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contributors Francis GeorGe + Francis Baytan Photographers Francis George and Francis Baytan are award-winning Las Vegas-based architecture and interior photographers, and regular contributors to Vegas/Rated. this month the duo captures new year’s eve style (“about Last night,” Page 60). “to be tied up at a beautiful suite in the Hard rock for a long day did not feel so bad,” George says. “this fashion shoot was a delight and felt like a party among friends, as once again the collaborative efforts of each and everyone there made the vision possible.”
Xania Woodman Contributing Beverage Editor Woodman is a lover of both food and wine, and was thrilled to combine these two passions in “Prepare to Pair” (Page 40). When she isn’t interviewing renowned bartenders for Vegas/Rated, she’s usually curating the dining, beverage and nightlife sections of sister publication Vegas Seven or writing about travel for Forbes.
cLaire WiGGLesWortH Contributing Fashion Editor seemingly a million miles away from the rolling hills of her hometown of shropshire, u.K., Wiggles is equally at home in the nevada desert. she’s also quite comfortable in the Paradise suite at Hard rock Hotel, which was the location of her latest fashionable contribution to Vegas/ Rated. With a focus on new year’s eve in “about Last night” (Page 60), Wiggles creates a glamorous fashion fantasy with a nostalgic feel. check out Wiggles’ style blog styleconviction.com, which launches this month! Follow her on twitter and instagram @styleconviction.
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Jessi c. acuña Associate Editor Growing up, acuña watched her mom rise through the ranks in an industry dominated by men. and, although the race and sports book world is still a boys’ club, it’s got a female shining star thanks to one passionate, hardworking lady, yolanda acuña. For this issue, Jessi had the privilege of interviewing nine infuential women (“Ladies’ night,” Page 50) who have put their stamp on a career in nightlife. “We don’t always see them when we hit the clubs, but they’re tirelessly working to make each party seamless. each of these ladies is an inspiration, and whether they want to admit it or not, a trailblazer in their feld.”
Zee cLemente Makeup Artist native new yorker clemente has been one of Las Vegas’ most sought-after makeup artists since 1999. she has honed her natural talent into the ability to create a great face under pressure. 1970s supermodel Jerry Hall inspired the makeup in our story “about Last night” (Page 60). “Jerry Hall’s vibe has always been one of my favorites. it was fun to re-create an iconic look and make it my own, especially working alongside such a talented crew.” Follow Zee on instagram at @makeupandhairbyzee.
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STRIP SEARCH
The hOST WITh The MOST Ryan Perrings takes care of the biggest names in music
A career in nightlife was never in the cards when he decamped to Las Vegas after high school to attend UNLV with the hopes of studying family law, but Ryan Perrings knew he wanted to live in an international city. “It had to be Las Vegas or New York, but something just drew me [here],” the New Mexico native says. Once bitten by the hospitality and entertainment bug, Perrings quickly changed his career trajectory. Today, he is one of XS’ top lieutenants. Since that club arrived on the scene nearly six years ago, Perrings has risen through the ranks—from VIP host to artist relations specialist and ultimately into his current role as an entertainment and programming manager. He works hand in hand with XS’ managing partner Jesse Waits in establishing talent bookings and ensuring that they are well looked after. The transition into his new role has been easy for Perrings, who says that being a VIP host is similar to being an entertainment manager, in that he’s essentially looking out for people and making sure that all their needs are met. “With artists specifcally, our goal is to always make them feel at home. They constantly tour the world, and Las Vegas may be the place they spend the most time outside of their home.” As for what constitutes a great sojourn, every artist is different. “We tailor [the agenda] to what the artist wants to do, but we always have someone greet them at the hotel and make sure their check-in process is smooth,” Perrings says. “Certain artists will want to go to dinner, while others will just want to sleep. From dinner a member of our team will walk them to the venue and get them to the stage. After the show, we take them out of the venue smoothly and get them back to their room.” And his duties go beyond Las Vegas, as the team routinely travels with artists for shows. “I just got back from Australia for Stereosonic [festival], which had fve Wynn residents,” he says. In his off time, the 29 year-old also likes to adventure, far away. “It’s enjoyable for me to go to places where I can fnd solitude, like an art museum or beach. It’s centering.” –DAVID MORRIS
Perrings takes care of the artists who give clubgoers an unforgettable experience at XS.
PHOTOGRAPH by JOn esTRAdA 36
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All Access
DiaMonD in the rough Occupying the former Diamond Lounge at Bally’s, the space was originally a temporary home for Drai’s After Hours during the renovation of Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall into The Cromwell. Once After Hours moved back, Liaison was born.
Signature Style While the venue’s former color scheme was white and silver, Victor Drai brought his trademark heavy fabrics and moody color palette to give the night spot a sexy boudoir vibe. The only thing to survive from its previous incarnation is the handblown glass chandeliers.
Size DoeSn’t Matter At 6,000 square feet, Liaison is intimate by megaclub standards but packs the amenities partygoers have grown accustomed to, such as 27 tables for bottle service and a staff full of beautiful faces at your service.
rooM to Breathe The club nixed the Diamond Lounge’s full kitchen in favor of more space to party. The back room is where performers and hosts such as Orange Is the New Black star Laverne Cox and Coco Montrese from RuPaul’s Drag Race saunter across the stage.
By Liz Powell Photography Anthony Mair
Pour Homme Liaison, the only LGBT nightclub on the Strip, transforms beautiful strangers into beautiful friends
In Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Thursday– Sunday and select Wednesday nights for the offcial Britney Spears Piece of Me after-party, 702.737.5225; liaisonlasvegas.com
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THE CELLAR
From Crabby Snacks to cast-iron steaks, Hearthstone has a wine for that
THE CELLAR You Are: An eternal student You Need: Elevation and education Just because the wine program was designed to be accessible and affordable as well as inviting does not mean that Kumalaa didn’t have a little fun with it, too. Under the header “For Cork Dorks, Wine Geeks & the Rest of Us,” you’ll fnd an elevated wine experience: premium wines from top producers. This, of course, does not come without a cost. Unlike elsewhere on the list— where most bottles hover in the $30-$90 range— these bottles start at $105 (Chateau de Pez) and reach as high as $850 (Bond Estate). Familiar names include Opus One ($385), Joseph Phelps ($135), Harlan Estate ($340) and Shafer ($650). You should trY: Hearthstone’s weekly Private Cellar wine tastings (8-10 p.m. Thursdays) and monthly wine dinners featuring a different winery.
You Are: A baller
You Need: Status symbols Kumalaa welcomes Light Group’s loyal nightlife customers to Summerlin with labels they’ll fnd as comforting and familiar as Chef Massie’s rotisserie chicken and roasted heirloom beets. These “Proper” bottles include such vaunted names as Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Cheval Blanc and Chateau Haut Brion. Picking up where the Cork Dorks leave off, these bottles command anywhere from $650 (Vega Sicilia, “Unico”) to $2,800 (Screaming Eagle cabernet sauvignon). Bring your Black Card, Boss. You should trY: Truffe popcorn ($6), Grand Shellfsh Platter (market price) and salt-roasted branzino ($46). In Red Rock Resort, 702.797.7344; hearthstonelv.com
Charred Octopus ($16) + Skouras, Moscoflero, Greece ($36)
Feed Your Head
Foodies for the win! You are a social-media maven, and you know your handles from your hashtags. So you know that composition is the key to a droolworthy #Foodstagram. Kumalaa suggests these intriguing pairings, which your followers are sure to “like”: Roasted Jalapeño Hummus ($6) + Martin Codax, Albarino, Spain ($34) “Tis wine has great acidity and hints of citrus and stone fruits with a crisp, dry fnish. It will refresh the palate after each taste of the hummus.” Charred Octopus ($16) + Skouras, Moscoflero, Greece ($36) “Tis wine sees no oak, and has a foral character of roses and honeysuckle. Tere are also hints of orange peel and white pepper. Tat citrus and the acidity work great with seafood.” FG&J (foie gras mousse with Virginia peanuts and house-made jelly; $16) + Selbach-Oster, Riesling, Germany ($40) “Even though this is a kabinett-level wine, and not the sweetest of riesling styles, it pairs wonderfully with the buttery foie gras. It has subtle notes of slate and hints of apple, vanilla and lime, and enough acid to cleanse the palate.” Poached Alaskan Salmon ($27) + George, Pinot Noir, Sonoma ($92) “Not overpowering by any means, the tannins are soft, and the wine has a great terroir characteristic to it. You will get notes of cola, cherries and sweet spices, and a wonderful long fnish.” Wagyu Short Rib ($28) + V12 Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa ($110) “Tis wine has great structure with notes of black currant, cherry, spice and leather. It stands up to the richness of the stout-braised short rib. Te two complement each other with every bite.”
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Beauty in Motion the story Behind hakkasan’s dance floor Magic By Jen Chase Photography Anthony Mair
When the Beat Drops ... * up to 12 performers work at
hakkasan nightclub each night.
* rehearsal time averages about 3 hours
every week—except when new
... and then it 20 hours to prepare.
choreography is added could take up to
* time to make one costume: 100 hours or more * each dancer has 8 looks on any given night.
“EvEry night wE EnsurE our shows arE Extravagant, thE costumEs arE ElaboratE and thE décor is incrEdiblE.”
P
ulsing bass and building beats used to be all it took to satisfy clubbers to their dancing core. But with a growing need to see as much as we hear, the set of a headlining DJ has evolved into a chance to showcase their music against a backdrop of high-tech theatrics. At Hakkasan, staff work behind the scenes Thursday through Sunday to stage shows replete with confetti and CO2, lighting and liquid nitrogen, video and other hightech tricks seen elsewhere on the Strip. But what other venues can’t claim is the artistic team of Gen Cleary and Andrea Frey, whose talents have collided since April 2013 to create Hakkasan’s multisensory vignettes that are as energized, electric and at times unexpected as the DJs spinning onstage. As founder and creative director of Belluscious Productions, Cleary’s company handles Hakkasan’s performers—their dynamic dance, aerial numbers and their sophisticated, ultramodern costumes. Together with Frey— Hakkasan’s show director and project manager whose production expertise ensures Cleary’s vision can be executed in the club—the two women have created performances unique to the visions of artists such as Steve Aoki, Hardwell and Tiësto. “Every night we ensure our shows are extravagant, the costumes are elabo-
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rate and the décor is incredible,” Frey says. “And every show varies depending on the artist spinning, special event or big holiday weekends. We strive to translate the [headlining] artist’s vision into the production throughout the club. We work very closely with our artists.” Storytelling is at the heart of Belluscious’ art. The company frst hit Vegas in 2008 when it was hired to create the show Perfecto featuring Paul Oakenfold. Today it continues its mission of developing performances that people have never seen before. Case in point: the Calvin Harris show. “We [made] TV heads that the dancers wear while performing a choreographed routine,” Cleary explains. “These props are synced up to the main LED screens and project the same images to add to the visual experience of the guests.” Cleary and Frey may be the brains behind Hakkasan’s dance foor beauty, but they give credit where it’s due: to the performers. Calling her deft dancers’ moves “challenging” (can we go back to the whole balancing a television prop on your head with enough poise and sex appeal to woo a wild-eyed clubber’s stare?), dancers were selected after numerous auditions. They have an incredible ability to seamlessly morph their moves into their attire, becoming one with their costumes through dance. “And,” says Cleary, “all of them have been with us since the beginning. That right there says it all.” –Reporting by Maureen Hank
Ladies Night The scarcity of women in nightlife management has long been recognized—business suits and earpieces have often been traded for bustiers and bottle service. But the tide is shifting, and as Las Vegas has become a world leader in nightclubs, a wealth of new opportunities have opened up. Women are rising through the ranks, from front of house to behind the scenes, and executive-level positions are being flled by some of the fercest ladies in town. Get to know nine of these power women as they break the ceiling.
By Jessi C. AcuĂąa
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JEN HOOPER
Director of Human Resources for Tao Group Las Vegas and New York Hometown: Chicago Years in tHe industrY: 5 Hooper’s enthusiasm for her job and passion for life are contagious, making her the ideal HR director. Because when it comes to hiring and training a staff of 4,500, you want a leader with a sense of humor. “It’s a completely different beast when you add in cocktails, servers, a party—every issue you deal with is completely different,” Hooper says of the uniqueness of nightlife. Things can sometimes get prickly, but her résumé has her primed. Before being recruited to work for Tao Group fve years ago, she traveled the world rolling out HR programs for hotels, and most recently headed Charlie Palmer Group. In 2006, she decided to relocate to Las Vegas permanently, to be with her future husband. From joining the dishwashers in the kitchen to sharing an offce with her team, the new mother takes a hands-on approach. “There’s no HR book on how to handle an issue in a nightclub.”
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Makeup Natasha Chamberlin
tHe X factor: For Hooper, the industry is an around-the-clock gig. “When I go to another restaurant, I’m looking around to see what they’re doing. I’m seeing how the servers are interacting with the staff; I’m looking at the manager to see how involved they are or not.” motivation: “I believe in what we do. Even before I worked here I used to come here and party. One of the questions I asked during my interview: How long do you keep video footage for? I had my bachelorette party [at Tao], and I was a little nervous.” model BeHavior: Hooper followed the inspirational advice of her mom: “Don’t stay home. Be the woman that you can be, be the person that I never took the opportunity to be, and put your career frst and a husband second. And when it’s time to have kids, wait.” PHOTOGRAPHy AnTHOny mAIR
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Kim martinwood assistant General manager at tryst and XS nightclub Hometown: Marshalltown, Iowa Years in tHe industrY: 15 Infuenced by her two older sisters, Martin-Wood offcially relocated to Las Vegas after spending the summer months during her college years working as a cocktail server in town. That was 2004, and Martin-Wood soon found herself at Club Ra in Luxor. Not only would she meet her husband there, it shifted her path from a degree in industrial manufacturing engineering to a career in hospitality. Focusing on the operations side as assistant general manager at Tryst and XS, the Iowa native ensures the staff is supported in providing a high level of service. “I consider myself a frefghter and try to put out the situation as fast as possible,” Martin-Wood says. “Figuratively, of course. We don’t want any real fres there.” That includes keeping an open line of communication with the marketing, security and operations teams, to name a few. tHe X factor: “Being from a small town in Iowa, I’ve worn a lot of hats over my lifetime,” MartinWood says, “I grew up in a heavy-machinery shop with my father; I’ve farmed; I’ve raised Holsteins and livestock; I’ve been a cocktail server for many years; I’ve even fipped burgers; I was in a lot of academic organizations and boards throughout my entire education.” model beHavior: “My mom and my two big sisters are my inspirational women,” she says. “They’re such strong women, and they’ve overcome a lot of obstacles—emotionally, physically, fnancially, career-wise. They’ve taught me a lot of my life lessons.” boYs’ club: Martin-Wood has frequently found herself to be the only woman in the room, but that makes no difference: “I’ve never viewed my challenges or obstacles as a male/female factor. In college, the engineering department was primarily male-dominated, but I never viewed it as a segregated situation.”
pHoTogRApHy JoN ESTRAdA
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How tHe ladies plaY: “A couple of years ago [my husband and I] started training for the Vegas Spartan Race, which I fell in love with,” MartinWood says of her passion for the outdoors. “I like hiking and Harley rides; I horseback ride, fsh and water ski.”
Rivka Noble vice President of Catering, entertainment and Corporate Sales at Drai’s enterprises Hometown: berkeley, California Years in tHe industrY: 15 Come across any employee of nightlife luminary Victor Drai, and you’re bound to hear high praise for the man responsible for las Vegas’ most boundary-pushing nightclubs. Meet noble, the vice president of corporate events Drai sought out for his venues, and you’ll want to do the same of her. though she’s been throwing parties in her backyard since she was 17, it wasn’t until noble moved to San Francisco to study visual marketing at FiDM that her love of nightlife truly blossomed through the rave scene. then, as she says, “i came to las Vegas to go to a rave, and i didn’t leave,” noting she began her career at Studio 54. She spent 12 years in sales devoted to a venue she believed in. post Studio 54 and after several years with another nightlife frm, she took a break. then, Drai’s brought her back to the industry she had walked away from. “it’s an investment that Victor Drai has made; i am one hundred percent here with him,” noble says. “Coming [to work] at midnight is my joy. i want to share this with everyone.” Whether throwing a party for 100 or 4,000, her passion for every step of the process from walk-through to execution makes it no wonder she’s one of the most powerful women in the game. mentors: noble fully credits her mother for helping her become the women she is today. “She taught me how to ask a lot of questions and research everything.” BoYs’ CluB: although noble has never felt a gender division, she stresses the value of confdence. “i feel very strong in my convictions and you have to be very strong in your convictions in a room with a bunch of men.” How tHe ladies plaY: outside of spending time with her husband, she also enjoys sports, traveling, dirt-bike riding, driving fast cars, watching Formula 1 and naSCar, and drinking wine. “i have a consistent ‘who i am,’ but i like to sprinkle in who i haven’t been before because i like to try new things.”
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photography ElizabEth buEhring
Tracee nalewak executive Director of Marketing for Hakkasan Group Hometown: Harvard, Massachusetts Years in tHe industrY: 15 Nalewak came to Las Vegas to pursue a master’s degree in hospitality marketing at UNLV and has found success ever since. Prior to joining Hakkasan Group 3 1/2 years ago, she was the vice president of marketing for CityCenter after advancing from her role as executive director for the same project. In the business of what Nalewak likes to refer to as “lifestyle marketing,” she oversees all of Hakkasan Group, which in addition to the nightclubs includes restaurants and the recently added hotel venture in partnership with MGM Resorts International. Her responsibilities focus on “brand, digital marketing, loyalty marketing, PR and a whole bunch of marketing technologies,” but don’t think the corporate side of things means she’s sitting at a desk all day. “We have lots of partners we work with, lots of venues we manage and lots of events we do. You have to be very fexible, and you have to fow through all environments.” tHe X factor: “When I look back to how I got from there to here, what helped was having the confdence to ask hard questions to people in executive-level positions. That could be intimidating, especially if you are a little guy just starting out.” Lean in: Nalewak suggests “speaking to the people who are currently [in the position you want], understand and learn how they got to where they are and, of course, it always helps when you have somebody [you respect to] help you along the way.” BoYs’ cLuB: “No matter what industry you’re in, the higher up you go in the corporate ladder, women are probably the minority. The ratio isn’t always equal, but that’s OK. Progress has defnitely been made, and an organization like Hakkasan Group understands that you need diversity in your executive team to really be true innovators.”
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How tHe Ladies pLaY: “I always like new experiences, to understand what the latest and greatest is, from who’s the new chef with the best restaurant in town all the way to what’s the best movie out there right now,” Nalewak says. PHOTOGRaPHY aNTHONY MaIR
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TED BAKER dress Ted Baker in The Forum Shops at Caesars. BARNEYS jacket Barneys in Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Palazzo.
TK TK TK Photography Francis + Francis Styling Claire Wigglesworth
Last
About
Night... PHOTOGRAPH: XX
Say hello to 2015 with the ultimate party of the year as one of the Strip’s most opulent suites hosts a intimate affair, for just you and her
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GIVENCHY coat Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show. JIMMY CHOO pumps Jimmy Choo in The Shops at Crystals. MIMI HOLLIDAY bra and panties Love Jones in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
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EMILIO PUCCI dress Neiman Marcus. GIVENCHY bracelet Barneys.
MCQ BY ALEXANDER MCQUEEN dress Neiman Marcus. GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI boots Giuseppe Zanotti in The Forum Shops at Caesars.
EMILIO PUCCI top and VALENTINO bag Neiman Marcus. GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI boots Giuseppe Zanotti. BALMAIN mini skirt Barneys.
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Get the party started with champaGne armand de BriGnac (ace of spades) and dom périGnon. aZZedine aLaia jacket Neiman Marcus. GiUseppe Zanotti sandals Giuseppe Zanotti. LanVin Kiss necklace Neiman Marcus. Model’s own panties. THE DETAILS hard rock hotel & casino is synonymous with rock ’n’ roll, and you’ll feel like a rock star every morning when you wake up in the paradise tower penthouse. decked out in 50 shades of gray, the luxury accommodation features a multiscreen entertainment center and three king-size bedrooms. Keeping with the sexy vibe, there is a raised stage with two dancer poles, a spa tub and a pool table in the living room, as well as foor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Las Vegas strip. axl rose and sean “puff daddy” combs call the paradise penthouse home when they are in town. In Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 702.693.5000; hardrockhotel.com –meLissa hoLmes Photography francis + francis Stylist cLaire wiGGLesworth styleconviction.com Stylist’s Assistant Jason KLaiBer Makeup Zee cLemente zeestylez.net Hair Victoria cascioLa Manicurist maria Garay Talent meaGan wilhelmina.com
WHERE TO BUY Barneys Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Palazzo, 702.629.4200; barneys.com GiUseppe Zanotti The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.866.0055; giuseppezanottidesign.com Jimmy choo The Shops at Crystals, 702.366.0503; jimmychoo.com
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LoVe Jones Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 702.693.5007; hardrockhotel.com neiman marcUs Fashion Show, 702.731.3636; neimanmarcus.com ted BaKer The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.369.4755; tedbaker.com
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TRIP AFARI A field guide to VegAs’ wonderfully wAcky Visitors By Penny Pibbets | Photography tomo
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FOR THE GUY ON THE GO WANT Les esseNTieLs de LA Vie men’s travel bag, $1,475 Barneys in Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Palazzo.
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FOR THE PARTY GIRL OR BOY Absolut VodkA Andy Warhol limited edition bottle, $20 Liquor Library in McCarran Airport Terminal 1. ChAmpAgne louis RoedeReR brut, $89 available at fne restaurants and select wine retailers.
TK TK TK FOR THE PERSON WHO LIKES TO PUMP UP THE VOLUME MARSHALL bluetooth speaker, $460 Co-te-rie.
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FOR THE COUPLE WHO LIKES TO CARRY CASH MULBERRY mini trifold wallet, $330 and blossom zip-around wallet, $420 Mulberry in The Forum Shops at Caesars. VRATED.COM
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Money is no object when it comes to making your most beloved happy. Try surprising her or him with an over-the-top vegas experience and see how lucky you get in 2015
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The Guide SHOP
By Michael Shulman || Illustration Brien McCrea Our lives are flled with material possessions, but it’s the experiences we most often remember. Here are seven divine adventures perfect for gifting this holiday season. Imbued with a big dose of Vegasness, they’re sure to warm the cockles of even the biggest Grinch. But be warned: These luxury happenings are not for the faint of wallet!
A week At the Nobu VillA iN CAesArs PAlACe A private Zen garden, an en suite omakase sushi bar manned by one of Nobu’s elves and a 4,700-square-foot rooftop terrace located center Strip are just three of the amenities that make the Rockwell Group-designed Nobu Villa stand out. The tastefully muted but utterly sublime jewel in Caesars Entertainment’s new Anthology Collection of luxury accommodations, suites such as the Nobu Villa were previously available only to visiting celebrities and casino whales. $30,000 per night; anthologysuites.com
PriVAte CookiNg lessoNs with Chef eriC kleiN Las Vegas is a city brimming with culinary excellence. And while many chefs specialize in one cuisine or another, Eric Klein, executive chef of Spago in The Forum Shops at Caesars, continues to please palates across the board—from schnitzel to souffé and everything in between. Also, his nurturing disposition would make learning from him the polar opposite of appearing on Hell’s Kitchen. Priceless. Klein only offers this from time to time as a bigticket charity auction item, so you better start making the philanthropic rounds.
A Couture gowN While true couture must, by its very defnition, be handmade in Paris, that doesn’t mean you can’t have an edited experience from one of the trio of fashion houses—Chanel, Dior and Givenchy—at Wynn Las Vegas. Escape to a villa overlooking the Wynn Golf Course, sip on Dom Pérignon and let the sartorial elves do their magic. Contact individual boutiques for options, 702.770.7000; wynnlasvegas.com
oNe-of-A-kiNd jewelry CreAted by seVAN biçAkçi At this year’s One Night for One Drop gala, one of Las Vegas’ most philanthropic women was alone in the bidding for the experience of consulting with celebrated Turkish jeweler Sevan Biçakçi on the creation of a one-of-a-kind necklace and matching cuffinks. Little did she know that she was about to enter a world of Byzantine splendor, known only to
the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and the Olsen twins! If you’re lucky you might be able to buy this at the third edition of One Night for One Drop on March 25 at The Mirage.
MAde-to-MeAsure boots froM toM ford Entering Tom Ford’s boutique inside The Shops at Crystals is in and of itself a luxury experience. Crossing that bronze threshold with the intent of being measured for a pair of shoes or boots custom-made for your feet, in your choice of color, shape and skin? Absolutely decadent. Available upon request at Tom Ford in The Shops at Crystals; tomford.com
ChoreogrAPh the fouNtAiNs of bellAgio You’ve been spending your afternoons whiling away the time on MyVegas.com, PlayStudios’ freeto-play application that combines social games with established gambling mechanics and gives players the opportunity to earn rewards. Now you have a million points banked up. What to do? Well, you could cash ’em in to see the famed Fountains of Bellagio synchronized to your favorite song. And really, how many people can say that? Talk about “Only in Vegas!” 1 million MyVegas points
toNy beNNett & lAdy gAgA Anthony Dominick Benedetto and Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta make quite the pair for a couple of kids from the ’hood. He’s won 17 Grammys, a pair of Emmys, received seven honorary doctorates, is a Kennedy Center honoree and has sold 50 million records worldwide. She’s won fve Grammys, 13 MTV Video Music Awards and has sold 27 million albums and 125 million singles worldwide. But more than all of that, they’re Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, and they want you to have the swankiest, jazziest, swingiest New Year’s ever when they ring in 2015 at The Chelsea in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, in what will be their frst appearance together in the U.S. (they recently added a December 30 date). You can only get tickets by booking a room or a show package, so best get on with it. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
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COMEDY
Names of female comedians have long adorned the marquees of Las Vegas casinos. Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller and Rita Rudner rank among the pioneering funny women of Sin City. Nevertheless, Whitney Cummings, who performs in The Venetian this month as part of the all-female Lipshtick series, still seems a little surprised by the appeal. “Having done a lot of shows in Vegas, I always wonder why somebody would go there to watch a girl perform with her clothes on,” says Cummings, who created 2 Broke Girls and recently had her own Comedy Central special. “On the other hand, though, comedians and strippers are pretty close. We tend to have similar childhoods. But the strippers usually end up with more self-esteem.” In her act, Cummings derives laughs from her perspectives on sex, relationships and the behavior of men. While Vegas is a fertile place for inspiration— “People there are on their worst behavior,” Cummings says—the fun begins before she even arrives: “Typically, people are totally drunk out of their minds on the fight in from Los Angeles. I remember being on the plane with fve hammered guys, screaming, carrying on. I was scared! I turned around and saw that one of them was on the staff of 2 Broke Girls. I was, like, ‘Dude! I’m your boss!’” Because she spends her Vegas nights working and is usually too exhausted to go out after performing, Cummings has developed a fondness for the city’s daytime activities. On recent visits, she enjoyed Bodies ... The Exhibition and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition (both at Luxor), checked out a performance by Cesar Millan and made it a point to people-watch at the pool. Cummings long ago learned to keep from letting casinos get the better of her. “Las Vegas is tricky,” she admits. “I remember once being inside a casino for three days, never going out and not noticing. Then I fnally had a Jack Nicholson moment and realized I was going crazy. Casinos can create the illusion that you are outside and that can lead to redrum experiences.” When she is in-house, though, Cummings does not spend a whole lot of time putting her hard-earned cash at risk. “I gamble emotionally; the men I date are usually a gamble,” the standup acknowledges. “And I know myself. If I play one slot machine, I’ll be there for six hours, my ego will get involved, and I will lose my house.” January 2 and 3. Tickets start at $74. In The Venetian, 702.414.9000; venetian.com –MICHAeL KAPLAN
HAPPENINGS
Whitney Does Vegas