Come Out and Play | Vegas Seven | Nov. 24-30, 2016

FREE November 24-30, 2016 « MORIMOTO / SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH ANDREA BOCELLI / VIDEO GAMES IN THE CLASSROOM »

COME OUT AND

PLAY

FRI, DEC 2 & SAT, DEC 3 SAT, NOV 26.........................SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX

GARY ALLAN

SUN, DEC 11.......................... MERCEDES IN THE MORNING’S NOT SO SILENT NIGHT FEATURING ONEREPUBLIC WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LINDSEY STIRLING, THE FRAY AND WE THE KINGS

FRI, DEC 16............................ CAPITAL SNEAKER BOUTIQUE PRESENTS LIL YACHTY MON, DEC 19 ......................MONDAYS DARK W/ MARK SHUNOCK ANNIVERSARY SHOW

SUN, DEC 25........................ JADE ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS VIVIAN CHOW JOURNEY OF LOVE CONCERT WITH SPECIAL GUEST ASKA YOUNG

FRI, DEC 30.......................... PUFF PUFF PASS TOUR 2 SNOOP DOOG WITH BONE THUGS N HARMONY, DJ QUIK, WARREN G AND THA DOGG POUND

FRI, FEB 3............................... I LOVE THE ‘90S TOUR FEATURING VANILLA ICE, NAUGHTY BY NATURE, SUGAR RAY’S MARK MCGRATH, ALL-4-ONE, TONE LOC AND YOUNG MC FRI, FEB 10............................IRATION

LOST & FOUND WINTER TOUR WITH THE GREEN, PROTOJE AND ZACH DEPUTY

FRI, DEC 9 & SAT, DEC 10

SAT, APR 8 .............................BRING ME THE HORIZON

THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE TOUR

PLUS VERY SPECIAL GUESTS UNDEROATH AND BEARTOOTH

FOR VIP PACKAGES & RESERVATIONS CONTACT JOINTVIP@HRHVEGAS.COM OR 702.693.5220 AXS.COM

|

888-9-AXS-TIX

|

HARDROCKHOTEL.COM/THEJOINT

OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 15, 2017

LOCALS RECEIVE 20% OFF ICE SKATING* 60FT HOLIDAY TREE VISITS FROM SANTA *When you present your Nevada ID

Located between New York-New York® and Monte Carlo™ For more information, visit theparkvegas.com/holiday

@theparkvegas

#DeckThePark

Giddy up

FOR

ON THE COVER

ENTERTAINMENT CONCERTS AT 10PM 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.

THE SHOPPING ISSUE Photography KRYSTAL RAMIREZ Kidrobot Horrible Adorable Haremus #6, Happy Panda Toys in The Arts Factory; happypandatoys.com

SEVEN NIGHTS Zedd joins hakkasan group roster in 2017

@GOLDENNUGGETLV

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 24-30, 2016 TO DO

A Home for the Pawlidayz

15 24/7

Zappos leads holiday pet adoption campaign.

What to do around the clock in Las Vegas.

BY SHANNON MILLER

16 The Deal

Monday-night football at strip clubs.

BY ROB KACHELRIESS

39 Games Millennials Play

Casinos bet on video games to hook the younger generation.

BY DAVID G. SCHWARTZ

BY ANTHONY CURTIS

17 Seven Questions With Adrea Bocelli

The legendary tenor on the city, musical influences and Céline Dion.

BY GENEVIE DURANO

FEATURE

20 Playtime

Where to spend your holiday toy dollars.

BY JASON LATHAM

24 Kid Couture

Las Vegas’ most fashionable kids share their secrets.

BY JUDY STONE

28 Where to Shop

The best new spots to drop a dime or two.

SPACES & PLACES

41 The Modern Edge

Pulte Homes’ contemporary twist to Summerlin’s new village.

BY ROB KACHELRIESS

42 The Art of Sushi

Green Toys; photo by Zach McKee

Chef Morimoto pleases both the eye and the palate.

BY AL MANCINI

CONVERSATIONS

45 Back to School

Hospitality veteran helps servers turn gigs into rewarding careers.

BY AL MANCINI

46 A New Kind of Story

A UNLV professor gives video games a seat at the literary table.

BY AMBER SAMPSON

BY JESSI C. ACUÑA

Ask a Native

OUR SITES TO SEE

VegasSeven.com Viva Las Cannabis Cup The High Times Cannabis Cup—the world’s preeminent marijuana festival—will finally come to the convention capital of the world.

Find out what to expect at vegasseven.com/ cannabiscup.

Las Vegas sports bars.

TASTE

BY JAMES P. REZA

33 Around the World

48 Lucky No. 7

Sugarcane offers world cuisine set in Cuba by way of Miami.

Giving back this holiday season.

BY SEVEN STAFF

BY AL MANCINI

34 The Spice of DTLV Life

ON THE FLIP SIDE

BY AL MANCINI

What to do after dark.

Downtown gets its first taste of high-end Indian cuisine.

Seven Nights

PHOTOGRAPHY THIS PAGE ZACH MCKEE

BY IAN CARAMANZANA

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

The Power of Production

37 UnXommon Wants to

Zedd talks his upcoming Hakkasan Group residency.

Tell Your Story

RunRebs.com Weekly Roundup Tyler Bischoff breaks down the return of Dwayne Morgan, the Rebels’ rebounding issues, a fivestar prospect and more.

BY ZAUNI TANIL

New online magazine speaks to millennial sensibilities.

Club Tour

BY JESSIE O’BRIEN

Ghostbar Dayclub at the Palms.

38 Climb on the Art

DTLV.com The Promenade Greens & Protiens’ opening at the Juhl marks the official acknowledgment of The Promenade at the Downtown condominiums’ 20,000 square feet of retail space.

BY KAT BOEHRER

Drink This

Laura Kimpton believes art should be experienced.

Vending machine Champers.

BY MARK ADAMS

BY DAVID MORRIS

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

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

11

5¢

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Turmeric spices up DTLV

BEERS DAILY 5PM – 6PM Beer pong, craft beer and happy hour specials available daily.

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

Presented by

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.

PHOTOGRAPHY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

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

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 Tanil, 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 CONTRIBUTING WRITER, RUNREBS.COM

Tyler Bischoff 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, Matt Iles DIRECTOR OF SALES, BILLBOARD DIVISION

John Tobin

THE NEW PUB 365 IS NOW OPEN AND POURING AT THE TUSCANY SUITES AND CASINO. Pub 365 features a vast collection of 365 beers and a menu of delicious, modern pub fare that includes homemade small bites, iconic burgers and locally world-famous tacos.

The new Pub 365 is the perfect place for you and your friends to meet, watch a game and enjoy a cold pint of your favorite brew.

Pub365

@Pub_365

255 E. Flamingo Road | 702-944-5084

TO DO

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

By Shannon Miller

THURSDAY 24

If you don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, Crush at MGM Grand offers a Thanksgiving menu expertly prepared by executive chef William DeMarco. Chow down on sausage, bacon and root vegetable stuffing and other traditional dishes, with select side and dessert add-ons, should you choose to indulge. 5 p.m., mgmgrand.com Chill out to Reggae on the Roof at Inspire Bar, Lounge & Theatre, with DJs and bartenders mixing up specials. 9 p.m., inspirelasvegas.com A mother uncovers a dark secret about her creepy little girl in local theater troupe Majestic Repertory’s production of The Bad Seed. 8 p.m., $20, Alios, 1217 S. Main St., majesticrepertory.com Dining out and can’t decide where to eat on Turkey Day? Maybe a stroll through Town Square will help you decide. From an elegant prix-fixe four-course meal at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar to a finger-lickin’ Thanksgiving buffet at Pot Liquor, options abound at the open-air mall. mytownsquarelasvegas.com FRIDAY 25

It may be Black Friday everywhere else, but at Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet, it’s just another start to the weekend. Find unique gifts, goods and services at unbeatable prices. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 1717 S. Decatur Blvd., fantasticindoorswapmeet.net The Ice Rink returns to Boulevard Pool, transforming the deck into a winter wonderland where complimentary skate rentals will be available for individuals who donate a new and unopened toy. Did we mention the occasional “snow showers”? Noon-midnight, $10-$20, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

If trampling over people at Best Buy kills your holiday spirit a little bit, Enchanted Forest Reiki Center offers some spiritual energy in addition to Black Friday deals. Get a 20-minute tarot reading for $20 in between perusing the weekend-long blowout sale, with items up to 70 percent off. 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m., 2280 S. Jones Blvd., enchantedforestreiki.com

Join the fun of Las Vegas’ longest running holiday tradition. Magical Forest at Opportunity Village kicks off its 25th anniversary installment with the annual tree-lighting ceremony tonight at 6 p.m. Plus, kids can take a ride on the Forest Express passenger train, Cheyenne’s Enchanted Carousel and the avalanche slide at this familyfriendly event. 5 p.m., $10-$22, Opportunity Village, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., magicalforest.org

The multifaceted, bold and original Dee Dee Bridgewater brings her brand of jazz music to The Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz tonight and tomorrow. 7 p.m., $45-$75, thesmithcenter.com Japanese rockers The Heiz electrify Double Down Saloon, with crystal clear guitar riffs and pure rock ’n’ roll sound. 10 p.m., doubledownsaloon.com

Dig jazz?

Catch Dee Dee Bridgewater Downtown this weekend.

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

15

TO DO

Easton Corbin and The Swon Brothers open for Carrie Underwood (right) at T-Mobile Arena.

EVERY YEAR I CHECK OUT AS MANY MONDAY

Enjoy drinks, dancing and sounds by Marshmello at Surrender’s industry night, which means locals get in free.

10:30 p.m., $35-$55, Wynn Las Vegas, surrendernightclub.com

Night Football parties as I can over the first few weeks of the season. Part of the job involves going to the gentlemen’s clubs, which are among the most aggressive in their football-related promos. I can tell you these places make plenty of claims they don’t necessarily deliver on, but if you do it right there are some darn good deals to be had (some deals extend to Thursdays and other football nights, but what follows is Mondaynight specific).

Sapphire is the gold standard. Everyone pays $22 to get in (even locals), but the fee includes a good buffet with wings, dogs, lasagna, sausage and peppers, chicken teriyaki, ribs and vegetables; two premium drinks; and lots of prizes raffled off throughout the game. Except for the up-front charge, you can’t go wrong here.

For drinking, nothing beats the deal at Déjà Vu, where there’s an open bar with everything free from 6-10 p.m. Just show a local ID and get to it. There’s no food, but who cares? (Go to one of the free buffets below before or after.) The same deal is $22 for non-locals who drive themselves.

Both Treasures and OG (Olympic Garden) put out free buffets during the games that are a notch above. Treasures’ is best, with soft pretzels, lasagna, sausage and peppers, pizza, hot dogs, chips and salsa, fruit salad, macaroni salad and potato salad. Beers are just a buck from 4-6 p.m., then half price after. The buffet at OG includes three kinds of chicken, vegetable skewers, and mac and cheese. Beers are $4, and there’s a halftime dollar “lap dance” (more like a slap dance) blizzard. Note that OG recently moved from its location on the Strip to West Naples (formerly Sophia’s) behind The Cosmopolitan.

Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club bombs the radio with ads that promise an open bar and buffet starting at 4 p.m. The “open” bar is limited to well drinks and PBR. Other beers cost $1 and call drinks are $2-$4. That’s still good, but not quite as good as advertised, and when I was there the food never showed up. You’ll need to buy the venue’s Vue discount card, which is $10 for locals, but is supposed to be good forever.

Crazy Horse III, Centerfold (formerly Club Paradise), Strip Tease and Play it Again Sam’s all put out pizza or wings, and beers in the $4 range, if not individually, then by the bucket.

Sam’s is the only club with video poker, so you can play there and get the better beers comped.

And a good piece of information comes courtesy of the website toplessvegasonline. com. If you go to the clubs to see the girls dance, then you need to know that they don’t perform at most of these parties during the games. The exceptions are Play it Again Sam’s, Cheetahs, Crazy Horse III and Palomino. 7

Find more stuff to do in Las Vegas at vegasseven.com/calendar

Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com

You might know Academy Award-winning actor and comedian Steven Wright from appearances in So I Married an Axe Murderer and Reservoir Dogs. Catch him at The Orleans tonight and tomorrow night. 8 p.m., $40$65, orleanscasino.com SATURDAY 26

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a Cirque du Soleil show? Mystère opens its rehearsals for respectful public viewing every Saturday, allowing you to peek under the curtain at the contemporary circus’ original Las Vegas resident production. 3-3:30 p.m., free, Treasure Island, 702-894-7722 UNLV Football faces off against the school up north in the Battle for Nevada today. Whether the Fremont Cannon will be painted red or blue afterward, reveling in the crazy energy of this epic match is always a good time. 1 p.m., $20-$81, Sam Boyd Stadium, unlvtickets.com

Montreal-based producer DJ Snails brings his own brand of dance music combining trap rhythms, dirty bass lines and off-kilter sound design. Catch Crizzly, Liquid Stranger and Instant Party at this 18-and-up event.

8 p.m., $30-$45, Brooklyn Bowl, brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas Country music’s sweetheart Carrie Underwood takes the stage at T-Mobile Arena. Good girls can also be badass, though, especially when they belt power anthems like “Before He Cheats.” 7 p.m., $76-$375, t-mobilearena.com With the help of a nature guide, become one with the world as you familiarize yourself with local flora at Wetlands Park Welcome Walk. Picnic afterward, anyone? 10 a.m., 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, 702-455-7522 It’s Small Business Saturday, and where else in Las Vegas can you find as many cute boutiques lined up as in Container Park? Santa arrives at noon, followed by the holiday-themed Cookies & Canvas from 2-4 p.m.

11 a.m., free, downtowncontainerpark.com SUNDAY 27

Are you afraid of the outdoors? Well, a night hike might be just what you need to hurdle over your fears. Join a trained and knowledgeable ranger at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park for a two-mile round-trip night hike underneath the few stars (because: light pollution). Don’t forget water, a flashlight and appropriate footwear. 4 p.m., parks.nv.gov/calendar

16

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

Breakfast at Tiffany’s charms its way back to the big

screen today. 2 & 7 p.m., select theaters, fandango.com

MONDAY 28

Public speaking is a common fear, but what about public singing? Acclaimed karaoke jockey Dale Gilbert and some of the finest amateur voices around can help nudge you into the spotlight at Bunkhouse Saloon’s Monday Night Karaoke. That and a few drinks, of course ... 10 p.m., bunkhousedowntown.com TUESDAY 29

Anytime you feel like a walk and some fresh air, Las Vegas City Hall is currently exhibiting Cat Chiu Phillips’ “Entertain” installation. An homage to Las Vegas, the work is created entirely from discarded VHS and cassette tapes, as well as photos and slides. Through Jan. 13, 495 S. Main St., 702-229-1012 WEDNESDAY 30

For the 2016 Sprint Cup Series, Coors Light sets up a fan lounge at Beerhaus to kick off NASCAR Champion’s Week. Fans can enjoy music, snap photos with the series trophy and spot some of their favorite drivers at the Park restaurant—all while grubbing on some delicious bites with a beer in hand. Through Dec. 1, theparkvegas.com Stop by the Las Vegas Farmers Market at Bruce Trent Park to pick up some fresh produce, natural cosmetics and other grocery needs. 2-6 p.m., 8851 Vegas Dr., lasvegasfarmersmarket.com

PHOTO BY STEVE JENNINGS

Monday Night at the Strip Clubs

THE DEAL

By Anthony Curtis

TO DO

By Genevie Durano

Andrea Bocelli

The legendary tenor on Las Vegas, musical influences and Céline Dion

W

hen Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli burst onto the scene in the ’90s, hearts swooned to his arias and love songs.

“Con Te Partiro,” later recorded as a duet with soprano Sarah Brightman titled “Time to Say Goodbye,” became a global hit shortly after its 1996 release. That year the single was added to Bocelli’s compilation album Romanza, which launched a career that’s still going strong two decades later. His appearance at MGM Grand Garden Arena December 3 will highlight new songs from his latest release, 2015’s Cinema, as well as celebrate Romanza’s 20th anniversary.

Vegas Seven caught up with Bocelli to ask him about his life in music.

Andrea Bocelli Dec. 3, 8 p.m., $82$418, MGM Grand Garden Arena, mgmgrand.com

Speaking of friends, one of your most well-known songs is “The Prayer,” a duet with Céline Dion, who is as beloved as any local can get.

When you are here, do you visit with each other? Céline

“Time to Say Goodbye,” which is so iconic at the Fountains of Bellagio, has been the soundtrack for many wedding proposals in that location. Did you have any idea that that song would be such a hit? How do you feel about being the romantic conduit for so many couples? Of course I am happy because I have lived the whole of my existence paying tribute, through singing, to the power of love. When I was a student at university and I worked in the piano bars of my province, I saw many love stories bloom and many couples get together under the spell of great, fascinating melodies. As for “Time to Say Goodbye,” despite it having accompanied my career for more than 20 years, I have not yet got tired of singing it.

Do you have a favorite song that you love to perform? In pop, there are lots of songs that I keep in my heart: “My Way,” “Voglio Vivere Così’,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Moon River,” “No Llores Por Mì Argentina [Don’t Cry for Me Argentina],” “Be My Love” and many others. To perform a piece, to render it at its best, I must fall in love with it. If this does not happen, most of the time I do not sing it, because it would not sound sincere. Therefore, the most honest answer is that every song I have performed is among my favorites. As for the operatic repertoire, I love all the operas of Puccini and most of Verdi[’s] and Mascagni’s repertoire. Had I to mention one [song], I would say “Nessun Dorma” from [Puccini’s] Turandot—a hymn of victory for all

tenors, an aria loved everywhere that I often perform to finish a concert.

What kind of music do you listen to these days? Mainly I listen to operatic music. And for this type of repertoire, I continue to love those performances that accompanied me when I was a child, [such as] the voices of Franco Corelli, Beniamino Gigli, Mario Del Monaco, Enrico Caruso, Giuseppe di Stefano, Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi. When I am in my car, I like to turn on the radio and get an update on pop novelties.

Do you have a favorite language in which to sing? I admit I prefer to sing in Italian, because it is my language and I know its hidden nuances.

But a large number of love songs that I like are in English, and I could not even imagine them in another idiom. Not to speak of Spanish, with its engaging and sensual musicality! Being a professional in the field of voice, I think it is normal to be attracted by all the languages, because I am interested in analyzing in full their rhythmic and expressive potential. Each of them brings strong expressive potential, its own specific musicality and difficulties. In my album Cinema, for instance, besides singing in English, I sing in Italian, French, Spanish and even in a Sicilian dialect.

In a parallel life, if you were not a musician, what do you imagine yourself doing? Indeed I had already set a life different from that of a musician, graduating in law in the mid-’80s and then starting the practice [of law]. Until 35 years of age, I was sure that my greatest passion—music—would not [make] me a living. I think I would have been a conscientious professional, and I would have loved my job anyway. Although, not a day goes by that I do not consider, gratefully, what a privilege it is to have been able to turn music, my greatest passion, into a job. 7

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

SEVEN QUESTIONS

What are your thoughts about performing in Las Vegas? Las Vegas is a city that I can say I know very well; it is a place that has been able to capture me. I perceive it as the tangible, intense expression of the power of man: It embodies the contrast between the most innovative modernity and a wild surrounding nature. Then, in your city, by now, I have many friends of long standing. And I have been able to experience, firsthand, how [Las Vegas] is not exclusively a place of entertainment and lightheartedness.

It is a city that knows how to be generous and compassionate—solidarity and philanthropy are a powerful counterpoint to the clichés of Las Vegas, and this has surely contributed to make me particularly fond of this city.

is a great artist and a dear friend. The love that audiences around the world feel for her and for her marvelous voice forces her— just like me—to have a very complex life. So it is not easy to succeed in meeting, given that we are always around the world. But every time we manage to, it is always a great joy.

17

WHERE TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAY TOY DOLLARS

By Jason Latham Photography Krystal Ramirez

IF THE BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR WAS THE DAY THE SEARS CHRISTMAS CATALOG ARRIVED, THIS LIST IS FOR YOU. Whether you like to buy, trade or sell, there’s a toy store for you in Las Vegas. Independent retailers run by fans and collectors have sprung up in place of the disappearing mega toy chains, giving added incentive to shop local on Small Business Saturday, November 26.

Here’s where to find the best toys for everyone on your list.

TOYS YOUR PARENTS NEVER BOUGHT YOU VEGAS TOY SHACK Neonopolis facebook.com/lasvegastoyshack

TOYS FOR YOUR OFFICE GIFT EXCHANGE KAPPA TOYS Downtown Container Park kappatoys.com What’s Inside Toys that’ll have you saying, “I remember those!” Sea-Monkeys, switchblade combs, Slinkys—Kappa Toys is big on classic and novelty pieces that you haven’t played with in years.

“We try to hit on every generation’s childhood at some level,” says owner Lizzy Newsome.

Must-Have Rubik’s Speed Cube, $25.95. Challenge your friends. They can’t cheat by rearranging the stickers because the colors are now embedded in the plastic.

What’s Inside The world’s most dangerous toys— no kidding. In addition to stocking its shelves with action figures, dolls, cars and play sets from every era (it has the G.I. Joe aircraft carrier!), Vegas Toy Shack carries a few relics that uppity adults once deemed unsafe for children. On that list is the 1951 Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab set, which comes with a Geiger counter and real uranium samples.

It’s not for sale, but maybe they’ll let you look at it.

Must-Have Jarts Lawn Darts set, $189–$289.

Toss them in the air and see them spiral down toward their target, or your Uncle Greg.

TOYS TO KEEP YOUR PETS OFF THE FURNITURE COLLECTOR’S PLAYGROUND Galleria at Sunset facebook.com/collectorsplayground

PHOTOGRAPHY THIS PAGE ZACH MCKEE

What’s Inside Glass cases full of action figures from the ’70s and ’80s, and a healthy stock of newer Marvel, DC, Star Wars, NECA and LEGO figures.

Even more impressive are the custom and licensed statues and props (including a lifesize E.T.) near the front doors.

Must-Have NECA Avengers: Age of Ultron ¼ scale Hulk, $300. 24 inches of fully articulated Hulk smash!

TOYS YOUR KIDS ARE ASKING FOR THE TOY BOX Downtown Summerlin toyboxlasvegas.com What’s Inside If it’s trending, it’s here. The Toy Box proves you don’t have to be vintage to be cool, and its shelves are overflowing with everything from the newest Pokémon products to LEGO sets and board games. If your child wants Shopkins or Five Nights at Freddy’s and you don’t know what that is, ask someone who works here.

Must-Have Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty (styles and prices vary). We don’t want to know how they magnetize putty or make it glow in the dark—we just need some in our hands.

“LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH” TOYS TORPEDO COMICS 8775 S. Lindell Rd. torpedocomics.com What’s Inside Toys you could sell to pay off your student loans. Superhero action figures crowd the racks, but behind the glass you can browse high-end Sideshow Collectibles and Gentle Giant statues, along with extremely hard-to-find collectibles, some of which date back more than a century. Torpedo owner (and System of a Down drummer) John Dolmayan is truly an obtainer of rare antiquities, because this stuff belongs in a museum.

Must-Have Lifesize limited-edition bronze Yoda statue. One of 30 ever made.

Not for sale.

Opposite page: Totoro and Gymnic Rody Horse. This page: Green Toys Dump Truck; Slinky November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

21

VINTAGE TOYS ROGUE TOYS 616 S. Las Vegas Blvd. South roguetoys.com

Clockwise from left: Millennium Falcon Spaceship; Doctor Who with Dalek; Barbie

22

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

What’s Inside The toys you’ve missed since your parents sold them at a garage sale.

Rogue Toys’ three Valley locations carry all of the major toy franchises from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s—everything from Mego to Star Wars to Masters of the Universe. Look closer and you’ll also find action figures from short-lived and forgotten toy lines. Remember Sectaurs?

Silverhawks? They’re all here, even the Legend of the Lone Ranger figures based on a movie you probably haven’t seen.

Must-Have 1980 The Empire Strikes Back Millennium Falcon, $220. Complete with battle alert sound!

DESIGNER TOYS HAPPY PANDA TOYS The Arts Factory happypandatoys.com What’s Inside Collectibles you’ll want to give to friends for the holidays (or keep for yourself). Happy Panda specializes in limited-edition and licensed vinyl, plush and resin pieces created by in-demand artists such as Frank Kozik and Scott Tolleson.

This is where you go to find new Kidrobot Dunny or Tokidoki blind box figures, and the walls are lined with more than 200 styles of Funko Pop! vinyls.

Must-Have Kidrobot Yummy World Gingerbread Fred Limited Edition Holiday Plush, $30.We’re told these make great tree ornaments.

Clockwise from top: Mad L; Kidrobot Locodonta Dunny and Yeti Dunny with Tokidoki blind boxes

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

23

KID COUTURE Las Vegas’ most fashionable kids share their secrets to dressing well and playing hard

By Judy Stone Photography Anthony Mair

Mason

Between besting his big sister at math facts and juggling soccer, it’s a wonder that Mason even has time to consider his wardrobe. Comfort is key as Mason has an extremely active lifestyle. The kindergartner is quick to hop on his skateboard, bike or Razor scooter and experiment with a wild new trick. Mom is thankful that a cast has yet to make it onto his accessories list.

Age: 5 What is your favorite athletic gear: I really like basketball shorts. What is your favorite color? Red. You wear a uniform to school. How do you give the look your own personal style? With my shoes.

I love wearing Chucks (Converse) with my uniform. But they have to be navy or black for school. I have them in both colors. What is your favorite look on the playground these days? T-shirts with words or pictures on them. Which athlete is your spirit animal?

Stephen Curry, because he can throw a basketball behind his back and make it. How do you feel about jeans? I love jeans! Name an accessory that you can’t live without. My Mohawk and my glasses. I’ve had to wear them since I was 3 and I didn’t want to at first.

But now, I get so many compliments that I love them. Who at home influences your style the most? My sister, Simone (8). She always looks cool!

24

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

Mason: Gap jeans, H&M hoodie, Polo glasses.

Hollin & Levin

Hollin and Levin are two peas in a fashion pod. It’s hard to determine who walks out of the house dressed more stylishly on any given day.

Hollin is a girly-girl who genuinely enjoys clothes and playing dress-up, particularly in her mom’s closet.

Lev, who has Down syndrome, is a lover, and doesn’t let anything stop him from learning how to play the piano, enjoying a great story and dancing to the greatest hits of his favorite artist, Michael Jackson.

Name: Hollin Age: 5 Nickname: Bee What is your favorite color?

Rainbow. Describe your sense of style. Quirky, cute and cool. How long does it take you to get ready when you are headed to a birthday bash? Five minutes. I put on the first thing I find, then I start layering.

Then my mom edits my outfit on the way out the door. What is your favorite accessory? My brother.

He’s awesome. You rock a hat, Hollin. What’s the key to owning this look? It’s like the cherry on top of a sundae. But it can’t own the outfit. Your mom is pretty stylish as well. Is there anything you hope to inherit from her closet one day? Her vintage jewelry and clothing archive. Tom Ford or Karl Lagerfeld? Well, until Tom starts to design for children … I’ll have to go with Karl. Skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans or you’ll never see me in jeans? If you see me in jeans, it’s because my mommy forced me into them. But I love denim shirts and jackets. If you could only wear one outfit every day, what would it be? A costume. I wish I could be in a beautiful costume every day.

Hollin: Gucci dress, shoes, socks and bag.

Levin: Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt, H&M jeans, D-Squared jacket, Gucci boots, Fallen Broken Street hat.

Name: Levin Age: 7 Nickname: Lev What does your closet look like?

It’s colorful. It rivals my sister’s. How do you make a school uniform look chic? My Fendi monster socks.

I love monsters and socks. What is your favorite store? Melijoe [and] Target. Who is your style icon? My sister and Michael Jackson. Finish this sentence: My outfit is not complete unless I’m wearing … My glasses! Also, I love and need comfortable pants. What was the worst outfit your mom made you wear? A Moschino sweat suit with Crocs, socks and a beanie. Cute for her, really bad for me. Does your sister try to influence your fashion choices? Yes, and I’m often in jewelry and scarves by the end of day.

What is your most prized possession? My Michael Jackson jacket collection. I hope I never grow out of them. What is the biggest fashion risk you have taken? I share a lot of cardigans and jackets with my sister.

They fit better. What style trend needs to just go away? Boys’ flared-legged pants.

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

25

Noah

Noah struggles with his status among the fashion elite, mostly because he doesn’t actually like wearing clothes. But he’s a sucker for compliments on his chic looks, once mom has wrestled them onto him. At only 9 months, Noah has taken his designer diaper bag to four different countries and attributes a consistent 12 hours of sleep every night to his calm demeanor.

Noah: Janie & Jack shirt, sweater and jeans, Ralph Lauren shoes.

26

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

Age: 9 months Nickname: Lion.

I dressed up as one for Halloween but my cheeks are so big, the [mane] wouldn’t fasten around my chin. I had to have an extension made and I hated every minute of it. Others call me Cheeks and Jet Set Noah. You have visited four countries. Which one is your favorite? I’d have to say England, because my grandmother makes amazing food. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love a good meal. What was the best purchase you made during your travels? It’s got to be an airplane ticket. Any excuse for a long snooze and I’m there. Just make sure to wake me in time for a diaper change before food service (maybe after, too!). How does one travel in style yet remain comfortable? It’s all about luggage. I don’t pack light and I like options. I’m growing quite a bit, so multiple sizes of the same item of clothing are essential. Also, the bassinets on planes are super comfy, and a must for long journeys. Biggest wardrobe malfunction? Probably realizing I wasn’t wearing anything after I was born. I was totally unprepared for my red-carpet moment. Where was my bow tie? How do you feel about shoes? Well, I’ve just started wearing them so I’ll let you know. Actually, I have a great pair of velvet slippers with skulls on them that I’m desperate to wear to my morning feeding tomorrow.

What is the most embarrassing outfit your mother made you wear? I don’t [get] embarrassed easily, but recently I’ve been less worried about my outfits and more so with what my daddy wears. He wears more silly animals on his T-shirts than I do! What is the most treasured piece in your closet? [It] has to be a well-fitting diaper. It goes with everything.

There’s nothing worse than [rolling] up to a playdate with a loose-fitting diaper. It ruins any look.

Lennon: Armani shirt, Hudson jeans, jacket from an L.A. boutique, Adidas Yeezy shoes.

Lennon

With a penchant for hip-hop music and a style to match, 3-year-old Lennon has already reached a level of cool that some adults never achieve. With more than 1,600 Instagram followers, @lordlennon lets fans get sneak peeks at his costume changes, chaperoned dates and hair. Lennon, who has carefully curated his wardrobe since he was 1, has the final say in everything he wears and most of what gets posted online.

Age: 3 Describe your personal style: Classic with a lot of hiphop and street-style influences.

You have your own Instagram.

What is your favorite filter?

The Clarendon filter works well with my hair and eyes. What’s the key to the perfect selfie? A big smile. How does one look Disney-chic? I like to pair my Disney shirts with something a little cooler, like my Yeezy sneakers. What is your favorite store and why?

Neiman Marcus and KNYEW. Lots of people know me at Neimans, so it’s a lot of fun. KNYEW has some trendier streetwear pieces in my size. If you could wear only one thing, what would it be? I have a short-sleeved hoodie with matching pants from KNYEW I wear all the time. It’s comfy but still looks put together. What style trend has outlived its welcome? Are school uniforms a trend? They aren’t cool at all. I wish they would get rid of them.

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

27

shop r igh t THE BEST NEW SPOTS TO DROP A DIME OR TWO

By Jessi C. Acuña

REBAR

If multitasking while shopping is more your speed, look no further than ReBar on Main Street. At the heart of it, the space is a dedicated full-service bar, but the twist is that everything in the building is for sale, including the actual bar itself. Co-owner Derek Stonebarger says its antiques range from $1-$10,000. “We don’t carry that many high-end items like the other antique shops in the area,” Stonebarger says. “Our prices are very reasonable, mainly so drinking customers don’t break anything irreplaceable.”

A couple of his favorites for sale right now are the antique German cuckoo clocks and a NASCAR tire coffee table. Or you can play it safe with popular picks: neon signs, beer steins and artwork. Open seven nights a week and weekdays for lunch, facebook.com/rebarlv

KILLION

When out-of-market clothing stores open in Chinatown, we take notice. These boutiques tend to be hip, catering to savvy, stylish shoppers, but they also come at a reasonable price point. Killion came to us earlier this year by way of Los Angeles—other outposts include New York City and Seattle—and specifically targets locals. Posting up near KNYEW boutique was a smart move, for starters. The store is lined with around 125 units per style in items it refers to as essential garments; think classic streetwear basics for men.

High-quality duds produced in low quantities—what else could you ask for in a small clothing shop? Noon–7 p.m. daily, 4069 Spring Mountain Rd., killionest.com

LEATHER COUTURE BY JESSICA GALINDO Jessica Galindo is a veteran when it comes to the local artisan scene. Her first brick-and-mortar shop opened at Downtown Container Park in 2013 and closed a couple years later, but she’s been handcrafting and selling her leather goods for a decade now. She returns to the retail space with a new location in Downtown Summerlin, which opened October 22, just in time for the holiday season.

There you can find her signature accessories: asymmetrical leather handbags and hand-painted zip clutches, personalized leather flasks, unconventional cuffs, rings and neckwear, as well as her most distinguishable item: the leather scarf.

10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Sun., 1980 Festival Plaza Dr., leathercouture.com

28

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

ESSENTIA

Another shop we’ve happily welcomed to the Las Vegas shopping scene is the Essentia mattress store inside the Fashion Show. Known as the Tempur-Pedic of the green movement, expect unbleached cotton, VOC-free memory foam and natural latex to make up your new slumber haven, starting at $1,345. Think of it as an investment to eliminate the funk of your current mattress—fire retardants, petroleum-based polyurethane foam and vinyl-covered phthalates. Even if you’re not on the market for a new bed, stop by the comforting space for a quick test to help ease the stress of the holiday season. Store hours vary, myessentia.com

LEICA Just when you thought cameras—the kind not attached to a

phone, at least—were becoming obsolete, in rolls the megahip Leica. You know, the camera responsible for the Che Guevara headshot that lines dorm rooms and T-shirts of college campuses across the globe. The store, which is located in the Forum Shops at Caesars, gives consumers an opportunity to see the cameras in person and engage with a knowledgeable staff. The shop displays rotating prints from savvy picture takers who know their way beyond Instagram filters. The Las Vegas location also boasts the longest operating hours of any Leica store. Well, duh. 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 10 a.m.–midnight Fri. & Sat., leicastorelv.com

ROYCE’

Trump may be the president-elect, but we’ll be damned if we let him stop the import of chocolates to the U.S.A. Luckily, he may not catch wind of the fact that Japan-based chocolatier Royce’ has opened up shop in the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian—its first West Coast destination—and that means the constant flow of confections produced in the ideal climate of Hokkaido. Considering it doesn’t ship internationally, this means Royce’ may be your only chance to get your digits on best sellers such as the Nama Champagne, a Champagne Pierre Mignon creamy Nama chocolate, or the Potatochip Chocolate Original, which is precisely what it sounds like. If you want to make America great again, sometimes that means not changing a damn thing. Chocolate for president! 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 10 a.m.–midnight Fri. and Sat., royceconfectusa.com

RH LAS VEGAS

New kid on the block RH Las Vegas, The Gallery at Tivoli Village offers a high-end experience, whether for taking in views or shopping for luxury furniture. That much is evident as you approach the Venetian-inspired entrance. Once inside, all four floors of gallery-driven showrooms and the rooftop park and conservatory show no shortage of opulence. For those with deep pockets, it’s a 60,000-square-foot playhouse for the remodel of your dreams—flatiron marble tables, geometric platform beds, hand-knotted gunmetal rugs. For the rest us, it’s a visit to a livable gallery, an aspirational moment set to the backdrop of grand floating staircases, garden terraces, towering steel gates and crystal chandeliers. 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sun., restorationhardware.com

from antiques at a bar downtown to affordable men’s streetwear off the strip, here’s a look at our favorite new stores to grace the market.

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

29

TASTE

Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill In The Venetian sugarcanerawbargrill.com Instagram: @sugarcanerawbargrill From left: kombu-marinated fluke crudo; grilled octopus and hamachi collar

Around the World

By Al Mancini

Photography Krystal Ramirez

Sugarcane offers world cuisine set in Cuba by way of Miami THE NAME SUGARCANE MAY SOUND FAMILIAR TO LONGTIME

patrons of the Las Vegas food, beverage and nightlife scenes. Once upon a time, in the early days of The Palazzo, it was a nightlife venue operating in the back room of the resort’s latin/Japanese hybrid restaurant, SushiSamba. But the new Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, located just a short walk from SushiSamba and sharing managing partners, is a long way from that short-lived endeavor.

The Miami import stands at the heart of The Venetian’s restaurant row— the corridor that connects it to sister resort The Palazzo—and around the corner from showrooms and the convention center. Sandwiched between the open kitchen areas and the dramatic wraparound windows, nearly everyone in the relatively narrow space has a prime view of gamblers, conventioneers, diners and other tourists rushing to their next destination. Just a few feet from this action, Sugarcane offers a respite from the purposeful hustle and bustle of the surrounding “neighborhood.”

The decor is Old Havana by way of modern Miami. The color scheme is light and airy. Simple tiles adorn the walls and floors. The wicker weaves of floral ceiling fans and casual chairs conjure subtropical vacation memories.

And a modern painting of Hemingway, wearing his trademark Panama hat, adorns the wall of the private dining room. But as executive chef and partner Timon Balloo is quick to note, the association with Cuba in this and the Miami original is tentative at best.

“The Cuban [association] comes into play because of the design,” he says, “and because my partner [Shimon Bokovza, managing partner of Samba Brands Management] really wanted to have the feel that you stepped into Cuba. But it’s a trip, because I’m not necessarily cooking Cuban food.”

The chef learned Chinese cooking from his Chinese-Trinidadian mother while growing up near San Francisco’s famed Chinatown. After dropping out of college to pursue cooking, and climbing the ladder from prep cook at a chicken wing joint to restaurant positions across the United States and Europe, he’s endeavored to absorb as many world cuisines as possible. The food offered at Sugarcane reflects these influences.

The raw bar menu features American seafood tower standards and a rotating

selection of oysters and raw fish preparations from Italy, Mexico and Asia. The latter include Hokkaido scallop slices on compressed tart apples seasoned with truffle, lime and jalapeño, as well as slices of marinated fluke served with red grapes, charred onions, sesame seeds and the almost peaty-tasting strain of kelp called kombu. Small plates include house-made ricotta with a wild legume salad; duck leg confit with duck egg on made-to-order waffles with a side of mustard maple syrup; and bone marrow veal cheek marmalade. And the chef indulges his love of Japanese cuisine with an extensive selection from an open-fire grill.

That’s not to say there’s nothing Cuban coming out of the kitchen. Sofrito is a base for many of the dishes. Traditional croquettes are given a novel twist in a goat cheese version served with membrillo (quince paste) and guava. And there’s a selection of more than 100 rums.

“It’s kind of a hybrid of what modern Cuba looks like, or what a modern, young Miamian voice would be,” Balloo says, trying to sum up the experience, emphasizing that the restaurant’s South Florida roots may be the glue that holds everything together. Like those places, Balloo is himself very multicultural. “You have this [chef with a] West Indian/Indian roti and curry background, French fundamentals and Spanish refinement cooking in [South Florida] using the vegetables that are growing in [the neighboring farm community] Redland and fish coming out of the [local] waters. All of that kind of lent itself to what new Miami felt like and what the food scene was emerging and growing into [when we opened there.]”

The longer the chef speaks, the more influences spring to his mind. Korean kalbi ribs from New York. His half-Thai wife’s papaya salad. The list goes on.

While it’s clear that Sugarcane is Balloo’s baby, he won’t be running the local kitchen day to day. For that, he’s tapped Ryan Primo Nuqui, who has served as chef de cuisine at both Yellowtail in Bellagio and the Bacchanal Buffet in Caesars Palace. Together, the two have created some items they feel will give the new location a touch of Las Vegas eccentricity, including a sea urchin tostada. Between those dishes and the center-Strip location, our city may soon become as much of a part of the Sugarcane brand as Miami and Havana. 7

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

33

TASTE

SPICE THE

DTLV LIFE

OF

DOWNTOWN GETS ITS FIRST TASTE OF HIGH-END INDIAN CUISINE AND A NEW ROOFTOP BAR

By Al Mancini

Photography Krystal Ramirez

I

ndian cuisine has never been as prevalent in Las Vegas as it is in many major U.S. cities and abroad. So the opening of Turmeric Flavors of India in the heart of the Fremont Street entertainment zone is excellent news for Downtown’s dining scene.

But be forewarned, this is not the budget-conscious street food or vegetarian standby that has long defined the genre in other metropolitan areas. This is a new breed of high-end Indian cuisine aimed for our new Downtown.

Turmeric is located on one of the most exciting intersections in the Valley, the northeast corner of Fremont and Seventh Streets.

It occupies space that was once the pool for the neighboring City Center Motel that is still a somewhat seedy reminder of Downtown’s pre–Tony Hsieh past, despite its fresh coat of paint. Yet with Container Park’s entrance directly across the main drag, it’s a microcosm for the area’s diversity as gentrification makes its slow crawl east. Because of that, people-watching will undoubtedly be a prime draw for Turmeric’s upstairs patio, which doubles as a bar and after-work dining spot for employees of nearby bars and restaurants.

Downstairs, the casual front dining room and main bar offer another prime view of the street through garage door-style windows. It’s bright during lunch hours, and lit by neon and the fiery breath of Container Park’s praying mantis at night. The back room, however, is quiet, dark and considerably more formal.

34

EXTERIOR BY CIERRA PEDRO

HEART OF THE ACTION

TASTE

THE HIGH ROAD

Both Turmeric and the adjoining hotel are co-owned by Rajesh Patel, who also runs Saffron Flavors of India on Craig Road, and his brother-in-law, Ritesh Patel, who owns and operates Curry Leaf Flavors of India in the Southwest Valley. Ritesh, a former engineer and self-trained chef, runs the kitchen. Among his staff is chef Vikas Yadav, who comes to them by way of London, where he worked in a modern Indian fine-dining restaurant.

Much of the food here is far more elegant than what many of us expect from Indian cooking. The house-cured salmon appetizer is adorned with green pea relish, puffed rice, potato cubes and mixed greens, while a lamb entrée tucks the traditionally seasoned meat within a crispy potato cake. A pair of sauces beautifully paint the plate beneath spicy eggplant slices topped with tamarind chutney and a peanut-sesame crust. And how many other Indian restaurants will offer you an amuse-bouche, let alone one as complex as a slightly dry and unexpectedly spicy cube of chickpea cake adorned with mint and cilantro salsa and a sliver of flash-fried chili pepper?

While the food is fancy, the two-page dinner menu at Turmeric is notably compact, especially by Indian restaurant standards. The front page lists nine appetizers and seven main courses, while the back offers tandoori, six sides, assorted breads and rice, and a pair of desserts. Less than one-third of the starters and entrees are vegetarian—a respectable ratio, but not a lot of choices, given Indian food’s popularity among those who eschew meat. Fortunately for that crowd, they can easily assemble a feast from the entirely meat-free side dishes. Top veggie options include spinach dumplings in tomato and fenugreek sauce and a rich, flavorful vegetable biryani.

STILL GROWING

For those seeking more predictable options, there’s a bit of curry (at present just beef and lamb), while tandoori is currently limited to sampler plates for either one or two. And the menu lists chicken tikka, though not the more popular tikka masala. But this is just a starting point as the staff gets its footing.

“It’s a small menu so we can focus more on the quality, the taste of the ingredients and the details, and it gives the chefs time to work on each dish,” Ritesh says. “But as we grow, it’s going to be seasonal. And some classics will be [added to the offerings] over time. We’d like to serve some [more] signature curry dishes. We’re just waiting on the response.”

In the meantime, Ritesh has instructed his kitchen staff to honor off-the-menu requests for any dishes sold at the owners’ other two restaurants whenever possible. So if you have a favorite item that you don’t see, feel free to run it past your server and see if the kitchen can whip it up. 7

Turmeric Flavors of India 700 East Fremont St. turmericflavorsofindia.com Open daily for lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; dinner served 5-10 p.m. Sun-Thu and 5-11 p.m. Fri-Sat. Dinner for two, $45-$100.

Not To Be Missed Grilled eggplant ($10), lamb bomba ($12), tandoori platter for one ($20) and mango kulfi ($9).

A Sip To Go With Eggplant: Gin & Tonic on draft, $10; lamb bomba: Goa Way cocktail, $12; tandoori platter: Hayward 5000 Indian Lager, $9; and mango kulfi: Milk & Honey cocktail, $13.

Opposite page: lamb bomba This page, clockwise from top left: grilled eggplant; palak paneer kofta; tandoori platter; berry and ginger crumble; Turmeric exterior

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

35

LAS VEGAS DOESN’T HAVE THE ART MUSEUMS, INDIE-FILM theaters, all-ages music venues and other cultural spaces that many comparable cities have. For some, this deficiency is reason to criticize what is here and then move to L.A. But others, like the Unxommon crew, see this void as an opportunity to help Vegas’ cultural community grow.

Unxommon started as a Thursday-night party that brought millennials together at Fremont East bar Commonwealth and soon grew into an online magazine, Unxommonvegas.com. The publication features up-and-coming local creatives who don’t have a platform—other than social media—to market their talents, and highlights events with recaps, videos and photo galleries.

“We focus on the experience and the creations of millennials in Vegas—what they’re working on, where they’re hanging out, where they’re eating, where they’re partying,” says Zauni Tanil, co-founder of Unxommon and one of its storytellers. “We encountered so many cool people that had a lot going on—projects, starting businesses— and nobody knew about them,” says co-founder and former UNLV Runnin’ Rebel Jelan Kendrick, who hosted that first Unxommon party at Commonwealth in April. “Other media [weren’t] covering them because they are underground.

We just wanted to shine a light on [undiscovered artists] and explore the culture here in Vegas.”

The Unxommon “family” is made up of writers, photographers and videographers who take a first-person approach to storytelling. Kendrick says the goal of their stories and visuals is to capture a candid moment—a memory. Writer Jessica Maria Morales documented her uplifting experience at the RiSE Lantern Festival, as well as her first time at an underground rave. The crew also reports on experiences locals can go out and do, such as the scorpion-shot challenge at Downtown’s Nacho Daddy.

But the team has also followed through with their promise to highlight talent. Take, for instance, the 20-year-old producer and Las Vegas native Trevon Lee. His dreamy beats with layers of texture are polished, well-composed and, for the most part, unheard. The same goes for record label and art collective Artist Mafia, whose members range from baby-faced dance-music DJs to ex-Mormon rappers. Unxommon has spread the word about these unfamiliar artists.

As Tanil, Kendrick and the Unxommon family continue to showcase other creatives with genuine enthusiasm, they’re sharpening their own skills along the way. Tanil’s coverage of Kehlani at Life Is Beautiful in September received accolades from the singer on social media. “[Zauni] was shy, and now she is blossoming, and her voice is respected. I think it is going to continue to flourish,” Kendrick says. Tanil is quick to interrupt: “But that’s with everyone on the team and everyone [who] we talk to. We just want to keep creating. I think that’s what drives most of us. If you’re in Vegas and you’re passionate about what you do, we want to tell your story.” 7

mon our Story Unxotm s to Tell Y

Starting in December, Vegas Seven and DTLV.com will feature content from these earnest entrepreneurs, showcasing relevant news for the millennial audience under the tag Unxommon.

Wan

PHOTO CREDIT GOES HERE

A new online mag az speaks to millenn ine ial sensibilities

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

Unxommon, from left to right: Ryan Alexander, Dominic Grizzelle, Zach McKee, Zauni Tanil, Jorge Ayala, Jelan Kendrick, Moses Alexander, Jessica Maria Morales and Ajolla Cole.

By Jessie O’Brien

Photography Krystal Ramirez

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

37

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

“LOVE” artist Laura Kimpton believes her work should be experienced— selfie, anyone?

“PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE

By Mark Adams

DO GOOD

Cute pups! Find a forever furry friend with the help of Zappos this week.

artwork” signs might dot museums and galleries, but Laura Kimpton wants you to embrace the tangibility of her work.

One of Burning Man’s most recognizable artists, Kimpton is known for her massive metal typography. You might recall seeing her “MOM” or “BELIEVE” pieces on social media after they were photographed by hordes of

By Rob Kachelriess

A Home for the Pawlidayz Zappos leads holiday pet adoption campaign

38

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

Burners at the annual event held in Northern Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.

“I believe art should be experiential,” the Bay Area–based creative says.

“Art doesn’t have to be so sacred. It’s not something that you have to put in a safe and that you can never touch.”

And right now as you’re reading this, there are likely a number of selfie-snapping tourists climbing all over a Kimpton piece on the Las Vegas Strip, as her letters spelling “LOVE” were installed at The Palazzo in early October. While the artist has shown smaller-scale works at galleries over the years, she says this is the first time her larger-than-life words have found an indoor home.

The four red letters, each covered in cutouts shaped like birds, landed at the hotel’s atrium after being featured at Life Is Beautiful in September.

“LOVE” could return to the music and

Can 9,000 pets be adopted in four days? Zappos is hoping to make that idea a reality during one of the busiest holiday shopping weekends of the year. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, the Las Vegas-based retail giant is leading a nationwide Pawlidayz campaign, teaming up with 300 shelters to pay all adoption fees. The expense adds up to about $1.5 million, but Zappos says absorbing the cost is well worth it.

The company launched the event last year, with the goal of covering the adoption of 4,000 shelter pets across the country. The figure reached 6,285 adoptions over four days, so organizers decided to raise the stakes even higher this time around. This year’s goal of 9,000 adoptions is the same number of dogs and cats killed each day in America’s shelters, simply because they don’t have a place to call home.

The online retailer benefits directly from the holiday shopping rush, of course—bringing in massive profits by selling shoes, clothing and accessories. But employees say that offering a little love to an animal in need can be more important than filling the post-Thanksgiving

KIMPTON COURTESY OF THE VENETIAN

GO AHEAD, CLIMB ON THE ART

art festival each year, on loan from The Palazzo. The deal marks the first time a piece from the festival’s art program has migrated outside of the footprint to another Las Vegas location. It is also the first time one of the featured works has been sold to a Strip resort.

“It was a great partnership. Now that piece is center stage at a top hotel in Vegas,” says Life Is Beautiful chief experience officer Ryan Doherty, who brokered the deal with Kimpton and The Venetian and Palazzo. “We look to partner with all of the major properties [on] art collaborations each year. It’s a great way to tie in the city to [Life Is Beautiful], and the art gets to live on in Vegas long after the festival is over.”

(Doherty is co-owner of WENDOH Media, which owns Vegas Seven.)

So what makes Kimpton’s art so intriguing? The artist believes it’s a lack of uncertainty, which some might say keeps people from appreciating fine art in a gallery or museum context.

There’s no pretension with Kimpton’s typography, and any meaning behind the words can be left for the viewer to decide.

“You know what [the letters] are.

There’s no confusion about what it is,” she says. “It really hits home for them, the words I have chosen.”

Kimpton was expecting some negative reactions with “MOM” at Burning Man, but was met with quite the opposite.

“You’re at Burning Man, partying your butt off, and then there’s ‘MOM,’” she says. “People said, ‘Maybe I should remember that I have a mom, and maybe party a little bit less than I would have.”

Kimpton believes “LOVE” is a perfect fit for both Las Vegas and The Palazzo, which continues a recent trend of Strip companies acquiring art made by Burning Man artists. “Vegas is taking some stands in contemporary art,” she says of the “Bliss Dance” sculpture at MGM Resorts International’s Park.

As for what she thinks “LOVE” will inspire in Vegas? “You’ll have more weddings booked,” Kimpton says. 7

By David G. Schwartz

Games Millennials Play

CASINOS BET ON VIDEO GAMES TO GET A YOUNGER GENERATION IN THE DOOR

I

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ZAPPOS

n the past two years, as gaming revenues stubbornly refuse to return to prerecession levels, many voices within the industry have sounded an alarm: Something needs to be done. Casinos’ past bread and butter—customers in their 50s and older—are aging and may not have as much wealth as they once did. If nothing is done, casinos in general might end up looking like Atlantic City, minus the refreshing sea breeze.

So, leaving Generation X, who are entertaining themselves by binge-watching old X Files episodes and reminiscing about Beavis and Butthead, casinos have jumped to millennials to save the day.

Millennials—technically those born between 1980 and 2000, but more generally anyone younger and more tech-savvy than whoever is running things—started aging onto casinos’ radar about a decade ago (today they are 16 to 36 years old). Past millennial outreach efforts have included nightlife (great for those who can afford bottle service prices) and social media (an already crowded arena).

The real issue, though, is that millennials might just not be interested in the existing offerings on the casino lazy Susan. Card games, dice games, slot machines—each of which are frankly more expensive forms of entertainment than most have a budget for—might not have the appeal in 2016 that they did in 2000, let alone 1980. The last major shakeup for casinos was the migration from tables to slots as chief revenue producer, and that was more than 30 years ago.

Casinos are hoping to bank on one thing millennials love: video games. Affinity Gaming is partnering with LEET, which has been running weekly video game tournaments at the Downtown Grand since last year (see “E-sports Start to Take Hold of Casinos’ Imaginations,” May 25, 2016), to make Sunday a night for a different kind of gaming at its Silver Sevens’ Corona Cantina bar. Since September 30, players have had a chance to win money at games including Madden NFL, FIFA, Call of Duty and Rocket League.

The off-Strip Silver Sevens, far from the Strip’s bustle and the Downtown buzz, might seem like a strange incubator for this marriage between casino and keyboard, but that’s precisely why it is happening there.

“We would like very much to appeal to millennials,”

says Vincent Lentini, chief marketing officer for Affinity Gaming. He describes the Silver Sevens’ average customer as a 55-year-old slot player—close to the norm for casinos—and notes that while 70 percent of customers are residents of the surrounding three miles, guests from as far as Scandinavia frequently stay at the hotel.

LEET co-founder Carson Knuth talks about the tournaments as a millennial bridge for a property more associated with its bingo and buffet.

“They can come in, play the games they love and get to love the Silver Sevens,” he says, adding that the casino gets exposure to “a huge, fickle and underserved audience.”

Thus far, the tournaments have skewed heavily male, in the 21-to-34 age range. That’s the coveted millennials right there, and if female gamers haven’t been out en masse, most players do bring friends and partners to balance the gender mix a bit.

The first event drew eight players; the most recent attracted more than 40 attendees. Lentini says his goal is to bring in 25 to 30 tournament players each week, and around 80 guests.

Right now, the $15 admission fee is barely enough to cover the prize pool, if that; Silver Sevens is benefiting from ancillary nongaming spend. But Lentini sees a time when pari-mutuel wagering on the tournaments will add a gaming component to the event. And, once successful, it will go beyond the Silver Sevens.

“This is an alpha/beta test,” he says, “for other properties nationwide.” Affinity has casinos in three states outside of Nevada, with additional outposts in Sparks and a trio of properties at Primm. This, Lentini thinks, could be a great place to expand. “Our 6,000-seat arena,” he says, “would be a great place for a huge championship tournament.” There’s even a chance that Generation X might be invited; Lentini talks about possibly offering a Sega Genesis tournament for those who coordinated their eyes and hands on Tecmo Super Bowl and NHL’94.

At its core, the tournament seems to be a value proposition that could resonate with millennials and others. $15 will get you a guaranteed two hours of play with a group of like-minded enthusiasts. That money probably wouldn’t last 15 minutes on a slot machine.

What casinos offer has always shifted. Affinity and LEET are showing one way that it will continue to do so.

The lessons they learn will no doubt inspire others. 7

GREEN FELT JOURNAL

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

David G. Schwartz is the director of UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research.

Casinos are hoping to bank on one thing millennials love: video games. Affinity Gaming is partnering with LEET, which has been running weekly video game tournaments at the Downtown Grand since last year, to make Sunday a night for a different kind of gaming at its Silver Sevens’ Corona Cantina bar.

weekend with shopping and eating. Zappos has long been animal-friendly, working with both the Animal Foundation in Las Vegas as well as Moapa’s Roos-N-More Zoo. Adoption events are held frequently at its Downtown headquarters, and just last year the company designated its campus a dog-friendly zone. Even CEO Tony Hsieh got into the act by adopting his first dog, Blizzy.

So while you’re opening up your wallets for some holiday shopping this year, think about also opening your heart and home for a new member of the family. Pets can make great holiday gifts—just make sure the recipient is ready and able to handle the responsibility. 7 Shelter locations taking part in the Pawlidayz campaign (Nov. 25-28) can be found through Best Friends Animal Society, No More Homeless Pets Network and online at zappos.com/pets.

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

39

SPACES & PLACES

The Modern Edge A new Summerlin community adds a fresh aesthetic to master-plan living THERE USED TO BE A TIME when lux-

urious modern homes were only available as expensive custom creations. But at Vistara, a community at The Cliffs, which is Summerlin’s first new village in more than a decade, Pulte Homes is building trend-setting, sleek residences for a wide range of buyers.

The exterior of each home has an undeniable cool factor, with bold square edges outlining walls of tile and stone. A peek inside reveals what everyone wants these days: space, and lots of it. The open floor plans are bathed in natural lighting from eco-friendly windows designed to minimize heat radiation.

However, if you really want space—and want to make a statement—just open up the entire living area to the backyard with two sliding doors that meet together on perpendicular walls. When both are open, an entire corner of the home is exposed to the elements, which in this case may include premium barbecue grills and linear fireplaces built in stone. There’s also room for a swimming pool.

A floating staircase for two-level residences offers plenty of space not only between the steps, but underneath them. You’re sacrificing an area for storage but gaining an open view of the house from front to back. Pulte representatives say the community went out on a limb by offering the pricey upgrade, but floating stairs have been included in more than half the orders so far.

Of course, some homeowners are all about the kitchen, and islands might as well be a

requirement at this point. At Vistara find a new spin on the feature with a waterfall-style design— with edges of quartz or granite spilling over straight from the countertop to the floor. Tall, wall-height cabinets in gray, white or black, often with flat surfaces, replace traditional panels.

An upgrade worthy of any large room is the accent ceiling. It’s a centerpiece that hangs down just slightly from the rest of the ceiling, generally in a rectangular shape.

Crown molding could appear a little too busy when matched with this design element, but the builder offers a new style with LED lights to give the upper edges of a wall a glow effect.

Barn doors, which slide from side to side on a mounted track, are another fun feature that has a benefit beyond aesthetics. Whether added to a bathroom or guest room, they sit alongside the wall and away from all that interior space you’re paying for. Why let a door swing open into a room if it doesn’t have to?

So what about bathrooms? According to the homebuilder, only about 20 percent of buyers at Vistara are choosing to keep bathtubs. Everyone else is ditching them in favor of grand walk-in showers. Floating vanities are also popular, with lighting visible from underneath and overhead. There’s really no functional advantage, unless you need room for your toes under the sink. And what’s wrong with that? It’s your dream home after all. 7

By Rob Kachelriess

Vistara is at South Hualapai Way and Mesa Park Drive.

Tours available Thurs.–Tues. from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Wed. from 12 p.m.–5 p.m. pulte.com.

Clockwise from top left: Vistara Parklane model gathering room, Parklane cafe and the La Vista model kitchen.

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

41

SPACES & PLACES

Morimoto Las Vegas MGM Grand MGMGrand.com Instagram: @chef_morimoto Open for dinner 5-10 p.m.

Sun-Thu, 5-10:30 p.m. Fri-Sat. Dinner for two, $100-$500.

Pictured clockwise from left: Toro tartare; teppan grill; sushi bar; main dining room.

The Art of Sushi Morimoto delivers in ways that will please both the eye and the palate

A

fter four years of rumors, promises and delays, chef Masaharu Morimoto opened his first Las Vegas restaurant in MGM Grand on October 21. The space will undoubtedly draw comparisons to its past tenant, Shibuya, and some menu items will be familiar to those who have dined at any of the 11 other Morimoto restaurants. But even the most cursory inspection quickly reveals that Morimoto Las Vegas offers something new.

OLD SPACE, NEW VISION With its sprawling marble sushi bar, forestlike cubbies in the main dining room and three teppan tables all set behind an extended glass wall in MGM Grand’s restaurant row, Shibuya was one of the largest and distinctive spaces in the resort’s restaurant portfolio.

“We were very fortunate to move into a space that was designed incredibly well,” says Morimoto’s corporate director of operations, Michael Welch. To make it his own, Chef Morimoto turned to his longtime collaborators at the Tokyo design group Glamorous.

“The first thing we needed to achieve was to put a bar in,” Welch says, referring to the one element that was totally lacking in the old space. So they converted a private dining room into a modern lounge.

Adjacent to that is the sushi bar, which Welch describes as the restaurant’s “main event.” It remains unchanged, and actually served as a template for many of the restaurant’s new design elements. Glamorous chief designer Yasumichi Morita spent much of early 2016 shooting photographs in Japan that became a “Morimoto Japan

42

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

Gallery” that is mounted behind the bar.

The images capture gorgeous examples of Japanese art, architecture, furnishings, literature and landscaping, and include some particularly pesky cherry blossom trees whose delayed bloom this spring wreaked havoc on the timeline.

The main dining area retains its woodcut forest motif around the edges, repainted to make them a bit lighter. But the cozy seating compartments of the former room have been eliminated to maintain Morimoto’s tradition of keeping his restaurants open and active.

In the rear of this main dining room, separating it from the teppan tables, is a glass-enclosed booth in which the chefs cut and slice some of the world’s finest beef, including A5 wagyu from the Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in Japan’s southern Kyushu region. This display area, combined with the grilling at the tables behind them, Welch says, are tributes to Las Vegas’ “showy” nature.

CLASSIC INGREDIENTS, NEW PERSPECTIVE Morimoto’s menu has a structure that is similar to the design, offering varied experiences that work together to express a unified vision. It begins with sushi, prepared by executive sushi chef Hitoshi Kanazama and his team. The menu starts with some classic cuts of tuna, salmon and eel. From there, it’s broken down by sections that include whitefish, blue-skinned fish, egg preparations, shellfish, caviar and vegetables. While familiar, these selections are made to shine through the team’s expert preparation and superior ingredients, from the fish to the house-milled rice.

Executive chef Lukasz Mackowiak’s four-page kitchen menu offers hot and cold appetizers, salads, soups, noodles and entrées that follow Morimoto’s Japanese fusion tradition, as well as a large selection of steaks. While many of these dishes are “greatest hits” from other locations, there are several created exclusively for our city. Highlights include Mackowiak’s spin on a Caesar salad made with seared salmon and grapeseed oil, a 54-ounce tomahawk rib eye and the chef’s take on the Korean rice dish bibimbap, which he calls ishi yaki buri bop: yellowtail on rice cooked tableside in a hot bowl.

Finally, there’s teppan, which Morimoto has only offered previously in his Mumbai and New Delhi restaurants. According to Welch, the fact that the space already came with three grills “awarded Chef [Morimoto the opportunity] to think once again about his love for teppan, and how to do it slightly differently.” Instead of Benihana’s fire and fury, diners get up close and personal with a team of teppan chefs led by Lue Xiong.

And the menu offers some stunning surprises, such as a light and sweet A5 wagyu beef sukiyaki cooked in paper bowls on the flat-top grill.

Because of the intimacy of the teppan experience, dishes prepared here can only be enjoyed at the grill. But that’s the only exception to an experience where guests are encouraged to ask for whatever they want, no matter where they’re seated. If you want sushi in the lounge, a steak at the sushi bar or an impromptu off-menu vegetarian or gluten-free feast, Welch says, “We try to say yes!” 7

By Al Mancini

Photography Krystal Ramirez and Biondo Productions

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

43

CONVERSATIONS

BACK TO

SCHOOL Hospitality veteran helps servers turn their gig into a rewarding career

By Al Mancini Photography Andrew Sea James

L

as Vegas is a city that eats, sleeps and breathes hospitality. Historically, most of the people who work in our hotels, casinos, bars and restaurants aren’t just doing it as some part-time gig while they go on auditions, rewrite a screenplay or attend college (unless they’re going to UNLV for a degree in hospitality management or some related field). They know they can make a great living doing exactly what they’re doing until the day they retire. So they take their work seriously, providing the city generation after generation of dedicated and talented restaurant employees. That is, until recently. Mark Steele wants to do something about it through his Restaurant Hospitality Institute (RHI).

Steele is a fourth-generation hospitality industry pro. His great-grandfather was a master brewer at Guinness, and his father was a butler for the Kennedys who later took care of the Rat Pack at Caesars Palace. His parents ran a local restaurant called The Aristocrat, where Steele worked as a busboy in his youth. After graduating from Bishop Gorman High School, Steele studied engineering and economics at USC and UNLV before deciding to return to the family business. “I just one day kind of said, ‘I like to eat and drink,’” he says, laughing, “so I might as

well move forward with this.’”

Steele’s first major job in the biz was opening Bellagio’s Osteria del Circo in 1998 for New York’s famed Maccioni family, working as a captain and sommelier. When his bosses offered him a management position at their short-lived Summerlin restaurant Tre, Steele jumped at the opportunity.

That was followed by stints opening restaurants for former nightlife titans Pure Management Group and Light Group, followed by positions at Society Café, Cabo Wabo Cantina, Sugar Factory and Mercadito, among others. He’s currently working as a maître d’ at local landmark Golden Steer.

As Steele’s career progressed, he began to have trouble staffing his restaurants. Unfortunately, the trend was happening at the same time that the popularity of food TV had led to higher expectations among customers.

“During all of these openings,” Steele says, “I started seeing a big gap in the talent that should be in Las Vegas, especially about four or five years ago. What happened to all these great people I was able to interview and hire 10 years ago? It seemed like the gap [between talent and expectations] was getting further and further.”

Frustrating his efforts was the fact that there was no source to which he could turn for highly trained servers. In addition to UNLV’s hospitality programs, there are plenty of schools that teach dealing, bartending and culinary skills, and even

Restaurant Hospitality Institute RHInstitute.com Above: a former RHI student prepares bananas Foster. Left: Mark Steele.

help their graduates find jobs. Not so for the people who serve as the faces of our top restaurants.

Steele believes Restaurant Hospitality Institute can provide the training to fill that gap and place its graduates into suitable positions.

RHI’s current curriculum, which costs $600 and is certified by Nevada’s Board of Post-Secondary Education, consists of five full-day classes held in an office space on Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road.

The topics they tackle are as diverse as food and beverage, sanitation, restaurant etiquette, revenue-generating techniques (a.k.a. upselling), reading the mood of customers and interacting with them, and physical skills such as handling glassware and bottles. During morning sessions, students hit the books. After lunch, they’re allowed to imbibe a little as they get to know wine and spirits firsthand. But the overwhelming theme that runs through everything can be summed up in one word: hospitality.

Steele is also dedicated to using his extensive connections within the industry to help graduates find new jobs. RHI offers résumé reviews and interview coaching to recent graduates. “I need to make sure that if you’re training for a job, the jobs are out there,” he says. “I’m not going to train you and then, all of a sudden, I can’t find you anything.”

It seems to be working. Steele cites one graduate who had been working at a 24-hour restaurant in a Strip casino before taking the course and just wanted to up his game. “Ever since he took the course, he’s won every sales contest that he’s done,” Steele says. “So he has almost $3,500 in his pocket, just for doing his job and using the techniques.” Another student, who was employed at an off-Strip Japanese steakhouse when she enrolled in the course, recently completed her training at Nobu.

The future seems bright, and there’s already talk of a second level of RHI training. But for now, Steele says he’s accomplishing exactly what he wants for his students: “They have more fun at work. They’re making more money at work. And they just feel more comfortable with their job.” 7

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

45

CONVERSATIONS

By Amber Sampson

Photography Krystal Ramirez

A NEW KIND OF STORY Meet the UNLV professor who is giving video games a seat at the literary table

U

ASK A NATIVE

NLV professor Amy Green has fought to ensure video games receive the literary recognition they deserve. Her goal has been realized at Lied Library, where students enrolled in her literature courses can now pluck award-winning games such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Fallout 4 off the shelves as easily as a compendium of Shakespearean sonnets.

“Basically, we talk about the games in much of the same way that we would talk about literature and film,” says Green, an assistant professor-in-residence at UNLV’s English department. “Story themes, symbolism, characterization—all of that works [in studying video games], in exactly the same way.”

Green’s digital materials don’t necessarily replace reading, but they supplement it. She once brought in the video game version of Dante’s Inferno to cross-reference with “Inferno” itself. But in some cases, the games are narratively strong enough to study without a centuries-old text behind them. Such is the case with Bioshock Infinite, a game set in 1912 that thrusts you into a floating city built on the backbone of the Founding Fathers. It’s a perplexing piece of paradise, but as you dig deeper, themes of racism, elitism and fanaticism bleed through the silver lining.

Infinite offered compelling commentary on “post-9/11 America” in the midst of its economic downturn, Green says. That hot-button subject matter inspired her to take the professional risk of introducing it to her classes. One day, the professor marched into her chair’s office and laid out her plan. “I said, ‘Look, I want to do the literature side. It’ll still be literature-heavy, but then I’m going to require that students play Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite in this particular section,’” she says. “We’re going to talk about the sociopolitical race issues that come up in those games. We’re going to do it with literature that matches those same themes.”

In March, Green started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for game consoles and titles such as SOMA, Dishonored and The Last of Us, which the professor published an article on for interactive media journal Games and Culture. The campaign garnered widespread attention, even earning a donation from Infinite develop-

46

By James P. Reza

Native Replay: Las Vegas Sports Bars Or, more accurately, bars where I watch sports that aren’t football. A recent “Ask a Native” query about where to escape the football crowds spawned other discussions, including, “You don’t watch football?” “Why do you live in America?” and the far more interesting, “OK, weirdo. What sports do you watch, and where?” As mentioned in the original column, I’m a fan of (certain) sports, not so much of having nearly every bar morph into a rowdy sports pub during what seems a forever-extended football season.

As for the sports I screen regularly, there’s a concise list of places I catch them. For UNLV

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

er Irrational Games. The fundraiser fell short of its goal, but that didn’t spell the end: Lied Library stepped in and partnered with Green to fund the rest of the goal.

Games have carved out a unique space in media. When you’re finished with a book, that’s it—you rarely revisit it.

Games, on the other hand, encourage one to keep playing.

Much of what makes students so receptive to Green’s digital curriculum is the dangling of achievement, she says, mentioning that tangible rewards (such as leveling up in a video game) motivate her students more than a book can.

While the storylines of books are set in stone, students can take a video-game plot where they want it to go. This “sense of self-direction” is incredibly impactful, Green says.

But what about games without dialogue, such as the darkly visual platformer Inside and the Twin Peaks-inspired detective title Virginia? Green says those take a page from a long forgotten art form: silent film. The professor recalls the beauty of 1928’s The Passion of Joan of Arc, in which facial expressions and body language told the story. With Inside, the world itself is the dialogue—not only is the game visually stunning, but it’s also telling. Barbed-wire fences and gray, dystopian hues, punctuated by the parade march of zombie-like meanderers, set the scene. Virginia challenges one to read people as text, from the quirk of their brow to the wrinkle of their lip—it’s all in the eyes.

In an ideal world, with limitless funding, Green would go beyond just gaming equipment. She says she’d “We're going to talk create an entire digital humanities program about the sociopolitical where students could study race issues that come gaming from every angle— script writing, development, up in those games. art design and more. Until We're going to do it then, she will keep students playing—and also reading. with literature that “When people don’t read, matches those same we end up with an uneducated populace … We have themes.” people who are disconnected from history, culture and human experience—experiences unlike their own [or] what other cultures or religions experience,” says Green. “I think that that’s dangerous. And if that means teaching [with] a video game ... [if it] makes them think, then I’m happy.” 7

basketball, the obvious choice is the Rebel fanatic–owned Born and Raised. But if their locations are a little too southerly for you, I’ve found the next best thing to be the PKWY Tavern. PKWY’s Tivoli location even scored one of the Rebellion student section’s giant player marionettes, which hangs on the wall to gently remind you: This is Rebel country.

If it’s soccer you want, the only place you need to visit is one of two locations of the Crown & Anchor British Pub, or its DTLV sister, Downtown Crown Pub. All are open and serve grub 24 hours a day, and with multiple screens and so many matches on the pitch far from our time zone, it isn’t unusual to find fans of particular clubs scarfing breakfast and beer at 4 a.m., especially during World Cup sessions.

Similarly, for Formula 1 racing, the city’s longtime fave Siena Italian Trattoria and Deli (which

moved to the westside many years ago) is the only name you need to know. Grab a seat and a sandwich in the deli for camaraderie, commiseration and complaining (often in Italian), or at the vast bar if you prefer another sport.

My other sport, pro tennis, is a little harder to uncover, but the major tourneys are usually on at Downtown Crown. If not, I can ask the barkeep to tune in at least one screen, something not true at many places. For other non-football sports, Brooksy’s is the place for ice hockey fans, and Sporting Life Bar is an NBA-focused bar with a hell of a food menu.

See? I’m not anti-sports. I’m anti–sports fans ruining my dinner. Unless the Rebels are on, of course. Then have at it. 7 Know of any others? Send them to askanative@vegasseven.com.

th

FRE

T R E C N O C E

E N D WE

O N , SDAY

0 3 R E VEMB

C

wn:40pm o r B r 9 e

y e Saw g et Sta

bel-l8:30pm p m a C 7:30 raig

reet ain St

Stage

M

8:40-

tre

ion 1:30pm n i m o Old D 9:50-1

1st S

tage

S treet 3rd S

on pm s l e h c on Mi :30-5:30

Jactkreset Stage

ey 6:25pm l l a V Highage 5:40-

treet

A

son:20pm t a W aron 6:35-7

eet rd Str

1st S

Main

4

S

St

Stage

n w o t n ’ Dow com

3

ueens Q r u Fo t h e D olden Nugge T r n i a Gate G o f tation i S l a t C n e e e d ol ’s Str Main B i n i o n remont G F

VegasSEXPERIENCE. VEGA

CONVERSATIONS

Lucky No.

Photography Krystal Ramirez

“It has been a long-standing tradition of ours to find a Salvation Army Angel Tree, pick some children’s names from the tree and spoil the kids who need it most. As I don’t have children of my own, this really rekindles the spirit and meaning of the holiday season for me in every way.”

—James P. Reza, contributing writer “I am working with the Rotary Club on its Santa Clothes Drive this year. On December 8, I will escort a child around JCPenney for a $150 shopping spree. I chose this organization because I not only get to give back, but I’m able to share their experience with them.” —Christy Corda, business development director

“I will be volunteering my time at Vegas Roots, a nonprofit that opens up its urban garden to the community. Their garden provides healthy produce at affordable prices, and they teach kids and adults about where their food comes from and how to eat healthy.” —Shannon Miller, editorial assistant “Stuck inside during cold weather, my idle hands turn to cleaning house. So bags of my gently used clothing and home goods will go to the Shade Tree, which operates a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.” —Xania Woodman, senior editor, dining, beverage & nightlife “I’ll be adopting a family again this year through HELP of Southern Nevada. This organization makes Christmas miracles happen every year for families who aren’t able to afford gifts themselves.

No parent should have to tell their child that Santa isn’t coming.” —Jordan Bruy, executive assistant “Every year during the holiday season, my fiancée and I donate clothes that we don’t wear or don’t fit anymore to the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, because there are so many kids who may not have any winter clothes or receive Christmas gifts.” —Matt Iles, account executive “Through the Eyes of a Child Foundation is close to my heart. I serve as its president and have been on the board for more than 10 years. This holiday season, I am giving back to the organization by becoming a virtual foster parent, which requires a financial donation. Those funds will help to provide cultural, athletic and educational scholarships to abused, abandoned and neglected children, who are currently or have been wards of the state, to encourage them to reach their potential and to provide hope for a successful future.”

—Michael Skenandore, publisher

48

November 24-30, 2016 vegasseven.com

We asked the Vegas Seven staff:

How are you giving back this holiday season?

Now Recruiting

+ Marketing Interns + Journalism Interns + It Interns + Web Interns + Sales Interns + Design Interns

Please send your resume and cover letter to

intern@wendohmedia.com

Boots ‘n’ Beer The Official Post Party Headquarters show yer rodeo ticket for a free souvenir!

2oz-P4BR-D1rafts

16

& ls! a i c e p S Shot

Mention This ad for some

frekeles!

fry’d pic

ip” “The Shame O’ The Strino

Excalibur Hotel & Cas 3850 Las Vegas Blvd South 702-597-7991

$oz5PBR

24 Cans!