Vegas Rated Magazine | August 2013

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BCBGMAXAZRIA dress, STEVE MADDEN shoes

“I support AFAN because of their commitment to destigmatizing the negative perception surrounding HIV/AIDS. I have a personal connection to the cause and fnd them to be incredibly passionate and heroic.”

“AFAN not only has been providing amazing programs and assistance for those afected by HIV/AIDS in the Las Vegas area for almost 30 years, but the passion and care they show to the thousands of clients is truly amazing and inspiring!”

—JuSTin PaRKeR

—danielle BelgRave

LAUREN BY RALPH LAUREN dress, JESSICA SIMPSON shoes, VINCE CAMUTO earrings, ring and bracelet

“I support AFAN because they provide the needed services in the Latino community, which is being afected disproportionately by HIV/AIDS.”

—Reyna HeRReRa

BCBGMAXAZRIA top, TWO BY VINCE CAMUTO vest, J BRAND jeans, DMSX BY DONALD PLINER shoes, MICHAEL KORS watch

“AFAN does amazing work for the community, and it’s important that everyone knows about it. It’s important that it stays local.”

—eduaRdo CoRdova

Photography ANTHONY MAIR Stylist STACIMICHELLE Stylist’s Assistant CARLA FERRIERA Hair & Makeup NATASHA CHAMBERLIN Makeup provided by Mac COSMETICS Wardrobe & Accessories provided by MACY’S

TALLIA blazer, BAR III top, CALVIN KLEIN pants, TISSOT watch


from the editor What is the Hot List issue, might you ask? Well, it’s everything that the team at Vegas/Rated thinks is hot right now. It’s our picks for the best of Las Vegas in dining, spa and hotel, entertainment and nightlife. And here are two of my personal favorites, otherwise known as “How Melinda spends her Sunday afternoon.” In Las Vegas, brunch could be considered its own food group. Not quite lunch, not quite breakfast, it’s the fastest pathway to respectably consume some hair of the dog. And with MOzen Bistro at Mandarin Oriental (702.590.8882; mandarinoriental.com) offering $35 fowing Champagne at its noon-2:30 p.m. Jazz Sundays, don’t waste time courting that hangover in the confnes of a bed. Here it’s called “all-you-can-enjoy,” with a colorful array of sushi, a seafood station featuring crab claws and Kumomoto oysters, a carvery, traditional dim sum, desserts and entrées such as Hong Kong-style steamed grouper, Belgian waffe with caramel pecan cream and the souffé omelette. After you are properly satiated, go experience the magic of one of the city’s hidden gems, James Turrell’s permanent art installation “Akhob,” located on the third foor of Louis Vuitton at The Shops at Crystals and accessible only by elevator. Contributing editor Geoff Carter sums it up like this (and I couldn’t agree more): “In relation to this piece, one is tempted to use the clichéd description of a near-death experience: There’s light everywhere, and it feels a bit like heaven. Taken simply, ‘Akhob’ is three round white rooms lit by colored lights that change from moment to moment; taken poetically, it’s a womb of pure light that will hack into your perception of the outside world. After seeing ‘Akhob,’ you’re nearly disappointed in how polychromatic everything is.” You can’t see “Akhob” without making a reservation, so call ahead, 702.730.3150. We want to hear what’s on your Hot List! Visit facebook.com/ vegasrated and let us know what you love about Las Vegas!

MeLINdA SHeCKeLLS Editor-in-Chief Follow us on Twitter @vegasrated

James tUrrell's "aKHoB" 10 / vrated.com



ContributorS

“What’S your Favorite hiDDen GeM in LaS veGaS?” Genevie Durano, ManaGinG eDitor as a recent transplant, Durano is still fnding her footing amid the 24-hour multisensory stimulation that is Las vegas. the pace and ongoing sense of excitement defne this city—it’s why people come here in the frst place. Still, more stimulation does not necessarily mean better stimulation. “It can be challenging to fnd a quiet place to catch your breath, but recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying an afternoon at the Tea Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental. While the property itself is situated right in the middle of the Strip, inside it’s a whole other atmosphere. Located on the 23rd foor, the Tea Lounge has stunning views of the city below. It’s the perfect place to fnd your Zen while sipping a cup of tea.”

Jen ChaSe, ContributinG eDitor all cities have their watering holes, but what Chase loves best about her new West Coast digs is how easy it is to enjoy an expertly crafted drink (she lives within walking distance of the Cosmopolitan, bellagio and aria). not that she had a lot of time last month to partake: For this issue she was busy profling the city’s best movers and shakers, learning a thing or two along the way about more effectively mixing pleasure with business. “There’s a satiny smooth, white marble chaise on the women’s side of the spa at Vdara that I’m pretty sure can heal anything that’s wrong with anyone. Shaped like an ‘s,’ the marble is heated and it cradles your body, practically melting you into it, along with all your troubles. Anywhere that lets me forget what I was doing at a spa in the frst place is truly my favorite hidden gem.”

JeSSiCa aCuÑa, eDitoriaL aSSiStant in elementary school, acuña was probably the only student without a bedtime. endless nights staying up well past 9 p.m. sparked wonderment about what all the adults on the Strip were up to. this curiosity never stopped, and now she channels that energy into writing about this fascinating city for this publication and its sister media outlets Vegas Seven and dtlv.com. “Located Downtown in the historic Holsum Lofts, formerly a bakery from which I can still remember the smell, is The Brow Boutique. The place is decorated in soft whites and includes a hand-painted mural by aesthetician Patricia McCartney, who is the only person I trust near my eyebrows. Besides her natural artistry of eyebrow shaping, Patricia actually remembers our conversations—something I can’t even say for some of my doctors—making appointments that much more enjoyable.”

iLoveDuSt, Cover artiSt ilovedust is a multidisciplinary studio founded in 2003. based on the South coast of england, surrounded by the rolling countryside and whipped by sea air, ilovedust creates fresh, innovative design, which makes up an award-winning portfolio. Collaborating with a diverse range of brands, from these shores and afar, the studio delivers world-class illustrations and graphics. ilovedust loves what they do, and thinks their clients do, too. “The Neon Boneyard at the Neon Museum is by far our favorite hidden gem. As illustrators and designers, it’s a dream to see the amazing collections of huge neon signs from the past. It’s truly a must-see, especially if you have an interest in design and typography—it’s a great place to get inspiration!”

JeSSe SutherLanD, GraphiC DeSiGner Sutherland is a renaissance man at Vegas/Rated. as graphic designer, photographer, illustrator and gourmet-doughnut provider for the Rated staff, he is like a Swiss army knife. he loves his job, enjoys how much of the city he’s discovered—and he’ll tell you meeting beautiful models on photo shoots is a pretty nice perk. “After venturing through the Mob Museum, a great place to cap off the evening is down the street at the Triple George Grill. It’s a great restaurant, and I felt like I was eating like the Godfather himself.”

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T H E

W O R L D ’ S

P R E M I E R

C O L L E C T I O N

O F

L U X U R Y

A L U X U RY C O N Q U E S T

4 1

B R A N D S.

2 2

U N I Q U E

I N

V E G A S.

CrystalsAtCityCenter.com • Located next to ARIA Resort & Casino • Clothing and Accessories provided by Donna Karan • Jewelry provided by Bulgari


Ryan T. DoheRTy | JusTin WenigeR PuBLisheRs assoCiaTe PuBLisheR eDiToR-in-ChieF aRT DiReCToR

christy corda melinda sheckells scott lien

Managing eDiToR

genevie durano

assoCiaTe eDiToR

matt jacob

CoPy eDiToRs eDiToRiaL assisTanT eDiToRiaL inTeRns

sean defrank, paul szydelko jessica acu単a kiara bass, chanel cassanello, tiffany franklin, ashton hall, monica kran, erin timrawi

ConTRiBuTing eDiToRs

grace bascos, geoff carter, jen chase michael shulman, xania woodman

ConTRiBuTing WRiTeRs

tiffany bosman, camille cannon, laura j. downey, max jacobson, c. moon reed

gRaPhiC DesigneR senioR ConTRiBuTing PhoTogRaPheR ConTRiBuTing PhoTogRaPheRs

jesse sutherland anthony mair andrew sea james, tomo, zackery williams

VP Business DeVeLoPMenT,

jacqueline bicknell

aCCounT seRViCe ManageR

nicole bullis

DiReCToR oF PRoDuCTion/DisTRiBuTion aDVeRTising ManageR DisTRiBuTion CooRDinaToR

marc barrington james bearse jasen ono

Ryan T. DoheRTy | JusTin WenigeR ViCe PResiDenT, PuBLishing ChieF FinanCiaL oFFiCeR assisTanT ConTRoLLeR eDiToRiaL DiReCToR

michael skenandore kevin j. woodward donna nolls phil hagen

CReaTiVe DiReCToR

sherwin yumul

CReaTiVe DiReCToR CusToM PuBLiCaTions

benjamin ward

ViCe PResiDenT, MaRkeTing & eVenTs

kyle markman

eVenTs & PRoMoTions CooRDinaToR

robert opacki

iT DiReCToR geneRaL aCCounTing ManageR

francis shiroma erica carpino

3070 WEST POST ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118 702.798.7000 WENDOHMEDIA.COM sales@vrated.com facebook.com/vegasrated

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Vegas/Rated速 is a registered trademark of Sandow Media, LLC and used in partnership with WENDOH Media Companies. Vegas/Rated (ISSN 2162-6340) Vol. 2, No. 12 is published monthly by WENDOH Media Las Vegas, NV.

14 / VRATED.COM




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90

Watch

Play

labor day

Meet 58 Life Is Beautiful for Rehan Choudhry

Meet 72 Our new favorite import, Debo, infuses sass with class

the guide 84 From nightclubs to pools, there’s no shortage of places to see and be seen this holiday weekend

must-see entertainment

Be entertained 62 A frsthand account of the best moments in Las Vegas’ music history around town 67 Sashay back in time at Grant Philipo’s Showgirl Museum

on the list & on the liPs

summer’s last hurrah

step out 73 From the Strip to Downtown, Vegas keeps delivering the best time of your life

in the MoMent 90 Snapshots from a season of fun at Wet Republic

Meet 79 DJ Lisa Pittman gets “Shedonistic”

Back story 96 A secret garden grows Downtown

ON the cOver Design: ILOVEDUST

vrated.com / 17


JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT a unique luxury resort & casino / 877 552 7778 /

of

WRONG

COSM O P O LITAN L ASVEGAS .CO M

TM








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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.






IF YOU OBEY ALL THE RULES YOU MISS ALL THE FUN.

DINING / FASHION / NIGHTLIFE

Restaurant Open Daily at 5:30pm

Patio Seating Available

Reservations Encouraged

20% Locals Discount Sunday–Wednesday* THE SHOPS AT CRYSTALS ARIA LAS VEGAS 3720 Las Vegas Blvd. South Suite 260 Las Vegas, NV 89158 Restaurant (702) 254-2376 www.SHe-LV.com SHeLasVegas *Restrictions may apply.







NOW SLICING. Here’s where you’ll find pizza by award-winning Chef Shawn McClain, beer by microbreweries, and an atmosphere by ARIA. Whether it’s 2 pm or 2 am.

AriaLasVegas.com | Dining Reservations 877.230.2742


HOT LIST / WHATHEADER TO EAT HERE NOW

Smoke thiS Burger

Outlaw burger: anthOny Mair

Finding a good barbecue spot in this city is like striking gold. rollin’ Smoke, opened just a year, already has legions of fans, judging by the glowing reviews on Yelp. Sure, the slow-cooked, tender and smoky meats are the stars, but break the rules and go for the outlaw Burger, a half-pound of ground chuck topped with slowsmoked chopped brisket, american cheese, fried onion straws, lettuce and tomato. in five words … Tis is heaven for carnivores. don’t miss … Te all-youcan-eat special for $24.99—all the meat your arteries can take, anytime of the day. did you know … John and trey holland, the two brothers from arkansas who run the joint, use hickory and other hardwoods to infuse favor in their ’cue. 3185 S. Highland Dr., 702.836.3621; rollinsmokebarbeque.com –genevie durano

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PRESENTED BY

27TH ANNUAL BLACK & WHITE PARTY

THE JOINT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO

GET TICKETS NOW AT LAS VEGAS

AFANLV.ORG AFANLV.ORG

PRESENTING SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

#BWPARTY27 @AFANLV

SAT.AUG.24.2013









































summer’s last hurrah

rock and roll all night and party every day

hakkasan: rukes

84 / vrated.com
















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