosmopolitan recently went to a voucher system at all of its bars. And it’s just been announced (quietly) that Caesars Entertainment has installed controls at its bars, too. The CET system works differently, employing a light prompt on the backs of the machines that indicates when a patron has played enough to be comped a drink, but both the lights and the vouchers are a form of comp control.

The first instinct is to assume that it’s just another take-back by the casinos: Cut those free drinks and save some money, right? Actually, I don’t think it is, and I have two reasons for feeling that way.

The first comes from talking to insiders who insist that the customer isn’t the target of this move, not even those who blatantly seek to game the casinos by sticking $20 in a machine, then playing one quarter every few minutes to score free drinks. Rather, the target is employee theft, which is enabled by the ability to comp at a cash bar — when a customer pays cash, that money can be pocketed and the drink charged to a comp. It’s a problem that voucher issuance eliminates. The lights system isn’t as effective, but it’s still an extra safeguard against theft. It’ll be a while before we know for sure what’s behind the move, but this explanation seems to be supported by the fact that only cash-bar comping is affected thus far, not the serving of drinks at machines on the floor or in the pit.

The second reason the new controls don’t bother me (yet) is empirical, meaning I’ve test-driven them. The first time I counted down a voucher system on a 25-cent game, the first ticket was dispensed (it comes out of the machine’s money slot) after five hands. The second time it was eight hands from the start. When I played through, the longest duration between voucher delivery was 64 hands, and others came much sooner. To be honest, I couldn’t drink fast enough and walked with two vouchers in my pocket. No one’s being chiseled here.

Of course, more research needs to be done on more systems. And if it turns out that it really is a dirty deal aimed at the customer, there will always be plenty of alternatives to the big guys that are imposing the restrictions. 7 Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.

THE DEAL

By Anthony Curtis

WAYNE BRADY OCTOBER 15

This Emmy award winner is recognized for his Individual Performance in the comedy series “Whose line is it anyway?” Brady hosted his own syndicated talk/variety show “The Wayne Brady Show” for two years, received two Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show Host and the show also won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show.

• 702.792.7777 TM

BEST COMEDY SERIES - as chosen by the Editors of Vegas/Rated Magazine

BEST COMEDY CALENDAR – 2013 Las Vegas Weekly Awards

"...THE STRONGEST LINEUP OF TOP-TIER COMEDIANS ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET.” - John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Weekly

BEST COMEDY SHOW - IN Vegas Magazine BEST COMEDY SHOWCASE - Vegas Seven Magazine Best of the City

TO DO

When LEGO Becomes Art Nathan Sawaya introduces Park People

By Amber Sampson LOOKING AT NATHAN SAWAYA’S ARTWORK IS LIKE stepping into a time machine. From the moment you lay eyes on it, you’re transported back to your living room carpet at age 7, building the tallest skyscraper you can imagine with a mishmash of LEGO bricks. In creating life-size, human LEGO sculptures, Sawaya has found a way to remain youthful, while simultaneously jogging memories of our own childhoods.

The artist’s most notable exhibition of LEGO works, The Art of the Brick, has spanned the globe, and his work has been displayed in cities on every continent except Antarctica. On October 14, Las Vegas will join that rank when Sawaya debuts his latest installation, Park People, at … you guessed it, The Park.

“For me, I like to put art in unexpected places,” says Sawaya, who left his life as a lawyer in 2004 to “play with toys” full-time. “What’s more unexpected than walking along the park [and] seeing a full-size LEGO sculpture?”

Taking photos with Sawaya’s nine Park People is highly encouraged, he says. Everyone does it, even President Obama.

Some people even speak to the sculptures.

“These figures have become the perfect secret keepers,” Sawaya says.

“You can tell them anything and they will never, ever give up your secret. It’s been fascinating to watch.”

Sawaya’s creation process is very much like traditional sculpting. To ensure everything remains intact, he individually glues every LEGO brick he lays, which he says is a serious test of patience. If something goes awry, he’s forced to chisel away at his creation and start fresh. Because of how much he travels, Sawaya says he’s never short of inspiration. Artists such as Antony Gormley and Tom Freeman also influence him greatly.

Sawaya’s main goal, however, is to inspire others. “The reason I use LEGO bricks is because everyone’s played with them,” he says. “It makes the art accessible. Someone can go and see a marble statue, and they will appreciate it, but it’s very doubtful they’ll have marble at home [that] they can chip away at. …

It allows them to connect to my artwork on a different level.”

When you visit Park People this week, just remember to thank Sawaya for his sacrifice. There’s no telling how many LEGO pieces he’s stepped on to create these things, and with hundreds of thousands of bricks in his studio, we’re guessing it was plenty. “I don’t even feel it anymore,” he says. 7

BY THE NUMBERS

PARK PEOPLE 2-3

Average weeks it takes to create a life-size human sculpture of LEGO bricks.

15,000 - 25,000

The number of LEGO bricks it takes to create a life-size sculpture.

5,000,000

Estimated number of LEGO bricks Sawaya has in his art studio.

100

Estimated number of pounds a human sculpture made of LEGO bricks weighs.

The only thing better than the weather in Las Vegas right now is enjoying the weather with a drink in hand. You can do just that at Crafts & Cocktails, an outdoor craft beer and cocktail experience at the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool (6-10 p.m., Oct. 15, CosmopolitanLasVegas.com/Crafts-Cocktails). Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits comes strong with 75 beers from local, regional and national breweries, including Great Basin Brewing Co., Big Dog’s Brewing Co., Firestone Walker Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing Co. and Anchor Brewing Co. On the mixed-drink side, property mixologist Mariena Mercer has created a menu of five fall-inspired cocktails, including the Cold Shoulder (an autumnal mule with apricot chai and ginger), Comedy of Errors (apple cider and whiskey) and Strange Brew (a play on the Brandy Crusta). With a second ticket, you can pair brews with beer-friendly eats such as house-made bratwurst, a Boulevard Burger with aged cheddar and bacon jam and char-grilled Sriracha honey chicken wings. Tickets start at $40. –Xania Woodman 30

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

BOULEVARD BY THOMAS HART SHELBY

Get Your Drink On

THIS WEEKEND

SATURDAY • OCTOBER 15

alessia cara WITH

ruth b & nathan sykes UPCOMING SHOWS SATURDAY • OCTOBER 22 FRIDAY • OCTOBER 21

the fray

bad religion

WITH

AMERICAN AUTHORS

SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 5

SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 12

alejandra guzman

ms. lauryn hill

FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 18

lukas graham

TO DO

Get Outdoors Nevada Day Highlights National Park Service Centennial If you’re a Nevadan who makes a habit of hiking at Red Rock, or if you simply enjoy a walk in the park, don’t miss the third annual Get Outdoors Nevada Day (GetOutdoorsNevadaDay.org) on October 15. Hosted by the Outside Las Vegas Foundation, the free community event at Lorenzi Park will feature more than 70 exhibitors, live music, food vendors, kid-friendly activities, BMX and kayak demonstrations, a climbing wall and a rope bridge.

As part of the celebration of its 100th anniversary, the National Park Service is sponsoring the event and will honor volunteers who have given thousands of hours to preserving our outdoor spaces, which seems fitting at one of the oldest parks in the Valley.

“Nevadans have many things they can celebrate, and the outdoors is one of them,” says Mauricia Baca, executive director of the Outside Las Vegas Foundation. “Residents and visitors discover that it’s an untapped resource in Las Vegas.

Walking trails, climbing and kayaking lead to a great quality of life.” -Kayla Dean

Learn how to kayak at Get Outdoors Nevada Day.

SALON SALUTE Raise a glass to Globe’s anniversary

Celebrate the 16th anniversary of Downtown’s beloved Globe Salon, a Las Vegas gem that was named one of Elle magazine’s “Top 100 Salons” in 2011. The festivities will be held at Tenaya Creek Brewery on October 15 from 6-9 p.m. and will include drink specials, complimentary snacks from the Rolling Fusion food truck, live entertainment and a charity raffle benefiting the Rape Crisis Center.

Originally opened in October 2000, the locally owned salon relocated to the Soho Lofts in the Las Vegas Arts District in July 2008. “When we moved Downtown, we weren’t taking a leap of faith,” says salon director Staci Linklater. “We knew where we wanted to be in 2000, but it was way too soon. Even in 2008, when we opened in Soho Lofts, Downtown was still a question mark for a lot of people, but circumstances meant it was time for us to make the

Model Shelbi Byrnes, with hair by Globe Salon, makeup by L Makeup Institute, wardrobe by KT Moss and photography by Square Shooting.

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move. At the time, most of the places that people think of when they think of Downtown weren’t even built yet.”

Despite initially facing a great deal of uncertainty from clients, the salon benefited as the revitalization of DTLV gradually revamped the area and brought about new, unique businesses. More high-end salons consequently opened in the area, with some seeing success and others facing failure.

“There is no such thing as ‘open and they will come,’” Linklater says.

Now that it’s been eight years since the move, Linklater claims that Globe Salon’s location has helped the business in numerous ways. “The challenges forced us to become better at what we do, to just dig in and do the work,” she says. “With the recession mostly behind us, more people living in and near Downtown have only helped us. The transformation has been awesome to watch.” –Ashley Miles

TIM

E G O ET

T

D E P R WA

ter s t . c a r a f ch nt Stree o t e nt s r Fr emo e r e f f A di k ing ove s s . a ar e t t o impr e HING s C s T e A r W D

PLE O E P LINE P EPIC I C Z I S E IM AT E MU T V I L L U FREE R L D’ S O G W AU RIN L T L A I E Z F SLOT ME S ERIENCE A G I V E IE E X P PL AY T S C I A D ITA L INTERSER ZOMB G I D GE ST A LA R A L ST ION S I V D VIVA E WORL TH H T N I

H T. 1 G I 3 R THE O 5 T TEP R S E A B HEN O T D T . AN T OC F E EL O TH PT M U J

S UEEN Q R FOU A GGET U D T N E S N E J U F O R N I A T HT E G O L D E T S TAT I O N R ’ E E A W CALI STRE EN G D N I L S A O ’ G M ON BINI ONT M E FR

SE X A G E V

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ONE BITE

Cannoli Doughnut There ought to be a saying at Carlo’s Bakery that “the early bird gets the cannoli doughnut.” If you want one of these bad boys, you’d pretty much have to get your act together by 10 a.m., because they sell out faster than you can say “Hoboken, New Jersey.” ¶ “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro’s bakery is famous for its lobster tail pastry and cannoli, but putting fresh ricotta filling inside a doughnut is truly inspired. And topping it with pieces of the cannoli shell, cinnamon glaze and a dusting of powdered sugar is just sheer genius. Is there any wonder the line here is sometimes longer than at the city’s nightclubs? For our sweet tooth, it’s worth it. $2.95, in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, Bakeshop.CarlosBakery.com/Las-Vegas.

By Genevie Durano

Photography Cierra Pedro

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

35

TASTE

Three key ingredients vegan Kelly Bennett canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without:

TASTEMAKER

VEGAN VISION Creative director Kelly Bennett gives VegeNation a seat at the community table

By Diana Edelman Photography Anthony Mair

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October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

It all started with jelly. Not the kind you spread on toast, but the metaphorical kind that Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh created five years ago in preparation for the launch of Downtown Project. New York native and UNLV graduate Kelly Bennett joined the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Green Jelly,â&#x20AC;? a community group of like-minded members interested in promoting green businesses and ideas in Las Vegas.

That jelly changed everything.

Bennett, who was at the time running VeganConsultant.com, which advised vegan and vegan-friendly businesses across the country, joined the Green Jelly and then let the universe take over. Downtown Project connected her with the Health & Wellness Jelly, and the 2012 event, Build a Greener Block, was born. The following day, chef Donald Lemperle of Downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VegeNation (616 Carson Ave., Suite 120, VegeNationLV.com) called Bennett after listening to her speak. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to open up a vegan restaurant, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be called VegeNation, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to have a community table, a green wall and reggae music playing,â&#x20AC;? she recalls, donning a gruff New York accent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to help me create it. I was like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Who is this?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Great idea.â&#x20AC;? A day later, the two met and Lemperle hired Bennett as VegeNationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative director. Her first task: write the business concept, which would eventually be pitched to Downtown Project.

Two years later, Bennett, who had since returned to the East Coast, got a phone call from Lemperle telling her that VegeNation had been funded. Within weeks, she was back in Las Vegas and preparing to help Lemperle see his vegan vision come to life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He gave me the raw idea and I really felt it,â&#x20AC;? she says. When the restaurant opened in April 2014, there was indeed a green-living wall, a community table and reggae music playing. But, more than that, there was Lemperleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision, pulsing with the life Bennett breathed into it. Eighteen months later, VegeNation is one of the best performing restaurant investments Downtown Project has funded, and has received numerous accolades for its vegan cuisine. But, more than that, it has become a pillar of the community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really proud of the impact [VegeNation] has made and how it has connected so many people,â&#x20AC;? says Bennett, who has implement-

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ed numerous community-based programs and created relationships with more than 20 local businesses to provide products to the restaurant. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about really crafting more community partnerships versus just being vendors. [We have] relationships, help tell their stories and share the uniqueness of their products.â&#x20AC;?

Community initiatives that Bennett has introduced include an art exhibit on VegeNationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remodeled back patio with work from Recycled Propaganda. Every Monday, a local instructor comes in to offer complimentary yoga classes to guests. The staff composts and recycles. They partner with local organizations to host fundraisers. They purchase produce from Vegas Roots Community Garden and local schools.

Bennettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal of orchestrating not only a restaurant but a brand has come to fruition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having a brand that speaks to so many different communities that is socially conscious, but also a healthy business, is incredible,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are able to really be a part of this more conscious economy and be a leader in Las Vegas.â&#x20AC;?

A former air-guitar champion and underground karaoke sensation in Chengdu, China (a story for another time, she says), Bennett also offers creative direction to entrepreneurs. And she is prepared to grow VegeNation beyond Downtown. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right now, we are looking at what makes VegeNation â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;VegeNationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;Ś and deconstructing what we created so we can re-create it for future growth and locations,â&#x20AC;?

Bennett says.

This much we know for certain: There will be a green wall, community table, reggae music and plenty of Bennettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creativity present in future iterations of the brand. 7

TASTE

HIGH STEAKS Two classic Vegas steakhouses are refreshed for a new era and audience

By Al Mancini Photography Krystal Ramirez

THE PALM Founded in 1926 in New York, The Palm has operated an outpost in the Forum Shops at Caesars for the past 23 years. So why tamper with it now? According to general manager Lawrence Close, “The Palm did some studies on where they should be now to attract the millennial crowd.”

The changes were rolled out first in Boston, followed by Denver, Beverly Hills and now Las Vegas.

The main changes have been to the look of the place, where Close says the goal is to “make it a little more sleek, while still keeping the same dark wood mahogany feel.”

To do that, they’ve opened up the bar area, which was believed to lack “synergy” with the rest of the restaurant. They’ve also removed some pillars from the dining room to make it more open and added about 20 seats, bringing the total to around 350. A collection of nearly 1,200 caricatures of celebrity customers that adorned the walls has been mostly removed. (Some were given as gifts to the stars themselves.)

But a new collection is already underway, and a new mural of the Strip has been added. The original mahogany floor remains, re-sanded and re-stained after 23 years of heavy service.

The menu also received attention and features such additions as a coconut-crusted sea scallop appetizer, a tenderloin sandwich for lunch and an Australian wagyu rib eye. But The Palm still holds primarily to its old-school mix of Italian food, steak and lobster. The latter are massive— three, four and five-pounders on average—and larger specimens are available on request. This is one of the few places in town where you still see guests fitted with lobster bibs. So don’t be

38

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

afraid to dress up like people did in the restaurant’s glory days, even if you want to eat something messy. In the Forum Shops at Caesars, ThePalm.com. Open daily for lunch and dinner 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

CHARLIE PALMER STEAK Tucked in the Four Seasons lobby, Charlie Palmer Steak has been a hidden gem since opening in 1999, catering to well-heeled travelers and locals alike. To breathe new life into the space, Palmer recently approved a cosmetic makeover and tapped Thomas Griese, a veteran of the local Bouchon and Le Cirque locations as well as the Mina Group, to run the kitchen.

The first thing you will notice is the restaurant’s new look. Gone is the old black-on-black motif with gray carpet. Now, as you enter the main dining room, which flows naturally out of the common lobby area, you’ll be struck by bright splashes of red on the furnishings, followed by soft blues. And the space is open and airy, with a few sexy cabana-style tables tucked away behind curtains at the rear. Griese is determined to make the menu more interesting by “continuing to push the limits.” For beef, he’s excited to contrast the restaurant’s prized domestic products with A5

SECTION

wagyu from Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture, renowned as the source of some of that nation’s finest beef. But he also brings a nontraditional skill set to the steakhouse.

“I’m classically French-trained, but I love using Asian ingredients,” Griese says. “I love yuzu. I love miso.” And you’ll see that love of globally diverse influences in subtly flavored and dramatically arranged dishes including hamachi sashimi adorned with Japanese salt plums, frisée salad and caviar or black cod lightly accented with white miso. Other signatures include surprisingly spicy sides such as Moroccan street corn

and the soon-to-be-added kimchi and short-rib fried rice.

The wine program has also been revamped by master sommelier Lindsey Geddes.

While few people are as serious about wine as Geddes, she keeps the mood light by peppering the list with off-the-wall quotes and ruminations, even one on the nature of dessert wine lifted from the movie Grease.

It’s all part of an effort to show you that this is not your father’s Las Vegas steakhouse.

In Four Seasons Las Vegas, FourSeasons.com/ LasVegas/Dining. Open 5-10:30 p.m. Mon-Sat; bar open till midnight. 7

New Steakhouses on the Block Proving that this city just can’t get enough steakhouses, Boyd Gaming has introduced two new players to its lineup. &251(56721(

Clockwise from top left: WKH VZRUGÀVK H[WHULRU DQG EDU DUHD DW &KDUOLH 3DOPHU 7KH 3DOP·V VWHDN DQG EDFRQ LQWHULRU DQG VHD VFDOORSV

Successor to the Gold Coast’s old El Cortez Steakhouse, decor here intersperses a collection of vintage photos with modern art. The menu is old-school, with classics such as escargot, oysters Rockefeller and six cuts of beef that can be complemented with a choice of six toppings and four sauces. And the “liquor library” features more than 60 whiskeys from around the world. In the Gold Coast, GoldCoastCasino.com. Open for lounge menu and dinner 4-10 p.m.

Sun-Thu, 4-11 p.m. Fri-Sat.

7+( $1*5< %87&+(5 In the heart of Sam’s Town’s Mystic Falls Park area, daily social hours that run from 4-6 p.m. at the Angry Butcher offer pub fare such as chicken wings, sliders, corn dogs and pretzel rolls. For dinner, the options include classic butcher cuts charbroiled at 8oo degrees, seafood and either fried or roasted chicken.

In Sam’s Town, SamsTownLV.com.

Open for social hour and dinner 4-10 p.m. Sun-Thu, 4-11 p.m. Fri-Sat.

39

DISH & TELL

TASTE

By Marisa Finetti

Pass the Plate for a

Deliciously Stealthy Brunch

THE DINING TABLE IS THE HEARTBEAT OF RELATIONSHIPS.

It doesn’t take a psychology degree to understand why. Yet we struggle to make time to see our friends and family faceto-face. And then once we do, we wonder, “Why don’t we do this more?” So when I discovered that Border Grill (in the Forum Shops at Caesars, BorderGrill.com) implemented a dining program encouraging friends to gather, eat and drink, I took notice.

Over the last year, Border Grill has offered one of the most deliciously stealthy culinary experiences in Las Vegas, a complimentary meal for up to six people with only one intention: to get the guests to put down their mobile devices and enjoy each other’s company over a meal. How do they do this? Border Grill started by offering one person an oversize plate, the secret invitation to the experience in an initiative known as #PassTheBGPlate. To me, the circular plate represents our intention to reconnect over food. The “plate holder” then invites up to five people to dine with them.

Past holders of the lunch and dinner plates include Kris Lingle Griffith of AEG Live Las Vegas, Stephanie Capellas of Hakkasan Group and Harrison Harvey of The Smith Center.

Once a group has enjoyed their experience, the plate holder then passes the plate to another person not present, whereby he or she can invite guests to the same experience.

A few weeks ago, I became the lucky recipient of the first brunch plate, the newest addition to #PassTheBGplate. I invited four friends, one whom I knew quite well, two whom I wanted to know better and one I never met. We sat down on a Sunday afternoon at Border Grill in the Forum Shops at Caesars to enjoy 20 of the delectable brunch offerings ranging from Yucatan eggs Benedict, steak and eggs, and fried green tomatillos to shrimp relleno tacos and plantain empanadas, plus cocktail upon cocktail. Needless to say, I believe we’d all agree, that the Pass the Plate experience was the highlight of the day.

So by now, you’re probably wondering, “OK, well, how do I get my hands on this plate?” I’ve since passed the plate on to the next person, so certainly, you may see it in the near future if one of your friends becomes the plate holder.

But even if you never do, you can still enjoy one of the best values in town: unlimited shared brunch plates for $35 per person. By all means, gather a group together. And put those phones down! 7 Marisa Finetti savors with all five senses. Read more at VegasSeven.com/ DishAndTell or visit her blog, LoveAndRelish.com.

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October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

“To me, the circular plate represents our intention to reconnect over food.”

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers Photography Zach McKee

Main Street Gains Another

Little Shop Majestic Repertory Theatre kicks off its inaugural season at Alios

A

number of new businesses have sprung up along Main Street in the past few years: retro hair salons, a craft brewery and mid-mod antique shops.

The most recent addition, Mushnick’s Skid Row Flower Shop, may seem like a throwback to the street’s blue-collar workaday roots, but it’s a harbinger of the future of Main Street—and the Las Vegas arts scene.

Mushnick’s is actually the set for the Majestic Repertory Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. It’s taken over the Alios Gallery, transforming the space into a skid row flower shop that’s home to a killer plant and the hapless humans who are its caretakers—and, eventually, its dinner.

“We call this season ‘the orphan season’ because this is the one that was going to continue at the Onyx,” explains Troy Heard, who was producing director of that community theater until departing to form Majestic this summer.

He took the season he planned for Onyx with him. Little Shop was a natural to inaugurate the new company. “I saw the movie in a movie theater as a 10-year-old kid. I was singing along,” Heard explains. “The two formative movies of my youth were Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

The orphan season has found a home at Alios—owner Todd VonBastiaans is a longtime supporter of the local theater scene and had lent his lighting expertise to several of Heard’s Onyx productions. “The timing was perfect,” VonBastiaans says. “Main Street is being closed for a very long time to become a one-way street—the businesses have a hard enough time without the construction. We could help bring more theater and art to the Arts District and support our neighbors with additional foot traffic.”

He adds, “Main Street has been an on-and-off-again skid row for decades, so the opportunity of performing a musical that takes place on skid row seemed perfect.” Heard agrees that it’s an ideal location in more ways than one: “I definitely want to be Downtown. This should be a destination: Come down here, spend an evening. With the close proximity to the Cockroach Theater and The Smith Center, it’s a theater district.”

Other shows for Majestic in 2016-17 include recent Broadway black comedy Hand to God, a stage version of The Bad Seed, Carrie: The Musical and Heard’s adaptation of Cherry Orchard of the Living Dead. “There’s a very pop culture-cult sensibility with [Little Shop],

Carrie and The Bad Seed,” Heard notes. But he has plans for Majestic that extend beyond camp.

“The emphasis is going to be on the American canon, old and new,” he says. “We want to do classics and premieres.” He’s interested in modern playwrights such as Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, as well as fresh takes on better-known works. “How do you do Gypsy and do it in a new way?” he says. “You always hear a director say, ‘How do you make it relevant to our time?’ But it’s also what made it fresh when it came out. What made it cutting edge? What made it the Hamilton of its time?” Heard explains that he tries to approach each show “as though it were a new script [that] just landed on [my] lap—with all due respect to the period and what was going on in society at the time.”

Little Shop of Horrors may have been written in the ’80s and set in the ’60s, but Heard feels it fits right in with 2016. “The story is fun, the music’s great,” he says, “but what makes it relevant to today is the class struggle. … Things are horrible; how the hell do we get out of skid row? And this guy is given this opportunity, this deus ex machina in the form of this plant from outer space.”

Heard looks forward to the company’s future, which includes a more traditional permanent home and “growing Majestic Repertory Theatre as a regional theater over the next five to six years.” Still, whatever happens, his mission remains the same: “No matter what I do, whether I do low art or high art or anything in between, people need to be entertained.” 7

Majestic Repertory 7KHDWUH·V Little Shop of Horrors Through Nov. 1, times vary, Alios Gallery, 1217 S. Main St., MajesticRepertory.com

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

43

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

Rolling Stones vs. Presidential Debate On October 19, two major events will hit Las Vegas arenas: The Rolling Stones in concert and the final 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Both candidates have had their encounters with the band: In the 2008 Stones documentary, Shine a Light, Hillary’s husband, Bill, drops by a preconcert rehearsal for a minute or two of backslapping and B.S.-ing with Mick, Keith and Woody; in 1989 the Rolling Stones played Atlantic City, and an irate Keith Richards pulled out a knife and demanded that Trump be escorted out of the building. However, this round should be pretty conflict-free, apart from some traffic congestion on Tropicana … —Lissa Townsend Rodgers

Mick & Keith & Charlie & Ron

Clinton & Trump

72

Average Age

69

As dinosaurs of rock festival at Coachella with Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney on October 14.

Most recent gig

A town hall-style throwdown at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 9.

The Jagger “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” strut.

Signature dance move

The Clinton “Donald Just Said What?” shimmy.

T-Mobile Arena holds about 18,000 people, who will be paying between $300 to $7,000 a head.

Estimated audience

The Thomas & Mack Center will fill less than 1,000 of its 19,000 seats, but an audience of more than 80 million is expected to watch on television.

Well-heeled boomer types, a handful of L.A. visitors, media who managed to hustle their way in.

Audience profile

Well-connected political types, a handful of UNLV students, media who managed to hustle their way in.

MOVIN’ ON UP

FOR THOSE WHO WONDER HOW preparations are going at UNLV for the third and final debate on October 19, look no further than the shipping containers that now line the parking lots around Thomas & Mack. They’re just one of the many indicators that the university is serious about ramping up security, namely in the form of canceled classes, traffic im-

44

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

pacts and shuttles from satellite parking at the airport that will transport students and faculty to campus. Yet this historic event, happening just three weeks away from the end of the most bizarre election cycle we’ve ever seen, may just play a role in accelerating UNLV toward Tier 1 status.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the fact that we’re a global city,”

By Kayla Dean

says Carl Reiber, senior vice provost at UNLV. “We’re a university of the 21st century that is among the top major research institutions, so we want to make sure that the media gets to see UNLV at its fullest, and we’re going to do everything we can to help them.”

Reiber estimates that about 5,000 credentialed media professionals will descend upon UNLV to talk to students and faculty with expertise in debate-related topics. CNN, MSNBC and Bloomberg sets will be on campus for live broadcasting, and many of the approximately 1,000 student volunteers working the debate will be paired with reporters to learn more about the media’s role in the political process.

“The debate has really captured the campus in a way that I just haven’t seen,” Reiber says. “I’ve been at UNLV for 24 years, and it’s really drawn focus to our campus in such a way that the students are excited, engaged and working hard to better educate themselves and our community.”

What really has the campus talking is who will get to attend what may be one of the most watched debates ever. While Thomas & Mack holds 18,500 people, only about 900 will be in attendance. These

tickets are mostly distributed among party lines and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, but UNLV does get a small parcel of tickets that will be doled out to approximately 75 randomly selected students from a lottery pool of about 3,000.

The focus isn’t solely on media attention or recent celebrity guests who popped up on campus to get students involved in the political process (such as Chrissy Teigen and John Legend), but it has influenced a great deal of the institution’s educational aims. UNLV has voter registration booths, viewing parties, courses focused on the debate and a lecture series of distinguished speakers to discuss the issues.

“There has been more media attention shone on UNLV for the debate. [We haven’t seen this] since the basketball championships of the ’90s,” says Reiber. “It fits right in with our top-tier move. UNLV is a nationally engaged research university of quality that’s diverse and daring. We’re working on projects that impact not only Las Vegas, but cities that will grow into what Las Vegas is now, which is a diverse, cosmopolitan, global community. This is going to impact UNLV for years to come in a very positive way.” 7

DEBATE 2016 COURTESY UNLV PHOTO SERVICES

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POLITICS

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

By Michael Green

Buyer’s Remorse FOR REPUBLICANS, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TRUMP WARRANTY

R

ILLUSTRATION BY CIERRA PEDRO

epublicans Joe Heck and Cresent Hardy are among those who ditched Donald Trump for president. Will the voting public see through them?

A recording emerged of Trump, in 2005, explaining he cannot resist kissing women and grabbing their private parts, and tried to have sex with a married woman other than his wife. It wasn’t the kind of banter that men and, yes, women sometimes engage in. He was describing sexual assault.

For connoisseurs of hypocrisy, Republican reactions have been golden. When Trump referred to Mexicans as rapists, wanted Muslims banned from entering the country, and suggested Sen. Ted Cruz’s father participated in John Kennedy’s assassination, murmurs of displeasure and occasional low-volume outrage followed. The lack of ethics and possible illegality of actions by his university, foundation and company? So what?

Ah, but referring to a woman’s private parts and trying to commit adultery—which his surrogates Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich succeeded in doing—are beyond the pale.

It was for Gov. Brian Sandoval, who said he won’t “support” Trump because “the video exposed not just words, but now an established pattern.” Now? Sen. Dean Heller said he’s “100 percent against Clinton, 99 percent against Trump.” That seems appropriate since he claims to be bipartisan and is—1 percent of the time. A wise Democrat wondered what Republicans like Heller think of continuing to block hearings on Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court nomination so they can save the seat for their candidate. As for Trump’s willingness to jail political opponents, no biggie.

Heck hopes to have a vote on such issues in the Senate.

His statement began with a reference to serving in the military, which he mentions when you ask him what time it is, and to being a husband and father of daughters and son of a mother (his son, who referred to Barack Obama as “spearchucking,” is another issue). He says, “I accept that none of us are perfect. However, I can no longer look past this pattern of behavior and inappropriate comments

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from Donald Trump. Therefore, I cannot, in good conscience, continue to support him nor can I vote for Hillary Clinton.” He also says, “We deserve a candidate who can ask him or herself at the end of the day, ‘Did I live my life with honor and do I deserve to be elected president of the United States?’”

If Trump—or Richard Nixon or Franklin Pierce—asked himself that question, the answer would be yes. All of us can look past our faults; some are just better at it than others, such as the Trump supporters who booed Heck and others who bailed on their one-time favorite.

But as one of the gazillion ads in his race against Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto shows, Heck saw no reason not to trust Trump with nuclear codes … until he mentioned “pussy.” Until then, Trump was perfectly fine.

Cortez Masto responded that Heck is “trying to save his career.” There’s a lot of that going around. Hardy, in a tough race against Ruben Kihuen in a Democratic-leaning district, said he won’t support Trump, either.

Irony abounds. Hardy, like Heller, is Mormon. LDS church members have been critical of a candidate who proposes to target people for their religion, a feeling Mormons have known all too well in their history. Mormons also have a long history of reaching out to Hispanic people, which would be worth discussing further if not for the fear of being accused of whipping out that Mexican

thing. Two months ago, Hardy said he would “do whatever [Trump] wants me to do to help him get elected.” So much has changed since.

More ironically, Trump made his comments to a relative of George W. Bush, whose secretary of state, Colin Powell, warned about involvement in Iraq: If you break it, you own it. Nevada Republicans helped break their party, leading to Trump. Now they own him. For the country’s sake, they should keep him … far away from women, yes, but also from everybody else.

So, these Republicans say they won’t vote for Trump or Clinton. The voting booth is private. Perhaps Nevadans will ponder the illogic of voting for a presidential candidate from one party and representatives and a senator from another party who will try to block everything their presidential choice wants to accomplish—or for a candidate who didn’t have the decency and wisdom to see through him in the first place. E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post put it best: “What is truly shocking is that Donald Trump’s Republican enablers are shocked.” 7 Michael Green is an associate professor of history at UNLV.

Nevada Republicans helped break their party, leading to Trump.

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SOCIAL INFLUENCE

LIFE AND PICTURES &RQJUHVVPDQ -RKQ /HZLV· JUDSKLF QRYHO SURYHV KHURHV GRQ·W DOZD\V ZHDU FDSHV By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

Fall Into Giving Two noteworthy organizations raising money in Southern Nevada By Soni Brown This is the time of year when Las Vegas shows off its generous spirit and big heart. When Las Vegans volunteer, they go all in and they go big. Check out the work being done for United Way’s Day of Caring and the NF Hope concert.

COMMUNITY BUILDING More than 1,000 volunteers from 23 local nonprofits and 16 schools gathered at Town Square on September 30 for United Way of Southern Nevada’s Day of Caring. Volunteers planted gardens, beautified schools, created murals and assembled dental kits.

United Way fosters social and positive change for Southern Nevada’s most vulnerable populations. Communities benefit from the organization’s focus on education, health and income.

To learn how you can be a part of the change, visit UWSN.org.

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Lewis seems moved not by ego or destiny, but by decency and a sense of fairness. When he must lead the March on Selma in the absence of Dr. King, the scene of Lewis packing his backpack and putting on his raincoat, knowing that he may never come back, has all the suspense of watching Professor Xavier prepare for a final battle against Magneto. The scene on the bridge, as voting rights marchers face off against police, is as vividly imagined as any climatic comic clash, though Lewis is fighting a battle for justice against a force of evil that is somehow both more prosaic and more terrifying than any alien/cyborg/mutant villain that Stan Lee could dream up.

At 76, the congressman shows no signs of slowing down. When Book One came out, Lewis attended Comic-Con, cosplaying as himself in his raincoat and backpack for an audience of stunned kids; in a recent appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, he jumped into the audience and crowd-surfed like a 20-something rock star. Earlier this year, Lewis co-led a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives to demand a vote on gun control—House Speaker Paul Ryan threatened his colleagues with penalties if they didn’t move (Like that would scare John Lewis. Does Batman give a damn when someone says they’re gonna call the Penguin?)

In a time when many people think “fighting for justice” = “posting memes on Facebook,” John Lewis reminds us what it really means to change the world— and that any of us can. 7

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STARS TO FILL THE STAGE Some of Las Vegas’ prominent headliners will entertain audiences at the sixth annual NF Hope Concert on October 23 at the Palazzo.

Jeff Leibow of Jersey Boys fame, along with Clint Holmes, Gordie Brown and Susan Anton, come together to raise money and awareness for the Neurofibromatosis Network and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. The group is dedicated to helping families and individuals living with the genetic disorder, which causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue.

“Every year we are overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of this town’s headliners,” Leibow says.

“There are no words to properly express our gratitude.”

Leibow’s daughter, Emma, was diagnosed with the condition when

she was an infant. The performer and his wife, Melody, planned the concert as they learned more about the devastating effects of the disorder that 100,000 Americans are living with, making NF more common than familiar disorders such as cystic fibrosis.

Since its inception in 2011, the event has raised over $350,000 for neurofibromatosis research and advocacy.

The concert will also feature American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias, Ben Stone, Reckless in Vegas and cast members from BAZ: Star-Crossed Love. Plus, a final farewell will be made to Jersey Boys, Las Vegas’ longest-running Broadway musical.

The event also features a silent auction, which is already open online at NFHope.Auction-Bid.org. Tickets are $59-$149 and are available at Palazzo.com. 7

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED WAY

DO GOOD / DONE GOOD

It’s a common lament this election season that there are no politicians with integrity, who actually believe in something and back it up with action. Overlooked in that judgment is John Lewis, the veteran congressman and civil rights activist—but, thanks to his autobiography, March, Lewis is drawing a new audience.

“Drawing” is an appropriate term: Rather than a ponderous tome, Lewis has told his story in a three-volume graphic novel that follows him from his Alabama childhood through his involvement in the civil rights movement, culminating in the 1963 March on Washington. Written with Andrew Aydin (plus illustrations from Nate Powell), the books have topped The New York Times best-seller list and March: Book Three has been nominated for a National Book Award.

The graphic novel format fits Lewis’ story perfectly, giving it both cinematic scope and humble scale.

There is also a distinct sense of character—not just in Lewis’ transformation from a kid who raised chickens to leader of a nation-changing movement, but in the many other people he meets along his journey, from Dr. King and Malcolm X to lesser-known heroes such as Fannie Lou Hamer, as well as the farmers Lewis tries to register to vote.

SPACES & PLACES

The Grandeur the Better Luxe furnishing powerhouse Restoration Hardware comes to Las Vegas

By Jessi C. Acuña

N

orthern California-based upscale home goods retailer Restoration Hardware opens its doors in the long-awaited Phase 2 of Summerlin shopping center Tivoli Village on October 28. Known as RH Las Vegas, The Gallery at Tivoli Village, this is the company’s seventh next-generation design gallery.

At Nevada’s first location, shoppers can delight in high-end furniture, lighting, textiles, bathware, decor, outdoor and garden. The space is more than 60,000 square feet and encompasses four floors. The design takes advantage of natural light with wide-open windows and doors. But it’s the layout of the living spaces—bedrooms merging into bathrooms, for example—and how they’re elaborately coiffed with RH’s signature tufted leather, monochromatic linens, chandeliers and industrial tones that make the retail shop so alluring.

The first floor focuses on the RH Interiors collections with sofas, bookcases, lighting, tables, chairs, beds and linens. Palladian-inspired arched passageways lead to a classical arrangement of rooms. On the second level, the Design Atelier offers a studio workspace where customers reimagine one room or an entire home, both inside and out. The RH design team has access to a vast library of fabrics, leathers, and furniture and lighting finishes, including a Ben Soleimani rug showroom, and other galleries for window treatments, bed and bath linens and bath hardware. The third floor is for RH Modern, a curated assortment of minimalist furnishings, lighting and decor featuring collaborations with designers from around the world. It also integrates RH Contemporary Art, similar to an exhibition space, with fine art and one-of-akind pieces.

The top floor, and perhaps the most unique element, comes in the form of a rooftop park and conservatory, a showroom for outdoor collections. Guests catch a glimpse of Red Rock Canyon and sit among heritage olive trees.

With this opening, Las Vegas adds yet another long-awaited furnishings store. Next on the horizon is the arrival of Crate & Barrel at Downtown Summerlin, scheduled for 2017.

Hours of operation are Mon.–Sat. from 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. RestorationHardware.com.

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

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SPACES & PLACES

Who’s Kyle?

STUDIO MUNGE PRINCIPAL ALESSANDRO MUNGE, DESIGNER OF THE NEW RESTAURANT LIBERTINE SOCIAL IN MANDALAY BAY, CREATES INTERIORS WITH GREAT STORIES

By Melinda Sheckells

<RX FUHDWHG D ÀFWLRQDO FKDUDFWHU named Kyle to be the persona behind the design; Libertine SoFLDO LV VDLG WR EH OLNH .\OH·V OLYLQJ room. Tell us about the man of the hour. We created these wonderful narratives. I spent some time with Shawn [in L.A.’s Abbot Kinney area, where] we were inspired by the casual vibe. We made up a story about this guy, Kyle, who was bored living in a house or a condo, and decided to pick up a piece of property and convert it into his home. He wanted to make sure all of his friends hung

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out there—and anyone else, quite frankly. He had very specific friends: a barista, a chef … all these amazing personalities. We wanted to give Kyle a real story, a real narrative, and to have people understand who he is.

We hired an in-house art consultant who helped us create an entire life story for Kyle—the walls are adorned with his life. It’s his favorite music, his travels, his girlfriends and ex-girlfriends, his family. He’s a free spirit. I believe Shawn even feels a bit of Kyle. He’s gotten so connected that he wanted to make sure we had the right albums, and the right display of Kyle’s collection. It’s a very inclusive venue. I’m stoked about it.

How does designing a space in Las Vegas differ from designing spaces in other cities? We cater our restaurant designs to those who live here in the city. With this particular space, I wanted the opportunity to tap into the local market. I’ve gotten to know the people of Las Vegas.

I love talking to taxi drivers to figure out what their life has been, and what they’re looking for [in Vegas].

It sounds crazy, but it gives me understanding. I chat with people, get to know them and why they’re here.

I’m a bit of a people studier. I’m so mesmerized by people’s reactions to a space. It blows my mind to see the expressions, and how the environment motivates them to eat, drink and party a certain way. I really look forward to putting spaces together.

This is our third project at Mandalay Bay; we did Kumi and Citizens, so we understand the demographics of those coming through. We understand the locals who are coming here are different from the ones who are going to Bellagio, Treasure Island or even Wynn. They are completely different people, and we want to create a space that reflects that.

What are you doing next in Las 9HJDV" 'R \RX KDYH DQ\ QHZ projects coming up? I’m not in bed with many casinos in Las Vegas.

I’ve got a sweet spot with MGM Resorts; they’ve been beyond kind to me, and I’m loyal. We’re talking about some other projects that are on the QT. I am lucky to have gotten some of the best locations in Las Vegas. I’m hoping the spaces that I’m doing are increasing revenue.

I do ask these questions, because I am curious: “Is the story we sold MGM and our clients working? Are people getting it?” So far—knock on wood—they are.

:KDW LV \RXU IDYRULWH WKLQJ DERXW Libertine Social? Without a doubt, the Alex Diaz mural [that has been painted on the previous facade].

You have no choice—you have to see it. It would have been an injustice to take down that wall. It’s iconic. It was smart for us to preserve it. The Arcade Bar in the back is something very special as well.

How does design impact the bottom line? Alessandro Munge weighs in at VegasSeven.com/AlessandroMunge.

Libertine Social in Mandalay Bay, open 5-11 p.m. nightly, MandalayBay.com.

ALESSANDRO MUNGE BY L ANE DORSEY. LIBERTINE SOCIAL BY BIONDO PHOTO LV

What was your inspiration for Libertine Social? When this all started, I immediately asked to meet the whole team. I look forward to the initial meeting; I just wanted to listen!

I was absorbing all of these desires that Shawn McClain and his team had, and I wanted to project them into the space. Shawn and his team are so passionate about what they do.

We had to be able to put something forward that wasn’t mundane. Sure, we could have done the barn door and the exposed concrete. However, it wasn’t deserving of [something pat], and neither was [McClain]. He did something much more powerful.

SPACES & PLACES

CHARITY’S QUARTERS MARK SHUNOCK of MONDAYS DARK gears up to open The Space, a community center/theater venue hybrid

By Jessi C. Acuña Photography Andrew Sea James Located just west of the Cosmopolitan, Mark Shunock (the man behind popular charity event Mondays Dark, which raises funds for different local organizations at each monthly installment) is realizing his philanthropic pinnacle in opening The Space. Part community center and part theater, it soft-opens at the end of the month, with plans to host everything from performances to special events. Expect familiar local movers and shakers popping in, along with performers from Shunock’s list of Hollywood contacts. “Ideally, what we’re creating is a unique off-Broadway arts complex,” Shunock says. Vegas Seven recently got a sneak peek of The Space.

PIANO BAR Guests at The Space will be immediately greeted by its Piano Bar. Inspired by old-school New York, Shunock describes it as a “lobby/library/piano bar” with a chill, underground vibe. Edison light fixtures brighten up the dim lounge, which is able to seat 55 at the bar and surrounding cabaret tables. Those seats will come with a great view of the Strip—best seen at night—as well as the planned musical performances. As for the piano, right now it’s a Kimball ornate upright from the 1800s, but that may change, pending a donation from a Strip property.

MAIN ROOM The future home of Mondays Dark (which, starting in January, will occur twice a month), the Main Room can seat an estimated 400 people—more than what the event can currently host at Vinyl at Hard Rock Hotel. The room will remain without a permanent stage to allow productions to create show-specific layouts, with seating arrangements varying from cabaret tables to rows of chairs to a standing room for around 650. It will also house a mobile trailer that’s being gutted to become a satellite bar and office space. Flanking the room on one side are two Broadway-style dressing rooms, and on the other a sauna (which is currently being used for storage). After-hours, anyone?

STUDIOS 1 & 2 Shunock refers to the north portion of the building as “the fun, creative side.” The first space you’ll reach there is Studio 1, a small room followed by the slightly larger Studio 2. The studios will serve multiple purposes, which include hosting dance and acting classes. Shunock also plans to eventually roll out a children’s program that will take place there during the day.

BLACK BOX THEATRE Past the studio areas is the Black Box Theatre, a black room draped with floor-to-ceiling curtains that will seat around 120. With room for risers to create stadiumlike seating, Black Box’s programming, which Shunock says will include speaker and reading series as well as film screenings, will also dictate its layout.

RECORDING STUDIO Shunock’s landlord says The Space was previously a boxing gym that was owned by a rapper. Fast-forward to Shunock cleaning out its recording studio, where he discovered a bunch of CDs by hip-hop artist 50 Cent. A recording studio in a gym?

Think what you will, but the space is ideal for a venue that’s going to regularly host musicians and actors. It’s only set up for podcasts now, but Shunock plans to bring in equipment to make it a full-fledged 0DUN 6KXQRFN·V QHZ recording space, complete with a SHUIRUPDQFH YHQXH RSHQV LWV “tricked-out” vocal booth. 7 GRRUV WKLV PRQWK

Learn more and donate to The Space’s crowdfunding campaign at TheSpaceLV.com

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Fremont East coffee shop PublicUs’ design—the unique bathroom

doors, the funky industrial faucets, the wooden world map—is as distinctive as the iced mint mochas and espresso old-fashioneds. Inspired from his travels, owner Kimo Akiona worked with co-founder Travis Landice on the look and style of the coffee shop. Landice designed and built nearly everything inside.

Now he is launching his own business, Agent Mindfull.

“I’m in solitude a lot of the time. I’m actually reemerging into the world now,” Landice says. “My social skills have taken a beating because I’ve been by myself, just focused on designing and building things.”

Landice has been sharpening his skills since he was a kid. “My family is full of engineers and contractors. The elders in my family were always supporting me in inventing stuff. I’ve been inventing since I was pretty little,” he says. He’s also worked various construction jobs as an estimator, carpenter, metal worker and project manager, among many other occupations. He incorporates all aspects of his background into Agent Mindfull’s business model, and PublicUs is the embodiment of the concept. The architectural components and the products all come from the same entity. “I’m an industrial designer, but my focus is not just product design.

It’s also offering a design/build service to anybody who wants to build anything.”

Landice says.

Right now, Landice is working on building out the back alley garden/patio space and a meeting and events space next door to PublicUs (1124 Fremont St.), getting product available for his website, AgentMindfull.com, and introducing the company’s concept and philosophy.

“Agent Mindfull is being mindful of everything you do, thinking about things and understanding the direction of what you’re trying to achieve, and most of all being passionate about what you’re doing,” he says. “You built it by hand, [and] the care, [the] energy, the heart you put into it shines through.” 7

The designer of PublicUs offers a holistic approach thanks to Agent Mindfull By -HVVLH 2·%ULHQ Photography $QWKRQ\ 0DLU

PublicUs co-founder Travis Landice

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

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NONCONFORMIST FORMS

CONVERSATIONS

Local design and fabrication shop freeform aims for originality By -HVVLH 2·%ULHQ Photography &LHUUD 3HGUR

Clockwise from top: Miller in his shop (above); art piece with built-in lighting and frame; custom pendant light inspired by river rocks.

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October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

C

ork walls, lighting fixtures with cutesy sayings, repurposed mason-jar everything—these are design treatments that started at the top but have now trickled down to the mainstream. Available everywhere from Target to Wal-Mart and seen in the decor of recently revamped chain restaurants, those elements have been done and will soon be replaced by the next big thing.

Being trendy is what Aaron Miller, perfectionist and owner of freeform, an art, design and fabrication shop, wants to avoid.

“I think that small business owners come up with the best ideas for how to decorate their shops. More than likely, it’s our small budgets that force us to,” he says.

Some of his local inspirations are found inside Chow, The Writer’s Block, Exile on Main Street boutique and the back patio of Le Thai. Miller’s own designs are appearing in mom-and-pop shops around Downtown as well, such as the eye-catching motorcycle table and custom sign found at Makeshift Union Salon, and he is currently constructing furnishings and a bar top for the new Cornish Pasty Co. restaurant. On the Strip, you can find his work at Wolfgang Puck’s Cut in The Palazzo.

He builds out of a large, organized garage in Downtown’s industrial corridor (2123 Western Ave.). Multiple welders sit next to giant metal-table workstations and a custom work-in-progress motorcycle as Motown music plays in the background.

His dedication to detail and quality are unmistakable in his minimalistic, sleek designs that are both organic and geometric. Most of the products are made out of various metals and wood, and it is the materials themselves that are the un-sparkling stars of the show. “I don’t like shiny, chrome all over.” Instead, he leaves metal patinaed or etched with different acids, and the woods are only lightly stained.

He makes artwork using these etching and staining techniques with handmade stencils of Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash and Uncle Sam. It’s Miller’s very Vegas work history that taught him the trade. He spent time in various fabrication shops, building props for showgirl performances and magic shows, as well as decor for major resorts.

He also toured South and Central America with an illusion/tiger show and worked as a part-time prop technician for Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ. These clients help him pay the bills while he builds custom items for restaurants, shows and exhibits, such as a collaboration with Modus Art on a Thor hammer display that is being sent to Singapore for an Avengers exhibit. He is creating another one now for the Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. at Treasure Island.

Miller finds daily motivation by following other fabricators and contemporary artists on Instagram, including one of his favorites, large-scale sculptor Jonathan Prince. But he does not want to reproduce what he sees. “The most challenging part by far is coming up with a new, original design,” he says. “I try to be different. I try to get inspiration from nature, like a bug leg for a light or a piece of furniture.” This rebel attitude is represented in the shop’s name, which means not conforming to a regular or formal structure or shape.

Design fads, like most fads, explode before fizzling out, and sometimes all you’re left with is broken Edison bulbs and a splintering stack of overpriced barn wood.

Miller says people ask him all the time to replicate some other product they found online. He instead tries to persuade them into letting him build something unique and to his standard of quality. “I’m willing to build anything,” he says, “as long as it’s not copying someone else’s work.” 7

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food for thought Journalist Katherine Boo to speak at Vegas Valley Book Festival ulitzer Prize-winning journalist Katherine Boo has devoted her career to chronicling the lives of people in poverty, both in the U.S. and abroad. Her National Book Award-winning book, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, followed the lives of the residents of Annawadi, a slum in Mumbai, India. While researching the book, Boo lived in Annawadi for more than three years, immersing herself in the culture and learning about the residents’ daily struggles and their neighborhood intrigues as they navigated life under the most dire circumstances. The book, which came out in 2012, reads like a novel, in large part due to Boo’s gift as an incisive and compassionate journalist and storyteller.

She has returned many times since to Annawadi and has seen many changes in the community. “Something that changed was people would come into the community and talk to [the residents], and the people of Annawadi became more confident in believing they matter. Politicians became more aware of a water shortage, for example, because people spoke up. We put a lot of people in schools and they had more support.

But being part of a book doesn’t inoculate you from social problems. A few months ago, meth came to the village, and it’s sweeping through the neighborhoods with stunning velocity.”

A slum in India might seem a world away for Americans, but Boo sees the ravages of income inequality here, too. And even though technology has made the world seem smaller and more connected, it still takes concerted effort, not just on an individual’s part but also by governments, to address economic

P

ASK A NATIVE

Katherine Boo, Reading and Conversation Vegas Valley Book Festival After Dark, Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m., Inspire Theater, 107 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

For a complete schedule of events, visit VegasValleyBookFestival.org

By James P. Reza

What’s your favorite old Las Vegas pizza spot?

Food is so personal, eating is such an intimate act, and old Vegas is so fondly recalled that the volume of banter when I tackle old-school places like the Alpine Village Inn or grub like the Monte Cristo sandwich surprises even me. Because pizza is a universal food and everyone with internet access is a critic, I’m sure some of you would give this column zero stars (if you could), but here goes nothing.

With some memory-jogging courtesy of a 1982 edition of the Yellow Pages (four full-size pages of mostly local pizza joints!), plus some consistent name-checks by readers, I was able to craft a concise (and definitely incomplete) list of faves: Carbone’s, in a Charleston Boulevard A-frame building that became Frank & Fina’s

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instability globally. At the Vegas Valley Book Festival’s After Dark event, Boo will highlight the issue of widespread income inequality and its devastating effects on communities.

“I’ll be talking about the precariousness of the people in the bottom 10 percent, and some of the lies that the rest of us tell ourselves about their situation and our responsibility for it,” Boo says. “It’s trying to make clear the enormous toll that the world has on individual people’s psychology and community stability. It’s about how [poverty] undermines the urban fabric.”

The growing threat of isolationism that seems to be spreading around the world might, in part, be an unintended consequence of the advancement of technology. For all the benefits of connectivity, its insidious underside is all too apparent with a quick scroll through your Facebook feed.

“We can spread hate just as easily as we can spread support,” Boo says. “The thing about [a] social network is it’s an illusion.

It’s not really something you can grab onto when you’re about to be evicted for the sixth time in five years. Your Facebook friends can distract you and comfort you in small ways, but this idea of people being in this big, supportive community is illusory.”

True community building happens outside the confines of our comfort zones, not within the walls—imaginary or not—we build around ourselves, and Boo is optimistic of our intellectual capacity to effect change. “I feel so lucky to be able to do the work I do.

Journalism, when done with compassion, can create a situation that can make generosity grow,” she says. “Empathy is a muscle that we all have. You just have to use it.” 7

October 13 -19, 2016 vegasseven.com

Cocina, then gave way to a car wash; Venetian began on Fremont Street, and when it moved to Sahara Avenue (where Herbs & Rye is now), it had a side door for pizza pickup only; Tower of Pizza, with two Las Vegas Boulevard locations, one near the 24-hour (!) Odyssey Records and one across from the Aladdin, behind whose beautiful neon sign reportedly ran a loan-sharking operation; and UNLV fave La Pizzeria, whose TV tagline (“Hey, Louie! What’s the story?”) was as well known as the jingle of its home, Maryland Square.

Tellingly, several fondly remembered spots were on East Charleston, a once and future hub of local commerce, including Larry’s Pizza Palace, serving thin, cracker-crust pies from an always-crowded checkered-tablecloth spot; the less-fancy Terina’s Pizza slung 2-for-1 Detroit-style pizza from a repurposed 7-11 (if you miss Terina’s, founder Matt Mooney has uploaded a YouTube series on how to make it at home); and the Pizza Bar was a fave stop in the Charleston Plaza (our city’s first indoor mall), whose deep-dish square pies paired well with a movie at the Fox Theatre.

Notably, a few classics have survived the onslaught of the chains. The Bootlegger began on Eastern Avenue

south of Tropicana Boulevard, and featured the adjoining Maria’s Pizza. The pizza menu continues at the new Bootlegger, where I suggest ordering the Basilico. Ferraro’s forged a reputation as a quality Italian deli and pizza spot on Sahara Avenue, and now not only has an upscale Italian restaurant on Paradise Road, but several Pizza Forte locations in casinos. In 1982, Boston Pizza had three locations, but the Las Vegas Boulevard location survives. And Carmine Vento’s Villa Pizza (1976) and Chef Eddie’s Verrazano Pizza (1978) are the archetypical New York joints, loved by every kid who grew up riding their bike or skateboard for a Saturday slice. 7

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