Eat Your Heart Out | Vegas Seven | Feb. 9-15, 2017

FREE February 9-15, 2017

« SHOTS THAT STICK IT TO FLU SEASON / 7 LESSONS FROM IRA GLASS / BARRICK MUSEUM'S ART EVOLUTION »

EAT YOUR HEART OUT 14 great dates from dinner table to massage table

SUSPENDING GROWN MEN ABOVE HIS HEAD Barri enjoys a rich cup of coffee at his favorite diner. ”

After a long day of

Get to know your neighbors at CirqueduSoleil.com/neighbors Tickets From $49*

*

Subject to availability. Management researves all rights.

”

HighRollerVegas

OPEN BAR IN THE SKY

Purchase Happy Half Hour tickets at HighRollerLV.com or the Box Offices.

Plug in.

Take names.

The 2017 A3 Sportback e-tron®

The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron® is the plug-in electric hybrid that combines the benefits of a hybrid with the advantages of an electric vehicle, delivering exhilarating performance with 204 combined horsepower.

At Audi Henderson, we are redefining the car buying experience. Call or visit today.

7740 Eastgate Rd. Henderson, NV 89011 702.982.4600 • www.audihenderson.com

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.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT 14 GREAT DATES Photography ANTHONY MAIR

SEVEN NIGHTS Cher by Norman Seeff (1976)

3000 PARADISE ROAD LAS VEGAS, NV 89109 702-732-5277

TABLE OF CONTENTS Cher at Caesars Palace, 1982 (Las Vegas News Bureau)

FEBRUARY 9-15, 2017 TO DO

11 24/7

What to do around the clock.

BY SHANNON MILLER

12 The Deal

Loss rebates and a graveyard buffet.

BY ANTHONY CURTIS

34 Married to the Mob Las Vegas’ love affair with gangsters.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

35 The (Almost)

Forgotten Elections Municipal elections don’t matter? Think again.

BY MICHAEL GREEN

14 Theater Thrills

Welcome to Night Vale podcast takes the stage.

BY GENEVIE DURANO

FEATURE

16 Eat Your Heart Out

14 great dates from dinner table to massage table.

BY SEVEN STAFF

22 Dating Yourself

CONVERSATIONS

37 Master Storyteller

Ira Glass of This American Life on bringing a new voice to radio.

BY GENEVIE DURANO

38 Ask a Native

Updates from the Native’s radar.

BY JAMES P. REZA

39 Lucky No. 7

How to be your own Valentine.

What is the best place in town to meet people?

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

BY SEVEN STAFF

OUR SITES TO SEE TASTE

ON THE FLIP SIDE

25 One Sip:

Seven Nights

Morimoto’s Sake

What to do after dark.

A polished beverage.

BY MARK ADAMS

BY MARISA FINETTI

7 Faces of Cher

26 Making Love

Singer, actress, activist—the living legend has done it all.

Seven chefs share dishes made especially for loved ones.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

in the Kitchen

BY MARISA FINETTI

For the Love of Boilermakers

28 Down the Hatch

Tullamore D.E.W. and a brew is a match made in Ireland.

Stick it to flu season with these juices, smoothies and shots.

BY DIANA EDELMAN

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

31 A Home on the Westside

Harrison House, where black entertainers stayed during the segregation era, looks forward to renovations.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

32 Old Space, New Vision

BY XANIA WOODMAN

Now Pouring: Mike Morey’s Sip ’n’ Tip

Less is so much more.

VegasSeven.com Welcome to the Good Life (Fridays) Jewel Nightclub kicks off a new weekly series with the debut of The Travis Scott Experience. Get up close to the “Antidote” rapper at vegasseven.com/ travisscottexperience.

DTLV.com Downtown Execs Discuss Gaming Revenue Las Vegas gaming revenue increased 4.2 percent to $564.6 million in 2016. Last week, five executives behind many of Fremont Street’s casinos, from El Cortez to the Plaza, met to discuss the year’s success and how to keep it going. Read the recap on DTLV.com.

BY XANIA WOODMAN

From Drummer to DJ Clem Burke of Blondie on making and spinning records.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

RunRebs.com Weekly Recap Is this the worst UNLV team in the program’s history? Writer Tyler Bischoff shares his analysis at runrebs.com.

The Barrick Museum solidifies itself as an arts institution.

SpyOnVegas.com

BY KRISTEN PETERSON

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

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

7

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Caesars Palace VIPs Jesse Jackson and Cher at the 1981 Leonard–Hearns boxing match.

(Las Vegas News Bureau)

Ryan T. Doherty | Justin Weniger

Lisa Lampanelli February 10

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

Vegas Seven 701 Bridger Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101 702-798-7000 Vegas Seven is distributed each Thursday throughout Southern Nevada. © 2017 Vegas Seven, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of Vegas Seven, LLC is prohibited.

9PM TREASURE ISL AND THEATRE TICKETS 702 . 894 .7722

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 EDITOR AT LARGE

Lissa Townsend Rodgers EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Shannon Miller EDITORIAL INTERNS

Daphne-Jayne Corrales, Heather Peterson Contributing Editors Michael Green (Politics), David G. Schwartz (Gaming/Hospitality) Art CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Benjamin Ward SENIOR DESIGNER

Cierra Pedro STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Krystal Ramirez VegasSeven.com DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT

Zoneil Maharaj EDITOR, DTLV.COM

Jessie O’Brien WEB EDITOR

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

TO DO

What to do around the clock in Las Vegas

By Shannon Miller

THURSDAY 9

The UNLV School of Music faculty perform Hungarian Masterworks of Franz Liszt, Béla Bartok,

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES; BAZA AR MEAT BY JON ESTRADA

Johannes Brahms and more. 7:30 p.m., $25, Lee and Thomas Beam Music Center, unlv.edu/calendar

Max & Iggor Cavalera of Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura bring their Return to Roots tour to Vinyl.

7 p.m., $25–$45, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, hardrockhotel.com It’s National Pizza Day! Wish your server “Happy Pizza Day” or wear a shirt with an image of pizza on it and receive a free slice with your order at Pizza Forte.

11 a.m.–11 p.m. at Sunset Station, 10 a.m.–1 a.m. at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, pizza-forte.com Want to show your Valentine some lovin’? Try the Love Me Tender couple’s massage package from Spa Aquae at JW Marriott, a 50-minute Swedish massage with sultry cinnamon oil. 8 a.m.–7 p.m., $245 for two, 221 N. Rampart Blvd., marriott.com FRIDAY 10

LEGO Batman, voiced by Will Arnett, stole the show in The LEGO Movie with the soundtrack’s “Untitled Self Portrait.” Now he’s back in theaters on his own adventure, The LEGO Batman Movie, which hits theaters today. legobatman.com

Fremont East restaurant Therapy hosts a formal gallery opening of Las Vegas Academy of the Arts seniors’ projects, with complimentary food and beverage for attendees. Artwork will be available for purchase, with profits going back to LVA and its students. 6 p.m., 518 E. Fremont St., therapylv.com Rainbow Company Youth Theatre presents Recollections of the Silver State, which features musical and dramatic performances about Nevada history. 7 p.m., $6, Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St., artslasvegas.org SATURDAY 11

L.A.-based rap and hip-hop artist Dumbfoundead hits Vinyl with his We Might Die tour. 7 p.m., $15–$25, at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, hardrockhotel.com Love letters written by historic and pop culture figures such as Mark Twain, Frida Kahlo and George Carlin will be read out loud in Love Me or Leave Me —Letters of Longing, Loving and Leaving at Charleston Heights Arts Center. 7 p.m., $10–$15, 800 S. Brush St., artslasvegas.org ’90s ska outfit Save Ferris brings its upbeat, fastpaced tracks to Backstage Bar & Billiards. Here’s hoping the band plays its cover of Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come on Eileen.” 8 p.m., $20, backstagebarandbilliards.com

Bazaar Meat by José Andrés now offers a Valentine’s Day prix fixe menu featuring Smoke & Ice fresh oysters, croquetas de pollo, beefsteak tomato tartare, cream puffs and more. Through Feb. 14, reservations available 5:30–11 p.m. Fri–Sat and 5:30–10 p.m. Sun–Tue, $135 per person, $45 per person wine pairing, in SLS Las Vegas, slslasvegas.com

The LEGO Batman Movie (top) and Bazaar Meat (bottom)

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

11

24/7

TO DO

THE DEAL BY ANTHONY CURTIS

Loss Rebates and a Graveyard Buffet

Dumbfoundead

AFTER A COUPLE YEARS OF RUNNING

SUNDAY 12

TUESDAY 14

Take some portraits with your loved one at the Neon Museum’s Neon Boneyard. The museum has limited 15-minute Valentine’s Day photo shoots available for couples or families (up to 10 people). Sessions must be booked and prepaid by emailing info@neonmuseum.org and mentioning “Mini Valentine’s Shoots.” 12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m., $150, 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North, neonmuseum.org

The Mob Museum makes you an offer you can’t refuse with The Made Experience—a private booth, three-course dinner and specialty cocktail at Triple George Grill, plus tickets to the museum. Dinner hours 4–10 p.m., museum hours 9 a.m.–9 p.m., $89 per person, themobmuseum.org

Chinatown Plaza claims to have the largest and most exciting Chinese New Year celebration in the Valley.

Enjoy entertainment, exhibitions, dance and, of course, food of all Asian varieties. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., $3 adults, $1 children ages 6–12, free for children 5 and under, 4255 Spring Mountain Rd., lvchinatownplaza.com

breakup anthems of the ’80s all night and food and beverage specials starting at $5 at 11:30 a.m. Live music 8 p.m.–midnight, in Mandalay Bay, houseofblues.com/lasvegas

Calling all chocolate lovers! Hexx’s dessert trio combines the restaurant’s signature brownie, Aztec chocolate cake and chocolate cheesecake in honor of National Chocolate Lovers Month. 7 a.m.–1 a.m., $15.95, Paris Las Vegas, hexxchocolate.com MONDAY 13

Get ready for a smackdown! WWE Monday Night Raw hits T-Mobile Arena tonight—why would you stay home and watch it on the small screen? 4:30 p.m., $30–$65, t-mobilearena.com Goodwill provides more than 40 donation locations across the Valley for you to get rid of items left behind by your former beau with its Dump Your Ex’s Stuff promotion—plus, you get a receipt for tax write-offs! It may not fill the emptiness inside, but it’s a good place to start. Various locations, goodwill.vegas Get your Valentine’s Day festivities rolling with 35 Steaks + Martinis’ February prix fixe menu featuring

sturgeon caviar, cold water oysters with three sauces, endive and frisée salad with fruit compote and brie mousse, herb-crusted Chateaubriand and decadent fondue. 5–10 p.m., $199 for two, inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, hardrockhotel.com

12

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

Don’t have a Valentine? Hang out at House of Blues’

Anti-Valentine’s Day Bash, with Metropolis playing

How about some paranoia on Valentine’s Day? Kevin Mitnick’s The Art of Invisibility: The World’s Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to Be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data hits shelves today. $18, hachettebookgroup.com WEDNESDAY 15

Andre’s Bistro & Bar just announced its happy hour

menu for February. Highlights include duck-fat French fries, frog legs Provençal, lamb sliders with fries and escargot de Bourgogne, plus creative cocktails that are as strong as you need them to be. 3:30–6 p.m., 6115 S. Fort Apache Rd., Suite 112, andresbistroandbar.com

XCYCLE Las Vegas offers a $100 discount on one-

month unlimited-class memberships through February.

Get in shape with the studio’s experienced instructors at its state-of-the-art facility in Boca Park. 750 S. Rampart Blvd., $55 for one-month membership, xcyclelv.com Get your Shake Shack seasonal treats while they last: Salted Vanilla Toffee, Mint Cookies & Cream and Mud Pie blended shakes. Prices and hours vary by location, shakeshack.com

Looking for more stuff to do in Las Vegas? Visit vegasseven.com/calendar.

the best players club new-member deal in town, the Plaza’s $500 on Us rebate-onloss offer was discontinued on the first of this year. That’s a bummer, but in this town when one deal ends, another often takes its place. And so it was as new $200 rebate offers showed up a week later at Cannery and Eastside Cannery.

I’ll dissect this deal fully for you in an upcoming column, but for now, the key details are you can lose up to $200 and get it back in two free-play offers emailed over a two-week period. And you can do it at both casinos. This is a good one if you aren’t already a member of those players clubs.

My dollar-oyster round-up two weeks ago included eight options, but it should have had 10. Other Mama on Durango Drive serves $1 oysters during its happy hour that runs daily from 5–6 p.m., and the just-opened Rockin’ Crawfish (4031 S. Maryland Pkwy.) serves ’em Mon–Fri from 4–6 p.m. and all day on Tuesdays. As a bonus, if you go during the next two weeks, you’ll get in on Rockin’s opening special of 20 percent off your entire bill, which drops the oyster tariff to a mere 80 cents apiece.

The first all-night buffet in years has opened at the Palms. The Bistro’s graveyard buffet runs from 10 p.m.–6 a.m. daily for $10.99, or $8.99 if you show a players card. It was instituted as a 24-hour alternative to the casino’s coffee shop, which is closed while undergoing a renovation.

One of Las Vegas’ best hot dogs now costs a little more, as the price of the wieners served from a cart in the Gold Coast race and sports book has gone up 50 percent. Regular dogs are now $2 and chili dogs are $3. You can ease the pain 11 a.m.–9 p.m. on February 11 and 12 when the new Papaya King, located on Harmon Avenue across the street from the Hard Rock Hotel, will sell three dogs for the price of two and tropical drinks for 32 cents (with the tropical drinks deal on February 9 as well). Or just head to South Point, where they sell the same dog as Gold Coast for $1.25.

There’s good news for sports bettors in the release of a new mobile betting app from the Golden Nugget. Those who stood in long lines to bet the Super Bowl last week know one reason it’s a big deal, but also being able to monitor this independent book’s lines remotely is also significant.

One of the better bar video poker games in town is at Brooksy’s on Flamingo Road, where they deal better-than-standard 7/5 Bonus Poker, and from 2–5 p.m. and 4–7 a.m. daily, quad 5-Ks spins the bonus wheel. That pushes the return to above 99 percent. Plus, there’s a players club with $10 monthly free play at the lowest levels and point accumulation.

The pizza is tremendous, too! 7 Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.

TO DO

theater thrills THE PODCAST WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE COMES TO LIFE ON STAGE

By Genevie Durano Photography Whitney Browne

If you want to hear something

Above: Cecil Baldwin Ghost Stories Feb. 12, 7–10 p.m., $25, Nicholas J. Horn Theater, College of Southern Nevada, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas, welcometonightvale.com/live

14

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

scary that’s not on CNN or NPR, tune in to Welcome to Night Vale, a podcast that has sent shivers down listeners’ spines since 2012. Written by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, Night Vale is about a fictional town of the same name, where all is not what it seems. The community’s bizarro happenings are reported by a radio host named Cecil Gershwin Palmer, played by actor Cecil Baldwin.

“Cecil reports on the normal things that community radio would report on—the weather, the traffic, the local high school football team, things like that. Except in Night Vale, every conspiracy theory you’ve ever heard is true and treated just like an everyday occurrence,” Baldwin says. “So in the midst of the PTA meetings, there are also incidents of supernatural occurrences and shadowy government figures that are monitoring the citizens’ every move. It’s a little bit of dark comedy, I would say.”

Now Night Vale is coming to Las Vegas live in Ghost Stories, a theatrical staging of the podcast. But whether you’ve heard all the episodes—100-plus and counting—or none, Ghost Stories is meant to be a stand-alone event of chills and thrills.

“It exists in the world of Night Vale, but it doesn’t exist within any one episode,” Baldwin says. “The live show is modeled after the golden age of radio performances, with multiple

actors onstage performing with scripts in hand. We have live music and an opening band. We wanted to make the live event a theatrical experience that everyone can enjoy.”

Baldwin, a classically trained actor, has found that his years of doing Shakespeare have been excellent preparation for the podcasting medium, where there are no visuals attached to the performance. “I use a lot of the acting tricks that I’ve learned. The reverence of language that comes with Shakespeare has now come into play doing this podcast,” he says. “Even though it’s not classical language, you have to treat it like that because you have to build these images in the listener’s mind. And also, the poetry and prose that Joseph and Jeffrey have written is really captivating and a joy to perform.”

Fans of Night Vale—whose closest precursor is probably Twin Peaks, David Lynch’s ’90s series that redefined conventional storytelling and ushered in an era of “watercooler TV”—are legion. In addition to the live shows, the podcast has spawned an eponymous novel, published in 2015.

“I think the reason why Night Vale has had such popularity is its underlying message of a community looking around at the world and saying, ‘Yeah, there are creepy things happening every single day, but somehow we’ll make it through,’’’ Baldwin says.

That’s a message we all can use these days. 7

14

Great Dates

ALL THE THINGS YOUR LOVE WILL LOVE

By Diana Edelman, Marisa Finetti, David Morris Jessie O’Brien, Melinda Sheckells and Xania Woodman

GET HIGH & BAKE EDIBLES Love is the drug, but weed is pretty good, too. You and your babe

can Get High on Love, an edible baking class at the Arts Factory in March (date TBA). Get your blazed Betty Crocker on and learn how to infuse home-baked goods with weed butters and oils the proper way (sorry, no actual pot is used during the class). Dopamine brownies, yummm! If you can’t make the class (but you do have your card), Thrive, Oasis and Blüm are three nearby dispensaries that offer a variety of far-out goodies such as chocolates, candies, cookies and cake pops. Remember to look out for Valentine’s Day specials.

107 E. Charleston Blvd., theartsfactory.com

Photography Krystal Ramirez

WINE & PLAY “Over the hump, in Pahrump,” you’ll find not one, but two wineries:

Pahrump Valley Winery (complimentary tours and tasting, 3810 Winery Rd., pahrumpwinery.com) and Sanders Family Winery (complimentary tours and tasting, 3780 E. Kellogg Rd., sanderswinery.com). For a date with a great finish, hire a limo for safety—many limo companies in town work with both wineries to offer packages—and sample wines at both locations for a perfect Valentine’s Day date. Pahrump Valley offers seven of its 22 wines and Sanders Family has most of its 11 to sample.

Pahrump Valley’s on-site Symphony’s Restaurant is a romantic spot to dine before heading back to town to catch the sunset from a hotair balloon with Vegas Balloon Rides ($325 per person, 4390 Polaris Ave., vegasballoonrides.com).

options for wooing Juliet. For starters, hit up the Pinball Hall of Fame (free entry, quarters for games, 1610 E. Tropicana Ave., pinballmuseum.org). It’s not fancy, but it is packed with pinball games old and new, plus heaps of other fun interactive games spanning 10,000 square feet. All you need is your laundry money for the week. If games aren’t your thing but you still crave nostalgia, check out the National Atomic Testing Museum ($22, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., nationalatomictestingmuseum.org) or Neon Museum ($15 for Nevada residents, 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North, neonmuseum.org) Just book your tour in advance! Afterward, keep the vintage vibes going at the decidedly old-school Peppermill Restaurant & Lounge (2985 Las Vegas Blvd.

South, peppermilllasvegas.com). Served by ladies in evening gowns, you can snuggle up on a couch for two near the flaming fountain while sharing a romantic cocktail or glass of Champagne.

16

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

PHOTO CREDIT GOES HERE

BALL ON A BUDGET If “Romeo” is your name but “broke” is your game, there are still

POLITICS

PICNIC AT A NATURAL WONDER Considering that the next closest natural wonder of the world

is the aurora borealis in northern Canada, a date to the Grand Canyon is a majestic and romantic destination to celebrate love right in our backyard. Embark on a luxurious helicopter ride by Grand Canyon Helicopters from the Las Vegas terminal and descend to the bottom of the canyon to land on a private plateau overlooking the mighty Colorado River (starting at $2,454 per person, shuttle to McCarran International included, papillon.com). There, the two of you can celebrate with Champagne and a picnic, which you can customize in advance at Panevino Deli (about $65 for two, 246 Via Antonio Ave., panevinolasvegas.com). Choose from fresh vegan and organic salads, deli sandwiches made with house-baked breads and finish with homemade dessert creations to sweeten the romantic excursion, surrounded by awe-inspiring grandeur.

Photography Anthony Mair

This page: a picnic spread featuring items from Panevino Deli and Artisanal Foods (artisanalfoods. com).

Opposite page, from top: Bites by Vert Edibles at Thrive Cannabis Marketplace; Vegas Balloon Rides; and inside the Pinball Hall of Fame.

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

17

GET SERIOUS BEHIND THE STICK Make it a threesome—of cocktails, which you will learn to make from scratch as taught by Pamela and Christina Dylag, owners of Downtown’s Velveteen Rabbit, The sisters’ new Saturday classes teach the art of making a balanced, delicious cocktail. First, learn the history of the drink and the tools required to make it. Then watch the Dylags demonstrate how to put it all together before finally getting behind the bar and actually doing it yourself. Past groups have prepared a French 75, Whiskey Sour and Old Fashioned—and so can you!

Whether you’re taking the class with your love or attending solo to surprise someone at home, reservations are a must. $60 per person, 2-4 p.m. Saturdays, 1218 S. Main St., velveteenrabbitlv.com

Photography Kirsten Clarke

TASTE THE RAINBOW In the mood for an adventure? Now you can experience all the colors of the

rainbow while canvassing a big chunk of the Valley. Start at Seven Magic Mountains (sevenmagicmountains.com), Ugo Rondinone’s multicolor roadside rock installation by the dry Jean Lake bed. Snap a selfie with your sweetheart and then head to Rainbow Boulevard for a 75-minute foot rub with hot rocks for $40 at Far East Foot Massage (7835 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 18). Just make sure to not snore if you doze off while indulging in a delightful acupressure session. Then, share a heaping serving of joy—a.k.a. spicy tonkotsu miso at Omoide Noodles & Bowls (7745 S. Rainbow Blvd., $9.50, omoidelv.com). Save room for dessert and hop across the street to Gelatology (7910 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 110, gelatologylv.com) for one of Desyreé Alberganti’s colorful, signature macaron flavors, which change daily. What goes better with a cookie than a double scoop, one cup and two spoons?

Photography Krystal Ramirez

TAKE AN ENCHANTING JOURNEY An affair for two, the Rasul Ceremony at Canyon Ranch SpaClub in The Ve-

netian and The Palazzo ($210 per couple, canyonranch.com/las-vegas) is inspired by a Middle Eastern mud-purifying ritual that was often used as a prenuptial ceremony. Deep within the environs of the expansive spa, the Rasul takes place inside an enchanting, private ceremonial chamber, adorned with mosaic and gilded tiles. In the center are five bowls containing colorful detoxifying mud, each meant to be applied to different parts of the body.

After smearing the mud on each other, relax in your own thrones as warm herb-infused steam fills the chamber. Then, from the “starry” ceiling, an invigorating rain shower washes the mud away, carrying all your cares with it. Feeling rejuvenated, your next stop is across the Adriatic at the Grand Canal Shoppes for a private gondola ride for two in Venice. ($116, The Venetian, venetian.com). Glide beneath bridges, alongside cafés, under balconies and through the vibrant Venetian streetscape as your singing gondolier sweeps you down the Grand Canal.

STAYCATE Through March 31, The Cosmopolitan (cosmopolitanlasvegas.com) is offering a

savings of 15 percent when booking a minimum of two to three nights. Start your Valentine’s Day a little early and include February 13 for Unlock Your Mondays, a special Monday locals-only discount offered property-wide. Simply mention “Unlock Your Mondays” to take advantage of social hour at most of the restaurants at the hotel, and grab drinks before heading to a romantic dinner at one of the many hip dining spots, including newcomers Momofuku and Zuma. To really get in good with bae, book the Sahra Spa penthouse suite for a couples retreat and end your staycation with some spa time à deux.

SIP UNDER THE SILVER SCREEN Treat your lover and yourself to dinner and a show at Eclipse Theaters ($18

PHOTO CREDIT GOES HERE

movie tickets, food not included, 814 S. Third St., eclipsetheaters.com). Enjoy an actual feast to go with your visual feast as food and cocktails are served in each theater. Reserve a spot in the back and sneak a smooch. Maybe they’ll be showing Fifty Shades Darker? Hopefully not. After the credits, swing by DTLV’s newest bar, Mike Morey’s Sip ’n’ Tip inside Downtown Cocktail Room (111 Las Vegas Blvd. South, downtowncocktailroom.com) for a casual beer or whiskey and raise a toast to romance!

This page, from top: Seven Magic Mountains; inside Canyon Ranch Spa; and the Sahra Spa Penthouse Suite in the Cosmopolitan.

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

19

WORK IT, OWN IT “Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin’!” While the

27-year-old movie Pretty Woman may be all but a very distant memory, our luxury shopping spree fantasies live on.

Whether one admits it or not, we have all dreamed about our king or queen taking us to the most expensive store in town and walking out with more bags than the attentive staff can handle. Bring your fantasy to life at the Roberto Cavalli boutique in The Shops at Crystals (simon.com/mall/ the-shops-at-crystals) to shop for bold, fun, unforgettable men’s and women’s styles by the fashion legend. And, if you just so happen to visit on February 10, meet comedian Brad Garrett and 10 percent of each purchase goes to the Maximum Hope Foundation.

#DATENITE We live in an age where it feels as if we are dating our

smartphone instead of an actual human. How many times have you seen a disinterested couple having dinner, occasionally glancing at the tops of each other’s heads, fingers scrolling without a care? Since you can’t stop progress, at least make it part of the action by booking a date at a social media–friendly spot. It’s no coincidence that #foodporn looks best when shot at Hakkasan Restaurant in MGM Grand (hakkasanlv.com) thanks to sexy overhead lighting, or that everyone wants a shot in front of the waterfall at Intrigue nightclub in Wynn (intriguevegas.com), solo or with the whole crew. Impress that special someone by carefully selecting a background that needs #nofilter, and maybe you’ll end up in their feed…

EAT YOUR HEART OUT …

THEN ZIP-LINE Nothing says “I truly, deeply love and respect you” like

dining under the Plaza’s iconic glass dome in the house of “Beef, Booze and Broads.” If that’s the agenda for the evening, Oscar’s Steakhouse has a three-course Valentine’s Day menu of Caprese or wedge salad; pan-seared scallops or an 8-ounce filet mignon; and a trio of chocolate mousses with chocolate-covered strawberries ($65 per person, $85 with wine pairings, oscarslv.com). But the real dessert will be a rollicking trip down the SlotZilla Zip Line ($20-$45, vegasexperience.com/slotzilla-zip-line). Then again, on second thought, maybe you should get the zip-line portion of the date over before you bring on the beef, booze and broads.

us up where we belong. So does Vegas Indoor Skydiving, where you can take your relationship to a higher plateau with Couples Th-AIR-apy ($99 per couple, vegasindoorskydiving.com). After the descent, stumble over to the Royal Resort for a dinner that will keep the energy flowing in the classic Hollywood-esque environs of The Barrymore (99 Convention Center Dr., barrymorelv.com). Menu highlights include smoked bacon served with Barrymore steak sauce, roasted onion and grilled toast; onion soup gratinée; filet mignon Rossini accompanied by seared foie gras and black truffle; and mini dark chocolate cannoli with raspberry mousseline. ($85 per person, optional $40 wine pairing). In addition to the menu, enjoy live music in the “crooner” style from 6-9 p.m., complimentary valet, bubbly and a rose for the lady.

This page, from top: Oscar’s Steakhouse; dim sum at Hakkasan Restaurant; and Vegas Indoor Skydiving.

Opposite page: Learn to cook from Restaurant Guy Savoy executive chef Julien Asseo.

20

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

VEGAS INDOOR SKYDIVING BY FRED MORLEDGE

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL According to Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, love lifts

POLITICS

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

BOOK THE ULTIMATE TRYST If you’re looking to go all out this Valen-

tine’s Day—or just need to truly impress someone any day of the year—look no further than Restaurant Guy Savoy (in Caesars Palace, caesars.com). And we’re not talking about simply booking a table at one of the finest bastions of haute cuisine. You and your significant other can actually learn to cook an appetizer and an entrée from executive chef Julien Asseo without doing the prep work. Think white asparagus salad with sauce Lauris and croutons; chestnut and celery soup; and duck breast with carrots and button mushroom—whatever is seasonal and of the moment. After curating your masterpiece, you can savor it together at the best table in the restaurant, the Krug Chef’s Table. Classes are available Wednesday– Sunday from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and with no more than six guests per class. At $265 per person, it’s a relative bargain.

Photography Krystal Ramirez

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

21

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

DO GOOD

Dating Yourself A

h, Valentine’s Day. When people work what mathematical combination of flowers, candy and dinner will precisely equal the level of feeling they have for their significant other—which is, of course, the precise equivalent of said significant other’s feelings, as indicated by their equation. Whether by choice, accident or geography, sometimes the luckiest people are the ones who don’t have to spend Valentine’s Day pleasing anyone but themselves.

EAT When dining alone, you want someplace relaxed and that offers seating options other than a table for two.

Standard & Pour has a bar where you can sit and chat with the affable bartenders or chill out in the lounge and take in views of the Valley.

Since the format is small plates, you can sample several dishes without feeling like a wastrel or a glutton and pick one that will complement your selection, from the excellent

22

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

cocktail menu. 11261 S. Eastern Ave., standardandpourlv.com DRINK Finding the right bar for drinking alone is a delicate balance: not so busy that you feel like a wallflower, but not so quiet that you’re the only one there. A place where you could talk to someone if you wanted to, but just as easily be left alone. With its relaxed yet friendly vibe, Downtown’s ReBAR fits the bill. Plenty of art and tchotchkes, weird montages on the TV, friendly barkeeps and Main Street people-watching through the window mean that you won’t have to keep staring at your phone. 1225 S. Main St., facebook.com/rebarlv SHOP You want a place where you can truly waste a good 30-plus minutes perusing and choosing. The Writer’s Block (1020 Fremont St., thewritersblock.org) and 11th Street Records (1023 Fremont St., 11thstreetrecords.com) are both crammed with treasures

and conveniently located across the street from one another. Waste an afternoon flipping from the Beatles to Blondie to Biggie, spend an hour choosing between Norse Mythology and Insane Clown President—and wind up with both. Best of all, your purchases will keep you entertained even after you take them home.

ENCULTURATE With its self-guided nature and three floors of packed rooms, The Mob Museum is actually better enjoyed solo, where you can linger over or breeze through the many exhibits at your own pace. Bikers, flappers, G-men, slot cheats—all of their stories and artifacts are on display.

And if you want to fire a Tommy gun, they’ve got one of those, too. 300 Stewart Ave., themobmuseum.org BLISS OUT Costa del Sur Spa in South Point Resort is a vast palace of pampering, with specific rooms for different treatments, from the Stone Massage

to a Tidal Wave facial. And since the service is only part of the spa experience, be sure to leave time before and/or after to enjoy the jacuzzis, saunas, massaging whirlpools and scented showers. Costa del Sur offers monthly specials (starting at $65 for Sugar Kiss Body Exfoliation), as well as a $20 locals discount on regular services. 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South, spacostadelsur.com OPT OUT Who needs the outside world when you can sit on your couch without pants? Cuddle up with your libation of choice, whether it’s a chocolate milkshake or double bourbon neat and watch a movie such as Drive Angry, which has Nicholas Cage battling Satanists with one-liners and muscle cars, or Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Russ Meyer’s ’60s epic of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. Order in an extra-toppings pie from Naked City (nakedcitylv.com) or Broadway Pizza (broadwaypizzerialv.com) and eat the whole thing yourself. 7

BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1970) MARCIA MCBROOM, DOLLY READ, CYNTHIA MYERS BY MOVIESTORE COLLECTION LTD / AL AMY STOCK PHOTO

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

800.274.5825 | thed.com | 301 Fremont Street | Las Vegas, NV 89101

ONE SIP

TASTE

A Polished Beverage Morimoto in MGM Grand mgmgrand.com Instagram: @chef_morimoto

Located along the Sea of Japan, Ishikawa’s cold climate is perfect for sake brewing. This is where renowned chef and sake purveyor Masaharu Morimoto’s own brew is crafted. “In my opinion, sake is the beverage of choice with Japanese food,” Morimoto says. “Since it was developed in Japan, it naturally is a good fit. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to create my own brand of sake.”

Sake grade is determined by the degree to which the rice is polished.

Morimoto recommends beginners start their exploration with junmai ginjo, made with highly polished rice, water, yeast and koji, the mold that makes brewing possible. At Morimoto (in MGM Grand, mgmgrand.com), the best way to experience his portfolio is with a flight.

The Morimoto Sake Moriawase ($45) includes 2-ounce portions of his junmai, junmai ginjo and junmai daigingo as well as a 5-year-aged sake. The experience follows the evolution of sake based on how it changes with age and grade.

In Japan, while drinking sake with friends, it’s customary to pour for one another. When someone tries to pour for you, lift your cup to meet the flask (tokkuri) that they are hopefully holding with both hands.

It’s the honorable thing to do.

By Marisa Finetti Photography Krystal Ramirez

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

25

TASTE

Ma k e

e in

Lo v

th e

Ki t c h e n

26

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

TASTE

G

eorge Bernard Shaw said, “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” Chefs would take the legendary playwright’s sentiment a step further by claiming that food—at its heart—is the very language of love. Like offering a piece of oneself, cooking for loved ones inspires, delights and melts hearts. At the same time, nostalgic aromas and tastes bring back fond memories, and certain dishes seem to magically stir up those senses all over again. We asked these culinary figures to share what they cook for the people they love.

WONTON SOUP

John Courtney, Culinary Director, Simon Hospitality Group Recently wed Courtney says he would prepare wonton soup for his wife. “One of our coasters at home has a favorite saying of mine: ‘I live on good soup, not fine words.’” Ginger is an ingredient Courtney associates with love and this soup because “it can be spicy or sweet, and it’s incredibly healing—just like love!” He also encourages making wonton soup for large groups, as he says he has done with his family. “The entire family, 3 years and older, gets involved in preparing wontons for the soup.” Courtney says that cooking is how he shows his devotion. “Everyone who knows me knows that if I cook for you every chance I get, that is my way of expressing my love for you.”

FRESH LINE-CAUGHT ALASKAN SALMON CITRINE

Kerry Clasby, The Intuitive Forager “I cook what my loved ones love to eat, a dish that aligns with my value of healthy eating,” Clasby says. A font of knowledge about body and soul, she associates fatty acids with love, and by using grass-fed butter from Petaluma and fresh line-caught salmon from Alaska, she says, “I want to keep my loved ones in a clear state, with a healthy heart as long as possible.” Using ingredients such as Satsuma tangerines, German Butterball potatoes, baby rainbow carrots and Greek yogurt, Clasby says she would serve this dish to her most loyal customers at the Downtown 3rd Farmers Market in the historic bus terminal. “The setting is striking yet simple, with people laughing, chatting, maybe even dancing in the room with a thousand tales.”

GREEN CHILAQUILES

Opposite page: Joseph Swan’s whole roasted fish. This page: Nikos Georgousis’ pasticcio.

Javier Chavez, Chef/Owner, Kitchen Table and Kitchen Table Squared (coming this spring) “Cooking is communication at its rawest form,” Chavez says. “From the prepping to the final dish, it shows those who I serve how much I care, and it is reflected in my food.” Chavez recalls childhood memories of his mother’s cooking when he makes green chilaquiles by integrating flavorful spices into his mom’s dish, incorporating Oaxacan cheese and smoked pork for even more Latin flair. Chavez says he would prepare this dish at his home or at his restaurant during his mother’s next visit to show her how she has inspired him to become a chef and restaurateur.

PASTICCIO

Nikos Georgousis, Chef/Partner, Meraki Greek Grill “If I’m cooking for one person or a group, I try to keep it as simple as possible, because enjoying the company is just as important,” Georgousis says. “Of course, it’s always family-style.” Pasticcio is Greek pasta casserole, which typically includes pasta tossed with a rich meat sauce similar to a Bolognese and topped with a Greek béchamel made with Kefalograviera cheese and baked until golden brown. “I believe the ‘love element’ comes from the meat sauce,” he says. “The house takes on a certain smell when [the sauce] is being cooked with wine and spices. It just transports me back to my grandma’s house.”

STRAWBERRY GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH

Bank Atcharawan, Chef/Sommelier/Owner, The Patio Dessert & Drinks (opening in late February) The former chef and sommelier of Chada Street and Chada Thai serves up something sweet to those he loves: strawberry grilled cheese sandwiches. Using two kinds of cheese—brie and mozzarella—Atcharawan says the brie gives the sandwich a rich, fruity and creamy texture. The strawberries, which are coated with sugar, add the sweet and acidic element, complemented by the chewiness of the mozzarella. “I love the dish for this occasion because of strawberry being the fruit of the [Valentine’s Day] holiday, and of course a gentleman always pleases a lady with cheese!” And being a somm, Atcharawan says that he would pair this dish with a blanc de noirs Champagne.

MUSHROOM GRITS

William DeMarco, Executive Chef, La Cave in Wynn and Crush in MGM Grand A rich combination of trumpet mushrooms, Parmesan, chives and truffle butter, DeMarco’s grits are the perfect comfort food that captures the warmth of being in the company of someone you love. “That said, the grits would probably be served best in a cabin or campground of some kind,” DeMarco says. “Nothing is more romantic than a cabin escape for two, preparing warm comfort foods to cuddle up with together. When made correctly, the mushroom grits will make you want to sit by the fire with someone you love.”

WHOLE ROASTED FISH

Joseph Swan, Chef, Hawthorn Grill, JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa Swan enjoys spending time with people while doing what he loves to do. And because love can be served up all year long, for larger groups, he would prepare a whole roasted fish with fresh, seasonal vegetables to “keep it simple and not be occupied with preparing food,” the chef says. “The care is in the preparation rather than a particular ingredient.” On the other hand, when cooking for his wife, who is from Laos, Swan prepares sticky rice and papaya salad because, he says, “it reminds her of her heritage and what she loves.” 7

SETTING THE TABLE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY, SEVEN CHEFS SHARE DISHES IN WHICH THE SECRET INGREDIENT IS LOVE

By Marisa Finetti Photography Anthony Mair

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

27

TASTE

VIVA LAS VEGANS

Fruits & Roots’ Immunity Wellness Shot and Micro-Green Smoothie.

B

y now, you’ve probably succumbed to one or another of the nasty winter bugs circulating in the Valley. But what if next time you could fight it before those germs sink their claws into your sinuses? While we can’t credit them directly for curing what ails you (at least according to the FDA), there are certain fruits, vegetables, herbs and oils that can boost your immune system to help you fight off infection and keep you healthy(-ier) this winter. Bottoms up!

At Function Juicery, The Function ($9.73, 16.9 ounces) is cold-pressed goodness packed with ingredients to deliver nutrients to your body while also cleansing and detoxifying. The juice is half greens (Romaine lettuce, cucumber, spinach, celery, fennel, kale, dandelion, parsley and cilantro) and half apple, lemon and ginger. Want to add a little extra oomph to your juice-based health care? Layer on a Detox Shot ($5, 2 ounces). A top seller, the lemon, ginger, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and cayenne shooter helps boost the immune system even more. 4220 S. Grand Canyon Dr., functionjuicery.com A blend of ginger, turmeric, lemon, apple and cayenne pepper, the Wellness Shot at Whole Foods ($4) is 4 ounces of what’s good for ya’. Freshly extracted and blended, it’s a natural anti-inflammatory, courtesy of ginger and turmeric. Loaded with antioxidants from the turmeric, the shot also helps fight colds. At Town Square, wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/lvb If that winter cold turns out to actually be more like the winter flu, The Juice Standard has you covered with its aptly named Flu Shot ($5.41, 2 ounces). This shot, which the owners describe as “faintly reminiscent of your fave yellow curry,” taps into the healing powers of raw apple cider vinegar, oregano oil, turmeric and black pepper. It’s designed to ease inflammation (hello, turmeric), as well as aid digestion and metabolism. 4555 S. Fort Apache Rd., 2530 St. Rose Pkwy., in The Cosmopolitan, juicestandard.com

Down

By Diana Edelman Photography Cierra Pedro

the Hatch!

Stick it to cold and flu season with these healthful juices, smoothies and shots

28

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

When it comes to fighting sickness, oregano is the darling of essential oils. Shown to be a natural antibiotic and antiviral, the oil is the major attraction for Fruits & Roots’ Immunity Wellness Shot ($6, 2.2 ounces). Also an antimicrobial and antifungal, the oregano oil helps calm whatever nastiness is wreaking havoc in your body. The immunity-boosting cold and flu fighter includes cold-pressed turmeric root juice, organic cold-pressed ginger, lemon and organic cayenne pepper. As this oil has a distinct texture and mouthfeel, be sure to order a chaser; we suggest the Micro-Green Smoothie. 7885 W. Sunset Rd., fruitsnroots.com Ideal for boosting immunity or helping you get over a raging cold already in progress, Nekter Juice Bar’s Greenie ($6.48, 16 ounces) is the answer. Made with celery, lemon, spinach, parsley, cucumber, apple and kale, this nutrient-rich blend not only supercharges your ability to fend off microscopic invaders, but can also improve heart health and digestion. 2025 Festival Plaza Dr., 1990 Village Center Cir., nekterjuicebar.com 7

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

Tour the Historic Westside during a two-mile hike, in partnership with the Outdoor Afro Las Vegas Meetup group, on February 19 (meetup.com/outdoorafro-las-vegas).

Harrison House, where black entertainers stayed during the days of a segregated Las Vegas Strip, is getting a face-lift

A Home on the Westside

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

Many of the most storied spots in

Las Vegas entertainment history were showstoppers: The pulsating neon marquee of the Sands, the Riviera’s velvet-swagged showroom, the Sahara’s celebrity-packed lounges. All glorious, all gone. But one less-glitzy landmark lingers: the Harrison House.

During the days of segregation, black entertainers were not permitted to stay at the very Strip hotels that paid top dollar for their talent.

So headliners such as Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole and Pearl Bailey would spend their nights at Harrison House, a humble bungalow in the Historic Westside (a neighborhood that flourished, beginning in the 1930s, as an enclave for black Las Vegans) at 1001 F St. Now, with a new president and a new renovation plan, the Harrison House is ready for a new chapter.

“The house has a really significant history in the story of Las Vegas with African-American entertainers, but it hasn’t been highlighted very much,” says Harrison House president Ashanti McGee. The house itself needs some work. “It is pretty worn down. There are a lot of things that need to be upgraded, so we’re trying to do a face-lift of the interior, exterior and the yard,” McGee says.

Beyond landscaping and paint, the hope is to make the house “an LEED-certified green historic building,” and to that end, architect Rick Van Diepen of Greenview Global is spearheading the restoration plans.

Building public interest and raising funds for renovations will be the first step, and McGee thinks that Las Vegans’ growing appreciation for their history is making these projects easier. “I think we’ve got a lot of people that have a love for

Photography Cierra Pedro

historic preservation and a love for showing people that there actually is a history of Las Vegas,” she says. “I think there’s a resurgence—between the restoration of the Historic Westside School [and] The Mob Museum.”

The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year, but the story of the Harrison House is about more than just one building. “It also helps explain a lot of things that exist now, [such as] the Historic Westside’s issue of not being developed,” McGee says. “At one time it was a flourishing, productive area of town—there’s a history behind that decline and a reason why a lot of people still celebrate it.”

After Harrison House’s improvements, the next step will be “promoting and telling people the story behind the [home] and creating tours, of [both] the Harrison House and the neighborhood.” 7

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

31

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

There was a moment of time suspended Friday night

By Kristen Peterson Photography Krystal Ramirez

Old Space, New Name, New Vision YEARS IN THE MAKING, UNLV’S MARJORIE BARRICK MUSEUM SOLIDIFIES ITSELF AS AN ARTS INSTITUTION

Interim director Alisha Kerlin (left) and Barrick Museum (right)

32

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

at Marjorie Barrick Museum’s opening of Process, a group show curated by Los Angeles gallery director Matthew Gardocki. Alisha Kerlin, Barrick’s interim director, referred to the 50-year-old institution by its new name, the Barrick Museum of Art. It was the first time Kerlin publicly announced the new name to a large crowd (more than 300 turned out), and the pause hung for a split second while visitors absorbed the moment, then applauded.

The Barrick, which originally began as a natural history museum, progressing to a more art-centric institution over the decades, officially became part of UNLV’s College of Fine Arts in 2011, and has since operated as a fullfledged art museum. The name change, likely helpful in branding and marketing, occurred only this year.

“When I think of what the next 50 years will be like at the Barrick, I will think of tonight,” Nancy J. Uscher, the College of Fine Arts’ new dean, said when speaking to the audience, calling the evening an “incredible, spiritual experience of loving art together,” and promising surprises in store, described as “juicy” and “lovely.”

Earlier that week, Uscher spoke of plans to market the Barrick more broadly, work toward accreditation, build partnerships and continue to see the space as a catalyst for conversation and a gathering place for the community.

Once part of UNLV’s Harry Reid Center, the Barrick, which originally featured geology, mammals and reptiles, and Native American artifacts, expanded with the arrival of a private Pre-Columbian art collection donated

by Michael C. and Mannetta Braunstein. It suffered during state budget cuts in 2011, and then-director Aurore Giguet led the charge to save it.

After becoming part of the College of Fine Arts, it reopened in 2012 featuring works from the Las Vegas Art Museum’s permanent collection, which is now housed at the Barrick, an arrangement made with LVAM chair Patrick Duffy after LVAM closed its doors in 2009. The Barrick also became home to the Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection, formerly designated for the LVAM. Shows have since included If 6 Turned Out to Be 9, an exhibit of John Millei paintings; an exhibition featuring works in the Barrick and LVAM collections; and Art for Art’s Sake: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation. Among other notable shows in its three galleries were Break Ups and Tear Downs, which featured the work of Las Vegas artists JK Russ, Wendy Kveck and Erin Stellmon, and Private/Public: Images of Devotion from 19th and Early 20th Century Mexico, curated by Emmanuel Ortega.

But Barrick’s biggest obstacle, as with so many cultural institutions, has been getting the word out to the community, particularly when it’s tucked out of view at the end of Harmon Avenue, east of Swenson Street between the university’s Donald H. Baepler Xeric Garden and Lied Library.

“We have to make more people aware of it,” Uscher says, adding that its reach extends beyond the student body and faculty. “We want to be a community resource for everyone. ... We’re all about possibilities and we want to have agency. It will take some time [and] a lot of strategic thinking.”

Kerlin, a New York artist who first came to UNLV as an Artist in Residence, teaching painting to undergrad and graduate students, returned to Las Vegas to work in the collections at Barrick. She then became interim director last summer, following the departure of longtime head Giguet, who took a job as executive director of Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science & Art in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Kerlin credits Giguet for laying out a successful 50th year, adding, “This was her family’s project, and she didn’t want to leave it without that.”

Giguet, who began as a student employee at Barrick in 1989 when her dad, a French Congo-born artist, was working there, started out taking care of the reptiles and mammals, moving into other positions over the years before becoming director and pushing for an art museum.

In addition to art students, faculty and the community, the museum serves preschoolers on campus with interactive programing, 1,500 undergrads taking English 101 and students studying dance, world literature and art. The next plan is to reach out to senior centers and Clark County School District, Kerlin says.

Friday’s opening (which included exhibit openings in two other galleries) came on the heels of the successful Edward Burtynsky Oil exhibit, which came from the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, and the exuberance was palpable. Semester-long screenings of work by video artist Josh Azzarella were launched, the museum’s teaching gallery opened with an exhibit of Salvador Dalí-illustrated books, and a Karen Roop–curated show opened in the Braunstein Gallery, combining traditional Mexican masks with contemporary artwork.

“I just felt like there was a lot of pride,” Kerlin says of the evening. “It was so awesome to see people ready for art. It was great to see such a wide range of people.

“We’ve done a good job reaching into the UNLV community. Now it’s time to continue to do what we’ve done by speaking to key partners in [Las Vegas]. We are serving the community as an art museum.” 7

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

Married to the

Mob

W

hat other towns consider dirty little secrets, Las Vegas flaunts as selling points. The city’s historic ties to organized crime are one of them: If the showgirl is the female icon, her male counterpart is the mobster. Over the decades, the city’s love affair with the mob has been acted out in countless movies, books and TV shows.

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

34

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

Today, mob killer Bugsy Siegel is revered as a founding father, with companies peddling everything from window blinds to pest control bearing his name and his slick-haired visage adorning bronze plaque and souvenir ashtray alike. But it was not ever thus: In the early days, Siegel’s organized crime ties kept the celebrities from the Flamingo’s grand opening and gave the average tourist qualms—Siegel once pummeled an employee of another casino who was telling his customers to avoid the “gangsters” at the Flamingo.

But, as the ’50s kicked in, shady characters began to have a certain allure. Chalk it up to postwar, postnoir disillusionment or a booming economy’s love of anyone who can make a dollar, but the biggest influence was the Kefauver hearings, a series of televised Congressional hearings on organized crime. It was a reality show rife with crime, violence, money and sex that drew 30 million viewers—in a nation with fewer than 8 million TV sets. Several Las Vegas figures had major “roles” before the committee, including deadpan bootlegger–turned– Desert Inn mogul Moe Dalitz and Siegel’s sweetheart Virginia Hill, a dish in a double-fox stole whose sassy, foulmouthed testimony was a high point.

The possibility of being in the same lounge or steak house with one of the dark-suited men from TV became

another Las Vegas titillation. The city provided an easy shorthand of neon backdrops and mob antagonists, whether for the Bowery Boys clowning around the casino in Crashing Las Vegas or Charlton Heston brooding over a craps table in Dark City. It also became fodder for countless pulp novels with covers featuring pouty dames posing beside roulette wheels on the cover and turgid blurbs about gamblers and gangsters on the back. From Ian Fleming to James Ellroy, authors love to send their hardboiled heroes to Vegas, and the “I was in/near the mafia” memoir is a genre unto itself.

Mob guys who ran Las Vegas casinos also found big boosters in the talent they hired—after all, they were generous with paychecks and perks. Eternal headliner Debbie Reynolds once said, “It was a wonderful time, they were great bosses. I miss that loyalty, that respect.” Sometimes it went beyond entertainer-employer: Siegel was linked to Hollywood starlets such as Wendy Barrie and Marie “The Body” McDonald, while Sam Giancana had a long relationship with singer (and Las Vegas socialite) Phyllis McGuire. Frank Sinatra’s alleged mob ties were part of his persona, one that he alternately winked at—as when Joey Bishop introduced Frank at the Sands by saying he was “going to come out and tell you about some of the good work the mafia is doing”—and was infuriated by,

as when the Nevada gaming control board revoked his gambling license because he “had associated with hoodlums,” i.e., letting Giancana hang out at his Cal-Neva Lodge.

As the reality faded away, the romance really kicked in: The ’70s were the last days of mob control, as well as the decade of The Godfather.

Francis Ford Coppola’s epic referenced real-life incidents, such as the Siegel hit and the Kefauver hearings. Naturally, the Corleone family got into the casino business, birthing the “make him an offer he can’t refuse” cliché.

More films featuring Vegas gangsters followed—The Gambler, The Gauntlet, Heat, Nevada Heat, Las Vegas Lady, Las Vegas Caper … as well as two seasons of Crime Story, a ’50s-set series about cops versus crooks in Sin City. The genre climaxed with Martin Scorsese’s Casino, a based-on-a-true-story saga that made the Stardust skim a Shakespearean tragedy.

Nostalgia for the gangster days is nostalgia for a more glamorous Vegas, before “family-friendly” put strollers on the Strip. It’s also a longing for the pre-corporate era, when each casino was independently owned. Sure, that ownership may have had its issues, but, hey, when you compare the evil wrought by a small-time hood to that of your average multinational corporation ...

But we’ve still got Goodfellas Bail Bonds and Godfather’s Pizza, the Lucky Luciano burger and gangster-themed weddings—even the Mob Museum is celebrating its fifth anniversary after greeting its millionth visitor in December. As former Mayor Oscar Goodman, whose mob-lawyer mojo helped get him elected, once said, Vegas tourists “don’t want to see Mickey Mouse—they want to see Bugsy Siegel.” 7

POLITICS

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

By Michael Green

The (Almost) Forgotten Elections THINK MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS DON’T MATTER? THINK AGAIN.

F

iling has closed for the local municipal elections—although you may not have noticed. Traditionally, turnout in municipal elections is putrid.

Why? They come along in springtime, when our fancy turns to more important matters like baseball. They are nonpartisan, bipartisan and altogether unpartisan, or at least maintain the appearance of being so. But here are a few things about 2017’s round that should draw your interest ...

In Las Vegas City Council Ward 4, Stavros Anthony, a longtime Republican, drew three challengers. One of them, Sean Lyttle, lost an assembly bid last year as a Democrat. In Ward 6, Kelli Ross, the wife of term-limited incumbent Steve Ross, has a Democratic background; her opponents include Michele Fiore, R-Bundyland, and Chris Garvey, a school district trustee who is therefore open to support/attack from both parties for any number of reasons having to do with how they feel about education at any given moment. Chances are the two major parties will make their presence felt.

Ward 2 could be similar, whatever the politics of the challengers. Incumbent Bob Beers was one of the more conservative members of the legislature before running for the Las Vegas City Council. Democrats might target him just for the sake of doing so, although their number includes Beers challenger Steve Seroka, who had a long career in the military and even worked at the Metro Chamber of Commerce. Another opponent, Christina Roush, is involved in real estate investments, which could be an issue, too. Beers has been supporting developments in Queensridge that local residents have been fighting. It will be interesting to see whether money flows to any challenger in particular.

Historically, North Las Vegas was where you looked for bare-knuckled brawling in municipal elections. It might still be true.

Former assemblyman and county commissioner Tom Collins reportedly was going to challenge Mayor John Lee, but he instead decided to take on Councilwoman Anita Wood in Ward 3. So will Will Crespo, a retired North Las Vegas police lieutenant. All of that makes Ward 3 the race to watch. Collins has been popular with those in the rural parts of the district, and the police union used to wield ample power in local elections. Whether any of that will matter

this time depends on the mood of North Las Vegas voters and Wood’s record.

Henderson’s mayor, Andy Hafen, is term-limited. Debra March, the front-runner to replace him, is already on the city council and can’t serve more than two terms. Rick Workman, who challenged Hafen in his last roundup and is battling March this time, has been fighting to enforce term limits more stringently. That makes turnout all the more important, and important to watch. If Henderson voters are angry at government officials for staying around too long and being too close-knit, they might want to unload March and incumbent councilman John Marz. If they feel their city is humming along like a well-oiled machine (political or otherwise), they would be less likely to want change.

All of these elections are important. They affect our lives directly—sometimes more directly than who we elect president or senator or governor, when you consider local issues like parks and roads, and how they serve on various boards that affect everything from tourism to transportation. But municipal election turnout often can run in the teens; in non-presidential years, fewer than half of the voters usually show up.

Why not hold municipal elections in the same years as state elections, which might boost turnout for all involved? City concerns could get lost in the noise of state and national issues, but the low interest in voting suggests they’re already lost. It might just force legislative and even statewide candidates to address more local subjects, to their benefit and ours. We tend to think the higher a politician rises, the less interest they have in individual constituents. More of those constituents, making clear what matters most to them, sounds like a pretty good idea.

Another logical reason to do it: The stupidity of term limits has prompted politicos who are still popular to seek different offices—and as long as term limits survive, this will continue. Our survival depends on knowledgeable participation—by people who want to serve, and voters who want to be served. 7 Michael Green is an associate professor of history at UNLV.

All of these elections are important.

They affect our lives directly—sometimes more directly than who we elect president or senator or governor ...

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

35

CONVERSATIONS

By Genevie Durano Photography Adrianne Mathiowetz

Master Storyteller

This American Life’s Ira Glass on how his NPR show brought a new voice to radio journalism

L Seven Things I’ve Learned: An Evening With Ira Glass Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m., $29–$99, Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com

ast September, National Public Radio’s This American Life broadcast an episode titled “One Last Thing Before I Go.” The first act was about this small town in Japan called Otsuchi, which suffered devastating losses in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

To help him deal with the grief of losing his cousin, one of the town’s residents installs a telephone booth in his backyard. The phone doesn’t connect to anything, but he goes out there and makes these phone calls to his cousin, his voice carried by the wind. The phone booth has since become a pilgrimage for the grieving. They talk to their dearly departed, and somehow, this provides them a measure of comfort.

In the episode, we get to listen in on some of these conversations—from a grandmother who brings her grandsons, to a man who lost his wife, daughter and mother—with no background audio other than the faint sound of waves. So palpable is their sadness that you feel like you’re in the phone booth with them.

This kind of storytelling is at the heart of This American Life. In tales that are heartbreaking or funny or informative or simply bizarre, the show connects its listeners to the deep complexity of the human experience, told through the lens of ordinary people. “Generally, we want a story with a surprising plot with somebody in it that’s easy to relate to, and they have to go through some experience and have some thought about that experience,”

“For what we’re doing, it’s just an incredible time. ...

This is weirdly one of the kinds of journalism that is just thriving and expanding.”

says Ira Glass, the show’s host and co-creator.

These days, of course, radio has morphed into the more wide-reaching platform of the podcast (TAL is often the No. 1 most downloaded title, and it reaches more than 2 million listeners on NPR). Each week This American Life is sui generis of narrative journalism, the rich tapestry of storytelling it has spawned has surprised Glass himself.

“I never imagined that we would be living in the world that we are now, where so many people are downloading shows and podcasting,” he says. “One of the things that has been so surprising making this show for 20 years is that when we started, we really were the only show that existed on radio anywhere that was doing narrative journalism. Now you have Radiolab and Invisibilia and StartUp and Heavyweight and Love + Radio and Snap Judgment, and just a whole world of podcasts that [are] doing incredible narrative stories.”

Call it an embarrassment of riches, and now an embarrassment of talent. When he started the show two decades ago, Glass couldn’t find the right people to hire because what they were doing was so new that no one had the skill set to produce what he and co-creator Torey Malatia envisioned. “Now what we are having to deal with is the most senior producers on our staff have ideas for other shows.

And of course, I want them to do the most exciting stuff, so then they go off and start Serial, for example, which was created by two of our staffers. For what we’re doing, it’s just an incredible time. So many kinds of journalism are having a hard time creating a business model that actually keeps them afloat, and this is weirdly one of the kinds of journalism that is just thriving and expanding,” says Glass, who now has full ownership of TAL. To complement and publicize the program and give its listeners a chance to put a face to the voice, so to speak, Glass tours the country with a live show, which is coming to The Smith Center February 11. The concept changes from tour to tour, and this year’s theme is Seven Things I’ve Learned. Given that TAL just passed its 600-episode milestone, Seven Things audiences should be in for an evening of laughter and a wide gamut of emotions, not unlike that hour each week when a TAL episode airs.

Only this time, they get the extra treat of Glass in person.

“The way it works is that I stand onstage with an iPad and play audio from our show and quotes and music, and sort of re-create the sound of the show around me and perform parts of stories that had been on the radio. Then I also play videos, things that people have not seen. So, it’s kind of fun to do,” Glass says.

“Basically, these are just seven entertaining things I have learned about [telling] stories.” 7

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

37

CONVERSATIONS

ASK A NATIVE

By James P. Reza

Native Update 2:

This column recently covered the long, unsettled history of the restaurant space at the Arts Factory, which lost its most recent tenant, the Downtown Crown Pub, last month. A recent drive-by indicated yet another round of remodeling in progress; further research revealed that the Urban Lounge Las Vegas, an LGBT-focused project previously announced for the former Corner Store Furniture building on Main Street, has relocated to the Arts Factory into a space that’s nearly 1,000 square feet larger.

That’s somewhat surprising, given that the bar’s Facebook page had showed construction already underway on Main Street in December before updating to the Arts Factory in January. An opening is ambitiously targeted for later this month.

Following up on my David-versus-Goliath stories of “island” apartment complexes, built to house casino workers and then surrounded by expanding development over the decades (Villa de Flores at Treasure Island, the French Villas, just east of The Linq), the Las Vegas Review-Journal has reported that the 1960s-era French Villas has finally been sold to Caesars Entertainment for almost $11 million. Given that the apartments are surrounded by Caesars-owned parking lots, it’s unlikely that the vacant complex—several two-story buildings composed of cinderblock and featuring deep overhangs, exposed staircases and mod steel balcony railings—will survive much longer. Fans of doom porn and Mid-Century style might want to get out their cameras and document this remnant of a Vegas fast disappearing.

Arts Factory Eats The French Villas: Desertion in the desert

French Villas Sold

Native Update 3:

Culture and Sense of Place This column recently discussed that “not in Vegas” feeling we get from some spots, and how the comparisons inherent could be tied to a combination of our city’s relative youth with decades of growth that have, until recently, left little room for preservation or adaptive reuse.

Fellow Las Vegas native Katie C. wrote to point out that we’re doing our city a disservice by comparing it to others. “A city’s culture as we know it cannot exist when that city’s foundation is built on adaptation and change,” she says. “It’s that very adaptive nature that attracts the range of new residents who, in turn, provide Las Vegas with a culture all its own.” This idea—that our apparent dearth of “traditional culture” is actually a culture all its own—has been echoed by other observers, and deserves consideration.

Have a question or comment about Las Vegas past, present or future? Send them to askanative@vegasseven.com

38

Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

PHOTOS BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

Native Update 1:

LUCKY NO. 7

CONVERSATIONS

We asked the Vegas Seven staff:

Where is the best place to meet people in Las Vegas?

Red Rock.

Everyone’s in a good mood and willing to chat after spending some time in nature. Also, cute dogs provide social lubrication.

–Shannon Miller, editorial assistant

Tinder is so 2016. A great way to meet people, especially possible dateworthy persons, would be by volunteering. You get to meet each other, in your most natural state, while you help others!

–Krystal Ramirez, staff photographer

Any of the local breweries, or beer-centric places such as Khoury’s Fine Wine & Spirits. Hop heads love talking about beer and, even better, they love sharing it, too. Grab a pint and bond over a shared hobby! –Mark Adams, arts & entertainment editor

The Double Down Saloon.

I’ve met boyfriends there, besties, the guys I play Dungeons & Dragons with … –Lissa Townsend Rodgers, editor at large

The best place to meet people is at a dog park. If a person cares enough to take their pet on an outing, they’ve got to have some kind of decent-humanbeing thing going on. There’s a billion talking points, too. The best is when you tell them, “My dog isn’t normally this friendly with strangers.” You’re probably lying, but pet parents love feeling like they’re animal whisperers.

–Amber Sampson, web editor

The Chandelier bar at The Cosmopolitan, because great libations make for great connections. Or the Bar at Times Square in New York-New York, because everyone loves the live piano there and belting out their favorite Billy Joel song with strangers.

–Sim Salzman, chief financial officer

Local shows at The Bunkhouse, Velveteen Rabbit, etc. I’ve lived here all my life and love this town dearly, but unfortunately it’s not a place full of culture like L.A. or New York. But places that allow local musicians, poets, DJs and all other sorts of artists to showcase their talents are where connections are made. –Adam Smith, Life Is Beautiful production coordinator

Photography P. Moss Februa r y 9 -15 , 2017 vegasseven.com

39

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

C O M I N G U P AT B R O O K LY N B O W L L A S V E G A S

• TUE, FEB 14 •

• FRI, FEB 10 •

J U S T

A N N O U N C E D

<

>

ADAM ANT GALACTIC > SAT, MAY 27 <

MAX & IGGOR CAVALERA

THU FEB 9

PINK TALKING FISH: A FUSION OF PINK FLOYD, THE TALKING HEADS + PHISH

RETURN TO ROOTS

W/ IMMOLATION, FULL OF HELL

ON SALE 2/10

SMASH MAGAZINE PRESENTS

DISTINGUISHER & A FRIEND, A FOE

FRI FEB 10

ALBUM/EP RELEASE SHOW

W/ SPITE, WE GAVE IT HELL, DEEP END, HOLE HEARTED

DUMBOUNDEAD

SAT, FEB 11 > THU, FEB 16 > FRI, FEB 17 SUN, FEB 19 >

SAT, FEB 18 > MON, FEB 20 > FRI, FEB 24 > SAT, FEB 25 > MON, FEB 27 > TUE, FEB 28 > THU, MAR 2 > SAT, MAR 4 > SUN, MAR 5 >

DRUNK IN LOVE: BEYONCE VS. DRAKE (TRIBUTE) ALTER BRIDGE WITH NONPOINT WEEN LET ME LICK YOUR PLATE BRUNCH + BOWLING TOURNAMENT

WE MIGHT DIE TOUR W/ YEAR OF THE OX

SAT, FEB 11

BIFFY CLYRO

FRI, MAR 24

ALEX AIONO

TCHAMI WITH MERCER SAT, MAR 11 > P O R T U G A L . T H E M A N FRI, MAR 17 > THU, MAR 23 > SUN, MAR 26 > TUE, MAR 28 > FRI, MAR 31 SAT, APR 1 >

SAT, APR 8 > SUN, APR 9 > TUE, APR 11 > WED, APR 12 >

DONAVON FRANKENREITER 40oz. TO FREEDOM - SUBLIME TRIBUTE BAND ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY BAND

EP RELEASE SHOW

ST. BALDRICK’S FUNDRAISER

W/ SIN CITY SINNERS

ISAIAH RASHAD

FRI MAR 3

LIL SUNNY TOUR W/ LANCE SKIIWALKER, JAY IDK

COLIN KANE

THE DIRTIEST COMEDIAN YOU WILL EVER SEE

SMASH MAGAZINE PRESENTS:

EKOH

SUN MAR 5

TRIBAL SEEDS

UMPHREY S MCGEE WITH SPAFFORD

ALMOST NORMAL W/ AVALON LANDING, GREGORY MICHAEL DAVIS

THU MAR 2

SAT MAR 4

THU, MAR 9 >

SUN, MAR 12 >

MAXIMALISM USA & CANADA TOUR 2017

W/ FAILURE ANTHEM, CITIZEN ZERO, CYPHER,

W/ O’BROTHER

GOV T MULE WITH THE RECORD COMPANY WITH

AMARANTHE

SAT FEB 25

CIRCA SURVIVE WITH MEWITHOUTYOU

WILLIAM SINGE

W/ SPECIAL GUESTS WHITE HILLS & ELECTRIC CITIZEN

SMASH INTO PIECES

DUDE RANCH AND THE GIRL AT THE ROCK SHOW

RAILROAD EARTH ADELITAS WAY

THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN

SAT FEB 18

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS WITH HORSESHOES + HAND GRENADES

THE GRATEFUL BALL WITH TRAVELIN MCCOURYS + JEFF AUSTIN BAND

PSYCHO ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS

THU FEB 16

THE GROWLERS CITY CLUB SPRING TOUR 2017

FRI & SAT, MAY 5 – 6

TUE MAR 7

W/ DONNIE MENACE, LUCK FACTOR ZERO, AUSTIN CAIN

THE TUESDAY BLEND

STS9 WITH SUNSQUABI + TAUK

S A M M Y J REBEL SOULJAHZ THE HEAD AND THE HEART

OH WONDER

WITH HONNE

KEHLANI SAT, MAY 20 > TESTAMENT WITH SEPULTURA FRI, JUN 16 > ZOSO - THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE THU, APR 20 >

CENTER STRIP AT THE LINQ || BROOKLYNBOWL.COM || 702.862.BOWL

HARDROCKHOTEL.COM 702.693.5583 I AXS.COM Present your local ID at the box office for NO SERVICE FEES on all Vinyl & Friday Night Live Pool Shows.