Get Into the Groove | Vegas Seven | Nov. 17-23, 2016

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Get Into the

Groove

the nightlife issue

NOVEMBER 18, 2016 — JANUARY 15, 2017

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ON THE COVER

Read Vegas Seven right-side up and then flip it over and start again with (7) SEVEN NIGHTS, featuring after-dark entertainment and the week’s nightlife happenings.

NIGHTLIFE ISSUE Photography KRYSTAL RAMIREZ Location THE STUDIO AT JEWEL NIGHTCLUB Shoes AMINAH ABDUL JILLIL

SEVEN NIGHTS: LIGHT NIGHTCLUB

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 17-23, 2016 TO DO

SPACES & PLACES

15 24/7

43 Mindful Space

BY SHANNON MILLER

BY KRISTEN PETERSON

17 A Creative Call to Arms

44 Away Message:

BY CHARLIE STARLING

The city is always changing...

Luckily these spots haven’t.

What to do around the clock in Las Vegas.

One columnist’s music and screen playlist.

Lou Ruvo Center and UNLV improve health care design.

Old New York Lives

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS PLUS: The

Deal

CONVERSATIONS FEATURE

20 Get Up to Get Down

49 Watch for Wilderness

Eight places to dance on the furniture.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival promotes protection of Nevada’s land and animals.

BY KAT BOEHRER

BY JESSIE O’BRIEN

26 Mad Skills

Ask a Native

Eight DJs for whom instruments proved instrumental.

A dream residency that captures old Las Vegas.

BY JOHN CARR

BY JAMES P. REZA

32 On the Record

50 A Living Laughs Legend

Get on the groove with the vinyl resurgence.

Bob Newhart talks watching comedy and Las Vegas evolve.

BY ROBERT SPUHLER

BY MARK ADAMS

TASTE

35 Ice Cream Social

51 Lucky No. 7

Our favorite late-night, one-last-drink stops.

BY MARISA FINETTI

ON THE FLIP SIDE Seven Nights

Today’s chefs take on pilgrim-era ingredients.

What to do after dark.

BY MARISA FINETTI

BY IAN CARAMANZANA

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

Seven delectable dishes you can order only late at night.

Midnight Snack

39 An Otherworldly Gem

Wayne Littlejohn’s “Dream Machine.”

BY KRISTEN PETERSON

40 This Ain’t No Fairy Tale

BY DAVID MORRIS

Drink This The Drifting Mistress.

BY XANIA WOODMAN

Rejected Princesses showcases seriously badass women.

Club Tour

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

BY KAT BOEHRER

40 All About the Benjamins

Junior Achievement teaches kids how to plan for the future.

BY AMBER SAMPSON

OUR SITES TO SEE

VegasSeven.com Chop808 Is Ready for Lift Off The Las Vegas rapper debuts his new song, “Body Complex,” and searches for love in outer space. Listen at vegasseven.com/hearnow.

BY SEVEN STAFF

DIY at Heritage.

36 Plymouth Rock Solid

Christian Louboutin shoes Christian Louboutin in The Shops at Crystals, christianlouboutin. com; simon.com.

DTLV.com Downtown’s Post-election Reaction After a long and grueling election process, the shock of the outcome was amplified on both sides of the fence. We asked Downtowners what they thought about the result. Read what they had to say on DTLV.com.

RunRebs.com On the Rebound How is the Rebels’ rebuilding project going so far? Head to runrebs.com for in-depth analysis of Marvin Menzies’ first season at the helm.

Light at Mandalay Bay.

SpyOnVegas.com The Hookup Find upcoming events, see highlights from the hottest parties, meet the DJs and more.

41 Singing the Blues

Nevada election results go against the national grain.

BY MICHAEL GREEN

November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS

THE BIG REVEAL Our new National Hockey League team will unveil its name and logo at T-Mobile Arena’s Toshiba Plaza on Tuesday. Witness Las Vegas join the ranks of professional sports, and start waving the team colors with new merchandise available for purchase.

5:30 p.m., Nov. 22, Free

Ryan T. Doherty | Justin Weniger President Michael Skenandore Chief Financial Officer Sim Salzman Vice President, Marketing and Events Keith White Creative Director Sherwin Yumul Graphic Designer Javon Isaac Technical Director Herbert Akinyele Controller Jane Weigel

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

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.

Publisher

Michael Skenandore Editorial EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Melinda Sheckells MANAGING EDITOR

Genevie Durano SENIOR EDITOR, DINING, BEVERAGE & NIGHTLIFE

Xania Woodman ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Mark Adams SENIOR WRITER

Lissa Townsend Rodgers EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Shannon Miller EDITORIAL INTERNS

Sam Mendoza, Ashley Miles, Zauni Price, Ally Tatosian Contributing Editors Michael Green (Politics), Al Mancini (Dining), David G. Schwartz (Gaming/Hospitality) Art CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Benjamin Ward SENIOR DESIGNER

Cierra Pedro STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Krystal Ramirez PHOTO INTERNS

Zach McKee, Wes Morefield VegasSeven.com DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT

Zoneil Maharaj SENIOR WRITER, RUNREBS.COM

Mike Grimala EDITOR, DTLV.COM

Jessie O’Brien DIGITAL PRODUCER & WRITER

Amber Sampson Production/Distribution DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION

Marc Barrington ADVERTISING MANAGER

Jimmy Bearse Sales BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Christy Corda DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL SALES

Nicole Scherer ACCOUNT MANAGER

Brittany Quintana ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Robyn Weiss DIRECTOR OF SALES, BILLBOARD DIVISION

John Tobin

TO DO

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

By Shannon Miller

Fishbone brings funk and punk to Downtown Thursday night.

THURSDAY 17

HELP of Southern Nevada teams up with 97.1 The Point and 8 News Now today through November 19 for its annual Turkey-Thon, a food drive that provides Thanksgiving turkeys to local families. Donate birds, cash and gift cards in person, or donate money online.

7 a.m.–7 p.m., select area Smith’s stores, helpsonv.org

PHOTO BY STERLING MUNKSGARD/SHUTTERSTOCK

Where can you find local designers, fashion enthusiasts and a runway competition all in one place? At Las Vegas Fashion Council’s third annual Little Black Dress event to benefit LVFC and Friends of the Shade Tree. Attendees can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and Champagne while getting down to the DJ’s beats. 6:30 p.m., $100 GA, $80 LVFC members, $35 students, Saks Fifth Avenue at the Fashion Show, lasvegasfashioncouncil.com Emmanuel Kemiji, the first sommelier to start a commercial winery in the United States, will be a special guest at the Pinot and Priorat six-course wine-pairing dinner at Bazaar Meat by José Andrés. Kemiji will join the restaurant’s lead sommelier, Chloe Helfand, to explain their selections for dishes such as Josper-roasted King crab legs and “Vaca Vieja” rib eye steak. Don’t forget to make a reservation!

6:30 p.m., $165, slslasvegas.com The punk/funk/ska outfit Fishbone will get you dancing Downtown. Arrive on time for opening sets from Luck Factor Zero and The Quitters. 8 p.m., $15–$20, Backstage Bar & Billiards, backstagebarlv.com

Enjoy some swingin’ jazz by The Sharps while sipping on tropical cocktails at the Golden Tiki in Chinatown. Top the night off with a Dole whip!

9:30 p.m., free, thegoldentiki.com

and Where to Find Them, in theaters today. Better get your tickets ahead of time. tickets.fantasticbeasts.com

FRIDAY 18

Craft vendors set up shop at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort for a Holiday Craft Fair, featuring an array of made-in-Nevada products. This event also features a blacksmith demonstration, live music, food and hands-on crafts for the kids. Get your holiday shopping done early! 10 a.m., $1 teens and adults, friendsofthefort.org

Stan Lee, father of Marvel superheroes, launches his RESPECT pin, which advocates for mutual respect among all individuals in these trying times. The first 50 fans to purchase the pin will get an exclusive meetand-greet with Lee, who receives a Key to the Las Vegas Strip today. 10 a.m., Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. at Treasure Island, stationattraction.com

The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada screens From This Day Forward, a portrayal of an American family coping with a transgender father’s transformation. Director Sharon Shattuck’s firsthand experience lends a perspective to the film that all LGBTQ individuals can learn from. 6 p.m., free, thecenterlv.org In a time when half the country supports a Great Wall of America on its southern border, El Paso–based rockers The Chamanas transcend the Mexican-American divide with their brand of alternative music true to their Latin roots. Catch them with Red Peach.

9 p.m., $8-$10, Bunkhouse Saloon, bunkhousedowntown.com Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve witnessed the resurgence of Harry Potter hype. Return to J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world with Fantastic Beasts

SATURDAY 19

Downtown’s Real Results gym presents REAL Yoga for all levels at Huntridge Circle Park. Professional instructors will conduct at 75-minute class with live music to help you find balance and align your chakras. 10:15 a.m., 1251 S. Maryland Pkwy., $15–$20, realresultsfitness.com Celebrate diversity, equality and unity at Global Fest–A Celebration of Folk Dance. This

family-friendly event features a variety of cultural dancers and musicians, and cuisine from around the world available for purchase. Don’t forget your picnic blanket! 12–4 p.m., Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park, 720 Twin Lakes Dr., artslasvegas.org

Catch the second of three performances of A Choreographers’ Showcase, a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Nevada Ballet Theatre. 1 p.m., $25–$45, Mystère Theatre at Treasure Island, nevadaballet.org

November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

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TO DO

LONG A RUMOR AND NOW CONFIRMED,

Old School Brewing Company hosts Desserts in the Desert benefiting Nevada PEP, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing opportunities for children with disabilities. Stop by for bites from local restaurants, bakeries and cafés paired with wine selections and fresh brews. 3 p.m., $10–$20, 8410 W. Desert Inn Rd., dessertsinthedesert.com The ART 2 Festival features local artists, crafters and designers showcasing their work, all in support of a cure for CIDP, a rare immune disorder that affects the body’s nerves. 10 a.m., Town Square, mytownsquarelasvegas.com Hosted by actor and comedian Mike Epps, the Las Vegas Soul Festival features performances by Keith Sweat, Dru Hill and Ginuwine. Bonus: A portion of the proceeds support Lazarex Cancer Foundation. 7 p.m., $29–$200, The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, hardrockhotel.com SUNDAY 20

Get down to old-school hip-hop at Oddfellows’ weekly Superbad party. Arrive on time to brush up

on your moves during a two-hour dance class. 8 p.m., facebook.com/ oddfellowslv MONDAY 21

Beer and dogs—what more do you need? Beerhaus’ happy hour has you covered with select $4 draft beers and hot dogs. 2–6 p.m., theparkvegas.com A number of scribes gather at UNLV’s Student Union to celebrate Black Mountain Institute’s 10th anniversary at The Writer in the World. Wole Soyinka, Vu Tran and more will discuss how writers impact their surroundings. 4 p.m., blackmountaininstitute.org

The UNLV Symphony Orchestra performs selections by Mozart and Schumann, with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony for the grand finale. You don’t have to wear a gown or a tux to enjoy some highbrow sounds. 7:30 p.m., $10, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu Aside from his roles in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, you may know Gary Oldman from Bram Stoker’s Dracula—one of the most iconic performances of the Count. His dealings with vampires isn’t over.

Pick up Blood Riders by Oldman and producer Douglas Urbanski for a chilling read, in bookstores today.

WEDNESDAY 23

TUESDAY 22

Moana joins the exalted ranks of

Today’s your last chance to view photographer QT Luong’s Treasured Lands exhibit. Spanning the past 20 years and considered his life’s work, this exhibit allows viewers to see the beauty of the 59 National Parks he visited for the project. By appointment only, Historic Fifth Street School Mayor’s Gallery, 401 S. Fourth St., 702-229-1012

Get all that skanking out of your system before you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with your relatives by catching the Interrupters’ fast-paced ska punk. 7 p.m., $12–$20, Vinyl at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, hardrockhotel.com

Disney princess movies. Follow the new Polynesian princess’ adventure in theaters today. movies.disney. com/moana

Dogs and brews at Beerhaus (above) before catching Disney’s Moana (left), anyone?

db Brasserie at The Venetian is closing in early 2017. The biggest loss will be the daily oyster happy hour that rates as one of the top deals anywhere in town, but replacements are already in place. New $1 oyster nights have been initiated at both Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock.

At GVR, Bottiglia Cucina & Enoteca runs dollar oyster nights on Tuesdays, and at Red Rock, Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar does the same on Wednesdays. That’s only two nights out of the week, so I’ll have to get to work on the other five. In the meantime, db Brasserie isn’t closed yet; the dollar-oyster deal there runs daily from 5-6 p.m. in the bar area.

I know people go to strip clubs for different reasons, but if it’s to drink, take note: One of the best drinking deals you’ll ever come across, at least if you’re a local, is at Déjà Vu. Every night from 6-10 p.m., domestic beers and well drinks are free, and on Monday nights it gets even better with a free open bar! No (G-)strings attached. Watch Monday Night Football and drink all the top-shelf booze you desire at no charge. If you don’t have a local ID and you drive yourself (no cabs or ridesharing), the entry fee is $22, but that’s still worth it if you plan on hoisting a few.

Wildfire Valley View is awarding two spots on a Monday Night Football squares board for hitting a natural 4-of-a-kind in video poker during the prior week.

Each square is worth $2.50, so it raises the return on a 25-cent game by about 1 percent. The best schedule at Wildfire is 7/5 Bonus Poker, so this add-on makes it a 99 percent game.

For an even better play, head to Home Plate Grill & Bar at 2460 W. Warm Springs Rd. on Sundays for a $20 video poker match play (play $20, get $20). You’ll have to sign up for the players club, but this is a good marketing list to be on. Not as strong but still good is the new-member deal at Boulevard Bar & Grille across from South Point, where you get $10 in free play after $25 coin-in.

Du-par’s at Suncoast offers five early dinner specials from 4-6 p.m. daily, with the price determined by the time on the clock when you’re seated. So if you come in at 4:30 and want almond chicken, the price is $4.30. If it’s 5:15, you can order grilled salmon tapenade for $5.15. Shoot for a 4 p.m. arrival for best value.

Then there are the simple deals that don’t take any special effort, like this one: Get a 2-for-1 buffet on Tuesdays at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur or Boulder just for showing your players card. The deal is good through December 27. Can’t get much simpler than that. 7 Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com

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November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

BEEHAUS COURTESY OF MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL; MOANA COURTESY OF DISNEY

Dollar Oysters and MNF Deals

THE DEAL

By Anthony Curtis

TO DO

A CREATIVE CALL TO ARMS

One columnist’s musical and screen playlist to inspire in these strange political times

By Charlie Starling

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

HAMILTON This smash hit musical was featured in some capacity in probably my first 10 articles for Vegas Seven. I wish I was sitting here shrieking Angelica Schuyler’s ‘... include women in the sequel’ line, but I’m not. It’s “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)”, except this time, it is not in America’s favor. However, Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hammering home of the truth that this great country was built by and thrives on immigrants is essential now. The hate being whipped up by Drumpf must be drowned out.

FRANK TURNER’S LOVE, IRE & SONG Turner is an English folk/punk poet who loves America just as much as I do. On his sophomore studio album, he overcomes his jaded feelings and calls his friends to arms through booze and political fire: “Come on, old friends, to the streets.”

THE SPECIALS’ “GHOST TOWN” This hit by the British ska rockers is a reminder that we’ve been in difficult spots before and that blind capitalism leads those on the lower rungs to riot and ruin, but also that in the face of adversity, we’ve always been capable of art.

AMANDA PALMER’S UKULELE ANTHEM Echoing the above, I cannot stress enough that now is the time for artists to raise their game. Yes, we must be out creating political waves, but the world needs music, not only for respite but for education and rabble-rousing. Also, while you’re listening to this single by the American singer-songwriter, read her book The Art of Asking. It’s not just a memoir; it’s a manifesto for a full and engaged life.

THE KING BLUES’ “WHAT IF PUNK NEVER HAPPENED” More Beat poem than anything else, this sci-fi-inspired ragefest warns against the dangers of apathy. We need punk, because the peace and love movement didn’t and will not work. Incense and salt lamps will not change the world.

13TH AND ROOTS I am a white woman from a small town in northern England, I am trying to be the best ally I can be, and I believe that starts with educating myself. The racism in this country cannot be ignored, and films like Ava DuVernay’s 13th and series like Roots can help kickstart that education. Be aware, listen and help create change.

This political playlist gets longer, but you know, word counts and stuff. I’ll make one on Spotify. Tweet me @charlistarling for a link. And once you’re done stirring yourself up, get onto Google and see where you can volunteer locally. It isn’t the government that’s going to make America great, it is the people—it is you. It is time we became politically engaged more than just once every four years. We have two years until midterm elections—get involved. Take America back. And then maybe we can relax enough to enjoy all the Marvel movies … 7

THE MOST FABULOUS THING

W

hen your deadline falls two days after the world went to shit, when your cursor is flash-flash-flashing, taunting, when you can’t navigate the brain fog to get to the article you were supposed to write this week, what do you do?

Remember: You’re a nerd. You’ve communicated through pop culture references your whole life. That’s what your bloody column is about, anyway. Write a list.

It would be easy at this point to wrap up warm with nostalgia, to choke on those Member Berries (please see previous column on South Park) and just shut it out. Watch Star Wars, reread Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, indulge in the newly legalized highs and quote my way through the whole of Pauly Shore’s career, but no.

That’s not the list I want to make today. I’d like to share with you my Anti-Apathy List. My Stay-Angry-and-Change-Things List. My Call to Arms.

I am not an American citizen. I did not have the right to vote in this election, but over the course of the past two years, I have watched Europe, my home, fall to borderline fascism. I’ve seen a party in England re-elected to continue the havoc they’re wreaking on the poor, the sick and the artists. I’ve seen Brexit. And now I have witnessed a tiny-handed, Cheeto-dusted, racist, misogynist megalomaniac elected to the most powerful seat in the world.

Now is not the time for comfort. It is the time for action.

Angela Davis in 13th.

See Charlie Starling in Absinthe, twice nightly in the Spiegeltent at Caesars Palace, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wed-Sun. Visit AbsintheVegas. com for tickets. Follow her on Twitter: @charlistarling

November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

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I

t’s another weekend in Las Vegas and you’re ready to let your hair down and act wild. But where can you go to get really crazy? Like, jumpup-on-the-couch-andtreat-the-furniture-likeplayground-equipment crazy? While the Strip is already the nation’s place to party and misbehave, these spots are especially ideal for their amazing events and go-nuts mentality.

GHOSTBAR DAYCLUB

One of Las Vegas’ most cherished wintertime day parties, Ghostbar Dayclub takes you to the 55th floor of the Palms Ivory Tower.

GBDC offers an open-format music program as a refreshing change from the popular EDMheavy nightclubs around town.

A revolving cast of costumed characters and rampant confetti cannons add to the ambiance that makes you want to stand up in your seat and rage. In the Palms, palms.com/ghostbar-dayclub.

Giuseppe Zanotti boots Giuseppe Zanotti in The Forum Shops at Caesars, giuseppezanottidesign.com; simon. com. Jimmy Choo shoes Jimmy Choo in The Shops at Crystals, jimmychoo.com; simon.com.

Christian Louboutin bag Christian Louboutin in The Shops at Crystals, christianlouboutin.com; simon.com.

Styling KRIS KASS Leg models MICHELLE ENGSTROM and AMBER BUGG

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GOTTA GET UP TO GET DOWN

EIGHT PLACES WHERE YOU’RE WELCOME TO DANCE ON THE FURNITURE AND TAKE A #SHOEFIE

By Kat Boehrer Photography Krystal Ramirez

XIV AT HYDE

Be sure to pack a poncho for the boozy showers and confetti blasts all night at one of the messiest parties on the Strip. XIV is the spot to really get wild and dance on everything—banquettes, booth-backs, tables (as long as there are no bottles on them). Each party in this themed series starts in the early evening and goes well into the night.

In Bellagio, sbe.com/hydebellagio.

Above: Jimmy Choo shoes.

Left: Christian Louboutin bag.

Sergio Rossi shoes Sergio Rossi in The Forum Shops at Caesars, sergiorossi.com; simon.com.

Below, left: Sergio Rossi shoes.

Below, right: Aminah Abdul Jillil shoes aminahabduljillil.com. Christian Louboutin bag.

DRAI’S BEACHCLUB AND NIGHTCLUB

Affording an amazing aerial view of the Strip, Drai’s switches up the entertainment between live hip-hop, pop and R&B acts and popular DJs. The famed indoor-outdoor setup is great for running laps around the venue to get out all of your energy.

You could also dance atop the booths while your favorite DJ or performer sets the mood onstage. In The Cromwell, draislv.com.

November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

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XS

Known for being a leader in bringing big-time EDM entertainers to town—and for popularizing the trend of locking in exclusive contracts with the most sought-after DJs in the world—XS boasts a talent roster rivaling those of many wellknown music festivals. So you can’t be expected to only utilize the dance floor when there are also so many booths on which to dance. In Encore, xslasvegas.com.

SURRENDER

Situated inside Encore Las Vegas, the nighttime counterpart to Encore Beach Club throws equally crazy parties when the sun goes down. The cozy indoor area features VIP booths that line the dance floor, creating cushy terraces on which to hop up and people-watch. In Encore, surrendernightclub.com.

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November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

Above: Jimmy Choo shoes.

Left: Giuseppe Zanotti shoes.

JEWEL

Bejeweled at Jewel? We would never be so cliché. But the Strip’s newest nightclub is a prime location to kick up those heels and take a “shoefie.”

Two spots of note for photo ops are the striking 500-panel LED staircase that projects abstract and themed images and one of the 32 tables on the main floor. Framed in wood and granite and upholstered in quilted dark red leather, these banquettes are best when shown off in contrast to a glittering pair of heels. In Aria, jewelnightclub.com.

Right: Christian Louboutin shoes.

Left: Aminah Abdul Jillil shoes.

HAKKASAN

Hakkasan Group’s OG Las Vegas property was devised as the perfect party spot, with tech-friendly booths that have cellphone chargers tucked away in drawers below the seats. Hardly anybody ever uses those booths for sitting, though.

These cushy couches provide a perfect pairing of stability and bounce-ability for fist-pumping the night away. In MGM Grand, hakkasanlv.com.

OMNIA

Among the newest and most impressive clubs in Las Vegas, Omnia has tons of fresh furniture to use as an adult jungle gym. Not only are the VIP seating arrangements especially engineered to provide the utmost comfort for the guests (there are backrests on top of the backrests that create tiered seating), but they also act as platforms from which to watch DJs, light shows and bottle service presentations. In Caesars Palace, omnianightclub.com.

Mad Skills

Meet eight DJs for whom actual instruments proved instrumental

By John Carr Photography Anthony Mair Location Lawrence Creative Group lawrencecg.com Sure, these days, everyone’s a DJ, but is everyone also a guitarist, a violinist or a drummer? There’s something to be said about having musically trained talent in the booth. We spoke to several DJs who have the experience of a real instrument as well as on the turntables.

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Mikey Cross Easy access to DJ education has drawn many aspirants to the profession, and Mikey Cross knows from touring around the world that being a successful turntablist required more than just passion.

Playing acoustic guitar since his senior year of high school inevitably took the musician into a career with metal band Taking Dawn from 2007–2013. A desire to understand the EDM world led Cross to be part of Las Vegas–bred DJ duo MIICS with event promoter Mike Uriarte.

Cross and Uriarte brought the same quality to their songwriting, productions and sets as some of the big names in the industry, and Cross chalks that up to hard work. “If you can learn fast—whatever; but take the time to create a unique sound. If you believe in it and are passionate about it, other people will [believe in it], too,” he says. Cross is currently working on an album and going back on tour in early 2017 after the album release; soundcloud.com/mikeycross.

Blacklab Half-brothers Kariem Rodriguez and Kashim Quinones of Blacklab are self-proclaimed band geeks–turned–DJs, parading to classical and jazz pieces as part of the Palo Verde High School Marching Band. Quinones played trumpet, with Rodriguez on clarinet and saxophone. As such, they learned music theory from a young age. “At the time, it was boring and rudimentary, but it paved an understanding of tonal control and emotion, and how to convey that,” Rodriguez says. The two have graduated from the basics and since 2013 have been making a name for themselves as Blacklab, a DJ duo that played the Troubadour Stage as Insomniac’s Discovery Project winner at Life Is Beautiful 2016. Their presence in the drum-and-bass side of the dance music realm stems from an attraction to arcade game tunes, namely Dance Dance Revolution. See Blacklab on Nov. 23 at Bass Gravy at the Bunkhouse Saloon; soundcloud.com/blacklabmusic.

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TSiMZ Tyler Simmons (stage name TSiMZ) was inspired to pick up a guitar after seeing the movie School of Rock at age 11. He became enthralled with the act of performing, so much so that he ended up touring with the band And She Whispered for three years. One year into his DJ career, Simmons uses digital audio workstations to help him cross over from shredding on a guitar to playing EDM and trap records, and he finds joy in trading sound files “like Pokémon cards.”

While there was a time he looked at dance music from the outside, now that he’s on the inside, he realizes the focus is more on the music production than the person who is playing the tunes. “It’s not about ‘look at how amazing I can DJ,’” he says.

And while the possibilities for how to start a new dance-music track are endless, Simmons has it ingrained in him to start by picking up his guitar.

TSiMZ spins every Wednesday at Vanguard and on Nov. 18 at Hard Rock Live; soundcloud.com/tsimz.

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Lydia Ansel Ansel attributes her gift for improvisation to her playing the violin since the sixth grade.

She joined her school’s orchestra without telling her mother, hoping to later impress her into gifting Ansel with violin lessons for her 11th birthday.

“Most expensive gift ever, as I continued for 10 years,” Ansel says. What started small has turned into a four-year residency performing with Rod Stewart at Caesars Palace.

Teaming with DJs to supplement her show schedule, Ansel realized that both talents would mesh well. Her two live violin-and-DJ hybrid shows include a high-energy EDM mix that suits a party atmosphere complete with go-go dancers and a more chilled-out, high-end classic rock show for lounges and corporate events that covers hits by Thievery Corporation and Bitter:Sweet.

Ansel will perform on Nov. 19, 23 and 26 at the Center Bar in Hard Rock Hotel, as well as on Nov. 19 at a The Who tribute show at Red Rock Resort; lydiaansel.com.

DJ R.O.B. “Seamless” is one way to describe how a DJ might deftly move from a track to another using a mixer, but Robert Hathcock (stage name DJ R.O.B., “Right On Beat”) has reappropriated the word by jumping from the decks right to a drum set for his live show with the Funk All Stars. In fact, Hathcock is skilled enough with a variety of instruments to be a one-man band. The seeds for success were sown at Las Vegas’ Eldorado High School, where jazz band students including Hathcock were encouraged not just to play jazz, but also R&B and Top 40 tunes, a range that has gotten him gigs at both Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. With 34 years of turntable experience under his belt, Hathcock notes how his DJ skills are transferable when he’s jumping in with the band: “[Many DJs will] naturally know about tempo matching, downbeats and structure of song creation.” DJ R.O.B. and the Funk All Stars open for Evelyn Champagne King on January 20 at the Silverton; djrightonbeat.com.

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Mike Fish Downtown’s 11th Street Records is just one of the many places to spot Mike Fish: He buys and sells vinyl there but also plays drums on the punk rock circuit in the band Fredward and DJs regularly at The Griffin and Punk Rock Bowling after-parties, among other soirees. And he especially loud to get the crowd riled up. “We started a mosh-pit [through] DJing alone,” he says, recalling one of his rowdiest gigs at Beauty Bar. To pull off something like that, Fish has to find out what makes the crowd tick. Fortunately for both his drumming and his DJing careers, Fish has developed a keen intuition about the vibe of a room. By observing the many niche tastes within the punk rock scene, he has gotten a feel for when to get the people dancing and when to instead play what he calls “beer-drinking songs” such as “Ace of Spades”

by Motörhead. “When I hear that, I need to have a drink,” he says. Fish spins ’80s and new wave every Friday at the Griffin; fredward.bandcamp.com.

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DJ Hollywood Leandro “Lee” Vlastaris (stage name DJ Hollywood) considers himself an open-format performer, and was one of the people who made that style such a hit on dance floors around town. Vlastaris played virtually every brass instrument as a child, and owes his musical prowess to the knowledge he gained from such a young age. In his 27 years of spinning, Vlastaris says he’s noticed how the musicality of certain songs survive the test of time while others do not. “I’ve seen music make full turns,” he says. “When someone made [a song] in the ’70s and redid it in the late ’80s, someone redid it in the early 2000s and someone redid it today.” When it comes to newer DJs who want to take full advantage of the style of music they play, Vlastaris offers, “You have to do your due diligence with the history of [that style of music] in order to understand what you’re getting into.”

Hollywood spins on Nov. 19 and 25 at Foxtail; beatclan.com.

EstoVega Esteban Carrasco (stage name EstoVega) began his music career playing piano at age 5; a few years later, his parents gave him a drum machine. When he got into DJing in his teens, he focused mainly on his vinyl-mixing skills because, he says, “a 14-year-old with a little allowance” wouldn’t be able to afford vinyl, the gear to play it and the gear required to produce music. Still, time brought Carrasco to producing, and today his weapons of choice are analog synthesizers. The musician likens the thought one puts into playing an instrument with the work that goes into producing new music by layering loops, vocal tracks and beats. Citing DJs such as Richie Hawtin as his inspiration, Carrasco has a specific, nuanced approach to his performances, weaving in the songs in the moment. “People in the crowd see a guy who’s actively involved in what they’re doing; it 100 percent comes through to me as a DJ,” he says.

EstoVega spins each week at Surrender in Encore and twice monthly at Drai’s Afterhours; soundcloud.com/estovega.

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ON THE RECORD GET INTO THE GROOVE WITH THE VINYL RESURGENCE

By Robert Spuhler Photography Krystal Ramirez

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T

he raw numbers, truthfully, aren’t staggering: In 2015, there were almost 12 million new records—yes, vinyl—sold. That’s right around 5 percent of the total number of albums purchased in that year, according to Nielsen’s 2015 U.S. Music Report.

The surprise? The top-selling albums weren’t underground favorites or 12-inch DJ singles. The top two movers of the year were Adele’s 25 and Taylor Swift’s 1989.

The “vinyl renaissance” has been in progress for several years—sales have increased each year since 2007— but it’s only recently that the format has moved away from being the

exclusive domain of hipsters. Now, records can be purchased at select Whole Foods locations, and pop artists are making room for vinyl in their marketing plans.

Vegas Seven set out to see how the trend was impacting our city and found multiple uses for the black plastic discs.

RECORDS TO BUILD COMMUNITY It takes only a couple of mouse clicks to listen to much of the history of

music through your headphones while seated in front of a computer in the comfort of your own home. It’s easy, but it’s only one part of the experience.

Shared interest in a certain genre or band—or just music in general—can bring people together and create community at a time when it’s easier than ever to isolate oneself.

“That’s the most important aspect of a record store,” says Taylor Blake, a sales associate and “record guy” at 11th Street Records. “You’ll hear something playing and ask about it, and maybe someone will recommend something else or share stories about concerts.

It’s a real cool thing. I’ve seen a lot of friendships and camaraderie just from being in a shared space.”

The Downtown Las Vegas outlet is building a music hub for the city. Along with its vinyl selection (augmented by records previously available at the now-shuttered The Beat Coffeehouse & Records), it’s the home of National Southwestern Recording, a studio that’s seen sessions for local bands and drop-in sets by international touring acts (Andra Day and Metric have both recorded there for Spotify). In addition, regular instore performances bring out crowds of music fans who can then bond over a rare find in the racks.

“The best times are when there’s a show going on in the studio, and people are hanging out here in between sets,” Blake says. “That’s when it all happens.”

INTRIGUE PRIVATE ROOM PHOTOGRAPHY BARBARA KRAFT

RECORDS TO SET THE MOOD Much has been made of the ban on social media at the Living Room, the VIP club-within-a-club at Intrigue in Wynn. But as interesting as what isn’t there—namely, selfie-taking or text-obsessed clientele—is what is present: racks upon racks of records, more than 1,000 individual pieces in all, backlit and displayed behind a pair of classic Technics 1200 turntables.

As nightlife has moved toward the slow and the handcrafted (think craft cocktails, not vodka and Red Bull), setting a relaxed tone for a bar or hangout has become important for some. And between nostalgic value and the physical skill needed to DJ using vinyl, records are starting to become both decor and soundtrack.

Curated by the founder of the hiphop magazine of record The Source, Jonathan Shecter, along with input from regular room DJs Peter Shalvoy and Eddie McDonald, the collection (and its visual prominence) was a major part of the room’s design process, according to Sean Christie, executive vice president of development for Wynn Resorts.

“The room is supposed to be loose,” he says. “It’s a laid-back place, and vinyl is a large portion of that. And when we highlighted the records and brought in Eddie and Peter to DJ, that was the table setting for the rest of the room.”

Choosing records—temperamental, easy-to-scratch vinyl— for a room’s soundtrack is not the easy choice.

That goes double for a space that is reserved for the most Important of Very Important People, who may be used to getting their immediate wishes fulfilled. DJs rarely carry record bags anymore, and a jockey can’t download an immediate request. But with the Intrigue main room playing more dance-oriented Top 40, the more intimate Living Room has the ability to take some chances.

“It’s really counterprogramming to the main room,” Christie says. “It’s probably the only place in a major nightclub in Las Vegas where you can hear [everything from] Diana Ross to the Eagles, Frank Sinatra to N.W.A.” Down the Strip at The Cosmopolitan, The Study at Rose.Rabbit.Lie. has its own collection, one curated by the resort, with the evening’s soundtrack being selected by patrons.

“The end result is a playlist within The Study that is both modern and timeless,” says Rustyn Vaughn Lee, the sommelier and chief mixologist at Rose.Rabbit.Lie.

RECORDS AS RITUAL DJs each have different routines before playing a gig. For most, they involve hunching over a computer, setting “cue points”—commands that tell DJ software where to start a song—and organizing a digital folder.

For Rex Dart, it involves flipping through shelves filled with almost 10,000 records.

“Sitting in front of a stack and going through records is totally Zen,” he says. “It’s like, ‘Holy crap, I get paid to do this.’”

The DJ and vinyl collector has been buying albums and 45s from garage sales and Goodwill stores for more than 20 years now, a passion that started with a copy of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in his hands, listening to a radio disc jockey go in-depth into the imagery of the album cover.

“So we’re looking at that cover and each and every character it represents, and how ‘Paul is dead’ and that was [the realization of], ‘Wow, that’s the power of having a great picture in front of you and listening to the music at the same time.’”

Spinning at Double Down every Monday and The Golden Tiki on weekends, Dart has little time while working to luxuriate in the slower pace that playing vinyl requires.

“It’s definitely more of a ritual: taking it out of the sleeve, putting it on the turntable, carefully putting the needle on the record,” he says, adding with a laugh: “You almost want to light a candle at the same time.” 7

RECORDS 101 At Blend DJ Institute, which serves both as a school for the aspiring DJ and a tightly curated record store, every class, from introductory to mastery levels, can be done on vinyl. How introductory are we talking?

Let’s start with the name.

“A lot of people call it ‘vinyls,’” says Andrew Benna, the CEO of Blend. “A lot of people have heard about it, but they don’t know anything about it.”

Vegas Seven recently caught up with Benna, who himself has been DJing since 1992, to talk about the differences between using records and using computers.

Why should DJs learn how to spin vinyl?

For one thing, computers can give you problems. Vinyl brings it back to connecting with the music without all of the technology. It’s just the person interacting with the music.

When clubgoers see a DJ spinning vinyl, what, if anything, should that mean to them?

It’s a signifier of another level of skill. To DJ with just vinyl is very hard to do. A lot of the students I have now have it kind of easy, DJing with computers.

It was a lot harder to beat match with just your ear.

What’s the biggest difference in using real records in terms of actual performance?

When you’re DJing with vinyl, you have to finesse it. You have to be gentle with it. You can’t just be rough. With a lot of controllers and computers, you can be heavy-handed, and it’s not going to affect you much. But with vinyl, if you’re forceful with it, the record’s going to skip.

This page: the Living Room at Intrigue in Wynn.

Opposite page: 11th Street Records.

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TASTE

ONE BITE

Ice Cream Social

New to Heritage Steak executive pastry chef Natalie Morgan’s dessert lineup is the Ice Cream Social ($10 per person), where playing with your food is required. The vanilla ice cream popsicles arrive in an impressive bubbling and smoking display—thanks to a little dry-ice magic.

On a separate cart is an array of dips and toppings to create whatever your sweet tooth desires. Get “social” right at your table with choices including melted milk and dark chocolate, cookie crumble, rainbow sprinkles and crushed peanuts.

An added bonus, Morgan’s funnel cookies are crunchy, chewy, funnel cake–inspired treats topped with coarse sugar crystals. They are a perfect match for your DIY ice cream creation, and, yes, double dipping is allowed!

By Marisa Finetti

Photography Anthony Mair

Tom Colicchio’s Heritage Steak The Mirage mirage.com Twitter: @HeritageSteak

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DISH & TELL

TASTE

T

he huge, ungainly bird that has become the de facto centerpiece around which the entire Thanksgiving feast is built gives us a feeling of authenticity, as we imagine that America’s settlers might have chomped on a crispy turkey leg in November 1621. But the “first Thanksgiving” meal was far different from our modern holiday offerings. While the starring meats included deer, ducks and geese, cranberry sauce wasn’t invented until 50 years later when sugar became available, and potatoes were virtually unknown in the U.S. until the early 1700s. Hence, the pilgrims and their native Wampanoag guests celebrated the harvest by preparing locally sourced crops such as corn, leeks, beans, plums, chestnuts and berries, as well as eels, quahogs, lobsters and cod from the Atlantic, and consumed the prizes from their “fowling” missions. We asked five of the city’s chefs how they might handle these star ingredients from the nation’s famous foodie gathering.

CHESTNUTS Mandalay Bay executive chef Susan Wolfla remembers the time she tasted roasted chestnuts in northern Italy. She re-creates the memory at home by roasting chestnuts on a fire pit while sipping on after-dinner drinks. One hour prior to roasting, she cuts an X in the bottom of each chestnut and soaks them in salty water. “I like to use a cast iron pan over the coals and a long-handled fork to stir the chestnuts until the skin starts to peel back.”

VENISON Charlie Palmer Steak executive chef Thomas Griese recommends roasted venison loin with dark choco-

late jus. He suggests marinating the loin in white pepper and herbs such as bay leaf, thyme and rosemary. “This will impart a ton of fall flavor into the meat,” he says. He also recommends roasting the bone to make jus and adding bitter, dark chocolate. “Chocolate is my secret weapon in a savory dish.”

He finishes the meal by roasting and pureeing celeriac, then topping it with fresh winter truffles and roasted seckel pear.

DUCK Delmonico Steakhouse chef de cuisine Ronnie

Rainwater prepares a dish that is a playful take on Peking

duck. The multiday process begins with brining the bird overnight with cloves, thyme, bay leaf, brown sugar, kosher salt and water. The next day, the duck is submerged in hot brine for a few minutes, then it is dipped into a glaze made with Louisiana cane syrup, hot sauce and green onion, and allowed to air-dry overnight. This glazing/drying process is repeated for up to five days. “This helps get the skin crispy,” Rainwater says. He then slow-roasts the duck at 275 degrees for three to four hours.

A SIP TO GO WITH

SO NICE ON ICE Poor lambrusco. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, it was a hugely successful wine in the U.S., made in an easy-drinking, overly sweet “so nice on ice” style.

But tastes have changed, and lambrusco fell out of fashion. But this is only a tiny hiccup in the 2,000-year history of one of Italy’s most misunderstood grapes, which produces perhaps the most food-friendly red wines in the world.

Lambrusco is both the name of the grape and of the wine made from it in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, arguably the gastronomic center of the country and home of Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto and

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CLAMS Clams Oreganata (Italian-style stuffed clams)

conjures up memories of Carla Pellegrino’s childhood.

“The bread stuffing is perfect for Thanksgiving,” she says. To get rid of grit, the Bratalian executive chef and owner makes a cold, salty bath for the fresh clams. “Once in contact with salt water, they will open and release all sand and residue into the saltwater mixture, then they will close again.” She combines breadcrumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, olive oil and chicken broth, then spoons the mixture into each raw clam. On a sheet pan, she pours wine, lemon juice, clam juice and butter over each clam and broils them until the tops are brown and crisp.

CURRANTS Using ingredients that we are already very likely to have in our pantry for Thanksgiving, Triple George Grill executive chef Brearley Hernandez makes currant bread pudding. After mixing eggs, half-and-half, cinnamon, vanilla extract and sugar, he soaks diced bread in the egg mixture, adds currants and bakes. “We need something sweet besides pumpkin pie. A little bread pudding with currants and ice cream would make a nice choice.” 7 Marisa Finetti savors with all five senses. Read more at vegasseven.com/ dishandtell or visit her blog, loveandrelish.com.

aceto balsamico. Quality lambrusco is typically made as a frizzante (slightly sparkling) red wine with varying degrees of sweetness: secco (dry), amabile (off dry) and dolce (sweet), and all are meant to be drunk while still young. Its naturally high acid and frothy carbonation make for a fresh, lively wine, while its lack of tannins and varying degrees of sweetness make it astonishingly versatile from a food-pairing standpoint.

The traditional Thanksgiving meal presents a variety of wine-pairing challenges because of the diversity of dishes presented and how they are served all at once, necessitating a wine that pairs as well with turkey as it does with sweet yams and green bean casserole. Lambrusco is that wine: explosive red berry flavors,

vibrant liveliness and a sparkling personality that make it the perfect accompaniment for the holiday meal.

Try a secco or amabile version for dinner and don’t forget to have a bottle of dolce ready for when everyone’s ready for pie. –Kirk Peterson Riunite Lambrusco (750ml, 1.5L, 3L) Total Wine & More, $5.50-$15 bottle

Sei Amici Lambrusco Rosso Total Wine & More, $6.50 bottle

Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Amabile Centenario winex.com, $10 bottle

Gionelli Red Lambrusco Total Wine & More, $6.50 bottle Cavicchioli Lambrusco Dolce Marche Bacchus Wine Shop, $20 bottle

Medici Ermete Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano 2015 Otto Pizzeria Enoteca in The Venetian, $11 glass, $44 bottle

Plymouth Rock Solid Today’s chefs take on pilgrim-era ingredients

By Marisa Finetti

Photography Krystal Ramirez

Food Styling Cierra Pedro

702.388.2120 | theD.com 301 Fremont Street | Las Vegas, NV 89101

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

By Kristen Peterson

An Otherworldly Gem WAYNE LITTLEJOHN’S “DREAM MACHINE” ADDS WONDER AND WHIMSY TO SIEGFRIED & ROY PARK

I

says, while walking the gravel footpath. The polished aluminum gives off a silver luster, referencing the Silver State.

A Winnipeg, Manitoba-born artist, who landed in Las Vegas in the ’90s to study with Dave Hickey in UNLV’s Masters of Fine Arts program, Littlejohn was selected from 33 artists to create work for the park that broke ground in 2014, the final project in Clark County Department of Aviation’s Terminal 3 Expansion at McCarran International Airport. Tying in ideas of Las Vegas, magic and aviation, Littlejohn spent two years working on the piece funded by the county’s Percent for Arts Program that will be dedicated in December.

The target shape of the landscape, mimicking concentric rings rippling outward, was Littlejohn’s idea.

The circular approach directs visitors to the sculpture’s changing faces and creates a visual map from the sky, he

says. With the Strip facades visible in the near distance, “Dream Machine” works here. It’s an unstoppable, well-engineered force—Littlejohn’s creation of floating mass dips into his oeuvre that’s based mostly on inspiration found while traveling, particularly the illusory feeling of Japanese gardens.

With all of his work, he says, “It’s got to be something I’ve never seen before.”

His studio works are about materials and seamlessness.

“Dream Machine,” a sculpture of 230 cast parts connected to a metal skeleton, shows its industrial marks under the polished finish and plays on a completely different sense of scale. The largescale sculpture, he hopes, will be the first in a series.

“It had to be distinctly Vegas, but not like anything else in Vegas,” he says, later adding, “I kind of think of it as an upside down Venus on a half shell.” 7

PHOTO CREDIT GOES HERE

t’s noon on a Saturday at Siegfried & Roy Park (5590 Wilbur St.), and Las Vegas artist Wayne Littlejohn walks the landscaped pathway that circles inward to his 26-foot public sculpture, an organic form made of cast aluminum that spirals upward.

Abstract, sensual and otherworldly, it evokes a sense of perpetual motion under its mushroomlike cap. Oceanic is a natural leap—only sea creatures float so elegantly. Mimicking natural forces, “Dream Machine” is indistinguishably Littlejohn’s, a much larger take on his studio works, which are high-gloss sculptures made of plastics and forms that are exquisitely bizarre.

“Dream Machine” is playful, streamlined and free-spirited.

Shiny, UV-resistant auto paint (Oriental Blue Candy) coats the waves of the polished aluminum illuminated by the sun.

“It changes moods throughout the day with the sun moving across the sky,” Littlejohn

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SOCIAL INFLUENCE

THIS AIN’T NO FAIRY TALE

Rejected Princesses offers a glimpse at some seriously badass women

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers THE ROAD OF THE FEMALE

DO GOOD

trailblazer is not an easy one, and many of the stories about groundbreaking women have been distorted, forgotten or both.

Jason Porath seeks to remedy that situation with Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions and Heretics (Dey Street Books, rejectedprincesses.com).

Part storybook, part catalog of badassery, the book originated from conversations the author had about possible but wildly inappropriate Disney heroines.

Artwork By Jason Porath The anthology, which started as a website, combines informative and witty retellings with subversive princess-style art.

While you’ll read about many familiar names—Joan of Arc, Wilma Rudolph, Josephine Baker—there are also unfamiliar, yet equally astounding, stories: Mai Bhago, battle leader of the Sikhs; Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentileschi; Yaa Asantewaa, the Ghanian ruler who led an almost-successful rebellion against the British; and dozens more. The heroines range from

By Amber Sampson Photography Cierra Pedro

All About the Benjamins Junior Achievement’s Finance Park teaches kids how to plan for the future

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mythical figures to contemporary icons, and the book is thoughtfully rated for maturity, as well as sex and violence. While these are stories every girl should read, some might not be quite ready for all of them.

The obvious draw of Rejected Princesses is the art—each subject gets her own full-page portrait, rife with references to and symbolism from the subject’s life. But the accompanying text is just as delightful—Porath displays a fine, wry tone, as in his story about Harriet Tubman: “In recent years there’s been a popular fictional character with almost the same danger-detecting abilities. You may have heard of him. His name is Spider-Man. He is not real. Tubman was.

She was also illiterate, uneducated, narcoleptic and unstoppable.” But the author can also be touching, as in his summation of the life of World War II spy Noor Inayat Khan: “She became a pacifist who fought dirty. A klutz who climbed buildings. A Sufi who lied daily. An artist who braved torture.”

At the Las Vegas Library, an eighth-grade boy gets the raw end of the deal. The tablet in his hands informs him that he’s a single dad with three daughters, a job with an annual salary of $20,000 and just a bus pass to get by. This is just one of the possible 24 budgeting scenarios students can find themselves in at Finance Park, an interactive simulation meant to teach kids between eighth and 12th grade how to make smart financial decisions in the future.

Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, an organization that educates nearly 20,000 students a year on financial matters, runs Finance Park, which is open till December 16. Michelle Jackson, president and CEO of JA Southern Nevada, likens it to a Disneyland experience, offering the kids a scenario of what their financial lives might look like.

Teachers are trained on the park’s curriculum before the students’ visit. At the park, students receive

Many of the stories beg to be films, or at least the best Lifetime TV-movie ever. There could be a great ensemble dramedy in the story of the Night Witches, a group of female Russian pilots in World War II—perhaps with a cameo by Maria Oktyabrskaya and her combat tank, “Fighting Girlfriend.” Julie d’Aubigny, a.k.a. La Maupin, the bisexual, sword-slinging, opera-singing adventuress who tore up Europe, should have been played

by Angelina Jolie back when she was still fun.

The stories are relatively brief—a few pages each—but a list of references are thoughtfully provided at the back. (I must learn more about Muslim warrior poet Khawlah bint al-Azwar, or as Porath calls her, “Maya Angelou with a scimitar.”)

At a time when some girls—and women—may wonder if there are limits on who or what they can be, Rejected Princesses reminds us there aren’t. 7

a debit card with an account number, pin and account code. The account code generates a real-life scenario similar to a Jeopardy! answer, only now they’re asking, “Who is … this person and why do they have so much credit card debt?!” Inside Finance Park, which counts Capital One as one of its sponsors, there are kiosks that give the kids choices such as: What kind of insurance can they afford? Do they buy the unlimited data plan for their cellphone or put money aside for a rainy day? Do they purchase organic groceries for their family or go off-brand to save for a car?

After a day at the park, kids leave thinking differently. Jackson says parents thank her sometimes because their kids come home and start trying to save electricity. Often the reality of Finance Park penetrates even deeper. Jackson recalls one boy who entered the park with a heavy heart after losing his father and having to downsize in housing with his

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

POLITICS

By Michael Green

Singing the Blues

NEVADA’S SURPRISING ELECTION RESULTS GO AGAINST THE NATIONAL GRAIN

I

f Nevada Democrats looked only at their state, they would celebrate a great election night. They kept a U.S. Senate seat, swung two House seats and the legislature, and played a role in passing background checks and recreational marijuana. As for the great beyond ….

But setting aside that America is proving it can happen here—the reference to Germany might be lost on some— what did happen here, and why?

Reid and Democrats accomplished a first. Nevada’s U.S. senators usually leave office through death or defeat. Only three previous senators from Nevada retired voluntarily; in each case, the other party captured the seat: Democrat Alan Bible to Republican Paul Laxalt, Laxalt to Reid, and Democrat Richard Bryan to Republican John Ensign.

Catherine Cortez Masto is the first to keep a Senate seat in the same political party. That speaks to the political operation Reid built with the party, and with the Culinary Union. That operation, being in place, figures to survive Reid’s retirement, but which individual, if any, will dominate the party now? Should someone?

The Culinary remains the primary union force to be reckoned with. Consider: The laborers and building trades tried to save incumbent Republican Assemblyman Derek Armstrong because he supported the stadium project and his Democratic opponent, Ozzie Fumo, opposed it. They failed.

In House races, Cresent Hardy’s loss may mean his win in

2014 really was just that he rode a Republican wave and the Culinary fell asleep at the switch. House District 4 extends north to Lyon County, and rural voters overwhelmingly backed Hardy, but they’re too few in number to overcome Ruben Kihuen’s big numbers from Southern Nevada. That’s a useful reminder for other statewide elections. Northern Nevadans tend to vote geographically when they can.

Southern Nevadans don’t, and they might want to learn.

Also, Jacky Rosen held off Danny Tarkanian by 2 percentage points. Maybe that’s a lesson not to Photoshop mailers of senior citizens, as Tarkanian and the GOP did?

Did Donald Trump help or hurt Republicans? Masto’s opponent, Joe Heck, was for him, then against him, then waffled. Hardy endorsed him, then took it back. Tarkanian went all in with him and came closest to winning his race. That may say a lot about Nevada Republicans.

Or not, because Democrats needed to swing one state senate seat and did it. A 25–17 Republican assembly majority went back to 27-15 Democratic. Governor Brian Sandoval expected to work well with Democrats and occasionally tore his hair out over the Republicans who took over in 2015. Democrats have enough power to negotiate in earnest with the governor. And by controlling committees in both houses, they can research subjects that might otherwise have been ignored. Sandoval’s support for tax hikes in 2015 pleased a lot of Democrats. State senate Re-

publican leader Michael Roberson’s management in the 2015 session and Sandoval’s efforts to assure approval of the stadium in the recent special session was another matter. Some wounds may need healing.

Democrats also would benefit from having a plan. Sandoval does. A few in and out of the legislature hope to succeed him in 2018. They have the chance to push their platform. And since Nevada went Democratic, it automatically gets noticed by the devastated national party for what it did, and what it will do.

Nevada’s passage of background checks, as well as electing the first Latina in U.S. Senate history, suggested the state is becoming bluer as opposed to purple, and possibly breaking with its frontier past. The marijuana law’s approval actually was more of a throwback to the libertarian-minded spirit that led to legal gambling and easy divorce when both were sinful and controversial. Remember, too: In 2014, Nevada went overwhelmingly Republican. It can happen again.

Best line about the marijuana vote: Someone said the last thing Nevada needs is more people doing 30 mph in a 45 mph zone. Best thought about the marijuana vote: It might keep us from thinking about what will be in the White House. 7 Michael Green is an associate professor of history at UNLV.

Since Nevada went Democratic, it automatically gets noticed by the devastated national party … mother. “He was angry and upset,” she says. “After he went through the program, he went home and he apologized to his mom.” The reality of what it truly costs to be a single parent finally dawned on him.

Jackson emphasizes Finance Park works hard to reach kids in low-income and at-risk communities. This year, it’s partnering with 23 schools and anticipates that 4,000 kids will participate in the program. JA’s long-term goal is to build a permanent facility that’s open year-round and launch its national capstone program BizTown, which simulates an entire town with businesses.

On December 3, JA of Southern Nevada will kick off its annual Suite Holiday fundraiser, where participants can enjoy a night of specialty cocktails and gourmet bites in four different hotel suites around Las Vegas. For more information, visit jalasvegas.org. 7

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SPACES & PLACES

Clockwise from top left: Cleveland Clinic interiors; Dr. Dylan Wint (left) and Professor Attila Lawrence; the center’s curved hallways.

W

hen the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health chitecture. The two-year cross-disciplinary program, launched this August, opened in 2009, it was praised for state-of-the-art programming follows a series of health care design courses that began in partnership with and dedication to researching neurodegenerative disease. the Cleveland Clinic four years ago as part of the university’s undergraduate The next thunder of accolades went to its Frank Gehry- interior architecture and design track. designed building: The sloping, stainless shell structure is composed of anom“About 12 years go, we began offering courses in the aging project, focusalous windows and 18,000 tiles that pop up as a warped assemblage of struc- ing more on retirement communities,” says professor Attila Lawrence, who tures at the edge of Symphony Park. helped establish and now heads the new program.

It’s the clinic’s patient care-oriented interiors, how“We’ve found that 80 percent of people in their ever, that have had a more profound effect on those later years want to stay in their own homes. If the it serves, helping illustrate the benefits of a wellenvironment is challenging you to manage your designed health institution. Gehry, along with Larry condition, you have to go into an institution. What Ruvo, the center’s founder, sought solutions to better we can do is design an environment to match the accommodate visitors with neurodegenerative issues, capabilities of people.” making its minimalist interior with curvilinear lines, Lawrence, who recently completed two years punctuations of color and calming organic shapes a of funded academic research involving neuropursuit beyond aesthetics. scientific approach to design, says thoughtful inCurved hallways reduce confusion and the potenteriors can not only prevent potential falls and tial of getting lost, and floor-to-ceiling natural lightaddress problems related to social isolation (such ing creates a sense of warmth. Indirect lighting helps as acoustics), but also promote cognitive neuroprevent patients from becoming transfixed. There is logical health. Buildings can encourage walking an absence of shadows that could confuse or frighten, or ensure natural light orientation is present. Reas well as other potential environmental triggers. search, he and Wint say, has shown that falls can But when patients leave the center, they return to be reduced through full-spectrum lighting, which the pitfalls of traditional design, says Dr. Dylan Wint, is the equivalent of daylight around noontime. In

By Kristen Peterson a researcher at the clinic and chair for brain health addition, placement of cupboards and cabinets at education. eye level and none below waist level also helps rePhotography Krystal Ramirez “The primary issue is that people don’t spend most of duce falling in patients with Parkinson’s disease. their time in health care. They’re in their homes, officAnd just how important is lighting in one’s space? es, other places,” Wint says. “We need to be thoughtful in designing our spaces. Professionally designed lighting can even help treat depression.

We have the expertise of knowing what patients go through, knowing the typ“The best care is in the home environment, and the most practical way to acical neurological problems and the ability to respond to [them] with solutions.” commodate someone is to improve that environment,” Lawrence says. “The 21st In seeking better remedies, the clinic teamed up with UNLV to launch a century is so much about not how much you know, but how you’re going to use that new Master of Healthcare Interior Design Program through the School of Ar- knowledge. And the environment is far more important than people realize.” 7

Mindful Space

Lou Ruvo Center and UNLV team up to improve health care interior design

November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

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SPACES & PLACES

7 pl aces w her e

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

JIMMY’S CORNER In a Midtown of franchises and chains,

Jimmy’s Corner knocks you out with personality. Owned by former boxing trainer Jimmy Glenn for nearly 50 years, the walls of this tiny, narrow bar are adorned with photos of him with all of the greats: Ali, Frazier, Tyson. Escape the Times Square tourists with Stax and Blue Note on the jukebox, cheap drinks and a laid-back crowd. 140 W. 44th St.

ROSARIO’S PIZZA

What is New York City without a slice?

Rosario’s Pizza has been keeping the Lower East Side in cheese and pepperoni since before punk rock squats gave way to billionaires’ condos, thanks to owner/guardian angel Sal. Kick back with a Sofia slice (spinach, mozzarella, tomato) or Sal’s specialty, the Rollini (imagine a slice of pizza with extra toppings, rolled up), sip a soda and revel in the people-watching. 173 Orchard St.

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November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

Photography Lisa Cheung

RUDY’S BAR & GRILL

The bar is one of New York’s classic dives. A giant pig and vintage neon sign greet you at the door, stained-glass lamps inside cast a dim light over the brick walls and long wooden bar. The grill is just a vast tray of spinning Ball Park hot dogs, gratis with purchase of a drink—which can be as cheap as a $3 beer. Who says there’s no such thing as free lunch in New York City? 627 9th Ave.

STRAND BOOKSTORE

It claims to have “18 miles of books” and that number seems low, with three stories crammed from floor to high ceiling with volumes used and new. No matter what your obsession, the Strand has dozens of tomes about it, along with first editions, signed copies and gifts, as well as readings and events. Where did New York City get its reputation for smart people? The Strand has a lot to do with it. 828 Broadway St.

AWAY MESSAGE: THE EDITORS OF VEGAS SEVEN HIT THE ROAD AND SHARE WHAT THEY LOVE “OUT THERE”

ol d new yor k l i v es THE CITY IS ALWAYS CHANGING ... LUCKILY, THESE SPOTS HAVEN’T

KEENS STEAKHOUSE

How old is the school at Keens?

The 122-year-old restaurant has served mutton chops and whiskey to the likes of Buffalo Bill and Babe Ruth and still feeds some of the city’s most prominent carnivores. The dark-paneled rooms are hung with antique portraits and 19th-century memorabilia; diners take in the clubby atmosphere and savor classics such as oysters Rockefeller and bananas Foster. 72 W. 36th St.

RAY’S CANDY STORE

For more than 40 years, Ray has run his tiny storefront on Avenue A, watching the neighborhood go from immigrants and artists to lawyers and stockbrokers. He’s still serving fries with 10 sauces, a dozen flavors of soft-serve ice cream and, most importantly, classic New York egg creams, frothed to perfection. Ray’s has been the setting and/or subject of more stories than can possibly be told here: Secret identities, attempted Mafia hits, countless friendships and romances … 113 Avenue A

SENIOR STAFF WRITER LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS CALLED “THE CITY” HOME FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES. “ALL CITIES ARE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF TRANSFORMATION, AND PROBABLY NONE MORE SO THAN NEW YORK. WHEN I GO BACK TO VISIT MY HOMETOWN, I ALWAYS TRY TO HIT THE SPOTS THAT HAVE STAYED THE SAME.”

ECONOMY CANDY

All the kale and quinoa in Manhattan can’t thwart Economy Candy’s sweet tooth. One of the neighborhood’s last bulk food shops, the candy shop satisfies every craving, even if it’s for a Cadbury Crème Egg in November or wax fangs in April. Foreign candy bars, forgotten forms of bulk candy, vintage trading cards, Pez collections, a 10-pound box of strawberry cheesecake jelly beans—it’s all here, waiting to give you cavities. 108 Rivington St. 7

November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

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ASK A NATIVE

CONVERSATIONS

By James P. Reza

Which act would be the Native’s “dream residency” for a casino?

We once called them “headliners” and in the beginning, it was the rhinestoned showman Liberace who starred in a string of Riviera shows in the 1950s, perhaps the first of the city’s many such long-term showroom engagements.

Later, icons Frank Sinatra (whose runs on the stages of the Desert Inn and the Sands helped manifest the Las Vegas of legend), a jumpsuit-era Elvis (who wowed the Las Vegas Hilton showroom for months at a time), and nearly every A-, B- and C-list entertainer in between found themselves on the right end of a cushy casino contract. Las Vegas was “the Entertainment Capital of the World,” and the marquees proved that a visitor could drop in anytime and be guaranteed an amazing performance somewhere.

Things changed, and by the 1980s, having one’s name on a Vegas marquee for the long term was seen as a sign of career decline. It was Prince who reignited the idea of a pop superstar having a long Vegas run when he did a six-month stint at the Rio in 2006–2007.

But we can credit a fast-rising nightclub culture for the big reversal.

Cleopatra’s Barge notwithstanding, casino nightclubs weren’t really a thing until Club Rio opened in 1995. But by 2008, when Paul Oakenfold arrived to Rain at the Palms as the city’s first big-time contract DJ, Las Vegas became a global nightclubbing destination and the name-brand DJ residency was born. Fast-forward to today, and though there are signs that the big-buck resident DJs are slowly on the wane, modern-era live music headliners Carlos Santana, Celine Dion, Garth Brooks and Britney Spears have all recognized the value of the Vegas extended run.

So now that the residency is again a respectable thing, who would I want to see on a casino marquee in million-point Helvetica? For me, it has to be someone who can reinvigorate the spirit of Old Vegas for the 21st century. Someone who can engage various demographics, has demonstrated legit musicianship and possesses a commanding, at-ease stage presence that leaves audiences feeling as if they somehow channeled the vibe of a legendary Vegas moment that everyone has heard of but few have experienced.

That performer is the Brian Setzer Orchestra, a 20-piece big band (starring the namesake former Stray Cats frontman) that reinvents swing and jump blues for the modern era, can blow the doors off a room without Auto-Tune or turntables, and slings costume changes, witty banter and an energetic performance with the practiced professionalism of a classic Las Vegas headliner. 7 Know of any others? Send them to askanative@vegasseven.com.

Watch for Wilderness The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will help raise money—and awareness—to protect Nevada’s land and animals

By Jessie O’Brien

Artwork Jeremy Collins

aring for Mother Nature and her animals is mostly a shield game. “When you fall in love with [the] wilderness, you don’t think you’re going to be on the defensive all the time,” says Jesy Simons, the Southern Nevada program coordinator for Friends of Nevada Wilderness. The environmental conservation nonprofit hosts its fourth annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on November 18 at the Clark County Library as a proactive means to rally support.

The night features eight shorts, including one film about footwear company KEEN’s mission to designate five wilderness areas as national monuments, including Nevada’s Gold Butte. The filmfest is FNW’s largest fundraiser and the nonprofit plans to put the proceeds to good use.

Simons says a main concern is protecting the bighorn sheep population of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, the largest refuge in the continental U.S. The area is partially under military control, and the U.S. Air Force is proposing to use additional land—more than 200,000 of its 1.2 million acres— for training purposes. (The Air Force is currently accepting public comment on the matter.) “We can’t

C

afford to lose any more,” Simons says. “The sheep definitely can’t afford to lose any more.”

And a more dangerous threat is looming. Congressmen from Nevada and Utah are proposing to return federal public lands to the states. Nevada’s land is more than 80 percent public, which Simons says could be sold to the highest bidder to maximize state revenue—a thought that becomes more worrisome as people’s relationship with the outdoors weakens.

“With the migration of people moving into cities from rural areas, the wilderness is being taken for granted,” Simons says. “People don’t have a connection with it like they used to.” 7

Wild & Scenic Film Festival Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m., Clark County Library, $10-$15, nevadawilderness.org

November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

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CONVERSATIONS

A Living Laughs Legend After playing Vegas for decades, Bob Newhart talks watching comedy—and Sin City—evolve By Mark Adams BOB NEWHART HAS ENTERTAINED GENERATION AFTER GENERATION THROUGHOUT his five-decade career, bringing laughs to all walks of life as a stand-up comedian, sitcom star and bigscreen comedic actor. Baby boomers will likely remember him for his debut record, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, which was the first comedy release to receive the Grammy award for Album of the Year. Gen Xers likely remember his stints on beloved television programs The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart. Those baby boomers’ kids can likely recall watching reruns of those sitcoms when Nick at Nite rebroadcast them throughout the 1990s, and millennials will recognize the iconic performer from his memorable roles in Elf and The Big Bang Theory.

Newhart started playing Las Vegas in the 1960s, when other icons such as the Rat Pack and Johnny Carson were playing Strip showrooms. The funnyman returns to town this week to do some stand-up at The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall, and Vegas Seven simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk to the legend about his November 19 show (7:30 p.m., $29-$99), vintage Vegas and how comedy has evolved.

You’ll be in Las Vegas November 17 to do some stand-up at Reynolds Hall. What can the audience look forward to? Iconic bits?

Commentary on current events? I’ll proba-

bly do one or two of what people call the classic routines, because I know [for] a lot of people, that’s one of the reasons they show up. The rest of it is just commentary on this crazy planet that we all inhabit, and hopefully humor has a lot to do with our getting through it.

You’ve been playing Vegas for decades. What do you like to do while you’re here? I haven’t

been the last several years. I started at the Sahara in October of ’63, then I went to the Desert Inn when it was owned by Moe Dalitz, and then the Sands when Jack Entratter was running it. I was here when Hughes came in, [when he] bought the D.I. and then the Sands, the Frontier, Castaways and anything else that was available.

You’re quite informed on Las Vegas Strip history. It was kind of our life. When I was doing The

Bob Newhart Show, we’d do three shows and then we’d take two weeks off. Usually [during those] two weeks, I’d go to Vegas. And then during the summertime, [I’d usually] play a month at the Sands or the D.I. or the Frontier, and bring the family up. It was like a second home. The kids saw the other side of the business, the [unglamorous] side of the business. A lot of our friends lived up there, [such as] Jerry Vale [and] Shecky [Greene]. It was a very small town at that time. Everybody knew everybody, and you all got together.

I remember one time I was in town, I think I was at the D.I., and Johnny Carson was at the Sahara. It was announced that day that Johnny’s wife was suing for divorce. Johnny called, he said, “Listen, when [your show is] over, would you mind coming over to my place?” He said, “I don’t want to be alone tonight.” My wife, Ginny, and I, and a friend of ours, Marie, we went to Johnny’s, and we just sat and talked. He kind of loosened up, he said, “You know, there were a lot of good times, along with the bad times.” It was a side of Johnny you didn’t see that much.

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We stayed up until 6 in the morning, but that’s the way the town was. You’d do a show at midnight and it would break usually around 1:30 or quarter to 2, and the adrenaline was such that you’re still up. You had your pick, you know: “What do you want to do?” Well, I’ll catch Vic Damone in the lounge at the Riviera, or let’s catch [Don] Rickles at the Sahara, or Louie [Prima] and Keely [Smith]. It would be 4 or 5 in the morning before the adrenaline rush from your show had worn off, and then that was it. That was life, and it was great.

What are you expecting this time around? Will it be somewhat of a homecoming? Yeah, I

suppose it would be. A couple of years ago, I played the Stardust before they knocked it down. And then we went in to tape a thing—Rickles and I did a thing together.

There’s a Catholic church we used to go to. It’s just off the Strip, just past where the Wynn is now, and it [is now] surrounded by these huge buildings. When we would go in there, it was a little tiny Catholic church. It was an experience to see the way the town had changed.

You’re known for your deadpan, straightman style of comedy. Did anything or anyone inspire your style, or is it really your raw personality? I used to watch The Ed Sullivan Show

religiously and I would watch the comedians, not knowing I’d wind up being a stand-up. I watched them clinically. It was like, “Oh, I wonder why he chose that joke over that joke. Oh, I see what he did there.” I learned from them. Jack Benny, George Burns, Buddy Hackett, Alan King, Johnny Carson.

I just learned from watching the Sullivan shows.

One day I made a record album, and I got a call [from] Ed Sullivan. He said, “Do you want to do six or eight Ed Sullivan shows this year?” It was one of those, “Well, you’ve come a long way, baby” [moments].

I think you might be the only comedian to ever win the Grammys for Best New Artist and Album of the Year, which you received for The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart. You’ve

also been honored by countless other organizations with coveted awards. What’s been the most meaningful? I [was] inducted into the

Television Hall of Fame [in 1992], and that was really quite an honor, because [I was] joining the giants. [I was] joining Lucy [Ball], Johnny Carson [and Jackie] Gleason.

I was inducted the same year with Phil Donahue, Dick Clark [and] Agnes Nixon, who was the creator of All My Children. There were two posthumous awards—one was Mark Goodson from Goodson-Todman [Productions], the game-show innovators, and the other was Jack Webb [from] Dragnet. … We used to gather by the watercooler and we’d all talk about what [was on] Dragnet last night, and how great the story was. Then to be inducted into the [Television] Hall of Fame with Jack Webb, it kind of brought it all 360 degrees.

You’ve remained active as an actor, but it seems like you’re quite selective about the projects you choose. How do you make those decisions? I don’t do one-camera comedy shows

where there isn’t an audience. More and more shows are doing that, and to me it’s just very sterile. … There’s an adrenaline factor when there’s a live audience out there, you perform better—the writers write better, the actors act better and you improvise better.

The other thing was always the quality of the writing. I just always insisted on good writing. I’m pretty much just doing The Big Bang Theory [now].

Comedy has evolved throughout your five-decade career. How have you seen it change? I

always thought that Everybody Loves Raymond was a wonderful show. The cast was incredible, and the writing was top-notch. In terms of the material that they were able to do, as opposed to us in the ’70s … we couldn’t have touched half [of] those subjects.

The censor would’ve sent it back and said, “No, you can’t do that.” We were considered adventuresome because Emily [played by Suzanne Pleshette] and I, in The Bob Newhart Show, we slept in the same bed. As far as I know, no one had ever [done that], including The Dick Van Dyke Show, which preceded us by a couple of years—they had separate beds.

The networks weren’t ready to admit that married people actually slept in the same bed.

There were themes on Everybody Loves Raymond we could never have come close to. That’s the biggest change in comedy, to me. It’s opened up so much, and I think networks are competing with cable, and there are words we could never use that are common. On Raymond, [Ray Romano would] say, “Holy crap.” There’s was no way we could ever say “Holy crap.”

It’s just broadened and opened up ... which is what comedy always does. It always kind of breaks down the barriers. It’s healthy and it’s good. 7

CONVERSATIONS

“Stakeout, Huntridge Tavern, Ichabod’s Lounge, Village Pub … any place that is very dark and preferably not Downtown. Can’t have people I know see me be a sloppy mess at those hours!

–Krystal Ramirez, staff photographer

Lucky No.

7

We asked the Vegas Seven staff: “When I lived Downtown, my go-to was the Classic Jewel. It’s a chill, low-key environment for a nightcap.

And it didn’t hurt that I could just stumble my drunk ass upstairs when I was done.”

–Zoneil Maharaj, director of digital content

What is your favorite late-night, one-last-drink stop?

“Definitely Jinya Ramen Bar. This little hole-in-the-wall is an industry hot spot. Everyone I know heads there after closing on Saturday nights. Ramen, sushi, beer—and they are open late!”

–Ally Tatosian, editorial intern

Photography Krystal Ramirez

“When I only have one (maybe two?) left in me, my final stop of the night has to be close to home base.

That’s Atomic Liquors, where I can enjoy a pint and a whiskey, then toddle back home safely.”

–Xania Woodman, senior editor, dining, beverage and nightlife

“My house. I have a fully stocked liquor cabinet, vintage glassware, a great selection of vinyl and the only assholes allowed in are the ones I already know.”

–Lissa Townsend Rodgers, senior staff writer

“The Crown & Anchor Pub on Tropicana with a nice cold Hoegaarden in my hand.”

–Zach McKee, photo intern

“Piero’s. Saddle up to the bar and get ready for late-night antics. Pia Zadora takes over the Monkey Bar on Fridays and Saturdays, and you never know what Vegas characters will pop up.” –Melinda Sheckells, editor-in-chief

November 17-23, 2016 vegasseven.com

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