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ON THE COVER

SEPT 9

AARON LEWIS

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SEVEN NIGHTS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUGUST 31ñSEPTEMBER 6, 2017 TO DO

CONVERSATIONS

11 24/7

39 The Look

What to do around the clock.

BY SHANNON MILLER

12 The Deal

Football contest time.

BY ANTHONY CURTIS

Fashion blogger Arvin Olano brings casual appeal to highend brands.

BY ZAUNI TANIL

42 Lucky No. 7

What we’ll be doing on our day off.

FEATURE

BY WENDOH STAFF

16 Rock Vegas

SEVEN NIGHTS

An excerpt from a book by Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson.

22 Summer Isn’t Over Yet

Labor Day offers one last party weekend of the season.

BY JASON R. LATHAM

TASTE

What To Do After Dark Concerts, nightclubs, food and experiences.

BY JASON R. LATHAM

The Many Sounds of Anderson .Paak

The Beverly Green neighborhood

Get familiar with the Grammynominated singer before his LDW appearance at Jewel.

BY ZONEIL MAHARAJ

25 Raising the Steaks

Tropicana’s Oakville Steakhouse.

BY GENEVIE DURANO

26 Viva Las Vegans

Purple Potato’s new home, where to get a bowl fix and Asian cuisine-inspired vegan.

BY DIANA EDELMAN

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

29 Disappearing Act?

Criss Angel on acting advice from Gary Oldman and why his time in Vegas could be up.

BY JASON R. LATHAM

SPACES & PLACES

33 At Home In Old Vegas

The Beverly Green neighborhood is more than a time capsule.

[ Hear This ]

OUR SITES TO SEE

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

VegasSeven.com

John Doe reflects on 40 years of X and the early days of punk rock.

[ See This ]

10 years of bikinis at Wet Republic.

PLUS: The

hottest of the Hot 100.

Lip Service We bite down on Cutting Board Filipino Gastropub’s ube soufflé, a dessert that will leave you in a purple haze, at vegasseven.com/ cuttingboard.

DTLV.com Meet Downtown’s Mysterious ‘Balloon Guy’ Ryan Schmitt has been a balloon artist almost his entire life, now he’s twisting designs up and down Fremont Street.

LifeIsBeautiful.com

Art Cars Will Put the Festival Into Overdrive Two art cars are joining the fray for a party experience unlike any other.

BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS

SpyOnVegas.com

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

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

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COVER ARTIST

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

GABRIELA ZURDA studied illustration at the University of Murcia. She currently lives and works in Cartagena, Spain as a freelance illustrator for international clients. Her cubism-cartoon style is based on the abstraction of movement with thoughtful color palettes and a sense of humor. gabrielazurda.com; rappart.com

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Ryan T. Doherty | Justin Weniger President Michael Skenandore &KLHI )LQDQFLDO 2I¿FHU Sim Salzman Vice President, Marketing and Events Keith White Creative Director Sherwin Yumul 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 Ave., 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.

Mandalay Bay Ticket Office 702.632.7580 mandalaybay.com 800.745.3000 ticketmaster.com

Publisher

Michael Skenandore Editorial EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Melinda Sheckells MANAGING EDITOR, DINING 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

Michaela Chesin Senior Contributing Editor Xania V. 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 Online DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT

Zoneil Maharaj WEB EDITORS

Jessie O’Brien, 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 Niazmand ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Brittany Quintana, Mimi Tran ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Robyn Weiss DIRECTOR OF SALES, BILLBOARD DIVISION

John Tobin

JON LOVITZ & DANA CARVEY R E U N I T E D SEPTEMBER 1 & 2

JONATHAN BUTLER SEPTEMBER 16

MINDI ABAIR & THE BONESHAKERS SEPTEMBER 23

BONEY JAMES NOVEMBER 18 TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT SLSLASVEGAS.COM 2 5 3 5

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P A R K I N G

TO DO

What to do around the clock in Las Vegas

Pioneer Saloon

By Shannon Miller

THURSDAY 31

Partake in a discussion on gender and race at the Better Half Book Club, which will discuss Nella Larsen’s 1929 novel Passing at The Writer’s Block. Light snacks and refreshments provided.

6 p.m., 1020 Fremont St., thewritersblock.org Teresa Maharaj’s Soul Warriors Collection goes on exhibit at the Art District’s Wonderland Gallery. Using oils, Maharaj portrays feudal Japan and samurai culture, namely themes of honor and nobility. 4 p.m., 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 110, wonderlandgallery.com Good wine, sexy people and live jazz

by Rick Vittallo converge at Cork & Thorn’s flower-filled lounge. 7 p.m., 330 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 180, tivolivillagelv.com/portfolio/cork-and-thorn

PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ

FRIDAY 1

Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nevada (a 45-minute drive from Las Vegas), hosts its weekly karaoke. Let loose and enjoy the (hopefully) fair weather at the bar’s outdoor seating area. 5 p.m., 310 W. Spring St., Goodsprings, pioneersaloon.info Sister House Collective hosts the Create Good Things workshop, teaching

how to make wellness and beauty products with mint harvested from VegeNation’s garden boxes. 10 a.m., 616 E. Carson Ave., facebook.com/vegenationlv Viva Ras Vegas promises two days of

reggae and ska at Brooklyn Bowl. The Expendables, the Aggrolites, Anuhea and Spawnbreezie take the stage today.

6:30 p.m., $23–$45, at The Linq Promenade, brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

A deluge of good releases today on Netflix include City of God, Dead Poets Society, Gangs of New York, the entire Jaws saga, Pulp Fiction, The Rugrats Movie and Shaquille O’Neal comedy specials times five.

That’s right: Shaquille O’Neal. Comedy specials. Five of them. netflix.com Las Vegas Blues Society plays its monthly jam at The Sand Dollar Lounge. 9 p.m., 3355 Spring Mountain Rd., thesanddollarlv.com SATURDAY 2

Sin City Opera opens Kurt Weill’s opera and ballet The Seven Deadly Sins as well as Schoenberg’s Erwartung.

7 p.m., through Sept. 10, tickets start at $20, Cockroach Theatre, 1025 S. First St., cockroachtheatre.com

Celebrate the St. Rose of Lima holiday with traditional Peruvian music and dance. 7 p.m., $11–$13, Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Dr., clarkcountynv.gov SUNDAY 3

It’s free movie night at West Wind Drive-In and Public Market with Despicable Me 3. 6 p.m., 4150 W. Carey Ave., westwinddi.com Tables Board Game Spot sets up

a flea market and board game swap for people wanting to switch up their collections. Did we mention they have locally made snacks and craft sodas?

Noon–5 p.m., $5 to play games, 8880 S. Maryland Pkwy., tablesbgs.com The Phoenix hosts Broadway BeltOff during the bar and lounge’s Broadway brunch. Contenders will belt their favorite musical numbers, and the winner (by audience reaction) receives a cash prize.

Noon–4 p.m., 4213 W. Sahara Ave., facebook.com/thephoenixlv

Looking for something for the kids to do? Learn how to make goldfish slime at the Bubblegum Gallery.

10 a.m., $10, limited seats, 1800 S.

Industrial Rd., Suite 207D, facebook.com/ thebubblegumgallery Michael Bolton performs at Eastside Cannery tonight. But tell me this: When he leaves, how are we supposed to live without him? 8 p.m., tickets start at $50, Cannery Casino Hotel, cannerycasino.com/entertainment MONDAY 4

The Silver Nugget’s new steakhouse concept Wrangler Grill is now open and serving up Mexican-inspired classics for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours vary, 2140 N. Las Vegas Blvd., silvernuggetlv.com Yay! No school today! Take the little ones to Discovery Children’s Museum, open this Labor Day for a kid-friendly outing. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., $15, 360 Promenade Pl., discoverykidslv.org TUESDAY 5

Stephen Colbert’s Midnight Confessions, detailing the some of The Late Show’s most embarrassing secrets and other memorable moments of the host’s irreverent comedy, hits stands today. $20, Simon & Schuster, simonandschuster.com

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

11

24/7

THE DEAL BY ANTHONY CURTIS

Discovery Children’s Museum

Saddle N Spurs Saloon’s weekly free country dance lessons, and stick around for karaoke after 8 p.m.

6–8 p.m., 2333 N. Jones Blvd., facebook.com/saddlenspurssaloon Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria’s

Winedown Wednesday offers

Firearms and the Mob went hand in hand. Learn about just that at Perpetrators and Protectors: The Mob, the Law and Firearms, which will

reveal a history of organized crime’s use of guns. Plus, did we mention attendees can see the firearms IRL? 7 p.m., $14–$20 (children 10 and under free), 300 Stewart Ave., themobmuseum.org

WEDNESDAY 6

Patrick Dodd, a.k.a. “Nash Vegas” brings some country to the Parlour Bar inside El Cortez. 6–10 p.m., elcortezhotelcasino.com Wanna learn how to two-step and line dance like a real cowgirl? Check out

happy hour pricing on two sauv and two pinot varieties—plus deals on food! RSVP on their Facebook event to get on the list. 6–11 p.m., 9785 W. Charleston Blvd., facebook.com/domdemarcospizza

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

DON’T LET IT GO IDINA MENZEL’S TOUR STOP AT THE PEARL IS A MUST-SEE FOR EVERY BROADWAY AND/OR DISNEY FAN

By Mark Adams Photography Max Vadukul

While many can belt out the Broadway soundtracks of hits from Rent and Wicked, and no doubt everyone not living under a rock knows the melody to “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen, some might not be too familiar with the voice that ties all three together: Idina Menzel.

The Broadway veteran was long beloved for her powerhouse vocals and dramatic commitment during her portrayal of Maureen in Rent. But it was those latter two projects (as well as roles in Fox’s Glee and Disney’s Enchanted) that solidified Menzel as a star for any fan of entertainment—be it the stage, screen or otherwise—to watch.

Prior to her September 2 show at the Pearl Concert Theater, the Tony Award–winning chanteuse spoke to Vegas Seven about her latest solo tour and how she chooses such fantastic parts.

Do you like playing Las Vegas? It’s a little dry for Idina Menzel Sept. 2, 8 p.m., $63–$142, Pearl Concert Theater inside Palms Casino Resort, palms.com

12

a singer. That’s why Celine Dion put in all those humidifiers in that stage, because all of a sudden your body’s in the desert and it goes a little crazy.

I’ve found that I have to try to overcompensate so my voice feels good.

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

[Vegas has a] great energy and the audience is amazing. ... It’s my son’s birthday on [the night of] that show, so we might take him somewhere fun during the daytime.

Will your show be balanced between your recent studio album and the stage songs you’ve recorded? It’s gonna be some stuff from the new

album and some songs people would expect to hear. ... There are some interesting arrangements that I’ve created with my music director and the band. ...

We’ve tried to give them a fresh take without stealing the integrity of the original.

You’re best known for your work in Rent, Wicked and Frozen, which all carry a theme of acceptance. Is it important for you to choose projects that feature such positive messages? I feel like

they choose me almost more than I choose them. I’ve given it a lot of thought. … Am I putting something out there in the world that attracts these kinds of roles to me? Is it because I need to learn these lessons as well? ... I’m proud of that pattern. I love that there’s a commonality in the roles and message. 7

Football Contest Time FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE, which means lots of promotions in the casinos.

Many will be revealed in the week leading up to the NFL’s Week 1 games and new ones will pop up throughout the season.

Always of interest going into the first week are the football contests, which offer excellent entertainment value and a chance for a big payday.

There are two categories of contests: pay and free. If you want to play in one or more of the big pay contests, you have about a week to enter, with most deadlines falling on September 9. The highest entry fee is $5,000 for the new “SuperContest Gold” at Westgate. The other pay contests are “Friday Football Showdown” at Golden Nugget ($2,000), the “SuperContest” at Westgate ($1,500), “College Pick ’Em” ($500) and “Pro Pick ’Em” ($25) at William Hill Race & Sports Books and “Last Man Standing College” and “Last Man Standing Pro” ($25) at Station Casinos. If you pony up for one of these, be aware that the competition is stiff, but you also have a chance for a monster payday and some serious notoriety if you win one.

More in the realm of possibility (and probability) for most players are the free contests. There will be many of these in all shapes and forms, but the two big dogs are “Gridiron Glory” at Station and “Pick the Pros” at Boyd Gaming casinos.

Both of these provide great entertainment and a shot at big money. They’re easy to play by submitting your picks at kiosks in any of the casinos and both pay out the majority of their prize money to weekly winners, so you’re not locked into having to play every week (though in “Gridiron Glory” there’s a premium for playing often to qualify for the postseason contest).

These are two excellent contests, but if I had to choose one, I’d go with Boyd’s “Pick the Pros.” I still like this one for the buzz of playing for the big $30,000 weekly payout. Plus, you get three entries each week (up to five for higher club tiers), which means three times the action to sweat. It’s a winner-take-all format and there’s a lot of competition, so you’ll usually have to go perfect to win, but just getting close will get the juices flowing.

Two more confirmed free contests are “College Football Clash” at the Wildfire locations and “Red Zone to Riches” at Rampart Casino (although only your first pick is free), but there will be more showing up at casino kiosks, local bars and online.

Last year you could play free contests at Ellis Island, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Klondike Sunset, Longhorn, PT’s, the two O’Aces bars and Irene’s Cocktail Lounge.

These typically pay closer to $1,000, but you’re playing against much smaller fields: Unlike the big free contests, you don’t have to go perfect to cash in.

Which ones should you play? If they’re free, you should play ’em all. 7 Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and lasvegasadvisor.com.

DISCOVERY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM PHOTO BY JON REIS

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C I S U M E V I L S E D O L P EX E H T T IN R E S E D N O E N

AN EXCERPT FROM A BOOK BY LAS VEGAS EVENTS PRESIDENT PAT CHRISTENSON

AS RECENTLY AS THE EARLY ’90S LAS VEGAS WAS CONSIDERED THE PLACE WHERE HEADLINING BANDS WENT TO DIE. DESPITE ITS REPUTATION AS THE “ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD,” THE CITY WAS ALL BUT DEVOID OF MAJOR TOURING ACTS, AS THE PARADOXICALLY CONSERVATIVE INSTINCTS OF CASINO BOSSES AND CITY FATHERS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR CUTTING-EDGE BANDS, ESPECIALLY ROCK ’N’ ROLLERS TO GAIN A FOOTHOLD. IN 1991, LAS VEGAS SOLD 200,000 TICKETS TO LIVE MUSIC EVENTS. IN 2016, THE CITY SOLD OVER 3 MILLION.

CAESARS’ CHOICE: BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS.

GARY NASEEF —ROCKIN’ THE BOAT It was Gary Naseef’s first week on the job as the assistant entertainment director at Caesars Palace, which had recently opened. Naseef’s boss, Dave Victorson, had challenged him to find a band to play in the typically dead time right before Christmas.

Victorson was looking to do something atypical. With little experience and only what he heard on radio, Naseef recommended several acts, though he didn’t believe any would show up.

“In those days, you couldn’t get a rock act to play Vegas,” he says. “It wasn’t big enough. And it was too plastic for the hippie bands. They didn’t want to be associated with the place.”

APRIL 27, 1973 Deep Purple and Fleetwood Mac play Las Vegas Convention Center.

Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan was sick and could not go on. With no plan to refund, the crowd rioted, throwing chairs, breaking glass displays and turning over cars.

Subsequently, Clark County passed a new rock concert ordinance.

1974 Gary Naseef begins a run of concerts at Sahara Space Center including Earth Wind and Fire, Fleetwood Mac, KISS, Al Green and Linda Ronstadt.

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Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

When Naseef was 13, his father was throwing a regular “party” in the basement of their home in Illinois.

“There was a knock on the door. My mother talked to these people. It was the feds. They wanted to search the house. Meanwhile, my dad’s downstairs throwing all the parlay cards in the furnace.”

The next day, his father announced they were moving. First stop was Daytona Beach, Florida. A short while later, they were on their

JULY 2, 1976 Neil Diamond opens Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts.

APRIL 23, 1956 Elvis plays the Venus Room in the Frontier. He returns to the International Hotel to sell out 636 straight performances from 1969–76.

AUGUST 20, 1964 The Beatles play two sold out shows at Las Vegas Convention Center. Tickets cost $2.50–$5.50.

Naseef wanted Caesars to commit to an aggressive six-night stand.

Caesars went for three. However, the shows were so successful that BS&T ended up playing those six shows, two per night. It was the first rock band to play in a Vegas hotel-casino.

Caesars’ Circus Maximus showroom became something Las Vegas hadn’t had until then—a hip venue. Naseef’s stock was quickly rising.

Naseef’s upbringing was far from routine. His dad, known as “Fast Eddie,” owned a chain of package liquor stores and a bar that fronted for his real source of money—illegal bookmaking.

DECEMBER 18, 1983 Thomas & Mack Center opens with its first concert—Loverboy. The new 18,500-seat arena offered locals bigger concerts.

way to Phoenix. But they were really headed to Las Vegas, where Fast Eddie drove a cab and continued to do what he loved most—gamble.

Ironically, Naseef had a normal life in Las Vegas. He didn’t care much for high school, but he met a girl who captured his heart and whose father had a major influence on his future. Naseef explains, “I didn’t know it at the time, but Sandy Carter was the daughter of a powerful Teamster boss. He didn’t like boys getting too close to his daughter. So we ran off and got married unannounced.”

When Bill Carter went to retrieve Sandy, the newlyweds approached his car. “I went up and said, ‘Sandy, get into the car. It’s your father. You should show respect.’ From then on, he liked me. Not many people went near Bill Carter’s car.”

He and his new father-in-law became close, but Naseef wanted to join a friend who lived on the beach in L.A. Bill didn’t want his daughter to leave, so he got Gary a high-paying job driving a truck on the Caesars Palace construction site. That position led to steady employment when Caesars opened. Gary trained

1984 Then the Las Vegas Silver Bowl, Sam Boyd Stadium installs a retractable AstroTurf which allowed the stadium to produce any event without covering the turf.

1987 Caesars shifted gears and broadened their talent lineup from Circus Maximus. They erected a 9,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and opened with the Beach Boys. The next year, they booked acts like Crosby Stills &Nash, Steve Winwood, and Hall & Oates.

on every job in the hotel-casino: cleaning rooms, dishwashing, cooking, catering, receiving, purchasing, sales, advertising. He finally landed the plum position of assistant entertainment director.

The successful Blood, Sweat & Tears performances not only looked good to Naseef’s boss, they made a strong impression on the group. Naseef was at their beck and call throughout their stay. He formed friendships, especially with lead singer David Clayton Thomas. Appreciative of Gary’s work, they wanted to repay him. Naseef had an idea. “Do a concert for me.”

Thomas said, “Sure!”

Their manager happily agreed, adding, “We get $15,000 a night.”

Naseef didn’t have 15 cents, much less $15,000. But it was the moment he knew he wanted to be a concert promoter.

During a brief stint at Caesars Tahoe in 1969, he met the agent of the group the Carpenters. The agent offered Naseef one of the biggest rock stars of the ’60s—Janis Joplin. No female exemplified rock ’n’ roll more than Joplin. With a voice like Steven

Tyler and moves like Tina Turner, she quickly found her place near the top of the developing rock scene.

With no money, little experience, and his signature on a $15,000 offer, Naseef launched his new concert company, GANA Productions Inc., and set out to put the pieces of the Joplin concert together in Vegas.

He added B.B. King, Country Joe McDonald, the Young Rascals, Jessi Colter and the Youngbloods—all these great acts, just a few months after Woodstock.

The Las Vegas Convention Center was unavailable, so he set his sights on Cashman Center, a sports venue just north of Downtown on Las Vegas Boulevard. In those days, the venue had concrete bleachers, a sparse concourse and a plain green fence. But its capacity was 30,000.

Once again, Gary’s father-in-law, Bill Carter, stepped in. He helped raise the money to advertise and stage the concert and secure Cashman Center. (Though Gary and Sandy divorced after a few years of marriage, that never interfered with his relationship to his ex-father-inlaw; indeed, Gary was a pallbearer at Bill Carter’s funeral.)

Rock was rolling into Vegas. Or was it? Unfortunately for Naseef, its reputation preceded it. It was too new and different to sit well with a city whose performers had short hair, wore tuxes and fronted full orchestras. Eventually, the owners of the Downtown casinos, especially cowboy Benny Binion, got wind of Cashman Field “bringing all these damn hippies to town.”

“Woodstock scared the hell out of them,” said Naseef, who was about to experience one of his many run-ins with authority.

Ticket sales were in the tens of thousands, but a showdown loomed with a newly formed Commission on Rock Concerts after the city passed an ordinance that gave it the power to cancel the concert. Naseef lost all his investors’ money.

The leadership in Las Vegas was sending Naseef and rock ’n’ roll a message. But Naseef wasn’t listening.

He jumped right back in.

Whether it was his proficiency in promotion, the onslaught of rock, or both, he managed to put together a string of successful shows, most of them at the Convention Center.

“The [Convention Center] Ro-

APRIL 12, 1987 U2 plays the first of five U.S. concerts during its Joshua Tree tour at Thomas & Mack Center.

APRIL 27, 1991 Grateful Dead plays the first of several sold-out shows at Sam Boyd Stadium. While not all in the city embraced the Dead, hotels and agents took notice of the stadium’s abilities to sell tickets out of market.

APRIL 14, 1993 Paul McCartney plays Sam Boyd Stadium. The venue hosted other acts including the Eagles, Metallica, Lollapalooza, U2, Dave Matthews Band.

JUNE 5, 1993 Lael Fray and KKLZ launch JuneFest.

Classic rock bands like the Allman Brothers, REO Speedwagon, Journey, Styx and BTO headline with cheap tickets and cheap beer.

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

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tunda was one of the best facilities I ever produced a show in, acoustically and intimately. We sold seats all the way around the stage,” Naseef reminisces.

The Rotunda had a box office, but it was really just an office—no computerized ticket system, no phone sales, no ticket sellers; just a room.

Also, unlike today’s venues, the Rotunda didn’t provide services to the promoter. The Convention Center rented Naseef the building, but he had to secure all the services to produce the concert. For that, he hired Tycho Brahe from Hermosa Beach, California, for sound and lights. The sound was stacked on wings on each side of the stage and the lights were suspended by a custom truss system they built. These were critical to his success, because, as the promoter, Naseef was responsible for the quality of the production.

In the ’70s, loading in a concert and coordinating

DECEMBER 18, 1993 MGM Grand opens, with Barbra Streisand as its Grand Garden Arena’s first act perfoming on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Ticket prices were record-breaking— up to $1,000.

1999-2000 Over the New Year’s week, Las Vegas venues booked the highest priced acts in its history including two Barbra Streisand shows, Bette Midler, the Eagles and Elton John with Tina Turner. Unfortunately, due to high room rates with five-day guarantees and high ticket prices for concerts, there were promoter casualties.

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OCTOBER 29-30, 2005 Superfly Productions launches Vegoose at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Headlining that year: Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, String Cheese Incident, Arcade Fire and the Killers.

MAY 25, 2003 Orleans Arena opens with Brooks & Dunn’s Neon Circus & Wild West Show. The arena averaged 16 concerts each year for six years including Van Halen, Rise Against, Joe Cocker, String Cheese Incident and ZZ Top.

MARCH 11, 1995 The Joint, a 4,000-seat venue at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, opens with the Eagles.

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

MARCH 25, 2003 The Colosseum at Caesars Palace opens with Celine Dion. It would add residencies with Elton John, Rod Stewart, Shania Twain, Reba and Brooks & Dunn and Jerry Seinfeld.

NOVEMBER 15, 2005 The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort opens with Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne, Morrissey, Goo Goo Dolls and Deftones.

In its first year, the Pearl did 71 concerts.

the production of sound and lights with the band were inconsistent and challenging. Each show had three or four bands that came from different parts of the country. “They all had their trucks, and they were all late, and they were all stoned. But I had my own guys who were good and sober,” he says.

The system for scheduling concerts at the Las Vegas Convention Center was primitive at best: All the promoters’ names went into a hat and someone picked them out, establishing the order in which they could rent the Rotunda. Naseef’s GANA Productions came out last. With six promoters ahead of him, it looked like he and his crew wouldn’t put on a show for seven months. But the first three promoters couldn’t deliver. The fourth show’s promoter, Bob Jasper, was pursuing the Grateful Dead, but couldn’t get a commitment. Naseef approached him about co-promoting his next show—Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac and Rory Gallagher.

Little did Naseef know how much this show would change his life and the course of Vegas rock history.

JUNE 24-26, 2011 Electric Daisy Carnival sells 300,000 tickets.

Easily the most experiential festival in the world, it combines incredibly creative stages and production with top-name EDM performers. In 2017, the festival sold 400,000 tickets.

ROCK CONCERT RIOT April 27, 1973, started like most of GANA’s concert dates. All 7,800 tickets for the Deep Purple concert were sold. Naseef was delivering the bands’ $10,000 checks when he got the first bad news from Deep Purple’s manager: The lead singer, Ian Gillan, was sick; they weren’t going on.

Panicked, Naseef convinced Gallagher and Fleetwood Mac to play longer sets, while he worked with Deep Purple to reschedule a free show for later in the week at the Las Vegas (now Sam Boyd) Stadium, where the UNLV Rebels football team played.

All that was left was securing the stadium, so he could announce the new date to the crowd.

The stadium date had to be approved by the chairman of the Convention and Visitors Authority, Bob Broadbent. Broadbent, however, wanted the concert cancelled and all the ticket money refunded.

Naseef told him, “We can’t refund the money. There’s no money in your so-called box office. It’s in the bank.

I can’t access it till tomorrow.”

Broadbent didn’t understand the precariousness of having nearly 8,000 fans, lit up on various kinds of dope, disappointed. He said, “You

NEW YEAR’S EVE 2010 The Cosmopolitan opens with a $30 million entertainment budget including Jay-Z coheadlining with Coldplay and Beyoncé as a surprise guest. Also showing up were John Mayer, Channing Tatum, Brandon Flowers, Rihanna, Jared Leto and Kanye West.

MARCH 10, 2012 The Smith Center for the Performing Arts opens.

MARCH 8, 2014 Brooklyn Bowl opens at The Linq Promenade on the Strip.

The two-story venue has a capacity of 2,000 with 32 bowling lanes and six bars.

OCTOBER 3-5, 2014 Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival launches in the 15acre Las Vegas Village across from Luxor.

tell those kids to exit single file.”

Naseef said, “Listen, you’re going to have a problem here. People are going to get hurt.”

Broadbent got angry. “If you ever want to do another show in this facility again, you’ll do what I say.”

Naseef said to himself, if it’s a riot you want, it’s a riot you got.

It was after 10 p.m. The crowd was fully juiced and growing impatient when Bob Jasper and Naseef walked onto the stage. Jasper announced he had some good news and bad news.

The good news was Rory Gallagher and Fleetwood Mac would jam together. The bad news: Ian Gillan was sick and Deep Purple couldn’t play, but a makeup date would be announced.

“Just then,” Naseef recalled, “a bottle of wine came sailing over our heads, hit Mick Fleetwood’s drum, and broke. Behind me, I heard Mick say, ‘I’m out of here, man!’ And I think he flipped off whoever threw the bottle. The audience thought he was flipping them all off, which he might have been doing. I didn’t see it. But many in the crowd did.

“Well, it was the fastest teardown you ever saw in your life. The bands, the equipment, the roadies, they were out the door and gone.

“By then, chairs were flying everywhere and it became a contest to see who could throw a chair the farthest. And that was just inside the Rotunda. In the corridors, the crowd was breaking glass display cases and outside they pushed over police cars.

They even tore off the metal sprinkler heads and threw them through the windows of the ticket office where we were cowering.”

The riot made national news.

Shortly thereafter, the county passed a stringent Rock Concert Promotion Ordinance, requiring promoters to secure a license to produce concerts.

Under the ordinance, a minimum number of police officers were required, along with a bond. In 1973, while the rest of the country was adapting to rock concerts, Las Vegas took a big step backward. For the next 10 years, Las Vegas would host half the shows it did in the past.

Though that was his last concert at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Gary Naseef had paved the way. “We were setting the tone and the way it was done. In Las Vegas, we pioneered it.” 7

OCTOBER 26-27, 2013 Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival creates an 18-square block music festival which includes art, education, culinary and live music. Over the years the festival has hosted the Killers, Imagine Dragons, Stevie wonder, Beck and Mumford & Sons.

MAY 8-9 AND 15-16, 2015 Rock in Rio launches in a specially constructed festival site across from SLS. Headliners include Taylor Swift, Metallica, No Doubt and Bruno Mars.

APRIL 6, 2016 T-Mobile Arena opens with local heroes the Killers. In its first year, the arena hosted 36 shows including Guns N’ Roses, Garth Brooks, George Strait and the Rolling Stones.

DECEMBER 17, 2016 The Park Theater opens with Stevie Nicks and the Pretenders. 7

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

21

LABOR DAY OFFERS ONE LAST PARTY WEEKEND OF THE SEASON

SUMMER ISN’T OVER YET SURE, SUMMER IS LONG FROM OVER IN LAS VEGAS—TAKE A FEEL OF THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE FOR PROOF. BUT LABOR DAY OFFERS ONE LAST HOLIDAY WEEKEND OF THE SEASON TO MAKE SOME SUMMERTIME MEMORIES (OR SIP COCKTAILS, SPRAY CHAMPAGNE AND SPLASH IN A POOL). HERE ARE OUR PICKS FOR THE BEST PLACES TO DO ALL THAT AND MORE.

By Jason R. Latham

FRIDAY 1

(MOSTLY)

FAMILY-FRIENDLY PARTIES

If you’re looking to get out of town, head to Laughlin’s Edgewater Casino Resort for the Labor Day Riverwalk Festival along the Colorado River. The Friday–Sunday celebration includes live music on the Loading Dock Stage. 2 p.m., free, visitlaughlin.com

It’s First Friday in Downtown Las Vegas, and Collective Soul plays a free concert at the 3rd Street Stage. 9 p.m., fremontstreetexperience.com SATURDAY 2

Celebrate a new UNLV football season at the free Rebel Village Tailgate before the team takes the field against Howard University. You’ll find the party at Star Nursery Field outside of Sam Boyd Stadium. 3–5:30 p.m., 7000 E. Russell Rd., unlv.edu On the Strip, Beer Park at Paris Las Vegas is hosting a Pigskin Pig Roast for college football fans. Yes, there will be a whole pig slow-roasted, along with games on dozens of screens and betting at the inhouse sportsbook. 9 a.m.–close, beerpark.com

SUNDAY 3

Drink up at the Original Margarita Festival at Sonrisa Grill in Lake Las Vegas. Bartenders will compete to make the best margaritas, and you get unlimited samples. If that’s not a win, did we mention all-you-can-eat tacos? 2–6 p.m., lakelasvegas.com MONDAY 4

Get away to Lee Canyon and enjoy the Archery Experience, an hour-long lesson for guests ages 8 and older. Equipment is included. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., $19, 6725 Lee Canyon Rd., leecanyonlv.com Enjoy the last day of Cabo Wabo Cantina’s Patio Party at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. The restaurant is rolling out drink specials, including $23 Dos Equis beer buckets, along with live music for the four-day event.

Open daily at 8 a.m., cabowabocantina.com And the Las Vegas 51s wrap their 2017 season with a midday game versus the Tacoma Rainiers.

It’s also Smith’s Value Menu Monday, featuring discounted food at the concession stands. Score!

12:05 p.m., $5–$26, at Cashman Field, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North, lv51.com

22

Aug ust 31–September 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

FRIDAY 1

SUNDAY 3

Americo Garcia and Jorge Medina, collectively known as Boombox Cartel, drop by Drai’s Beachclub on the roof of The Cromwell, $11–$30, draisbeachclub.com

If waiting until Life Is Beautiful is too much, headliner Kaskade is playing Wet Republic’s Endless Sundays party.

11 a.m., $40–$60, at MGM Grand Las Vegas, wetrepublic.com

The Stratosphere hosts a Labor Day Weekend Luau Party at

its Radius pool, with 2-for-1 $11 Bacardi Blue Hawaiians and Lava Flows through Monday. 11 a.m., $14, stratospherehotel.com

POOL PARTIES

Trance duo Tritonal play The Cosmopolitan’s Marquee Dayclub.

11 a.m., $23–$33, marqueelasvegas.com And the Summer of Tiësto continues at Wet Republic. 11 a.m., $40–$75, at MGM Grand Las Vegas, wetrepublic.com SATURDAY 2

Comedian Kevin Hart, who is hosting HartBeat Weekend at The Cosmopolitan, makes an appearance at The Venetian’s Tao Beach. 11:30 a.m., $23–$42, taolasvegas.com

David Guetta pulls a double shift, playing Encore Beach Club at night after his XS Las Vegas gig. 11 a.m., $40–$60, encorebeachclub.com

And Rick Ross returns to Daylight Beach Club for a Sunday afternoon romp. Noon, $40–$90, at Mandalay Bay, daylightvegas.com MONDAY 4

Bare Pool at The Mirage hosts the Hawaii Five-O–themed Bare Five-O party with signature drinks and DJ Five supplying the tunes. Costumes are encouraged, so grab your aloha-inspired shirt or coconut bra. 10:30 a.m., $10–$20, barepoollv.com Marquee Dayclub hosts a dance music triple threat with Sunnery

House beatslinger Duke Dumont takes over Mandalay Bay’s Daylight Beach Club. 11 a.m., $30–$50, daylightvegas.com And EDM wunderkind Martin Garrix spins at Wet Republic with support from Justin Mylo. 11 a.m., $40–$75, at MGM Grand Las Vegas, wetrepublic.com

And “Heroes” DJ/producer Alesso plays Encore Beach Club. 11 a.m., $40–$75, at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, encorebeachclub.com

James, Ryan Marciano and Michael Calfan. 11 a.m., $23–$33,

at The Cosmopolitan, marqueelasvegas.com

Encore Beach Club counters with on-fire EDM duo The Chainsmokers. 11 a.m., $30–$50, at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, encorebeachclub.com And Steve Aoki closes out the holiday weekend at Wet Republic.

11 a.m., $30–$50, at MGM Grand Las Vegas, wetrepublic.com 7

Aug ust 31–September 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

23

EMPANADAS Housemade pastry dough stuffed with braised ground beef, sweet plantains, black beans, queso fresco, spicy guasacaca pico

CHICALASVEGAS.COM | @CHICALASVEGAS

ONE BITE

TASTE

PHOTO COURTESY OF TROPICANA

Raising the Steaks

N

apa Valley is hundreds of miles away, but no need to travel that far to enjoy its bounty. Oakville Steakhouse, part of the Tropicana’s (troplv.com) recent updates, bills itself as Napa Valley–inspired, and delivers with premium steaks, seafood and a wine list that’ll have you dreaming of vineyards and the California sunshine.

Situated on the second floor, away from the bustle of the casino, Oakville is an elegant setting for an evening out, with live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

Steaks and chops are the standouts here, with dry-aged and prime selections such Texas Wagyu, rib eye and porterhouse, among others. Sides include asparagus, spinach and sauteed mushrooms, and the generous portions are meant to be shared.

For non-carnivores, the seafood selection is just as extensive, with scallops, salmon, sea bass, octopus and more on the menu.

–Genevie Durano

Aug ust 31–September 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

25

VIVA LAS VEGANS

TASTE

Purple Potato’s New Home, Where to Get Your Bowl Fix and Asian cuisine–inspired vegan

Y

ou can thank popular demand for the new Purple Potato (10090 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 110, purplepotatolv.com) in Henderson. The restaurant, which was formerly housed in Yonaka restaurant by day and only serving lunch, moves to full-time status in its own spot. Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, the new version of Purple Potato is serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Our goal is to be a destination for the best-tasting, convenient, seasonal and affordable food that’s also good for you,” says chef Ramir DeCastro. And, affordable it is. The build-your-own bowl with maple tofu starts at $8 and includes so many choices it will make you giddy. The menu still offers the tried-and-true salads, bowls, homemade teas and agua frescas, along with new items such as wraps, sandwiches, porridges, soups, smoothies and desserts.

By Diana Edelman Photography Anthony Mair

The Valley can now add another tick mark to the “all-vegan restaurant” column, thanks to Veggy Street (5135 S. Fort Apache Rd., veggystreet.com). This entirely plant-based restaurant offers vegan versions of omnivore eats, so bring your non-vegan friends along to check it out. The menu features items such as a veggie burger with dried agave/guarana, quinoa, red onions and a choice of Muenster or almond cheese; falafel burger; a blackened chicken wrap with quinoa, sundried tomatoes, jalapeno, red onions, red cabbage, avocado, cucumber, carrots, cilantro and hummus on a Lavash bread; a vegan hot dog and even gluten-free eats such as Chicken Tapioca—blackened chicken with quinoa, sundried tomatoes, red onions, red cabbage and avocado on tapioca dough. Mark your calendars: The grand opening is September 7.

Henderson is finally home to an all-vegetarian spot in the form of the fastcasual VeggiEat Xpress (390 N. Stephanie St.). If the name sounds familiar, that’s because you can find the original outpost tucked inside the Ranch 99 Market on Maryland Parkway. This stand-alone Asian restaurant, which opened in mid-July, serves up veggie and vegan eats and includes dishes such as vegan Buffalo wings, Vietnamese sandwiches, pho and curry soups, as well as Chinese and Thai entrées. The best part? A meal here won’t set you back more than $10—and that’s with an appetizer and a main dish. 7

Purple Potato

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

27

POLITICS

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

By Jason R. Latham

Disappearing Act? Criss Angel Mindfreak Live!

CRISS ANGEL ON ACTING ADVICE FROM GARY OLDMAN AND WHY HIS TIME IN LAS VEGAS COULD BE UP

There is a grown man, not quite mid-

dle-aged but getting there, in the front row of tonight’s performance of Criss Angel’s Mindfreak Live! at Luxor Las Vegas. He’s enthralled the moment he takes his seat, watching a screen onstage play a montage of Angel’s greatest tricks—the Luxor light levitation and the Times Square water torture cell, among others—and he remains in this state of unrestrained exuberance throughout the show.

In the end, when Angel descends from the stage to greet the front row, the magician and fan share a handshake, and the latter celebrates with the enthusiasm of a 10-year-old Little Leaguer who just hit the game-winning home run.

This is the following Angel has inspired during his nine-year run in Las Vegas. It’s the same following that’s supported his empire of TV shows, touring productions and merchandise, and this year it carried him to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Why would he want to leave any of it behind?

Wait, before we jump to the future, let’s bring the story back to Angel’s start in Las Vegas. It’s not the story of a young performer struggling to make ends meet—Angel was already an established star when he partnered with Cirque du Soleil on Criss Angel Believe—but, he says, there were behind-the-scenes struggles, as the artist and producers failed to see eye-to-eye.

Photography Jerry Metellus Photography, Inc.

“We had a director who didn’t like magic, we had people who were trying to create things that were much more like a Broadway show, and it really wasn’t what people were coming to see,” he says. “It was kind of creatively out of my hands; it was all Cirque-driven.

“They tried to do something, but unfortunately, it wasn’t what we thought it was going to be.”

Our conversation is happening during Angel’s break from editing a music video at the 60,000-square-foot warehouse that serves as a testing ground for his Mindfreak Live! set pieces. The hours he puts in here during the day, before heading to Luxor (Angel says he doesn’t sleep more than three hours a night), give him the chance to “get my creative rocks off.”

That’s something he says Believe wasn’t giving him until last year, when the Mindfreak show replaced Believe and Angel became its executive producer. He finally had full creative control, he says, adding that he’s never enjoyed a better relationship with Cirque.

“It’s not just the illusions and it’s not just the images. It’s the experience, and this experience is really revolutionary for magic,” he says. “It’s technologically superior, and we’re doing things that are groundbreaking—things that I spent 18 years developing.”

His investment in his craft is the driving force behind Angel’s desire to have ownership of his show. Like any artist, he’s protective of his

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

29

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

brand. Angel owns all of his merchandise—“I think I have over 2,000 items,” he says—and his company, Angel Productions Worldwide, controls his multimedia ventures.

His business acumen, he explains, came from a lot of on-the-job training in his early days. “I couldn’t afford a lawyer, so I used to read all of my contracts,” Angel recalls. “I used to look up in the dictionary what certain words meant.

“I learned a lot about the English language and writing and what a business plan means and how to present it, just by doing it constantly, trying to get people to support me and invest in me. It was many, many years in the making.”

Now, with more than 30 years of performing under his studded leather belt, Angel faces a life-changing decision: Will he leave Las Vegas when his 10-year deal is up at Luxor in October 2018?

“I’ll probably know before the end of this year what I’m going to do, but I don’t know,” he says. “All my options are open.

“If my show wasn’t so successful, then I probably would be in a different situation, but because it has really been incredible and I’ve been very blessed to have the type of success that I’ve been bestowed, I’m in a good position to be a free agent.”

Angel adds that there are “a couple of completely different directions” he could take. Being a free agent doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll sign on to another stage show, he explains, because of all that he’s learned as a producer and performer. On Mindfreak Live!, Angel says, he’s involved in everything from the lighting to the pyrotechnics.

30

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

“My skill set is very diverse and I’m trying to learn more about each thing, because you want to be able to know as much as you possibly can,” he says. “My goal is to learn as much as I can as an artist and as a person.”

That montage of clips that runs before Angel’s show includes bits of his acting reel, which includes guest appearances on CSI: New York. He laughs when asked if acting could become a future full-time gig, but he says it’s crossed his mind, and he explains how Oscar nominee and friend Gary Oldman once offered him advice on playing his onstage alter ego, Xristos. “[Oldman] says, ‘When you enter on that throne, I’d be completely still and I would do this look,’ and he showed me the look and we practiced it,” Angel says. “I was so flattered and honored, because I respect him. Everybody respects him.”

Oldman was among the guest speakers at July’s unveiling of Angel’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 2,615th star, near the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, is directly across from Harry Houdini’s star. Angel says the placement is significant because of the similarities he shares with the late 19th century/early 20th century magician.

“Houdini was his own entity,” he says. “[He] created his own brand and really understood how to connect to the public and how to create intrigue.”

Intrigue. Sort of like leaving us wondering if there’s a final curtain call in Criss Angel’s future. 7

Criss Angel Mindfreak Live!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

LIVE IN CONCERT! 9PM | $25

General Admission plus taxes & fees

Dubbed the “Springsteen of the Southwest” by the Asbury Park Press, Roger Clyne has performed around the world featuring witty and insightful lyrics, crunching guitar riffs, and a dynamic rhythm section.

Purchase online at StratosphereHotel.com Must be 18 or older. Doors open at 6:30pm.

Stratosphere Las Vegas

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StratosphereHotel

SPACES & PLACES

At Home in

Old Vegas

By Lissa Townsend

Rodgers Photography Ginger

Bruner

THE BEVERLY GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD IS MORE THAN A TIME CAPSULE Aug ust 31–September 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

33

SPACES & PLACES

One

of the most endearing things about classic Las Vegas was its love of themes.

To roll down the Strip back in the days of Jack and the Rat Pack was to pass by Western ranches, Middle Eastern palaces and Hawaiian lodges—a.k.a. El Rancho Vegas, Dunes and Castaways. The historic neighborhood of Beverly Green holds much of the same charm, with many homes that still carry the thematic spin favored by casinos of the era.

If nearby Paradise Palms is a slick headliner, Beverly Green is a boisterous lounge act, and not just because Louis Prima and Keely Smith lived here during their Sahara Lounge glory days—as did a number of casino owners, pit bosses and local political players. Built during the ’50s and early ’60s, the neighborhood’s official boundaries are Las Vegas Boulevard to Sixth Street, East Sahara Avenue to East Oakey Boulevard, but it blends into nearby John S. Park and contains sub-neighborhoods such as Paradise Park and Van Patten Tracts.

The houses dotting Rexford Place and Houssels Avenue feature sleek mid-mod homes with angular rooflines and desert landscaping. But a wider variety of designs includes Cinderella ranches bedecked with plenty of scalloped trim and storybook touches such as diamond-pane windows, built-in birdhouses and random patches of cobblestone. Asian/Polynesian-inspired models are topped by narrow-to-wide double-pitched roofs with protruding beams and Chinese-motif ironwork. There are mock Tudor cottages, tile-roofed “Spanish” bungalows, even Western-style ranches with cowboy silhouettes standing guard and a curvy, mosaicked apartment building that Liberace’s mom used to call home.

Of course, the idea that Beverly Green’s aesthetic variety was casino-inspired does have some concrete basis. A number of homes were created by John Replogle, who designed the Dunes Hotel, as well as the team of Walter Zick and Harris Sharp, who were best known for their work on the Mint Hotel and the Moulin Rouge.

And Beverly Green does encompass an actual bit of Strip geography: a straight shot of motels and wedding chapels, replete with baby-blue neon hearts and not one but two Elvis-pink fishtailed Cadillacs. Along the neighborhood’s eastern border are more private public buildings, like the Mesquite Club with its retro cursive signage and two churches whose contrast-y post-millennial paint jobs can’t conceal their sleek ’60s lines.

In 2016, the City of Las Vegas declared Beverly Green a historic neighborhood. There is interest in putting parts of it on the National Register of Historic Places as well. But it’s not a place trapped in the past: People ride bikes, walk dogs, work on cars, paint their roofs pink and put Stardust-inspired art in their yards. Just because it’s history doesn’t mean it’s a time capsule. 7

Aug ust 31–September 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

35

STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY.

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THE LOOK

e d o M A

Fashion blogger brings a casual appeal to high-end brands

s i H l l A

CONVERSATIONS

n Ow

By Zauni Tanil Photography Krystal Ramirez

Aug ust 31–September 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

39

CONVERSATIONS

THE LOOK

Arvin Olano Keep up with the fashion and lifestyle blogger at arvinolano.com and on Instagram @arvinolano.

Your blog, arvinolano.com, features luxury items styled in a way that are both casual and wearable. What are some of your go-to pieces right now? My Gucci

Princetown loafers. The Princetowns are a backless-style loafer available lined or unlined in lamb fur.

I own a couple of pairs, and I rotate them depending on the weather.

This shoe goes back to my love for being comfortable but luxe at the same time.

Have any fashion collections recently inspired your work? I

currently work in the luxury retail industry—right now, I’m inspired

by Gucci. Their creative director,

40

Aug ust 31ñSeptember 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

Alessandro Michele, has brought a sense of freedom to be who you are by wearing the clothes you want to wear. In the end, fashion is a reflection of your identity, so I love that a megabrand like Gucci is pushing this idea in such an amazing way.

What’s your favorite part of the styling/creative process? My blog

is an extension of who I am and what I do in my daily life. My favorite part about styling is the creative flow. The creative flow is the feeling I get when I’m completely immersed in a task, and I become one with what I’m doing. I’m so focused on finishing what I started that time slows down. 7

CONVERSATIONS

LUCKY NO. 7

We asked the WENDOH Media staff:

What are you doing on your day off?

Photography Gabriele Maltinti/Shutterstock

“I’m going to get a very late start on my currently nonexistent tan at Newport Beach. When I’m not being bronzed, I’ll be riding bikes and playing volleyball.”

–Jessie O’Brien, web editor

“After we put this magazine out, I’m going to enjoy my day off with hours of sleep. Once I recollect my energy, I’m going to love myself.

Love means eating Buldogis’ delicious gourmet dogs. Following those moments of pure bliss, I will return home and do what everyone does on their day off: take my pants off and be thankful for my ability to labor in the first place.” –Amber Sampson, web editor

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Aug ust 31–September 6, 2017 vegasseven.com

“Hang out with my roommate’s dog on Leoné Café’s patio and start on Let the Right One In for The Writer’s Block’s October book club.” –Shannon Miller, editorial assistant “What’s a ‘day off’?” –Xania Woodman, senior contributing editor, beverage “I’ll be puppy sitting for all my friends, preferably at houses with pools.” –Kara Dennis, HR manager

“Labor Day is the official end-ofsummer holiday, so I’m going to welcome autumn a little early on September 4. A to-go order from Pho Saigon 8 (No. 23 FTW!) and a muchtoo-early screening of Hocus Pocus is exactly what I need to do that. Forget pumpkin spice lattes; noodle soup is a pho-king amazing way to dive into the season.” –Mark Adams, arts & entertainment editor

“I’m most likely hitting Hiero Day, an annual street festival in Oakland founded by the Hieroglyphics indie-rap collective, to see hip-hop legends like Bun B and DJ Quik, newcomers like Ezale and Saba, and bask in the wonder of Lil B “The Based God.” Of course, I’m a procrastinator, so I haven’t copped my ticket (or flight) yet.” –Zoneil Maharaj, director of digital content

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SO

SAT, SEP 30 >

X - 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR with SKATING POLLY LIL YACHTY CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN B O B S A G E T with MIKE YOUNG THE MAGPIE SALUTE MORGAN HERITAGE D A N Z I G with DEAFHEAVEN, VAMPS + 3TEETH METAL ALLIANCE TOUR with OVERKILL, CROWBAR, HAVOK + MORE! MOTIONLESS IN WHITE with THE AMITY AFFLICTION, MISS MAY I + WILLIAM CONTROL MAKE AMERICA ROCK AGAIN feat. SCOTT STAPP ANDREW W.K. THE PARTY NEVER DIES TOUR THE GREEN CHRONIXX P O S T M A L O N E sold out JON BELLION FATHER JOHN MISTY with WEYES BLOOD T H E C H U R C H with THE HELIO SEQUENCE RUN THE JEWELS with DENZEL CURRY IN THIS MOMENT with OF MICE & MEN + AVATAR FLYING LOTUS IN 3D TREY ANASTASIO BAND CAPTURING PABLO AN EVENING WITH DEA AGENTS STEVE MURPHY & JAVIER PENA COMMON KINGS with SAMMY J, WESTERN CONFERENCE + BO NAPOLEON THE FRONT BOTTOMS with BASEMENT + BAD BAD HATS I PREVAIL with WE CAME AS ROMANS, THE WORD ALIVE + ESCAPE THE FATE EMERGE MUSIC + IMPACT CONFERENCE PERIPHERY / ANIMALS AS LEADERS with ASTRONOID WAX TAILOR: SOLO SET + GUESTS with DIRTY ART CLUB CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD T H E D R U M S with HOOPS DESCENDENTS NIGHTWISH: DECADES NORTH AMERICA 2018 PETER HOOK + THE LIGHT

FRI SEP 22

WORLD FAMOUS METALLICA TRIBUTE

THU SEP 28

ANDY MINEO

SAT SEP 30

OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY

WED OCT 18

THE INTERRUPTERS & SWMRS

FRI OCT 20

NOTHING MORE

SAT OCT 28 WED NOV 1 FRI NOV 3 WED NOV 15

MASTERS OF PUPPETS PACIFIC PRESENTS

FRIENDS AND FAMILY TOUR W/ SOCIAL CLUB MISFITS, WORDSPLAYED

ELLISMANIA 14: SMASH MAGAZINE PRESENTS

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS SHARP SHOCK

DIGITOUR PRESENTS

BROOKLYN & BAILEY

LANY

THE LANY TOUR: PART 2 SMASH MAGAZINE PRESENTS

BAYSIDE

BAD SUNS

LOVE LIKE REVENGE FALL TOUR 2017 W/ HUNNY, QTY

RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT PERFORMANCES SAT - WED

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