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CrystalsAtCityCenter.com • Located next to ARIA ® Resort & Casino • Clothing and accessories provided by Donna Karan • Jewelry provided by Bulgari
editor’s letter THERE’S MUSIC IN THE AIR i am writing this month’s note—for our music issue, no less—not from my desk in las Vegas but from a hotel room in lisbon, Portugal. This week, i have the pleasure of previewing the Rock in Rio festival, which features four days of epic performances from the world’s biggest musicians—epic performances that will be coming to Vegas in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Rock in Rio will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, and it will mark the first time the event will be staged on american soil. although the 2015 lineup won’t be revealed for months, if the ON MY CALENDAR Book of Mormon makes a highly anticipated stop in Las vegas from June 10 through July 6 at Te Smith center. If you’re a fan of South Park’s humor, this musical from the show’s creators is a must-see. thesmithcenter.com
WHERE I’LL BE Tis will be my fourth year attending electric daisy carnival. ever wonder the best way to take in all the action? Tanks to the Las vegas red Bull team, myself and 25 other lucky partygoers ride in style to the event at Las vegas motor Speedway aboard Big red, a double decker bus, stocked with, you guessed it ... plenty of red Bull. check vrated.com for a full recap of edc June 20-22.
lisbon roster is any indication, we’re in for quite a genre-spanning spectacle: The Rolling Stones, lorde, Justin Timberlake, arcade Fine and linkin Park are among the artists playing. cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts international, along with festival founder Roberto Medina and Ron Burkle (from the investment firm the Yucaipa companies), are partnering to bring Rock in Rio to town. it is estimated to attract 80,000 people per day over two weekends in May to a new festival ground being built across from the soon-to-open SlS hotel (formerly the Sahara). Of course, access to great musical moments is one of the best parts of visiting and living in Vegas. Our June issue introduces you to the people and places who have contributed to the city’s growing reputation as a live-music destination, from new venues (Brooklyn Bowl) to superstar dJs (the stunning eva Shaw). closer to home, we celebrate the rising stars of the Vegas music scene in our photo essay “Vegas Rock city.” We’re quite confident that more than a few of these faces will be ones to remember. i personally recall sitting in on a studio session four years ago with an unknown local band named imagine dragons as they took a break between recordings for some in-n-Out burgers. Well, we all know how that turned out … and music permeates our city not just in obvious ways. Givenchy—a brand adored by stars such as kanye West and Rihanna—just debuted at Wynn las Vegas, the company’s first store in north america. See the exclusive story from fashion contributor laurie Brookins. Shopping by day, rocking by night—how lucky am i to call this place home?
Melinda SheckellS Editor-in-Chief Follow us on Twitter @vegasrated For more eva Shaw, check out the shoot on vrated.com
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contributors AVO YERMAGYAN Stylist Yermagyan has styled everyone from Brad Pitt to Betty White. He’s worked with celebrated photographers and directors, including David LaChapelle and Rob Reiner, and he’s contributed to countless publications. His unbound creativity, sophisticated palette and distinct eye inspire the inimitable work for which he is recognized. “The Strip is bursting at the seams with world-class talent, and I am so happy to have styled a few of these incredible artists for the pages of Rated.” Follow Yermagyan on Twitter @AvoYermagyan.
DONALD SIMROCK Makeup Artist
SEAN DEFRANK Contributing Writer DeFrank has lived in the Las Vegas Valley nearly all of his life and is thankful he never had to ask his police-offcer cousin to get him out of a jam. It wasn’t until after Chris Carroll retired from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department that DeFrank benefted from being related to a cop, landing an exclusive story (“The Last Words of Tupac Shakur,” Page 58) detailing Carroll’s experience as the frst offcer on the scene following the September 7, 1996, shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur. “I sat stunned as Chris told me his story about that night. I can’t believe he held out on me for more than 17 years!” Follow DeFrank on Twitter @SeanDeFrank.
ROBERT SPUHLER Contributing Writer Spuhler frst saw Parade of Lights in a small, dark nightclub in Los Angeles. “By the time the band got to the chorus of ‘We’re the Kids,’ I was hooked,” he says. Finding out about the band’s Las Vegas roots (“Band on the Run,” Page 44) only added to the allure. He’s previously interviewed artists such as Moby, Al Green and Lionel Richie for outlets such as amNew York and MSN. Find him complaining or complimenting the Starbucks in-store playlist on Twitter @RMSpuhler.
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In addition to working with some of the biggest names in the industry— Madonna, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears—Simrock’s editorial work has been featured in publications around the globe. His unique vision, passion and dedication to his craft have led to collaborations with many of the industry’s top players. “We had so many incredible local artists on the ‘Rock City’ (Page 64) shoot, which really put into perspective how strong the creative pulse is in this city. Of course, shooting Eva Shaw (‘Jet-Set Life,’ Page 48) on a private jet wasn’t exactly dull, either!” Follow Simrock on Twitter @DSimrock.
JESSI C. ACUÑA Associate Editor Vegas has been big on selling “experiences” lately, but Acuña didn’t just jump on the bandwagon. “I’ve been spending my money on live music since my frst show at The Huntridge to see AFI when I was 12 years old. I couldn’t be happier that my playlist includes more local artists than ever. From the rising stars of ‘Rock City’ (Page 64), to curated events such as Ben Carey’s Chandelier Sessions at Commonwealth (‘Music Maverick,’ Page 33), Vegas has me buzzed.”
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the NeW KId oN the blocK A moment of silence for Barbary Coast and Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, 1979-2013—its “rapid craps,” Western Union with the old-timey stained-glass sign, Drai’s After Hours Nightclub, considered by many the best late-night club on the Strip. Sniff. (Hold up and stash the hanky, pardner: You’re not losing that last one.) The reported $185 million Bill’s revamp by Caesars Entertainment is keeping all that was awesome about the address—Drai’s After Hours—and turning it into something even better: The Cromwell Las Vegas, featuring Drai’s Beach Club and Nightclub, and GIADA. Opened Memorial Day, The Cromwell’s 188 rooms—including 19 suites, 40,000 square feet of casino space, and food and drink options aplenty (a hotel bar and lounge called Interlude and the lobby bar Bound)—is the Strip’s newest digs, highlighting sexy Parisian parlor decor circa 1940s, with birdcages, newspaper print-inspired tiles and the like.
Back to the food. Giada De Laurentiis’ frst restaurant, GIADA, is probably the most anticipated aspect of the hotel redux, and not just because it’s the only restaurant at The Cromwell. Her Cali-inspired Italian cuisine carries the same breezy, feminine (and tasty) aesthetic of her Food Network show, with the hope of getting diners to eat outside their comfort zone. “My goal with this restaurant is to get people who say, ‘I don’t like something, I’m just not a fan of it,’ to give it a shot and fall in love. It’s a food epiphany,” De Laurentiis says. Her presence itself is notable: She is the only female celebrity chef amid a gaggle of gents at Caesars resorts. The Cromwell fancies itself the Strip’s frst “stand-alone luxury boutique hotel and casino.” Since Vdara has no gaming, the fancying would be correct. See? There’s no crying in hotelery. thecromwell.com –JEN CHASE
• Two foors were added to the top of old Bill’s to accommodate Drai’s Beach Club and Nightclub. Totaling about 65,000 square feet, it has all the things you’d expect—cabanas, VIP bungalows, daybeds and two pools—except 11 stories above the Strip. • Drai’s After Hours is housed where fans have always loved it: underground. • GIADA seats 270 and sports personal Giada touches such as the monogrammed “G” on the back of barstools, and rose gold here and there on plates bearing her signature. • All of The Cromwell’s suites have Strip views from different vantage points and come with a full-size fridge, a wet bar stocked at a guest’s request, steam showers, Toto Neorest toilet system (read: warmable seat) and soaking tubs. • PetStay rooms and suites accommodate guests and their pup companions less than 50 pounds (dogs have to be sub-50, not people).
PHOTOGRAPH BY ANTHONY MAIR
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The Alchemy Room at Wirtz Beverage Nevada was a riot of cheers and congratulations in May when Bacardi held its third annual MGM Resorts Cocktail Competition. Vdara bartender Manny Lopez demonstrated his passion for the craft with his frst-placewinning cocktail, 8 Years of Passion, using Bacardi 8-Year rum, passion fruit puree, chipotle-pineapple syrup, lime juice and Angostura aromatic bitters. Lopez’s drink is available at Bar Vdara for $14. vdara.com –XANIA WOODMAN
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8 Years of Passion As served at Bar Vdara in Vdara, $14 In a mixing glass, combine 1¾ ounces Bacardi 8 year rum, 3-4 dashes angostura aromatic bitters, ¾ ounce passion fruit puree, ¼ ounce fresh lime juice and ¾ ounce monin chipotle-pineapple syrup. add ice, cover, shake and double-strain over fresh ice into an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a mint sprig.
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the design inspiration and is a source for artwork—including a 45,000-pound split boulder in the valet entryway quarried from the nearby town of Goodsprings. The lobby will have an urban kitchen serving classic fare, comfort food and seasonal specialties, plus a coffee and tea lounge with scones, sweets and sandwiches. And DJ beats and fnger foods can be found at Franklin, an eclectic cocktail lounge named after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who frequented South Beach. Light and airy guest suites, averaging 725 square feet, come
equipped with wet bars, soaking tubs, armoires and 46-inch TVs. There will also be 28 penthouses, from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet, on the top three foors. The restaurant Mix, on the 64th foor, is being transformed into a concept called Rivea, expected to open in winter 2014-2015. And a Delano experience wouldn’t be complete without sand between your toes, so the hotel plans to take over an area of Mandalay Bay Beach in 2015. Rooms start at $140 per night, and reservations are accepted now. In Mandalay Bay, 702.632.9444; delanolasvegas.com –TONY ILLIA
8 years of PassIoN: mIchael vorsaNGer
The Delano is bringing South Beach swagger to the Las Vegas Strip. MGM Resorts International is spending $80 million on an extreme makeover that, by September 1, will transform the 10-year-old THEHotel at Mandalay Bay into a 1,100-suite resort that showcases the ambiance the Delano in Miami is famous for: unbuttoned luxury. The 43-story hotel, known for its art-deco stylings and modern art, will feature natural materials, primarily wood and hewn stone, as well as candles, fabrics and softer edges for a more laid-back vibe. The desert landscape serves as
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Clockwise from left: Prime dry-aged ribeye with Béarnaise sauce; Le Président, a chocolate-hazelnut mousse tart; and hamachi cru.
The ReTuRn of Daniel BouluD
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me, then let me know.’ I’m glad I was patient.” Boulud’s newest dining room looks like a typical French brasserie, with brass rails and lots of dark woods, but it is Vegas-size with 180 seats in the main dining area. He knows he has to maintain the reputation he had at Wynn, and db Brasserie will “carry more or less the same level of expectation. We got one Michelin star when I was here before, and we’re going to keep working hard at that level of service, but trying to still be reasonable in price and really attractive as a restaurant. “I had a very good time when I was here, and I think that the brasserie was a good balance for me,” Boulud continues. “I enjoy doing so-called casual food, but not always classic to the point of being an old-fashioned brasserie.” So while there is a solid steak frites on the menu, as well as lovely duck pressé
terrine with foie gras and Boulud’s signature red wine-braised short ribs, you’ll also encounter atypical dishes such as the Thai-infuenced calamari coated in beer batter and a burger topped with conft pork belly and moriber cheese—known as the Frenchie. (Interestingly missing from the lineup is the original, trés decadent DB Burger, stuffed with braised short ribs and foie gras. Nice to see Boulud lightening things up this time around). “The presentations are reminiscent of who I am and what I like to do and how I like to cook,” he says. “At the end, it’s about trying to make delicious food that is not complicated to understand, but is pleasant to eat.” And while Daniel Boulud may not be all ours, at least we’ve got a little piece of him back here again. In The Venetian, 702.430.1235; dbbrasserie.com –GRACE BASCOS
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The minute Daniel Boulud enters his new restaurant, db Brasserie, at The Venetian, he’s bombarded. Before he even sits, he is greeted by his executive chef, David Middleton. Sparkling water and espresso are placed on the table. There’s quick discussion with his manager on whether to do an à la carte menu for the party that evening. And to top it all off, Boulud’s wife had just had a baby only a few days before. The furry passes, and he turns to me, smiles and says, “I’m all yours.” It’s been just over four years since the renowned chef has had a restaurant in Las Vegas, at Wynn, and since then he’s opened a slew of new eateries bearing his name in London, Montreal, Toronto and Singapore, “I kept myself busy. I also opened DBGB in New York, so it’s not like I was desperate to stress myself more,” he laughs. “But I was telling the team here at The Venetian: ‘Whenever there’s a space available which you feel would be a great opportunity for
WINDOW SHOPPING
Givenchy’s new view mer Spring/Sum ion 2014 collect
With a just-opened boutique at Wynn, the French label ups the ante on what it means to be luxe in Las Vegas By Laurie Brookins
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Glossy lacquered wood, black sahara marble and natural oak parquet are among the materials used in the 3,100-squarefoot space, the French label’s only North American boutique.
Andrea Wynn and her son Nick Hissom (a former Rated cover star) at the boutique’s opening party in May.
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An embarrassment of riches: That’s how we’ve come to think about all the A-list labels that reside on the portion of Las Vegas Strip that stretches from Crystals to Encore. Within a distance of only about 2 miles, you’ll encounter no less than five Louis Vuitton boutiques, a quartet of Fendi boutiques, and three each of Chanel, Hermès, Dior and Gucci—and that’s just for starters. Next time you’re herded through TSA at McCarran International Airport, take a moment to count the glossy shopping bags perched atop carry-on luggage—Sin City souvenirs all, they’re bedecked with names like Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Salvatore Ferragamo. Ultimately such a heady
equation proves Las Vegas’ infuence in the fashion spectrum: In both quality and quantity, you won’t fnd a more concentrated array of designer boutiques any place else on the planet. And yet, the arrival of Givenchy raises the bar on the city’s retail experience once again. The French label opened its 3,100-square-foot boutique in April at Wynn’s Retail Esplanade, and perhaps most significantly, it not only holds the distinction of being the first Givenchy boutique in Las Vegas, it is the label’s only retail location in North America. Givenchy CEO Sebastian Suhl calls the debut “a major milestone” for the brand, which is in the midst of a somewhat aggressive global rollout of boutiques; other recent openings include Tokyo and Bangkok, while a New York location (replacing a boutique the label closed in 2008) is planned to open this fall on Madison Avenue.
Why Wynn? It was precisely the emphasis on exclusivity that proved attractive to both parties. “For us, luxury brands that have no previous distribution in Las Vegas are always a priority, so it was an easy conversation, to be honest,” says Hedy Woodrow, vice president of retail for Wynn and Encore. “Of course, of equal importance is that they represent what we are, and vice versa; we moved very quickly to close the deal.” Indeed, Givenchy is likewise part of Wynn’s ongoing plan to curate its retail selection. The boutique replaces a former restaurant, but its location is highly conducive to high-end retail, with its view including one of Steve Wynn’s favorite waterfalls. “The shoe salon is situated to maximize that view as you’re trying on shoes, and that’s a really special experience,” Woodrow notes. The overall design of the boutique, meanwhile, blends dark lacquered woods—which have
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ON THE MARQUEE
CIRQUE DU NENE Bravo’s brassiest Housewife is the Strip’s newest showgirl By Una LaMarche Photograph by TOMO
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ravo’s Real Housewives, a notoriously loose-lipped, sharptongued and thick-walletted species, aren’t generally known for having their freshly pedicured feet frmly on the ground, metaphorically speaking. But that is exactly where NeNe Leakes’ will be—quite literally— when she takes the stage for her frst of 10 performances in Cirque du Soleil’s adults-only romp Zumanity: The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil on June 27. “Oh, no, honey, I don’t fy,” the actress, clothing designer and breakout Atlanta Housewife reports drily from Los Angeles. She was taking a breather from rehearsals for Season 18 of Dancing With the Stars (a punishing crash course in professional-level hoofng that prepared her for a fve-day run at the New YorkNew York Hotel & Casino). “But don’t worry,” she says in her honey-dipped Georgia drawl. “You’re gonna get all of me—all that NeNe style.” Well … maybe not all of her. Unlike many of her Zumanity co-stars, Leakes will remain not only bound to the laws of gravity but also fully clothed—albeit scantly clad—relying on her famously brazen personality to do the fashing as the Mistress of Sensuality, a campy emcee who keeps the audience entertained in between various cheeky dance numbers and libidinous feats of acrobatics. To give you some idea of the hostess’ diva quotient, she is traditionally portrayed by “Edie,” a drag queen who looks not unlike a hybrid of ’60s-era Nancy Sinatra and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, but Leakes isn’t losing any sleep over flling her predecessor’s formidable stilettos. “I’ve been acting since I was 16,” she says. “I love
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performing and becoming crazy characters!” Apart from a dance number and other technical stage blocking, the role is almost entirely improvised, but take it from a reality TV veteran known for her hilarious off-the-cuff quips: thinking on her feet won’t be a problem. “I don’t really do scripted,” Leakes laughs. The Strip has seen its share of celebrity guest stars, but somewhat surprisingly, Cirque du Soleil—the largest liveentertainment producer in the world, with shows touring in 20 countries—hasn’t; Leakes will be the frst celebrity ever to be incorporated “temporarily” into a Cirque cast in the company’s 30-year history. “I am so amazed and excited that they would choose me,” Leakes says. Though she had no formal dance training prior to Dancing With the Stars, in her live performances (she made it to the top 7) she exhibited a confdent theatricality that overshadowed any technical missteps. And she’s amassed an impressive acting résumé in recent years, with guest spots on Glee and The New Normal that prove she’s got comedic chops beyond her trademark Bravo barbs. Leakes’ 10 Zumanity appearances, June 27 through July 1, are a nod to the 10th anniversary of the show’s Vegas debut in September 2003. “Whenever we’ve come [to Vegas] before, we go for a few days, gamble and then leave,” Leakes says. But since her Zumanity stint will mean that she and her husband, Gregg, will be living on the Strip around the clock for more than two weeks, she realizes that the call of the casinos might pose temptations of a different variety than the ones she’ll be peddling onstage. “Yeah ... we’re gonna have to have some ground rules,” she laughs. Tickets start at $69. Showtimes are 7:30 and 10 p.m., dark Wednesdays and Thursdays. In New York-New York Hotel & Casino, 866.815.4365; zumanity.com
band on the
run Parade of Lights fnds its stride in the fourishing Vegas music scene By Robert Spuhler vrated.com PHotoGraPH by edGe GrIP StUdIo
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nthony Improgo, the drummer, co-songwriter and co-producer of electrorock outft Parade of Lights, has his commute down to a science—all 280 miles down Interstate 15, from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. “I get out, usually stop in Baker and get tea, then stop in Barstow at the outlets at Starbucks and Chipotle,” he says. It’s been four years since Improgo relocated to Las Vegas from Los Angeles’ hipster-laden neighborhood of Silver Lake to be closer to his parents, who live in the city, and to cut back on living expenses. In that time, he’s made the 500-plus-mile round trip twice a month to practice, write and play with his Los Angeles-based bandmates—lead singer and guitarist Ryan Daly, bassist Randy Schulte and keyboardist Michelle Ashley. “I get to live a normal lifestyle, whereas if I lived in L.A. I’d barely be making rent,” he says. “But now that we’re starting to get busy, I’m spending a lot of money on gas.” Now, those miles may be paying off. Parade of Lights has gone from unknown to the edge of stardom, thanks to both the L.A. and Sin City music scenes. An “overnight success” story eight years in the making, Parade of Lights traces its roots back to Los Angeles in 2006, when Daly and Improgo bonded over a mutual love of bands such as Failure and My Bloody Valentine. The result was their frst band Polus, which also included Schulte. They released one EP but lost momentum after an opening set for Built to Spill ended almost before it started. “Ten seconds into the frst song, Ryan twisted his knee and dislocated it, right onstage, in front of a sold-out crowd,” Improgo says. “I rushed outside, called 911, and an ambulance came and carried him out on a stretcher.” The resulting four-year hiatus saw Improgo tour the world with several groups, but it was only after meeting up with Daly in Australia at Soundwave, an annual festival, that the duo reunited. They grabbled Polus alum Schulte and decamped to the desert; Improgo moved closer to his family and Daly and Schulte crashed at his house to write together, practice and discover their band’s identity. They spent just eight months there, writing half of the band’s debut EP, but the wide open nature of the Las Vegas music scene was helpful even in that limited time. Playing shows without having to follow the industry zeitgeist gave Parade of Lights a chance to hone and refne its sound. “[Las Vegas has] spawned a music scene where you can do what you want,” Improgo says. “Imagine Dragons were doing what they were doing in this world where you’ve got glam rock, which is huge, these heavy metal bands, these Top 40 bands. With all of that in one big soup, it’s actually good for music.” After the release of Born to Live, Born to Love in 2012 and the addition of Ashley in early 2013, it took one gem of a bouncy, synth-laded pop song to put them on the map. Not long after Ashley joined
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“[Las Vegas has] spawned a music scene where you can do what you want,” Improgo says.
the group, the band released the single “We’re the Kids” and saw it immediately turn heads. The infuential Alt Nation station on XM Radio picked it up and put it into rotation, X107.5 adopted it locally and Astralwerks Records, home of big name artists such as Brian Eno and the Chemical Brothers, came calling. That track, a celebration of youth, opened doors everywhere. Parade of Lights played several shows at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, including as an opening act for the now-huge Dragons and their own headlining show at Vinyl. Their song “Golden” was used by NBC in ads for the 2014 Winter Olympics. In March, the band played eight shows in seven days at the South by Southwest music festival. The boost in profle has even given the band one of its frst physical honors: A guitar signed by the quartet and marked with the band’s distinctive logo (four thick forward slashes) is on display across from the entrance to Vinyl at the Hard Rock. It keeps company with memorabilia from acts such as Alice in Chains, AC/DC and Kenny Chesney. “The guys at Hard Rock love us,” Improgo says. “Vegas is embracing its bands.”
ROBERTO CAVALLI dress and SAINT LAURENT shoes Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show. TIFFANY & CO. link necklace and bracelets Tiffany & Co. in Via Bellagio. PUSHMATAAHA necklace and rings pushmataaha.com.
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JET-SET
LIFE
DJ Eva Shaw lives the fast life in high fashion By Laurel May Bond Photography by Anthony Mair
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va Shaw has it all: a headlining gig DJing at Hakkasan, a career in modeling, famous friends and a glamorous life that is catapulting her into the popculture stratosphere. The doe-eyed beauty, who launched her music career as Bambi, has ditched the sexy stage moniker and is going with an even bigger seller: herself. Today her name is her brand, and she has big plans to grow her identity beyond the DJ booth and into fashion and acting. Hailing from Toronto, Shaw frst stepped into the spotlight at the tender age of 13, kicking off what would become a long, successful modeling career. While she lived and worked in Paris and London, her bookings eventually led her to the East Coast, where she frst squared up to the decks playing early DJ sets at age 17. “When I started, being a DJ was more like being in the background,” she says. “Today it’s a concert. The DJ is putting on the show.” Shaw’s personal sound encompasses everything electronic dance music, along with personal influences past and present, including the music of her jazz-musician father, who played the piano, guitar, saxophone and trumpet. “I grew up listening to all different kinds of music,” she says. And although she doesn’t consider her productions “mash-ups,” they meld genres and combine a world of sounds to create Shaw’s signature blend of “vocals and more commercial sounds, such as hip-hop and rock.” Citing David Guetta (“I saw him before he was where he is now”), Carl Cox and Deadmau5 as early inspirations, Shaw saw that “DJs could be rock stars.” Today, as one of the few female headliners on the Strip, Shaw is likely providing the same inspiration for a younger generation of women with their own dreams of stepping into the Hakkasan booth one day. Being a woman in a man’s world of nightlife has its ups and downs, she says. “There just aren’t as many big female DJs. Sometimes I fnd that diffcult, but other times it is a good thing. Everyone is looking for something different, and as a girl, I can use that.” Which isn’t to say that Shaw doesn’t feel camaraderie with her male counterparts. “We
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often talk about music and collaborations,” she says of her fellow superstar DJs. “Tiësto is someone I really look up to. He has given me a lot of advice.” Shaw may be living that DJ rock-star dream of her teenage years, but she’s surprisingly light on nightlife vices. She says her typical Las Vegas pre-show routine consists of “[trying] to get in an early nap and go to dinner with friends who are in town. It’s funny, because when I headline around 1 a.m., I leave my hotel room where it’s all quiet, and then it’s a different mood. Everyone is excited; the lights are crazy. It was a little bit overwhelming at frst—I am a naturally shy person. I try to get together with friends to help me get into the vibe and see how the crowd is feeling.” Shaw’s ambitious fve-year plan runs the gamut of artistic endeavors. “I went to New York University for theater, so I’m interested in acting. [I also want to fnd a way] to merge fashion with music.” Now, with her real name on the lips of EDM fans all over the world, a 10-city China mini tour planned in June and gigs July 12 and 17 at Hakkasan, feel free to raise a toast to Shaw’s success. Just don’t expect her to join you in sipping the bubbly. “I don’t like to drink Champagne,” she says. “I like to spray Champagne.”
“I don’t like to drink Champagne. I like to spray Champagne.”
GIVENCHY dress and SAINT LAURENT shoes Neiman Marcus. PUSHMATAAHA rings and cufs pushmataaha.com. vrated.com 63
Tis page: BALENCIAGA top, GIVENCHY skirt and VALENTINO shoes Neiman Marcus. Opposite page: TIFFANY & CO. necklace and cuf Tifany & Co. PUSHMATAAHA rings pushmataaha.com. HERVE LEGER jacket and dress and SAINT LAURENT shoes Neiman Marcus.
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Tis page: ISABEL MARANT top, PETER PILOTTO skirt and SAINT LAURENT shoes Neiman Marcus. TRIANGL bra triangl.com. Opposite page: ROBERTO CAVALLI jacket and ISABEL MARANT top and skirt Neiman Marcus. PUSHMATAAHA rings pushmataaha.com.
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ALEXANDER MCQUEEN dress Neiman Marcus. SAMANTHA WILLS ring samanthawills.com.
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the Details: Eva was shot on location at the MGM Resorts International Aviation terminal. Its fleet consists of multiple Gulfstream planes including the popular Gulfstream 550. The planes often courier MGM Resorts VIP guests to and from its properties worldwide.
Where to BuY NEIMAN MARCUS Fashion Show, 702.731.3636; neimanmarcus.com PUSHMATAAHA pushmataaha.com SAMANTHA WILLS samanthawills.com TIFFANY & CO. Via Bellagio, 702.697.5400; tiffany.com TRIANGL triangl.com
Photographer ANTHONY MAIR amairphoto.com Creative Director SA LIEN Stylist AvO YERMAgYAN avoyermagyan.com Hair MAkIkO NARA using Bumble and Bumble for wschupfer.com
Makeup DONALD SIMROck donaldsimrock.com using Tom Ford Beauty for traceymattingly.com
Stylist’s Assistants ARMOND HARTOUNIANS & DEvIN HOwELL Makeup Artist’s Assistant TARA THOMpSON
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***** The details surrounding Tupac Shakur’s death have been recounted dozens of times in the nearly 18 years since the night he was shot in Las Vegas. Newspaper and magazine articles, books, documentaries and websites have recapped, analyzed, scrutinized and commodifed the rapper and actor’s unsolved murder, ranging from sober accounts to wild-eyed conspiracy theories. There are even those who still hold onto the belief that Shakur is not really dead, with reports over the years having him living in Cuba, New Zealand, Tasmania or rural Pennsylvania. But even with all the attention given to Shakur’s life and death, there remains one account of the night of the shooting that has not been heard before: from the police offcer who was frst on the scene. ***** Chris Carroll is a 23-year Metro veteran who retired in December 2010. He is also my cousin. A few months back, he and I were having beers one night when he almost nonchalantly began to tell me a story. It wasn’t the frst time I’d sat back and readied myself to hear one of his fascinating cop stories; I’d been listening to them for years. But once I recognized where he was leading me, I realized that this particular story had deep roots not only in his memory, but also in our culture. On that unforgettable night, he had started his 10-hour shift at 3 p.m. and was around the MGM Grand much of the day for the Tyson-Seldon fght, prepared for the residual turmoil that was likely to accompany it. “Whenever Mike Tyson would have a fght, it would be like the Super Bowl of the pimp/whore/gangster crowd,” Carroll says. “And a lot of these people aren’t even going
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to the fght. There would be gangsters all up and down the Strip, in the hotel, everywhere. And, of course, since the fght was at the MGM, that was the nucleus of where everything was happening. “The night was just starting, and you could just feel in the air that bad stuff was going to happen. Even when it was calm, it was like the calm before the storm.” ***** Barely a minute into the fght, Tyson dropped Seldon with a seemingly invisible punch, then fnished him off seconds later. Shakur watched the fght ringside with Marion “Suge” Knight, a former UNLV football player who had co-founded Death Row Records in 1991. Shakur had signed with Death Row after Knight posted a $1.4 million bail to get him out of prison on appeal in October 1995. After the fght, Shakur and Knight were making their way through the MGM with members of their entourage when Shakur confronted and punched a man later identifed as 21-year-old Orlando Anderson of Compton, California, a gang member with the South Side Crips. Shakur and Knight were both affliated with the rival Mob Piru Bloods, and Shakur’s bodyguards proceeded to attack Anderson, beating and kicking him while he was on the ground. Following the melee, which was stopped by MGM security guards and captured on hotel surveillance cameras, Shakur, Knight and their crew were allowed to leave the MGM without being questioned. Anderson refused medical treatment, declined to fle a complaint and headed out to the Strip. Carroll was in the arena for the fght, but immediately headed back outside afterward, unaware of what had happened in the casino. ***** Carroll approached Harmon Avenue on his bike in response to the shooting call when he caught sight of the convoy erratically heading his way down Las Vegas Boulevard. “They were running traffc signals, blowing through lights the whole way,” he says. “And there are about four to fve cars—I still can’t tell you exactly how many there were; I want to say fve. They made a hard left turn onto Harmon, and they did this right as I’m pulling up. Now, we knew the vehicles were in a shooting, but we don’t know who fred, which car fred, which one has the shooter, who’s chasing who.” About 15 minutes earlier, at 11:05 p.m., another offcer on the Strip had stopped Knight for playing his car stereo too loudly and for not having his black BMW’s license plates displayed. Shakur was in the passenger seat. Knight was let go without being ticketed, and soon turned onto Flamingo Road to head toward Club 662. It was on Flamingo that a white Cadillac with three or four men inside pulled up to the right of Knight’s BMW. One of the men stuck a weapon out of the back window of the Caddy and fred at least 13 rounds into the side of Knight’s car, four of which pierced Shakur’s body. The Cadillac then took off south down Koval. Knight managed to make a U-turn on Flamingo, as Shakur sat bleeding in the passenger seat. After turning onto the Strip, Knight weaved the BMW through traffc, blowing out two of the car’s tires and denting the rims as he drove over the median, and ran a red light at Harmon in the frantic escape. The car came to a halt near the center divider while attempting a left turn. The vehicles trailing Shakur and Knight also stopped at the intersection. “As that happens, I hop off the bike and let it go fying,” Carroll
PHotoGraPH BY aNtHoNY maIr; PHotoGraPH oN PrecedING SPread BY deatH roW/INterScoPe recordS/PHotoFeSt
he call came in on the radio just after 11:15 p.m.: Shots had been fred near the intersection of Flamingo and Koval, with possible victims. Several vehicles had made a U-turn on Flamingo and headed west. The bicycle offcer who made the call from the Maxim hotel began trailing the cars, but was too far behind to catch them. He could, however, see them turn left onto Las Vegas Boulevard. Chris Carroll was a sergeant on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s bike patrol unit on the Strip. The 12 offcers under his command rode in pairs, but Carroll was riding solo when he got the call that night, September 7, 1996. Traffc on the Strip is always slowmoving on a Saturday evening, but it was especially thick in the aftermath of Mike Tyson’s frst-round technical knockout of Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand a few hours earlier. And, now, somewhere in the midst of all those vehicles was a caravan of cars, one of them perhaps carrying the shooter. Carroll rode north to intercept them. “I’m thinking, ‘How am I going to stop these cars?’” Carroll says. “Usually on bikes, we used whistles and things like that, or we could call for a vehicle to help us. But as I’m riding toward them, I’m thinking, ‘These guys are on the run, there’s multiple cars and I’m heading nose-to-nose with them.’”
Return to the scene: Chris Carroll near Harmon Avenue and Las Vegas vrated.com 61 Boulevard, May 2014.
***** The following description of events differs signifcantly from what has been reported previously, most notably in the book The Killing of Tupac Shakur by Las Vegas-based author Cathy Scott. Shakur bodyguard Frank Alexander, in his account, says he identifed himself and Knight to police, who then let the two men up and allowed them to open the BMW’s door. Carroll dismisses that story, saying there’s no way he would have simply taken Alexander’s word that they were not participants in the shooting, and that he most defnitely wouldn’t have let them approach the BMW to open the door. Carroll tells the story of what followed: “I fnally get the car door to open, and as I pull it open, the guy inside came right out, like he was leaning against the door. And at frst I thought the guy was going to bust out of the door right on top of me; I thought this was his plan of attack, so to speak. But then I notice that he’s not coming out of the door; he was falling out of it. So I grabbed him
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with my left arm and he falls into me, and I’ve still got my gun in the other hand. He’s covered with blood, and I immediately notice that the guy’s got a ton of gold on—a necklace and other jewelry— and all of the gold is covered in blood. That has always left an image in my mind. “I’ve got him in one hand, I’ve got the gun in the other hand, I’m still yelling at the other guys, and I pull him out of the car. Well, right about then, thank God, another bike cop shows up. He was probably the guy who was chasing the cars initially. He gets Suge off my back, because Suge was somewhat of a threat to me; the other guys were kinda listening—some proned out, some on their knees, some standing around. “The other cop pushes Suge away from me, and I look down at the guy I’m holding: He’s still conscious. I could see he’s shot several times, but I can’t tell where he’s shot. And as I pulled him out of the car, he was wincing in pain. He’s looking at me; he’s groaning. I laid him down on the pavement, and then I looked inside the car to see if there was anybody else in there, but there wasn’t. “After I pulled him out, Suge starts yelling at him, ‘Pac! Pac!’ And he just keeps yelling it. And the guy I’m holding is trying to yell back at him. He’s sitting up and he’s struggling to get the words out, but he can’t really do it. And as Suge is yelling ‘Pac!,’ I look down and I realize that this is Tupac Shakur. At the time, it didn’t really mean much of anything to me. I was more concerned that this was a bad situation to be in with just one other cop. “There’s something in police work called the ‘dying declaration,’ a legal concept that, in a nutshell, basically says that if someone who believes they’re going to die gives out the name of a suspect or is able to explain what happened, that’s not considered hearsay in court when they’re not there to testify; it’s admissible evidence. “So I’m looking at Tupac, and he’s trying to yell back at Suge, and I’m asking him, ‘Who shot you? What happened? Who did it?’ And he was just kind of ignoring me. He was making eye contact with me here and there, but he’s trying to yell at Suge. And I
“I didn’t want Tupac to be a martyr or hero because he told the cops ‘Fuck you.’”
kept asking over and over, ‘Who did this? Who shot you?’ And he basically kept ignoring me. And then I saw in his face, in his movements, all of a sudden in the snap of a fnger, he changed. And he went from struggling to speak, being non-cooperative, to an ‘I’m at peace’ type of thing. Just like that. “He went from fghting to ‘I can’t do it.’ And when he made that transition, he looked at me, and he’s looking right in my eyes. And that’s when I looked at him and said one more time, ‘Who shot you?’ “He looked at me and he took a breath to get the words out, and he opened his mouth, and I thought I was actually going to get some cooperation. And then the words came out: ‘Fuck you.’ “After that, he started gurgling and slipping out of consciousness. At that point, an ambulance showed up, and he went into unconsciousness. As the paramedics loaded him up, more and more cops are showing up. The threat was gone, but we’re trying to fnd out what’s going on. It’s a complete mess. They started putting Tupac in the ambulance, so I grabbed one of the guys who worked for me and said, ‘Hop in the ambulance and ride with him, and don’t let him out of your sight at the hospital just in case he talks, just in case he says something, and maybe we can still get a dying declaration.’ “As soon as he got to the hospital, he went into surgery and was heavily sedated, and I guess he went into a coma and really never came out of that, until they took him off of life support. So that moment I talked to him was his last real living moment where he was speaking. I talked to the cop who rode in the ambulance with him. He said Tupac never came out of it, and he never said anything at the hospital. There was nothing else.” ***** Shakur was taken to University Medical Center, where he underwent the frst of several surgeries. Doctors tried to stop the internal bleeding, and removed his right lung as part of the effort. He was placed on life-support machines and put into a druginduced coma before dying on September 13. Carroll gives two reasons for waiting so long to go public with his account of the night Shakur was shot. First, his retirement from Metro has given him the freedom to tell his story without possible reprimand. “There’s still an open homicide case,” he says. “It just wasn’t time to speak earlier. Now it’s been almost 18 years; there’s clearly never going to be a court case on this. The second main reason I didn’t go public with this before is I didn’t want Tupac to be a martyr or hero because he told the cops ‘Fuck you.’ I didn’t want to give him that. I didn’t want people to say, ‘Even when the chips were down, his life on the line, he still said “Fuck you,” he still wouldn’t talk to the police.’ I didn’t want him to be a hero for that. And now enough time has passed, well, he’s a martyr anyway; he’s viewed as a hero anyway. My story, at this point, isn’t going to change any of that.” Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from The Last Words of Tupac Shakur, which frst appeared in Vegas Seven magazine. To read the full story, visit vrated.com/tupac.
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says. “I still don’t know who the shooter is, and as soon as they stopped, almost all the car doors go fying open. So I pulled out my gun, and there are maybe 10 people. And it was apparent immediately after they got out of the cars that this wasn’t Joe Citizen driving with his wife; these were hard-ass guys. So I’ve got my gun out, and I think one of them is probably the shooter. So I’m yelling for everybody to get down; there’s a ton of people up and down the Strip. I’m concerned about crossfre; I’m concerned that I don’t know who the shooter is. I’m trying to point a gun at fve different cars at once, anticipating gunfre. And to my surprise, the gunfre never comes. “So I’m pointing my gun, and I’m yelling at guys to get down on the ground. Some of them do, and some of them don’t. Some of them were kinda thinking about it, and they’re looking at each other, almost like, ‘Do we run? Do we do like he says and get on the ground?’ They’re trying to fgure out the situation just like I am. We’re all just staring at each other in this semi-standoff as I’m yelling at them to get on the ground.” As Carroll approached the BMW, he saw someone sitting in the front passenger seat. For a moment, he thought it was the shooter until he saw the bullet holes in the car door. He then turned and saw the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Knight approaching him from behind, bleeding profusely from a bullet fragment that had lodged in the back of his skull. “I grab the car door and I’m trying to open it, but I can’t get it open,” Carroll says. “[Knight] keeps coming up on my back, so I’m pointing my gun at him. I’m pointing it at the car. I’m yelling, ‘You guys lay down! And you, get the fuck away from me!’ And every time I’d point the gun at him, he’d back off and even lift his hands up, like ‘All right! All right!’ So I’d go back to the car, and here he comes again. I’m like, ‘Fucker, back off!’ This guy is huge, and the whole time he’s running around at the scene, he’s gushing blood from his head. Gushing blood! I mean the guy had clearly been hit in the head, but he had all his faculties. I couldn’t believe he was running around and doing what he was doing, yelling back and forth.”
Stories that Shakur is still alive persist today, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Shakur’s mother positively identifed her son at the hospital after his death, the Clark County Coroner’s ofce certifed the death certifcate and a photo from Shakur’s autopsy leaked out of the coroner’s ofce, showing the rapper laying with his upper chest sliced open and the frst word of his “Tug Life” tattoo visible on his stomach. His remains were cremated at vrated.com 63 his mother’s request.
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rock city get in tune with the local music scene
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If you think the Las Vegas music landscape is all marquee residencies, gazillionaire DJs and Elvis impersonators, think again. The local scene is humming with talent spanning across genres, from hiphop to rock to blues. And residents and tourists are taking notice, supporting these bands at new, smaller venues such as Gold Spike and Backstage Bar & Billiards Downtown and House of Blues and Hard Rock Live on the Strip. Then there was the inaugural Life Is Beautiful festival last fall, which, in addition to showcasing national acts, gave some love to homegrown musicians, offering them a taste of the big leagues right in their own backyard. Imagine Dragons and The Killers are just the beginning of our musical (r)evolution, it turns out. There’s plenty more where that came from. Here are a few of our picks for the next great artists you’ll love.
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Jordan Kate mitchell CheCk her out if you like … Kacey Musgraves, Christina Perri or Patsy Cline. Mitchell counts Reba McEntire, Frank Sinatra and gospel choir as major sound inspirations. on the Cusp: “A year ago, I was begging to play free showcases and my favorite dive bars. Now I’m headlining Brooklyn Bowl. It’s craziness.” Te talented lyricist also played Life Is Beautiful in October. on her playlist: Allen Stone, “Voodoo”; anything by ZZ Ward; John Legend, “All of Me.” insider intel: Mitchell attended West Texas A&M on an equestrian scholarship, where she won a national championship and now pays the bills as a model, event consultant and personal assistant to John Popper of Blues Traveler. next up: In addition to making the rounds in the local scene, Mitchell plans to go on tour next year. Catch her live at Brooklyn Bowl on June 3. reverbnation.com/jordankatemitchell GEMY MAALOUF top gemymaalouf .com. ALLSAINTS skirt AllSaints in Te Cosmopolitan. PUSHMATAAHA bracelets and rings pushmataaha.com.
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ekoh (Jef Tompson) CheCk him out if you like … Atmosphere, Tech N9ne or Eminem. Ekoh’s diverse inspirations include Te Beatles, Edgar Allan Poe, Quentin Tarantino and Francis and Slug of Atmosphere. on his playlist: Avalon Landing, “Erie County Welcomes You Back”; AFI, “Te Conductor”; Grieves, “Whoa Is Me.” on the Cusp: Ekoh, known for his engaging and heartfelt performances, credits being represented by the Red Bull Sound Select team and performing at Life Is Beautiful as the biggest moments of his career so far. Fans also support the artist by getting tattoos of his lyrics and heart-hop emblem. insider intel: Ekoh occasionally deals with critics claiming the artist isn’t “real” hip-hop, so the label “heart-hop” was coined by a fan backstage at a show, in response to the haters. What’s next: He’s putting out a new record and continuing to tour. Catch him live June 9 at Hard Rock Live and August 6 at Backstage Bar & Billiards. reverbnation.com/ekoh SKINGRAFT sweater skingraftdesigns.com. DIESEL jeans Diesel in Fashion Show. Jef’s own watch and shoes.
Shayna rain & the GentS (Shayna rain) CheCk her out if you like … Cat Power, Regina Spektor or Lana Del Rey. Rain also fnds inspiration from the men in her life: “Johnny Cash, my father, Justin Vernon and Led Zeppelin. Teir music has taught me more about sound and life than anything else.” on the Cusp: “How Autumn Goes,” the frst single the band plans to release, is a teaser to their album that will drop later this year. on her playlist: A$AP Ferg, “Shabba”; Bon Iver, “Holocene”; Lana Del Rey “West Coast.” insider intel: Te name Shayna Rain & Te Gents was inspired by Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets.” next up: See Shayna Rain & Te Gents on June 13 at Backstage Bar & Billiards. soundcloud.com/shaynarain ALLSAINTS dress AllSaints. PUSHMATAAHA necklace pushmataaha.com.
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technicolor (morgan Gould) CheCk him out if you like … DJ Jazzy Jef, Gold Panda or Sango. Technicolor’s sound ranges from electronic to classic hip-hop (think Te Pharcyde and Blackstar) to the chiller sounds of Miguel and Te XX. on the Cusp: Technicolor had a moment when he was DJing the Jay-Z VIP party at Mandalay Bay. “Timbaland was in the room. It was a big deal for me to perform in front of one of my favorite producers.” on his playlist: Party Next Door, “Persian Rugs”; Sam Smith, “Nirvana”; Aluna George, “Kaleidoscope Love (Kaytranada Remix).” insider intel: His grandfather is David Gould, an Oscar-winning choreographer whose credits include many Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers flms. Technicolor also studied audio engineering and screenwriting. next up: In addition to releasing tracks, he works at Prism with the Jabbawockeez doing audio engineering. See him live Downtown at the Under the Lights concert series at Container Park on June 20 and at Commonwealth on June 27. soundcloud.com/dj-technicolor ANDREW MARC X RICHARD CHAI jacket Saks Fifth Avenue in Fashion Show. JOHN VARVATOS T-shirt John Varvatos in Hard Rock Hotel. DIESEL jeans Diesel.
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Felix (Savannah Smith) CheCk her out if you like … Florence + the Machine, Ellie Goulding or Justin Timberlake. Originally from Texas, Smith grew up on gospel, which is evident in her powerhouse vocals. But she also likes a fused sound—Joni Mitchell, Phantogram and Bonobo are sources of inspiration. on the Cusp: Smith has already found success as a singing showgirl in a number of shows on the Strip, and is now making the rounds with her original work as alter ego Felix. on her playlist: Bonobo, “Te Keeper” from the Black Sands Remixed album; Shakira, “Empire”; Kid Cudi, “Mr. Rager.” insider intel: Smith initially came to Las Vegas to attend UNLV, where she got a master’s in acting. next up: Smith’s focus is on completing an EP for Felix this year, but you can probably fnd her at Artifce Downtown jumping on the mic. felixmusix.com ENFANT RICHES DEPRIMES top shop.enfantsrichesdeprimes.com. MARC JACOBS pants Marc Jacobs in Te Forum Shops at Caesars. TIFFANY & CO. bracelets Tifany & Co. in Via Bellagio. PUSHMATAAHA rings pushmataaha.com. Savannah’s own hat and shoes.
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Mike: MARC BY MARC JACOBS shirt Marc by Marc Jacobs in Te Forum Shops at Caesars. MARC JACOBS pants and shoes Marc Jacobs. Max: JOHN VARVATOS jacket, T-shirt, pants, shoes and bracelet John Varvatos. Ian: JOHN VARVATOS shirt, vest, pants, shoes and bracelets John Varvatos. Blair: MARC BY MARC JACOBS shirt Marc by Marc Jacobs. JOHN VARVATOS jacket, jeans and shoes John Varvatos.
RuSTY mAPleS (Blair dewane, vocals/ guitar; ian dewane, vocals/guitar; mike Weller, bass/vocals; and max Plenke, drums) CheCk ’em out if you like … Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon or Ra Ra Riot. From the high-energy performances and drumming style to their use of rhythmic guitars, Te Who’s infuence is evident in the band’s dynamic and sound. on the Cusp: “Being an ofcial [showcase band] at SXSW this year was really special. Ten minutes before we went on there were 20 people, and by the time the frst song fnished [the venue] was completely full,” Ian Dewane says. on their playlist: Lucius, “Go Home”; Te National, “Bloodbuzz Ohio”; Dr. Dog covering Architecture in Helsinki “Heart It Races.” insider intel: Last year the guys came across the documentary Searching for Sugar Man, not knowing that a short time later they’d be opening for the flm’s subject, Sixto Rodriguez, a ’70s folk singer who became a popmusic icon in South Africa. next up: Rusty Maples is releasing an EP in July. See them live June 3 and 5 opening for Rodriguez at Birch North Park Teatre in San Diego; June 29 at Neck of the Woods in San Francisco; July 1 at Slide Bar in Fullerton, California; July 2 at Hangar 24 in Redlands, California; July 3 at Soda Bar in San Diego; July 25-26 at Floyd Fest in Floyd, Virginia. rustymaples.com
SHeRRY ST. GeRmAin CheCk her out if you like … Zedd, Janis Joplin or Tina Turner. Her focus is re-creating infuential sounds from game-changers such as Oscar Peterson, Jamiroquai, Aretha Franklin and Wolfgang Gartner. on the Cusp: St. Germain recently fnished recording with Steve Aoki on a track called “Heaven on Earth,” set to be released this year on Aoki’s upcoming album. on her playlist: Pharrell, “Sooner or Later”; Tower of Power, “Squib Cakes.”
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insider intel: Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, St. Germain was recruited to sing and play piano in the nowdefunct Cirque du Soleil show Viva Elvis, which was ftting since her father, Ray St. Germain, was referred to as the “Canadian Elvis” during his storied musical career. next up: Her side project, Lost Vanguards, in which she plays slide banjo, will be touring around Quebec starting June 1. She also performs with Te Funk Jam every Wednesday night at Brooklyn Bowl. sherrystgermain.com MARC BY MARC JACOBS jumpsuit Marc by Marc Jacobs. ENFANT RICHES DEPRIMES jacket shop.enfantsrichesdeprimes.com.
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The DeTails: Shot on location at The Pearl Concert Theater in Palms Casino Resort. Since it opened in 2007, The Pearl has hosted the likes of Maroon 5, Nine Inch Nails and Matchbox 20. The space fits 2,500, and no seat is farther than 120 feet from the stage. In addition, the property has made its mark as a music destination in Vegas thanks to its Studio at the Palms, where such stars as Celine Dion, Imagine Dragons and Katy Perry have recorded. In Palms Casino Resort, 702.944.3200; palms.com
Where To BuY ALDO Fashion Show, 702.735.5590; aldoshoes.com ALLSAINTS The Cosmopolitan, 702.722.5252; us.allsaints.com DIESEL Fashion Show, 702.696.1055; diesel.com ENFANT RICHES DEPRIMES shop.enfantsrichesdeprimes.com GEMY MAALOUF gemymaalouf.com JEFFREY CAMPBELL jeffreycampbellshoes.com JOHN VARVATOS Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 702.693.5000; johnvarvatos.com MARC JACOBS BY MARC JACOBS The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.734.0220; marcjacobs.com MARC JACOBS The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.369.2007 NICKLAS KUNZ nicklaskunz.com PUSHMATAAHA pushmataaha.com SAKS FIFTH AVENUE Fashion Show, 702.733.8300; saksffthavenue.com SKINGRAFT skingraftdesigns.com TIFFANY & CO. Via Bellagio, 702.697.5400; tiffany.com
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Photography René & Radka reneradka.com for artmixcreative.com using a Leica S-System
Creative Director Sa LIen Stylist avo YeRmagYan avoyermagyan.com Hair makIko naRa using Bumble and Bumble for wschupfer.com
Makeup donaLd SImRock donaldsimrock.com using Tom Ford Beauty for traceymattingly.com
Photographers’ Assistant Jon eStRada Stylist’s Assistants aRmond HaRtoUnIanS & devIn HoweLL Makeup Artist’s Assistant taRa tHompSon Assistant dYLan BaRneS
See individual images for additional credit info. Jef: JOHN VARVATOS jacket John Varvatos. Sherry: own boots. Morgan: NICKLAS KUNZ sweater nicklaskunz.com. ALDO shoes Aldo in Fashion Show. Jordan: ALLSAINTS top and pants AllSaints. JEFFREY CAMPBELL shoes jefreycampbellshoes. com. Shayna: DIESEL jacket, belts and shoes Diesel. TIFFANY & CO. bracelets Tifany & Co. Own headband.
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guide the
your key to the city
SHOP
DINE
HAPPENINGS
PLAY
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SNAPSHOTS
12AM RUN
12AM RUN: POWeRS IMAGeRy; A FlAIR FOR cARe: AUdRey deMPSey
The hype was real when sneaker shop and lifestyle brand 12AM Run celebrated its grand opening April 25. Owners Nick Sakai and Nas were joined by Vegas heavyweights, including boxer Floyd Mayweather and a who's who of the nightlife industry, for a night of sneakerhead high life.
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Brooklyn Bowl’s famous fried chicken is served two ways—as a dinner with collard greens and mashed potatoes or on a platter with eight to 24 pieces.
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The Guide DINE WHAT’S COOKING? Now available in a plastic version, so you can take the porrón to go.
the new Cool Comfort food Brooklyn Bowl cuisine lives up to its reputation
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PHotoGraPHY BY aNtHoNY maIr
DINE
rooklyn Bowl, a combination concert venue/bowling alley/restaurant, brings a true sense of New York City cool to The Linq. The food is by Bruce and Eric Bromberg, the brothers behind the prestigious Blue Ribbon bar and restaurant chain, which has 10 operations in New York as well as Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in The Cosmopolitan and Brooklyn Bowl London. At Brooklyn Bowl, the Brombergs’ menu leans toward gourmet comfort food. There are a few nods to Brooklyn, but southern cuisine is far more prevalent. Appetizers include adobo corn, Cajun shrimp cocktail and pork rinds. There’s a line of perfectly prepared French bread pizzas that come off like Stouffer’s on steroids. Sandwiches include catfsh, chicken muffaletta, barbecue pork sliders and an oyster po’ boy. And the entrée section features mac and cheese, blackened salmon and pulled pork. There’s also a brunch menu from noon4 p.m. on weekends. Then, of course, there’s the fried chicken. It’s a staple of Blue Ribbon restaurants and will undoubtedly emerge as Brooklyn Bowl’s signature dish. But those who know it from The Cosmopolitan should be forewarned: This is not the same recipe. Given the Sushi Bar & Grill’s Asian component, the brothers Bromberg tweaked the recipe, adding the Japanese spice mix togarashi to the batter and serving it with wasabi honey. What you get at Brooklyn Bowl is the original recipe. Which you prefer is a matter of taste, because they’re among the best fried chicken in town. But it’s worth sampling both to appreciate the subtleties of each. Another standout item here is the pulled pork, which I enjoyed with pickled peppers on one of those tremendous pizzas. The barbecue is smoked in-house and infused with a rich favor. And the knish appetizer is a deconstructed tribute to the Brooklyn classic: two miniature knishes served “open face” so the dough isn’t overpowering, topped with a delicious mixture of potatoes and caramelized onions, and accompanied by sour cream and spicy deli mustard. Speaking of potatoes, don’t miss the mashed potato side dish, topped with one of the best gravies in the city. Hell, even the humble chicken burger is good here, thanks to the chef’s decision to use only dark meat to give it more fat and more favor. Brooklyn Bowl’s food is head and shoulders above what you’ll fnd at any restaurant or bar that’s even half this cool. Did we mention there’s bowling and live shows, too? Open for lunch and dinner 11 a.m.-2 a.m. SundayThursday and 11 a.m.-4 a.m. Friday-Saturday. In The Linq, 702.862.2695; vegas.brooklynbowl.com –AL MANCINI
A SIP TO GO WITH
Pour a PorróN
A Spanish drinking game, courtesy of chef José Andrés Leave it to José andrés to introduce Las vegas to a new and exciting way to drink. the pioneer of Spanish avant-garde cuisine has imported to two of his Strip restaurants what’s becoming a dying art form in his native country. a porrón is a traditional Spanish glass wine decanter that’s shaped vaguely like a watering can (or a bong, if that image works better for you). Wine is poured into the top, and consumed through the spout on the side. the catch: Your lips aren’t supposed to touch the glass so that many drinkers can share one porrón. What’s become something of a challenge for bragging rights over the years, however, is to see how far away from your face you can move the porrón without spilling the wine all over yourself. at the intimate, eight-seat restaurant É by José andrés, guests begin their meal by sharing a porrón of cava (Spanish sparkling wine). “It’s fun, it loosens people up,” explains
É executive sous chef cody Jefs. “It opens up a conversation with us and maybe between the guests.” While a porrón is traditionally used to serve cava, red wine or cider, at andrés’ tapas restaurant Jaleo, it’s used to pour any beverage on the menu. Tat includes cocktails as well as all nonalcoholic drinks. and if you want to take your drinking game on the road, servers ofer custom-made plastic porróns to go. If you’re a little nervous about drinking out of a porrón for the first time, ask your waiter for the computerized wine list on a tablet. there, you can watch a video demonstrating beginner, intermediate and advanced techniques. Here’s how Jaleo and É general manager david oseas describes each level: beginner: “Somebody who is starting [with the porrón] very close [to their mouth]. Tey’re not pouring a very large stream out of the mouth of the porrón. Tey may be spilling a little bit.”
intermediate: “Tey may be extending their arm a little bit. Te stream is fowing from a farther distance, and they’re able to take a couple of gulps before they’re done.” expert: “an expert is able to fully extend his arm all the way out. He’s drinking a lot of the liquid— many, many gulps. clearly he knows what he’s doing.” But Jeffs says those are only american standards. In Spain, some porrón drinkers take the art form to even higher levels “Some people shoot [the beverage] off their cheek and down into their mouth, and some people shoot it by their eye and still drink it,” he explains. No one at Jaleo has mastered those techniques yet. But practice makes perfect, and they’re more than willing to help you practice the next time you’re in the cosmopolitan. In The Cosmopolitan, 877.893.2003; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com –aL maNcINI
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