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Pictured through the intercom entry system to the Jackie Gaughan suite at El Cortez Hotel & Casino, Frederik is wearing a Z ZEGNA shirt Saks Fifth Avenue in Fashion Show; saksfifthavenue. com; thefashionshow.com
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Read Vegas Seven right side up and then flip it over and start again with Seven Nights, featuring after-dark entertainment and the week’s nightlife happenings.
SEVEN NIGHTS
BABY YU
Original artwork by RACHEL STIFF Photograpy KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
MARCH 16-22, 2017 TO DO
11 24/7
What to do around the clock.
35 Lucky Streak
Lucky Dragon’s influence may be greater than its size. BY DAVID G. SCHWARTZ
BY SHANNON MILLER
12 The Deal
PLUS: House of DIFFA combines fashion and philanthropy.
BY ANTHONY CURTIS
SPACES & PLACES
Making the most of the Madness. FEATURE
37 Bygones: Fanny’s
The place to get dolled up.
16 Favorite Color
BY SU KIM CHUNG
BY SEVEN STAFF
A new store brings East Coast street style to Town Square.
Spring fashion with a vintage hue.
TASTE
26 Zooming in on Zuma
Out-of-the-bento-box Japanese cuisine at The Cosmopolitan. BY MARISA FINETTI
28 Vegan Eats With Perk Plant-based pick-me-ups. BY DIANA EDELMAN
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
38 Walk This Way BY ZAUNI TANIL
CONVERSATIONS
41 Ask a Native
A look back at the Vegas scene and pet-friendly patios. BY JAMES P. REZA
42 Lucky No. 7 Our most worn-in wardrobe. BY WENDOH STAFF
31 Insta-Gratification
FLIP SIDE
BY ZAUNI TANIL
Seven Nights
Who to follow on Instagram.
32 7 Decades
What to do after dark. BY KIMBERLY DE LA CRUZ
of Vegas Style
The transformation of a city that plays dress-up. BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS
34 Notes From
Tilting the Basin Showcasing contemporary art from the Silver State. BY KRISTEN PETERSON
the Underground
Club Tour: 1 OAK
Bop Apocalypse: Jazz, Race, the Beats & Drugs.
Inside The Mirage’s nightclub.
BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS
BY KAT BOEHRER
In Case You Missed It Highlights from Neon Reverb. BY SEVEN STAFF
OUR SITES TO SEE
VegasSeven.com Club Tour We celebrate 1 OAK’s five-year anniversary with a guided tour of the venue and a reflection on its unforgettable moments at vegasseven.com/ clubtour.
DTLV.com Get the Lowdown Check out DTLV’s new biweekly column, The Lowdown, which invites Downtowners to share a tip, secret or hidden gem related to the area.
RunRebs.com Four Questions for UNLV in the Off-Season Will the Rebels land five-star Brandon McCoy? Who will be transferring? And more questions for Marvin Menzies heading into the off-season. Jonathan Simkhai top Vasari in Tivoli Village; tivolivillagelv.com. Oscar de la Renta gold flower ring and Alice and Olivia shorts Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show; neimanmarcus.com; thefashionshow.com. Ralph Lauren chains Dillard’s in Downtown Summerlin; dillards.com; downtownsummerlin.com. Gucci glasses Saks Fifth Avenue in Fashion Show; saksfifthavenue.com.
SpyOnVegas.com The Hookup Find upcoming events, see highlights from the hottest parties, meet the DJs and more.
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Photography KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
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Publisher
Michael Skenandore Editorial EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Melinda Sheckells MANAGING EDITOR
Genevie Durano SENIOR EDITOR, LIFESTYLE
Jessi C. Acuña ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Mark Adams EDITOR AT LARGE
Lissa Townsend Rodgers EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Shannon Miller EDITORIAL INTERNS
Daphne-Jayne Corrales, Heather Peterson Senior Contributing Editor Xania Woodman (Beverage) 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
Flogging Molly
quets and catering, Michael Burns, during the kickoff of the hotel’s Culinary Classroom series. Better yet, each course is paired with a festive brew. 7 p.m., $135, Tuscany Kitchen inside Bellagio, 866-906-7171 Rí Rá Las Vegas stretches its St. Patty’s celebration
throughout the week, and the revelry gets amped up today. Enjoy live music by the Crooked Jacks, the Black Donnellys and Craic Haus, giveaways, Irish dance, a bagpiper and a specialty menu of the Emerald Isle’s most popular dishes. Entertainment starts at noon, inside The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, rira.com/las-vegas Revel on St. Patrick’s Day at The Linq Promenade’s bash, complete with beer trucks, bagpipers, leprechauns and live bands. Restaurants and bars including O’Sheas, Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar and Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery will offer drink and menu specials all day. Noon–10 p.m., thelinq.com Get your green on for St. Patty’s with Irish dancing, live music, a beer truck and, of course, Irish food and drink specials at McMullan’s Irish Pub. 1 p.m., 4650 W. Tropicana Ave., mcmullansirishpub.com SATURDAY 18
What to do around the clock in Las Vegas By Shannon Miller
THURSDAY 16
FRIDAY 17
UNLV Opera Theatre joins forces with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra for an enchanting production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 7:30 p.m., $15–$25, Judy Bayley Theatre, unlv.edu
A St. Patrick’s Day party takes over the dome of the Plaza Hotel & Casino, with themed drink specials and sets by DJ Jacob Savage, indie-pop band Glass Pools and indie-punk outfit Indigo Kid. Stick around to watch the green fireworks! 7 p.m., plazahotelcasino.com
Settle in for March Madness at B&B Burger & Beer, where celebrity chef Mario Batali’s take on game grub, such as the Southwest BBQ Burger, will not disappoint. During all NCAA Championship games, inside The Venetian, bandbburgerandbeer.com You can’t resist the Irish brogue and fast beats of Celtic punk band Flogging Molly, which brings its “Drunken Lullabies” to the Boulevard Pool. 8 p.m., $40, at The Cosmopolitan, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
Drink, dance, eat and party your St. Patrick’s Day away on the outside patio at Culinary Dropout, where there will be specialty beer and cocktails, $4 sliders, hot dogs and street tacos, and sounds by DJ Joe Green and Cousin Chad. 5:30 p.m., hardrockhotel.com Learn how to make warm smoked salmon with cauliflower cream and caviar, chicken potpie and sticky toffee pudding from Bellagio’s executive chef of ban-
Acclaimed jazz vocalist and five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves performs at The Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz with guests Peter Martin, Peter Sprague, Reginald Veal and Terreon Gully. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., $45–$79, thesmithcenter.com Bring little ones to musical story time with Belle at Henderson’s Greater Las Vegas Academy. Beauty and the Beast will be performed by characters from the “tale as old as time.” 11 a.m., 6531 Annie Oakley Dr., RSVP required at 702-405-7323 Neighbors unite for Be Kind Extravaganza with activities for all ages, including a bounce house, board and video games, giveaways and a performance by the Society of Light-Saber Duelists UNLV. Organized by the Josh Stevens Foundation and the City of Henderson, this event promotes kindness and community spirit. 10 a.m., City of Henderson’s Downtown Recreation Center, 105 W. Basic Rd., cityofhenderson.com Cast-iron cooking masters square off at the Old Fort Dutch Oven Cook-Off at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort. Watch the cooks, enjoy diverse dishes in a historic setting and vote for the winners. 8 a.m.–2 p.m., $1 for adults and kids over 12, children 12 and under free, 500 E. Washington Ave., parks.nv.gov/events Dr. Phobic & The Phobic Tones debut their new CD at Chinatown’s kitschy Golden Tiki, with support from the New Waves and Professor Rex Dart. 9 p.m., 3839 Spring Mountain Rd., thegoldentiki.com
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24/7
THE DEAL BY ANTHONY CURTIS
Dianne Reeves (left) and Peter Rabbit Tales
TUESDAY 21
Take advantage of the warmer weather and enjoy a springtime thrill at the Roller Coaster at New York-New York. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 10:30 a.m.–midnight Fri.–Sat., $15, newyorknewyork.com Honey Salt packs some of spring’s tasty delights into its Farm Table Dinner, featuring fried yellow perch with tarragon remoulade, spring onion tortellini, leg of lamb with eggplant caponata, and carrot cake with maple crème cheese and rum raisins. 6:30 p.m., $54 per person, $25 per person wine pairing, 1031 S. Rampart Blvd., honeysalt.com WEDNESDAY 22
SUNDAY 19
Las Vegas Little Theatre gives a final performance of It’s Only a Play by Terrence McNally. The production focuses on a wealthy producer’s house party that brings together a cast of narcissistic, petty and irrational characters for an evening of laughs and entertainment. 2 p.m., $21–$24, 3920 Schiff Dr., lvlt.org Get crafty and celebrate springtime by decorating and painting your own birdhouse at the Springs Preserve’s Origen Museum. 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., $2 for members, $3 for nonmembers with general admission, 335 S. Valley View Blvd., springspreserve.org Dust off your dancing shoes for Nostalgia, a dance party that brings Latin-themed indie music and ’80s pop to the speakers at Oddfellows. Don’t forget: happy hour lasts from 8 p.m.–10 p.m., when Dos Equis, Pacifico and Modelo beers cost $4. 8 p.m., 150 Las Vegas Blvd. North, facebook.com/odfellowslv MONDAY 20
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, The Juice Standard is serving its Lucky Charm cocktail all March long. Try the juicery’s creative take on the Bloody Mary, crafted with its green Bee Resilient Juice, gin, Worcestershire sauce, lemon and Tabasco sauce. 7 a.m.–11 p.m., $15, inside The Cosmopolitan, juicestandard.com Blue Sky Yoga offers a Lunchtime Bliss yoga class, a quickie to energize you through your workday. 12:15 p.m.–1 p.m., $12 suggested minimum donation, inside The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., blueskyyogalv.com
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Enchantment Theatre Company’s Peter Rabbit Tales offers a new take on Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters, presenting a grown-up Peter, Benjamin and Flopsy, all making mischief in Mr. McGregor’s garden. 6:30 p.m., $15–$30, The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com Freshen up with Café Americano’s green Lady Luck cocktail, made with Midori, ginger ale and fresh lime juice. 24 hours, $8, inside Caesars Palace, cafeamericanovegas.com Once known around town as the “People’s Theatre,” the iconic Huntridge Theater has been vacant for more than a decade. Learn more about the history and cultural significance of the beloved landmark at a talk and related exhibition organized by the Huntridge Foundation. 6:30 p.m., Jewel Box Theater at Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Rd., lvccld.org Looking for more stuff to do in Las Vegas? Check out vegasseven.com/calendar.
Making the Most of the Madness THE MARCH MADNESS COLLEGE BASKET-
ball tournament begins Thursday, and every weekend through the end of the month will be loaded with tournament-viewing parties. With visitors coming to town from all over the country, this opening weekend is the best, with St. Patrick’s Day falling smack in the middle of it all on Friday. Something about March Madness brings out the highcost to-dos, and you won’t have any trouble finding open-bar packages for $100 to $200, but you can do better. Ellis Island has all-you-can-drink beer, a buffet, a T-shirt and raffle giveaways from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. and 3 p.m.–10 p.m. for $30 each, or get both sessions for $50. Downtown, the Plaza is debuting a new “event space” for its March Mania Viewing Party. Located just off the casino floor, the 5,000-squarefoot area features 18 big-screen TVs and a state-of-the-art sound system. Admission to the party is $15 per day or $40 for all four days—both include a T-shirt and one complimentary drink and food menu item per day. Free viewing parties have been announced for South Point, Treasure Island, Tuscany Suites, Palms, Palace Station, El Cortez and almost all the Boyd casinos. Most of these sell beer, hot dogs and other food selections for $2-$3. The Fremont Street Experience is hosting the eighth annual “Downtown Hoopstown” celebration with free entertainment, the High Hoops Zone basketball-shot challenge and the “World’s Largest NCAA Bracket” displayed on the Viva Vision canopy. If you’re betting on the games, entering a contest is one way to make your action stretch and also have a shot at winning a lot for a little. Station Casinos is running the Last Man Standing contest with a $25 entry, and you get one entry free when you buy four—there’s a guaranteed winner-take-all prize of $50,000. If you’re betting on individual games, look for places that give you something extra for your action. For example, at both Arizona Charlie’s locations, a $20 parlay or $50 straight bet gets you a “March Mania” T-shirt. The expected loss on a $50 bet is about $3, so that’s a decent perk. For St. Patrick’s Day, the strategy is simple: Head to any bar with an Irish name— you know, JC’s Irish Sports Pub (Rampart Casino), Rí Rá Las Vegas (The Shoppes at Mandalay Place), Jack’s Irish Pub (Palace Station) or McMullan’s Irish Pub. O’Sheas at The Linq is bringing back its O’Sheas Bloq Party, which features a St. Patty’s Day parade and live bands all day. A four-day party will run at the Fremont Street Experience, with live bands on all three stages playing past midnight on March 17. The Plaza is advertising a free party in the dome, matchplay vouchers (amount not specified) at the bars and a “green fireworks” show at 10 p.m. Gamblers can also snag $20 in matchplay on the 17th at any of the four Sean Patrick’s Pubs. These places get crowded, so go early to grab a machine. 7 Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.
DIANNE REEVES BY JERRIS MADISON
TO DO
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O N S A L E F R I D AY
THE SHINS JUNE 23 THE CHELSEA
HOOPS & HOPS THIS WEEK
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ST. PAT RI C K’ S DAY C ELEB R ATION
FLOGGING MOLLY MA RC H 16 B OU L E VA RD P O O L
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
THIS WEEK
COLLEG E BAS KE T BAL L VI E WI NG
WITH PURE BATHING CULTURE
HOOPS & HOPS
M A RC H 1 7 T H E C H E LS E A
M A RC H 16 & 17 BE L MON T
ON SALE NOW
MALUMA
BAND OF HORSES
MA RC H 24 THE C H E L S E A
M AY 26 T H E C H E LS E A
FA C E B O O K : T H E C O S M O P O L I TA N T W I T T E R : @ C O S M O P O L I TA N _ LV I N S TA G R A M : @ C O S M O P O L I TA N _ LV S N A P C H AT: C O S M O P O L I TA N LV
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TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE AND ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES
AU GU ST 26 TH E C H E L SE A C O S M O P O L I TA N C O N C E R T S E R I E S O F F I C I A L PA R T N E R S : *Please enjoy Bud Light responsibly
MARCH HOOPS FREE VIEWING PARTIES ARTIES MARCH 16-19 12th Floor Detroit Ballroom Doors open at 8am • Stadium-style food and drinks available for purchase • Live casino sports betting, craps and blackjack just steps away • Flat-screen TVs with top of the line sound system • Private Mancaves including all you can eat and drink available for purchase For pricing and availability, please contact the sales department at 702.388.2200 or sales@thed.com.
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A TIME CAPSULE OF 1980S LAS VEGAS GLAMOUR, THE JACKIE GAUGHAN SUITE IN EL CORTEZ HOTEL & CASINO CASTS VINTAGE VIBES ON A SPRING FASHION FANTASY
On Mikaela Alice McCall romper Saks Fifth Avenue in Fashion Show; saksfifthavenue. com; thefashionshow.com Oscar de la Renta earrings Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show; neimanmarcus.com On Frederik Fila tank Fruition; shop-fruitionlv.com G-Star RAW sunglasses G-Star RAW in Fashion Show; G-star.com
Stylist KRIS KASS kris-kass.com Hair & Makeup John Paul Rivera using Wella Professionals & José Figueroa using MAC Cosmetics for beautymisfits.com Manicurist Maria Garay themariagaray.com using Priti NYC in High Hopes Talent Mikaela H. & Frederik O. for Two Management; twomanagement.com Styling assistants Zauni Tanil & Daphne-Jayne Corrales Videographer Kin Lui kinlui.com Videographer’s assistant AJ Orio Location Jackie Gaughan Suite in El Cortez Hotel & Casino elcortezhotelcasino.com
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MY FAVORITE COLOR IS
SOFT Photography Krystal Ramirez Styling Kris Kass
THE DETAILS BUILT IN 1941, EL CORTEZ HOTEL & CASINO
is one of the few icons of Las Vegas history that’s still standing. Approach its doors today, and the feel of yesteryear speaks through its bones, neon signs signaling a bygone era. Heck, it’s even got coin slots still jingling through the casino floor. After going through various owners, including the likes of Bugsy Siegel and Moe Sedway, local casino legend John D. “Jackie” Gaughan purchased the Downtown property in 1963 for $4 million. Although Gaughan owned nine casinos, it was El Cortez and Downtown that held his heart. At one point he even controlled 25 percent of the Downtown gaming market. This love carried over to his choice of residency: Starting in 1980, he and his wife, Roberta Mae “Bertie,” moved into a suite on the top floor of the hotel, where they resided until their respective passing—hers in 1996, his in 2014. Following his death, the current owners, the Epstein family, decided to honor Gaughan by making the suite available for guests and event attendees to experience vintage Vegas (Kenny Epstein purchased El Cortez in 2008). With minor upgrades to the design, the space is still true to Bertie, who made many of the suite’s style selections when they moved in. Pastel-pink upholstered walls and floors remain, while new retro-style furniture has been added in the 2,700-square-foot suite. Some of the other holdovers include the original kitchen appliances—in mint condition, mind you—hand-carved wooden entryway doors with brass pulls in the shape of “J” and “G” and the intercom entry system, which includes a video camera that gives a sense of its innovation for the era. The bedroom comprises two and a half rooms serving as a his-and-hers space, along with a central romper room between. Each is outfitted with individual bathrooms and walk-in closets, the highlight being Bertie’s room. Pink marble with gold swan fixtures make up the mirrored washroom and shower area. The romper room has been updated with a wall of framed vintage records and oversize velvet and shag pillows. Local designers Gisela Isabel and Lora Hunsaker took the helm on the additions. The wet bar and the drapes are also original elements from the Gaughan home. According to the staff, every morning Gaughan would walk the properties in Downtown with his dog, making sure he was up to date on all the happenings. It’s no wonder his legacy continues; recently, the suite was immortalized as the backdrop in a music video—pop musician Ellie Goulding filmed her “On My Mind” video there. Not only is El Cortez the longest continually running hotel and casino in Las Vegas, but on February 22, 2013, the structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. –Jessi C. Acuña For bookings, contact hotel manager John Dorweiler at 702-385-5200.
On Frederik Gucci shirt and sweater Fruition G-Star RAW pants G-Star RAW Gucci bag Neiman Marcus
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On Mikaela Alice and Olivia pants Neiman Marcus Gucci shirt Fruition Interdee jacket Vasari in Tivoli Village; tivolivillagelv.com Sergio Rossi shoes Sergio Rossi in The Forum Shops at Caesars; sergiorossi.com; simon.com Gucci belt Neiman Marcus
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On Mikaela IRO dress Vasari Les Petits Joueurs bag, Alexis Bittar blue stone ring and Oscar de la Renta gold flower ring Neiman Marcus Additional rings Dillard’s On Frederik Alexander McQueen jacket, Eton shirt and Moschino belt Neiman Marcus Topman shorts Topman in Fashion Show; topman.com G-Star RAW shoes G-Star RAW
On Frederik Oliver Peoples sunglasses Saks Fifth Avenue Topman chinos Topman Thom Browne shirt Neiman Marcus Giuseppe Zanotti sneakers Giuseppe Zanotti in The Forum Shops at Caesars; giuseppezanottidesign.com Nixon watch Dillard’s
On Mikaela Steve Madden loafers Steve Madden in Fashion Show; stevemadden.com Gucci sunglasses, Oscar de la Renta earrings and Roberto Cavalli top Neiman Marcus Versace jacket and Loeffler Randall bag Saks Fifth Avenue Topshop shorts Topshop in Fashion Show; us.topshop.com
TASTE
Zooming in on
Zuma
THE NEWEST ADDITION AT THE COSMOPOLITAN OFFERS OUT-OF-THE-BENTO-BOX JAPANESE CUISINE
By Marisa Finetti Photography Anthony Mair
Z
uma is a contemporary Japanese restaurant from London-based creator and co-founder Chef Rainer Becker. Located inside The Cosmopolitan, the concept, inspired by Becker’s personal and professional experiences in Japan, features informal izakaya dining that is authentic but not traditional. Becker delivers the subtleties of Japanese cuisine by heightening flavors and textures. He maintains the true essence of each ingredient in dishes designed to be shared. Since its London launch in 2002, Zuma has achieved global success and expanded to 11 locations in eight countries. “After two openings on the East Coast, we decided that we were ready for a West Coast opening,” says Becker, who emphasizes that, since his first Zuma opening 14 years ago, there was never a plan to open more than the flagship London location. “Las Vegas was chosen, as it is incredibly vibrant and exciting but also extremely challenging,” he says, referring to the number of restaurants and chefs in Las Vegas. Becker stands firmly by two The Team: attributes that drive his success: for me—but once I got it, it blew my Living the Zuma Ethos his customers and his team. “We mind and I fell in love.” In Becker’s younger years, his interhave an incredibly loyal and disBecker says he is fortunate to be est in cooking was not encouraged. cerning customer base,” he says. surrounded by an incredible team. “My father decided it wasn’t much of Many of his senior staff, both front “Additionally, we have a core staff a career, so in a bid to dissuade me, that is at the heart of Zuma.” and back of house, have been part he sent me to his friend’s restauof the Zuma family for years. “The rant to wash [pots] one summer.” Zuma culture is taught and spread Instead, Becker’s interest grew by these individuals. Empowerment Zuma The Cosmopolitan deeper, and after working in classic is important,” he says. Erick Melencosmopolitanlasvegas.com and Michelin-starred restaurants, dez, the head chef in Las Vegas, for Instagram: @zumalasvegasofficial he moved to Japan to become the example, came from Zuma Miami executive chef at Park Hyatt Tokyo. and is in his sixth year with the comClockwise from top left: Lobster “My time living in Tokyo was invalu- pany. The energy and team interactempura; suzuki no o sashimi; able. I immersed myself in the food tion is lively, and it’s heard by guests yaki toumoro koshi; watercress salad and culture. For a Western palate, each night. When the sous chef calls with fresh wasabi and cucumber; understanding and acclimatizing to out incoming orders, chefs respond Zuma’s interior the subtleties of traditional Japanese with an affirmative “hai,” meaning food can take a while—at least it did “yes.” Food is prepared with zeal.
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The Food: Japanese With Vigor
Zuma was born out of Becker’s ambition to offer Japanese food to a non-Japanese audience. From its three kitchens—the main kitchen, sushi counter and robata grill—the menu is focused on authentic Japanese dishes, but intensified. Woven throughout the menu are ingredients that Becker finds indispensable: “Soy sauce and miso are key, but also shichimi (powdered chili pepper seasoning), yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit used for making sauces and dressings) and dashi, a fish stock. You can buy good-quality, ready-made versions from Japanese supermarkets, but we make our own,” he says. Dishes unique to Las Vegas are still to come, but Zuma Las Vegas offers signature fare such as the suzuki no o sashimi—thinly sliced sea bass with yuzu, truffle and salmon roe. Other delectable selections include lobster tempura with spicy ponzu and wasabi mayonnaise; kinoko no kama meshi, a rice hot pot with wild mushrooms and Japanese vegetables; yaki toumoro koshi, a play on sweet corn with shiso butter, a Japanese festival food; and the refreshing watercress salad with fresh wasabi and cucumber.
The Design: Nature’s Elements
Zuma’s electric energy fits right in in Las Vegas, yet grounds guests with natural appointments—from the polished acacia trunk centering the dining room to the custom patchwork rice-paper wall behind the raised lounge/dining room. The interior design concept found at all Zuma restaurants revolves around earth, fire, water and air. Becker collaborated with designer Noriyoshi Muramatsu to emphasize the use of natural materials, juxtaposed with the bright lights and man-made structures on the Strip. “We have used a lot more wood on this project,” Becker says. “All of it was shipped from Chiang Mai in Thailand.” Each seat in the dining room has a view of one of the open kitchens, with the robata in the center. 7
HIGHBALL EXPECTATIONS If the gin and tonic is the ubiquitous refresher of Spain, then the Japanese Highball is what’s wetting Japan’s whistle— and in both countries you will find bars entirely dedicated to their utter perfection. You’ll also find a great specimen wherever Las Vegas barman SeongHa Lee is slinging. Lee worked at a Suntory Whisky bar in Osaka, Japan, long before coming to Las Vegas to tend at Downtown’s 365 Tokyo, Mandarin Bar on the Strip and now Zuma in The Cosmopolitan. While the highball—whiskey mixed with club soda over ice in a tall glass—is not featured on Zuma’s cocktail menu, Lee will hand-chip crystal-clear ice from a hulking block and combine the whiskey of your choosing (try Toki, Suntory’s latest expression, for $14) with Fever Tree club soda. It couldn’t sound simpler, but the highball is serious business. When making a highball, Suntory Whisky ambassador Johnnie Mundell would have you pay special attention to the water—both the ice and club soda. The goal is to preserve the carbonation of this refreshing drink in every way by starting with a glass free of soap residue. Ensure that the ice is crystal-clear and smooth-surfaced (no bubbles or cracks)—all the better not to trap those beautiful bubbles or overdilute!—and select a high-quality club soda. “Toki was created for the bartending community, to say ‘thank you’ for helping to build the Suntory name in the United States,” Mundell says. “It was created with the mindset of a Japanese whisky, which is the maximum depth of flavor and refinement, and the highball is an amazing way to enjoy this.” –Xania V. Woodman
The Perfect Japanese Highball As prepared by SeongHa Lee at Zuma
Step 1: Fill a clean Collins glass with large, clear ice cubes and stir to chill; strain and discard any resulting water, or discard both and refill with fresh cubes or a single ice spear. Step 2: Add 1½ ounces of Japanese whisky; stir exactly 13½ clockwise revolutions. Step 3: Gently pour high-quality soda water down the side of the glass directly into the whisky, touching the ice as little as possible (tilt the glass if need be), and stir exactly 3½ more clockwise revolutions for a total of 17. (Prefer still water to sparkling? Ask for a Japanese Whisky “Mizuwari,” where the spirit has been “split” with water.)
TASTE
VIVA LAS VEGANS
Vegan Eats With Perk Where to get your plant-based favorites and your caffeine kick By Diana Edelman Photography Krystal Ramirez
From left: House of Alchemy’s Lady Lavender nut milk, Peanut Butter Delight and Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bites
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Let’s face it: If you’re vegan, it isn’t always easy to grab a cuppa with friends and snack while catching up, meeting or working remotely. Fortunately, more vegan-friendly coffee shops are popping up in town, to the delight of cruelty-free consumers across the Valley. From Henderson to Spring Valley, we’re taking you on a tour of our favorites. House of Alchemy (4245 S. Grand Canyon Dr., facebook.com/houseofalchemylv) is the newest shop to open its doors. It isn’t just a gorgeous coffee shop, but it’s a place to enjoy healthy food and drinks. Complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, an upstairs level featuring comfortable couches and ample spots to perch, this new Spring Valley gem aims to improve its customers’ lives by offering cleaner eating options. Sure, it’s got coffee and tea, but the main draw here is the all-organic menu focusing heavily on plant-based items, many of which are raw. Grab a flat white (with soy or almond milk) or a nut milk like the Lady Lavender, made with filtered water, coconut water, cashews, almonds, dates, maqui berry, lavender and Himalayan salt; then indulge in a raw dessert such as the strawberry cheesecake filled with coconut meat and berries and covered in a dark chocolate shell. Don’t have a sweet tooth? Don’t worry. There are also breakfast and lunch items to nosh on and a complete menu launching this spring. TIABI (3961 S. Maryland Pkwy., 6320 Simmons St., iwanttiabi.com), which stands for “To inspire and be inspired,” has been a staple of the coffee scene in the UNLV neighborhood for a few years, thanks to its rotating events such as comic workshops and fundraisers that bring in the crowds. If you’re heading there for breakfast, the Viva Las Elvis—a waffle (add vegan protein, if you’re keen) covered in melted peanut butter and banana, topped with coconut bacon and agave—is what you need. For lunch, check out the Guru Burger, a sweet and savory veggie patty served in a vegan wafflewich; or try the Thai Basil Vegan, a veggie patty covered in Thai peanut sauce, with sliced avocado and almonds, fresh basil and Daiya mozzarella. As far as the drinks go, with almond, soy and coconut milk as the base for your beverages, there are
plenty of delicious creations to check out. Want a dessert and drink in one swoop? Order Tiff’s Waffle Macchiato, a cinnamon vanilla macchiato with nondairy milk topped with a churro waffle. Tucked deep in Henderson in the masterplanned Inspirada, Jolly Beans Cafe (2016 Via Firenze, jollybeanscafe.com) has garnered a vegan following. “We were often told how thankful [the customers] are that we exist on this side of town,” explains co-owner Heidi Enrile. “What strikes us is that we often have customers who come from all parts of town [for the vegan menu].” Grab a smoothie, latte or coffee and chow down on a vegan grilled cheese or the uber-popular Grateful Gobble, a grilled panini stuffed with vegan turkey, vegan mayo, avocado, lettuce and tomato and your choice of vegan cheese. Or order the Green Thumb Breakfast Bagel, filled with a veggie sausage patty with vegan mayo, cheddar or American vegan cheese and finished with some fresh spinach, tomato and avocado. The coffee roastery and farm-to-table bakery Mothership Coffee Roasters (2708 N. Green Valley Pkwy., mothershipcoffee.com) is one of the only shops in town with vegan pastries to accompany their massive coffee program. Using plant-based ingredients, they whip up vegan Twinkies filled with lavender cream and more, plus savory veggie hand-pies, cookies, muffins and other deliciousness to sink your teeth into. This light and airy hangout cooks up fresh-baked goods daily, so you never know what you’re going to get. Owned by the same folks as Mothership is Sunrise Coffee Shop (3130 E. Sunset Rd., sunrisecoffeelv.com), where an estimated 25 percent of the business comes courtesy of those looking for vegan options, according to owner Juanny Romero. The most popular options for those opting out of animal products? The almond milk lavender matcha latte or the alien burrito filled with beans, couscous, hummus, vegan cheese, spinach, tomato, avocado and Veganaise. Sunrise has a decent vegan food menu, complete with pastries, as well as breakfast and lunch sandwiches. 7
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INSTA-GRATIFICATION
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
@griztriz
dominic grizzelle, blogger, model and self-described visionary, is all about the aesthetic. His Instagram, an inspirational collection of the photo shoots Grizzelle styles himself, is carefully curated. He oversees everything from wardrobe to location to creative direction. “It’s about capturing the eye of your followers,” he says. “I make sure everything looks cohesive, clean and appealing.” His talents have landed him sponsorships with various brands such as Urban Outfitters and modeling jobs with companies such as KNYEW. Though, for Grizzelle, the focus is on creating art that’s innovative and stimulating. “My favorite part of the process is pushing people out of their comfort zones, getting them to try something different and still feel confident,” he says. “Ultimately, I want people to see my work and walk away feeling inspired and courageous.” 8,100 followers By Zauni Tanil
Follow this feed right now
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A look back at the transformation of a city that plays dress-up By Lissa Townsend Rodgers
1940s
The Look: As Las Vegas acquired a bit of cosmopolitan flash, so did the attire of its denizens. However, many still wore the western look, whether as a genuine rancher or just playing cowgirl/cowboy long enough to gamble away a few bills or sit out the waiting period for a divorce. Fashion icon: Mob moll and Bugsy Siegel squeeze Virginia Hill, who attended the Flamingo’s opening in a $3,500 flame-red silk gown by couturier-to-the-stars Howard Greer. Where to shop: Fanny’s Dress Shop (see story on pg. 37) “The Far West motif runs wild in Las Vegas: Everybody wears cowboy clothes and hobbles around in high-heeled boots.” –Octavius Roy Cohen, A Bullet for My Love
1950s
The Look: When we imagine how people used to “dress” for Las Vegas, we picture the ’50s. Women wore cocktail dresses to dine, dance and dice—formfitting brocade sheaths or strapless New Look frocks over petticoat skirts worn with mink stoles and stiletto heels. Fashion icon: The woman who made burlesque chic, Lili St. Cyr. Where to shop: C.H. Baker shoes, purveyors of pearl-ornamented black velvet ankle straps and tooled leather sandals. “My mother and I would hit the pool. She and her friend Dorothy would wear their stunning onepiece white Catalina suits and their cork wedgies, scarves covering their hair, their toenails flashing red. If they went swimming, they covered their heads with petal-covered swimming caps.” –Susan Berman, Lady Las Vegas
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THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: AnnMargret performs in Las Vegas; Virginia Hill; Lili St. Cyr on a publicity card from El Rancho Vegas. NEXT PAGE, TOP: Janet Hadland, Copa Girl Sands Hotel 1966. MIDDLE, LEFT: 1973 new ski fashion. MIDDLE, RIGHT: Sharon Stone as Ginger in Casino. BOTTOM: Paris Hilton 2007.
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
1980s
1960s
The Look: The ’80s aesthetic may have been perfect for Miami, but it also suited Las Vegas to a tee. If you can’t wear red patent pumps, an iridescent peplum skirt or an asymmetrically hemmed, bugle-beaded dress here, where can you wear them? Fashion icon: Whether sitting ringside at Caesars for the Leonard–Hagler match or saying “I do” at the Little White Wedding Chapel, Joan Collins did it in glitzy, shoulder-padded style. Where to shop: Fashion Show mall, back when Diamond’s and Goldwater’s were the anchors. “By 1989, the Strip was more famous than the town. On prom nights, casino floors bubbled with pimply kids in tuxedos and evening gowns. –Christina Binkley, Winner Takes All
The Look: While Vegas never went hippie, the ‘60s flair for fringe, beads and wild prints suited our city’s vibe just fine, as did the high-rise hemlines. Fashion icon: From Life magazine to Sinatra’s arm, the Copa Girls were Vegas’ feminine ideal. Where to shop: The decade’s extravagant hairstyles often required more hair than nature provided. The Wiggery or Miss Elizabeth’s Coiffures (“Excellent wig styling. Ten stylists to serve you.”) could provide that extra oomph. “At the White Cross Rexall drugstore on the Strip, a pregnant brunette walks in off the street wearing black shorts with buttocks décolletage aft and illusion-of-cloth lingerie hanging fore, and not even the old mom’s pie pensioners up near the door are staring.” –Tom Wolfe, Esquire
1990s
The Look: Las Vegas’ swipe at familyfriendliness seemed to lead to everyone dressing like damn children—much to the chagrin of all the would-be Rat Packers who saw Swingers and found themselves the only ones at the party in fedoras and leopard print. Fashion icon: Despite the new casual, folks still wanted to look like Sharon Stone in Casino. Of course, 95 percent weren’t willing to put in any effort toward that goal, but some did—including your author, who first touched down at McCarran International Airport wearing a baby-blue pleather miniskirt suit. Where to shop: At Bellagio, Vegas folks could finally walk into high-end boutiques such as Chanel, Gucci or Prada. Of course, not everyone walks out with something, but, hey, we can look. And dream. “... this herd of beefy middle Americans, almost all dressed in short pants, T-shirts and baseball caps, and enough of them wearing those pastel-colored fanny packs around their waists that the city looked as though it was immersed in an ongoing convention of colostomy patients.” –The Village Voice
2000s
1970s
The Look: In a word: Big. Big eyelashes, big jewelry, big platform heels, Streisand nails and Parton hair—think showgirl (barely) scaled down for offstage. Dresses ranged from flowing, bell-sleeved chiffon to slinky halter-necked jersey. Fashion icon: Ann-Margret—Vegas headliner in her own dazzling right, as well as a leading lady to Elvis, Jack Nicholson and The Who. Where to shop: The Las Vegas Plaza across from the Stardust and home to shops such as Women’s Lib (“Today’s Fashion at Liberated Prices”) and North Beach Leather. “I saw a bride in an orange minidress with masses of flame-colored hair stumble from a Strip chapel on the arm of her bridegroom, who looked the part of the expendable nephew in movies like Miami Syndicate.” –Joan Didion, Slouching Towards Bethlehem
The Look: Sparkly and short. Very short. Sadly, this was the decade when it became acceptable to remove your shoes and show the world your vagina while having a big night out on the town. In retrospect, maybe skinny jeans weren’t such a bad idea … Fashion icon: Paris Hilton. Who else? Where to shop: Once the mark of the rebel and the outcast, tattoos became a must-have fashion accessory for schoolteachers and marketing executives everywhere. Appropriately, rock ’n’ roll reality-TV types such as Carey Hart and Vince Neil both opened Vegas tattoo shops. “Board shorts are the norm for guys. Girls wear their teeniest bikinis, accessorized with high heels and lots of bling.” –New York magazine
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SOCIAL INFLUENCE
By Lissa Townsend Rodgers
Underground
Bop Apocalypse: Jazz, Race, the Beats & Drugs History doesn’t happen in a straight
line. Rather, it’s comprised of intertwined parts, like an engine, a tapestry or a jazz improvisation. In Bop Apocalypse: Jazz, Race, the Beats & Drugs, author Martin Torgoff bridges bebop jazz and Beat novels, paranoid cops and junkie prostitutes, and Harlem and San Francisco’s North Beach to tell the tale of how 20th-century American counterculture was born
and how the very efforts to stomp it out might have been what sustained it. Torgoff states, “No single piece of legislation more effectively guaranteed the growth of underground alternative culture in this country than the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, and no single piece of legislation more decisively declared war on that culture.” Federal Bureau of Narcotics chief Harry Anslinger was more propagandist than policeman, penning “news” articles like “Marijuana: Assassin of Youth,” stoking xenophobia and racism to get anti-marijuana laws passed and to fuel his vendetta against jazz musicians and other counterculture figures. Characters and scenes spring to vivid life in Torgoff’s prose: The wild, wine-soaked poetry reading where Allen Ginsberg debuted “Howl,” or John Coltrane and Elvin Jones nodding away the afternoon eating glazed doughnuts in a Times Square movie house before stumbling into that night’s gig (inventing the hipster habit of quoting movies as the two exchange non sequitur lines from the day’s schlocky Tab Hunter flick). But the less famous are also as well drawn—and as crucial to the narrative, such as an outer-borough kid’s first visit to the Savoy Ballroom:
“He felt like a weight was being lifted from him, like the Great Depression itself was just blowing away from him like a thin leaf caught in a saxophone hurricane.” Or Ruby, an abused girl from Brooklyn who descends into the Village netherworld: “She would wear these black patches over an eye that had been blackened badly after a fight and would paint gold glitter in the shape of an eye on the patch like it was some kind of fashion statement.” Some took drugs for fun or as a “fuck you”; some to escape reality or sharpen the senses; some viewed it as crucial to creation: “[Jack] Kerouac held to the belief that marijuana was a valuable tool that could collapse space and time and render memory and feeling as synesthesia or heartbeat itself.” Interestingly, the book’s histories of those who hit the needle seem to disprove the idea that marijuana leads to heroin—Charlie Parker and John Coltrane went from alcoholic to junkie without much more than a passing toke, while the two jazzbos most devoted to the
DO GOOD
The House of Generosity DIFFA brings together fashion and philanthropy By Lissa Townsend Rodgers FASHION AND PHILANTHROPY may seem like two disparate
worlds—one absorbed in surface appearance, the other concerned with deeper human experiences. But both realms come together in House of DIFFA, Las Vegas’ chapter of Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, which brings a new flair to Vegas fundraising. Cray Bauxmont-Flynn, the executive chair of DIFFA Las Vegas, hopes to “change the dynamics of fundraising events. A lot of events are your basic ballroom events: Same auctions, same donors, same sponsors, so on and so forth.” DIFFA has put a different spin on the charity dinner with their
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Billie Holiday
muggles, Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, lived to ripe old ages of prosperity and world renown. We also see the excesses of law enforcement: The dying Billie Holiday handcuffed to a hospital bed as fans outside chanted “Let Lady live!” and beat icon Neal Cassady getting fiveto-life for possessing three joints. In the 1930s, Anslinger called drug users “the lowest scum of the earth.” And in 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions says, “Good people don’t smoke marijuana.” The events of Bop Apocalypse may take place in the 1940s and ’50s, but its tale still resonates today. 7
“Picnic by Design” functions, where designers create extravagant “picnics” to be bid on; this December 1, House of DIFFA will inaugurate a gala fashion show. The national DIFFA organization was founded in New York City in 1984 to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS crisis, and DIFFA Las Vegas was born in 2014 to provide similar support in our city. “House of DIFFA benefits seven local AIDS and HIV wellness organizations. All the funds that we raise stay here,” Bauxmont-Flynn says. The House of DIFFA fashion gala, Eden, will be different than any of their previous events—or anything else in town. “I thought this would be a good way to twist it and broaden the outreach to the community,” he explains. “It’s a fashion show, there’s performers, there’s theatrics, philanthropy—just something out of the norm.” Along with raising money for local nonprofits, House of DIFFA seeks to elevate the profile of Las Vegas’ own fashion community. A series of smaller shows and happenings will lead up to December’s big shindig, providing exposure for both the event and the community. “There is a strong base of fashion designers here, which is not highlighted as much as it should be,” Bauxmont-Flynn says. He hopes that Eden will help bring the Las Vegas fashion community together, just as it is bringing other organizations together. “Beneficiaries from House of DIFFA,” he says, “all do their own annual events yearly, but this is the first time they’ve actually come together and supported each other, for one event, for one cause, for one night.” Hopefully it will only be the first of many such nights. hodlv.org. 7
L ADY DAY BY MIRRORPIX/EVERETT COLLECTION
Notes From the
GREEN FELT JOURNAL
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
By David G. Schwartz
Getting Lucky LUCKY DRAGON BY SAM MORRIS/L AS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU; HOUSE OF DIFFA FASHION SHOW PHOTOS BY GENE BOOTHE
LUCKY DRAGON CASINO’S INFLUENCE MAY BE GREATER THAN ITS SIZE
T
he latest Las Vegas hotel casino to open, the Lucky Dragon, has been up and running for more than three months. It may not have the immediate landscape-altering impact of the Strip behemoths that preceded it, but the way the casino is running could have profound implications on how Las Vegas casinos do business in the future. Lucky Dragon debuted with the usual opening festivities, but a lion dance and dragon dance signified in no uncertain terms that this casino would cater primarily to Asians and Asian-Americans. It is a curious moment for an Asian-oriented casino in Las Vegas. Until the Chinese government’s 2013 anti-graft crackdown, both Macau and eastward-leaning Las Vegas casinos were enriched by a flood of baccarat money. Since then, however, the influence of the high-end Chinese market has been diminished. But none of Beijing’s actions could obscure the rising power and wealth of the Chinese middle market. It may be auspicious that Lucky Dragon opened the day after Hainan Airlines’ first nonstop Beijing—Las Vegas flight landed—many hope this will lure the vacationing Chinese middle class, who will make up in numbers what they lack in individual prosperity. According to Lucky Dragon Chief Operating Officer Dave Jacoby, the casino has, in its first three months, followed a positive buzz around opening with “great word of mouth.” Lucky Dragon, he says, is seeing rapidly growing interest from near and far: Las Vegas locals as well as Northern and Southern California, Vancouver, Toronto and New York. As with all young casinos, there are already some changes in the making. It’s nothing that rivals Steve Wynn’s $67 million addition of the Encore Beach Club months after that casino’s opening, but in Lucky Dragon’s small footprint, all changes are significant. The space currently oc-
cupied by Dragon’s Alley will be split into a noodle bar and a relocated Pearl Ocean restaurant. The space that Pearl Ocean is vacating will become a new VIP gaming area. The biggest change at Lucky Dragon, though, is the rolling chip program initiated for players with a $10,000 or higher buy-in, which changes how players are rated for comps. It is a Macau idea that has since filtered to Las Vegas, but has not been embraced systematically by a Nevada casino until now. Traditionally, a pit boss or other executive will watch table players, estimate their rate of play and average play, then base comps and discounts on that rating. This is an imperfect process that sometimes benefits the player, but often doesn’t. According to Jacoby, the rolling chip program eliminates guesswork by tracking play more closely. “If you buy in for $100,000,” he explains, “you get $100,000 in dead chips. You wager what you wager. If you win, we pay in live chips [that can be played elsewhere or redeemed for cash], and we take your dead chips. It ends up being a perfect accounting process.” Once a player has exhausted his dead chips, he can buy in for more dead chips and continue playing. The result is a more accurate win/loss rating that, according to Jacoby, has already proved popular. “It has been very well received,” he says. “The win/loss is accurate and guests understand how they will get comped before they come in.” Jacoby says that while another Las Vegas property has sporadically offered a rolling chip program for select guests, Lucky Dragon is the first casino to offer it as a matter of course. “We’re doing this several times a day,” he says. The adoption of this Macau idea and its subsequent popularity may explain why Lucky Dragon is adding VIP space three months in. “The volume of VIP gaming,” Jacoby says, “has exceeded our expectations.” He is enthused by the support the casino has gotten from the local com-
munity and guests from all over the world and adds that, despite the property’s avowedly Asian focus, “we welcome guests of all ethnicities.” The smallest and most focused Las Vegas casino to open in a long while, Lucky Dragon is a test case for the future of casino design in Las Vegas. The apparently enthusiastic response to its rolling chip program may inspire other casinos to roll out similar programs on a broader basis. So, while Lucky Dragon may be small in stature, it already has the potential to influence the broader Las Vegas casino business—a sign, perhaps, that it is destined for success. 7 David G. Schwartz is the director of UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research.
FROM LEFT: Spring trends fashion show at Neiman Marcus; Cray Bauxmont-Flynn; fashion by House of DIFFA designer Jim McCoy.
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THE BEST SIDE OF THE MOON 2017
BYGONE
Samplings of window displays include a front view of Fanny’s on Fremont Street with its classic neon signage as it appeared in 1942. This wartime shop window featured patriotic posters and war bond advertisements surrounding a selection from Fanny’s exclusive collection of furs and hats. Another captures the fanciful Fanny’s Valentine’s Day shop window, with flying cupids and fabric hearts serving as the backdrop for a mannequin attired in a classic peignoir set typical of the period.
SPACES & PLACES
on Fremont By Su Kim Chung
Photos courtesy of UNLV Libraries Special Collections
REMINISCING ABOUT THE PLACE TO GET DOLLED UP The idea of high fashion on Fremont Street might seem unlikely in the era of souvenir T-shirts and SlotZilla, but Downtown’s most famous road was once home to a variety of department stores and specialty clothing boutiques. None were more exclusive than Fanny’s Dress Shop. For several generations, stylish denizens bought their wardrobes exclusively at Fanny’s under the watchful eye of Fanny Soss, and in later years her son Maury. From prom dresses and cocktail attire to wedding gowns and even furs suitable for an evening out in one of the Strip’s showrooms, Fanny’s dressed the ladies of Las Vegas. Soss opened her first dress shop on Fifth Street in 1931 and moved to 211 Fremont in 1932. The store was so successful that she later added a branch in the newly opened Flamingo Hotel and Casino in 1947, as well as in the Last Frontier Village. By 1958, another Fanny’s had opened on Las Vegas Boulevard and Desert Inn Road, with the Flamingo and Frontier Village shops closing shortly afterward. As Las Vegas continued to grow and its commercial center spread far beyond Downtown, the flagship location on Fremont closed in 1966, and the building was later replaced with the Four Queens. The last remaining Fanny’s on Las Vegas Boulevard closed in 1979, and Soss died in 1990 at age 106 as Nevada’s oldest resident. 7 Su Kim Chung has been immersed in the history of Las Vegas since she began work in the UNLV Libraries Special Collections division in 1999. She is the author of multiple editions of the book Las Vegas Then and Now.
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SPACES & PLACES
RUN-D.M.C.–INSPIRED SHOE STORE BRINGS EAST COAST STREET STYLE TO LAS VEGAS
Walk this Way
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By Zauni Tanil
Photography Anthony Mair
Retro hip-hop fashion continues its rise with Clicks sneaker shop in Town Square. Inspired by rap
legends Run-D.M.C., the Las Vegas location partners with Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels and features the group’s renowned 1980s New York City vibe. The store, which celebrated its grand opening during Las Vegas fashion week, is a continuation of 30-plus years of Run-D.M.C. and Adidas influence on street style. The boutique’s second location—the original is based in Milwaukee—was opened here thanks to a collaboration with the music group’s team and entrepreneurs Jey Hall and Donato Pagtakhan. A friend of McDaniels from his time running Adidas Style Chicago, Pagtakhan brought in Hall for his knowledge of the local market. The two had previously worked together at Y-3, Adidas’ partnership with Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto, in The Forum Shops at Caesars. “We wanted to expand Clicks to an emerging fashion market,” Hall says. “We picked Town Square for its central location and good energy.” The store, in keeping with Run-D.M.C.’s impact on sneaker culture, thanks in part to their track “My Adidas,” carries everything three-stripe, from Originals to celebrity collaborations like the Pharrell Williams collection and the cult-favorite Yeezys. As for Clicks Vegas the boutique itself, expect “exposed concrete flooring, a custom fire escape as the Town Square Las Vegas, shoe wall, a Clicks NYC manhole and neon signs with Run-D.M.C. song titles,” 6587 Las Vegas Blvd. South Hall says. Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., To cement the urban hip-hop style, the store features a built-in DJ booth in the Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., cash wrap, paying homage to the late Jason Mizell, better known as DJ Jam Master Jay, Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. the group’s turntablist who was murdered in 2002. Mizell’s best friend, Eric “Shake” Clickskicks.net James, helped found Clicks to fulfill their dream of opening an Adidas store. Instagram: @clicksvegas Clicks will host events throughout the year. “We’ll have in-shop celebrity DJs, music artists and brand pop-ups,” Hall says. “There will also be workshops, from MC’ing to DJ’ing, and multiple charity events.” 7
THE BEATLES ABBEY ROAD LIVE PERFORMED BY
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ASK A NATIVE
CONVERSATIONS
<<< Looking back at the scene and forward to the spring >>> How has the Vegas music and cultural scene most changed in the past 25 years?
Volume, variety and information. In 1992, the scene was
much smaller, and you were likely to run into the same group of friends at every concert, art opening, spoken-word event and café. It was small and close-knit to the point of being insular and cliquish, and back then the primary source of information was print publications: In Music, Las Vegas New Times and Scope (which I edited). Today, the local cultural scene still suffers ups and downs, but with the growth of the Downtown scene, The Smith Center and venues along the Strip as well as in the suburbs, Las Vegas has reached a point where it’s hard to keep track of everything there is to do. One has to be connected to every venue’s social media channels to know what’s going on, otherwise you’ll miss something. Being overwhelmed by options is something we never imagined back when the core of the scene was at the Huntridge Theater, the Enigma and Espresso Roma cafés, and a handful of University District bars.
By James P. Reza Photography Krystal Ramirez
Pooch-Friendly Patios, Updated
T
his column recently discussed the Southern Nevada Health District’s dog-friendly patio waivers; with spring officially arriving on March 20, I’ve noticed multiple local restaurants using social media to tout their patios as Fido-friendly. But the patio waiver requirements, as seen on the SNHD website, are fairly extensive, and include signage, rules forbidding dogs on furniture and laps, accident cleanup requirements and a $118 fee. It wouldn’t be surprising if many dog-friendly patios haven’t actually been granted an SNHD waiver. Curious, I searched the SNHD website for a list of approved patios. No luck. So I queried the SNHD, and found that obtaining the list requires completion of a Public Records Request. Hardly expedient or citizen-friendly, especially since the list can change frequently. If you want to visit an approved dog-friendly patio, you might ask management to produce the approval letter from the SNHD. Other things to look for: a marked separate patio area for owners bringing dogs and a prominently placed waste bag dispenser. Sanitation is, after all, in the best interest of both diners and their pets. Have a question or comment about Las Vegas past, present or future? Send them to askanative@vegasseven.com
Ma rch 16 -22, 2017 vegasseven.com
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LUCKY NO. 7
CONVERSATIONS
A shirt from Daft Punk’s 2007 Alive tour. I wore it nonstop for 10 years, then finally decided to retire it due to the pure paranoia of ruining it. –Mauricio Morales, marketing director, Corner Bar Management
I’ve been collecting vintage clothing before Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink. The oldest item I own is a Victorian nightgown that is sadly starting to fall apart, but my favorites are my ’40s pieces and my Joseph Magnin/I. Magnin items. I have things from every decade, and I will never get rid of them— they are my pride and joy. –Kara Dennis, payroll/human resources manager
The black leather motorcycle jacket I bought in high school. I put it on layaway at the mall and paid it off one assistant librarian paycheck at a time. It’s still warm, stylish and, after almost 25 years, almost perfectly broken in. –Lissa Townsend Rodgers, editor-at-large
I have my mother’s wedding dress from 1953. I wore it to my own wedding in 1994! –Jane Weigel, controller
My mom’s high school cheerleading shirt. If she reads this I’ll deny I said this, but it’s probably around 37 years old. –Jordan Bruy, executive assistant/special projects coordinator
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Ma rch 16 -22, 2017 vegasseven.com
We asked the WENDOH Media staff:
What is the oldest item of clothing in your closet?
The year was 1997, and I was working at bebe in Santa Monica Place mall. There was a Club Monaco across from the store, and I saved an entire paycheck to buy a pair of gold flare-leg pants. That night I wore them to a club in Los Angeles called the Opium Den. It was there that I met a fetching young fellow with big blue eyes and a cute gap in between his front teeth. I am pleased to report that, 20 years later, I still have the pants and the boy. –Melinda Sheckells, editor-in-chief
I have a denim dress with embellishments and pockets that I wore to a Britney Spears concert in middle school (yes, just like that horrific jean dress she wore in the ’90s). I recently brought it out of retirement for a ’90s party. It’s a gem I can’t get rid of. –Nicole Scherer, director of digital sales
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