Roadside Attraction | Vegas Seven | Dec. 22-28, 2016

SECTION» FREE December 22-28, 2016 « A NEW CYCLING STUDIO RIDES INTO TOWN / READING JOAN RIVERS / ANDRÉ ROCHAT

Roadside Attraction LIONS, REPTILES AND A UFO—PUBLIC ART COMES TO LIFE

September 29 - October 5 , 2016 vegasseven.com

3

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

Friday, December 30

TICKETS ON SALE

Tickets available at any MGM Grand Ticket Office, MGMGrand.com, AXS.com, or charge by phone at 1.888.929.7849

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.

CENTERED ART Photography KRYSTAL RAMIREZ Pictured “NIGHT EYES” BY CHRIS BAUDER

SEVEN NIGHTS James Adams hand-drew this week’s Seven Night’s cover, representing different luminaries in the Las Vegas arts community that have contributed to the band’s upcoming production, A Very Merry Same Sex Mary Christmas Spectacular.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECEMBER 22-28, 2016 TO DO

The Finish Line

15 24/7

JAG Nevada helps high school students succeed.

What to do around the clock in Las Vegas.

BY SHANNON MILLER

16 The Deal

The last week for holiday bargains.

BY ANTHONY CURTIS

Dine With the Dead Psychic medium Thomas John’s dinner party delivers messages from the other side.

BY AMBER SAMPSON

41 The Grass Is Greener Green Valley Ranch cast the mold for local casinos.

BY DAVID G. SCHWARTZ

42 Packing for a Winter Getaway

Tips from A Hippie’s Daughter.

BY LAUREN MOLASKY

“Gem” by Holly Rae Vaughn

BY MARISA FINETTI

SPACES AND PLACES FEATURE

19 2016 IN DECLINE The year in pictures.

24 Fourteen Defining Moments of 2016

From the pages of Vegas Seven.

BY SEVEN STAFF

26 Mind the Medians

Clark County beautifies Valley roadways with its Centered public art program.

BY KRISTEN PETERSON

45 In the Rider’s Seat

A new cycling studio aims to break the fitness norm.

BY JUDY STONE

CONVERSATIONS

49 Stacked for Success

Meet the partners of Las Vegas’ newest restaurant company.

BY DAVID MORRIS

50 All That Glitters

Lauren Kaminsky stocks up on treasures at Beauty & Essex.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

TASTE

33 Some Like It Hot

RM Seafood’s chef de cuisine bottles 23 varieties of hot sauce.

BY AL MANCINI

34 Sugarplum Fairy Tales

Festive treats are the capstone to any winter holiday menu.

Ask a Native How does the Native spend the holidays?

BY JAMES P. REZA

51 Lucky No. 7

Our most memorable moments of 2016.

BY SEVEN STAFF

BY MARISA FINETTI

36 Andre’s Bistro & Bar New year, new restaurant.

BY AL MANCINI

SOCIAL INFLUENCE Seven Nights

What to do after dark.

OUR SITES TO SEE

VegasSeven.com Hear Now Need new tunes for your holiday playlist?

Absinthe’s Melody Sweets, punk rockers The Quitters, rapper Ekoh and The Killers spread the Christmas cheer at vegasseven.com/hearnow.

DTLV.com Last-Minute Gift Ideas A good book can entertain for a few hours or transform an open mind for a lifetime. The only problem with gifting a book is there are thousands to choose from. We asked The Writer’s Block’s Drew Cohen for five suggestions.

RunRebs.com Weekly Recap Tyler Bischoff breaks down Tyrell Green’s rise to UNLV’s best offensive weapon, Jovan Mooring’s development at point guard, Cheickna Dembele’s big block and more.

BY IAN CARAMANZANA

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

39 The Book of Joan

Last Girl Before Freeway glimpses into the life of Joan Rivers.

Blazing a Trail

Zack the Ripper on a 420-friendly nightlife scene.

BY JOHN CARR

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

40 In Memoriam

People who left their mark on Las Vegas.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

Club Tour

SpyOnVegas.com

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

Surrender in Encore Las Vegas.

BY SEVEN STAFF

88 Ways to Say Goodbye

Bree DeLano returns to her L.A. roots.

BY IAN CARAMANZANA

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

11

5¢

ARC SPINE BY ZAK OSTROWSKI, DREW GREGORY AND CLEMENTE CICORIA

Photography KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

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

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

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.

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 EDITOR, DTLV.COM

Jessie O’Brien DIGITAL PRODUCER & WRITER

Amber Sampson CONTRIBUTING WRITER, RUNREBS.COM

Tyler Bischoff 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

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

TO DO

What to do around the clock in Las Vegas

By Shannon Miller

THURSDAY 22

Remember the sleigh-drawing steeds in Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercials? Meet the animals in person at Christmas With the Clydesdales while enjoying carols and taking snapshots with Santa. Did we mention the complimentary hot chocolate and Budweiser? noon–6 p.m., Priefert Pavilion at South Point Arena, southpointarena.com Glass Pools returns to the Bunkhouse, bringing its brand of dance-rock Downtown.

Catch two solid local acts at Bunkhouse tonight, when pianist/songstress Halsey Harkins and electronic dance-rock group Glass Pools take the Downtown stage.

9 p.m., bunkhousedowntown.com How about a caffeine rush to unleash your inner artist? Grouchy John’s Coffee hosts a Grinch-themed painting class, with supplies and refreshments included. 7 p.m., $35, facebook.com/grouchyjohnscoffeeshop Vegas PBS airs the hour-long documentary Beyond Borders, an intimate look at the realities and struggles of undocumented Mexican families living in the United States. If you don’t have time today, watch the documentary whenever you want—for free—online. 4 p.m., beyondborders.tv Blast to the past with Cameo, whose funk music from the ’70s and ’80s—maybe most notably their hit “Word Up”—laid the foun-

dation for latter R&B and hip-hop. 7 p.m., $69–$129, Westgate Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, westgateresorts.com Today is your last chance to help Fill the Ambulance and contribute to Guardian Elite Medical Services’ drive for first-aid items, cleaning supplies, food and clothing.

9 a.m.-9 p.m., various sites, facebook.com/gemslv FRIDAY 23

Explore themes of race and policing, minority oppression and more at Cops and Robbers: Uncut, hosted by local troupe Majestic Repertory Theatre, created and performed by UNLV’s African American Student Association of Theatre and Film.

8 p.m., Alios, donations encouraged, facebook.com/majesticrep Rockin’ around the … Downtown Summerlin Rock Rink! OK, maybe that’s not how the song goes, but you’ll still be dancing merrily around the 30-foot Christmas tree there … on ice skates. 10 a.m.–10 p.m., $15, downtownsummerlin.com How does free booze and hot girls sound for the holidays? With a Nevada ID, locals can enjoy complimentary cocktails every hour with Santa’s sexiest helpers at Crazy Horse III’s 12 Days of XXXmas. 3525 W. Russell Rd., crazyhorse3.com

SATURDAY 24

Hang up that apron and let Cleo do the holiday cooking. SLS Las Vegas’ Mediterranean restaurant serves up a contemporary, family-style feast for those looking for a festive, home-cooked meal without slaving over a stove. Reservations 6–10:30 p.m., $50–$60 per person, slslasvegas.com Artist Lucy Raven’s China Town follows the path of copper ore from an Eastern Nevada mine to a Chinese processing plant.

Question today’s global economic system, connectedness and power structures at a screening of the film at UNLV’s Barrick Museum. 1–3 p.m., 3–5 p.m., unlv.edu You don’t need a reindeer to fly with Santa Claus! Get a one-of-a-kind photo with Kris Kringle at Vegas Indoor Skydiving.

Come ready for a challenge, as sitting on Santa’s lap in midair might prove more difficult than when you were an infant with two feet planted firmly on the ground. 9:45 a.m.–8 p.m., $100 per person, 200 Convention Center Dr., vegasindoorskydiving.com Tuscany Gardens offers prix-fixe menus,

including festive options such as winter squash bisque, a grilled T-bone steak and decadent bread pudding served with vanilla gelato. 5–9:30 p.m., $40 per person, Tuscany Suites & Casino, tuscanylv.com

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

15

TO DO

WITH LESS THAN A WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS,

SUNDAY 25

Come see the debut of Downtown’s 20-foot menorah.

Fremont Street Experience celebrates Hanukkah with the Festival of Lights ceremony led by Rabbi Shea Harlig, the director of Chabad of Southern Nevada. 4 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience.com Catch two superstars from the world of Persian music at the Strip’s newest entertainment destination, as Mansour and Arash play the Monte Carlo’s Park Theater tonight. The show also features special-guest comedian Max Amini. 8 p.m., $54–$256, montecarlo.com From Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson and director Denzel Washington comes Fences, a story of one family’s intergenerational struggles with race in the 1950s. See the critically acclaimed flick in theaters around town. fandango.com Lend a helping hand to Hydrating the Homeless, which accepts bottled water and winter clothes donations. Today the organization distributes donations in North Las Vegas. 8–11 a.m., meet at Las Vegas Blvd. North and Owens Ave., facebook.com/ hydratingthehomelesslasvegas

and try to eat themselves to death. 8 p.m., 5077 Arville St., facebook.com/thescificentervegas TUESDAY 27

Check out one of Unique Massive’s renowned funk-rock jam sessions at Double Down Saloon. midnight, doubledownsaloon.com Say “Hello” to Lionel Richie when he serves up his classic hits during another installment of his Planet Hollywood residency. 8 p.m., $79–$329, The Axis, caesars.com The Wellness Mama blog is a cache of healthy recipes and good advice. Find the best of these recipes in The Wellness Mama Cookbook, hitting shelves today. wellnessmama.com WEDNESDAY 28

MONDAY 26

Try La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway’s new winter plates, which include Dragon’s Milk Stout flatiron steak topped with cherry bourbon and seasonal fruits and vegetables. 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Wynn Las Vegas, wynnlasvegas.com It’s Cinemonday again at the Sci Fi Center. Continuing this month’s cuisine theme, watch 1973 French-Italian film La Grande Bouffe, in which men hire prostitutes

Dine With the Dead

Paterson comes to theaters today to show us the poetry

of everyday life ... and close-ups of Adam Driver’s face. fandango.com

Don’t take yourself too seriously. Comedian Steve Byrne hosts three nights of stand-up at Backstage Bar & Billiards. 8 p.m., $15, backstagebarlv.com Find more stuff to do in Las Vegas at vegasseven.com/calendar.

Fancy having dinner while making a connection with a few surprise guests? Dinner With the Dead is a limited-engagement five-course dinner party that has traveled across the nation, hosted by psychic medium Thomas John. Now he and his “special guests” are headed to Las Vegas, presenting a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the main dining room of the Foundation Room in Mandalay Bay. The ambiance of mystery and excitement is set with flickering candles and apropos music. The intimate gathering begins with a toast led by John, who delivers messages to his dinner guests from family and friends on “the other side.” The evening concludes with a delicious dessert and a final opportunity to ask questions for those wishing to get in one last word with the medium. Seatings on January 20 and 21 are at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and limited to just 25 guests—but who knows who else will drop in for a visit that evening … $300 till January, then $325, dinnerwiththedeadllc.com –Marisa Finetti

16

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

now’s the time to get in on the tail end of several of the best of the holiday promotions. Read fast, as a few of these expire later this week.

There are still a few days left to partake in the excellent 50 percent off dining deal at SLS Las Vegas that runs through Dec. 23.

Locals with a CODE card get 50 percent off at all restaurants except Bazaar Meat, and the discount applies to the entire bill, including alcohol (excluding select bottles of wine). With time running out, Katsuya and Cleo should be your primary targets.

Another good promo with a short but doable window is running at South Point, where it’s half off everything through Dec. 24 when you pay with club points. The discount applies at restaurants and bars, rooms, shows, bingo, bowling, movies, the spa, liquor store, New Year’s Eve events and the gift shop. Yes, this deal is aimed at the casino’s gamblers, but everyone can take advantage of a special at the bars, where all drinks are $2. That’s top-shelf call brands for just two bones and an amazing $1 when paying with points.

Both the Orleans and the Gold Coast are running anniversary specials through Dec. 24, with 2-for-1 buffets and $1 Bud Light and well drinks at all bars. The only requirement is that you show a B Connected players card.

Also at Gold Coast, earn 300 points ($300 coin-in) on Thursdays and get a 30th anniversary polo shirt (12/22) and a 30th anniversary long-sleeve T-shirt (12/29).

Earn 50 points ($50 coin-in) on Thursdays at Silverton and get 50 percent off in Mi Casa Grill Cantina, Sundance Grill or Seasons buffet. Gold, Platinum and Diamond club members get 50 percent off with no point-earning requirement.

For pure tradition, go to Ellis Island for the holiday eggnog. This is the 14th straight year that the nog has been mixed and sold from the bar in the casino. Yes, it contains alcohol and it has a kick. The price is $6 per glass and $30 per bottle, and supplies should last into mid-January.

Of course, parking is still free for locals, which likely won’t be the case at many Strip casinos soon after the New Year, so take advantage while you can. One place you can take even more advantage is Hooters, where in addition to offering $2 shots, $3 Bud and Bud Light and $1 blackjack, the hotel will also hand you a free beer at the lobby bar if you post a photo of your car parked in the Hooters Casino lot on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #IParkedForFree.

The New Year’s deals will reveal themselves over the next week, but one worth mentioning is the $35 all-you-can-drink wristband at the Downtown Grand. Pick your day, Dec. 29-Jan. 2, and the one-time payment will keep you lubricated for 24 hours. You might want to consider adding on a room for this one. 7 Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.

PHOTO BY DAVID LEE/PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Last Week for Holiday Bargains

Catch Fences in local theaters this week.

THE DEAL

By Anthony Curtis

www.mbofhenderson.com | 702.485.3000 925 Auto Show Drive | Henderson, NV 89014

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Coupe

Style you can't beat. At a price you can reach.

Lease for

329 /mo for 36 months

$

*

Available only to qualified customers at Mercedes-Benz of Henderson through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (where applicable to advertised lease) through January 3rd, 2017. All lease offers are 10K miles per year with an excess mileage charge of .25 cents per mile. Advertised lease rate of 2017 CLA 250 with MSRP of $35,675 based on a gross capitalized cost of $34,676.

Total monthly payments equal $11,844 on 36-month lease. $3,923 cash due at signing includes $2,499 capitalized cost reduction, $1,095 acquisition fee, and first month's lease payment of $329. Total payments equal $15,438. Residual value at lease end equals $21,405. Includes destination charge. Excludes title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, any finance charges, any emission testing charge, dealer prep. and additional options. Subject to credit approval. No security deposit required. See dealer for details.

ICTU R E IN P

S

N D I ECL 6 1 0 2

R

E H Y T EA : E IN

THIS YEAR, WHEN NEWS HAPPENED, INDECLINE WAS THERE. A nonprofit activist collective founded in 2001 that fights ecological, government and social injustices through guerrilla art campaigns, Indecline sparked thought, spurred commentary and churned out controversy. The collective’s more than 50 active members in the U.S. and about a dozen in Europe use 100 percent of the proceeds from thisisindecline.com to create new disruptions. Indecline produced around 10 pieces in 2016, but caught international media attention with the “#BlackLivesMatter : Hollywood” and “The Emperor Has No Balls” projects—one of its fabled Trump statues landed in Downtown Las Vegas in September. Here’s an exclusive look at the year that was from the lenses of the activists of Indecline.

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

19

(Previous page) THE EMPEROR HAS NO BALLS Union Square, New York City. August 18, 2016. Indecline illegally installed five lifesize sculptures of Donald Trump in five major U.S. cities on the same day at the same time. Hundreds of people flocked to the monuments to take photographs before authorities removed them.

The Los Angeles statue was put up for auction along with pieces by Basquiat, Andy Warhol and Banksy and fetched $22,000. It was purchased

by Michael Jackson’s costume designer. The proceeds were given to the National Immigration Forum. –Photography Jason Goodrich USA: NOW HIRING/ KEEP OUT Indecline and Jaber mural on the U.S./Mexico border wall in response to America’s polarizing immigration issue. This piece, alongside others criticizing Donald Trump’s comments about Mexicans being rapists and criminals, later became a photo op for Chinese tour buses traveling through Tijuana.

CUBA A view from the backseat of a classic car.

Indecline traveled the Cuban countryside for one last glimpse of the infamous cultural time capsule before the gates of tourism were stormed and American and European imperialism took over.

20

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

#BLACK LIVES MATTER : HOLLYWOOD Indecline illegally installed a dozen plaques over Hollywood Walk of Fame stars in Los Angeles to bring attention to the black men and women unjustly murdered by American police officers. The project was an attack on police brutality as well as a plea to U.S. citizens to redirect attention away from pop culture and focus on more relevant issues affecting the country.

ATHENS Smoldering remnants of the epic annual battle between Greek police and anarchists commemorated the killing of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos by Greek police in 2008. Despite the officer involved being given a life sentence, the anarchists still hold the police accountable for their actions and firebomb them for hours every year on December 6.

21

22

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

WE GOT BILLS/WE GOT TAXES/WE GOT DREAMS Indecline’s corporate billboard liberation on the roof of an abandoned warehouse just outside the Holland Tunnel in New Jersey is a statement on economic distress that’s viewed by 100,000-plus motorists a day. 7

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

23

24

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

5

May 19 Issue: Art Production Fund, New York and Nevada Museum of Art, Reno bring Ugo Rondinone’s “Seven Magic Mountains” and hundreds of visitors out to the Mojave.

Photography Krystal Ramirez

March 24 Issue: “The People of El Cortez” chronicles the characters encountered during one night at Downtown’s iconic El Cortez Hotel & Casino, months ahead of its 75th anniversary. Written by DTLV.com editor Jessie O’Brien and photographed by Matilda Temperley, this story won Best Multiple Photo Essay from the Nevada Press Association.

2

14 1 January 14 Issue: Faraday Future and Hyperloop test-drive North Las Vegas’ Apex Industrial Park.

3

6

4 December 1 Issue: At long last, Las Vegas gets a professional sports team, and they shall be known as the Golden Knights.

May 12 Issue: Project Neon’s major Spaghetti Bowl closures make us late to work.

April 7 Issue: T-Mobile Arena opens on April 6 with a blowout performance by The Killers, Wayne Newton and Shamir.

Noteworthy Moments

THE YEAR IN REVIEW FROM THE PAGES OF VEGAS SEVEN AND BEYOND

8

The W Las Vegas gets lit on December 1 to announce its arrival at SLS Las Vegas.

J. Cole gets thousands of people to put their arms around each other’s shoulders for a moment of mass unity during his set at Life Is Beautiful on September 24, marking the ultimate feel-good moment of the year.

Photography Bobby Jameidar

11

25

On December 8 Lucky Dragon becomes the latest Las Vegas casino to open since The Cosmopolitan in 2010. Photography Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau

12

On October 19, a wall of taco trucks line up in front of Trump International Hotel.

Photography EPA/Alamy

9

14

The Bundys go to jail for their armed occupation of public land ... and then get acquitted on October 27.

Park Theater opens with Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders on December 17.

Photography Bizuayehu Tesfaye/ Las Vegas News Bureau

10

13

Nevada says yes to Question 2 and the legalization of recreational marijuana on November 8.

7 August 4 Issue: Caesars Palace celebrates 50 years. Also in 2016, Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock Casino reach milestones of 15 and 10 years, respectively.

Luis Varela-Rico with his “Norte y Suerte” sculpture

By Kristen Peterson Photography Krystal Ramirez

Mind the

Medians Clark County beautifies Valley roadways with ‘Centered’ public art program

“Let’s imagine

that there’s a nice young alien couple who saved money to buy a UFO spacecraft,” charismatic artist Jesse Carson Smigel says. “They were sold a lemon. They painted it hot orange and are flying around the shooting range when a skeet shooter hits it and it crash-lands.”

The assumption, Smigel says, is that the saucer was brought down by the shotgun fire. In reality (which is fiction here), the lemon of a spacecraft was on a “controlled crash descent.”

It’s possible that only the mind of the Las Vegas artist could weave this inventive and unexpected narrative, which weds the Clark County Shooting Complex to Area 51 in a somewhat literary public sculpture for the county. The logic behind the piece fits, though, when considering its similarity to the Complex’s disc targets that inspired his “I Told You Not to Paint It Hot Orange” installation.

The sculpture is Smigel’s response to Clark County Public Art Program’s call for artists in its $175,000 Centered project, designed to energize bland or non-landscaped medians throughout the Valley. Ten artists were commissioned to create unique works, with installations starting in April 2016 following a July 2015 proposal deadline. Smigel’s site-specific piece (installed near the shooting range) just happens to reflect the type of nimble merriment the artist—who has created giant lawn ornaments, sci-fi Borg cats and an interactive game show–inspired exhibit—is known for. Standing 4 feet tall (and scaled to the near dimensions of a clay pigeon target), the entrenched saucer will eventually be accompanied by two aliens placed beside it, one slumped in disbelief and grasping its head, the other with arms bent in the air.

28

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

While other pieces don’t come equipped with a storyline, Centered’s artworks respond to their respective environments in diverse ways while catering to the idea of community, place, neighborhoods and broad appeal. For the intersection of Lone Mountain Road and Durango Drive, Zak Ostrowski, Drew Gregory and Clemente Cicoria created “Arc Spine,” a skeletal structure of nontouching steel parts placed on a field of red pumice rock, which takes the sculptural shape of sand dunes and mountains. The work pays homage to the metal skeletons of vintage signs at Downtown’s Neon Museum.

Centered originated after residents contacted the county requesting median beautification similar to the metal sculptures of cacti and Joshua trees the City of Las Vegas had installed, says Michael Ogilvie, the county’s public art specialist.

“We wanted to do something different,” he says, that would circulate money back into the community by employing locally based artists creating unique works in the project funded by the county’s Percent for the Arts program.

Ogilvie explains that in addition to creating a visual identity and beautifying and enhancing the community, the installation is more cost-effective, efficient and desert-tolerant than installing trees and shrubs. “The resource preservation is an incredibly important part of this project,” he says.

But the median projects, as with the county’s utility box Zap! project, have been sitting ducks for vandals and pranksters, requiring repairs and reinstallation even if not in the same location. Most notable was the theft of artist Chris Bauder’s golden lion and the smashing of his pink alligators—all animals of a concrete jungle— in “Night Eyes,” near Decatur Boulevard and Flamingo Road.

“Thumbs Up,” a minimalistmeets-modernist installation of neighborly pedestrians at Pecos Road and Las Vegas Boulevard by Robin Stark and Eric Pawloski, was hit by a car, requiring future reinstallation of the surviving pieces at the Walnut Community Center near the original site.

“I’m hoping that we’re just going through some growing pains,” Ogilvie says, lamenting the problems. “Public art is always in

This page: Adolfo Gonzalez’s “Octosteam” and Miguel Rodriguez’s “Jaguar.”

Opposite page: Jesse Carson Smigel’s “I Told You Not to Paint It Hot Orange.”

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

29

danger. It’s out there and it can be damaged.” He adds that somebody tried to steal KD Matheson’s “Anthropos” sculpture in the first two days of its installation.

Before “Anthropos” was hit and destroyed earlier this month—Ogilvie says the county is weighing its options regarding reinstallation—it stood on a median on Decatur Boulevard near Interstate 215. The more than 5-foot-tall (and somewhat discreet) ancient tribal–inspired work offered a message of the self in balance, centered amid the chaos of the universe, appearing as an archaeological find of sorts placed in 21st-century Las Vegas.

With vigilantes deciding what’s fit and unfit for the community through sledgehammer criticism and a lack of respect for public art, seven works remain intact, and another is awaiting installment.

Still untouched by vandals, Holly Rae Vaughn’s “Gem” is a 24-foot horizontal installation of color Plexiglas panels on Windmill Lane near Rainbow Boulevard. It ignites the stretch of road with the linear arrangement of 4-by-4-foot translucent surfaces. Designed to add a colorful punch to the desert beige, it offers nostalgia for the ’80s and ’90s through the jewel-tone colors of the eras (and a subtle nod to the end of The Goonies). Partially overlapping and responding to sunlight, it becomes a continuum, referencing the “feedback loop” of the digital imaging that allows us to immediately relive the past.

Miguel Rodriguez’s vibrantly colored “Jaguar,” on McLeod Drive near Desert Inn Road, is a vibrant and toothy jaguar head patterned and striped with red, yellow, orange and green.

Inspired by Huichol art (a folk art style that originated in Mexico), the work was designed to speak to the Mexican heritage of the community in the area, the artist says. Its bold color and form pop from the otherwise drab median.

Artist Chris O’Rourke’s “Native Dance,” near East Reno Avenue and Koval Lane, consists of aged-steel individual rings representing piercings on an arm that had been pointing toward the sky and suddenly dropped—a snapshot

30

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

of gravity in motion made from 2-inch-thick rings connected to an I-beam structure. At certain angles, the piece might appear to look like a feather. And down the street from Rodriguez’s “Jaguar,” near East Flamingo Road, is Adolfo Gonzalez’s “Octosteam.” A wild steampunk sea creature with wheels, it offers its gorgeous sci-fi self to passersby, interrupting the sight line with the neo-Victorian fantasy genre.

On deck for Centered is Luis Varela-Rico’s “Norte y Suerte,” to be installed at Eastern and Serene Avenues pending roadwork completion. The large-scale, three-dimensional head created by stacked planes of steel, which will age into a patina of desert hues, is connected by square tubes. It is the artist’s answer to an accessible piece that would appeal to the community. Inspired by the giant stone heads created and left by the ancient Olmec culture of Mexico and Guatemala, “Norte y Suerte” is similar in style to a sculpture of a hand he made a few years ago. The work has Varela-Rico humorously noting: “I have this weird subconscious thing where I’m going to make a whole body, and pieces are going to be littered around town.” For now, it belongs to a body of work scattered within the miles and miles of roadways in the Valley—for the community, but also vulnerable to it. 7

Chris Bauder’s “Night Eyes” (top) and Holly Rae Vaughn’s “Gem” (bottom)

WATCH THE

FIREWORKS

FROM THE BEST SCENIC VIEW IN VEGAS! 80 PRE-SALE ALL-INCLUSIVE

$

VIP PACKAGE

8PM TO MIDNIGHT Hosted buffet & open bar Champagne toast at Midnight

FOR PRE-SALE TICKETS VISIT: http://flavorus.com/TwinPeaksNYE Pre-sale ticket prices available through 12/24/16.

TASTE

Like most great oyster spots, Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood takes pride in its rotating selection of the mollusks, which vary greatly in taste depending on where they’re raised. But until recently, they used the same mass-produced hot sauces to complement the drastically different flavors offered up on a half shell. That irony wasn’t lost on the restaurant’s chef de cuisine, Sean Collins, who began creating his own hot sauces while he was working at Downtown’s late Radio City Pizzeria.

When he took the position at RM and learned they were selling up to 10,000 oysters in a busy week, he approached his boss, chef Rick Moonen, about offering something other than Tabasco to accompany it. “I was just gonna do a couple,” Collins says, “but then I started looking into different types of peppers, and where I could find them. One thing lead to another, and I just went a little overboard.”

He currently bottles 23 house-made hot sauces under the brand name RM Seafood Elixir, with a dozen more currently aging. The goal is to eventually expand to 50. Recipes run the gamut from the more mild shishito, padrón or Anaheim peppers to scorching options based around ghost peppers, Trinidad scorpions and Carolina Reapers.

The chef further distinguishes their profiles by using a variety of vinegars for the base. The menu lists the heat of each using the popular Scoville scale, with current options ranging from 500 to 2.2 million.

The sauces, which come in snake oil–style bottles, are available in the restaurant for $15-$50 a bottle, and can be shipped out of town so that everyone can feel the heat.

Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood Mandalay Place rmseafood.com Instagram: @chefmoonen

ONE BITE

Like It Hot?

By Al Mancini Photography Krystal Ramirez

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

33

DISH & TELL

TASTE

By Marisa Finetti

Photography Krystal Ramirez

FESTIVE TREATS ARE THE FINISHING TOUCH TO ANY WINTER HOLIDAY MEAL

H

oliday desserts are the stuff of celebration. Around the world, seasonally specific sugary confections oftentimes emerge just once a year, bringing sheer delight to those who make

and receive them. From the French Bûche de Noël, which looks like something cut from the forest, to the Italy’s panettone, evoking the majestic cathedral domes of Lombardy, there’s always room for the beloved Yuletide treats.

gingerbread figgy pudding

Tom Colicchio’s Heritage Steak

You’ve likely sung the line, “Now bring us some figgy pudding …”

Executive pastry chef Natalie Morgan brings it, but only on Christmas Day. Despite its name, figgy pudding—also known as plum pudding, a staple of the British Christmas table—contains neither figs nor plums. Morgan makes hers out of gingerbread stout cake and brown sugar bourbon toffee, then complements it with walnuts, dulce de leche ice cream and a dash of glitter. $14, in The Mirage, mirage.com

34

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

cookies ’n’ milk

winter break

bûche de noël

This dessert brings us back to Christmas eve, when a sweet offering is left near the hearth for Santa’s arrival. Chef Michael LaPlaca offers his guests the same plate of homemade cookies, nutmeg-spiced milk and a candied carrot for Rudolph.

“One of my favorite things about the holidays is eggnog,” LaPlaca says.

“So we decided to trade the traditional milk with spiced milk that guests can spike if they’d like.” $10, $15 spiked, in The Mirage, mirage.com

Egg-based drinks found popularity in the American colonies, where nearly everyone had access to cows, chickens and, oftentimes, rum. Cool to the touch and slightly toasty when it goes down, Winter Break is a fun and creamy holiday libation with a modern nog spirit.

Made with Shipwrecked spiced rum, heavy whipping cream, Licor 43, house-made cinnamon maple syrup and egg white, the drink is served in a stemmed Martini glass and garnished with a dusting of ground cinnamon. $10, in Downtown Summerlin, psontap.com

Served during the holidays, Bûche de Noël is a distinctly French tradition. The original Yule log dessert emerged in the 19th century and in its purest form consists of Genoise (Italian sponge cake) rolled with chocolate buttercream to resemble a log. This year, executive chef Joshua Smith plans to pair praline and a touch of dark rum with the traditional chocolate cake. “The fun part is in the garnish, which allows the cake to resemble a real log with bark, sometimes with little meringue mushrooms and leaves.” $69 as part of a prix fixe menu or $13 a la carte, in Aria, michaelmina.net

Portofino

Public School 702

Michael Mina’s Bardot Brasserie

raisin kugel

panettone

Considered one of the most iconic Jewish holiday dishes, kugel likely got its name from a middle German word for the spherical shape of the dish. Today, kugel is usually a rectangular casserole composed of noodles or potato, eggs and cream that is baked until soft and moist inside and crispy on top. Siegel’s 1941 delivers a traditional sweet raisin kugel that is available a la carte for $5 or as part of a three-course Hanukkah meal for $20. In El Cortez, elcortezhotelcasino.com

Hailing from Milan is the grand and festive panettone, which is usually prepared for Christmas and New Year. The dome shape is said to have been inspired by the cathedrals of Lombardy. It’s fiendishly difficult to make, but ’tis the season for such effort, so executive pastry chef Mickael Maignan-Bauer offers it on his Christmas weekend dessert menus.

“The proofing process alone takes several days, giving the cake its distinctive fluffy characteristic. What is better than to offer guests something you care so much for at Christmastime?” The panettone is served with vanilla sauce and coffee ice cream. $10, in the Delano, delanolasvegas.com

Siegel’s 1941

Rivea at Delano

traditional doughnut Honey Salt

Pillowy sufganiyah, Israeli jelly– filled doughnuts, are a staple of annual Hanukkah celebrations.

The doughnuts are oil-fried—ideal for celebrating the festival of light that commemorates the miracle of a single day’s oil lasting for eight.

Finished with a generous dusting of powdered sugar, they’re arguably one of the holiday’s most tempting bites. Honey Salt offers five fresh strawberry jelly–filled sufganiyah— just enough for sharing, or not. $9, 1031 S. Rampart Blvd., honeysalt.com 7

Bûche de Noël

December 22 -2 8 2016 vegasseven.com

35

TASTE

FIRST LOOK

Andre’s Bistro & Bar The New Year brings a new reason to head to Fort Apache Road

By Al Mancini Photography Anthony Mair After nearly 60 years in a kitchen

Andre’s Burger with hand-cut fries and Root Beer float.

and more than three and a half decades at the forefront of the local food scene, Andre Rochat has learned the importance of taking some time for himself. Even before the October closing of Andre’s in Monte Carlo and the impending opening of his next venue, Andre’s Bistro & Bar, the chef made a conscious decision to travel.

“When you work every holiday and every weekend, and you miss out on friends and family because you have to be in the kitchen,” Rochat says, “you start to reflect on that after a period of time.”

These days, Rochat spends about six months a year in Thailand. He also makes frequent hunting and fishing trips, visits Alaska every autumn and often takes advantage of his guest-chef status with Crystal Cruises. When Vegas Seven caught up with the chef, he was in Thailand, but his excitement about his next project was palpable.

NEW TEAM, FAMILIAR FACES The slated mid-January opening of Andre’s Bistro & Bar will mark the first new opening for Stacked Hospitality Group, which now also oversees Rochat’s restaurant Alizé in the Palms. Managing partners Joseph Marsco and Mark Purdy have long histories with Rochat, who is a consultant to Stacked. Purdy began working with the chef in 1998, and ran Alizé’s kitchen until Chris Bulen took the reins after Andre’s in Monte Carlo closed. Marsco opened Alizé as general manager, eventually moving up to managing partner of both venues. The third managing partner, John Wood, is a nightlife veteran who spent 10 years as senior executive director at Wynn Resorts. (For more on Stacked Hospitality, see Page 49.)

To run the kitchen at the new locale, the team has tapped Scott Sampson, who has worked at Andre’s original Downtown location and the chef’s late Las Vegas Hilton restaurant, Mistral. Numerous employees from Andre’s Monte Carlo will also join the staff.

“I always trusted these people,” the chef says of his team.

“They helped build my name and reputation. You know, over time my restaurants have not really been about me— they are about the people that make it happen every day.”

GETTING HIS NAME BACK ON THE DOOR The closing of his Monte Carlo restaurant did nothing to diminish Rochat’s standing as a local culinary star. His

36

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

restaurant Alizé has remained the fine dining focal point of the Palms since the resort opened its doors in 2001, weathering the casino’s various ownership and management changes. But his departure from the south Strip did mark the first time since the original Andre’s opened Downtown in 1980, that the chef’s name has not graced the doors of a local eatery.

While the chef insists the lack of his name on a restaurant was “not a big concern,” he concedes it will be nice to see it once again. “When I asked about the name of the bistro, Joe and Mark told me they wanted it to be named Andre’s, and that did make me happy. There is a loyal following of customers who are always seeking out Andre’s.”

WHAT’S COOKING The menu at Andre’s Bistro will be, to a great extent, exactly what bistros have long represented: casual, approachable French dining. “I told [my partners], it can be French but not too French,” Rochat says. “[I] want it to be a warm and friendly local spot, a place for families to come for dinner, business people to come for lunch and guys watching the game to hang out at the bar.”

Rochat promises classics, such as onion soup and escargot. But the kitchen will also offer dishes “for those who might feel threatened by a French menu,” including lobster rolls, burgers and even a house-made hot dog.

The chef also expects Purdy and Sampson to continue the tradition of house-made charcuterie that Rochat learned at his father’s butcher shop in Savoie, France.

And desserts will range from “probably the only local soufflé” to milkshakes and root beer floats.

Longtime fans can expect to see Rochat in the kitchen from time to time, especially during the restaurant’s early days. “I look forward to seeing my customers,” he says. “I look forward to being in a local Las Vegas restaurant again. It has been nearly 10 years. I will be around to help—and also get in a few good fishing and hunting trips.” 7

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

The Book of Joan Last Girl Before Freeway offers a glimpse into the life of the legendary comedian

In her five-plus decades in showbiz, Joan Rivers did it all and then some: stand-up comedy, television, radio, Broadway, movies, books, even peddling a line of costume jewelry on QVC. The span of her career encompasses everything from live TV to Twitter, and she went from lauded success to ostracized failure and back more than once.

In Last Girl Before Freeway: The Life, Loves, Losses and Liberation of Joan Rivers, Leslie Bennetts explores the pioneering comedian’s journey from obscurity to American icon.

It’s a compelling story about a fascinating woman, who turned pain and anger into comedy—she made her “ugly girl” status into a joke, and managed to successfully deliver one-liners about her husband’s suicide. Unfortunately, the author sometimes errs on the side of letting others tell us what Rivers was like, rather than actually showing us herself.

There are seemingly thousands of quotes from hundreds of people, but the majority are light on insight—they met her once, or she was an influence on them, but after the first few dozen platitudes about Rivers’ talent and influence, more becomes overkill.

Still, Last Girl Before Freeway hits anecdotal gold when letting the wackier stories have space to unfurl—when parents, boyfriends and purse-wielding aunts brawl over Joan’s fortune; or when Elizabeth Taylor, a favored Rivers target, shows up unexpectedly to one of Joan’s dinner parties. Bennetts also gives a lengthy examination of the late comedian’s acrimonious departure from The Tonight Show to host her own (and quickly canceled) talk show on the then-fledgling Fox network, illuminating how Rivers’ ambition, her husband’s ego, the network’s obliviousness and what may have been an ill-timed prank nearly destroyed her career.

Rivers was known for being merciless onstage; offstage, she could be either an angel or a harridan, depending on her mood and those who surrounded her. The fury she focused on herself she turned on other women, especially in her late-life career on Fashion Police. Still, one also feels sympathy for Joan, who, no matter how high she climbed, seemed to always think she’d fall back into obscurity at any second. Last Girl Before Freeway is the tale of a woman who went from dive bars to red carpets—and did it her way every step of the way. 7

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

December 22 -2 8 2016 vegasseven.com

39

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

In Memoriam

Just a few of the many we lost this year who left their mark on Las Vegas

IF ANYONE INVENTED “FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS,” IT WAS ZSA ZSA GABOR.

Back in the 1950s, the Hungarian actress and socialite parlayed a pretty face, a pile of diamonds and a series of high-profile romances into a half century of headlines. She was married nine times, including to hotel mogul Conrad Hilton and Oscar-winning actor George Sanders. Zsa Zsa’s most scandalous romance was with international playboy Porfirio Rubirosa, who left millionaire heiress Barbara Hutton for her. The relationship finally ended after a fight in Las Vegas: Zsa Zsa held a press conference at the New Frontier, telling how a besotted “Rubi” had given her a black eye—hidden by a black velvet eye patch to coordinate with her leopard-print gown. In 1953, Zsa Zsa also headlined the Riviera with her sisters Eva and Magda in an act in which the three stood around in glittering gowns, exchanging bon mots about l’amour. She also went on to headline at the Flamingo and Vegas World.

“Don’t expect me to sing, don’t expect me to do anything and then you’ll be happy,” she once said of her Vegas gigs. All she had to do was be famous. –Lissa Townsend Rodgers

By Amber Sampson

The Finish Line JAG Nevada helps high school students on their path to success

40

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

Clark County School District is ranked near the bottom of our country’s educational system, but Jobs for Nevada’s Graduates (JAG Nevada), a statewide high school dropout prevention program, aims to do what it can to elevate the system.

Created in 2014, JAG Nevada started out in 22 schools and has since doubled its reach to students in 10th through 12th grades (as well as one middle school). JAG specialists are the glue behind the program. They come into the classroom and not only teach students the academic skills they need to graduate, but they also give them life skills that are essential beyond a high school education, including public speaking, résumé writing and tackling college applications. “We’re English teachers, we’re math teachers, we’re life teachers,” says Mike Agustin, a former member of the Air Force who’s been a full-time JAG specialist at Spring Valley High School since August.

After graduation, specialists conduct a 12-month follow-up, which proves to be just as important as getting the students to graduate in the first place.

“Class of 2015 started off in June with a 70 percent graduation rate. After the follow-up period, we got up to 83 percent statewide,” says Elizabeth Philpott, regional program director of JAG Nevada. “That 12-month fol-

ZSA ZSA GABOR COURTESY OF THE L AS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU

DO GOOD

René Angélil Prince David Bowie Zsa Zsa Gabor Muriel Stevens Risk One Garry Shandling Thalia Dondero Florence Henderson Muhammad Ali Arnold Palmer Nancy Reagan Leonard Cohen Alan Thicke Doug Bell Lemmy

By David G. Schwartz

Where the Grass Is Greener

GREEN VALLEY RANCH CAST THE MOLD FOR LOCAL CASINOS WHEN IT OPENED 15 YEARS AGO

I

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FERRARO GROUP

n December 2001, Las Vegas’ gaming industry needed good news. The city was in the trough of the post-9/11 recession, with visitation and construction plummeting and the future uncertain. This wasn’t the best time to open a casino, but Green Valley Ranch had an auspicious debut, and it has not looked back since.

GVR followed a string of Station Casinos rollouts in the 1990s, including Boulder Station (1994), Barley’s (1996) and Sunset Station (1997), and acquisitions: Texas Station (1995), Wild Wild West (1998), Santa Fe and Fiesta Rancho (1999), and The Reserve (now Fiesta Henderson, 2001).

The $300 million property, located on South Green Valley Parkway just off the 215 Beltway in the fashionable Green Valley Ranch neighborhood, was promoted as “the crown jewel of the Green Valley master plan,” with a pedestrian retail and residential component, The District.

The casino itself was a conscious step up from its forebears; in an effort to match the sophistication of the neighborhood, Green Valley Ranch was given an elegant Tuscan ranch house feel on the inside and a reserved Mediterranean façade. Unlike other Station casinos, GVR did not boast a tower; its initial 201 rooms were housed in a lowslung structure that did not intrude on its surroundings.

The resort opened with a bang—literally—on December 18, with a gigantic fireworks show at its pool area just before the official 9:30 p.m. unveiling of the casino. Then Station Casinos president Lorenzo Fertitta kicked the gambling off with Rande Gerber, Cindy Crawford, Chris O’Donnell and Christian Slater at a blackjack table.

The Henderson resort, developed jointly by Station Casinos and GCR Gaming, a company owned by the Greenspun family (the “Green” in Green Valley), was the first upscale property for Station, which had built its reputation on convenient, unpretentious gambling halls geared toward locals. Unlike earlier Station offerings, Green Valley had a 10,000-square-foot European day spa. More triedand-true amenities included a 10-screen Regal Cinema, a 4,200-square-foot arcade and a casino-level food court.

Restaurants included a Border Grill, Original Pancake House, Il Fornaio and Trophy’s Sports Bar. The casino debuted with 53 tables and 2,500 slot machines, most of which used the now-standard ticket-in, ticket-out payment system. In late 2001, however, that technology was far from proven, leading to some anxiety before the launch. In the end, however, the machines worked fine. “It was the smoothest opening I ever had,” says slot supervisor Mike Gausling, a veteran of several.

Despite the rocky economic outlook surrounding its debut, Green Valley Ranch prospered from the beginning. Even before it opened, most of the guest rooms were booked through February of the following year; a $30 million, 200-room expansion was planned even before the fireworks went off. That morphed into a $115 million, 296room project that, in 2005, more than doubled its convention space, added a 24-hour café and upgraded the spa.

The following year, a 1,200-space parking garage and a race and sports book came online, joined by expanded casino and convention space and two new restaurants, Tides Seafood & Sushi Bar and Turf Grill. In early 2007, even more casino space and a new lounge/entertainment venue opened. A new bingo room in 2013 and several new restaurants in the last year, including Mexican eatery Borracha Mexican Cantina and two Tony Gemignani pizza joints, have been among the changes that have kept the resort current.

Station Casinos kept Green Valley Ranch through the company’s 2009 bankruptcy, although in the ensuing re-

structuring, the Greenspun family’s stake was reduced to a licensing fee for the continued use of the Green Valley Ranch name. Taken private in 2007, Station went public again earlier this year as Red Rock Resorts.

Green Valley Ranch was, when it opened, the most expensive locals casino in Las Vegas history, and it has been a model for much of Red Rock’s subsequent growth, including the Red Rock casino and tribal gaming projects in California and Michigan. From the start, it was geared to two markets: frequent local visitors and tourists. Its closeness to the Las Vegas Strip made it an option for those who came to Las Vegas but wanted something between the bustle of the Strip and the distance of Lake Las Vegas.

The dual marketing of Green Valley Ranch was ahead of the curve, and not just in Las Vegas. As gambling has proliferated throughout America, slots alone are no longer a draw.

Newer properties, looking to differentiate themselves from their competitors, are increasingly embracing the convenient, upscale amenities that GVR pioneered back in 2001.

The latest milestone reflects not just another year for the only Henderson casino to host its own reality-TV show (2004-05’s American Casino), but a confirmation of the soundness of the underlying concept. Green Valley Ranch might be most visited by those close to it, but its influence is felt thousands of miles away. 7

GREEN FELT JOURNAL

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

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

From the start, Green Valley Ranch was geared to two markets: frequent local visitors and tourists.

low-up period is crucial because a lot of kids may feel left behind after they leave, but we stay on them to make sure they are successful.”

Brianna Maldonado, a 16-year-old junior at Spring Valley, says she owes a lot to JAG. When she started the program, she could barely look Agustin in the eye without laughing. Now she can confidently hold a gaze, and she credits JAG for helping her find her first job. She is considering going into the military after college, inspired by Agustin's as well as Philpott’s stories of serving our country.

Any student can join JAG regardless of their GPA. It’s treated as a regular class that is integrated into their regular schedule and for which they receive a grade. The program limits classroom sizes to 45 to 60 students to ensure they receive the one-on-one time they need, Philpott says. This year, Agustin has 75 kids, but that's less of an issue and more of a testament to his passion for helping as many students as possible.

“If you saw how these kids were from Day 1 to Day 104 … I call them my little weeds,” Agustin says. “A little bit of push and a little bit of sunshine, and these kids become amazing.” 7 To donate to JAG Nevada’s Clothing Drive, volunteer or find out more, visit jagnv.org.

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

41

A HIPPIE’S DAUGHTER

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

Packing for a

Winter Getaway

By Lauren Molasky I am in awe of people who have mastered the art of packing. I would like to think that I can pack only what I need and have enough garments that can be easily layered, mixed and matched. But, in reality, I almost always overpack. I can’t help it. The thought of leaving something behind that I may need is almost too much to bear. While this problem is hardly one of life’s actual dilemmas, it has forced me to be more conscious about what I bring to avoid the excess. I narrowed down some key pieces to bring on a quick weekend away to one of my favorite beach towns—Malibu.

1

Every wardrobe needs a collection of sneakers. Old-school Vans and Golden Goose are my favorites, goldengoosedeluxebrand.com

2

You will definitely need a pair of shorts. Paired with a T-shirt and sandals or layered with a jacket and sneakers, you can get many different looks out of such a simple staple.

Consider the brand One Teaspoon.

3

A good bag is mandatory for beach essentials. If it can double as an everyday bag, even better. A big makeup bag to fit inside saves room without losing functionality. Sensi Studio Frayed tote, $300, madisonlosangeles.com; Star Mela purse, $81, starmela.co.uk

4

A comfortable dress made of soft material is the only one you’ll need. Pair it with sandals or throw a jacket on for cool nights and you’ll be stylish and warm in the beach air.

Raquel Allegra tunic dress, $185, madisonlosangeles.com

5

Besides a plain T-shirt, a cool graphic print tee is a must. Paired with shorts or jeans, it’s the perfect foundation for layering. Add one more layer with a fun sweatshirt for when it’s overcast and cold. Madeworn Social Distortion Concert T-shirt, $161, and Kiss Me sweatshirt, $253, madisonlosangeles.com

6 7

I love a good kimono, and they work so well with skinny jeans or shorts. Paired with a T-shirt and sandals, it can be your beach town go-to.

A good leather jacket won’t take up too much room in your bag, but works well with everything else in it. Veda Creeper Studded leather jacket, $1,197, madisonlosangeles.com 7

Lauren Molasky is a Las Vegas native, stylist, blogger and fashion devotee.

Follow her @ahippiesdaughter.

42

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

DISCOVER THE YOU YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN.

WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS AVAILABLE FOR OUR JAN. 14 REAL 90.

GO TO REALRESULTSFITNESS.COM/REAL-90 OR CALL 702.331.3172

/realresultslv

SPACES & PLACES

By Judy Stone

Photography Jesse J Sutherland

In the Rider’s Seat If you’ve tapped it back and been around the world, then chances are you’ve sweated it out at an indoor cycling class. With the New York–based SoulCycle leading the charge, riding to the rhythm in a nightlife atmosphere has become a cult-like exercise phenomenon. But the triple threat behind The Ride wants you to forget everything you’ve already experienced about cycling.

“Our tagline is, ‘Life’s too short for an ordinary ride,’” says Shannon McBeath, co-owner of the cycling studio, which opened December 14. “I think people in Vegas have gotten used to the ordinary [with fitness.]”

New westside cycling studio aims to break the fitness norm

McBeath would know. A Las Vegas resident for almost three decades, she is a devoted workout enthusiast. McBeath has completed three triathlons and cites tennis, mountain biking and road cycling as some of the many ways she stays fit. Her quest to bring an exciting cycling concept to Las Vegas began last summer. Simultaneously, Milo Miloscia and Mark Cornelsen embarked on the same process.

“I came from Los Angeles about a year and a half ago and I was an avid cyclist,” says Cornelsen, an event planner by trade. “No one in Vegas knew what it was outside of a gym setting.”

December 22 -2 8 2016 vegasseven.com

45

SPACES & PLACES

The Ride 4245 Grand Canyon Dr. theridecycling.com Instagram: @theridecycling

He recruited Miloscia to accompany him to Los Angeles and experience the sensation firsthand. From there, they went to New York, Orange County and London to research various incarnations of the exercise regime.

“We learned very quickly what we didn’t want to do,” says Miloscia, who spent 12 years as the senior vice president of concert-promoter Andrew Hewitt Company, until he helped sell the business to Live Nation in 2012.

What the two also learned was that McBeath was plotting her own studio.

The trio met for lunch, and by the end they knew they shared the same goal. A partnership was formed and The Ride was born.

The group’s collective vision included creating a semi-circular room instead of the usual box that most studios occupy. Another innovative approach was the bikes, which the group spent tireless hours researching. Stages SC3 bikes are ergonomically engineered for simplicity and function, and the carbon fiber belt makes the ride feel natural and smooth, while the power meters provide accurate feedback on your performance. In addition, the team has put in a top-of-the-line sound and light system and brought in Brandon Mills, of Hollywood Cycle fame, to audition and train the instructors.

“We weren’t going to do something unless we did it properly,” Miloscia says.

“People will notice that we spent a lot of time on this.”

McBeath adds, “I think people are going to be wowed. Vegas deserves this.” 7

46

LACEY ALDERSON

PATRICK LEAHY

DEVIN ALTSCHUL

Favorite songs: “My Way”

by Calvin Harris and “Starboy”

by The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk Favorite artist: It changes weekly ... but I’m feeling Sia lately.

What’s your Ride vibe? I believe in getting lost in the music and trusting that your instructor will lead you out of the other side of 45 minutes stronger, more disciplined and motivated. My goal is to create an environment where the clients feel safe and valued enough to leave nothing behind.

Fitness motto? Get it right, get it tight!

When I’m not Riding, I’m … working as a mental health therapist and substance abuse counselor.

What’s your favorite thing about Vegas?

The energy. That whole “can’t stop, won’t stop” vibe.

Favorite song: “Sex on Fire”

by Kings of Leon Favorite artist: Sia What’s your Ride vibe? My class is a mental escape from the daily grind. Its physically and mentally challenging but also allows riders to have a kick-ass time.

Fitness motto? Make it a lifestyle, not a chore.

When I’m not Riding, I’m … performing on the Las Vegas Strip or enjoying a nice glass of rosé. You can catch me in Zombie Burlesque at Planet Hollywood.

What’s your favorite thing about Vegas? It never sleeps! There’s always something to do no matter what time it is. What isn’t there to love when you live in the Entertainment Capital of the World?

Favorite song: “Holy Grail”

by Jay Z ft. Justin Timberlake Favorite artist: Drake What’s your Ride vibe?

Good beats and lots of tap backs.

Fitness motto? Leave no doubt.

When I’m not Riding, I’m … buying shoes!

It’s an obsession.

What’s your favorite thing about Vegas? The misconceptions about being born and raised here. I love to show people around and change their views.

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

INSTRUCTOR PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RIDE

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

CONVERSATIONS

Stacked For Success

Meet the partners of Las Vegas’ newest restaurant and nightlife company

CHEF ANDRÉ ROCHAT

By David Morris

John Wood, Joe Marsco and Mark Purdy (from left) want to bring approachable and interesting dining concepts to Las Vegas.

Photography Anthony Mair

has been a stalwart of excellence in the Las Vegas culinary community for more than three decades. His first foray in the city was an eponymous restaurant Downtown in 1980, and he has since gone on to run gastronomic affairs in the Las Vegas Hilton (now Westgate), Monte Carlo and Alizé in the Palms. At a dinner celebrating his 35-year legacy last year, a conversation between Rochat, his business partner Joe Marsco and Alizé executive chef Mark Purdy turned to the future. While Rochat announced a quasi-retirement, “Mark and I wanted to explore how we could continue his legacy of culinary excellence and service and maintain his brand in Las Vegas and consider what the next 35 years in the restaurant industry will look like,” Marsco says.

As the conversations continued, Stacked Hospitality was born. Former XS and Tryst Nightclub vet John Wood came into the fold, he says, to “diversify the group while maintaining a relevance in food and beverage, but also beyond into lounges, bars and entertainment, and pursue opportunities based on that.”

Wood says he is certainly open to curating nightclubs and bars with the group, but his current focus is on the social dining trend. And Stacked Hospitality is definitely not limiting itself to French cuisine. “Dining is fun. It’s interactive, and it’s very social,” Wood says. “I see that continuing to grow through all the different types of food. People want to enjoy their time out and their experience.”

So whether that means imminently opening a bistromeets-tavern in the southwest’s

former DW Bistro space next month ( for more on Andre’s Bistro & Bar, see Page 36), a modern yet approachable locals steakhouse with a great bar scene on the east side, or keeping things contemporary at Alizé, the group is actively looking to expand, Wood says, “both in and out of Las Vegas.”

Rochat may be known for more traditional French fare, but Andre’s Bistro & Bar will take a more loose interpretation.

“The concept for [our] bistro is very fresh, where it’s being married with the American tavern. We’re serving a hot dog, which is not classic French, but we’re using the [techniques] that we’ve learned as French chefs, [with] an emulsified sausage that we make and smoke ourselves,” Purdy says.

“It opens the menu up to other things, such as milkshakes and root beer floats with housemade ice cream. It’s really exciting for us, using traditions and recipes that we use in our restaurants now in the fine dining atmosphere.”

Looking beyond Andre’s Bistro & Bar, “The [typical] Italian-American restaurant is to do larger family-style, ‘redsauce’ [places],” Purdy says.

“We have an Italian concept in development that will focus on more snack-size portions [called spuntini]: smaller, shareable, but capturing all of those elements of an Italian table that lend itself to that social and interactive fun kind of dining.”

The group is focused on bringing the Valley “approachable and interesting” projects, Marsco says. The true beauty of Stacked Hospitality is that together, its members can create novel experiences for many different audiences, both on and off the Strip. 7

December 22 -2 8 2016 vegasseven.com

49

ASK A NATIVE

CONVERSATIONS

By James P. Reza

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

How does the Native spend the holidays?

ALL THAT GLITTERS

The holidays can be hellidays for some, which is why many who live in Las Vegas head out of town to escape for a week or three. Many are off to the obvious beach or snow vacations, or perhaps the more stylish booking time in perennially perfect Palm Springs. But not this local. I've been holidaying in my hometown for as long as I can remember, with the significant exception of one recent and blissful Christmas Day I spent strolling in a T-shirt and board shorts along the sands of Laguna Beach.

Blissful, I should say, until it came time to drive home … along with a few hundred thousand anxious Californians cruising to Las Vegas for New Year's Eve. If you want to experience the true meaning of criminal frustration, try driving in stop-andgo traffic for 12 hours with only an overworked Starbucks bathroom and a Del Taco drive-thru standing between you and insanity.

Not this year. I'll be staying in town and doing Vegas-y things, spending time with significant others, friends and the occasional family member.

To jump-start my spirit, I'll ho-hoho my way to the holiday-bedazzled Springs Preserve or Ethel M's Botanical Cactus Garden. There is something very Vegas about a spindly succulent twinkling in the crisp Mojave air; it's as if the Desert Inn's classic neon sign has sprung to life.

Once properly inspired, it's time for festive celebrations and house-party hopping. The Bootlegger Italian Bistro is a wonderful place to find oneself part of an Old Vegas family celebration, and live music completes the vibe. Also, some of the casinos really drop a dime on decor during this time of year, from the classic Mystic Falls Winter Wonderland Park at Sam's Town (free parking!) to Bellagio's gorgeous, seasonally themed conservatory.

My new favorite tradition is found at CityCenter, where stylish holiday scenery combined with an epic restaurant bar crawl make for a fantastic dress-up frolic. Last year it was all about oysters and martinis at Carbone, absinthe-tinged tomfoolery at Sage (closed Dec. 21-28), and bar snacks, whiskey and the view at Mandarin Oriental. With so many great bars and restaurants in one spot, a CityCenter crawl feels very much like a night in Manhattan or Tokyo, but with the convenience of crashing in your own bed after a brief cab ride.

Happy Holidays, Las Vegas. 7 Questions? Comments? Send them to askanative@vegasseven.com.

50

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

Lauren Kaminsky stocks up on treasures “Treasure hunter” may not be a realworld job title, but it’s a good description of what Lauren Kaminsky does for a living. As the curator of Beauty & Essex, she chooses the items for the restaurant’s pawnshop-inspired retail store, mixing an assortment of sapphire earrings and golden bracelets, vintage toys and classic guitars that guests can peruse for fun and for purchase.

As a third-generation pawnbroker, she’s spent years developing an eye for finding the beautiful among the banal and has been applying that skill to fill the glass cases at Beauty & Essex New York for six years and now at the Las Vegas location.

How did you get involved with Beauty & Essex? I had just grad-

uated from college and was going into my family business of pawnbroking. I saw that Beauty & Essex was opening [in New York City]—it said “restaurant, lounge and pawnshop coming to the Lower East Side”—and I flipped out: How did we not think of this? I took my dad with me to have dinner there opening week and we spoke to a bunch of people. It wasn’t really functional; they weren’t really selling anything, it was just props.

We left our business card and we set up a meeting.

My dad and I had very different visions—I’ve been working on changing the look of the pawnshops. … EZ Pawn is the partner in the pawnshop and my brand is By GoldGirl; as By GoldGirl, I do the curating and picking out the items for sale at Beauty & Essex.

How is what you do as a curator different than traditional pawnbroking? My whole

life I would find treasures—I’d go into my dad’s store and I’d find a Cartier ring in the ring trays with everything else. To him and to most pawnbrokers, gold is gold—they weigh it; they don’t care. I always loved that feeling of finding these treasures, and that’s how I’ve set up Beauty & Essex.

Do you adapt your stock to the different locations? What's popular in Las Vegas? It’s definitely

a little blingier. Things that are good luck charms do really well there—in the pawnshop, we’ve always gotten charm bracelets, jewelry that holds meaning.

The good ones I send to Vegas. We’ve also been doing well with cuff links I’ve been finding in other pawnshops, vintage stores, flea markets, estate sales—[ones] that are unique. Batman cuff links [that are] vintage and not childish, or someone’s boyfriend really likes

motorcycles, and [we might have a] cool [set] with little motorcycles where the wheels spin. People really gravitate toward things they can identify with someone, even when that person’s not around—“I was in Vegas and I bought you this.” 7

“I always loved that feeling of finding these treasures, and that’s how I’ve set up Beauty & Essex.”

CONVERSATIONS

Lucky No. We asked the Vegas Seven staff:

What was your best/most memorable moment of 2016?

Hmmm. I wonder if it had anything to do with a certain music festival.

–Justin Weniger, the Wen in Wendoh Media

The highlight reel: I met Paul and Ringo, traveled aboard the Hello Kitty plane to Macau—21 hours of pure bliss—rode the world’s only figure-eight ferris wheel, went to the birthplace of my favorite vodka in a little town called Schiedam (in the Netherlands) and basked in the glory of a fireworks display igniting the sky above a videomapped windmill. Oh, 2016 … you were a very good year. –Melinda Sheckells, editor-in-chief

Watching my 11-year-old so excited to hear a 74-year-old Democratic Socialist speak at a rally in Henderson, even after a five-hour wait. Hope made the air electric that night, and even though we’re in the predicament we’re in now, the thought of upholding the ideals of democracy has definitely captured my kid’s imagination. – Genevie Durano, managing editor

Grace Jones at FYF. She took me to the disco ... and then took us all to church!

Like James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem said later, “If you missed Grace … you fucked up.” –Ben Ward, creative director

I’ll never forget the moments right after Herbs & Rye won the award for Best American High Volume Bar at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards in New Orleans. I was ugly-crying into my dinner napkin, and I thought to myself, “This changes everything.” –Xania Woodman, senior editor, dining, beverage & nightlife Traveling to Vietnam and meeting that side of my family for the first time! I will never forget their hospitality.

Or the five meals they fed me each day—absolutely delicious. –Shannon Miller, editorial assistant

Every moment of the night–turned–earlymorning that my fiancée and I binge-watched Stranger Things together.

–Matthew Iles, account executive

Photography Quinn Tucker/ Goldenvoice

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

51

HERE’S TO NEW BEGINNINGS

AND NEW WINNINGS.

RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH EL CORTEZ COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE FOR ALL PLAYERS! SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2016 11PM - MIDNIGHT

6TH & FREMONT | 702 .385.5200 |

elcortezhotelcasino.com

Must be 21 and over. While supplies last. Must be in active play.

Management reserves all rights.