Departments 18 the hit list 10 things we love about Vegas right now.
33 strip search Daniella Capitano brings the Vagabond spirit Downtown; Joe Constanty looks to the future of footwear; Amy Stone is all style and substance.
38 all access Fashion, fantasy and a creative use of paper can be found at REDValentino in Te Forum Shops at Caesars.
40 DestiNatiON From caviar at the bufet to the famous Fountains show, spend a few days in Bellagio.
44 GaMe ON Bitcoin lands Downtown. What does this mean for the gaming industry and the rest of the city?
46 the sceNe hip-hop legend Nas and sneaker king Nick Sakai introduce 12A.M. Run.
48 the KitcheN DOOr A day in the life of chef Guy Savoy.
The Guide Rated teams up with Neiman Marcus to dress six women on the cusp.
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Classic chicken dishes put a spring in your step; UNLVino celebrates 40 years of scholarships and wine; and find out where to dine for March Madness.
84 happeNiNGs
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Te Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art highlights female artists; our highly Rated list of cultural outings; spend 15 minutes with comedian Jef Ross.
86 play A roundtable discussion with the men of XS; find out where the celebs sit; plus highlights from Vegas’ wildest parties.
96 the eND Fill out our fashion Mad Lib.
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GUY SAVOY: SABIN ORR; BELLAGIO: ELIzABEth BUEhRING; BOLt BARBERS: JESSE J SUthERLAND
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editor’s letter My love of fashion started with barbie. i remember the summer of 1981 when i got my first doll. She was of the Malibu variety, and she wore a blue one-piece swimsuit. First i stripped her—thinking her look was far too casual—and threw her in the pool, much to the dismay of my mother. But then i realized there could be a world of wardrobe opportunities for her beyond those beach-bunny roots. Soon she had furs and jumpsuits and leopard-print skirts, hats and evening clutches, and even an astronaut uniform for when she wasn’t working at Mcdonald’s. The options were only limited by the merchandise at our local Toys R Us. Our biannual fashion issues indulge the same sartorial penchant that ensured DON’T MISS Te Forum Shops at caesars hosts the frst Festival of Beauty from 1-8 p.m. march 21 and 22. enjoy beauty presentations from various retailers; register at participating stores to win shopping sprees and beauty products; and visit the Rated recharge Zone, where you can relax, tweet and post your favorite beauty fnds in our lounge near the Fountain of the Gods. enjoy real Water, relax with some music and delight in the custom foral decor by Flora Pop. (See Page 54.) fsfest.com
my fair-haired friend was always Best dressed. Fashion is, after all, part fantasy. So whether the mannequin is plastic or human, the possibilities are vast. and there is no better place to play for a day than in the boutiques of las Vegas. in this month’s feature “Flower Power” (Page 66), photographer Matilda Temperley returns to the desert to show us spring through her whimsical lens, while local florist Victoria hogan creates spectacular headpieces to complement the curated looks of stylist Jimi Urquiaga. We also get all access
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS If you are an avid reader of Rated, you will notice there is a pattern forming. We once again commissioned photographer matilda temperley to shoot our Fashion Issue cover, and yet again she incorporates an optical illusion. In her previous effort (September 2013), temperley captured a topsy-turvy reflection of a model in a crystal ball. this time she creates a prism of florals and lace using a simple piece of cut glass. (See more on Page 66.)
to the RedValentino in The Forum Shops at caesars (Page 38), a space that i have crowned one of the most beautiful stores in Vegas; rapper nas and his business partner nick Sakai tell us about their new sneaker store at The linq (Page 46); and we go wild for exotic beauty in “Tribal colors” (Page 54). Finally, in the ultimate adult version of playing dress up with your friends, we introduce the 2014 “Women on the cusp” (Page 76), outfitted in their favorite looks of the season. come meet these outstanding ladies and shop their personally curated “boutiques” at neiman Marcus in Fashion Show on March 19. indeed, consider this issue as your go-to guide for getting dressed in Vegas—because i, much like you, dress my Barbie one velvet bell-bottom pant leg at a time.
Melinda SheckellS Editor-in-Chief Follow us on Twitter @vegasrated
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CrystalsAtCityCenter.com • Located next to ARIA ® Resort & Casino • Clothing and accessories provided by Donna Karan • Jewelry provided by Bulgari
contributors
JIMI GIOVANNI URQUIAGA Stylist The Las Vegas native and current Los Angeles resident has always had an eye for fashion. As a published stylist, he creates concepts for fashion editorials. As a designer, J. Urquiaga by Jimi Urquiaga debuted earlier this year to favorable reviews. He pulled out the best of spring for this month’s “Flower Power” (page 66). “I wanted a colorful palette—that Marc Jacobs and Valentino, among others, were able to provide—to play with layering and patterns and compose outfts that were quirky and fun.” Follow Urquiaga on Twitter @jimiurquiaga.
DEVIN HOWELL Styling Assistant
MATILDA TEMPERLEY Photographer Temperley is an exploratory photographer based in the U.K. who came from a gray and windy winter to shoot an explosion of sunshine and fowers in a Las Vegas studio (“Flower Power,” page 66). “I particularly loved the kaleidoscope in the foral shoot and how the models’ expressions differed in each bit of mirror. The slight change in angle gave varied emotions, which was a lesson in the magic of photography. Since the foral shoot, I have spent most days waist-deep in water covering the fooding disaster in my home state of Somerset, so Vegas seems a long way away.” Follow Temperley on Twitter @mtemperley.
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Howell, a Las Vegas native, looks forward to the energy springtime brings, so she was excited to assist stylist Jimi Urquiaga for Rated’s foral trend story (“Flower Power,” page 66). “The transition from winter to spring always breathes new life into fashion, and the looks from all the designers really embraced the spirit of the season.”
JIMMY IM Writer
JANA CRUDER Photographer
Im is an L.A.-based travel journalist who writes for top publications— from Conde Nast Traveler to The Hollywood Reporter—and appears regularly on morning news shows as a travel expert. Covering luxury hotels, food, culture and lifestyle, Im has visited 97 countries in the past 10 years. For this issue, he spent a few days discovering the highlights of Bellagio (“Beauty in Plain Sight,” page 40). “I got a massage, ate caviar and watched ‘O’ by Cirque du Soleil. Tough job.” Follow Im on Twitter @dieselmad and Instagram @jimmyim.
Celebrity portrait and fashion photographer Cruder is a multifaceted creative inspired by art, people, locations, stories, light and contrast. For this issue, Cruder pointed her lens at “Faces of the City,” (page 58). “Photographing this feature was exciting. I loved meeting everyone and connecting and setting the stage to create a powerful portrait. We focused on bringing the inner beauty out and making strong iconic images of everyone. Confdence is everything.” Cruder’s work can be viewed at janacruder.com.
miChaeL skenanDoRe pubLisheR assoCiaTe pubLisheR eDiToR-in-ChieF Design DiReCToR
christy corda melinda sheckells s.a. lien
managing eDiToR
genevie durano
assoCiaTe eDiToR
jessica acu単a
Copy ChieF Copy eDiToRs eDiToRiaL inTeRns
paul szydelko sean defrank, matt jacob alena cruz, kel dansby, devin howell, jessica kantor, susanna kelly, allison kyler, tye masters, john r. schmitz
ConTRibuTing eDiToRs
grace bascos (dining), geoff carter (culture), jen chase, michael shulman, claire wigglesworth (fashion), xania woodman (beverage)
ConTRibuTing WRiTeRs
laurel may bond, camille cannon, maureen hank, jimmy im, al mancini, pj perez, jason scavone, david g. schwartz
gRaphiC DesigneR gRaphiC Design inTeRn senioR ConTRibuTing phoTogRapheR ConTRibuTing phoTogRapheRs
jesse j sutherland chase cifelli, chris widlowski anthony mair brian brown, jana cruder, jon estrada, francis + francis, sabin orr, denise truscello, zack w, lucky wenzel
Vp business DeVeLopmenT DigiTaL saLes manageR aCCounT manageR aCCounT seRViCe manageR DiReCToR oF pRoDuCTion/DisTRibuTion aDVeRTising manageR DisTRibuTion CooRDinaToR
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the hit list
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the opening
If “playground” is the vibe you get once you hit The Linq— the open-air retail, dining and entertainment district—you’ll be right on the money. Its main attraction is the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel towering 550 feet overhead. Positioned between The Quad Resort & Casino and Flamingo Las Vegas (facing Caesars Palace, mind you), The Linq and its 30 drinking, shopping, dining and nightlife venues provide entertainment options all around you, no matter where you stand. Could The Linq be the Strip’s new middle? Take her for a spin and see what she’s made of. –JEN CHASE
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About the high RolleR
About the liNQ
• The High Roller features 28 spherical cabins that each hold up to 40 (yes, 40!) guests. The cabins feature dynamic video and music shows that will seamlessly fade away from the glass to reveal views of the Strip and Valley beyond as the wheel rotates skyward.
• The Vortex, an architectural element that sports a canopy of colorful, embedded LED lights designed to complement the lights of the High Roller, marks The Linq’s Strip-facing entrance.
• The High Roller is 9 feet taller than the next tallest observation wheel in the world (the Singapore Flyer, at 541 feet). • Moving one foot per second, a full revolution on the High Roller takes about 30 minutes. • It took 7.2 million pounds of steel and 112 cables to construct the High Roller’s wheel structure.
• The Linq strives for a true neighborhood feel by being pedestrian-friendly and promoting common-area programming, such as live entertainment and outdoor dining wherever possible. • Restaurants inside The Linq include California-based Sprinkles Cupcakes; Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop; The Haute Doggery; Chayo Mexican Kitchen; and Flour & Barley pizzeria and brewery.
• Take a spin on the other side of the globe with F.A.M.E. (Food, Art, Music and Entertainment), a re-creation of culinary Asian night markets such as those in Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei. • From the top of your head to the soles of your feet, The Linq has you covered: 12A.M. Run and Bella Scarpa proffer premier footwear, while Goorin Bros. has hats shipped in fresh from its San Francisco design headquarters. • An estimated 10,000 hotel rooms surround the 300,000 square feet on which The Linq sits.
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ALL ACCESS
Once Upon a Dream Fashion and fairy tale collide at REDValentino in The Forum Shops at Caesars
By Devin Howell
Tere are currently only three other freestanding REDValentino boutiques in the United States. Te RED line—a whimsical and spirited stand-alone collection at a more accessible price point than Valentino—features women’s readyto-wear, handbags, shoes and accessories.
{
Te space is flled with imaginative paper sculptures, developed by Nikki Nye and Amy Flurry of Paper-Garden. Sculptures are designed from ordinary sheets of paper and shaped into impressive silhouettes. Within the three-room, one-story shop, the two dimensional transfoms into three dimensional at the blink of an eye.
Te windows ofer a glimpse into the captivating 2,700-squarefoot retail space. Te interior is bright and white, accented by elegant chandeliers that mimic the aesthetic of the ultra-feminine REDValentino collection.
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lives up to expectations. The 55,000-square-foot Gallery of Fine Art to see Painting Women: spa, which is in its self-contained wing, has just Works From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston the right amount of bliss. Men and women have (now through October). Tours are complimenseparate areas and, upon arrival, I was whisked tary at 2 p.m., but exploring solo is suggested away into the men’s section that seemed to should you have a busy schedule. sprawl an entire hotel foor. The lounge is well My schedule was packed to the bone, but equipped with juices and fruits, a TV and comfy obviously I carved out some time to check out sofas. Additionally, there’s a separate vanity area, the dining scene. It started with dinner at Sensi, an outdoor balcony that overlooks the pools, a a postmodern Asian-fusion restaurant with dressing area and a wellness room with three hot glass walls and live crustaceans in displays. tubs of varying temperatures, a cold-plunge pool, Chef Roy Ellamar (a winner of Chopped) whips steam and sauna. up innovative seafood and farm-to-table dishes I dared to be different and booked the such as butter chicken curry and TLC lobster AquaStretch with Landon, a treatment exclusive and crab roll. Dinner was followed by a cocktail to Bellagio that was created in Las Vegas by George (OK, three cocktails) at Petrossian Bar, where Eversaul. Not to be confused with Watsu, which bar slinger Ricardo Murcia (who had stints is basically a foating-stretching at buzzing bars in Miami) experience, the AquaStretch is created some exciting elixirs more like a massage without a from the new Mixology table. Landon, a Vegas native, Collection. Craft cocktails could have passed as a lead have quietly emerged onto singer in a punk boy band with the Vegas scene—gamblers his charm, and he declared there have long preferred a quick really was no other place he fix—and the May Gin & Tonic would rather work. In a separate with egg-white froth for $16 water-therapy room, his magic was like a delicious meal. At doN’t mISS fngers defated tense muscles the bar, I met Ryan Seacrest’s and intense knots with the personal private-jet flight GET YOUR CIRQUE FIX: At Bellagio, the circus goes on slightest pressure. In 95-degree attendant, who joined me in all night. Start your evening water, I foated in a pool of splurging on the Caviar Cube with the special pre-“O” threenirvana and, aside from one martini (do you see the caviar course dinner, and pair it with session of ashiatsu, it was the theme here?), with Beluga a sexy cucumber martini—all conceived by chef Brian Massie best nontraditional massage I gold-line vodka, shaken in a at Fix Restaurant and Bar. Ten can recall sending me into such gold-plated shaker. Word on see of one of Cirque Du Soleil’s a state. the casino floor is that the most popular shows in a whole Equally meditative was bar will start stocking rare new light, from its new luxury VIP suites. FIX dinner $65 per person. the Pilates Barre class I took selections of pre-war liquors. VIP tickets $295, including a with Stephanie, who’s been at One thing that has manbottle of Champagne and trufes Bellagio for four years after aged to escape the Bellagio or other seasonal delights. spending 10 years in Japan. If gates is “O” by Cirque du SoTe Conservatory: Trough May, there’s anyone who truly knows leil, which has become internaawaken your senses with Spring a thing or two about Zen, it’s tionally known. The show was Celebration. Flowers including tulips, mums, dafodils and lilies her. Not only did I get a nice a winning bet from my nightbloom. Te centerpiece is an stretch and core work, I felt life gamble. An aquatic fairy oversize cherry blossom tree even further relaxed throughout tale, “O” left me feeling pretty with a wooden stage nestled in the weekend. Bellagio offers high in a way no casino game its branches for nightly musical performances. Eight hundred group classes in its wellcould, and proves Bellagio— butterfies can be viewed in a equipped ftness facility, with with its wealth of other attracgreenhouse nearby. the option to take private onetions and activities that simply Te Fountains of Bellagio: Get on-one sessions. can’t be duplicated—is home yourself over to the terraces at While casino tables beckto some of the most exquisite Hyde in the early evening for a oned, I ducked into the hotel’s offerings on the Strip. spectacular front-row seat of the fountains.
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he last thing I would expect at a Las Vegas buffet is an array of caviar. But, hey, I’m at Bellagio. The AAA Five Diamond grand dame of the Strip still wears her crown for meeting expectations and exceeding them. While some megaresorts are known to lack soul, Bellagio has spirit. It woos affuent travelers with a number of highbrow, luxurious amenities. Case in point: the caviar. Every Friday and Saturday night the resort offers “gourmet” dinners in the buffet. It’s still all-you-can-eat, baby, and if you’ve been too intimidated to shell out large bills for fsh eggs, now’s your chance to man up. Sure, it’s out of the norm for a buffet to offer a delicacy normally eaten with a mother-of-pearl spoon, but Bellagio is more concerned about guests having an elevated, unique experience. Bellagio is a 3,933-room resort with more than a dozen restaurants, spa and salon, casino foor, four outdoor pools and myriad attractions and nightlife options, making it quite diffcult for anyone to leave the property. When I frst arrived, I was impressed with the check-in. Atypical for Vegas resorts, front-desk valets equipped with iPads escorted guests to check-in lines, streamlining the entire process. The casino foor, on a Thursday, was lively at about 6 p.m., and before I even made a beeline to the elevators to drop off my luggage in the room, I stopped at the Conservatory, a 14,000-square-foot atrium fooded with an abundance of natural light. It’s such a crowd pleaser that it receives more than 18,000 visitors a day, many repeat thanks to the rotating, seasonal displays and gardens. (And you thought Vegas has no seasons.) It wasn’t until I got to my room on the 24th foor that I truly understood the sort of elegance I would encounter the next few days. My foor-toceiling window faced the choreographed Fountains of Bellagio, dazzling and mystifying crowds since it helped put Bellagio on the map in 1998. My room had personality. I was in a resort room with warming interiors (green, purple and beige color palette), framed, engaging prints and a wall mural behind the white leather headboard. The spacious bathroom had a sunk-in tub and separate, glass-wall rain shower. I bounced quickly on the bed (two thumbs up), then sailed through the lobby to—weirdly—not the casino foor but the spa. I’m a frm believer that a good spa is a refection of the property, and the Bellagio Spa
Service and elegance is at the center of all Bellagio amenities, from the Caviar Cube martini to chef Roy Ellamar’s exquisite TLC lobster and crab roll to the AquaStretch water massage with therapist Landon.
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GAME ON
illustration by jesse j. sutherland
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New Money
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Bitcoin establishes a presence in Downtown Las Vegas
ometimes a story about newfangled technology doubles as one about old-fashioned neighborhood gumption. When The D and the Golden Gate became the frst Nevada casinos to accept Bitcoin (albeit only for non-gaming purchases), it was a sign of the way Downtown Las Vegas, by dint of geography and necessity, is pushing the boundaries of innovation in the casino business. Bitcoin, in case you missed it, is an open-source peer-to-peer system of exchange. Unlike traditional currencies, which are issued by national governments, Bitcoin is completely decentralized. It offers instant, low-fee transactions, with no chance of credit-card charge-backs—seemingly a godsend for merchants, and potentially a great convenience for customers. Derek Stevens—owner of both casinos—chose to accept Bitcoin as an outgrowth of what has been a notably customer-friendly approach. “I’d been following Bitcoin through the fnancial press,” Stevens says, “watching as it gained in both valuation and popularity. Every now and
The real test for Bitcoin in casinos will be whether regulators allow its use for gaming purposes.
By David G. Schwartz
then, I’d see someone at the Longbar ask if we accepted Bitcoins. About six months ago, the frequency picked up, and three months ago it became almost a daily occurrence. So our management team looked at it from a business perspective.” Stevens and his team couldn’t come up with any good reason not to accept Bitcoins for nongaming transactions. With the infux of young, tech-savvy entrepreneurs into Downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street makes sense as a Bitcoin hot spot. Tony Hsieh’s impact on Las Vegas, it seems, is already manifesting in unexpected ways. Of course, the real test for Bitcoin in casinos will be whether regulators allow its use for gaming purposes. That’s begun to happen worldwide—a few online gaming sites, such as satoshidice.com (named for pseudonymous Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto), transact entirely in Bitcoin. An Ars Technica look at the site early last year reported that it pulled in nearly $600,000 in winnings over seven months in 2012. With global gaming numbers usually reckoned in the billions, that’s still a niche market, but Stuart Hoegner, an attorney at Toronto-based Gaming Counsel, believes Bitcoin may yet become a driving force in commerce, gaming included. “It’s the biggest innovation in money,” Hoegner says, “since the invention of money.” Hoegner is quick to point out that Bitcoin has some hurdles to clear, particularly when it comes to gaming. It needs to be integrated into properly functioning anti-money-laundering and counterterrorism systems, he says, and regulators need to get comfortable with the new currency. He points to Vera & John, a Malta-based online casino that has begun accepting Bitcoin for deposits, alongside traditional fnancial instruments like credit cards and e-wallets, as the direction that,
regulation permitting, the industry might head. But, as Hoegner suggests, many regulators are leery of Bitcoins being used in money-laundering schemes. But that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker. Although Bitcoin is a crypto-currency, it is not anonymous; all transactions are a matter of public record and can be viewed by anyone, including regulators and law enforcement. In other words, Bitcoin leaves a paper trail (an electronic one, at least), which investigators could use to track money laundering or other potential fnancial crimes. Although Bitcoin sounds like a viable currency for gaming in theory, there are some complications in practice. Right now, Bitcoin is extremely volatile; in the past year, the value of a Bitcoin ranged from less than $70 to more than $1,200. After news of a potential software glitch earlier this month, prices temporarily plummeted, and a rash of cyber-attacks have given markets cause for cold feet. One of the world’s largest bitcoin exchanges, Tokyo-based Mt. Gox, went offine in February after reportedly racking up catastrophic losses. Plus, as transparent as Bitcoin may be, it does not yet satisfy Nevada regulators. “I don’t see us allowing Bitcoin to be used for gaming purposes in the near future,” Nevada Gaming Control Board chairman A.G. Burnett says. The board may be issuing guidance to the industry on the topic soon, he says. While that seemingly closes the door—at least for now—on Bitcoin as a major gaming player, the currency has already made a difference at The D and Golden Gate. “We’ve had far more transactions than I would have guessed,” Stevens says. “I’m enthused to see it take off.” Over the next few months, we’ll see if other gaming operators—and, more importantly, regulators—share that enthusiasm.
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Sakai and Nas want to step up the retail experience for sneaker fans in the city. “When people think Vegas, I want them to think shopping. I want them to think 12A.M. Run,� Sakai says. vrated.com
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THE KITCHEN DOOR
Legendary French chef Guy Savoy returns to Las Vegas several times a year—sometimes to oversee the seasonal transition of the menu, sometimes to be inducted into Halls of Fame, always to make sure his guests are happy. Opposite page: To create the ethereal steam effect (such as in the sea scallop carpaccio, beets and black truffle dish), the restaurant goes through 160 pounds of dry ice in five days of service per week. 48 vrated.com
Savoy Fare Rated’s dining editor Grace Bascos goes behind the scenes at famed Restaurant Guy Savoy Photography by Sabin Orr
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THE KITCHEN DOOR
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hen you frst meet a well-decorated chef there can be an expectation—especially if the chef happens to be French—that he will be rigid and formal, but that is not the case with Guy Savoy. Despite the seriousness that comes along with running an awardwinning culinary empire, Savoy, like his food, is charming, personable and funny. In fact, it seems as if the more Michelin stars or fve-diamond awards he has, the more they twinkle in his eye. He is one of the rare chefs who, even though his name is on the door, makes himself accessible to guests. He can be found visiting tables and asking genuinely if patrons are enjoying their meal, whether it’s at his Las Vegas outpost or his Paris fagship. His motto, he tells us, is simple: Love life. Of the fve things he claims he can’t live without, four are cuisine—cooking; the ffth is pastries. Since Restaurant Guy Savoy opened at Caesars Palace in 2006, the only U.S. restaurant of the French culinary titan has become a destination for anyone serious about food. The arrival of Guy Savoy ushered in an era of highend cuisine on the Strip during the transformative years as food became an integral part of the Las Vegas experience. Restaurant Guy Savoy earned two stars when the Michelin Guide frst launched its Las Vegas guide, and continues to serve food that is on par with his original three-star restaurant in Paris. During his recent visit, Rated hung out with Savoy for a jam-packed day of meetings and tastings, culminating with his induction into the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame. When Guy is in town, everyone knows it.
“We do the same job; there is no hierarchy,” Savoy says of his kitchen crew. “It’s a team, not a staff. ‘Team’ is very important, like in sports. I am the captain and the coach.”
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THE KITCHEN DOOR
Clockwise from top: Savoy meets with executive chef Mathieu Chartron and pastry chef Sébastien Polycarpe at the Krug Chef’s Table to discuss the upcoming Vegas Uncork’d menu; Savoy rocks his dice cufinks for the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame; taking a moment in the lounge of Restaurant Guy Savoy is like relaxing in his own home; tasting wine during the day is de rigueur for a French chef, along with Chartron and general manager Alain Alpe; Savoy’s acceptance speech is brief, but heartfelt, about how his life is full thanks to his Las Vegas restaurant experience. Opposite page: Savoy makes his rounds, including ensuring the restaurant’s entrance is tidy, in preparation for the frst guests of the night.
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TOM BREITLING
In the game of life, Breitling is holding a royal fush. He’s evolved from TV weatherman to sports anchor to travelscape.com co-founder to Golden Nugget owner to reality television star. Pioneering America’s frst real-money online poker business, Breitling’s latest venture, Ultimate Poker by Ultimate Gaming, has dealt more than 27 million hands since going live a year ago and recently entered New Jersey, its second market, with a full suite of games. While Breitling credits his early career success to “adapting to, forcing and managing change,” his life is solidly rooted. He serves on the board of the Pregnancy Foundation of Nevada (which he co-founded), is the happily married father of “three beautiful girls,” is the author of the book Double or Nothing and is an honorary commander of Nellis Air Force Base. Asked to deal out some advice for hungry young entrepreneurs, he says, “Simple: Find what you love to do, believe in yourself and go out and do it.”
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Faces City of the
Originals. Mavericks. Trendsetters. Meet the people who make Vegas happen. Story by Laurel May Bond Photography by Jana Cruder
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SHEILA BURFORD
For someone who gets sawed in half eight times a week, Burford is fat-out chipper. As an assistant to illusionist Criss Angel in his Cirque du Soleil show Believe at Luxor, the perky Burford may have a few tricks up her sleeve, but cloaking her enthusiasm is not one of them. “My job is super fun!” In her free time, Burford takes every opportunity to give back to the community via Kick for the Cure (a dance workshop benefting Cancer Treatment Centers of America), Circus Couture (funding pediatric cancer treatment) and other events. “I can’t raise fve million bucks on my own, but we have a great way to connect and create with the Cirque community.” Te real magic in life happens “when someone takes the time to help others.”
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CHRISTIAN EKUNWE
Four years ago, while attending college in frigid Minnesota, Ekunwe found himself at the airport in a desperate search for a warm getaway and ended up on a fight to Las Vegas. After a solid year of return expeditions exploring the city’s nocturnal playgrounds, he decided to take Sin City nightlife from hobby to profession. Ekunwe is the Palms’ senior VIP host, and his Gucciupholstered, LED-bedazzled, wired-for-sound wheelchair is a real attention-grabber—by design. Ekunwe, who was born with spina bifda, a birth defect in which the spine does not completely develop, admits his pimped-out conveyance has helped land him celeb clients such as DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys. But his rolling fair also has an ulterior, stereotype-smashing motive: “I want to inspire people to be who they are and never give up, no matter how much the odds are stacked against them.”
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TAMMY ALANA
Te pastry chef has the sweet temperament to match her heavenly confections. Te soft-spoken, downto-earth Alana is the talent behind the pastry departments at Alizé in Palms and Andre’s in Monte Carlo. Tis pastry queen takes inspiration from the world around her and gives back in return—lending her considerable talents to Tree Square Food Bank, Share Our Strength and high school program Prostart, which provides scholarships to culinary students. Engaged to Alizé chef de cuisine Mark Purdy, she claims she won’t be baking her own wedding cake, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t indulge in her own work from time to time.“I’ve always had a sweet tooth,” she explains, “My dentist and I have an understanding.”
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LANVIN suit Lanvin in Te Shops at Crystals. TED BAKER top Ted Baker in Te Forum Shops at Caesars. DOLCE & GABBANA sunglasses Ilori in Te Shops at Crystals. BOTTEGA VENETA shoes and belt Bottega Veneta in Te Shops at Crystals. AMERICAN APPAREL socks American Apparel in Miracle Mile Shops.
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P
Flower
Power What’s in bloom? Mixed prints, brilliant colors and layered textures defne spring’s fashions Photography by Matilda Temperley
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The Details
Just as spring is rollin’ around the corner, so is Flora Pop, a pop-up fower shop by Victoria Hogan. The Alabama native, who started her mobile business out of a basket on her bike in the streets of Brooklyn during a stint in New York, is also the architect behind the headpieces shown here. Hogan’s shop has now expanded to a teardrop trailer, offering options such as individual fowers by the stem for vintageinspired bouquets. If you’re short on time, let the experts do the arranging with a premade selection. Seasonal plants are also available. Popup locations are announced via Twitter @FloraPopShop. forapop.com –ALLISON KYLER
Tis page: NANETTE LEPORE dress Nanette Lepore in Te Shops at Crystals. PRADA eyeglasses Ilori. PAUL SMITH coat Paul Smith in Te Shops at Crystals. opposite page: Left: VALENTINO jumpsuit and handbag Valentino in Te Shops at Crystals. AKRIS coat Saks Fifth Avenue in Fashion Show. PRADA sunglasses Ilori . right: PETER PILOTTO top and shorts Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show. ST. JOHN coat Saks Fifth Avenue. MIU MIU sunglasses Ilori.
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Left: BIBHU MOHAPATRA dress bibhu.com. LANVIN blazer Lanvin. DOLCE & GABBANA sunglasses Ilori. MARC BY MARC JACOBS rings Marc by Marc Jacobs in Te Forum Shops at Caesars. ROBERTO CAVALLI necklace Saks Fifth Avenue. right: BIBHU MOHAPATRA dress bibhu.com. TED BAKER bag Ted Baker. DOLCE & GABBANA sunglasses Ilori.
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Where to Buy
MARC JACOBS dress Marc Jacobs in Te Forum Shops at Caesars. MARC BY MARC JACOBS rings Marc by Marc Jacobs. AMERICAN APPAREL coat and socks American Apparel. BOTTEGA VENETA shoes Bottega Veneta.
AMERICAN APPAREL Miracle Mile Shops, 702.369.7394; americanapparel.net BOTTEGA VENETA Te Shops at Crystals, 702.220.4751; bottegaveneta.com ILORI Te Shops at Crystals, 702.597.3937; iloristyle.com LANVIN Te Shops at Crystals, 702.982.0245; lanvin.com MARC BY MARC JACOBS Te Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.734.0220; marcjacobs.com MARC JACOBS Te Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.369.2007; marcjacobs.com NANETTE LEPORE Te Shops at Crystals, 702.739.9722; nanettelepore.com NEIMAN MARCUS Fashion Show, 702.731.3636; neimanmarcus.com PAUL SMITH Te Shops at Crystals, 702.796.2640; paulsmith.co.uk SAKS FIFTH AVENUE Fashion Show, 702.733.8300; saksffthavenue.com TED BAKER Te Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.369.4755; tedbaker.com TIFFANY & CO. Via Bellagio, 702.697.5400; tifany.com VALENTINO Te Shops at Crystals, 702.737.7603; valentino.com
Photographer MATILDA TEMPERLEY matildatemperley.com Photographer’s Assistant AMELIA ALLEN Fashion Editor CLAIRE WIGGLESWORTH Stylist JIMI URQUIAGA jimiurquiaga.com Stylist’s Assistants DEVIN HOWELL, DIANA RINCON, LAUREN WRIGHT Hair STACI LINKLATER globesalon.com Hair Stylist’s Assistant AMANDA WOLFE Makeup WHITNEY URICHUK oneluvagency.com Florist VICTORIA HOGAN forapop.com Manicurist MICHELLE RINCON Models ANNA CRYSELL twomanagement.com & AYLA PARKER nextmanagement.com
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It took an epic adventure to create a spiced rum this smooth. The journey began at the heart of a charred oak barrel and continued until we created a bold, smooth rum flled with character. Introducing BacardI® OakHeart™, from the heart of charred oak barrels.
PARTY TOGETHER RESPONSIBLY || WWW.BACARDI.COM ©2013 BACARDI, THE BAT DEVICE AND OAKHEART ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDI & COMPANY LIMITED. BACARDI U.S.A., INC., CORAL GABLES, FL. RUM WITH NATURAL FLAVORS AND SPICES – 35% ALC. BY VOL.
guide the
your key to the city
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76 SHOP
DINE
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84 HAPPENINGS
PLAY
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Beth Bartolini Who she is: Vice president of PR and media relations for Te Light Group in Las Vegas, working with more than 25 venues among fve properties. Te look: “I’m trendy chic at times mixed with sexy chic the rest of the time. I dress for my mood.”
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Spring favorites: “I do not think orange is the new black—I like black. I just pretty much stick to what makes me feel good— trendy or not. I’m looking forward to wearing jean shorts and T-shirts.” Statement that epitomizes her style: “Tis quote by Kate Moss: ‘I just want to carry on being inspired, to work and to always fnd new things ... I don’t do boredom.’ [As for me,] I don’t want to be stagnant in my life. I want to keep moving and doing.” Beth is wearing: VInce tank top. JoIe leather jacket. DVF pants. cusP by neIMAn MARcus jewelry.
Joey Williams & Robbie Hardy Who they are: Together they own The chung Marie Group, a creative photoshoot production company. “We like to dress down, we like to dress up, we like to mix every type of style,” Joey says. “We wouldn’t pinpoint it as any one category.” Spring favorites: Robbie: “Warmweather and bright colors.” Joey: “We like forals. We love prints. We like bold, anything bold. I’m looking forward to the strappy shoes.” Song that epitomizes their style: Joey: “We chose ‘I’m every Woman’ because we feel we embody every type of woman within ourselves and within our company.” Joey is wearing: MsGM top and pants. cusP by neIMAn MARcus turquoise ring. Robbie is wearing: MsGM jacket. RAG AnD bone pants.
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Clockwise from top: Yannick Mugnier, Ronn Nicolli, Jesse Waits and John Wood.
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P L AY
MARQUEE in THE COSMOPOLiTAn.
HYDE in BELLAGiO STK in THE COSMOPOLiTAn TAO.
IN THE MOMENT Up all night in Sin City
Photography by Amit Dadlaney, Teddy Fujimoto, Brenton Ho, Erik Kabik, Bobby Jameidar, Danny Mahoney, Powers imagery, Joe Torrance and Tony Tran
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